Drmg052, Dragon
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August 1981
Dragon
1
Dragon
Vol. VI, No. 2
Vol. VI, No. 2
August 1981
I
Publisher. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Jake Jaquet
Editor-in-Chief. .
. . . . . . . . . Kim Mohan
Editorial staff
. . . . . . . . . . . Bryce Knorr
Marilyn Mays
Gali Sanchez
Sales.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Debbie Chiusano
Circulation
. . . . . . . Corey Koebernick
Office staff
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Cherie Knull
Roger Raupp
Contributing editors. . . .
Roger Moore
Ed Greenwood
In somebody’s dictionary, a cliche
should exist about dragons — some-
thing on the order of . . . You seen one
dragon, you seen ‘em all . . . no, that’s not
it . . . A dragon in the hand is worth . . . no,
how ‘bout . . . There are as many different
types of dragons as there are people to
think them up.
Hmmm. A little rough, but it’ll do.
Ahem. If you’ve been paying attention
to the cover of this magazine lately,
you’ve probably noticed a lot of dragons
—and we don’t mean the word on top by
the price.
Three of our last four covers have fea-
tured our mythical namesake, or at least
the visions of three prominent artists as
to what a dragon is supposed to look
like.
First there was Tim Hildebrandt’s vi-
sion (issue #49) — an impressive fire-
breather laying waste to a moonlit castle.
Gracing the cover of #50 was Carl
Lundgren’s vision: just the opposite — a
mysterious beastie, shrouded by the
darkness of his lair.
Tough acts to follow, admittedly. Not
too many artists working today could do
it, but this issue’s cover certainly doesn’t
pale by comparison. After all, it is a
Boris.
“I wanted to do something different,”
Boris said after completing an oil paint-
ing that further demonstrates that there
are as many different types of dragons as
there are people to think them up.
Hence, the idea of hatching dragons.
Ditto the delicate wings on his beast.
Created in the fine brush strokes that
mark Boris’ increasingly realistic style,
the work — which is untitled — demon-
strates several of the artist’s trademarks.
There is, of course, his love of the human
form, as represented the beautiful wom-
an who has graced many of his paint-
ings. And the dragon looks . . . right — like
it really existed, a testimony to Boris’
pre-medical studies in anatomy.
Note also the depth of field — or focus
— on the dragon, for example, that gives
the painting a three-dimensional quality,
and the egg nodules floating in the
background which he said “emphasizes
the fantasy element.”
Typical also is the speed with which
the 40-year-old New Yorker painted the
piece: four days from start to signature.
Better yet, he said, after overcoming the
initial “artist’s block” he feels when fac-
ing a blank canvas, “it was fun.”
A word of explanation about the inter-
view with the artist that begins on page
28: That three-letter word is a topic of
discussion, and Boris is a frank man who
doesn’t mind stating his opinions. A few
words relating to the human body that
probably haven’t appeared on these
pages before are included in that context
— but there’s nothing — repeat, NO-
THING — about that part of the interview
that we feel is anything but an honest
discussion of something we shouldn’t
get so upset about, anyway.
Enough of reality; back to fantasy.
Obviously, we haven’t begun to ex-
haust the possibilities for artistic expres-
sions about dragons. More renditions
will appear here, and for those of you
who can’t get enough of the noble mon-
ster, look for the 1982 DAYS OF THE
DRAGON™ Fantasy Art Calendar. We’ll
be featuring dragons — 13 of ’em at last
count — using the AD&D™ Monster
Manual and past issues of DRAGON™
magazine as inspiration. If you’re at the
GEN CON® XIV Convention this month,
stop by the Dragon Publishing booth
and take a look.
This issue’s contributing artists:
Boris Vallejo
L. E. Boelman
James Holloway Chris Conly
Roger Raupp
Jon Hageman
Erol Otus
Phil Foglio
Corinna Taylor
David Trampier
L. Blankenship
DRAGON magazine is published monthly by
Dragon Publishing, a division of TSR Hobbies,
Inc. The mailing address of Dragon Publishing
is P.O. Box 110, Lake Geneva WI 53147; tele-
phone (414) 248-8044.
