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The Beholder
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Beholder |
| Publisher: | Guy Duke and Mike Stoner |
| Editor(s): | Mike Stoner |
| Date(s): | 1979[1]-1981 |
| Frequency: | monthly |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | digest-sized |
| Fandom: | Dungeons & Dragons |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | Wikipedia; RPG Geek |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Beholder was a popular Dungeons & Dragons fanzine produced in the UK that dealt mostly with D&D and AD&D. It contained articles, reviews, and art.
High school student Guy Duke was the artist and created the featured dungeon and classmate Mike Stoner wrote most of the articles and edited content.
There are twenty-five issues plus three glossaries.
The name of this zine series is a nod to a "beholder" which was a monster in Dungeons & Dragons. It was an original creation for D&D, as it is not based on a creature from mythology or other fiction. A beholder was featured on the first issue's cover.
The editors tried to pitch their zine ‘to everyone, from the rank amateur to top-class pro.’ [2] And unlike many fanzines, they stuck to their publishing schedule until they sold the zine in 1981.
A fan in 2019 called these zines "different/quirky and innovative," [3] and they are fondly remembered by fandom as a whole. Some gamers even still run the scenarios, 40 years later![4]
Publication History
The first issue of The Beholder was announced in Demonsblood Issue 1 (Feb 1979) as an editorial note to an article written by Mike Stoner, mentioning that a new zine would be released in April 1979. The monthly publishing schedule meant the last issue was posted in 1981.
Following the sale of the zine to Nicholas Scales and Scale Designs, three further issues incorporating The Aerial Servant, another gaming zine, were published before the zine appears to have folded.
Its Origin Story
The idea for a new D&D fanzine came to me and Guy in a physics lesson at school in Dorking, Surrey. We both enjoyed Underworld Oracle and thought that it would be fun to start up our own mag. From the start we wanted to produce issues every month (which none of the other fanzines did at that point) to keep things ticking over and build a loyal base of readers. We were told we'd never manage it and, to be honest, some months it was tough but I think we achieved it most of the time.Guy did the artwork and usually the main dungeon while I wrote most of the other articles and handled the "business" side of things. No PCs in those days so every drawing was by hand and every article was laboriously typed on an portable typewriter...
...Due to the volume of sales and the cheap printing we actually ran at a profit and I bought my first car (a green Mini Countryman - SKR853H) thanks to TBH....
...We won best fanzine at Games Day (twice I think) which was brilliant. I can remember us walking round selling the latest issue of TBH and getting grief from the organisers because we hadn't paid for a stand. We also signed a few copies so those will be out there somewhere, but VERY rare. The next year there was a "fanzine table" where we all jostled for position and, as the frontrunner at that point, we got a bit of stick from some of the other mags - this was the source of some of the "we're the best - stick with us" comments in various TBH editorials.
We had to stop the mag when we went to university (me to Birmingham and I think Guy went to Durham).
Reactions and Reviews: General Fan Comments
In Dragon #50 (1981), in a review of gaming zines, David Nalle commented;
The quality of thought in The Beholder is surprisingly even. Articles tend to be very average. There are few real losers and likewise few examples of brilliance. What is given is useful, but it does not catch the eye and imagination and short for instant incorporation in the reader's next dungeon.The area in which the magazine is weakest is in monster ideas and related subjects. It is strong in articles on campaign expansion, and in the small scenarios of a page or two in length which appear in each issue.
From The Grognard RPG Files blog:
White Dwarf [an RPG zine] helped to shape the ‘zine scene in many different ways. Usually, it provided something for upstart teenagers to push against. Often challenging the orthodoxies of the war gaming luminaries such as Lew Pulsipher: DragonLords is notable for its mockery of the authoritarian views on ‘how to do D&D right’ in the early editions of White Dwarf.Others were happy to ape [White Dwarf's) style and content to create their own unique variations on the themes that circulated in those early years. The Beholder is an example of this approach, seeing itself as a resource for AD&D Dungeon Masters. Edited (and mostly written by) Michael G. Stoner (Mike) and Guy Duke who tried to pitch their zine ‘to everyone, from the rank amateur to top-class pro.’
[...]
[The Beholder featured] reviews, new spells, tips on how to make encounters more interesting and scenarios with a ‘significant’ map presented in the centrefold.
They also included lots of monsters, Fiend Factory style, which they had ambitions of spinning out into publications in its own right; a ‘mini-Monster Manual’ is suggested in the editorial. They are neatly produced, efficiently written and still retain a sense of purpose as a quirky addition to the more professional DM resources that were emerging at the time
And from the comments thread of the Grognard Files post:
Ah yes, Beholder. Still kept as many as I could because they were often different/quirky and innovative.Fond memories.
About six months ago I ran one of their scenarios in 5th ed! Everyone enjoyed it for it’s fun setting and new monsters.
I always rated The Beholder, even if it was almost the anti-DragonLords, and I still have most issues in one of my archive boxes. They were totally committed to having top-quality content, good scenarios and monsters and spells every issue, rock solid D&D content that gave their fans just what they wanted, an AC/DC to our more punkish racket 😉 Mike and Guy were really nice people too, even after we started beating them to Best Fanzine. A shame they ran out of puff, and passed it on to the folks at Scale who only managed to put out a couple of scrappy issues in an unusual format, before it folded. Good times.
Marc G sums it up nicely. Mike and Guy were probably the most organized fanzine editors of the time, putting out great content and hitting their own publication deadlines (not something you could take for granted in late 70’s fanzines). I wrote several scenarios and some other things for them after Mike called me having seen some of my stuff in Brian Dolton’s Demonsblood. Guy would rework my maps, vastly improving the quality.
Used to religiously trot off down to Shazam in Pokesdown, Bournemouth to get my copies. Still have them all apart from 13 (borrowed and never returned, unlucky for some). Great dungeons and played Legend of Leshy in issue 5 recently with the family over lockdown. Those green, yellow, washed blue and off orange covers colours still send a shiver of anticipation down my spine.
Awards
- "Best Games Fanzine" at the Games Day convention in 1980[13].
Issue 1 - Pyrus Complex[14]
Most likely released in April 1979 and containing 28 pages, issue 1 was produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Mike Stoner and John Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art. From Mike Stoner in 2006:
The rarest TBH item must be original copies of issue 1. You can tell if it is original because the print quality was terrible and you could hardly read the articles! If it's easy to read then it's not an original first run copy. There are 200 of these out there somewhere.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Welcome; about the zine; plans for the future
Page 3: The Trickster (D&D class) - uncredited - Article: New character class described as a "multiple subclass" - a fusion of thief with light spellcasting and some other special abilities.
Page 6: Spells: Use & Misuse - uncredited - Article: Comments for Dungeon Masters about "creative" spell use by players.
