Creamsteak
Explorer
Sholari said:
GENIOUS!!!
Why _DON'T_ You Buy Dragon Magazine?
- Thread starter Erik Mona
- Start date
GENIOUS!!!
Jhamin
First Post
I buy books because they expand the rules. They cost $30 a pop. I can use them for years, but they don't tell me where to take my campaign. They tell me what the main bad guy's BAB is.
I buy gaming periodicals because they give me ideas about what to *do* in next weeks game. A periodical by it's nature isn't as permanent as a rulebook, but at $7 it costs about 1/4 as much. If it's going to be worth it to me, each and every issue needs have 2-3 things in it that I can use in my game. If it doesn't then it isn't worth the expense. If everything is tied to a setting, I probably can't use it. If everything is all about a book I am probably going to get anyway, why am I not just buying the book?
I actively collect old issues of Dungeon because no matter how out dated the mechanics may be, the stories, settings, and characters are inspirational. I can read a Dungeon issue from 10 years ago and come away with an idea for next weeks game.
I think what it really comes down to is a lack of creativity. I want a magazine filled with articles that make me think about what I am doing in my game, or that inspires ideas that I can use in my game next week.
Dragon isn't doing that for me.
Lots of articles about translating video game equipment into D&D, lots of articles about how multiclassing into barbarian gets you lots of hit points. This stuff I can do on my own.
One prestige class dripping in background, atmosphere, or style is worth it's weight in gold. 15 Prestige classes that are all ways to give clerics a special god-related power at 7th level do nothing for me at all.
One new feat that exemplifies a new and creative way to fight, cast, or whatever, along with a discussion of what it says about a character that takes it is beautyfull. 10 new feats that all avoid an attack of oppertunity are a waste of space.
I want a magazine filled with articles that give me a great idea about what to do with my charcter, plot, or setting in next weeks game.
I buy gaming periodicals because they give me ideas about what to *do* in next weeks game. A periodical by it's nature isn't as permanent as a rulebook, but at $7 it costs about 1/4 as much. If it's going to be worth it to me, each and every issue needs have 2-3 things in it that I can use in my game. If it doesn't then it isn't worth the expense. If everything is tied to a setting, I probably can't use it. If everything is all about a book I am probably going to get anyway, why am I not just buying the book?
I actively collect old issues of Dungeon because no matter how out dated the mechanics may be, the stories, settings, and characters are inspirational. I can read a Dungeon issue from 10 years ago and come away with an idea for next weeks game.
I think what it really comes down to is a lack of creativity. I want a magazine filled with articles that make me think about what I am doing in my game, or that inspires ideas that I can use in my game next week.
Dragon isn't doing that for me.
Lots of articles about translating video game equipment into D&D, lots of articles about how multiclassing into barbarian gets you lots of hit points. This stuff I can do on my own.
One prestige class dripping in background, atmosphere, or style is worth it's weight in gold. 15 Prestige classes that are all ways to give clerics a special god-related power at 7th level do nothing for me at all.
One new feat that exemplifies a new and creative way to fight, cast, or whatever, along with a discussion of what it says about a character that takes it is beautyfull. 10 new feats that all avoid an attack of oppertunity are a waste of space.
I want a magazine filled with articles that give me a great idea about what to do with my charcter, plot, or setting in next weeks game.
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Acid_crash
First Post
Me again. This time telling you what it would take to get me back to purchasing the magazine.
1) How to articles... something that teaches and explains to players and DM's to do different things. The old Dungeoncraft articles of past issues is the best example I can think of for this.
2) Supplemental support for other campaign settings... toss in a few articles for Midnight, Conan, Dawnforge, Scarred Lands, etc. Show how information in that article can then be utilized (via sidebars) in established WotC settings.
3) No Fiction. Repeat. No Fiction.
4) Bring back the good comics. I haven't laughed at a comic in Dragon since the new changeover.
5) Keep Class Acts... the only current info that I can actually see myself using.
1) How to articles... something that teaches and explains to players and DM's to do different things. The old Dungeoncraft articles of past issues is the best example I can think of for this.
2) Supplemental support for other campaign settings... toss in a few articles for Midnight, Conan, Dawnforge, Scarred Lands, etc. Show how information in that article can then be utilized (via sidebars) in established WotC settings.
