Just got my Dragon Compendium - Pretty!

[Erik Mona]

Now Erik, don't skew the numbers . List *all* the articles so we can get sense of percentage of the total.

Ok.

A simple list of all the issues we pulled stuff from wouldn't make for a fair comparison. All of the stuff pulled from pre-3rd edition issues was at least one page in length, whereas some third edition issues contributed as little as a single feat to the book.

A better analysis would be to compare total number of pages, which I have just done.

Including the cover galleries, introduction, table of contents, ads, etc., there are 16 pages of the book that aren't really classifiable as belonging to one edition or the other. That means there's effectively 240 pages of gamable content (including art) in the book.

93 of those pages cover material adapted from earlier editions.

That means roughly 39% of the material in the book predates third edition. 61% of the contents appeared in an issue within the last five years.

I can understand arguing for a larger percentage of older material, but more than a third of the book is 5 years old or older, which is a considerable amount considering that said material had to be revised to the new rules and required new (expensive) art. Assuming this book is successful (which it appears it will be), running a higher percentage of older stuff might not be such a financial risk. Remember, before this book came out we didn't know whether people would want it at all.

Thankfully, it appears they do want it, and my hope is that we'll be able to produce more volumes that will cover a wide spectrum of the magazine's era in even greater detail.

--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon & Dungeon

 

[Erik Mona]

How about a Dungeon version, compiling and updating classic adventures from over the years?

I think something like this is quite likely, assuming WotC is on board, of course.

--Erik

 

[James Heard]

I might pass on the Dragon book, but I'd weep with joy and slaughter my pocketbook for a Dungeon version. Every truly great adventure that I've used from a published source besides the Desert of Desolation series and Ravenloft has come from Dungeon, and I'd love to give some new players a taste of say...old school Ted Zuvich adventures or an entire book of Willie Walsh, updated for 3E.

 

[fafhrd]

I think something like this is quite likely, assuming WotC is on board, of course.

--Erik

Excellent news. That would rank as the most useful supplement I can imagine. EnWorld often fields discussions about getting new blood into the hobby. Bringing back the classics in a real and organized manner seems like it would be a huge boon to non-grognards.

 

[Greylock]

Grrrr...

Nuts to you all. None of my local shops expect to get the book until the end of next week at best. I am looking forward to this, and hopefully the many that follow.

 

[Knightfall]

I think something like this is quite likely, assuming WotC is on board, of course.

--Erik

Yay!!!! {Does happy dance!}

A DUNGEON Compendium would be one of my MUST HAVE's every year, along with the DRAGON Compendium.

So, the question becomes, Erik, how many adventures do you foresee fitting into a DUNGEON Compendium? Most older adventures wouldn't take up as much space, as 3.0/3.5 adventures, IMO. Of course, that depends on which adventures get selected.

I would say, stick with the more generic adventures for the first DUNGEON Compendium. Too much Forgotten Realms, Eberron, or even Greyhawk might skew some GMs' view on such a book. Of course, picking adventures that could easily be combined into a "classic" adventure path would be a good idea.

I have another idea for Paizo/WotC.

A D20 MODERN Compendium that updates some of the modern & future content that has appeared in DRAGON Magazine, DUNGEON Magazine, Polyhedron, Ares, and the like. Rules for re-creating such classics as Star Frontiers, Boot Hill, Top Secret, etc. I'm not talking full campaign settings, just select articles that allow D20 Modern GMs/players to add "classic" game concepts into thier D20 Modern campaigns.

Opinions?

KF72

 

[Stone Dog]

I've got to ask... what the hell does a Jester do?

 

[Morgenstern]

Ok.

Please don't be cross. The smiley was suposed to be indicating some good-natured ribbing. I'm still absorbing the book, but I'm already entirely satisfied with my purchase.

A simple list of all the issues we pulled stuff from wouldn't make for a fair comparison. All of the stuff pulled from pre-3rd edition issues was at least one page in length, whereas some third edition issues contributed as little as a single feat to the book.

A better analysis would be to compare total number of pages, which I have just done.

Excellent. I aprove of your methodology .

Including the cover galleries, introduction, table of contents, ads, etc., there are 16 pages of the book that aren't really classifiable as belonging to one edition or the other. That means there's effectively 240 pages of gamable content (including art) in the book.

93 of those pages cover material adapted from earlier editions.

That means roughly 39% of the material in the book predates third edition. 61% of the contents appeared in an issue within the last five years.

Its a start .

I can understand arguing for a larger percentage of older material, but more than a third of the book is 5 years old or older, which is a considerable amount considering that said material had to be revised to the new rules and required new (expensive) art. Assuming this book is successful (which it appears it will be), running a higher percentage of older stuff might not be such a financial risk. Remember, before this book came out we didn't know whether people would want it at all.

Thankfully, it appears they do want it, and my hope is that we'll be able to produce more volumes that will cover a wide spectrum of the magazine's era in even greater detail.

Woohoo!

(and thanks for running the numbers )

 

[BOZ]

great news!

i am going to do my christmas shopping on thursday, and i'll be checking out Games Plus, Gamers Paradise, and Borders in that order until i see it.

 

[RichGreen]

Hi Erik,

Any idea when the Dragon Compendium will arrive in the UK?

A DUNGEON Compendium would be brilliant!

Cheers


Richard