http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k the magazine of kobolds and dragons Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:56:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It turns out that kobolds are bi-lingual. I don't mean they have forked tongues (though they do), but rather that KoboldQuarterly.com has quietly and stealthily been posting some articles in translation. The translation work has been done by José Montero, and we can't thank him enough. Here's the four articles ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1214.php So I've been reading the Pathfinder RPG for a while, and there are a few things about it I absolutely love. One of them was the fact that halflings get Abyssal as a default language. The little buggers have always seemed sort of suspicious to me, frankly. Not as dour ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1194.php If you’ve played Dungeons & Dragons at all in the last decade, you’ve probably run into Bruce R. Cordell’s work. And if you’ve used his gaming books or run his adventures, you’ve probably noticed that there seems to be some larger—some epic—arc connecting it all. If you’ve ever met him ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1227.php What happens to your spells if the ability score that governs them is somehow reduced? Do you lose any spells? If your spellcasting ability is reduced to 0 or less do you lose all your spellcasting ability? Some of these questions are easy to answer, and some are trickier. Let’s start ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1136.php The 3E/OGL release of Halls of the Mountain King has gone to the patrons who supported this project; these patrons both contributed to and funded its creation. The resulting 175-page saga takes characters from 8th to 12th level as they fight a range of foes in the abandoned halls of ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1178.php Ultimately, a traps’ function is one of protection. Many things deserve protection; it all depends on the perspective of the traps’ buyer. The altar and its various ceremonial and sacred items are cherished by clerics, and thus they often build the hand of god trap in their temples. Hand of God ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1174.php Flying across the arid steppe is a monstrous draconic beast with bat-like wings, a scaled body and legs, and the head of a mangy wolf with a thick goat-like beard. Its scales are a uniform light brown, while its wolf head is dark brown with gleaming red eyes. The dragon-wolf ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1146.php Open Design 002: Halls of the Mountain King (OGL) Welcome to the Open Design Podcast, a discussion about game design and game mastery with hosts Wolfgang Baur, Ed Healy and Rone Barton. Regular Features: * 'Ask the Kobold' with Skip Williams (Pinning in Combat) * 'Game Theories' with Monte Cook (Do Overs) We took a ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1185.php The Kobold Diplomats have spoken: The augurs are good; the planets have aligned. Kobold Quarterly is ready to kick things up a notch. For the past two years, you, our readers, have stepped up to the plate for us time and time again. You were with us when we were black and ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1139.php Magic defeats magic. This simple rule explains why trapsmiths refrain from using it in their designs. If any wizard’s apprentice can detect the trap, what is the point of using it? For instance... Burning Hands Trap CR 3; magic device; proximity trigger (alarm); automatic reset; spell effect (burning hands, 5th-level wizard, 5d4 ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1078.php The creature galloped across the outcrops and lurched before us. It was a great beast akin to some sort of huge ram or shire horse with a single great horn erupting from its head. It stood for a moment, as though considering its next move, and then, with a snort, ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1149.php When you cast a spell as a swift action (maybe because the spell has a casting time of a swift action) can you also cast as spell as a standard action the same round? What happens if I cast a spell as a swift action while an enemy threatens me? ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1121.php Clang! The grate slams to the floor, sealing the exit — and alerting every monster in hearing distance.... Most traps are active defenses, contesting every foot of the dungeon. However, a passive defense can be a valuable deterrent as well. Two entry-level passive traps are the portcullis and the razor-wire trap, ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1126.php Sean Macdonald never intended to become a freelance RPG cartographer. An internet programmer by trade, he got into RPG cartography through his work as a website designer. He started his freelance cartography career in 2003 mapping the Dragonlance Campaign Setting. Three years later he won a gold ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article712.php The box looks like a fat, heavily pregnant woman with fangs instead of teeth. Her copious belly contains a rather grotesque image of an infant with three heads, each with an open mouth like a key-hole. No ordinary receptacle will do for treasure in the Land of Gothic Horror. The infuriating ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1092.php “Ye weren’t there.” Günter’s hand shook as he reached for the tankard. “They donna care what they hit. Donna care who’s in the way, cacklin’ as they fire. Cacklin’...” He gulped at the drink, spilling down his chin, then wiped foam from his braided whiskers with the back of his ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1084.php The toad, frog and newt are classic choices for a transmuting mage with an itchy casting finger and a prepared polymorph any object. However, sometimes your foe deserves something more creative or stylish. Below is a list of forms that will add some memorable panache to the proceedings. d%   Result (Duration) 1.     A ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1064.php With RPG titles like Classic Horrors Revisited (forthcoming from Paizo), Seven Days to the Grave (Paizo), and Cage of Delirium (Goodman Games), F. Wesley Schneider's work clearly runs toward the dark. Indeed, Schneider's writing and his tastes are downright diabolical. "In RPG terms, I’ve always been way more interested in devils than ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1040.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material to classic spells of the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. This 11th installment concludes our series of Behind the Spells; we hope you've enjoyed the series. As always, the rules (presented ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article981.php Every good trapsmith knows about the three C’s: Cheap, Crude and Cruel. The correct application of the three C’s while designing a trap gets you the desired result when the PCs have to decide whether they want to risk pushing on for "just one more room." And nothing is as ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article803.php “Come in the water,” the lady whispered. “I’m so lonely.” Stephan glanced around the campsite. He’d been on watch a few hours and had a few more hours to go, yet. Old Yoric and Bernard were sleeping, dead to the world. “Come in the water,” the lady whispered. “I’m so cold.” ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article963.php The first review of the Open Design podcast is in, from Emerson's Bookshelf. http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1032.php Kobold Quarterly was featured on Atomic Array 021. As part of the show, Open Design offered to give away a free copy of Kobold Ecologies to the person with the funniest story about an encounter with a wild animal. The winning entry was announced on the first episode of the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article1027.php If you are just joining us, the previous installments of Greenweek are available: Part I, Part II, and Part III. On average, Ed Greenwood completes three novels, nine short stories, and a variety of other projects each year, including articles, introductions, essays, and gaming products. Fortunately for his fans, he ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article897.php Open Design 001: Kobold Ecologies Welcome to the Open Design Podcast, a discussion about game design and game mastery with hosts Wolfgang Baur, Ed Healy and Rone Barton. Regular Features: * 'Ask the Kobold' with Skip Williams * 'Game Theories' with Monte Cook What do Dragonlance, the Forgotten Realms, Al-Qadim, Spelljammer and Planescape all have ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article491.php Greenweek continues with part III of our interview with Mr. Greenwood. If you missed part I or part II, it's easy to get caught up! In Ed Greenwood’s The Sword Never Sleeps, the final novel of the Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy, characters rush through a series of confrontations, resolving chases ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article885.php What qualifies as “dropping” an opponent when you’re using Cleave feat? For instance, if I use the Knock-down feat and successfully trip my opponent, does that count? [More...] The intended requirement is reducing the opponent to 0 hit points or less. (That is, make him "drop"). That also would include knocking ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article767.php Did you miss Part I of our Greenweek interview series? It's easy to get caught up! In the opening scene of Ed Greenwood’s Dark Lord, the protagonist Rod Everlar awakes to a bloody winged female warrior named Taeauna falling onto his bed. Everlar is scared and confused, Taeauna begs for mercy, ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article879.php Early in Ed Greenwood’s novel Elminster: the Making of a Mage, the ragged knight Helm gives young Elminster a sword and encourages him on his journey. As the smiling boy heads off, the knight wrestles with his own ambivalence, thinking, “The first duty of a knight is to make ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article817.php Fear. Fear is a trapsmith’s ally, as nothing deters tomb robbers better than seeing a valued comrade perish in the most gruesome way possible. A trapsmith asks intruders a simple question: “Is this carnage a price you are willing to pay, to progress further?” If the trapsmith is good at ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article797.php Art by Philippe Semeria With broad shoulders and thick, nearly translucent ivory fur, this powerfully muscled ape-man sports savage claws and wicked black teeth; dried gore stains its chin a rusty brown. A small cyclone of ice and snow swirls around its feet, and it leaves no tracks in its wake. ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article923.php Welcome back for the second part of our SKR interview, in which we finally learn the secret of lobsteak and of Paizo's success. Also, he explains how and when he'll be playing 4E! If you missed Part 1, it's easy to catch up. Jones: You have been involved in developing games ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article782.php Sean K. Reynolds is the developer on Paizo’s PATHFINDER roleplaying game, but he didn’t start his career there. It took him a while to land at Paizo Publishing. In 1995, Sean left his job at a video game company to become the online content coordinator for TSR. When Wizards of the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article778.php Attempting a grapple is a special attack that takes place of a regular attack. So, if you gain multiple attacks in a round, and you fail at your first grapple attempt, you can try again, etc. until you run out of attacks, right? Does this mean I can convert any of ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article688.php Focus, intent, misdirection, quality versus quantity: these are all concepts a good trapsmith plays with to achieve his goal. Indeed, a great trapsmith does more than set a trap; he asks a question of intruders: "Is this a price you are willing to pay, to progress further?" This week the author ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article792.php The hill moved, which of course is ridiculous. Then I heard deep breathing and the crash of the willow coppice as the creatures—for there were two—came into view. The ychen bannog of legend: longhaired oxen the size of churches, flanks steaming in the morning mist from a night’s toil while ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article773.php By day, Dario Nardi is a lecturer at the University of California Los Angeles, where he teaches classes in "artificial intelligences and robotics, personality and organizational behavior, modeling and simulation of complex systems, and undergraduate curriculum design." He uses computer models, group simulations, and he encourages students to pursue ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article739.php I need a little clarification for gaze attacks; it seems that those attacks are always functioning. For example, a character who begins a turn within range of a creature with a gaze attack must make the appropriate saving throw. However, a creature with a gaze attack also can take an ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article765.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material to classic spells of the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. The rules (presented after the “Spell Secret” header) are compatible with any 3.5/OGL fantasy game, and the background weaves the spell ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article750.php …Sturmgar kicked in the door, and strode into the hall, greatsword drawn. Sir Norrick and the rest of the Company of the Wyvern filed in behind him, weapons and spells at the ready. The officers of the Iron Legion were in the midst of their evening meal. At the head ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article671.php Scarrport: City of Secrets is a supplement from Reality Deviant Publications that offers a “campaign cutout”, a single city that can easily be dropped into any campaign setting. For me, Scarrport was love at first sight. In addition to a city full of plot hooks, inventive monsters, and and even ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article727.php Tired of hearing about triple-templated messes? Here's the last template you'll ever need. [More...] Dead Template Size and Type: Size remains the Same. Type gains the object subtype. Hit Dice The creature's Hit Dice all become d0s. This means they get 0 hp from Hit Dice. Speed 0. No bonuses can ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article692.php As the lead designer for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (PFRPG), Jason Bulmahn has one job: produce a game that is true to the feel of 3.5e, but that offers “a better play experience.” And the word among the members of his design team is that Bulmahn has outdone himself. “Jason's ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article697.php The rules say a Tiny creature can move into or through a Medium creature's space. Can it end its movement in that space? Can the Medium creature do anything about it? A Tiny creature can indeed move into or through a square another creature occupies, friend or foe. The other creature ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article686.php In an effort to better understand the Open Design patrons and readers, the kobolds have put together a survey. Please let us know what you think! Click Here to take survey http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article704.php The Halls of the Mountain King project is taking its new monsters from OGL to 4E this month, and so we figured we'd show you a re-designed version of the 3E/OGL Crag Drake that was featured here back in February. Stone made predatory beast, these creature prowl cavern tunnels and mineshafts ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article680.php We've been giving away dice at a steady clip (ok, ok, they're disappearing faster than I thought), and we're down to the last 100-some sets. This is by far the biggest promotion we've ever done, literally thousands of dollars of dice shipped to subscribers. Take advantage of it today just ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article664.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material to classic spells of the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. The rules (presented after the “Spell Secret” header) are compatible with any 3.5/OGL fantasy game, and the background weaves the spell ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article594.php Yes ladies and gents, Kobold Ecologies has been unleashed up on the world. Lord have mercy, it's a monster! This book collects every ecology from every issue of Kobold Quarterly to date, updates them and revises them, and then ADDS MORE Ecologies. It's an Ecology sandwich. And those new ones are not ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article621.php Quicksilver oozes are a freakish combination of alchemical reagents and magical energy, born from laboratory experiments gone awry. Their shape is completely malleable, but when at rest a quicksilver ooze most closely