DRAGON magazine is available at hundreds
of hobby stores and bookstores throughout the
United States and Canada, and through a limit-
ed number of overseas outlets. The magazine
can be purchased directly from Dragon Publish-
ing by subscription. Rates are as follows, with all
payments to be made in advance: $24 for 12
issues sent to a U.S. or Canadian address; $50
U.S. for 12 issues sent via surface mail or $95 for
12 issues sent via air mail to any other country.
A limited quantity of certain back issues of
DRAGON magazine can be purchased directly
from the publisher by sending the cover price
plus $1.50 postage and handling for each issue
ordered. Payment in advance by check or mo-
ney order must accompany all orders. Payments
cannot be made through a credit card, and
orders cannot be taken nor merchandise “re-
served” by telephone. Neither an individual cus-
tomer nor an institution can be billed for a sub-
scription order or back-issue purchase unless
prior arrangements are made.
The issue of expiration for each subscription
is printed on the mailing label for each sub-
scriber’s copy of the magazine. Changes of ad-
dress for the delivery of subscriptions must be
received at least 30 days prior to the effective
date of the change in order to insure uninter-
rupted delivery.
All material published in DRAGON magazine
becomes the exclusive property of the publisher
upon publication, unless special arrangements
to the contrary are made prior to publication.
DRAGON magazine welcomes unsolicited sub-
missions of written material and artwork; how-
ever, no responsibility for such submissions can
be assumed by the publisher in any event. Any
submission which is accompanied by a self-
addressed, stamped envelope of sufficient size
will be returned to the contributor if it cannot be
published.
DRAGON™ is a trademark for Dragon Publish-
ing’s monthly adventure playing aid. All rights
on the contents of this publication are reserved,
and nothing may be reproduced from it in whole
or in part without prior permission in writing
from the publisher. Copyright 1981 by TSR
Hobbies, Inc. USPS 318-790. ISSN 0279-6848.
Second class postage paid at Lake Geneva,
Wis., and at additional mailing offices.
Our apologies to all of you who were
so impressed with the description of The
Beholder in “The ’Zines” (issue #50) that
you sent money to England for a sub-
scription. We don’t know exactly what
the situation is, but we do know that the
magazine is no longer being published
by Michael Stoner, like the article indi-
cated. We received an urgently worded
cable giving us that information from
Don Turnbull, managing director of TSR
Hobbies (UK) Limited, a few weeks ago,
but just too late to allow us to get the
correction into issue #51. “Don’t send
money to Stoner,” says Don, and we
(now that we know better) echo that re-
commendation. Once again, our sincere
apologies and regrets for any inconven-
ience or loss of money that the misin-
formation caused. We have reports that
The Beholder is still going to be pub-
lished, somehow, by somebody, but our
two sources of information are in con-
flict. We’ll try to unravel the mystery and
give you the true facts next time around.
2
August 1981
Dragon
rom Boris to Bounty Hunters, from Greyhawk to
Gamma World, from clerics to conventions: This
issue of DRAGON™ magazine contains articles
and artwork that range far and wide across the vast
spectrum of fantasy and fantasy game-playing.
Like the lettering on the cover proudly proclaims, the fanciest
feature you’ll find inside is an eight-page interview with Boris
Vallejo, one of the best fantasy artists to ever lift a brush. For
proof of that, one need look no further than the scintillating
cover painting Boris created especially for DRAGON magazine
— but if you need more convincing, turn to page 28 and savor
the interview (conducted by staff member Bryce Knorr) and the
accompanying photographs and paintings which illustrate it.
All of you who’ve been clamoring for a GAMMA WORLD™
adventure to appear on these pages can put away those laser
pistols. Cavern of the Sub-Train is the creation of Jake Jaquet,
our esteemed publisher and the co-author of the GAMMA
WORLD rules.
This issue’s NPC offering is a three-for-one deal: We got so
many Bounty Hunter submissions after making a request for
just such a character class that we decided to give you a trio of
tough guys to choose from.
The first few pages of the article section will answer the pray-
ers of clerics everywhere. Robert Plamondon’s long general
article on “The Role of the Cleric” is supplemented by a pair of
shorter variants from Douglas Loss, plus 2½ pages of Sage
Advice questions and answers all about clerics.
