Al JUS or the Bhuones Ply he " , y N y qs Oe AU $1495 can 4 th é , \ a te it ) ca! af Al INE pa) 1 COMPILATION OF KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE: ISSUES 1 THRU 3i've got yer BACK ISSUES eT a ner [fable DID YA KNOW KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1990?? HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO GET: TALES FROM THE VAULT: THE COMPLETE COLLECTION OF EARLY KODT STRIPS AND DRAGON APPEARANCES THROUGH #236 TALES FROM THE VAULT VOL. #2: ‘A COMPILATION OF DRAGON & CTHER MAGAZINE STRIPS THROUGH 1998 TALES FROM THE VAULT VOL. 43: ‘8 COMPILATION OF DRAGON & GTHER MAGAZINE STRIPS THROUGH 1999 (INCLUDES COLOR STRIPS//) OR A COMPILATION OF THE EARLY ISSUES: BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL. +2 COVERS ISSUES 14 - 16 BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL. 43 COVERS ISSUES #7 - 49 BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL. 44 COVERS ISSUES ¥/0 - 12 BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL. 15 COVERS ISSUES ¥73 - 175 BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL. 46 COVERS ISSUES ¥16 - 416 BUNDLE OF TROUBLE VOL. 17 COVERS ISSUES #79 - 427 © Copyright 2000 Kenzer and Company. All Legal Notice: Kero & Company, The Kenzer and Compa Lo Dinner Tale an all romineat characters and likenesses thereof are trademarks of Kenzer and Copan Ws reserved Tues fom he Van, Bude of Trouble, Kuighs of the mi ne sd al ae Ng ee To purchase your very own set of KODT or BLACK HANDS MINIATURES ($19.95 ea Tales from the Vault, Tales from the Vault vol. 2, Bundle of Trouble #2 - #7 ($9.95), Tales from the Vault vol. 3 ($12.95), or KODTEE shirt ($19.95), send a check or mone ‘crder (made payable to Kenzer and Company) to Kenzer & Company Mail Order Futfilments 25667 Hilview Ct. 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Kenzer Cover Art by Gronge VRnanic ‘TABLE OF CONTENTS Cries from the Attic TO) aA 2 ISSUE #1: NOT READY FOR SYNDICATION Lair of the Gazebo f v # PM 5 A Question of Honor i LM, By the Book ) \ ee Attack of the Rules Lawyex, f OD WL MEN i Let the Dice Fall Where They Mayt \ 6 The Farmer Wars ] 20 The Wonderful GaryGan’ Adventube sa 24 Diminishing Returns Ts aae 1326 ISSUE #2; GLUTTONS FOR PUNISHMENT» irst Impressions 35 ‘The Cows of Wat .--o.- sini 4 Lords of Darkness * 7 Angel of Mercy 50 Spell-Jacked™ nk) The Great Revolt i 56 ISSUE #3: LICENSE TO LOOT AVE : or A.Critical Situation... 6 ‘Attack of the Snow Beasts 6 The Sticky Notes of War "> sept The Samer It Gets i ‘ 14 The Guest GM i 76 Tough Noogies oi 0, Death by Repetition j 4 he a3 1Got a Rock! Penna gfe} WOON a7 BUNDLE OF TROUBLE: VOLUME ONE Dave’ First Game (Retro KODT) 89 ‘An Urban Legend: Fric and the Gazebo, 93 ‘Who's Who in the Group 9 ‘Ait Bs in ehh i Han by aly albany i 50 ie fe oa pe rie Su pig of er Eero No be inc dia and we tip rte monthly Kos fhe Danes be gate Wing KODT ge an ely the only av pt Sie rng lo nnd ie rm of ODT De eum he rigs he oe i yo ating ello te eimai. Along the wy hes made sone incre es an coders el ry Basel s PM Ce Se COUT C URS DOCU UR AUS AU SUC aC OOO4 HISTORY OF THE GROUP KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE™ first appeared in the second issue of the role- playing magazine, SHADIS, in 1990. For years, comics geared toward gamers have been a popular feature in gaming magazines, I noticed, however, that no one had ever done a strip about the gamers themselves - from their point of view. It didn’t take long for the characters of the strip to take on lives of their own. The strip quickly became a favorite among the mag- azine’s readers with the most frequently received response being, “Those guys remind me of my own group! I’ve never been an artist, let alone try to pass myself off as one. I scrawled out my comic strip in the early days of SHADIS because it was a one-man business back then, and I coul n't talk anyone else into doing it. As the magazine grew and began to take off I found myself with less time, My reaction was to kill the strip. I wasn't much of a cartoonist, I reasoned, and I didn’t think anyone would really miss it. I was more than a little surprised, when our read- ers revolted and the strip was quickly revived. It’s been going strong since. I’m still a little amused when I see someone pick up a new issue of SHADIS and imme- diately flip to the back page and read the strip first. I can’t explain such behavior, When talk started to float around the office about doing a full sized comic book, my first response was “Good idea, but let's hire a real cartoonist to do it right!” Unfortunately, when news got out we were looking for an artist to do the book, fans cried, “Foul!”, It seemed they had grown accustomed to my inferior scratches of ink and pencil. Once again I was taught that the comic strip pulls all the strings and controls its creator. Before I close, I want to answer a question that gets asked a lot. It seems many of you are curious to know if the characters of the strip are based on real gamers. The answer is yes. Each character is a montage of player personalities I’ve encountered over the years. I even drew from myself for B.A. Felton,, the frustrated Game-Master with a table full of players who seem eternally at odds with him. On the same note, most strips are inspired by actual game sessions. Occasionally, a reader will relate to me his or her own funny story at the gaming table, and it will end up in the strip. There you have it, my own humble recounting of the history of the KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE. Privately I consider them all good friends. Publicly, I deny knowing them. (hl, Pile FOR THE LAST TIME DROP /T// T KNOW YOU THINK | IN a WHETHER Of NoT FeaeaZe ” AWIWW COME ON B.A/ Jelly de TS les barn 15 VITA WE GOTTA KNOW. 1, 1994, OWARVES HAVE Rares, via ALLY GEE womee: July 1, 1994, PORTANT, BUT "TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT IT/ ‘ON THIS THING. 2 CARES WHEN'S | He aS time you saw FEMALE DWIARE ANYWAYS Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication”Lair of the Gazebo BASED ON A STORY BY RICHARD ARONSON (OK, AS YOU EMERGE FROM THE REAR GATE OF THE CASTLE YOU COME UPON A VAST, WELL-MAINTAINED GARDEN. THERE TIM TRYING TO DISBELIEVE IT! ‘ARE SEVERAL FLOWERING SPRINGS FEEDING A SMALL POOL THINK IT’S AN ILLUSION. NO, IT'S NOT AN ILLUSION. THERE ARE FROGS AND DRAGONFLIES AROUND THE SMALL POOL. AND STANDING ON A SMALL HILL OVERLOOKING AGAZEBO?? THE GARDEN IS A LARGE GAZEBO. DUNNO, BUT WEDD BETTER ACT FAST! WHAT THE HELL IS A GAZEBO? TM PULLING OUT MY +12 HACKMASTER SWORD. A QUIET GARDEN INDEED! | KNEW B.A. HAD BUT GUYS, IT'S ONLY A... ‘SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE. Bundle:of Trouble“ Volume One A @@@$@ 5MW GOING TO CAST A COUPLE OF TM GONNA WASTE IT WITH FIREBALLS AT THE DAMN THING! (MY CROSSBOW! THAT BURN BABY BURNT GAZEBO IS HISTORY! IM PREPARING TO CHARGE IT! WAWAL! ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! IM RLNNNG TOWARD IT AS FAST UA: WELL ER OK YOUR CROSSBOW BOLTS 45 1 CAN TO DELIVER THE DEATH BLOW! STKE THE GAZEBO AND THE FIREBALLS Cer YES! THE MAGIC USER ONCE WHAT'S THE GAZEBO DOING NOW? UH-OH. JUST STANDING THERE HLH? 15 TT RUNNING AWAY? GOOD GAWD, HE'S A TOUGH LITTLE BASTARD. 1S IT ATTACKING? IM HALTING MY CHARGE UNTIL THE OTHERS CATCH UP WITH ME. HA - IF YOURE WAITING FOR ME BRO, DONT BOTHER. | AINT \tovourscor! CHARGING THAT THING! IT'S JUST STANDING THERE! 6 Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication”YOUNOWE i START TU ee aes Be Ate ASCITES TURES. BAD WEW: GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS GUYS. {CID TAME THe DANN Das AGE Cea | THINK THEY CAN ONLY BE HARMED WITH SILVER WEAPONS, (OR SOMETHING, THE WAY HE SHOOK OFF MY BOLT OF SLAYING AND BRIAN'S FIREBALLS, WELL, IM NOT ABOUT TO CALL IT se (QUITS YET. TM LAUNCHING FOR CRYING OUR Loup! ALRIGHT! HOW MANY ‘YOUR SECOND VOLLEY OF FIREBALLS HIT. COOL BEANS! 1100 MY EXPERIENCE PONTS WAS THAT IT'S ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BURNS TO VICTORY DANCE AND SUCKER WORTH? ‘THE GROUND INA SMOLDERING HEAP! ‘CARVE ANOTHER NOTCH ARE YOUR HAPPY ?? ‘ON MY CROSSBOW! Bundle of Trouble” Volume OneA Question of Honor TM SORRY BRIAN. | CANT ALLOW YOU TOUSE THIS CHARACTER. GO AHEAD AND ROLL. UP ANOTHER ONE, WELL, LET'S JUST SAY I FIND IT A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE YOU ROLLED SIX CONSECUTIVE 1005! I MEAN, HA WA, THE ODDS OF DOING THAT ARE. BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN [AWWW COME ON! | SPENT FOUR HOURS ROLLING UP THAT CHARACTER WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH HIM? SSAARYYY - YOU WOULDN'T BE INSINUATING THAT | CHEATED OR ANYTHING WOULD YOU? CHEATING? WELL, THAT MIGHT BE A LITTLE TOO STRONG. LET'S JUST SAY YOU WERE A LITTLE OVERLY ENTHUSED AND DROP IT. JUST ROLL UP ANOTHER CHARACTER AND WELL FORGET THE WHOLE THING. OWT SUE! LET'S CALL BRIANA LIAR AND GHEAT AND MOVE ON WELL IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE. | DEMAND AN APOLOGY! Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication”ME APOLOGIZE? ' YOU TAKING HIS SIDE BOBBY BOY? WHy You! TOUGHTA BREAK YER. (OH COME ON! tM NOT GHXLL OUT, BREAN! TAKING YOU TRIED TO PULL. A FAST ONE AND, BAHASAVALED GOT CAUGHT. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? PONT. THIS IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF LITTLE GRAY AREAS THEY DON'T COVER IN THE RULE BOOK Bundle of Trouble” Volume One. ———__—__________________-9By the Boo BY JOLLY R, BLACKBURN TO UNDERSTAND THIS DAMN DRAGON IS STILL NOT DEAD? FOR CRYING OUT LOUD | HIT HIM FOR 106 POUND. GEE, THAT WAS ONE WELL OF A HIT ON ‘THE DRAGON BOB. UNFORTUNATELY, HE'S TnL SRE ‘Tor PONTS OF DAMAGE, AND DAVE AND BRIAN BOTH HIT HIM GREATHE FLAMES! YOU GUYS < . HEY, DIDNT THAT DRAGON ALREADY BREATHE FIRE WHEN WE FIRST CAME IN THE ROOM? SEEMS TO (ME THAT THE BLUE SPINY-HORNED DRAGON CAN ONLY BREATHE FIRE OWGE PER MONTH. | BELIEVE YOURE RIGHT BOB. IN FACT, ‘ I THINK THE BLLIE SPINY-HORNED DRAGON Thue scaesis Aur IS ONLY A10 HIT-DICE CREATURE, THAT. TOUNLEASH ONE HELL HE COULD ONLY HAVE 75 TO 100 OF A FIRE-STORM! HIT POINTS TOPS. A HOME-BREWED DRAGON? YOU CANT GO ‘AROUND TAMPERING WITH DRAGONS. THEYRE SAGRED! NOBODY SAID THIS WAS A ‘NORMAL! ‘BLUE SPINY-HORNED DRAGON GUYS!!! {IT HAPPENS TO BE A CREATURE OF MY OWN DESIGN. SO DONT RELLY ON PAST EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ONE. COME ON NOW. THIS DRAGON |S GETTING MIGHTY IMPATIENT! ! 10 Issue #1: Not Ready for SyndicationOF ALL THE STUPZD. LOOK, XC" THE GM AND FM TELLING YOU ‘THIS DRAGON IS ABOUT TO BREATHE FIRE!! THEYRE RIGHT Beal GARY JACKSON SPECIFICALLY STATES IN THE HAGKLOPEDIA OF BEASTS. VOLUME D THAT DRAGON STATS GANNNOT BE ALTERED! WEY, WEY, MEY! WHAT N THE HELL ARE ‘YOU DOING? | CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT!! ‘YOU KNOW THE RULES - THE PLAYERS ARENT ALLOWED TO LOOK AT THE HAGKLOPEDIA!! HIWMMM, AND LOOK AT THIS. ‘THE BLUE SPINY-HORNED DRAGON HAS A MAX OF 74 HIT POINTS. THAT SUCKER IS DEAD! ! Bundle of Trouble” Volume OneAttack of the Rules Lawyer — aiseoovasroey eevaten ay JAson HoLMaZEN JUST AS YOU EMERGE FROM THE CRYPT YOU DAMN, THATS PRETTY SCARY STUFF. HEAR A TERRIBLE SHRIEK! LOOKING UP YOU SEE WELL. THERE'S OUR MAJOR VILLAIN, GUYS. VARDANTA, PRINCE OF THE VAMPIRE ‘LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL BE HORDES STANDING ATOP THE MORTUARY, HE AGREAT CAMPAIGN. THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING, WATCH THIS GUYS. BEFORE HE CAN VANISH | TAKE OUT A WOODEN STAKE FROM MY POUCH AND | EXPEND ALL OF MY LLICK POINTS TO GUARANTEE A SUCCESSFUL ACTION, | THEN HURL THE STAKE AT WARDAN.ZA INPALING HIM IN THE HEART AND THUS KILLING HIM. WOW. CAN YOU D0 THAT? WHOA DUDE! AWESOME! MYSELF TO SAVE MY COMRADES. BRIAN, DO YOU REALIZE PRETTY ? THAT BY EXPENDING ALL. See YOUR LUCK POINTS YOU LET'S 6O CLEAN OUT AUTOMATICALLY DIE? VARDANEA'S TOMB! Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication” 12BRIAN, QUIT CLOWNING AROUND. YOURE GONNA RUIN THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN. | WORKED HARD ON THIS CAMPAIGN. YOU JUST CANT. PRINCE. OF DARKNESS FROM THE ROSTER WA WALT ‘AWW COME ON! IT WAS A PERFECTLY. \ ‘THE RULE BOOK SAYS | CAN DO IT ~ 50 TM DOING IT. SCRATCH OFF ONE YOURE BEING TOTALLY DESRUPTXVE! YOURE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A RULE OVERSIGHT IN WHICH THE DESIGNER ‘COULDNT POSSIBLY FORESEE A PLAYER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF. YOU. X'M NOT GOING TO ALLOW XT! YOUR STAKE MISSED HIM BY A MILE! Bundle of Trouble Volume One WELL, VE GOT NEWS FOR FOUL! FOUL! YOU CANT DO THAT! IT'S UNETHICAL! SORRY BA! IVE BEEN WAITING TO DO THIS EVER ‘SINCE | READ THE RULE BOOK. BESIDES, HOW MANY FIRST LEVEL PLAYERS CAN SAY THEY KILLED THE PRINCE OF VAMPIRES? NO WAY MAN! YOU GOTTA PLAY BY THE SAME RULES WE DO! IM OFFICIALLY LODGING ‘A PROTEST! 3LOOK YOU LDIOTS, IM THE GM, REMEMBER? You JUST CANTLET «=A BULE'SARULE! THAT'S WHAT YOU ALWAYS SAY! I THINK THE GM A POAYER PUN AN ENTIRE CAMPAIGN SHOULD BE HELD ACOOUNTABUE TO THE BECAUSE HE FOUND SOME STUPID HOLE Rie ae oe INTHE RULES! t | SAY THE VAMPIRE 5 DEAD! AND THATS THAT! WHO CARES? THE ONLY THING ‘BE REASONABLE, BRIAN. THAT MATTERS IS THAT BRIAN, LL CONCEDE THAT UNDER THE KILLED THE VAMPIRE AND WE ' RULES YOU LEGALLY DO WHAT YOU ‘ARE ABOUT TO LOOT HIS TOMB! ENJOY IT GUYS! JUST ‘DID. BUT YOU KNOW DAMN WELL. THIS REALLY MAKES ME MAD BRIAN. | KNOW WHY YOURE DONG THIS. IT'S YOUR SICK FORM OF REVENGE. TOLD ME ARULESA LE YOURE STILL MAD BECALISE | WOULDN'T LET YOU ‘SUCK IT UP?" REROLL THAT COMBAT ROLL LAST WEEK AND YOU DIED! " WANA! BA. HAS BRIAN IS A GAWD! I'M GOING TO HAVE HIS. a Sa NAME TATTOOED ON MY CHARACTER'S BUTT! A 4 Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication”‘OWT SELNOW IT ISI! THIS IS JUST A BIG GAME TO YOU!" | BUST MY BUTT (NB. A.M NOT BACKING ALL | COME: DOWN. MY CHARACTER WAS WEEK DESIGNING AN ADVENTURE FOR YOU ‘MORONS, AND HOW DO YOU THANK ME? YOU PULL. Perey pais SOME STUPID STUNT AND SABOTAGE THE GAME! art gee LOOK! HIS FACE 1S TURNING PURPLE! UPSET. MAYBE WE SHOULD LET HIM OFF THE HOOK. BA TAKES THIS STUFF PRETTY SERIOUSLY. NO WAY, WERE GIVING HIM SOME OF ‘A CHANGE. IVE KNOWN B. A. TO THROW AN. OCCASIONAL DIE, BUT IVE NEVER SEEN HIM RESORT TO PHYSICAL. VIOLENCE. ‘YOU THINK HE WAS SERIOUS ABOUT SLITTING MY TIRES? WELL, JUST THE SAME, | DONT THINK FM.GOING HOME FOR A WHILE. WILL \ ‘YOU WALK WITH ME DAVE? Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ——________ 15Let the Dice Fall Where They May! BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! AFTER ATTACKING 6000 CALL BOB! WHY MESS AROUND WITH THE WALL FOR B HOURS WITH A PICKAXE YOU i FINALLY BREACH IT._ YOU SEE A STAIRCASE SPIRALING DOWN INTO THE DARKNESS. WA WAL! | KNEW THERE WAS OH YEAH!! HERE WE COME BABY! ‘ANOTHER LEVEL TO THIS DUNGEON! GUYS, | HAVE TO WARN YOU! YOU WERENT SUPPOSED TO FIND A WAY TO THE SECOND LEVEL YET. THIS NEXT WAITING IS FOR THE LEVEL IS A REAL KILLER DUNGEON, | SUGGEST YOU WUSS-OF-HEART! LET THE DICE FALL WHERE THEY MAY!! DOWNWARD AND ONWARD! HAAR! THIS 203 A GAME OF HIGH ADVENTURE ISN'T IT? LET THE DICE FALL WHERE THEY MAY!! LET'S GET THIS GAME GOING! | AGREE! HEROES FORGE AHEAD!! | JUST DON'T WANT YOU | DUNNO GUYS, SOUNDS LIKE GUYS GETTING MAD WHEN IT HITS THE FAN. 16 $$$ Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication™YOU LITTLE SISSIFIED WIMP! ARE YOU GOING TO LET Bele SCARE YEAH, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU? 2 ‘YOU USED TO HAVE MORE OF A, YOU AWAY FROM THE REAL TREASURE? pare er cere IWS JUST THAT I SPENT A LONG TIME BUILDING UP THIS CHARACTER. | DONT WANT HIM TO DIE. IM TELLING YOU GUYS, IF YOU GO DOWN ‘THOSE STAIRS - YOULL HAVE TO LIVE YEAH, YEAH, CAN THE SPEECH, EGG WITH THE CONSEQUENCES. NO WHINING OR HEAD. FM DRAWING MY SWORD AND (CRYING WHEN IT GOES AGAINST YOU!!! DESCENDING THOSE STAIRS. 1M RIGHT BEHIND YOU BiG GUY! HACK AND SLASH CITY, BABY! CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE REALLY DOING THIS. | SHOULDNT DO THIS BUT | WOULD | LIVE FOR DANGER! | EAT IT FOR BREAKFAST! WIGHLY SUGGEST YOU RETHINK YOUR ‘ACTIONS. | CANT STRESS ENOUGH Se ee eee ee QUIT STALLING BAL!’ JUST LET THE DICE ‘FALL WHERE THEY MAY AND LET'S GET MOVING. \ WELL, fM WAITING RIGHT HERE! Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One —______________—_—_ 17WELL THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT! AT LEAST BRILAW HAS SENSE ENOUGH YOU MAKE ME SICK! TO HEED MY WARNING! i YEAH, MAYBE SO, TO HELL WITH HIM! DAVE AND | ARE WELL, THAT'S JUST GREAT. SINCE YOU DION'T EVEN ‘GOING DOWN iD BOTHER TO CHECK FOR TRAPS, YOU FAILED TO NOTICE — THE TRIP WIRE. YOU HEAR AN AUDIBLE CLICK.. TM YELLING MY WAR CRY AND DRAWING MY SWORD! \ af * AND SINCE WE ARE ‘LETTING THE DICE FALL WHERE THEY MAY!" | HAVE NO 2 CHOICE BUT TO LET THE 8 TON BLOCK oF WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY GRANITE FALL FROM THE CEILING AND (CRUSH THE TWO OF YOU LIKE A COUPLE OF OVERRIPE GRAPES! OVERRIPE GRAPES? WAY YOU. 18 ssnse #41 Not Ready for Syndication”= AIGN!! PROS STUY OOD CEN THE STAIRCASE AFTER ALL! ‘YEAH. THAT WAS A STUPID IDEA. WELLL JUST STAY ON THIS LEVEL HEY BRIAN, YOU HAVE A RING OF RESURRECTION! QUICK! RAISE US UP! OK DUDE? ‘SORRY GUYS - NO TAP BACKS!!! FAT CHANGES! THIS “SISSIFIED ‘YOUR CHARACTERS ARE DEAD, DEAD, DEAD! ! WUSS" HAS A GOOD MEMORY SO GET USED TO IT!! YOU CAN ROT IN HELLS TIM GOING THROUGH YOUR POCKETS ‘AND HEADING BACK TO TOWN! ‘0K, YOU CAN FESS UP NOW, B.A» YOU DIONT HAVE LEVEL TWO MAPPED OUT YET, AND YOU WERE AFRAID TO TELL US. RIGHT? ‘OK, HOW MLICH IS IT GOING TO TAKE TO BUY YOUR SILENCE? / ‘A DOUBLE-DOUGH PIZZA AND A SIX PACK (OF SNAPPLE SHOULD SUFFICE! Bundle of Trouble” Volume One $$ 19The Farmer Wars OK GLIYS, | WENT DOWN TO WEIRD PETE'S BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN DIAM! | KNEW | SHOULD HAVE DRIVEN. ‘PSST- BOB, DON'T STRAND ME HERE. \ WOW! WHATD YA GET? FARMER: THE ROLE-PLAYING GAMK! COOL! LET'S PLAY!! FILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE CHARACTER GENERATION PROCESS. YOULL ALL START OUT AS MEDIEVAL. PEASANT FARMERS. YOU EARN EXPERIENCE POINTS FOR PLANTING AND HARVESTING PRODUCE. 20 YOULL HAVE TO CONTEND WITH INCLEMENT WEATHER, FLOOD, DROUGHTS, INSECTS AND A, Issue #1: Not Ready for Syndication‘THERE'S NO WAY IN HELL TMELAING A EARNER THIS IS) AS BAD AS PARASITE THE ROLE- ‘THERE'S GOTTA BE MORE TO IT ~ PLAYING GAME. TM OUTTA AFTERALL ITISAGARY HERE - YOU COMING? TACKSON GAME. YEA LET'S ROLL UP SOME CHARACTERS AND GIVE IT" ‘A CHANCE GUYS, © WEEKS LATER - THE FARMER CAMPAIGN IS IN FULL SWING HEY BRIAN, 1M OUT OF RADISH SEEDS AND NO WAY DUDE! 1 NEED THAT SEED TO SOW THE FARMER HERMAN ACROSS THE RIVER GAVE ME 40 ACRES EARL. WINSTON IS LETTING ME A HOT TIP - » THE KING IS PAYING PREMIUM ‘SHARE-CROP, THOSE RADISHES ARE GONG TO PRICES FOR RADISHES NEXT FALL. ALLOW ME TO BECOME A REAL LAND OWNER LOAN ME A COUPLE OF BAGS OF SEED HUM? WA HAA - YOU LOSER!! THAT REMINDS ME - | NEED MY +5 HOE BACK YOU BASTARDI! | LOANED YOU MY TM PLANTING RUTABAGAS NEXT WEEK. BEST MULE TEAM LAST FALL TO PLOW THAT SAND-PIT YOU CALL A FARM. THAT'S GRATITUDE FOR YA! [BurcdleojfTR0icble™sVollenea! Orie =BY THE WAY FELLAS, IT'S THAT TIME OF MONTH GREAT! THAT LOUSY KING IS BLEEDIN' US DRY. ‘AGAIN. YOUR FRIENDLY TAX MAN VISITS EACH OF LET'S TRY REVOLTING AGAIN, ‘YOU FOR THE KING'S SHARE OF THE CROP. NO WAY! LAST TIME WE TRIED THAT | GOT FIFTY LASHES AND WAS WELL, IM GOING TO CALL A MEETING WHILE HE'S DOING THAT Bus, OF ALL THE NON-PLAYER PEASANTS IM GOING TO REPORT TO THE EARL AND TELL. ‘AND INCITE THEM TO REVOLT AGAINST HIM ABOUT BOB'S TREASONOUS ACTIONS. THAT TYRANT OF A KING, ‘YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A 100 GP New ‘JUST ABOUT ENOUGH OF HAD NOTHING PERSONAL. BOB, | JUST NEED THE ‘YOUR BACK-STABEING, BUDDY. ‘MONEY. YOU UNDERSTAND? IF YOU CANT ‘STAND THE HEAT, GET OUT OF THE GAME! 22. sue #1: Not Ready for Syndication™(OW YEAH? THAT DOES IT! COMING OVER AND TORCHING YOUR CROPS!! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT? ‘YEAH, AND I'M GONNA SPREAD RUMOR IN THE. MARKETPLACE THAT YOUR RADISHES CAUSE WARTS! ‘ LOSE MY +5 HOE WILL YA - REVENGE IS SWEET! — HAHA, BRIANT! PAYBACK'S A. UHNAY ee NS GEE, THE BACK OF THE GAME BOX DIDNT EVEN MENTION THIS. | CANT WAIT TIL THE NEXT SUPPLEMENT COMES OUT. \ Bundle of Trouble Volume One 23The Wonderful GaryCon Adventure BY JOLLY BLACKBUEN ALRIGHT GUYS, | HAVE A GREAT SURPRISE. ‘AND WE HAVE EXACTLY #84.50. TT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE BUT WE HAD TO REPLACE NST (MONS TABLE WHEN BRIAN FLIPPED IT THAT ONE TIME, r : CORRECT, WE HAVE JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO BUY GATHERING OF GAMING GEEKS. GAS, GET A HOTEL. ROOM, AND PAY FOR ALL. OF OUR DONT RELATE WITH THOSE PEOPLE. ADMISSIONS TO GARYGON! WELL EVEN HAVE A LITTLE LEFT OVER TO BUY SOME MUNCHIES. GEE, IT'S MY FAVORITE CON! | CANT WAIT! ' GUYS, GUYS, WERE TALKING ABOUT “DEALS ABOUT EAC @ARYCONTT rs THEUCTINATE CAMNG ‘EXPERIENCE! YOU CANT MISS OUT ON THIS. ‘ME NEITHER. WE COULD USE THAT MONEY TO BUY PIZZA, | 24 reuse #1: Not Ready for Synidication™| GUARANTEE YOULL HAVE THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE!! IT SURE AS HELL BEATS ST ANGOANES RECHT? YOU HAVE A PONT. 1M TED OF SITTING AROUND GAMING, YEAH, IT WOULD BE GREAT TO WELL, | HATE TO ADMIT IT, \ GET GUT AND DO SOMETHING BUT | COULD USE A VACATION, \ AND SO THE KNIGHTS OF a eed aN) Lai eal lg GREATEST ADVENTURE! WPA a0] 8 coo 0 a0), od fel CAO ee coe} AND THREE ECONOMY BAGS OF ONION CHIPS LATER, THE GROUP FINALLY ARRIVES AT GARYCGON? WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT FOR? Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ——_——————______—__—_——_ 25Diminishing Returns BY JOLLY R BLACKBURN WHAT DO YOU NEED, BwA.? WANT THAT NEW. WARMACE SUPPLEMENT IN THE WINDOW! YOU MEAN HACK LUST THE WARMAGE WELL, YEAH IDO, MY PLAYERS HAVE BEEN BORED WITH SUPPLEMENT? BUT | THOUGHT YOU HATED MY GANE LATELY. | THOUGHT ID SPICE THINGS UP BY THE WARMACE SYSTEM! (MIXING THIS SUPPLEMENT WITH THE HACKMASTER RULES. = SYSTEMS?7? ARE YOU LNSANE?? ‘A GAMESTORE DEALER, IT’S MY SWORN DUTY TO. ‘AGAINST IT! FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, PETE, IVE BEEN A GM FOR YEARS. | THINK | CAN HANDLE IT. GO AHEAD AND RING IT UP! 6 ie HIN ae fon Syndication”OPEN YOUR MINDS BOYS! TONIGHT WE WILL BE USING A HYBRID SYSTEM OF MY OWN DESIGN, GOING AGAINST WEIRD PETE'S ADVICE, B.A. FELTON RACES HOME AND SETS . ABOUT MIXING THE WARMACE RULES WITH Aenea a Jee LONG INTO THE NIGHT AND INTO THE (eee TN Che) Nala geste RO\ 1 a od eee oe eae) ca iis ane el) LN Bo ae coe) poled \ dh ta oan aC C08 ANN dN to} {SN COHO lena e ed elt LOOK, B.A, | JUST CAME TO PLAY. | DONT WANT TO BE USED AS: eee ee A GUNEA PIG. PLAYTEST THIS THING ON YOUR OWN TINE. MENTS OF HACKMASTER WHILE INTRODUCING THE POPULAR HACK-N-SLASH ASPECTS OF HMMM... HOW’ DO YOU SOLVE WARMACE. ITHINK YOULL LIKE THE DAMAGE RATIO TO ARMOR WHAT IVE COME UP WITH! ‘ie ll CLASS VS. WEAPON, BAL? THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF IT, BRIAN. 1 CAME UP WITH A DOZEN ALGORITHM CHARTS THAT ALLOW ME TO COMPLETELY MESH THE TWO ‘SYSTEMS TOGETHER WHILE ONLY INCREASING ‘THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF DICE ROLLS BY 357. 35t!! WOW! THIS COULD BE ‘A REAL. BREAKTHROUGH SYSTEM TIN GAME - LET'S TRY IT OUT!! A ya rey Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One —________________—_ 27| DUNNO GUYS, YOU KNOW BAAS HOME-BREWED SYSTEMS ALWAYS END UP KILLING ONE OF US, YEAH, O HOW ABOUT THAT TIME HE TRIED TO WHO CAN FORGET THOSE CARNIVOROUS: IMPLEMENT THOSE LAME TAGGER RULES FROM |SWEED HE CAME UP WITH? HAGK JOURNAL! ! WHAT A DISASTER! WELL, GEE GUYS, IT'S TUSTAGAME. GUYS, | DID THIS FoR YOU YOURE ALWAYS COMPLAINING THERE ISNT ENOUGH HACK-N-SLASH IN MY CAMPAIGNS. ‘ARE YOU GONNA SNUB ME THE ONE TIME TRY TO DELIVER? ISN'T A TRICK SO YOU CAN LL REGRET THIS LATER, KILL US ALL OFF? BUT | SAY WE GIVE IT A GUYS: NOW TALKING! THIS IS THE SYSTEM IS EQUALLY GOING TO BE COOL. ‘ADVANTAGEOUS TO BOTH PLAYER ‘AND MONSTER, GUYS, | PROMISE! 28° sue #1: Not Ready for Syndication”‘AS YOU WALK ACROSS THE DRAWBRIDGE, THE CASTLE DOORS SWING OPEN AND THE EVIL MAGE EMERGES TO BLOCK YOU WAY! DRAWING UPON HIS YEARS OF GAME MASTERY EXPERIENCE, B.A. BEGINS TO WEAVE A BOLD ADVENTURE, ere cee mL ORs ie ALL SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL, UNTIL THE GROUP ENCOUNTERS THE EVIL MAGE OF SHINY PEBBLE CASTLE!! YOU NOTICE HE IS BRANDISHING AN ENORMOUS HE'S JUST ANOTHER WIMPY MAGE. IM DRAWING MY. MAGICAL STAFF WHICH HE WAVES OVER HIS HACKMASTER «12 AND I’M GOING TO CUT HIS HEAD OFF HEAD AS HE BEGINS TO UTTER THE WORDS OF ‘AND THROW IT IN THE MOAT! POWERFUL SPELL! UM, ER.. IM GOING TO YELL, TIM GONNA PREPARE A SPELL “WE CONE IN BEAGKLE™ / (OF MY OWN, JUST IN CASE, ‘AND THEN SHOOT TO KILL! _ GREAT! WE FINALLY GET TO USE MY NEW HYBRID COMBAT SYSTEM. THE MAGE PONTS HIS STAFF AT YOU, DAVE AND LETS LOOSE A VOLLEY OF PHANTASMAL FEREBALLS!!! LET'S SEE, | ROLL FOUR 20 SIDED DICE, COMPARE IT TO CHART B AND CROSS-REFERENCE IT TO CHART K. NOW I CARRY THE RESULTS AS A MODIFIER TO CHART A AND THAT MEANS CAN NOW ROLL ON TABLE 5 TO CHECK FOR SPELL FAILURE. THERE'S A FULL MOON SO I GET A +5 FOR THAT - OF COURSE, BECAUSE IT'S A PHANTASIA SPELL, | GET TO ROLL A SIX SIDED DIE AS OPPOSED TO THE TRADITIONAL FOUR SIDED DIE FOR MY DAMAGE BONUS. GOOD! THAT TAKES CARE OF THE FIRST FIREBALL - NOW | HAVE TO CHECK FOR THE REMAINING FOURTEEN. SO WE GO BACK TO CHART B AND CONSULT. Bundle of Trouble" Volume One —______________——— 29bee et 8 -OK ONLY TWO FIREBALLS TO 60. UH OH, | ROLLED DOUBLE DAMAGE FOR THIS ONE. SO | GET TO RE-ROLL HALF OF MY ‘ORIGINAL VOLLEY. THAT MEANS | CONSULT TABLE Q TO ETORNNE THE RELATIVE DAMAGE TOEAGR Bvuls FIREBALL. LET'S SEE, ILL NEED A TWELVE-SIDED DIE DAMN! DAVE FELL ASLEEP! 'B.A., | DONT WANT TO HURT YOUR FEELINGS. BUT. NOW DONT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY BUT... OH THE HELL WITH IT! THIS GAME SUGKSI! IM OUTTA HERE GUYS. TIN GONNA TRY TO CATCH A GAME OF CHESS DOWN AT THE COFFEE SHOP. HEY BwA., I THOUGHT YOU HAD A eave * ere oars [MY PLAYERS BAILED ON ME PETE. IT'S JUST GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO KEEP THEM INTERESTED IN THE GAME, ANY IDEAS? ne #1: Not Ready for Sindication™HMMM... SOUNDS LIKE CLASSIC PLAYER ies THANK BURNOUT. THAT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM. GMs Gi Z HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THAT LITTLE DILEMMA Oo 77 SNOE THE MID-SEVENTIES. WELL, THERE IS A PRODUCT IVE BEEN WORKING ON. BUT | DUNNO..IT'S STILL IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE. TUTAKEET! FLL TRY ANYTHING PETE! LATER THAT WEEK... 1A a LON (eB ol EAU aS CHANCE TO UNLEASH HIS LATEST GAME AID UPON HIS PLAYERS... Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One —____________—————__ 31NN el tiny THIS IS A PROTOTYPE OF WEIRD NEW FEREDALL GRWERATORI! WOW!! HOW DOES IT WORK, BaA.?? | THINK YOULL. FIND IT WILL ADD A BIT OF CRANK ER UPI! REALISM TO THE GAME. THAT'S FUNNY - | THOUGHT PETE ‘LOOKS DANGEROUS! GAVE LP ON THE IDEA. e renee owwwwnnnl! ALL YOUAVE TODO\S PULL TNS Tune ie ae ! ag: teeta FUEL MIXTURE APPEARS TO BE TOO RICH 1D ADJUST THAT IF | WERE YOU, B.A. IBAA., WE REALLY NEED TO COULD YOU PONT THAT HAVE A TALK - & 6000, THING SOMEWHERE LONG TALK ELSE’ 32, swe #1: Not Ready for Syndication™THE KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE” “Gluttons For Punishment” By Jolly R. Blackburn Cover artwork by Jason Holmgren I GOT A COMPLAINT ABOUT A BUNCH OF BOYS THROWING BEAN BAGS AT THE PICNICKERS AND YELLING “D/E KL/NGON/” YOU WOULDN’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, WOULD you? UMMMM, NO, OFFICER. TO BEAM UP// WE’RE JUST BIRD WATCHERS. SCOTTY, FOUR34 ment of KODT is approximately five months late, For the past twelve weeks I've been assaulted daily by my partners and distributors with, “Well? Is it finished yer?” Sigh, no one understands the hardships of the reluctant cartoonist. A s my old boss was so found of saying, “You're late, young man!" Ok, this install- For those of you who have been anxiously awaiting this issue, my apologies. My duties as editor of SHADIS magazine have been demanding most of my time these past months. And now I'm told KODT is to become a bimonthly comic book?? This is where you, the reader, can be of great service. You will find details for a contest elsewhere in this issue. The biggest comment I receive on KODT is “Those guys remind me of my own group!” Assuming this is true, there must be hundreds of funny stories out there. If you would take time to send in your suggestions for storylines for the boys of KODT I would be personally grateful. Enjoy the issue! (Ly PB Jolly R. Blackburn January 21, 1995 HEY, T DIDN’T HAN VE_A KNIFE LET ME See IF 1 HAVE THE TT WAS. RULES RIGHT. IN TOUGH- YEAH, PRETTY COOL, AR eerie LouisviLe MAGICK THE WINNER HUH I KEEP A VIAL OF SLUGGERS “feeewe canose = “Bust Wease Lose © Ave WaRE gate PALNING g > nm i ING MY BLACK D/JINIIT OVER THIS GAME ‘RARE CARDS CA LSBs as | Mon) naa Issue #2: Gluttons for Punishment™First [meressions OK, BEFORE WE BEGIN THE GAME, LET'S ALL WELCOME THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR GROUP, (OH GET OFF IT, BOB, LET'S SSIARRAL! WHY DONT WE ALL INTRODUCE GET GOING SO WE CAN ROLL. OURSELVES? BOB, YOU GO FIRST! ‘SOME DICE AND PLAY. IMR? WHY ME? WHY DO ALWAYS HAVE TO BE FIRST? NICE TO MEET YOU BOB. AND DON'T UM, HI'SARA, [™M BOB AND WORRY, | HAVE MY OWN DICE, PLAY A DWARF, THANK YOU. BY JOLLY 2 BLACKBURN HISARA. IM DAVE. I'VE BEEN ROLE-PLAYING FOR YEARS SO GEE, THANKS, DAVE, ILL TRY DONT SWEAT IT - IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, MAT YOUR SERVICE. TO KEEP THAT IN MIND. TT THE FIGHTER OF THE GROUP SO STICK CLOSE TO ME. DAVE HAS A +12 HACKMASTER Bundle of Trouble” Volume OneHAH. HoHLHI, SA..SA.SA..SA..SARA, TMA, TM A.M A, BRL..BR...BRIAN, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HIM? ‘COME ON, BRIAN! oO Ue HE'S TURNING PALE. err tr our! BRIAN, (MEAN BY THAT?? UM, 6, NOTHING. NOTHING AT ALL!| GUESS IT'S IMA TURN! MY NAME IS SARA. IVE BEEN ROLE-PLAYING FOR TEN YEARS. | WAS REGIONAL CHAMPION OF THE GARY JACKSON RPG TOURNEY FOR FOUR YEARS RUNNING. DON'T STEAL DICE, | KNOW THE RULES AND I’M READY TO PLAY - ANY QUESTIONS? YEAH, WHAT CHARACTER ‘ ‘TYPE ARE YOU PLAYING? TM PLAYING A FEMALE BARBARIAN NAMED Z.AWRE SHE HAS A PAIR OF TRAINED STURM WOLVES AND SHE ‘BELIEVES IN TALKING INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IF POSSIBLE. ABARBARIAN HUH? DOES \ WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO TELL YOU WHAT I DID TO THE LAST GUY WHO MADE A SEXIST REMARK ABOUT MY CHARACTER? UH, NO. | GET THE PONT.NO. REALLY DONT THINK YOU GET IT. | THINK FM GOING TO HAVE TO HURT YOU. HEY CUT IT OUT, | WAS ONLY KIODING. A, Loox AT DAVE! I WONT DO IT AGAN, PROMISE! ! GETTING BULLIED BY A GIRL! HAL \ GEE SARA, YOU SURE KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF CHOOSE YOUR WORDS GAREFULLY YOURSELF. IVE NEVER SEEN OL! DAVE SO SHAKEN! |AND WE SHOULD GET ALONG DAVE. WHAT D0 YOU SAY B. A? eae ane’ THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME TO ROLL | JUST CAME TO PLAY, | DIDNT EXPECT SHOULD HAVE WARNED YOU GUYS. SARA HAS A BIT OF A TEMPER OK, LET'S TURN TO TONIGHT'S ADVENTURE. AS I RECALL, WE CLOSED LAST WEEK WITH THE PARTY RECOVERING FROM THEIR WOUNDS IN THE VILLAGE OF TINGAR. re ‘YEAH AND | WAS PRACTICING SEWING ‘ ‘MY OWN WOUNDS. DID | GAIN ANY HEY, WHILE THEY WERE HEALING THEIR FIRST AID EXPERIENCE FOR THAT? WOUNDS | WAS DOWN AT THE BAR DONG ALITTLE GAMBLING, HOW'D | D0?ACTUALLY BOB, YOUR CHARACTER MEETS SARA'S LIKE HELL 1D0! AFTER THE WAY SHE TREATED BARBARIAN IN THE BAR WHILE GAMBLING. YOU HIT IT DAVE?? IVE SWORN A BLOOD-OATH WITH DAVE'S: ‘OFF AND INVITE HER TO JOIN YOUR PARTY. CHARACTER. HIS ENEMIES ARE MY ENEMIES. | REFUSE TO TALK WITH THE BARBARIAN, THAT'S MY BOY! LOOK BOB, WE WENT THROUGH THIS THAT TIME BRIAN OWED YOU FIVE BUCKS AND YOU KEPT KILLING OFF ALL HIS CHARACTERS. YOU CAN'T BRING PERSONAL GRIEVANCES INTO THE GAME. YOUR CHARACTER HAS NEVER MET THE BARBARIAN BEFORE. I'M TRYING TO WORK IN. ‘SARA'S CHARACTER SO WE CAN GET ON WITH THE GAME. UNDERSTAND? WHY DOES MY CHARACTER HAVE TO GEE BOB, YOUR DWARF IS A BE THE LINK? WHY NOT BRIAN'S? GRUNPY LITTLE FART ISN'T HE? | JUST WANT TO GAMBLE IN PEACE. HEY LOOK MS. RPG TOURNEY, WE ‘YEAH, YEAH, WHATEVER CLE-BALL. HAD A PEACEFUL. LITTLE GROUP HERE LET'S JUST SAY MY CHARACTER IS A LONG UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG. AND MY DWARF LOST FRIEND AND GET STARTED. ISNT GRUMPY, HE'S A NON-CONFORMIST. ‘YEAH, COME ON GUYS. LET'S PLAY. WE GOT A DRAGON TO HUNT DOWN, Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ——_—_———______—_ 39OK, YOU GLYS FINALLY APPROACH THE CASTLE RUINS OF | UNSHEATHE MY UNDULAR, JUST AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO CROSS THE DRAW- «2 HACKMASTER BRIDGE, AN ENORMOUS TROLL BRANDISHING A PIKE-AXE ‘STEPS THROUGH THE GATES AND ORDERS YOU TO HALT. IT'S SHOWTIME! 1 WASTE HIM WITH MY CROSSBOW. WAETIE! | WANT TO TRY TO PARLEY 5 PARLEY? WHAT IN THE HELL IS WITH HIM FIRST! 5 MY BARBARIAN RUSHES TO THE FRONT OF THAT? SOME KND OF NEW SPELL? ‘THE GROUP TO BLOCK THEIR ATTACKS. aS WANT TO TALK WITH IT, EDEOT! HE MIGHT HAVE ‘SOME USEFUL NFORMATION. TALK? WEVE NEVER ‘TRIED THAT BEFORE. TALK? YOU REALLY WANT TO TALK INSTEAD OF LOOK, JUST GIVE ME 5 MINUTES TO HACKING IT OUT?? THANK GOD - I'VE ALWAYS TALK WITH THE TROLL. IF NOTHING WANTED TO ROLE-PLAY A MONSTER, ‘COMES OF IT, YOU CAN KILL IT. OK? WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TALK | WITH IT FOR? TO TRADE HELL, YOU GOT MY VOTE. RECIPES 08 SOMETHING? THIS SHOULD BE INTERESTING. 40. Issue #2: Gluttons for Punishment™‘THE TROLL NOTICED THAT SARA HALTED YOUR ATTACK AND RELUCTANTLY LOWERS HIS WEAPON. HE'S NOW STANDING QUIETLY [AS IF HE'S WAITING FOR YOU TO MAKE THE NEXT MOVE. WILL YOU GUYS PLEASE LET ME DO THIS MW pRoes, WAY? JUST THIS ONCE?? TM GONNA HEAD-BUTT SARA eee oe Cae TO DECAPITATE THIS DUDE. te ‘SHOOT THE TROLL! ACCOMPLISHED GAMER AND A ‘50 SAY WHAT YOU GOTTA SAY TO CHAMPION, YOU MIGHT LEARN A, ‘THIS CREEP AND LET'S GET GONG. WATCH AND LEARN GUYS, ‘THING OR TWO FROM HER OK, B.A. TM GIVING THE TROLL THE COMMON HAND GESTURE FOR PEACE AND THEN IM Ok MS. RPG TOURNEY, GOING TO APPROACH HIM AND CHAT WITH HIM. YOU GOT FIVE MINUTES AND / ‘THEN WE COME IN HACKING. x THE TROLL RETURNS THE GESTS OK, MY CHARACTER SPEAKS FLUENT ROCK TROLL, HILL TROLL AND (OF PEACE AND NOTIONS FOR YOU, FOREST TROLL - SO COMMUNICATING SHOULDNT BE A PROBLEM. 1 “APPROACH HIM. ‘ALSO WELL. VERSED IN TROLL CUSTOMS AND ETIQUETTE AND 1 WILL. BE TRYING TO IMPRESS THE TROLL WITH MY KNOWLEDGE OF HIS CULTURE AS | ASK HIM ABOUT THE CASTLE AND ITS LAYOUT. Saddle Deki Mallia Cites ——— neUPON HEARING HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE, THE TROLL VISIBLY WEEPS WITH JOY. HE EXPLAINS HE IS THE LAST OF HIS KIND IN THE REGION AND HASNT HEARD ‘TROLLKIN FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS. HE IS WILLING TO TELL YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW. OH, | AINT BELIEVIN' THIS. SO WHAT? A TORCH TO THE GROIN WOULD HAVE PRODUCED THE SAME RESULTS. |IGIVE THE TROLL MY +4 GOLD DAGGER AS A PEACE OFFERING. | EXPLAIN TO HIM WE ARE ON ‘A MISSION TO DESTROY THE EVIL DRAGON AND THAT HIS HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. |GOT DIBS ON THAT DAGGER WHEN WE THE TROLL GIVES YOU A POWERFUL AMULET OF PROTECTION. HE ALSO SKETCHES OUT A DETAILED MAP OF THE CASTLE eH IAL AN Pe ‘COOL, BARBARIAN BABE! AND THE DUNGEONS BENEATH IT ~ INDICATING TRAPS, be MONSTERS AND POTENTIAL TREASURE. MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE REVEALS TO YOU THE DRAGON'S LAZR. UH, THANKS GUYS. ‘SARA, FEEL FREE TO A ages TALK AT ANY TIME, 42. esse #2: Gluttons for Punishment™GEEZ LOVEEZE!! TM LOCKING AND LOADING MY CROSS- TIMNOTCHING AN BOW AND DOUISING MYSELF WITH MY ‘ARROW OF SLAYING OK, YOU PULL BACK THE LARGE IRON POTION OF FIREBREATH PROTECTION!” INTO MY LONGBOW. DOORS TO FIND A VERY ANCIENT BLACK [DRAGON SITTING ON HIS HORDE OF GOLD. WARTIIL BRINGING A PAIR THE DRAGON IS AWAKE AND TURNS ITS |\GOT IT THIS TIME GUYS, TM OF FIREBALLS ON GAZE TOWARD YOU AS YOU STAND THERE. ‘GOING TO TALK TO OL’ SCALEY LINE GUYS. | STEP UP BRAVELY TO THE DRAGON SHOWING HIM | HAVE NO FEAR. GOOD IDEA! WE CAN PARLEY WITH TLL PAT THE HILT OF MY SWORD JUST SO HE KNOWS IM ARMED ‘THIS GUY. 1M SURE HELL COOPERATE ‘AND READY FOR BUSINESS SHOULD OUR LITTLE PARLEY FAIL. IF WE AGREE NOT TO SLAY HIM. I TELL THE DRAGON WE WILL ALLOW HIM TO LIVE IF HE GIVES UP HALF HIS GOLD WITHOUT A FIGHT. ‘UMMM, DAVE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD. 'AS YOU APPROACH THE DRAGON, A HUGE EVIL GRIN STRETCHES ACROSS HIS SNOUT. [AS YOU ARE ENVELOPED IN A HORRENDOUS TORRENT OF FIRE BREATH, YOUR LAST THOUGHTS ARE ‘WHAT'S THAT SOUND?" YOUR TOASTED BODY SETTLES IN A ‘SMALL PILE OF ASH AND CHARRED BONE AT THE DRAGON'S FEET. Bundle of Trouble Volume OneThe Cows of War BY JOLLY R, BLACKBURN OK, YOU FIND YOURSELF WALKING ALONG A DUSTY STRETCH OF ROAD. IN THE FAR DISTANCE YOU SEE PALACE WERE LOOKING FOR. THE SPIRES OF A MIGHTY CASTLE. TO YOUR LEFT 1 SUGGEST WE DOUBLE-TIME IT ‘YOU SEE A PEACEFUL GRASSY FIELD, ‘SO WE GET THERE BEFORE DARK. HOLD ON GUYS, LET'S CHECK OUT THIS "PEACEFUL" FIELD. taped deen ial WEVE GOT TO GET THE THAT |1GOT A HUNCH THERE'S SOMETHING UP HERE. ta ten YOU CANT TRUST B.A. YEAH, WERE TAKING CLOSER HE ONCE HAD A LOOK AT THE FIELD. ANYTHING UNUSUAL ? NO. THERE'S NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT ‘THE FIELD. ALL YOU SEE IS A COW ‘ACON - 2690 GRAZING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT. ‘ACOW? NOW WERE GETTING WASTE OF TIME ‘SOMEWHERE. [™M GONG TO = WALK UP TOIT, TM READYING MY CROSSBOW / 44 —________________________. Issue #2: Gluttons for Punishment™‘OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD! YOU CANT WALK UP TO THE COW BECALISE THERE'S HEY NUMB-DICE, IT'S OBVIOUS THIS 'ARAIL FENCE AROUND THE FIELD. FIELD 1S JUST USELESS DESCRIPTIVE OK TM GONG TOCLINBTHE = ® re daae see ae FENCE. COVER ME, BOB. ANMANIT! SOMEBODY MUST VALLE THIS COW PRETTY MUCH - TO PUT UP A FENCE AROUND IT. ‘YOU CANT CLIMB THE FENCE BECALISE IT'S ‘TWELVE FEET HIGH. WHY DON'T YOU LISTEN THERE! SER? HE'S THROWING OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF US TO SARA AND MOVE ON. ‘TO KEEP US AWAY FROM THAT COW. DOESN'T IT MAKE YOU WONDER WHY HE DOESNT WANT US TO HAVE THAT COW? NO, BUT IT DOES MAKE ME YEP, BA'S UP WONDER ABOUT YOU. TO HIS OLD (OK, SMART GUY. TM GOING TO CRAWL. BETWEEN ‘THE RAILS OF THE FENCE. THEN IM GOING TO. GEE, DAVE. IT'S MIGHTY BRAVE OF YOU TO GO UP Re CERT ieee ‘AGAINST THAT COW ALL ALONE. YAWN, THEYRE SPACED TOO NARROWLY TO / ‘SQUEEZE THROUGH. Bundle of Trouble Volume OneWELL SINCE THE RAILS ARE SO NARROWLY SPACED, THEY SHOULD ‘MAKE A PERFECT LADDER FOR ME TO CLIMB OVER THE DALIAN FENCE. ‘CAREFUL DAVE, DONT (OH FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, YOU CLINE FORGET THAT HEDGEROW. OVER THE STUPID FENCE, YOU CROSS MY HERO. DAVE THE THE STUPID FIELD AND YOU APPROACH ‘COW SLAYER. THE STUPID, ORDINARY COW. \ ARE YOU WAPPW?? (OK, FM GOING TO DO A DETECT MAGIC SPELL ON THE COW. AND I'M GOING TO HAVE MY SWORD READIED JUST IN CASE HE ATTACKS, (OK YEAH, YOU GUYS WERE JUST TOO CLEVER FOR ME. YEAH, ITS A MAGICAL COW. YEAH, THAT'S IT. IT’S GOT A MAGICAL AURA WAT G00 CALL DAVE! ‘YOU KNOW, ! NEVER SEE IT COMING. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY DO IT TO HEY DAVE, CAN I RIDE YOUR MAGIC COW? TLL LET YOU HAVE A FEW HITS OF MY HEALING POTION. Wife Veen ee eo et SWE! No WAY DUDE. - |1DON'T WANT KIM BONDING WITH COO 46 Issue #2; Gluttons for Punishment™Lords of Darkness BY JOLLY BLACKBURN GREAT GAME GUYS. TD LIKE TO FINISH UP ‘SORRY DUDE! WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS THIS CAMPAIGN NEXT WEEK SO WE CAN VAMPIRE NIGHT. ICANT MAKE IT. 0H GOD, DON'T TELL ME YOURE BEGIN PLAYTESTING MY NEW GAME SOON. IT'S MY FIRST GAME, INTO THAT LIVE ACTION WHY DONT WWE PLAY WEDNESDAY NIGHT ROLE-PLAYING GAME?? ‘AND WRAP THINGS UP? FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, DAVE. WE HAD A DEAL. AWH, THIS IS DIFFERENT BOB. THESE GUYS ARE NO LIVE ACTION GAMING! YOU REMEMBER REALLY COOL. BESIDES, IT’S BY INVITATION ONLY WHAT HAPPENED LAST SUMMER WHEN WE. AND YOURE NOT INVITED. SORRY DUDE. ‘SIGNED | VE-ACTI is = aco. oe nec a 'ROPE BURNS. PRETTY BIZARRE STORIES ABOUT THOSE ‘SHE'S RIGHT, DAVE. | SAW THIS DOCUMENTARY ON ‘TV AND THEY CLAIM THESE LIVE-ACTION GROUPS CANT BELIEVE YOU GUYS WOULD BUY ‘CAN CAUISE SOME PRETTY RADICAL CHANGES IN INTO THAT ANTI-GAMING PROPAGANDA. BEHAVIOR. BESIDES, YOU DONT KNOW THESE TIM GONG AND THAT'S THAT! PEOPLE ALL THAT WELL. MAYBE YOU SHOULD. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO GO PLAY WITH A BUNCH OF GAMER WANNA-BE'S? YOU MIGHT GET LABELED AS A GEEK OR SOMETHING, Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One 47THE NEXT WEEK... THIS IS MY NEW PERSONA. THEY MADE ME DARK: OVERLORD OF THE HORDE! THIS ISNT JUST A GAME, GUYS. IT'S A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE WHAT INTE ELL HAPPENED TO YOU? SOLE RE ANNIE I THINK THE BLACK LIPSTICK is ABIT TOO MUCH DAVE, DAVE, MY MOM ASKED ME IF YOU WERE \ BOB, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND. BESIDES, | WAS GOING TO INVITE YOU TO GO THIS DAVE. | DONT WANT YOU GOING BACK TO THIS VAMPRE THINS (AS OLR Oren tp WEEK. IT'S PRETTY EXCLUSIVE BUD. | WOULDN'T (GM AND FRIEND, | FORBID IT. |ASK JUST ANYBODY. DONT TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY, OH, 1 SEE HOW IT IS! SNUB DAVE, BUT YOURE SCARING THE HELL YOUR REAL FRIEND! OUT OF ME. WHERE'S THE OL’ DAVE? ‘YOURE INVITING MIE? UH, GEE,/M FLATTERED. ILL TELL YOU WHAT. FLL 60 JUST TO CHECK THINGS OUT FOR MYSELF BEFORE | PASS JUDGEMENT. BUT IM NOT WEARING BLACK LIPSTI 7 GOOL! ILL PICK YOU UP . WEDNESDAY AT 7.00 48 esse #2: Gluttons for PunishmentBOB, YOUVE GOT TO BE CRAZY! AWW, FORGET HIM BOB! ‘CANT YOU SEE WHAT THEY DID TO DAVE?? HE'S JUST AFRAID OF CHANGE. 1 FORBID YOU T0 co!’ LIVE ACTION ROLE-PLAYING IS THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE. HE JUST FEELS THREATENED. FORBID? YOURE ACTUALLY J HATE TO ADMIT IT'B. A, BUT MAYBE FORBIDDING ME TO GO?? WHERE BOB SHOULD GO. SOMEBODY HAS DO YOU GET OFF. TO KEEP AN EYE ON DAVE. FINE! ! 00 WHAT YOU WANT!!! OH GIVE ME A LITTLE GREDET HUH??? BUT IM WARNING YOU, BOB! WATCH DO YOU REALLY THINK IM THE TYPE OF GUY TO GO YOURSELF OR YOU'LL END UP LIKE DAVE. OVER THE EDGE??? I'M JUST GOING TO GO AND HAVE. ‘A LOOK-SEE. THEN ILL REPORT BACK AND LET YOU KNOW THE SCOOP ON THIS VAMPIRE THIN, Bos! !!! Nor You TOO!!! THEY MADE NE THE BLAGK PRINGE OF MUNGIE! WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE!! Bundle of Trouble” Volume One 49Angel of Mercy BASED ON A STORY BY JOEL BOZELL 'AS YOU OPEN THE DOOR A LARGE EXPLOSION RIPS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR. BOB, YOUR CHARACTER TAKES 80 POINTS OF DAMAGE. DAVE, THE BLAST SWEEPS YOUR CHARAC- TER OVER THE EDGE OF THE PIT AND YOU FALL 100 FEET. BRIAN, YOUR CHARACTER IS GAME OVER MAN! WERE (ON THE FIFTEENTH LEVEL, 4 KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. SARA IS THE ONLY CHARACTER NOT TO SUSTAIN DAMAGE. (OUT OF SPELLS AND THE ONLY (ONE UNINJURED IS A GIRL??? GREAT BALLS OF HASTUR!! | KNEW WE SHOULD'VE CHECKED FOR TRAPS !! i \ WOULDN'T CASH IN YOUR CHIPS JUST TRECKS? WHAT KINO OF TRICKS? Yer Boys! YOU BEEN HOLDING OUT ON US?? |.GOT A FEW TRICKS UP MY SLEEVES |F YOU CAN GET US OUT OF THIS MESS, WED BE VERY GRATEFUL, SARA. \ OK, LISTEN CAREFULLY B. A. FIRST I'M GOING TO USE MY RING OF NEPTY REGOVER Y TO HEAL BOBS DAMAGE. GOODLORD!! THATS A \ 50 —$ ___—_—_—————_———._ lssue #2: Gluttons for Punishment™CT ee iE a ee ee cee re a ie TNS TWILL FIRST AID SKILLS INHERENT TO THE ‘THE LADDER TO TAKE SHAPE, SABEARZAN Uosicrer NUTDO To ets Wa0s WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THAT TAKES CARE OF. WHAT ARE YOU GUYS LOOKING AT?? Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One $$$ 51Spell-Jacked™ BY JOLLY BLACKBURN WHY SO BLUE B.A.?? YOU LOOK ()X) LIKE You Lost Your LAST FRIEND. a AWW, IT'S MY GROUP, WER PETE THEYRE BURNT OUT ON ROLE-PLAYING! LAST NIGHT ONLY ONE PERSON SHOWED UP. DON'T BLAME YOURSELF. IT'S ALL PART OF THE CYCLE. STUDIES 1702 WEARSIT! SHOW THAT MOST GAMERS BURN OUT AND LEAVE THE HOBBY WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO 007? FOR | TO 2 YEARS BEFORE PICKING UP THE DICE AGAIN. y WELL LAST MONTH AT THE GARY JACKSON GAME REALLY? LIKE WHAT? DESIGNERS SEMINAR HELD IN SAGINAW, THEY WERE / DISCUSSING REMEDIES TO THAT VERY PROBLEM $2 ——________ ewe 2: Gluttons for Punishment™WELL, THERE'S THIS NEW COLLECTIBLE CARD GAME COLLECTIBLE CARD GAME?? CALLED SPELL-7ACKEDI!! OH NO, IVE HEARD OF THOSE. ARENT THEY ADDICTIVE? YEAH, THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT CAN REALLY GET OUT OF HAND. TALK ABOUT GAME OBSESSION!!! FORGET | MENTIONED IT, BUT THERE'S A CHANCE IT CAN (MY GROUP TOGETHER?? FLL TAKE ANY CHANCE TO SAVE THE GROUP. MAYBE A BREAK FROM ROLE-PLAYING IS ALL THEY NEED. A FEW WEEKS OF ‘CARO GAINING AND THEY'LL BE BEGGING TO GET BACK INTO SOME ‘6000 OL! ROLE-PLAYING!! WARNED YOU! MAY GOD HAVE. x AGE (MERCY ON YOUR SOUL!!! 90 Fy OH, TWENTY-SEVEN DOLLARS WITH y TAX WILL GET YOU STARTED, 44 ol ee eae ae oo) OK GUYS, KEEP IN MIND THAT SPELL*JAGKED IS. NO SWEAT!! IT'S JUST A JUST A GAME. TRY NOT TO GO OVER-BOARD WITH IT. CARD GAME. TLL BE LUCKY WELL USE IT AS A NICE DIVERSION FOR A FEW WEEKS IF I CAN STAY AWAKE. ‘AND THEN GO BACK TO ROLE-PLAYING. AGREED?? / VER WE SHOULD ALL. Bundle of Trouble” Volume One6000 IDEA! LET'S JUST PLAY WITH WHAT WE HAVE. THEN I'S AGREED, WE KEEP THE GAMES SIMPLE AND TLL Ae Hen rT eA FRIENDLY = NO MONSTER DECKS AND HOARDING CARDS. ‘SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! TD RATHER SPLURGE ON SODA AND PIZZA THAN CARDS. WEEK TWO: FERST BLOOD | THOUGHT WE HAD A DEAL BRIAN, UH, I BOUGHT A COUPLE OF BOOSTER WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? PACKS. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? SO IT'S LIKE THAT HUH? MAYBE | SHOULD START UP THE PAPER WA WALI BEHOLD THE TERROR!!! | REBUFF ‘YOUR PUNY ATTACK WITH THIS ULTRA-RARE CARD, THE FABLED DARK ENGHANTRESS!!WEEK FOUR: TOWER OF BABBLING RULES NO, NO, THINK YOU'RE WRONG. AN AMIBER WYRIM CANNOT ACTUALLY IT'S A MOOT POINT NOW BECAUSE BE TAPPED IF AN OMILET OF DENNIES IS IN PLAY. IM PLAYING A VORPAL PLANE OF GANCELLATION ON YOUR HAND THIS TURN, AND BESIDES, MY PURPLE HOWLING CREEPER. CANCELS OUT YOUR FORTULTOUS DISK OF AND TM RUCKIN' BING DIMENSION 50 YOUR SPELL QUOTIENT IS HALVED! PLAYING A BLAST. WEEK FIVE: THE SPECULATION FOR THE LAST TIME BRIAN, | REFLISE TO SIGN A FORM AND | THINK IT WOULD GET A LITTLE HOT PLAYING THE ASSUMING RESPONSIBILITY FO® ANY DAMAGE THAT MAY GAME WHILE WEARING RUBBER GLOVES. ‘OCOUR TO YOUR CARDS DURING PLAY. WELL FORGET IT THEN! LOOK. IF YOURE WORRIED ABOUT THE VALLE OF THE CARDS - JLIST INNOT SUBJECTING MY CARDS TO THE DO WHAT I DID. 1 HAVE ONE DECK FOR PLAY AND ONE FOR DISPLAY RIGORS OF PLAY! ‘AND ONE IN A HERMETICALLY SEALED VAULT AT THE BANK TIM PUTTING THEM BACK UNDER GLASS. po 4 - WEEK SIX: FEEDING THEHABLIT BRIAN, BLOCK THE DOOR!! THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE B. A. THINK HE MIGHT TRY TO RUN FOR IT. MAND OVER THE BALANCE OF THE GROUP TREASURY ‘AND THERE'LL BE NO BLOOD SPILLED! GOTCHA! REMEMBER - WE BUY A SEALED BOX OF SPELL-JACKED AND WE SPLIT ‘< THE CARDS FOUR WAYS, RIGHT? Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ssThe Great Revolt BY JOLLY BLACKBURN OK GLIYS. BEFORE WE BEGIN TONIGHT'S GAME THERE IS SOMETHING | WANT TO DISCLISS. 1 KNOW. | PROMISED NOT TO INTROOLICE ANY MORE HOME-BREWED CRITICAL HIT TABLES, BUT | DEVELOPED ‘SOME NEW TABLES THAT ARE TRULY INGENIOUS. SO | WANT YOU TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND. ee 3 NO WAY IN HELL I’M GONNA LET HIM USE THOSE ‘YEAH BRIAN, YOU ALWAYS CAVE IN AND TABLES GUYS. WE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER ON END UP SIDING WITH B. A. YOU WITH US. THIS ONE. THAT MEANS YOU TOO, BRIAN. (0 AGAINST US THIS TIME? ‘COME ON GUYS. LET'S AT LEAST HEAR HIM OUT. JUST A DAMN MINUTE BA! OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!! IT's DIFFERENT WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS ISSUE TIME AND TIME THIS TIME. | PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO BALANCING THESE AGAIN. IM NOT GOING TO ALLOW OUR CHARACTERS TABLES. THEYLL WORK THIS TIME, X SWEAR! TO BE KILLED BY YOUR CRAPPY CRITICAL HIT TABLES AND THAT'S FEWALL $6 Pa Issue #2: Gluttons for PunishmentTHERE YOU GO AGAIN! OFF ON THAT. HEY, HEY. MEW! YOURE JUST A LITTLE OUT OF LINE ARENT POWER- WANA TRIP. THE TERM YOU DAVE? TELLING ME WHAT I CAN AND CANT DO IN MY GAMEMASTER IS DEGRADING TO 2 GANE? | AM THE GAMEMASTER AFTER ALL. Pe erioe HERE, HERE! | GOTTA AGREE ‘YOU WEAR THAT STINKING TITLE LIKE WITH You DAVE. TWAS A BADGE OR SOMETHING! 7 YEAH, IT IMPLIES WEVE GIVEN UP OUR BASIC RIGHTS OR SOMETHING. EROPOSE WE CANES THE TITLE GAMEMASTER 10 SOMETHING A LITTLE LESS OFFENSIVE. CHANGE MY TITLE? WHAT IN THE HELL ARE ‘SOMETHING THAT ACKNOWLEDGES HIS ROLE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT?? YOU CANT GO ‘AS REFEREE WITHOUT LENDING HIM ANY AROUND TAMPERING WITH OFFICIAL TITLES! UNDUE AUTHORITY, WAY NOT JUST WELL, WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM SOME REFEREE’? NOWAY! ‘SORT OF TITLE. ANY IDEAS? 7 THIS ISNT A SPORT. Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One 57GUYS! GAMEMASTER IS A TIME HONORED TRADITIONAL TERM. | WONT GIVE IT UP WITHOUT A FIGHT! OR PERHAPS GAME TRUSTEE, LIKE TRUSTEE! IT DENOTES RESPONSIBILITY HOW ABOUT DUNGEON WITHOUT SUGGESTING AUTHORITY. Gy GOOL! A GROUP CONSENSUS AMONG HEY, WHILE WERE ON THE SUBLECT, | PROPOSE THAT _THE PLAYERS CAN EFFECTIVELY VETO. WE ORGANIZE AS PLAYERS TO PROTECT OUR RIGHTS. ANY GAME TRUSTEE CALL! (MY WORST FEARS HAVE COME TRUE! | NOMINATE DAVE AS OUR PLAYER ‘MY PLAYERS HAVE (REPRESENTATIVE! UNKOWEZto!! ACCEPT THE NOMINATION! | SUGGEST WE BREAK AND DISCLISS $8. $$ Issue #2: Gluttons for Punishment™KNIGATS or tHe DINNER TABLE **License to Loot” By Jolly R. Blackburn Cover by Jason Holmgren YOU KNOW, I GOT SOME REALLY GOOD LINES WHO'S THIS ‘JOLLY’ GUY THis TIME OLIT - IT WAS A REAL ANY AYANG WU leeees STRETCH FOR MY CHARACTER, GETTING NAME LINE CREDITP? : | { I’M GOING TO THE 1 GET A SICK FEELING | SNACK BAR - YOU WANT EVERYTIME WE DO ONE OF | ANYTHING, SARA? THESE BOOKS, | YEAH, A | PAPER BAG. |proves one thing, that gamers have a great sense of humor and can laugh at them- selves. Did I say “themselves?” That’s probably not an accurate statement, For the truth is, in the past five years since the first KODT comic strip appeared in SHADIS magazine, I've received hundreds of letters proclaming, “I know those guys! They're just like the guys in my group!” But I've yet to receive a letter saying, “I'm just like Bob!!” or “Yeah, I'm Brian all right - just like him!!” Perhaps it’s just a matter of selective memory. We don’t remember when ‘we’ go off on some poor clod because he had the misfortune to accidentally pick up our lucky ten-sider. Maybe we even forgot about the time ‘we’ flipped the table because Jethro the Fighter was killed by a blind, rabid beaver (Hey, it happened, OK?), W': here we go again - a third time around! If nothing else, the popularity of KODT Regardless why, KODT seems to have found an audience and I’ll try not to analyze the reasons too closely. I suppose it’s comforting to know that so many gamers share the same friends. Maybe we're not so different from one another after all. Jolly R. Blackburn April 15, 1995 | (ull, RBs T DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE SUCH A HE DID IT AGAIN// HE USED MY LUCKY TEN-SIDER/ NOW T GOTTA PUT ALL MY DICE BACK IN MY BAG AND REDISTRIBUTE THE LUCK AGAIN// FOR CRYING OUT Loup, BOB/ CALM DOWN = T/M i SURE IT WAS AN HONEST MISTAKE/ 60 ‘NEW AGE’ KINDA GLY, BOB. YOU BETTER GET THAT FINGER OUT OF MY FACE OR I/LL REARRANGE YOUR CRYSTALS. NOT COOL MAN - You ‘SHOULDN'T TOUCH ANOTHER Guy’s DICE, BAD KARMA, Lucky Ice B08? Your? WHEN WAS THE LAST. TIME YOU WERE LUCKY? Issue #3: License to Loot™Oueling GameMasters BY JOLLY, BLACKBURN as ‘YEAH, BOB AND | RAN INTO ¥XGTOR DOWN ‘WELL - THAT SHOULD WRAP UP THINGS FOR AT WEZRD PETE'S GAMESTORE THIS EVENING. REMEMBER, NEXT WEEK I'M GOING TODAY. HE OFFERED TO RUN OUR CHARACTERS IN TO THE MAGE OF THE DESERT GM ‘A SHORT ADVENTURE WHILE YOU ARE GONE, SEMINAR SO WE WON'T BE PLAYING. Mave YOU'RE YoU ANDY YOURS DAL mi NOT PLAYING - BUT WE ARE!) VECTOR! YOU MAN VECTOR “NETRO” NETROFT |'VE HEARD A LOT OF FURGUESON?? NO WAY!! HES BEEN BANNED FROM BAD THINGS ABOUT THAT GUY. GARY JACKSON SANCTIONED | HEARD HE ACTUALLY SLAPPED A GAMING FOR THE PAST AVE YEARS!! PLAYER ONCE FOR CHEATING. | HEARD NITRO MEMORIZED AL MW - HE 50 HES A Rive - RULES AS A GMP / Tit wacauesrg on Hees THATS RIGHT SARA - THE MAN IS ZNSANE. HE'S THE SAME GUY THAT GOT HIS BOY SCOUT TROOP LOST INTHE MUNCIE STEAM TUNNELS FOR 8 DAYS. ANGI to eer EVER SINCE. POOR GUY. MAN YOU FORGET - WAS THERER? FURGUESON'S FOLLY WE CALLED IT. THOSE STEAM TUNNELS ARE BRUTAL! WE HAD TO STRAIN QUR DRINKING WATER Apa OUR UNDERWEAR, Bundle of Trouble Volume One ————__——_—________—_—_—_——— 61OW MY GODF? 505, YOU WERE INVOWVED WITH FURGUESON'S FOLLY?T THAT MADE THE PAPERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. I'D LOVE TO HEAR ALL THE DETAILS. YEAH, BOB HAD A NeRvOUS HE DOESN'T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT [T. BREAKDOWN vo Fence ou HE GOT SEPAR (T'S NOT EASY LOOKING DEATH IN THE FACE AND PARTY ANO WANDERED AROUND UVING TO TELL ABOUT [T. | LEFT A BIG PIECE OF ALONE FOR SEVEN DAYS. MYSELF IN THOSE SEWER TUNNELS. 2 I'M JUST GOING BY WHAT | HEARD ON SL eanaacoomine cine KNZGHTLENE, DUE TED KOPLOV OFF BY MYSELF TO FIND HELP - THATS ALL! CALLED {TA NERVOUS "BREAKDOWN AND IT RINGS READ THE BOOK - [1S IN THERE TRUE TED KOPLOV? THAT MEDIA VULTURE!) WHEN YOU REALLY SHOULD TAKE HIS WORD FOR WAS THE LAST TIME HE TRAMPED THROUGH A {T BRIAN, AFTER ALL, HE IS YOUR FRIEND. ‘SEWER TUNNEL?? | WAS THERE AND [’M TELLING YOU | WAS LOOKING FOR HELP. PM JUST SAYING BOB FAILED HIS SAVING THROW VS. INSANITY. \ THATS ALL, -SNECKER- 62 $$ Issue #3: License to Loot™LOOK GUYS - 1 KNOW THIS IS GOING TO SOUND PETTY, BUT | DON'T WANT YOU PLAYING IN NETRO'S GAME THE GUY'S DANGEROUS AND BESIDES - Z'M YOUR GMFF YOU GIM TYPES ARE ALL ALIKE - YOU'RE REAL WE GOTTA PLAY WITH “arte UNTIL YOU'RE ao Wm AUTRE METRO, WE PROMISED. LTHY COMPETITION EN YOU GET ALL WELL, BoA." MY FRIEND. CQUIVERY-LIPPED AND WEAK. KNED, Ore WEL, THANKS BRITAN. —— ooyer worey 9U9E = PA Y WELL GIVE YOU A FULL PM WARNING YOU GUYS "= DON'T PLAY UNDER THIS. Guy, SURENZETRRE CANT HOW RtpoRT WHEN YOU GET BACK, YOU'LL BE SORRY! {P'S GOING TO LEAD TO TROUBLE - TRUST ME. | GOT A (BELCH) ‘SAVE YOUR BREATH DUDE! FEELING ABOUT THIS. WERE GOING AND THAT'S THAT. IT WAS AWESOME! Ot AS, NETRO KEPT Us ON THE BOGE oF : ! Oe LETS OT oom STATS. THE ENTE ENING! AND START PLAYING. HES A DISGUSTING PEG? SOMEBODY SHOULD SHOOT THAT GUY! WOW - WHAT ae? Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ——————————_ 63SEE, | WARNED YOU SARA. 'M NOT ONE TO SAY, ‘| TOLD YOU SO” THOUGH, SO LETS GET BACK TO OUR GAME NOW LETS SEE...ER..BOB, WHERE'S YOUR CHARACTER SHEET? COME ON, DAVEY YOU PROMISED - LEAVE HIM. ALONE. SSOEEEEEE! OM, | LOST (7. PUL HAVE TO CREATE A SMM = SCAR NEW CHARACTER. 2 o) STOP SAVING THATIF! T MEAN ITT MAN?! SHUT UPI? PLEASE DAVE, IT WASN'T REALLY FUNNY. LOST ET#F WELL, LUCKY FOR YOU | KEEP COPIES OF EVERYBODY'S CHARACTER SHEET ON FILE. ‘SOUEEKEN? NO THAT'S OK. | WANA ROLL UP Pl ‘A NEW CHARACTER. HA HAFE 64 WOULD SOMEBODY CARE TO EXPLAIN GET A LOAD OF THIS Bee? NETRO RAN THIS GREAT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? ADVENTURE BASED ON THE MOVIE “DELEVERANCE™. BOB, YOU LOVE YOUR ELF FXGHTERY GUESS WHAT HAPPENED TO BOB'S ELFFF FF WHY WOULD YOU WANT A NEW CHARACTER? GO AHEAD - GUESS! HES RUENEDI? POOR FOR - NITRO | NEVER WANT TD PLAY HAD HIM IN TEARS, HIM AGAIN. WEVERSY Issue #3: License to Loot™-— }0B, I'M SURE |F YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED | DON'T WANT TD TALK ABOUT fT, TD B.A. WE CAN PRETEND {T NEVER HAPPENED OKAYEF GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES CRAT Tae sama AND YOU CAN SAWAGE YOUR CHARACTER. LEPS JUST FORGET ABOUT ETF? WAIT A_WNOTE ~ 1 DON'T GET (T. WHAT HAPPENED? DON'T HAVE fT - 1 BURNED fT, SHES RIGHT, BOP. YOU JUST CAN'T ERASE SOMETHING LIKE THAT GIVE ME YOUR CHARACTER SHEET FROM A CHARACTER SHEET, YA KNOW? AND PLL AX fT. JUST UKE {T NEVER. HAPPENED, or POOR / SOUEKKKY? | Fee IMTET BUT | DON'T GET IT! HEY BOB D0 YOU A BANJO? LET WHAT GO? BANJOSF wilt | THINK 1 HEAR A BANJO! ‘SOMEBODY EXPLAIN IT TO ME?? CAN 1 BE EXCUSED? | THINK [T'S GONNA BE A YOU HAD TO SEE THE MOVIE, BRIAN. WHILE BEFORE | FEEL LIKE TO SEE THE MOVIE, PLAYING AGAIN. \ {T WAS JUST Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One. 65A Critical Situation BASED ON A STORY RELATED BY LARRY GRANATO SORRY, BeAe, GRUNGE WARRIORS DIDN'T COME IN. 7 AWWWW, BLASTIF | WAS COUNTING ON WEEK'S THAT SUPPLEMENT FOR THIS YEAH, WELL, THE TRUCK BROKE DOWN IN PHOENIX, WONT BE UW = YEA! WL, A HERE TIL TUESDAY. ORE MUSTYE FANED HIS SAVING THROW! yoy Rcrenansurtie sure? HAR HAR - FAILED HIS SAVING THROW! WARY WELL, WE GOT A SHIPMENT OF CRETECAL MASS WHAT THE HELL! "LL TAKE A RULES IN - BUT THE COMPANY HAS ORDERED A RECALL ON COPY! IF NOTHING ELSE IT THEM, APPARENTLY THEY WERE DEFECTIVE. MAY BE COLLECTIBLE. COLLECTIBLET A COLLECTBLE GAME? WHAT A NOVEL IDEA. es {T WOULD NEVER CATCH ON THOUGH. JUST RING ME UP A COPY OF CRITICAL MASS, OKAY? 6 $$ Issue #32 Diets to Loot™PURPLE TMPALERST | HATE THOSE THINGS - THEY TEND TO STAIN YOUR CLOTHING. SUCH BLEEDERS!! OK, AS YOU OPEN THE DOOR YOU ARE CONFRONTED WITH A VERY LARGE PURPLE ZEMPALERI? a BUMMERF THEY HAVE A VERY LOW EXPERIENCE POINTS/TREASURE FACTOR AS WELL. BUT THEY ARE TASTY. SLAY AND FXLLETIY OK, DAVE - YOU GOT INITIATIVE NO SWEAT! AND | ROLL A.... AMINE? GO AHEAD AND ROLL FOR ATTACK! | ROLE A OMERF PM WATGING RINGING EBA LORDING MAY ra ON UN! CROSSBOW HERE!! x ei QMETT Wu. THATS, & DENTE FONE wars youR ~ (PLU GIVE US OSE TH PROBLEM BOB? NW GRETECALMASS RULES. wit Cou possmty “CRETE CAL MASS PUL ROLL TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HAPPEN TO YOU? AYE TAS A ar CHUae OF FALLING DOWN AND DROPPING HUHT WAT A SECOND - icati \ HIS. SwoRD. PM NOT STANDING ANYWHERE NEAR DAVE, AM 1? Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ——________—__——__—_—_—— 67OH MY! | ROLLED A 100! WOWF THATS FOUR ROLLS ON THE MAJOR BLUNDER TALE AND THREE ROS ON YOURE SUEY A WOES, BOBF fT CAN'T POSSIBLY BE THAT BAD, THE MENOR BLUNDER TALE Morner BLESSED SAVING JUMPIN' HURDY THROWS?! GURDY!? WERE COOKED! YM DIVING FOR COVER! FEVEBUCKS BRIAN? AND ['LL THROW IN AN EXTRA TEN DON'T KILL HIM OR ANYTHING - — DOLLARS IF YOU MAKE Bais TALK JUST MAKE HIS LEGS BEND THE UKE CAROL CHANNING. DEALT KEEP YOUR MONEY BOYS! THIS ONE'S ON ME - GRRRRY 68 AAA. Issuce #3: License to Loot™Attack of the Snow Beasts BASED ON A STORY BY DAN KIPP ALL RIGHT, YOU BEGIN TO CROSS OH OH - | GOT MY DAMN, WITH NO PLACE TD HIDE THE GLACIER WHEN SUDDENLY A CROSSBOW READIED = | SUGGEST WE PLACE 0UR- PACK OF SNOW BEASTS AN? LOADED FOR ACTION! ‘SELVES BACK TO BACK!! ‘SPRING UP OUT OF THE SNOW PM DRAWING My si2 a ms AND SURROUND YOU! RES TL BE SUPP Of ity v! THE SNOW BEASTS ARE ENRAGED AND © GRIPES? 1M IMKING A CALE sHoT LAUNGH A RERCE ATTACK. DAVE - YOU'RE ~ WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF HITTING ONE HIT FOR FOUR POINTS. BRIAN - YOU GET OF THESE THINGS IN THE NADS? HIT WITH FIVE POINTS OF DAMAGE, ea Rae ma y BRIAN = 1 GET HIT? PA PA RRING A COUPLE OF BOLTS INTO THE NEAREST BEAST! ATTACK TOO! INVESIBLEF? OK, BOB - YOUR CROSSBOW ATTACK DROPS ONE OF BLAST XT? THEN |'M JUMPING INTO THE BEASTS. SORRY DAVE - NO CHANCE OF MAKING: THE FRAY SWINGING LIKE A MAD MAN! ‘SUCH A CALLED-SHOT - THE BEASTS FUR IS TOO THIKK. i i BRIAN - TWO BEASTS ATTACK YOU SIMULTANEOUSLY!! HEY DAMN XT??? i coven ONE SAD X WAS OH LORD - THIS IS TERRIBLE, AND PROTECTING HS ‘SIBL I'M DROPPING MY CROSSBOW AND wx! silica PULLING OUT MY AXE OF DOOM? \ \ Bundle of Trouible™ Volume One ——_—_______________ gyBRIANF OH...VEAH. I FOR Tue LAS Txmcrr|| UREEW oi | OH, GAVE THEM, ER A -6 TO HIT - YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. BUT YOU SEE, BECAUSE THESE BEASTS ARE..UM.ER..USED TO THE BLINDING GLARE OF THE SUN ON THE GLACIER - THEY, UM, ER, HAVE THE NATURAL ABILITY TO DETECT INVISIBLE OBJECTS. AND BESIDES, ER, |, UM....1 ROLLED A NATURAL TWENTY. | SURE DON'T REMEMBER THE BOOK WELL, YOU ARE THE G | DUNNO - SMES A SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE SNOW AS LONG AS Youre UTTLE ASHY TO ME! BEAST HAVING THAT ABILITY. PLAYING BY THE RULES. HEY, PM NOT ONE OF THOSE Tae or WAMATURE JERKS. WHO. WHINES HIM. GET AWAY. WITH OVER EVERY RULE-CALL! ae ABE tO TONIGHT 1 READ UP ON SNOW . BEASTS - TOMORROW | EXACT A BLOODY, HORRIBLE REVENGE. Issue #3: License to Loot™The Sticky Notes of War BY JOLLY R BLACKBLEN OK BOB, YOU MANAGED TO PICK THE LOCK AND DISARM MAP MOVE ASIDE BOYS - LET THE POISON NEEDLE TRAP. A SMALL TRAP D00R SWINGS. THE BROWNXE THEEF OPEN REVEALING A ROOM FULL OF CHESTS. SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE!! UNFORTUNATELY, SARA'S CHARACTER |S THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN RIT THROUGH THE SMALL PORTAL. | YOU WERE RIGHT SARA - DAMN! WHO DESIGNED THIS BLASTED BROWNIES GAN BE USEFUL. DUNGEON - HAMSTERS? OK SARA - YOU'RE IN THE ROOM AND YOU CAN SEE A CHEST WITH A LOCK ON IT AND ANOTHER CHEST WITHA RONE WHICH. YEAH. AND PM AL OVER THAT CHEST hoopy-Hoorr OE ees PA SNMASHING OPEN THE BUT.BUT.. EST WITHTHE LOCK! / / WELL, PM LAYING ON MY BELLY AND SORRY GUYS! v r 1 JUST TOLD YOU THAT SARA |S Ce aE, ems Lol THE ONLY CHARACTER ABLE TO ENTER 4 THE ROOM. SO SHE'S THE ONLY HERE - HAND THIS STICKY PERSON ABLE TO REACH THE CHESTS. YEAH, 'M DOING NOTE TO B.A. - AND THE SAME THING. DON'T READ ET. oP inte Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One —______—__________—— 71‘WEAN?! YOU CAN'T 00 THAT. WHAT 010 [T SAY? HEY WHAT'S WITH THE SECRET NOTESTT LOOK MISSY - THEY MAY PLAY LIKE THAT IN WESGONSEN, BUT WE DON'T HOLD WITH SECRET NOTES BEING PASSED TO THE GM HERE. veg PRIVILEGED INFORMATION, BOYS! INCE YOU'RE NOT IN THE ROOM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW WHAT MY CHARACTER |S SPEGIICALLY DOING. YEAH - (TS UNETHICAL, HAVE YOU ALWAYS WHOSE SIDE YOU ON? BEEN STUPID OR DID YOU WORK AT |T? HERE - PASS THIS NOTE WHAT'S WITH ALL THE NOTES? SARA BACK TO SARA. AND DON'TREADIT?Y OR - A CONSPIRACY HUH? THIS STINKS! \ MOST BE UP TO SOMETHING. YOU'LL NEVER \ KNOW - WILL YOU? HERE - PASS THIS NOTE TO B.A. 72 Issue #3: License to Loot™WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING BRIAN? WHAT'S WITH THE NOTES? HEY, 'M STANDING BEHIND YOU AND I'M DOING STUFF - HERE'S A NOTE, SO THAT'S HOW {T'S PLAYED HUH? OK, FROM ME - IM Y = HIDING MY ACTIONS IM MOVING AROUND THE CORNER WIRLIMY CAPE HERE PASS THIS NOTE DOWN. HERE, TAKE THIS ‘ONE TOO. HERE, TAKE THIS NOTE. WATCHING 508! Waar E DOING? rol Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ————_——____________ 73The Samer It Gets BASED ON A STORY BY LARRY GRANATO GOOD NEWS!! | PICKED UP SPACEHACK TODAY DOWN AT WERO PETE'S. | THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD INGE OF PACE HOH? WHAT'S THAT? SPACEHACKT BUT THAT'S A SQ)-A GAME! WEVE ALWAYS PLAYED HIGH FANTASY!! BUT | CAN'T PLAY MY CHARACTER ELRAVAGER IN A SG-f GAME!! EXACTLY! WE ALWAYS PLAY THE SAME OL’ THING. THIS IS A CHANCE TO TRY COME ON GUYS! | LOVE SPAGEHACK?Y ‘SOMETHING EXCITING ANO NEW! EXPAND YOUR GAMING HORIZIONS! ERE 4 £S yl was se | wore una pe rn OUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS? \ YOU KNOW - 'M JUST FED UIP TO HERE WITH YOUR WHINING!! EVERY WEEK | WORK MY BUTT OFF TRYING TO ENTERTAIN YOU UNGRATEFUL MORONS AND EVERY DIAIMIN’ WEEK YOU MOAN AND GROAN! | ‘SPENT THIRTY-EIGHT BUCKS ON THIS DAMN GAME AND WERE GONNA PLAY {T! UNDERSTANDS #¥ E KEMOSABEF 4 2 HOLD ON TH A es es TUL PLAY = PL PLAY! COUNT ME IN BaP? YOU GOT SCREWED! CALM DOWN, ‘8 72.& $$ lsu #3: License to Loot™Ce oe ATTEMPTING TO BYPASS ny IE SECURITY PANEL ON THE OK, YOU REACH THE FOURTH LEVEL OF THE LA URMNG Bir 8 AIRLOCK! DERELICT SPACE STATION AND SPOT ANOTHER Spensee TM BRINGING A COUPLE KILLER-ANDROID IN THE CORRIDOR!! OF ANT|-ROBOT MISSILES ON LINE GUYS! OH-OH, | WASTE IT WITH MY HEAVY-BLASTER RIFLES? OK, THE ANDROXD 1S HiT PRETTY DM_USING MY MEDICAL TECH GLOVE HARD - HE RECOVERS THOUGH AND TO HEAL DIAVE'S WOUNDS! RETURNS A VOLEY OF LASER-BLASTS!! DAVE ~ YOU'RE HIT FOR 8 POINTS OF DAMAGE! — past - | GUESS | SHOULD HAVE LAID DOWN THE CREDITS: nM an ON eee FOR THAT +5 BLAST-PLATING!! NS sca Si pe To a ca oe | PM LETTING THEM LOOSE! THIS GAMES OK - BUT [PS NOT YEAH, [PS GOT SOME GOOD AS GOOD AS. FANTASY, POINTS BUT | NSS DUNGEON CRAWLING AND THE INSSILES. ARE KILLING MONSTERS, PRETTY. COOL! SURE, GUYS! THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY STAY Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One ——____________— 75The Guest GM BY JOLLY @ BLACKBURN Ge, PETE — (VE NEVER NO OFFINSE OD TOMER — GOT We COnsipeR OK POvS, BA, ASKED ME TO ‘Sie You OUTSIDE-OF OURSHLVES A PRETTY FATE GROUP. YOU STAND IN FOR HIM AS YOUR GAMEMSTER. WHILE HES at esto, : ANGHT BE A LITTLE TOO RUSTY. VISTING HIS AUNT NUDRA PP FOR CRYING OUT LOU), DAVEY PETE 1S MORE THAN QUALIFED TO \ | RUN OUR LITTLE GAME LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING THE MAN ISN'T A LEGEND - BUT WHAT SHE'S RIGHT DAVE! AFTER ALL ETE Wis TH SIGN oF WAS HE DONE IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS?” Lane LYNCH MOBY FES), THE TUTOR! BY Gi YOU'RE WAY OUT OF LINE OUDE! OTT ee incanrte: PETES A LVING PIECE OF GAMING HISTORY! ° WE COULD LEARN A THING OR TWO FROM HIM. WOAH! |. HAD_NO EA! WEL, 1 HAD PLANNED ON TAKING YOU GUYS INTO WEVE ONLY HEARD HUSHED WHISPERS ABOUT. THAT My MOOULE TEMPLE OFHORRENDOUS — ooiic Tyey SAY NO ONE HAS EVER SURVIVED (1! DOOM, BUT SINCE YOURE NOT INTERESTED... THE TIRE OF... OH MY GAWD?F? THAT MODULE 1S INFAMOUS!!! i177? OOOOOOOHHH = 1D LOVE TO HAVE ue Nea A CRACK AT PUTTING THAT \ ADVENTURE UNDER MY BELT! 2:2 __—_—_—_—_——— Issue #3: License to Loot™NOW YOURE TALKIN’. 000, LET'S GET STARTED. AT LAST - BLACK LOTY: ARST, PLL NEED YOU TO SIGN THE is YES?? 100 pA) B.A. 1S ANALY GOING INTO. AN ISN'T HERE TO SHARE IN WAIVER FORMS IVE GIVEN YOU. ADVENTURE WORTHY OF HIM. THS MOMENT OH MAN - THIS GREAT - THEN WE IS GOING TO BE HAVE A GAME! INTENSE! \ ALL RIGHT, YOU OPEN THE DOOR TO THE TEMPLE ~ LET'S SEE, WHO WAS FIRST IN LINE? AAAAH, Pres} ‘SAVING THROW BOB - L00KS LiKE YOU'RE THE UNHAPPY CAMPER. TAKE OFF 76 POINTS OF DAMIGE FROM FORE TAKING DAMAGE? WALKING THROUGH A POISONOUS GAS OUD! CWT SAVING Emowal LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT sen THROWS - | BULL COGK YP? A LAME CRUTCH FOR SISSIRED GAMERS WHO CAN'T HANDLE THE GAME. DON'T BELIEVE IN THEM - DON'T ALLOW THEM! Nee HAGKMASTER GM'S: BUT.BUT..Bs Ae ALLOWS YEAH PETE - DONT YOU GUIDE STATES THAT THE SAVING THROWS. THINK WE SHOULD STICK SAVING THROW.. I'S NOT FAIR TO JUST. WITH THE RULES?ARE YOU GUOTING THE RULES TO METT? THATS 5 OEMERITS BRITNEY AND DAVE, YOU JUST EARNED JUST SHUT UP YOURSELF 3 DEMERITS FOR QUESTIONING MY AUTHORITY! AND LET THE MAN RUN HIS GAME HEY, | DON'T REMEMBER YEAH - WHAT'S FILISTING IN YOUR. OP WITH THE DEMERITS? ‘ARMY PETE. OEMERITS? 