Dragon Magazine Annual Cover and TOC

[Rechan]

In retrospect, I suppose an article on epic destinies isn't a bad idea, what with there not being a LOT out there.

Such as?

Creature Incarnations: Gnolls
Creature Incarnations: Fell Taints
Bestiary: Dangers of the Demonweb (Monster stats for the Demonweb Minis series)

Secrets of the City Entombed (Necromancy powers for many classes)
Class Acts: Bard (Multi-classing PPs)

 

[Baron Opal]

Is that a hard cover? I think I would rather have it soft cover and a bit cheaper for a semi-random collection of articles.

 

[Drkfathr1]

Is that a hard cover? I think I would rather have it soft cover and a bit cheaper for a semi-random collection of articles.

Especially when half of those articles were free previews.

 

[Vael]

Ummm, which of the articles in the Dragon Annual are free previews? They all look like original content to me.

 

[Jadeite]

Ummm, which of the articles in the Dragon Annual are free previews? They all look like original content to me.

Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Yeenoghu
Creature Incarnations: Kobolds
The Ashen Covenant
Mithrendain, Citadel of the Feywild
Star Pact Warlocks
Intelligent Weapons

So, out of 14 chapters, seven are available for free. I'm not saying those articles are bad, but the book seems rather expensive even for people who have no DDI account.

 

[MrMyth]

Nearly one half of the book are articles that are part of the DDI preview section. So, even for people that don't subscribe to DDI, the gain from this book is rather limited.
This book (Dragon Compendium Vol. I) costs 10$ more, has about 100 pages more and, most importantly, contains lots of new and revised content (and even the content that isn't revised still isn't reprinted free content).

Yeah, but... how many non-free issues did they have out in 2008? 4 or so? Avoiding the content during the free issues would have really limited what they could put in the book.

As for the articles, I'm very satisfied - some very good choices in there that had a good mix of flavor and mechanics. I would have liked to have seen the Codex of Betrayal: Beleth article in there, as my absolute favorite of the 'big bads' - but the Yeenoghu article was not bad, has more application in most campaigns, and is a bigger name to have in there.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I probably will not be buying this, but not because I have the DDI subscription. There's just not enough player-oriented stuff in there to justify the price of a hardcover. The articles they chose are excellent, and I definitely would like a nice paper copy of them.

Personally, I think WotC should take the Dungeon stuff, combine it with the DM-oriented articles, and release that as a book. I think it would be more worth the price in that case.

Another possibility, which just came to me recently, is that with the hybrid approach in this book and in DDI they're trying to promote players becoming DMs. In which case I can't really fault them, even if I wouldn't buy the book.

 

[Hellzon]

Demonomicon of Iggwilv: Yeenoghu
Creature Incarnations: Kobolds
The Ashen Covenant
Mithrendain, Citadel of the Feywild
Star Pact Warlocks
Intelligent Weapons

So, out of 14 chapters, seven are available for free. I'm not saying those articles are bad, but the book seems rather expensive even for people who have no DDI account.

I'd argue that Demonomicon: Yeenoghu and The Ashen Covenant are no-brainers, even if they were free. Those articles were awesome. The other four are also rather soild.

 

[Acid_crash]

How much is the book?

 

[Dire Bare]

I doubt there will be any serious changes from the electronic articles, perhaps just errata at best. I won't be purchasing this book, but that's only because I'm a happy DDI subscriber!

I don't think that half of the included articles being available for free online is really that big of a deal. This product is aimed at folks who don't have a DDI subscription, not due to the cost, but rather due to them being uncomfortable or unaware of the online service. I mean, if you compare the cost of the book to the cost of a one-year sub to DDI, online is the better deal.

If you think the articles themselves sound cool, but are upset that some are free online and/or that the book is too expensive . . . if you simply just love the dead-tree format, that's what this book delivers . . . other than that, you may be just complaining for the sake of complaining.

I think the selection of articles is fantastic! Every one on that table of contents page is stellar (well, I have trouble reading the last one). Sure, some of us may have chosen a different mix as we all probably have different favorites, but that doesn't make the actual chosen articles poor choices by any means.

I'm curious as to how well this will sell. It's in the same category as the Power Cards for me, something I can get online in a superior format . . . but something that others want to be able to hold in their hands (but how many?).