Best of Dragon Magazine 01.pdf

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: the po v

our ii

OUNGEOMS & DRAGONS and D&0 are regislefed trademarks of TSR, Inc. 1984

Best of

Magazine

Vol. 1

Introduction

by Kim Mohan, DRAGON Magazine Editor-in-chief

Either way you look at it, this is a very revealing magazine.

If you read it, you'll find out a lot about DRAGON® Magazine

— what it used to be like, and how it has evolved since the early

years. And, judging by how many copies of this anthology are sold,

we'll be able to learn sometbing important about all of you.

Both of those statements call for some explaining. Fortunately, I

have a lot of space left in which to do just that. , . ,

This might more properly be called Volume 1.1 in our series of

anthologies, because it's not quite the same as the editions of Volume

1 that have preceded it. We took out the advertising that appeared in

the original Collector's Edition and all of the subsequent printings,

because the prices, the products, and sometimes even the companies

have long since gone out of date. We plugged new artwork into some

of the old advertising space, and we compressed the book so that it's

eight pages thinner than it used be.

But we haven't done a thing to the rest of the book — and the rest

of the book is what matters, isn't it? All of the game-related articles

are presented here in exactly the same form and substance as they

appeared in every previous printing of this anthology — and that

also happens to be exactly the way they were published in the vari-

ous issues of the magazine where they first saw the light of day.

Volume 1 stands by itself in our series of anthologies as the only

collection of previously published articles that displays those articles

with the same titles, the same typography, the same everything that

they had in the magazines from which they were taken. Even if you

don't own any of the issues published from 1975 through 1978, you

can get a very clear idea of the kind of material that The Dragon (as

it was known back then) was filled, with, and how that material was

displayed and portrayed. For instance:

As you'll see, the type was generally smaller back then. In fact,

you're getting more words for your money in this 68-page collection

than you would get in any of our other anthologies, all of which have

80 pages but are set in larger type,

A great share of the articles in early issues of the magazine were

contributed by a couple of young, energetic guys named Gygax and

Ward (who are still just as energetic, even if they aren't quite as

young any more).

Much of what appeared back in those days as "mere" magazine

articles ended up becoming part of the ADVANCED DUNGEONS

& DRAGONS® game system two or three or four years later; com-

paring, for example, the original ranger class (page 4-9) with the

current rules will give you an idea how concepts and ideas changed

as the AD&D® rules evolved into their final form.

A lot of space in those olden days was taken up with advice to

people who were just starting out as players or Dungeon Masters —

understandably, because back then everyone was a beginner. Even

so, an article like Jim Ward's "Notes from a Semi-Successful D&D

Player" (page 21) is worthwhile reading today, even for (and per-

haps especially for) people who think they've thought of everything.

Now, what are we going to learn about you from your purchase of

this anthology? Well, we're going to find out how many of the peo-

ple who currently read DRAGON® Magazine are vitally interested

in seeing material from the early days, and that will help us decide

what to put into Volume 5, Volume 6, and so forth. Should we dig

farther into the past, or just go deeper into the more recent issues?

Should our next anthology be a semi-random sampling of "golden

oldies," or should we assemble a collection centered on a particular

topic, without paying special regard to which out-of-print issues we

dip into? \bur response to the re-issuing of Volume 1 will point us in

the right direction — and I think we can take it from there.

Contents

Planes

Deserted Cities of Mars ,

How Green Was My Mutant

Monkish Combat in the Arena of Promotion

Some Ideas Missed in Metamorphosis Alpha

4 _

Some Thoughts on the Speed of a Lightning Bolt

Alternate Beginning for Metamorphosis Alpha

What to Do When the Dog Eats Your Dice

'33

Hints for D&D Judges

Excerpt from an Interview with a Rust Monster

The Play's the Thing

Sturmgeschutz and Sorcery

..,..'

Languages

Illusionists

The Development pf Towns in D&D

--12

Illusionist Additions

Lei There Be a Method to Your Madness

Tombs &; Crypts

Designing for Unique Wilderness Encounters

Haiflings, Dwarves, Clerics & Thieves in DUNGEON!

The Total Person in Metamorphosis Alpha

Statistics Regarding Classes: Bards

How Heavy Is My Giant

The Original Ranger Class

Notes from a Semi-successful D&D Player

Wizard Research Rules'

Tolkien in DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

Witchcraft Supplement for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

The Meaning of Law and Chaos in D&D

Solo DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Adventures

D&D Is Only as Good as the DM

Lycanthropy: The Progress of the Disease

Gary Gygax on DUNGEONS & DRAGONS

-27

The Japanese Mythos

The DUNGEONS & DRAGONS Magic System

Random Monsters

ft5

Monster Reference Table Addition

D&D Option: Demon Generation

Miscellaneous Treasure

-30

DRAGON, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D and AD&D are registered trademarks owned by TSR, Inc.