Page 7: Viewpoint - uncredited - Article: Tips for maintaining the mystery of magic and magic items
Page 8: Monster Summoning (new D&D monsters) - Guy Duke, Jon Stoner and Mike Stoner - Article: New Monsters: Crois, Pigwidgeons, Gops, Snarmers, Deeps, Dalas, Malnutrites
Page 12: Thoughts on Treasure - uncredited - Article: Comments on distributing treasure
Page 14: Pyrus Complex - Guy Duke - Adventure Map: Center-fold map for following competition scenario
Page 16: The First Competition Scenario: The Pyrus Complex - Guy Duke - Adventure: Intended for use as a one-off competition adventure; includes pre-generated characters
Page 24: Magic Jar (new magic items) - uncredited - Article: New magic items - Gauntlets of Alignment, Monk Gloves, Rope of Tricks, Rope of Trickery, Rope of Residing, Magical
Page 28: Back Cover - Various editorial information - Advertising and subscription services; copyright information; call for competition scenarios
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1
The article Spells: Use & Misuse was actually fairly illuminating, illustrating obscure uses for a reversed Enlarge spell in the newly published PhB that I found pretty interesting (say, casting it on a door), dubious (surely a ‘Hole’ does not qualify as an object) and player trickery like casting Enlarge on Gold and then selling it, although the fallout from such practices is going to be comparable to any other type of repeat Scam. It is refreshing to have little articles like this consider the ramifications on gameplay of something like Explosive Runes or Glyph of Warding, even if some of the proposed balancing issues are a bit heavyhanded (reducing their duration to 1 day makes these spells almost worthless).
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #1 is a 2024 48-minute YouTube 2024 review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #1 from April 1979... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: a new character class (the Trickster), some creative uses of low level sp."
Opening with its editorial, editors Guy Duke and Michael Stoner set out their stall. The Beholder was intended to be printed monthly, it was dedicated to Dungeons & Dragons, although content for other roleplaying games such as Chivalry & Sorcery and Traveller might creep in, and whilst it would accept contributions, they state that, “we will only print what we consider to be good quality stuff, take note: we are not an APA.” (Amateur Press Association). This a comment upon the poor quality of such periodicals in that they would accept any old thing. The editors also promised to include a ‘competition dungeon’ in each issue as that would be more useful than a mini-dungeon as they would not necessarily fit in the Dungeon Master’s world and severe changes would have to be made for them to do so. What they mean by a ‘competition dungeon’ is one designed to be played as part of a tournament at a convention with pre-generated Player Characters, for example, classics such as S1 Tomb of Horrors and Goodman Games’ own Dungeon Crawl Classics #13: Crypt of the Devil Lich—more recently updated for use with Dungeon Crawl Classics. However, this was not a policy that they would adhere to and later issues included standard adventures and dungeons.[much snipped]
Physically, The Beholder, Issue 1 is a bit scruffy in places, but readable. The layout is tight and that does make it difficult to read in places. The illustrations and the cartography is not actually that bad. Of course, the first issue of the fanzine was published when personal publishing was still analogue and the possibilities of the personal computer and personal desktop publishing were yet to come. In the case of The Beholder that would never be taken advantage of.
The Beholder has a high reputation for content that is of good quality and playable. The Beholder, Issue 1 does not match that reputation, let alone alone meet its own high standards in this first issue. The monsters are boring and the given scenario playable, but without any real purpose except to see if one playing group is better than another and rhyme or reason to the design. Yet there are flashes of better things to come. The Trickster Class looks interesting and would be playable in the right campaign, whilst the articles are interesting and thoughtful. The Beholder Issue 1 is a promising, but not great start for what would go on to become a highly regarded and highly sort after fanzine. It is fascinating to see where it began, nevertheless.
[17]
Issue 2 - Petrarch's Tower and the Vaults of Experimentation
Released approximately in May 1979 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Mike Stoner and John Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About issue 2!
Page 3: The Loner - uncredited - Article: The Loner (new AD&D class) has some of the abilities of Thieves, Rangers and Monks - plus some unique abilities.
Page 6: Traveller - uncredited - Review: A fairly lukewarm review, focusing on some positive game aspects.
Page 8: Monster Summoning - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Article: New monsters for AD&D; Catepillar Centaurs, the Albatross, Vampire Bats, the SnapDragon and others.
Page 12: Thoughts on Combat - uncredited - Article: Comments on fantasy combat, with a focus on D&D
Page 13: New Spells - uncredited - Article: News spells for AD&D
Page 14: Petrarch's Tower and the Vaults of Experimentation Map - Adventure Map: Centerfold map for following adventure
Page 16: Petrarch's Tower and the Vaults of Experimentation - Adventure: A complete and ready-to-use competition scenario for AD&D / includes competition points award table
Page 24: Magic Jar - uncredited - Article: new magic items
Page 28: Back Cover - Various editorial information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 2
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #2 is a 2024 36-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #2 from May 1979... Contents include: a new character class (the Loner), new spells, new monsters, new magic items, ideas on modifications to D&D combat, and a D&D competition adventure (Petrarch's Tower) and new weapons for Traveller."
Issue 3 - Villa of Menopolis
Released approximately in June 1979 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Mike Stoner and John Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke.
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue and subscriptions
Page 3: Magic System - uncredited - Article: A new spell point magic system for AD&D (assigns a spell point value to each spell, generally corresponding to spell level; proposed additional rule variants)
Page 10: Monster Summoning - Mike Stoner, John Stoner and Huw Williams - Article: New monsters for AD&D
Page 13: Ficklemouse - uncredited - comic strip
Page 13: Monster Mark - uncredited - Article: In White Dwarf (Issues 1 - 3) Don Turnbull proposed a "MonsterMark" system monster categorization - this brief article provides MonsterMark values for all monsters appearing in The Beholder through and including this issue.
Page 14: The Villar of Menopolis Map - Guy Duke - Adventure Map: A centerfold map for use with the following scenario
Page 16: The Villar of Menopolis - Guy Duke - Adventure: A non-competition mini-scenario for low level characters, ideal for new players
Page 24: View Point: Languages - John Norris - Article: Reconsidering the language ability of The Trickster (a class introduced in The Beholder Issue 1)
Page 26: Definitions of Non-Magical Treasure - uncredited - Article: A system for generating gems and jewelry
Page 27: Contact and Feedback - Gamer contact information; providing feedback on the periodical
Page 28 - Back Cover - General editorial information including advertisement rates, copyright, subscription information, and a brief comment on the next issue
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3
On the Viewpoint “D&D Languages and the Trickster by John Norris”:
Norris spends most of the article demonstrating his smug mid-wittery by railing against the abstraction of the common tongue, alignment languages and racial languages and proposes to add numerous sub-tongues, dialects and so on to make it ‘more realistic.’ Fighters are supposedly so stupid they would not begin play with the High Speech (common), knowing only their own dialect, and various hindrances and road blocks are introduced to make playing the game of D&D as difficult and torturous as possible.
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #3 is a 2024 34-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #3 from June 1979... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: a new magic system (spell points), new monsters, new ideas for languages in D&D, charts to roll up gems and jewelry, and a D&D adventure (The Villa of Menopolis)."
Issue 4 - The Mines of Mentorr
Released approximately in July 1979 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Mike Stoner and John Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue and subscriptions
Page 3: Wishes - uncredited - Article: Hints for dealing with the Wish spell
Page 4: Magical Weapons - uncredited - Article: A randomized process for generating magic items, including tables
Page 7: Competition Chronicles by Martin Stollery - Article: A session report (Pyrus Complex, from The Beholder Issue 1) written in first-person.
