Things I dislike about Dragon Mag.

[Outergod]

Why is it necessar to have 8-20 pages of fiction? Is this a fiction magazine? When I pick up the lastest fiction hard-cover from Waldenbooks do I expect 8-20 pages of feats and skills?

In addition, is there any reason that I need a 4+ page article on "things you can yell when performing feats?"

Fluff. Annoying. Other than that it's a great mag.

Outergod

 

[Quinn]

Dragon's had a short story section going back as far as I can remember. Sometimes I read it, but mostly I skip it as well. Typically, the stories aren't THAT long though. 8 pages is about the max. And I really don't expect every article to be to my liking.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Well I never read the fiction so I don't care if it is in there or not.

But as a very weak DM I really like fluff like what to yell because it helps me think of things I might not on my own.

While making notes for a night's game if I remember something like that it can help expand my game and give it some color that I might otherwise not add.

 

[Fenes 2]

I am not sure about the story, but I really really like fluff articles, particularly if they give pointers on how to add details and panache to a game. Appropriate one-liners, quips and similar things fall into that category.

I don't need new rules very often, much of that can be solved with a d20 and a DC, but flavor, fluff, description, fleshed NCPs with motivations, quirks etc.

 

[haiiro]

In addition, is there any reason that I need a 4+ page article on "things you can yell when performing feats?"

Every article in a particular issue of Dragon won't appeal to every reader (which is why I prefer the loosely-themed or non-themed issues to the tightly-themed ones). I don't think it's reasonable to expect every article to appeal to your tastes, and the bang:buck ratio Dragon provides is generally quite good, IMO.

Edit: removed the quote regarding the fiction issue (left in by mistake originally).

 

[Katerek]

Like some others I find the fiction annoying, but hey I just don't read it.

I also prefer the non-themed issues, because everynow and then there are issues with themes that don't mean anything to me.

I think the 'fluff' articles are great. One of my favorites was the one that had the "Krusk's Creek" picture. I still chuckle when I think of that.

 

[mkarol]

I am one of those wierd ones that _like_ the fiction. Why? Because it is like being in the game. It generates ideas, not for just one combat or encounter, or even one adventure; but for an entire campaighn. To me the RP experience (skills, feats, combat, charachter, motivation...) are all about telling a story, living through a story. I find it helpful therefore to read short little stories to help me put all the pieces together.

 

[Breakdaddy]

I dont mind being fluffed, but the fiction is something I take a pass on every time, its just plain useless to my game, IMHO.

 

[WayneLigon]

I generally like the fiction, especially when it's by an author that I like (the Fool Wolf stories, for instance). Reading fantasy fiction can only add to your game.

And I admit I have this fantasy that every year a few new gamers pick up Dragon and are thunderstruck with the realization that people write fantasy, that there is fantasy fiction out there. I like to beleive that that's true; I have run into 2 gamers who were utterly surprised that there was a whole raft of fantasy fiction out there. I'm still surprised by the number of gamers I run into these days (*old geezer alert*) that do not read regularly.

That is one thing I can remember from The Old Days. If you ran into a gamer, he would also be a fantasy fiction fan.

If the fiction section can encourage even one person to read more, then that section has more than done it's job and earned it's keep.

 

[eris404]

I generally like the fiction, especially when it's by an author that I like (the Fool Wolf stories, for instance). Reading fantasy fiction can only add to your game.

I certainly don't think fiction is a waste of space in the magazine. As an aspiring fantasy author myself, one of my dreams is to get printed in Dragon. It's a great outlet for writers.

I like to read fantasy fiction, too, but I have to admit that I usually don't like the fantasy authors that get printed in Dragon, so I'll skip that section most months. The exception this time was the George R.R. Martin excerpt - big fan. I think some may have taken exception to the fiction this time because it was long, a whole chapter of his new book. But otherwise, I agree with you. I've gotten so many great ideas from books - right now I'm reading Newton's Cannon which is just full of alchemical goodness.

And I admit I have this fantasy that every year a few new gamers pick up Dragon and are thunderstruck with the realization that people write fantasy, that there is fantasy fiction out there. I like to beleive that that's true; I have run into 2 gamers who were utterly surprised that there was a whole raft of fantasy fiction out there. I'm still surprised by the number of gamers I run into these days (*old geezer alert*) that do not read regularly.

Really? I'm quite surprised by that, although I guess the two don't necessarily go hand in hand. I'm especially surprised considering the number of D&D-based novels WotC produces.