@ | ANGATS OF The ee) DINNER TABLE”The Independent Games Magazine There’s Only One Place to find the regular adventures of the KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE!! The Same Place You'll Find These Other Cult-Classic Comics JOE GENERO, THE AVERAGE MAN! EVERY ISSUE JOE IS SUBJECTED TO THE RULES OF VARIOUS RPG SYSTEMS TO DETERMINE SUCH THINGS AS HOW MANY SHOTS IT TAKES TO KILL HIM, HOW LONG IT TAKES TO DROWN HIM, ETC. FENILOUS FENGERS!! YES, JD. WEBSTER'S LEGENDARY THIEF IS BACK FROM THE GRAVE IN HIS ‘ALL NEW ADVENTURES. FINIEQUS, FRED AND CHARLY HAVE TEAMED BACK TOGETHER TO PROVE ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT YOU CANT KEEP A GOOD COMIC DOWN. YOU WONT FIND FINIEOUS ANYWHERE ELSE BUT IN SHADIS. Don't get us wrong — SHADIS isn't a comic book. It just so happens we love comics and run them regularly in the back, SHADIS is a 112 page independent role-playing magazine that has been sweeping the hobby by storm. Each issue features articles and adventures written by the best writers in the industry, reviews, play-by-mail coverage, virtual reality, Game Master aids, industry news, etc. We offer the most comprehensive coverage of the industry (both large and small companies) available. If you're a gamer, then you'll want to get your hands on a copy of SHADIS. You can get a sample copy by sending $3.50 or subscribe for a full year by sending $21.00 to: ‘SHADIS, 17880 Greystone Blvd #203, Chino Hills, CA 91709.THE KNIGHTS OF TRE DINNER TABLE™ *Gluttons For Punishment” By Jolly R. Blackburn Cover artwork by Jason Holmgren 1 GOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A BUNCH OF BOYS THROWING BEAN BAGS AT THE PICNICKERS AND YELLING "KLENGON™. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, WOULD YOU? UMMM, NO, OFACER, WERE \ JUST BIRD WATCHERS, SCOTTY, FOUR J iy y ts tinstallment of KODT is approximately five months late. For the past twelve weeks I've been assaulted daily by my partners and distributors with, “Well? Is it finished yet?” Sigh, no one understands the hardships of the reluctant cartoonist For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting this issue, my apologies. My duties as editor of SHADIS magazine have been demanding most of my time these past months. And now I'm told KODT is to become a bi-monthly comic book?? This is where you, the reader, can be of great service. You will find details for a contest elsewhere in this issue. The biggest comment I receive on KODT is “Those guys remind me of my own group!” Assuming this is true, there must be hundreds of funny stories out there. If you would take time to send in your suggestions for story- lines for the boys of KODT I would be personally grateful. You could also earn yourself free subscriptions and or gaming products from sponsoring companies if your story- line is selected for a future KODT issue. Enjoy the issue! Neh ® bl. — Jolly R. Blackburn danuary 21, 1995 A my old boss was so found of saying, “You're late, young man!” Ok, this LET ME SEE aave THe YEAH, PRETTY COOL HUH? RULES RIGHT, | KEEP A ‘VIAL OF SMELLINIG-SALTS , UP THE LOSERS AR0s? BEACK DESNES. LOUISE sto \AST NIGHT TWO GUYS GOT IN A PALMING A RARE CARD! KNIFE FIGHT DOWN. AT WEIRD " PETES OVER THIS GAMEWho’s Who in the Group B.A. is 30 years old and lives with his parents. When he isn’t gaming he works part-time in his dad's dry cleaning shop. B.A. dropped out of college to follow his dream of being a game designer. He sunk $6,000 into his first gaming product, DOG: the Role-Playing Game which was a bomb. B.A. suffered a nervous breakdown and left gaming for a few years before picking up his dice bag again. He founded the Knights of the Dinner Table in 1976. Bob is 26 years old and also lives with his parents. He is