pragon CONTENTS SAMURAI VS. KNIGHT ] ae Fought for eno, wore cool armor wielded finely wroagh weapons, and struck fear ino the eats of those who opposed him, Dh vst, so did the other one. Find out ho would win in this histor «al deathmate! 54 FORGOTTEN REALMS: DEMON STONE Hollywood talantand epic sto ‘yteling unite to eden the Beals, Choe out never before seen images aad an excisive interview with ILA. Seliatore, a 8 SEVEN DEADLY DOMAINS ivy eluttony, sloth, hs, ith—the seven desdly sus peesented a cl domains, including new sp 68 SEE NOEVIL What if yon paladin cenldatt detect eri What nobody could? Cheek ou the spells that give yout ‘new options in games thal Hur the line between black snd white06 08 12 20 24 30 34 38 14 78 82 86 90 92 96 108 109 110 130 A ee Drave Unleasbedl Dan Scott reals FROM THE EDITOR Hie new fas of Descan pinvingtiek Unleash the wxm! Matt welcomes you t© Deacon's new format, you cant contain a great yer! FIRST WATCH Pretiews, notes, and news for gamers. SCALE MAIL Binh wishes, hoop suppor, and move hopes PLAYER INITIATIVE The scoop on gamer ie. UNDER COMMAND {Choose the best Dragoneye commander or sally your PCs allies, ANOVEL APPROACH ‘Sere othe Spriikceper ‘he fist iu DED's new kd-Hendly book line. SILICON SORCERY Big, Yellow Different, Final Fantasy’s cacao comes to D&D. COMICS ECOLOGY Team the sree a the choker SPELLCRAFT Use the force, Lake! New force spell, GAINING PRESTIGE Gal ona spint to guide you sits the sprit speaker ‘THE MAGIC SHOP Tieasuces of the diwaever holds HEROIC FEATS [New feats to survive beth sand ane tide, WINNING RACES, Know the future and fight the past asa eyelopesm CLASS ACTS. Tipe and tricks for your favorite dase. PLAYER TIPS ten ADVENTURER TRICKS [Noragne? No poder! SAGE ADVICE “The sige answers your miles questions COUP DE GRACE Ed State esphins how 4 DED book eomeste be. your duaracter with exluireDRAGON UNLEASHED be st time youve picked up Daazzon, yo probably notice that fact, What you hold your hands repre- sents new vision for the magazine, both finite appearance snd fiction. This new vision cameabout because we want > rnake the best RPG magazine better. We want to make the DED maguzine that appeals to you. whether yourrea firsttime plier or « gamer ho hasbeen vlling a AiO fee MOyoars When we set out improve biucom, the fst thing we considered was veades Ts ‘sue is different, and unless this feechack, fron lets, online message Dard, anal recentreader surveys, We Iso took how readers use he mogazine ino-consideration. Many Diaxcos read ‘ers pidcup the magzzine to be enter tained they ike o ved about D&D and fe interested in the details oF the fntasy ofthe game, Gther readers use che mag ine as comrauiitygataering point vay for thens to touch base sith what ‘ther fnnso D&D aredoing, Sil more reves reders wantthe magneto des monthly DED soneebook, fill to ‘the brim with newrules, Most reiders are ome nicof te three, Westuck ypon this new version of Dazcovs asa vey to Appel to everyone, Ja the new Dacow, exch iasve presents ancl of new feats, spells, and magic items. in adition, every Janue.containe a new monster playable as a PC race and a new prestige clas, Notlooking for new rales? Bost worry, Dascoy now offers en "Ecology" file in.everyissbe, which presents rio‘ information about a D&D nor soy, both inapiation for how to use it and advice for pliers facing it. Fac Issue of the new Deacon also presents roleplaying and play advice in a “Player tips" article, adventuring tactics in an “aghenuces hicks" article, ad eleven ‘Clas: Acts! articles, providing new rules, insight, or nspiation for each oF the oie classes, Also, every new issue includes “A Novel Approach.” silicon Sorcery," aad “Urider Com: rman" which take inepiation Fro novel, a electronic game, or the D&D miniatures to provide new ideas for D&D roleplaying, Bat wait, there's more! Draco still presents great feature auticles that give you innevative new rules ideas for your game or character, advice and insight, and new fiction. We lzo wanted to take this opportunity to rake Daacox your goo source for information abour DED and she RPG indasy. That's why Daacox now presents “Coup de Grace” colurnn written by one ofthe falks responsible for bringing you DED,» "First Watsl? section that goes you news about cool new releases, the “Scale Mail Ttters coho that gives you a place ta speale fut, and "Player Tnative,” witch los yott in on some of the thinga other phyers are deing and givesa glimpse ofthe wicer worlé of gaming, "This asue aaa represents an oppor thy for yeu to help make Dracon’ Wat you wam, Read ubrongh it, and let tus howe what you think. Telus shat you liked ard shat son dri. awhat you ‘want to see more of and wat you dit sco but want t gor inthe fature. The, cheek out our new Waiters Guidelines, avallable at www: palzo.conjdragon, and scr us some idee For wha you'd ike to rite. With so many aries in each new issue, ou have an unprecedented opparsnity to contiaste something of yourself tothe magezine and to the bis tory of D&D. ‘Wehope you enjoy tit teue an those to come. Tiwasa joy bringing ito you, ‘Good gaming! Matthew Semeit Editonin-Chiet DRAGON NEXT MONTH The Shadow Over D&D HP tevin ener an Cteepigio DED deste Fd ot ‘ich frou ote monte sae cer oe ee jaener Living Nightmares (Gey emer ed eo ecto a ae sen rss Seep i Exorcising Equipment There's move to kooping the dead dwn than weofen ern fo aes rnd cnt hatyu tect big here tne Bete Building a Better Zombie team what en mcronincerkrows by hese find cues menstoraya shoul Ali gethe bet ondend enor, A Chill in the Bones Take confor tor fears ofthese clog muses by rating he secrets o hese Celebs nonsters ‘A Novel Approach: American ‘NslGaiman’s novel af eden myth pooades mspiaion or OED games Plus! "the colo ihe Night spel caf Huston Spel"=The Male Si! {upsed teres "Wining Races: Gn ply ‘Ganing Prestige: vor slejer "Wa ‘Ties? “Aeventier Tels! Chse Aes” rd DRAGON'23. September 200%PREVIEWS, NOTE, AND NOT ANY SHORTER O NEWS FOR GAMERS ooo bee (fors Atul Resissanee warm. aludiorenissencecom) asaudoCD see, Vanes lie punchage she prequel FROSTBIRN nest encounter with cold a fantastic ook, New Spriag in sudo fommat, The Frosbyrn eacly brs ith cool cxpesience, Along with advice and tied and forts Looks should rake idoxs for your DRD game The first equipnient to help PCs survive in thelr ayo Hie adiosection of bol: chapter isa meesure wove of concepts frigid extremes, players might alse stores sometime m November this DMs can tce to mae the players! find the nique fests, postige classes, | _ year Anco Revaistnce presuce she and spells tseful for making interest- | tenth bork, Cesroads of ight bade ing elrraccers. OF course, the back Jn 2003, and the tong performanceat ‘vould? be complete without ney thst product apparent prasoed the monsters. neluding new mademand | enrrentprodueien ny ofthe olde orebisseric animals like the sea, polar | Wed f Mie books bear glyptodon, and megalecaros Did wr sent de boos sve When thumbing through the urabrdgr? The ist cok, Fy ofthe beok, don't be thrown by otamy Wort, comesin atwent-fve-CD set mentions of “the Froatlell ox ‘witha fot ntime of about 21 hows Frostfell environments. It's not Ihcosts bout $60, hile oher banks patticular place in any campsign «os, mote or less depen on Low ‘world that's just the boak’s short | many CDsare nesded. youre «fat hhand For teferting to places of reader, buying the printed nooks might extreme cold, whether thar’s avthe | bea beter investment batifyoubaves ‘op of the werld or a single reom ‘mer fiend who dsenrtile ty ead or ina dungeon, sented serine lise toa you Fiostum releases Us month viveaars the coum, $2.50 9e¢ CD ‘might lock prety good MONSTER MANUAL {Il imeresting playevorionted eittne slo A.multitude of nonsters avaityou lurkewithin, Moser Mana 1 presents between thecovers of Moree Maral’ mary new creatures suitable fer use asa Ml inside, classics Like the lenleu snl PC mes, mounts, animal companions, Fling are joined by imovative new eres: and cohoris, Be sure to eck aut the tures ke the death giant giants hat mores adopted fon the pages oF traded their soals for powerarsdnew ——_Daacos, suchas Doncaos Assocate suck thesoulsof the dyinginte waltz itor James Jacobs splinterwaif and loves of protective spits hatsursourd frequent contabtor Eric Cagle’ alcher och member ofthersce) and grsgol{:_ieal, hangman. mud, and web golems lichbuile construc’ formed from spel [Need miniatures for your favorite beoksand depleied magicitemsthat —_- Morstor Manual fF monster? Check ‘can drive the fathardly mad oven affer tha *Uinder Cornmandl articles in ‘he golents destruction). The bookalko Denso for previews of the miniatures fers helpful ipso DMs of Enrxzoy youl seein Future sels of the Dow apd Foncorrmn RiArus campaigns, gb crows « Daicons Miniatinesling ‘ng niosmaticn aboutcertain monsters Mower emul 1 releases tis month ashi ia those worlds, Ofcourse, BID 301.00 325 super 2004FUN AND GAMES Signed att from the famed painter Larry Ehnore should now be < available in your Iocal game or come store—it you ‘open the right pack: of cards, Thats sight Flmore’s at ie gracing atist trading cards once agen, Like his 1904 and 1999 sets, Phe Art of Lary Hlmoreand Colo, the Beginnings set feanues auiographed cards hidden in certain packs, this time with the promise of one in each, ispay bor. Uni ke earlier set, the ‘New Begialagy cards also give buyers 1 chence to download gorse tats for the characiers and nionsters depicted ‘onthe cards, Each ofthe 90 cards In the sot has a unique website address that offers PDF download that pees TRCFUL TILE, “ou may have aren then cool He boards averted in previousissues of Deacon. Tuts by BC Predues ane 1Ginch squares oF tough ylysyene plaetie ‘with preprint Linch gids on one de, They’ availa fora BC Pets! ‘webste, wlbepredetsnet These ill asc bones comenme or wettewoa cksgs, and ol for 00 $50. “Thehish-locc working side of he ats has the permanent Minch ged that docs eomcol when vping away cayexase ink. One oe cooler aspect of its is tha the gd aso has dar Ine spaced -nehes spar, Since these Zinc squares each represent Moot fnzennent, nding arg ding combat is anuch easier A longbow har singe of 10 darker squares or 100 fet Its simple! mts d20 stetinties. In addition, ane card pet 200 packs ‘@acard you con redeem to receive sasigned litho: graph of a Lacey Elmore painting. Nota fan of Hlmore's a? Consider picking, up a pack far self defense ‘Tho thick, heasyeards make excellent but imocieus-bokng Uhtown weapons, Fyow sre « fan of Himore’sart. your selfidefense options ‘nll probably be tinited to doubles and your losing prize redemption carde (which have the Open Game License ‘othe bac) Just Le cateful where you ‘throw them, [sal fan and games Uunil someone get hurt. Puen it's just aries —you know because ofthe webs Ste with the stat, ‘he most useful aspect of Taa-THes, however is thei versatility, Lach bose is assure with puzzlpecelke edges thot allow them to link gene fr stabity. “The way the tabs and slots are structued, ‘the Tac pieces nly Tink tegether in ‘one fasion, msking pling new ies ensy and fhee of rrr or confinion. This abiity to restucture can be vital in vas sprain caves anc dungeons, where the taditional squaes and rectangles of mos! batle matsget in the way. Once the PCs move effoxe age of the map, Siniply mose a nowsnnuse tl from the already-explored acas, wipe itoff witha dy ray, aid cha, “The only downsive to Te-Thes is that they ate too. eass to denn. ‘Thatmight sound odd anti yout o dm Foor plan henchand and wealizewithactinge a8 you unpack your andl dawn maps that some ofthe nklas rubbe oin ‘tans Corabts a fequent rriatures smovanents can wipe ofthe diy ena ink, as con acidontel brashing fiom clothe, sack bgs,and other ger parapherni Tia, Howeve; not having aadvippy mg to ceanof yourbatlemap coral has isadveniages. cruse water and DUNGEON THIS MON’ ‘The Birth of a New Eral This ment hes otf aneweraforun 00 ith these extn fetes Mad God's Key ty jason Bats eee io fomthecrorsntie sijclCoofeok ihe lo of Head ertgin te esc 15 Coen ils tin Crear fei ocean faa Torrents of Dread by Greg Vaughan Dei enih oeilaern el Shoes se aginted inva athe {est oe vores hfe opal ae fara Thang opt eter he ole tse ts gone sing a few ined ie For seer gates, and Senet easy ceed Gy ke Gunso bude es ihe eed catacont blo? Heo Inve ite 6c ebleel tance Sioersseroes, Thirteen Cages ly Chie Thomssson ‘Ale The toe acs downbeat tus Ggeriht fora tral showdown ‘i ep bape leans fuk son Ste whseecelyleed he Tots, ncn ils trl message mean fo IhePCs? A Shaded cay Revenue Pal scarier Gt bel hac, Backdrop: The Isle of Dread Wy Ga in| Detleencout hrs aposrmin eis oslo now rod aed fees yey ompiee tn ere PE adnesniriern jae lin ths he ale door ar esearlcol DED oa tees Sle oa cacpa Plus! Monte Cook’ Dungeoreni 01 heaton’ 41 Sn" Oxi Mojktonk andar alrew orn! Sexton 2004 onacon 2s EIoe LETTERS Tellus what yout of sss. Sed an eaito salet@pie com, lass inde your ame, cigand tae A SRUUTE 10 D&D PLAYERS Thad guite afew memories retam to ime of my daye in the US. Navy when 1 read last isyue's letter from the young Hin ho serted in ABMAOL Sian. [served frory 1688 to 1998, snd Just like him, | played D&D most af the time I was in the Navy. Most of ‘my true friends have been my gam Ing buddies, We had wo ight she neg anivity of the times, and we were not so lucky as to have the support of our command... someching abou: times past when some sailors used a hi n the Navy aga diangeon, (Crap!h MyselPand the steadfast groups | led numbered from three to filtece! over the course of 10 years and three different ships, We had ta dodge our eapervizors until! became a su sor. We played on the floor in storage ‘spaces, tvoop spaces that were exapty sehen our Marines were not attad or just about anywhere else—includ ing the Combat tnformation Center Ducing the firet Gulf Wax, when we deployed for almost ten months, gaining wos the only outlet many of lis had to get out ofthe real world even if fora few hours. | would say toll the players and DM's who are serving in the best military in the ‘world: You deserve the times you share, You work so hard anil end life most dort understand and newor DRAGON 323. Sustombor 2004 will, Gee? calling the bones and tak- ing on the bad guys Goarge Bridson Address withheld TRIGGER UNHAPPY While | enjoyed your recentarticle, The Way of the Gun," in Dracow #11, 1uestion your éecision abaut the ecloading time for the various firearms, I understand the need for ules simplicity and consistency, bat your reloading times for these Firearms are far too lenient, You stare that reloading a guspowder firearm is a standard action, Wow! That's onesthird of even the American Civil under good circumstances with cap-and-ball rifles! All weapons you oseribe are of the Hintlock, wheel Jock, 0: matchlock variety, which ‘would have made celoading a near ‘impossibility in muelee and require reloading times of 4 105 rounils ay least (24 1 30 seconils). IFyou zecal] the history of that ea, anyone fighbing tae-te-toe wuld generally thcow down his pistol or commence using the butt of his eile instead ‘ot reloading, which took entirely too long when there was someone coming at you armed and with bad ceload times of the that's BLAST FROM THE PAST In 198), T3R une it eer we ace sdvontrefor snr ercton of the BaD gee 1): The ble of ead As tha istaftee madsles designed for 0's Fir Set oes, The leaf Droz presented a shale fer chen: {ero leves 3 Icarus ele Dickgraund infrmtion pertaining to the seutiernminlng of he Kos ‘old (te Gles Mrstaia), neudirg ables ardwhite ap sretching fom {lant in the ross the Thavagoth ‘Nehpolage (whch eludes hela (Dread) nthe south The medal ‘stale the Ile andinclided ceserl traps ofke locations tn adelvon co Adwsau and + numberof eter gant eee ino Sonar Tre le of Dead ieoduces aan, opr, pharatans, and vatasts ate DED invee, Halissi ger beicrosk sap rent har aus whestre. Themodule’s Someuhitsinelisicat acne on {iting toe phivas sanding rear he emsroftte ale, The cet plateau ‘eanhed zn axoosel gol eh. ae ant Toor dhe vilage of Mant ar he vc cenit othe alent: ate Hand Rurors sprevdatte beimning of he adventure cupprted het tpl o {he sand Feld massie Bice pes OF cause thoseruror lf os what dan fra wah the tmp this month, BuvcKon d14 ee brates the Los World wender ofthis lepricadvarsureby avebig the le tonly wth a goatee af ts fa tires, but wih tre allmew advertore, vents of Dread * Dowseon #1 alm hs filbeser posier map ete sea! Urend wih Both the angel mip oeaions and new labs rallctng the enturesceseibec Ie Toners of easSCALE MAIL intent, | would think that notonly would reloading provoke an attack of oppostinity, but it should require you to “lead éefensively” and make 2 successful Concentration