I am often ambivalent about Dungeon Magazines. While they are an interesting test ground in a lot of ways, when I was subscribed, I never felt like what I was getting was what I was looking for, if that makes sense. And because of that, I have considerably less nostalgia for the magazine than other folks. Which is fine! Like what you like!

But take all that into account when I say: Holy crap, Dungeon 19 (Sept/Oct 1989) is a heck of an issue. First off, totally metal cover painting by Bob Eggelton, illustrating the manifestation of Death from the Deck of Many Things. That goes along with the scenario “House of Cards” which, while not exactly Mamet, is still a wild ride, involving a city embroiled in a gang war that can only be stopped by exploring a dungeon where the doors are sealed with cards from the Deck of Many Things. That might sound mean (and it is) but it is also extremely clever and provides a structural escape route from the bad stuff if the PCs make it all the way through. This one, including the deck of cards, is illustrated by George Barr, which is rad.

There’s also a clever encounter involving a boggle, another featuring the partnership between a greenhag and a crimson death, and a neat tavern to explore. But the real gem is an encounter location – an abandoned village that is actually a cluster of massive mimics. Pure genius.