currently unemployed even though he’s taken over 8 years of vocational classes at a local tech college. He has a habit of losing his job because of his temper and sharp tongue. Bob was the first due-paying member of the group. Bob is from the old school of role-playing and believes it’s all about breaking things and killing people. He made the local papers once when he got lost in the steam tunnels under the tech college for seven days. Dave is 22 years old and attends Ball State University where he is studying Dave fj cultural anthropology and dance theory. Dave was introduced to role-playing by Bob, whom he met at a local paintball tournament. Dave is a true blooded OQ Bozwell fh ackenslasher who becomes bored easily. He often forgets to bring his character sheet to the game and tends to borrow someone else's dice. Dave originally joined the group to take advantage of the free munchies. Brian is 27 years old and lives alone. He manages to make a modest living : operating a local computer bulletin board and selling painted miniatures. Brian | Brian VanHoose is typically quiet and utters only three word sentences unless a rule has been broken or his character has been maligned. Even though Brian can't remember his own phone number, he can recite entire passages of various rule books from memery. He claims to have a girlfriend but no one has ever seen her. Sara is 25 years old and is B.A.'s cousin, She recently moved back to Muncie, Indiana from Wisconsin and is the newest member of the group. Unfortunately, Sara is also the only female in the group and fights a lonely battle to bring more role-play into the group's gaming sessions and less hack-nslash, Sara has decided itis her swom obligation to bring the other members of the group around to her style of play. She attempts to do this by example but cassionally has to resort to threats and physical bullying to make her point. “Weird” Pete Ashton is 46 years old and is the sole proprietor of a local gamestore called the “Games Pit”, Pete is proud of the fact that he was one of the co-designers of the cult classic role-playing game, “LYNCH MOB". Pete loves to relate the story of how he was burned by his partners and lost “millions.” Pete is always available for advice and oddly seems to be very bitter about the hobby he loves so much.First Impressions OK, BEFORE WE BEGIN THE GAME, LET'S ALL WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR GROUP, SARA! WHY DON'T WE ALL INTRODUCE OURSELVES? BOB, YOU GO FIRST! (ME? Wily ME? WHY 00 | ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FIRST? \ OM, HI SARA. I'M BOB AND | PLAY ‘A DWARF. JUST DON'T TOUCH MY DICE AND WELL GET ALONG FINE, HI SARA. I'M DAVE. I'VE BEEN ROLE-PLAYING FOR YEARS SO DON'T SWEAT IT - IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, I'MA AT YOUR SERVICE. TM THE FIGHTER OF THE GROUP SO STICK BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN ©1995 OH GET OFF IT, BOB. LET'S GET GOING SO WE CAN ROLL SOME DICE AND PLAY. NICE TO MEET YOU BOB. AND DON'T WORRY, | HAVE MY OWN DICE, THANK YOU. BOB PLAYS THE BEST DWARF PVE EVER SEEN. GEE, THANKS, DAVE PLL TRY TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. DAVE HAS A +1Z HACKMASTER ‘SWORD - THERE ARE ONLY FOUR KNOWN TO EXIST!HAHLAHHAHL, SA.SA.SASA.SARA, PMA, TMA, PMA, BRI..BRI...BRIAN. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG ‘WITH HIM? OK, YOUR TURN HE'S TURNING PALE. COME ON, BRIAN! ‘SPIT IT OUT! IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU BRIAN. DON'T WORRY, | DON'T BITE. ITS HOT HAL YOU CAN BITE ie AND JUST WHAT 19 YOU MEAN BY THAT?? OH, ER, NOTHING. NOTHING AT ALL!