Dragon #344

Alzrius

The EN World kitten
The June Dragon arrived in my mailbox today, just in time for EN World to be restored! As a note, this issue points out in several articles that there's a web enhancement for it on the Paizo website, but it doesn't seem to be out yet.

Also, as a note, Paizo is giving away a special D&D miniature. Sorcerer on Black Dragon is a Huge figure, available only to subscribers with a $9.99 shipping and handling fee. Only 5,000 available. More details available at www.paizo.com/blackdragon. Likewise, take the survey at www.paizo.com/survey, and you could win a huge Paizo bundle.

Editorial: Thirty Years, by Erik Mona - Erik looks back over the magazines history, at some of the great content this issue has, and where Dragon is heading.

Scale Mail - Letters this month include praise for the Core Beliefs articles, mixed opinions on the "Ecology of the Adventurer" from #342, and errata for the missing Plant Domain from the "Domain Powers" article in #342.

Planar Dragons, by Mike McArtor - Four new Outer Planar dragons are presented here: the Astral dragon, the Chole (Abyss) dragon, the Elysian dragon, and the Gloom (Gray Waste) dragon. Each are true dragons with twelve age categories. A sidebar lists all of the planar dragons and what sources you can find them in. Only Arcadia lacks a dragon (though the dragon for the Nine Hells, the Hellfire Wyrm, is the only one that isn't a true dragon).

Gen Con Indy 2006 Preview - Gen Con just gets bigger and better every year. This preview focuses on all the great things this year's Gen Con Indy will have, including anime, films, entertainment, miniatures events, WotC events, and so much more!

The Return of Gord, by Gary Gygax and K. R. Bougoine - Gord faces off against a new enemy in this original tale. A sidebar covers the previous works Gord has appeared in.

A Dark and Stormy Night, by Ed Greenwood - Ed transcribes another session of Elminster, Mordenkainen, and Rautheene relaxing in his home for an evening. Three new spells are given: battle tentacles, mailed might, and wyrmcone.

The Voyage of The Princess Ark, by Bruce A. Heard - This "lost" installment continues the Princess Ark's journey - this is part thirty-six. Four sidebars dot the article: one describing the people on The Princess Ark (Lord Haldemar of Haaken, Lupins, Myojo, Talasar, and Xerdon), one about The Princess Ark herself, one about Alphatia and their artifact, and the last one is the elixer of aranea ichor.

Dreadhold, by Keith Baker and Jason Bulmahn - This Eberron article describes the prison island that the Five Nations use when someone is too dangerous to be allowed to remain free, but too valuable (or difficult) to kill. This article is extremely in-depth, covering the island's history, the island itself, the fortress and its observation posts, communication among the guards, the prison wards, the watchtower, the guards and warden (with stat blocks), the defenses of the place, policy on visitors, adventure ideas, two new spells (arcane seal and shockwave), and a new magic item (amulet of the silent word). Sidebars cover Dreadhold in other settings, the terms of imprisonment, the guard city on the island (Gaolgate), manifest zones (to the plane of Lammania), rumors of Dreadhold, and five sidebars of notable prisoners. There's also a single page that gives a tactical map of the ground floor of the prison.

The Ecology of the Dracolich, by Richard Pett and Greg A. Vaughan - This article covers the history of dracoliches, their physiology, psychology and society, phylacteries, example dracoliches (three are discussed: The Breather of Locusts, Sin Feaster, and Aurgloroasa, with only the last one having stats), and becoming a dracolich. Sidebars cover what you know about dracoliches on a Knowledge (religion) check, the metagame history of dracoliches, dracoliches in Faerun, dracoliches in Eberron, and alternate dracoliches.

Wormfood: Becoming Epic Heroes, by James Jacobs - This article discusses characters who become epic near the end of the Age of Worms. Recommendations for your first epic feat are given for each of the four character archetypes (warrior, divine, arcane, and adventurer). Tactics for high-level (but not epic-level) spells are also discussed. A sidebar covers how DMs can use this information.

Sage Advice, by Andy Collins - The Sage answers numerous questions about dragons.

Class Acts

Adventurer: Out of the Shadows, by Hal Maclean - This article gives nine new ambush feats. Ambush feats require you to give up some sneak attack (or sudden strike, or skirmish) damage to use them.

Arcane: The Anagakok, by Richard Farrese - The Anagakok, a variant wizard class, si given. The Anagakok is a tribal wizard, similar to a shaman or witch doctor.

Divine: Devotees of the Dragon, by Joshua Cole - This article presents the Chromatic, Gem, Lung, and Metallic clerical domains. A sidebar covers themes you should use if you don't have the Spell Compendium, since several domain spells come from there.

Warrior: Hunting the Wyrm, by Amber E. Scott - Six new non-magical items used to hunt and kill dragons are given here, complete with a table covering their price, weight, relevant skill to create, and creation DC.

