DRAGON MAGAZINE: What would you do?

[KDLadage]

Just a note for some things I would like to see in Dragon Magazine:

Things that are there now I would like to see continued/increased:

1. Class Combinations - back when the Dwarf issue came out for 3e, I loved the section on class combinations. I would like to see this more often. I like the fact that the current multi-classing rules allow for so much flexibility -- so I think you should show it off. In fact, there are more than a few prestige classes that should have been handled this way instead.
2. Battle Mats - keep 'em coming! These things are great!

Things that are not there now I would like to see added:

1. Interpretations of fictional/mythological characters - this is one of those things I have always thought would be cool. Consider this: suppose you had a small segment from a popular book included in the magazine. In this segment, it highlights just why a given character in that book is so interesting and cool. Then, you have three or four people that are experts with the rules of Dungeons and Dragons create this guy's character sheet -- the experts could then explain why they made the choices they did. This would be immediately useful (i.e.: I now have three or four versions of a popular character I can use, either by selecting one of by tweaking them all into separate NPCs) as well as some interesting note son how to best translate a fictional character into the game.
2. Interpretations of fictional/mythological capabilities - this goes hand-in-hand with #1 above. The idea here is to have a segment from a popular book and explain what rules you would use to simulate such an act from that character (this could mean the inclusion of a new feat or two, or a spell, or even a new prestige class or something).
3. Interpretations of fictional/mythological artifacts - and to complete the round table on this, do the same as #1 and #2 with magical artifacts. Items of power... how would they be handled and why. Could be very informative.
4. Center-set removable sections - Adventures that I can pull out of the magazine whole; articles on a given class of monsters designed to be removed and hole-punched for latter reference; things that are designed to be a part of a single, unified whole that I can pull from several issues and place together in a binder to use, as a unified whole.
5. Articles/Adventures that are non-combative - Many have often asked (at least in the circles that I run in) how to create adventures and interesting games that may not see combat one in several sessions. Adventures and examples of such things could be a lot of fun.
6. Contests - Think of an Iron GM contest (or some other sort of contest such as the creation of #1, #2 or #3 above) held over e-mail to the judges and the results recorded in Dragon. Each adventure/character/location/what-have-you displayed in the magazine with the judges weighing in on why they felt this one or that one was the better one. The contests could be announced on the Wizards web site, entries collected electronically by the chosen contestants, and the results kept secret until the magazine is published.

Things that are there now I would like to see removed/reduced:

1. Fiction - Most all fiction in magazines not specifically devoted to fiction (to be quite blunt) sucks and is a waste of space. There are the occasional exceptions to the rule (such as this most recent teaser from George R. R. Martin) -- but even when it is an exception to the rule, what (exactly) does it have to do with my game? If you are going to do fiction, please do something along the likes of #1, #2 or #3 in the "like to see added" listing above. I might even go so far as to say that fiction should never be included in the magazine without such things. With them, however, it could be a great case in point.
2. Letters and comments - reduce this. You have a web site and many, many message boards are available. It has lost its need to be there.

These are a few of my ideas. Yours?

 

[Gargoyle]

Actually, I thinked you've summed up my feelings exactly.

 

[Olive]

Things that are there now I would like to see removed/reduced:

1. Fiction - Most all fiction in magazines not specifically devoted to fiction (to be quite blunt) sucks and is a waste of space. There are the occasional exceptions to the rule (such as this most recent teaser from George R. R. Martin) -- but even when it is an exception to the rule, what (exactly) does it have to do with my game? If you are going to do fiction, please do something along the likes of #1, #2 or #3 in the "like to see added" listing above. I might even go so far as to say that fiction should never be included in the magazine without such things. With them, however, it could be a great case in point.
2. Letters and comments - reduce this. You have a web site and many, many message boards are available. It has lost its need to be there.

letters are a traditional part of magazines, not everyone has access to the web or likes to use it, and paizo doesn't have message boards and the WotC magazine ones are going.

what does fiction have to do with your game? HEAPS!!! how much influence does fiction you've read have on your game? personally i've hated most of the fiction recently, but i really liked the psuedo crusades stuff a while back.

 

[Olive]

Oh yeah, one thing i'd love to see removed is the silacon sorcery section. i hate that.

 

[KDLadage]

Re: Re: DRAGON MAGAZINE: What would you do?

letters are a traditional part of magazines, not everyone has access to the web or likes to use it, and paizo doesn't have message boards and the WotC magazine ones are going.

True. I would not remove it, I would (as indicated) reduce it, however.

what does fiction have to do with your game? HEAPS!!! how much influence does fiction you've read have on your game? personally i've hated most of the fiction recently, but i really liked the psuedo crusades stuff a while back.

Fiction does influence games. But without context (meaning without notes on how to do something like this in my game) it is of less than no value. It takes up space that could be of direct aid to me.

 

[WayneLigon]

I love the battlemats as well!

Long ago, there used to be a feature called Giants in the Earth that did write-ups of fictional characters. I thought that one reason it no longer appeared was that there might be copyright considerations, but then we've had the Shanarra article.. so I dunno.

I'd like to see some of those, but done with a more critical eye. While often trying to stat out a fictional character is just an exercise in futility, it seemed the old articles always rated people so far above anything any PC was capable of that it was ludicrous. The Conan d20 site is a great example of a fictional writeup, to my mind.

 

[Olive]

Re: Re: Re: DRAGON MAGAZINE: What would you do?

Fiction does influence games. But without context (meaning without notes on how to do something like this in my game) it is of less than no value. It takes up space that could be of direct aid to me.

i'm pretty sure i don't agree with this. it could be good, but mostly if i read the fiction its because i like reading. i think that a magazine can try to appeal to it's core on different levels.

another idea to add: more counters for new monsters like there was in the knights issue! but on card or heavier stock please!!!

 

[KDLadage]

Re: Re: Re: Re: DRAGON MAGAZINE: What would you do?

i'm pretty sure i don't agree with this. it could be good, but mostly if i read the fiction its because i like reading. i think that a magazine can try to appeal to it's core on different levels.

Fair enough.

another idea to add: more counters for new monsters like there was in the knights issue! but on card or heavier stock please!!!

Agreed.

 

[Eosin the Red]

I like the fictional/historical write-ups also - but they need to have a standard if they are being done by different people. Seeing Constintine in one issue with a STR of 17 and then seeing Ajax/Hector/Achilles with STRs 13-16 reduces the value to the whole lot to me. I could throw out the occasional stray but I would prefer a well crafted set rather than independant write-ups.

 

[beta-ray]

I don't read the fiction (well I read the comics)... and I am not really a historian so I like brief articles covering actual history.

I have the most fun with stuff like the new monsters, articlfacts, etc... and the helpful tips on gaming. I do like the idea of more on non-combative solutions or alternative types of scenarios...