An Open Letter to Dragon and Dungeon Readers

[Celtavian]

re

Nice change to Dungeon. Definitely makes it a more attractive purchase now. I don't have time for mini-games, and more dungeons means more options for adventure.

 

[thundershot]

Why not let Polyhedron continue as a web-zine? Maybe as a bonus to subscribers or soemthing, with the occaisional mini-game, and still have some content for d20 modern and Star Wars? It'll save on printing costs, and only subscribers to either magazine could have access to it.

Or how about a new magazine! Call it "Young & d20 Modern" *runs before he can get pelted with tomatoes*



Chris

 

[Imhotepthewise]

I will truly miss Poly, especially the minigames (snif!). I think the caretakers of the publications, have, over the years, always tried to bend with the changes in the industry and please their customer base by changing the product. I think for the most part, they have done a great job. Remember that most of them are gamers themselves, and this is a labor of love as well as a job. Keep it up, gang!

 

[Sholari]

Big thanks to the Paizo crew! That really made my day. I will definitely be resubscribing to the new Dungeon magazine. Heck, double or triple the price on me and I'd still buy the revised version. As quality sources of adventures have dwindled over the years, this is the resource I've been waiting for.

As far as Polyhedron I hope it lives on in some fan-based e-zine format, so that all the Polyhedron guys have something to meet their needs as well. Perhaps there is some enterprising individual that could license out that brand and focus Polyhedron on what it does best.

 

[beverson]

originally posted by ledded

I'm sure these changes will appeal to a much wider customer base and hopefully generate better revenues and return customers for you, and I truly do wish you luck, but I will have to stick by my lament for the death of things that do not fit within the status quo of the average D&D fanbase or the marketing-focus-de jour of WotC.

You certainly can't make all of the people happy all of the time (many RPG companies and mags have died trying), and sometimes you can't make someone happy at all. No hard feelings.

I have to disagree with ledded and say that I DO have hard feelings. What about all of those comments regarding Dungeon and Poly not being able to stand on their own?

I hope someone out there is ready to take up the cause of the non D&D d20 gamer and put together a new Poly, including mini-games. I for one will send them my money. Meanwhile, I now must contemplate cancelling my current sub to Dungeon.

 

[MrCharm]

changes

I like the changes to Dungeon. The minigames were kind of cool, but my group would never play them. I think some d20 modern adventures would have gone a long way toward getting me to play that game.

Dragon--Well, I don't currently subscribe, and don't plan to do so. Prestige class every issue? There are already 10000 of them, so who needs more? Same with feats, and character classes, etc. I would be more likely to pick up Dragon if it had more player advice, and sections on the different games (d20 Modern, d20 Future, etc).
IMO, I would like to see all "crunch" game content in Dragon/Dungeon be OGL. Why would you not do this, since the magazine shelf life is so short?

 

[beverson]

Once again every genre that isn't fantasy gets the shaft. I subscribed strictly for the mini-games and won't be getting the magazine anymore.

I love how they want to focus solely on D&D to the point of killing the mini-games, but they have space for miniature articles, computer game articles, and a Wil Wheaton column.

In other words, they have plenty of space for things that aren't D&D, just not Polyhedron.

The people dancing on Poly's grave are probably the same folks who whined about the 10 page Ares Section in the old Dragon till they killed that.

Chuck

Here, here!! What Chuck said!

 

[Razuur]

This is the complete wrong direction for me. I understand that Paizo has a business to run, and is catering to their larger audience. I respect this, and wish them well. Unfortunately, the Poly and D20 content were the reason i bought the mags.

I wish you folks well. i will miss the monthly mags.

Razuur

 

[Drengy]

Excellent changes

I like all the changes listed.

Dragon as the players mag and Dungeon as the DM mag is perfect!

Also, I LOVE the idea of Dragon being about all aspects of D&D - RPG, minis, and CRPGs. I think there is a ton of crossover between the camps, and this might also convince those who only play D&D computer/console games to try out the pen-and-paper version. To those naysayers I say: It's 2004, the D&D audience is getting older because kids are more accustomed to computer and console games. ANYTHING that will expose them to the tabletop version is fine by me. We need some new blood or we will slowly die. As a kid I LOVED tabletop wargames (SPI, Avalon Hill, etc.). But computer games came along and crushed them, and the old grognards refused to recognise this until it was too late. I miss SPI…

As far as Dungeon goes, the three-tier adventure thing is perfect. That means useful stuff no matter what campaign I'm currently running.

As far as the lack of non-D&D material, I think this is a great opportunity for Paizo or some other publisher to step-in and create another magazine. Either print or online. I would subscribe to a PDF, downloadable magazine if one were available.

Finally, to those who would cancel or not subscribe - an entire year subscription to each of these mags is $45. Not much more than a one hardcover gaming book, and there's lots more useful info in a year of magazines than even the best hardcover book (except for the 3 core books of course). Put another way $45 / 12 months = $3.75 per month. Less than a single lunch, half a movie, or one large specialty coffee drink from Starbucks. If you are truly a fan of the hobby how can you justify *not* having subscriptions?

 

[Ranes]

'Eyup Keith, Erik & Co,

Thank you for sharing your plans with us here. I found them very interesting and look forward to seeing the new format of both magazines.

Computer games related articles in Dragon are something I've never liked but I'm not against them in principle. I don't believe we need - except perhaps very occasionally - conversions of items or creatures from CRPGs to pen and paper. But if the next NWN expansion features, say, a colourful guild of extraplanar search and rescue specialists, then I'm happy to see them written up for the rest of us.

I always thought Poly content would have found a better home in Dragon but that's academic now. Why don't you consider donating the title to ENWorld? I read a post from Morrus recently, in which he indicated he was looking for a new name for the EN World Players' Journal. I appreciate that he's bound to have settled on a new name now but I just think 'Polyhedron' would be the perfect name for a magazine published by a d20 fan site.

On the whole, I like the sound of the changes to Dungeon. However, I'm hoping for a very high standard of creative DMing material. By all means, write some DMing articles for beginners (we need new DMs) but I challenge you to furnish any such articles with ideas that will surprise, please and provide utility to veterans and newcomers alike.

As for having a Wil Wheaton column, why not? I've never read anything by him. I look forward to finding what he writes - and the way he writes it - entertaining.

While I'm here, can I just add my voice to the chorus (tell me there's a chorus) begging you not to push the cover art and headline style any further comic book-wards? Thanks for listening.

And, of course, I won't hold it against you should fiction find its way out of Dragon and into Amazing.

Good luck, to all of you, with all your endeavours.