The reader is left with the sense that he or she is really missing out without that extra book, and it has always been my philosophy that a magazine like Dragon should strive to meet as many of the needs of as many gamers as possible.True to form, shortly after discovering this game I subscribed to Dragon Magazine because back then, at least among my friends, it was customary for everyone to take turns as DM in the group.This meant one had to be versatile and proficient not only in game design but also in the fine art of character survival.
Dragon Magazine Series Of MonthlyIn this, what I hope is the first in a long series of monthly reviews of Dragon, well take a look at Issue 345.
If youre a subscriber, this information may only be useful as another interpretation of the material. If you havent forked over your hard earned cash yet, though, maybe I can help you decide if Dragon is right for you. This is your standard series of advertisements for upcoming products in the gaming industry, for everything from the latest and greatest in the DD Miniatures line to the re-release of Princess Bride (sweet action) on DVD to a blurb for the 2006 ENnies, an award event sponsored by the gaming website ENWorld. Sprinkled here and there in First Watch are also previews of whats happening next month in both Dragon and Dungeon, as well as some pertinent info for those RPGA members out there. Frankly Im not sure I know anyone who knows anyone in the RPGA but lately the magazine has been making a big deal out of it so it must be worth looking into. Not only is Dragon still a fairly reliable way to learn about the upcoming product line for Wizards of the Coast, Paizo has taken the opportunity to advertise for every other gaming company, too Doesnt anyone use the Internet anymore Information about future products can change at a moments notice anyway, printing it just seems like a waste of space. You would think now that Dragon has so many ads one could mistake it for a fashion magazine it would cut down on some of this junk. Ol Iggy has yet to disappoint and this issues pick is no exception: Kostchtchie. Its ok if you cant pronounce his name, Im sure he cant either. Dragon Magazine Full History OfIn the Demonomicon articles you get it all: a full history of where the demon prince has been, a brief explanation of his most notorious schemes, where he lays his head at night and what some of his latest ambitions are. Dragon also uses this opportunity to introduce more material into the DD universe, like new monsters, feats, Prestige Classes and magic item properties. Not only that, but if there is any real-world inspiration for the demon in question, this article is where to find it. Here we learn that Kostchtchie made his debut back in the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth module by Gary Gygax in ADD 1E. If youre curious, Kostchtchie was inspired by a Russian legend about a typically lecherous old coot whose soul was hidden inside one of those sets of dolls that you stack up inside each other. I wasnt exaggerating when I was giving the skinny on what sorts of stuff you might find in the Demonomicon, theres a lot going on here and with only so many pages available, Dragon had to sacrifice 13 for Kostchtchie alone. Thats over 10 Still, the author maintains the juggling act reasonably well between fluff material for those interested in the lore behind NPCs and unique monsters, and the crunchy bits like a PrC for cult leaders in the Princes name (not to mention the ginormous stat block for Kostchtchie. I would argue that the number of games utilizing demons and devils as the primary antagonist is relatively slim, since most games probably start and conclude at the lower levels before ever reaching that upper tier of challenges. Dragon Magazine How To ADVANCE KostchtchieA sidebar in the article assures the reader the recent publication Fiendish Codex I has plenty of rules for how to ADVANCE Kostchtchie and other Demon Princes, but nothing at all about how to water these beasties down. One could argue that the material here is easily adaptable to non-Eberron campaigns but the article references a book called Secrets of XenDrik at several points and, although the authors try to find replacements for various feats, items, PrCs and templates a perfect match isnt always possible.
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