check ‘in order not ta boteh the loeding, mich like casting a spell. ove the magazine and the ani= cles, but this is one rule you might ‘want to rethink. S.Mekee Portland, Oregon a fd oxeur to ws, tif ve required players bo ase rere realists reload Sines, we would have ‘contradicted the Duxceo Masten’: Guide, The Dunceex Masean's Guide giver gus sucha short eelad hime becouse genpounter weapens can't yeas dey as they ove real I Firearinc came to preminencs beraus Wen thep sould be fired accuretely, they posetratod all azailable aris Besides sgl dat to te hecal on torso cow easily kil someone, even if You ca i i Om without ranking the game tes “far (ov mang gwnese expensive is atrealisti), 50 you have So make them deal arae lite al DgD weapons Hashg mode thet chico, the designers af the game gnve guns w shares lon fim, Afr a, why spend 320 5 counds Flooding « weapon Hot dale 148 roi ofdlamage when the gome haraciers to fre a longbow w cou ae same period ofr oe se frenro et deal lows CREAT WYRMS Wel, 1 just got the 30th anniversary issue and I Joved it find it faseinat ing to leam how the game was bom and now all the big guns got into st ((only started playing in about '92 93,20 ( had no idea about al the stuff tat came before.) Also, the article on taising dragons helped me find a good direction for a compaign Fd been running that had ait 2 dead ced. (Whiot de Ido with the PCs hewween 7th and 12th level when can't stactinto the big plot? Have them raise a dragon!) I've bees rend ing DrAcox for just over a year nowt DRAGON 323 September 2004 and J've really come to the point here [think Drasow is a muck better buy than most sourcebooks cout there, The material is always Interesting and of the kighest qual= ity, and even if I don't use it, ts still interesting to read, Thanks for the quality work! Bryan Oshawa, Ontario TURBULENCE ON THE PLANES ‘svyanis Tanti) Daacon #321 die ‘eussed the pros andl cons af DED's cot ‘mology ancl inthe enc decided thet he whole system was showing isage, Ind never been given the kind of concen. trated thougcthatcoule really make i rake sense, ane dha, ith the excep- tion ofa few sacred cows, it should hhecome hamburger: I vehemently dis- aggee and would like to answer some of the editor's riticgms and raise «few af ‘my ov inthe process "The infinite matare ofthe planes poses the probllerss of 80 mich ditt and the lack of civine intercession, ‘would argue thatthe biggest problem ‘vith most ofthe planes is precisely that they avert tine, Take Mecha mat for exariple, There are precisely so many cogs arsanged just so, with precisely so many foresis and moun faine and cites, The infinite partis allempty void. How much more fun ‘would itbe ithe plane itself stetched to infinig? Instead, we have a number ‘of ‘infinite’ planes where the piavable patti actually fuilystrall, aul the rest is justblack void, Itraake: wonder, really, how an infinite nun ‘er of celestial and in ermal beings live in planes with o finite amount ‘of real estate Why dost the celestia take a more setive role in the Material Plano? Wel the infinite number of infernal crea tures rales it pasty hard o comin ‘opps to any eauce save the big planar conficis I's the same with the gods Wit the wars between the vasious Fesvens and hell, it's ne surprise that the gods ate semewhas preoccupied ost of the tne Ney teas RZAWEs elgg AN engi guts ard the Dvcon Ibe rire adie sypool aes we nial net ih aaulwictes Tee eNause fre ales fe lageeos, evn € Sseveorpseen the Temhordet Arie Garett tin toons nny US fe via), the ‘geal decors ee (9 sschdulel to hhaturesteber ina ‘vedseD/Dvarson nth Azan Lehman ens Nor 8) Ebrd r ‘eedrgovetilet We ralah cubed sounder’ lf haven sons iy uty ted ree Mono el ‘Arey ge Neusced 50 Why would characters noe simply choose to live in heaven, rather than wast out Plane? Primarily: [ would say thai as they have not yet earned the right, it would simply be a matter of time uunil ane of the celestia's ofthe local gods vame by to politely ten them ‘out fiom the heeven in question, Another teason, I think, iy that most adventuring soris have a gteat deal of ‘atechinent to the goings ani home plane: scores to settle, oved esto protect, and nations to save They wonld hardly be conforable basking im lavish hisury with the gods until either their affairs were eon pletely handled or theie timo was uo. There isa pointto be mace for ‘waiting more consistency in the D&D Conmnology, however. Lhave often considered the matter eithera case of rent cleverness or infurialing apathy fn the pert ofthe designers that while each game setting (Gazwuawr, Dan 50, Forco: taxes, and 0 on) hae its ew unique cosmology, certain gods and infern: rato ovcilap to oF mm02e of thent (Lolth, Cortellon Larethian, i time on the Materiel 1s Rratons, DiscoSCALE MAIL (Orcus, and many others) There are also a few "Easier eggs’ in the various zoatetials thar seem wo tnaicate some thing closer to cesond edition macro cosmology (the Speliammer on tne Elemental Plane of Wate, for xan or the great plnaaranewis city, Lnion, mentionedin the Epic Leyes Hon book), What is ally going on? Is theye really some great metaplot that we Just aren hearing about for reasons of creative sity exe, a is it just that the developers cant hear to decide whether ‘of not the different casmologies are part of one! So do | approve of timing one of the best, most expansie, and truly fascinating mnetaplots in game history into hamburger? No! Bu it would be nice to be tantalized with an answer o1 two froma the big gny netacosnncl in the nea fatice ober: Blanc Address withheld Bo mesa tha rappel ms ovhing. oul be agree te ton making he plenes make sose Liew dre ic hidden lary yet a snveted, The mes ante lac afl Inverlgis even vod ere merely the rel of sgn losis seiner time and many ifereasdsgners chery picking ids hay i foes one probing Sheps nother prot, What bossdawnsoisthis DED es @crtain coer, Iti that casnsolegy should be wll defined. On the coher erase gore raves such chins Ingtteriows, i should do a better job of providing players oid DME with tools ad ‘options to hel them define aad erence their own easmalogtes ns a fochion shat sits dir oats You'll be huppy wo know that the Manual ofthe Planes dees no! describe Mechenus as inte, Eae ori inte, but how mony geass vist ieunlercun, @F no nunider of ears is povided besides a reference to the millions of gears inhebited by fermians. Genero it¢ better example ‘of wha you mentioned. The description fer Gehewno specifically stotes that ‘although the plane ie infinite, coed valeanic mouniaa js frie DRAGON 323. Sepeber 200% BULGARIAN ADYENTURES Greetings fiom fan Bulgacal Atboreh sill largely unignonn over here, Dv exons 8 Daaconsis starting to gain an audionce, Beings riaively new player tothe game (hice years) aad even ote nee to your magsine floss thar ayers [only recently undessioodabout your Dicthdsy bus fom al the Dulgstian D&D ans: Happy birdy. Deacon! May se rea for yeas i come! Now Fora Oriental Adertures, Tans ase Joes Wyattabout my verte world, What ise eueraly plan updated iin your Api veas no new si, only revision. How ‘often and hoy ihe going to update and ddl new stuff, namely? Shout ve wit for sth ition for new Oviearo! Advoraurgs material! Thopenet. AS 3 mater of fact, even thought of mailing Duscx9 for thelaek of Eastern adver tures, Henonyetare acted with Danie Summ, Erasnoy, anal. bit we need some feshly forged katana! ‘Also, [have sn idea, dosed om the Uispute over ull ys. crunch: Why inpt make crunch based ca Null? For fon Reing » fin of know he ve, but there example, give us detale about a place in a world ora monster and then give Feats and other game merlanies based fon thoge detail, It would give a good balance and stil keep the magazine dealing sith its theme Rest wishes all ef you at Deacon Keep up the good work ‘Viaeislay Rashkovshi Soft, Bulger Taos, We're gid you ie the magazine James Wyatt tells us thot he doese't have ary ater Oriental Adventures profucts nthe warks, bt you might wort to ctesk out the Legend of the Five Rings products produced by AEG. They're filed 10 the brim ‘for Oriental Adventures. Thanks fer youridces about haw to bralance the rantent af the mogeine Starting wit issue readers should see a better balance between new ales 6 insprationcl material. Readers are fel 0 sce less workt-speoic orto in Diacons howeres From lime to tive forthe compliers, Vee, Reken moos COMES HEAT VISION Irgicates wwirtheresto> Fomwunaoct Pinca Ff thse the stance 50 goer owmjeurvryaur shinorany ovary Sigunestteay ose hss, eka ter Dragon eons re cee lalk deo Gon aortic in supot ofo porter vein wil se rink but labeling en ati as Foxcottty Reatots er Oriental Adven tures ture some reader: (ogrdles af how easly teas canbe oped) without greeting a commensurate y age tw sudionce, Sse 315 a ey eta ob of warltspece entices not daving dane acca, Despite covering realy cipal compaign setting ord 48 enormous popular amare readers, he CCompaign Gls ie produced ere cles naive, ond ra periculorsiting received enodgh suppor reader to swarnt vauler coverage inthe magne The pucience for Da seer be died Into thowsardl paces by te comenin wat fiom TSR and Wear of he Coos, the ran 320 campaign stings thas have beer prcduced, end homebrew campaigns: OkAcON can bor ave thot ders audlonce hy prcontng material ‘that everyones eal se. KNOWLEDGE CHECK Question: Caran whit sSCALE MAIL Lesteck ne Blacon eat pot "4 Tels, Fonte tas of Be sto rey Bere gentmeiobesccan Dragon (rine sflre dents, Fale ear T a tis and cites of £1.00 000 er ‘ator andstuteaer our ejoyment So rie timayou nel an icthee sho neon you ete: Gs Sethe plague TTS LEMENTAL Just a quick question: What happeneel to the article on halFelementals it that was supposed to be in Danco W321. was advertised in Daacon #320 and did not sppea. Other thats that gripe, veal enjoy the vine. the infused prestige less in fssuc #521 was great, and Lintend to try and convince my DA te lot me {ncoxporate it into my next character, Riley Bull Address withheld Wo pos rogethar she preview ofthe next Fs long before we finish it, and inthe editing, development, and design process aisles sometines expand beyond our bess estimate. That wos the cose with ‘siue #325, and the halfetemenca monsier dss avicle was te easiest to ‘more too fotueeiswe, Unfortunately, the issays inthe near future are fl Keep an eye ou forthe adil in Deacon sometime exry next year DARK SN MOVIE ‘as | was reading through Disco 1320, I was saddened to soe that Duncrons & Duacons was not ‘atching the eves of younger people Tam 19, and I would not have started playing if not for the nude ing of « 32-year-old co-workers Many younger kids thine coleplaying is not cool and should be stopped en you turn 16 and gets car, My friends ask me to explain the game BET cr acen zs sje 204 to them, and as sven as [ say “dice” for “miniatures,” they dontt want to hese any more Vin Diesel isa great example of a “cool guy” who loves to roleplay, iter your Dark Sun feature in Deacon 1319, [borrowed my friend's old bbouks based on the setting, 1 feilin lowe with the character @iehus. Thet ‘mul hed itall: Strength, friends, om ple lovers, and more, Then | lookee atthe cover. Riklus just aeresrned Vin Diesel ‘ean easily see a Dark Sun rmevie. That would be a winner can see the millions of people going to see it and findiag out that—gasp-it's based on a D&D selfing, The DVD could be filled vith D&D Info and iaterviews with the stars of D&D, maybe even come info on their D&D characters. [ feel it would bring in counties now players to our hobby, Pius, we would have a sweet movie to brag about.’Then it would be cool io be anerd. Thank Ged I havea head start on it. Brandon Thornas Addeets withheld Good idee, Branden! Icon se it 00 trorder of Si-zen ond giant bogs chai ingover snd dues ike he aliens in Str ‘hip Teopers, Rowd Warr butes between sar ships oad with gh and sy fights with ervingonsies io iadaterial aren A Daws Suse movie wold ce Ofcourse, this strategy has been ted once bajre, but the DAD movie sel aot of people think could irae been beiter 1m see 10 see the sequel, but | doubt I'l be able to cor pool 1 the theote ‘AKD fl RERL MOMIE {Hike to think I'ma pateat man; | have been waiting for an Aliens Yo, Predator mnovie sinee | wes 11, Yet [have been waiting fora D&O ver: ssion of that battle for alinost ag long, Finally my patience for the movie hhas been rewardee with it coming out close to my birthday, Unfortu pataly, Here still isa't £D ver ston. | think that that's a'shame. ‘The world created from the comics and the beoks for these bu Fitans of movie-monster perfection isa world that would give Enron a ran for it's money. Personally, | think tha: te aliens would be move of a tem: plate then an actual monster, Thittk (of ew cool (anid perhaps cruel) it ‘would be to have a high-level group hunt down 2 ed dragon only to iad the dragon already dead with s hole In ts chest anda strange, gigantic, apiderlike skeleton thing next to the hhoad of the dead deagon. The pred tors could be a nev race with theis wa special weopons and classes. 1 think that it would be a grea thing if the great minds at your magvaine could think of way to bring these creatures in te amt the drow and Infest the dvvarves of D&D. Riley Harper Address withheld Happ bieledey, Riley! hope you hike the movie. loks pretty cok There ore monsters in DD that do the aliens! chick, From the Monster Manual: Xi, spider eaters, ond red load do she egg-implansing, burst= from-tho-body thing. The kythons fiom the Book of Vile Darkness are good candidates Jor predators, as they come with several new weoport, but thay cowl be olin too. These DD “aliens” eauld come from implantation in other DagD races. Ts, the ol could be from any humane, and the eed sled! could came fiom Longe hurmancide ke ogres ad mivo Furs. Of course, you could always eve the implantation ability co any D&D monster, wich or giving i toa strge or spider to represent the face buggers. your with this idea, lotus know howe ‘ie goet—ond fang ofthe PCs nivel Knoviledge Check Answer La ccs se he ver eurea amie a lecaene escent > SS Sa 1 lawENG ae THE SCOOP ON GAMER LIFE GEN CON INDY REPORT Feodin Aendces at thinyeu’sGen Con Comey the ala bntvandet as Seat fy aud aca reseed apecluest intercon kiow what yout of themagirnes spying shad Uline tn bapa ine copy ofthis of Miss an hisyeu? Check ut son ofthe ange have echence Descoaswellasscopyotihe new pichimset hecomention stn _owin Doumwnticorectecc cn Dowcron, Unsere, aud Auut- poco, and sti mating passor iol o 1000 BeSmmaacuia ues, tel Tor falls endingthsat Gen Gan DuNGeow, and Uvoctiarao ofered sight et Marin pein fresh anc ba Dwarven Foe and emtat a closed tthe convention. Folowho —DINGEON CRFMLING HT GEN (OK buagcon caso Deus subsenptons tboth Dexcow Induced atlistyear's Gen Can,Tiue "Tne sous expen at and Duvorox ciel uth shwand Dungeon reurtedwithavengeance”—oldeshion DAD marie deag aclamclowina copy fThe Wolds thiayea craig nsoldeuterent _ Gutsomi ad art ellon Geo oes Larges Dungemby AEG, Draco that ioed 150 pliers Fearn apd odulentfyenaee eee Lsitxin Chief Math Semet, the nlage of Homenlet arganth_plyersnstusiivemisbes shee the Duneron Tdterin Chie rik Mona, sostofolic fanibar cements of besdjdayeat ur penne yooh I and Duveeow ASweite Edtorlames DD's longlison. Thue Dungeon sound nonromee uve codecs lacobolal discusioisaboa!thenew offered ovinghomape to the game _"setrdvasion ofa oneyurtove, Bark versonsdfihe mapelretand how's Gata ‘ype should prepare forachlleng te oe them. Ifyou were Ml; yaireunfamiar with tue Dune Iopadventang tees ele, rou col catia glinpscoT tic duive goon, hinkofastxing alii le nese. and coodivnton Daacan Assitant Rter FMeseygD&D gameshow Younndaicciher _"Wullseevome sured in Scimeider (who went 10 Gen Conte participants pirka D&D cis: and ply the event. | cant say what they ar, play rather than work) boveing sear tarougfia lection adventure game but they willbe fiting when you the Paizo booth. To top italloff the involsing puzzles ciddles,and cen remember that Gen Can is celebrating D&D Timeline Exhibit Featured both Daacon and Daworow asa integral part of the game's ihastrious history. ‘The augazine bltzksiep went alte loeig for Usoerearno with multiclass cheenlende:/medels walling about = ‘convention Door promoting Us roam, Béiter in Chief Michael Mika Jam was on hanel at the booth an at tga twusnamentste greet readers and anowor questions abent the magazine, Of course, thecelebrasian ofthe 20th auniversery of DuneroNs® Deacons doroinated the convention, particulary Wizard s ofthe Coast's Fpic Level D&D Panty in the squae ouside the conven tion hall Free foed ancl beverages were availabe atthe party along with exch BEY 0 s00525 sereacn zoethe 30th anaiversiry oF D&D. There