Haunted Houses
by James Jacobs
From unquiet nature spirits to perversions from realms beyond, more than chain-rattling specters haunt the dark corners of the world. These seven new templates each detail a different haunting and are ready to apply to any structure or location. With unique new abilities for ghosts, information on how to resolve the haunting, and chilling reports of what happens should your character die there, no place will ever be safe again.
Birth of the Dead
by Ari Marmell
Ancient curses, spontaneous hauntings, and the create undead spell can’t be blamed for every walking corpse and wayward spirit. Whether hunting them or creating them, this article details the genesis of the most terrifying undead threats detailed in the Monster Manual, Fiend Folio, Monster Manual II,, and Monster Manual III.
Bandits in the Path of Fame
by James Lowder
A headstrong princess and her mysterious companion trek to a fallen city, once ruled her family. Can she face the evils surrounding herself and overcome the ancient tests that ward her ancestral throne?
The Demonomicon of Iggwilv
by Owen Stephens
For the first time since S4: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth the most infamous tome in D&D history is revealed, as well as the history of its infamous creator.
Plus!
The Ecology of the Spawn of Kyuss, Wormfood, and of course, Class Acts, Bazaar of the Bizarre, First Watch, Scalemail, Sage Advice, and comics.
If I wanted to read a story, I'd buy a novel or compilation (in fact, I have too many unread ones laying around already). As far as I'm concerned, the fiction section is a waste of space.
<P>
Unless, of course, it came with crunchy game statistics for the characters, creatures, items, etc. featured in the story. Sort of like the old "Mage Gathering" articles (Dalamar, Elminster, and some other wizard getting together to talk about spells).
I'd like to give it an extra star, but not this month
#336 is the October issue, and that means a horror theme. The magazine didn't disappoint, beginning with a well written article by James Jacobs on applying a haunted template to a location. The article includes a good mix of fluff and crunch, and is easily one of the best articles I've seen in a long time.
Birth of the Dead has some interesting ideas, but could have defined some mechanics relating to the spontaneous creation of undead. If not everyone can become a spectre, how do we know if this violent death should create one as opposed to that one? I would have preferred a mechanic beyond "DM discretion".
I didn't enjoy Bandits in the Path of Fame, fiction by James Lowder, but it is well written.
Class Acts was solid across the line, but the format has inherent limitations that left me disappointed.
All in all, it is a good issue, but it falls short of my high expectations and its own potential.
