[Dragon] What would you do?
- Thread starter Eternalknight
- Start date
schporto
First Post
1. Change the cover back to the older Dragon styles. Less words covering the art covering the title, obscuring everything.
2. A thought for something cheap - Popular Mechanics does something like this - take an old decent article, and reprint it. Give a sidebar on how to convert the info into 3e.
And keep up the rest!
-cpd
2. A thought for something cheap - Popular Mechanics does something like this - take an old decent article, and reprint it. Give a sidebar on how to convert the info into 3e.
And keep up the rest!
-cpd
IMO, Dragon no longer services the D&D/RPG community as it once did. It carries far too much fluff. Such as pointless fiction, product tie-in, useless PrCs. It should dump the campaign specific (FR and Greyhawk) content, in favor of more generic material.
Contrary to Ranes, Dragon does have competition. Although not as widely distributed, Campaign Magazine provides a viable alternative. I have found that it is a more steak, less sizzle produce. It provides generic material usable in my campaign. I enjoy the non-fantasy material (Spycraft/COC) stuff as well. (Yes, I subscribe to Dungeon/Poly). Moreover, I belive it better covers the secondary publishers, whose products are far superior to the stuff WOTC has published of late.
Contrary to Ranes, Dragon does have competition. Although not as widely distributed, Campaign Magazine provides a viable alternative. I have found that it is a more steak, less sizzle produce. It provides generic material usable in my campaign. I enjoy the non-fantasy material (Spycraft/COC) stuff as well. (Yes, I subscribe to Dungeon/Poly). Moreover, I belive it better covers the secondary publishers, whose products are far superior to the stuff WOTC has published of late.
Davelozzi
Explorer
I agree with the general consensus here.
-dump the fiction
-return to old style (non-tabloid) covers
-getting rid of the regular FR features. I'm not opposed to articles about different things but floating-tower-a-week is more than we need.
-more campaign components articles
-more DM oriented articles (although I can't really complain about the amount we see now, more couldn't hurt)
-dump the fiction
-return to old style (non-tabloid) covers
-getting rid of the regular FR features. I'm not opposed to articles about different things but floating-tower-a-week is more than we need.
-more campaign components articles
-more DM oriented articles (although I can't really complain about the amount we see now, more couldn't hurt)
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Eridanis
Bard 7/Mod (ret) 10/Mgr 3
Hmm. This will be a rant-free post.
First: what I'd keep:
Monte Cook's Dungeoncraft articles. What an improvement.
Campaign Components: I have to admit I've been kinda lukewarm to these, but they're popular, and I've gotten some good stuff from them.
What's New: I love Phil, but he's been in a rut lately. Kick him out of his rut and into some stories. And bring back Rolf the dragon.
Sage Advice: No matter what you say, at least Skip is out there giving definitive answers from a designer's POV. You can always ignore his advic for your campaign, if you like, but at least everyone's on the same starting page.
Ads: More ad pages means more content pages. Accept ads from whomever will pay for them: computer companies, CCG games, minis, SF/fantasy book publishers... it's a big tent, and I'd liketo think role-players are interested in more things than just role-playing games.
What I'd Change:
Fiction. I'd go to once every two months. Lord knows I don't read the stuff, but many do, and why cut yourself off from the opportunity to print excerpts from a new George Martin novel, as we'll see soon?
Alternating with it every other month would be Giants in the Earth. Famous fictional and mythological heroes in 3rd edition format...yum!
And Wayne Reynolds would never do another onrushing-fighter-with-poorly-realized-forced-perspective cover if I could help it. If I could wrangle it, I'd start reprinting the cover art against the TOC, so as to see it without the splashy text (but I know that's extra money).
I'd certainly make sure more OGL content would be included.
What I'd Add:
Book Reviews!!!! I really miss being kept current on the best fiction out there. It could alternate every month with game reviews - not just of d20/D&D, but letting us know of other exceptional games of other types, too.
In Wizard's Workshop (a feature that's still improving), I'd add a monthly adrticle from Kevin Kulp in running games.
I'm sure I could think of other things if I had a copy in front of me. But Paizo is doing what they can, their changes so far haven't been that bad (the issue 300 debacle aside), and you have to give them credit for trying to forge on without a big company like Hasbro to soak up the red ink. I've subscribed to Dungeon/Poly for the first time to show support, as I think Dungeon is a better mag than Dragon at this point - who'd a thunk?
First: what I'd keep:
Monte Cook's Dungeoncraft articles. What an improvement.
Campaign Components: I have to admit I've been kinda lukewarm to these, but they're popular, and I've gotten some good stuff from them.
What's New: I love Phil, but he's been in a rut lately. Kick him out of his rut and into some stories. And bring back Rolf the dragon.
Sage Advice: No matter what you say, at least Skip is out there giving definitive answers from a designer's POV. You can always ignore his advic for your campaign, if you like, but at least everyone's on the same starting page.
