| The Manshion of Mad Professor Ludlow | Demons, Devils, and Spirits | The Possessors | Patron Demons | Restless Dead |
| SS: Making Monsters Meaningful | LTH: The Inner Planes | GITE: Tauno Kraken's-Bane | GITE: Sir Geros Lahvohettos | GITE: James Eckert/Gorb Ash |
| GITE: Orvar-Odd | GITE: Heidrek | DB: Quatsch | DB: Necroton | DB: Well Spirit |
| DB: Sandbats/Swampbats | - | The Day of the Dwarf | - | Dragon |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| <#41 | - | #42 | - | #43> |
‘Rut of excellence’
Dear Editor:
Do, Do, DO continue the trend that started
in
#42, and before. If DRAGON
magazine is falling
in a rut, it is a rut full of excellence.
In #45, Mr. Amory (Out on a Limb)
states <link>
the worst is happening, with TD
becoming
“childish and ad-oriented.” It would seem
that
Mr. Amory has not read any of the older
issues
of TD. I pulled #29 off the
shelf, and compared.
The latest DRAGON magazines come
out ahead.
The “trend” that #42 is the “start”
of actually
began a while back. The issues in the area
of
#8-#11 are (to me) aimed at the
hard-core
gamer. The later issues were (to me, again)
aimed at the casual gamer, the kind most
predominant
among AD&D
players. This means
that the language of articles became English
again, and did not rely upon vast knowledge
of gaming on the reader’s part. If this
is “gearing
to 9-year-olds,” then I am glad of it,
for it
made me a loyal reader. Still, I’m only
14,
therefore a victim of all the “hype.”
Messrs. Jaquet and Mohan have said it before
(and maybe someone will believe it, now
that a customer says it): Dragon Publishing
is
a business. As a business, it is necessary
that
it bring in money. Thus, some advertising
must be permitted. Attracting new
customers is a must, and highlighting the
main features on the cover helps potential
buyers discover what TD is all about.
It
is not
the mark of a second-rate magazine.
Incidentally,
it also tells the dedicated buyer/-
reader/subscriber that the article he/she
has
been waiting for has been printed.
“The
Mansion of Mad Professor Ludlow”
has to be one of the funniest modules I’ve
ever
seen. It allows the player to experience
the
thrills of exploring a haunted house. Who
cares if there is no experience or treasure
to
be had?! It’s FUN:
That is enough. <caps added>
DRAGON magazine is the best gaming
magazine around, and is constantly improving.
And I’m behind it all the way.
Joe Scarafone
San Diego, Calif.
(Dragon #49)