Dragon #355

[MKMcArtor]

Oops! Maybe a more dissimilar title might have been even better

There are only so many iconic words so far produced from Eberron.

It seems the articles are becoming more and more about the editor's tastes and preferences.

It's called editorial fiat, and it's something that affects every magazine and journal in print. The only reason you might think we primarily publish articles we like is because we're very open about our editorial process.

The case in point, most Paizo editors don't like psionics so we don't see many psionics articles.

Well, editorial fiat is only part of the equation here. The lack of psionic articles in print mostly comes from a lack of good psionic queries. I think we've received one good psionic features query in the 3.5 years I've been working here. Good Psionic Class Acts, however... yeah, I've got some of those...

 

[Razz]

Yeah, well, there was a ton of 2E books that made huge hits and yet there was really hardly any art and the art that was in there was cheap and, well, not as "wow" as the art in 3E D&D.

Yet they've still become great hits. Again, it was the writing and the material that made the book...not the art.

 

[BOZ]

I bounced when I saw the cave fisher.

so... is that a good thing, or a bad thing?

 

[Bacris]

Well, editorial fiat is only part of the equation here. The lack of psionic articles in print mostly comes from a lack of good psionic queries. I think we've received one good psionic features query in the 3.5 years I've been working here. Good Psionic Class Acts, however... yeah, I've got some of those...

Hrmmm, maybe I'll submit some of the ideas I've been kicking around... Being published in Dragon would be pretty cool.

 

[MKMcArtor]

Hrmmm, maybe I'll submit some of the ideas I've been kicking around... Being published in Dragon would be pretty cool.

Not a bad idea.

 

[Nightfall]

Agreed. It might up the sales for some to say "Written by Jeremy Smith, co founder of Dreamscarred Press".

 

[MKMcArtor]

Yeah, well, there was a ton of 2E books that made huge hits and yet there was really hardly any art and the art that was in there was cheap and, well, not as "wow" as the art in 3E D&D.

Yet they've still become great hits. Again, it was the writing and the material that made the book...not the art.

True. But do we really want to go back to the look and physical feel of the TSR books? The tactile and visual difference between second and third editions owes a lot to the change from a company struggling to remain in business to a company with gobs and gobs of money to spend (and, in the case of Paizo, a spinoff company of a company with gobs and gobs of money to spend).

I think, Razz, we have found like only the second thing we're unable to agree on.

 

[Nightfall]

Mike,

Don't worry I disagree with Razz about the color of the sky some times too.

 

[MKMcArtor]

Don't worry I disagree with Razz about the color of the sky some times too.

I don't know how you guys could disagree about that. It's perfectly obvious the sky is a rich chartreuse, right?

Right?

 

[MerricB]

Hmm... it really would cut down on our art costs if I illustrated Class Acts.

Well, not really...

If Mark Rosewater can illustrate his own Magic card, you can illustrate Class Acts, Mike.

Cheers!