Dragon 356
Ship Date to Subscribers: 05/08
Date Received: 05/14
Shipping Time: 6 days
Average Shipping Time (Jan-Aug ’07): 10.2 days
Before I get started on the review, I am going to put my 2 cents in regarding the cancellation of my favorite magazine (and its redheaded stepbrother, Dungeon). I am sad to see them go. I have been gaming for well over 20 years and for most of that time Dragon magazine has been a huge part of my gaming arsenal. Although Dungeon (and Polyhedron, R.I.P.) was not a frequent buy, when I did purchase (or subscribe to like Polyhedron), it was very valuable to my needs. Something better must come out of this decision to end the magazines.
Unfortunately, I never took WotC’s survey. From what I read, it was a random pop-up on their homepage. I hardly ever visit their homepage, because I am only interested in their D&D products. So I had to read about it on the D&D forums. From those second-hand accounts, what WotC was asking looked interesting, but I had to wonder how much it was going to cost me. Gone are the days that I would buy every book that came out just because I had to have it in my collection. Now I have things like tithing (yes, I am a devout Christian), mortgage, school tuition (I’m going for my second degree, long story), a wife, a child on the way, a career that I have to personally finance, and other hobbies. I have become less selfish when it comes to my desires and I am a better man for it.
My D&D purchases basically boil down to this: subscription to Dragon (much cheaper even if I don’t get any utility out of one or two issues a year), Eberron products (I hold Dragon magazine and WotC’s preview articles personally responsible for getting me addicted to this world, I had no intention of adding another game world to my collection) which includes the novels (my FR novel purchases have gone done exponentially; last purchase was the first anthology of the Year of Rogue Dragons), and for a short time the miniatures game (I found others more interested in that then gaming, so what could I do). So how was I to afford a subscription to an online service/e-zine? The books I can pretty much pick up anytime/anywhere. Magazines, or pretty much any subscriptions, to any have a limited span of availability. Those become more important to get, in my way of thinking. Well I guess you could say that the cancellations of the magazines are a good thing. It has given me a way to subscribe to the new service being created. I would go into the details, but if anybody has taken an Economics course, you might see what I have been talking about.
So enough about what has happened and what is going to happen. I have a magazine to review. I just have one last thing to say about WotC’s initiative: it better be good…and affordable.
Cover
I like the cover quite a bit. Two dragons battling it out while a couple of adventurers are in the midst, just trying to stay alive. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to use two fo the new dragons that appear within these pages. Noted on the cover is: 5 new metallic dragons (chromium, cobalt, mickel, tungsten, iron), core beliefs: hextor, Confession: a new tale by Paul S. Kemp, and ecology of the linnorm. On the spin is: Dragons, Ferrous Dragons, Core Beliefs: Hextor, Confession, Ecology of the Linnorm.
Shorts and Staples
Editorial by Erik Mona
Here is Mr. Mona mussing about the cancellation of the magazines. I could be wrong but it seems that from reading the first few paragraphs that Mona is a little bitter about the decision. I could be wrong.
Scale Mail
There is a letter about the cancellation and surprisingly it is not hateful, thank goodness. I got tired of reading those within 10 seconds of vewing the boards. Another letter about the impact of Dragon magazine and what letters Sage Advice answers. The third is about the Modrons. Someone wants stats for the rest. Well, I can happily say because I don’t use them, that space will not be wasted on the rest because we only have a few issues left and I want Dragon to go out with a bang, with very cool, very useful articles. In my opinion, the modrons are useful to a small portion of the gaming community.
First Watch
WotC’s releases next month include Expedition to Undermountin. It is not labeled as a Forgotten Realms product. I really dislike when they do that (as I look up to my booksheft and see an ugly brown spine that is Races of Eberron among my beautifully-dark spines with with a dragon’s skull on the other Eberron supplements). Undermountin is FR. WotC can supply a web enhancement that gives suggestions on how to use it in other worlds. Second to be previewed is the Sinister Spire, the sequel adventure to Barrow of the Forgotten King. It has drow and undead in it. Character levels are 4th-6th level. The last, and by far my favorite is the Forge of War, and Eberron accessory. This book seems to be mostly fluff. I like fluff, but mostly if I can use it as a character or DM. A historical reference (what this seems to be) has little use to me. But don’t get me wrong, I can think up something to use, like was my character part of the war and what battalion did he belong to? Maybe some ancestor wronged someone else in the war and it has caught up to the play many generations later. Something I noticed as I read this preview is that it mentioned battle scars. These were also mentioned in the preview article on WotC’s website. What character options do these allow? I am highly interested.
Next month in Dragon #357. Demogorgon, the next installment of Demonomicon of Iggwilv and apparently very useful to the Savage tide adventure path in Dungeon (according to what I read in this month’s Savage Tidings). Defiled Creatures looks interesting. I don’t know if they are templates or what, but it seems to be different types of staple creatures, like the bloodlances (unicorns without their horns), beast wraiths, and deadwood revenants. Fur and Feather: more options relating to animal companions (and possibly familiars). This issue appears to have a beastly theme. Also is the ecology of the titan.
