Dragon - to renew or not to renew
- Thread starter Elodan
- Start date
Hjorimir
Adventurer
As a long time subscriber myself I have to admit the amount of content that I've been able to simply drop into my game is virtually zero. However, what makes the magazine valuable is that many of the articles - and a few of the pictures - can really inspire my creativity. For that alone, it is worth it.
Elodan
Adventurer
Thanks all for all the comments. It helped me put in perspective my thoughts on the magazine.
I renewed today. In general I like the direction Erik has been taking Dragon and was planning on giving it some more issues anyway. I figured spending ~$3/month for the yearly subscription would be about equal to what I would spend at the newsstand for the next 4 or 5 issues.
One reason I was hesitating to renew was because I had a ton of various magazine subsciptions and wanted to cut back. I just realized I'm down to Sports Illustrated and Dungeon. I had room for one more monthly.
Renewing Dungeon was a no brainer.
I renewed today. In general I like the direction Erik has been taking Dragon and was planning on giving it some more issues anyway. I figured spending ~$3/month for the yearly subscription would be about equal to what I would spend at the newsstand for the next 4 or 5 issues.
One reason I was hesitating to renew was because I had a ton of various magazine subsciptions and wanted to cut back. I just realized I'm down to Sports Illustrated and Dungeon. I had room for one more monthly.
Renewing Dungeon was a no brainer.
Gentlegamer
Adventurer
This is why I dropped my subscription and stopped reading Dragon about 2 years ago.DragonLancer said:
Altalazar
First Post
I'm a book whore, so I buy all the wizards books. I also don't feel like I'm complete without my Dungeon and Dragon subscriptions (I have every issue of both, blah blah blah).
There aren't many gaming magazines out there - almost none, compared to magazines on other subjects.
Sure, this months issue may not appeal to you that much, but you never know til it gets there - it is a special present in your mail each month with some things you perhaps never thought about before. It can throw in some spice or just some ideas and it is nice to have a magazine dedicated to our little hobby. Just sign up for a really long subscription, like many years, and then you don't have to agonize about it for a while.
It is the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.
There aren't many gaming magazines out there - almost none, compared to magazines on other subjects.
Sure, this months issue may not appeal to you that much, but you never know til it gets there - it is a special present in your mail each month with some things you perhaps never thought about before. It can throw in some spice or just some ideas and it is nice to have a magazine dedicated to our little hobby. Just sign up for a really long subscription, like many years, and then you don't have to agonize about it for a while.
It is the gift to yourself that keeps on giving.
I subscribe to both; I've been getting Dragon since issue #30, and thus have seen a lot of editors come and go, and have watched the magazine go through many changes in layout and style. I have always enjoyed Dragon, and have always looked forward to it each month.
I would have to say that over the past year or so, Dragon has really taken off; each issue seems better than the one before it, and I get the feeling it is just going to keep getting better. I would highly recommend subscribing to it.
(And, I also put in my vote for Dungeon magazine -- in my opinion, it is an exceptional value, and a great resource, now moreso than ever before.)
I would have to say that over the past year or so, Dragon has really taken off; each issue seems better than the one before it, and I get the feeling it is just going to keep getting better. I would highly recommend subscribing to it.
(And, I also put in my vote for Dungeon magazine -- in my opinion, it is an exceptional value, and a great resource, now moreso than ever before.)
JoeGKushner
Adventurer
Subscription works easier for me.
I've had whole sessions using some of the stuff from Dragon magazine like the Ebon Maw, and loved some of the spell templates they had a while back that were even OGC.
Some good stuff in Dragon and more than I'll probably use in any one campaign.
I've had whole sessions using some of the stuff from Dragon magazine like the Ebon Maw, and loved some of the spell templates they had a while back that were even OGC.
Some good stuff in Dragon and more than I'll probably use in any one campaign.
Rodrigo Istalindir
Explorer
Elodan said:
I had this problem a couple years ago. I steeled myself to miss an issue or two of each magazine or pick it up at the newsstand if I really wanted it. Then I renewed the ones I really wanted on a staggered basis so that never again would the subscriptions all come due at the same time.
Sholari
First Post
Where Dungeon occupies a solid position in the gaming industry, Dragon is flailing around searching for its own identity. It has been largely hit and miss. The Age of Worms tie-ins have definitely been cool and I have almost bought a couple copies entirely for that, but most of the stuff covered in Dragon can easily be found elsewhere. Stuff like the fantasy short fiction can easily be found on the bookshelf. In essence, Dragon needs to play in an area where it has some competitive advantage.
I think the key is to have several regular features based on solid positioning that is both interesting and _unique_ to the industry. The difficulty is that most of the articles are not that unique. One position that Dragon could potentially occupy is as a source for inspiration and exploration. Can they put out more research-intensive articles that draw inspiration from history, science, architecture, acting, etc. In essence, move the sophistication of gaming forward by drawing from other non-gaming sources and pull to the front interesting information that the average reader may not be able to find on their own.
- An article on secret doors and the mechanics of several of the most interesting secret doors in several real life settings (castles, pyramids, etc.)
- Campaign setting design based on the tenets of Guns, Germs, and Steel... exploring how it might apply to a fantasy setting.
- The real world's deadliest death traps in history...
- Strange inventions by the Greeks such as flame throwers and some of Archimedes inventions
- The top five Live Action Fantasy Groups in the US and what they do that makes them interesting and unique.
- How to use real-world acting techniques to bring your character to life based on an interview with an actor.
- Horror story techniques from a famous horror writer.
- A review of gaming conventions and their relative pros, cons, and overall ratings.
I would also recommend simply sending an online survey to subscribers as well as people that have dropped their subscriptions to find out what is and what is not working with the magazine. There are some really cheap but effective survey tools out there to help with this.
I think the key is to have several regular features based on solid positioning that is both interesting and _unique_ to the industry. The difficulty is that most of the articles are not that unique. One position that Dragon could potentially occupy is as a source for inspiration and exploration. Can they put out more research-intensive articles that draw inspiration from history, science, architecture, acting, etc. In essence, move the sophistication of gaming forward by drawing from other non-gaming sources and pull to the front interesting information that the average reader may not be able to find on their own.
- An article on secret doors and the mechanics of several of the most interesting secret doors in several real life settings (castles, pyramids, etc.)
- Campaign setting design based on the tenets of Guns, Germs, and Steel... exploring how it might apply to a fantasy setting.
- The real world's deadliest death traps in history...
- Strange inventions by the Greeks such as flame throwers and some of Archimedes inventions
- The top five Live Action Fantasy Groups in the US and what they do that makes them interesting and unique.
- How to use real-world acting techniques to bring your character to life based on an interview with an actor.
- Horror story techniques from a famous horror writer.
- A review of gaming conventions and their relative pros, cons, and overall ratings.
I would also recommend simply sending an online survey to subscribers as well as people that have dropped their subscriptions to find out what is and what is not working with the magazine. There are some really cheap but effective survey tools out there to help with this.
Last edited:
Hussar
Legend
Sholari said:
Umm, they just did Greek fire projectors in 335 along with introducing wet fire as well.
But, I'll agree with Sholari that I'd love to see a lot more articles examining real world elements that I can bring into a fantasy setting.
*Sigh* Now, if Dragon could just give a kick to the postal service and get me my mags on time, I'd become a lifetime subscriber.
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