How about your OWN "Dragon" Mag?

[steeldragons]

Just a thought I had in reviewing some of the "nostalgia" threads here and elsewhere...and the apparent excitment and enjoyment people used to get out of the classic Dragon and Dungeons magazines...so I got to wondering...

Would anyone out there be interested in an RPG magazine, I personally am envisioning a specifically "fantasy" magazine, like Dragon...but published privately....i.e. NOT owned by WotC or by D&D at all.

Just reporting on Fantasy topics, races and monsters, dungeons/adventure hooks/campaigns, new worlds...convention info, game reviews, the occasional interview...

Would anyone be interested with an actual PRINT magazine that they could have in their hands with this kind of material?

There would, naturally, be an accompanying website but material posted there would be limited...the "real meat" would able to be subscribed/purchased in print.

Anyone like that idea or are we all content to just have all/any relevant or new info on the internet?

--Steel Dragons

 

[Camelot]

Yes! What I'd really like would be to write for that magazine. It could be a great start for forging new ideas for games or add-ons to current games, with short fiction, maybe even ongoing stories, and if it was marketed more to kids, there could be little puzzles or adventures like the "If you pick this option, go to page whatever" games.

The kicker is it being just fantasy. It's a niche, but it's a big niche and it's my favorite niche. I really hope you're not being hypothetical and are actually trying to make such a magazine!

 

[kitsune9]

Kobold Quarterly is pretty much that magazine for me. For me, I consider them the successor to Dragon Magazine.

 

[Camelot]

Kobold Quarterly is pretty much that magazine for me. For me, I consider them the successor to Dragon Magazine.

Hm, I'll have to check them out some more. I've only read a few free things and haven't been impressed enough to subscribe. Anything interactive on KQ (like the adventure thing I talked about)?

 

[steeldragons]

Yes! What I'd really like would be to write for that magazine. It could be a great start for forging new ideas for games or add-ons to current games, with short fiction, maybe even ongoing stories, and if it was marketed more to kids, there could be little puzzles or adventures like the "If you pick this option, go to page whatever" games.

The kicker is it being just fantasy. It's a niche, but it's a big niche and it's my favorite niche. I really hope you're not being hypothetical and are actually trying to make such a magazine!

You're hired! lol...Soon as/if I actually get started.

I like the ideas you propose to add in, particularly the short and/or ongoing stories. Get sum Literature up in that bad boy!

Kitsune, any reason there can't be 2? I have no doubt Kobold Quarterly is the successor to Dragon...so maybe I could be the "little brother" (I wouldn't want to be "successor") to Kobold Quarterly?

I also, will admit, I have to check out KQ. I was under the impression they were just online...but I'll def. take a look.

-SD

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Part of what drew me to Dragon in the first place- MANY years ago- was that "100% Official Content" label over the banner.

While I may find value in another, unofficial magazine covering the game or hobby, the appeal is reduced. To illustrate, despite the high praise for other periodicals out there, to date, no new magazine has captured my interest enough for me to buy into it.

And its not just Dragon- I was the same way about Pyramid and other RPG magazines. When they disappeared (which, for me, included going online only), I didn't look for substitutes.

 

[Coldwyn]

I´m very sceptical.

a) I was a regular customer for Dungeon/Dragon mag even as it was a hassle for me to obtain them but I quit when they went digital. Sure, it´s easier for me to get that stuff now, but I´m one of that guys that spent the necessary waiting time on public transit by reading beletristic or RPG books. Digital offers really don´t help me there, so they have a value of 0 for me.

b) Mags rise and fall with the quality of their content. cudos to the guy who publishes a mag on his own, using only his material, but that doesn´t really cut it for me. Just a gut feeling, but most mags lack the momentum to garner a big submission base and aquire more quality material.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

It does sound a lot like Kobold Quarterly. There might be room for two, but I KQ would serve as a bar that you'd have to meet.

Goodman games put out a few issues of a 4e only magazine called Level Up, but there hasn't been a new issue in a long time.

Hm, I'll have to check them out some more. I've only read a few free things and haven't been impressed enough to subscribe. Anything interactive on KQ (like the adventure thing I talked about)?

They don't have anything like that yet... but would mind if I borrowed that idea and I pitched that to them?

And for those interested in KQ, they are currently offering an old issue for free as a PDF.

 

[steeldragons]

@ Matthew: Thanks, also, for the KQ link. You would, of course, be welcome to submit any contributing material you like.

@ Danny: Well, I could put a "100% Official Content" label at the top of the cover...Not "Official for 4e D&D" or whatever.

Every article or submission would be "official" for some different system of play. And basically, anything in it would be usable...just might require some conversion. So, really, it is all "official"...for you.

It's "Offically 'whatever the title of the mag is' Content."

--SD

 

[Reynard]

I actually think a generic, d20 or possibly retro-clone centric fanzine would work well as an ePub or e-reader-specific formatted PDF.