| GUESS ITS MAW TURN! MY NAME IS SARA. I'VE BEEN ROLE-PLAYING FOR TEN YEARS. | WAS REGIONAL CHAMPION OF THE GARY JACKSON RPG TOURNEY FOR FOUR YEARS RUNNING. | DON'T STEAL DICE, | KNOW THE RULES AND I'M READY TO PLAY - ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, WHAT CHARACTER TYPE ARE YOU PLAYING? (TM PLAYING A FEMALE BARBARIAN NAMED ZAYRE. ‘SHE HAS A PAIR OF TRAINED STURM WOLVES AND SHE BELIEVES IN TALKING INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IF POSSIBLE. ‘A BARBARIAN HUH? DOES ‘SHE WEAR A LEATHER THONG? SNICKER WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TELL YOU WHAT | 010 TO THE LAST GUY WHO MADE A SEXIST REMARK ABOUT MY CHARACTER? OH, NO. | GET THE POINT. \NO, | REALLY DON'T THINK YOU GET IT. | THINK | GOING TO HAVE TO HURT YOU. HEY CUT |T OUT, | WAS ONLY KIDDING. | WON'T 00 IT AGAIN, PROMISE!! HA, LOOK AT DAVE! GETTING BULLIED BY A GIRL! HA! GEE SARA, YOU SURE KNOW How TO TAKE CARE bi CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY YOURSELF. I'VE NEVER SEEN OLY DAVE SO SHAKEN. AND WE SHOULD GET ALONG DAVE. NO HARD FEELINGS, HUH? WHAT DO YOU SAY, B.A? | JUST CAME TO PLAY, | DIDNT EXPECT TO | THINK [T'S ABOUT TIME TO ROLL GET SHOVED AROUND BY SOME... | SHOULD HAVE WARNED YOU GUYS. SARA HAS A BIT OF A TEMPER. OK, LET'S TURN TO TONIGHT'S ADVENTURE AS | RECALL, WE CLOSED LAST WEEK WITH THE PARTY RECOVERING FROM THEIR WOUNDS IN THE VILLAGE OF TINGAR. INOS | WAS DOWN AT THE BAR DOING OWN WOUNDS. 010 | GAIN ANY FIRST AID we FOR THAT? HEY, WHILE THEY WERE HEALING THEIR ‘YEAH AND | WAS PRACTICING SEWING MY ‘A UTTLE GAMBLING. HOW'D | 007ACTUALLY BOB, YOUR CHARACTER MEETS SARA‘S: UKE HELL| 00! AFTER THE WAY SHE TREATED BARBARIAN IN THE BAR WHILE GAMBLING. YOU DAVE?? I'VE SWORN A BLOOD-OATH WITH DAVES. HIT IT OFF AND INVITE HER TO JOIN YOUR PARTY. CHARACTER. HIS ENEMIES ARE MAY ENEMIES. | REFUSE TO TALK WITH THE BARBARIAN. THAT'S MY BOY! YOU TELL ‘EM BOB! LOOK BOB, WE WENT THROUGH THIS THAT TIME BRIAN OWED YOU FIVE BUCKS AND YOU KEPT KILLING OFF ALL HIS CHARACTERS. YOU CAN'T BRING PERSONAL GRIEVANCES INTO THE GAME. YOUR CHARACTER HAS NEVER MET THE BARBARIAN BEFORE. I'M TRYING TO WORK IN SARA'S CHARACTER SO WE CAN GET ON WITH THE GAME. UNDERSTAND? WHY DOES MY CHARACTER HAVE TO GEE BOB, YOUR DWARF IS A BE THE LINK? WHY NOT BRIAN'S? | GRUMPY LITTLE FART ISN'T HE? JUST WANT TO GAMBLE IN. PEACE. IRNE: ‘YEAH, YEAH, WHATEVER CUE-BALL. Wo race me creo vec, TS LOST SAY MY CAREC Los YOU CAME ALONG. AND MY DWARF |SN'T LOST FRIEND OF A FRIEND AND GET STARTED. GRUMPY, HE'S A NON-CONFORMIST. YEAH, COME ON GUYS. UTS PLAY. WE GOT A DRAGON TO HUNT DOWN.OK, YOU GUYS FINALLY APPROACH THE CASTLE RUINS OF UNDULAR. JUST AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO CROSS THE DRAWBRIDGE, AN ENORMOUS TROLL BRANDISHING A PIKE-AXE ‘STEPS THROUGH THE GATES AND ORDERS YOU TO HALT. | IT'S SHOWTIME! | WASTE HIM ‘WITH MY CROSSBOW. WAIT!!! | WANT TO TRY TO PARLEY WITH HIM FIRST! PARLEY? WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT? MY BARBARIAN RUSHES TO THE FRONT ‘SOME KINO OF NEW SPELL? OF THE GROUP TO BLOCK THEIR | ONSHEATH MY +IZ HACKMASTER. PM COOKINY UP A FIREBALL TO TOAST THIS GUY. [WANT TO TALK WITH IT, EDIOT! HE MIGHT HAVE ‘SOME USEFUL INFORMATION. TALK? YOU REALLY WANT TO TALK INSTEAD OF HACKING |T OUT?? THANK GOD — I'VE ALWAYS. WANTED TO ROLE-PLAY A MONSTER, WHAT 00 YOU WANT TO TALK WITH IT FOR? TO TRADE RECIPES OR SOMETHING? TALK? WEVE NEVER ‘TRIED THAT BEFORE. LOOK, JUST GIVE ME S MINUTES TO TALK WITH THE TROLL IF NOTHING COMES OF IT, YOU CAN KILL IT. OK? HELL, YOU GOT MY VOTE. THIS SHOULD BETHE TROLL NOTICED THAT SARA HALTED YOUR ATTACK AND RELUCTANTLY LOWERS HIS WEAPON. HE'S NOW STANDING QUIETLY AS WILL_YOU GUYS PLEASE IF HES WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVE. LET ME 00 THIS MY WAY? JUST THIS ONCE?? PM GONNA HEAD-BUTT AND AS SOON AS SHE DROPS, MM GONNA RUSH ‘SARA WITH MY CROSSBOW