0G GONE IT! YES DEMERITS! SOMETHING | CAME UP WITH TO HANDLE SPOILED PLAYERS. FARN 50 DEMERITS AND LOSE A LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE, CARE TO TEST ME? OH.NO SIR. TGNO: PETE | MEAN. PETE huWett cRunet BLASTIN' MOMBLE NOW THEN, WHO WAS NEXT IN UNE GOING THROUGH THE DOOR! I'M HOLDING MY BREATHIIF ME TOO! PB $$ $$$ Issue #3: License to Loot™GOOD THINKING! BUT IT DOES- N'T DO MUCH TO BREAK YOUR FALL AFTER YOU DROP INTO A 500 FOOT SHAFT!! CONSIDER YOURSELF DEADF? ‘WELL, YOU MANAGE TO RUN RIGHT NTO THE HORDE OF WERE-GOATS WHO WERE RETURNING TO THE TOMB. WE COULD RESOLVE COMBAT WITH THE ROLL OF DICE, BUT | CAN TELL YOU TWERE'S REALLY NO NEED TO 00 SO. YOU'RE TOAST! HEY! WHO POLISHED ALL My DICE? EDxIpr? Ano | SHARPENED ALL YOUR DEADTF YOU'RE JOKING? YOU ARE JOKING?? YOU COULON'T JUST. WE ORDERED YOU A PIZZA WITH ANCHOVIES - JUST THE WAY YOU LIKE IT!! UMMA = PVE CHANGED MY MAIND. MY CHARACTER 1S HAULING BUTT DOWN THE ROAD. ‘AND |'M HER SHADOW!! WERE OUTTA THERE! AND YOU SAY NOONE HAS EVER SURVIVED THIS ‘ADVENTURE? WERE-GOATS?? BUT (TS BROAD DAYLIGHT! HEY, | SHELLACKED. YOUR GM'S SCREEN AND LEFT YOU ONE OF THOSE LITTLE DINNER MINTS.Tough Noogies BASED ON A STORY BY ANDY ROBINSON AS YOU ENTER THE SAGRED GROVE OF AMI DUGES, ‘A GUARDIAN STEPS FORTH TO CONFRONT YOU! THE GUARDIAN |S ‘A HUGE MINOTAUR IN BLACK ARMOR WITH THE ONE OF THE wy LARGEST TWO-HANDED SWORDS YOU'VE EVER SEEN!! OH Es HANGING ON HIS BELT ARE THE HEADS OF PREVIOUS CHALLENGERS ., = EACH HEAD BEARS AN UNSETTLING FACIAL EXPRESSION OF PURE TERROR! THE MINOTAUR LAUGHS WITH A DEEP, EVIL GUTTURAL GROWL AND BEGINS TO SLOWLY CLOSE IN ON YOU!! YOU'D BETTER 00 SOME FAST THINKING - WHAT ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO DOT ‘STEP BACK GUYS - [LL HANDLE THIS CREEP! | RUN AHEAD AND JOIN COMBAT WITH THE MINOTAUR, SWINGING MY HAGKMASTER +4277 WELL I'M GOING TO POP TWO DEATH-BRUSNER GEE, SINCE DAVE HAS THINGS Rican, Sa eee ONDER CONTROL, LL JUST SNEAK ‘Aine nex ap se FEREBALLS PGi INTO PAST THEM AND CHECK OUT THE Vea HAPS! ! GROVE FOR TREASURE. Ki \ WHOAH?#F HOLD ON THERE FIG GUY, IF YOU 00 ‘TOUGH NOOGIES DUDE! THAT YOU'RE GONNA BLAST YEAH JERK? YOU IM GHAOTEC AUGNMENT DAVE'S CHARACTER AS WELL! GOTTA BE MORE CAREFUL REMEMBER? YOU'RE CONSIDERED WITH THOSE STUPID AREBALS! ‘COLLATERAL DAMAGE. \ SORRY DUDE, NOTHING PERSONAL, 80 $$$ esse #3: License to Loot™(OK, BRUN'S AREPALLS EXPLODE IN A HUGE SPHERE OF voy Bat@ STERICAP YoU BITTER FIANAE CENTERED ON DAVE AND THE MNOTAURI? WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS YOU SEE DAVE AND THE HAUL ME TO A CLERIC AND GET ME MINOTAUR LYING IN EACH OTHER'S ARMS! RAISED OR YOU'LL BE SORRY!! YOU ROTTEN TRALTORI! HUH = WHAT'S THAT? DON'T WORRY DAVE - I'M 1 CAN'T HEAR YOU! GONNA CHECK YOU OUT)! YOU'RE DEAD REMEMBER?? 1M JUST PLAYING MY CHARACTER! HES ON HIS WAY TO GREATNESS AND HE'S WILLING TO WALK OVER ANWBODY'S ROTTEN 3S TO PO SO! DEALWETHIT?? OH 1 DON'T EVEN BELIEVE TWIS! YOU BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK DUDE! YOU HEAR ANOTSE YOU BETTER JUMP CAUSE (PUL BE ME BRINGING — YOUR PAYBACK?! FATHEAD!? HEY B.A! SINCE TM ALREADY THERE - PUL WHA.WHA. ttt GO AHEAD AND PICK UP DAVES COIN WHAT IN THE HIELL00 YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING POUCH - AND OOH, OOH, HIS RNG BOB?! YOU LITTLE BALD-HEADED JERK! OF LNVESIBELTY?? ANY OTHER COOL STUFF ON HIS BODY?? BRIAN, BRIAN, BRIAN! TPA JUST BEING TRUE YOU OISAPPONT ME! TOMY CHARACTER! ‘ \ THATS ALL 1 CAN PO! Bundle of Trouble” Volume One 8WELL BOB, YOU WERE SO BUSY PICKING OVER DAVE'S BOPY THAT YOU DIDN'T NOTICE HE WAS ONLY STUNNEDS! DAVE YOU WAKE UP JUST IN TIME TO SEE BOB POCKET YOUR RINGS AND COIN POUCH!! GULP#? ER... PM HANDING UWUAMIA. | KNOW A CERTAIN: DAVE BACK HIS SWORD! en tend 1 Hi THAT prea a AFTER ALL. | WAS JUST ee ve ANG. A, Aeon CSS wo SHOUD BE SAFEGUARDING IT FOR HIM. CALLED SHO \PITATE BOB: MAKING ARUN FOR IT NOW OK, YOU'RE SUCESSFUL! BOB'S ANDNOW. | GILLING UPON THE DEATH RUNE ON THE HILT OF HEAD GOES BOUNCING ACROSS THE MY SWORD - PM BEEN SAVING THIS CHARGE FOR JUST SUCH AN GROVE AND LANDS INA POOL! OCCASION! | CAST {T ON BRRIZAN - STEALING HIS SOUL AND BANISHING HIM FROM THE WORLD OF THE LING - FOREVERSF9 WHY YOUFF THAT'S THE OH - MY FIST 1S GONNA THANKS | GET FOR WATCHING: 00 THE FLAMENCO AL YOUR VALUABLES?? OVER YOUR FACE! y t ; fi i » Amn +" THIS IS THE LAST T|ME [sy 1 ALLOW PARTIES" OF MAXED ALIGNMENT! 82 Issue #3: License to Loot™Death by Repetition BASED ON A STORY BY ANDY ROBINSON AS YOU ARE WALKING ALONG THE LANE OF DREED YOU COME UPON AN ANCIENT SIGN BOARD. (TS INTRICATELY CARVED INTO A SLAB OF BLACK MARBLE ‘AND OVERGROWN WITH TWISTED VINES AND WEEDS. gre? . WEN SO - THE words, % y “TURN BACK LEST YE PERISH HERE” \ f, te CAN BE CLEARLY SEEN, ‘SOUNDS LIKE AN INVITATION TO ME! PERISH 1 SOUNDS IS ROAD TM LOADING MY CROSSBOW FOR GOOD — yEEps, ee ane Ree eee) MEASURE AND PRESSING ON! 1M RIGHT BEHIND YOU BOB! SO MUCH FOR ‘THE WARNING. YMA GONNA DROP BECK AND INSPECT THIS. SIGN A-UTTLE CLOSER, BRIAN. WATCH YOUR. BACKSIPE! OKAY - BE CAREFUL! OK YOU ern A Hi STEPS PAST THE SIGN on THE HIDEOUS DEMON LORD SCROUD APPEARS BEFORE YOU!) HES SURROUNDING BY A BRILUANT BLUE FLAME AND HE WMT ‘STARTS Towaed YOU. ao GU WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING? GUAT! TD. TOLOA MY BOLT yi GOAMA STA TTD 1A TOSSING A HANDFUL OF THOSE OF TORMENT IN jAy cpossrow - WITH THIS GOv! Mw Macs TER ‘SHINY ROOND PEBBLES | FOUND IN IT GETS A +20 ¥S. DEMON KIND " Me Oe THAT CREEKBED LAST WEEK! Bundle of Trouble” Volume One 83OK DAVE, SINCE SEROUD |S FROM THE BASEMENT PLANE AND IS A TYPE LE DEMON AS SOON AS YOU STEP NEAR HIM TO SWING YOU AUTOMATICALLY TOUCH THE DEIMOW FLAMES PROTECTING HIM AND YOU TAKE 250 POINTS OF DAMAGE! AND SINCE HE'S A SOUL-HUNTER YOUR SOUL IMMEDIATELY 1S TRAPPED IN HIS BELT BUCKLE! NO CHANCE OF BEING RAISED HEY, 010 SCROUD UNLESS HE'S DEFEATED IN COMBAT ~ WHICH ISN'T LIKELY!! NOTICE MY PEBBLES? IY RUNNING FOR MY MULE - WELL, | DON'T THINK MY. BROWNIE WILL 1 OSE IN HANGING 1 BE ANY MATCH FOR THIS CREEP = PUL SE Niche TRY TO FEATHER HIM WITH ARROWS! SORRY BOB! AS SOON AS WELL - SO MUCH FOR THE YOU REACH THE SIGN BOARD, DEAD?? BUT... MUSCLE OF THE GROUP - AN INVISIBLE BARRIER BLOCKS BUT. | GUESS (T'S TIME FOR THE YOUR ESCAPE - SARA IS THE \ BRAINS TO STEP IN!! ONLY ONE NOT TRAPPED! OKAY Baik = LETS HAVE AT IT!) —— WELL 010 HE STEP_ON — I'M WAVING TROUBLE HEARING THOSE WANT TO KNOW WHAT EFFECT MY. ANY OF THE PEBBLES? ICE ROL DOWN HERE - YOU 010 PIBBLES. ARE HAVING ON THIS DEMON. ROLL TO SEE IF HE STEPPID ON THEA? i NO, | O)ON'T NONE - THEY'RE JUST ORDINARY —— NOFF ee POODLES XDLOTH? 84 issue #3: License to Loot™JAWWHP BUT | SIMPLY ASKED IF HE STEPPED | DON'T HAVE TO ROLL FOR EVERY STVPXD, ‘ON THE PEBBLES. YOU ONCE TOLD US THAT IT TREVZAL ACTION YOU CARE TO THROW AT WAS IMPORTANT TO ROLL FOR ANWTHING ME!) PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF DETERMINING THAT COULD IMPACT THE GAME! OR IS THAT THAT ORDINARY ROUND PEBBLES WILL HAVE NO JUST WHEN OUR PRECIOUS MONSTERS ARE EFFECT ON A TYPE XTX DEMON?? AT RISK? OH 1 SEE - YOU WANNA WASTE MY TIME AND PLAY LITTLE GAMES! FICAVES HIS MORALE 1S JUST *2@?X% (ROLL) AS | SAID OKAY (ROLL) - YES, YES THE FINE!’ WHAT THE HELL ———HIS MORALE IS JUST FEES? DEMON STEPPED ON THE PEBBLES!) ~~ ARE YOU UP TO? Mois s Foon HURT, STE HOW'S HIS MORALE?? OH, | DIDN'T HEAR ——— PING ON SMALL OBJECTS. WAS HE POD ABOUT———— ANY DICE ROLLING! ‘TAS TD HURT! STEPPING ON PEBBLES? WHATTE NO WAY THOSE ______YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING! FOR THE LOVE OF. (ROLL) NO. (ROLL m STUPID PEBBLES.. (ROLL) TM NOT MAKING RFTY ROUS — (ROED NO ROL NO. ROLL W0 NO, HIS FOOT DOESN'T HURTI! JUST To. TROLL NO, (ROLL WO: ROLL, No THERE WERE ABOUT RFTY \ FORGOT - THE Ror ia neehs we One - (ROLL No, ES - DID YOU ROLL ~~ RULES CHANGE FOR ee EACH Hote? YOU DON'T THEY?? Bundle of Trouble" Volume One 85SATESFIEDTT NONE OF THE PEOPLES HURT THE DEMONS. FEET!” NOW THEN - LETS CoNTNUE —_ROUL Wo HE Fue esa tty Wi THE BATE SCROUD STEPS. JA a eA WAIT A MINUTE! SGROUD IS FROM A DIFFERENT PLANE - MAYBE HE HASN'T SEEN PESBLES weFoRE GOOD IDEA eoryel NOT QUITE HE AAGHT PAUSE TO INVESTIGATE THEM! / Mt a (Ow? WELL, BY YOUR OWN ADMISSION - SCROUD DIDN'T NOTICE THE WHAT ROUND PEBBLES ALL OVER THE ROAD BEFORE HIM. | WOULD ARGUE THAT THERE IS A VERY GOOD CHANCE SCROUD WILL LOSE HIS FOOTING ON THEM AND FALL ON HIS BUTT!! BRI WELL, | FIGURE EITHER YOU OR SGROUD nearly ee ee WILL GET TIRED EVENTUALLY AND GO HOME. PLAN ON KEEPING THIS UP? 1 GOT NOTHING ELSE TO DO FOR A FEW DAYS! 86 $$. Issn #3: License to Loot™( Got a Rock!! BY JOLLY R. BLACKBURN NOTHING MUCH IN THIS ROOM AT ALL! LOOKS LIKE WEVE CLEANED OUT THIS LEVEL - LET'S GO ‘A FEW BROKEN ARROWS, SOME LEAVES BACK AND CHECK OUT THAT STAIRCASE! ‘AND A SMALL ROCK. DARN - | WAS HOPING THAT | A ROK WOUNDED-ORC HAD ENDED UP HERE! Hey - PM GOING TO PICK UP THAT Roce AND XA m JUST A ROCK BOB! OKAY ~ WERE GONNA HEAD “noes Hu BACK TO THAT STAIRCASE Ne Ta 2? OKAY, &R, SURE AND FIND THE NEXT LEVEL! JUST AN ORDINARY ROCK ~ LOOKS LIKE IT MVGHT Bt SOME ROBBLE THAT FELL FROM THE CEILING. HEY BRIAN - CAST A 1S THIS GOING BE LIKE THAT DETECT MAGKC sPtL ‘STUPID COW DAVE ON THIS ROCK, WILL YA? INSISTED ON KEEPING? WHY SHOULD | WASTE A GOOD SPELL ON A STUPID ROCK?? LET IT GO DUDE? HY, | STIL THINK. THAT. GHELSEA GAVE ME A TO-HIT BONUS! fy \ om Ride eae oh Bundle of Trouble" Volume One ——_—_—_____—_————_ 87PM GOING TO RUB THE ROCK rr tent rive Macaca, OH GEE, 1 FEL A POLAROID REALLY HARD! ANYTHING HAPPEN? — peopepTiés ye THOSE YELLOW MOMENT COMING ON! FROGS WE FOUND! WALL, YOU GOT A vu te 5 Me REALLY. GOOD START i ‘ON A BLISTER! IN YOUR HEADIT OKAY, 1 LICK IT! DOES KNEW {T!! \T TASTE. FUNNY? NCE TE SANG! 0 | FEEL STRONGER? ool! WEL, BUBBLE HEAD, THE ROK SUDDENLY ‘STARTS TALKING! GEE YOU CANT ONDERSTAND (1! LET'S HEAD BACK TO Hou UP. | WANNA LOOK rie hed IT'S SPEAKING SOME TOWN! | WANT TO LOOK —apouNo FOR ANY OTHER DEALECT OF — FOR A SAGE WHO CAN ROCKS IN THE ROOM! GENERIC DUNGEON QUARTZI!" SPAK GUARTZY ARE THERE MORETT DRESSING. STRIKES AGAIN! 88 $$$ Issue #3: License to Loot™“The Never-Before-Seen Past Adventures Coo Dave's First Game of the Knights of the Dinner Table” BY JOLLY R, BLACKBURN THIS |S DAVEBOZWELLIT?E | MET HIM PLAYIN: PAINTBALL A FEW fea MONTHS AGO. HE SAVED MY ASS FROM A DOVBLE-FLANKERI? DAVEBOZWELLE Hy, ARENT YOU THE GUY WHO PAINTED “EW THENADS” ON ‘THE OLD WATER TOWER ON THE WEST SIDE? HEY BUDES!!. HOW'S eam ae) te a Uae BACK WITH ME TO ANOTHER ERA. UMC meas mot FRIENDS B.A. FELTON, BOB HERZOG, JOHNNY KEZINSKEI AN) BREAN VAN HOOSE HAVE GATHERED Acne utd GAME, HACKMASTER A: AAO ais) a THIS DAY |S DIFFERENT, HOWEVER, FOR A NEW FAGE |S PRESENT AT THE TABLE? \ THAT WAS pt HES NEVER ROLEPLAYED BEFORE SO | BROUGHT YEAH, THAT WAS ME 1 HAD HIM ALONG. EVER SINCE RUSTW AXE WAS — 1) 00 A NUNDRED Neen WEne trea KILLED BY THAT VAMPIRE OUR PARTY HOURS OF COMMUNITY PRICE TO PAY FOR A BIT OF FEREPOWER GUOTXENT HAS HN sépyice FoR THAT STUNT. PRETTY LAME. WE COULD USE ANOTHER G00) HONEST NOTORIETY. HUH? PLAYER. PEOPLE WiLL BE TALKIN’ HES A GREEN PLAYER? ABOUT YOUR HANDY WORK | DUNNO... | HATE NURSING FOR YEARS TO COME IEW PLAYERS. \ DON'T SWEAT, BAW) —_____________YEAH, YoU CAN BEA "THZTER, OR A WELL WALK HM (MAGZGUSER, 02 | RAMSAR, A THROUGH GENERATING A RBARIAN, AN ASSASSIN, A CHARACTER. THE KID. OKAY, SO RST YOU GOTTA ROGUEKNIGHT, 02 A Witt 00 JUST ANE! DID WHAT YOU WANNA BE YOU KNOW, LIKE WHAT YA 00 TO GET THROUGH IN URE | WANT TO USE A (SIGH) LOOKS UKE ANOTHER FEGHTER-FOCKI! Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One: Bonus Section ————_—__— 89pT LET THE OKAY, SO WHAT'S THIS BOX THAT SAYS YEAH FORGET ABOUT ALL THAT CRAP. ume STUFF 01S- CHARACTER BACKGROUNDIT ALL me ye ABOUT IS TRACT YOU FROM EASURE AND BAAAHNE? WE NevER ExPEREENCEPOENTSHY YOUR, MISSION OSE THAT. | DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY IT'S ON THERE \ OKAY, ABOUT 0X THAT SAYS VaMOVRGES RAOWAITE AND FOR GAWD'S SAKE DONT PUT WHAT 00 | PUT THERE? DOWN ANYTHING UNDER FEARS OR WEAKNESSES! |F YOU D0 YOU'RE ZEPIF THATS WHAT YOU PUT THERE JUST INVITING Be. TO SCREW WITH YOU. PUT A LANGUAGE DOWN THERE AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, Bay |S TRYING TO HAVE THINGS TALK TO YOU AND STUFF. PM CONFUSED. | THOUGHT Ba. WAS THATS RIGHT. [T'S US AGAINST MIEMEF WE PLAYING WITH US. YOU MAKE {T STICK TOGETHER - YOU GOT THAT? HOW 00 YOU SOUND LIKE HE'S THE EWEMOY?? THINK RUSTY AXE GOT [T? HUH? ONE MINUTE 1M GETTIN’ A SODA FROM THE FRIDGE NEXT THING HE ZS THEENEMY?! DONT | KNOW MY JUGULAR IS RIPPED OPEN LIKE A YOU GET 17? DONT EVER TURN THANKSGEVENG TURKEY?! YOUR BACK ON BaAul# HES JUST WAITING TO 00 YOU INI! USTEN TO JOHNNY. HE KNOWS! 99. ——_________—- Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One: Bonus SectionNOW LET US GIVE YOU A FEW POINTERS. 87% OF ALE PLAYER CHARACTER FIRST OFF -YOU SEE SOMETHING MOVE - FATALITIES ARE THE DIRECT RESULT OF ACTUALLY [TS 82x VOU KILL ET#? | DONT CARE IF ITS TALKIN’ WiTH SOME STUPID BUT JOHNNY 1S ‘TALKING, SQAWKIN’ OR WALKIN!! YOU TAKE — BASTARO WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE MAKING A GOOD YER EaBP."S WHERE YOU CAN GET THEM. BEN MAGKEN'?? POINT, DAVE, WOW, YOU GUYS SURE KNOW YOUR HAGKMASTER. | DUNNO IF | CAN LEARN ALL THIS CRAP. [T SEEMS REALLY COMPLICATED. YER SUPPIN. BRIANP? SORRY JOHNNY, IMS 872!! PM SURE OF IT. IMS 82% | WAS READING THE LATEST TT ALL COMES WITH EXPERIENCE, COURSE TA " B2E 1S ACCURATE DAVE. ALL YOU GOTTA 00 |S Rus WS FOLLOW OUR LEAD. 2 PERCENT. ANOTHER THING ~ DON'T TAKE NO FLAP FROM ROGER THAT! A NON-PLAYER CHARACTER. B.A. 0 | GET EXPERIENCE HAS. A BAD HABIT OF RUNNING MOUTHY POINTS FOR THEI?? MPC'S io ARE WAYS TRANG, T_ TAK ; Se . YER DAMN RIGHT YOU OI! SAY, YOU CATCH ON Fan SOE Go ear nee ea QUIK. PM TRL YA, POXAT-WHORE ' FOR THOSE EeP.'S AND YOU'LL DO ALRIGHT. BUGGER WHERE HE STANDS, Bundle of Trouble Volume One: Bonus Section ————_—_—____—_— 91AND WATCH OUT FOR THE BLEEDIN-HEART TYPES. YOU KNOW, BEGGARS, ORPHANS, CREPES?2¥ WHAT A DIRTY TRICK TO PULL. DWARVES WETH SUCKING- GHEST-WOUNDS. B.A. UKES TO THROW THEM. AND CUTE LITTLE ANIMALS!!! BEG TROU- AT US HOPING TO DISTRACT US. SAME RESPONSE - BLEFFF TAKE “EM OUT WHERE EVER AND WASTE 'EM WHERE THEY STAND?! WHEN EVER YOU ENCOUNTER THEM! eS eoeaen pty meray FLEW THROM \Y re ene None DAMN?! GREAT HELM AND BLINDED My CHARACTER. BLACK PLAGUE??? Wit) OUT THE WHOLE PART Y?? HEY, IT WAS NEVER PROVEN GOLDIE WAS THE CARRIER! WOW, THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT ADVICE GUYS. | WAS REALLY LUCKY TO HOOK UP WITH SUCH GREAT PLAYERS! ‘ : JUST ALL THOSE YOU'RE RIGHT. YEARS OF EXPERIENCE THERE ARE LOTS OF GUYS OUT THERE SPEAKING, | SUPPOSE. WHO DON'T KNOW THUS ANOTHER HAGK-N-SLAYER |S BORN INTO THE FOLD. (SIGH) EALY UNUSUAL rN een TO HAVE SO MUCH g PLAYER TALENT AT 92. —_____________———. Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One: Bonus SectionEDITOR'S INTRODUCTION ee ermine in 1994 white Iwas working on Issue of Knights of the Dinmer Table, I was invited to a party that a local gaming club in Riverside, California, was holding at a piczaria. A¥ some point inthe evening KODT carne up and several people started suggesting story ideas for the comic hook One ofthe sores related 1 me tha night was about an incident involving a gazebo and a frustrated gamemaster The amazing thing about the siory was that it apporenty was true and ha aken place ata loca game several years prior A few days laer I worked the story imo @ KODT strip and pos- tioned it as the lead-in strip fr Issue #1 dubbing it “Lar ofthe Gacebo Afier the comic hit the streets, a strange thing began to happen People began to approach me cud tell me, “Hey! I was a the gome where sha ‘gazebo" hing happened." or “My gamemaster was the GM who ran that game What made its strange waste fac ha the people making these claims were geographically scattered around the country. Also, as ‘ach person recounted the eal’ story 1 me the details varied wildy 1 couldn’ figure out what was going on old my fiends tha apparent the “gacebo story’ was sone form of urban legend. Every gaming circle in the country seemed 1 have is own variation oft (sometimes the ‘gazebo’ was a ‘davenpor’ While I wondered if there might have been an original incident that sparked the wide spread story, thee didn't som tobe any clues One day the answer arved inthe form ofa ltr from Richard Aronson. Attached was a seroxed copy of a magacine article pub- lished nearly ten years prion AI st down and read "Bric andthe Gazebo” I was floored. Was ‘his the elusive orginal source forthe ‘gazebo myth’? After reading the attached Tener it was clear that Richard was, indeed, the fist the spin the tale. When itcame tne to reprint the Lair af the Gazebo in this book, F wanted to do more than simply give Richard his long due credit When Fase him f we could ran the original “gaebo’ story for the enjoyment of our readers, not ony dd Richard agree he went a step further and wrote up a brie history ofthe story and the strange ‘evolution of an urban gamer legend. Enjoy! Jolly In 1985 I told Erie and the Gazebo at Lee Gold's game. She insisted I write it up for Alarums and Excursions, her APA which is still going strong after twenty years. Wanting to continue playing in her game, I did so. Corey and Lori Cole then pointedly asked why this story did not grace their fanzine, The Spell Book, on which I was supposedly a con- tributing editor, That led to a reprint there, in slightly different form, in 1987. A year and a half passed. Two Mensa groups reprinted E&tG from The Spell Book; one of them excluded my name entirely, Then it was reprinted in The Mensa Bulletin of June 1989, and being a semi-pro magazine with an international circulation of about 30,000, they checked the authorship back to me (much thanks to Corey and Lori for not claiming it for their own). Suddenly I was a published author, Teven got some fan mail, some of which was along the lines of "Would you write us another story like this?" (if I was that good, I'd be Jolly Blackburn [blatant suckup acknowledged]) and a couple of which were "Could we post it on the internet?” In 1989, who knew from internet. Geeky as I was (I was programming inter- national secured email systems for a Fortune 100 company then) I was still internet ignorant. I said "Sure, as long as you spell Ed's and my names correctly, because we deserve the credit, and Eric's, since he deserves the blame. And to be fair, both people who asked did indeed attribute correctly, although it appears Whitchurch has picked up an unexpected "e" along the way. Even some of the people who reprinted it from their postings attributed it correct- ly. And maybe one of the people who read those postings attributed it correctly, By 1995, Thad become a computer game designer for The Sierra Network. T occa- sionally could write off convention expenses by speaking, and at one con I retold "Eric and the Gazebo.” Afterwards, a fourteen year old half my size threatened bodily harm upon me for stealing his friend's story. S'truth! ea ERE Eee Bundle of Trouble Volume One: Bonus Section 93et us cast our minds back to the early days of L== role-playing... In the 1970's, Ed Whitchurch ran "his game," and one of the participants was Eric Sorenson, a veritable giant of a man, ‘This story is essentially true: I knew both Ed and Eric, and neither denies it (although Eric, for reasons that will become apparent, never repeats it) ‘The gist of it is that Eric... well, you need a bit more about Eric. Eric comes quite close to being a computer, When he games, he methodically considers each possibility before choosing his preferred option. If given time, he will invariably pick the optimum solution. It has been known to take weeks. He is otherwise in all respects a superior gamer, and T've spent many happy hours competing with and against him, *Even today, if any player in our group takes an unreasonably long time to decide what to do, he draws calls of "Hurry up, Bric." (So if you imagine pauses before any Eric response, with the word pause to indicate an unreasonably long pause, you'll have the flow down pat.) Ed, on the other hand, is very quick witted, of the general school that if you do the wrong thing quickly it may work out better than the right thing slowly. His pauses were usually signs that players were ask- ing something very important or unbelievably unimpor- tant.* So... Erie was playing a neutral paladin (Why should only lawful good religions get to have holy warriors? was the rationale) in Ed's game, He had a holy sword, which fought well and did all those things holy swords are supposed to do, including detect good or evil (by random die roll). He was exploring some lord's lands when the following exchange occurred: ED: You see a well-groomed garden. In the middle, on small hill, you see a gazebo, ERIC: A gazebo? What color is it? ED: (Pause) I's white, Bric. low far away, is it? bout 50 yards. low big is it? ): (Pause) It's about 30 feet across, 15 feet high, with @ pointed top. ERIC: (rolls dice) I use my sword to detect whether it's good ED: I's not good, Eric. I's a gazebo! ERIC: (Unusually long pause, even for Eric) I call out toi. 94 ED: It won't answer: It's a gazebo! ERIC: (Pause) I sheathe my sword and draw my bow and arrows, Does it respond in any way? ED: No, Eric. It's a gazebo! ERIC: I shoot it with my bow (rolls to hit), What hap- pened? ED: There is now a gazebo with an arrow sticking out of it ERIC: (Pause) Wasn't it wounded? ED: Of course not, Eric! I's a gazebo! ERIC: (Whimper) But that was a plus-three arrow! ED: I's a gazebo, Eric, a gazebo! If you really want to iry to destroy it, you could try to chop it with an axe, 1 suppose, or you could try to burn it, but E don't know why anybody would even try. It's a @#%6!8*& gazebo! [Author's note: Ed was in the army, and no, he did not say @#9%!8*4&. ‘The letter count has not been changed for the linguistically curious, Clue: it was a gerund.] ERIC: (Long pause - he has no axe or fire spells) [run away. ED: (Thoroughly frustrated) It's too late. You've awak- ened the gazebo, and it caiches you and eats you. ERIC: (Reaching for his dice) Maybe I'l roll up a fire- using mage so I can avenge my paladin... At this point, the increasingly amused fellow party members restored a modicum of order by explaining what a gazebo is. This doubly lucky that the gazebo was not situated on a grassy knoll. is solely an afterthought, of course, but Eric Feel fre to contact me at Richard Aronson, PO.B, 2273, Oakhurst, A, sfaronson@aol.com. 1 you're interested in amateur publications 100% guaranteed 10 occasionally carry works as good as E&1G before it appears in Knights of the Dinner Table, contact Lee Gold, 3965 Alla Road, Mar Vista, CA, 90066 for Alarums and Excursions, or Mary Kelly, 7409 David Drive, Frisco, TX, 75035-5440, for Re:Quests, the fully leg ‘mate daughter of The Spell Book Bundle of Trouble” Volume One: Bonus SectionFELT( 8A Cor pin st Ba jie Cen ie hie feed Soy Calin epee adie Sota. | Be ae eee core rere a pare deigas wo weal se preyed io te los Hei Go-Ga. | ea oa pltd ence ecole hn aetna mrtarre Crien ee eae er ge ae tien Tet pero eee Sie aigae pctv see a ona Cee se ip el Merah te rl | ar ea ne er ea eee mre te ee peg A cha a a oe og pigceate a Kaighs OF the inner Table A thei peak the RODE bowed a member Bo its Rlovog met aoe a oe | fone Tu sas le waa al naan The far ahela he ears Got wT He bak Denes ar ees et on eee cet elma plist parent iarl ok Me ar petaea sce a netnes tee Tors tay Hare Pee nto ceoe oos F able Pepe onl eo peal ea ange cole re ter heel espe ts unsien Bieta eee oa | So eegie tenets a aoia'e pieee yee ie | esha tate th ingen neat eds Speier = serdar eigen portal cient tae ee ieee I Ra de encar BAe tae sk iio aes aenae er ae hive pace | Derr intact ean ee tay he chose to quit when fllow/competing GM Eat! Slickmozer moved into the Par eatiors ames cee eNO TE et saa hckagheton heal wie tienen ets Peep oe fee apa ar ee net Koad tins Comcne of hk Of he Dee be ‘The prefered stem for BA. and the Knights is Gay™ Jacksons? HackMaster’ sith its derivative supplements, SpaceHlack” and Catdepun, aredsverena KIZINSKI Johony “Luk? Kink wat oe of terial tte of the Ka ofc ae ig Ca He was highly resy the other tabes ee or ean eee | a etalon wie baat NP cay | Tenens havent fo Ui ledbleck weet une ivf cong wh hea hee Mens fame sound ay pg ne Mn, nda ed you lye Init te sl teiiy the fy coo play Jolnya nary bas mnnharey (or oe acne ohnp liz ia orm fond finott Hc Fine neecthey FIVE tne bled fou tring es ie eer mre ai ag on Ieee pre tes ae tani oe eal fumed him inthe weeks that followed and he eventually lost investi theprd Hing up hid bg, He more ot of rand now toe ig jas Whose Bundle of Trouble” Volume One: Who's Who in the Group: Vi OSE “The almost pert phe wo decribe Bian van Hoa ders" mines the it bt ‘A young Iiftime of devotion eo his camper habby has instilled in Brian the precio requita o make hi what he i tay = walle ing talking nearly pret, unstoppable, ogaic HackMater™ machine, living and brehing oN | ay mms nly vin ing. Inn nS + boty that heap Rs he es Gta spat tes me pe, sey rch eae of mins ping and sng Mind of he om the ao, ot Hoe ited mine come i tee tf nen gy ed pike SNOT Top and Macon Qa nee hts ind to ed Fray Sens 1 ssl ed nt apn 3 fi ot ¢r hs Onn Lanne Then aga, he cane have etn abel yes Wh ‘ye eon nye, poe buy wells th i oi wich ae is brie rs se, ide he Kags, pron espe oe of Bar we jt, Brot ime {ps okthleen my, paren bac lef ring te wo gest se ‘sec For tmnt Bain to ae nga res pps be enced yh es oan ge reas ou Bans Amor Rens, oe rca wees, Oe hate the oan xpi fing wey de Stet ig pci pa ped nna ad ahd mg Bn no ek nel when BA 82 ye od pans ads bd sd sad een he Tape nip, Bon eid bee cbt tm fy ae wd py eon rl eo the em sn Bee Ra rn rg bc byte ts Aad ith drial he ees help oe fo met tachi Ai oe (Mest ima bee ied) shame woke del chad ene yh prope ah thor ies iy gen his wig inthe fie i a aman ssh men i of atone ent Goon onl my of aan pred poly spr ay fe me eo nity anv pay ime pla cleo of Hae ruin ipenentsil the fts f and th puree he mana sce pate ot rohan ini rng being ened epi fr uy rye ee tne aan nn th ons ois ee pete Hs alsin ening it pin, at, pange pbs, open or tng poi al, boty wes a tant Semeur iy eae en iu rans ese en aco Gane a pit aon hig Hack Mave ye Td Peru he Sai REG Tet of 98a theta hat i tied BA to Hada, Beer ea {°GayCon¥, me erie mpi et hd ino acl ge up ea ingle ssa Ford br eno of epi, ran Weve and we foment seh em tte = expr et at tn neve ars GM ey es ining of come, upped by ta Muka cap whch and he een denon ce ca, ws ane bl bs Orcpesk poraeHis ake ptr tie wor HixiMane as pope Gane Aciween at const eo ded ping whe ba Bo nd Dove Bran ppd de GAA he Gay on Aceny fol tying dip be wen eh cmon mae an a ded oe ‘Brian's phenomenal mastery of HackMaster™ isn't the only feature that makes him a cing dpe th oe i lens, tl caning a hal pt ney i of ri hig cnn lcd htt he Tied he Vapi! aris med ny ithe wode sl, wifig hin ane Visca: wn beng feed cure + Sethe ew of th Harter Wage im nine deh te hand of ipa pit wth snowed mavanpre ns and pees rerdance atthe 1987 and 1993 |» Sheth pry fi gla of Ror Gr te Son Dragon by kn ine = cpg ead «FRET srt es fe pl a es ig Spacek «Teak om the nit of Maseiin Carli" 4 Raced the emi pty fom imprement and ection wih his Teporation cing Created the Wamengt Scene Or ‘etfs chance hae cade + Crimson Tot, Black Lote & Benny the Magen the ongoing KODT HackMaser™ sdvetue + Shag Bil and ig ji Mackin CatePink™ 1 The Lede othe Gren Erg ofA in Rage ¢ The Wrongs Science Oc in Spcesck™ Nigel Molen Hack +A Cape Crusdern Heres And Zero m5Bob Herog is one of the wold’ as true gamers, living embodiment of Gary Jackson's ralyng ery "Fhe game mus go on" Sil iv- ing wth bis parents and watching saps, Bob's derorion othe games uflaggng and ungues- tibia ere oben hi temper and Sp tongue lose hi seve jobs, repaiesof soc eta, pees ot parental pres no sacrifice or haship is too get fr Boa the game. Bob's roleplaying adventures avay fiom arte the able ae futher testament. Rope burs, 2 Se, $500 deni bill anda temporary makenier BS ‘were ust entrees. Bob's crowaing glory was the sationallypublicaed FurgusonsFlly-a boy scour to0p's eight day foray inca the steam Ye) tunnels of Muncie Jed by none other tan i Lord of Seam, Nino Fuguesoo, ln dat wee, HERZOG Bob looked dean in the face and lived co el the tale, ving a big pee