ds Ae Cd a =“ Tue Rucez Lawyer” Tue Rutez Lawyer January 2005 ‘Tue KODT Devetopment TEAM 1s © Copyright 2005, Kener and Jouty R. BLACKBURN * BRIAN JELKE of the Dinner Table™ mag. STEVE JOHANSSON * Davi S. KENZER Se ee monthly by Kemer and’ Company, 1234 Tipls, San Aaeoao, TX TABLE OF CONTENTS 73216 Reioials Mog Pid at Sn] DEPARTMENTS: ‘A Gamers Rant on Movies™ io, Te. a = amar nes Cries from the Artic 2 by Noah Aneiler oe eeevee 56 rights of he Dinner Table | Table Talk* 5 Lookin’ at Comics 511W Greenwood Av, * ‘Waukegan, IL 60087 ‘Tales from the Table’ 58 ‘by Tomy Digerolama p 61 bea jo “p a Trees Face OR . . 59 Summon Web Scryer™ belemerestit i ennth Newgit $50.00 in Canads and US $7400] Gaming Repor™ fom Gemingtporom 66 ae eon 2 Sr Game Vine 68 of Wines Parmer’ a fo subcibe,send a check or money - by Bik Moat ork (nate pyc Kenn and| Back Room atthe Games Pit B oeae Company) to: Weird Pete's Bulletin Board 7 by ohn Oeil 6 ‘Kenzer & Company Brian's Small Press Picks” 79 Board Squawk” o KODT Subscriptions, Parting Shots” 80 - 511 W Greenwood Ave. * Puzzle Monger 70 ‘Waukegan, I, 60087 Se EETT Tare ener GAMEMASTERS’ WORKSHOP™: oo fix a valid Vis MaserCart,| 7 ‘THE STRIPS: by the Usnal Suspects Seae roe Pillager’s Guide 50 ‘As Easy a8 A,B, Coe 9 dens ac (647) 6800950, | Beneath the Little Keep: Part One ~ 48 Path ofthe Righteous. ....ssseeveseesee2 Bacclsmes Bucs and nc! | Dungeons: Ready to Occupy by Cig Zine ....52 Gamer Die-namics rmechanding ae ako salle, Se . eee eee cecacbsc| Balcand Tackle 53 A Table for Two. ieee ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” 42 The Caller (ell epic) en | Doody Toppings” a “(Dieta : oad igus on) ost ly Tapping Bi fion@lenzrcocom (ll ater One-Two Punch SI rs Rustlers of the 45, BE | They Mage HOMEBREW. Sobmissions We accept submis- Fuzzy Knights by Noch {D. Chinn n sons for sip ides, jokes, coon, eee ¢Weacingexd maningay-| REGULAR COLUMNS: Going Down by th Brves Gri 3 thing that other gamers and fins| Under the Hood™ 39 iss, r inet a seine 5 are ae ” Rwiel fides Lost Game Safari 254 Duginski 80 Hele Kt ee a Cae mihi les = | wes Te DRO TALE ws lca eed by ll R Bulbs poy ck 0 we ee | | Bas ler’ for his smal press mie Sw Ic was someting a ei ay nd Jol OUT, ROeAOUL tnd tea, | | aly didnt give ie much thought. Perhaps that's why he was just as suprised as anyone that soon BEE ee || ROBT wr cong cei ihe ye dnd ta a do nnn ie Sime Sie amen. | | 7 her Fotunatly wring and drawing KODT srs the lone ee Bn Ba Ba am he Ga || Inert Reet Heol ban te enced oe eee Retest tedloa ee Da todo > rn cla Ka Cn deen Pata S Ha op Ee Os Sf the KODT D-Tea the Knights have gone far bond anything flor | «1997. ee 1998+ eran fdoe Daa babes Sere Bebe negate eoa a | “17 egigs Pes Cayo EL Sc, Gime Woon. At Tin Mie AR side and the D-Team looks forward to seeing where the gang cakes them next. cnorgrmberwesnie Coys BE ide andthe D-Team looks forward to seeing where the gang cakes th Upp Roden oe gh he ewe Chapa Lge, Lemerasss pment ‘Su alten dra ee an Campy Dagens 6 Opes od DDD a eden ore by Wa fhe 119996 #2003" (om ec mea ts ed ‘id Kem and Cony wre ee ©CRIES FROM THE ATTIC LooKING FORWARD TO 2005... heck the deal = 0 hrimas is a ew | Rabat ofl @ days away as I write this and [ve got a deadline | for ise 9 hanging over my head, like the Sond of Democle My bags ae paced and | sing by the door. As soon as this sue is wrapped, the family and 1 are heading f out the door ro Indiana ro see the fll, Fim feng disraced. Visions of moms home cooking fill my head aswell s all hat wonder fal swag wrapped up in prety papper and colorful bows under her ree (Tim hoping Santa remembered to get me the extended DVD set of Return of the King) youll excuse me, Tm sure if [tend to ramble more chan usual in my eagerness ro wrap this up edi- torial You know, I've got afeling 2005 is going to be a great year. elit in my bones. We've got some incred- ible storylines lined up for 2005 in KODT were chomping atthe bit to work on as well as some other surprises. AAs T mentioned last issue, some of our best work ever comes out next month in KODT 100 (which will be a special 144 page trade paperback). And there's even an all new KODT 2005 Calendar on the shelves to check off they days while you wait fori to artive. On other fronts, we've been working hard on our new wild west roleplaying game, Aces and Eights: The Shattered Frontier. Youll be hearing more the game in the coming months ‘Wet also working on a new board game — Craig Zipses, The Great Space Race. I haverit been so exci ed about a KenzerCo product since we were working con the core rule books of HackMaster. What a great game. Only way I can describe itis that it’ sore of like Formula De’ in space — only with mises, blackholes and space amobeas And of course well continue to support our award winning epg lines, HackMaster and Kingdoms of Kalamar D&D 3E with new supplements and adven- cures THE OLD MAN BUYS YOU A Things ate looking bright outside the company as well. I'm amazed at some of the things I've been hear- ing as far as new product coming down the pipe from other companies. New expansions for Pirates of the Spanish Main from WizKids, A new expansion for Bang! (one of my favorite card games). And a couple of new movie RPG licenses that are stil in the ‘rumor category a6 I write this so I wont mention chem by name. At PhilCon a few wecks ago, I had a chance 0 sc down and play in Tony DiGerolamo’s Mafia 420 game. [ have to be honest. When he asked to me to play I was being polite when I sid yes. I had absolure- ly no interest in playing a ‘tough guy. Within minutes however, | was a huge fan as my. character, Bruno sted to impress the family’ and earn theie respect by pulling my firs job. The game (from Living Room Games) should be out by the time you read this, Check it out. Ia lot of fun Speaking of PhilCon what a fabulous show. Although its more asi con chan a gaming con there was plening of gaming to be