VOLUME I

Planes

The Concepts of Spatial, Temporal and Physical Relationships in D&D

by Gary Gygax

For game purposes the DM is to assume the existence of an infinite

number of co-existing planes. The normal plane for human-type life

forms is the Prime Material Plane. A number of planes actually touch

this one and are reached with relative ease. These planes are the

Negative and Positive Material Planes, the Elemental Planes (air,

earth, fire, water), the Etheriat Plane (which co-exists in exactly the

same space as the Prime Material Plane), and the Astral Plane (which

warps the dimension we know as length (distance)). Typical higher

planes are the Seven Heavens, the Twin Paradises, and Elysium. The

plane of ultimate Law is Nirvana, while the plane of ultimate Chaos

(entropy) is Limbo. Typical lower planes are the Nine Hells, Hades'

three glooms, and the 666 layers of the Abyss.

Assume further that creatures which can be harmed only by wea-

pons of a special metal (silver, cold iron, etc.) gain this relative invul-

nerability from having a portion of their existence in either the positive

or negative material plane at the same time they exist partially in the

prime. Therefore, those creatures which can be struck only with + 1 or

greater magical weapons exist wholly and simultaneously in two planes

(one of which is, of course, the Prime Material). So creatures which re-

quire attack of a + 2 or better magic weapon then exist in three planes

simultaneously, and so on. This brings us to the consideration of the

existence of magical weapons in other planes and in multiple planes si-

multaneously.

If it is accepted that the reason that certain creatures can only be

hit by magical weaponry is because the creature exists in two or more

planes simultaneously, then it follows that the weapon must likewise

extend into the planes in which the creature exists. At the very least it

must be that the weapon extends into no less than two of the planes in

which the creature exists, and these planes are those in which the crea-

ture has vulnerable aspects. This makes for a very complex relationship

of planes to planes/swords and other magical weapons to planes. A

special sword functioning with bonuses against certain creatures, or a

special purpose sword, will have existence on only certain planes with

regard to its special bonus, or due to its special purpose, but as most

weapons of this type also have a general +1 or better value, they also

extend into all planes — or do they?

Perhaps the most reasonable way of handling this matter is to

graph the planes which are existent in the campaign in question. Basic

bonus weapons extend generally into planes which are once, twice, etc.

removed from the Prime Material Plane of play. Those with special bo-

nuses then have a more intense nature in the plane in which the creature

they function specially against has its extra existence. And this also ex-

plains weaponry which does extra damage to creatures which can be hit

by non-magical weapons. Let us assume that these weapons have their

special existence on the plane in which the particular creature has its

personal existence. Perhaps such planes are more accurately termed

subplanes. Each type of creature has its own sub-plane, human, giant-

ish, demoniac, or whatever. Furthermore, similarities of type indicate

the same or closely allied planes.

As a side benefit of the use of this system, operation on the astral

or ethereal by characters no longer poses such a headache to DMs. As

magic weapons exist in those planes which touch upon the Prime Mate-

rial Plane, any person armed with a magic weapon will be able to attack

THE URAtiOV!? N,» really. this * „ 2-^nensionat di-

agram of a 4-dimftKionai com-ept. The concept w basically a concept of plows

»r dimeasiom and haw to travel between the,,,. There are mo basic -'area,- ,,f

plane-. ,n she diagram. The inner ovoid and the outer rectangle. There arc at™

/«•» i«m ,„ travel i<> these planes. The ETHEKEA L will v et vo a ,„ at , , <>flne in .

Prune Mineral. The planet Earth a ,,d everythmg on i,. all ,,f ,he mlar M-.WIHJ

and ,he wt,<,/e universe are of ihe Prime Material. The f-amasv wtrlds row create

Mont ,<> the Prune Material, lumbers 2 and .1 are Positive and Negative Mate-

nal Wanes. Nambtis 4-7 ere tte ultra-pure Elemental Plants of air fire earth

an ft water.

The Ol'TER PLANES There are sixteen outer planes. The Outer Planes are a

collection of the religious and/nr philosophical goats for anti-goals} of mankind

and "the other intellectual species".

The I'THKBKAI. PLANK ).f the transportation "system" of the Inner Material

Planes. Travel into the Ethereal is always of a magical nature by using spells or

special artifacts. The Oil or Armor of Ethereal, a H'ish and the new Vanish spell

ctftt he used.

The ASTRAL PLANE is thf means t>f transportation from the Prime Material

>o the Ouier Planes. There are two restrictions for the Astra! "Plane". /) The

traveler must be in the Prime Material in order to travel into the Astral. The As-

tral can not be reached from the Elemental, Positive or Negative Planes.

2) The Asi rat will lake a traveler to the first level of the Outer Planes. There are

(r m n i s th f

into the Astral or Ethereal Plane if they become aware that their oppo-

nent is operating in one of these planes.

Finally, what of magic swords of special nature or special purpose

which are far removed from the Prime Material Plane? I suggest that

these weapons can be removed no further than the number of planes

from the Prime Material which equals their best bonus stated as a "to

hit", i.e. a +2 can be removed by two planes and still retain its magical

properties. Certain swords will have special treatment — the sword of

sharpness and the vorpal blade most notably. On the other hand, a

sword of life draining ability gains no such consideration, for it oper-

ates primarily on the Negative Material Plane. In any event, swords

removed beyond the plane limit given will lose all of their magic, be-

coming nothing more than normal weapons. This same "law" can ap-

ply equally to those weapons, swords or otherwise, which have a simple

"to hit" bonus.