of himself in thowe sewer tunnel Great Hac’ Slsher that Bob ish strengths do not iin GameMastering or adventure wring, at evidenced by his eater atempes afer watching The Winad of Oz and once mapping a dungeon after the design of his ov hous. Bob's most touching quit is his devotion to those blessed tools of the Aletha ics Boe calecton on he large Kno in Mice, especially his pride and joy, the ucky ensider. His atachment to his favorite polyhedron was most evident when it was lst at a local convention; Bob's Have you seen tis die” poster campaign became an unavoidable feature of teal every vertical surface at the Ball Sate Campus. But Bob's dice fetish goes beyond mere love; when Nico dared touch Bob's dice, Bob lst it and quote “went medizval on Niuo's ass" unquot. ‘Rob's devotion tothe game was mast evident in what may have been these ond darkest age of the KODT - the day Bob's dad (an adjuster for Hoe And Harness Farmers Insurance) aw a 60 Minutes Special on HackMaster™, searched Bob's room and found Bob's HackMaster™ manuals, On tha day ‘Bob's dad forced him to get areal job and banned Bob from gaming, ‘Acomrade had fillen and the Knights had to play for Bob who could not. Foc weeks, the Knights played with a sucesion of subsites, including the Gamer Temp Corps Ty Fell, che young and unscil Newt Forager and. suc- From humble beginnings, Dave Bozwell has embraced role-playing with 4 pasion, empathy and loyalty worthy of awards, rarely matched in the many worlds of HackMaster™. ‘Asa welcome brea from his Ball State U. courses of cultural anthropol- ‘ogy and dance theory, Dave was introduced to role-playing by Bob in the days when B.A., Bob, Johnny Kininski and Brian were che only Knights. In his rebel years, Dave was the sort of guy who'd paine che words "IN THE ADS" on the side ofa water tower and risk his "life" saving a Paintball: ‘War Buddy, paving the way forthe on-the-edge, bored-with-tiny-details, true-blooded, hungry-or-victory Hack'n Slasher that he was co become. His introduction to the subleties and inticacies of HackMaster™ was an historic, solemn moment. A few eadly RPG life experiences prepared Dave for the rigors of RPG life ahead; most notably. playing in Nitro Furgueson’s “Tvial By Ordeal” LARP and the acidental rrgetend testing of Weitd Pet's experimental gasline-poweved Fireball Generator. For a long time, HackManer vas "just a game’ to Dave, much like Paintball, Risque or Nintendo. Hed play one session with the Knights and ‘miss another two... until that fateful hour when Dave and his adventuring hhuman fighter El Ravager discovered one of the powerful relics of the “HackMastes™ polyvene... the HackMaster +12. HackMaster +12. major relic of the HackMaster™ polyverse, the HackMaster +12 wilded by El Ravager (aca. Dave Borwell) is one of the only four known ro exist on Garweeze World. Made of pute Dwarven stel, a HackMaster +12 is forged in the belly of Blind Luvia, tempered in a-vat ofthe blood of a fearsome ‘Swack-Iron Dragon. The mystic runes of warning and power on the blade ar eched by the Fifty most skilled and blessed blind Dwarven craftsmen of ‘Garweeze Wurld the bade is then polished with the chest hair of Thor him self The eldritch Death Rune imprinted on the hil isthe earthly manfes- tation ofa powerful spel; cast upon avitim, i steals their sul and ban- ishes them from the word of the living forever. Twinned with the necro mantic power of Vlad neer of Robinlof in the form of the Pommel Stone of Vid ner, this fantastic weapon becomes che most fearsome, unstoppable 96 cesion of other. erm, players, Inthe end, ie wa only quick thinking on Bob's part thacallowed him to return to the Table, Unfortunatly, the tightly stretched ‘web of far-feched ies and damaing deceit was tom when Dave was sported alive and well by Bob's dad, In the end, all the precautions came ro naught and Bob's dad discovered Bob's game again. A deal was made - i Bob could man. tain a steady job following in his father's footsteps as an adjuster for H&CHL Farmers Insurance, Bob could continue the gare. Although this has damaged his dream of becoming a professional role-play, thas also strengzhened Bob's intense need to hack and slash, Bob's most famous and favorite character is the one and only Knuckles the Sixth, King, of the Wall Climbers. Knuckles is a dwarven begs a with a braided beard, brandishing a erosbow or axe, wearing studded leather armor, a hooded cape and rng on the mide finger of his eft and. Knuckls’s back istanooed with arcane symbols, imprinted on his esh by the hand of (Brian's ‘mage) Teflon Billy, making Knuckles one of Teflon Billy's two walking talking emergency spellbcoks. Although the opporunity doesn’ come up often, ‘Knuckles isa a gourmet chef with a 75% proficiency in gourmet fond prepa- jan Te takes a moment to notice his left leg - instead of a leg of flesh and blood, ic appeats to be a wooden leg, made of fine blood-wood), adorned with ivory inlays and gilded with pure gold. Kauckles was unjustly sentenced to losing his let leg (hacked off at the knee) as punishment for che murder ofa bepgat in ‘Lord Gilead’ city of Fangaere. Before they lef the city the party's vorch-beat- et Knobby Foot found the legendary Wooden Leg of Dwarven Pirate Seurm Pyne at the rie Bazaar. Kee ‘steed is Mike the Dwarven Warhorse, successor to Door s Knuckles values Mike very highly - not only asa companion or beast Oskar tes a chee ha sonar hase ose favorite weapon is his Axe of Doom. The Aue is socond only to his favorite ‘weapon - found by Shadow Pete in the Halls of the Mountain Mage, che Crossbow of Doom has been handed down to Knuckles and is his constant companion of chaos which he uss with various bolts, inclding the Bolt of ‘Torment, +6 Bok of Despair, +8 Bol of Devastation, Boe of Reavng, Bot of ‘Thrashing and the Bolt of Skewering, ‘When the Knights made the switch to being sponsored by Kenzer and ‘Company, Bob and Dave neatly didn'e make i- the bras were considering lo- ing the Dangerous Duo and replacing them with apis of power-gumes. In the ‘end, an impasioned plea by BA. and Sara saved them ftom grisly fies a5 temps in the Gamer Temp Corps or as minianue painter, force for swift and deadly justice in che HackMaster™ —polyvers, a mighty HackMaster +15 (Barteries not indud- ced).Dave's attachment to his HackMaster 412i lo ke no oe - when fed wih the possiblicy of finding the Pommel Srone of Vader (ae above), Daves response was simple and profound expres- sion of joy. The only other time Daye has ‘ever expressed such astonishment was when the Knights played an April Fool's joke on Dave, making him think that his HackMaster +12 had been destroyed by a Since becoming such a devoted player Dave has, of couse, tried his hand a bein *Ginehanes Hacer can beniinel up very simply. BOZWELL “The ony element of the HackMaster™ polyverse that Dave could love as much as his HackMaster +12 was his faithful mount. Not his good sted the horse Clovet-Flax, his equine com- panion - but Clover-Faxs predecessor, Chelsie, Chelsie began life asa cow peacefully munching grass ina field near a palace/casle ofan evil ond. It ‘was DavelEl Ravager finely honed instincts tha led othe discovery ofthis seemingly innocuous cows incredible properties. Even though DavelEl Tava tok th bt cate ould ofthe Bovine he ta avi taking the ‘hit bonus Dave was sue she gave El Ravager with het ‘Dave's most famous characte is, ofcourse, El Ravager the HackMaster +12-wielding human Fighter. Ic beats menvioning that El Ravager’ back is tattooed with arcane symbols, imprinted on his lsh by the hand of (Brian's image) Teflon Billy, making El Ravager one of Teflon Bily's two walking, talking emergency spellbooks age ? Bundle of Trouble" Volume One: Who's Who in the GroupSara Felton is the exception that proves the rule, Where the rest of the Knights OF the Dinner Table are the fire, heart and soul, Sara isthe cooler, wiser head of the group, the perfect foil ro their impetuousness - a consum- ‘mate professional in the business of HackMaster™ FELTON Moving from Wisconsin to Muncie, the home town of her cousin B.A., led her to an invitation to join the Knights. The wealth of experience she brought to the Table was more than anyone expected - role-playing for cen eats, regional champion of the Wisconsin Gary Jackson Role-Playing ‘Tourney for four years ranning and attended the HackMaster™ camp in 1992 (spending tem days studying demi-buman cultures). Sara even stretches to the role of GameMaster with ease, her latest triumph being convincing a bunch of sexist Hack NV Slash maniacs to put aside their usual characters for a night and play female characters, warm ing her up for an upcoming GaryCon, Sara is quite the perfectionist; for het, the art of HackMaster™ and role-playing is mote ofa science to be ‘arefilly and properly executed, whether in the playing, GameMastering or even tasks such as mere mapping. Her role-playing is technically near-perfect, with her ability to cither suppress or use her personal feelings to enhance her role-playing. She has earned her respect - not only from the people who live in the many worlds of HackMaster™, but even from the most impossible taskmasters of the game - the Knights Of the Dinner Table. Sara has reflexes that would scare a striking cobra. Those instant reflexes, however, are generally used for only one thing around the table ‘The scond someone makes a sexist comment, Sara's hand is tightly gripped on their shirt, pulling chem into range of the fist she has cocked and teady to launch into the face of the offender. ‘Unless sexist comment has been made, Sara maintains her cool at all times. Sure, she regrets the loss of her favorite character Zayre the Barbarian, but she keeps the perspective that Zayre was just a fictional construct defined by numbers on paper. A cool, calm profesional Sarai ready to move on with her expertise in the game that is HackMaster™, Victor Fergueson became known as the Lord of Steam when he NOTA WO Ge INATe Me adapted che HackMaster rules to live-action play and began taking hhand picked groups of players on late night forays into the labyrinth FERGUESON of steam tunnels beneath Ball State University. After ‘Fergueson’s Folly’ made national headlines (Victor and his group were lost for 7 prompting a massive rescue search), the steam tunnels were secured and dozens of trances were sealed with concrete. There are several contradicting accounts of what hap- pened weeks later on the evening of January 5th, 1987 but it involved a satchel of C-4 high explosive, a miscalculation of the expected blast radius, and a medical evacuation of the ‘Campus Administration Building which collapsed during an attempt to breach the steam tunnels. The incident earned Victor the nickname ‘Nitro’ and 5 years probation. Nitro has been president of the Black Hand Gaming Society for 8 years, taking over from Weird Pete "Weird" Pete Ashton is the sole proprietor of a local game store called the cul classic role-playing game, Lynch Mob'™. Pete loves to relate the story of B hhow he was burned by his partners and lost “millions”, Pete is always available for advice but oddly seems co be very bitter about the hobby he loves so much. ASHTON Hewasa major stockholder in Hard 8 Enterprises but sold his shares mere days before HackMaster was released, Pete co-founded the Black Hand Gaming Society along with Nitro and served as president for the first four years of the club’s existence. The backroom of Pete's shop serves as home table for the Society sane Gary Jackson is fondly known as the “Gawdfather of Gaming” by JACKSON nillions of gaming enthusiasts around the world, His failing wargame company, Hard 8 Enterprises, was about to close its doors for good in 1977 when Gary tossed the dice on a hastily produced role-playing game, The HackMasters of EverKnight™, ‘The fist print run was quickly snapped off the shelves and soon frantic distributors were calling Gary's three-man shop with pleas of “More!” Gary has been riding Hackmascer spin-ofs ever since, For those who want 10 know what ‘hard eight’ means, it refers to the game of craps where Gaty has blown thou sands of dollars of company money over the yeats on his frequent tips to Vegas Bundle of Trouble™ Volume One: Who's Who in the Group-——__________— 97 aSBN 1-080182-75-9 remo aa |): Pe ea A sits NS14.95 Kac701 ight years ago the firs H Knights of the Dinner . Table” strip was credited as ” an afterthought - filler to take up space on the last page of the small ee ress games publication I was putting out in my spare time. Since that time, KODT™ has appeared in numerous magazines and is now a monthly comic book, I's been a strange and wonderful journey. When it came time to start pulling the first three issues together for a second printing, I found myself think- ing back over that journey - from that first strip to the current issue of the comic book. KODT is a celebration, not of gaming, but of gamers themselves. For me the word ‘gamers’ is synonymous with the word ‘friends.’ Perhaps that’s why all those letters to the KODT mailbox start out with that same familiar phrase, “These guys remind me of my friends.” Although J.R.R. Tolkien warned us not to “ask to see the bones boiled to make the soup”, | really don’t think there would be any harm in ask- ing that question regarding the soup that’s come to be known as Knights of the Dinner Table. The ‘bones’ here are obviously friends and all those things that fo lasting friendships: g, fighting, sharing, caring, ete. Knights of the Binner Table Knights of the Dinner Table Knights of the Dinner Table Issue #1 tssue #2 Issue #3 Originally Published: July, 1994 Originally Published January, 1995 Originally Published: April, 1995