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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Corone" data-source="post: 9837542" data-attributes="member: 6806393">December 1982's issue is all about Judge Dredd. As well as the cover and the adverts for the board game, there are plenty of figure and comic adverts for 2000AD as well. Ian Livingstone also shares that they are planning a shake up on the magazine, with new columns for books and film reviews and other “game adjacent” material in the pipeline. I must say that since issue 34, the magazine seems to have blossomed into the one I remember in its heyday. It’s been much more than a fanzine for quite some time, but these last few issues really seem to have kicked into gear. Maybe it’s just me though, what do those of you following along think?It is also worth noting that the feedback form for this issue, with the feedback results for the previous issue, quietly vanishes this month. It had been a solid regular but maybe issue by issue was more data than they really needed. So, we’ll never know what people really thought of the Necromancer![ATTACH=full]427113[/ATTACH]On the CoverJudge Dredd glares at a perp as he pushes his nose a little out of joint with his Lawgiver pistol. But the perp isn’t too bothered, it’s a fair cop after all, as he says “He’s tough, but he’s fair”. The cover is by Brian Bolland, one of the leading 2000AD artists, and his only cover for White Dwarf. This may well have been a favour for the Games Workshop team after working with them on the Judge Dredd board game. Bolland is an extremely prolific comics artist, so it’s a wonder he had time to fit White Dwarf in. While he is best known for Judge Dredd he has also worked extensively for DC on Batman and Wonder Woman, most notable Batman: The Killing Joke with Allan Moore. He also worked on comic strips for Hammer Horror (Vampire Circus) and after getting to know the Games Workshop team went on to illustrate several Fighting Fantasy covers as well as the cover for one of the Golden Heroes RPG adventures. Even all that doesn’t cover most of his career. I’m not sure if he’s still working now he is over 70, but he may still be doing convention appearances.Features<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Judge Dredd (Ian Livingstone): With the release of the new board game, Ian Livingstone presents a design diary for the project, detailing how the game itself came together with the look and feel of the comic series.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">An Introduction to Traveller (Andy Slack): I’m not sure that anyone reading White Dwarf hasn’t given Traveller a go by now, but with all the “how to play D&D” articles it’s nice to see Traveller get some love. In this part Andy Slack mostly offers advice on finding a Traveller group (decent advice for finding any game group) and looks at creating a character and demystifying the system. Although if you’ve got the hang of AD&D Traveller will not be a problem.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Druid’s Grove (Mark Byng): If you think Druids are a bunch of tree hugging hippies, think again! This very detailed wargame is designed for two players and a GM to run a duel to claim the higher levels of Druidry. In first edition AD&D there was a limited amount of places for Druids of 9th level and above, so you have to fight to kick someone out of the level above you to move up a rung. I’m not too sure about the battle game here, but the map is full of encounters and would make an excellent sandbox style exploration adventure (possibly to find the Haven that wins the battle game). However, White Dwarf loses points this issue for not printing adverts on the back of the pull out map pages as they have done in the past.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A Guide to Dungeonmastering Part 3: Some Conclusions (Lew Pulsipher): Lew Pulsipher finishes his three part musing on the art of the DM with a little reiterating of what he said before and suggestions for managing the players as well as the characters.</li> </ul>Regulars <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">News: The typo problems in the Runequest Soloquest books have been sorted so the revised edition will be available in the UK. Games Workshop is releasing more dungeon floor plans to add to this popular range. A new contact service for getting gamers together has been launched called Quest. It’s a mail subscription service updating its customers about where gaming clubs can be found each quarter. Clubs are encouraged to send in their details. There are new adventures for Traveller from GDW (Adventure 8: Prison Planet and Double Adventure 6: Divine Intervention/Night of Conquest) and modules from TSR for Gangbusters (GB2 Murder in Harmony) and AD&D (WG4 The Forgotten Temple of Tharizan). A new RPG “Swordbearer” is also on the way from Heritage. It will get a second edition by FGU in 1985.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Fans of Judge Dredd will probably already be aware of the singer Judge Dread. He phoned White Dwarf to ask they mention him so fewer fans of 2000AD turn up at his concert and get disappointed he dispenses the blues instead of judgement. In more gaming related news, Citadel is setting up a new casting system that will let them create miniatures with different head/arms/weapon options. So you will be able to buy a box of Orc warriors and make them all a little different. I’m not sure if this is a sprue type option as they are still casting in lead I believe. But it’s a step forward for miniature fans and closer to what we consider standard today.