s ‘AND SHOOT THE Trou! PAST HER TO DECAPITATE THIS DUDE. COME ON GUYS. SARA IS AN so say WHAT YOU GOTTA SAY TD ACCOMPLISHED GAMER AND A “Tire cpttp AND LETS GET GOING. CHAMPION. YOU MIGHT LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM HER. WATCH AND LEARN GUYS, / OK, B.A. I'M GIVING THE TROLL THE COMMON 0K MS RPG TOURNEY, HAND GESTURE FOR PEACE AND THEN I'M GOING YOU GOT FIVE MINUTES AND TO APPROACH HIM AND CHAT WITH HIM. THEN WE COME IN. HACKING. / HANG MOrnatS COS Togo” OL, MY CHARACTER SPEAKS FLUENT ROCK TROLL, HLL TROLL APPROACH HAR AND FOREST TROLL - SO COMMUNICATING SHOULON'T BE A PROBLEM. |"M ALSO WELL VERSED IN TROLL CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE ANDO | WILL BE TRYING TO IMPRESS THE TROLL WITH MY KNOWLEDGE OF HIS CULTURE AS | ASK HIM ABOUT THE CASTLE AND ITS LAYOUT.UPON HEARING HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE, THE TROLL VISIBLY WEEPS WITH JOY. HE EXPLAINS HE |S THE LAST OF HIS KIND IN THE REGION AND HASN'T HEARD TROLLKIN FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. | OH, | AIN'T BELIEVIN’ THIS. HE 1S WILLING TO TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU ‘SO WHAT? A TORCH TO THE GROIN WOULD HAVE PRODUCED THE SAME RESULTS. | GIVE THE TROLL MY *4 GOLD DAGGER AS A PEACE OFFERING. | EXPLAIN TO HIM WE ARE ON A MISSION TO DESTROY THE EVIL DRAGON AND THAT HIS HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. | GOT IBS ON THAT DAGGER WHEN WE HACK THIS. SUCKER! NOT IF | GET THERE HEY, | THINK, SARA INGHT BE ON TO SOMETHING HERE. THE TROLL GIVES YOU A POWERFUL AMULET OF PROTECTION. HE ALSO SKETCHES OUT A DETAILED MAP OF THE CASTLE AND THE ‘YEAH, THAT WAS PRETTY COOL, DUNGEONS BENEATH IT - INDICATING TRAPS, MONSTERS AND BARBARIAN BABE! POTENTIAL TREASURE. ee HE REVEALS TO YOU if DRA ‘S LATR! ” a ai UH, THANKS GUYS. SARA, FEAL FREE TO TALK AT ANY TIME. WAY TO GO, SARAGEEZ LOUEEZE!! TM LOCKING AND LOADING MY 4 OK, YOU PULL BACK THE LARGE IRON CROSSBOW AND DOUSING MYSELF WITH PAA NOTCHING AN POORS TO FIND A VERY ANCIENT BLACK MY POTION OF FIRERREATH PROTECTION!! ARROW OF SLAYING DRAGON SITTING ON HIS HORDE OF GOW. “a INTO MY LONG BOW. THE DRAGON IS AWAKE AND TURNS (TS WAIT!!: ff GAZE TOWARD YOU AS YOU STAND THERE. 1 GOT IT THIS TIME GUYS. YA GOING TO TALK TO OL SCALEY eA OF FIREBALLS ON UNE GUYS. | STEP UP BRAVELY TO THE DRAGON SHOWING HIM | HAVE NO FEAR. NUL PAT THE HILT OF MY SWORD JUST SO HE KNOWS ['M\ ARMED AND READY FOR BUISNESS SHOULD OUR LITTLE PARLEY FAIL. | THL THE DRAGON WE WILL ALLOW HIM TO LIVE IF HE GIVES UP HALF HIS WITHOUT A FIGHT. GOOD IDEA! WE CAN PARLEY WITH THIS GUY. I'M SURE HELL COOPERATE IF WE AGREE NOT TO UMMM, DAVE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD... AS YOU APPROACH THE DRAGON, A HUGE EVIL GRIN STRETCHES ACROSS HIS SNOUT. YOUR LAST THOUGHTS ARE “WHATS THAT SOUND?" AS YOU ARE ENVELOPED IN A HORRENDOUS TORRENT OF FIRE BREATH. YOUR TOASTED BODY SETTLES IN A SMALL PILE OF ASH AND CHARED BONE AT THE DRAGON'S FEET. IT DOESN'T WORK EVERY TIME, OH THE HORROR! DAVE!The Cows of War BY JOLLY R, BLACKBURN ©1995 (OK, YOU FIND YOURSELF WALKING ALONG A DUSTY STRETGH OF ROAD. IN THE FAR DISTANCE YOU SEE THE WAL, THAT IAUST BE THE PALACE WERE LOOKING FOR. SPIRES OF A MNGHTY CASTLE. TO YOUR LEFT YOU SEE A PEACEFUL GRASSY FIELD. | SUGGEST WE DOUBLE-TIME |T SO WE GET THERE BEFORE DARK. A GRASSY FIELD HUH? HMMA, HOLD ON GUYS. LETS CHECK OUT THIS ‘PEACEFUL’ FIELD. FORGET THE FIELD GUYS. 1 GOT A HUNCH THERES SOMETHING UP HERE. WE GOT TO GET TO THAT CASTLE BEFORE... YEAH, WERE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT THE FIELD. ANYTHING / YON Wo Rite row UNUSUAL ABOUT IT? NO, THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE FIELD. ALL YOU SEE IS A COW A COW? NOW WERE WAKE UP GUYS, ITS