Dragon 427 posted and Upcoming Hiatus

[jodyjohnson]

Going back to the hiatus back in 1997.

236 December 1996
237 Undated but the Editorial talks about a big gap.
238 August 1997

1 issue in 7 months.
This is the WotC buyout of TSR in 1997. I remember how long that seemed.

A healthy dose of Legend & Lore previews. Q&A articles and pure Previews might pass the time OK.

 

[Waller]

More importantly - what does it say about those with subscriptions? Are they going on hold, too?

 

[tuxgeo]

Maybe I'm too cynical, but I doubt we'll see the return of Dragon or Dungeon. More likely, they'll transition entirely to web articles, abandoning any last remnants of a "magazine" concept to tie them together.

Some days when I wake up in the morning, I wonder whether it's even possible to be too cynical.

(A 12-bar Blues "single" just waiting to be written:
"Well, I woke up this mornin', and I'm still just cynical, . . .")

 

[Storminator]

At first I was "oh no! not DDI!" then I realized it was just the magazine articles I never read anyway. Whew! I can still use the tools.

PS

 

[Mistwell]

I guess we can add D&D to the list of franchises without an official RPG....

Only if we're looking to massively overreact

Most RPGs come out with a book, what, every six months? How often does Mutants and Masterminds come out with a book? Do they have no official RPG because it's not supported on a monthly basis?

 

[DLIMedia]

I figured it would happen eventually as they prepare to transition the magazine content to D&D Next.

I can't help but wonder if the upcoming submission window in October will still be open and what sort of things they'll be looking for if it is.

 

[jodyjohnson]

Although normally reposting articles is not cool. For this I think Chris answers a lot of the questions for those outside the firewall.

Here's the rest of Chris Perkin's editorial:

".[previous quote]. The magazines will continue on their present trajectories for the next few months, during which time we will answer questions such as the following: when will Dragon and Dungeon return, what form(s) will the magazines take, how much D&D content will the magazines publish, and how does one submit pitches for articles?

As it stands, we have all the 4th Edition content we need to fill the remaining issues between now and the end of the year, and we are not ready to solicit content for D&D Next. Consequently, we are not accepting articles or adventure pitches this fall, and the submission window (which normally opens on October 1st and closes on November 30th) will remain closed. Anyone who sends a pitch to submissions@wizards.com will receive an automated “Thanks, but no thanks” response, along with a short explanation of why we’re not accepting content at this time.

Every new edition is a chance for the magazines to evolve, and evolve they will. If you are interested in contributing to the D&D tabletop roleplaying game in the future, my best advice (for the time being) is to start up a regular D&D Next game and familiarize yourself with the new rules. Hone your writing skills as best you can. Then wait to see what happens next.

[Chris Perkins - DM to the Stars]"

I added that last bit.

3 1/2 month notice and plans to fill us in of the plans going forward.

The issue itself looks solid and next month's teaser is intiguing as well.

 

[DaveMage]

Re: Dragon & Dungeon "magazines" - So long and thanks for all the fish....

 

[Mika]

More importantly - what does it say about those with subscriptions? Are they going on hold, too?

The problem is that DDI covers multiple things -- not just Dragon and Dungeon but the Character Builder and other tools as well. Many people with ongoing 4E games will want continued access to the tools, but others will feel that their subscriptions are no longer worth it. So far WotC has said nothing about their future plans for DDI subscriptions, but they could be heading for a public relations disaster if they stop producing new magazine content but keep the DDI subscription price as is.

 

[n00bdragon]

Things must be pretty bad at WotC HQ if they can't afford to keep the lights running on Dungeon and Dragon. It's a collection of articles mostly produced by freelancers and fans with some light editing and a little reused art. I simply refuse to go with the premise that they are "between editions so we have nothing to write about". They've been doing that just fine for years now. This was a financial decision from top to bottom and it doesn't look great. D&D hasn't put a new product on sale in how long?