Downer - I just don't get it

[haiiro]

I'd love to see it replaced by Order of the Stick.

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Thank you for recommending this -- it's excellent!

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[Prothall]

Just like that other guy who posted earlier, I *still* have no idea what Downer's actually like; care to post a sample? I don't believe there's an example anywhere online...

 

[Vocenoctum]

As long as we're bashing the magazines, can I get some more hate for the truly awful fiction in Dragon? Or should I start a new thread for that?

I usually wait until I'm in the mood, then read a bunch of them at once. Havne't read any in a while because of that.

But back on topic: I also find Downer a waste of color ink. But it's easy enough to skip over. If I only have to skip 2 pages of a magazine, I consider that a damn good return on my investment.

I consider Downer a waste, but if it stays to 2 pages I don't care. It isn't always 2 pages though, and it's aggravating when it's taking up room that something USEFUL could.
I won't be canceling anytime soon, but I think the Downer dislike had a lot more consensus than the Poly dislike. I guess the downer-dislikers aren't mad enough to cancel though, so it stays. Too bad.

 

[Krieg]

First things first. I like Downer, and won't be dropping it.

Exhibit A of why I let my subscription lapse some time ago (after 15+ years).

Note: That was not meant as a slam on Erik. Just an example that his and my tastes are quite different, enough so that I feel no desire to support his company financially.

As long as we're bashing the magazines, can I get some more hate for the truly awful fiction in Dragon?

I honestly wouldn't know, I stopped reading the short stories in the late 80's.

I won't be canceling anytime soon, but I think the Downer dislike had a lot more consensus than the Poly dislike. I guess the downer-dislikers aren't mad enough to cancel though, so it stays. Too bad.

...and therein lies the problem. To the sales department apathy looks the same as support.

 

[Rugger]

So I've sat here and read the whole thread and one thing comes to mind: I can't believe THIS many people actually feel so strongly about a 2-page comic in a gaming magazine.

C'mon now.

I'm used to ALWAYS having some sort of comic in my Dungeon and/or Dragon. Some I've liked: Wormy, Robinson's War and Nodwick. Others I have not liked, and therefore ignored.

But the thought that so many people would take this much time to say that they dislike this use of 2 pages in a magazine astounds me. Especially in a hobby like this that (more often than not) the artist may be here reading this.

In the years that I've been lurking here at ENWorld I've found this place to be a great family-like environment (and meeting folks at cons and at PJ O’Rourke’s last year has only accentuated this feeling)...but all of the "waste of space" comments here sound downright rude.

I apologize if anyone is offended, none is meant, and as my piddly little post count will show, I don't do this often... but I worry about the mood of late here at my home away from home

-Rugger
"I OpenedMyBigMouth!"

PS: Oh, and though the story is a bit hard to follow, I kinda like Downer. It's always cool to see new renditions of traditionally icky critters like Illithids and Xorn. Xorns. Xorni?

 

[The Sigil]

Exhibit A of why I let my subscription lapse some time ago (after 15+ years).

Note: That was not meant as a slam on Erik. Just an example that his and my tastes are quite different, enough so that I feel no desire to support his company financially.

You summed up my feelings beautifully, Krieg. Dungeon and Dragon magazine have chosen to go in directions I personally don't like, and I don't desire to support financially something I don't like. I've let the editors know and the response has been, "we like it this way. It stays." That is fine.

I got two issues of Dungeon with Downer before my subscription lapsed. It wasn't funny. It wasn't cutting edge. It was just... dumb. At the risk of being rude, here are my feelings about Downer relative to Dungeon:

(Simpsons Comic Book Guy Voice) Worst. Inclusion. Ever. (/Simpsons Comic Book Guy Voice)

I guess our tastes are just different, Erik. If it makes you feel better, I've loved most of the stuff you've done for Green Ronin!

--The Sigil

 

[Olive]

So I've sat here and read the whole thread and one thing comes to mind: I can't believe THIS many people actually feel so strongly about a 2-page comic in a gaming magazine.

C'mon now.

Oh don't get me wrong. It has no impact on my buying of the mag at all. I buy it for the articles, tehe comics are a minor extra when good, or a minor annoyance when bad.

 

[Vocenoctum]

So I've sat here and read the whole thread and one thing comes to mind: I can't believe THIS many people actually feel so strongly about a 2-page comic in a gaming magazine.

Actually, it takes very little effort to post my feelings. I'm here anyway.

C'mon now.

I'm used to ALWAYS having some sort of comic in my Dungeon and/or Dragon. Some I've liked: Wormy, Robinson's War and Nodwick. Others I have not liked, and therefore ignored.

But the thought that so many people would take this much time to say that they dislike this use of 2 pages in a magazine astounds me. Especially in a hobby like this that (more often than not) the artist may be here reading this.

As I said, it doesn't take much effort to share our opinion, just as it took little for you to voice yours. It doesn't mean our opinions matter in the grand scheme of things, as is illustrated by the fact the comic isn't leaving.
Perhaps if the artist/ author IS reading this, he can stop in and explain, or shift the focus of the comic. Sticking his head in the sand while people don't like the strip doesn't really help much.
The comic strip is taking up space, I'm measuring it against what else COULD be there.

I apologize if anyone is offended, none is meant, and as my piddly little post count will show, I don't do this often... but I worry about the mood of late here at my home away from home

I don't get offended by anything typed into the Ether, and hopefully no one takes mine to offense either.

 

[MacMathan]

I loved Wormy, SnarfQuest was ok, Robinsons War was not to my liking.

So far Downer is hanging even with SnarfQuest for me and that is good enough to give it a couple of pages.

Of course any webforum generally draws more complaints than compliments, the people who do not mind or like something are usually the quietest.

 

[Simplicity]

I thought it was just me who didn't get Downer...
It bothers me a bit, however, that after three-plus pages of criticism
toward the inclusion of Downer, the response was just "We like it,
and it's cheap, so Downer stays."

Who cares how cheap Downer is if most of your readers don't like it?
Take one page and put a nice big ad on it. Take the other page
and put something people like on it. I'd be very interested in seeing a poll as to how many people appreciate Downer vs. how many would rather see it go.

If you really want a serial comic, that's fine. But at least get something
that your readers will enjoy. (The Order of the Stick... That would be
awesome...)