JUST GRAZING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. GETING SOMEWHERE. PM A COW - ZERO EXPERIENCE, GOING TO WALK UP TO IT. WASTE OF THAE, I'M READYING MY CROSSBOW JUST IN CASE, 13OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! YOU CAN'T . WALK UP TO THE COW BECAUSE THERE'S A OK, I'M GOING TO CLIMB RAIL FENCE AROUND THE FIELD. THE FENCE. COVER ME, BOB. ny NOMB-DICE, IT'S OBVIOUS THIS JAH RAH!!! SOMEBODY MUST. FIELD IS JUST USELESS DESCRIPTIVE VALUE THIS COW PRETTY MUCH BACKDROP TO THE ADVENTURE WERE TO PUT UP A FENCE AROUND IT. veue TIME. YOU CAN'T CLIMS THE FENCE BECAUSE (Ms THERE! SEE? HES THROWING OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF MATE a Meron Xoo Ural US TO KEEP US AWAY FROM THAT COW. DOESN'T IT SARA AND MOVE ON! MMAKE YOU WONDER WHY HE DOESN'T WANT US TO HAVE THAT COW? YEP, BAYS UP TO NO, BUT IT DOES MAKE MME HIS OW TRIKS WONDER ABOUT WOU. OK, SMART GUY. 'M GOING TO CRAWL BETWEEN THE RAILS OF THE FENCE. THEN I'M GOING TO.... THEY'RE SPACE) TOO NARROWLY TO UP AGAINST THAT COW ALONE. YAWN ‘SQUEEZE THROUGH. GEE, DAVE. IT'S MIGHTY BRAVE OF YOU TO GO YOU CAN'T FIT BETWEEN THE RAILS, 14WELL SINCE THE RAILS ARE SO NARROWLY SPACED, THEY SHOULD MAKE ‘A PERFECT LADDER FOR ME TO CLIMB OVER THE DAIMINY FENCE bricked DON'T FORGET THAT HEDGE ROW. OH FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, YOU CLIMB OVER THE STUPED FENCE, YOU CROSS THE STUPID FIEW AND YOU APPROACH THE STUPID, ORDINARY COW. ARE YOU / HAPPY?? MY HERO. DAVE THE OK, I'M GOING TO DO A DETECT MAGIC SPELL ON THE COW. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE MY SWORD READIED JUST IN CASE HE ATTACKS. OH YEAH, YOU GUYS WERE JUST TOO. CLEVER FOR ME. YEAH, IT'S A MAGICAL GOW. YEAH, THATS IT. ITS GOT A MAGICAL AURA AROUND IT THAT'S ALMOST BLINDING. HEY DAVE, CAN | RIDE YOUR MAGIC COW? NLL LET YOU HAVE A FEW HITS OF MY HEALING POTION. NO WAY DUDE. | DON'T WANT HIM BONDING WITH ANYONE ELSE. GET YOUR OWN Cow. HA! GOOD ‘CALL DAVE! YOU KNOW, | NEVER SEE IT COMING. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY 00 IT TO IME, | NEVER SEE IT COMING. SIGH. / )Lords of Darkness BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN ©1995 ‘SORRY DUDE! WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS GREAT GAME, GUYS. 1'0 LIKE TO FINISH UP VAMPIRE NIGHT. | CANT MAAKE IT. IT'S MY THIS CAMPAIGN NEXT WEEK SO WE CAN FIRST GAME. BEGIN PLAYTESTING MY NEW GAME SOON. WHY DON'T WE PLAY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. OH GOD, DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE INTO THAT AND WRAP THINGS UP? LIVE ACTION ROLE-PLAYING GAME?? FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, DAVE. WE HAD A DEAL. AWH, THIS IS DIFFERENT BOB. THESE GUYS ARE REALLY NO LIVE ACTION GAMING! YOU REMEMBER WHAT COOL. BESIDES, [T'S BY INVITATION ONLY AND YOURE NOT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER WHEN WE SIGNED UP INVITED, SORRY DUDE. FOR UVE-ACTION SPACEHACKER? | ENDED UP WITH A #500 DENTIST BILL AND 1'0 BE CAREFUL DAVE. I'VE HEARD SOME PRETTY BIZARRE STORIES ABOUT THOSE AIM THESE LE-ACTION GROUPS CAN CAUSE SOME PRETTY RADICAL CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR. BESIDES, YOU DON'T KNow | CAN'T BEUEVE YOU GUYS wouLn BUY INTO THAT ANTI-GAMING PROPAGANDA. THESE PEOPLE ALL THAT WELL MAYBE YOU SHOULD. 1M GOING AND THATS THAT? BUNCH OF GAMER WANNA-BE'S? YOU MIGHT WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO PLAY WITH A / GET LABELED AS A GEEK OR SOMETHING. 