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Knights of The Dinner Table-Origins Special 2004
Knights of The Dinner Table-Origins Special 2004
COMPANY
Knights of the Dinner Table®
ORIGINS SPECIAL EDITION 2004 Special Edition
June 24-27, 2004
_________________________
\ can’t DECIDE...
L KODT ORI-
GINS 2003
Special Edition was
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jolly R. Blackburn
jolly@kenzerco.com
so well received we ASSISTANT EDITOR
decided to team up Barbara Blackburn
with GAMA and do
it again. PRODUCTION MANAGER
Steve Johansson
dude -- this is This special issue is
gonna be the BEST being given away to SALES & MARKETING
origins, EVER!!! EVERY person attending the show under Jennifer Kenzer
special arrangement with the nice folks at jennifer@kenzerco.com
GAMA. Just our way of saying thanks to all ADVERTISING CONTACT
the gamers who have made 2004 such a great Jonathan Albin
year with their support (Well, yeah --that and advertising@kenzerco.com
we secretly hope a few new readers will like (303) 588-8335
what they see and go looking for more).
SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
Not only will you find some useful info orders@kenzerco.com
about the four day show and the hosting city
in this issue but you’ll also find over twenty STRIP WRITING
pages all all new original Knights of the Jolly R. Blackburn
Dinner Table strips. Brian Jelke
If this is the first time you’ve seen the Steve Johansson
comic you should know that it’s been around David S. Kenzer
for almost ten years and has become a KODT STRIP ART
favorite among gamers!! (Hey, we even have a Jolly R. Blackburn
handful of awards that say so!).
COVER ART
Knights of the Dinner Table Magazine is Brendan Fraim
a monthly publication and will be celebrating
Brian Fraim
its 100th issue in January, 2005. Unlike this
FAST FACTS scaled down version of the magazine, the reg-
ular issues average 80 to 96 pages and are
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Jolly R. Blackburn
ere are some things about Origins you roughly divided between gamer comics and Peter Delgado, Jr.
H might not have known: traditional gaming magazine content. Brendan Fraim
Each issue features traps, maps, NPCs, Brian Fraim
• The first Origins was held in Baltimore in Monsters, as well as reviews on games and CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
1975 and was run by Avalon Hill. articles covering everything from improving Jolly R. Blackburn
• Several publishing companies have run your skills as a GameMaster to building a John R. Phythyon, Jr.
the show in the past. Avalon Hill ran the better character.
first two. It was also run by SPI, and TSR During the show, I encourage you to seek “CHARMED PERSONS”
ran the show twice. After purchasing Andon out the KenzerCo booth while you’re at the (INTERNS)
Unlimited, Wizards of the Coast also ran show (Booth# 600). Come check out our Jack Grayson
Origins for several years. product. Play a few games. Meet the staff. Kevin Vance
• Prior to settling in Columbus, Origins We’d love to meet you.
used to move around the country to differ- If you like what you see here, we’ll have Use It — Or LOSE It!
ent cities. Of these, Columbus has now back issues and our trade paperbacks avail- SUPPORT YOUR
hosted it the most times – nine, including able as well as our other product lines. LOCAL GAME SHOP
this year. Baltimore is second, having been Well, here’s hoping you enjoy the show
home to the show six times. and that we have the chance to meet. Stop
• In 1992, Origins was held in Milwaukee by the booth and say Hi.
as part of Gen Con. Until then — Game on!
• Since GAMA took over running the show
in 2002, attendance has increased 36%,
making Origins the fastest growing game
convention in the country. Jolly R. Blackburn
you are
about to
ENTER the...
no guys, \’m talkin’ about the ADVENTURE \’m running ummm, what’s the big deal?
tonight. \ didn’t want to say anything until \ was SURE...
just another adventure -- RIGHT?
but after putting the LAST finishing touches on it,
\’m ready to unveil, “THE DUNGEON OF DEEP DESPAIR”! yeah, why
just ANOTHER
omigawd... the BIG
adventure...?
-sputter- the REACTION?
dungeon of deep....
q
and you didn’t y-you mean
TELL anybody? you don’t know?
y-y-you mean
you FINISHED it?? q
yep.
sa-weet!
