Dr Simon Reads...

Dr. Simon Reads Appendix N Part Eleven: Philip Jos é Farmer   This is a sporadic feature, in which I explore classic fantasy and science fiction works. You will either know what I mean by “Appendix N”, or you will have no clue. If the former, skip the next paragraph. Otherwise, read on. In the original Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Masters Guide, Gary Gygax provided a large number of appendices, from random smells to reputed magical properties of herbs and gemstones. Appendix N was a bibliography of works that inspired him. Back in 1982 when I first got hold of this book, there were only a couple of items on there that I’d read, and only a few other authors that I’d even heard of. Many years later, after much reading, I returned to Appendix N expecting to have added greatly to the works on there that I’d read; but actually, there were still very few. Many of the authors were obscure or out of print authors of, for want of a better expression, golden age pulp; the kind th

White Dwarf 34: The Unborn   Last month is was psionic creatures, this month, undead, with a Fiend Factory called “ More Dead Than Alive ”. First up are the Morbe , aka the “Semi-Dead”.These are by Albie Fiore, which is always a little suspect that the editor sneaks in his own creations, but I like Fiore’s work so I’m willing to forgive! My original intent was to do a conversion for these guys, but in the end the mechanics were just a bit too clunky to adapt for my tastes. The Morbe are not completely undead, but neither are they completely living, existing in a kind of limbo state, brought about by a disease. If their Constitution score is under 18 they count as being in their “undead” state, and their attacks drain Constitution from their victims, adding it to their own until they reach 18+, at which point they enter their “living” form. While in “undead” form, attacks against them cause hit point damage. In “living” form, their attacks only cause normal weapon damage, but at

Issue 33 The Psitan This time, the Fiend Factory is called All In The Mind , and features a collection of psionic creatures. First up, an oddity from Phil Masters, the Psi Mule . This is a flesh-eating, intelligent evil mule that pretends to be a regular pack mule in order to lure victims. It can use a mind blast, can take over regular mules, and has a collection of other psionic abilities, mostly ones that allow it to manipulate matter. One thought – if it can “ breed true ”, it’s not really a mule any longer, surely? I think this would make an interesting one-off encounter, part of the classic “evil horse” line of monsters.   But if that one was odd, our other old pal Roger E Moore goes one better, with the Giant Mole .   One assumes that Roger took the Brain Mole as his inspiration, because otherwise the concept of giant intelligent psionic moles is well out of left field. And, indeed, giant mole colonies will often keep brain moles as guard animals. Not as rife with psio