Other previews are: Crown of the Kobold King (the first adventure in Paizo’s Game Mastery series, or the second if you count their adventure for Free RPG Day on June 23rd), Hero Lab (I haven’t checked it out yet, but I like computor programs for creating characters and such), Night Below (Raistlin, Large Chaos Beast, and Frost Giant Jarl pictured). The Book of Treasure Maps (six adventures from Goodman Games), Flip-Mat Tavern (another Paizo product, this is a laminated tavern map), Dark Wings Over Freeport (Green ronin returns to Freeport with this adventure for 9th-level characters), three adventures from Expeditious Retreat Press geared towards D&D’s first edition rules for those that don’t like change or for those that need a change. Dungeon # 147 (I do look forward to this because it has an Eberron adventure for 5th-level characters; it also has the last of the Seeds of Sehan campaign arc for 10th-level characters and the latest Savage Tide adventure path for 15th-level characters), Ziggurat Con ( small convention for our troops in Iraq), graphic novels for Dragonlance Chronicles and Icewind Dale Trilogy from Devil’s Due Publishing (now if they can just come out with another Eberron comic), and Free RPG Day on June 23rd.
Scale Mail by Andy Collins, illustrated by Andrew Hou
The questions this month relate to critical hits, damage, and healing. I felt this was a fairly informative month.
The Meat
Top 10 Most Wanted Dragons in D&D by Tim Hitchcok and Nicolas Logue
I am so glad that there is a Dark Sun dragon on this list, even if he is number ten.
10. Borys of Ebe from DSCS and the Curulean Storm.
9. Utreshimon, the blue from Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.
8. Growf! From What’s New with Phil and Dixie (please, let’s keep this list to real dragons; did I just say real?).
7. Chronepsis, the god of fate and jugding of the spirits from Draconomicaon and 2nd edition’s A Player’s Primer to the Outlands.
6. Ashardalon, from Bastion of Broken Souls.
5. Klauth from Neverwinter Nights, Dragon #244, and FRCS.
4. Calcryx from the Sunless Citadel (same as Meepo).
3. Flame from Dungeon #1, 17, and 100.
2. Cyan Bloodbane from Dragonlance Chronicles, Dragons of Dreams, and Dragons of a Fallen Sun.
1. Dragotha, the first dracolich, from White Plume Mountain, Dragon #134, and Dungeon #134.
Ferrous Dragons by Kevin Baase and Eric Jansing, illustrated by James Zhang.
These dragons are really cool. I don’t even need to know what they can do. It’s really based on the art. I think Zhang did a really great job on their pics. My two favorite looking dragons are the cobalt and tungsten variaties. The other three are the chromium, iron, and nickel. Along with their stats there is a table relating totheir half-dragon kin. So a few things they can do: chromiums have two breath weapons (solid ice and freezing crystals) as well as the ability to turn flesh to crystal, the cobalt has a pulsing magnetic breath weapon, iron dragons can change form, breath either superheated sparks or a cone of gas, and turn flesh to iron, the nickel can breath a cone of corrosive gas and use an ability called mass irritation which causes your skin to itch or develop a rash, and the tungsten has a blasting sand breath weapon and can use immolation and sand cloud. I am very happy with these dragons.
Core Beliefs: Hextor by Sean K. Reynolds, illustrated by Andrew Hou, cartopgraphy by Robert Lazzaretti
I don’t know if it is just me or not, but it seems there is a larger portion devoted to Hextor’s history. I’m sitting in bed right now typing this, so I don’t have the desire to check any of the other Core Beliefs to check my theory. I do like that Hextor is about law. If his clerics give their word, they are expected to keep it. There are sections devoted to the roles of assassins and blackguards. The myths are done very well, especially the one where Hextor chooses not to be like Heironeous because he doesn’t want to be second best at being good, he would rather be the best at being bad. There is a small list of additional summonable creatures, which includes a nightmare. A couple relics and spells along with a a couple NPCs round out the article (along with Hrinnom the nightmare).
Confession: A Tale of New Dineen by Paul S. Kemp, illustrated by Ramon Perez
Mark your calendar. This is going to be the very first short story that I will have read in Dragon magazine. It’s not that I have never wanted to, it’s just it has never been a priority. So here it goes…I read the first line and closed the magazine. I don’t desire language like that. Not in my house, in the movies I watch, or in the books I read. So, I guess my streak of not reading any short stories in Dragon is still alive. But now I wonder how many of them have, in my opinion, vulgar language.
Regulars
The Ecology of the Linnorm by Jacob Frazier, illustrated by Peter Bergting
I hate to say this but I think this article could have been so much more. All I kept thinking about were the old Viking Campaign scourebook and the two Dragon articles that had the linnorms in them (for 2nd edition of course). Frazier really only writes about three of the linnorms: the gray and dread linnorms and the corpse tearer. I’ll end it there, although a sea linnorm is stated out.