had. Steve and I had a ‘great time. These guys really know how ro put on a show and they literally spoiled us with kindness One ofthe highlights of the show is chat, I finaly got my hands on a copy of Days of Wonders Ticket to Ride. I've been hearing incredbile buzz about this game for almost a year but I just couldnt seem to get my hands on a copy (Whenever I ventured down to the local FLGS ic was sold out). ‘Now I know what all he fuss has been about. What an incredibly fun game. IFyou havent check this one fout you should do so. You dont know what you're missing. Great game for those non-gamer fiends and family members by the way: ‘As many of you know, Heroscape is currently one of my favorite games. And support for it seems to be strong. Hasbro just recently released four new expan- sion packs forthe game. And, 'm cold more are on the way. Matter of fact, the game is packed among my bags. im hoping to get a game going with my old gam- ing group during my trip as open up a can of Whup Ass on them. Here’ hoping 2005 is good to all of you. ( RSh Jolly R. Blackburn December 20, 2004 Game on! I ORINK A TOAST 9.4, TASK HIM WOW, THIS PARTY (ROUND OF DRINKS AND WISHES re THE OLD MAN’S IF HE WOULD. |S HOPPING! YOU A “HAPPY NEW YEAR!" HEALTH AND CARE TO DANCE. MUCH BETTER RETURN THE FAVOR, ) THAN LAST wey is THAT ssupnus ) reas ‘STARING AT MEP N Aintights or ete Dinner Tsbte CREDITS PUBLISHER Kenzer and Company ‘Eprror-IN-CHIEF Jolly R. Blackburn jolly@kenzerco.com AssIsTANT EDITOR Barbara Blackburn Barb@kenzerco.com PRODUCTION MANAGER ‘Steve Jobansson ‘SALES AND MARKETING David S. Kenzer Kopr Strip Arr Jolly Blackburn Cover ART Chris Moreno CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS Peter Delgado, fr The Brothers Grinn swe #99: The Rules: LawyerDiscover the Palladium Megaverse® Palladium Books’ role-playing games span every genre, and with one universal game system, players who leam one game can play any of them. Better yet powers, magic, weapons and characters can be taken from one game setting into another. 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Palladium Books® — 1245S Universal Drive — Taylor, MI 48180 - www.palladiumbooks.com — (734) 946-1156 (This is a catalog request and order line only.) (© 2004 Palladium Books lnc, All sight reserved, wove. Rifts, Meyaverve®, The Pallaiom Fantasy RPG, Nighbane® and Phase World® tue Registered Trademarks owned and icensed by Palladium Books Ine. All other ‘umes, ides and slogans ae also trademarks of Palladium Books ine.TABLE Our Readers Talk Back! TALK Eortox’s Nore: The mail ust never sems to sop. Wh ach and eer etter, its not aly posible to give peonal rep. So even if your leer iat pub lished or if you dont ge a dint rspome, rst asaed ow ARE being heard Remember, KODT isan intercie magazin, We mane you, the reader, 10 be ineolted. So kep your g- seston, shougs and epinions (constructive and ob wise) coming. Opinions expresed by readers are not necesarily shared by the editor or Kenzer and Compa Please be aware that due to space comsideraions, some later have ben clted exter ried. — Joly @: From Across the Pond... tee make every effort wo read H: ks. Thought Id drop you a mot, just vo y hi and le you know KODT is rad and enjoyed this ie of the pond, though you probably already know that. My daughter got me hooked on the mag, No huge surprise there. I'd guess a fae number of readers are introduced to it by thes However I mention this because Katy is thee, (wil be four on New Yeu" Eve) ‘She and Jake (my six year old son) prevailed upon me t0 go into our local gaming shop [The Gamekeeper on Cowley Rd. Oxford (Hi john A Carol} about 6 months ago to look for gamesfig tues, et. of interest. I can't remember what Jake wanted, Mage Knights, 1 expect. Katy wanred Knight ofthe Dinner Table — well ic does star with a K..and chere was a dragon in it. Kary loves dragons 8 muchas she does horses So the first one we sat and read together. 1 thought the cartoon was fun. Reminded me of ew tables I'd sat around inthe late "70s and '80s play ing D&D, AD&D, Runequest, Dragonquest CoC, afew others. By the time Kate ad said “pease daddy” in her big eyed way (I know I'm sot touch, well as Faras my kids are concemed) the third time we went into Gamekeepe Iwas hooked U haven't gamed fr years so the adverts and at cles aren't tha fascinating, Hell 1 didn’t realize HackMaster was an actual game for 2 couple of months | hought it was a quip aimed a slash and grab gamers ‘The Knights’ storyline initially made me laugh and then caughe me up in che story. Can’ find the issue now, they'd een arrested, some for tying to spring the others I think. Gor carted off in 2. llm.,.cat.. Sara, T thik, summoned some hounds or some such as a distraction and the hounds went on ro destroy 2 village, (nice bit of nasty gming there) Poot lass, the look on her face. Now though, I'm so hooked I'm searching (Oxford fora group to jin. Did I mention i's been awhile since I tabletopped? Havent played AD&D type stuf for 20 yes. Hard to believe I'm itching to get a sword in my hand and hack a some bug-gly monsters. 