{DRAGON] Will there be a DRAGON Annual this year?
- Thread starter Eridanis
- Start date
Dark Psion
First Post
They don't seem to want to answer this question here or over on the WoC Dragon board.
http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=126;t=000979
This might be since multi year subcribers were promised an Annual for free each year.
http://boards.wizards.com/rpg/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=126;t=000979
This might be since multi year subcribers were promised an Annual for free each year.
Johnny Wilson
First Post
At Paizo Publishing, we pay a lot of attention to what people have to say about our products. Last year, it was very clear that our subscribers did not appreciate the annual because it was published as a d20 Special. Since it had cost us something like $37K to send it to subscribers with no additional revenue, it was extremely disconcerting to read comments by people who said that they were "ripped off" by our approach to the special. Since it sold better than our annuals usually do at the newsstand (almost twice as many as Dragon Annual #5), we didn't feel like we had ripped anyone off.
Last year, I posted messages on the WotC bulletin board stating that there would be no more annuals as part of the subscription and that there would be no 13th issue this year. After I posted the message, several commented that they had a three-year subscription and were promised an annual every year. In the first place, NO magazine pubisher promises THREE subscription premiums for a multiple year subscription. Some may have read the existing offer (that predated my time as group publisher at WotC) as an annual per year when the ad really meant to subscribe for one-year and get the annual. Since the option to get a three-year subscription was on the same page/card, they may have read it as an implied promise, but even so, those subscribers should have expired by now.
If you miss the annual, you should thank the complainers from last year. After watching Erik Mona and the Dragon staff work their tails off to get the d20 Special out last year, the last thing I needed to do when they saw the avalanche of complaints on the boards was to schedule a special for this year. So, I cancelled it.
I'm sorry to respond to this message late. My staff informed me of the thread last week and I threatened severe retribution if any of them was to respond. Then, I was sidelined by the flu and am back in the office, today. I know that no one will be happy to read this note, but that's the way it is and that was the rationale behind my unilateral decision (made while we were part of WotC, but implemented at Paizo).
Last year, I posted messages on the WotC bulletin board stating that there would be no more annuals as part of the subscription and that there would be no 13th issue this year. After I posted the message, several commented that they had a three-year subscription and were promised an annual every year. In the first place, NO magazine pubisher promises THREE subscription premiums for a multiple year subscription. Some may have read the existing offer (that predated my time as group publisher at WotC) as an annual per year when the ad really meant to subscribe for one-year and get the annual. Since the option to get a three-year subscription was on the same page/card, they may have read it as an implied promise, but even so, those subscribers should have expired by now.
If you miss the annual, you should thank the complainers from last year. After watching Erik Mona and the Dragon staff work their tails off to get the d20 Special out last year, the last thing I needed to do when they saw the avalanche of complaints on the boards was to schedule a special for this year. So, I cancelled it.
I'm sorry to respond to this message late. My staff informed me of the thread last week and I threatened severe retribution if any of them was to respond. Then, I was sidelined by the flu and am back in the office, today. I know that no one will be happy to read this note, but that's the way it is and that was the rationale behind my unilateral decision (made while we were part of WotC, but implemented at Paizo).
Eridanis
Bard 7/Mod (ret) 10/Mgr 3
Thanks for the personal response. I hadn't heard about the decision to cancel, but given what you've said, I understand.
I think this is an excellent illustration that one should write in to complement, instead of just to complain; I had no problems with last year's d20 Annual and didn't know about the firestorm of complaints.
Hopefully, finances will be such that you can do another annual in a few years. The annuals were a nice experiment, and I'm sorry you took so much flak for the last one.
I think this is an excellent illustration that one should write in to complement, instead of just to complain; I had no problems with last year's d20 Annual and didn't know about the firestorm of complaints.
Hopefully, finances will be such that you can do another annual in a few years. The annuals were a nice experiment, and I'm sorry you took so much flak for the last one.
Darrin Drader
Explorer
I rather liked the D20 special that was run last year. Regardless, I think its really off-base for people to complain about something that is essentially a freebie.
Oh well, this'll show them whiners!
Oh well, this'll show them whiners!
Jaws
First Post
Dragon Annual #5 was very good. It had alot of useful new material. Many different topics, not just one big theme.
