#jeff menges

"Kjeldoran Outpost"

Assassins of Dol Amroth (1987) is another scenario book for MERP. Couple interesting things going on here.

First, Angus McBride’s cover is pretty great. It is one of very few MERP books that prominently features a woman. I kinda love that she’s pretty much young Joan Crawford.

Second, these three scenarios are loosely connected, joined together by the fact that they all deal with a sect of assassins called the Shades. Again, these aren’t particularly ground breaking, not are they particularly bound to Middle Earth, but they have more meat than MERP scenarios usually do. Even if one is vaguely ripping off Secrets of Saltmarsh.

Back to Part 1

Part 2 from my GP Las Vegas report is a ton of signatures. Did I mention there were dozens of artists there? It’s hard to imagine how anyone had time to play with all the amazing art. :P

First pic above is from some original Magic artists. It was my first time meeting Liz Danforth and Richard Kane Ferguson, and it was awesome hearing about how things have changed over the years. Also, I’ve loved Rebecca Guay’s art since I started but I never realized how many other watercolor artists are in Magic!

Next up are some more recent additions to Magic’s deep bench of artists (and Pete Venters, who didn’t fit in the first image).

I’m appreciating the artistry of signatures more and more, from the angular lines of Eric Deschamps and Jason Engle, to the flowing curves of Dan Scott and Howard Lyon, to the flourishes of Steve Argyle and Zack Stella.  I wish my own signature was anywhere as unique, beautiful, and consistent as any of these.

Unfortunately I only have two of Steve’s Snuff Outs. Gonna have to work on completing that set.

I’ll post more as I get a chance to sort through things and take photos.

--Curby (Minion #533)

"Iceberg"

"Snow Fortress"

"Aliban's Tower"

"Goblin Sappers"

"Timberline Ridge"