Could Kenzer takeover Dragon?

[Mark Plemmons]

Can they come up with a publishing model that's essentially a monthly mag, without being a 'periodical'?

If Kenzer did that, I'd sign up for a year out of spite to WOTC

You mean the Knights of the Dinner Table magazine, published since 1990?

[promo voice on]
What's that? You don't know about Knights of the Dinner Table - the longest running comic magazine on the subject of games and gamers? This multiple award-winning 80-page magazine features the gaming industry’s most popular comic strip, as well as being a full-fledged gaming magazine.

Thousands of readers enjoy KODT every month, laughing at the comics and enjoying the gaming articles, reviews and special features. No matter what your game of choice is, you're sure to find useful adventure hooks, maps, tips, and much more![promo voice off]

 

[Ranger REG]

Kenzer has an "official D&D" license.

Why couldn't they produce a D&D magazine?

Their exclusive licensing agreement is strict, negotiated by both parties. To use Wizards' brands for their KoK product line, and grant permission to use AD&D material for their HM product line.

It's not a carte-blanch license, to do what they will.

 

[Jolly_Blackburn]

Essentially, Kenzer got an official license as an agreement for them not to sue WoTC. Why would they sue WoTC? Over the Dragon Magazine CD Archive. See, when WoTC sold the Dragon Magazine CD Archive there was no contractual agreement between the publishers of Dragon (TSR/WoTC) regarding possible future royalties of possible future releases of the magazine.

Just to clarify. In our case we had a very clear contract that specifically excluded ANY reprints. Electronic/Digital or otherwise. i.e. we weren't on the standard boiler plate contracts Dragon had and spent a good deal of effort negotiating those exceptions. With trade paperbacks/compilations being a very substantial part of our business model it was something we insisted on before KODT could appear in Dragon.

So it wasn't a case of a mistake being made and us saying "Got Ya!" on a legal technicality.
The contracts/agreements were very, very clear.

And the timing of the Dragon CD couldn't have been worst (from our position) We had one compilation of the Dragon strips coming out and two more in the works.

Hope that clears things up a bit. Course I don't know what terms the other freelancers/artists who sued were under or how they came out.

 

[Jolly_Blackburn]

You mean the Knights of the Dinner Table magazine, published since 1990?

[promo voice on]
What's that? You don't know about Knights of the Dinner Table - the longest running comic magazine on the subject of games and gamers? This multiple award-winning 80-page magazine features the gaming industry’s most popular comic strip, as well as being a full-fledged gaming magazine.

Thousands of readers enjoy KODT every month, laughing at the comics and enjoying the gaming articles, reviews and special features. No matter what your game of choice is, you're sure to find useful adventure hooks, maps, tips, and much more![promo voice off]

Just to add -- KODT has been a monthly product since November/December 1996. With no break in publication. Something we're very proud of. Occasionally the magazine runs a few weeks behind (usually after the gruelling summer con season) but we manage to get out 12 issues a year so it all averages out.

We do have the option to run D&D material/Kalamar material in KODT and we have done so. The process requires approval/screening from WotC before we publish it but that's never been a problem. Truth is we rarely exercise the option because most Kalamar realated material we run doesn't rule contain D&D or proprietery information. So there's no need.

I'm saddened to hear Dragon is gone. I havent' read it in years but it was nice knowing it was still out there.

Hearing it's gone is like losing a child hood hero. I took so much inspiration from that magazine.

Putting on my editor's cap for a moment...

We do accept submissions for virtually every system.
Only 10% of any given issue (out of 80 pages) is actually HackMaster related. The rest is comprised of strips, general interest articles and generic material like traps, maps, treasure items etc. Oh and we run d20 articles freqently.

We're also open to running other material. Anything of interest to gamers is fair game.

Our writers guidelines can be download on our website.

 

[Jolly_Blackburn]

That's why Kenzer stuf is "official". To call it official is quite a bit of a stretch really. It's just a word. Like "organic" or "all-natural". It really doesn't mean crap.

Actually...

it's 'official' because WotC approves everything we put the D&D logo on.

So it's not a case of just slapping a logo on a manuscript and calling it D&D.

And trust me -- it's no easy approval process. Changes/edits fly back and forth.
One of the reasons Mark Plemmons is bald.

 

[Reynard]

Actually taking over the magazines Dungeon and Dragon aside, with the niche of a respected monthly D&D/d20 magazine now empty, what are the chances of KoDT going "full size" and incorporating more d20, Hackmaster and OSRIC information, perhaps including a full adventure every issue or two? having a print, old school D&D* magazine would be awesome.

*And by "D&D", I mean that in the most general of terms, encompassing OD&D, B/X D&D, 1E AD&D and 2E AD&D, 3E and 3.5, and even C&C (which I don't like much, even if I respect the intent).

 

[an_idol_mind]

I highly recommend checking out KoDT for those who are going to miss Dragon. It's much, much more than just a comic book these days. (Not that there's anything wrong with the comics -- they're still the best gaming-related comics out there.)

 

[Jolly_Blackburn]

Actually taking over the magazines Dungeon and Dragon aside, with the niche of a respected monthly D&D/d20 magazine now empty, what are the chances of KoDT going "full size" and incorporating more d20, Hackmaster and OSRIC information, perhaps including a full adventure every issue or two? having a print, old school D&D* magazine would be awesome.

*And by "D&D", I mean that in the most general of terms, encompassing OD&D, B/X D&D, 1E AD&D and 2E AD&D, 3E and 3.5, and even C&C (which I don't like much, even if I respect the intent).

All possible. Most of it would be dependent on freelancers supplying such material Something we already accept -- we just don't get many submissions along these iines. (something I'd like to see change).

In the current issue (126) There's a an adventure (a Goodman Games Dungeon Crawl Classic).

Going full size is something we've discussed over the years but been reluctant to do.

We're very interested in growing the magazine and evolving it more but careful not to upset our base. We have a very loyal readership. So we take baby steps when it comes to changes.

 

[takasi]

As a loyal ready (and current subscriber) for many, many years, I fully support the expansion of KotDT. The issues with DCC's are a special treat for me, and I love 'bait and tackle'. The article on uses for Unseen Servants was really cool too.

I would love to see more D&D stuff in KotDT, especially now that the magazines are gone.

 

[Reynard]

All possible. Most of it would be dependent on freelancers supplying such material Something we already accept -- we just don't get many submissions along these iines. (something I'd like to see change

I guess my question then is simply: does your submission guidelines cover this kind of thing, or should I send a special query?