should be some ‘Oh, cool! moments. Finally, | wan to eiake suse every ‘one knows abont the tremendous amount of work that goes into presente ng thls event. Many people work on. thie project for months, snd still more people work ful-time dusingcan entite ‘werk al Gea Con Indy to miake sntccess True Dungeon anly happens G=Fe because there ae ¢ lot af unsetish gamers out Dhece whose idea of fun is to work very bard forthe enjoysnent of others. They ze special people, and asc the plyens to thank them when. they get the chance.” PGA UPDATE bp fon Richards, RPGA Prograns Manager ‘The RPGA (Roleplaying Gamers Association) exists ty enbance your roleplaying experience, so you can pkey mote, with more people, ane receive rewards for plying the games you already love. Were aso ‘xpanding your opportunities to mee: people and duice-i-out with Dencrans ¢ Daacons Miniatures skirmish leagues and toucnaments Allowing for such a massive ply experience requires ts to make a Jot of decisions about how games, events, and people work together hile main laining 2 fir and consistent experience world, Sharing inthis experience rncans there's aul you need to know, so grab your pick and ets dig in, WHT TE REGHE The RPGA i the roleplaying a1m oF ‘organized play at Wizards of the Coast dedicated providing play opportunities and suppori for DUNGEONS & DRAcONS ‘and other d20 Systens games. ve want tomake it easier far peuple to enjoy the fave to-face roleplaying experience Recognizing that sometimes i’ hard finding geming group, ands «lot oF ‘work for DMS w provide new material week fier werk, we provie free adver tutes io members Forn our extensive adventure datalaveand an events calendar featuring games all over the sworte When you download adventures and set up game djs or conventions, these events are aomatially added t0 cour website's eventealenda DS oF GANS D> You PLAT? The RPGA olfecs several stiles of play for coleplaying gerres: campaigns. clas sis and interactive events, Campaigns ‘Campaigas follow ange story ares— ‘often spanning years. To participate in these unfolding plots, rnembers create campaigaspecific characters using the ingructione in the esmpign sourcebook. Zack campaign iss its ‘own campaign sourcebook, Characters prosrin power {gaining gold, experi- ence, ey kipment cad class features) as they complete adventures. We offer two ‘ammpaign styles: Lving campsigns and D&D empaigns. While many of te Living campaigns sare DAD games, they differ from DED. campaigns in sereal ways. Livny campaigns use advent cezord, log. see's, and cextifiations to track your character's progress. D&D campaigns use online tracking to chart your charac’ interacion with the story encounters. Your thursce's interac tions vith the adventure encomnters help determine tne course of the plot in DED campaigns. fie snsjorty of par ties playing an achonture bia villain or fil some evil scheme, that vila or scherneis feed enrapaign wide. IF villain survives orconmpletes his plans, these consequencss arc also reflected ‘nthe campaign, 2LD campaign are decighed to reire afer two years iteking characters fiom Ist toapproxt rately 28h level} Lising campaigns ate open ened bat might featurea retivement level for characters. Classics With classics, chiraciers ave prewsit ten ae part of theadventure. Once each player chooses a character, he genus begins. Classics great way for both beginners and experienced jalayers to jump into action without lots of preparation time. Once the ‘adventure is over, you're done with the character: We hase classics for very thing:ergs the board, from straight Forward DUNGHONS & DEagoss 10 the Grroarvats compaign setting 10 420 Modem and beyone. Intercetive Events Interactive events typically feature an ‘emiphass.on intrigue oxer combat prow ‘gs. Adopt 9 persona, don 2 costume, ‘and socaliaen character wth ther rmenibers Interactive exents might fr ture pregenerited characters, o: they ‘might allow you bo use your campaign ‘hatacter during the session if the inter setive is keyed toa specific campaign Characters fiom Home Camy Characters you playin home can pages ae oot alloyed in carnpaiga 9 lassie games, Since character erestion rules for che campsign-sivle games are standardized allew everyone an ‘even footing, and classic events provide ‘chatacters appropriate to the adsenture, theres bee io avenue for incorporet ing chatceles from heme campaigns Yel you cam use your characte fom your home game to get invaived in the PGA. RPGA members may play select sdveatures from DuNG#0S as sun tioned events, allowing them to earn rewards while playing.a character irom their Home cunpa ru play for these Dunc-zon events and add thei :0 your play history, your DM requests the adventures from the RPGA website like ny otter adven ce {so youtr DN. need to bea Herald DM member of the RIGA), Instosd of vecvivingthe adver: tute as a downloaded file, she DM uses ‘he one published in the magezine, Requesting the adventure flags the Do's account so the adventure results saa be rapotted ance you've payed. [t's sneportantto report your play so your can parm D&D rewaids Nest time, well etyou know what PGA provices and how you Ul then, visit yon rewarast can ean De ‘wigerdacomy/RPGA learn more. seni 2004 o2scon'7s ETby Mike Meavls ‘mages provided by Wizavis ofthe Coast COMMAND AND CONTROL hen pliving the Duneeo.ss 1s Deacons Miniatures gare, chonsing your warhand’s com smankler is petbaps the most impos tant decision you can make, Your commander not eniy wives you beter alling carts often bore chorobos, sho need wide open spaces io stretch their scaly Ings and we are alteage eager te see what's over the next ride. In the wil, chacobes can be ether imexpecied boone or dangerous threat. ‘Whether in locks often te twenty fire suing the wind azoss the pbs ein smaller Sail newting in seduded for st, ld chocobos are malestic sights tobehold, Chocebos commonly range hereen areas of plans and forests, whole flecks running ina vide territory sfseweral dozen square miles during the day and separating into staller nies at night alvays rckiming othe same sheltered groves, Creatures tat appre with cbr cou hostile intemsiona rely got dose toa Heck of chocobos. as thetr keen seasss and swift refleses are often ‘more than enough to heep them well cout affarmis reach, However, shoul particulary ¢aring poacher or wran attempt to steal up on family af choco bos a night, the nterloper must be pre pare 1 fice the creatures sharp tons snd powerful boils as they defend their home, Also, shoulda tibf success fully seal a chocobe eggor hatchling distresed chocebe patents have been now to gather ther entire lock to hase dow the dhiefand cnsurethe safereturn oftheir stolen song,HAT’S IN IT FOR YOU. nh Fel Fantasy gare maies song sc of wel fantasy iemes, bots ecaie pragrocss the ares general Teh lace eet oonaaels inthe rst seer pares, eghts instar mgt ages ae fa romemoraterewe thers Rages we fposee ie far olets heresy dik teh saving thom pig Tepid oy acuee Wenner hriersiesihauRh nameous creative ‘ists alagesae ar gree than sts dcr sovon tgs Bec reel lag org en atexe OM can leary egret eal bow how b mace seem Hed tins ain, devs for new espns magi hordes of bbzure menses, andcharacorzatens ff ll sarees of wie wets ate thescaerh purer actstoy Uesure tive for aco Las sre pases ale, Th more resent ames the inal Fortany saves rate frauen Jonarures fom het ees of salon finasy ‘ames, Atheushvalts Heh mage octerble marser oman, aw sle inert ie spe vel gins peda ad ches aovaned tecnloges ten ale epesraess Ay game arin keh Inagicanaadence scree of Wena fer ney hact,euipmet ace round ens ad oni spaaned fom Wiesalgie rie Wrete: you preter yous fray 45 rational words of monsters and aticor aming-edge esmbnstions of sewsice seh oofery the Fal Fartasy Series sue to bring you semathirg souve neverimapree RIDING BIRD Large Animal it Dice: 4404 8 (26 bp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 60, (12 squares) ACE 14 (1 size, 12 Des, +3 natural) Base Altark/Grapple: 13110, Aulack: Biee 4 melee (10844) Fall Atte Bite 6 mele (Ld80 4) and clawe+1 melee (14642) Space/Reach: 10/5 Special Artacks Special Qualities: Lowlisht vision, Savas Fort 16, Rel 06, Wilt Air: Str 18, be 15, Con 14, In 2, Wie 16, Cha & Skills Jump 18, Liste 48, Spot 19 eas: Endurance, kun Environment: Worm plains and forests SUMMONING RIDING Ei Alkoreh Heehowe vashle ce magic ove nit etthen apartrorn aca nas. nding bindeae iow 9 be perce lo acpsnene email srsmans anc al rales, hus 2365 ve when 4 Icfora noun teers pos bh sht 2 cing rt ber cl ‘Also, Segianhg a allel ald oe ‘hleeer stnge}.a nding be anbe iitireted oak anlar PE ep ae furan nates ‘Organization: Soitny, pair er fleck [$ 2adults plus 2 5 young) Challenge Rating: { ‘Advancement: 3-7 HD (Large), 8-9 HD (Huge Level Adjustment: — What lots to be enexeypionally lec chicken the size ofa deft horse ‘end with goldeneplow fates stands Defre you. With a pir af sha tofons, it scratches ab the ground as is hod der about alert, Upon naticing you, il lis Ing neck toon ide and lesout a ‘envious cll, “Wak"™ ding birds are large animals that cok lke crosses betwen oversized chickens and ostriches. With long necks, golden fet ers. and intelligent 65 Hiding binds can often ie found running freely in Forks across great plains or lazing in the coo! shade of isolated lbrests. Natural runners, few fexeatures ein sprint as fest as 9 riding bird without the ai of An avevage riding bit stands neatly fet tall are, with i flared tail plumes. i almas: equally long, Despite their size, siding birds are sil avians andl usually 310 pounds ‘only shot (oven Riding bids aie usualy either shy or Friendly, and thus dorit often engage in. combat, Most patential predtore Teave riding bitds done in favor of slower prey. However, when a tid. ing bité’s young_o! those sts become atiached toare in caager, it makes effective use of te sheep beak and powerful talons Skills Like met birds, siding birds have keen eyesight, giving them a 06 ‘acial bonus on Spot checks, Gareying Capacity: A light loud or ariing bird is up 1200 pounds: « ‘mediuin load, 201-400 pounclss anc heavy oad, 401-600 pounds, A viding bird can drag 3000 pounds, Riding birds cost «00 gp, Bint Rims eos Fietnove rave than the standard yet lowsfeathorod riding bied ie Mhe nesrly mythical black riding bird, Said to turk ‘aly in the most seeluded muouniain forests or born by chance fom the controled breeding of thoroughbreds, Diack siding bites are one of nature's ‘mos prized treasnes, ‘lack riding birds nave te exact dandard viding birds, as wel a fly speed of 90 fee (pond) Blackering bids ust) sell for 2,000 gp on the open manieet September 2008 DRAGON 525 EETI wy, | ees ee We LEAVE THE FRIKKIN TOWN?! ED Savane 2004 3 00) \ as BA DIeT ch [J Ronb Nex te te PARTY Y] A Pig Farm You WANT ME To Coot His Boor?by Aaron Williams Thope you're not pretending 4o be evil while secretly being good. That would be dishonest. “DETECT EVLA PRETTY USSR SPELL BUT AT BENG SPECSfee COMICS OG, GUYS. IVE BEEN 31 OF THE TIME TRYING TO ANALYZE Wt peer so uirtie ACTUAL cone eae WEEK'S SESSION. AI DURING OUR FeRMIONS ANYMORE, ANT FOUND THE FOLLOWING: WE SPEND 7% OF OUR, ‘OK! THEN LET'S PLAY! TATTACK THE DRAGON S\— HUZZAHL, AIEEEEEEE! CRITICAL FUMBLEL VHAVE THE WORST DICE LUCK EVER! THE DICE vase ver ‘THE DICE HATE MEI THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER EXPLANATION! THE ne HATE 75% OF THE TIME DICE ROLLS... FROM HELL'S HEART I TAS AY THEE! ASSUMING T OreooRse.. IY >» »\| 2004 SHETLAND PRODUCTIONS SOHN@KOVALIC.COM WHIW.DORKTOWER.COM DRAGON 525 September 2004rom countless works of F Titeralure, films, and role- playing games, Iwo heroic archetypes siand out as models of ‘mastial mastery: the heavily aroned and armored Furopean knight and the honorable and deadly Japanese ‘somursi, Fach passeasing their ovm unique arsenal of weapons and Characteristic hyhting styles, these historic wartions have been depicted and idealized countless times 36 neatly invincible heroes of peerless ability and #kill, Aside from these Fanastical depictions, the questions of who these historical champions ‘wore, what equipment they used, and how they did battle remain, These queries also lead to an event greater question, one that can be answered only on the battlefield of lnugination: In a fight Lemeen these two breeds of legendary warriors, who would win? THE SCENARIO Bist ofall, where would these two lone warriors mest, and uncer what circumstances? Since the conaiions ofthis imaginary Hy) could play 4 msjor factor, stich an encormter ‘would best take placeon a flat, firm, ‘peat ied with no coves anal plenty of ‘oem: to maneuver. Although each is an accomplished horseman, itis conducive tw have the singlesoombat duel occur on ool sna nithout use of miesle weap. ons. interestingly, both corabatants are probably used tothe same climate and ‘weather, £0 this for should not inf ence thei bale, ‘Thare are many intangibles to consider. "The ability af each combatant t9 read or Size up his opponent and determine the threat the other posed is an important consideration, 1s exch briefed on the nature of his opponent and hie armaments, or is the encounter a blind one jn whieh neither knows anything about his adversary? Given these variables, les aesuime that each of our ideal combatants hhas been iaformed about the other sand is therefore mentally. prepared and composed, Ofcourse, Ife are supposing 2 chach between two “typical warriors ‘we must also ask exactly what is con- sidered typical? The knights of circa 1100 CF and the senvutai of einen 1900 (Ck were rougiily evenly matelied in equipment, but the same comparative warriors during the 1400s wore quite dissimilas, Each of the two histor! cal warriors in question fought with ‘equivalent technologies, acer bisly similarclitmates and terrain, and for similar reasons, but i's dificult te think in tons ofa “generic” medic eva) knlghtor a "Standard” stimurai svarrion. With roagect to a Europea knight, it's ako diffi 9 chonse ‘Waieh nationality and what ype oF Bushido is “the way of the horse and bow,” not “the way of the sword.” wwarior fiom which portion ofthe Middle Ages to use. With the samurai though, we only deal with a single, homogenous eulture As for the knight, are we assum> ing he wil be a mail-cad Norman, with sword and kite shield fror the yeas 1056? Periagps he could be an English or French chevalier of 1350 in partial plate with arming coord ready for a judicial duel in 2 closed: ring? Will he be a Teutonic knight ‘of circa 1500 in s hend-to-toe suit of articulated Gothic piate-atmor and wielding s bastand sword? ‘Will she eamnurai be wearing the older box-bke Muromach) armor fand armed with a tachi blade, of will he woar the later close-fiting Kamakura-period do-maru armor ‘and swe the more familiar katana? For that matier, wars the sami. ral be allowed to use both his long ketans and his wakivashi short werd together? THE WARRIORS ‘We can reasonably assume that the personal attributes such as indi vidual strength, speed, stamina, age, health, and courage ate faiely consistant between such professional warriors. Assuming we cam somehow contol for these altributes, we ean, rratch combatants with some equal ity, Lig not unrealistic to believe that neither was likely decisively stronger fr Fister than the other: However, we ccait discount physiology as 2 factor, which might be as advaniage for the European (Ioth.centucy eamursi armor examples are sized for men around 5°9°95% while European amor from the same period and ‘earlier ft men ranging from lust tunder 6” to about 6°5"), but other evidence suggests average European Hheights im the Leth century were just above § feet, While the European concept of physical fitness among knights of the 1th century empha slaed the classical Grove Roman youthlal physique of a narrow waist and broad shoulders on, a1lean frame, the Japanese ideal was fone of 4 mors mature man having a wider base and lrreader middle—no doubt reflecting the natural edhno- graphic charactecitice of eech race, but also influencing the fighting Techniques they employed, We might alzo want to consider the forms of warfare in which each swordsinan possessed experience ‘The early samurai engaged in a ‘iualized style of warfare where individual champions might fight separate battlefield duels following established protocols, as opposed toallater mounted archery style of combat amid pike formations of lesser foot soldiers, There were a Few lorge scale (often disastrous) military expeditions to Korea and elsewhere, but most of a samura’s bottles necursed in the environment af his home islandsKnighte emphasized mounted shock warface with couched lances ani-—off the flelo—a concers for chivalric and judicial duele ae well ag tnurnemeats