[Asgard magazine] Submissions and Themes?

[Hand of Evil]

We have to put up with that with Dragon.

A very good point.

But Asgard is good.

 

[Tonguez]

how about the 4 elements as issue themes?

fire: forest fires (where do the fey go?), elementals, energy subs...

water: floods,tidal waves, elementals, drowning, firing underwater, magic underwater, then extend to ice ..

earth: troubles with being underground, elementals, landslides and earthquakes....

air: tornados and hurricanes, elementals, airships, 3-d combat!...

Hey I like this idea what about going for the Paraelements too

and the Great Outdoors theme is a must imNSho

Plants - need stuff on Plants eg Plant monsters, Herbalism, Realistic Forests, Jungles

Come to think of it what about 'Terrain Themes' with ideas on monsters by terrain, terrain encounters, and wilderness lore in different terrains, Terrain themed Magic, Terrain linked Rangers and Druids

eg
1. Arctic Adventures
2. Desert Adventures
3. Island Adventures
4. Jungle Adventures
5. Mountain Adventures
6. Plains Adventures
7. City Adventures
8. River Adventures
9. Sea Adventures
10. Underground Adventures
11. Undersea Adventures
12. Aerial Adventures

This could link to a World Cultures theme too
- Moghul Empire, Inuit, Aztec, Masai, Polynesia

 

[Jeph]

How 'bout some alternatives to fire 'n' forget magic . . . .

a section on Psionics,

a section on the Force,

a section on Ctulhu-style magic,

a section on superpowers,

reviews of books like Chaos magic and The Elements of Magic,

and then a few home-brew supernatural stuff systems, such as some of the drain-based or mannah-point systems that are floating around, or my [pimp] Skills, Feats, and Seeds Psionics System [/pimp] .

There could be sections about fitting it into a d20 Modern campaign a Low Magic or Dark Magic campaign, post-apocolyptic games, pure-psi games, futureistic games, etc. etc. etc. . .

This would be just the thing I'm looking for.

-Jeph

 

[arwink]

A very good point.

But Asgard is good.

So was Dragon, once upon a time.

For me, I'd vote to keep Asgard themeless. The random assortment of articles has a certain charm to it that I'd miss, and it makes reading the magazine much more interesting.

I basically open asgard wondering exactly what goodies are in there that I can use. I usually open a themed mag, like Dragon, wondering if there's going to be something useful crammed in around the edges of the theme that I can use.

For me, the lack of themes is part of Asgard's charm.

 

[RangerWickett]

There would be probably only two, maybe three articles related to the theme. We tend to have an average of 7 or 8 articles per issue, so it's not like the theme would push out non-themed submissions. Rather, I think the theme might encourage more people to submit. Give people something to talk about, and they're more likely to talk than if you just wait for them, because giving them a topic helps them start thinking of ideas. So I think a theme each issue might increase the number of articles we get, without reducing the variety in each issue.

I think we'll try it for an ish or two, to see if it's any good. We can always go back to the old ways.

 

[Tortoise]

Why not instead of theme issues, theme threads. Ongoing discussion on a certain topic for two or three issues along with the other mix of goodies with no more than one to three small articles in any one issue that match the theme? That way even a single article can be on the theme and leave plenty of room for everythig else.

It could even end up creating a kind of "conversation" on a topic and help give some alternatives or counterpoints on a subject.

This way you could even have multiple "threads" going occasionally and not cramp the enjoyment of those who are tired of Dragon's theme-aholism.

I used to enjoy Dragon, but they really have become drunk on themes.

 

[Undead Pete]

1)Ideas for use with the BoVD - Seriously....

2)Undead - There's never enough

3)Plants - Nature gone bad

4)Insects - Hive minds, anyone?

5)Evil Clowns - Yes, I have issues

6)Prehistoric Adventures - We need more dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts

 

[Chun-tzu]

Of the above, I like Myths and Legends, and alternate magic systems the best.

In fact, how about a new regular column on alternate D&D rules? Columns might include how to translate D&D into a low-magic game; adding more skill points to the game, and what types of campaigns this might be best suited; effects of removing the alignment mechanic from the game... actually, the recent "what one thing would you change in 3E?" probably has other ideaqs along these lines.

 

[Sidran]

CIty Adventures

On the Battlefield

Places of Mystery

I.E Campaign non specific sites to fit into any good adventure

Also I have been thinking about writing an Article every few weeks about a Book from a Used Book Shelf, and some new feats
Items, or Prestige Classes from the book (Patterned a little after Silicon Sorcery)

I was planning on doing books such as


Wizard of Earthsea
The Riddlemaster of Hed
A Song for Arrabonne
Sky Pirates of Callisto
Harts Hope
A Gentleman and a Sorcerer
The Wizards Grove
Free Bards Bardic Voices

 

[chatdemon]

Rather than have 'theme issues', which will in all likelihood alienate some readers (like me, for example, I wouldn't bother downloading an 'aerial adventures' or 'd20 spaceships and rayguns' issue, regardless of what other content might be included. I'm just stubborn that way, and I know there are others in the same boat.), I'd vote for creating regular columns around the popular themes, giving us a monthly (or whatever the current schedule of Asgard is ) article about aerial adventuring, another about naval adventures, another about mass combat, a prestige class of the month, etc etc.

I don't mean shackling each column to a single author either. I realize that being a fanzine it is harder to solicit articles, but if you set out a solid outline of the material you would like to include, you might get more takers.