Dungeon Magazine Poll in Response to Jonny Wilson's statement

[coyoteerisson]

I really don’t understand the whole “The Magazine can’t survive” bit. Have you ever looked at the magazine racks at Wal Mart and bookstores? I saw a fishing magazine dedicated to just one type of fish, catfish! If that can sell, why doesn’t Dungeon? One reason is probably because neither Dungeon nor Dragon are on any of those shelves. If they were, I think they would sell many more issues and help bring in new gamers.

There are more people who fish than play RPGs. Thus, the inherent dangers of a niche hobby...

 

[Felon]

I love Dungeon. I finally had to subscribe because it made poor financial sense to keep finding myself paying full price every month.

But it is undeniably disappointing that the dungeon-per-issue rate has dropped to 1/1. That needs to get redressed ASAP.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

But it is undeniably disappointing that the dungeon-per-issue rate has dropped to 1/1. That needs to get redressed ASAP.

Then issue 101 is probably going to irk a lot of people ... per the preview in 100, non-subscribers only get 1 adventure (set in FR) plus the Poly mini-game. Subscibers get a second. I don't mind FR adventures, but I know a lot of folks dislike them, so I expect there'll be another round of complaints in a month.

100 is a great issue; I'm interested to see what the next "non-mini game" issue (102?) brings. The last few LGJ segments have had pretty good stuff in them, and I'm interested to see what the adventure count in that issue will be -- hopefully including the next Adventure Path adventure, which have also been great.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

You know, it's weird, if you had asked me what was more important (and you did ) Polyhedron or Dungeon I would have answered 'Dungeon'. But going over the issues that I have purchased I find that the ones I bought were usually because of their Polyhedron content. Most recently I picked up 99, not for any of the adventures, but because I found the idea of 'Hijinks' so ridiculous I had to try it. (And yes, it was great fun, the players threw popcorn at me when the monster turned out to be Mr. Whithers from the museum in a rubber mask, and he said 'and I would have gotten away with it too if...', well you know the line.)

So I say keep the Poly content.

The Auld Grump

 

[Felon]

Bolt & Quiver just isn’t funny and the new toon “Downer” seems appropriately named.

Yeah, can't say I'm too impressed with Downer. It reminds me of that fairly unclever "Daria" cartoon from MTV in a D&D setting. The main character's bored and aloof; everyone else is a bombastic cliche'. So he easily outwits everyone because while they're going to the trouble of behaving like a stereotypical melodramatic fantasy character, he just yawns and does something unceremonious and efficient. It's not so much that he's smart, it's that everyone else is hidebound to the degree of stupidity. You know, like that old bit about how James Bond's enemies shouldn't put him in an elaborate death-trap and explain their plans for world domination; they should just shoot him and be done with it? It's stale material. Frankly, I don't think all these strips that revolve around how trite and cliche-ridden D&D is work all that well for magazines that are intended to support and stimulate interest in the game.

Here's a thought; how about a strip that's actually not a comical, self-effacing KotDT knock-off? How about an actual story, with, I dunno, plots and action and stuff that actually make D&D look fresh and fun, not tired and played-out? Just a thought

I know, I know; that would be actual work for someone to write and illustrate. Self-parody is the path of least effort.

 

[Faraer]

So half the people are voting that the Polyhedron readers shouldn't get a magazine at all so that they have more Dungeon pages? I can't see how such a selfish vote has any moral authority.

 

[Numion]

So half the people are voting that the Polyhedron readers shouldn't get a magazine at all so that they have more Dungeon pages? I can't see how such a selfish vote has any moral authority.

I guess the best vote would be with the Poly fans vs. Dungeon fans, and whichever had more votes would get their magazine. It's not about morals, but about circulation, and the hypothesis is that there are more Dungeon than Poly fans.

 

[diaglo]

So half the people are voting that the Polyhedron readers shouldn't get a magazine at all so that they have more Dungeon pages? I can't see how such a selfish vote has any moral authority.

well when the Poly half is crap.

it makes sense.

 

[cildarith]

The Polyhedron stuff is crap. If this pathetic excuse for a magazine must be grafted onto Dungeon so Erik can have a job, please do something to improve it.

This means:

1) Lose the mini-games. They are awful. I will never use them.

2) Publish content that supports existing games, rather than trying to create new ones. The latest issue with the Githyanki material is a step in the right direction.

3) Make it smaller. 40% is too much. 60% is WAY too much. Polyhedron should not exceed 25-30% of the magazine in ANY given month.

 

[Robbert Raets]

Okay, that does it! [Rant Mode]

Polyhedron is not crap!! You're all entitled to an opinion about this, but pretend everyone should throw my favourite magazine on the garbage pile. I REALLY dislike HokeyMon, but that doesn't mean ya hear me complaining about how it takes up shelf space in my FLGS, do you now?! Most of the Mini-Games were fun, and Spelljammer and Mecha Crusade were pretty well done and usable. [/Rant Mode]

Sorry, but when you step on my toes, I respond. I wonder what mr. Mona has to say about this.