EXCLUSIVE! G Bs fener) OLA Tracy TH CET Explains How NOT-To Play D&D! ES rs Fs e c TOE ms as Sorcerers & Widaris > ~_/ Seana . yf LY Loa) + Nodwick Goes Deep “Mind Flayers Gets StickyCheers for The Lost Years of Merlin (Book One): “A novel rich wich magic.” —The New York Times Book Review “An extraordinary journey of mind, body, and spirit-hoth for Merlin and for ourselves.” —Madeleine L’ Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time “An intense and profoundly spiritual adventure.” —Lloyd Alexander, author of The Prydain Chronicles The Seven Songs of Merlin Book Two): “Full of action and excitement. A rich and resonant read.” —Kirkus Reviews The Fires of Merlin Book Three): “Barron weaves a writer’s brand of magic that connects the past to the present, myth to humanity, and the human heart to the infinite universe.” —Family Life The Mirror of Merlin (Book Four): “With lots of surprises and laugh-out-loud humor... this should be eagerly devoured by the saga’s fans.” — Booklist For a Lost Years of Merlin Epic Reader's Companion, write to: Penguin Purnam Books for Young Readers Attn: Hardcover Marketing 345 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014Explore a magical dimension of the legend of Merlin The Lost Years of Merlin Qpic by T. A. Barron Book Five ETE VCE CSOD in stores “SME RII MERLIN Ayailable in ACE paperback Available in ACE paperback ene te) a } create j s Peete cy Uren! Visit T. A. Barron online at www.tabarron.com Philomel Books ACE Books Divisions of Penguin Putnam Ine swww:penguinputnam.comre Nene Na a Dd SER LEA Mea Bae ede that begs the question: What about the Ce Ma eee ld ey Cm eee Ee ee Ce ae ead ee ae =Peter Whitley, Art Director GAME ROOM eae cna i Ee a 3 ) FEATURES Ree ee Lk oC WIZARD'S WORKSHOP Leen eet ee DescSe Pitan of VON a os 5, area e mens ra ' need this year — and, frighteningly, they 5 ~ Computer Gaming. ae) tures fantastic Jocales, more spe Sener MC MECcane eat one ere ; ~ Gamespot —~ eater See mae. important RPG’ ever released. It Is a bea 5 ea Eo fac eee “ eee ies pS hing” : ee eC eT Dane ce aL | cea Ra) eo Be eo a sme eg fe Ce a_i pat Sasa ptr ret of eal at eae _ M4Your ultimate source for official D&.D°® adventures. , Adventures fou Clot eli eg ete le Be elo ole eu ea of play. Nee ae ttys new look and BU aM ( ts Usha [ola CaN aera ies by Paste] ir ar Fl out ths form and mat wit your payment, fo the adaress below, LIMITED TiME OFFER! ae fection a lew @ Renewal Pe oe ei Pea ce Eg iin Po cerca, Umea Deeccman AUe Perch cae . h, ‘si eee te on CT oe) us” foie Ute e EE wes. sn co ra hy AKA) erteset eee Pajeiaiea Sue a UU Sere a aU Teer uence TL cySout FEE) fears Esnors «Enc Hadsoal, Marine Seen Group Publsher «Johnny Wlson Pblaber« Ward Novis Edtorin-Cha « Dove Geoep -Autocit Editor « Cove Thomacen Conibuing Editors «Ed Groenoao0 Ron D. Lees Mie Sader, Sip Willan: Ray Wimninger Editorial vera + Secs A Foro ‘et Diasor« Pater Wey ‘iaphe Dogar « Tavers W. Dow ‘Stal stators» Seo ilar Sam Wea ‘Grealion recor «Frcs Waters -Adyercing Ses iret « eh Herne ‘Serio Production Manager + Joba Bao rosetonMimager« Bob Ms “Ofeulaion Assan « Downlle Mesrer ‘Advert Intern» lice Chun Deceanncrn Sandu nse cartny Geese ety Wav ot Gott Tak Ur Bess on A ese ose Aare Baccara Pattee ih seein! Teinnctiss Solin ise ceuoacon Geesises a bes agar PO ROX cee Beare, ptomie san Masaru cst ie ser unpart ermptene soe Geter ties eles een dheriremcsryaetns canna ca Beate ho etsoece leat prea Goer nnons earn in os pods ose Fees cana te cfeae a isos ese ace mrol om pet oan eric Seine Vesmornetoer Tioaceee Bacon onus cere a verns0SD ADHD, Bice fess Duesunca tue Ramu [es dorncrausGurgcaneArmrtn- oor Dine Heres Restor oucarbrecn tetera icc tas Guceene cen oe ae ot, Hoge nn soa wc rane ener ete Btls tein Lucas Us On eis Us Atria eens ioe 2 ae canteen Coane IEETENG ino ic kl inte ove an ey [Eictvras anna hot ona Bamihnre tare BpSeCHFTONS ccnasi Piles Geciesiaare a Brosorgecnsinoomorst em anea2 he Se oyplrerOrsorae can ral He B epee ances once tagearexanenong ies een vy. 2 oe Bias sic Mestncere cose. ohn Ipetbes ecu utteas yo 9) asc porta rr serie cancion fates ot Coe ecb ray ear oe Heristans rooceeg tty ea otf Fpbbsten tat toon She (Povo rn Beever seni en nersentn ce Becca ayPont Vain Daane lat deWious tin Defeat Your Fears To Achieve Grace layers enter a world, P= intense magic and thunderous battles where your survival is determined by collecting = powerfulartifacts and © fashioning them to unique “and weaponry. Iwo “complete adventures await Darius and Shatline— heroes who,must fac&an evil rebomn. eS Journey as either hero and discover unique characters and monsters for each adventurer. They will need to master the art of arming themselves with items of incredible might and untold magical abilities to thwart the powers of darkness. ‘Customizable elements include ‘weaponry, armor, and clothing, *Certain combinations of armor and clothing unlock hidden magical abilities and powers, + Two independent characters to play ~ ‘each with their own storylines, goals, and discoveries. *Epic RPG storyline with all the action. needed fora legendary quest. ‘© 2000 Ftom Software, ino. From SottWvare andithe From Software logo are trademarks of From Software, Inc. {lights reserved. Agetee, the Agotec logo, EverGrace and the EvarGtace logo, are trademarks of Agelae, Ino, PlayStation and the “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The ratings icon Isa trademark ofthe Inetactve Digital Software Association,Pe Leen LCD Pea