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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 8996280" data-attributes="member: 27780">Polyhedron UK Issue 5: June(?) 1999part 5/5Mailbag: First letter complains that UK members can't access the USA website stuff that requires a login. That's because they're on separate databases and can't share all the details across countries without falling foul of data protection laws. It's a big pain in the ass they're trying to solve as we speak. Second complains that it's been nearly a year since they did the survey on what 3e should be like and we've still heard nothing about the results. D&D is being lapped repeatedly by other systems that have released multiple new editions with substantial improvements in the rules in the intervening time. It's no wonder they stopped being the biggest selling game around. Rest assured your data is being used, they're just taking their time about it as they want to get everything perfect. There will be big announcements next issue.Third wants to know who wins a tie-breaker between a near-dead cleric healing themselves and a wizard casting magic missile on the same initiative segment. You can only reroll initiative so many times before you go mad. If the dice hate you that much might as well have the DM decide by fiat.On The Trail: This fills in a little more about the conventions they talked about in the editorial. Ashley Perryman went to Towercon, which was small but packed, with games for a good dozen different systems, plus the pool & jacuzzi just a room or two away for unwinding in. Wiggy covered the Dudley Bug Ball, which was also fairly busy, albeit with some grumbles about the secondhand stuff moving faster than the new games and the fact that smoking was banned pretty much everywhere on campus. You're probably not going to enjoy that becoming default in indoor venues everywhere over the next decade then. Sad did not live down to his moniker at the RAFWA championships, meeting lots of friends that he hasn't seen since the last big convention and running a whole load of tournaments personally, which gives him plenty of actual play stories to recount. Finally, Chris Mussel was 4 hours late, but also eventually made it to Towercon after a whole load of driving around and frantic phone calls, which make up the majority of his story, but everyone was very forgiving when he did make it so all's well that ends well. Another fairly typical entry here that shows you a slice of life in the late 90's, which you can analyse to see how it's different from other countries or decades if you're that obsessive.Bare Bones: The general gaming advice column also has a suggestion that I've seen before and probably will do again. Don't just put them up against monsters they can hit, include the odd natural disaster in your game. How will they deal with fire, plague or flood and their aftermaths? Is there a sentient cause behind them that they can go and punch in response, or will the best way to use their energy be rebuilding and maybe changing things around so the replacement stuff is less susceptible next time it happens? Using stone rather than wood, better sanitation and drainage, planting trees on unstable mountainsides to prevent avalanches, etc. But since this is a gaming magazine, they do push towards there being someone or something to blame, as that makes for more satisfying stories than spending a whole session on planning and logistics, then moving on to deal with another town's politics. Overall, this provokes no reaction in me but another meh. Hopefully less experienced gamers will get something from it.With the articles in here being mostly topics I've seen before and the adventures being interesting but in irritating and perverse ways, this issue was particularly low in actual usefulness to me. The novelty of the british flavour has worn off and the individual articles have no more depth than their american counterparts. Maybe next issue will have some better ones. For now, back across the pond to see what mysteries the mystery themed issue has to offer.</blockquote>

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