\’m just saying that \ put oh great, \ hope it’s not another
everything \ HAD into this one. one of his “THINKING MAN”
dungeons. \ HATE those.
like ANY adventure the RISKS as
well as the REWARDS are great.
you mean like, MONFYR’s
GAUNTLET OF PUZZLE TRAPS? maybe
we
but if you play it SMART
havin’ to solve those should
it should be no MORE
frickin’ “RUBIC'S CUBES OF just get
deadly than any other good idea...
DISMEMBERMENT” was BRUTAL. started.
adventure \’ve thrown at you.
...after PRYING open the IRON GRATE leading from the MEZZANINE and
squeezing inside you FINALLY enter the DUNGEON OF DEEP DESPAIR!
\’m gonna take a
interesting. WILD guess and
by your FLICKERING torchlight you find that you are standing in a say that each
GRAND CIRCULAR CHAMBER. the walls around the entire perimeter that’s exactly door leads to a
are covered with doors that are numbered ONE through FIFTY-EIGHT. how many DIFFERENT level.
LEVELS
there are.
one through
fifty-eight?
\ was just
frickin’ A!! thinking the you heard me.
SAME thing, dude.
that totally
c’mon. feed me
ROCKS!! straight to some FLAVOR TEXT.
the GOOD
what an stuff?
what do \ see?
INGENIOUS
idea.
bob... WAIT!! let’s not be too HASTY about this. we’ve got to be
SMART about this.
remember what b.a. said about choosing WISELY...?
c’mon, guys. think about it... it’s something they teach in if they put all the GOOD
the PLAYER ADVANTAGE STUFF up front why would
you just KNOW all the BEST course at HACKMASTER CAMP. ANYONE bother going the
stuff is gonna be on the LAST LEVEL. DISTANCE. know what \ mean?
we should just
WUSS out and not before you can even manage to GRAB the
take any CHANCES? b.a., \’m opening handle of the door, a TRAP DOOR opens
that door and you FALL IN taking six points of damage.
marked number
FIFTY-EIGHT.
\’m just saying you
should THINK it
through and be feed me the as you pick yourself up
CAREFUL before... FLAVOR TEXT. and shake the DUST from
your clothes, you notice
there is a DOOR on the
yeah, yeah wall of the pit.
whatever.
it’s clearly marked
with a NUMBER ONE.
you just MADE that up. can’t you see what’s HAPPENING here?
sonuva...
okay, that works. step aside, bob. okay, the door opens
revealing DARKNESS.
you’re back with \’ve got it.
the GROUP again. \ guess we need
\’ll simply cast a BASH DOOR to get across the pit.
on it. that otta do the trick.
how far is it?
fine. can \ check
the DOOR for
traps now? oh... it looks
good thinking, to be TEN no problem. \’ll
BIG GUY. FEET or so. JUMP across with
not with a ROPE. \’m
that PIT in a good JUMPER.
your way.
great!
you mentioned
a CENTRAL
an awe inspiring work yeah, yeah, sure.
COLUMN....?
portraying the GAWDS OF
TWILIGHT LAST embraced in first let me just take bob, that’s a
the FINAL BATTLE OF TIME. a quick PEEK behind VERY bad idea.
one of these doors.
q
hey! what
about my BODY?
interesting...
x
are you doing? weight anymore...?
BOOM!!!
MOMENTS LATER....
my -choke-
MAGNUM OPUS...
-sob- all those
YEARS of work...
-FINIS-
\’m flyin’ over to check you totally bogarted my kill yea well BOO HOO.
out their LOOT STASH. there, pete. \ would have you’ve been hoggin’
dropped him this round. the glory all night.
actually, \ was
hold on there HEROES. you’re all dibbing for my
aware of the REVISED DIBS PROTOCOL protege, othello.
we agreed on to halt this nonsense. his HACK FACTOR that FAT LITTLE LEACH hasn’t been
everyone gets one - AND ONLY ONE - is really SUB-PAR in melee ONCE since we discovered
dib until you all get one and take said so getting a you’ve been sneakin’ him along into
items as your own. DECENT WEAPON the dungeon.
would really help
him out.
exactly! thanks
for strengthening
\ sure wish he’d my position, newt.
show himdelf once in
a while. \ always
forget he’s here*.
