Is Dragon Magazine even *Relevant* anymore?

[Belen]

You must be a DM. I'm a DM too. It should come as no surprise that I find Dungeon to be more useful than Dragon as well. Unless you like taking all the extra crunch that appears in Dragon and applying it to your NPCs, its no wonder Dragon doesn't appeal to you very much. There's nothing wrong with that.

Dragon has become a player oriented magazine. Its a one stop shopping place for little rules widgets that will help their characters. In addition to this, it is a good source of inspiration for people who want ideas for some new adventures or campaigns. The group might all get together, read an article on the Beowulf legends as they apply to D&D, decide that it sounds like a really cool campaign idea, and them put the material to use.

What use is a player magazine if the GM does not allow the players to use it?

I refuse to allow Dragon material in my game. It is largely unplaytested and I have never seen it do anything but cause trouble.

 

[DragonSword]

I just wanted to say - please keep on discussing this! I edit Ethos magazine, an online RPG ezine, and something we think about loads is player-oriented articles vs. GM-oriented articles. This thread is great market research! Thanks, guys!

 

[Belen]

Part of it also means realizing that a lot of the readers have _not_ been around that long. Repeating topics covered in earlier issues isn't so good when it's been done in recent memory, but just because Katherine Kerr wrote an excellent article about an army traveling on its stomach in the 1980s doesn't immediately take articles about army maintenance off the editorial agenda forevermore.

Eric: Have you guys ever thought of releasing some of the older articles online? I would certainly pay for an online best of PDF subscription to Dragon. Some of us just do not have some of these older articles and it would be cool to have access to them.

Heck, I would definitely pay for an online subscription to the best of Dragon and Dungeon. It could be a good way to generate revenue.

And, as an editor for another publication, it makes good sense to have an online archive. As paper costs continue to increase, then it may become a must-have feature in the future.

And you guys do not have an online submission and review system like my publication. You guys should really look into a system like Editorial Manager to help manage submissions online. The automation of an online submission and review system has saved us thousands of dollars. If you ever want more specifics, then let me know.

Dave

 

[spectre72]

The majority of people in general in the US aren't online.

According to the last numbers I saw from 2003 over 59% of Americans are online, and those statistics mimic the people I know fairly well.

Even my parents who hate computers have bought one and get e-mail and surf the net.

What do you mean by the majority of people in the US are not online, and do you have a source for your statement?

Not trying to be inflamatory but it always makes me wonder as an IS professional where people get this type of impression of internet use in the US.

Perhaps only a small percentage are on Broadband but that is changing and even in rural Vermont I have a cable modem.

I will agree though that many gamers, even those who are online, do not use online resources for their gaming. Out of our group of close to 15 players only one or two others use the internet to get info and all of them are online.

 

[francisca]

According to the last numbers I saw from 2003 over 59% of Americans are online, and those statistics mimic the people I know fairly well.

Got a source for that?

 

[Virel]

After the mid 1980's Dragon became a worthless rag and it has stayed a worthless rag.

Dungeon on the other hand is outstanding.

 

[DaveMage]

Got a source for that?

I shall use my Google Foo (though Nov. 2004 stats are the latest I could find - look at the numbers in RED on the chart):

http://www.internetworldstats.com/america.htm#us

 

[spectre72]

Got a source for that?

From the 2001 Census it is shown as 50%

http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/computer/ppl-175/tab01A.pdf

From Pegasus Research International it is shown as 59% for 2003

http://www.pegasusresearch.net/metrics/growthus.htm

I am sure I could find more sources and since the census was showing 50% 2 years earlier I think the numbers are probably reasonable.

IMHO the introduction of the $500 PC has had a huge impact on the home PC market in the last couple of years.

I also have my professional experience which shows a large number of people I know going online in the last couple of years.

Does that help?

 

[francisca]

Does that help?

Sure does! Thanks! You too, Dave.

 

[spectre72]

I shall use my Google Foo (though Nov. 2004 stats are the latest I could find - look at the numbers in RED on the chart):

http://www.internetworldstats.com/america.htm#us

Guess I need to learn to type faster