Dragon Magazine #6
TSR Periodicals published The Dragon #6 in April 1977. It is 32 pages long and has a cover price of $1.50. This issue includes sea trade, morale rules, and clones on the starship Warden!
Tim Kask opens the issue with an editorial reflecting on the magazine's growth and the upcoming changes. Readership has increased fourfold since the first issue, and they have recently moved from six to eight issues per year. He notes they have focused on D&D and Empire of the Petal Throne, but "next year will see more attention to the rest of our field."
There are several Dungeons & Dragons articles in this issue. "Sea Trade in D&D Campaigns" by Ronald C. Spencer, Jr., outlines the mechanics for running a sea trading business in a D&D campaign, including cargo profitability and ship risk assessment. By voyaging further afield, ships can earn greater profits but with an increased chance of loss. The one-size-fits-all approach won't appeal to everyone, but it is a tidy system. Spencer published nothing else for RPGs.
"Morale in D&D" by Bill Gilbert and Jim Hayes offers a set of rules for handling player morale in D&D campaigns. When the characters face a frightening monster, their bravery, loyalty, and the leader's charisma influence whether they fight or flee. The authors suggest this increases the thrill factor in fights, but I think it undercuts player agency in a very unappealing way. Hayes previously published an article in The Strategic Review.
"Determination of Psionic Abilities" by David W. Miller supplements the D&D psionic rules introduced in Eldritch Wizardry. The article suggests new ways of acquiring these abilities and progressing your psionic skills. It isn't very clear in places, and I wonder if it was edited down for space. Miller published nothing else in the industry.
This month's "Featured Creature" is the Death Angel by John Sullivan, an otherworldly being that gods utilise to carry out their will. The Death Angel is a fearsome opponent, wielding a Death Scythe with devastating effect. The creature is also highly resistant to all forms of magic, making it very hard to destroy. Even when killed, it will return the next day to fulfil its mission unless permanently dispelled by powerful magic. Sullivan published several articles for The Dragon and other RPG magazines.
"Clone Bank Alpha" by Guy W. McLimore, Jr. presents a new scenario for starting a Metamorphosis Alpha game. The article describes the activation of a clone bank aboard the starship Warden and the challenges faced by the newly awakened clones, who must navigate the ship with incomplete memories and limited equipment.
This article was McLimore's RPG publishing debut, and he made a big impression on the industry. After a couple of years working for Metagaming Concepts (publishers of Ogre), FASA commissioned him to produce the highly innovative and successful Star Trek RPG. McLimore created a slew of supplements for the product and then co-authored the Doctor Who RPG. He later founded Microtactix Games, whose products are still available.
James M. Ward contributes "Designer's Forum: MA Additions and Clarifications," in which he expands on the rules for Metamorphosis Alpha, providing new mutations and rule clarifications. The game was less than two months old, and this was his second errata article--he was presumably responding to a flood of feedback.
"The Forest of Flame" by Morno follows a young wizard named Visaque as he grapples with the catastrophic release of a malevolent elemental force. The prose brims with detailed lore and vivid imagery that captures the dire atmosphere and high stakes of Visaque's journey. However, the complex exposition and dense plot occasionally bog things down. "Morno" was a pseudonym used by artist Brad Schenck, whose work appeared in many RPG products at this time.
Gary Gygax (writing as "Garrison Ernst") returns with Chapter 6 of "The Gnome Cache." Dunstan and his companions travel through sparsely settled lands, eventually reaching a Nehronlander roadblock. As Dunstan prepares for conflict, he reflects on his past experiences and contemplates his prospects. Uneven pacing and shallow characters continue to mar this story.
The cover art is by Morno, who wrote "The Forest of Flame." Interior illustrations are by staff artist Dave Sutherland.
And that's a wrap! There were a couple of decent articles in this issue, with my favourite being "Featured Creature." In the next issue, we have Mystery Hill, dice alternatives, and a controversial history of D&D!
An earlier version of this column originally appeared in EnWorld. Old issues of Dragon Magazine are available on the Internet Archive. You can view Issue 6 here.