DRAGON+ Issue 5 Brings News of a New D&D Boardgame, Sage Advice, and SCL Tabletop Stats

The new issue of Dragon+ is here - and accessible via the web as well as via a mobile app. Issue 5 contains a variety of items, including coverage of the latest video game news, news about an upcoming boardgame called Tyrants of the Underdark, advice and stats bringing the Sword Coast Legends companions to the tabletop game, and more. Plus Sage Advice makes its debut in the publication. The magazine is now available at the address dragonmag.com (as well as via the mobile app). That also includes back-issues.

• Editor's Letter
• Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear
• Fiction: Amulet Fellow and the Regal Rose
• Tyrants of the Underdark
• Cover: Imagining the Ampersand
• Reality Check
• Neverwinter: Underdark
• Community
• Interview: Erin M. Evans
• Sword Coast Legends: Better By Design
• Enemies and Allies: Sword Coast Legends
• Tavern Tales
• Sage Advice
• Gauntlet Gophers
• Interview: Rainn Wilson
• Video & Audio Highlights

 

[darjr]

I think they do. I think the included mods represent that.

 

[Reinhart]

As critical as I am of Dragon+, this one was a significant improvement on the previous couple of issues. And those issue were still an improvement on first two issues. So maybe there is hope for this clunky little advertisement app.

I know that the continued inclusion of the adventure at the end doesn't require much of WotC, but it's material that's easy to adapt to the table-top RPG. I also appreciated the amount of detail they provided about Tyrants of the Underdark. I've been looking for an engine building game with asymmetric starting decks so I'm seriously interested in the design of that game.

That said, most of it is still a lot a junk that's already been published elsewhere. That's partly my own hang-up as someone that closely tracks what major game publishers are doing. Most readers are probably encountering this stuff for the first time. Regardless, it's still mostly junk. For instance, the SCL stat blocks aren't really that useful because they have scattered errors and the spellcasters are largely incomplete. In other words, they really haven't saved you any time or effort.

Oh, and Gauntlet Gophers still isn't funny.

 

[Parmandur]

Lords of Waterdeep is one of the better board games of recent years; I'm excited that they are continuing to experiment with new modes of game play with Tyrants.

Glad this is available on PC now; the content us a little more interesting, give it time it might be good.

 

[JmanTheDM]

still doesn't work on my note 4. I have never been able to get through an entire issue without so many crash bugs that I simply give up and stop reading it. Tech support did contact me once, but doesn't look like the issue has ever been resolved.

so for now, this is an app which I want to read, but cannot due to bugs.

Cheers,
J.

 

[darjr]

Have you tried the web site? http://dragonmag.com

 

[jamesjhaeck]

still doesn't work on my note 4. I have never been able to get through an entire issue without so many crash bugs that I simply give up and stop reading it. Tech support did contact me once, but doesn't look like the issue has ever been resolved.

so for now, this is an app which I want to read, but cannot due to bugs.

Cheers,
J.

Never fear! It's available online at www.dragonmag.com

 

[Henry]

It's in the right direction! My kudoes to Matt Chapman and crew for (a) making it available via web and (b) adding a bit of meat to the mix. In the first couple of episodes, it felt like wall to wall advertisements, at least here it feels a little more like attempting to give something of substance. Honestly, I liked the Todd James interview better than the other articles! It's great to see someone's perspective who's come back to the hobby after being away from it, especially someone whose career has some rather cool non-gamer highlights!

Anyway, they got my eyes back, now to see what comes next...

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

It is what it is, but I am thrilled that is finally available via PC. Good work!

 

[Ricochet]

I appreciate the PC version too! Much more convenient for me.

 

[MNblockhead]

Each issue is better than the last. I know that Dragon+ has gotten some hate (or "mehs") from many, but I appreciate it. I don't have time to spend frequently visiting the WoTC Website, EN World, and other sources. Having Dragon+ on my phone is a good way to keep up on new D&D content without getting overwhelmed or spending too much time surfing around. I also prefer reading on my phone than on a laptop/desktop.

I don't care much for all the articles and ads about the video games, as I don't have the time to play them and would rather get away from the computer and share meatspace around table. Yet I am sure there are many who do care about this content and I'm find mixing reviews, announcements, and ads for all things D&D, digital and analog, in one periodical. I am pleased, however, to see more articles on their other products, such as the new board games that look interesting, which I've not given much though to before reading about them in Dragon+.

The adventures are nice to have and are enough to make it worth any DM's time to check it out each month.

I enjoy the short fictional stories. Both the Flumph story in the prior issue and the Gnome rogue story in the current issue were solid, fun, short reads.

The cover art is great and the interviews with the artists are a highlight for me.

Between issues, I use the app to keep on top of news and to digest other WoTC content from their various social media sites. Its basically an RSS reader for official D&D content.

I think many harder-core gamers than I may find it superfluous, but for me it is a stable, pleasant to use, window into all things D&D and I appreciate all the work of those who have made this available to me for free and who care enough to give polished product that is continuously improving.