Dungeon Magazine Pricing Issue (long, sorry)

[Gallo22]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Dungeon Magazine Pricing Issue (long, sorry)

Just out of curiosity, why is that?

Well, I personally have not seen or purchased any RPG products of similar price and content to make a comparison. Hence I can only compare Dungeon to Dungeon, which I have purchased on and off over the years from issue 1. I have also been an RPGA member off and on for 10 + years and received many issues of Poly over that time. The last RPG products I have purchased are Savage Species, Arms and Equipment Guide and AEG's ToolBox. I would find it hard to compare these to the Dungeon magazine. Trying to sum up ones content against the other would be well...a ball of wax, almost like comparing apples and bananas. I like them both (meaning books & magazine) but would find it difficult to to try and justify ones price against the other, they are different entities. Thats what I ment by a ball of wax. I don't think you can compare the two very effectively. It would be very subjective. Trying to, would just create a mess. Comparing Dungeon the way I did is not subjective, its fact based. The magazine is more expensive (much more) with basicly the same amount of content it had before going monthly. I also do not think you can compare the "cheapo" adventures and booklets that are being released like wild fire to Dungeon. Some are better, some are worse and the price is all over the place. Again, subjective.

I'm not discussing quality. Overall I like Dungeon. Sometimes the adventures/poly content are not to my taste, but thats normal. Not every month/bi-month is going to be for me. I accept that. I. E. the Vile Darkness stuff. I really did not care for it. Its not for me. But, I also did not scoff at it because I know next month their will be something I love (Gamma World Issue, Perfect!!!) that others won't. Its just like any other magazine in existance in this regards. My rant is basicly the whopping increase in price that I do not think may gamers realize yet.

I'm finding it hard to justify the cost increase. Maybe you can convince me otherwise with some examples of items that you can compare Dungeon with. Please and I mean this in a nice way, not as a challenge or to start a fight, show/tell/convince me that Dungeon/Poly is worth the cost. I like the magazine, just the price is out weighing its value for me. I would appreciate it. Thanks.

Gallo22

 

[Kryndal Levik]

Re: Re: Re: Dungeon Magazine Pricing Issue (long, sorry)

And trying to compare Dungeon to a fully produced RPG book, well, thats a whole different ball of wax.

Gallo22

I have to agree with this. When I purchase an RPG supplement, it is because I want to include that particular content in my campaign. For example- I bought Races of Faerun because, although I don't play in the setting, I knew I would use all or most of the information to supplement/enrich my campaign. With Dungeon (to which I currently have a subscription, by the way), it's hit or miss. I may use all of the adventures in a magazine, none at all, or one-two with varying levels of modification. Personally- I don't use the Polyhedron materials at all. It's for these reasons that I decided not to renew my subscription when it comes up this summer.

 

[Gallo22]

Well, I guess from the lack of responses to this thread most of you must think the increase in price with the same material is worth it. I must be wrong?

Gallo22

 

[Welverin]

I truly understand what you are saying about the ads and you are correct about the cost ratio, but last issue only had 13 pages of full ads for 180 pages of material. So the ratio per page for ads are still about the same but with an increased price to the magazine.

I didn't have any old issues on me when I first posted, so I wasn't able to count ads in one.

Anyway as for the cost, yes it is significantly more, but as I already said I think it's still a good value so it won't stop me from continuing to get it.

The subscription price is now $45, how does that compare to what it used to be?

 

[pogre]

Economic Decision

I am sure we all understand that because Dungeon and Poly were not making money changes had to be made. The changes are designed to garner a larger audience and make the magazines profitable.

If they had simply said to you:

Look, we're not making any money off of Dungeon and we need to double its cost.

Would you have kept buying it?

That really is the question for hardcore Dungeon readers. Dungeon has gone from an unbelievable value to a good value in my opinion.

I find the Poly stuff of minimal value, but I appreciate Paizo's attempt to widen the readership of the magazine in a meaningful way. I'm starting to get into Modern a little bit, so now I appreciate it a bit more.

As my subscription winds down I will be taking a hard look at Dungeon's value. For me if I use at least one of the adventures every issue on average it's still worth it. One quality adventure per $7.00 is a good value for me.

As for your situation, I guess I would look at the next few issues and determine whether you would use an adventure in some way. If the answer is consistently yes, they deserve your subscription. If not, just look it over and buy it when it appeals to you.

 

[Rickg]

The Subscription price is my main problem.

I subscribed to Dungeon when 3E first came out and it was $20 for 6 great issues a year. Now they've added Polyhedron which I don't really find a use for and they upped the subscription to $45 a year. I don't want to pay over twice as much for Dungeon as I did a few years ago. What about the original subscribers of Dungeon who just wanted the Dungeon content?

I don't plan on renewing my subscription in December.

 

[Ranger REG]

It's simple, Rickg. I will take your place.

Prior to 2002, I have never had much use for Dungeon. Oh, I bought a few issues when it first debuts but that was in the early 90's and I found that it's better to create my own.

Then the first Dungeon/Poly issue came out with a d20 mini-game (by that time, I'm an enthusiastic d20 gamer) called PULP HEROES. I like it. I also like the release announcement of non-Wizards d20 products that I could use for my d20 games (including D&D), and I have been buying new issues from the newsstand ever since, at full price.

When the announcement of Star Wars game article to be included in the new monthly format, this may get old readers of Star Wars Gamer to check this magazine out.

Now, while I buy the magazine just for Poly, I do check out the Dungeon side and noticed an improvement to the first few issues I have. So as an OPEN-MINDED d20 and D&D gamer, it's a double surprise.

If you're going to drop it, too bad. I'm sure others like me will take your place. Or perhaps you should start creating your own adventures.

 

[Kryndal Levik]

When this topic has come up in the past, the same implication has been made- that those that don't like the new format aren't "open-minded," or that the opinions of previously existing subscribers didn't matter. Yes, I understand that Paizo is a business, and that the decision was made to ensure the magazine's profitability and longevity. And yes, I know that there are those that like the Polyhedron content. I'm not arguing either point, and those really aren't points that are relevant to the question at hand.

From a buyer's perspective, it's ultimately the decision of each individual whether they like the new format/content. Personally (and to answer Gallo22's original question), I no longer get enough value out of Dungeon to warrant a subscription. An occasional in-store purchase based on the content of a specific month's magazine, perhaps, but not a subscription.

From Paizo's perspective, it will ultimately come down to the success or failure the new format. My, Gallo's, and Ranger REG's individual opinions will be, frankly, irrelevant. It's the overall response to the change, and not those of individuals, that will decide the future of the magazine. It will be some time before that becomes apparent, and only time will tell. Being a long-time roleplayer and a subscriber/supporter of both Dragon and Dungeon, I hope both magazines continue to thrive and grow, regardless of whether either or both are publications to which I subscribe.

 

[beta-ray]

Dunno, I only have one issue of the new format... Kinda hard for me to judge at this point... I do prefer Poly and since this issue is Dungeon heavy I was a bit disappointed...

Might take a couple months for me to decide. *shrug*

 

[rangerjohn]

That's what worries me, this was the dungeon heavy month? One adventure and two side treks. What's light? One adventure? I can buy a full fledged module from one of the d20 companies for that price break. From a single magazine readers perspective the price has more than doubled for a decrease in adventures.