The d20 Special was ok. It had some good articles. But it felt like a big ad for all the companies that were inside.
That is why I think people complained. I think the quality went down.
I am sad that it will be discontinued for the time being. I enjoy each issue of Dragon and Dungeon that I purchase.
Peace and smiles
j.
The d20 Special was ok. It had some good articles. But it felt like a big ad for all the companies that were inside.
That is why I think people complained. I think the quality went down.
I am sad that it will be discontinued for the time being. I enjoy each issue of Dragon and Dungeon that I purchase.
Peace and smiles
j.
Dark Psion
First Post
Johnny Wilson said:
Pagan priest
First Post
If enough people complain about the complainers, can we get the annuals back on track?
While I can understand some of the comments refering to #5 as a giant advertisment, I say that it did a very useful service just the same. With the vast number of publishers out there, very few gamers have the opportunity to see what all is available. Having something that explores some of the avenues is a great boon ot the gaming community.
I started buying Dragon Magazine when it was still in the single digits. I will most likely continue to get Dragon Magazine for as long as I game (and it doesn't start to suck!). The annuals are a part of what makes Dragon so good. While it is obviously too late for this year, don't let the whiners ruin a good thing for the rest of us.
While I can understand some of the comments refering to #5 as a giant advertisment, I say that it did a very useful service just the same. With the vast number of publishers out there, very few gamers have the opportunity to see what all is available. Having something that explores some of the avenues is a great boon ot the gaming community.
I started buying Dragon Magazine when it was still in the single digits. I will most likely continue to get Dragon Magazine for as long as I game (and it doesn't start to suck!). The annuals are a part of what makes Dragon so good. While it is obviously too late for this year, don't let the whiners ruin a good thing for the rest of us.
Frustrated by knee jerk reactions...
Two cents from a very infrequent poster...
While it is clearly too late for an Annual this year, perhaps a "Best of Dragon/Annual" combo would be a good idea. Best of Dragon was a great resource eons ago when you just could not score back issues. Now with Dragon Magazine archives it is less necessary, but it would be nice to have an all in one mag for easy use... Organized under sections: feats, spells, prestige, et al. Heck... OGC would be nice too (its a dream).
Personally, I enjoyed the d20 special. After WOTC backed off on COC d20, it gave me a taste of the goodies. It had plenty of other viable material as well (WOT especially). Granted this is wasted air, but heck, two cents is two cents.
So, by blending old with older material, a Best of Dragon should provide some extra goodness from 3rd party seeing as how both mags are now basically 3rd party anyway. I envision web support material in print (with tasty art... how 'bout those Modrons) from the industry as a whole.
Essentially, it provides a good tool (heck is that not what Dragon and Dungeon are about anyway?) and a means to expose undercooked companies to people without the means/funds/clue. I'd pay $10 just to have it all in one place.
So there.
R
Two cents from a very infrequent poster...
While it is clearly too late for an Annual this year, perhaps a "Best of Dragon/Annual" combo would be a good idea. Best of Dragon was a great resource eons ago when you just could not score back issues. Now with Dragon Magazine archives it is less necessary, but it would be nice to have an all in one mag for easy use... Organized under sections: feats, spells, prestige, et al. Heck... OGC would be nice too (its a dream).
Personally, I enjoyed the d20 special. After WOTC backed off on COC d20, it gave me a taste of the goodies. It had plenty of other viable material as well (WOT especially). Granted this is wasted air, but heck, two cents is two cents.
So, by blending old with older material, a Best of Dragon should provide some extra goodness from 3rd party seeing as how both mags are now basically 3rd party anyway. I envision web support material in print (with tasty art... how 'bout those Modrons) from the industry as a whole.
Essentially, it provides a good tool (heck is that not what Dragon and Dungeon are about anyway?) and a means to expose undercooked companies to people without the means/funds/clue. I'd pay $10 just to have it all in one place.
So there.
R
Temprus
First Post
As one of those that complained, I was unhappy because the annual last year was not what was advertised. I only subscribed last year to get the free preview of d20 Magazine with the October Issue and for the supposed Dragon Annual with some d20 content. Instead I got a d20 "freebie" and no Dragon Annual. There was no warning of this change (in fact the website still said otherwise for months after). When I complained the response was not "sorry, we felt the need to change for cost reasons" or such it was more like "whatever!".
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