ofall kinds, The West: ern way of war as directed mote at 4 traditional battle of annihilation as par of an overall campaign of songuest. Yet, individual challenges, whether to she deat or not. were Frequent, Knightly arms and armor were the result of a dynamic interac: tion of Latin, Celtic, and Germanic ceultures as well as Turkish and Ara Dion influences, The environment knights fought in were extensive sand diverse, ringing from the cold ‘of Seandinavia 10 the doverts ef the Middle ast from the plains of West- ‘em Burope io the deep forest of the Fatt, and the swamps, felés, and ‘moumiains in between Cultuce might also play a rele in this eon test, Sumurai vurrions ‘existed ina hicraxchical tnd conformist ewlture that rewarded obedi- cence and loyalty over individuality. Knights existed ina snore comples and Hud secleiy chat emphasized golé-expression with 2 long tradition of selience on indi- cial dblative, Both cultures had experience fighting against outs ers and foreigners: the Europeans encountered the Turks, Mongols Saracens, and other the Japanese encountered the Koreans, Calnese, Mongols, and others, Thus, in com Siering the histories! second on cross-cultural collisions in different locations, we migh! want to give the edge to the more socially diverse uropians on this mnatter. (On an indivieual basin, we mvt consi¢er what effec’ the quality af fatalisin within the samnurat code of Ibuckido might play, or rather the res. lute acceptance of death that mot: led the hercest samucai, Wecan not sverlaak the quality of piety and faith ‘that could motivace a noble knght to great Feats, or of thc ideale of chivalry that te might upbold to the death. [Us possible a mediewl European knight ‘would have « certcin disdain and scorn for his foreign, “pagan” adver sis, OF course, he Japanese wartior’s swelbnoan atinide of proud ineinci bility and readiness to cle for his lord ould equilly mabe him vulnerable to an unfamiliar Be. Contempt for life and contempt for a dangerous, ‘unknown opponens yau might under estimate can he a sastrons combi: sation, While cowage is important, Aghting epinitaloae i inculfciont There are surely tangles here we cannot measure with any ellabliy Those andl other ron-quantifable, psychological factors aside, we are leit wilh arnios, weapons, and Gaining te decide the victor Without weapons designed to defeat plate armor, any fighter would have difficulty. THE ARMOR Armor changes ting in sword play. Lf you've newer trained anit you cant imagine bow Ieatleets your povementand the exceation of even simple acions, Ii has been ‘tid thay while Furopeens designed their armor to de‘eat swards, the Japanese designed theie swords to defeat armor. Thete isa conain ‘uth to this, but 183 simplistic ‘view. The better Japanese armor was constructed of stall overlapping Taoquered metal scales or plates t together with silk cords it order to specifically resist the slicing et of the karana, {Vallewed significant fecedom of mavenent while offer ing excellent protection, [Tit got ‘wel, however, thesilk: cords scaked lip water and it became terribly heavy, Although the earliest silos ‘of samurai armor were designed swith Inege square plates sea defense against arrows, the later forms were intended prienarily to be used by and agoinst similarly equipped swords ren and 19 lessen the tremendous ‘cutting capacity of their blades. 1 ‘was diable.effretive, and provided for amgle movement, How would ithold up to the stabs of a narrowly pointed knightly soetd? This tae Important question, Medieval European srmor wat designed and shaped more to deflect ssrkes and absord blans force blows front lances and swords, A knight's armor varied from simple byrnies of fine-siveted mail, which could absosb sliees ard prevent cuts, «0 vwell-padled soft jackets and metal caatt-oFplates, which were designed to protect equally from camcats- sion weapons as well as penetrating thrusts. A complete suit of fully auticulated rigid piave armor tequited special ized weapons to effectively Uefea’ i, Plate armor was epnatrcted to be invulnerable 1o sword cuts—even, it can be stcmises, those of the ‘exceptionally sharp kakana, Some high-rankcng 16th century samurat londs actually owned pieces of ex temporary Furopean armor gis ‘and purchases which they even wore into battle, They did not prize them merely as exotica. For foot com- Dia, this armor sas well balanced. mensuverable, and sometimes even rade of tempered! shvel, I was well suited for wear in cornbat, and 3 far from the awkward, lurabering cliché presented by Hollysoed ‘Without weapons designed to defeat plate armor, sy fighter armed witha sword alone (katanz ‘or not| would have difficulty. Indeed, full European plat with mail might very well dam: ‘age the keen eége on particularly fine katanas. Aer all, we shoud not forget that despite the kacana'svaunted cutting ability, he samurai fall-arm slashing cuss of Kenjuisu. fairy thick wood covered i leather wwete able to euscesafully rely on Medieval hort swords are prop: and usually trimmed in metal, mak their armors as defence against it. erly wielded with mare-af'a threw ing them highly maneuverable and There is every eason to imagine of the arm anda wistof the hips. aicult to cut into. More likely, a lightly armor would have been while making pacsing stepa forward blade mould be momentarily stuck iC just as effective if not more so. If erback. Both cuts and thrasts ate it struc too forcefully, Unlice what wwe therefore assume the armors to uhiown Trot belind the shield while 18'seen in the movies ot described beniore evenly matched, say mail it simultaneously guards, feints, in heroic Iiteature, chopping into and partial plate forthe knight at dellecs. or presses. Asword and a shield’ edge can temporarily ted around 1250, chiugs woul shield Is a pteat asset over a single cause tke sword blade to wedge into elmore intereating, However, the sword alone, Fighting with evord the shield for jut an instant and samurai did often carry a thick dig- and shield offers a well-rounded andl thereby be delayed in tecovering or 1, which would have been quite stiong defense that safely permits a renewing an attack (and exposing Useful ageinat plate, Interestingly, wide range ofboth direct and combi- the attacker's arms toa counter) each watrioc was highty skilled in. nation atacs Shields without metal rims were Using anmorplercing daggers and The shield wes not used in the even fisored or this reason. with closein grappling (something waye typically shown in movies, Kenjutsu (Japanese swordeman root generally known abcut knightly video games, siage-combat. or his: ship), although consisting of very fesscing skill) turtealoleplaying organizations, effective counter-cuttg actions, Fighting-aguinst s medieval child le also has no eeal indigenoue previ THe SHIELD sions for fighting We must consider shields, skilled vhatierthelnght — As a sword, the Japanese katana warrior could cer in this hypotheti tainly improvise ota is unmatched in its sharpness and some, Hattie semed in the ‘ ‘unfurl with the familiar shield and cutting power. formidable effec short sword siyle tiveness and ver or will use only a satility ofa sword single longsvord? 1famned with a not staply s matter of maneuvering and shield combination would have shield, we must ask what ling? Will around ior aiming bows elsewhere, a hard time, the knight employ 2 centergripped A sword can cut quite well fram ‘ypewith front umbo or one worn almost allangles rourd or under. THE SAMURATS SWORD by enaemae straps? Will the shiek! neath a shield, Indeed, ince the lu major battles ought by both Ine the highly ffecive “kite shape’ shield we i ea well guarded, the types ef warrior, both saraurais ‘yllh iis super defense or one of the opponent is the ane limited to attack- and knights typically wielded a smaller, more mancuyerable convex. ing to only ene region—he now sword in one o° tworhands. For *heater” siyles? How about a thick shield sce, As it comes out ftom the knight, the primary wespans steel buckles? belie! the shield to strike, an attack» had always been the long lance There's a reason virtuelly every ex's weapon can be countertimed and the sward, and to a lesser culture developed the shield and and countercit, which isan elfective _degroe the potene, dagger, and why they were used for thousands tactic to employ against « shield user, mace. ‘The sword was always the of years: They were very effective. Yet a shield user's attacks are net at founclationsl weapon of a knights In 15th-century Furope, itwas only all one sided, A shield can be used fencing training. Far the samurai, thie combination ofthe development offensively in a number of ways.and however, the sword was but one of full plate armor and twe-handed at very close range. of three major weapons, elong, sswnrdls combined with heavy pole Katanas are powerful swords with the box and the yari (thros:- arms anid powerful missite weapons used with sirong techniques, but ing spear) used from horseback, ‘tht Gnally reduced the long reign- thinking they could simply cleave We should consider that, despite ing value ofthe shield in warfue, _tnrouph a siout medieval shield is their Inter acquired reputation For ‘The medieval style of sword and absurd. A shield cannot simply be swordsmanship, the samura’s pr: shield fighting is distinelly different sliced through, exen with a katona, mary weapon was, in fact, not the from the two-hand grip and quick Medieval shields were cratted of sword. The sword did not becomea premier weapon of ssmmurai eal ture and reach its cult status nit the mid-io lote-172h century. when the civil warring period ended. It is something of a myth that every indivi hhimselt an expert swordsmen (no move true than that evecy Wild West cowboy wes an expert gun fighter). After al, the expression so associated with bushille is “the ‘ay of the horse and bow," not ‘the way of the sword.” Besides, unlike knightly chivalric ales and combat secounts, the majerity of single combats between samurai described in feudal Japanese litera thre took plice with daggers and ol swords. For the sake of discuss sion, let ay assume both Fighters use swords in this imaginary case ‘Asa sword, the Japanese katana is unmatched in its sharpness and cutting power Furthermore, itis partieslarly good at euitting against metal (but it only ruts through swords in movles and video games) Howeves; snedicval plate armor Ze well known far its resistances to cutting, and cutting at a moy- ing target hiddea by a shield or a pgreataword is not easy. While the edge of a katana is very strong, with fa sharp cutting bevel, i i a thick ‘wedge shape and still has to move aside material as iteuts. Although this ix devastating on a draw slice against flesh and bone, i is mach less effective against armors. Real izing this, several ales of Japanese swordsmanship devised specific techniques 101 to catat arinor, but to atab and tanust at the gops and joints ef it just as the Europeans did against thelt ov plate armor cept for major conflicts in Ke and encounters against the Mon- gol, the katana developed in cone pamtive aplation and fs nes quite Japanese samurai wee the“ultimste sword” some of its ardent admirers occastonally build ipug an, The katsnats exceptionslly hari edge was prone co chipping and needed inequent ce-pollshing, and iis blade could bneak or bend the same as any other sword might Twas not designed to take a great deal of abuse, and is not as floxile nor intersded to directly eppose sett cor hard armors as som medieval swords had to be. The katane’s design was not set in stone. Ie was changed anid altered over the centuries like any other sword, being slowly improved or adapted to the different needs ond tastes of its users in terms of cross section, cnrvatore, and length. (n the 15th ceoliy, foe instance, its point had to he redesigned becouse it wns prone to snapping against the metal rms of European swords were, in a sense, always specialized rather than generalized designs. reinforced “studded! leather armor (essentially equivalent to Gueopean brigandine armor) of the Mongols and Chinese, By the 48th century its blade, no longer earnestly used against armors, fended to be made longer, lighter, and thinner for cs room practicing. ‘True, Japanese feudal warriors did have thelr own forni of gieatswoud in the long no dachi blades, These, however, were employed spacth cally by loves ranking foot soldiers against horses (and presurmabls, on ‘occasion, agains! pikes). So, we cams not draw an equivalency beiyeen these and medieval groatiworde used inv nightly fencing arts or to the true twohandets of 16th-century Euro: pean battlefields Overall, the katana was a very well rounded desig: exeelleat a: eating aand slicing, yet gond at ehrvering and soltable for armored or unacmared fighting on foot or howsebuck, ether bone oF two-handed. It waa care fully crafted and beautiful weapon reflecting generations of artistry and | Foxrsome necessity, but it wae el ‘well: tempered and expertly polished hnetal, Although the details of mani. facture difleres, they were made | bay dae same fundamental scientife processes of heating and working bre by shaping and grinding as were other fixe swords around the would throughout history only 3 sword—a man-made too] of | THE KDIGHT’S SWORD Having equipped our simumi, we must turn to tte sword to be used by our knightly combatant, It must be understand that there was 2 great diversity of knightly swords and armor types. Faropean swords were, ina sense, always specialized rother than gen. eralized designs There were swords for foot combat, swords for horselack, single and double handed swords, straight and curverl swords, swords for armored and for unartnored fighting, swords for tournaments, sverds for civil ian dueling, swords ideal just For trusting or just for cutting, and swords only for training, ‘A knight's sword sas typically one-handed weapon originally intended specifically for use with a shield. Their blades are wide and Faivly thin, but righ, with chisellike edge intentionally designed for ext ting through mail armor and deep Into flesh anil bone witha quick, Torcefal blow. They wore ight, agile, and stil, yet flexible enough to withstand the stcess of use, They varied ftom the wider Matter kinds to ngid, tapering, sharply pointed ‘variations well suited for stabbing, both plate and laminated armors.Ee ege el Fam loll The later wideshased and acutely pointed siyle of bastard sword was ‘superb at thrusting. So, even though Japanese armor was made of the satne quality steel as their weapons, nothing in its crafting made it supe. tor to armors European blades were Aesigned to penetrate Although the madieval sword and shield cormmbinatien was fairly common, longer blades usable in two hands were in widespread use {rom about 1250 t0 roughly 1690 in Europe. When we tall about ‘medieval European ‘ongswords or warswords (or even greatswerds), we are not dealing with « single uniform style, Sorne swords hed wide, fat blades with parallel edges well ited to powerful cute, Later swords speciilcaly designed for fac ing heavier armor, had narsower much more rigid blades of dia- mond or hexagonal cross-sections that tapered to hard, sharp points They were used to bish at armor before stabbing anxl thtusting into jointe and gaps. They could alvo be ‘employed to thrust like short spears or Siam Like warhammers, yes they ‘vere still capable of cxtsing at more lighily armored opponents, The difference between these to Europesn blades is significant and ance more underscores the distine- tion between the manner of using a katana and a straight medieval European sword, The tapering blade form hes a different eonter of bal- ance and is often lights Is point of percussion is located farther down the biade, and ise fine point is capable of making quick, acct vate, and stron tiyle can make a somewhat greater vaciety of sirikes and delivers rore effective cuts overall. The later is thrusts. The wider mare agile and easier to guard parry with. It can also more easily employ its versaile bilt in binding, tapping, and stiking. Ils pooper style oF use (with ils tighter move: ments, various thrasts, and infight ing with she hilt is rarely depicted with any accurigy in movies and staged performances, The reach factor also cannot be overlooked, Aldiough a skilled Fighter can effecively use a shor! blade against a long biade ar vice versa, and although neither long swords nor Katanas had standaee. ‘zed longrhs, overall the katana 18 significantly shorter than European two-handed swords ardl great swords. A longer weapon with two: edges daes haveadvantages--espe ally if used by a man taller than the wielder of a shorter, single edged weapon, Surprisingly. he longsword or