An Open Letter to Dragon and Dungeon Readers

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I appreciate this is a minority opinion -- obviously, if more people felt this way, the minigames and other Polyhedron content would not have been cut back and then culled. I don't have a "right" to have Paizo lose money to make me happy, and I have not been "betrayed" or "ripped off".

Oh, you're no fun.

It's the hip thing. Shred your clothes as you wail at how you have been wronged. You are not demonstrating the appropriate level of obnoxious narcissism and lack of perspective so characteristic of too many posts in this thread.


BTW, Lizard, your mini-game in Polyhedron was one of those that really made it a worthwhile venture while it lasted. IMO.


Regards,
Eric Anondson

 

[Corinth]

Dragon = The PHB magazine

Dungeon = The DMG magazine

This is how it ought to be, and I'm glad to see that it shall be that way. Good going.

 

[Treebore]

All right, I'll re-subscribe to both. But I reserve the right to cancel for a full refund on my remaining issues at any time!

I also want to add that at no time that I thought the quality of the Paizo Dungeon/Dragon mags was bad. In fact I thought it was very good/outstanding. It was the content that made me leave. So, with the improvement in content I am returning. Yaaayy!

 

[Keith F Strohm]

Keith,

I want to thank Paizo first for announcing the changes and you personally for answering questions and giving the heads up on the future. I am a subscriber to both (Dragon since #45, Dungeon since the beginning).

Mixmaster,

First off, thanks for being such a long-time supporter of Dragon and Dungeon. I certainly wasn't trying to conspicuously duck questions. I've been sifting through this thread (often when I should be sleeping <grin>) answering the questions that I catch. I'll do my best to give you honest, truthful answers to your questions.

But two(+) questions on Dungeon are being conspicuously not answered and I have to "hold your feet to the fire" until I get answers.

Consider them held.

1. The original reason for merging Polyhedron & Dungeon was because "neither magazine can survive on it's own." By removing Polyhedron, now Dungeon can survive? By what means?? What has changed???

Well, that decision and explanation was made by a different manager at a different company, as far as I recall. I was not privy to the sales data of Dungeon (as I was in charge of Pokemon at the time), but one major factor that has changed is the size of the company publishing the title. Large corporations like Wizards carry much larger overhead costs, and each business unit must share the load. What would be unprofitable (or profitable to such a small degree that it is not worth the effort) at WOTC, can actually do quite well for a company the size of Paizo. We also believe that the changes we're making to Dungeon will actually bring a much larger portion of the D&D market to the magazine--bringing it even greater success.

2. You're removing the Polyhedron pages from Dungeon. What happens to the price point? You are quick to mention numerous times that the content in Dragon will not change. But it has been asked repeatedly about Dungeon - no answer. Am I paying the same price for less content?? I'm getting 3 adventures now, 3 after the change. But I've lost the Polyhedron pages!!

Dungeon magazine will remain at $6.99. I'm not actually ducking the rest of this question, but I do want to have Erik fill in the details of what you'll be getting for that same price, as he can be more specific in his response.

+. What is your support going to be on Star Wars? d20 Modern? d20 Future?? Those. are. settings. too.

I agree. Those are settings, too--and ones with passionate followings. However, in order to build for the highest growth and long-term health of our business, we need to deliver quality magazines that meet the needs of the largest segment of our audience. In short, we need to deliver what the majority of the market wants. We currently do not have any plans to suppor Star Wars, d20 Modern, or d20 Future. It's not a satisfying answer, I know. But it's the honest one.

I'm not worring about Dragon #324. It is what it always is since the beginning. Feats, Prc's, Monsters, Magic Items, Characters, Races, Settings, Min-Maxinging, (crunchy bits).......

The jury is out on Dungeon #114. And your answers.

Well, I do hope that you enjoy what Erik Mona, James Jacobs, and Sean Glenn have put together for the "new" Dungeon. They are each tremendously talented and passionate about Dungeon, and D&D specifically. What they have built is truly an exceptional periodical. I look forward to your feedback once you've had a chance to see 114.