For some insight into how and why the D&D® Basic Set was
created and how it evolved into the game it is today, check out
the observations and opinions of the two people — J. Eric
Holmes and Tom Moldvay — who served as editors for the first
and the second edition, respectively.
The offering for TOP SECRET™ players this month is Paul
Crabaugh’s discussion of undercover occupations. Historical
specialist Michael Kluever is back with a contribution entitled
“Knock, Knock” (as in, let me in or I’ll batter your door down), an
overview of siege warfare tactics and strategy through the ages.
The first major addition to the WORLD OF GREYHAWK™
Fantasy World Setting that we’ve published comes from the
typewriter of Len Lakofka and is presented in Len’s regular
column, Leomund’s Tiny Hut. The article gives guidelines for
determining the place of birth and the languages known by
inhabitants of the Flanaess — plus an appendix by E. Gary
Gygax himself which describes the appearances of the races
that inhabit this famous land.
The latest edition of Giants in the Earth presents Katharine
Kerr’s interpretations of two “island enchanters” — Prospero,
from Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and the legendary Circe, in a
portrayal which is drastically different from the description of
her in the DEITIES & DEMIGODS™ Cyclopedia.
In Simulation Corner, John Prados gives us the first instal-
lment of a series on the essentials of game design. More advice,
of a different sort, can be found in Up on a Soapbox, where Lew
Pulsipher tells DMs how to make up for their mistakes and Tom
Armstrong suggests how to get around the problem of the
“know-it-all” player.
Our review section is larger in size and in scope this time
around, with the addition of “Off the Shelf,” the first course of
what we plan to be a regular diet of book reviews by Chris
Henderson. Immediately preceding the book section are three
game and game-accessory reviews, and just in front of them is
another two pages’ worth of miniature-figure evaluations in
Figuratively Speaking.
Rounding out the reading material inside is another chapter in
the Minarian Legends saga by Glenn Rahman, designer of the
DIVINE RIGHT™ Fantasy Boardgame which first made the con-
tinent of Minaria famous, and a page crammed full of notices of
upcoming conventions around the country and across the sea.
After putting together a string of four straight appearances,
Finieous Fingers didn’t make it to number five, but J. D. has
promised to continue the story of everybody’s favorite thief in
time for publication next month. Hold on, Finieous fans, and in
the meantime we hope your funnybones are sufficiently tickled
by a page of Dragon Mirth cartoons, plus another “What’s
New?” from Phil Foglio and the latest page from Tramp depict-
ing the whimsical and wierd world of Wormy. I
S
the world ready
for a one-eyed bloodhound? Ready or not, here it comes! — KM
SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS
BORIS: A portrait in words
Eight pages of interview, photos and artwork . . . . . . . . .28
Cavern of the Sub-Train
A scenario for GAMMA WORLD™ adventuring . . . . . . . .40
REGULAR OFFERINGS
Out on a Limb — Letters from readers .................. .4
Leomund’s Tiny Hut — Detail for Greyhawk
.............18
Giants in the Earth — Island enchanters. ................36
Dragon’s Bestiary: Rhaumbusun and Pelins
.............
.48
Convention calendar
................................
.60
Up on a Soapbox:
To err is human, to repair divine ................... .61
The best DMs will look further than the book ........ .62
Minarian Legends — The Shucassamites ................64
Simulation Corner — Picking a game-design topic ....... .68
Figuratively Speaking ................................ 70
Dragon’s Augury:
Basic Role-Playing .............................. .72
Timelag ..................................... ...73
Dungeon Tiles ................................... 74
Off the Shelf — Fantasy literature reviewed ..............75
Dragon Mirth ....................................... 77
What’s New? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Wormy ............................................. 80
Cover painting ©1981 by Boris Vallejo
OTHER FEATURES
The Clerical Collection:
TheRoleoftheCleric ............................ .6
This land is my land ............................... 8
The sense of sacrifices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Basic D&D® points of view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
From the editors old and new ......................... .15
The undercover job guide — TOP SECRET™ tips .........26
Party picture contest: In the eye of the beholder .......... .50
Knock, Knock: A history of siege warfare ............... .51
WANTED: Bounty Hunters
I: Not a very nice guy ............................. 56
II: Beware of traps in woods .....................
. .57
III: He’s on your trail
..............................
58
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