OGL Magazine?

[kroh]

A magazine like this would be great but MODERNIZED was a clear example of something that you want to offer folks for free. Plenty of people were ready to download it but few were ready to help put it out.

Drove Roudi crazy half the time... although when he shot out the magazine... it was always chock full of gaming goodness.

If a magazine like this were produced it would have to be put out by a crew with some sort of tie that really enjoyed doing this stuff. If you look at the podcast guys (Accidental Survivors is a personal fave) they show a love for what they do and most of them are friends from "back in the day."

If some one were to have a temporary lapse of sanity and try something like this... count me in.

Regards,
Walt

 

[Morrus]

I bought every issue of the ENWorld Gamer Magazine I ever saw in the Memphis metro area. At that time, Memphis had four [count 'em! Four!] stores that sold RPGs and RPG magazines. And I still have that magazine. Yep. Only ever found one issue - #2 January 2005. Bought every copy I saw, and gave them to my friends, many of whom posted here at the time, such as alsih2o.

Yep. Fond memories. I really felt like I was contributing something to the greater good of the world of RPGs. Rather saddened when I found that there was never going to be another chance to contribute in such a way again.

It wasn't our choice to stop publishing it; we tried first with Goodman Games, who stopped the mag after a few issues, and then again with Mongoose Publishing, who did the same. Simply put: people weren't buying it; distributors weren't ordering it. We were incredibly disappointed both times. But there was nothing we could do.

 

[tadk]

I bought the one issue of the Enworld Mag I found.
I did find a few copies of KQ4 in Books a Million last weekend.
So it is possible.

 

[tadk]

Ok

So if someone were to take on this challenge, what would be what you all would want to have for focus.

For already established OGL/d20 Settings systems such as M&M, Kalimar, Etherscope, Cthulhutech, etc.

More generic focus, without any reference to current / past products

Something else

 

[Alzrius]

I think the problem with a magazine that tries to support all forms of OGL games is that it's too broad a spectrum. Even if limited strictly to d20 variants, I think a mag that tries to cover all of those will stretch itself too thin, and end up pleasing no one. Too many people play 3.5 who don't play M&M, or play True20 but not C&C, or play Conan but not d20 Modern, etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see such a magazine exist, and I'd do my best to support it (I contributed articles to both iterations of the EN World magazine, and to MODERNIZED), but I think history has shown us that it's just not viable (sadly).

As a note, I really wish MODERNIZED were still available for download somewhere. It seems to have disappeared off the face of the internet.

 

[rgard]

Maybe in a fanzine format? Fanzine may not be the right term...I'm thinking of a booklet type production with 8.5"x11" pages folded in half and stapled in the middle. Same way the original D&D booklets were done.

Black and white and probably not too expensive for a Kinkos run.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Greylock]

Everyone is gets so focused on the "e-zine" format, they ignore what I figure is probably the majority of gamers, who prefer their magazines in paper format.

No science or data behind that. Just my suspicion.

 

[Knightfall]

I think the problem with a magazine that tries to support all forms of OGL games is that it's too broad a spectrum. Even if limited strictly to d20 variants, I think a mag that tries to cover all of those will stretch itself too thin, and end up pleasing no one. Too many people play 3.5 who don't play M&M, or play True20 but not C&C, or play Conan but not d20 Modern, etc.

That would be the challenge; it would be a fun challenge to take on. I don't think I could do it myself, but I would be willing to lend my support in some fashion. (Writing, editing, or something.) I can't say for certain as I have some personal issues that might interfere with my ability to participate in such a venture full-time.

And, personally, I don't think such an OGL Magazine should try to support all forms of OGL games. There needs to be some limits placed on it. It should definitely support the core 3.5 system and d20 modern. I also think the magazine should support Pathfinder and True20.

Beyond that, I'm not sure.

 

[joela]

FREE, fan-based

Okay, then the question becomes would a FREE, fan-based OGL (PDF) Magazine be a viable alternative?

Nope. The Fudge rpg tried it with Fudge Factor. Rapidly petered out as fans stopped contributing.

 

[Wicht]

Everyone is gets so focused on the "e-zine" format, they ignore what I figure is probably the majority of gamers, who prefer their magazines in paper format.

No science or data behind that. Just my suspicion.

I have heard from too many magazine publishers that the paper magazine format is normally a losing proposition to not believe that it is true. The cost of art, editing, and publishing demand a certain level of sales in order to just break even and it is very hard for a publisher to obtain that many sales.