Dragon Magazine Annual

[Crothian]

I haven't seen talk on this book. Since most people it seems have access to Dragon Magazine I wonder if people just refrained from buying the book because of that. It was a book I would have bought even if Wizards didn't send me a copy as I like to see things in print.

I like the variety of articles in the book. I wonder if future releases has an influence on what was included in the book? The section on Arena combats and campaigns, the part on gladiators, and Art of the Kill seem to really fit in well with elements I enjoy from Dark Sun.

Any thoughts on the book? Are there articles that people are happy to see in here? Are there ones that people are surprised were not included?

 

[Pseudonym]

Any thoughts on the book?

It seemed that most of it was information that had already been published as free content on the Wizard's site. I may pick it up if I get a gift certificate for the holidays, but I don't think I'll go out of my way to get it.

 

[MerricB]

Other threads:
http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/265860-dragon-magazine-annual-2009-a.html

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/260700-dragon-magazine-annual-cover-toc.html

Cheers!

 

[Crothian]

Ya, but I like my thread best!

 

[MerricB]

It likes you too.

Cheers!

 

[MerricB]

More seriously, I'm running into serious shelving issues (caused mostly by my expanding collection of boardgames) and so not needing to get a book because I have it digitally was a great relief. I've not even investigated what was in the Annual, actually.

I find the fluff parts of the other books to make them worth getting despite my access through the compendium, but the Dragon Annual didn't have that going for it.

Cheers!

 

[MrMyth]

One thing that hindered the issue was imply that the online Dragon/Dungeon started partway through 2008 - so they only had half a year's worth of articles to choose from, and half of those were already free.

Combine with subscribers already having all the info, and demand was low - though the book as a whole wasn't bad. There might have been one or two different article choices I would have gone with, but they definitely included some of the key ones (the Gladiator articles, for example.) And one person in my gaming group did pick up a copy, and has already gotten decent use out of having it on hand to reference the articles in it, rather than worry about having to hunt the info down online.

I think the next one will really shine, though, once they have a full year of quality articles to choose from. I still doubt I will actually get it myself, as a DDI subscriber, but it still seems a good idea to have the best of the articles out there in print for those who want them.

 

[Nikosandros]

One thing that hindered the issue was imply that the online Dragon/Dungeon started partway through 2008 - so they only had half a year's worth of articles to choose from, and half of those were already free.

Yes, but it was their decision to put out such a book now, instead of later...

 

[Obryn]

That was the first 4e book I intentionally skipped... I already have the info, and can either print the articles I need as I need them, or just snag it in the CB/Compendium.

I don't think I'm the right target market for it.

-O

 

[Crothian]

Yes, but it was their decision to put out such a book now, instead of later...

Since it looks like the PHBs, MMs, and such are all coming at about the same time each year it would make sense that the Dragon Annuals will come out around August then for each year. Plus an easy book around Gen Con isn't a bad idea.