Dragon 333 has arrived!

[Mark]

More details on (snip) Noble Born.

Yes, please.

 

[atom crash]

Well, as I stated earlier I had high expectations for this issue. I was reading tonight, and it's a damn fine magazine! There's even a sidebar on page 10 mentioning Tharizdun and his association to the number 333 (and of course WG4: The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun, a classic 1E adventure). Congrats, guys.

Let me offer a few picky criticisms, though, which apply to the magazine in general as well as this issue in particular:

1. Pronunciations, man! A pronunciation guide would be a really nice add-on to a long, detailed and otherwise excellent article on a certain demon prince.

2. The background used for the Fraz-Urb'luu article makes the text difficult to read, especially in the top and bottom corners and wherever italicized text is used.

3. The value of the Treasures of the Gnome Hills (and most of the Bazaar of the Bizarre articles in the past few years) puts them out of reach for use in my campaign until at least 8th level, when a PC can afford to spend 10-12k on a single piece of equipment. Many of the items are priced in the 30-50k range, meaning I can't use them in my campaign until 10th to 13th level at a bare minimum. And that's assuming that the PCs spring for one of these items first rather than a more ubiquitous item -- like say a +2, +3 or +4 weapon -- when they have the available cash. More realistically, these items won't ever see any use in my campaign until the PCs reach 15th level, which may be never. Therefore, I'd like to see more cheaper items (at least under 10k, maybe even as low as 5k) splashed among the Bazaar of the Bizarre articles as well as the higher-end items.

In the interest of fairness, let me also offer some praise where it is due. The article on Fraz-Urb'luu is awesome. I just wish I knew how to say his name correctly. The Demonomicon of Iggwilv (again, how do you say that?) is such a great idea for a recurring feature, we're in effect getting monthly add-ons for the BoVD that include stats for a demon lord, background, info on cultists and minions and enough plot hooks to choke the tarrasque. Any one of these articles could be the springboard to launch an entire campaign.

I love the format of the magazine. I especially like more shorter regular features. Class Acts is great, not because I use most of the articles -- I don't use most of them, though I read them all -- but because it offers many one-page treatments of cool ideas I can use as an inspiration for my own variants. I wouldn't want to see an 11-page article on new stuff for the sorceror -- most of which I can't or won't use in my own game -- but the one-page treatment of knowstones is a great idea I'll probably wind up adapting for my campaign. And the piece on spheres of magic -- a sorceror's variant of specialization -- in last month's (?) issue was a refreshing idea I immediately yoinked.

 

[Jason Bulmahn]

Well.. even at this late hour... I can answer one of the above questions...

Fraz-Urb'luu is generally pronounced... fraz'ur'bloo.

At least.. around the office anyway.

Jason Bulmahn
Associate Editor of Dragon

 

[Gez]

Hey U_K, it's 34d8+476 (from his Con bonus). Total hp is 629.

Give Toughness and Improved Toughness as bonus feats. Seriously, do it.

Toughness gives him 3 more hit points.

Improved Toughness gives him one more hit point per Hit Die.

 

[kilamanjaro]

Since you asked so nicely....

Yes, please.

The noble born article gives a run down of how a noble born character could be included in an adventuring party. Why would he want to adventure? What kind of perks might he get? What kind of plot hooks can be worked into his background? It gives a fairly comprehensive listing of possible motivations; overthrown, bored minor lord, disguised thrill seeker, last of a fallen line, etc. along with plot hooks and ways to tie in the rest of the party. A very good campaign building article.

I'm only now starting to read the Worm Food article but it gives detailed floor plans of the abandoned mine office and a list of repairs needed to make it habitable along with what craft skills are needed to execute the repairs.

 

[Jason Bulmahn]

3. The value of the Treasures of the Gnome Hills (and most of the Bazaar of the Bizarre articles in the past few years) puts them out of reach for use in my campaign until at least 8th level, when a PC can afford to spend 10-12k on a single piece of equipment. Many of the items are priced in the 30-50k range, meaning I can't use them in my campaign until 10th to 13th level at a bare minimum. And that's assuming that the PCs spring for one of these items first rather than a more ubiquitous item -- like say a +2, +3 or +4 weapon -- when they have the available cash. More realistically, these items won't ever see any use in my campaign until the PCs reach 15th level, which may be never. Therefore, I'd like to see more cheaper items (at least under 10k, maybe even as low as 5k) splashed among the Bazaar of the Bizarre articles as well as the higher-end items.

This is an issue we tend to ebb and flow on. The next Bazaar of the Bizarre focuses more on items in the 10K range with some well below that point. We have a couple on the burner that focus on significantly cheaper items. In any case, thanks for the point, it is something we definately keep an eye on.

Jason Bulmahn
Associate Editor of Dragon

 

[Evilhalfling]

For the love of all that is unholy, when you get 120+ pages of Demonicon printed, you MUST then reprint it as a hardback a year later. Then it'd be "Best. Supplement. Ever."

this brings me close to drooling.
but since I ant count on this....

Maybe I call my FLGS to ask if the have/will reserve te issue yet.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey there!

For the love of all that is unholy, when you get 120+ pages of Demonicon printed, you MUST then reprint it as a hardback a year later. Then it'd be "Best. Supplement. Ever."

I think that would sell well, however it poses a few questions.

There are only five classic demon nobles that were not covered by The Book of Vile Darkness:

Pazuzu, Fraz-Urb'luu, Zuggtmoy, Kostchtchie and Baphomet.

Assuming twelve page treatment of each, thats 60 pages.

I suppose you could have 3.5 updates for: Demogorgon, Graz'zt, Juiblex, Orcus and Yeenoghu, all given the James Jacobs touch.

But thats still only 120 pages, not really enough for a hardback. Of course you can always create new Demon Nobles, there were certainly enough names listed in the 1st Edition AD&D Monster Manual 2.

I'm thinking 18 would be a good number of Demon nobles (6 + 6 + 6) for the Demonomicon.

 

[Erik Mona]

There are only five classic demon nobles that were not covered by The Book of Vile Darkness:

Pazuzu, Fraz-Urb'luu, Zuggtmoy, Kostchtchie and Baphomet.

You can assume all of these will be covered eventually, some sooner than later.

--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon & Dungeon

 

[James Jacobs]

There's not going to be a shortage of demons to write about any time soon. Page 35 of the 1st Edition Monster Manual II, for starters, is enough to keep pages filled in Dragon for years, needless to say of any new demon lords & princes that have popped up since then.

(Like Ugudenk! All hail Ugudenk!)