White Dwarf Reflections #9

A slightly sparser issue this month, and a pause in the letters page. Editor Ian Livingstone addresses the arguments about how games ‘should be played’ by sensibly saying ‘whatever works for you’. It seems the ‘I’m the authority’ and ‘true fan’ stereotypes are not as new as we might have thought.

On the Cover​

An Arabian styled warrior with a large crossbow gun stands astride a fallen alien enemy, resplendent on his war chicken mount. The art is by Christopher Perigo, and while I can’t be sure if it’s the same person, this may well be the same Christopher Perigo who worked on both the Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels and Pirates of the Caribbean video games as an artist.

Features​

• The Experienced Traveller, Part 1 (Mike Ferguson): Early Traveller apparently lacked a detailed XP system. This article grants options for how to increase each skill by how often and how well that particular skill is used. Interesting idea, although a lot to keep track of.
• Valley of the Four Winds, Part 2 (Rowland Flynn): The second part of a short story introducing the setting of a new Ral Partha figure range where the heroes venture into the swamp the help the Gondemarian dwarves.
• The Lichway (Albie Fiore): A dungeon adventure set in what was once a mausoleum. After the community that used it are driven off by Lizardmen the PCs decide to see what spoils might remain.
• Foresters (Trevor Clarke & Ed Simbalist): A new character option (pretty much a Ranger) for Chivalry and Sorcery.

Regulars​

• Kalgar: Cut short in its prime Kalgar is finally cancelled, with it (basically) all turning out to be a dream. Shame, as it seemed to just be about to gear up, but it was not a fan favourite.
• Letters: Absent this month, but with a call for readers to share their views on the ‘realism debate’ for next issue.
• Molten Magic: A very short (half page) photo guide for the new releases from Ral Partha, Greenwood & Ball, Wargame Publications, Dragontooth, Asgard Miniatures, Miniature Figurines, Archive Miniatures and Minot’s Miniature Armoury.
• News: The new Player’s Handbook for AD&D arrives as well as many modules. 1st edition is coming along nicely it seems. Judges Guild, FGU, GDW, Imperium Publishing and Dimension Six all have several releases. ‘The’ Chaosium also releases the ‘Lords of the Middle Sea’ board game. The RPG will be coming along in 2025 all going well, which might make you feel better about any late delivery kickstarters you are waiting for.
• Treasure Chest: This week George Scott delivers several quick dungeon traps, Albie Fiore offers a table for generating monster ability scores on the fly and Ian Livingstone produces a table of ‘useless things’ for players to come across (in dungeons or pockets) which is now one of my favourite tables ever.

Fiend Factory​

A collection of new monsters created by readers. This month they add an Intelligence stat in line with the new Monster Manual and list the Intelligence of the previous Fiend Factory creations:

• Doken (Ian McDowall) a big hairy ape that really only gets upset if you steal its stuff. Seems fair to be honest.
• Flying Fish (Dave Waring) a hydrogen filled lungfish that can chase you pretty much anywhere.
• Imorph (Andrew Key) a shape changing ooze that works as a low grade doppelganger.
• Nasnas (Roger Musson) a humanoid creature that only has half a body (one arm, one leg).
• Stair Stalker (Roger Musson) a shaggy humanoid that does exactly what the name implies.
• Svart (Cricky Hitchcock) a goblinoid creature halfway between Kobold and Goblin based on creatures in The Weirdstone of Brisingamon by Alan Garrner.
• Umpleby (Stephen Wood) a friendly apelike creature that stores electricity and is more of a liability than a helpful companion.
• Urchin (Nick Louth) various types of sea urchin, all with different potential treasures inside.
• Whipper (Bob Scurfield) an antler wielding carnivorous plant that avoids sunlight and runs if it gets into trouble.

Open Box​

This month the reviews are:

• Superhero ’44, RPG Corebook (Lou Zocchi) probably the first supers RPG.
• Legions of the Petal Throne, Wargame (TSR) Miniature battle game based in Tekumel
• Modules G1, G2 & G3, Adventures (TSR) The original module trilogy that will later be compiled or known as ‘Against the Giants’
• Citadel of Fire, Adventure Module for D&D (Judges Guild)

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Thanks for giving me such a through answer. That makes more sense, but I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed it isn't using antlers. It was the kind of weird where you want the story behind it. Now I'm going to have to come up with my own reason when I make stats for it.

If you like weird/creepy forest stuff, I recommend checking out Into the Wyrd & the Wild, which has a very weird and creepy bestiary.

 

[Silver Griffin]

If you like weird/creepy forest stuff, I recommend checking out Into the Wyrd & the Wild, which has a very weird and creepy bestiary.

Yes it does, I already have it. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[talien]

Is this the svart the same as the xvart, that appeared in the Fiend Folio (and is in BG1 for some reason)?

The original term likely came from Svartálfar - Wikipedia , which is interesting, since that way lies drow. It might be why they were changed to "xvart" but more to the point, it positioned svartalfar as squat dwarves vs. lithe elves (as wikipedia attests). Given they were inspired by a story in the first place, it seems like another photocopy of a photocopy monster that's long lost its original mythic inspiration.

 

[ilgatto]

That is a wild rabbit hole! I'd be curious to see the original depiction of the Lauren.

Not the best of scans, but here you go:

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Not the best of scans, but here you go:

View attachment 398881

Thanks! Still heckin' creepy.

 

[ilgatto]

Thanks! Still heckin' creepy.

Quite!
Probably also right up there with the best of them for the most disconcerting illustrations of ever in D&D.
Done by Polly Wilson, who did a lot of terrific monster illustrations for WD. Not to detract from the artwork in the FF, but I've always considered it a bit of a shame that some of her illustrations didn't make it into that volume.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

Quite!
Probably also right up there with the best of them for the most disconcerting illustrations of ever in D&D.
Done by Polly Wilson, who did a lot of terrific monster illustrations for WD. Not to detract from the artwork in the FF, but I've always considered it a bit of a shame that some of her illustrations didn't make it into that volume.

Looking up her art, she's done a bunch of cool illustrations. She gives me a bit of a Virgil Findley / Sidney Sime vibe.

 

[ilgatto]

Looking up her art, she's done a bunch of cool illustrations. She gives me a bit of a Virgil Findley / Sidney Sime vibe.

Cool!
Had to look them up and definitely gonna use Sidney Sime for handouts.

Re Polly Wilson: She's got this style that is this strange mixture of naive, weird, experimental, accomplished, scrawny, and somehow constant all at the same time - hard to pin down and that is always a good thing IMHO.