3) No Fiction. Repeat. No Fiction.
4) Bring back the good comics. I haven't laughed at a comic in Dragon since the new changeover.
5) Keep Class Acts... the only current info that I can actually see myself using.
Although I have every Dragon issue since 274, that's not actually saying I enjoy every issue. The actual bits of Dragon that I use are pretty low. 
I want to strongly applaud the inclusion of the recent "Coup de Grace" columns. I find any glimpses behind the curtain to be fascinating - another reason I loved Gary's "On a Soapbox" column (a pity he's too busy and has basically run out of stories...)
If possible, I'd like this to be strengthened. Since 3.5e, Wizards have strengthened D&D design and development: seeing the process they go through would be invaluable. Instead of just displaying the finished product ("here are your new feats!"), presenting the thoughts as to why the feats are good, balanced and interesting would be great.
Cheers!
I want to strongly applaud the inclusion of the recent "Coup de Grace" columns. I find any glimpses behind the curtain to be fascinating - another reason I loved Gary's "On a Soapbox" column (a pity he's too busy and has basically run out of stories...)
If possible, I'd like this to be strengthened. Since 3.5e, Wizards have strengthened D&D design and development: seeing the process they go through would be invaluable. Instead of just displaying the finished product ("here are your new feats!"), presenting the thoughts as to why the feats are good, balanced and interesting would be great.
Cheers!
1. Why don't you buy the magazine?
2. What sort of changes would make you more likely to give it another look?
Of the few issues that I've purchased, I've purchased them based on interesting article titles or themes I saw on the cover. When I got home and read through them, I was either disappointed or surprised. There would be articles shown on the cover that would seem to be quick 10 minute write-ups after reading them or there would be articles not on the cover that I would have bought if they were sold by themselves. Unless I read through the magazine in the store, I couldn't be sure if I was buying a winner or not. If the magazine had some special "bonus"(map, tiles, cards(Deck of Many Things), etc.) with it, then I usually bought it just because of that.
2. What sort of changes would make you more likely to give it another look?
1. A PDF subscription version so I can assemble all the tidbits and articles that I plan to use into a form that is convenient for me to use. I have a scanner and can do that now, but it's too time consuming to scan it in, OCR it, fix the OCR errors, format it, and then put it back together the way I like it.
2. I don't know what the lead time is on preparing an issue, but with a whole community of D&D RPGers it seems there could be more polls or threads like this asking what they want to see in the upcoming issues. Gather a few ideas with abstracts and let the subscribers decide.
3. Provide more "bonuses" like maps, tiles, cards, dice, minatures, etc. Also, bonus downloads available on the web.
4. Character class progressions - I see this as a several issue series(per class) where a base class is taken and progressed up through the various prestige classes. This wouldn't just be some tables slapped together showing stats and equipment. It would be characters having backgrounds and motivations and enough character(pun intended) to make them believable. This can give a player a look at how certain class combinations can work out and possibly give them good ideas for their own characters. For the DM it provides readily available NPCs.
5. Monster class progressions - This is bascially the same as the character class progressions, except it's for those monsters that can gain class levels. It'd be more for the DM, but it could strike some fear into some players when they've read the article and the DM says their 15th level 5 PC party is being charged by 2 orcs who they've just finished watching take down a large dragon.
6. An article series on using spells creatively.
7. An article series on using magic items creatively.
8. An article series on using the different knowledge and craft skills.
9. An article series on Guilds.
I guess all-in-all if Dragon is to be more for players and Dungeon to be more for DMs, then give to the players in Dragon what the DM gets in Dungeon. The DM gets material for campaign development, so give the characters options for character development. Take what's out there already and put it into use for players to see how useful it can be.
2. I don't know what the lead time is on preparing an issue, but with a whole community of D&D RPGers it seems there could be more polls or threads like this asking what they want to see in the upcoming issues. Gather a few ideas with abstracts and let the subscribers decide.
3. Provide more "bonuses" like maps, tiles, cards, dice, minatures, etc. Also, bonus downloads available on the web.
4. Character class progressions - I see this as a several issue series(per class) where a base class is taken and progressed up through the various prestige classes. This wouldn't just be some tables slapped together showing stats and equipment. It would be characters having backgrounds and motivations and enough character(pun intended) to make them believable. This can give a player a look at how certain class combinations can work out and possibly give them good ideas for their own characters. For the DM it provides readily available NPCs.