PSYCH!!
tough luck, stevil. \
would have liked to see
othello take on a more
ACTIVE role in the party.
this is just the ticket to kick as you grab the sword, you receive an empathic
FOUL RAVEN’S hack factor message. the blade’s name is STEELWANE.
through the roof. it’s an intelligent HOMING SWORD.
\ KNEW \
should have let those
RUBY SLIPPERS OF
TELEPORTATION go.
homing?? what’s that mean -
y’know - GAMEWISE.
never misses??
oh man, THIS RAWKS!! kewl. now you
can take over as
so \ guess that makes
PACKBEARER
you our BACK UP
MANAGER.
figher.
newt
always
did a
cruddy
job of
that.
is that all??
hey you little
please gawd... don’t tell fink, |’M flying
you had me WORRIED
me \ chopped my OWN arm right behind
there for a moment.
off or somethin’. you.
SHORTLY...
*Note: “Fat Man” was the code name of the atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945.
oh for crying out loud... guys..., HULLO! you KICKED his poor dog, PIMP-
SLAPPED his wife, PEED in his well and threatened
see what happens when you’re NICE to to BURN DOWN his HOUSE if he didn’t “COUGH UP”
people? they take ADVANTAGE of ya EVERY time. some “good” STOUT ALE while you ATE his food...
brian’s right. PAYBACK will hafta wait a this really CHAPS my hide --
unfortunately
few days -- \’ll just add him to our ever \ spent good MONEY gettin’
we ain’t got TIME
growing LIST of asses we need to kick. little mike shod properly...
for that now...
\ dunno but put the DOG
down too -- \ OWE him one \ can’t stand an NPC
for GROIN CHOMPIN’ me. who doesn’t take
we gotta get what was PRIDE in his work.
to PAAVEEM so that guy’s
bob and \ can name, again? well you DID poke no one takes ADVANTAGE
start TRAINING the animal with a of KNUCKLES: KING OF
STICK and say, “you THE WALL CLIMBERS...
and LEVEL UP.
wanna PIECE of me??”
\’m UNDERLINING
his name!!
scribble
scribble
he notices your APPROACH and stops his work to watch you. “well..., lemme take a LOOK and
\’ll give ya a fair ESTIMATE.”
as you draw closer he flashes a mouthful
of yellow teeth as he makes a HALF-HEARTED
attempt at SMILING. he tips his tattered cap in greeting. an ESTIMATE?
yeah -- you can throw some but yer frickin’ rates are
SHOES on my WARHORSE POSTED -- ten C-PEES per shoe.
“good day, to here -- \ want QUALITY work.
you gents -- “oh..., that-- those
are the rates
can \ be of service?” me for my REGULAR
too! CUSTOMERS, sir.” do ya give
GROUP
“you know,” discounts?
“LOCAL RESIDENTS”.
“now, why would, hey, what’s with the ATTITUDE...? the BLACKSMITH steps back
\ do THAT...?” and looks you over from
you can just STOW the SASS, HEAD to TOE, bob. he
anvil-head -- \’m not paying EXTRA for it. studies your expensive
“the work don’t get no DOE-SKIN BOOTS fitted with
EASIER just because \ have “pardon my bad manners, its silver buckles..., your FINE
to shoe TWO horses stranger. it’s just that \ get WOOLEN CAPE with silk
rather than just the ONE.” a lot of RICH FOLKS who come lining and GOLD embroidery...
ridin’ through here thinking
they can take ADVANTAGE of what the
“hmmmm,
“it’d be NICE if the me just because \’m POOR.” hell is he
let’s see...”
WORLD worked that looking at
way -- wouldn’t it?” ME for?
“it gets very
TIRESOME.”
whatever -- give us a
stupid ESTIMATE then.
“tell ya what -- \’ll SHOE that he’s not a MULE. he’s a how many times
MULE of yours for ONE GOLD dwarven war... -sputter- that’s highway
do \ have to tell ya?
PIECE per shoe, stranger.” robbery.
ONE GOLD??? NEVER broadcast
the BOOK RATE
yer WEALTH when yer
is only one silver.
are you nuts? conducting BUSINESS.
