Dungeonaday.com

[Beginning of the End]

I've been thinking about subbing, but I can't figure out what's going with that place.

First, in August there was this press release. Which says that Monte Cook is going to "step back" from the site.

The front page of Dungeonaday.com says that the site is still being written by Monte Cook with daily updates. And the About Us page still lists Monte as the only writer for the site.

But a couple other sites around the 'net state that Cook left the project. And if I go poking around the Dungeon Blogs on the site (which are described as being written by Monte Cook), I find that the most recent entry starts:

"There are a lot of things I've been looking forward to since picking up the reins of day-to-day writing for Dungeonaday.com..."

Which seems to suggest that somebody else is writing both that column and the day-to-day updates on the site as a whole.

Can somebody with a subscription or other source of knowledge tell me what the actual current status of the site/project is?

 

[Ryltar]

While my subscripton is no longer active, I believe that it is as follows:

Super Genius Games (Hyrum Savage & friends) now 'run' the site with regards to updates and fleshing out content; however, they do so using preliminary notes that Monte had already sketched out in advance at the point where he 'stepped back'.

I can't really say where the future of DAD will take it. The early days after the 'change in management' weren't so great, as the new team had to adapt to the new environment; there were quite a few complaints back then about the quality or length of new content (e.g., splitting rooms into two encounters that could have been handled in one room etc.). However, after some time, things seemed to go more smoothly (and that's when my sub ran out, so I can't really say one way or another if the quality is up to Monte's standard right now).

Hope this helps.

 

[Alzrius]

I don't think that Hyrum Savage is part of Super Genius Games anymore, since he's now working for Paizo. SGG is now Stan! and Owen K. C. Stephens, if I recall correctly.

Some of the blogs have been written by Monte, but just as many have been by Stan! nowadays, and I'm pretty sure the SGG guys are the ones writing the material, albeit working off of Monte's notes.

A few things have also fallen by the wayside. For example, there were supposed to be entire levels of the dungeon available as a single-download PDF, but those haven't been updated in a while. Also, I seem to recall them saying that DAD would transition to Pathfinder, but as of yet it's still 3.5.

Having said all of that, I think the quality of the writing is the same as it ever was, so I'm not at all unsatisfied.

 

[Gilladian]

I've been a subscriber since day one.

Stan! seems to be the major writer, with tech and other assistance from a couple other people, as mentioned above.

The dungeon is still firmly 3.5 although they've promised more Pathfinder updates. Not that I care... I only run 3.5!

They're now doing Level 14; it has been quite interesting. I'll never run it, because my next campaign, which will be an E6 game, is where I intend to use DAD.

Currently, they've said that the PDF for level six will be released "soon". They've really slowed down on how quickly those compilations are released, which makes me sad, as I really like them. But oh, well; I still have the ability to download each page as it is released if I like. And it is all online whenever I want it.

I've really enjoyed it, and I would suggest that any DM who wants a good, well-thought-out, professional dungeon to base a campaign around, could not do better.

 

[catsclaw227]

I got in on the early first run subscription and after my first year, I had to decline re-upping because of the way the economy affected my income. The sucky part about it was that after 1 year, I couldn't even get on to see the parts that I DID subscribe for, the levels that were fleshed out that I helped pay for weren't availabel in PDF (or other) form for me to ever download, so basically, I got nothing for my money.

And I am left with no options to get back and look at or download what was created when I did pay for it.

I was a huge supporter of Monte over the years, I owned every Malhavoc product ever purchased in 3.x and I was a very early purchaser of Ptolus and was a Delvers Guild subscriber.

Since my personal DAD experience, I have lost the faith. I signed up under the impression that I would be able to use at least what I subscribed for, even if my sub had to lapse. Even WOTC gave me PDFs to download for almost everything while I was a subscriber (and I was always good about getting the mags, maps and images each month).

Anyway.... So now he's not even doing it anymore? I thought he commited to like 20 levels... Maybe I am wrong.

 

[frankthedm]

Can somebody with a subscription or other source of knowledge tell me what the actual current status of the site/project is?

IANAL, but to me it looks like it is falsely advertised and is breaching contract with its subscribers.

http://ogrecave.com/2010/08/07/super-genius-to-take-over-dungeonaday-com/
August 06, 2010 (SAN DIEGO, CA and MILWAUKEE, WI) – Super Genius Games announced today that it has signed an agreement with Dungeons and Dragons 3rd Edition designer, Monte Cook, to manage and further develop the ground breaking web portal Dungeonaday.com. Starting September 1, 2010, Super Genius Games will handle the day to day design and management of the content on the site, using plans developed by Monte Cook, and updating the content to be compatible with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game published by Paizo Publishing.

 

[mach1.9pants]

IANAL but it doesn't say written and designed exclusively with no input from anyone else. As long as his name is on the top of the writers list, they are covered (Tom Clancy's op centre/netforce/power plays books, anyone? Lame and crap and not even touched by Clancy)

 

[DaveMage]

I've been a subscriber since day one.

Currently, they've said that the PDF for level six will be released "soon". They've really slowed down on how quickly those compilations are released, which makes me sad, as I really like them. But oh, well; I still have the ability to download each page as it is released if I like. And it is all online whenever I want it.

I have also been a subscriber since day 1.

While the compilations were not a part of the original deal, I really, really like them and for a while they were 2 levels behind the current level.

Now they are way, way behind. Frankly, I've come to really like the compilations and the lack of them for some time has been disappointing. Reading the forums a while back led me to believe that the compilations are NOT a priority be any means.

My sub is up in March and I'm considering non-renewal since the compilations have slowed down (well, essentially stopped) and with the change in primary authorship. Nothing against Stan and Owen, but, well, it isn't what I signed up for.

I've paid $168 so far and the content has been good, but the question I will be asking in February is "Do I have $168 worth of content, and am I likely to have $252 worth of content a year from now?"

 

[catsclaw227]

I have also been a subscriber since day 1.

While the compilations were not a part of the original deal, I really, really like them and for a while they were 2 levels behind the current level.

I don't recall there being any compilations during the first year (that was my only subscriber period). If there were, I missed them completely, but I scoured the site about 1 week before my expiration because I was becoming worried that after expiring, all my money went for naught because I couldn't acquire or download what I was paying for.

 

[Alzrius]

Catsclaw, I'm not entirely sure what you mean about not being able to download what you paid for. A download option was always there.

Every single page on the DAD website - that is, every room, every level overview, every map, every blog post, every new monster, etc. - had a button in the upper-right corner to display that page in PDF form, which could then be saved to your computer.

I've been a subscriber since DAD first began, and I've always made sure to save every page as it appears so I'll have it later.