From the editor-in-chief's description of the issue:
Mark Twain, a fantasy writer of a different sort from a different time, once remarked that "Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it." Well, an ingenious and energetic DM by the name of David Axler has done something about it. The special inclusion in this month's issue of DRAGON Magazine is Dave's system for generating weather conditions in an AD&D environment, using the WORLD OF GREYHAWK Fantasy Supplement as the basis for his figures. The system has been examined by E. Gary Gygax, the man who created the AD&D game and the Greyhawk campaign, and has received his stamp of approval. Even if your campaign isn't set in the world of Oerth, the formulas and statistics in Dave's system are easily adaptable to other adventuring environments. Stapled into the center of this 100-page issue is a three-page foldout section containing some of the essential charts and tables for the system, designed to be stood up and used as a screen to keep the information in front of the DM and away from the prying eyes of players.
Weather also plays a major part in another of this month's features. "Thrills and Chills" by Arthur Collins is an in-depth examination of what it would be like to conduct an AD&D adventure in the Ice Age; no metal armor, no towns, no "modern" conveniences - not much of anything except caves, cold, and plenty of challenges for characters.
When the FIEND FOLIO Tome was published, it did not include encounter tables for aquatic environments. Mark Harcourt has rectified that situation with "What's that in the Water?" The article offers a complete set of tables, plus descriptions of some monsters that don't have separate listings in the books.
Official new magic-user spells of levels 5-9, supplementing the lower-level spells described in our last issue, make up this month's edition of From the Sorceror's Scroll. Other articles from the pen (or, more accurately, the typewriter) of Mr. Gygax are the second installment of Deities & Demigods of Greyhawk and a trio of formidable fungi that are this month's Featured Creatures.
A quick flip through these pages will show that this is the most colorful issue we've put out in a long time. Of special note are photographs of some of the top entries in this year's GEN CON Miniatures Open, and the opening installment of "Castles by Carroll," wherein artist Mike Carroll offers illustration and information about the mysterious stronghold known as Neushwanstein. We hope the feature will inspire the creation of distinctive castles for your campaign - and maybe it wouldn't be a bad place to spend the winter, if you can afford the heating bill... - KM
