Must every issue of Dragon have an overbearing theme?

[Codragon]

good points

I agree. Dragon has become a bit too theme-heavy. I wouldn't mind if 1/3 of the issue was devoted to a particular theme but now it seems to go upward of 50%. This gets especially annoying when the issue seems like a sales pitch for a sourcebook that I don't want (eg. Dieties and Demigods). The issues devoted to a core rulebook theme (Halflings, Dragons, etc.) are better.

That said, I like Dragon magazine and have had a subscription since 3E came out. I like the goodies - maps, CDs, counters. I always make an effort to make the most out of it. For example, I don't play in the Greyhawk setting, but I enjoy the Living GH journals quite a lot. The annuals are great. I didn't mind the Shannara issue, I don't know what about it turns people off. (and I've never read any of Brooks' books)

In conclusion, I don't like the heavily themed issues, esp. recently. But I don't throw out the issue or skip an article just because it's about a setting/novel I don't like. I read through it and pick out what I can use.

 

[Ghostwind]

Other options than Dragon

Personally, I like the theme idea of Dragon in that it lets me pick and choose which issues to buy or turn down. On a separate note, those individuals looking for something different than Dragon, need only to look to other sources. Gaming Frontiers offers a diverse product but with a steeper price tag. There are several online magazines available for free download that offer fan-created articles that are usually pretty good. Here at EN World, there is Asgard magazine, AtFantasy produces the Sword's Edge, and my own site offers d20Zine!, all of which are viable alternatives. So rather than being overly critical of how Dragon is put together, why not seek out other sources of information that suit your tastes and style?

 

[evileeyore]

Hmmm, seems I am the only one who liked the Shannara Issue...

originally by Wolfen Priest
I do think it's safe to say at this point you (at Dragon) should throw out the fiction section for something more useful to gamers. Everyone I've ever heard on this subject agrees with me on this. It's a waste of space; If I want fiction, I'll read a book.

Not to pick on ya Wolfen, but now you can't say that anymore. I like the fiction. It sometimes gives me ideas and can be that quick little stoy to fill 5-10 minutes of free time.

 

[Desdichado]

Not the only one, I liked the Shannara issue: loads of stuff to steal from there, even though I've only ever read one (wait: two if you count Star Wars) Terry Brooks book ever.

I agree, though, concepts that aren't core are more likely to get complaints, though, as well as the theme becoming almost the only meaningful content in the magazine. Epic went a bit too far, but I don't have a problem with themed magazines.

 

[Psion]

Yeah, but Psion, all of the Dragons since 3e came out have had themes.

Reread my post. I never complained about themes per se, but the depth to which the magazine feels it has to carry a theme.

For example, take a look back at the halfling issue... a few halfling articles, a few elemental articles, and some articles that had to do with neither.

Now take a look at the Shanarra issue or the Epic issue... the preponderance of the "non regular" articles are devoted to the theme. That is a problem, and promises to reduce the utility of the magazine.

 

[Zaukrie]

Overall, I like theme issues. However, the ELH issue was "overbearing". It seemed to me to take up too much space.

I know that the annual is the time you now use for articles about other companies products, but I bet if you started letting other companies write an article every once in a while about their upcoming products, you'd get some real mileage. I for one would love a monthly or so article on the Scarred Lands. Maybe like the ones Ed Greenwood writes on the Realms. Maybe other companies could write articles about say, Africa, write before their Nyambe product came out.

I think you're missing a real chance to advertise for the other companies, who make you money every time they sell something.

Other than the Gregory Keyes fiction, I hardly ever read it. Maybe instead you could publish articles on that are stories of how different groups went through different dungeons. I've read some entertaining story hours.

I agree with one writer who suggested that you might want to consider theme after a book has been out a while.

Overall, Dragon is still entertaining. However, I'd say you've lost some momentum lately. That should be expected given that we are now a couple of years post 3E launch, but something is missing that I can't fully describe.

 

[Wolfen Priest]

I like the fiction. It sometimes gives me ideas and can be that quick little stoy to fill 5-10 minutes of free time.

That's fine, and I can appreciate your point of view. However, would you honestly be upset if they replaced the fiction section with something "crunchier?"

 

[King_Stannis]

Now take a look at the Shanarra issue or the Epic issue... the preponderance of the "non regular" articles are devoted to the theme. That is a problem, and promises to reduce the utility of the magazine.

this issue was certainly a low point for dragon. almost no utility for the average player and dm. come on, there wasn't enough stuff in there to run a full shanarra campaign anyway, so i get the feeling that other than satisfying a few dm's who did a "one-shot", almost no one got any use from that issue.

i was a dragon subscriber, but got fed up with how deep the themes went as well. i ended up changing my subscription to dungeon, and it was the best move i made. especially with the polyhedron stuff in there.

 

[Isawa Sideshow]

What makes it overbearing is when it is obvious that an entire issue of the magazine has been turned into an advertising rag for the next WOTC product due to come out (cough cough Stronghold Builders, Epic Level).

I didnt get a subscription to get is used as an advertising whip that beats me with information that is 90% useless if I dont buy WOTC's latest suppliment POS.

See, I don't have a problem with this. The way I see it, the Dragon magazine coverage gives me a taste of what the supplements are like, so I can decide what I want and what I don't. For example, the Stronghold issue gave me some insight into the Stronghold Builder's Guide. Based on that, I decided that it wasn't something I was interested in. There's enough other items in the magazine, though, that I can use, so I don't even consider those issues a waste of money.

When the theme covers something I do like, it's an extra added bonus, like an ultra-web-enhancement. The Oriental Adventures issue was one of these. The articles on the history of the Ninja, the Ninja PrCs, the Martial Arts Move name generator, and the class combos all caught my eye, and I plan on using them to one extent or another. Even the article on wuxia films was good - it gave me some new movies to look for.

I can find something in every issue that I can use (such as the Epic Level artifacts... got some ideas there, and I am so not interested in ELH-level play), and something in every issue that informs and entertains me. That's enough to keep me as a regular reader... and I'm paying at the newsstand, so I pay even more than you do.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

A theme is overbearing when there is a complete lack of non-theme content. And the Silcon Sorcery & Chainmail stuff doesn't count. They Greyhawk stuff is hit and miss, some is great some is blah. The grand old days of Dragon where you could find a wide varitey of topics were so much better.