Way to get girls (?!): the new column for the new Dragon.

[JeffB]

OK, OK.. fine. I'll be more constructive.

As someone else noted, It's got a lot of energy. However it also has little direction. I found myself "tuning out" and having to re-read things here or there. Seems like something I would read on my GF's cousin's MySpace page.

Barring all that, it boils down to this:

How is it useful to my game as a DM or Player?

Even though I don't use Eberron, at least the Dragon Treasure Hoard article would prove useful to a game.

 

[Nellisir]

I liked it. It's not a "Sage Advice" column, it's a "Wil Save" column. It's personal and anecdotal.

 

[Mercule]

It didn't grab me.

On the other hand, neither did Wil Wheton's column and it had its fans. I don't have to like all the content.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Amazing. Someone writes an article about playing D&D and because there's something about the style not to everyone's taste, there's mockery.

It seems an inherent quality of most gamers (even more than other groups) to mock the taste of fellows in their own self-identified group. Taste is settings, taste in rules, taste in genres, taste in editions, taste in art, taste in character choices, taste in playing style.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

It seems an inherent quality of most gamers (even more than other groups) to mock the taste of fellows...

Personally, I avoid tasting fellows, gamers or no. But hey, we're a hobby big enough for all sorts...

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

I liked it...but then I named it so I'm biased (mini, unofficial contest in Astrid's Parlor).

 

[Varianor Abroad]

But I do have a right to say whether I think it's a good way to write an article.

Yes you do and I'm not here to stop you. My preferred style (which I frequently fail to observe) is "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Personally, I avoid tasting fellows, gamers or no. But hey, we're a hobby big enough for all sorts...

Heh! Well, considering the hygiene habits of some gamers, tasting them might really be something to avoid. Mocking hygiene however, fair game?

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Yes you do and I'm not here to stop you. My preferred style (which I frequently fail to observe) is "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

Don't say that too loud - they'll take your internet access away.

To me, this reminded me of certain opinion columns in newspapers - talky, using the author as a character to identify with, and intended to engage readers not through specific game-related usefulness, but by acting like a conversation one might have with a fellow gamer. Its also intended to introduce us to the author - if all of her articles are like this, it might get old, but as an introduction, I think its very well-done.

Not all articles in Dragon need to be directly related directly to the game; this kind of thing is directed in part at young women who might find this gaming stuff intriguing, but intimidating - or at least lacking in anything focused on them. I wonder how the difference in opinions breaks down by gender...

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

I wonder how the difference in opinions breaks down by gender...

Surely there'd be no difference based on gender, these days. It's all the same. Witness how they got rid of the Strength limits for females years ago -- we all can have 18+ Strength, now.