The page count of the magazine increases issue to 32 pages, but the price remains the same (still 60p!).
Editor Ian Livingstone makes mention of what I think might be the first form of gaming piracy, that of photocopying bits of the magazine or wargames rules. It might seem laborious now but with the magazine having a fair few adverts and wargames rules being quite small, with schools and colleges now have easy photocopy access; the pirates were already stealing games. There are also the results of a character class survey confirming that Magic Users are still the favourite with Fighters a close second. Druids are at the bottom of the list, with Illusionists only just above them.
Editor Ian Livingstone makes mention of what I think might be the first form of gaming piracy, that of photocopying bits of the magazine or wargames rules. It might seem laborious now but with the magazine having a fair few adverts and wargames rules being quite small, with schools and colleges now have easy photocopy access; the pirates were already stealing games. There are also the results of a character class survey confirming that Magic Users are still the favourite with Fighters a close second. Druids are at the bottom of the list, with Illusionists only just above them.
On the Cover
A huge spacecraft hovers over an Icey landscape as a small landing shuttle makes it way down to a domed complex below. This is the second cover by veteran artist Eddie Jones whose previous work on Issue 10 tops the favourite covers list.Features
- A Dip into the Player’s Handbook (Don Turnbull): This article takes a look at the new 1st Edition PHB and points out some of the changes from the White Box people are mainly playing. No edition wars yet, but you can see the focus is on what rules have changed rather than ways to tell a story or play NPCs. Turnbull here makes note that Gnomes seem to have replaced Hobbits. He actually meant Halflings replace Hobbits, and yes there will be a host of letters about that mistake next issue!
- Pool of Standing Stones (Bill Howard): An adventure for D&D, that begins in a forest and inevitably ends up in a dungeon. But this one is interesting for the way it is populated with NPCs and creatures living and interacting in it, plus a couple of nice new magic items are detailed.
- Spellmaker (Eric Solomon): An interesting read mostly for what it represents. White Dwarf at this point has enough “clout” that when they review a game (see Open Box) and point out some flaws, the designer offers to write an article to address those and in some cases offer different options. Good on the designer for taking it in his stride, and good on White Dwarf for offering the platform.
- Useful Dungeon Equipment (Lew Pulsipher): A quick guide to the sort of mundane items every adventurer should remember to pack.
- Valley of the Four Winds, Part 5 (Rowland Flynn): The fifth part of a short story introducing the setting of a new Ral Partha figure range, where our heroes discover from a powerful wizard that their trials have actually been part of a vastly more important battle between law and chaos.
Regulars
- Letters: Mysteriously absent this issue, no idea why.
- Molten Magic: Sharing a page with the news, this features new figure releases from Asgard Miniatures, Greenwood & Ball, Ral Partha, Citadel Miniatures and Miniature Figurines.
- News: The big news here (repeated in Fiend Factory) is quite a coup for Games Workshop as they will be creating a new D&D monster book themselves called Fiend Folio. It will feature the best monsters from Fiend Factory and include a few more besides. Eagle eyed readers will already have noted some of the contenders from previous issues. In other news, Runequest and Traveller are getting more expansions and Games Workshop is also going to produce what will become its very successful dungeon floorplans series.
- Treasure Chest: An eclectic collection of nice magic items, including the odd but intriguing “Swords of Meryn Caradeth”. Also included is an update to the Barbarian class that appeared in WD#4 by Brian Asbury.
Fiend Factory
A collection of new monsters created by readers (although this issue mostly by Ian Livingstone):- Assassin bug (Ian Livingstone): A rather nasty bluebottle fly that lays eggs in unlucky adventurers.
- Deset Raider (Cricky Hitchcock): Following on from the big worm is what is clearly Fremen warriors from Dune. I’m sure there will be letters pointing this out.
- Giant Bloodworm (Ian Livingstone): A very big worm you can send at lower level adventurerers instead of a purple worm.
- Githyanki (Charles Stross): One of my all-time favourite monsters, created by novelist Charles Stross (Atrocity Archives). This version does not include their rivals the Githzerai who will appear in the Fiend Folio.
- Grell (Ian Livingstone): A nasty tentacular floating brain with an octopus beak.
- Hook Horror (Ian Livingstone): The name says it all, vulture man creature with hooks for hands.
- Iron Pig (Roger Musson): A cut price iron golem that fits nicely in lower level dungeons.
- Three Headed Skrat (Bob Montgomery): A three-headed snake plant that hides underground until it is ready to strike.
Open Box
This month the reviews are:- All the World’s Monsters (Vol 2): Monster book for D&D (The Chaosium) A big monster manual for D&D, although you’d expect Chaosium to just make this for Runequest.
- The Arduin Grimoire (Vol 1-3): Fantasy RPGs (Dave Hargrave) What may be an early fantasy heartbreaker that might have done better ditching any rules and just trying to offer a setting for D&D.
- Pellic Quest: Play by Mail (Conflict Interaction Associates) A new play by mail game (ask your grandfather what these were if you are under 25) that did well for a fair few years.
- Rapier and Dagger: Duelling Game (FGU) A system for swashbuckling combat that it is suggested might fit well in En guarde.
- Spellmaker: Magic Dueling Game (Gametime Games) A card based spell firing game not entirely unlike Magic: The Gathering. Don Turnbull points out some issues that are addressed by the designer in this issue.