16NEXT WEEK TWIS IS MY_NEW PERSONA THEY MADE ME DARK OVER-LORD OF THE HORDE! WHAT INTHE HELL HAPPENED To YoU? THIS ISN'T JUST A GAME, GUYS. ITS A WHOLE YOU LOOK UKE A FREAK! NEW EXPERIENCE, I THINK THE BLACK LIPSTICK 1S A DAVE, MY MOM ASKED ME BIT TOO MUCH DAVE. IF YOU WERE ON DRUGS. / CARE TO EXPLAIN? DAVE, | DON'T WANT YOU GOING BACK TO BOB, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND. THIS VAMPIRE THING. AS YOUR REGULAR BESIDES, | WAS GOING TO INVITE YOU TO GO GM AND FRIEND, | FORBIO IT. THIS WEEK. IT'S PRETTY EXCLUSIVE BUD. | WOULDN'T ASK JUST ANYBODY. OH, | SEE HOW IT IS! IT YOU'RE SCARING THE HELL OUT OF ME aie SNUB YOUR REAL FRIEND! WHERE'S THE OL’ DAVE? DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, DAVE, / YOU'RE INVITING IMME? UH, GEE, I'M FLATTERED. PLL TELL YOU WHAT. 'LL GO, JUST TO CHEK THINGS OUT FOR COOL! Pu PK YOU UP MYSELF BEFORE | PASS JUDGHAENT. BUT I'MA NOT WEARING WEDNESDAY AT 7.00. BLACK LIPSTICK.BOB, YOU'VE GOT TO BE CRAZY! AWWW, FORGET HIM BOB! ‘CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT THEY DID TO DAVE?? HE'S JUST AFRAID OF CHANGE LIVE ACTION ROLE-PLAYING IS | FORBID YOU TO Gol! THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. HE JUST FEELS THREATENED. FORBID?? YOURE ACTUALLY | HATE TO ADMIT IT BA. BUT MAYBE FORBIDDING ME TO GO?? WHERE 00 80B SHOULD GO. SOMEBODY HAS TO YOU GET OFF... KEEP AN EYE ON DAVE. / FINE! 00 WHAT YOU WANT! OH GIVE ME A LITLE GREDET HUH?7? BUT |‘ WARNING YOU, BOB! WATCH 00 YOU REALLY THINK I'M THE TYPE OF GUY TO GO YOURSELF OR YOU'LL ENO UP LIKE DAVE, OVER THE EDGE??? I'M JUST GOING TO GO AND HAVE ‘A LOOK-SEE. THEN I'LL REPORT BACK AND LET YOU KNOW THE SCOOP ON THIS VAMPIRE THING. BOB!!! NOT YOU TOO!!! THEY MADE ME BLAGK PRINCE OF MUNCIE! ‘WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE!! 18Angel of Mercy™ AS YOU OPEN THE DOOR A LARGE EXPLOSION RIPS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. BOB, YOUR CHARACTER TAKES 80 POINTS OF DAMAGE. DAVE, THE BLAST SWEEPS YOUR CHARACTER OVER THE EDGE OF THE PIT AND YOU FALL 100 FEET. BRIAN, YOUR CHARACTER IS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. SARA IS THE ONLY CHARACTER NOT TO SUSTAIN DAMAGE. GREAT BALLS OF HASTUR!! | | KNEW WE SHOULD'VE CHECKED FOR TRAPS!! | WOULDN'T ‘STORY BY JOEL BOZELL GAME OVER MAN! WERE ON THE FIFTEENTH LEVEL, I'M OUT OF SPELLS. ‘AND THE ONLY ONE UNINJURED IS A GIRL??? CASH IN YOUR TRICKS? WHAT KINO OF TRICKS?? HIPS JUST YET BOYS! 1 GOT A Few YOU BEEN HOLDING OUT ON US?? IF YOU CAN GET US QUT OF THIS MESS, TRIKS UP MY WED BE VERY GRATEFUL, SARA, YEAH, VERY GRATEFUL. OK, USTEN CAREFULLY B.A. FIRST, I'M GOING TO USE MY RING OF HEFTY RECOVERY TO HEAL BOB'S DAMAGE, GOODLORD! THATS A MAJOR ARTIFACT! 19THAT SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM. WHAT NEXT? OK, NEXT | REMOVE MY BELT OF LADDER-WEAVING AND LOWER IT TO DAVES CHARACTER. ACCORDING TO THE RULES IT CAN FORM A LADDER UP TO 100 FEET IN HEIGHT AND IS ABLE TO BEAR 500 IBS. G00 THINKING! EXCELLENT! WHILE WE ARE WATTING FOR DAVE To Wie One COORD FRR! CLIMB BACK UP, | WL ADHANISTER THE FIRST TIE LOOER TO TAG eHieE ADS SKIS INHERENT TO THE BARBARIAN DAVE CAN START HIS ASCENT IN CHARACTER AND TEND TO BRIAN'S WOUNDS WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT TAKES CARE Of WHAT ARE YOU GUYS LOOKIN’ OH YEAH, DEFINITELY SOME SPARKS GOING ON HERE. 20Spell-Jacked™ WHY SO BLUE B.A.?? YOU LOOK LIKE YOU LOST YOUR LAST FRIEND. AWWW, IT'S MY GROUP, WEIRD PETE, THEY'RE BURNT OUT ON ROLE-PLAYING! LAST NIGHT ONLY ONE PERSON SHOWED UP. BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN ©1995 Pow AVATLABL! MAPSot MUNCIE’ SEWER SYSTEM. DON'T BLAME YOURSELF. ITS ALL PART OF THE CYCLE STUDIES 170 2 YEARS!!! WHAT AM | ‘SHOW THAT MOST GAMERS BURN OUT AND LEAVE THE HOBBY ‘SUPPOSED TO ne FOR | TO 2 YEARS BEFORE PICKING UP THE DICE AGAIN. WELL LAST MONTH AT THE GARY JACKSON GAME DESIGNERS SEMINAR HEL? IN SAGINAW, THEY WERE DISCUSSING REMEDIES TO THAT VERY PROBLEM. NO, ITS TOO RESKY. FORGET | SAID ANYTHING. YOU GOTTA TEL ME! 21WELL, THERE'S