Must every issue of Dragon have an overbearing theme?

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I swear this mag is getting worse by the issue. How about having a wide varitey of topics each issue? But then again they need to turn each issue into a 6.99 advert for the newest book or setting.

Are there any general purpose RPG rags left?

 

[Rugger]

I dunno...

I've kinda had a love/hate relationship with the "Monthly Marketing Themes" in Dragon.

When it's something I like, it means I'm gonna love most of the issue. On the other hand, if it's something like, oh, I don't know, SHANNARA(!), it means most of the issue will not interest me.

It does make it a heckuva a lot easier to find an article when you can't remember exactly what issue it was...

"Hey! Which issue had that cool elf Drow hunter prestige class?"

"Um, the "Elves" issue?"

"Oh, yeah...."

-Rugger
"I lurk!"

 

[Breakstone]

Flexor- it's actually a quite simple answer:

Every magazine has themes. Sports Illustrated has sports, Comuter Gaming World has computers, and Dragon has d20.

However, d20 is a huge theme to cover.

So they split it into small, monthly themes instead.

Drow here (although I think they should have covered the whole underdark instead), Fighters here, Gnomes here.

Also, it gives the editors something to base the issue around, thus making it easier to decide on what articles are needed and such.

Imagine being a magazine editor, and receiving the following report:

"This issue is another d20 issue. Put stuff in it, but don't make it too bland. Make sure it's interesting, but not too focused."

Now imagine this report:

"This issue is a Fighters issue. Include articles about weapons, fighting prestige classes, and fighting spells. But include other articles to attract a broader basis of readers."

Also, it grabs the attention of new readers. A new reader could see "d20 issue" and say "meh..." or they could see a "Dragons! Dragonslayers! Dragonslaying Prestige Classes!" and say "Woah..."

At least, that's my take on it.

 

[Desdichado]

Must we have some thread with this same theme to it every month?

 

[Breakstone]

Josua- it's actually a quite simple answer:

Every post...

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Must we have some thread with this same theme to it every month?

You could just not read the threads that seem like they will annoy you, or you could find a new BB to frequent. Those are just two ideas off the top of my head to reduce your frustration with the lack of original content on this BB.

 

[Wolfen Priest]

I have to agree with Flexor. I used to like Dragon, but now I really find that it is almost always 100% useless to me. The articles are just boring and pointless, for the most part. I mean I see a title about Dragons & what-have-you, so I pick it up, figuring it might be worth a look; but those prestige classes wouldn't apply to any of my characters, nor to my players', and I don't recall anything else particularly noteworthy in that issue.

I have not seen anything truly original and inspiring in that magazine for a few years now.

Their fiction is skip-worthy, and the feature articles seem pretty run-of-the-mill too. I think my interest in the magazine peaked when they used to have Knights of the Dinner Table. And I used to read Forum religiously, before I found forums like this one!

Dungeon, on the other hand, has improved dramatically, I love it more than before!

 

[Tsyr]

In my experience, even in the issues that aren't interesting to me (The Shannara issue, for example) there is still a multitude of things that are either idea-inspiring or usefull outright (prestige classes that often need only a name change to be universal, for example).

 

[Dark Psion]

Must we have some thread with this same theme to it every month?

Just wait till the next useless Dragon Annual comes out?

Seeing that I have every issue back to #116, I must say the theme does make it easier to find specific articles, but broadening the topic wouldn't hurt. Also, I would agree that the typical stories in their fiction section are a waste of space.

The real problem is that without any real competition, they can do what ever they want and we will buy it out of desperation.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

Just wait till the next useless Dragon Annual comes out?

Seeing that I have every issue back to #116, I must say the theme does make it easier to find specific articles, but broadening the topic wouldn't hurt. Also, I would agree that the typical stories in their fiction section are a waste of space.

The real problem is that without any real competition, they can do what ever they want and we will buy it out of desperation.

Yep. Too bad there aren't any general purpose mags being published.