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<blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 5986548" data-attributes="member: 27780"><p><strong><u>Dragon Issue 289: November 2001</u></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p>part 1/7</p><p></p><p></p><p>132 pages. Oriental special time! One of the most popular optional books of 1e is back, and it's not doing too badly for itself this time either. Whether it'll get several more specials this edition due to the public sending in tons of submissions remains to be seen, but this is another topic that seems pretty promising, given the vast quantity of source material the writers have to draw upon. Let's hope this isn't a let-down. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Scan Quality: Excellent, indexed. </p><p></p><p></p><p>In this issue:</p><p></p><p></p><p>Wyrms turn: Another member of staff leaving? Yup, this time it's the art director who's heading off to pastures new. They may have improved the magazine a fair bit this year, but that doesn't mean it's not still a pressure cooker to work at, that gradually burns people out. This shakes my optimism coming into this issue a little bit. Still, let's hope this is handled as smoothly as Dave's departure, and the replacement doesn't start doing annoying things with the layout and art style. As long as you stagger the staff turnovers sufficiently, the whole continues uninterrupted, like any large organism. Eventually, everything can be changed, but it's still the same thing in principle. Let's hope I'll still be able to say that with the big changes to come. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Scale Mail: Our first letter praises the part of the DMG that shows you how to change the rules. People want to houserule, because one size does not fit all. As we've found from 4e and their change of tactics for 5e, trying to standardise everything alienates a lot of people. If you want a wide tent, your system and settings need to be flexible. </p><p></p><p>The second one points out just how good value for money a magazine subscription is, especially when compared to buying supplements. In fact, it's actually gotten better over time as well. And yet people are still more likely to allow stuff from the complete books than they are Dragon Articles. Funny, that. </p><p></p><p>Next we have someone who's finding the articles they're producing perfectly anticipate the needs of their game. Co-incidence, or mind-reading? I guess it doesn't really matter as long as it keeps working. </p><p></p><p>People continue to want more stuff from the magazine put up online. Once again, this is a slow process, but we know they'll get everything up eventually. Not that this'll please everyone in itself. WotC! Y U remove print versions?! </p><p></p><p>Planescape continues to have a fanatical following who are very happy to see the planes return, and want more stuff converted to 3e. I think we can safely say you'll be seeing more of that over the years. The new halflings, on the other hand, aren't so unanimously received. I don't think you're onto a winner there. </p><p></p><p>Also onto a loser are people who want to redistribute the magazine electronically on their webpages. The OGL may allow you to make new D&D compatible stuff, and distribute it widely, but direct copying of existing material without changing the names and wording will still get you C&D'd. </p><p></p><p>This month's pair of opposing letters are one from someone who's annoyed they completely stopped covering 2e cold, and is considering leaving, and someone who's recently been brought back, after a lengthy hiatus. It's true, they didn't have to make the cutoff so abrupt, after all, last time they tapered it over 3 whole years. Still, even with that, they're still picking up more people than they're losing at the moment. Would they have done even better if they'd kept supporting 2e, and possibly other systems as well? Oh for the ability to access alternate universes, and know for sure. </p><p></p><p>Another opposing pair are bitterly divided over the merits of the Shannara series, and it's statistical conversion & quality of artwork in issue 286. That issue is proving even more problematic than the historical ones. </p><p></p><p>Still, at least Chainmail seems to be getting a generally enthusiastic reception, with people wanting to see more of the setting ASAP. That's fairly pleasing. Some people still want to try new things. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Nodwick meets the most pitiful monster of all. An economics major. Yeah, like those could ever get a proper job in a D&D universe.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="(un)reason, post: 5986548, member: 27780"] [B][U]Dragon Issue 289: November 2001[/U][/B] part 1/7 132 pages. Oriental special time! One of the most popular optional books of 1e is back, and it's not doing too badly for itself this time either. Whether it'll get several more specials this edition due to the public sending in tons of submissions remains to be seen, but this is another topic that seems pretty promising, given the vast quantity of source material the writers have to draw upon. Let's hope this isn't a let-down. Scan Quality: Excellent, indexed. In this issue: Wyrms turn: Another member of staff leaving? Yup, this time it's the art director who's heading off to pastures new. They may have improved the magazine a fair bit this year, but that doesn't mean it's not still a pressure cooker to work at, that gradually burns people out. This shakes my optimism coming into this issue a little bit. Still, let's hope this is handled as smoothly as Dave's departure, and the replacement doesn't start doing annoying things with the layout and art style. As long as you stagger the staff turnovers sufficiently, the whole continues uninterrupted, like any large organism. Eventually, everything can be changed, but it's still the same thing in principle. Let's hope I'll still be able to say that with the big changes to come. Scale Mail: Our first letter praises the part of the DMG that shows you how to change the rules. People want to houserule, because one size does not fit all. As we've found from 4e and their change of tactics for 5e, trying to standardise everything alienates a lot of people. If you want a wide tent, your system and settings need to be flexible. The second one points out just how good value for money a magazine subscription is, especially when compared to buying supplements. In fact, it's actually gotten better over time as well. And yet people are still more likely to allow stuff from the complete books than they are Dragon Articles. Funny, that. Next we have someone who's finding the articles they're producing perfectly anticipate the needs of their game. Co-incidence, or mind-reading? I guess it doesn't really matter as long as it keeps working. People continue to want more stuff from the magazine put up online. Once again, this is a slow process, but we know they'll get everything up eventually. Not that this'll please everyone in itself. WotC! Y U remove print versions?! Planescape continues to have a fanatical following who are very happy to see the planes return, and want more stuff converted to 3e. I think we can safely say you'll be seeing more of that over the years. The new halflings, on the other hand, aren't so unanimously received. I don't think you're onto a winner there. Also onto a loser are people who want to redistribute the magazine electronically on their webpages. The OGL may allow you to make new D&D compatible stuff, and distribute it widely, but direct copying of existing material without changing the names and wording will still get you C&D'd. This month's pair of opposing letters are one from someone who's annoyed they completely stopped covering 2e cold, and is considering leaving, and someone who's recently been brought back, after a lengthy hiatus. It's true, they didn't have to make the cutoff so abrupt, after all, last time they tapered it over 3 whole years. Still, even with that, they're still picking up more people than they're losing at the moment. Would they have done even better if they'd kept supporting 2e, and possibly other systems as well? Oh for the ability to access alternate universes, and know for sure. Another opposing pair are bitterly divided over the merits of the Shannara series, and it's statistical conversion & quality of artwork in issue 286. That issue is proving even more problematic than the historical ones. Still, at least Chainmail seems to be getting a generally enthusiastic reception, with people wanting to see more of the setting ASAP. That's fairly pleasing. Some people still want to try new things. Nodwick meets the most pitiful monster of all. An economics major. Yeah, like those could ever get a proper job in a D&D universe. [/QUOTE]
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