THIS NEW COLLECTIBLE CARD GAME CALLED GCOLLECTZBLE CARD GAME”? SPELL-JACKED!!! OH NO, I'VE HEARD OF THOSE, AREN'T THEY ADDICTIVE? YEAH, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT CAN REALLY GET OUT OF HAND. TALK ABOUT GAME OBSESSION!! FORGET | MENTIONED IT. Z~ BUT THERE'S A CHANCE IT CAN KEEP, MY GROUP TOGETHER?? NLL TAKE ANY CHANCE TO SAVE THE GROUP. MAYBE A BREAK FROM ROLE-PLAYING |S ALL THEY NEED. A FEW WEEKS OF CARD GAMING AND THEY'LL BE BEGGING TO GET BACK INTO SOME GOOD OL’ ROLE-PLAYING!! | WARNED YOU! MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL!!! OH, TWENTY-SEVEN DOLLARS WITH TAX WILL GET YOU STARTED. NO SWEAT! [T'S JUST A OK GUYS, KEEP IN MIND THAT SPELL-JAGKED |S CARD GAME, I'LL BE LUCKY JUST A GAME TRY NOT TO GO OVER-BOARD WITH IT. IF 1 CAN STAY AWAKE, WELL USE IT AS A NICE DIVERSION FOR A FEW WEEKS I THINK WE SHOULD ALL 0 THER BACK TO ROLE-f , AGI re AND THEN WE GO PUYING. AGREED: / [oie Sint AL BOOSTER PACKS! 22GOOD IDEA! LETS JUST PLAY WITH GAMES WHAT WE HAVE. ITLL BE MORE FUN Tse a ate eA THAT WAY! HOARDING CARDS. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! 10 RATHER SPLURGE ON SODA AND | THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL BRIAN. BOUGHT WHAT D0 YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? mt A Se PACKS. WHATS THE BIG DEAL? SO, ITS UKE THAT HUH? MAYBE | SHOULD START UP THE PAPER HAHA! BEHOLD THE TERROR!!! | REBUFF YOUR PONY ATTACK WITH THIS ULTRA-RARE CARD, THE FABLE) DARK ENCHANTRESS!! / 23WEEK FOUR: TOWER OF BABBLING RULES NO, NO, | THINK YOU'RE WRONG. AN AMBER. ‘ACTUALLY [T'S A MOOT POINT NOW, BECAUSE I'M WYRM CANNOT BE TAPPED |F AN OMELET OF PUYING A VORPAL PLANE OF DENNIES |S IN PLY. GANCELLATION ON YOUR HAND THIS TURN. AND BESIDES, MY PURPLE HOWLENG CREEPER AND TM = BUGKIN BING CANES QUT YOUR FORTULTOUS DISK OF PLAYING A... BLAST. DIMENSION SO YOUR SPELL QUOTIENT IS HALVED! \ JUST FORGET IT! At ee FOR THE LAST TIME BRIAN, | REFUSE TO SIGN A FORMA ‘AND | THINK IT WOULD GET A LITTLE HOT PLAYING THE GAME ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMMGE THAT MAY WHILE WEARING RUBBER GLOVES. CUR TO YOUR CARDS DURING PLAY ni. eer naw LOOK, IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE CARDS - PM NOT SUBJECTING MY CARDS TO THE JUST 00 WHAT | 10. | HAVE ONE DECK FOR PLAY, ONE FOR RIGORS OF PLAY! DISPLAY AND ONE IN A HERMETICALLY SEALED VAULT AT THE BANK, YM POTTING THEM BACK UNDER GLASS. WEEK SIX: FEEDING THEHABIT TWS 1S YOUR LAST CHANCE BA HAND OVER THE BALANCE BREAN, BLOCK THE D00R!! OF THE GROUP TREASURY AND THERELL BE NO BLOOD | THINK HE INGHT TRY TO RUN FOR IT. GOT GHA! REMEBER - WE BUY A SEALED BOX OF SPELL-JACKED AND WE SPUT THE CARDS FOUR WAYS, REGHT? 24The Great Revolt BY JOLLY R BLACKBURN ©1994 OK GUYS. BEFORE WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S GAME THERE IS SOMETHING | WANT TO DISCUSS. 1 KNOW | PROMISED NOT TO INTRODUCE ANY MORE HOME-BREWED CRITICAL HIT TABLES, BUT | DEVELOPED SOME NEW TABLES THAT ARE TRULY INGENIOUS. SO | WANT YOU TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND. UHOW! HUH? WHATS THAT? NNO WAY IN HELL PAM GONNA LET HMA OSE THose YEAH BRIAN, YOU ALWAYS CAVE IN. AND END UP SIDING WITH B.A. YOU WITH US TABLES GUYS. WE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER ON. OR AGAINST US THIS TIAE? TWS ONE THAT MEANS YOU TOO BRIN : COME ON GUYS. LEPS AT LEAST HEAR HIM OUT. OH FOR CRYENG OUT LOUD)! IT's DIFFERENT JUST A DAMN MINUTE BAP THIS TIME. | PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO BALANCING WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS ISSUE TIME AND TIME THESE TABLES. THEY'LL WORK THIS TIME Z SWEAR! AGAIN. I'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW OUR CHARACTERS TO BE KILLED BY YOUR CRAPPY RITICAL HIT TABLES AND THATS FINAL! 