'm even having fond memories of old characters like Tor, a thief who carried a hammer and broad headed nails so he could mail peopl to things so they'd tay pur and a chisel for removing rings (hed give the Fingers back, if he remembered) Or Parfr the Coane, wi planted acorns in the wounds of whoever he killed because he'd been 0 impressed by a druids specch on ecology. SIGH, Happy days ‘Wel, enough of this aimless whitring. I've ‘wasted enough of your time just to say thanks for cheering me up (I work in 2 medium secure uni, dealing with dul diagnosis leaning disabled adults with personality disorders and other mental health problems Took 2 bad injury fom a seis of violet incidents and have been off work for two months... ‘only four more wo go from what che physios say and can go beck... mutter...) ((you can tl from the handwriting that my atm doesn't work properly right now). All the best and thanks for coming up with and publishing your KODT stuff. Ie “Rawks.” Phil Wasson Oxford, England Thane forse re, Phil Sory tear about your Anju. Looks ike ou have some time on your ands ‘0 geting back into gaming migh not be bad idea 1 would imegine withthe resurgence in DED popu levity BE) you shuld have too much trouble find- ing a group. We have “Looking for other Players” section on cur dscusion forums where you can search for local groups. There are echer such sites om line as well Sounds like Katie has goad eye. Her hoping father and daughter (and son) pick up the dice and game tegeter. Good luck. — Jolly The Typo Whipping Post KODT 97 We inadvertently left off the last ler- ter of a valued freelancer's name when we published his article. His article was “Truisms of the Dark Knight” — his actual name is Scott J. Conover. A random KenzerCo intern has been flogged for the mis- take and has had sale rubbed in his wounds while being taunted by a group of his peers. We apologize to Scott for the error. Robinlofe 2 Michael Caudill, one of the con- iburing authors’ names in our recent. HackMaster release of Robinloft 2 had his name butchered in the credits, We apologize to Michael. Again, a random intern has been selected for a severe flogging, bound and tied and dumped in Jersey. &:; 91 Rembrance... yj about two weeks ago we held our annu- jl 9/1 Remembrance Fundraiser that Kenzerco was kind enough to support. The event went extremely well, du in large part 10 your assistance, We very much appreciate your donation at GenCon ofthe HackMaster books. We garnered significant local and national media, which helped signficanly in both of | How ro Contract US 52: Via ONLINE FORUM — Just pop over to wowruikenzerce.com and visit our discussion forums. 1S) Se: via E-MAM. — Send your strip ideas, reader mail, back room fodder and questions to nailbag@kenzerco.com. Knights of the Dinner Table® Magazine * January, 2005 <@®: via SNAIL MAIL — Or write tous at KODT clo KenzerCo, 511 W Greenwood Ave., Waukegan, IL. 60087.cour goals: 1) raise money to aid those that were affected by the evens of tha horrific day 2) maintain avareness of the sacrifice and heroism of those that did what they could to aid others that day and in the immediate afiermath, With @ generous matching donation, we raised just shy of $7,000.00. The monies raised willbe going to the NY Police and Fire Widows and Children Fund, {realize that you mus receive a huge num- ber of thankeyou letters every year, but itis very important 10 us that you realize how much your assistance means. We absolutly could not do this every year withoue the generous assistance of those that are kind enough to support us. Please fel free to contact me with any questions or con- cerns, [hope you have a great holiday season. Cordially, Eric Devlin Thanks for the update, Eric. Count on us for continued support next year. And thanks for helping to organize a charity event for such a worthy cause — holy Oakland, CA 94612 (510) 465-3637 ‘SNACK FACTOR: Several restaurants in the immediate area. Sodas ‘and snacks are available on site. GAME ROOM: Over 1600 square fect of gaming area «: Enough with the Whining... onthe only reader growing sick and frigging ofall he grumbling chars been coming he pipe forthe last few issues? down Almost everytime I open the newest issue I turn ping and groan ing about this or that. e's gorten to where I can hit around and find somebody ese the Kenzereo boards and find one or «wo com plaints about how somone’s unhappy with the direction of the comic and are ether going to a) Stop reading the comic until they sce changes implemented that suit them (But what about the rest of us who don't have the same problem, of don’t have any problems withthe com, period) Orb) Stop reading the comic period, end of story. Tn the comic ivelf came that useless debate about the language in KODT, with some crying foul and threatening to the "graphic" rable tlk. buying the comic over I wonder, ofall the readers who took offense playing a a con, and some stranger they're playing with forthe frst time urtered a “curse word” when the Master Lich kiled his paladin/lericetc, do they rise our of their seat and storm off to show they're unhappy with the language? Do they pull a Brian and flip the table everytime somebody ‘mouths of” ata fellow player, oF dare ] mention, an NPC? Of course they don't So why raise hell about it happening in the pages of a comic book tha's al about gamers when the gamers you know in real life are just like the CHARACTERS we ee portrayed ina comic stip? ‘What abou the hoopla re: Sar’ "too realistic’ portaic on cover 962 Nevermind that Sara was in standard clothes, and not ina chainmail bik some sot of provocative pose that all but made her Took nude. No. It was a mockup ofthe Mona Lisa, and like the latest coves, attempted to make her real for us who've only seen her asa 2D character on a fla shee of pape forthe ls few yeas inthe comics, We have this awesome cover artist try to do her justice by drawing her a she lok in real life atthe Game Table, anda reader or two got up in arms over Sara being some sor of wannabe ex sym bol? with the “language” and sid it was getting out of hand, do they ever boyeot ther weekly game if one cor two players start using “aul language” What do these players do when they themselves use grown up" lnguage in the course of a game? Do they get up, excuse themscres, and head to the nearest res room to wash their mouths out with soap If theyre The reader reactions tothe lifelike cover por crits has boen a diverse as expected, (B. A, any- store has provided gamers with the coolest games and a place to gather and play. Their new locz- tion, anchoring the historic Swan's Market, expands on their commitment to promoting the social aspects of gaming Once you walk chrough the front door, cis evident chat the tor is run by