What the heck is a d20 system?: Ryan Dancey attempts (yet again) to explain what the d20 system is all about, and define the nuances of the "Open Gaming License" and the "d20 System Trademark License". Anyhow, as far as d20 material goes, there's not much here aside from a couple of hints about how the rules superpowers will work, which is apparently something like a skill-based system with adjustable costs for each power depending on the options and limitations you choose. It will still have its own system alongside the d20 conversion rules, which are no doubt a strategy to increase its market exposure (understandable considering the d20 domination of the market and the fact that Godlike is very much in a niche genre). For those of you looking forward to Godlike's unique system, fear not: Pagan Publishing has not sold out. I found it ironic that Godlike is referred to as "the first serious attempt at developing a supers game for the d20 system." Apparently the authors of the much-maligned Foundation weren't really serious. Keep 'em Flying is a one-page preview of Pagan Publishing's Godlike.
I don't want to give too much away, but the first gives you a chance to avoid being surprised and the second helps with Intimidation checks. The useful stuff on this page is a list of classes and three sample feats, two of which (Neck Hairs Rise and Steely Gaze) would make great additions to any system. This is the first I'd heard of it, but from what I see here, I'm going to have to search it out. Two-Fisted Pulp Action is a one-page preview for the Pulp Heroes game which will appear in the December issue of Polyhedron. It's a bit annoying that the article opens with the question "How will they handle Sanity checks?" and then doesn't answer it, except to say that they'll be "almost identical to the original game." Overall, not the most promising start to the issue, but just wait it gets better. We get a listing of the table of contents from the book and a couple of monsters (Deep Ones and Spectral Hunters), as well as the information that d20 CoC will be classless (which most people who've been paying any attention to its development should already know). As previews go, it doesn't really reveal an awful lot. The Stars are Right is a preview of the d20 Call of Cthulhu game. Here's a breakdown of the contents, which will explain why I think that. For those interested in the potential of the d20 system, this one is arguably the best value for money of any so far. I don't have a subscription to Dragon, but since D&D 3e came out I've picked up about a half-dozen issues that caught my attention. Those who don't care about the d20 system probably won't get much out of this review. I realize it's unusual to review a single issue of a magazine, but I believe that this one holds particular interest for d20 fans, which is why I wanted to call attention to it.