25HEY, HEY, MEW!! YOU'RE JUST A LITTLE OUT OF LINE AREN'T YOU DAVE?? TELLING IMME WHAT | CAN OR CAN'T 00 IN MY GAME? | AM THE GAME MASTER AFTER ALL THERE YOU GO AGAIN! OFF ON THAT POWER-MANIA TRIP. THE TERM GAMEMASTER |S DEGRADING TO THE PLAYERS. / YOU WEAR THAT STINKING TITLE UKE IT WAS A BADGE OR YEAH, IT IMPLIES WEVE GIVEN UP OUR BASIC RIGHTS OR CHANGE MY TITLE?? WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT?? YOU CAN'T GO AROUND TAMPERING WITH OFFICIAL TITLES! WELL, WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM \ ‘SOME SORT OF TITLE ANY HERE, HERE! | GOTTA AGREE WITH YOU DAVE. | PROPOSE WE CHANGE THE TITLE GAMEMASTER TO SOMETHING A LITLE LESS OFFENSIVE, HMMM. THERE'S NO PRECEDENT FOR THIS KIND OF PLAYER ‘SOMETHING THAT ACKNOWLEDGES HIS ROLE ‘AS REFEREE WITHOUT LENDING HIM ANY UNDUE AUTHORITY. WHY NOT JUST ‘REFEREE? io way! THIS ISN'T A SPORT. 26GUYS! GAME MASTER |S A TIME HONORED TRADITONAL TERM. | WON'T GIVE IT UP WITHOUT A FIGHT! HOW ABOUT DUNGEON HEY, WHILE WERE ON THE SUBJECT, | PROPOSE THAT WE ORGANIZE AS PLAYERS TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS. | NOMINATE DAVE AS OUR PLAYER REPRESENTATIVE! | ACCEPT THE NOMINATION! | SUGGEST WE BREAK AND D/SCUSS PLANS FOR FURTHER ORGANIZATION! OR PERHAPS GAME TRUSTEE. | UKE TRUSTEE! (T DENOTES RESPONSIBILITY. WITHOUT SUGGESTING AUTHORITY. / GOOL! A GROUP CONSENSUS AMONG THE PLAYERS CAN EFFECTIVELY VETO ANY GAME TRUSTEE CALL! MY WORST FEARS HAVE COME TRUE! MY PLAYERS HAVE UNIONIZED)! Bese 27KNIGATS OF THE DINNER TABLE CONTEST HOWDY FOLKS!!! BA FLTON HERE I'VE BEEN ASKED TO ANNOUNKE THE KODT CONTEST!!! ACTUALLY ITS A PRETTY LAME CONTEST. IF YOU SEND IN A SCRIPT OR 28Knights of the Dinner Table Archives™ THE FIRST KODT STRIP APPEARED IN SHADIS NO.2 IN MARCH, 1990. THE STRIP WAS PRECEDED WITH THE INFORMATIVE BLURB, ‘THE KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE WERE ONCE A MIGHTY GAMING CLUB. LATELY, HOWEVER, MEMBERSHIP HAS FADED." THE STRIP FEATURES A LONELY GM NAMED B.A. RUNNING A SESSION FOR THE LAST LOYAL MEMBER OF THE GROUP, BOB. He just sort of choked and then died. I guess it was a trap. You G! Don’t I even get asa Does this have anything to do with that five bucks I owe you?? 29Knights of the Dinner Table Archives™ THE FOLLOWING STRIP APPEARED IN SHADIS NO.3, MAY 1990 INTRODUCING THE CHARACTERS OF BRIAN AND DAVE. THE STAGE FOR THE STRIP HAS BEEN SET WITH THE PLAYERS AT CONSTANT WAR WITH THE GM, THWARTING HIS EVERY MOVE BY ARGUING RULES OF PLAY, BICKERING AND OTHERWISE CREATING HAVOC. (Ok Dave, I understand that you want to run a character you played in your last group. E> $5) ‘Aa 18th level palladin-essassin with ‘magio-nser abilities and fire breath! 30Knights of the Dinner Table Archives™ THE FOLLOWING STRIP APPEARED IN SHADIS NO.4, AUGUST, 1990. BAA. INTRODUCES THE FIRST OF MANY RULE-VARIATIONS INCITING MUTINY AMONG THE GROUP. ( ‘Not those stupid tabies that eat all the ears off ove characters? ~Knights of the Dinner Table Archives™ THE FOLLOWING STRIP APPEARED IN SHADIS NO.5, OCTOBER 1990 THE COMIC STRIP WOULD NOT APPEAR IN THE NEXT TWO ISSUES, JOLLY HAVING DECIDED HE WAS TOO 'BUSY’. BY ISSUE 8 OF SHADIS, JOLLY YIELDED TO THE PRESSURE AND THE BOYS ARE BACK. THEY HAVE APPEARED REGULARLY IN SHADIS EVER SINCE . THIS STRIP ALSO CONTAINED AN ERROR - WITH B.A. CONFUSING THE NAMES OF BOB AND DAVE. Unfortunately, Bob's character wes in the way. He takes 49 hit points of damage!! Gee, how do I tell them it was Dave's character who was hit and not Bob's? 32KNIGATS OF T DINNER TABLE icense to Loat \ Limited Run — Collector's Issue vale) soon a pet came’ and Come Shops copy by si 1g $2. SHADIS, “t7ae0 are rayeion e Biv 4203, Chas 10 Hills, ‘CA 91709Simple strategies. infinite possibilities = ae |