people who love to game. The retail space is huge, and stocked with hundreds of different products. Dioramas are sprinkled throughout the tore, highlighting the games and contributing to the overall atmosphere. There are even lounge areas where gamers can peruse their purchases. Non-gaming magazines are kept in the lounges co enterain parents, frends, and spouses while their gamer enjoys himself. The sa at EndGame is friendly and knowledgeable, Berween che four people who run the store, they have played every game that they sell. They are dedicated to promoring gaming, and take pride in cei ability o talk with every- ‘one from parents to hard-core games. The highlight of the store is the mezzanine level. There are areas dedicated to role-playing and minia- ture gaming. The miniature tables are designed to accept modular terrain boards, and the store has 2 wie vatiery to choose from. ‘There are also boxes of seenery pieces, everything from buildings to tees to destroyed vehicles is available. The store is open seven days a week, ftom 10 am co 7 pm. The game room says open until 10 pm, Monday through Friday. There ae several events each week and the complete calendar can be found on their website hetp://www.endgameoakland,com. No matter what type of gamer you are, this store is worth checking out. 1 [Ete east bay gaming community, EndGame is it. For the pas three years, this Issue #99: The Rulez: Lawyerone), and yet how many discusions online or at the FLGS did you hear about how you hao rush outand buy KODT 96 just cause ofthe “awesome” Sara cover First thing I choughe when 1d seen it ‘was "Wow, her air ellis thar short? Okay then,” and tha was it, didn’c draw my eyes down ro her bosom, and when I was checking outa the ester the clerk glanced act, said he'd seen a similar cover some time back (the Weird Pete cover) and asked me about the comic. (Total n00b to the Knights though I did talk him into reading KODT) | start ‘ed ting him how the Knights were getting cover portraits and I even showed him the B, A. cover from the previous ish, then opened up the comic and showed him the Knights, and shared 2 few UTI exploits with him (He cracked up seeing Dave's cover the next month) My point being, nobody, none of my rd blood- ed buds that! pal around with, nor one of them said "Hey look dude, Sar’s gor that Bad Grel ching going” Nobody, and 1 mean everyone I came in contact with who cither reads my copy of KODT or who has their own copy and wel talk about the Latest happenings when atthe comic shop), drooled and slobered over the Sara cover. You know why? Cause everyone's to0 mature to go reading things ino simple comic book covers Is i me, of are people actualy taking these things as serious? Wasnt it a few issues ago that somebody wrote in about the cost of the comic going up, bur che quality was dropping? Excuse me? ‘The quality ofthe comic has gotten beter ifnot improved over the not so recent issues But after allthis time of readeship growing steadily, mosly by word of mouth at FLGS or at conventions, now some of the readers who came onboard at the suggestion ofa frend or reales are stating to smub the comic over petty issues lke lan- guage, the prce on the cover, the “all too exaggerat cd but realistic portrait of Sara" and we're supposed to buy these arguments? ‘C'mon people it's a ficking comic fr crying out ficking loud! 1 don'c remember hearing too many people complain about the 2.95 cover price when all you gor were the 22 pages of strips and maybe a page or two of ads and company plugs. Like when he issues started bulking up around issue 80 and nobody made a fuss when the cover price went up — and it didn’t even go up that much; and yet Kenerco was probably killing them- selves monthly putting so much thought and effore into KODT. My point is we'll here onthe boards, atthe game shops, every day of every month because we ‘were drawn to this comic because it was a throw back to the old days of gaming, when we were younger and "work” was the only 4 letter bad word. Twas ik taking a microscope to ourselves and our tamer friends, and when we found this small indie comic and picked it up at someone eles’ ecom- smendation, we fell in love immediacely How many letters pour in monthly, saying “character x reminds me of my old frend 2.” How smany of you readers went out and dusted off your ld manuals and guides, or coughed up some ‘money to get new game materials and either rebuilt the old group and built up a new group from scratch? How many of those writing the complines and boyeoting the comic are doing it because they realy dont like the direction of the eomic? Fd say Nothing’ changed. B. A is sill geting out- smaned by Brian here and there, geting one over con the UT+1 now and then, and the Black Hands ate tll themselves. The bottom lin is that every body picking up a pen to write in or everyone fing on to Kenzerco and voicing thei complaints aren't doing it because they'e unhappy with the comic; theyre really unhappy with chemsehves (or ‘unhappy with whatever’ going on in thei ie Realistically, the comic is about good times with fiends, and that includes the quirks and shortom- ings, and just about the whol experience of gaming and having a good time. Fo these unhappy “uns: ified” readers to pick up a pen and complain, and 0 much of it happening so recent is geting real sick and just a waste of everybody's time. What do you do when your favorite wv show goes bland? You ‘change the channel, Or you turn off the tv, Or, and this isthe sticker, oF you unplug the tv and cozy up to the latest issue of KODT, unless you prefer 0 ‘cory up with some old faves. What I'm saying i, if the comic isnt going where you want it, ifyou'te unhappy over the art or the language or the cover pric, then simply drop it ftom your pull list and get on with your life Dorit wite in your complaint or email i in, just drop the tide cold turkey and get on with living, ‘much like the res