Should Dragon publish mini settings?

[Gundark]

I usually don't buy Dragon magazine. Dungeon Magazine sure, I love these new APs. The Dragon Mags that i have been seeing are full of new stuf, new Prcs, new races, new spells, feats, etc. Most of this stuff is something I'd rather pass up on. I was thinking, what if Dragon had an article (or devoted a section of the magazine) to a setting that they came up with? The articles could run for a year (kinda like the adventure paths do). For example article one would give an overview of the setting and history. #2 could talk about organizations, power structures. Issue 3 could be about a particular geographical part of the setting, issue 4 a mini monster maual of the setting... and so on and so forth.

Even if you didn't like the setting in particular there is a wealth of info to mine for whatever setting your playing in. I know that this has been done before to an extent (I'm thinking Dark sun, Mystara)

These mini setting are detailed enough to give an idea what's going on but leave enough up to the DM to fill in.

What do you think? Something like this would get me buying Dragon. This also would be a great opportunity to present less traditional settings.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Given that Paizo has apparently been told not to eat WotC's lunch with a hardcover Age of Worms, I can't imagine they'd want to piss off the goose that lays the golden eggs by doing a setting.

That said, the idea didn't really work great for Imagine (the UK version of Dragon) back in the 1980s, and that was a really, really great little setting. (I'd love to see all the city elements republished to steal for Ptolus games.)

 

[smootrk]

They used to produce mini-games, some of which looked like fun distractions. I would not mind them delving into neglected settings to flesh them out. For instance a Spelljammer or Planescape semi-official series of articles that over the course of a year or so would essentially entail an entire books... maybe done in chapters (races, prcs, environmental, locales). Over time, the sections could be assembled into a 'book'.

 

[bento]

I kinda like the idea of more "settings treatments" and mentioned in the thread regarding WOTC creating another setting to compete with Greyhawk or FR, that they should instead come out with a book like True 20 Worlds of Adventures.

I like to see how a GM might take the rules and supplements that are out there and spin them into something unique. I know that this is one of my favorite parts of the WOTC books that I buy like Heroes of Horror. As a GM this often give me greater inspiration to add or tweak the games that I homebrew.

As for Dragon coming up with this as a new column, I'm not too sure. If we went with the idea that every month would provide a new "something" (power groups, trade, religion, etc.) I don't buy Dragon often enough to get much from it. But if Paizo were to publish a book with six or seven different settings, each with a 25 - 30 page treatment written by some of the better known developers, I'd give it a look.

 

[Crothian]

Given that Paizo has apparently been told not to eat WotC's lunch with a hardcover Age of Worms

Where did this get announced?

 

[Alzrius]

I doubt they'll be doing another setting anytime soon (the closest we'll probably see is the Perdido Street Station issue, which I think is next month). From what I understand, the last time they tried that (Dark Sun), they got burned rather badly by bad fan reaction (though to be fair, the rules section of it was bad - the author came out and distanced himself from the final version that was released) and I think Erik's been a bit paranoid of setting-issues since.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Where did this get announced?

From looking at a similar thread on Paizo's forums, it has not been announced, nor has it been confirmed or denied. So the internet fills in the rest. I doubt WotC would hate the idea of the AoW, but perhaps they don't want Greyhawk tied in. I don't know that Paizo's D&D license is that extensive.

 

[Vocenoctum]

It could be nice actually, if Dragon/Dungeon developed a "generic" setting that was seperate from Greyhawk, in which to set their generic adventures. I like Greyhawk well enough, but it carries as much attachment as FR or Eberron.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

From looking at a similar thread on Paizo's forums, it has not been announced, nor has it been confirmed or denied. So the internet fills in the rest. I doubt WotC would hate the idea of the AoW, but perhaps they don't want Greyhawk tied in. I don't know that Paizo's D&D license is that extensive.

Why wont Paizo let Dungeon use the Greyhawk stuff?

 

[MerricB]

It could be nice actually, if Dragon/Dungeon developed a "generic" setting that was seperate from Greyhawk, in which to set their generic adventures. I like Greyhawk well enough, but it carries as much attachment as FR or Eberron.

Given the staff of Paizo of the magazines are really attached to Greyhawk, I doubt we'll see this.

I don't want a new setting at all. Greyhawk is generic enough that a new setting wouldn't bring anything to the table.

Cheers!