Dragon Compendium Table of Contents

[JoeGKushner]

This is exactly what I want. I don't get Dragon, so this is all new to me and it covers a wide range of material by the look of it. This is seems to be what I want from the magazine, meaning books of their material that are easier for me to use. I think this will really interest the 2 or 3 gamers like myself that don't get Dragon.

Bah! Heretic! You should be getting Dragon in the first place!

One of the interesting things, and another one I didn't think of, is the cartons. Those don't need any updates of course, but I wonder if there are any classic bits that should've been updated just for the humor value. I know a lot of series stuff went on to become collected in various tpb formats.

 

[Shade]

Just out of curiosity, if the bleeder is the death kiss beholder from Monsters of Faerun, why'd WOTC let that one in?

BTW, nice choice on the glasspane horror...that's an old classic whose schtick hasn't been stolen by a new critter.

 

[mearls]

You both raise excellent points, Mike and Erik, but given that the witch class seemed to be one of the most-requested classics, at least here on EN World, I humbly submit it'd be worth taking a run at it next time around.

This definitely was a decision that was made with a lot of thought. I think the big issue was that I didn't want to do a witch class, and then have it come out in a way that caught people by surprise. I wouldn't want to do a witch, and have people's reaction be "This isn't anything like the witch I remember!"

Once the first volume is out there, I suspect that Erik will have a much better feel for how much revision is too much, and how much is too little. One of the perils of working with classic material is that, while it's easier to get people interested in it in the first place, it's a lot harder to deliver what they want. You're competing against the cool ideas and concepts that are bouncing around in every gamer's mind.

To draw an analogy, I really hate Alien 3 not because it's a terrible movie (it's pretty much an average SF flick), but because its a terrible *sequel* to Aliens.

 

[BOZ]

No ire on my part. I gave a quick rundown of my take on the TOC and have the wait and see attitude. However, Mike Mearls bit was completely off to me and perhaps has more 'ire" then my initial post with the ToC. I could see what he's saying, just disagree with it.

Do you have some specifics where you see "ire" outside of the OP?

note that i didn't mention you or anyone else specifically. you, joe, are just being your usual critical self.

but yeah, that first post did sort of take the cake. in fact, looking back on it, the OP seems to be the one spewing most of the vitriol. still, "a lot of ire in one thread" can certainly be contributed by a lone individual crying into the darkness.

 

[Dragonhelm]

To draw an analogy, I really hate Alien 3 not because it's a terrible movie (it's pretty much an average SF flick), but because its a terrible *sequel* to Aliens.

That's sort of like Star Wars. Many people have said they don't like the prequels as much as they liked the original trilogy.

I think, too, we place those things from our youth up on a pedestal. Movies, music...yes, even articles from Dragon. We view them through rose-colored glasses. I think that's part of the reason for nostalgic gaming - we're trying to recapture the feel of our youth.

I'm really excited by Dragon Compendium. For me, it not only offers the chance to see some of my favorite articles in a more durable format, but also to see some articles I missed the first time around. I hope that it is successful just so that we can see more of these in the future, and hopefully some more specialized compilations too.

 

[Odhanan]

This definitely was a decision that was made with a lot of thought. I think the big issue was that I didn't want to do a witch class, and then have it come out in a way that caught people by surprise. I wouldn't want to do a witch, and have people's reaction be "This isn't anything like the witch I remember!"

I think you'll have some mitigated reactions to that, Mike. That sounds like some ideas are left out because there are too much expectations on the fans' behalf.

I'll definitely purchase the Dragon Compendium. The contents look really awesome.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Are you unfamiliar with the Dragon witch?

Probably - it certainly doesn't spring to mind with all the rosy glow that seems to be associated with it here.

What made it so special?

 

[Richards]

Well, I'm certainly looking forward to the Dragon Compendium Volume 1. Not only am I looking forward to seeing some of the older material get updated to 3.5, but I'm personally stoked to see that my diopsid beetles made the cut! Hee hee! (That's the sound of me giggling like a little schoolgirl.)

31 Oct 05 can't get here soon enough!

Johnathan

 

[Thorin Stoutfoot]

where's the amazon.com link...

I'll buy it when it's out on amazon.

 

[Knight Otu]

I seem to recognize the "Templates for your Spells" article as the article based on the AU spell templates, which was one of the few OGC articles in Dragon. I suppose that, if I'm right, there is some OGC in the Compendium?