greatsword is arguably a more com= plex weapon tha the katana, Ie hoe two edpes that can be used, 26 well as a yersalile cressguard and pom el pormitting « variety of special. ied techniques. Another element to consider is thit European swords coud be used in “half sword? techniques whee the second hané pripa the blade isalf to wield the weapon in bashing, deflecting, binging, and traaping as a pole-axe or short spear can be used. Thie ‘was especially elfective in fighting against plate armor nightly blade: could be excellent swords, bit they are often denigrated merely a3 crude Punks of icon while samurai swore we venerated and exalted sometimes 0 the point of absurdity by collectors, enthusiasts, ‘and films, The hettor line is that rediesal swords were indeed well made; light, agile fighting weapons ‘equally capable of delivering dismiem: Dering cuts ot elevving deep into body casities, They were far from the ‘dumsy, heavy things they'e often portiayed as in pepalar media and fr, far mone than 8 mere “club with edges.” (nterestinely, the weight of Katanas compatec to longswords is orp ibang Neachscaccleeraa nt less tam + pounes. GDELLHED WODDs6 Z10I an REASURGA aNd cite) aGRoneh iy Sa celuuIN(en Teens AND FRESH POSSIBILITIES! NEA Sagnel TO STIMULATE YOUR IMAGIN i ASCINATING CHALLENGE ANGE CULTURES, FNDp cbt ase eely Wn eo DY USW MUSH Conan emu] ROVIDE A HIGH-QUATIT PRODUCT FOR TE MODERN GAMER Pee Mera Perey Kc GREATMA pvt ece espera. Cele Gheck our website for are poe oc pert orate eee oe reat (Mastiff Corp,(elonkenalS Hao DULINCanesmnae ne Bisa eect Paeitisiinnirtecin sen alte ieivanguestaregtys THe SweRDSTANSHP more with paintol-percussion on Winstead of shieldand sword we the 6 ta 8 inches of bkide down from Cop yssmtn) haknight with: longeword the point as opposed to the cued word against the katana katana, which uses more of the first armed samurai, this makesasig- few laches, IPwe bring into the Brennen nificant difference in how we judge equation the medieval bastard swore) aiisnctiltalieatennedir the fight We must not fall inte the with compound/-hilt of side-rings and Sthiletianntdgedonastteat trap of judging the medieval long- ——barguards as well as half grip hanulle sword in terms of what we know using various methods of holding, Stair about clssica! Japanese fencing, 1! this could algo be a significant facto. Micon Ueereua meet is a mistake te think the straight, Such hilts alow for a variety of ene Greate inetla sisson double-edged medieval sword wih oy two-hsnd gripping options and crueiform-ilt is handled like a gives superior lip control for thrust aise fyi cris curved katana, Whi rithauthtitteoat therearceer ing or edge aligninen, tainly similarities and wniversl com When contrasting there two Drew Hayes, creator ef Y ! ! a 2 monalties between the ‘wo siyles of styles of sword we should also swordsmanship (auch ap in tee and cuts), there are also signif keep in mind a number of points We classify each as longswords and fancamental differences. They aud both were designed for the each make the same basic soren or same purpose: Killing, Differences eight cuts and thrusts. Asacurved between them result from the par blade wih an especially keen edge, ticularities of their functions and the katana ie mperior in the potent the ways they accomplish their tial use-of quick, short slices, Yet. goal, We should alse keop in mind asa long, straight blade tapering that Japanese swords and swore toa keen point, the longaword is arts aeilect a living tradition, and better at thrusting, Additionally. its one with a long-standing interes dual edges, enabled bya graspable group in the West promoting its pommel, allow it t attack along study. In contrast the medieval more lines than the eight stan heritage has for decades had virts cuts. Having te edges to work ally nothing but Hellyyeod Fantasy with permits backedge and reverse and rolepleyers representing it, cuts. This allows a larger number of From this, itcam he seen that a strikes from different angles direct comparison of 2 Entopean The katana is wielded in a quick, sword to a Japanese one is ot pos flowing manner with a torque of sible. They are “apples.and oranges,” the grip as well as a push of the so.ta speak. hips. Palling a curved blade in this vay makes il sliceas it shears. The @DUCATED GUESSES foowwork is more linear, with skert, As our hypothetical Night ensues, {quick hopping, (even shxfing) steps, any number of thinge might hep In contrast to the slicing slash of pen, In the-course of striking at one ‘curved, single-edged, fa TEC ene nese auotbet, a chance blow by either Reece ren a erert J. The katana blade, medievsl swords wore made side could ond the fi Ue een for hacking, shearing cuts delivered might or might net be sbie to make DCC CLECILy primarily frow the elbow and shoul- a lethal oc incapacitating cut (some: Cent der and employing wide passing hing difficut 1 do agains plate Festuring she nant steps. The movements are lager, arm, let alane a mail coat with a veekees with more fast whirling actions as. shielg). The kuight, anfimiliar with Seemann: he two edges are employed. the the natare of is opponent, nig ree ee pommel alone guipped, or the hands theow out a stake that makes isn changed to different positions on the _rulnerable io a welltimed counter: ight bled, it strikes atlack. Of course, the samurai mightalso underestimate the power of the medical sword's cleaving blows and agile brusts, even ageinst his armor The average Fairapean ter hand sword is as much a8 foot longer thon the average katana and is not at all slow or defensive, It hag a versitile hilt used for binding, trapping, and parrying, The katana fs alco.a fae: weapon that cute strongly and guards wel) There exist numerous techniques {or fighting using the longsword's ‘ball guards, and there axe also many techniques for striding wih fa shield, but then the katana excels at close-in slices, OF course, against good armor, such actions can be nege Iipible, and Qyhiing agalnst shietés was rclatively unknown in Jspan, Soon one hand, the knight's gh! ing style—either of close-in sword ond shield clashing, or large pasving steps with long-reaching sheating ccursand plunging thrusts with a longeword or greateword might give him the advantage: On the other hand, the intense, focused, counter cutting style of the sarnurai with his sazor-keen blade andl own experience jn acrmoved fighting might instead give him th advantage I could be argued that the sam: ra by nature would ha adveninge in atitade and fortitude asa result ofthe psychological ele ‘mente of his training. Ho 2 well known to have integrated unarmed reclinigues ito his ropectoize as well 12 having a keen sense of ax ep nents sirengihs ard weaknesses. Sul, much of dis is Intangible and subjective, Besides, although ‘yot widely appreciated. st is now wwelldocunentied (garticulanly front snecievsl talian and German Dght- ing mmanvals) that Guropean knights and nenatarms fi ly integrated advanced prappling, wrestling, and disarming techniques into thelr fighting skill, Lhere ig no evidence tovthe myth that knightly martial culture was any less sophisticated for highly developed than its Asian counterparts—its traditions and racthods omly fell aut of use with the social and teemological changes Drought about byadvances in fire arms and cannons, ‘Those whe thine the medieval ‘sword and shield were just brutis, artlons armaments sre ae greatly mit infonred se those sho inpagine the Jatana was haul in some nysied ‘ou and secrot manner sry com et through anything, While ts knows thal the average semurai had 2 lasge inventory af unarmed fighting teh niques at his disposal, hese 190 woul be walikely bo playa part against a shield.wielding werrion, Keeping oun HUPGTHESIS 3ROAD so, given the compleaites ofthe ‘question of what Sind of knightly arms and armor trem what period vwe could consider ita hypothetical knight samurai excounter, it might be ‘easier fo jst imagine an unarmored duel, sword against sword, ssithou! shields, Lave assume then that our cross-cultural gladiator fantasy ‘vould be foght by two reepective 15th eontury warsiors with single ‘swords slone, In his way, we essen tinly have two fighting men exper enred in using 2 ong sword as well sas Mghting una ore, This colves a let of questions, but ‘even here the issue is problematic. ‘We sill need 1o ask what kil of katana and what Had of longeword? What length of bade and handle? "There was no geresie medel for fither weapon, afer all So, sssuming that we cloose two weapons of com: ppavative dimensicns, we could cheose the knightly longassovd of the enaci- fonmhitted, donllelged,slighily lapesing varity Under this scenario, the katana ‘woud have a sigat advantage. I's sdopt in unsrmored, eutand.theust Fighiing whoee te slightest wound for is heen edge could perhaps one This issue’s Riddle: desks fore sequel mow Tesh in bed tsb ses Ins Blood ows re then ni to Mack Uisleepe ty cone ec. Gets now nde sc om Sour ena Sig ua sides sllentemscom Need something | more than “String or nothing”? Riddle Books Each Riddle Book contains 75-80 riddles for use in role playing games or to challenge you and your friends. Need a break; from Hack & Slash? Y ¢ Riddle Rooms Riddle Rooms are riddles and puzzles presented as rooms that can be added to any dungeon or adventure. Each room has one or more illustrations. Can be used with any system. For more riddles and games visit us at worw.cloudkingdom.som,Pans Joho Cs is oe of Avce'seslog Insurer: and pacitoner reser ‘ersafrecinal and Rensisane fen ing hing rae th tuber nar Imerys ad esa ches ne tauah: sc woatses He eeces and ‘wes on hiro ering il re _ distor afARA te Noon reisance Mata ts wear “og sid antorol ebooks, eae Srarinamtip, The Nnywed uefa 5 nd Ct Tat Stords and Medea) “Scevtandip ete teanqnesond Medd lett Fon Pain Pes. Hi forthcoming ots ae Fstnil hang In Ned Wail ts Te Lrg Feng Sted Cd an Rearee Ser eal Ouch sever a hand or dieable an arm. 1 could also thrust well and might ea threaten a pressing ot slicing draw if close in. The haleswording techniques of the iongsword would also not be nearly as viable hoe, although its nilt dlosign might prove useful, While the ongsword would be menseing in its quick and long-reaching thrust, its stabbing attacks would perhaps not be that unfamiliar to 2 Samural used te facing spears, On the other band, the knight would not be umased to facing a curved singleedged Dlade, likely being skilled in or farilier with the falchion, badelaite, messer. long grossemnesser, and even Turk inh acimitara, So agein, the outcome Cf the match would come down to Intangibles of personal atinude ana individual prowess Some would swegest thatthe sammie ral was siinply a better swordsman and mere tenacious warvior and would likely ontfight his European counter. ‘part, Others argue a skilled, superbly conditioned knight using either a sword and shield combination or a Tongsword or greatsword la full mail for plete would be nesr invulnerable and brutally overpowering. Pracito ners who are experienced with one Iype of blade tend to favor whatever they're most Familiar with, In one sense, we are salking about very different approaches to armed personal defense, but i's all the same when reduced to two srmed sombatunts facing ome anotier. There are many universal commonalities and shaved funda mentale between both European and Japanese feudal warriors, but there were also significant tech nical and stylistic differences sm their respective approaches. [f not thelr marilal histories and thelr arms and armors would not have been so distinet 8@ WHAT can We REALLY KNOW? Overall, there are far too mtany var: ables and unknovin to decisively Judge who would win in a battle The better fighter wins the fight. between a knight and samucal. The fight connot be seduced to any gener alized statements about who had the historical advantage in skil or who Ihad the superior array of arms and armor All we ean really do i give an opinion based on that we know about these wartiors! means and rmanmers of combat, efore reflesively reacting with a ateong opinion one way or another vwhen thinking about this subject, ‘we might want to stop to ponder the same imaginary contest as held between two samurai, auch as & samurai of the Murornzehi era ver. us a Kamalesca one. We could do the same for the knight, posing the problem of who would defeat whom, an 1ithccentay Plemiek lnight or a Uth-century Burgundian one? By doing this simple menu exercise, ‘we ean wee the inherent probleme of arguing one way or another over such imeginayy fights. While the techniques and prin: ciples of kenjutsu are highiy effec tive, they might be disely pressed to combat the proven efficacy af a warrior using the sword and shield ‘method a technique that proses doubly cifective against an opponent with a single sword. As well the formidable utility and versetilly of Furopean longswards or greatswards ‘cannot be ignored, especially when. combined with European armor, although a fine katana can also he a truly awesonte wenpon. "There are many other factors that could be raised when speculating on a Dypothetical combat between a knight and a samurai. In the end though, the question of who would win such a duel is rally unanswerable, Being a ‘great warrior isa matter of individual ability and technical factors that are not exclusive ny one culture oF time period. The Detter fighter wins the fight, and ‘whoever does win is therefore consid: cred the better fighter—or at least the rioce fortunate.eaicemes Sai A SNEAK acta Ups E}(CLUSIVE Higa a AND IMAGES FORGOTTEN REALM - omponioa hi ptochaaeters created by New York to redefine D&D in wholly-smiqae * y author R.A. Salva way. The resul oft appears ‘his month 0m! Hemoit Sione at acti i and offer Foncorray R e for the Phyystanor oducts, players pet to see and hear their favorite heroes Do'Urden. These features. applied ing the 9 ed with creatures, con ‘ao: pts a ios, best known for their games Lard design is made all the more remark- Duweross sand) larke Dugean Ih Dranen thewe cericBLUE SLAAD fanisy storys Dux faced the challenge nf oe senving playersvithe aptoagtaite those in any action sae. ie ofthe ost unique elements of Deion Sones that vena gh the gene rel te he player controls an entire putyof three characters, “To us, playing ot heroes with diferent sil i fad the petro of dferendeetce that offers, is the core ofDRD" says See | Ny epics EEE Pye Gi a DEMON STONE CONCEPT Baldo From this, we came i fie ied that the player could switch ven three bidpes" Thove three would Become Il the ha he alo ie fighte bo made his frst pede ance ine Ray novel The With thre Separite characters and no time to ake tums ePpiogean 1s might expect fe unused party members 10 merely it back and watch the action, ov even. inexplicably disappear when nat in se, However, Stommfront has core up with a more creative selution making the anmased characters your active allies th w every cucoun: tex. "The Al of the non-contiolled hneroes is really strong,” Da esplains, “They will kil enemies th have Fallen on the grourid, east pre See CoE ae Tytective apella when the party i low on hit points, cast hold spells when there are teo many enemies, use darkness te Isunck enoale atiacks, and 40 on," Thus, by followin te’s Jead, the acilons ofa cohesive he active charac team of edvonturece remain within the player's conteal through every step of the sme control init the only way the characters work sopether Demon Stone roma the use ofa ime, However, basic panty ower ens oa smind vidual ehinae ter smuch the same way tradtipyal DB.D does, As sh, he pany eles on the Uunigueatengtne snd sls ofits mem bers tn ae thern on their adventures Todothis, Atri and Stecmufiont had to tinsate» number of DRD ruler sn abiltis into graphics tae both rake enisewithin the world of the allow the plyeetoisntsin const ‘Wealvays trv lve wihin tespint ofthe rules of D&D? says De ‘example, we have uted spmbovie ima ery todepici how hidein shedows an sneskattack work, Once Zhi, the rgue tenors shad, she besrmes trinshicent tashow that she hid successfully. Once dhicleavea the shadow, she temas ECs eee icmenat tnnslacent for lite while 0 show that enemies sill have seer hier — s woddvion bien whe not we ‘sso leary ealr ony olraspels oon huts pomonally Jon hear siretderai, thes pe te te meray fein: o asinge epee ce “ous. athousyer cy ghscaimbtoa spec vee is he ety four dey’ ogra ha dies Biber alien eer sou arate pots sires asinst his dls scecic brand fin sich store pf Faves he le tht hi a ele love dural, edwin ‘Me sie capes how «chaacer th ove of ie aks gabe trac the Aeintions om speicalycl ves powers use. faves cescsoial sirens Fate Ares crackers robadl slfs ey rexe an hie anaraa Treen ‘orwath is whatacs mest