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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5550705" data-attributes="member: 27780">Dragon Magazine Issue 232: August 1996part 5/8Dragon Dice: The last two months, we had new races. Now we have new magical items. I guess that they're once again following in D&D's footsteps with this game. Regular items are 4-sided, while artfacts are represented by 10-sided dice. They're also introducing summonable monsters that can be used by any side with sufficient magic to spare. As usual, they have a whole bunch of quirks, requiring constant attention, and refusing to fight other summoned monsters of the same elemental type. And on top of that, they're adding new terrain types with various advantages for their users, like grassy knolls to shoot from and wood to hide in. So this opens up a whole bunch of new tactical opportunities and obstacles for all sides, which means it has potentially higher sales than introducing a new splat. Hmm. Feels once again like they're taking a lot of their lessons from the way they've run AD&D over the years. And why not? It's probably more likely to work than creating a whole new paradigm. Wyrms of the north: The first two dragons in this series both have names that began with A. Now we have one that begins with a B. Oh dear god. Don't tell me Ed had all of this column written out in advance, and delivered it to the magazine as a fait accompli that'll last several years even before the first one was published. That's just showing off. Could he fill the entire magazine on his own if he wanted? In any case it's a reminder just how head and shoulders he is above everyone else writing for them, that he has both the talent and prestige to get away with such an idiosyncratic and specialist column. And despite my previous rants about canon strangulation and magic bloat, there continues to be a lot in Ed's writing to enjoy. Chief in this particular one is his detailed talk on the tactics this dragon uses, and his attitude towards the rest of the world. While very obviously of a draconic mindset, he has more than enough nuance to make him individual in both conversation and a battle, and in typical Ed style, these details are easily used in actual play. There's also plenty of info on his lair and the magical items he has are actually put to good use, instead of just being slept on in his hoard. If I were to play in the Forgotten Realms and use dragons, I would actually use this. Still, I don't think there's much chance of that happening anytime soon. Sage advice: I sent in a question. It cost me $5.16! I'm entitled to an answer! (No, you are not. The Sage's time is a privilege, not a right. Skip is entirely within skip's rights to charge an initial consulting fee, and then refuse to take on a case.  And if you send in another letter to whine, you've just wasted another $5.16. Ha ha. Go on, waste more of your money sending in a complaint. Skip dares you. ) Do you get the backstab bonus if you hit a sleeping creature in the front. (yes. They don't know you're there. ) Does backstabbing work on undead and things without backs (not generally. Common sense must provide the exceptions as usual, because we can't talk about every monster individually in here. )How many attack does fighter get against a swooping creature ( it depend on may thing. The position of fighter in round is critically important. also weapon number held. Attack of opportinity provide one phase of attacks, up to limit. If already used, then no opportunitty to attack.)Does your movement rate initiative affect? (Affect it does, for PC's only)Are touch spells blocked by armour (yes) How does dual-classing work with respect to proficiencies (Skip has changed his mind again. Retcon, retcon! La la la la. Skipadee doo dah, skipedee ay, my oh my what a wonderdfull day. Great chanfes come, great cvhanges go. )Can priests change spells after napping (not without making their god cranky) Can dual-classed wizard/priests put priest spells in their contingencies (Sure, why not. Let your imagination run wild. )Is there an initial save against charm spells (yessssss. )Do fireballs burn up stinking clouds (nooooooooo)</blockquote>

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