I don't miss the magazines (/ducks)

[Hjorimir]

But even if the content were to my liking, I still like to take my magazines to the bin (as a father to a 4 year old one of the only places to sneak in a read), so I think this digital nonsense don´t cut it.

That's what laptops are for!

 

[Hjorimir]

I miss them.

Which is funny, because I've never ever used a single thing out of dragon and I ran a single adventure out of dungeon once.

I would sit outside and read through them with a cup of tea and just think about D&D inspired by the pretty pictures and tone of the magazine. It would get me in the D&D mood, and while I'm in that mood I'd think up ideas of my own.

That pretty much mirrors my own use thoughout the years. Read a little, look at pictures, dwell upon my homebrew.

 

[Ktulu]

I don't miss them at all. I have more use out of DDi than I ever did with [dragon]. I never bought Dungeon, so getting both with the DDi is also that much nicer.

The best part is, when they make a mistake (ala ranger class act), they can change it easily. With the old dragon stuff, once in print, that was that; there was no eratta.

As is, so long as DDi exists, I will not switch to another gaming system.

 

[Scribble]

Had Dragon/Dungeon just gone into digital mode without the rest of the DDI, I'd be a lot less happy. But combined with things like the compendium, the encounter builder, the future monster builder, the character builder... The usability is phenomenal.

I miss the paper mags sometimes, but mainly for nostalgia (and yeah, reading them on the can was nice!) But I hardly ever bought an issue, because I almost never used the material inside, and didn't really have the space.

When I DID buy a issue it was because an article happened to catch my interest, so I would buy it convincing myself it would see use... Then it never did.

Dragon/Dungeon in my opinion have finally found their place. Paper magazines would be great I think for things like advice, or articles ABOUT gaming in general... But for content designed to be USED in the game? Digital all the way.

 

[MarcR]

I mentioned this on another thread but it's worth saying here as well ...

For those that miss Dragon, have you checked out Kobold Quarterly? It really feels like Dragon and the quality is excellent. If you want a good D&D magazine (print or PDF) this is the one to get in my opinion.

Seriously, do yourself a favor and at least give it a look:

Kobold Quarterly

 

[amysrevenge]

I spend 9+ hours a day reading a computer screen at work.

Off-topic, kind of (but maybe not)

I've never really understood this sentiment. I too spend my working life in front of a computer screen. This time, however, is not spent reading gaming material. It is spent coding and running simulations and writing papers and reading papers. When I get home, I plunk down in front of my own computer, and do things that I like, such as reading gaming material and playing games.

Other than the medium itself, I don't see a similarity between working on a computer and leisure time on a computer. Heck, other than a remote instead of a keyboard, watching TV could be considered just more "screen time". The difference is the content.

Tongue firmly in cheek, and hyperbole dial set to eleven, here are some other examples of "I do X at work, so I'm not going to at home."

"I spend all day at work sitting in a chair. When I get home, I only like to stand."

"I have a toilet at work. When I get home, I'm going to whiz outside."

"I drive all day long for work. I'm not going to drive to the grocery store on my own time, we'll scrounge the neighbourhood for food."

 

[Scribble]

I've never really understood this sentiment. I too spend my working life in front of a computer screen. This time, however, is not spent reading gaming material. It is spent coding and running simulations and writing papers and reading papers. When I get home, I plunk down in front of my own computer, and do things that I like, such as reading gaming material and playing games."

I wonder if it's a generational thing? I'm the same way. I mean I'm on a computer all day at work, but I still choose to spend a large portion of my free time on the computer.

I don't really equate fun computer stuff with work computer stuff. Like what you said- I read a lot at work, but I still enjoy reading fiction on my free time.

I wonder if people who "grew up" without computers as a form of entertainment, equate all computer activity with work, and those who grew up with computers as a form of entertainment don't?

Do those that dislike computers after work, only post to ENworld during work?

 

[Rokes]

I've never really understood this sentiment.

I probably should have clarified my statement a little better. It's not so much looking at a computer screen that bothers me, it's reading on it for long periods. I'm young enough to have grown up with computers. I own dual 24" monitors at home, and yes, I do enjoy looking at them. To me, playing a game or even browsing around on the web isn't the same as reading on a screen. I could never see myself reading a book on a Kindle. I own and am addicted to my iphone, and frequently read ENWorld from it, so it's not even the text size that matters (besides ctrl+plus makes everything bigger anyway). It's more that I don't enjoy RELAXING for a read in front of a computer screen. I subscribed to DDI for the first year, and didn't renew, but only because I chose not to play 4e, not because DDI was lacking. Teh interwebs are great for prepping an encounter, and pulling out all sorts of integrated crunch, I can't deny that. That's where DDI excels, and excels mightily. But when I want to sit back and read for enjoyment (as I did with Dungeon), I want dead trees.

I do acknowledge there is a noticable segment out there that does agree with not wanting to look at a computer screen at all when they get home, but that's not exactly what I meant.

 

[amysrevenge]

I do acknowledge there is a noticable segment out there that does agree with not wanting to look at a computer screen at all when they get home, but that's not exactly what I meant.

That's cool, I only quoted yours because it was closest to the end - other people upthread were saying the same thing.

And with the explanation it does indeed make more sense to me. I don't share the feeling, but I understand it.

 

[catsclaw227]

I miss the paper mags as well, and I have a lot of them still.

But, if I am honest with myself, I use the newer digital format FAR more often than the print ones. I liked reading the mags on the sofa, that was nice, but when I was runnign Savage Tide when the issues were coming out, all I wanted more than anything was a friggin digital version that I could cut/paste and use in DM Genie. I scanned and OCRed and all of that, which took forever.

For casual pleasure, dead-tree was best (IMHO), but for utility? I WAAAY prefer the digital versions.