of us cant go a month without our favorite foursome. Donit waste my time demanding changes in the comic, or try 10 guilt anyone imo doing your bidding. Ifthe comic is no longer your flavor, put ie down and pick something be up. Te had it up to here with reading complaint afier complaint INSIDE the pages of KODT. You «an tell me, well don read the lecters pages then, or you can sy, then you drop the le yours and et me keep comphining and b-ching and moaning But I love reading the leters pages cause thats ‘where the humanity ofthe comic comes fiom, heat ing the stories and real ite tales of other gamers ike ime out there, Cause che levers drive the comic as much as the strips do. Where would "The Empty Chait" beif some readers hadnt requested a posting of i@ How would we know what address we can imal swag to for our roops oversea? To Joly and the D-Team —As the holidays are here and we all gather with those we love (or chose brave heroes overseas fighting for our freedoms who're gathering with cei gaming groups and run ring adventures on thee fee time), I want the peo- pleat Kenzer to know they'e doing an outstanding job. People will alvays find reasons to. complain about the product, bur it ist for any faults of yours, the company and its reps. At the end of the day, business is business, and when your jb isthe Knights of the Dinner Tablé® Magazine * January, 2005 best damn job in the whole workd (D-TEAMH!), I dont want you flipping through reader-mail or forum topics and feel that youre doing something wrong. Keep fithful 10 the comic as you've always done, and we the readers and games and husbands and wives and fathers and mothers and sons and dlaughters will kep coming back 10 share in the UT+ls adventures (im having 2 hard time facing the fact theyre gone, so Pl keep refering ro the Knights as UT+1) May all your hits be cris, Mist Bones Tha forthe letter, Bones, An thanks for caring enough 10 send 43a "Job well done!” and _gewing our back. 18s much appreciate. To be honest he recent upswing in complaints «appearing in KODT is probably more my fle. than anything ese. Let me explain. You see, we get hundreds of ita by’ leters each month, We love reading thers and its nice 10 know so many people chink were doing a great job. Bus we abo receive the occasional ler of complaint The rato is probably 20 postive lt- ter forever negative one Each sue when [sit down to lay the sue T have to decide which leters to run. Oddly enough, (amd my partners have complained to It’s HERE! The 2005 Full Color KODT Wall Calendar ‘At Game Stores Everywhere! or order it at www.kenzerco.com‘me about this inthe pas) Im usually more inclined to run a complaint than 4 postive letter. Why? Because asthe editor | ahory want ro know how were dling, My theory 1s if L run a few ofthe complains each isu one of two things will happen. 1. Those readers who disagree with the complains will terite into voice their own opinions (as you obviously have). Or 2. Those readers who agree with the complaints will el encouraged to chime in, For example when a handful of eters came in bac ro back a fewo months ago complaining about the language in KODIT we felt it was important to see how our readership a large felt om the subject. Afer running those lees the reponse was overwhelming and it soon became clear thatthe vast major- ity of our readers were fine with the language. Furthermore, it became clear ‘thas most of you didn’ want us to censor oureloes If hadn't run those er ter of complaint wed sill be second guesing ourelves and wondering just hw big am isu it really was, Another reason yore seeing more complaints so lates because our read ehip is growing (as you pointed out). The larger a family becomes the more squabbles there sem t0 be. More readers mean mare likes and dike, Obviously we cant please everyone. Some readers want t0 see more Blackhand strips for exerpl, Others want tose les of them. Some love the “Hard Eight gong. Others hate JoJo and bis comrades with a pasion So asan editor each isue is something ofa balancing act. Some of you like longer story arcs hat span several issues. Others wane more stand alone strips thas are resolved quickly. We ary to plea as many readers as posible know ing tha its virualy imposible to do so. We do the best we can. The Letters Page in KODT along with Back Room at the Garmes Pit and the online forums are invaluable, The allow readers to have their say (good or bad) ana fuel disucuson. I know it might sometimes appear that everyone i complaining or beng ety. But we have thick skin here. We love noes feedback. And lt fac it. Of times the complaint are vid. Numerous times we've dropped features (and added new ones) from the KODIT line up based directly on reader feedback. And ironcaly enough, a dot of you have been writing in ro complain abous the complaints. So maybe ale back on running so many ofthe in she ature. ‘And i is encouraging that as we appraoch issue 100, s0 many of you have deen writing in 0 simply sy you trast our instincts and 10 “steep doing shat youve been doing.” ‘So heep the feedback coming. We do read each and ever leer even if we dni have time t answer them all. —foly &: KODT Fiction....? Ati bre se TembeCavi Marvin sry wl he che story of the Doomsday Pack which I guess was par of the same story. What an epic adventure. I recently sit down and reread issues 65 ‘or so through 95 and was amazed at just how many ploc seeds had een planted many issues ago that became important later on. I realy like reading series of paperback novels. Which brings me tothe point of this Jeter. Have you ever given any thought to doing some Knights of the Dinner Table fiction or paperback novel? ‘Think about it. The comics are basically works of fiction anyway with ar as place holders. And youve commented your inablity to draw pret- ty much means you have co keep the characters at che abl. (Not that I'm complaining. I think part of the charm of KODT js the