What do you want to ask WotC?

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Will this online initiative be platform (browser, OS) independent?

Will there be an opportunity for supporting the out-of-print settings, or... oh I'll just leave it at that.

 

[DreadArchon]

Are we likely to ever get a Fey book in the style of Draconomicon and Libris Mortis?

 

[jenna3]

If there is to be pure digital content of the same vein as everything we've seen before will you support something other than the horrid PDF format, like simple HTML/XML. PDF is good for no more than one thing: printing. It's a terrible format to actually read on a PC

Actually, PDF is good for more than that. If you place all your PDF editions in one folder, you can create a searchable index of the PDF documents you have. That means you can take very PDF you have of the magazine, build the index, and from then on you can search all the PDFs at once. Don't remember which edition held the adventure you want to run? No problem. Search the index and you'll find it quick. Need that monster, but no idea which month it came out? Same-just search and you'll get it.

Many magazines are going online these days. it simply isn't cost effective to keep printing out so many copies for shipping. If you look, however, you will find that there are many good reasons to give it a try.

 

[DItheringFool]

On your Reflections on the D&D Magazines Scott Rouse, Senior Brand Manager says:

This decision is a big deal, and the decision to move these to an online format was not taken lightly or done in a vacuum

Why was the D&D community not considered in this decision?

Dragon and Dungeon are not just products. Back in the Red & Blue box days, Dragon was a crucial source for information and inspiration. Even with the internet today, these magazines are a principle source of game content.

Anything that lives in a person's imagination for ten, twenty, thirty years is more than just a product.

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Would WotC like to apologize for the sorrow and outrage their announcement and subsequent handling of the backlash has caused?

While there's no doubt that this situation was poorly handled, if WotC takes any type of "responsibility" for some of the offensive hyperbole I've seen in some peoples' posts, I'd personally lose a bit of respect for them.

 

[Darrin Drader]

While there's no doubt that this situation was poorly handled, if WotC takes any type of "responsibility" for some of the offensive hyperbole I've seen in some peoples' posts, I'd personally lose a bit of respect for them.

I've noticed that many people consider virtually every announcement that WotC makes as "poorly handled." I'd argue that it was handled as well as can be expected. They ended a business arrangement, they announced something new, and (here's the part you should actually appreciate) they gave us notice. They could have simply made the announcement a month in advance, or not announced anything and left people to wonder why Paizo wasn't getting them their magazines. That would be poorly handled. This is an announcement that was sure to make a lot of people unhappy, but I fail to see how they could have possibly handled it any better than they did.

 

[Rothe]

(1) Will I be able to download the on-line "magazine" as a pdf?

(2) Will I be able to access issues I subscribed to at anytime, or if my subsciption lapses will I not be able to see archived issues even ones I "paid" for?

(3) Will I have the option to have issues sent to me as e-mail or at least an alert to let me know a new issue is up?

(4) What other content would I get besides the on-line "magazine"?

(5) What will be the privacy policy with respect to subscriber addresses, e-mails, etc.?

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

This is an announcement that was sure to make a lot of people unhappy, but I fail to see how they could have possibly handled it any better than they did.

Personally, I'd like to have a better idea of what the "Digital Initiative" that is replacing the magazines is all about. But at the end of the day, I guess you're right, that would not have placated someone who "felt like they had been raped". :\

 

[Dr. NRG]

Was the decision to make the upcoming DI content digital (as opposed to releasing it in magazine form) influenced by the impending rate hike for magazines, particularly those with relatively limited circulation? For those who are unaware, I am referring to the adoption by the Postal Regulatory Commission of a new magazine rate scheme that will favor larger ad-driven publications over smaller subscription-driven ones.

Thanks in advance for any response.

NRG

 

[Mindseye]

My question for Wizards: In what manner or form will the digital initiative contribute to or carry on the history/legacy of Dragon and Dungeon?

How will you accomodate those readers who prefer printed materials?