Your Feelings on Dungeon/Poly

[root]

Overall the magazine is still decent, but a decline has happened on the Dungeon side of things. After reviewing quite a few this past weekend and seeing the differences in quality and quantity, I can see where some subscribers might be upset.

I have never expected world class adventures from Dungeon magazine, but I do expect them to be well-written and/or provide some good ideas. This usually is not a problem, most of the adventures I see in there aren't too bad with some really good ones coming through now and again. The ones that are not so good at least provide some interesting ideas (usually).

As for the quantity, that has most definitely gone down. While I do not feel I being ripped off per se, I do feel that I am not exactly getting everything I signed up for either. I do think that one adventure (full) if not two should be presented and then either one or two side adventures as well.

I relize space and time might have a lot to do with this, but some sort of compromise needs to take place between the reader base and the magazine. From most of the letters published in the magazines forum, I keep seeing the request for more adventures, especially over the last couple of issues. While the magazine may not be able to provide what it once did, I think that more than one adventure (if buying off the shelf) or two (subscription) is needed.

As for Poly, it isn't all that bad, I enjoy reading through most of the published articles. While most of it cannot be used, some things can be incorporated here and there. And then the other idea is that once in a blue moon, you actually play one of those ideas presented from Poly. I found this to help revitalize a group now and then when they start to get burnt out on the current campaign. Though the issue with the whole rock band idea was a little out there, I can't remember the name of the cartoon, but it was the one like Scooby Doo, but they were all in a band. That's how that article came across.

 

[Gnarlo]

Just to throw in my 2 coppers:

I've had a lot of fun reading the Poly side, and have even incorporated some into my game for later use (the Spelljammer clone for example), and have played a couple of one shot Thunderball Rally games (my friends still in the area are old Car Wars gamers from way back ).

I'd be happy with Poly anywhere up to 50% of the mag, though I don't like the issues when it takes more than that (I did subscribe to Dungeon after all, not Poly). I also think my liking for it may be nostalgia and age; my "golden period" of Dragon was the time before it became a TSR only mag (indeed, I remember Gary ranting against the various "house organs" in one editorial ), and it had articles on Traveller, and Runequest, and all sorts of fun stuff that I liked reading about, and often tried out after seeing an article or adventure.

I feel the same way about the Poly side now; I'd like to see more support for some of the stuff you've already put out, as well as support for the other d20 games out there; getting a decent, "free" d20 Modern adventure or Star Wars adventure in Poly might interest me enough to push me over the edge and buy the games. Unfortunately, my college days of buying every new RPG that came out because a) they wuz cool, and b) we had loads of time to play them all were a long time ago. (But I have an impressive looking bookshelf full of games from from 20+ years ago, and reams of DM and character notes to boot. It scares my new players *evil cackle* ).

 

[Sholari]

One primary factor is that the magazine business is _really_ reeling from the economic downturn over the past couple years.

There are other factors (just as other factors contributed to the difficulty with the above magazines, to be sure), but that's probably the main one.

--Erik [/B]

Since the economic downturn is the main reason for bundling the magazines, would you consider unbundling the magazines as the economy improves?

 

[WizarDru]

Overall the magazine is still decent, but a decline has happened on the Dungeon side of things. After reviewing quite a few this past weekend and seeing the differences in quality and quantity, I can see where some subscribers might be upset.

I have never expected world class adventures from Dungeon magazine, but I do expect them to be well-written and/or provide some good ideas. This usually is not a problem, most of the adventures I see in there aren't too bad with some really good ones coming through now and again. The ones that are not so good at least provide some interesting ideas (usually).

Could you give some examples of what consider an example of a quality Dungeon module? I hear some folks saying that the quality has gone down, and I'm trying to determine in relation to what. I'm not terribly interested in modules with Frost Giant re-enacting King Lear again, for example.

Oh, and there were a few dozen cartoons in the late 60s through to the late 70s with rock-bands having 'crazy adventures'. Ignoring the Beatles, the Osmonds and the Jackson Five shows, you've got plenty of stuff like Jabberjaw or Paul Revere, where they're a travelling rock band that are actually secret agents or in a futuristic underwater world, and so forth. Take the rock band aspect out of it, and you've got about 5 zillion more shows, like Goober and the Ghost Chasers or Speed Buggy.

None of which has to do a jot with Dungeon magazine, but there you are.

 

[Bagpuss]

Heck I'm not even playing anything D20 at the moment but the Poly aspect of Dungeon/Poly means I'm still finding it useful with its modern maps for games like Cyberpunk and Buffy which I am playing.

I don't have a subscription, just an order at the local shop so I could drop it anytime I like, but the Poly aspect is the only thing stopping me, after all if you don't DM D&D regularly there is no reason to by Dungeon on its own at all. And you know there are gamers out there that don't play D&D.

 

[Robbert Raets]

Nice try, bud. The same could be said that if you "can't stand this anymore" and whine about the whining... well, you don't have to read the thread either, y'know.

Actually, this poll calls for my feelings on Dungeon/Polyhedron.

Since I actually buy it, I have feelings about them. Someone who doesn't, doesn't.

 

[WizarDru]

And you know there are gamers out there that don't play D&D.

Now you're just talking crazy talk.


[Dru backs away, avoiding eye contact]

 

[cildarith]

When people have less money, one of the first things they drop is magazines.

I do not doubt you are right about this, but somehow it just doesn't make sense to me. When I was a student, I was perpetually broke, but I could afford magazines - so this is what I read.

Dragon and Dungeon magazines (particularly Dungeon) have long been hailed as the best deals in gaming in terms of content per dollar spent. If this is still the case (?) these publications should be last thing you cut from your gaming budget, not the first.