Sub-Titled *Special Late Edition* (a few days late according to the editorial). The start of 1976 was an interesting time for me personally. I am curious to see how the world looked through the eyes of a gaming zine across the ocean.
From now on when ever I am late for a schedule post I will simply relabel it "special late edition".
D&D-wise we start with a note on the front page that Blackmoor is now out. More on that on page 4. I don't recall much in the way of fan fare when Greyhawk came out, but that could be due when D&D hit Britain's shores.
Page 3 goes into length about Games Day.
Page 4 details Blackmoor. On one hand Steve Jackson claims it is Earth shattering, but on the other hand also says it is not quite as good as Greyhawk. What he seems to like most about it are the revised to hit tables (thus giving characters a reason to wear a helmet) and more details on various monsters. He also claims that Temple of the Frog is a must for any Game Master. Temple of the Frog was 10 years later
republished as a new adventure.
Moving through the rest of the zine there is more on the game Organized Crime and a section of Pub Games (lest we forget this is still a more general game magazine and not yet an RPG one).
The "Orbituary" column is back to review games that have died or are no longer played (really, the idea of spend text space on something no reads or could read anymore...that's a special kind of obsessive!). This month is Parker Brothers "
Take the Brain". Which is described as a chess variant where pieces, Ninnies and Numbskulls, move about the board to capture a brain piece. Reviewer Kendall Johns decides that the game failed due to being marketed at the wrong audience. Aimed at children it really should have been dressed up more and aimed at adults.
Far less ads this issue and we are back down to our regular 12 pages, Page 1 is a page again, not a cover.
