D&D General Why are so many D&D articles *garbage*?

[grimslade]

We’ve always resisted that type of article here. We basically have three types — news and previews (where I try to be short and factual, rather than turn a one sentence news piece into a 3000 word essay); more editorial stuff (reviews, interviews, etc); and roundups which are lists of things but aren’t listicles (eg the crowdfunding column or reviews roundups).

I am aware I can make more money and get more clicks with listicles.

We keep the listicles in the Forums. Thank You very much!

 

[Ancalagon]

I think a lot of articles are written for players with no D&D experience. I remember back in middle school my friend learned to play AD&D entirely from reading Dragon articles. He didn't own a single book.

I'm curious, as experienced players, what kinds of articles do we actually want?

something like this:

Marching Back East: Lessons Learned from Running an Open Table Game

I was like you, once: naïve, directionless, wholly corporeal. Then, one fateful autumn evening, I dreamt of a towering white fortress. The...

orbitalcrypt.blogspot.com

(the intro is a bit long alas, but about 1/4 in, it gets very useful. )

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

You should write a listicle: "Top 5 Kinds of Articles We Would Never Write!"

Top Seven Articles EnWorld Won't Let You Read!

1. Warlords, How Cool are They? A multi-thread analysis.

2. Humanoid Hearts of Darkness. Why 'Orcs are Evil' is the New Black.

3. ¿Quién es Más Macho? A penetrating look at the best ever D&D Edition, and the worst.

4. 39 Uses for Bards. A list of savory recipes.

5. 1,001 Elven Nights. The complete compendium of all D&D elves, from Artic Elf to Zephyr Elves, and all 999 of their soulless, dead-eyed cousins.

6. If It's a Blast for You, It's a Blasphemy! How to Incorporate Real-World Religions into your D&D game; can God have so many hit points you cannot kill her?

7. Survivor: Every Spell Ever in D&D- There Can Be Only One! Currently at year three.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Top Seven Articles EnWorld Won't Let You Read!

1. Warlords, How Cool are They? A multi-thread analysis.

2. Humanoid Hearts of Darkness. Why 'Orcs are Evil' is the New Black.

3. ¿Quién es Más Macho? A penetrating look at the best ever D&D Edition, and the worst.

4. 39 Uses for Bards. A list of savory recipes.

5. 1,001 Elven Nights. The complete compendium of all D&D elves, from Artic Elf to Zephyr Elves, and all 999 of their soulless, dead-eyed cousins.

6. If It's a Blast for You, It's a Blasphemy! How to Incorporate Real-World Religions into your D&D game; can God have so many hit points you cannot kill her?

7. Survivor: Every Spell Ever in D&D- There Can Be Only One! Currently at year three.

Mods, can we ban Snarf for this?

 

[BookTenTiger]

something like this:

Marching Back East: Lessons Learned from Running an Open Table Game

I was like you, once: naïve, directionless, wholly corporeal. Then, one fateful autumn evening, I dreamt of a towering white fortress. The...

orbitalcrypt.blogspot.com

(the intro is a bit long alas, but about 1/4 in, it gets very useful. )

I love reflections on actual play, too.

I also enjoy articles that trace the history of quirky D&D monsters or other tropes. Descriptions of Gygax's original games are always a hoot, too.

 

[CleverNickName]

Top Seven Articles EnWorld Won't Let You Read!
...
7. Survivor: Every Spell Ever in D&D- There Can Be Only One! Currently at year three.

Hey, no fair. I've never done a spell list. (The endless lists of monsters kinda broke my brain, though.)

I am doing a list of D&D Deities now, though. So your point stands.

 

[Ancalagon]

I love reflections on actual play, too.

I also enjoy articles that trace the history of quirky D&D monsters or other tropes. Descriptions of Gygax's original games are always a hoot, too.

The advice on what to prep and what to improv is priceless.

 

[Marandahir]

Bell of Lost Souls is usually better than that. :/

Honestly, the internet clickbait algorithm issue sucks, and has sucked for a long time, though I think for the most part I can tell if something is going to be clickbait or not from the first sentence or first 30 seconds of video etc.

 

[Umbran]

There isn't an independent thought left on the internet. Everyone just parrots what other people think for them.

So, you are parroting the thought that people parrot thoughts?

And I am parroting that you are parroting parroting...

It is colorful tropical birds all the way down.

 

[Gammadoodler]

What would "D&D pornography" be? That's probably a question better left unanswered.

I see someone has never gone looking for Drow character art.