Naa3D0° www.3do.com nO CO a AIC RU hie et aee heed) UU ees Te eae EyeClopsWIN is an author, game design- er and long-time contributor to Daca. Although he makes his ving in high tech these days, he's freelanced for just about every major company in the indusiry and even spent a couple of years as the Director of Product Development at Mayfair Games. So far, his fe can be comfortably described as every geek’s fantasy A certified member of the “older than dirt” brigade, IMS has been working in the gaming indusiry for nearly twenty-five years, starting out part-time behind the cash Tegister at TSR's Dungeon Hobby Shop in 1976. Since then, Skip has run the GEN Con game fai, served with the RPGA Network, and worked as a game designer and editor. Skip pens Deacav’s “Sage Advice” column and currently works at Wizard's of the Coast 43 a senior RPG designer. Skip loves in no particular order) are his wife Penny, old ai planes, sly movies, books, games, gardening, and hiking. IK writes DExD stuf for a ving and plays DEXD for fun, He's written a cou- ple of novels and short stories, and he gradu= ated from the Clarion West Writer's Workshop, which he's obviously happy about, or he wouldn't mention it n his bio. He's never been to Tahiti, the opera, or jail, but would be wiling to try any of them. He owns a rabbit and is lucky enough to be marred is the creator of enough [prose and gaming lore to singlehandedly res ‘cue the hitherto seriously imperiled semicolon from oblivion, prepared for his carver inthe art field by getting a degree in Political Science, He now resides in Kansas City, ‘where he: bases his world-wide conspiracy 10 convince people that he's funny. NTRIBUTORS INKER is Wizards of the Coast's creative director for licensed and acquisition roleplaying games. His ROrD team creates introductory games lke the Dunczons & Deacons Adventure Game, plus icensed games for Marvel, Deka, Harry Porter, oxevoy, and bunches of others he can’t tell ‘you about yer (sorry) Ht ‘WILSON js the Group Publisher for Wizards of the Coast Periodicals (Deacon, Duncan, Sra Wars Gamer, and TorDeck magazines). Prior to accepting this position, Wilson served on the editorial staff at Computer Gaming World magazine; the world's oldest and most respected PC-specif- ic game magazine. He served on the editorial staff for over eleven years, as Editor, Edior- in-Chief, and, Editorial Director for most of that period, He has been reviewing computer games for over sixteen years Before becam a New York Times bestselling co-author of numer- ‘ous Dracontanct books with Margaret Weis, he was first and foremost an RPG game designer. For decades, his skis @s a Dungeon Master have been much sought after .. while his guerrilla player character techniques have given other DMs cause to elude him with ‘equal intensity, He currently resides in St. George, Utah where he has recently taken up screenwriting with his wife, Laura, is a graduate of the University ‘of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School. He tikes redheads, good friends, good beer, and good cigars, in that order. ‘What that means is thet even a redheaded troll could have her way with him as long as she was friendly, had a tankard of ale, and a pouch of tobacco, ° Ty Ne EET DT SUE Fone asc 0 OE (OOSA ROME A OnGAT Ane? =pe s: ] SUPERNOVA- Aaa fd Www.empire-us.com) “dl Nia co , :KEEP IN TOUCH! To share your opinions on this issue of the magazine, post a letter ro: “Scale Mail” Deaaow Magazine 1801 Lind Avenue 8.W. Renton, WA 98055, USA Send email to scalemail@wizerds.com. Include your full name and mailing address if you expect your letter to be printed, and let us know how much of that address you'd like printed (Well assume city and state otherwise.) For subscription inquiries, send email to dragon@pespublink.com or eal 1 (800) 395-7760 Good Advice “Plotbending’ (by JD Wiker) and “indispensible” (by Robin D. Laws) are pertaps the best articles on whar its to roleplay that I have read in DrAcow (issue #274) in over two years. ‘Sure, articles about how to be a stand-out fighter (or other loss} have surfaced from time to time, but none have pu “how fo roleplay” in a nice, neat perspective that is both {good For us long-time players (we need reminding on occa~ sion) and newcomers to the game. “indispensible.” if followed by a player, will cause a DM to rejoice life. Sure, it was designed to make a PC live a long, life, but see it a5 a way to get players to roleplay in the game. IF any player, new or ol, munchkin ar meta-gmer, Follows any of the suggestions outlined in this eric, a good roleplayer could be in the works “Plotbending” isthe article thar all DMs who want fo excel at their craft should read and practice. | have found that ifthe DM runs several subplots underneath the main plot of the: adventure all the PCs want 10 go out and explore the world ‘The best example | have of this was when my group found the ransacked remains of a caravan’s goods while looking for the local justice's daughter who had gone missing in the area. (Along with several more people in the last few months.) While searching in the bags, chests, and shredded merchan- dise, the party's rogue came across a tattered manuscript that bore the house sig of the group's paladin. It turned out to be a diary of his great-greai-great grandfather (also a pal- din) who fought during the great war of the kingdoms. After completing the quest to find the missing people (and various ‘ther quests), the aladin—trom information gleaned from the