resembles a pool of liquid silver. The ooze is rarely at rest, however, as it searches the world ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article565.php Wolfgang Baur, Scott Gable, Matthew Hanson, and other KQ authors and notables speak about the magazine and trade some quips on Atomic Array about KQ#9. You can listen to the show right here. As part of that episode, we announce the creation of the Open Design Podcast, which launches on May ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article616.php Lots of attention for KQ#9, including reviews and expanded 4E rules for the kitsune. Lots of reviews hitting right now, as the print edition has gone to the newsstands. * RPGAggression: The Rudis Review * Game Cryer: Review by Chris Perrin * ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article645.php I love surprises, especially ones like this: the KOBOLD Guide to Game Design, Volume 1, has been nominated for an ORIGINS Award. As this comes out of left field, I am especially delighted. Details on the Origins Award site. Wow! If you haven't read it yet, what's stopping you? http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article641.php There's a quick review of the new issue over on ENWorld. I think it is especially on track with this key quote: [Monte Cook's column and the interviews] especially help cement KQ's position as a gaming magazine, rather than an OGL or 4E publication. We are working to make Kobold Quarterly as ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article614.php The guys at Q-workshop love designing dice, making dice, and spreading dice across the globe. Seriously. These guys love everything about dice. Patryk Strzelewicz, owner and founder of Q-workshop, started the company in Poland five years ago while he was still in high school. A local market grew ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article588.php Designer Greg Stolze, known for his Ransom Model and Unknown Armies among many other credits, has kindly made himself available to the KQ diplomats. What questions would you like to put to the redoubtable Mr. Stolze? He promises to spill all! Post your question right here, or on the Forum, as ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article583.php Kobold Quarterly #9 is in the Top 10 from the RPG Countdown! This is the first time KQ has ever cracked the bestseller list at RPGNow, and I'm guessing the disappearance of the WotC PDFs might have helped, but I am delighted regardless. Their loss, KQ's gain and all that. ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article577.php The 4th Edition D&D work for Halls of the Mountain King is well underway, and here's some of the recent progress: the brainstorming for the Gazetteer brought a lot of new and old ideas to the forefront. I have an outline. the level range has been set at 8 to 10 or ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article575.php The creature rose from the ruins of the church roof it had just crushed in spite. It was huge – a gangling hairy thing, with sharp nails and claws, its face a skirmish of eyes and bristle and teeth cowering beneath three curved horns. ‘Dost thou see this big body of ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article554.php Aeryn “Blackdirge” Rudel used to be known mostly for creating gruesome and challenging RPG monsters. And some folks might think of him as the editor-in-chief of Goodman Games’ new 4E-only RPG magazine, Level Up, our worthy competition. Not me, though. For I have faced one of his half-dragon turtles and ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article541.php The kitsune are a PC race for 4th Edition D&D in Kobold Quarterly #9 — but they're also available as a 3rd Edition/OGL PC race right here. Because free is good. In myths and legends, the kitsune are shapeshifters with their own racial items, incantations, and their own innate magic. What ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article385.php The Halls of the Mountain King patron project has begun its 4E design phase! This week's discussion will set the level range and begin the discussion on creatures and NPCs. Frankly, I'm looking forward to seeing what ports over neatly from the existing story and setting, and what requires a ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article484.php The foes appear to be tall, well toned humans with flecks of living crystal in their skin. The warriors are clad in scale and wield cruel flails. Behind them stands a lightly armored woman. Though not as physically imposing, you can tell from the glint in her eyes that she ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article401.php The response to the free dice giveaway has started very strong! Almost 100 sets of the 500 we have are gone, and we expect more orders to pile up while Wolfgang is away at NorWesCon this weekend. Kobold Quarterly is spending April giving away hundreds of sets of free Q-Workshop ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article475.php In the spirit that the best way to remember a man is to celebrate his life, here is a slightly abridged version of the interview that appears in Kobold Quarterly #9. This interview is also available in a Spanish translation by José Montero. Before Greyhawk, there was Blackmoor. Before the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article460.php You know, Kobold Quarterly isn't meant to be timely. We publish infrequently. We don't really keep up with the industry hotness or aim to match a publisher's release cycle. But sometimes we stumble into timeliness, much against our will. Kobold Quarterly issue #9 is a bittersweet case in point. The ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article440.php Want dice? Kobold Quarterly's got them and we're literally giving them away! Kobold Quarterly is ready