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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 6016207" data-attributes="member: 27780">Dragon Issue 292: February 2002part 8/10Campaign news: More elaboration on how they try to keep organised play fair here. While you can get more money than the recommended amount in the DMG if you get lucky in adventures, you can only spend that quantity on magical items, any excess will have to be saved until you level up again. Plus as they don't want people knowing all about the adventures from their friends, or letting them get too dated, they're putting use-by dates on them and keeping up a constant churn of scenarios for the duration of the edition. Another reminder just how much (probably poorly paid) work keeping the RPGA running is. Obviously the limits on how many scenarios a character can participate in in a year'll keep them from experiencing every adventure, but it's still very possible to stretch the limits of the system, and they have to constantly work to make sure it doesn't break. Credit to all the volunteers who are responsible for hammering out the details of that thankless task. Blood golems of Hextor: Well, that's a title that's completely self-explanatory. And the article doesn't disappoint, with a suitably gruesome monster that unfortunately requites regular topping up, so you can't just leave it in a dungeon for centuries to guard a room. As it also has a slow speed like many golems you could probably lure it away and wear it out if the priests aren't paying attention and giving intelligent orders. So this is a decent monster to fight, but PC's wouldn't want to bother creating and maintaining one themselves when they could go for a regular stone or iron golem that'll last for lifetimes. Also in the same article is another monster, the Marodin. Pacifistic humanoid plant creatures, they seem to have been included mainly to showcase the fact that the narrator, Enchiridon the Fiend-Sage, is not a nice creature at all, and will engage in all sorts of cruel experimentation in the name of gaining knowledge. So the framing device works quite well this time, and sets them apart from Elminster and Volo's basically benevolent investigations. When an article is presented in character, it does raise the question of the reporter's agenda. And you should definitely watch out for that in a war-torn world like Oerth. Playing Pieces: To balance out the two new monsters, we have two new half-elf characters here. A female Druid, and a male Ranger/Arcane Archer. Both have animal companions, and the typical half-elf problems fitting in, so they're more comfortable in the wilderness than social circles. Which means they're exactly the sort that you'll run into, and maybe end up fighting or needing help from. They're well integrated into specific parts of the setting, and seem to be pretty tightly done mechanically. These are a definite improvement on most of the old articles introducing new characters. If you complain enough, the writers do eventually listen, even if they don't always do what you want because of all the conflicting voices. I don't think anyone wants more errata though. Can we get a consensus on that of all things? Chainmail: This month, it's the goblinoid horde we find out more about. Not too surprisingly, they're led by a hobgoblin, even though hobgoblins aren't the most powerful of creatures, but they're organised, and close enough to human shape that they can use all the really awesome magical gear conveniently. Indeed, their leader got to be in charge by owning a magical axe and slaughtering his way through anyone who questioned his right to wield it. As usual, they have a wide variety of stuff to field. Orc Druids particularly add to to their firepower and ability to survive in harsh terrain, and they also have trained animals such as the savage war apes to serve as shock troops. Looks like they have less self-control issues than the gnoll forces, which is very interesting to note. (although almost definitely more than the undead, which we have yet to see) Plenty of variety while still maintaining a solid theme once again seems to be the watchword, so even when you're facing a particular side, you won't always be able to predict what creatures you'll face and what tactics will be best. Which I still approve of quite a bit.</blockquote>

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