Keith Strohm
Vice President
Paizo Publishing, LLC

 

[Karl Green]

Keith Strohm
Vice President
Paizo Publishing, LLC

Well, I guess I am one of the silent you LOVE the Dung/Poly but oh well, people bitch and complained and that is who you have to listen to

I will give it a try but I am not sure I will continue picking it up. Not that big a deal I am sure, and I don't want to bitch, just my thoughts.

 

[BSF]

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?

Maybe because I don't remember actually using one single thing from the last 8-9 issues of Dragon that I have? I expect that sometime in the next 6 months, I will actually be bored enough to try to read most of the last 3 issues. But, I'm not in a hurry.

By contrast, I am still getting use out of Portals and Planes, Manual of the Planes, and a host of other books. I am excited by my recent purchase of the Psychic's Handbook and have been integrating it into my game. I like a Magical Society: Ecology and Culture. I am eagerly awaiting both the Immortal's Handbook and Steam and Steel on the PDF front.

It's not that Dragon, or Dungeon, is a bad magazine. But, I find myself referring to Dragon magazines that 2-23 years old more than I have for issues that are less than 2 years old. For the older articles, part of the appeal has a lot to do with memories and nostalgia. Well, that and those gems from the past that I remember reading and having a gestalt moment. Sometimes, I want to brush up on the moment of insight on how I can make my game better. I'm not that interested in new PrC's. I create my own. I'm not that interested in alternate builds to core classes. (Urban Druid? It's not to my taste.)

I want to see more content for D20 games. I used to love Ares, even when it published Marvel Superhero characters. I want Open Game content, and articles that sometimes deal with other games. I want wacky cross-genre ideas and scenarios. Maybe I won't use it, but then again, maybe I will. In short, I'm looking for more diversity when they are pulling in to focus. It sounds like Paizo needs to do that, and that's great that they are able to recognize it. I hope it helps strengthen the industry. Down the road, things may swing outward again and they will need to shift toward more diversity. I will still be here. I've been here for 24 years, and I hope to be here for another 24. Heck, I will only be 58 in another 24 years. But, if I know that very little of the content is going to appeal to me, how can I justify a subscription? I will still see it on the shelves. I will still read about articles on the messageboards. When they have something that piques my interest, I can buy it then. But otherwise, I will spend my money on other gaming resources. Mostly sourcebooks.

 

[Alzrius]

But, I find myself referring to Dragon magazines that 2-23 years old more than I have for issues that are less than 2 years old. For the older articles, part of the appeal has a lot to do with memories and nostalgia.

Subscribe to the magazines now so you can read them again twenty years later and keep getting that nostalgic high!

 

[BSF]

Subscribe to the magazines now so you can read them again twenty years later and keep getting that nostalgic high!

I've thought about that! But, in the end, I look at it like this. For all those nostalgic highs, I have still opened my 1st ed Monster Manual II and my 1st ed Fiend Folio more than any issue of Dragon in the last couple of years. Heck, I've opened up my old HERO/Champions books more than old issues of Dragon. In the last 5 years, I have probably pulled out Paranoia and Car Wars about as often as I have old issues of Dragon. I would rather pick up a new game, or sourcebook than to hope I will find a gem in an old issue of Dragon 20 years from now.

 

[Arani Korden]

It's the hip thing. Shred your clothes as you wail at how you have been wronged. You are not demonstrating the appropriate level of obnoxious narcissism and lack of perspective so characteristic of too many posts in this thread.

Have I missed something? I think the Poly crowd in this thread have been pretty restrained, especially in the face of all the "I dance on Polyhedron's grave" posts.

 

[Vexed]

Dragon = The PHB magazine

Dungeon = The DMG magazine

This is how it ought to be, and I'm glad to see that it shall be that way. Good going.

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I agree completely! The content of the magazine should focus on DnD. That is what it says on the front cover of the mag.

My condolences to the Poly fans. But, its a long time coming.