Do You Read This News?

[h=3]EN World News[/h]

• In my never-ending quest to try to optimize the time I spend on different aspects of EN World, I'm trying to ascertain whether this news page is still popular or useful in the face of big mega-companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Google. (I know I occasionally ask this - it's important, I think to keep asking every year or so!) It's the busiest page of the site, for sure, but that may be just because it's the most common landing page - I can't tell whether folks actually read it, and I get very little feedback or response which would let me know. So, a small ask - if you read this page, please drop a quick note in the comments so that I can get a rough idea (and indeed, which bits of it you read). Then I can make an informed decision on how to spend time to improve things for everyone! The page is a lot of effort every day (and I've been doing it for about 12 years!) and I'm happy to do it, but I'm also happy to do other things, too, which would also be cool!
• In Pretty Darn Fun (a look at new PDFs) This week we have 10 new PDFs, 4 WotC rereleases, 4 new adventures and 1 excellent Spotlight of the Week. Some are previews, some are new systems, some are supplements for a game you are likely already playing, but all are good PDFs that look of interest to a wide range of players.
• The ENnie Awards are still looking for booth volunteers.

[h=3]D&D News[/h]

• I Don’t Know What It Is, but I Like It by James Wyatt -- James provides us with descriptions for several good-aligned creatures that have animal forms. Come see what menagerie he has assembled for you to view and discuss this week!
• 2E AD&D Core Rulebooks Premium Reprints Released![FONT=&amp] For many gamers, the 2nd Edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks were their introduction to the role-playing game hobby. Now players can celebrate those dungeon-storming campaigns with this set of special premium editions released by Wizards of the Coast today. The AD&D 2^nd Edition Player’s Handbook, Monstrous Manual and Dungeon Master Handbook (each sold separately) contain [/FONT] [FONT=&amp]all of the original content and art that fans will remember, but each rulebook has a new cover design to commemorate the reprint.[/FONT]

[h=3]Pathfinder RPG News[/h]

• Mark Moreland previews Doom Comes to Dustpawn, by 2012 RPG Superstar contestant Mike Welham.

[h=3]RPG News[/h]

• Cubicle7's First Doctor Sourcebook hit US stores recently, and will be appearing in UK stores this week. "Celebrating the 50th anniversary year of Doctor Who, this 160 page hardcover sourcebook explores the First Doctor's adventures. With detailed information on all the allies, enemies, aliens and gadgets that he encounters, as well as examining each of his adventures, the book contains a wealth of material for the Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space RPG, and is also being a fact-packed resource for fans of the show!"
• Forbes has reviewed 13th Age, and has a video Q&A with Rob Heinsoo and Jonathan Tweet. "It’s fun, fast, and accessible and encourages imagination from players and GM alike. It bakes some very cool new ideas into the d20 ecosystem while keeping all the major pieces intact. Of the many systems I’ve read recently, it’s one of the best."

[video=youtube;e3qPQhTns64]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=e3qPQhTns64[/video]
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[h=3]Community News[/h]

• Sarah Darkmagic talks about End to End, a book of fairy tales, and using such tales as game inspiration.
• Kobold Press posts a 1000-word rebuttal against its own article; in yesterday's news I mentioned Against the Nostalgia Fetish in Fantasy Roleplaying; today, the kobolds have posted Against the Fetish of Progressive Design.
• Gnome Stew's guest writer, Richard Dansky (Wraith: The Oblivion) writes about What GMing Can Take From GameDev.

[h=3]Boardgaming News[/h]

• Forbes has reviewed Lords of Waterdeep. It says "Lords of Waterdeep is one of the most unique and surprising D&D boardgames on the market" but - and this may just be me - is that a non-statement? It's the most 'surprising' of the half dozen boardgames WotC has out at the moment? Still, the rest of the review is fairly glowing.
• Play Board Games has reviewed Astlan. Aztlan is an area control game with an Aztec theme. You must control domains that contain specific terrain to score big points and win. But look out your opponents might just overpower you and remove your pieces from the board.

 

[Nikosandros]

Another vote for keeping the news. There was a period in which I just jumped to the forums, but now I'm back to reading the news every time I come to EN Worlds (normally every day).

 

[jasynjonz]

I READ THIS NEWS!!!!!!!!! Let it out. Phew.

 

[Toriel]

That news page is the main thing I look at on EnWorld. It is a page I check almost daily (and if I skip it for a few days, I will scroll back to read it all). I read all of the various sections as you never know what hidden gem could be applied to various games.

Thanks for the hard work you put into it every day. Like others have said, my time is limited and tracking down each piece individually would be an issue for me.

 

[jaycrockett]

The news page is why I come to EN World. I look at forums occasionally, but it's much more about the front page. I doubt I'd come here if it were gone.

 

[poilbrun]

For sure I read the front page!

 

[Kabluey]

I read it almost every day and it is one of my favorite parts of the site.

 

[Razz0putin]

I do not read it daily but I haven't been playing a lot lately (I had twin girls this puts a crimp in my gaming, it doesn't stop it just makes it trickier). However even at that I come back about once a week and I can count on it to keep me informed of gaming and the industry. Of particular use to me is your pathfinder section and anything to do with Mutants and Masterminds. I thank you for all the efforts

 

[Radiating Gnome]

I scan the front page at least once a day -- there's often more than one news item I would have missed otherwise.

-rg

 

[Roland55]

Yes, even grey/white-haired old fellows like myself read and enjoy the news page.

 

[Vhex]

I read it every few days, going back to check the ones I missed. It's really the only place I look for gaming news. I mostly pay attention to D&D, 13th Age, and general DMing items, but will occasionally read other columns.