The New Polyhedron Magazine

[jaerdaph]

Come to think of it, I don't recall if Dungeon/Poly ever published a mini-game by Monte Cook. I've seen (at least) one of Chris Pramas, a few of David Noonan's, a few Andy Collins's, one of Jonathan Tweet's, a couple of Rich Redman's ... did I miss anybody?

Don't forget Lizard's brilliant Iron Lords of Jupiter!

 

[Razuur]

How about calling it the "icosahedron"?



Seriously though. since I no longer purchase Dragon or Dungeon, I would buy this product.

The minigames were simply awesome, and I was real saddened to see them go.

Razuur

 

[Ranger REG]

The mini-games that work are based on d20 (D&D), not d20 Modern. The early ones in Dungoen/Polyhedron were of this model, culminating in the awesome Omega World (followed by the very good V for Victory). The subsequent mini-games in that magazine were based on d20 Modern, and were less useful to fewer people.

Actually, I find Mecha Crusade, Pulp Heroes (d20 Modern adaptation), GeneTech, and Dark*Matter: Shades of Grey to be very good d20 Modern mini-games.

They split their own market with the same periodical trying to provide D&D adventures, d20 Modern mini-games, Star Wars support, etc.

True, but where else can you find support for non-D&D games that Wizards of the Coast also publish?

I will miss Polyhedron, but there are plenty of other publishers printing mini-games that work. FFG's Horizon line will enjoy similar success for similar reasons. They focus on mini-games that are based on d20 (D&D) rules. They work. Valent Games Mini Game Magazine and Steampower Publishing Gates of Troy should also do well.

Granted, d20 is a lot bigger than d20 Modern, courtesy of D&D Third Edition. Granted, that's where the easy money is going to go in the d20 market, despite the overall state of the industry. But it would be nice if they also support d20 Modern as well.

Unless you are sending a message to WotC: "Stop publishing d20 Modern. It ain't going to be bigger than D&D even though it has a 30-year headstart, and have gone through some bumpy roads of its own (religious protests, government thinking it leads to violence, etc.)."

 

[Dragonblade]

Obviously, it's none of my business, and I was a fan of the mini-game concept as much or more than many, but... why would you want to pattern a magazine after a failed magazine? From a purely business point of view, that seems a bad idea. Particularly since it's so hard to make a go of a magazine in the first place, particularly a game magazine.

Actually, Polyhedron didn't fail on its own. It was Dungeon that failed because Dungeon subscribers cancelled their subscriptions. And Polyhedron content wasn't substantial enough to garner enough new subscriptions to offset the angry Dungeon fans.

I think a fullbore d20 magazine that included minigames and featured articles and support from all other d20 companies, would be a rousing success. However, the support of other d20 companies is key.

You would need articles from Malhavoc featuring new AU campaign info, prestige classes, or what have you. You would need an article on how to integrate the new Lone Wolf RPG into your own campaign world, etc. How about an article discussing compatibility between Spycraft and d20 Modern? Or an article on how to use Mutants and Masterminds in a fantasy setting?

Then also include mini-games, complete with support for previously published minigames, etc. And of course make older minigames or issues available for PDF purchase on the magazine's website. That way new customers always have a chance to grab the really cool back issues they missed.

A universal d20 magazine embraced by all other d20 publishers would be very successful, IMO. Not only for the magazine itself, but also as a way for those publishers to expose new potential customers to their products.

Unfortunately, the key is in getting the magazine embraced and supported by all d20 publishers. Without that I don't think it would make it. I don't think minigames or original content can be successful on its own. You really need to be able to feature the works of established d20 publishers to draw in a big enough fan base to survive.

You also need to be able to get on the shelves of major chain bookstores in the same way that Dragon is now. Selling only off the rack at your FLGS will hurt. But the magazine could still survive through positive word of mouth and if other d20 publishers lend some free support, such as mentioning the magazine on their websites, etc.

If I only had the money and industry contacts, I'd do it myself.

