Why do you buy Dragon?

[Darrin Drader]

I love Dragon magazine. Not every issue has something I can directly use, but each issue still has a value.

I like it because it helps me feel plugged into the game on a monthly basis. Not that the monthly WotC releases don't do that, but its nice to read the feedback in the letters.

I like it because of the features. Its cool to see someone's take on a given issue, see some alternate rules to play around with, or see some other thing that qualifies as a feature.

I like it because of the frequent new monsters to throw at my players.

I like it for inspiration. Everything from the art to the stories to the themes of some of the articles.

 

[freebfrost]

I've been actively subscribed to Dragon since the 80s, and actually still continue to read them cover to cover - even if I am invariably about 5 -6 months behind on my reading.

The latest version of Dragon seems to be still in its infancy, so to speak. I like that they are willing to try new things, and am willing to wait it out and see where they end up going.

I *do* miss the older days of Dragon, when it was less a slick, professional magazine, and had more of a "home-made" feel - kind of like KodT is today. I can't argue that Dragon becoming more professional over the years is a bad thing, because it obviously wasn't. It's just that the feel inevitably changes as that transition happens.

Having said that, I don't see where you can get more value for your money than from Dragon (and Dungeon). The amount of material in there more than surpasses that which you can find in any series of published books from any company - even if you don't use the articles directly in your games, they will still spur new ideas in your mind.

 

[eris404]

I have a subscription still because there are some reoccurring articles that I really just love (Ecology of and Winning Races, even if I never use them, always give me great ideas). Plus, practically every issue I find one article I think will be uninteresting but will end up really surprising me.

And I'm really looking forward to the Far Realm article in 330.

 

[Jdvn1]

#330 I think is the first one that Eric Mona has complete influence over. I really want to see it.

Edit: Thanks, Merc.

 

[shaylon]

I bought a subscription for the free T-Shirt at GenCon Indy!

Actually, I like what I see, more and more every issue. I don't necessarily want all the PrC's and the like, but I don't mind reading about them. I enjoy the implementations of real life places and events, like seeing the mythical creatures of history and their D&D counterparts in a recent issue. I like that kind of fluff, and reading it usually fuels my imagination. Finally, I have seen some good information in the area designed for specific classes, especially the last two or three issues.

That being said, I think the articles in Dungeon are more likely to see use in a campaign that I would run, and the adventures are usually quite good, so if I had to choose, it would be dungeon. Luckily, I don't have to, and get both delivered via subscription.

-Shay

 

[Mercule]

I love Dragon magazine. Not every issue has something I can directly use, but each issue still has a value.

I'm gonna pick on you for a second, then.

I like it because it helps me feel plugged into the game on a monthly basis. Not that the monthly WotC releases don't do that, but its nice to read the feedback in the letters.

What does that do for you that ENWorld or the WotC boards don't?

I like it because of the features. Its cool to see someone's take on a given issue, see some alternate rules to play around with, or see some other thing that qualifies as a feature.

In your opinion, what have been the best (or at least noteworthily good) three features been in the last few issues? Maybe it's a style thing or maybe I need to look closer, but most times that I thumb through I don't see anything that can be used IMC without serious revision -- pretty much enough to make it zero sum at best.

I like it for inspiration. Everything from the art to the stories to the themes of some of the articles.

Got an example? I'd love to see the thought process.

 

[Mercule]

#330 I think is the first one that Eric Noah has complete influence over. I really want to see it.

Um... Eric Noah or Erik Mona? Did I miss a memo somewhere?

 

[Jdvn1]

Mona! Mona! Sorry, brain fried.

 

[Maliki]

I don't, since I no longer play 3.0/3.5 I find little of value in Dragon. Its full of everything I dislike about the new edition.(Feats, Prestige Classes, Templates etc.) On the other hand I love the direction that Dungeon has taken, most of the articles there port over very well to my C&C campaign.(Even the adventures are easy to change to C&C).

The Far Realm issue sounds interesting however.

 

[Ranger REG]

I prefer the good ole days of Dragon, when it supported all of TSR's in-house RPG products besides D&D.