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o f t h e 2 3 r d C e n t u r 1

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STEWART SPEAK> FKAhKLY ABOLIT I WITHIN THE (JA~\ZIN(; IULYJs'TKY

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'HE SORCERESS' TOWER AN AIRY SETTING FOR ARS MAGICA

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LAGSHIRTHE SPOKESMAN SPEAKS (CERPTS FROM FLAGSHIP MAGAZINE

CAPSULE REVIEWS AN EXPANDED LOOK AT WHAT'S NEW IN GAMIN

ON THE HORIZON MORE GOOD GUESSES FOR NEXT ISSUE

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One would think we would have learned our lesson with the publication of Faeries for Ars Magica back in 1991. The fact that some retailers and distributors banned that book was damaging to us at the time. This supplement was to be a big growth book for us - the number we sold on our first shipment to distributors was actually going to generate a tidy profit for us. In the past these first-shipment sales generally paid the costs, but didn’t really make anything. For profit we had to rely on reorders of the book. At the time we didn’t fully understand that because of the cover of Faeries, which showed a female faerie dancing wild and free (and topless) in the woods. the

historical look at the Infernal realms for a history-based game.

I know that people do object to such books and I would not force a retailer to stock the book on his shelves against his will even if I had the power to do so. Retailers have every right to make the decision not to carry a product and they have every right to inform me of that decision. What does honestly take me by surprise is the hostility encountered in conversations with some of these retailers. We don’t force them to carry the product, so why do they think they have the right to force us to discontinue the book entirely?

I also know book could not be legally sold in some regions of the country. Hobby stores have been

that there are people who are simply ignorant of what roleplaying games are and

- - ;te raided by police for

displaying such products on the shelf for sale to minors.

including a new supplement for Ars Magica, have received the same negative attention from retailers. The Maleficium deals with Infernal powers during the Middle Ages of Ars Magica, and while the reaction to it has mirrored that of Faeries, there are no laws allowing for such “demonic” books to be swept up in raids. Demons and their kin are subjects many would just as soon see left out of roleplaying games. TSR, of course, dropped such beasts (in name, at least) from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Other companies, namely Mayfair Games with their “Demons” Role Aids supple- ment, stepped in to take up the slack and offered sales. For valid reasons, but reasons I don’t happen to agree with, books that deal with such Infernal threats are not welcome by some in the roleplaying community. The concern is a reoccurrence of the negative coverage that rampaged over AD&D a decade ago. If products like The Maleficium are seen on a store shelf by someone who objects to the material, then the wheel could go ‘round again.

I am blithely optimistic in this regard. I know that I assume too much of people. I expect people to be reasonable and see my viewpoint like I feel 1 can see theirs. I assume that people who object to such a book will make the decision not to buy it themselves but will allow it to remain in the marketplace for those who do want it. I assume that people will be able to see that the intent of the book is not to be some sort of handbook for Satanism but a simple supplement that outlines a

A couple of our recent books,

how they work (and it would

thus be easy for them to take the game material out of context), but this game market is a hobby market that requires specialized knowledge. We can’t publish material assuming readership by a lowest common denominator. I doubt books in the needlecraft hobby publish warnings about how needles are used only for sewing and not for gouging out eyes! Sure, demons are more controversial than needles, so more attention should be paid to the matter, but such care was taken. Read The Maleficium - it tells you how your character can make a deal with Infernal powers, but it doesn’t make it attractive.

The other product with which we’ve had problems is “Clanbook Brujah” for Vampire: The Masquerade, and it does present the same sort of problem when sold to minors, so we’re going to correct the problem in this book in future printings. But I’m just a bit perplexed by the problem. The book contains a vulgarity, the word “f$%k.” I wonder just how many people who read the Clanbook are unaware of what this word is. Haven’t you heard it in movies and read it in books? Sure, movies have ratings so younger people presumably don’t have free access or exposure to the word in that medium, but there’s no age limit for fiction, and the aforemen- tioned word riddles it. If you don’t know the word, please let me know. I won’t corrupt you by revealing it and its meaning, but I curious. 0