adver to lot ancenturisane rad ders en cass In he fis pac "s when a arrtr sts tng ove han “is fr shor seine what he eda frcn tvs pay eras at hs nn nd Lo conn Havas Ey An srs hart want a snctherhes. Absoughtismigt be put eed one srt seeking cut the power worl ofan ol warlord eal also mar eoetng “me apts, ats, or ossasiens oF lay party memoet uel elnigs mgt acc hen ‘ue membe's af he sarecliss ae n2 patty ard ae becomes jedous ofthe ethers 2b ites ‘ithaugh tie ould esltin tome wal inter onedcomnpathie, the wave characte ight Der sams beyond Rerably show up be tv Ghitory:Giutonsischarrien sitio wperiene neg. Aven hs nigh sem inlfnsigeeneupi the dharactr why init on szeng a's bah every door or empl very pata fe necomar ce” eboraioy cove spit becowe a ab iyi ary even {les exteme stuntorssicha choniciermaght oe avartae ofthe hes of ovens Nog mv ere galty a unvelon eputtion, ‘Lust Alas charter doses something orsomeonetothe deren fal ater things, Abou bar nef bloc qugty than thoes dene out ofleve thor parame FF Lst ate armenesclfserving, Ihe vtatd who cues or ever pester magicet be monk vuho serves or ariel mast oth nigh pus aside se desves ane nes ofthe ales, fo oeiah thirpeesione Pde: tious tight bo Far 6 be ids tt level careers whe can shator irtitane wie Hlldoigene tiene ouipe ee ry tetate Nidal ear rght Push wade Bone better equipped seal aaluaion, Tabara sea berks dr sos: before womve cn csarmits rap x te fghier wo sists on alec necreaute 3 card could depth witha worn arebeth expos opel hacer ‘Slots Sot) charac vay abe he ules o: eases routes, evn agate wishes of heals, Suchacharetr mht simp} else to dina’ awill ard pon search tar In etre ctuneane, eka might oe thoacce ofa gud and flaw the devart routeon sap een tough leads ereety ou a deer sla ‘Weath Whe bata are alent ately wat, sy characte show anes of anges the cere mbo cast nh des uciyesjel'sand hp ca mo orgs heal ohe ogre ‘ho alos an excesshe srount one opera singe sea) ataceare bo enarples oF ‘ese wrth chaser am $25 spine 2004, Coy veneseemeer stALTERNATIVES TO THE DETECT Sea EET)vine spellenstere possoss a mal tide of pavers, Fom taming ‘undead and tealing the wounded to taking on the form of animals Doities and other primal forces grant these allies both inthe foem of continous powers snd snagica epell Higher level spells often manipulate lire and death, but levies all tu often overlook one of their most useful low. level spells: dee ev “The power to know a persouls seul creates move questions and moral lemmas than it solves, however. What does a speleasier do whten he detects ‘ui in somecne who’ net perks ing an evil ac, for exsunple? Does the sspceaster daw 3 weapon aud imusder the ponten before she hurt: someone ‘else? A great burden and awesome power cones with peeriug into another personis coul, Like srnudge of dirt, evil appears ‘on people and things Leari Yet even non evil people perform sett ‘of questionable morality Tracking down sucha person proves dificult deter en A spell its taint, if yon can only caster must specalize i a puriculat farm of detection in order to hunt down such individ. This article peo ‘des spells to help in such lus. Use ‘hein in aedition to deica ei or pick fone to replace that spell o play 2 more ‘morally ambigaous game. Divination Level: Bid 1, Cle, Pal 1 Components: ¥,S, DE Casting Time: | standard action Range: Close (25 +5 2 levels) Target: One creature Duration: Concensestion, up > L tound;level Saying Theow: None Spell Resistance: Yoo ‘You sense the targer's attiude (see the Player's Mdbool, page 72) toward you bs seeing a Linty alow ing colored aura surrounding it, ws: DRAGON 325, September 2004 DETECTING SPELLS Bard Spell sinter rt spl ete de Rvs ‘oats sae sarge tie, ries cul Reveals om cme uuliane fe. rig Ver: Reveals lence ove natez rent pa Sree Cre spell Dates ows Reese eral eg octons Ranger Spells ‘steve Farge Spell Dawe obi: Reveals vole cee tes siti rcent as, integra aan detecraine ‘le only to you. You how the target's alinude changes ‘overtime, allowing you te know the effectiveness of attemps to change the target's attitude, IPy0u east this spell on someone whe has not met ypu, that person's aura always spears blue fineifferent). Attitude ‘ura Color isn white Indifferent Blue Untvienely Black Hostile Red ECT GUILT Divination level: Cie, Pal | Components: V,S, DF Casting Times 1 stands Range: Close (25 «5 NL/2 levels) ‘Target: One crease Durotion: [nstantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No You cense the presence of gail in the ‘target cneaure. This spell inno way resesle why she target Fecle guilty, only that it does. The level of guilt s creature Jeals has lie todo with whatever act ‘causes the creature's gully felings ‘serial Killer might feel 0 guilt for the brutal muiders he cont, for ‘example: while a maid might fee shrong guilt akout fergetting lo mop the tclen floos Cleric Spells Athol le Spal Dest tiie ores Paladin Spells lesa Pan Sts ite aide ees bebe es Gt Rea tow rch rere ie iene Nese diene eorenatea ik een st Aneel alti spl Dea Hewes tele Fetal neog & aare Inte sree a Good ereanires typically feel greater amoumt'sof guilt ian neutral crea tues, who in turn usually feel rion guilt shan evil crerures, These gener alizsions cinnot guarantee howa creas ture teaets cot ovm actions, bu they sivea general guideline, A-creature must ave at leas 23 Intelligence, 1 Wisdom, are 1 Cha risma in orler ta fee! gil. The spell fails easton 2 creature wthous those minima ability scores. Severiy ofGult Aura Power Hos eccasional Faint pangs of gu Stomach-churning Mederate pulls worries sbout ‘what happened Loses sleep ove! SUB what happened: obsesses about t Wants 1 take rash sctions to avoid feeling the guit EC Ha Divination level: Cle 3, al? Componente: ¥,S. DF Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close 25 fi +5 f,)2.levels) Target: Ce creature Duration: Concentration, upto 1 ‘Overnlelrieg, round level Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: Yessized by inguisitore axe martial selipious orders, this spell reveals past lieretical actions and the earren ‘tettical thoughts of tho target You sense the target's heretical thougats and past actions by seeing « faintly lowing ara surrounding st, wisn rly to ou. The strength oF tae aura shows the level of hetesy. You deveet current heretical shouts in the target as well zs. all consciously made acts ‘ofherosy performed within the past 1 day per caster level, The spell can not detest henetical wets that occurred prior to the spell time limit, regard less oftheir intensity. You define what constinutes heresy by your avn belief structure, even iF msjoity of ith: ful disagree. This spell only affects people of sour own faith, those who say they Tollow your faith, and those who show agpcets of your faith (weaning, sour éeity’sholy symbol, for exsm: ple, or attending a religious service Any action oF thought that opacees sour particular definition of your religion's dogma or teachings counts sw horesy. A character of a different faith dovstr’ show as heretical when you cast dhis spell although a char acter pretending ts bea member of your religion shows as committing apostasy blaspherny ‘The mere heretic the hough or ac, the stronger the aura pt heres the langot displays, By concentzating, you ram learn mone detils of the heretical acts or thouphis, 114 Round: Presence of heretical acts inthe history of hesubject or current heretical thoughts in subj 2rd Round: Intensity of aubjecta cur rent heretical thougats nt Rounds Nurnber and intensity of pastheratical ets porformed by eujee: Intensity aura of Herecy Stiongth ‘Tangential heesy Faint Contrarian heresy Moderate Fundamental seresy Strang Apostasy Ovenvhelming {blaspherny ‘Tongentiel Heres This minor act of horosy allows the hexetic to fine sion nonmally with n the faith with ile indication of ron-dogiatc thought. Such + belief mst aifect hovw the heretic interacts with those of bis faith, but in suc a way that ‘only clerics or athers tesined in the religions doctrines might notice For example, a priest of Zhlonna who only thinks ofthe goddess 25 2 gnome even though the religion defines her as an efor human son mite tangential hewy. Contrarian Flere: This form of hhovesy goow against a relatively minor but nometnetess important aspect of the religion's degma, For example, 4 priest of Pelor who presches and believes the sun is something besides the embodiment of Pelor (but who stil faithfully believes in Polos}, prac ‘devs contrazian hewsy, Fundamental Horny. A fandamental heretic believes and teaches the oppo- site of a core tenet othe religion. For ‘oxample, a priest of Yecna who matats ‘on preaching thatthe God ot his moniker because he reveals ‘what secret ae knows commits Fund: menial heresy eorote Pic NI ‘Despite ast dfererces beturen he dogmas and ble af venous raligions: hetesy nasa consans,unaterabe det ition shared all Ary 3 doctine, er opinion tht opposes ths ora ts Felipon's copra: ‘charset outside ‘he fh cannot prfirmsheresyagaine te ligion only Falewers becom heretic, Those mo follow arothereligion fr none al} extol pstoumbistesy sean raison hot thai own See the deer en pall “descriptor Fer examples ov heres, ‘nthe etharhand, anyone ean car iinsa sn Typeally any aelberateas obedtence ofa eins krown dogs eaunlasesh Mott raiane (erect) those of good delen censtder aus hat ‘rion Igy counter tebe erat as enersortheefiecs of ignarence Non evil ae eave such Laker ce —rostcarrronly performed anongthereenth converted—as sn Honetor harher‘elgone (sspesialy oft detis, maveno eisincton betneen grerance ane del beatoness fd considera taraprosson as pir Tate rman kes ard new cement ts Furlan ano femrs win the bodes of Inge commisa sin, owt he krew thar such an kevon ant agarst the Ged oF Reads’ desma. On te her hang, «rears convert the faith i Hevior io als lle of Ml neous olive nadertentyranspesser painat hic gee, and probably ese pel, oruetled parishments, ‘Ml eligione spree tote wrong neaeof heresy ene i Mich ype of Gisonecncea rel gir corsisers more Ssphemous depends ov ts dea ‘Stina beheteyslers dec nar os ote stoustype of vasgessin, ard they aavlybyto bing heels tak ‘no tha Id there parish trove praciin hvesy nth vrtureandeeth, while forging sinters OF course, most fl athe tlre reithes and ast) peck outsronsesnors bath Bs defintion, she vast nary af heralie sn bul ae met Flier inners are not necersury Heres Sonterbr 700% oeAcon 375 KTApostasy/Blaspheny: These who commit apostasy completely tum aginst the faith, uterly ejecting its tomers. Suck = person only margin: ally remains with the faith, iF a al An delion considered apostasy gener- ally mans she person conmnitting it consciously chooses to leave the reli= gion and join an opposing religion, A blasphemous act i sypieally an aflront to the faith, such as clabming to possess aspects of the religion's deity or claiming to live outside the: laws of the deity. Acts oF apostasy’ blasphemy sesult in the character turning from the Faith, either to ere- ite a new religion or to inadver‘entiy igion of an opposing deity, For example, a priest of Reiro- neous who kils helpless prisoners, flocs trons every battle, bullies thove weaker thar himself and gives no quarter in battle blasphemes against snd exabirscos the ideale ae VIOLENCE Divination level: Gir 1, Pal Rae Components: ¥.S, DF Costing Time: | standard acon Range: 601 Ate Duration: Concentration, up 101 embrace the rei “ome-shaped emanation Saving Threw: Nene Spell Resistank When casting this spell. you percvive ‘he residual aura caused by acts of violence commited in the area of fect. The spell detects violence sdwitaly the past | noth per caster level, The spell exnnot detect violent acts that occurred piior tothe spells time Limit, regard lese of theic intensity. Violence des not necessaily end intl, but the more silent the act the stronger the psychic residue Ie bbehind Ths spol dows not detect, ibeecapacty wo cause violence b-only DDRAGON323 Septet 2004 detects violence committed sgainet 4 3rd Reed Stngth of aura ob io. living creature. Ie slo does not specify lent acis performed. why the violence sas committed, ner 4h end Suboauen: Rownel: Surber the alignmentof the assiilantor of he of days ané hous Since most recent victim, Ey.concentrating, ou can learn yioleat act, then of ear violent acts nore deialsof specific violent acts, in chxonologieal progeoasion from soe Isi Roane: Presence of vckence in ond mast recent backward, with one act the area within the spells nse limit, Indkated per tounn. 2uat Rood: Nursber and beation of siolent acts pesformod in he ste atl ccc (citar ae oeania rem Nohperies aby er kas nang: doterng, psig, ra Mace SITTSU REINO IN i arg store s1s0% | aghe Ali ctin unsecess6 fos atest ‘Overatebsing SVormoe ip aH/tehwiene Success diabaroe "Mf the amour of damage dered in reat doah hase dil are roar ste maicay shows he rest mor overt uel fu 31 ranma ef overatele PTY in cnnpaig thal ie mie el wpa the ight dveaton spall ar Erg about Ss cuekardursaishrg vxelusono ancrviseIevesttg voyeur, Oungean Nester ‘sho wentte dscourage he asec cetacion sods withoatemcangthe spells rom her Eanpaign nove seseelon noe af ieciantage meart cubshee pale poner Di Aasavtages Secautge hese detecton sols wshou auaing tos much eoubi fr theese: [Moral the Dargeas Mase: can rl Id io elerr nea radon esidrantage whenever | Surloy east adeection spa mang destin ar engreditsole process Unless oe pls cuabon aor wv adieral | sound per pall iste «outage asf fespeleres, Random Disadvantages Glonmeres Empathy Trance speing ore econ sda edendothin ge sne te resent hes psig ise! sto dstrceund dicey inveibr te temsshes Thisafea eretios barb bit Teatolstre, inch cocmron rel ahh seetoed 03 fe Fone: dtc Disconioms Wien the ear basco on on emt tat tere become are he inrsin anions the wralelproun comes fom ease kar 1 bons on Tite, Search, nd Spat cela mado fd the cate, ‘Gowirgyes Theta ln anh cae sles 4S paraly ore Oblamaey ard Hidee-es. ‘Etipathy. resires suited he deen palllenn abot he cit Thasife dle cast cer sn ras of cestres, Few alos. those creatures io krow fe ms eg for thw aten of wl, n aetna he sper et ‘tance the caster eters a anes whlecncervatng malig te cisecdezs (unblete et venmal, ev take no actos bites rope to AC). Ths iadatepe ends hen the ‘hipaing Voce: Aspen, ssembod ed oe at nl he case heacs king he szastel tb sion Thee! me aks C10 Lan chek 9 endowed hea 2 bud nosethe DH ight eres the UC THs deadvenage rds ien te speedsby Brie Cope ilusirated bp Peter Bergtig THE ECOLOGY OF CHOKERS onsuneratte ne sich eveahare, the vicious predator known as the hpker, derives its name from the way in whieh it dis palches its vietimg."this small serra Use tut yd coe dune and Una eal Masuniing cities carved fiom the subterrancat a ubiquitous creating sprawling underground empires, However, and dangerous part of the Underdark ecology. strikes the bulk of creatures that live in the etemal darkness from the darkness without warning, While not pattie consist of lille more than rindless beasts or barcly larly powerful, this stealthy opponent proves: madden sentient savages prowling the glaom in hopes of finding difficult to locate when it wishes to rermain hidden. their next meal This article examines the life and habits of chukers, DRAGON 523. Soptribe: 2094Jaduding their history, physiology. and mental outloak; a well as way todefeat therm HISTORY OF CHOKERS CChokecs ate relative neweorners tothe piteh-black realms ofthe Underdark Scholars and adventurers note that their numbers seen to increase with cach passing yoor although ne one Inows the reason why: One theory claims that a population of gnomes wha descended into the darkness long ‘ago evolved into chokes. Over Lime these gromen rnutated into harible aberrations, possibly due to mixture ‘of cannibalism and dhe weind magic of the Underdark. Gnomes vohemerthy <éens this possibiiy and inst that aye resemblance ae purely superficial “The svirfnoblin also dispute the pos: sibility although some seem to know riore than they Jet on. Any tterapts to ry more information fron the sit {neblin on this topicresulis in stony silence or worse. A yarlation ofthis theory invalves baings, who alse Find the prespert detestble, A-mate likely theory involves choke fers asthe result of some expesimenta boom that went horibly wrong, Many of ici charactotistics seem vemniniacent of drow handivvors, but drow disiniss this accusation, peinting our hat the ‘creatures now pore aa rach of a nui ‘since and threat to thom as te anyone tse, Of couse, the lolly pre ofthe row might mastethe trata in this matter, Some sciiclars rote that chek: ers often eongregste near drow sete renis, either to remain lose tea rel able food source or perhaps beciuse of sorne lingetingracial memory of ost drow