Dragon Magazine #5
TSR Periodicals published The Dragon #5 in March 1977. It is 32 pages long and has a cover price of $1.50. This issue includes witchcraft for D&D, more Metamorphosis Alpha, and Gandalf!
In the editorial, Tim Kask humorously reflects on the unexpected blizzard of manuscript submissions following a listing in Writer's Digest, comparing it to the winter storms wracking Wisconsin. He pleads for articles on other games, such as Stellar Conquest, Ogre, and Starship Troopers, as he wants The Dragon to expand its subject matter. Kask also shares the exciting news that the magazine will expand to eight issues per year, demonstrating the rapid growth of the fantasy gaming hobby.
The primary feature, "A Witchcraft Supplement for Dungeons & Dragons," offers a detailed exploration of witches in the D&D universe. The unnamed author delves into the origins and abilities of these infamous creatures, presenting a thorough set of rules for incorporating them into your campaign. With encounter tables, spell descriptions, and lair details, this is the most comprehensive supplement published to date in The Dragon.
In "Gandalf Was Only a Level 5 M-U," Bill Seligman suggests that one of fantasy literature's most iconic wizards might not have been as powerful as many believe. This piece provoked a firestorm of feedback and is one of The Dragon's most (in)famous articles. There is a funny little postscript to this story. A few years ago, Bill Seligman (still a gamer) printed an explanation for the article, made necessary because he still receives regular mail about it.
"Wizard Research Rules" by Charles Preston Goforth, Jr. offers guidelines for wizards seeking to develop new spells or create magic items. He provides a framework for integrating research into gameplay, including development costs and a sliding chance of success for each spell level. Goforth published nothing else in the RPG field. However, this article was reprinted in the Best of Dragon, and TSR later included some of his magic items in the Magic Encyclopedia.
Gary Gygax (under the pseudonym "Garrison Ernst") returns with Chapter 5 of "The Gnome Cache." The hero, Dunstan, travels through a dense forest, encountering a mysterious cloaked figure who offers cryptic advice. A group of brigands later ambushes Dunstan, but he escapes using his wit and agility. While the story moves briskly, it relies heavily on familiar tropes and one-dimensional characters, offering neither emotional complexity nor surprising twists.
Gardner Fox, a prolific author known for his work in comics and pulp fiction, contributes "Beyond the Wizard Fog," his second story in The Dragon. In the cursed ruins of Kor Magnon, Niall of the Far Travels finds a girl destined for sacrifice to a monstrous serpent. As he battles to save her life, he learns she carries a deadly secret. As dark sorcery and the wrath of ancient gods close in, Niall must call upon a dangerous and untrustworthy ally. This pulpy story is vivid and tension-filled, with an atmospheric world brought to life through rich descriptions. It is full of genre cliches, but my opinion of the Niall stories has improved over time.
James M. Ward shares "Some ideas missed in Metamorphosis Alpha," clarifying various rules in the recently published boxed set. It is essentially errata. In the adjacent column, "Tribal Society And Hierarchy On Board The Starship Warden," he provides insights into the Warden's inhabitants, especially the influence of androids and wolfoids on the ship's culture.
Finally, in "How Green Was My Mutant," Ward dives into the world of mutants in Metamorphosis Alpha, providing advice for players navigating the complex genetic landscape of the game. It might be considered a follow-up to the previous month's article on androids.
The cover art was by TSR staff artist Dave Sutherland.
And that's a wrap! This issue was solid and enjoyable, and the magazine is starting to hit its stride. In the next issue, we have sea trade, morale rules, and clones on the Warden!
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 5 here.