face thatthe characters DO remain atthe table and that it has forced you to be more creative) Fiction might bea nice way for you to explore other aspect of the characters and the KODT megaverse. Asa huge fan ofall chings KODT, [ would cerainly buy them up. Tom Davies Asa master of fact, Tve been planning to present some KODT fiction for «few years now, Ive just een puting tof because Tve had 10 much on my ‘plate Look for evra salient: of KODT fiction in 2005 as we test the ‘waters. [recently finshed up a few saris tha I fel turned out prety good. Tim interested in secng how they go over and then well cake it rom there. — Joly 8 Issue #99: The Rulez Lawyer™As Easy as A,B, C... WELL, THAT WENT NICELY DIDN'T IT? RECAP: OUR HEROES RN ee Br rey Ta OH, SURE -- YOUR CHARACTERS ACTUALLY MANAGED TO SURVIVE FOR TWENTY WHOLE MINUTES BEFORE DYING THAT TIME. DAMN THOSE ANGELS BEAT \ YOHNNY THRIFT-FINGERS AROUND UKE A RED-HEADED S72? CH.2, CONAN ard ae YOU KNOW GUYS, NOW THAT YOU'VE BEEN "CHASTENED"... HEY, CAN THE SERMON THERE, FATHER MURPHY. 1 1 ONE WAY OR ANOTHER WE’RE TAKIN’ THE OMEGA PATH THROUGH THIS DUNGEON. \ i KNOW = 19 86 MICE IE You'D sant COOPERATING A LITTLE ANDO WORK WITH US HERE, UM, HOW MANY TIMES HAS IT BEEN NOW? S/X,.2? \ MAYBE NOW YOU'LL SEE THE LIGHT BND MEND YOUR WAYS. \ “WORK” WITH YOUP DON'T TELL | ME YOU ACTUALLY EXPECT Mé TO FUDGE THe RESULTS, HOW ‘BOUT JUST RUNNING IT THE WAYIT WAS WRITTEN? a THE “OMEGA” ( *) DOOR AND CHOOSING ONE OF THe OTHERS? RUNNING IT THE WAY IT WAS WRITTEN? / JUST WHAT ARE YOU INFERRING? / YOU SAID IT YOURSELF -- THE HMA GAVE THIS DUNGEON AN 83 | PERCENT PC LETHALITY RATING. | | CMON, BA 50 FAR YOU'RE BATTIN’ t A HUNDRED PERCENT. It’s OBVIOUS \ YOU'RE ver mses | BLOCKING. EXACTLY 6S WRITTEN. \ A PAIR OF FRICKIN’ ANGELS OF DEATH?? 1 THOSE GUYS ARE LIKE DEM/-GAWD TOUGH! YEAH, I WAS DEAD BEFORE ’ T COULD EVEN RETRIEVE MY LUCKY DIE TO ROLL FOR INIT? | | ‘THE WAY THEY KEEP COMING AT US =~ YOU'D THINK IT WAS | PERSONAL OR ome) THEY WOULD’A BEEN A MATCH FOR US IN OUR PRIME! ‘THERE'S SOMETHING VERY O00 ABOUT THIS DUNGEON... Knights of the Dinner Table” Magazine NOW, ONE TIME SQUIRRELY HIT ME IN THE G’NADS WITH STICK AND I ACTUALLY BLACKED OUT FROM THE PAIN.” —Pete Ashton, Bundle of Trouble #6, Carry a Big Stick * January, 2005 910 ANYONE ELSE NOTICE THE PATTERN? AND I GOT CHASED BY THAT AARNZ HOUND. THE FIRST ROOM HAD A PAIR OF AARAKIAN BROOD WATCHERS... THEN WE RAN INTO THAT DIRE AARDVARI THE ADARUPIKUS.. \ ne GOOD LORD -- THE ENCOUNTER PLACEMENT ‘APPEARS TO BE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER... GUESS THAT EXPLAINS ‘THE ALLIGATOR IN THe UTILITY CLOSET. \ WONDER WHAT THE SIGNIFICANCE \S? ANGELS AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY REGARO FOR DUNGEON ECOLOGY. ANGELS PLACED NEXT TO GIANT AMOEBAS? I1’S CRAZY. NOW, NOW, SARA, DON'T FORGET. COLINTLESS HUNDREDS OF MAN HOURS AND LIMITLESS TALENT WENT INTO THIS. SAY WHAT... ‘THAT CAN'T BE I RIGHT -- CAN ITP, HELL, JO Jo ZEKE HIMSELF WORKED ON IT. \ T SERIOUSLY DouBT THEY SUST OPENED ‘THE DOOR AND DUMPED N ‘A BUNCH OF MONSTERS, ANKOU, ANKOU'S SKELETAL DRAUGHT HORSES OF DOOM, ANT, GIANT, ANT HUNTER, ANT LION, ANT MEN... WHAT THE HELL? °o BABBLING INSTIGATOR, BABOON-MAN, BARRACUDA... HELL...? NOW SIR, T FINISHED COMPILING ALL THE MONSTERS FROM THE HACKLOPEDIAS INTO ONE DATABASE. \ IT WAS A LOTOF WORK BUT I THINK I MANAGED TO INCLUDE THEM ALL --3,700 CREATURES. GOOD WORK, SON. \ WHAT ABOUT THE MONSTERS WE'VE BEEN RUNNING IN HACKJOURNAL? 10. Issue #99: The Rulez Lawyer”TLL GET ON THOSE RIGHT AFTER LUNCH, | AFTER THAT, I NEED TO HELP WACO BOB WITH THE MAPS FOR LEVELS 97 THRL 108, NS (OKAY, BUT BEFORE YOU DO THAT MAKE SURE YOU GET WILL 00, SIR. Me THOSE MAGE i SCANS, I a FOR, I DELEGATED THAT TASK TO —~ TROY. TLL see pol ¢ 72 a HOW HE’S DOING. TROY..? BUT INE GOT HM WORKING GN DUNGEON écaLOGY. ‘THAT's way IT's Yirae You Ger Hin THAT MONSTER DATABASE 50 HE CAN CRUNCH THE NaMBERS \ ‘NO WORK THE SCIENCE. UM, THAT'S We WANTED TO TALK TO YOu, SiR. TURNS OUT TROY IS MORE AN “IDEA GUY" THEN AN ACTUAL DEVELOPER, SIR. \ HE TOLD ME SO HIMSELF -- HE'S GOT NO KNACK FOR DONG THE DETAIL WORK. NO INTEREST EITHER. 1 HE'S REALLY SLOW T00 ~ THAT'S WHY T PuT HIM TO WORK ON — SCANNING THOSE HELL, GARY DIDN'T HAVE IT LIKE THAT. / GONNA HE WORKED IN THE TRENCHES (ON A PROJECT JUST THE SAME AS THE REST OF US. | SIR WE'VE GOT TO FAR ASE GO 10 PRESS ( INA FEW DAYS... Now SO WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TELLING MEP | THE SCHMUCK Just WANTS TO SIT AROUND ALL DAY AND DREAM UP IDEAS FOR THE REST OF 50 WHO ARE WE PUT ON DUNGEON ECOLOGY? 1 EVERYBODY'S SWAMPED KS CAN TELL. THIS PROJECT WAS HIS FRICKIN’ IDEAL! I HRMMPPHH... "DEA GUY” MY ASS. \ T RUN THIS OFFICE AND T AIN'T GOT IT LIKE THAT. eo! He's sus NOT HE YEAH AND I'M STILL BOGGED DOWN WITH TREASURE PLACEMENT AND WRITING THE BACKSTORY AND THE "CHOOSE OUR OWN PATH” MATRICES... f -SIGH- OKAY, HERE'S WHAT T WANT YOU TO DO... JUST SORT THE DATABASE ALPHABETICALLY AND PLACE THE MONSTERS IN THAT ORDER. (yw aeeno, x oon | UNDERSTAND. ALPHABETICALLY? WHAT'S NOT TO OR } { es co 4 i) \ ‘START OPENING DOORS AND TOSSIN’ IN MONSTERS. / {LL WORK UP SOME LAME BACKSTORY THAT MAKES SENSE OF IT ALL. I WorKeD FoR FLATAROY'S “SIGH- THE FIRST CASUALTY OF AN IMMINENT DEAD- LINE'S QUALITY ‘CONTROL. AYE, AYE, SIR. IF YOU SAY $0. 