D&DI: The Price is Right

[carmachu]

That was actually the problem I had with Print Dragon/Dungeon. They were a great read, but I never got around to using them. (Except very rarely.)

I have dungeons dating back to issue to I've collected over the years. missed issue one when it first came out,


did I use most of the dundeons I have? No not even close. But I enjoyed reading them.

New Dungeons? Not sure even in 4e they'd be enjoyable reads.

 

[Scribble]

Keep in mind that you still have to search *each and every* PDF. In 5 years time, that will be 60 PDFs for Dragon Magazine alone. Double that if the new magic item you're looking for actually appeared in Dungeon Magazine.

yeah but making the computer search them all is much faster. And the computer is better suited to searching then I am. (it can search any word not just those in an index.)

1) In the 20 years that I have subscribed to the magazines I have read them in all kinds of places (sofa, chair, bathroom, before bedtime, on the bus, at a friends) but never, not once, have I read them at the computer.

In the times I bought them, or subscribed to them, I read them the same... Then put them on a shelf and forgot the contents or where the contents were.

3) With printed, twice a month, I got a pleasant surprise in my mailbox. It was a ray of sunshine in my otherwise dreary life. Even when the magazine content was bad, it still made my day better. I really, really miss that.

I get one everyday (for the most part) when the new article pops up.

4) Online content doesn't come to me. I have to go to the WOTC website (assuming its up), enter my password, find the article/issue in question, and finally download it. None of this is paticularly onerous, but it is a far cry from a ray of sunshine.

Point number 4 is the real killer for me. I have realized over the past 10 months (has it been that long?) that I am not interested in hunting down material I have already paid for.

I had to go to the mailbox or mail slot to get the magazine, then flip to te page the article was one.

Just a diferent way of doing things.

 

[renau1g]

I don't think you could use most of the dungeons from the mags. With three adventures a month I found that an adventure would take at least 2 months to complete... playing every week. Now that we've cut back to every other week... well ...

 

[Henry]

I had to go to the mailbox or mail slot to get the magazine, then flip to te page the article was one.

Just a diferent way of doing things.

Not to mention bookmarking the index pages of the current month's issue in question on my browser! I can get them just as quickly, in truth. I still prefer paper, but whether that paper is printed out, or a bought magazine, I don't mind.

 

[Scribble]

Not to mention bookmarking the index pages of the current month's issue in question on my browser! I can get them just as quickly, in truth. I still prefer paper, but whether that paper is printed out, or a bought magazine, I don't mind.

There's no doubt that reading paper is easier. That I will agree 100%

And if dragon/dungeon were supposed to be read only I would readily agree print format as standard would be the best format.

But they're designed to be used, and I don't think the argument can stand that print can in anyway be a better format then digital...

It's the same reason companies are switching from paper to digital archiving. I work in te health insurance industry. There's a BIG push to move all claims submission from paper to digital.

For information designed to be used, digital is king.

 

[renau1g]

They're also switching for a massive cost reduction, in addition to the environmental benefits (which aren't top of many corporations minds, despite what they might say ).

That depends again on you definition of how you use it. I bring my magazine to a friends house to play, I don't have a laptop (at least one that I can put non-work material on) so for me, I find more use out of a hard copy...

Also, when we play the lights are usually dim, or by candlelight, and having a bright monitor on casting it's glow would break the mood. If I need to reference a rule from Dragon I annotate it on my sheet.

 

[JesterOC]

My plan is to stop after GenCon.

Thanks for the warning. I have subscribed to your RSS feed.

JesterOC

 

[reveal]

Thanks for the warning. I have subscribed to your RSS feed.

JesterOC

Thanks.

 

[Invisible Stalker]

I want printed magazines not PDFs. No sale.

 

[Scribble]

They're also switching for a massive cost reduction, in addition to the environmental benefits (which aren't top of many corporations minds, despite what they might say ).

Which the same can be said about me too... All those Dragons and Dungeons on my shelf take up space. Space that my non gaming fiance grumbles about. Digital and not on the shelf for her to grumble at is definitely an environmental benefit!

That depends again on you definition of how you use it. I bring my magazine to a friends house to play, I don't have a laptop (at least one that I can put non-work material on) so for me, I find more use out of a hard copy...
Also, when we play the lights are usually dim, or by candlelight, and having a bright monitor on casting it's glow would break the mood. If I need to reference a rule from Dragon I annotate it on my sheet.

Copy/paste is faster then copy a rule by hand.

What if you want to use rules from 20 difefrent dragons? You luge all of them over there?

I'd much prefer to be able to copy/paste the specific item I need.