Page 10: Monster Summoning - Guy Duke - Art and article: New monsters for AD&D
Page 14: Mines of Mentorr Map - Adventure Map: Centerfold map for the following scenario
Page 16: Mines of Mentorr - Martin Stollery - Adventure: Winner of the design-a-dungeon competition with pre-generated characters and scoring table.
Page 23: Tricks & Traps - uncredited - Article: Using trips and traps in a dungeon or wilderness adventure
Page 24: Dangerous Digressions - uncredited - Article: Three complex dungeon traps and two dungeon pit traps
Page 26: Thoughts on Ideas - uncredited - Article: Nimbly responding to player ideas / plans
Page 28: Back Cover - Information on advertising, copyright, contributing, etc.
Issue 5
Released in August 1979[19] and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Andreas J. Sarker, Mike Stoner and John Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue and subscriptions
Page 3: View Point - John Norris - Article: Specialized clerics are more interesting
Page 3: The Way of Anubis - John Norris - Article: Sample specialized cleric
Page 6: Monster Summoning - uncredited - Art and article: New monsters
Page 10: Monster Reaction Roll Tables - uncredited - Article: A process and random tables to determine encounter reactions
Page 11: The Dragon Race - uncredited - Article: Using dragons as player characters
Page 12: More Gem Tables - Andreas J. Sarker - Article: Random tables to generate various gems and values
Page 13: Computer Program - uncredited - Article: BASIC listing for a random character generator (very limited)
Page 14: Legend of Leshy Map - Guy Duke - Adventure Map: Centerfold map for the subsequent scenario
Page 16: Legend of Leshy - Guy Duke - Adventure: A "stage-by-stage" mini scenario for low-level characters
Page 24: New Spells - uncredited - Article: "From the Barad-Dur Spellbook"
Page 26: Thoughts on NPCs - uncredited - Article: Suggestions for handling NPCs during a game
Page 27: Contacts and Info - Comments and a few addresses, etc.
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #5 is a 2024 29-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #5 from August 1979... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: giving clerics deity specific goals, behavior, traits, skills and spells, new monsters, new spells, monster reaction tables, using dragons as PCs, charts for gem type and value, a BASIC computer program to generate random stats, ideas on developing NPCs, contact info for D&D DMs/games, and a D&D adventure (Legend of Leshy)."
Issue 6
Released approximately in September 1979 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke and Simon Washbourne produced the art.
Contents:
Page 1: Front cover - Simon Washbourne
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue and periodical
Page 3: Sounds - Article: Using various strange sounds to build suspense
Page 4: Runes - Article: Suggestions for using runes in a game
Page 6: Monster Summoning - New monsters
Page 10: DM's Corner - Article: Some hints on how to be a better dungeon master
Page 13: Micro Dungeon - Adventure: This "dungeon" is to be taken with a small pinch of zombie poison
Page 14: Of Brae-Land & Wold Map - Adventure Map: Centerfold wilderness map for the subsequent scenario
Page 16: Of Brae-Land & Wold - Adventure: The characters are tasked to destroy an evil force
Page 24: Letters - Reader/Fan Mail - Extracts from reader letters
Page 25: Info - Mike Stoner and Guy Dukes - Editorial: Contact information for gamers; local game activity comments
Page 26: Alignment - Article: Suggestions for what the various alignments "mean"
Page 27: Mini-Review - Review: A positive - and short - review of Tomb of Horrors
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #6 is a 2024 34-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #6 from September 1979... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: using sounds as traps/encounters, magical runes, new monsters, DM advice, a micro-dungeon, a letters column, hobby and convention info, understanding D&D alignment, a review (S1 Tomb of Horrors), and a D&D adventure (Of Brae-Land and Wold)."
Issue 7: Super Monster Issue
Released approximately in October 1979 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art. The cover promised this was the "Super Monster Issue!".
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Super Monster Competition - reader submissions - Article: results of the monster design contest
Page 13: Dragonmeet II - uncredited - Article: con report on Dragonmeet, focussing on the gaming aspect.
Page 10: Reaction Roll Tables
Page 14: Goblin Complex Map - Adventure Map
Page 16: Goblin Complex Detail - Adventure
Page 22: Goblin Complex (Wanderers) - Adventure
Page 23: Playtest - uncredited - Article: account of an adventure featuring a Japanese keep
Page 24: AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide, A precis - uncredited - Review of the new dungeon master guide and comparisons with the original Dungeons & Dragons.
Page 26: Magic Jar - Article: New magic items; watch-dog skull, wall of bones, enchanted battering ram head and a burrowing scarab.
Page 27: Advertisement - Model Workshop Ltd
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 7
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #7 is a 2024 21-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #7 from October 1979, the product of Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. New monsters for the competition were submitted by: Peter Bright, Dave Davies, Peter Williams, Andrew Whitcombe, James McRobert, Timothy Illson, Pete Klemperer, Andreas Sarker, Martin Stollery, Cole Groundset, Nigel Proudfoot, Charles Burton, Steven Rawlings, Andrew Lee, John Stoner and David Taylor. This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: Super Monster Competition results (over 20 new monsters), report from DragonMeet II, a D&D adventure (the Goblin Complex), a narrative play test from their home campaign, a review of the new AD&D DMG, and new magic items."
Issue 8 - Rala's Block
Released in November 1979[20] and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke D. Parrington, A. Shellard and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Anti-Paladin - Article: character class suggestion
Page 4: Monster Summoning - Article: New monsters
Page 8: Traveller Additions - Review of new equipment available in the Traveller series.
Page 12: Leprechauns and Snitch - Article: Examining leprechauns, a monstrous humanoid race in AD&D.
Page 13: Snitch (continued) and B.A.C.O.N. - Article: includes proposal to introduce price ranges for seling magical items.
Page 14: Rala's Block - Adventure
Page 21: Expressing Alignment - Article on tracking alignment changes.
Page 22: Fearful Phantasms?/Thoughts on Illusions - Article: discussion of limits to the Phantasmal Force spell and illusionary damage.
Page 24: Info - Mike Stoner and Guy Dukes - Editorial: Contact information for gamers; local game activity comments
Page 25: Developing Campaign - uncredited - Article: Rules and regulations for a Arcane Colleges to train wizards of level 5 and below.
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 8
[Review on the adventure, Rala's Block:]: It would be easy to condemn this thing if it was as one note as, say, The Tower of Calibar but Raala’s Block has an astonishing richness of assholish encounters. It will try to lure players in with treasure only to fuck them (put poison or a Water Weird in a potion bottle) next to a golden key (worth 50 gp) leading to a door which opens into HELL and an Eriynes comes forth and tries to take the players. An old tome with dust of sneezing and choking on it, drawers with explosive ruins and yellow mould in it. Or a room with a throne and a mirror that are actually a Gelatinous Cube, a Lurker Above and a Patch of Green Slime! Narrow tunnels filled with 20 telepathic giant rats. A hydra with heads that, if lopped off, turn into giant snakes. Kobolds but they are behind a deep shaft with a pool of acid. The worst (or best one); a 150 ft corridor smelling off, halfway through a trip wire triggers a trap that fires off about 10 arrows each round, then a hallway with a giant web with a dead spider (filled with brown mould), then a roper, then a hallway with a wall of fire, stone and iron. Behind it, a fake door, and a magic mouth that just laughs at you. Cruelty exercised with competence, subtlety and malicious wit. Humanoids use intelligent tactics, flank using secret doors, firetraps etc. The main villain has an escape plan in case things don’t go his way. It’s all well done.
