GamesU — The Game DesiGn Unconference

Learn about the craft and business of game design from

seasoned industry pros. Visit http://youtube.com/neoncon

PLaY Games. maKe frienDs. DefeaT eViL.

• The Bazaar – Our dealer room is open to the public• Pathfinder Society – Play an exclusive interactive• Independent Games Festival – Story Games Galore• White Wolf Camarilla – Southwest Featured Game• Warhammer Fantasy/40K Grand Tournament• D&D Miniatures - North American Arena Championship• Cthulhu Mythos – Call of Cthulhu and Cthulhu Live • Living Forgotten Realms – All the latest adventures• Magic: The Gathering – Exclusive Tournament Events • Starfleet Battles – Rated Ace & Open Patrol Tourneys• Board Games – The hottest US & Euro Games

NOVEMBER 4 – 7, 2010TROPICANA LAS VEGAS hOTEL & CASINO

REGISTER TODAY FORNEONCON LAS VEGAS

YOU GAME?

CREATE. EDUCATE. CELEBRATE. GEEK LIFE.www.neoncon.comwww.twitter.com/neoncon

Take 10% off with promo code KQ10

Sam

ple

file

artwork © Todd LockwoodPyr®, an imprint of Prometheus Books • www.pyrsf.com • 1-800-421-0351

TwilighT Reign seRiesBook Four: The ragged Man CoMing augusT 2010

Tom lloyd’s

OMagical creatures and high speed action scenes... show how high the bar has been raised with its sheer vision and inventiveness.” —SFXO

“

Sam

ple

file

Contents

Sam

ple

file

EditorialRing-Givers 4 LettersFrom the Mines 5

FeaturesAasimar 8by Kolja Raven LiquetteThe blood of heaven runs in these veins.

Prince of Wolves 12by James L. SutterThe Pathfinder novels begin with a big, big smile.

The Ecology of the Tengu 18by R. William Thompson with James JacobsMimics, guardians, blademasters; tengu are complex creatures.

Healing Hands 26by James GrahamNew paladin powers to answer the prayers of the purest knights

Perfumes of Bourgund 32by Stefen StyrskyThe smell of magic is surprisingly strong.

Skill Battles 35by Matthew J HansonTaking 4th Edition skill challenges into combat!

On the CoverNicole Cardiff painted "The

Paladin's Treasure" for the Summer issue, combining gold and glory in a picture that tells a fine story. Paladins don't really do it for the loot.

Contents

Interview with Rob Heinsoo 48by Jeremy L.C. Jones

Book Reviews 56

Ask the Kobold: Bleeding, 63 Invisibility, Suggestionby Skip Williams

Mini-Adventure: Amber Heart 90by Tim & Eileen Connors

Coming Next Issue 89

Free City of Zobeck: Birdfolk of Zobeck 96by Wolfgang Baur

Hoard Magic 39by Michael Furlanetto

Paper Treasures 52by John Baichtal

Middle Class Magic 54by Adam Daigle

Figurines of Wondrous Power 86by Phillip Larwood

Treasure TroveDesign and DMing

Characters ColumnsMen of Honor: 42 Alternate Paladin Codesby Dan Voyce

How to Create Memorable Characters 60by Ed Greenwood

Ancient Tongues 70by Michael Kortes

The Reign of Men 80by John Wick and Jesse Heinig

Art & Expertise 84by Scott A. Murray

Game Theories: Dice Versus Story 46 by Monte Cook

How to Create Feats 66by Sigfried Trent

Moral Choices That Matter 76by Jeff Tidball

Courtly Games of the Wizard Prince 72by Mario Podeschi

Sam

ple

file

Kobold in Chief

The leaders of men among the Vikings had a code to live up to. You can read some of the details in this issue’s “Alternate Paladins” article (and I recommend that you do!), but for my purposes, it’s enough to point out that generosity was not really optional for Viking jarls, chiefs, and leaders. If you wanted to lead a crew of bloodthirsty berserkers, you had better be what they called a ring-giver in those times: an open hand, generous to a fault, always finding a way to reward followers. Only a fool fails to reward a gang of berserks openly and often.

This description of generosity as a crucial element of leadership has stuck with me since high school, when my English teacher explained kennings, such as “the whale-road”(the ocean) and “ring-giver” (a lord, a leader). The contrast with our modern age is somewhat disappointing: say what you like about our political classes, the patronage system of rewarding your inner circle of followers is no longer regarded as honorable or noble. In fact, it’s more likely to bring you a federal indictment than it is to bring you the treasure of the Nibelungen.