to give something back to every new subscriber: we are giving away hundreds of sets of free Q-Workshop dice. These aren't just any dice, either - they are Pathfinder, Call of Cthulhu, Elven, Runic and ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article330.php “What should have been a bustling mining village stood abandoned in the early morning mist. A cabin door flapped open and shut, and we stepped cautiously inside, our weapons drawn. A noise drew my eyes upward, but it was too late. Four gold rushers had wedged themselves in the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article395.php Are you missing a few kobolds? Would you like to save some money and have a complete collection? Well, you can answer yes to both and save some dough with the Kobold Quarterly bundles! We got a reader request and jumped right to it. Our minions have compiled issues #1 to ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article356.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material to classic spells of the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. The rules (presented after the “Spell Secret” header) are compatible with any 3.5/OGL fantasy game, and the background weaves the spell ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article333.php Progress on the current Open Design project has been outstanding; 2/3 of the OGL design is complete and in playtesting, with the remainder due to hit playtest in the next week or two. We're on track for a late June or early July release of the 3rd Edition version, and ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article351.php A viscous blob of turgid pulsing fluid, this ooze is composed of the vilest bodily secretions suspended within a thin gelatinous sack. The ooze changes in color and density as it moves, trailing an odious stench and wet smoking slime. Secretion oozes are fell creations of lost sorcery, terrible experiments ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article362.php Say I cast the simulacrum spell on a succubus (for, you know, science). The spell description says that my simulacrum would have only one-half of the real creature’s levels or hit dice (and the appropriate hit points, feats, skill ranks, and special abilities for a creature of that level or ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article321.php “They had not moved all day – standing like silent gargoyles along the gables and ridges of the townhouses. A thousand black crows, but crows with distinctly humanoid twists in their vile faces – a cheek here, an ear there, wide eyes all too humanoid in their appearance. Some birds seemed ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article305.php No one can deny the destructive qualities of fire, but sometimes a designer of traps wants something insidious, something unexpected: the unrelenting force of water. [More...] Cold Shower Trap Often implemented as a final warning to trespassers, urging them to turn back, a cold shower trap unleashes a downpour of freezing rain ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article292.php After judging hundreds of submissions and going through five rounds of critique and voting, the RPG Superstar contest is down to the wire. There are four contenders remaining: Dragonrest Isle by Kevin Carter Denying the Boiling Beast by Matthew Stinson Realm of the Fellnight Queen by Neil Spicer Last Ride of the Mammoth Lords ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article286.php The heroes stood outside the cave, water dripping down from the pine branches all around. The forest was only slightly better illuminated than the cave. A voice echoed from the stones and the darkness. "Rise up, spirits of the dead, rise up and speak to old Alkasha!" Groaning voices answered the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article262.php KQ did a little contest with Atomic Array to find the Most Humiliating Game Night story. The winner is anonymous and his voice disguised, but damn it's funny. [audio:http://www.koboldquarterly.com/audio/funny001.mp3] http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article267.php The release of the second "Core" Player's Handbook for 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons is a major event for the system, as it finally completes what some players wanted from the start: rules for the gnome as PC race, plus rules for the bard, druid, barbarian, and other core ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article205.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material to classic spells of the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. The rules (presented after the “Spell Secret” header) are compatible with any 3.5/OGL fantasy game, and the background weaves the spell ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article191.php Some designers make me say "I wish I'd thought of that." Monte Cook is right at the top of the list. His most recent project shows why. The Dungeon-A-Day premise is simple: a massive dungeon with sections published on the web, offering up meaty new encounters and bonus material every weekday. ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article220.php As Zubana trekked across the desert, a great sandstorm came upon her suddenly, forcing her to take shelter in a dry wadi. When she emerged, she was a greeted by an ornate tent, which had not been there before. She saw nomads going about their daily business and heard the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article178.php Exactly how much “curse” does a clay golem’s cursed wound really have? The creature description says the damage the golem deals doesn’t heal naturally and that anyone casting a conjuration (healing) spell on the injured character must make a DC 26 caster level check to actually heal the injury. Can ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article181.php Theseus faced many obstacles on his way to Athens to claim his birthright. Less than a day's travel from the great city, the young hero felt confident. Yet darkness was coming, and Theseus looked for a place to spend the night. To his surprise, in the valley ahead there was ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article176.php The KOBOLD Guides continue to attract reviews and attention, and the most recent review at RPG Resource was this one from Megan Roberts at RPG Resource that hit the net yesterday. I'm hard at work on Volume 3, of course, though I don't expect it to be complete until GenCon. If ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article179.php Hrothagar the Iron Hearted is a dwarf barbarian to his core. A bald head ends in a three-prong beard. His left hand easily holds a drinking horn while his left holds his rune-marked axe behind his head. His broad belt, studded with more runes, a belt pouch, and a ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article170.php The folks at the Grand OGL Wiki are doing reviews these days, including 4th Edition reviews. This review of Wrath of the River King by Sean Holland caught my eye. While I admit that I have not looked at all of the 4th edition adventure available, this strikes me as the ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article175.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material to classic spells of the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. The rules (presented after the “Spell Secret” header) are compatible with any 3.5/OGL fantasy game, and the background weaves the spell ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article172.php The final installment of the Rules of D&D Economics, starting with advice about banking... Rule 41) Banks are for stupid people - everyone knows that if you give them your money and then they loan it out, you won't be able to use it any more! DUH! Keep your money ON ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article169.php http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article168.php A lonely figure appears from out of the mists; a small frightened child wearing a faded smock and carrying a shepherd’s crook. The child has pasty white skin, bulging blue veins, and eyes that are little more than cadaverous black hollows. Trailing behind her is a writhing parade of horror-stricken ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article167.php Rule 31. Arch Wizard Miltonous Freidmanicus first coined the phrase "Trickle Down Economics" to describe his theory of economics which should control inflation and thus ensure a properly functioning sustainable growth curve. The cornerstone of his philosophy is never taxing adventurers. An untaxed adventurer is a motivated adventurer and willing ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article166.php Welcome back to Behind the Spells, the series that provides a historical background, secret effects, and related material for classic spells from the world’s most famous fantasy roleplaying game. The rules (presented after the “Spell Secret” header) are compatible with any 3.5/OGL fantasy game, and the background weaves the spell ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article161.php “A curse upon that gold,” growled the dwarf. “May it bring nothing but woe to whoever claims it. May honor find no home within their breast, and may a hateful knife find their unsuspecting back. May brother turn against brother, may friend battle friend. May he who keeps it become ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article160.php Stone made predatory beast, this creature prowls cavern tunnels and mineshafts as a jaguar would stalk through a jungle. Its powerful limbs end in jagged metallic claws and chipped stone teeth fill its powerful jaws. Rocky protrusions mark its durable hide and a serpentine tail lashes wickedly behind the beast. Crag ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article158.php We're so shy and modest here that we sometimes forget when people talk about us. But they do! The latest installment of the Atomic Array podcast is all about KQ#8, with interviews with Wolfgang Baur, Joshua Stevens, and Tim Connors. There's some behind-the-scenes stories and a few laughs. Give it a ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article159.php For the second time, I’m judging the RPG Superstar contest with the Paizo folks. It’s a wonderful gig, but it reminds me as well that there’s always room for new talent and for new voices. The RPG Superstar contest is open to anyone who isn’t a previous winner or a published ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article157.php I'm happy to report that we've already seen a massive amount of design work, pitches, and discussion for the Halls of the Mountain King project. The dwarves of the Golden Citadel have taken on a history, great dangers threaten them, and I daresay we have a theme, a start at ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article156.php Darien, GA (WKQ News): State police today arrested a man on the Altamaha River for driving under the influence. The driver’s fishing boat flipped during a dangerous one craft incident. Both the driver and his passenger received only minor injuries. “We are determined to crack down on irresponsible operators who ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article155.php Yes, our series on D&D Economics continues, this time stepping into the economics of the dark side. Well, more than usual. Rule 21: No one is above avarice. Think of the best, most selfless person you know: that guy will pull hunks of melted copper off of the corpses of orphans ... http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article153.php