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #8 is a 2024 44-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #8 from October (it was actually the November issue but they released it early) 1979... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: the Anti-Paladin, new monsters, new rules and equipment for Traveller, Leprechauns as a character race, more ideas about alignment, how to DM illusions (especially the Phantasmal Force spell), a D&D adventure (Rala's Block), feedback on TBH articles from readers and a suggestion for using Archaic Colleges for magic-user training and spell learning."
Issue 9 - The Pagoda and the Undertombs
Released in December 1979 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Keith Andrews, Alan Bell, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Games Day V - uncredited - Article: con report for Games Day V, with a focus on electronic video games.
Page 4: The Quest Dungeon - Keith Andrews - Adventure:single-session linear game.
Page 8: Review - uncredited - Review: Starfleet Battles reviewed in glowing terms.
Page 9: The Ideas Page - Article: Player suggestions for dungeoneering tactics and tricks.
Page 10: Mini Reviews - Reviews, including the Chivalry and Sorcery game.
Page 11: Info - Mike Stoner and Guy Dukes - Editorial: Contact information for gamers; local game activity comments
Page 12: DM's Corner - Article: Living Dungeons.
Page 13: Monster Summoning - Article: Gobbleknoll
Page 14: The Pagoda - Adventure: complete dungeon
Page 25: Magic Jar - Article: new magic items
Page 27: Monster Summoning - Article: Reaper skeleton.
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 9
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #9 is a 2024 31-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #9 from December 1979... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: a short dungeon, reviews (Task Force Games "Starfleet Battles," Chivalry & Sorcery, Gamma World, Metamorphosis Alpha, Traveller and Superhero 2044), a report on Game Day V, tips for players and DMs, new monsters, new magic items, thoughts on poison effects, how to design a Living Dungeon, and a D&D adventure (The Pagoda)."
Issue 10 - The Curse of Cortex
Released in January 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Graham Henderson, Trevor Mendham, Andy Ravenscroft, Martin Stollery, Dale Taylor, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents:
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: The Archer - Article: D&D character class
Page 8: D&D crossword - Puzzle
Page 9: Vine Golem - Article: Monster
Page 10: The Pirates' Lair - Adventure: Mini-Dungeon
Page 11: New Spells (NOTE: contents say page 11, actually it's page 12) - Article
Page 13: Spriggan - Article: Monster
Page 14: Curse of Cortex Map - Adventure map
Page 16: Curse of Cortex - Adventure
Page 24: Doors + Web - Article
Page 25: Magic Jar - Article: New magic items
Page 27: Fox Spirit - Article: Monster
Page 27: Crossword Answers
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 10
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #10 is a 2024 36-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #10 from January 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: a new character class (the Archer), a D&D crossword puzzle, new monsters, new spells, new magic items, a short adventure (The Pirates' Lair), ideas on dungeon doors, and a D&D adventure (The Curse of Cortex)."
Issue 11 - Ring of Fire
Released in February 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Brian Hennigan, Andy Ravenscroft, Keith Andrews, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art, apart from the cover, which was drawn by Quentin Manley..
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Quentin Manley
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Notes on back issues, reader submissions, Underworld Oracle having folded.
Page 3: Fatigue - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Article: A system for measuring character fatigue.
Page 5: Review - The Solo Dungeon - Brian Hennigan - Review: Games Publication's The Solo Dungeon.
Page 6: Temple of Psaan - Andy Ravenscroft, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Adventure: low to mid-level.
Page 11: Quest - Keith Andrews - Article: A collection of thoughts and ideas on D&D, including alignment, published scenarios, surprise and initiative.
Page 14: Ring of Fire - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Adventure: A scenario for 4-7 characters of 5th to 7th level, set in a volcanic crater.
Page 24: Info - uncredited - News: Reader notice-board.
Page 25: Monster Summoning - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Article: New monsters for D&D: Evil Eye; Sea Dragon; Knocker; Pirhana; Giant Clam.
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 11
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #11 is a 2024 36-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #11 from February 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: rules for fatigue in D&D, new monsters, a review (The Solo Dungeon), thoughts on AD&D rules, a short adventure (Temple of Psaan), and a D&D adventure (Ring of Fire)."
Issue 12 - Death Test
Released in March 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Alan Bell, Ian Hamilton, John Phillips, Graham Staplehurst, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Monster Summoning - Article: new monsters
Page 6: Water Witchcraft - Article
Page 8: A Chronicle: City Life - Guy Duke - Article: First part of a playthrough of the City State.
Page 10: Variations on a Theme - Article
Page 12: Review: Dark Tower - - Review
Page 13: Disguise - uncredited - Article
Page 14: Death Test - Adventure
Page 25: Traveller Items - Article
Page 26: Developing Campaigns - Article
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 12
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #12 is a 2024 34-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #12 from March 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, new magic items, alternate rules for an assassin's disguise ability, narrative of an adventure in Judges Guild's City State of the Invincible Overlord, ideas for creating new monsters, ideas for wilderness adventures, a review (The Dark Tower), new items for Traveller, and a D&D adventure (Death Test)."
Issue 13 - Trader's Row
Released in April 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Keith Andrews, Alan Bell, Graham Staplehurst, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Life After Death - Article
Page 6: A Chronicle - Guy Duke - Article: Second part of a playthrough of the City State.
Page 9: Info - News: Reader notice-board.
Page 10: Competition Time
Page 11: Traveller - Article
Page 14: Traders' Row Map - Aventure map
Page 16: Traders' Row Detail - Adventure map
Page 20: Traders' Row - Adventure: playtest
Page 22: Monster Summoning - Article: new monsters
Page 26: DMing MUs - Article
Page 27: Magic Jar - Article: New magic items
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 13
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #13 is a 2024 25-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #13 from April 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, rules for a character's life after death, narrative of an adventure in Judges Guild's campaign world, an article competition, ideas for running NPC Magic-Users, new items and professions for Traveller, and a D&D adventure for thieves (16 Traders' Row)."
Issue 14 - Gorge of the Afterlife
Released in May 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Amazons - Article on character class
Page 4: Tricks & Traps - Article
Page 6: Life After Death - Article
Page 7: Index
Page 8: Magic Jar - Article: New magic items
Page 9: Competition Time
Page 10: Death Traps - Article
Page 11: Q&A - uncredited - Editorial: Tallied reader survey results.
Page 12: New Magic Spells - Article
Page 14: Gorge of the Afterlife Map - Adventure map
Page 16: Gorge of the Afterlife - Adventure
Page 24: Monster Summoning - Article: new monsters
Page 26: Traveller - Article
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 14
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #14 is a 2025 32-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #14 from May 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, new spells, new magic items, more rules for a character's life after death, an article competition, the Amazon character class, new tricks and traps, an index of monsters appearing in TBH over the first 13 issues, a reader survey, new items for Traveller, and a D&D adventure (Gorge of the Afterlife)."
