What an interesting looking dragon. I’m pretty sure it is trying to decide whether to listen to the puny human on it’s back, or just eat him. I’m pretty sure the dragon just ate the warrior on his back.
Open Box - Various
Items reviewed are Battledroids by FASA, Talisman (Computer Game) by Games Workshop, Halls of the Dwarven Kings by Integrated Games, House of Hell and Talisman of Death by Puffin, and Warhammer (2nd Edition) by Games Workshop.
Battledroids was reviewed by Trevor Mendham, and got some decent marks. I haven’t looked for a copy yet. I should, giant stompy robots have always been a thing I enjoyed. I even started printing the Scavenger Trident from StationForge a few years ago, but stopped when I realized my painting skills sucked. I don’t say that to be the usual disparaging whatever. I really didn’t like the scheme I picked, and I didn’t like how the colors were coming together. It is still on my list of things to finish one day.
Talisman was also reviewed by Trevor Mendham. He thought it was a decent rendition of the board game. It was a great way to play when you didn’t have time to get your actual friends together.
The Halls of the Dwarven Kings was reviewed by B Y Rowe. It is a 24 page scenario that the reviewer thinks should be a “worthwhile addition to any DM’s armoury of adventure”.
House of Hell and Talisman of Death are a part of the Fighting Fantasy gamebooks released by GW, and writtten by various authors. I’ll interject another personal anecdote here. I never knew any of these existed. I never read any of the solo play go to section X books. A part of me wishes I had, I think in this day of digital books, these would be a great genre to explore on your e-reader, etc. I think the format would translate well, if it was done right.
Warhammer (2nd Edition) was reviewed by Robert Alcock and of course published by Games Workshop. I am just about finished reading all the rules for this edition, and have a couple of different scenarios I want to play out, and see how it played.
Physically, Warhammer II is a vast improvement upon the original, with three sizeable rulebooks sporting full-colour John Blanche artwork.
As you can see the reviewer likes it.
The Fantasy Explosion - Dave Langford
This is one of those articles that just needs to be read. Nothing he reviewed jumped out at me as a book that I need to add to my reading list. As always I enjoy reading Dave’s reviews. I’m not sure he is always right, but they are entertaining.
The Road Goes Ever On - Graham Staplehurst
A review of the Middle Earth Roleplaying game, and some tips on making your own adventures, etc. This was a giant advertisement for MERP, which I’m down for. I learned a few things, but not a lot. It was not the best in explaining how the game plays, it really was just these are the things you can buy, and what they could be used for.
A Web in the Dark - Simon Burley
Are you into comics? Are you into games? Why doesn’t your particular game have web-shooters? This is one of those articles that not only defends the author’s positions while making a game, but also goes on and give you permission and ideas on how to expand the game. Of course they didn’t add all of Spidey’s gadgets to the game. But you can take the existing powers, and make your own gadgets. This was a great idea article. Take existing rules, and combine them to make whatever you want. This is missing from a lot of modern games. If the thing doesn’t exist, they don’t want you to make it.
Simon also mentioned a super hero with Darkness Control. I have no idea who this is.
I highly recommend this article for ideas on how to take your existing rule system and extending it to do more stuff.
Once Risen, Twice Shy - Steve Williams and Barney Sloane
This is the Call of Cthulhu article of the month. Handouts for playing The Lurking Fear by HP Lovecraft. If you have followed us, you know we love these little tidbits, read the following from Micheal.
False Documents: The Transcripts of the Medium Bayrolles
A false document is a literary technique of inserting reference to a fictitious work within a larger work of fiction, with the goal of building mystery or lending depth and verisimilitude to a settin…
False Documents: The Bruce-Partington Plans
A false document is a literary technique of inserting reference to a fictitious work within a larger work of fiction, with the goal of building mystery or lending depth and verisimilitude to a settin…
These handouts are a great addition, and we need more of these in today’s world.
Ambush! - DP O’Connor
How to set up an ambush in your games of Warhammer. This is what is missing from “modern” wargames. Fun scenarios. They are all copying each other and having units stand around on circles. Even my favorite games (Blood & X, XGrave) are really just standing around collecting circles, and then running away. I don’t know how many games of Silver Bayonet we played, where neither faction shot at the other one. Maybe I just play games wrong. It’s possible.
Early Warhammer was much more about the campaign. It was a wargame/rpg in one. I don’t know if anyone besides the GW staff played it that way.
This article is absolutely timeless. You can use it for any game, set in any time period. It is well worth the time to find a copy of it and read over it.
The Horse of the Invisible - AJ Bradbury
Welcome to your next Call of Cthulhu scenario. I won’t give away any spoilers, but I really enjoyed reading this one. It has enough to keep you interested, and I did not see the twist coming. This article is worth the read and the play-through if you are a fan of CoC. Read it, and get inspired.
The Philosophers Stone - David Whiteland
This AD&D adventure was interesting, but I didn’t really like it. I think this is the second or third philosopher’s stone adventure in White Dwarf. This is not a terrible scenario, and I do like the charts on Alchemical Reactions. It adds some very interesting effects to trying to create some alchemical substances. You get everything from combustion to Formation of Dangerous Gas. You even get a lovely chart of Toxicity Effects. It is worth the look at if you have PC’s who want to take some risks to create some new stuff.
The Silent Hater - Various
You get some new eels, frogs, salamanders, swamp men, and some kind of goblin like creature. These Fiend Factory articles do get a little better. This one has some scenario ideas built in, that can help you generate new adventures, and populate your own world.
The Rings of Alignment - Graeme Drysdale
Five rings based on the alignments of the AD&D game. You also get some super powerful guardians of the rings to throw the PC’s into. Interesting and very powerful rings to give to your PC’s and see how they can use them for good or ill.
For instance the Ring of Good, it detects evil in 20’ radius, glows with a continual light spell, and can project the schwartz, I mean a blade of force that acts as a +5. Yes, this article was written two entire years before that movie came out. Did they borrow it? Maybe, maybe not.
The ideas contained in White Dwarf lived on beyond their time. I’m not saying that Mel Brooks copied the idea, I have no idea if he ever played any RPG’s, or read any obscure British magazines, but the idea conatined within is a little uncanny.
These are fun rings that can go beyond your normal rings of protection.