Does Dragon magazine suck now?

[krunchyfrogg]

[ot] Does Dragon magazine suck now?

Maybe it was just the new edition of something, but I really liked Dragon Mag when 3e came out. But ever since issue 300 came out, I really haven't been impressed with the magazine anymore.

I brought this up with my gaming group last night, and I found a few people agreed with me.

Anybody else think that the magazine sucks now?

I've decided to save my $6 every month (or whatever the mag costs).

 

[ColonelHardisson]

No, I don't think it sucks now. I do wish, though that they had stuck with a direction similar to the one they had with the first several 3e issues. Currently (the last couple of issues), the magazine almost seems like a compromise between that style, and the style it had in the 90s, which is not a good thing. Still, the magazine in no way sucks.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Nope. I get it every month, and I've never had an issue I didn't enjoy in some way. It sucketh not.

 

[Pielorinho]

On the contrary -- the issues have been so good lately that I've finally dropped the money for a subscription.

I wonder if it's changing its focus in some subtle way that makes it better suited for my game even while it's less suited for yours.

Daniel

 

[Arnwyn]

While I haven't been too impressed since the introduction of 3e (miss my Campaign Components - I think that's what it was named), this last issue (#306? The one with the succubus on the cover) was incredible.

I could virtually use *every one* of the articles in there (though I did miss the Elminster article, which I like, because (IMO) a monkey can insert that into any campaign). I digress.

I was particularly impressed with the addition of new rules that can be used for action-campaigns - ones where the situation could come up quite often. I *love* articles like that (same goes for the underwater combat rules - which should have been in the original 3e DMG - and the vehicle rules). Rules for swinging on ropes? Hell, yeah. Why the heck haven't we been getting articles like that sooner?

I also like new outsiders/planar monsters, because (IMC) the planes are infinite, so I have no problem adding those in.

Theme issues stink.

 

[Siridar]

When it first changed over to 3e is when I started getting a subsciption, and I was really pleased with it. Then around 300 or so, it sort of lacked IMO. With the last two issues, I like it again.

Although it could also be connected with my gaming habits as I stopped playing for a while around that time period and I've recently gotten back into gaming.

Either way, it gives me something to read on the subway

 

[jaerdaph]

Nope. It's better than ever, IMHO.

 

[The Sigil]

I'll sound the contrary voice here... IMO, the quality of Dragon has been declining over the past eight to twelve issues, with a noticeable (for me) drop-off since Paizo's takeover.

Why?

1.) The decline of articles on "metarules" - i.e., rules for making rules ("How to Design a PrC, Monster, etc.).

2.) A "stepping up" of content that I find inappropriate at best and objectionable at worst (specifically subject matter and language - and I'll leave it at that).

3.) A general decline IMO of the number of articles that seem "modular" enough for me to easily pick up and transplant to a campaign world. In the past 7 issues of Dragon, I was able to cull approximately 10 pages of material that I found "useful" for my world. 7 issues at $6 per issue means I'm paying $42 for 10 pages... or $4.20 per page. Sorry, but that's WAY too rich for my blood.

Now, I know some folks like the new direction Dragon is taking, but for me, it is going from "some stuff I want, some stuff I don't" (which I expect - I dont' expect it to perfectly cater to just me) to "no stuff I want, all stuff I don't." That, from my perspective, is a general decline in usefulness and makes the magazine "worse."

IMO, YMMV, and all that. I'm sure some people enjoy the new direction - it just seems to me that Dragon is going from "something for everyone" to "lots of stuff for some and none for others..." and since I happen to be in the "others" category, my opinion of the magazine is that it's getting worse. Those in the "some" category should think it's improving.

--The Sigil

 

[KenM]

The only issue that I really did not like was the one with the epic level book tie in, I don't know if it was Pazio Pub.. I understand them wanting them to tie the latest issue with what is coming out that month, but thats all that issue was, nothing else, usally they just have a couple of articles that tie in to the other stuff coming out.

 

[Pielorinho]

it just seems to me that Dragon is going from "something for everyone" to "lots of stuff for some and none for others..." --The Sigil

I disagree. Dragon used to have nothing in it I could or would use; now it's got more stuff I can use. I think it may be shifting its focus, but it's not becoming narrower in focus; it's just focusing now on stuff I like and you dislike, instead of on stuff I dislike and you like.

Daniel