Dragon #297 arrived

[ColonelHardisson]

Just reading the articles in this specific issue, I don't see them as being all that tough to adjust. There have been other issues that have been less easy to fiddle with, but this isn't one. At least, not to me.

I will say, though, that I've been sick of Drow material for around a decade. There have been a couple of cool Dragon and Dungeon articles in the last 2 years about Drow, but a little Drow goes a long way with me. <<-- I'm talking about the blurb for next issue here.

Even taking page count into account, I don't see Dragon as inordinately expensive. Compare it to genre mags like Starlog, and the value seems pretty good, if not better, when you take into account ads vs. page count. And video game mags...come on. Is Dragon the best magazine value out there? Nope. But it's certainly nowhere near the worst, and is pretty good, in my opinion. Even the issues with stuff that doesn't really interest me (Shannarra) is interesting to read.

My favorite value-for-the money magazine is Shock Cinema, by the way. Sea Classics also. Not game related; I just thought I'd share

 

[Desdichado]

Thanks for sharing, Colonel! We all appreciate that. How about a big group hug now...

Y'know what really gets my goat about this issue though (which I haven't seen yet, BTW) why in the world are they doing planetouched races again without making them templates? This is the most obvious case for templates I can think of, yet no one at Wizards has done so. I think it's time for me to send my angry letter to Dragon to chastise them. They'll pay the price for their lack of vision

*zap, crackle, pop**

And now, young Skywalker, you will die.

Ooops! Carried away in a movie moment there...

 

[Zerovoid]

Let me say it one more time for the cheap seats.

I DID NOT GET A SUBSCRIPTION TO ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE MAGAZINES IN THE COUNTRY FOR IT TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN AN ADVERTISING RAG FOR OTHER PRODUCTS!!

Is that so hard to understand? Dragon is turning into little more than a teaser rag for the main product line. That would be fine if the magazine was only $3. It is not though. It is twice that and that makes it very expensive and means it should be a product that completely stands on its own.

Wow. You're obviously not familiar with White Dwarf. Compared GW's house mag, Dragon is still pretty cool. I've got a subscription, and I'd pay 3$ for the crunchy bits like the races and PrC's alone. At least most of the content isn't excerpts from the upcoming source books.

 

[Default Name Player]

You still miss the basic concept that the magazine is becoming a mere advertising tool instead of a complete tool unto itself.

I actually work in the advertising field: unless Dragon is considered a trade magazine, you do realize that every magazine out there pretty much revolves around advertising something - whether it's in the copy or the ads themselves.

And yes, of course I noticed that some of the Dragon magazines "somehow" seem to revolve around an upcoming product released - that was pretty evident when they were, you know, advertising 3e before the first 3e issue came out. It's a D&D magazine, not a "d20", "fantasy roleplaying", etc. magazine.

That would be fine if the magazine was only $3.

Finally, you yourself said that having that kind of "advertising" would be fine if it was a $3.00 magazine, and that was what I was pointing out.

P.S. As for "complete tools", isn't that what sourcebooks are for?

 

[Zaukrie]

First, thanks Jesse for posting. I always try to compliment people that sell me stuff, and actually respond on boards like this. I appreciate your willingness to read our thoughts, and to listen.

Second, I'd like to echo an earlier statement (or 2) that Dragon is improved over the last couple of years, so not everyone posting here thinks your magazine is broken.

Third, I like theme issues. They aren't always useful (I'll echo earlier statement that the Shanarra issue wasn't overly useful, but I appreciate that WOTC wants to get more people into RPGs and tying to best sellers may be one way to do that).

Jesse, as for your question, I think you should tease me a little about an upcoming product. I think articles should do that. New products generally mean new ideas, I'd like Dragon to be about new ideas. I'm looking forward to some really evil stuff being in Dragon when Monte's book comes out this fall.

Finally, I haven't seen this issue yet, so I'm not going to comment on its usefulness. I've never understood how so many people here can do that wthout actually seeing something. I guess most of them are smarter than me.

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

I've never been as satisfied with Dragon Mag. as I am now and I own every 3E issue there is (I haven't gotten 293,295, 296 and 297 yet here in Denmark - because of some supplier trouble - but they are all on their way).

Personally I loved the themed issues. They are much more practical and easier to use directly in my games. If one of my players wants something extra for their dwarf, gnome etc., I'll simply lend them the issue and see if they find something appealling.

The product support is great and I've used it several times. The articles on Tharizdun and Elemental Evil in Dragon were amazing and I threw them right into my RttToEE campaign. I've probably used more information from Dragon in the last year than I did from the older (2E) Magazines in the ten years before the dawn of 3E.

-Zarrock

 

[Erik Mona]

>>>
I DID NOT GET A SUBSCRIPTION TO ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE MAGAZINES IN THE COUNTRY
>>>

I'm guessing you don't read a lot of music or design or computer magazines.

Or, for that matter, porn.

--Erik

 

[Paragon]

dragon

As a dragon subscriber since the early 100's I have to say that I really enjoy dragon. And it has always been a support tool for the D&D in it's various forms. If there is something new coming out look for support for it in Dragon. If nothing new is coming out look for various articles depending on the theme of the issue. What is the problem? It has always been like that. I like it. You can look at this thread and see that there are various feelings about the same things. Some people like this part, others hate it. For one I hate the chainmail part. to me it is a waste of space and my time. But do I write fire spitting postings about how this and that sucks? nope. I have better things to do with my time. If you don't like dragon....don't get it....what do you have to gripe about at that point?
And on the price issue. Dragon is relatively inexpensive compaired to the other (few) gaming mags are out there and way less than some of the computer mags that are out there. Is it the best deal...maybe not but it is a good one.
I still have no idea why people get so fired up about things like this that they have to yell about things. If you don't like it don't get it. period. that is all.

Paragon

 

[Erik Mona]

>>>
8. The LGJ is useless if you don't play GH.
>>>

This is clearly not the voice of experience. We've featured prestige classes, magic items, and monsters many times. Most of these have about a sentence worth of information placing them in a specific campaign setting. If you can't figure out how to use them in a non-Greyhawk campaign, I respectfully submit that the problem is not with the magazine.

--Erik

 

[Richards]

Originally posted by Zaukrie:

First, thanks Jesse for posting. I always try to compliment people that sell me stuff, and actually respond on boards like this. I appreciate your willingness to read our thoughts, and to listen.

Jesse Decker can read thoughts??? Wow, I'm impressed! What am I thinking of right now, Jesse?

Johnathan