Pathfinder 1E Paizo improved? probably a myth

[Belen]

If that is true, then it should have shut people up for wanting WotC to publish more D&D adventures. But that didn't happen.

It's still only one useable adventure per month and sometimes not even that. Love the new Dungeon format, but there are not nearly enough adventures out there. There may be a lot of them online in various places etc, but there is no resource to point us to the free or fee adventures.

 

[satori01]

Out here on the Left Coast, I have noticed that since the big push to get subscribers their magazines on time, I have been receiving my magazines at a regular time, very close to whenever the contents thread goes up on the board.

That was not always the case before, which could be frustrating, but all in all not terribly so. About 2 years ago, I moved from one city to another and did have a spot of trouble with my first issue of Dragon not arriving at my new address. One quick, and I mean quick (less then 10 minutes) call to CustServ, and my replacement mag arrived in 3 days.

As for content, I like Erik Mona's sensibillites, so Dragon has a big thumbs up in my book, hell it gets that for returning to us the title "Bazaar of the Bizarre", instead on the more placid "Magic Shop".

As for Dungeon, I am a picky DM, which is the reason I have never subscribed to Dungeon since its inception. I can say I will never use 9/10ths of anything released from it, more from my own personal preference then of the quality of the adventures.
With that said, I enjoy reading Dungeon, as I find even in my critiquing of the adventures, it will spark me to think of an idea, and stealing a npc stat block or 3, or map saves me invaulable time. I did however like everything in issue 120 of Dungeon, and even ran SKR's Lost Temple of Demogorgon as a short minute adventure on session when half the group could not make it, very fun.

 

[ragboy]

My subscription to Dungeon lapsed about the same time as Poly went away, and I haven't had the finances to renew. I really enjoyed the Poly mag, since I play or run games in various genres (D&D, Modern/Future, and Star Wars). Of the mini-games, there were only two that I had no use for (the rock-n-roll and the video game mini-games). I used V for Victory, Pulp Heroes and Iron Lords of Jupiter, and parts of most of the others (that 'Cannonball Run' mini-game was very entertaining).

So, I miss it, but I think Dungeon's D&D content has vastly improved lately.

In the last 6 months, I've picked up Dungeon every month, though. I love the three adventure format (low, med, high level), and though the additional articles aren't always useful, they're usually entertaining. Still can't get into Downer...

The Istivin storyline was phenomenal. Haven't had a chance to use it yet, but it looks fun... then we've had adventures with Demogorgon and Grazzt peripherally involved. Can't get any more D&D than that.

I'm using this adventure from 120 in my next session:

The Obsidian Eye
by Nicolas Logue and Brendan Victorson
The shifting desert sands have revealed an ancient obelisk from a forgotten age, an obsidian monolith whose presence is having an unsettling effect on the surrounding desert. Ancient dead arise from the dunes, dangerous jackalweres launch attacks on caravans and villages, and the mysterious Order of the Obsidian Eye has flocked to the unearthed ruin for reasons no doubt dire. What monstrous portents do these events foretell? A D&D adventure for 3rd-level characters.

I used to build all my own adventures by hand, but time has become constrained, so I just piece them together out of my stack of Dungeons, now. Actually started building a new one for my kids last night.

Soon as I get a spare C-note, I'm re-upping for 3 years. Never had a use for Dragon, other than random articles over the years (wandering damage, etc.)

 

[Waylander the Slayer]

I have always gotten my Dugeon mag. on time. As for the Playboy that i have never recieved in three months however...Damn you Erik Mona!

 

[Erik Mona]

As for the Playboy that i have never recieved in three months however...Damn you Erik Mona!

You'll have to pry your Playboys out of my cold, dead fingers.

--Erik
www.superunicorn.com/erik

 

[Ranger REG]

Sometimes you can't shut up people no matter what you do... :\

I know. Case in point, diaglo and his "I heart OD&D" tirade.

 

[Psychic Warrior]

I know. Case in point, diaglo and his "I heart OD&D" tirade.

I wouldn't. I got tired of that little schtick ages ago and ummmm..did something.

 

[lior_shapira]

...

For the original poster - you sent one email and then cancelled? Did you try their customer service number? Or even a second email? A single email and then cancellation seems a little knee-jerk to me but I wasn't in your situaton. Oh and overseas magazines cost an arm and a leg here too. I used to work in a book store and even the smallest flimiest magazines from the UK would go for $3-5. Some of the big glossy fashion mags were over $15. And there is zero profit margin on magazines for a vendor. I think our store discount off the cover price was about 15% (then add frieght charges, store shelf space etc - I wonder why magazines are even sold sometimes)

I agree it might seem a little harsh but... I sent an email and simply didn't get any response to it, three months(!) have passed since I paid them and I still haven't seen a single issue! So I got angry and sent them a cancellation letter. To be honest, I was trying to scare them a little. I wanted them to say how sorry they are that they ignored my first email, and they'll send the first two issues ASAP to me. I actually expected them to try and preserve a subscription, however they simply sent me an 'ok,cancelled' email. And you know what? if that's how hard they're willing to work to keep customers, so be it.

lior

 

[Erik Mona]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't, apparently.

For what it's worth, I'm sorry that you had trouble with your subscription. It seems clear that your original email was lost, and you have every right to be frustrated by that. Heck, it's well within your rights to flat out cancel your subscription based on not receiving a response to your original email.

But then to act mystified that Paizo's customer service people cancelled your subscription _exactly as you asked them to do_... well, I just don't know what to say about that.

Sorry it didn't work out.

--Erik

 

[lior_shapira]

Erik,
First of all I want you to know I appreciate you reading and responding, and as I stated in my original response I subscribed because you convinced me in the huge thread a few months back and I thought the new format was great.

Please don't get defensive ("damned if you do..."), that was not my meaning. I of course approve that the customer service responded swiftly to my request and refunded my money. My point (and my opinion, although I am not in this business) is that in this tough business you gotta do everything in your power to preserve your customer base. The response from customer service was very 'by the book', but I didn't get the feeling from it that I interest them at all. In 99% of the cases, if someone already paid you money, he probably wants the magazine, customer service should strive to keep me 'in the loop', for your magazine's sake, not mine. Perhaps I'm not an ideal customer, a bit impatient, but aren't most of them?

So I don't want to finish this in a bad feeling kind of way, I think I'll pick up Dragon in-stores whenever I'm abroad. I do think that for you the international market can be very important and its too bad you're dropping the ball there.

Really all the best, and I'm sorry if I offended Erik or any of the Paizo people, nothing written was personal, and I do hope things get better

lior