Ads: More ad pages means more content pages. Accept ads from whomever will pay for them: computer companies, CCG games, minis, SF/fantasy book publishers... it's a big tent, and I'd liketo think role-players are interested in more things than just role-playing games.
What I'd Change:
Fiction. I'd go to once every two months. Lord knows I don't read the stuff, but many do, and why cut yourself off from the opportunity to print excerpts from a new George Martin novel, as we'll see soon?
Alternating with it every other month would be Giants in the Earth. Famous fictional and mythological heroes in 3rd edition format...yum!
And Wayne Reynolds would never do another onrushing-fighter-with-poorly-realized-forced-perspective cover if I could help it. If I could wrangle it, I'd start reprinting the cover art against the TOC, so as to see it without the splashy text (but I know that's extra money).
I'd certainly make sure more OGL content would be included.
What I'd Add:
Book Reviews!!!! I really miss being kept current on the best fiction out there. It could alternate every month with game reviews - not just of d20/D&D, but letting us know of other exceptional games of other types, too.
In Wizard's Workshop (a feature that's still improving), I'd add a monthly adrticle from Kevin Kulp in running games.
I'm sure I could think of other things if I had a copy in front of me. But Paizo is doing what they can, their changes so far haven't been that bad (the issue 300 debacle aside), and you have to give them credit for trying to forge on without a big company like Hasbro to soak up the red ink. I've subscribed to Dungeon/Poly for the first time to show support, as I think Dungeon is a better mag than Dragon at this point - who'd a thunk?
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BrooklynKnight
First Post
Id change it to FR mag and commit 60% of it to events and other things in FR. Basically a mag devoted to moving along FR's timeline between regional supplements.
Bagpuss
Legend
Talking of Campaign components I reckon The Law would be a good one, you could do a double-sided pull out with a map of a court (and or jail) and the the reverse a gibet and stocks in a town square. You could go into details of how thieves, violent drunks, etc. are treated.
Oh yeah get rid of the Greyhawk and the FR stuff, if I want those settings I'll buy the books or play Living Greyhawk. If you must have fiction, have it tie in with game mechanics.
Oh yeah get rid of the Greyhawk and the FR stuff, if I want those settings I'll buy the books or play Living Greyhawk. If you must have fiction, have it tie in with game mechanics.
thud13x
First Post
While I agree with the general consensus on this thread, I do have somethings to add.
1)I agree with those that dislike the Setting-specific articles as taking away from general D&D/d20 articles, however, if I was editor/publisher/in-charge (which what this thread is all about), I'd make a separate tear away or insert for each of the big two settings (Greyhawk and FR). To save money, each one can be every other month. (I must confess, I am an avid FR RPGer and would like to see some sort of magazine for FR be it online or as an insert in Dragon that covers the changes in the FR timeframe)
2)I like the take on the art right now, but I do think diversity would help. Be cool and edgy, but classic too.
3)No more fiction please! Book reviews will get me to read those authors much more than a snippet of their work.
4)I like the campaign components and want to see more of it.
5)More flavor text for PrCs would make them easier to digest and incorporate into games.
6)I agree with schporto on the Popular Mechanics take on old articles. And if possible make those OGL.
I don't mind the ads. I also don't mind the fact that is it D&D's official magazine, but I would like to see more independence editorially. This might happen now that Pazio is in control. Or are they?
My two cents.
1)I agree with those that dislike the Setting-specific articles as taking away from general D&D/d20 articles, however, if I was editor/publisher/in-charge (which what this thread is all about), I'd make a separate tear away or insert for each of the big two settings (Greyhawk and FR). To save money, each one can be every other month. (I must confess, I am an avid FR RPGer and would like to see some sort of magazine for FR be it online or as an insert in Dragon that covers the changes in the FR timeframe)
2)I like the take on the art right now, but I do think diversity would help. Be cool and edgy, but classic too.
3)No more fiction please! Book reviews will get me to read those authors much more than a snippet of their work.
4)I like the campaign components and want to see more of it.
5)More flavor text for PrCs would make them easier to digest and incorporate into games.
6)I agree with schporto on the Popular Mechanics take on old articles. And if possible make those OGL.
I don't mind the ads. I also don't mind the fact that is it D&D's official magazine, but I would like to see more independence editorially. This might happen now that Pazio is in control. Or are they?
My two cents.
mystraschosen
First Post
I would increase it's size by two at least,divide up the magazine into equal parts that dealt with each line of product,and a last equal part that would deal with miscellanious subject matter.
I just don't like how sometimes I feel like I was dissapointed in the magazine,not enough stuff in it,but then again I am greedy when It comes to roleplaying material.
I just don't like how sometimes I feel like I was dissapointed in the magazine,not enough stuff in it,but then again I am greedy when It comes to roleplaying material.
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