Donough 1 Prahlor

4598-8 STONECATE IND. BlV d STONE MTN.. GA 30083

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From the Pack Letters from our Readers Please send all letters to: White Wolf 4598-B Stonegate Industrial Blvd. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

iya, Stewart, Rob, Chris, Richard, al. -

I just got WW*.)3 and I’m Locked at the number of people ho didn’t like the new format! I, r one, think you guys are doing an credible job of putting together a riously hot magazine. The cover ock gives it a real “magazine-y” el (although a UV coating would ,ally push it over the top!), and le paper stock makes a statement )out you guys: a real class act. In :rms of coverage, it feels like iu’ve struck a real balance with iur articles and reviews. And the 4rtist Spotlight” - what I would Lve to be able to do that in Chal- nge !

In response to people who [aim that the mindset of the iagazine is going to presentation, I :el they’re sadly mistaken. Your Stewart) editorial viewpoint is still iting and brutally honest, and the mtent of the magazine is just as aried as it has ever been. The only :a1 change is the magazine looks lore dynamic (kudos, Chris and .ichard! ).

topnotch magazine. Once again, congratulations on

Sincerely , Steve Bryant Art Director

Challenge Magazine

Steve - Thanks, man. - RHI

)ear Mr. Wieck:

etter in issue #33 complaining In response to Jason Smith’s

ibout the new format, I would like :o say, “Bravo!” Jason managed to :oncisely convey many of my own ,pinions. Your dismissal of his :oncerns prompted me to write.

After waiting excitedly for a new magazine, I was very disap- pointed with the finished product. Huge headings, useless black lines, background graphics everywhere and juvenile drawings do not add to the quality of your publication. I think your mistake is in categorizing Dragon and White Dwarf as magazines “that have long been able to afford some gloss and polish in their product” (and hence something to be admired) rather than as the cheap, tacky and adolescent-oriented publications that they are.

When I first noticed White Wdj in a gaming store with issue #15, I was immediately drawn to the high quality and tasteful presentation. Since that day, I have been a dedicated reader, even purchasing back issues to try to fill in my collection. I admire your even- handed coverage of a wide spectrutr of games, and I must admit that White Wolf has introduced me to role-playing possibilities I might otherwise not have seen.

your readers with the label of having taken “an absurd position” in disliking the new format was high-handed and uncalled for. The problem is not that “by virtue of thi magazine being more attractive.. .the quality of the

However, I felt your dismissal o

iagazine has decreased.” It is not lore attractive, rather, it is unbe- evably tacky! Large headings and iant print may mean less money to ay for articles, but they do not idicate high quality. The new over art has certainly not been up 3 par, although if you’re going for hat “Marvel Comic” look, you’ve ucceeded. The big red splotch FREE Dracula movie poster), and he stupid little game logos are xtremely unattractive, and no nore attention-grabbing than those nnoying “New and Improved” igns on boxes of laundry detergent. The quality of the binding has been educed, and I find the “they won’t :now it’s a magazine” argument inconvincing.

As a twenty-two year old emale, I probably don’t represent Tour target audience. But as a welve-year veteran of role playing ;ames who spends hundreds of iollars each year on gaming prod- icts, I don’t appreciate a legitimate pestion of quality being dismissed vith a haughty “I like it, so there!” ittitude.

nany of your readers are people ,yho are dissatisfied with more nainstream publications. By lowering your quality to attract those with less exacting standards (Le. the people who buy things based on big red splotches), you may find that you’ve “improved” yourself right out of your comfort- able niche. As anyone can tell you, there are a lot of publications waiting to fill your space on the shelf.

I think you’ve forgotten that

Sincerely, K. Kay Carter

[Ms. Carter - Thank you for your comments and critique. If this column came across sounding snotty (which I’m sure was not Stu’s intention), our apologies to all concerned. Personally, 1 agree with you regarding the binding - since most magazines are displayed from the front rather than the spine, 1 don’t see why we couldn’t revert to the old binding and still have WW recognizable as a magaTine.

With regard to the color, logos et al., I think the criticism is largely the

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