Savage Tidings: Into the Abyss by Robert J. Schwalb, illustrated by Ben Wootten
This is the appetizer to the Demogorgon article coming next month. It gives a little info on the Prince of Demons as well as quite a few magic items. Suggestions on getting replacement PCs (because you just might die on the 8th layer of the Abyss). Lastely there are updates for the organizations
Volo’s Guide: Wyrms of the West, East, and South by Brian Cortijo, illustrated by James Zhang
I won’t go into too much detail of the three dragons portrayed here. The wyrm of the west is Acuakvacaesin a LN mature adult green dragon sorcerer 8. Yep, Lawful Neutral. I pretty good story to go along with it too. Rhyaexthadarsh is the wyrm of the east. She is a CE ancient white dragon. She is also smarter than the average white because she has a headband of intellect +6 on her finger. Lastely is Svernvignarngix, the wyrm of the south, a NG old brass graond. He is on a mission to save Calimshan.
Dragonmarks: The Gatherng Stone by Tim Hitchcock, illustrated by Tyler Walpole
There is a place in Darguun that has a large shale stone. Historically used as a gathering place for the Dhkaani, it has started seeing much use these days as the goblinoids try to resurrect their empire. This empire details what goes on there, like how they settle disputes through arena-type games
Class Acts illustrated by Jon Hodgson
Adventurer: Bard Guide by Amber E. Scott
You are all familiar with what these will contain. Some important tables (bardic music effects and qualifiers, perform and use magic device stuff, and bardic knowledge) as well as the class’ special abilities, which include: bardic music, bardic magice, and bardic knowledge. These have lists of feats and prestige classes that fit those abilities.
Arcane: Occult Mutations by Tim Hitchcock
The accessory Unearthed Arcana introduced character traits. You can roll or pick up to two and they give you light benefits and penalties. This article expands on those, although for the mutations, you are only allowed one (but you can still pick another character trait, just not a mutation). Described is amphibious, bleached pupils, corpse flesh, lidless eyes, midnight pupils, rune-scarred, toad warts, and unnatural aura. There are some very unwanted conditions there if you as me.
Aztec Mythos III by David Schwartz
Part three of fleshing out the aztec deities. Here we have Cihuacoatl, who represents the earth. She is the giver of life, giving birth to all. She is also the devourer. She eats all that has died. Then there is Huitzipopochtli, the god of war and the chosen deity of the Aztecs.
Mercenary Companies by Paul Leach
Two real world civilizations are given the organization treatment. Changing the names is pretty much all you need to do (and probably some of the foreign words, too) in order to make them fit into your campaign. These are the Scots-Irish Galloglas, which fight with axe and sword, and the German Landsknechts who fight with two-handed swords (possibly bastard swords) or halberds.
Ferrous Dragons by Kevin Baase and Eric Jansing, illustrated by James Zhang.
These dragons are really cool. I don’t even need to know what they can do. It’s really based on the art. I think Zhang did a really great job on their pics.
heh, that's really cool. :) we updated these from an old article in Dragon #170, which IIRC had no art at all!
Contributor
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But now I wonder how many of them have, in my opinion, vulgar language.
Very few, actually. IIRC, the previous one that did was Martin's short story back in #305.
If you're interested in reading Dragon fiction, I heartily recommend the Fool Wolf stories by Gregory Keyes:
"Wakes the Narrow Forest" in #249
"Fallen God, The" in #261
"Python King's Treasure, The" in #268
"Skin Witch, The" in #272
"Sleeping Tide, The" in #279
"Opal of Nah, The" in #280
"Hounds of Ash, The" in #281
Hmm... they might not all be Fool Wolf stories (ah, the splendors of copy/paste) but I suspect they are at least full of goodness (having only read most of them). :)
vulgar language
But playing a game where evil, death, murder, slaughter, gore, and other sorts of glorified violence is...ok?
Not to get off topic, but I don't think I'll ever understand people who freak out over "bad" words. I quote the word "bad" because a word only has as much power as you give it. I don't have a problem with vulgar language, I think it's rather artistic, in fact, if used properly in cinema, literature, and even public speaking. I don't believe in a "bad" word because you're personifying a word as if it had morals and ethics and they don't. People do.
I warn people not to bring their kids around me if they can't handle it. I have no problems with it and I don't think anyone should. Any word can be bad. If I called my father a "fuzzle-fut" long enough and in a demeaning manner since I was 5, it'd probably be just as equivalent to the F-word and I'd be reprimanded for it.
I don't think basing a story as awful just because it has a naughty word in it is fair. We live in a country of freedom of speech, but apparently many people seem to forget that.
Ok, rant done. I just had to say it. I can't stand ignorance of that level, seriously...quit reading a short story cause of "vulgar" language? Please. *rolls eyes* Probably the same type of person that roared at the heavens to smite down WotC for releasing the BoVD
P.S. I'm a devout Christian also, so I don't want anyone to assume I'm some rebellious left-wing nut ;)
I don't believe that Abinadi is saying that you or I don't have the right to free speech, but that she has the right not to hear or read it.
Free speech is a great thing and must be preserved, but what you or I don’t have is the right to be heard. What I mean by that is if someone doesn’t like something they shouldn’t be forced or coerced into hearing it. I only say that because so many times the right of free speech is used to say “I have the right to offend you and you don’t have the right to be offended”.
I agree 100% with the idea that vulgar words have their place but that also assumes that at times they are not appropriate. Just my two cents.