Origins International Game Expo 2005
Columbus, OH
June 30 to July 3, 2005

14. FanCon Mainz
Mainz, Germany
April 16, 2005

Roundcon 2005
Columbus, SC
April 1517, 2005

ConQuest
Camarillo, CA
April 22, 2005

This supplement presents
a comprehensive look at some
of the most bizarre creatures
ever to invade the world of
fantasy roleplaying. Along with
 the physiology, psychology,
society, and schemes of these
strange beings, youll find spells, feats, tactics, and tools
commonly employed by those
who hunt them.

    Out next Month

Heroes of Battle provides
everything one needs to know to
play a battle-oriented D&D campaign. You can build military characters with new feats, spells,
uses for traditional spells, and prestige classes. Information is
given on tools specific to the battlefield, including siege
engines, weapons, magic items, steeds, and other exotic mounts.

Issue 173 Volume 25 Number 3

A Deathknell Heard Across the Land
by Jason Bulmahn

Late March saw the release of the sixth set of D&D Miniatures with a round of exciting prerelease tournaments all over the U.S. and Canada. For those of you who dont play the miniatures game or have never attended a prerelease, you dont know what youre missing. Not only do you get the chance to grab the new miniatures before anyone else, but prerelease tournaments also feature special promotional miniatures of some of the most exciting models of the set. This time around, everyone in attendance took home a special blue Flaming Skeleton. This one is hot and just screams to be used as a special advanced treat for your PCs to take on.

I had the opportunity to attend the local prerelease in Tacoma, as well as the special in-house event held at Wizards of the Coast corporate headquarters in Renton. Although the venue varied, the excitement was similarly palpable at each. At Tacomas The Game Matrix, over a dozen players lined up to grab their Deathknell boosters and tear into their opponents with a host of new tricks and monsters from the new set. The crowd groaned while one player cried out in glee as a big plump Beholder fell to the tablethat was going to be one tough eye tyrant to take down.   MORE

BewareLords of Madness Approach!
by Stephen Radney-MacFarland

The upcoming Lords of Madness is much more than the Book of Aberrations touted by its subtitle. While it is absolutely chock-full of useful tidbits of aberrant lore, monstrous variations, and deviant lairs, further detailing the most bizarre of D&D creaturesenough to make any Dungeon Master cackle in maniacal gleetoward the back of the book, one chapter is sure to garner special interest from players. Chapter 9: The Aberration Hunter details the tools of the trade for any who seek to deal woe to aberrations.

To give you a heads up on what to expect, Improved Initiative has cooked up a little preview package, presenting a sample feat, spell, and magic item from the book, along with a special access preview for D&D Campaigns players!  MORE

Click strip to read entire cartoon.