despise choker ane fequenty hunt thers for no otherrenson shan to kil as mminyae parse ‘The chokes, banely sentient them selves, have no lnoledge oftheir crigin and sho Tile interest i discov ering the Luh of bei past, They seen tw care only about how to got thee nest and collecting shiny trinkets Pal IOLOGY OF CHOKERS althengh an aberration, the choker has sazoughly humanoid form Frotn 9 dis tance the ceker vaguely resembles Tonyglitabed halfling, alfnoush: cose up the diferences become ely apparent sea Sine crue, thet arcu 3 to fet tall, with snooty dark nay skin mottled with pasches ef ble, Frown, and rs It possesses 2 bony slender fame with a juting spine, hips, and ribcage. The choker long, almost ‘equine fceends i viciousoking ruth filled with jagged teeth, Too beady ackeeges sit squarely in the Font ts face, granting it exellent vision datas allow it 960 through tho ter daianess ‘of ts hoe The welatvely small eats of the choker, nese tin ts skull, pos ‘bly indicate thatthe roature relies more ‘an darkvision and ether serses than hea gt lacate prey cker stinds Seotember 2004 DRAGON 323 FEETECOLOGY The flog ble dane dhs sl of Hntwladge(ungeoneeng chests at che oth hehe ohabanis ofthe Undenath and avast hata faye a Ts depths ght now ths nornstion ordede (duageonerigh DC Result Sb eh Ua she Solent cs Foe vay Se ee eats aches, ef fom eave reat, Tey serotimes dein peo an sndestouné sree Pana uanararis Sigaeie took “The flexible tentacle lisnbs of the choker allow itto exch ereatuces up to 10feet anay. isarms and legs end in oversized flexible pads filled with serrated spines that allow it 1 grip alksost any surface, inching slip pery cave walls, Because ofits exible, elongated limbs, the choker appears -gged, and it moves in a peculian, flvid fashion, preferting to keep at least three ofits limbs in contact with some surface tall times, The choker speaks Undercommon in ahosrse, raspy voee, inteernix- Ing words with meaningless barks, coughs, and grants 1 peppers ite ‘ade vorabulary with banal epithets and baseless threats PSYCHOLOGY FIND SOCIETY OF Cot Steal, solitary hunters, cokers sursive on what they manage te kil and the carton left by more danger ous predators. As befiting their name, they strangle their prey by erubushing creatures and quickly grabbing their necis, Fearless in their assaults despite their small size, chokers sometimes stick prey up tn four times thei sie (Chokers attack through surprise and usually wit to ambush a solitary crese Iure eather shan ennfront a growp, Par. ticularly bunpry or desperate chokers might gp aera group of ereotures, bat only by picking off stragglers or those Ine rear, where their atacks are more likely 1 go unnoticed Bolorea choker devours its prey it + ts powerfial grasping hands co squeeze the meat iato-a tendesized ep a pd ao ert ni Yesrre cn afin be u24d to bibs chckers into arameng qustons or pilp. ‘The choker does thie even with Cortion it finds, fulfilling its instine tive desire to squeeze the life out of its meal. Although constantly hun: uy, chokers can survive for almost a sont sithout meat, bevorang, inetessingly iritble and ikely to take risks in order to procure food. Iva pinch, the choker subsists on lichens, moss, and fungi, zeraping it off cave walls with its raspy tongue, ‘The choker requires relatively Title water for ite Hse and seems to derive ‘most of its hydration from the blood of its victims Greedy creatures, chokers covet bright, shiny objects, such as coins, om, and jeweliy, Ira group of reatures comes aevees 2 cheler and approaches cavtiously, thes might succeed al making itan offer for seme sort of trade. Chokers lack any sense of diplomacy and have low Intelligence and Charisina scores, cavsing the most elaborate choker bartering to consist of“ give this, you glve tha" A choker might offer ity serviese ata guide through the tunnels smul caves of the Underdark in exchange for coins, gems, and food. I! negotiations go poorly in te first few minutes, however, the ‘choker quickly retreats, and it refi to reenter negotiations with the e ‘while bargainers, Solitary beings, chokers do not tolerate ether crearuce—even ather ‘chokers—in their terntars. Ones cexery two yeats, though Females release a pungent seont that nttracts male chokers, Mating is beieF and violent, with males wrestling each other into submission for's female’s favor, Gestation lasts for roughly six months, after which the female gives birth toa litter of two ta four young, The mather raises her young fora year before abandoning them in a warren at the edge ofher ters tory: Among the most aggressive and dangerous chokers around, these juveniles try to establish their own lof, bartling with their own kind and the other feos that lurk in the dark- ness, Chokers generally live for about 20 years, although those in eaptivity occasionally reach the age of 40. ost denizens of the Underdarle consider chokers annoying men: aces deserving only of eradication, The more intelligent races, sch ax drow, duergar, and ilithids, tively hhant chokers, vending out tears of warriors and trackers to perform search-anddestroy missions, Some oroatures occasionally capture choke ers and attempt to train them to act as guardians and trackers, While these fects usually fail, those fess ved produce highly loyal servants —as long as they provide the chokees with a suitable amount of live meat to hunt and eat, Because of their elastic bodies ane tet ability o ‘worm through almost any crevice or enclosure. only solid walled holding cells can hold choker slaves, adding ‘othedifficuly and expense of auch an endeavor, MME escoss canin =CHOKER A choker typically ets wp aden in some twisting cave fica lor larger (oF Tess flexible creatuies io navigate, Tones, bin of trophies Groen vacious vietions and indeseribable chunks of iyeat squezed te a pulp typically liter tle flthyden, Chokers are intelligent cencugh to hide ther stash of food in place where the aol] doeantt artnet ‘ovher predators. They also prowl close to the setlements of other races, piek- ingthrovgh garbage and oceascor smbusting loners who stray too far fom safety. Most chokers hide their tncueure among the debris and bones of thei ei, eccasionally pulling out pusiculary sing bits on boubles sudmive when ifs safe to dso. ‘Chokers establish thei lars near crossreads or ather places with read ily avaiable prey: In an idea? situ ‘ion, the entrano® 10a choker’ Iie is a dificul-ioapot narrow ercessse Ding vp 8 wall. Cookers dshike large spaces, 30 they often lair behind Ting eperiures that Mecitan or anger creatures find cealy accessible by ‘uncomfortably eramged. & choker tries to find ¢ space with at keost one— and preferably two—escape routes ‘hati can block with loase stones eas Aly overlooked by a eisaal search YS. CHOKERS A stealthy, cunning fee, the choker c# on surprise to arnbush ite pray Archways and stairwells provide Chokers wth idea! ambush locations, forcing prey to hit their heeds in ‘order to see (and thus. expose theit necks more to the agle of atack) Fly, buitote, ad spider eine allow you to fight walkclinging chokers ‘eet terms, Hawever, sinve chokors are CR 2 orvattires, charac ters ofa level high enough to cast those spells rarely consider a sing choker much ofa danger, Despite the choker: Small size has the 1-foot each of ¢ Tange exeatute. The choker nial slsvays cs this tm te achartags ing from ceilings, eaund comers, oF from holeain the ground. gaining 2s much cover ag posible. In orderto get azound the reach issue, frontline fighters should use rach weapons to Ina the choker at say. wile the resto the party tacks wth ranged weapans and spells, Magic rss, aleays a sole hice, nares whatever paral eocer the cheker might find, Ray splls and area of effect spel expecially those ‘hat dow allow a Reflee save, aso can Joe effective. ‘he ranged touch attace ‘of tay apell: eliminates most of fhe cholkersrelavely nigh armor cass giving the aver decent chariee of hating it, Other use fulspelts include these tat hinder a cokers inoveinert or keep ita poed, such as hold mors, sou, and web. ‘The various vail spl’s,suci as wal of stone, block is egress and force the choker to fight more on sou rns, Other uselial stems ineluae smosesties (lo ust ‘out of s hiding space) tanglefoot kgs (tostick tin place, or nets, ‘The chokes is very particular about which wetime it sticks, Given a choice, it goes afer creatures in the following order: a ereature by itself sonsature of size creature with no obvious Weapons, 2 tavatute mote then 15 fect away from its comeades, and a Medium or bger creature, Thus, halfling or grosne sconting sbesd of the party needs plionally wary of chokers, ‘Scouts aeed s high Spat rnodilier © ‘oxeseorne the cheker's 110 Kide skill. high Listen medifier helps, but once ‘achoker fds its ambbust sie, it te stay etl, The surest vay ty asoid ‘choker ambushes is forthe party to stay as close together as possible The chokers quickness aii lls te take an etn standard action or move action during its turn each round, This Small or smaller a tobe nods means that x coker can moveils base speedof 2 fet and rae two tentacle stacks inthe same round, However bbacaseitacs Mobiliyor Spring Atack, and is stack offen requites several rouiad olka vietin, the choker prefers toattack rom ambush, ofen gaining surprse round. Inadditin, because of ity bility climb with ese, the choker often retreass by ckambering up & val -anay fom albu ranged weapons. To retent tig een leppaitny, charac should move 1 block the les rea: ‘of espe soi yovolees multiple attacks ‘oF epparnanits sheneser it moves Because ofthe choker’ pres i's possible to make an offer of treasure 1 Fd roa ening cher by racks, In most cses, his males i pote while ponders she offer The ‘coker knows Ite beyonel wat hap prs wit fs huang tenntory, and {qsextone of sn sbelrsel atite oraboat inlviduals tend tp confuse it oF res in giving a random answer Is knows soureos of fresh ver, areas whore load is plentifil, and the quickest passaue for thechsce) through certain ese, When tnaveling in areas oflenssn chaler actly ity abways cary 2 ew shiny trinkets anc plevos of raw imect in order te bebeany Chokers met. OF course, you need to see ther fis, which means youll need darksision, good Spot caces (or exe: Tent Listen checks},or alte heck a2 September 2004 DRAGON 323 BEE__ by C. Wesey Clough ilusivatiel by Mike: Map FORCE SPELLS 0: silent nario or talite own vied ca Ice, Aero lth ele path to ees ealuan Geaaerst meee bs Th beta he ont his feime studing and experiment sagged ping new onl usp Gale Aatolled an acne advetaring araiaanrsdaie he Silege Duty teutog tinvear cbseason wi oree mac derooéd ‘ eploniag pcyaisiruntoors tae ah wats terres ce eral of his eorpanions ne thei ites atthe bandsal the weihs Un deli within The group disbanced som afer itremmed te te winds lege, but sero rere fgg ena tare inthe wih let cam, Knowing hat sheer eps culture been ie Fronds Aerot deided orale feree magi hiv idol au, CHAIN MISSILE vocation (Force! Level Sorbie Companents:¥., ‘Casting Tlme: 1 stndged action Ranges Long 400 f. «40 feel) “Target: One creature, plus another crea: ture/2 levels each of which mmnst be svithin 36, ofthe primary tages Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: Yoo 2s with magic mis, mises 0 rage cencrgy dart fiona you fingertip ta anes. MED co eningly sree acweatore, Ualike wage mi Al slay vale kos one cents Nally: Uren springs to other targets. Hach, aisle deals 10441 poins of force dar sg One nisl trikes the primary ta fet per two caster Levels, toa mancnum. ‘of 1 missiles (ealing 10dK-10 points of damage). flr the missiles sik, they eochet oa nunaber of targets up t the number of mises created by the spell Each secondary target takes 14411 pants ofdantage as ifstauck bya siagle magi isle, You choose sccondery targets 38 you ike, but ey raustall be within 30 Set of the primary target, sad ne secon any taget can he struck more than once You can choose to affect ewer secondary ‘aagets than the maxim (Jo avoid allies inthe area, farexamiple). Mises with out secondary tage’ donot riochet off the primayy target Spells: magic items. an abilities that protec! against age mse (such the ‘ld epell ors broach of silting lao protet against this spel. the primary target as that sere af protection, se spell he no ffeccagainsric bux ell springs toall secondary targets (8 brooch ef shah ing osesa number of darges equal to the nuanbot of rvs biting the ere. |uve—up t 10 mussiles) spel esis tance causes the spel to fil to harm the primary ‘ange, thespell ils anid missiles donot ricochet 1 ational targets ven if the targets are nivel or hnseanyehing Jess than otal cove’ er conerelment, You ‘cannot ingle cut pei punts ofa cea tue to strike Ths spel ermottaegetor damage inanirnawobjects EMERALD PLANES vocation [Force Level: Sor; Wie 2 Components: v5 M Casting Times Lstindard action Range: Medium {00 it. 10 ft, jlevel) Effect: One Soot square force plane)? levels Duration: 1 min, evel Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: He ‘Whest you cas! this spel, you create cons ormore fst, tranchuscent green S foot-square, Lincb-thick fields of farce ‘Yous can create one emerald plane per tun casterlevels, An emerald plane ‘annot move, its immune to dant sage of ll kinds, and itie unaffected buy moat spells. Howeser, a dsitegrate spell ayo of rcetlavion, or a spre of snniilaiin destroy whichever emerald plane they touch, while a Mordesten- digtnetion of diggel magic dispels all ofthe planes created by a xingle casting ofthe spel, Breath weapons aad spalls cannot pass through amt emerslé plane neither direction although dnension oor leper, and similar fees cn bypass the barrier 11 Blocks ethereal an incorporeal erectutesas well ss material ones. Hiding behind 2n eniec ald plane provides cover ‘Trisarice prsins spell tat ise the fore deserpto. rote ste have a umber ok ‘ules ou saulelleey a ming Foreienot wserery pe Spel wit the ee descrip toe Ignore eontu'nchiraperesustn andar ebjactz meters ne he cel lldsrge jets, Force fects raehimo the Uber Pane aed ahvrsafloet wotseed “theres crentres fare eects rove the chance of po alice such creatives and spel ‘fea, nungohe fries, ol offre Hecciresrpora sad olherel creatures, Nothing en dhinagea ows September 2004 DRAGON 323SPELLCRAFT. ‘An emerald plane cannot be ean Jured so that itoccupies the same space as a creature or another object, Temustalnys be fat, Emeralé planes require no anchors, 1d can float above ground where desires, Emerald planes can he created vertically oF borizontally. Only one cedge ofan emerald plane can touch another sarface at the time of th cast ing, but an erterald plane can teach more than one edge to a solld susface ater casting, All enneralé planes must be placed so-no part of thems within fect of any other emerald plane. On the batle grid, s vertical emerald plane can only be placed along the border of ‘square, al must stretch from inter: section to intersection: a horizontal emerald plane must be placed over @ ssguam without extending over others All phnes created bya particalay ‘esting ofthe emerald plaes spell wink ‘out af existence when the spell lan tion ends. Foner planesean be made permasiens with 2 permanency spell Doing co equines minimann easter 1,000 x. Moverial Component: A pinch of pow dey tad rom t groen gen the caster FORCE CHET Exozation [reel Level: Sar/Wiz 5 Components: . 