Dragon for DMs

So,

A little project from my side.

I am currently putting together a 4th ed campaign, based in a points of light world.  One thing I have been doing is going through the Dragon and Dungeon magazines, looking for articles which can be used to enhance a homebrew campaign.  So, I will be posting a review of each edition on a weekly basis, starting at Dragon 364, looking at which articles I have found useful from a dming perspective.

Dragon 364
Demonomicon of Iggwilv; Yeenoghu Demon Prince of Gnolls

Interesting article, although I am not planning to use Yeenoghu as a main adversary in my campaign the information on his cults and followers might make their way into gnollish adversaries that the party run into.
The adversaries covered in the article are best used for the epic tier, with the exception of Crocottas which make for a nice variation in Gnoll encounters for upper heroic tier encounters.
 
Vor Kragal City of Ash
Another good article, detailing the ruined city of Vor Kragal, the capital of the Tiefling empire of Bael Turath.  Awesome article if you are looking for a creepy demon infested ruined city to include in your campaign, especially at early Paragon.  I will keep this bookmarked as an adventure site, a hidden library could yield knowledge of ages past.
 
The Ashen Convanent
This article details a cult of Orcus with a particularly sinister motive.  The article includes the cults leaders, magical items and new undead mosters.  I will be using this article extensively, as reference to what a powerful cult might look like.
 
Wolves of Maldeen
This article provides the information on a mercenary guild which fights against evil, protecting the innocent.  It has a slightly underground, feel, more like Robin Hood than knights in shinign armour.
This article has already found its way into my campaign world.  My players have suggested some kind of fighters guild within the starting area.  Unknown to them, the guild which hires out mercenaries to guard merchant traffic in the valley has links to the Wolves, keeping an eye on the valley and its inhabitants and watching for the rise of evil.  They may take note of a new band of heroes in the area, and react depending on these heroes actions.

Creature Incarnations; Kobolds
More kobolds than you can shake a sword at, including a kobold swarm.  The article also goes into some details on designing kobold lairs.  As a bonus there is a chart to roll against in the unlikely event that a kobold manages to drop a pc.  Very amusing, and going to be useful.

Alchemical Imbalance
This article featuring an alchemically altered goblin tribe, shows how with a few simple changes you can create a unique encounter for your players.  Useful as is, or for reference for modifying monsters to a theme.

Expeditionary Dispatch Forest of Flesh
This is an Eberron article featuring a creepy, haunted forest.  Ripe for steeling for homebrews if you are looking to create an area where the terrain is as dangerous as the creatures inhabiting it and clearly designed to keep the curious out.

Summary
All in all many interesting articles for a dm to steal and use in his campaign, several of the articles are likely to see extensive use in my homebrew Enemy of My Enemy, all in all a strong and promising start for the 4e edition of Dragon.

Till next time good gaming and may the dice spirits be kind.