Dragon #299 arrived, contents

[mmadsen]

The honour system sounds very similar to the Pendragon system of virtues. Anyone remember those? Great game that.

Yes, Pendragon is a great game -- and they're still putting out product over at Green Knight Publishing.

As for issue 300, I hoped they wouldn't make a 'mature' issue to support Book of Vile Darkness, which I think is a bad idea for a product in the first place. Some kid is going to get this issue in his subscription and his mother's going to go bonkers. I just don't think the hobby needs that kind of publicity.

Interesting point.

Some think we need need a book with rules for graphic sex, depraved violence and other 'mature' themes. I really don't. And I don't think that those themes are 'mature.' but purile.

What fantasy world doesn't have evil forces doing evil things? In fact, what historical setting doesn't have regular men doing evil things? If anything, it's a bit odd that we've tiptoed around the topic so much -- and I don't think Monte Cook's going to handle it tastelessly.

 

[Psion]

What fantasy world doesn't have evil forces doing evil things? In fact, what historical setting doesn't have regular men doing evil things?

Definitely. Which is why, despite the fact I am fairly conservative*, I am not as concerned about BovD as some are.

But it's just a matter if whether it is done tastefully. BovD can be done tastefully, and from what I hear from Monte on the issue, I susepct it will.

But it is perfectly possible to go over the line.

* - Frex, you should hear poster "Thundershot" whine whenever I dare mention Mongoose's pinup-like artwork in a disdainful light in a review. You'd swear that I'd taken a blowtorch to the first amendment...

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Some think we need need a book with rules for graphic sex, depraved violence and other 'mature' themes. I really don't. And I don't think that those themes are 'mature.' but purile. It's a shame, because I could have used the template info from that issue and I hate missing even one issue of Dragon. Oh, well, Cest la vie...

Having been a fan of Monte Cook for a long time, and being quite familiar with his work, I very much doubt that the Book of Vile Darkness will be what you seem to think it will be.

I also think the "sealed" section of 300 is just a gimmick. I doubt very much it'll be anything more "evil" than you find in any other issue.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

* - Frex, you should hear poster "Thundershot" whine whenever I dare mention Mongoose's pinup-like artwork in a disdainful light in a review. You'd swear that I'd taken a blowtorch to the first amendment...

Do you mean Avalanche?

 

[Psion]

Do you mean Avalanche?

No. It's Arcady that has the huge problem with Avalanche. While I would agree that they are a bit brazen and exploitative of the female body image, I don't find that as offensive as actual depictions of nudity.

Also unlike Arcady, I can separate the content from the tacky packaging. I recognize that Mongoose does some good work despite that fact I really think their artwork is pretty brazen Arcady won't freakin' touch an Avalanche product.

That said, when I have commented on Avalanche's artwork, people don't moan about it the same way when I mention the same sort of thing about Mongoose's interior artwork. I wonder why that is? I guess perhaps for the same reason I had a problem with the old Bard Games' Arcanum cover -- regardless of whether or not I liked the cover, I felt self conscious carrying it around.
Well, this is probably flame territory, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

No. It's Arcady that has the huge problem with Avalanche. While I would agree that they are a bit brazen and exploitative of the female body image, I don't find that as offensive as actual depictions of nudity.

Also unlike Arcady, I can separate the content from the tacky packaging. I recognize that Mongoose does some good work despite that fact I really think their artwork is pretty brazen Arcady won't freakin' touch an Avalanche product.

That said, when I have commented on Avalanche's artwork, people don't moan about it the same way when I mention the same sort of thing about Mongoose's interior artwork. I wonder why that is? I guess perhaps for the same reason I had a problem with the old Bard Games' Arcanum cover -- regardless of whether or not I liked the cover, I felt self conscious carrying it around.
Well, this is probably flame territory, but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

I have seen some of Mongoose's books, but I haven't seen all of them. I didn't know that about them.

Avalanche was a surprise to me. The covers are OK, but not that great - I don't find them to be very good art-wise. The cotent of the books, though, is actually pretty good. They remind me of the 2e Historical References (which WotC should update (which wouldn't take much doing) and re-release). I think they need less adventure and more background material, but still...

I know what you mean of Arcanum. It was - and I think still is - used for anti-RPG propaganda. I remember when Relics & Rituals was released that there was a huge flame war over that cover, which is similar to Aracanum's.