Does Loss of Dragon/Dungeon Hurt Future Game Designers?

[jasin]

It will take time, and is even more hard work than sending in a submission to Paizo,

Well, that's all I'm saying, really. I'm not worried that D&D will die out from the lack of talent because of the loss of Dungeon and Dragon, or anything like that.

But I definitely think that one of the downsides of Dungeon and Dragon going out is that the loss of the stepping stones for prospective writers that the magazines represented.

I also think the online thing has the potential to more than make up for that. We will have to wait and see whether that potential gets used.

 

[Nifft]

I also think the online thing has the potential to more than make up for that. We will have to wait and see whether that potential gets used.

Agree. Fingers crossed! -- N

 

[broghammerj]

The theory is that those that are really good will get noticed and word will spread.

It will take time, but it might work. If someone works up a good body of internet work, WotC can see that the person does indeed know how to write, and also has the discipline to keep going.

It will take time, and is even more hard work than sending in a submission to Paizo, but I believe that in the end, really good writers who keep on building their reputation will get noticed in the end./M

The distribution channels will be much more limited. If I work for an RPG company and saw that you had Dragon/Dungeon credits as a potential new employee, I think you get instant street cred. Since they were officially licensed by WOTC I also think that gave you more access to a job with the 800lb gorilla.

People like Dominic Covey (Darwin's World author) come to mind as someone sort of outside the system. I don't know his exact background but he is certainly someone sucessful from a limited print/mostly PDF industry (RPG Objects). It is possible, but I think a lot of talent will be left unseen.

 

[broghammerj]

Maybe.

Right now I honestly can't say whether or not DragOnline or DungeOnline will hurt future designers.

I can see how it might, but after reading this thread, as well as a few others here and there, I can see how it also might help the freelancer since it adds another avenue for their works.

I wonder how well it will work if the online content doesn't do well and has a low subscription rate. Does it carry the same prestige as Dungeon/Dragon? What if I am an RPG company and want to hire new talent? Do I subscribe to digital initiative just to see your work?

 

[Maggan]

What if I am an RPG company and want to hire new talent? Do I subscribe to digital initiative just to see your work?

That would be a problem for the individual writer. WotC aren't under any obligation required to advertise anyone as a competent writer, apart from the fact that they buy stuff from them, not that you said so, of course, I'm just bringing it up because I feel that it is important to note that the primary force behind getting published must be the writer him- or herself.

Every writer has to bring his own stuff to interested parties. If that is by making them buy Dragon, or subscribing to the DI, or posting samples on a personal site or blog, or mailing samples is up to the individual writers.

As an aside, if I was running a game company I'd get a DI subscription tout de suite. Not doing so would be foolish, IMO. Keeping tabs on what the biggest guy around is doing is paramount, and it would also help me shape my own products.

/M

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I wonder how well it will work if the online content doesn't do well and has a low subscription rate. Does it carry the same prestige as Dungeon/Dragon? What if I am an RPG company and want to hire new talent? Do I subscribe to digital initiative just to see your work?

If you're an RPG company that does not have at least an office subscription to the web site of the company that DEFINES YOUR INDUSTRY, something is very, very wrong.

Even if you despise the design work WotC does, that design work sets the standard by which the majority of tabletop RPG players, and almost all d20 players, judge their products. Even if DragOnline is a commercial failure, it still represents insight into WotC's design process and is likely to include material that either expands on or ends up in WotC printed books.

 

[talien]

Pyramid's been around for awhile, and a few of us have been getting D20 content published in Pyramid's online e-zine for years (and I'm the newbie).

http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid

Just sayin'.