5. Monster class progressions - This is bascially the same as the character class progressions, except it's for those monsters that can gain class levels. It'd be more for the DM, but it could strike some fear into some players when they've read the article and the DM says their 15th level 5 PC party is being charged by 2 orcs who they've just finished watching take down a large dragon.
6. An article series on using spells creatively.
7. An article series on using magic items creatively.
8. An article series on using the different knowledge and craft skills.
9. An article series on Guilds.
I guess all-in-all if Dragon is to be more for players and Dungeon to be more for DMs, then give to the players in Dragon what the DM gets in Dungeon. The DM gets material for campaign development, so give the characters options for character development. Take what's out there already and put it into use for players to see how useful it can be.
Whisper72
Explorer
Hmmm... after a long hiatus, I actually DID get a subscription again, to both dungeon AND dragon. I ordered mine on 9-9 of this year. It is now december, and I have yet to receive my first copy.... if this keeps up, this will definately be a very good reason to never buy again....
talinthas
First Post
the super easy answer? I play Dragonlance. Your crunch does nothing for me.
The easy answer? Too much crunch, not enough fluff.
The expanded answer? My favorite part of Dragon was the ecology articles and the bazaar of the bizzare type things. Stats and stuff are boring- the real joy of those articles was the flavor. I could run entire campaigns based on small hooks planted through those articles. Plus, reading their descriptions and such gave me ideas on items of my own that fit Dragonlance better and could borrow cool flavor. It was more like reading a Volo's Guide, and less like reading an accounting text book the way Dragon is now.
And let me be the voice of dissent. I enjoy the short stories, as long as they are decently spread out.
But really, over the past 8 or so issues (barring 315, which was outstanding), i'd briefly scan through the book, then flip to the comics before putting it away. After a while, the only comic worth reading was Nodwick, and he posts those online anyway, along with Dork Tower.
I realise that y'all can't get KoDT back, but can you at least try to make with the funny? Getting Aaron Williams to do things like Dragons of Spring Cleaning was fantastic. More of that is great =) And dude, Order of the Stick is made for your fanbase. Get it.
Basically, i got dragon not because it was of any use to me in my game, but because it was a great read, and i could pull stuff from that. Now, it's just charts and stats, and boring as chalk dust. fix that, and i'll start buying again.
The easy answer? Too much crunch, not enough fluff.
The expanded answer? My favorite part of Dragon was the ecology articles and the bazaar of the bizzare type things. Stats and stuff are boring- the real joy of those articles was the flavor. I could run entire campaigns based on small hooks planted through those articles. Plus, reading their descriptions and such gave me ideas on items of my own that fit Dragonlance better and could borrow cool flavor. It was more like reading a Volo's Guide, and less like reading an accounting text book the way Dragon is now.
And let me be the voice of dissent. I enjoy the short stories, as long as they are decently spread out.
But really, over the past 8 or so issues (barring 315, which was outstanding), i'd briefly scan through the book, then flip to the comics before putting it away. After a while, the only comic worth reading was Nodwick, and he posts those online anyway, along with Dork Tower.
I realise that y'all can't get KoDT back, but can you at least try to make with the funny? Getting Aaron Williams to do things like Dragons of Spring Cleaning was fantastic. More of that is great =) And dude, Order of the Stick is made for your fanbase. Get it.
Basically, i got dragon not because it was of any use to me in my game, but because it was a great read, and i could pull stuff from that. Now, it's just charts and stats, and boring as chalk dust. fix that, and i'll start buying again.
>>>
Hmmm... after a long hiatus, I actually DID get a subscription again, to both dungeon AND dragon. I ordered mine on 9-9 of this year. It is now december, and I have yet to receive my first copy.... if this keeps up, this will definately be a very good reason to never buy again....
>>>
Yikes. No kidding. Have you contacted customer service?
--Erik
Hmmm... after a long hiatus, I actually DID get a subscription again, to both dungeon AND dragon. I ordered mine on 9-9 of this year. It is now december, and I have yet to receive my first copy.... if this keeps up, this will definately be a very good reason to never buy again....
>>>
Yikes. No kidding. Have you contacted customer service?
--Erik
Creamsteak
Explorer
Good call.
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