“and \’ll do yer FRIEND’S
horse for the SAME rate.”
you let a YAHOO like this it’ll be a COLD DAY in hell before \ pay FOUR
get a good WIFF of yer GOLD to get my horse shod when it should
gold and he’ll INFLATE only cost FOUR SILVER accordin’ to the BOOK!
his prices EVERY time.
who cares. \’m gonna go ahead and normally TAFFY
\ can tell you PAY. we’re in a hurry and BESIDES -- is FIVE coppers
that’s why \ always wear my
THAT right now. it’s only FOUR GOLD. \ got plenty. per pound but
CLOAK OF DIMINISHED PRESTIGE \ got TWO
when \ do my SHOPPING. POUNDS for...
it lowers my perceived
SOCIAL CLASS up
to three ranks.
how do you
think \ got that
GREAT deal on
that SALT
WATER TAFFY
back in ARZ?
HEY!!! you can’t pay those PRICES!! you MORON. before we knew
you forgettin’, what what had HIT us
happened during the GOING RATE for
coz’ it’s EXTORTION -- THAT’S why.
the BAG WARS?? HEALING had SHOT
why the forget about the hit on yer honor,
hell not? dude -- what about the NEXT guy UP world wide.
who comes along? huh? if you we let that priest
it’s MY money. pay this CLOWN he’ll just keep with a NERVOUS TIC in we’re STILL getting
taking ADVANTAGE of PC-TYPES. DARNELL talk us into GOUGED for that
paying DOUBLE the little mistake.
hell, it could set a PRECEDENT. word rate for HEALING to
gets out he’s able to charge a FULL keep him on RETAINER.
gold piece and the next thing you know...
EVERYONE
is chargin’ a
GOLD per shoe.
\ want the
SAME deal
you gave my
friend here.
this backwater hayseed yeah, well if \ make my ROLL he’s got no SAY in
won’t know what HIT ‘im. the matter -- now DOES he?? according to the
rules once you’ve entered into the HAGGLING
PROCESS the LOSER has to ABIDE by the results.
otherwise
it’s an
sho
o HONOR HIT.
sho ka!
oka!
!
ratt
l
ratt e!
le!
go ahead an make good point -- \’d better pull out she hasn’t seen the LIGHT OF DAY
yer roll then. one of my LUCK twenty-siders... since she let you down that night
you FELL from MOTLEY’S PEAK.
sho
o
sho ka!
oka!
!
we got
PLACES
to GO!!
\’m afraid you’ll you said it yourself, the “LOSER” of the HAGGLING
HAVE to or take a process is OBLIGATED to accept the OUTCOME.
HIT on yer honor to
the tune of FIVE POINTS.
normally, \ don’t ENFORCE that
particular provision of the rule but
since you saw fit to INVOKE it, it only hey dude, do me a FAVOR.
seems FAIR that it goes BOTH ways. before you KILL this guy let
the BLACKSMITH
him finish MY horse first...
made his HAGGLING ROLL...
this is a JOKE -- right?
you tryin’ to be FUNNY? whoah --
that’s BRUTAL!!
H!!
TC ! SC
RA H!
RIB
SC TC SC B
RIB LE!
CRA BL
S E!
a BOOTH? at the stinkin’ BAZAAR? let’s see, \ have two bent TENT PEGS, a rusty
sword with a LOOSE hilt, four boots -- none
what the hell for?? of which match, a TARP with a hole in it, a
funny looking ROCK \ found on the beach at
TARRINGTON PLACE, three MUCK WALLER hides,
oh..., ummmm, \’ve been luggin’ a greasy spoon, an eye patch with the initials
a bunch of worthless CRAP B.G.D. on it, a CROW FEATHER, some DIARY \
around in my BAG OF HEFTY could never translate, the FEMUR of a
CARRYING CAPACITY -- RING-TAILED LEMUR, a HAMMER HEAD
\ thought \ might UNLOAD some of it. with no handle, seventy-five feet of
rope -- fity pound test, three bottles
of indelible ink, four knitting needles...
oh yeah? what oh..., just a
what’s he kind of crap? hey... \ might be interested
FEW things...