2 sLer's See WHAT YOU HAVE HERE. A DOZEN HENS? Six GOATS? ‘SHEEP??!" ‘TWELVE CARRIER PIGEONS? A HERD OF Knights of the Dinner Table® Magazine * January, 2005 —BA Felton, Tales from the Vault #3 IWHAT YOU'RE GRIPING ABOUT. f YOU STUBBORN FOOLS -- YOU'D THINK AFTER MINE FAILED ATTEMPTS IT WOULD EVENTUALLY SINK IN. YOU CAN'T GO THAT ROUTE. \ HE'S RIGHT, GUYS, LET'S \ WELL T DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR pee. + YOU WERE GIVEN YOU. NOT ONE BIT. YOU GOT. TRY THe ALPHA DOOR, SWI, Fare warning || EXACTLY WHAT You ASKED FoR, ie BAwa BUT OANO, YOU {POR suet nap 10.60 THROUGH THE —~ OMEGA DOOR. ware AND LET B.A. WIN I'S NOT FAIR, B.A, AND TAKE NAMES AND YOU KEEP APTER GARY BUCKLED WOULDN'T LOOK LIKE ' SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WERE NOTHING MORE THAN COMMON DUNGEON TRASH, “THAN JUST ANOTHER ROMP 12 10 BALANCE OUT THE DEMONS $0 IT yaBles. IT cust BESIDES, THEY'RE 1 10 THE ANGELIC GUARDIANS YOU JUST THAT = EVERY MONSTER! YOU GOTTA SHIFT YER PARA DIGM VERE. THS 1S FAR MORE ‘THROUGH ORCS AT THE GATES. \ YOUNE GOT 10 EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED -~ TAS |S, APTER- ALL, A HARDEIGHT MASTERPIECE, <- We KICKASS THROWING THOSE DEATH ANGELS AT US, 1 DON'T THINK pda eae capes, niey Azer ven Rea woxsrens, MWOELS SHOULD || You neuRe Paar? THEY WERE ONLY PUT IN THE MACKLOPEDIAS Use Te "Dery UNDER THE PRESSURE “FIGHTING” AN OCCULT GAME. SEEMS WRONG. LOOK, LET'S CHALK THIS UP TO EXPERIENCE. 1 WE CAN START UP AGAIN NEXT WEEK BACK AT THE HALFLING TOWN, DERBIN WITH NEWV CHARACTERS, I ACTUALLY, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BRING SEVERAL NEW CHARACTERS IF TONIGHT’S SESSION HEH, BASED ON TONIGHT'S SESSION THINK I MAY NEED TO BRING AN ENTIRE REAM OF CHARACTER SHEETS. THOUGHT INTO DOING cust put some | WoW! we Gor SPANKED HARD SOMETHING DIFFERENT. IST TIME WE GOT TO HIM LIKE THIS He DESIGNED ‘A DUNGEON WITH SPIKED PITS IN EVERY 10-FOOT SQUARE. —Dove Bozwell, Bundle of Trouble #2, Spaced Out Issue #99: The Rulez Lawyer” ‘YOU KNOW 08, YOU ONLY HAVE YOURSELF TO SLANE. WELL, YOU'RE THE ONE wo INSISTED WE GO wiTH A CHAOTIC ‘NEUTRAL PARTY $0 YOU COULD "MESS" WITA THE HIRELINGS. HEY, 1 JUST WANT To BE ABLE 10 BITCH SLAP A MOUTHY PACK BEARER EVERY NOW AND THEN «= WHAT'S: WRONG WaT THAT? ACTUALLY SPENT WAS ANY INDICATOR OF YOUR FLTURE TACTICS. pice iS UP CHARACTERS THAN T 01D PLAYING. \ \ \ SOMETHING,AAAH, YES, THAT'S IT -- IT ALL MAKES PERFECT SENSE... \ THE OLD MAN IN THE GALLERY OF DOORS SAI SOMETHING ABOUT COSM BEING UP AGAINST NEFARIAN POWERS. I SHOULD HAVE REALIZED IT SOONER -- IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT THEY’D WANT TO WEED OUT ANY NON-GOOD CANDIDATES RIGHT FROM THE WORD GIT-GO, \ THAT THE SECRET TO CRACKING THIS NUT IS TO PLAY CHARACTERS OF GOOD ALIGNMENT. WHATTA YA TRYIN’ TO Say, BIG GUY? 50 WHAT...? THIS IS ALL SO WE PLAY HIS GAME, SOME TRICKY SCHEME OF SIGHT'S 10 FORCE 1 HEY IF OL’ JO JO’S GAME IS TO FORCE US CHARACTER’ “Se Pay Sau ONTO THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW -- SO 8€ IT. WE RUN GOOD S, (CLEAN CHARACTERS? \ | IF if GETS us PROBABLY HIS PAST THOSE Piemee|| Sam yA A CHALLENGE em TO THE RANK OuR »Y TWO ath) _ ANDFILE. SHOES LATER ON. | GREAT, YOU'RE NOT GOING 10 LECTURE OKAY, T/VE FINISHED ME ON THAT PALADIN-ASSASSIN I TRIED REVIEWING YOUR TO RUN THAT ONE TIME ARE YA? NEW CHARACTERS, \ Whe ARE YOU GUYS, NO, BUT TAMGONG TO OH, THAT. DID YOu EVEN 5 ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU Eg UL THAT Dee BOTHER READING st CAN PULL TAS OFF. "BNT be Lanril 6002, My BACKSTORY? SERIOUSLY, IN ALL THE YEARS WE'VE BEEN PLAYING, YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO RUN LAWFUL GOOD CHARACTERS BEFORE, —~ (OF COURSE NOT -- T FIGURED I'D SAVE THE TIME AND YEAH, THE POOR GUY UST WAIT FOR YOUR MAIRBRAINED EXPLANATION. ToSENDERETO TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD. WELL IF YOU HAD, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY OBVIOUS WHY KNUCKLES THE PIOUS 'S LAWFUL GOOD. He’S GOT A GOOD SOUL BUT CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND HIS CONTROL HAVE FORCED HiM INTO THE WAYS OF THE THIEF. \ No OTHER CHARACTER CLASS PROPERLY — ENCOMPASSES HIS SKILL SET. KNUCKLES THE Plows? ‘52 SFORMER CHAMPION? WHAT A JOKE! WHO DID THEY PIT HIM AGANSTP THE FLY Giaes? THAT NOBODY COULDN'T SHAVE H/T POINTS OFF A BOUND KOBOLD WITH A SHARP KNIFE” —Bob Herzog, KODT #70, The Wager of Woe Knights of the Dinner Table® Magazine * January, 2005 13I'S TEARING HIM APART INSIDE -- THIS WASN'T THE LIFE HE WANTED TO LEAD. TO BE HONEST HE THINKS OF HIMSELF AS MORE OF A SECURITY OFFICER THAN A THIEF. MY, MY, SEEMS LIKE YOU PUT A LOT OF THOUGHT INTO \ / IM LIKE ROBERT REDFORD IN THAT MOVIE, SNEAKERS. 1 ONLY USE MY SKILLS FOR GOOD. | HECK, I CAN'T EVEN PICK POCKETS! LOOKiT - ZERO PERCENT. 1 EVEN TOOK THE TRUTHFUL FLAW 2S & DEMONSTRATION OF MY GOOD INTENT. 1M A TOTAL WHITE HAT. MY DWARVEN CLAN RELIED ON ME TO TEST OUR DEFENSES. CIRCUMVENTING THe PREREQUISITES FOR THIEF. 1 T.DON'T TRUST YOUR SINCERITY FOR & MOMENT ~~ BUT I’M GONNA ALLOW IT. | UST THIS ONCE, THAT'S BECAUSE T KNOW YOU CAN'T PULL IT OFF, A LAWFUL GOOD THIEF? ! BE FOREWARNED, 608 --1'LL BE KEEPING ‘AN EXCEPTIONALLY CLOSE EYE ON YOU. GO AHEAD. 1 GOT NOTHIN’ TO HIDE. THAT BRINGS US TO YOU, AVE... SORT OF LIKE 1 BEN AFFLECK EL REDEEMER PLAYIN’ MAMLET. THE PALADINP v \ A TRAIN WRECK I THINK WAITING TO HAPPEN. WE'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE. \ AT'S Quite DON’T WORRY, I CAN 00 IT, BA. MY DAD MAKES US GO ON CHRISTMAS AND EASTER. 1 ESPN WASN'T WORKING AT THE LODGE SO I HAD NOTHING TO DO ANYWAYS -- AND 1’M SO GLAD I WENT. / I'VE TOTALLY GROWN REALLY...? AS A ROLE-PLAYER SINCE THE \ LAST TIME 1 RAN A PALADIN. YOU ACTUALLY \ WENT TO 1 EVEN WENT TO CHURCH CHURCH? WITH MY DAD AND BROTHER / ON CHRISTMAS LAST MONTH, THERE WERE SOME SK/ BUNNIES SITTING IN THE PEW IN FRONT OF US, 1 ‘THEY WERE TOTALLY HOT. YOu SCOPE OUT THE WOMEN IN CHURCH? -SIGH- 1 YOU'RE GOING TO HELL, DAVE. (D2 ..SOME OF GARY AND JO JO’S EARLY WORK WAS DROP-DEAD LETHAL. HELL, THERE WERE SO MANY PLOT WAGONS RUNNING THROUGH THOSE BOOKS THEY HAD RUTS WORN INTO 'EM.”” —Pete Ashton, KODT Special Edition #2, This Town for Sale 14 Issue #99: The Rulez Lawyer™AND 10 DEMONSTRATE HOW SINCERE T AM, I WROTE THE CODE OF CHIVALRY FROM THE PLAYER'S GUIDE ON THIS CHRISTMAS CARD. SORTA LOOKS LIKE A HOLY WRIT ‘OR SOMETHING ON PARCHMENT. \ YOU WANT ONE? 1 Mars NEVER SEND ANY OLT AWESOME? "50 I GOT TONS OF a BLANK ONES - T ee TOOK "EM FROM MeN MY STEP-MOW’S DEN. HEY, BA, AREN'T YOU