Buyer's Guide - This installment of the buyer's guide covers May to August '06 releases, along with key backlist items.

Comics - Nodwick, by Aaron Williams; Dork Tower, by John Kovalic; Zogonia, by Tony Moseley; and The Order of the Stick, by Rich Burlew.

NEXT MONTH IN DRAGON #345

Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Kostchtchie

by James Jacobs
Discover a rage powerful enough to bow even the heads of giants: Kostchtchie, Prince of Wrath.

The Giants of Xen'drik
by Jason Bulmahn and Amber Scott
Savage drow and stone-hearted giants war in the depths of [smallcaps]eberron[/smallcaps]'s dark continent. A glimpse of the upcoming release Secrets of Xen'drik.

Ways to Travel the World
by Martin Ralya
Leave your horse behind and travel the world by ship, caravan, submersile, or even airship.

Serpent of the Seas
by Morgan Peer and Tracey Peer
Three new dragons of the depths.

Plus!
Ecology of the Annis Hag, Spellcraft, Bazaar of the Bizarre, Class Acts, Sage Advice, comics, and more.
 

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Excellent, two back to back issues with Eberron and Forgotten Realms material.

I'm a little disappointed that the repaint isn't a green version of the Purple Worm. I would have scooped up several of those, but I'm not sure about this one. A repaint of a black dragon? How much variation do you really want from a black dragon? Maybe the sorcerer will be a different color, but the dragon? Oh well.

It would have been nice to see what the planar dragons were like in Eberron. I'm extremely happy to see adaptation notes for the history of dracoliches in Eberron and FR.

It would have been nice if Dungeon had published Gambit at Dreadhold to coincide with the Dreadhold release. Perhaps in the future the RPGA can be more visible and make Paizo aware of what's available.

All in all it sounds like an excellent issue. In addition to my subscription copy I'll pick up several to collect and hand out at my table. Some of my players just borrow our group copies, but this time I'll make sure everyone gets one.
 


Kostchtchie? Isn't he being covered in FCI? I hope I don't see reprints, those annoy me to no end.

So what do the Ambush feats do, like a little description of what they grant?

I always get mine 2 and half weeks after yours so I'm going to go insane not having it in my hands eventually. lol
 


Meloncov said:
The website says the dragon is currently unavailable: is that because it hasn't been put on sale yet, or has it sold out?

The site says it won't be available to purchase until 10am on June 1st, 2006.
 


Razz said:
Kostchtchie? Isn't he being covered in FCI? I hope I don't see reprints, those annoy me to no end.

He's definately getting some coverage in the FCI. Whether it's complementary or overlapping remains to be seen.

So what do the Ambush feats do, like a little description of what they grant?

Here they are:

Burning Link - Reduce your sneak attack damage by two dice, and the remaining damage also damages your target's linked creature (familiar, special mount, etc).

Dazzling Strike - Reduce your sneak attack damage by one die, and you leave your opponent dazzled for a round. Reducing the damage by more dice increases the dazzled duration by a like amount.

Eldritch Erosion - Reduce your sneak attack damage by two dice, and the target loses 5 from their spell resistance for one minute.

Flurry of Throws - You can reduce your sudden strike by up to three dice. For each die so reduced, you can throw an extra shuriken as part of a full attack action that uses Rapid Shot. The targets must be vulnerable to a sudden strike, and only one shuriken per such target.

Hinder - Reduce your skirmish damage by one die, and you reduce your target's speed by 10 feet for one minute.

Lacerate - Reduce your sneak attack damage by three dice, and your target loses use of one of his hands for a minute on a failed Fort save.

Painful Strike - Reduce your sneak attack damage by two dice, and your strike causes pain that inflicts a -2 penalty on attack rolls, and skill and ability checks for one minute.

Ring the Ear - Reduce your sneak attack damage by one die, and you can make a special unarmed strike that requires a Fort save from your target. If they fail, they're deafened for one minute.

Weaken the Heart - Reduce your sneak attack damage by two dice, and if your target fails a Fort save, then if he makes a Str-, Dex-, or Con-based skill or ability check in the next ten minutes, he becomes fatigued (or exhausted if already fatigued).

I always get mine 2 and half weeks after yours so I'm going to go insane not having it in my hands eventually. lol

The anticipation drives us all crazy. ;)
 

Also, the Dreadhold article sounds more like a backdrop that belongs in Dungeon. Stat blocks for the guards and maps of the area? I'm not complaining, I just don't understand the decision here. If someone wanted to write an article like this one where would be the best place to send it to?
 

Are there stats in the Princess Ark article? Or is it all descriptive?

What sort of information does it have on Alphatia?

I can't wait for this issue! :)
 

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