Issue 15 - Tunnels of Tungan
Released in June 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Timothy Illson, Graham Staplehurst, Simon Washbourne, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Rolling NPCs - Article
Page 4: The Executioner - Article on character class
Page 5: Monster Combat Modes - Article
Page 6: A Monstrous Word Search - Puzzle/word search
Page 7: Monsters of "Tunnels of Tungan" - Article
Page 11: Aliens as Characters - Article
Page 13: Tunnels of Tungan Maps - Adventure maps
Page 16: Tunnels of Tungan Detail - Adventure
Page 26: A Chronicle "Eastwards..." - Guy Duke - Article: Third part of a playthrough of the City State.
Page 28: Back cover - Advertising, copyright, contribution, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 15
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #15 is a 2025 22-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #15 from June 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, the Executioner character class, ideas for monster abilities, a word search puzzle, continued narrative of a campaign in the City State of the Invincible Overlord, ideas for Traveller, and a D&D adventure (The Tunnels of Tungan)."
Issue 16 - The Devil's Quagmire
Released in July 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Pete Bright, Graham Perrin, Ricky Preston, Andy Ravenscroft, Graham Staplehurst, Derek Sutherland, Simon Thornley, Jonathan White, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Guy Duke produced the art.
Contents:
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the zine; table of contents
Page 3: Monster Summoning - Ricky Preston, Graham Staplehurst and Jonathan White - Article: New monsters: stone man, wurm & eyestalk, gnog, birch spirit, redcap
Page 6: D&D Ideas - Graham Perrin and Simon Thornley - Article: Various house rules and rule variants mentioned/described
Page 7: Ogscon 3 - News - Convention announcement - OgsCon 3: West Midlands College of Further Education, Gorway Road, Walsall
Page 8: The Gremlin - Graham Staplehurst - Article: A new humorous character class
Page 10: J.G. Reviews - Pete Bright - Review: Judges' Guild products
Page 11: More Letters - reader/fan mail
Page 12: Magic Jar - by Derek Sutherland - Article: New magic items
Page 14: Devil's Quagmire Map - uncredited - Adventure: Overland hex map (for following scenario)
Page 15: The Ruined Fort / Lizardmen Camp Map - uncredited - Adventure: Fortress and encampment maps (for following scenario)
Page 16: Devil's Quagmire Detail - Quentin Manley and Andy Ravenscroft - Adventure: The Devil's Quagmire is an area of especially stagnant and entangled marsh, a dark and forbidding swamp which the sun's rays cannot penetrate.
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertisements, copyright, subscription and contribution information, contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 16
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #16 is a 2025 22-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #16 from July 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, new magic items, the Gremlin character class, alternate experience point rules, reviews (Judges Guild), letters, and a D&D adventure (The Devil's Quagmire)."
Issue 17 - The Alchemist
Released in August 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Rich Clifton, Guy Duke, Graham Staplehurst and Mike Stoner. Alexander Self produced the art.
Contents:
Page 1: Cover - Alexander Self
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents
Page 3: Cosmic Encounter - Graham Staplehurst - Review: Don't Panic - it's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Cosmic Encounter
Page 6: Thoughts on RPGs - uncredited - Articles: Comparing AD&D with alternates
Page 7: Fali-Ur, the Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip
Page 8: Monsters - Rich Clifton and Nicholas Clifton - Article: New monsters: living wall, living coin, nemesis
Page 10: Chronicle: Friends and Foes... - Phil Alexander and Guy Duke - Art and article: Part 4 of a playtest through the City State.
Page 13: Fali-Ur, the Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip
Page 14: The Alchemist Map - Adventure: Maps of the magical ship The Alchemist (for following adventure)
Page 16: The Alchemist Detail - Mark Allen and Guy Duke - Adventure: The Alchemist is a schooner some 220' long and 60' wide. In its sailing days it had the unusual function of a floating laboratory. The experimentation was made by the alchemist Sorogahn who was attempting to develop the immortalising drug "Imortine".
Page 23: Info - uncredited - News about SPI
Page 23: Fali-Ur, the Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip
Page 24: A to Q - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Editorial: Questionnaire results / tabulation
Page 26: Shhh! It's Top Secret - uncredited - Review: Top Secret Box Set (First Edition), also presents the mini adventure "Mission 001"
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertisements, copyright, subscription and contribution information, contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 17
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #17 is a 2025 23-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #17 from August 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, campaign notes, reviews (Intruder and Top Secret), thoughts on RPGs, new alien races for Cosmic Encounter, results of the reader survey, and a D&D adventure (The Alchemist)."
Issue 18 - Wharf-Rat Road
Released in September 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, T. Duke, P. J. Fereday, Graham Staplehurst, Mike Stoner and Andrew Yacoub.
Contents:
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents
Page 3: Tunnels of Tungan Playtest - Dave Davies - Article: A session report presented as fiction.
Page 6: Review - uncredited - Review: Valkenburg Castle from Task Force Games
Page 7: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - ongoing comic strip
Page 8: GCC - uncredited - Previous issues competition winners announced
Page 8: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - ongoing comic strip
Page 9: The Dripping Chasm - Guy Duke - Article: The Dripping Chasm lies at the head of the River Underpine, deep in pine forest.
Page 14: 17 Wharf Rat Road Map - Adventure: Area map for following adventure
Page 16: 17 Wharf Rat Road Detail - Graham Staplehurst - Adventure: "This is a fun D&D scenario along the lines of the Bar-room Brawl in White Dwarf 11."
Page 22: Thoughts On.. The Hobby - Edited/consolidated reader comments
Page 24: Kicking the Bucket - Guy Duke and T. Duke - Article: Consider movement and terrain in combat
Page 26: Everlasting Armour? - uncredited - Article: A system of optional armor damage and repair
Page 27: Monster Summoning - P. J. Fereday and Andrew Yacoub - New monsters: brolk, bayard
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 18
From his review of The Dripping Chasm adventure:
The star attraction. From the looks of it the concept of the living dungeon has taken root in Duke’s mind and has set down roots. Dripping Chasm pays much more attention to making sure it comes across as a real location and the effect is weirdly engaging. I don’t know if you should go this far every time but I kind of like it.
And from the Wharf-Rat Road adventure review:
Not an adventure but a tavern brawl involving 13 different characters. Organization is once again the biggest challenge. It might also be the most ambitious tavern brawl mini-game that I have seen (I have seen two). Movement is simultaneous and handed to the GM via written orders as per diplomacy. Everyone picks or gets assigned a character from a colorful cast, each with different strengths and weaknesses, magic items and objectives. There’s guys trying to get back at other guys for stealing their girlfriend, a fallen cleric turned deranged serial murderer, a a martial arts princess attempting to retrieve her sacred jewel, a bunch of thieves who have stolen the jewel, a bunch of thieves who are planning to steal the jewel, a drunk hill giant and the hits just keep coming. These are all fantastic.
A YouTube review:
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #18 is a 2025 22-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #18 from September 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, playtest notes (Tunnels of Tungan), reviews (TSG's Valkenburg Castle), readers' thoughts and feedback, providing details for melee, tracking armor damage, results of the reader survey, and two D&D adventures (The Dripping Chasm and 17 Wharf-Rat Road)."
