WitcH RULE (Don't GEt BETWEEN THis Guy ano His Copy OF tHE HUGS maGazine ! ) “Tr’'8 50% MORE TYIACABRE, GUARANTEES |” Tuis Monty — ALL THINGS Dark and WOmnoERFUL GaminG Gawods GOES UNEAO THE Dos And Dorts OF HORROR, MARCH OF THE ErrtsVOL 3, ISSUE 2: OCTOBER 2001 ‘Send any letters ond submissions to witchrule@yahoo.co.uk EDITORIAL Welcome, mortal fools, to Witch Rule's terrifying Halloween special; Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HaHa tit ‘Ahem, sorry about that; I's been a long week and my head medicine is running low. As has probably not escaped you, it's about the time of All Hallows Eve, and so this issue of witehrue is all about Horror. ‘Actually, i's just an excuse for me 10 ‘waffle on bout my favourite genre while I wait for the new addition of Ravenloft to come out {insert dribbling pleasure noises here]. Expect a tually biased review once I've finshed cooing over it. NEW NEWS Witchrule will be taking a short break after this issue, coming back in the beginning of January. This gives you a HUGELY long time to all ‘submit something In panicular, I'd like to produce ‘more ofthis issues A ~ Z and Ten Commandments features, but I need your input. You don't even need to submit the whole article, just a few points and ideas. Future issues are going to deal with Oriental ‘campaigns, Sci Fi, Cyberpunk, Action Adventure, and this January is going to be “Classic Fantasy” month, in honour of Lord of The Rings. Any other ideas for themes will be greatly appreciated. So please, please, please... send me some stuff ‘THANKS Té also like"to say a big thank you to “Doe” for his cover ar, a rendition of a haunting encounter from my Seared Lands game. His talent ‘makes me truly jealous. MORE BEGGING Please keep sending stuf in. You have an cera long time before next issue, so there's no ‘Also, Shory's Lending Library idea sounds excellent. If you would be willing to lend fut any part of your Gaming library, then let me ‘now and Pl publish a ist. ‘SOME GRUMBLING Yet again, we've been screwed. Just as it id with Crouching Tiger, the Huddersfield UCT has decided not to sereen Brotherhood of the Wolf on the grounds that “we don't show minority films.” (despite the fact that its being advertised on Prime Time TV, and don't even get started on Crouching Tigen. 1 can’t possibly explain how pissed this sakes me, and for the sake of Future film releases, 1 urge all HUGS members to make their feelings known to the eineme in question. See the letters page for further ranting. CONTENTS 2... What The Heck is Role-playing Anyway? ( Part Two ) ‘This month, our guide on how to be a good player. P3... The Ten Commandments of. Horror ! ‘A bullet point guide to what's cool about the horror genre. PS... Némod The Riven ‘An datkefantasy NPC for your D&D game. P9... Gaming Gawds ‘A cordial invitation from the creatures of the night. P10... A Moment of Reflection ‘An diary extract from one of Huddersfield’ undead powermongers. PIL... True Tales Of Terror ! Real-life ghost stories from around the area P12... March of The Ents ‘News from Ant, Claire, and Criag P14... The Six Fingered Hand AA dark artefact... A sinister confession (for any system you like). P15... The A~Z of Ghoulish Glee Lots of horror-related films, TV shows, and novels that I believe are cool P16... Rise Up, Fiend! Faustian Fiction. P20... The D20 Review. Enigma and a bumper review of dark fantasy setting, Dragon Lords of Melniboné. P24... Fearsome Scrolls. ‘Speak you mind in the letters page. P25... The Dos and Donts of Horror Adventuring ‘Maniacal laughter has proven therapeutic effects.What The Heck is Role-Playing Anyway ? Part Two: So You Wanna Be A Good Player... BY “FIFTY” (Art By Garry Drinkall) So, now that you've tried Role-playing and you're in a regular game — But just how do you ‘become a good player and gain the respect of your friends and the undieing fear of your enemies? Ok — this is a question that has a some different opinions depending on who you ask, but let me tell you what I think. 1. Eun First and foremost the game is about having fun! All the games are supposed to be enjoyable and social, if you let yourself get involved with the game and join in with the other players you'll soon find you have mastered the art of piaying. 2. Characterisation - Getting into the ‘head’ of the character you are playing is an important part of the game. You should try to make each persona unique. Try talking in first person as your character, and try to act as your character would in a situation not necessarily as you would yourself (or what would be best). Consider the character's background and role in the group; what sort of person does that make him? (for example - very few Pro- boxers brought up in the Bronx are likely to be timid and shy ) - it often helps to exaggerate or reverse a facet of your own personality. 3. Interaction ~ This is a social hobby and you will almost certainly be part of a group. Try to join in without taking over. Most of the tasks your group of characters will attempt are only possible with the co-operation of all. 4. Visualisation — Quite a hard one at times this. Try to remember that your ‘character is present in the scene that the Storyteller is describing, he feels the heat of the fire and hears the whistle of the bullet past his head, basically remember that your character is in real danger and try 10 have her act appropriately. Also remember that the other guy at your table is actually a Six foot eight warrior, fal of muscles and armed with a huge sword, (not the five foot ten, 8 stone student ‘of chemistry you see at the table), again act appropriately! Numbers — Please try to remember the numbers the game uses to describe what ‘your character can and can't do are just that ~ numbers! They are only used to give a ‘level playing-field’ and help the storyteller run a fair and enjoyable game. Although almost all game rule systems allow a character to improve his skills and abilities as the character grows in experience, and itis cool to have a strong and able alter-ego, this isn’t what (most) games are about. As much (if not more) ‘enjoyment can be found playing a character who is flawed or regularly fails at his efforts trust me, the stories I could tell. 6. Eun — Did I mention this is supposed to be FUN! Relax and enjoy, there are no prizes, in fact there are no winners. The game isn't you Vs the other players or even you Vs the storyteller, it’s just a cool way to spend an evening (especially if there’s beer as well!)