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Letters: We start as usual with a few typos and misprints pointed out. Nothing too egregious though. One reader takes issue with Lew Pulsipher’s recent articles on DMing, when he says dungeons need a rationale. The reader suggests that random labyrinths and defensive structures are not only a staple of fantasy but more common than you’d think anyway in medieval times. I think I agree with Lew though. Paul Vernon steps in to suggest computers working out realistic villages and towns might actually make them less believable or fun. It’s a point that has resurfaced time and again as “The Tiffany problem” referring to the old Greek name that everyone believes is far more modern than it is, making it seem incongruous. Finally a representative of the Sapients Against Dangerous Robotic Equipment write in to complain that droids get a raw deal always being painted as mass destruction machines. He mentions there aren’t robot warriors in Star Wars, yet that is. But at least the battle droids won’t be the worst thing in The Phantom Menace.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Starbase: No Starbase this month, presumably bumped to accommodate the larger introduction to Traveller article.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Runerites: Not an especially inspiring article this issue, essentially offering different skill options for various outdoor encounters to stop players just attacking everything. Not a bad idea but rather a long way to say it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Microview: Things have certainly changed in computing since 1982. This month we get two programs you can type into your ZX81 (yes, I said type in! You had to write the code out back then). Luckily it’s under 16K so your computer should handle that amount of data! The programmes are designed to randomly create star map layouts for your Traveller game. I’m tempted to fire up an emulator and see how they worked.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Treasure Chest: This issue Treasure Chest is dedicated to last issue’s Necromancer class with 13 new abilities (that might also convert into spells pretty easily). These are actually more interesting than most of the previous ones that mostly just raised or controlled different types of undead. Some much more interesting stuff here like “Locate Tomb” and “Wall of Bones”.</li> </ul>Fiend FactoryA huge departure this month, not just no mini-adventure but only one monster! The Loculi takes centre stage, with a very detailed look at its abilities and ecology. It’s essentially a tribal creature that looks like a six legged ankylosaurus who can wield weapons in its front paws. As if that isn’t bad enough, they get bigger as they grow older like dragons do and are highly intelligent. While I do like the idea of getting a lot of detail on one monster, this is all a lot of the same thing. There is an ocean of detail on description, abilities, nest practices and psionic abilities, but not much about the culture of the creature or its way of life (especially as it is meant to be clever). Still, interesting departure, we’ll see if there are any letters about it later on!Open BoxThis month’s reviews are:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Warlock_of_Firetop_Mountain" target="_blank">The Warlock of Firetop Mountain</a>, Fighting Fantasy Gamebook (Puffin Books) So it begins! This might not have been the first of this kind of books, but it’s certainly the most well-known and the start of a long and popular series. I really should give it a go one day (although I did play other books in the series!).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/57795/trollpak" target="_blank">Trollpak</a>, Runequest Supplement (Chaosium) It looks like Greg Stafford really liked Trolls as it seems like this is the boxed set no one asked for, but are very glad they got (and will see a second edition in 1988). It’s a set of three books detailing Troll culture, how to create Troll player characters and a selection of new cults and adventures. One of the old Runequest classics. You never knew you needed more Trolls in your game until you got this set!</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/45071/pirates-and-plunder" target="_blank">Pirates and Plunder</a>, RPG Core Boxed Set (Yaquinto) This has been out for a while so it’s odd we’ve not seen a review before (especially as Yaquinto seem to send all their wargames to White Dwarf). It’s a solid pirate/swashbuckling game, and pretty much the only game of its type until Flashing Blades comes out in 1984</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><a href="https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/58619/merchant-class-ships" target="_blank">Merchant Class Ships</a>, <a href="https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/59056/aslan-mercenary-ships" target="_blank">Aslan Mercenary Cruisers</a>, <a href="https://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/51974/the-fci-consumer-guide" target="_blank">The FCI Consumer Guide</a> Traveller supplements (FASA) Three more licenced products for Traveller from FASA who are yet to release the Star Trek rpg so have some time on their hands. The first two of these are ship plans, which have proved popular for several third party Traveller supplements. The last is an equipment guide, which is the sort of thing that I’m a big fan of if they do it well.</li> </ul></blockquote>

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