Issue 19 - Uggish and the Grimbnak
Released in October 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Jeff Crane, Guy Duke, Alexander Self, Mike Stoner and Don Turnbull.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents
Page 3: Chests - Article: Ten different types of dangerous chests
Page 3: Mini-Module - Graham Staplehurst - News: Staplehurst announces a new mini dungeon module ("Fortress of the Ogre Mage Lord") - and it's for sale!
Page 4: Monsters - Alexander Self - Article: New monsters: celescoda, gargent, molg
Page 6: The Ultimate Monster - Jeff Crane - Article: Tips for using a campaign setting (terrain/weather) more like an opponent
Page 10: Beholder supplement 1 - uncredited - News: New product - Beholder Supplement 1: Glossary of Magic (32-page booklet containing all magical items)
Page 11: Swashbuckler - uncredited - Review: Swashbuckler from Yaquinto
Page 12: Wot - uncredited - Article: Suggestions for character generation to spice things up
Page 12: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip
Page 13: Viewpoint - Don Turnbull - Article: Considering options to AD&D - RuneQuest, for example
Page 14: Approach to the Orc Lair - Uggish & the Grimbnak Map - Overland hex map (for use with following scenario)
Page 15: Stockade and Caverns of the Orcs - Uggish & the Grimbnak map - Area and dungeon map (for use with following scenario)
Page 16: Uggish & the Grimbnak Detail - Guy Duke - Adventure: Uggish and The Grimbnak are two of the oldest and most malevolent beings on earth. The latter, a lesser devil, is served by the former, an ancient creature known as a mireslug.
Page 22: Chronicle: Through the Standing Stones - Guy Duke - Article: Fifth part of a playthrough of the City State.
Page 24: Clerics - Graham Staplehurst - Article: Low-level characters often have problems staying alive. Here's some suggestions on how to fix that.
Page 26: U.P. - uncredited - Article: U.P. stands for the Uncertainty Principle, something with should be incorporated into every D&D game.
Page 27: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 19
The Ultimate Monster (Jeff Crane): Surprisingly good article that tackles a dichotomy between the game as written and adventure fiction by making mountains more impassible, with rules for percentage based attempts at finding passage through the mountains, with a random table for weather effects acting as complications, which vary by season (winter is much harder). As far as elaborations go these are pretty good: the topic is good, and it avoids the pitfall of making these sort of subsystems either too simple or too complicated and it tackles an area of the game that could genuinely use a bit of elaboration.
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #19 is a 2025 32-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #19 from October 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, traps and other ideas for chests, charts for finding mountain passes and ideas for wilderness travel, thoughts on D&D combat, new notes on the home campaign, ideas on Cleric spells, reviews (Swashbuckler), and a D&D adventure (Uggish and Grimbnak)."
Issue 20 - Shipwreck!
Released in November 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Andrew Jarvis, Graham Staplehurst, William Stephenson and Mike Stoner. The cover announces that the zine is the "1980 Games Day Awards Best Games Fanzine"
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Guy Duke
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents
Page 3: Developing Campaign: Peoples - William Stephenson - Article: Tips for creating believable groups of people.
Page 5: Alternative Combat - Andrew Jarvis - Article: Ideas about making "hit points" more realistic.
Page 9: Games Day - uncredited - Review: Comments on Games Day '80, a convention.
Page 10: Tablets of Arnach - Graham Staplehurst - Article: Comments about a campaign region.
Page 14: Shipwreck! Map - uncredited - Adventure: Map for following adventure, a map remarkably similar to the boardgame 'Intruder'!
Page 16: Shipwreck! - uncredited - Adventure: Many centuries ago the fair land of Ismithia came under the rule of Balra the Destroyer, a most tyrannical and despised leader.
Page 21: Spare Time - Graham Staplehurst - Article: What do characters do with their spare time? A training system.
Page 23: Phrases - uncredited - Article: A list of funny phrases.
Page 24: Philomena's Florilegium - uncredited - Article: Of this vast treatise on plants and plan life only a few leaves remain - new monsters.
Page 27: Review - Graham Staplehurst - Review: positive review on The Village of Homlet.
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 20
Instead of delicious Gygaxian building blocks that can be pitched immediately into one’s game the first heralds of the Black Age of Trad gaming are upon us. Sick cover though.
Fanzine Friday: The Beholder #20 is a 2025 36-minute YouTube review: "This episode looks at The Beholder #20 from November 1980... This fanzine is focused on D&D. Contents include: new monsters, alternate combat rules, a list of background issues to consider for communities in your home world, a report on Games Day 1980, a summary of a home world campaign setting, new rules for training to maintain your stats between adventures, a review (T1 The Village of Hommlet), and a D&D adventure (Shipwreck!)."
Issue 21 - A Christmas Dungeon
Released in December 1980 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Jake Aseard, Alan Bell, Guy Duke, Martin Henningsson, Trevor Mendham, Graham Staplehurst and Mike Stoner. Art by Alexander Self.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Alexander Self.
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents
Page 3: Role Playing - Trevor Mendham - Article: Favoring role-playing over power and treasure accumulation.
Page 4: Games Day Awards - uncredited - News: Enumeration of award recipients.
Page 5: S.E.T. - Jake Aseard - Article: Starship encounter tables (random tables).
Page 6: Silvanus - Alan Bell - Article: Celtic demi-god of woods and nature.
Page 7: Announcing: Helmenhale - uncredited - News: New product announcement ("Helmenhale" by Graham Staplehurst).
Page 8: Traveller - uncredited - Article: Encounter table (random table) for the Traveller RPG System.
Page 10: Reviews - uncredited - Reviews: DragonQuest (1st Edition); In The Labyrinth: The Fantasy Trip.
Page 12: Magic Jar - Martin Henningsson - Article: New magic items; Ring of Insults / Ring of Sweet Dreams / Ulpher's Rabid Sword.
Page 13: Light - uncredited - Article: Optional rules for light and vision.
Page 14: A Christmas Dungeon Map - Graham Staplehurst - Adventure: Dungeon map for use in following adventure.
Page 16: A Christmas Dungeon Detail - Graham Staplehurst - Adventure: The dungeon was constructed by a nasty evil M/U trying to trap a good opponent and kill him.
Page 21: Monsters for the Christmas Dungeon - Graham Staplehurst - Adventure: New monsters (Turtle-Doves / Giant Swan / Heabani / Elenoin).
Page 22: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip.
Page 23: Chronicle: Into the Stronghold - Guy Duke - Article: Sixth part of a playthrough of the City State.
Page 24: Half-Sylph - Jon Crane - Article: A new player character race.
Page 25: Monster Summoning (M.S.) - uncredited - Article: New Monsters (Blob / Drall).
Page 26: DMs Delight - uncredited - Article: New Monsters (Woffle Bird / Tyuopre / Cantalo), New Spells (Rot / Animate Dung).
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information.
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 21
#21 has a surfeit of gameable content but something of the freshness of the earlier days has departed. Most of the material is on par. The increased amount of Traveller articles and even a Chivalry & Sorcery article is an interesting data point in the type of games that were popular in the early 80s but unfortunately for anyone interested in their worth, I don’t know much about Traveller. I’ve skipped a few ads and review articles since they were overal not very interesting.
