The October 1994 issue of Other Hands was a double issue covering No. 6 and No. 7. Editor and publisher Chris Seeman welcomed contributions from Michael Saunders, Chris Phelby, Jason Beresford, Stefan Ardinger, and Anders Blixt, and artwork from Sophia Caramagno and Jeff Hatch. Lisa Disterheft-Solberg and Nicolas Solberg produced the layout and design for the double issue.
Editorial: Back For More
Chris Pheby has rejoined our ranks from OH 1 with a ready-to-run adventure and an article on magic use in MERP (co-written with OH newcomer, Michael Saunders). Like our last adventure in OH 4, Chris has chosen the War of the Ring as the setting for a harrowing encounter with one of the Ringwraiths as they begin the hunt for the Shire. His discussion of “innate magic” follows as a response to Andrew McMurry’s earlier discussion of the same topic a few issues back (OH 3: 11-12), and succeeds in operationalizing the latter’s insights into MERP/Rolemaster mechanics.
This is truly a double issue, for it contains not one but two adventures. With the helpful collaboration of a couple of friends, I’ve put together material for the cult of Benish Armon, expanding upon its role in the Kin-strife module. In addition, I include my own “sequel” to the Kin-strife, which heavily draws upon the cult article. This adventure (or, rather, campaign; for it is only presented in outline) is set in Gondor and elsewhere in the T.A. 1450, and enables characters to solve the mystery of Queen Berúthiel once and for all.
Having carefully considered my own article of last issue on the origin of Ar-Pharazôn’s monument in Umbar (OH 5: 17-19), Jason Beresford has written a counter-proposal which offers an alternative (in this case, a revisionist) view of the evidence, which will most likely be appearing in some form in the published Umbar Realm module. Lastly (but certainly not leastly), Anders Blixt takes a quick stab at the logistics of Minas Tirith’s defense and their impact on the problem of food supply.
Since April, we have landed ourselves a few new subscribers, and we anticipate more to come. There also exists the distinct possibility that OH may become available “on-line” as well as in hard-copy to those who have access to the information highway. We are currently working out the details with our publishers, and will keep our subscribers informed of any developments. We hope our readers will enjoy the “thickness” of this issue, and encourage you to help us keep the pages Other Hands alive with your erudition and wit.
Chris Seeman
October 10, 1994
You may download Other Hands Issues 6/7 for free either from Other Minds’ Other Hands archive or MERP.Com’s Other Hands archive.