D&D 5E How would you improve Dragon+, WotC's Online Magazine?

[aco175]

I do look at Dragon+ when they come out, not sure if it is from longing or nostalgia element. I agree that it is mostly promotional for new stuff they are making. It seems to be working for them, so there is no incentive to change it. I was going to say that they could print/post some of the old Dragon and Dungeon magazines and make them open content. They could ask some of the DMsGuild authors they promote to update some stuff and post it. Let others update stuff and change the original stuff.

Problem is that it would compete with the new thing they are promoting. Updating the Shackles campaign now suddenly splits the Candlekeep sales. They may also need to open forums again if they posted old articles. People would want to discuss and argue over issue whatever's article on bow types and such.

I guess, overall I feel like there is not much from Wizards site that makes me want to look at it. I feel like they are not trying, but their formula is working for them as least.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Can you link to or explain why a print version of Dragon Magazine isn't possible? Because I have near my desk a copy of White Dwarf and I'm wondering why WotC can't do it if GW can at $9 an issue.

Every article I've read on the topic of print media says that general interest magazines are losing subscribers and advertising but niche magazines (which is what Dragon Magazine would be) are doing very well. It's still a $22.9 billion industry.

It is not nearly as confusing as the fact that Hasbro, one of the world's leading manufacturers of little plastic objects in the shapes of various characters, chooses to license out the creation of official minis. Fundamentally I think it is a large corporation not interested in pursuing possible side-businesses for the WotC division and its properties unless they are straight-forward, no-capital-down, minimal-risk-for-them licensing deals.

 

[Dire Bare]

It is not nearly as confusing as the fact that Hasbro, one of the world's leading manufacturers of little plastic objects in the shapes of various characters, chooses to license out the creation of official minis. Fundamentally I think it is a large corporation not interested in pursuing possible side-businesses for the WotC division and its properties unless they are straight-forward, no-capital-down, minimal-risk-for-them licensing deals.

The market for tabletop miniatures, both RPG and wargames, is a very different market from the toy market.

My miniatures are not toys!

 

[MichaelSomething]

It is not nearly as confusing as the fact that Hasbro, one of the world's leading manufacturers of little plastic objects in the shapes of various characters, chooses to license out the creation of official minis. Fundamentally I think it is a large corporation not interested in pursuing possible side-businesses for the WotC division and its properties unless they are straight-forward, no-capital-down, minimal-risk-for-them licensing deals.

Or as I like to say, "the juice is not worth the sqeeze." Another way is "printing magazines for money is like fighting a Dragon for coppers. It's not rewarding enough for the people who can do it."

 

[Rob Kuntz]

Or as I like to say, "the juice is not worth the sqeeze." Another way is "printing magazines for money is like fighting a Dragon for coppers. It's not rewarding enough for the people who can do it."

Well that's certainly the bean-counter's way of viewing it if that is indeed WotC's position. Having been close to many TSR Dragon editors I know that the ads pay for the magazine, What costs that are not paid for through ads (and subscriptions/shelf copy sales) are absorbed by the company. Print is about dedication to a consumer base that keeps the multi-tiered company, in this case, going. It's an added Thank You as well as an ad churner and hype producer. Perhaps the nitty-gritty days of print are gone for such media; and it appears to be nip-n-tuck with theaters vs. direct to streaming. as well. Taking print mediums and theater away eliminates unique cultural and societal experiences. It shortens and shades in gray colors the social horizon contracting it towards isolation. I've personally had enough of that with Covid. But as I've stated elsewhere, WotC will do what they do. Not all experiences are equal however nor are they all just about ":getting the information."

 

[Parmandur]

Well that's certainly the bean-counter's way of viewing it if that is indeed WotC's position. Having been close to many TSR Dragon editors I know that the ads pay for the magazine, What costs that are not paid for through ads (and subscriptions/shelf copy sales) are absorbed by the company. Print is about dedication to a consumer base that keeps the multi-tiered company, in this case, going. It's an added Thank You as well as an ad churner and hype producer. Perhaps the nitty-gritty days of print are gone for such media; and it appears to be nip-n-tuck with theaters vs. direct to streaming. as well. Taking print mediums and theater away eliminates unique cultural and societal experiences. It shortens and shades in gray colors the social horizon contracting it towards isolation. I've personally had enough of that with Covid. But as I've stated elsewhere, WotC will do what they do. Not all experiences are equal however nor are they all just about ":getting the information."

The ads that pay aren't there for print magazines much anymore: the entire industry has shrunk considerably.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

the entire industry has shrunk considerably.

Are you suggesting that WotC's ascendency with D&D is diametrically shrinking the competition? Looking around at all the alternate-to-D&D products being pumped out I find that interesting if true.

 

[Parmandur]

Are you suggesting that WotC's ascendency with D&D is diametrically shrinking the competition? Looking around at all the alternate-to-D&D products being pumped out I find that interesting if true.

No, I meant the magazine industry. Massively smaller than it was 15 years ago.

 

[Rob Kuntz]

No, I meant the magazine industry. Massively smaller than it was 15 years ago.

Got it. Dragon and Dungeon are not hobbyist magazines, either. Dragon under TSR eventually became a company vehicle, but there was still massive adverts in it up to about 1987/88 where a steep decline in subs/shelf sales occurred (from 150.000 previously to 80,000), this according to their two rate sheets I had. So. I suppose other companies out there see little use in advertising in Dragon today mainly because of direct online platforms and info delivery systems, et al. Still, print rules; and if ever it doesn't we will be in a poorer societal life-cycle for it.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Got it. Dragon and Dungeon are not hobbyist magazines, either. Dragon under TSR eventually became a company vehicle, but there was still massive adverts in it up to about 1987/88 where a steep decline in subs/shelf sales occurred (from 150.000 previously to 80,000), this according to their two rate sheets I had. So. I suppose other companies out there see little use in advertising in Dragon today mainly because of direct online platforms and info delivery systems, et al. Still, print rules; and if ever it doesn't we will be in a poorer societal life-cycle for it.

I think magazine advertising collapsed with newspaper advertising as google basically ate everyone else's lunch with advertising revenue.