Issue 22 - The Vaults of Rockhelm
Released in January 1981 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Guy Duke, Graham Staplehurst, Mike Stoner, Derek Sutherland and Andrew Yacoub. Art by Alexander Self and Phil Alexander.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Phil Alexander.
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents
Page 3: Space Opera - not credited - Review: "Traveller is dead! Long live Space Opera!" - lengthy and positive review.
Page 6: Space Opera: Jawas - uncredited - Article: A new race for Bug-Eyed Monsters
Page 7: Space Opera: a scenario - uncredited - Adventure: An introductory scenario for the game, to showcase most of the major rule systems.
Page 9: Space Opera: a playtest - unredited - Article: Session report
Page 10: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip.
Page 11: Swashbuckler - Derek Sutherland - Article: Suggestions for rule changes in Yaquinto's Swashbuckler
Page 13: L.O.D.E. - author unknown at his own request - Article: Providing warnings to players.
Page 14: The Vaults of Rockhelm Map - uncredited - Adventure: Maps for the following adventure
Page 16:The Vaults of Rockhelm Detail - Guy Duke - Adventure: An AD&D wilderness scenario for 4-6 players of 5th-7th level.
Page 24: Info - uncredited - News: Issues and products available from publisher.
Page 25: Wordsearch 2 - Graham Staplehurst - Puzzle
Page 26: Monster Summoning - Guy Duke and Andrew Yacoub - Article: New monsters - Wanderer, Gryphatrix, Ertle.
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information.
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 22
L.O.D.E (author unknown by his own request)I like riddles if used in moderation, or if solving them will give you a little bit extra. But following the article’s suggestion of giving XP for solving riddles makes it appear as if otherwise we are best left without them. Good lord.
Horrific article, possibly satirical, about the use of an old dungeon man that enscribes the walls and doors of his castle with riddles to help out adventurers. Transitions into an article about the use of riddles that is self-consciously annoying.
Issue 23 - Dragon-Isle
Released in February 1981 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Nicholas Clifton, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Art by Alexander Self.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Alexander Self.
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents.
Page 3: Emblems - uncredited - Article: Hints for putting markings on magic items to spice up the game.
Page 4: D-I-Y - Nicholas Clifton - Article: Hints for making your own DM Screen.
Page 6: Quotes - uncredited - Article: Short, funny game quotes
Page 6: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip; "Dungeon Shoppe"
Page 7: Q&A 2 - uncredited - Editorial: Tallied reader survey results.
Page 8: Dragon-Isle - Guy Duke - Adventure and Map: A Norse adventure of mystery.
Page 20: WOT - uncredited - Article: The types of eccentric individuals you encounter in the hobby.
Page 21: Minor Mishaps - uncredited - Article: Players often know more about a situation than their characters - hints for DMs.
Page 22: Magic Jar - uncredited - Article: New magic items; Message Flies / Assassin Flies / Crystal Creatures / Freeze Blocks / Float Carpets / Swap Bottles
Page 24: Mazes - uncredited - Article: How to use mazes in dungeon design.
Page 25: Info - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Editorial: Contact information for game companies
Page 26: Mini DMs' Corner - uncredited - Articles: Brief hints for DMs; Surprise / Backfires / Illusions
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information.
Issue 24 - Citadel of the Seiks
Released in March 1981 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Derek Sutherland, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Art by Alexander Self.
Contents
Page 1: Cover - uncredited.
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents; includes news of the sale of The Beholder.
Page 3: Fantasy As She Is Writ - uncredited - Article: New monsters derived from popular, fantasy literature
Page 6: WOT - uncredited - Article: Short, funny comments
Page 7: NPCs - Derek Sutherland - Article: A method to generate credible NPCs in Dragonquest
Page 9: Command Words - uncredited - Article: Hints for using "command" magical spells.
Page 10: Magic Jar - uncredited - Article: New magic items; Web Wet / Shrinking Book / Gas Bottle / Mirror of Revealing / Mission Helm / Potion of Insubstantiality / Map of Confusion / Trick Scrolls
Page 12: SM's Corner - uncredited - Article: Hints for running a successful Space Opera campaign.
Page 14: Citadel of the Seiks Map - Guy Duke - Adventure: Area map for the following adventure.
Page 16: Citadel of the Seiks Detail - Guy Duke - Adventure: The party has arrived at the small city of Ankara. The city is divided into two parts; a rich inner area is surrounded by a 30' high battlemented wall from which there is a single, heavily guarded gate to the outer, poorer area.
Page 27: Animation - uncredited - Article: Hints for using the "Animate Objects" spell
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information; Art by Alexander Self "Elric".
Reactions and Reviews: Issue 24
The end approaches. Issue #24 is back in high spirits, with tonnes of gameable content, an ambitious adventure and only a handful of Space Opera articles to dilute the mixture. A fine ride for a fine, obscure magazine from the golden age of D&D.
Issue 25 - Temple of Odin
Released in April 1981 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Guy Duke and Mike Stoner, with writing credits to Nicholas Scales, Guy Duke and Mike Stoner. Art by Alexander Self. The cover of this issue proclaims "Last issue before take-over".
Contents
Page 1: Cover - Alexander Self.
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - About the issue / table of contents; explains the fanzine will be continuing under new management, amalgamating with the fanzine 'The Aerial Servant', while any additional material remaining from Beholder will be published under the name 'Valhalla'.
Page 3: SMs' Corner - uncredited - Article: Hints for running a successful Space Opera campaign.
Page 4: Killers - uncredited - Article: New monsters inspired by Iron Maiden songs (The Purple Lady / Eddie / Neon Knights / Iron Boar)
Page 6: Info - uncredited - News: Upcoming conventions.
Page 6: Fali-Ur, The Magic-User - Alexander Self - comic strip
Page 7: DMs' Corner - uncredited - Article: Hints for running a successful campaign.
Page 8: New Spells - uncredited - Article: Time for another quick delve into the infamous Barad-Dur spellbook.
Page 10: A2Q2 - Guy Duke and Mike Stoner - Editorial: Questionnaire results / tabulation
Page 12: The Future... - Nicholas Scales - Article: Comments on plans for the magazine, from the new publisher.
Page 13: Pubs - uncredited - Article: Brief comments on pubs in the game.
Page 14: Temple of Odin Map - Guy Duke - Adventure: Area and temple map for the following adventure
Page 16: Temple of Odin Details - uncredited - Adventure: The Temple of Odin is set in a fertile valley, not far from a large city (the editor comments that the contributor's name has been lost).
Page 21: Chronicle: End of the Orcs... - Guy Duke - Article: seventh (and final) part of a long session report for a playthrough of the City State.
Page 27: Up & Down - uncredited - Article: Hints for using "not flat" dungeon levels to make adventure more interesting.
Page 28: Back Cover - Advertising, copyright, contributions, subscription, and contact information
Glossaries[29]
According to Mike Stoner,
The supplements were a bit of a side line. Most of them were done by my brother John would [sic] wanted to get a bit of the TBH action. I think all of them had white covers, and I can still remember him getting them sorted out with loads of fancy Letraset.
— Mike Stoner, "The Beholder Story", The Acaeum Forums, Apr 28/09.