GONNA COMMENT ON WHITE LOTUS? \ 1 PUT A LOTTA WORK INTO HIS ETHICAL BACKGROUND. HE EVEN GAVE TO A CHARITY ONCE. AND HE SWORE OFF HARD DRINK. SO WHITE LOTUS 'S QUITE THE HOLY ROLLER IS HEP ‘90 HAVE YOU PAID YOUR SHAREDWEOMER FEE (ON ALL THOSE SPELLS IN HIS SPELL BOOK? / WELL, COPYRIGHT LAW IS A VERY MORALLY GREY AREA B.A. =~ THE LOTUS STAFF ATTORNEYS HAVE AN | APPEAL PENDING. DUE PROCESS AND ALL YOU KNOW... SURE BRIAN. LET'S GET STARTED -- SHALL WE? OK, $0 YOU'RE ALL MARCHING ‘ON FOOT TOWARDS DERBIN, ‘THE NEAREST INHABITED TOWN TO WHAT LEGEND HOLDS AS THE “BIGGEST DAMN DUNGEON EVER.” 8A, JUST TO MAKE THINGS CLEAR BEFORE YOU NAIL US ON PRIOR KNOWLEDGE -- FOR THE RECORD IW) LOTUS SENT OUT A HOMING BEETLE JUST BEFORE OUR PREVIOUS GROUP ENTERED THE OMEGA DOOR. ILMAQE A NOTE ABOUT THAT, BRIAN. THANKS, (OKAY, SO AS YOU NEAR THE TOWN, A BANDAGED PAIR OF HALFLINGS APPROACHES YOU. 1 “PLEASE GOOD SIRS, ] ALMS FOR THE DOWNTRODDEN?” GRIFT MARROW? WASN'T ‘THAT ONE OF OUR HIRELINGS? : | L.DUNNO. x CAN NEVER REMEMBER ME BRUDDER GRIFT MARROW AN’ ( ME BE LURED OUT INTO OLD MAN | =e THICKET BY & DISHONEST BAND ‘0 SCOUNDRELS.” YES 808, HE WAS. \ THANK GAWD, THE LIMLE GUYS MADE “We WERE ae \ IT SAFELY HOME, WE WERE...” “0A CHEATIN' ROTTEN BASTARDS STIFFED US//” r “ALL WE GOT FER PAY WERE A PAIR OF DWARVEN BOOTS WITH ‘A HOLE IN THE SOLE, OUR TEAM 'O MULES DONE GOT ‘eT BY WOLVES TOO. WE BARELY MADE IT BACK HOME ALIVE.” "NOW WE'RE BROKE AND WE PLUM LOST OUR LIVELIHOOD. ‘MAYBE YOU GENTS COULD SPARE US SOME COIN>* ‘SAY WHAT? HeYPP// ARE THEY | BESMIRCHIN' THe GOOD WHY YOU UNGRATEFUL NAME OF EL RAVAGERP LITTLE BASTARDS. Bae YO, GUYS! / 1M GONNA OPEN UP A CAN / YER BLOWIN’ IT, WE'RE LAWFUL GOOD -- REMEMBER? v FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD -- CAN’T YOU SEE B.A. IS JUST TRYIN’ TO PUSH OUR BUTTONS? DION’T YOU HEAR WHAT THOSE \ NPC-BASTARDS SKID ABOUT OUR OLD CHARACTERS? 0 we PUT ‘THEIR NAMES ON A LIST AND THEY'RE SAYIN IT aN seme RIGHTTO OUR FACE. "Tue scope | LATER. (52% Give HIM THE OWARVEN HAND GESTURE FOR B/TE ME MISTER PEON!...” - —Bob Herzog, Bundle of Trouble #10, The Do-Gooders Knights of the Dinner Table” Magazine * January, 2005. 15THE B/G GUY |S RIGHT -- B.A, ALMOST TRICKED US RIGHT OFF THE BAT. MEANT \ ue PRIDE MACE NICE aN WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE REALLY GOOD. LIKE LET It ROLL OFF OUR BACKS, GANDH| BUT WITH A BUNCH OF SWORDS AND STUFF. : ‘ 50 WHAT 90 YOU WANT ME TO oer 2 1 DUNNO. BE NICE TO ‘EM AND . OAT ONCE || DOP LET THESE GUYS WALKP — crite’ Give THEM SOME MONEY. AND PAST THOSE u te ANGELS IT'LL BE & We DID WORK THEM OvER DIFFERENT STORY. YO! NISTER BLEEDING HEART —- ‘BUT WHAT THE HELL ~~ LET'S NOT OVERDO IT. AW'RIGHT? \ \ SINCE WHITE LOTUS IS A BIG ‘SOFTIE WHO LIKES BEING TAKEN WE GOT NO LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, HERE. ADVANTAGE OF BY VAGRANTS, \ T LIP ‘EM EACH A COPPER. THEIR FORMER EMPLOYERS ARE DEAD 1 1 GUESS HE AND WE DON’T KNOW THEM FROM ADAM. THAT OUGHT'TA BUY REALLY DID GO TO CHURCH... | YA A NICE GRUEL SUPPER FUR-FOOT. NOW SCRAM/” TO YOU AND ME THEY’RE JUST A COUPLE OF UNFORTUNATES WHO HAVE LOST THEIR WAY IN THE WORLD LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHERS... GEE BRIAN, THAT WAS A M/SERLY ALM, REMEMBER --JUST ‘BY THE WAY, WE'RE IN TOWN TO PICK 1 BECAUSE WE'RE LAWFLIL UP SUPPLIES -- LET'S PACK SMART WHY EVEN BOTHER? GOOD DOESN'T MEAN AND LIGHT SO WE CAN AVOID bas 10 DOLE OuT HAVING TO SADDLE OURSELVES HEY, LAY OFF SISTER CHRISTIAN. et ae TH ANY NPCS THIS TIME, \ AND TRANSIENT HIRELINGS WiLL ONLY MY CHOSEN CHARITY 1S THE WHO STUMBLES SERVE TO PROVIDE, Bd, WITH LOTUS PROTEGE’ FOUINDATION. ACROSS OLR PATH. ‘MORE BUTTONS TO PUSH. T GAVE AT THE MANOR BEFORE LEAVING HOME. i IN GAME TERMS MUMBLING A FEW BLESSINGS AND FEIGNING SYMPATHY WILL (GO ABOUT AS FAR AS DROPPING A CO/N IN A TIN CUP, \ (S21 REMEMBER TRYING TO LEAP THROUGH THE PLATE GLASS WINGOW BUT THINGS ARE KINDA BLURRY AFTER THAT. T REMEMBER BEING THANKFUL I WAS WEARING CLEAN UNDERWEAR DURING THE AMBULANCE RIDE.” —Dare Bozwell, Bundle of Trouble #6, Nitro’s Revenge Issue #99: The Rulez Lawyer™ aM 24 wicken KewLy 16.LATER THAT NIGHT AS A FLURRY OF BUTTONS ARE BEING PUSH AS YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE HALF-OGRE SHROOM HEAD TO RETURN WITH HIS MAP A COUPLE OF TOUGH THUGS ENTER THE TAVERN LOOKING FOR TROUBLE, / UM, I FLASH A FRIENDLY SMILE ‘AND AVERT MY EYES. I DON’T THEY seem to Be «WANT TO PROVOKE THEM, EYE-BALLIN’ YOU PRETTY 6009, B08. I OFFER TO BUY 'EM A DRINK. SAY, I THINK YOU GUYS ARE STARTING 0 GET THE HANG OF THIS. GOOD JOB, THE WALF-OGRE CONSIDERS YOUR OFFER OF TWO. HUNDRED GOLD FOR THE MAP BUT DECLINES, TO BE HONEST, THERE'S BEEN CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THIS HERE MAP RECENTLY. H VE HAD AT LEAST SIX OFFERS ON IT... / aveioer, auRioet, 27LL MaKe tr TWO-FIFTY. BUT YOU ONLY GET TEN PERCENT OF THE LOOT INSTEAD OF TWENTY. \ YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S WELL IN THAT CA CATS Gagan. LES 09 Tr. TLL ACCEPT YOUR FINALLY. WHEW -- FINALLY. WE'VE ASSEMBLED ALL THE CLUES TO FIND THE DUNGEON AGAIN. \ LET'S BLOWTHIS | TOWN. I’M ABOUT TO FRICKIN’ BURST FROM HAVIN’ TO PLAY THE NICE GUY ROUTINE, 1 3/M READY TO 00 SOME HACKIN'’. YEAH, Me TOO, EASY, GUYS, DON’T GET TOO LAX. WE STILL HAVE TO STAY SQUEAKY CLEAN UNTIL WE CAN WORM OuR WAY PAST THOSE ANGELS. v THEN ALL BETS ARE OFF. THE DOORS OPEN INTO A MAGNIFICENT MARBLE AMPHITHEATER. | WHOAH, B.A! 1 WE GOT "THE TOUR" THE LAST Sik | tives around -- you caN Just | PAUSE THE FLAVOR TEXT RIGHT THERE. YEAH, WE LOOK AROUND AND ADMIRE THE SCENERY, YADA, YADA YADA AND THEN HEAD STRAIGHT FOR THE OMEGA DOOR. PATH BEATEN TO IT BY NOW, SHOULON’T BE HARD TO FIND. 1/M SURE THERE'S A "..J'M GONNA GROIN PUNCH THAT COURT JESTER... 1 OWE HIM, ANYWAYS, FOR THAT LITTLE '90 YOU HAVE A FEEDBAG RESERVATION’ REMARK.” —Brian Yan Hoose, Tales from the Vault #3 17 Knights of the Dinner Table® Magazine * January, 2005