UP to?? in those TENT PEGS.
and \ wouldn’t mind havin’ well... they ARE bent. and \ only need ONE
that EYE PATCH. might come tent peg. let’s see... \ guess \ could give
in HANDY for my DISGUISE KIT. you a SILVER PIECE for the TWO of ‘em.
q
worth no FIFTY gold.
don’t FRET,
well, either THAT
dude -- we’ve guys. you
or automatically
been SET UP!! could
accept his PRICE.
always WIN...
b.a., \’m gonna head down to the BAZAAR now and hey dude -- whatta ya doing?
set up my booth. \ figure \ can make a FORTUNE
selling all this crap. hell, \ might even set up SHOP. addin’ his name
to the LIST!!
H!!
TC !
RA H!
SC TC
RA
SC
-FINIS-
O ing but also seminars and workshops on the subjects of different kinds of games. Here’s a rundown of some
of these programs you might find interesting while attending the convention.
• PLAY WITH THE CREATOR: Several legendary creators, including Jonathan Tweet, Tom Wham, Greg Stafford, and
more have agreed to run events for the games that made them famous. Check out the Special Events listings in the
program book to see who’s available and when.
• ORIGINS AUCTION: Here’s your chance to bid on classics, first editions, and those hard-to-find games to fill out
your library. Plus, a number of Hall-of-Famers are donating special items to commemorate Origins’ 30th Anniversary.
The auction runs throughout the show.
• ART SHOW: See what some of the best game illustrators have to offer and get an early look at some potential
rising stars. This year, the art show will be juried, so you’ll get to see what our panel of experts thinks is the really good
stuff!
• TRADITIONAL GAMES TRACK: Ever wanted to learn to play Bridge? How about facing off with some talented
Cribbage players to see how good you are? Or perhaps you’d like to sit in on a seminar with a Chess Master. This year,
Origins features events and seminars by the American Contract Bridge League, the American Cribbage Congress, and
the U.S. Chess Federation. Check out the program book for times and locations.
• ORIGINS OF A GAME: Veteran artists and game designers will struggle to complete a card game… in just two hours.
They’ll need help from the audience to come up with the best design. This event is held Friday from 4:00PM to
6:00PM. Check the program book for location.
• SUPERHERO CELEBRATION: There’s nothing quite like two guys in tights and capes beating the daylights out of
each other in four-color goodness. Origins celebrates
superheroes and the games that feature them with pre-
sentations and events by the biggest companies produc-
ing superhero games today. Check the Special Event list-
ings for a complete lineup.
• DAYS OF KNIGHTS: Fantasy literature has long been a
key source of inspiration for hobby games designers.
Now, there’s a track of programming that explores this
theme from its roots in Arthurian romance to its modern WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
day manifestations. Check the program book for a com- (WMD) ARE HERE!
plete list of seminars and events.
• TWIN FORCES – ANIME AND GAMING: Anime is on a The new expansion for the Nuclear War Card
fast track of popularity in the U.S., and it has both Game is available. Check out the website at
inspired game publishers and interested gamers long www.flyingbuffalo.com/nucwar.htm or stop by
before becoming a pop cultural sensation. This program the Flying Buffalo booth at Origins or Gencon.
explores the intersection of these two forces and how to
bring anime style action to your games. Check the pro- The Untouchable Trio plus One Go Diceless?
gram book for complete listings of events. Lost Worlds is a fantasy combat system that does
• ORIGINS WAR COLLEGE: War-gaming is where it all not use dice. Flying Buffalo has licensed KODT
began for Origins and for the hobby games industry. The characters for the game.
Origins War College is one of the oldest features of the Bob, Brian, Dave, and Sara are available. See
show and includes seminars, events, and other program- www.flyingbuffalo.com/lostw.htm for info, or
ming cover all aspects of the industry’s root-level games. write and ask for a free catalog.
Look in the program book for all the opportunities here.
Flying Buffalo
That’s only a fraction of the special events available. A
Box 1467
complete listing of all that is happening in this, the
biggest and best Origins ever, can be found in the pro-
Scottsdale AZ 85252
gram book.K
his is Origins’ 30th Anniversary. But where did it all Eventually, Wizards of the Coast bought Andon Unlimited
T begin?