1) Glossary of Magic - 32-page booklet containing all magical items previously discussed in the "Magic Jar" series.
2) Adventures 1 - collection of Adventures printed in various issues of the zine.
3) Adventures 2 - further collection of Adventures printed in various issues of the zine.
Scale Designs Issues 26-28
Issue 26
Released in June 1981 and contained 22 pages. Produced by Simon Kirby and Nicholas Scales and published by Scale Designs, with writing credits to Graham Askey, Stephen Cullis, Michael Dale, Matthew Hankins, Helen Jago, Graham Staplehurst and Keir Watson. The artist is uncredited/unknown.
Contents
Page 2: Editorial & Contents - Nicholas Scales - Masthead, Table of Contents, Editorial - statement of new ownership
Page 5: The Realm of Order - uncredited - Adventure: Scenario for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.
Page 9: Shop Review - uncredited - Review: new product previews
Page 10: The Preacher's Pulpit - uncredited - Regular Item: reader articles on manufacturers, players, parts of or whole game systems and zines[30].
Page 12: Your Wrights - readers - Letters of comment from the readers
Page 12: Monster Summoning - uncredited - Article: new monsters
Page 13: Wordsearch - Graham Staplehurst - Puzzle/competition
Page 14: The Armourer's Guild - uncredited - Article: new items
Page 17: Anthurne - uncredited - Article
Page 18: The Electric Zygote - uncredited - Regular Column: gaming news
Page 19: Helmenhale - uncredited - Article: Campaign created by Graham Staplehurst
Page 20: Questionnaire
Back Cover: Advertisement - Esdevium Games
Issue 27
Released in July 1981 and contained 22 pages. Produced by Simon Kirby and Nicholas Scales and published by Scale Designs, with writing credits to Graham Askey, Stephen Cullis, Michael Dale, Matthew Hankins, Chris Hatt, Helen Jago, Alan Johnson, Colin Johnson, Graham Staplehurst and Keir Watson. The artist is uncredited/unknown.
Contents
Page 3: Editorial & Contents - Nicholas Scales - Masthead, Table of Contents, Editorial - comments on the first Games Fair[31].
Page 5: The Assassin - uncredited - Fiction
Page 9: Shop Review - uncredited - Review: new product previews
Page 9: Word Search - uncredited - Puzzle: Standard word search puzzle with gaming terms
Page 10: The Preacher's Pulpit - uncredited - Regular Item: reader articles on manufacturers, players, parts of or whole game systems and zines.
Page: 12: Your Wrights - readers - Letters of comment from the readers
Page 14: The Armourer's Guild - uncredited - Article: new items
Page 16: Monster Summoning - uncredited - Article: new monsters
Page 17: Anthurne - uncredited - Article
Page 17: Helmenhale - uncredited - Article: Campaign created by Graham Staplehurst
Page 18: The Dome - uncredited - Article
Page 22: The Electric Zygote - uncredited - Regular Column: gaming news
Issue 28
Released after July 1981 and contained 28 pages. Produced by Simon Kirby and Nicholas Scales and published by Scale Designs. Very little information is available about the issue from RPG Geek. It apparently contained an Advanced D&D scenario by Alex Kells and a Games Fair Report. It also appears to be the final issue of the zine.
External Links
- Beholder Reviews (Issues 1-24) by Prince of Nothing , Age of Dusk blog, November 2, 2022-August 23, 2023
- Fanzine Scrapbook - The Beholder - The GROGNARD RPG Files blog, June 20, 2019
- "I Have Seen Things You People Wouldn't Believe: 9. The Beholder (Issue 10)" by Andy Ravenscroft, RPGGeek Forums, November 25, 2011
- "The Beholder Story" by Mike Stoner - The Acaeum Forums, April 26, 2009
- Just got a tattoo of the original beholder ; archive link (a fan's beholder tattoo)
References
- ^ RPG Geek entry
- ^ "Fanzine Scrapbook – The Beholder" by Dirk. Grognard RPG Files blog, Jun 20/19
- ^ Comment to The Grognard RPG Files blog by Dominic, Feb 13/21
- ^ Comment to The Grognard RPG Files blog by Anonymous, Sep 1/20
- ^ The Beholder story by Mike Stoner, The Acaeum Forums, Apr 26, 2006
- ^ Based on the above quote, items marked as "uncredited" in the summaries below are likely written and/or drawn by Guy Duke and/or Mike Stoner. The exceptions are those issues with minimal details - the names of who authored various articles were not available.
- ^ "The 'Zines!" by David F Nalle, [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.annarchive.com/files/Drmg050.pdf Dragon, Issue 50, pp 24-25]
- ^ "Fanzine Scrapbook – The Beholder" by Dirk. Grognard RPG Files blog, Jun 20/19
- ^ Comment to The Grognard RPG Files blogpost by Tim B, Jun 20/19
- ^ Comment to The Grognard RPG Files blog by Marc G, Jun 21/19 (from the references in the post, Marc G appears to have been one of the publishers of DragonLords, another RPG zine)
- ^ Comment to The Grognard RPG Files blog by Andy Ravenscroft, Jun 29/19
- ^ Comment to The Grognard RPG Files blog by Dominic, Feb 13/21
- ^ Wikipedia - The Beholder - Awards
- ^ All information on the contents of each issue taken from RPG Geek.
- ^ The Beholder story by Mike Stoner, The Acaeum Forums, Apr 26, 2006
- ^ "The Beholder #1 (OD&D; Homebrew" by Prince of Nothing - Age of Dusk blog (Nov 3/22)
- ^ Fanzine Focus XXXII The Beholder Issue 1 ; archive link (28 August 2023)
- ^ "Beholder Magazine #3 (OD&D); Momentum by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk blog, Nov 10/22
- ^ From the editorial: "This is the August '79 issue. Copies should be in the shops by the 4th of each month and subscribers should get their copies around the 1st..."
- ^ The Editorial in Beholder 8 is dated 5th October, 1979, leading to the individual who posted it to RPG Geek to assume publication was some time during October. However, this would mean two issues were released in October. More likely the editorial was written in October for the November issue.
- ^ "The Beholder #8: Jerk Dungeon", Age of Dusk blog, Prince of NOthing (December 19/22)
- ^ Beholder #18; Harnmaxxing" by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk blog, Feb 17/23
- ^ ibid
- ^ "The Beholder #19; In which the ‘are orcs racist’ debate is decisively settled" by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk Blog, Mar 4/23
- ^ "The Beholder #20; Worst of the Best" by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk blog Apr 4/23
- ^ "The Beholder #21; Christmas Issue" by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk blog, May 14/23
- ^ The Beholder #22; Parabola by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk blog, Jul 12/23
- ^ "The Beholder #24; Going down swinging" by Prince of Nothing, Age of Dusk blog Aug 23/23
- ^ The Acaeum Forums • Collecting General - Non TSR "The Beholder Story" Apr 29/06
- ^ The Beholder #26 - Editorial by Nicholas Scales
- ^ It is unclear which Games Fair is being referred to. There was an Origins Game Fair held in California in July 1981, however it was far from the first [the first convention was held in 1976]. An internet search does not reveal a TSR Games Fair being held in the UK in 1981.