 

[Ranger REG]

Unfortunately, the key is in getting the magazine embraced and supported by all d20 publishers. Without that I don't think it would make it. I don't think minigames or original content can be successful on its own. You really need to be able to feature the works of established d20 publishers to draw in a big enough fan base to survive.

That assumes the third-party d20 (including d20 Modern) publishers would want to help. What would you give them as incentive for their support?

 

[Dragonblade]

Third party publishers would get more widespread exposure to their products then they have currently. More exposure would likely translate into increased sales.

They can submit articles and content to the magazine and that content would basically serve as free advertising for their products.

If you like the cool new AU spell/feat combo and are interested in learning more about AU's magic system, well you gotta buy AU. If you think the article about playing point based d20 (M&M) fantasy is cool, well that's gonna encourage people to go out and buy M&M. If that article on NPCs in the Midnight setting piques your interest, then you are more likely to go pick up the Midnight campaign setting.

It would be in a publisher's own best interest to submit interesting articles that feature elements of their products. Basically, free multi-page advertising.

The magazine would be helped by not having to pay for articles. In turn the magazine could devote sales revenue towards overhead costs allowing a cheaper newstand price or bigger page count.

It would be mutually beneficial to both parties.

 

[Black Knight]

When the RPGA held sway over the Polyhedron mag, I loved it. It felt like those few of us that were in the RPGA were getting something very special from the subscription. I'm not saying this as a staunch advocate of the RPGA, but as an avid subscriber to Poly since its early teen issues (which I have in protective plastics and still pull out on occasions). Not until it joined with Dungeon did there ever seem to be any controversy as to whether the mag was "profitable" or not.

Gamers care little for the business side of things. All we want is quality gaming material that doesn't cause us to take out a second mortgage. While I'm not against a 3rd party publisher going after Poly's license or a Poly-like feel to a mag, I believe that nearly 80% of the d20 publishers out there couldn't make a single issue of it anywhere near as exciting as the glory days of the mag. However, large companies like AEG, Sword & Sorcery Studios, Kenzer & Co., and Fantasy Flight would perhaps be the only companies that would do justice to the gaming populace on a whole vs. smaller companies who would make the license into their company soapbox (I would include companies like Mongoose, however they already have their own mag and more than one mag at a time is too much work for any one company).

I think it would be a small price to pay for a subscription to a more involved gamer's taste, if Poly came back as it used to be (with the addition of the mini-settings). A bi-monthly 64 page b/w mag that is packed with all types of up-to-date system info, reviews, current clack, convention calendar, and the old "gamers wanted" sections would make the mag something for all players and GMs proud to be invloved with. A simple price of $2.50-$3.00 US/issue ($15-$18 US/year) isn't over-stretching the limits of a mag like this. Even if a "new Poly" paid out a flat rate of $50/3 page article and $500/25 page mini-campaign (art prices ranging from $10/quarter page to $150/cover), a single run would recoop all costs and put it into the black on each issue.

These are just my few cents opinion. Count me in for a vote of bringing Poly back as the stand alone mag of quality that it always was and should be.

Edit: I feel that a "new Poly" should leave other publishers out with their own "multi-page ads"/articles. We have already seen a slew of this kind of magazine and it always fails. I want self containment in each issue so that I can pick up an issue and use stuff right away, or set it down and not use some things. I don't want good content to be cluttered by every PDF and start-up publisher online thinking they have the next FR sitting on their desktop. I want substance, not fluff ads to make me buy something just to understand the article. The old Poly used to cater to a larger gaming audience with articles about Gamma World, Top Secret SI, Marvel Super Heroes, some GURPS and even a few other by-gone systems (I think I remember seeing an issue with some WEG's Star Wars in it). If you weren't interested in the articles, you skipped them (I remember one article that showed how to convert Gamma World mutations to AD&D and Marvel Super Heroes, absolutely fantastic cross-genre article). If other publishers want me to buy their product by way of a "new Poly" mag, then create quality products and get a review in the mag that grabs my attension, then I'll check it out.