Dragon Magazine: Crunch vs. Fluff - What do you want?

[Glyfair]

I know there are a lot of Dragon magazine threads right now, but this has been rattling in my head and I want to get some input from the ENWorld masses.

When I read a lot of "what I want in Dragon" threads here I see a lot of people focusing on wanting more "fluff." They want more like the Core Beliefs series, the Demonomicon series, etc. However, when an issue focused on that appears I see a lot of complaints from readers that they can't "use" the articles and the issue focused on that too much, there wansn't enough "crunch" in the magazine.

If you were buying Dragon magazine regularly, what would you want the magazine to focus on of the two? (I'm ignoring other bits like comics and product previews).

 

[painandgreed]

I want to see stuff like the old Pages for Mages or the current Demonomicon articles. A good fluff story and background that is independant of setting and easily dropped into my world with crunch describing the items, creatures, and spells in the fluff.

 

[Arnwyn]

If you're using the Core Beliefs, Demonomicon (and I presume the upcoming Impiltur) article as examples of "Fluff", then my vote would be "mostly fluff".

However, when an issue focused on that appears I see a lot of complaints from readers that they can't "use" the articles and the issue focused on that too much, there wansn't enough "crunch" in the magazine.

There is no "however", because there's no proof that they are the same people.

 

[Glyfair]

There is no "however", because there's no proof that they are the same people.

Oh, I don't believe there are (well, there is probably a small minority of overlap). I'm curious what the overall feeling here is among ENWorld members.

 

[Jedi_Solo]

What I want is what I want when I want it (easy to please customer here as you can see). Sometimes I want crunch and sometimes I want fluff and it usually depends on what mood I'm in. I almost always prefer fluff related to the given crunch (if any). I like the ecology articles and I prefer a good backstory to a sword than the fiction pieces that appear for no apparent reason.

I voted for the mix because that would my best guess for what I want at any given time. If I want hard stats and numbers then they will be there. If I want a good backstory then it will be there. Unless Paizo has somehow put a chip inside my head without me knowing they won't be able to put out 'exactly' what I want. Heck, half the time I don't exactly what I want so how can they know? The middle ground is the safest place to target and at least have something that I will want to read.

 

[rowport]

I would prefer an even balance between the two, erring on the side of more crunch than fluff. I think that Dragon has maintained that balance very well since its re-launch, and hope that there would not be an editorial shift from that current status.

I have enjoyed the Core Beliefs articles, but the Class Acts articles are *always* my favorite part of the magazine, because they have instant accessibilty and usefulness in playing my characters.

 

[DragonLancer]

I want fluff. I want articles. No game mechanics, or at least very few. I want articles on medieval history, castles, campaign design, military, geography and the like... all the sort of info that DM's need to make a good campaign or scenario.

I'm fed up of more feats, spells, race options, classes, MI's and the like.

 

[Shade]

I consider the Demonomicon articles to be the perfect blend between fluff and crunch. I mean, each one has stats for the big guy, his aspect, one or more servant creatures, and a thrall PrC, while providing tons of flavorful history, goals, cult, and residence.

 

[kyloss]

I want a mix of crunch and fluff but i want both generic enough to drop in any where at least resonably easy, if something has to be associated with a guild either keep the guild generic or dont tie the crunch to closely to the guild. I guess over all I like it more general leaving clear areas for me to fill in to fit it into my world or version of an existing world, some suggestions are cool but dont link to FR Greyhawk Ebberon specific.

 

[Mycanid]

Hmm ... well I voted for both content wise, but a little more crunch stuff. But "crunch" stuff of a specific sort.

For example, one of my favorite things was the "Ecology of ..." articles.