5, M Casting Time: | standard action Range: i Eifect One fast cube box of force Datation: I dayélevel (D) Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance; No This spell brings ico Deg aTklded boof force, The box appearein the casters hands, ard the caster ean choose to make i ‘merely vanslucont. The des: has no ‘weigh! worth noting Solid walls of force form the chests five sides and lid ‘The easter and other creatures cannot open the Lid except by firs sprang the password [determined by the caster atthe time ‘of casting). Both objects and Tiny or amaller exeatares ean Mtn the box itholds enowgh sir to allow one Ting, {0 Diminutve, or four Fine crea tures to breathe for 1 hot Like wall offocepell, x frrechast Jsimmune lodewrageat all Kinds ane sess gel agi, bus is vlnerabieto daintgrate and Moneakninoredigi sia and it eae destroyed bya sphere of ‘annhilesion ot a red ofeancebaion. The bovis spell effet, and Open Lec and Use Magie Device cnet open it, Mareviol Comparnnts A2-inck-square aghiss cube, FORCE RAM vocation {Force} Level: Ded 2, Soryie 2 Components: V.S, Mh Casting Time 1 sandard action Range: Close (25 8. +5272 level) fect: Ray Duration: lastesineous Saving Throw: Reflex pantial (See tox) Spell Resistance: Yes You create afield of rushing Force rely discernable as 4 ram ov goat ‘This force stcikes a single target, sealing 1d6 points of damage, You must make s ranged touch attack 6 hiv a taxget. The force of the blow is considerable, and a erestare eteuek boy the spell is subject to bull rush ‘The sam has a Strength of 25, is considered Large, ancl slwaye raevew with the defender. The spell is use ful for knocking osponents off para pete or ledges, among other things In adtion to is attack mode, force rant alo bas the power to open dacrs itottikes an ifitwere a charter with a Strenglt of 25. Maverial Component: & waft? wool MACE AIRMOR. MASS Canjurstion (Creation) (Force Level: Son Wiz 5 Range: Close (25 f+ 5 fe2 levels) Targets: One creatneejloel, na toa which can be more than 50% spar “This spel functions Like sage ric, ‘except that ie affects raultiple creatures SHARD STORM Exoration [Foree] Level: Surf Wi 5 Coraponents: VS, M Casing’ Time: 1 stanéand action Range: Meciun (100 fh + 19 (level) Effect: One or more ont radius bursts ef foree Danton: 1 oundjlevel Saving Throve Reflochalf Spell Resistanee: Yes Irnneciately wpon completion of this spell, anel once per round thereater, you miay cause miniseule shards of magical force to expec out ina 20. foot ragius burst rom the chosen point ‘oforigin, The storm deals 36 points alldamnsge dus fo force oval eveatres svithin the raclus. A successfil Refles save halves the damage, Tach round, you may use a Five action rocausea ferce shard storm, You need nat ease the storzn offre shards immediately. You can only cll one storm per round, ad only on your nam, ‘The center point ofthe sara stot is fied when the spel is cast not be tnewed‘Theve is no physical manifestation of the ep atthe chosen point although detot nang rewals spell fa effect at that Iocalon, advan [Moserial Compenen A sna shard of clea glass or crystal TINSER FLONTING DISK, GREATER Evocaton (Force) Level: Sar/Wie 4 ‘This spell fanctions just like Teer owt ing dic, except th te crested sk does ‘tot nied to ste tin 3 feet ofthe sae fave beneath it However, the disk mus! recnain within 18 feet of the cater ata times, The eases cn concentrate fasa staralaé action) om the isk wo make it eed of 2 feet (perc. This lows the caster to siton the disk and commend tte cary hits abou. Material Component & drap of merenry. § move wth fl__ SES hy Monte Lin lusirated by Dovid Wehisirom NPIRIT XPERKER realm esate outside the normal |cosmovogy of the planes that ew now of and fewer still cai reach, In thie hidden place evist myriad resumes known as Spins, uides aand allies to those who can corn prohend their inscrutable ways, ond tose few wha can speak to them are called spirit speakers. Spirit speale fers unlocked the secrets of breaking ddovin the barriers between the spit ‘would and the natural world. They travel there without feat, entering trances that lel their mings jou in both worlds simultancously. The spirit world echoes, in many sways the mata wocd, Spisit speak: xs explain thal a sprit exists not only for every individual creature, plant, tives, oF stone, but there also exist, grandlither spiits that represent an fette race, species, or clement. When spirit speaker enters her firs ance, she meots 5 epirie wo bors with hen, asa familie bonile with 4 sorcerer or i, The spit speaker has no con trol over which spirit bonds with her, althongh the spivi typically has some connection tothe spirit speaker's past, fevch as an ancestor's epirit or pethape the spit of the small stream thet runs by her home village A vpirit speaker hat spollcting abilities, but her true power fies in the special abilities granted to herby her epint guide, both in and out of BET oxaccnses sspontr 2004 trance, From hee connect spirit world, she ca dous amount of knowledge. Unlke the loremaster, who diligently pores through countless tomes, the sprit speaker gles information front her forays into the spirit world as well ae from her own experiences in the natu ral world, Ina paty, a spit speaker works well asa firth character ont ‘who atuzments her base class with the pint speaker's wakque abilities. Typ: cally a spirit speaker shils hr focus toa suppor olen the party, providing hee group with some ofthe abilisies of bards and dleieg, as well as hr unique spellcasting abilities and peerless spirk tual knosledge, Because spirit speaker eats so few spells, this class appeals mostly 0 ‘the non spellcasting classes. Barbar: jams and monks make up the majer ‘ty oFspicit speakers, ech exploring the sprit world for different seasons, Barbar spirit speakers sek to corse their tribes as advisors and wise men, whereas monkespint speakers see their comrnunes with the spirit world san indication of te power of their meditations. Fighters and rogues aso take up this class in great numbers, to gain flesbiiny (skills, spells, and spe cial abilities} and overall survivability (swing throws), OF the spelleasting ‘lasses, rangets and bards most often tale up the spirit speaker vay. NPC epitit wpeaters rarely live alone and olten work within a vilage or jn league with a group of druids or rongert, A party might cece x spit speaker lor her unique knowledge o: sup across one while in the deptis of thewilderess. URI FEATURES All ofthe folowing ae chss features of the sprit speaker prestige diss ‘Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Speakers gain no proficiency with any ‘weapons or shields, They are proficient swith ligt ammo Spells: A spirit speaker has the abil ity to cast divine spells. To eas spells, a spirit speaker must have a Charisma | score of at least 10 + the spelt’ level, 0 8 speit speaker with » Chases of 10 or ewer carmot ast spells, Spirit speaker bonus spells are based on Charistns, and saving theows against these spells have a DC of 10-4 spell level = the spirit speaker's Charisins rodiien, The spirit speaser uses the ranger spell list A spirit speaker hhas access to any spell on the ranger spell list snd can freely choose wil ta prepare, just asa tanger. A spicit speaker prepares and casts spells just ns a ranger docs Fler Trance (Sule By making a DC 15 Concentration check, the spi speaker can enter a trance thet allows Saashr to communicate with te spit ‘world, She may enter traee once per day por spit speaker love, which lasts annutnber of rounds equal tthe spit speaker's Chariemna seare. Thespitit speaker ca end the trance at any time bbefore this by succeeding at 2 DC 10 Concentration check. She may not take Lor take 20 fr either of these cheeks, bbatahe ean rotry a filed check after 1 round. Entering a tranceie.a fellround ation that provokes attacks of opportu pity. Once ina trance, the sprit spencer does nol aged to make Concentration checks to maintain ‘While in trance, the spirit speaker ‘opens to the vast possibilities of the spirit work and rakes herself somewhat removed from her sur rownklings. This duality spits her attention: but ucightens her magical senges. A spirit speaker in trance casts her spirit speaker spells at +1 caster level, and ahe gains accest to her spirit guide. However, wile in trance, the spirit speaker cannot ran ‘or charge, and che suffers a-2 pen alty on all Wisdom-and Daised kil] checks. ‘spirit speaker may remain in trance when her curcent tranee’s dur tion ends by making a DC 15 Coneen tration check and expending another cof her daily tances, This prolonged ance eutnts asone trance fer the pneposes of abilities that work ence per tance, Spirit Guide (Su): When the spict peaker enters a trance, her spirit jude appeus. While the spitt speaker somsing in thie dnal existence, the spirit guide manifesis an onser servant effect, as the spell cast by a spelleaster ofthe epi sposker's clase lel, except that the servant has hit onts equal to the spirit speaker: While in tare, the spirit guide ranks its spirit speaker special abil lies depending on its masters levels inthe spirit speaker clas, ne shown fm the table below: ‘The granted special Albis are cumulative, se 0 10tr-leel spit speaker gains al the abil: ties on the table. Howowe, the spelt o these abi _poakeer only pins acces ies wide i trance Sentember200% oRacon 323 SEIG PRESTIGE ‘Speater Level Special Ablity vat Spirit sight ad DDelvertouch spells Sih Remove curse 7h Ability enhancement oth Sirping Spirit ight (Su): While in tance, the spintt speaker gains darkvision to 60 fect itshe did not ead have i) and ean Fee magical aurae ae ifcontinwaly under the elfect ea dei! magic spel. Deliver Touch Spells (Su) A 3rcelevel spinit speaker's wpirit guide allows a spinit speaker bp deliver touch spells fiom alae the spirit speaker has line of ofc range of the wnsezn servant effect, the spinit speaker 1 spell lo that creature ae though s were within reach, a crestare within deliver a touch cera Lae ts a sare tz. ‘hile Siglowsey ork “rank, Kriowled ge Boosie Remove Curge (Se): ALSth level, the splnit speaker gains the ability to use hor connection with her spirit guide te petition the spirit world te remave acurse. Once per tance, he spirit speaker may attempt a DC 20 Diplo racy check to consinee the spits to hnolp her, having she efest of casting reanove corse on a subject the sprit speaker designates, Ifshe fails ber Diplomacy check, sho may not use this power For 24 hours Abtity Eahurcenern (Su): AUT level, the spist spesker gains the ability toenhance one of her physics! aility scores while in trance, Once she enters trance, the spirit speaker gains a 4 enhancement bonus that she may poly wher Strength, Desteriy, or Constitue tionscore. She mast choose ene atthe beginning ofthe trance, and she rannet Jaxer change the ability core 1 which the bonus apple flthough leaving the trance and entering a new one allows her to selec’ a aiflerent ability scot). Aphitspeiler who prolongs trance vith additional daily trance uses cannot hose & nes abil score w apply the bonus to (hee sill considered in the samme trance as whea she began), Sorping (Sp): Once she becomes 4 9thelowel spirit speaker, the epiit speaker can cast sering once per tance as 1Dth-level castes, Because of her connection tothe spisitworld, the spitit speaker can cast the spell without mate tial compotents or a focus by using a fullsound action andl succeading at a DL25 Diplomacy check. [Fthe spirit speaker fails her Diplownocy check, she may not use this poner again for 24 hours. spirit speaker whe prolongs a trance with additional daly trance uses ‘cannot use this ability more than once fn that wance (che ie etl censideset in the same trance 2s when she began Skill Insight (Su. Begloniag ai 2nd level, the spleit speaker’ spr remains in contact with her at all times ina tangential way, even outside of trance. This pranis the spirit speseer a 442 insight Lonus on all skill checks for a shi, as listed in the Spirit Speaer Advancement tablet 2nd level, the spitit guide grants a bonuson Hi cheeks, andat 4th ond late levels, the bonus applies toa different Knowledge ‘cheek thatthe spirit speakee has at least Lcankiin, Sense Ailments (Su): AL Il level. the spirit speakers spint guidecan help hee alli creature sulfers froan the guide effects of» disease ora poison, even ifthat creature is unaware oft, by the pint apeaker succeeding at a DCS Heal check, "The spivit speaker can only use this abiity when net m nance. ‘Senge Curse (Sa) AtSth lve, the spint speaker can listen tothe whisper. Ings ofthe spirit vorld toll 'some- one euler From 3 eure, such as fiom bestow cure, the evil eye ability of sea loags, and slinilar effets, even ithat person is unaware of i,with « DC 20 Knowledge (arcana) check. The sprit speaker can only use dis ability when pet in trance Legend Lore (Spl: AUSth level, the spirit speaker's split guide prants her the ability to cast ego ove once per day at her aster level. The spit speaker can only use dhs ability when net in trance. § Bese fot Ref Wl Srolepe Day lewd Atackonis, sive Save Save Spec Wo ted dah be (422 Krtrarce apie ule ap see) jie Aiea aig A SEAT EUR A aud 5233 Seuseaments spit gue (leervouc pels) 21 a 1 NAHE SR set ikowleeimtila on B44 Sense cre spre pul (orore curse ae a SSS a gh ened) ees rs “5 #5348 Spite abit arhancr nent) cad ee ee ee eee eee 3 BG 566 eat bom spel epi) Bt agg ae PS nge ge e pansy ga BME 00x25 tense 206by Richard Farreve ilusivatedl by Arnie Sweked TREASURES OF THE WARYEN HOLDS warves axe senown for theie skills with stone and metel. Thair engineers. jewelers, and smiths lly craft goods considered far superior te those of ether races, From the great sublerrancun halls of the legendary mountain kings to the colos. sil siege weapons built by their ingenious engineers, dwarves fashion countless wonders both above snd below the eatth, BIB 02200325 snr 3004 Legends bold that the wonders of modem dwarven craltcmanship ace bit pals shadows of the miraculous creations of the past, Of peerless beauty and with strange and potent powers, fortune hunters ssk life and limb tra cling the globe to retrieve even che most minor of these ancient trinkets Caialoged here isa sample of some ofthe rarestand mest Aosived mastorpieess of the ancient dvaaven mvasters,ARMOR OF THROR These hal-plate armors were commissioned by King ‘Throt and fashioned by the smiths of his glorious forge King Thror alegedly gave his commanders suits of the armors as rewards for thelr loyalty and valor €uting the Groat Goblin Wars. Logends hold that those who wore these elegant suis inspited tremendous fear in their cceanies, for the bravest among their Toes learned of the stmon! terrible power, ‘With the peace that followed these tmmultwous times, the sutviving commanders of Thror'saty erential died and the semors passed dwn fear gonevation to generation, ‘ody, an ermorof Tayo is undoubtedly one of the most cerised family heirloorna dwarf esn possess. With the passige af tine, many such suits were either last or interred ‘vith thee ast owners, bus some stil pass dowa through snodern clans. An armarof Tivo isa se of besutifilly crafted halk plate Fashiemed from solid etd wit many intslcae pacers, etched into the mata, there suits eld ‘Thror's heraldic sym bol upon the breastplate the face of a righty boar helding, arosebetween its Cenched tet. Although most people do not recone this ancient and prestigious symbol, nny dwarves do, ‘An annoref Two is a +2forifeation (hea) helfplat. te addition, i'n enemy makes a melee attack that wold nor: mally cause a critical hit sneak attack, the armor strikes Anat foe with a bol oF energy that deals abs post of cleric ity damage. An atiacker who makes.n DC 14 Reflex save suf Fers only half damage. Strong abjuration; CL 13th; Croft Magie Arms and Aso, lightning bo: Prioe 60.750 pp Weight 50 Ib BREASTPLATE OF HARDINESS “These rare suits of bloed red armor were fashe inmed by an unknown smith some hwo thousand searsago. No one knows forwhom these garments ‘were crated, ta good number of them were fours in the tomb ofthe legendary King Armas, one of He mest honored monarchs in dwarven histexy With the uncovering af the kingly mausoleur sil the ‘ancient treasures buried with, many historians concluded tat King Armas was interred with tte meinbers of his personal guard, Rezearch helds that there seadet armors ‘were fabricated for the king’s most loyal warriors, bat athers tat fl uuridoubtedly wore similar gorments in the yeer Towel ing Armnats demise A breauplarofhardines i a 43 fenetsioncetreaspian hat _sanis ite wearers aximber of tersporary hit point coal to hie Constination seote. Whenever the wesrer ofa brasplte afar sees ues damage, subtract the armor'stemperary hit pent first, Onee the arnotint of temporary hitpoints drape 0, the wearer kes damages nonrral. A breastplate of ardaness reyenecates Ibs ternporary it points ata sajeof I per tiour ur allofite temporary hit poinssaro salable again The armor grams earer termporary hil points as long as the samors sworn, si the hit pints vanish ifthe anor is removed Strong abjuration; CL 9th; Craft Magic Ams andl Armor, beers enduraner, eis eneray, Price 43,350 gp: Weight 401. GHUNTLETS OF BRIHING Each of these massive sgauntlets is fashioned from layered plates of silvery iton cowering. the back of the hand and Singers ofa thick: plove of black leather. ‘The leather ofthis glove is rigid and it surface cracked and battered, a8 if by old age, bata dose inspection confirms tat its still sound and supple enough to wear. The slightly cusved metal plates ‘our wide ones covering te back ofthe had and sist and sis arrow anes upon each of the fingers ‘nto the black glove. A muliinade of tiny rames ancl ecrven designs cover the silvery surfaces of these plates ‘These gauntlets ace some of dhe most anclent dwarven ‘magic teisané no record exists of thei original creator The stcsel oftheir making, however, has been passed down front dsianven master smiths to their most promising apprentices when they in turn became masters, Because of ae riveted September 2004 DRACON 323 BETA