This is a roundabout way of getting to our theme this issue, which is treasure. As a game designer and a GM, I have a huge blind spot: I always forget to put the treasure in until right near the end of the design process, and—for some strange reason—the treasure side of things always strikes me as less compelling than it is on the player side of the screen. This issue, we’re hoping to make amends for my decades of insufficient loot with a sampling of many fine and unusual treasures including paper treasures, magical perfumes, new figurines of wondrous power, dragon treasure hoards, and more.

If you have a tale of treasure, loot, and rewards (or lack of same), please send it to letters@koboldquarterly.com. I’d love to hear from you!

And remember, give out that treasure with an open hand, O Ring-Giver, lest you be torn apart by your berserk crew of gaming Vikings!

Editorial:

Ring-Givers

Sam

ple

file

Letters:

From the MinesNow at Back List BooksSince our Friendly Local Gaming Store closed its doors, I’ve been pretty bummed. But today I walked into the book store and saw Kobold Quarterly on the shelf.

True, I’ve been bugging him for a month. He’s even opening up to the idea of letting me run a game there on Wednesday nights. It also helps when the magazine looks so good on the shelf. I’ve had access to PDF review copies, but I still like having something to hold onto.

Keep up the good work industrious Kobolds, and many thanks to Fred at Back List Books.

—Tom Allman

Tom, thanks you so much for talking to the local bookstore about KQ. Getting the magazine into local shops makes a huge difference for us, and every store that decides to give us a chance means another step closer to moving KQ to more frequent publication. I hope your Wednesday night game there goes well!

Into the Air, Around the World

I recently found an issue of your magazine while stationed at Blad AB in Iraq, and I LOVED it. It gave me the gaming fix I really needed out here.

—Senior Airman Daniel Burns-McKernan Shaw AFB

We’ve printed letters from folks in the service before, but I gotta say, it’s a huge kick to know that kobolds are so widely travelled.

A New Golden AgeI have had a chance to review the download issue, and I have to say, it’s as good or better than the old Dragon and Dungeon magazine days.

I especially appreciate the ecologies and guest writers. I will visit your web page soon and sign up for a year or two subscription of the print copy!

Thanks for the sample, and I will definitely recommend this to my fellow gamers.

—Randy Williams, MSgt, USAF

USAF Academy, CO

Thank you for the kind words, and we are very happy to have another subscriber. Every subscription is, as we may have mentioned previously, one step closer to a bigger, more colorful, and more frequent KQ. Kobold world domination needs your help!

Wondrous Non-Core Imaginings

On the Wondrous Imaginings blog, they quoted from your email where you had mentioned that you had only one request for OSR related articles. I’d like to make request number two; however, I would also expand that request to other RPGs as well.

I was on the fence on whether or not I would renew my KQ subscription as I don’t play 3/3.5/4 or Pathfinder. However, the inclusion of the Dragon Age article persuaded me to renew because, even though I don’t play Dragon Age currently, it was refreshing to have another game represented. I also renewed on the hopes that having

articles based on games other than the core game demographic would be a recurring trend.

Anyway, I understand the need to focus on the core games, but please note that the expanded coverage was appreciated.

Keep up the great work.—Ron Vargas

Ron, we are in fact covering Dragon Age again this issue (by the DA line developer and RPG legend Jeff Tidball, no less!), and we may have one or two non-core articles in the Fall issue as well. I’m sure we’ll get some complaints and some compliments.

No No, Thank YOUWolfgang! You continue to rock! I don’t play Pathfinder, and I don’t play 4th Edition, but there’s always something for me in Kobold Quarterly.

—Brett Andersen

Thanks! Our writers do a great job providing advice, hints, and materials. We’re always happy to see the inventive queries and polished articles. Ω

Sam

ple

file

Front CoverInteriorTable of ContentsEditorialLettersAasimarPrince of WolvesEcology of the TenguHealing HandsPerfumes of BourgundSkill BattlesHoard MagicMen of HonorDice versus StoryChumming the DungeonPaper TreasuresMiddle Class MagicBook ReviewsHow to Create Memorable CharactersAsk the KoboldHow to Create FeatsAncient TonguesCourtly GamesMoral Choices That MatterThe Reign of MenArt & ExpertiseFigurines of Wondrous PowerAmber HeartThe Birdfolk of Zobeck

Back Cover