As of this writing I foresee a number of important things arising

from the adoption of this system. First, it will cause a careful rethink-

ing of much of the justification for the happenings in the majority of

D&D campaigns. Second, it will vastly expand the potential of all cam-

paigns which adopt the system — although it will mean tremendous ad-

ditional work for these DMs. Different planes will certainly have dif-

ferent laws and different inhabitants (although some of these beings

will be familiar). Whole worlds are awaiting creation, complete inven-

tion, that is. Magical/technological/whatever items need be devised.

And ways to move to these planes must be provided for discovery by

players. Third, and worst from this writer's point of view, it wiH mean

that I must revise the whole of D&D to conform to this new notion. Un-

der the circumstances, I think it best to do nothing more than offer the

idea for your careful consideration and thorough experimentation.

This writer has used only parts of the system in a limited fashion. It

should be tried and tested before adoption.

BEST OF DRAGON

ner plants and the ASTRAL will get you 10 the outer ptones,'

rhM^>>:R Pi-ANjji Th ere ar f seven innrr ,,,„„„_ Th e fi m

seven levels in Heaven and nine in IletL The Asiral can only bring you to trie first

level of these Planes. A physical fnrm nf travel musl he used 10 proceed lo the

other levels Travel 10 the Aatrat "Plane" can be done with a wish or Ihe Astral

Spell.

Travel from Oultr Plant lu Outer Plane The Astral Plane can he used In travel

frnm plane lo plane, if, from Heaven to Elysturn, A traveler could also move in-

to an adjacent Plane, le. Heaven to the Happy Hunting Grounds, just by walk-

ing. Travel, bv walking, could or should bt limited to only one Plane ta either

side of the Plane that the traveler barter! in. For example, a traveler Astral

Planed into Nirvana, so by walking he could travel to Arcadia nr to Acheron.

t) Purple, Tte PRIME MATERIAI

2) Yellow, The POSITIVE MATERIAL PLANr

i) Grey, The NLC.AT1VE MATERIAL PI ANt-

4) L( Blue The AIR Kl f-MENTAL PLANE

5» Red The FIRE ELTMENTAL PLANE

6) Greon The EARTH HI KMENTAL PLANE

7) Blue The WATER ELEMENTAL PLANE

8) Orange, TheETHEREAl PLANE

9) Lt Hlue, The ASTRAL PLANE

10) Blue. The SEVEN HEAVHMS

11) Lt. Blue, The HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS

12) Blue. The TWIN PARAD1SKS

13) Li. Blue, OLYMPUS

14) Blur, Kt YSIUM

15) Blus/Grty, OLADSHEIM

16) Grey. 1 IMBO

17) Red/Grey. PANDEMONiUM

IK) Red, The ftftft LAYERS

OF THE ABYSS

19) Li. Red, TARTERUS

20) Red, HADES

21) Li. Red.GEHENNA

22) Red. The NINE HELLS

2J) Red/Grey, ACHERON

2-0 Grey. NIRVANA

2!) Blue/(.:rey, ARCADIA

HOW GREEN

WAS MY MUTANT

have humanoids appearing as humans in most respects, but if you

would enjoy adding a bit of "color" to your campaign, I suggest the

following tables for obtaining ihe general appearance of mutated hu-

mans, players or not. To determine the appearance just roll dice for as

many of the categories as you desire, and, or course, you may delete,

add, or change as you see fit!

Die

Roll

13-15

16-17

18-19

THE APPEARANCE OF HUMANOIDS

IN METAMORPHOSIS ALPHA

Skin/Hair

Coloration

white

pink

tan

brown

orange

black

red

yellow

blue

green

purple

gray

2 colors

3 colors

4 colors

5 colors

Skin

Characteristic

hairy

hair patches

bald

wrinkled

warty

knobby

pocked

leathery

normal

Color

Pattern

solid (or solid patches)

striped

dotted

spoiled

belted

banded

whorles

splotches

normal

by Gary Gygax

Mutated humans, or simply humanoids, are a commonplace sight

in the "worlds" of MFTAMORPHOSIS ALPHA. It is no great matter

rb describe the obvious when telling a player about his own appearance,

or relating to a party of adverlurers what they see when they encounter

some humanoids. Thus, a mutant is very large, or quite small, has

quills, or is winged. Large ears go with heightened hearing. A long,

broad nose indicates a humanoid with heightened smelling ability. It is

easy to go on, but what about general differences? Of course, you may

Head

crested

long, pointed

flattened oval

bulbous

bullet shaped

quite small

normal

Neck

long

long, thin

shon

very thick

wattled

normal

Body

round

thin

barrel-like

hunched

long

small

normal

Die

Roll

Facial

Features

very smalt

round eyes

drooping ears

no ears

huge mouth

big nose

no nose

very large

normal

Hands and Feel

long

short

narrow

wide

hard

soft

thick fingered/loed

thin fingered/toed

very large

very small

normal

Fingers and Toes

three

four

five

six

seven

webbed

double- jointed/

prehensile

naitlcss

VOLUME I

normal

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