Dragon Compilation; what'll be in it? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dragon Compilation; what'll be in it?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Mist-Bound
May 18, 2009 12:41:11 I've heard that Wizards will be publishing a yearly book containing the collected material of their eZine Dragons, and not having been disproved of this notion, I ask this simple question: what articles do you believe will actually make the transition from Dragon to a physical book? What stuff do you think will be put on the market, and what will be left for only subscribers to have?
#2
onemanhorde
May 18, 2009 13:33:53
I've heard that Wizards will be publishing a yearly book containing the collected material of their eZine Dragons, and not having been disproved of this notion, I ask this simple question: what articles do you believe will actually make the transition from Dragon to a physical book? What stuff do you think will be put on the market, and what will be left for only subscribers to have?

Probabaly not the Warforged, Minotaur or Shadar-Kai. I would love to see the Gladiator and Assassins ariticles, as-well as White Lotus put in there. Ecologies of ___ might show up.
#3
revenant02
May 18, 2009 13:44:44 My thought is if the typical group is like mine where I (the DM) have most of the books and the DnDI subscription and my players tend to buy things only when they're using it for their characters, the best way to sell the compilation is to focus on player mechanics instead of fluff and monsters. That way players who wouldn't bother with a DnDI subscription have a reason to buy the book.

So I'd expect to see the races and the Assassin and Gladiator, but maybe not Ecologies and the other setting info, with the exception of Ecologies of player races. I certainly don't think we'll see any Playtest or Preview content as there would be no point in publishing the material twice and publishing the rough content would only cause confusion.
#4
sfdragon
May 18, 2009 13:49:21 ecologies, back drops, few other things.
playtests will not likely end up in them.
#5
Mist-Bound
May 18, 2009 13:52:52 Personally, I don't expect previews/playtests to show up -as was mentioned, it makes no sense and is just confusing- but is it likely that the "Setting" articles will get published? The Domains of Dread, that article on Hazards of Dark Sun, Cormyr, etc?
#6
Kensan_Oni
May 18, 2009 16:21:58 Well, get rid of the playtest and preview junk, make sure that it has the Races and the FR Articles, and I'll be happy.

When 2 comes around, make sure to include the Eberron ones, also.
#7
revenant02
May 18, 2009 16:42:56
Personally, I don't expect previews/playtests to show up -as was mentioned, it makes no sense and is just confusing- but is it likely that the "Setting" articles will get published? The Domains of Dread, that article on Hazards of Dark Sun, Cormyr, etc?

I think the setting information won't be a priority if Wizards targets players which I suspect they will. There's also a 160 page count, if they draw from Dragon #364-376 which would make sense for an annual they have about 900pages of content (assuming 75 pages of content per issue, w/o full-page illustrations, cover, and contents). They have room for approximately 13 pages per issue. Some of the setting articles are short (Hazards of Dark Sun) but others are quite long, Mithrendain is 12 pages, with only about a combined page of graphics that could be cut out for space.

What I'm starting to wonder, looking at the space limitations, is if they might do a magical item compilation or some such from the settings they don't include. I think they'd lose a lot in without the background story, but people love new toys and a lot of setting material won't make the cut. Smiilar things could happen with feats.

One more thing, Dhampyres? I think we'll probably see them in there, though I'm just as happy with my players not knowing about that particular option (Can I name him Alucard? No! ).
#8
Seeker95
May 18, 2009 19:24:23 After (if) we see the first one, I will gladly pontificate and prognosticate on what will be in the second. But until then, I'm playing "wait and see".
#9
Artifact
May 18, 2009 20:01:45 I'm hoping that a compilation will contain several issues in their entirety (sorta like 6 or 7 comics are collected into trade paperbacks). The issues are 90 pages on average (maybe?), so they should be able to squeeze three or four issues into a decent-sized, single volume. I doubt this will actually happen but that's what I'm hoping ;).

If they're just collecting individual aritcles however, I'd like to see recurring features like Demonomicon, Codex of Betrayal, Court of Stars, Deities & Demigods, Domains of Dread. The Ecology articles would also be fun, so would Creature Incarnations and Playing As features; but they're of secondary interest to me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Mist-Bound May 18, 2009 12:41:11	I've heard that Wizards will be publishing a yearly book containing the collected material of their eZine Dragons, and not having been disproved of this notion, I ask this simple question: what articles do you believe will actually make the transition from Dragon to a physical book? What stuff do you think will be put on the market, and what will be left for only subscribers to have?
#2 onemanhorde May 18, 2009 13:33:53	I've heard that Wizards will be publishing a yearly book containing the collected material of their eZine Dragons, and not having been disproved of this notion, I ask this simple question: what articles do you believe will actually make the transition from Dragon to a physical book? What stuff do you think will be put on the market, and what will be left for only subscribers to have? Probabaly not the Warforged, Minotaur or Shadar-Kai. I would love to see the Gladiator and Assassins ariticles, as-well as White Lotus put in there. Ecologies of ___ might show up.
#3 revenant02 May 18, 2009 13:44:44	My thought is if the typical group is like mine where I (the DM) have most of the books and the DnDI subscription and my players tend to buy things only when they're using it for their characters, the best way to sell the compilation is to focus on player mechanics instead of fluff and monsters. That way players who wouldn't bother with a DnDI subscription have a reason to buy the book. So I'd expect to see the races and the Assassin and Gladiator, but maybe not Ecologies and the other setting info, with the exception of Ecologies of player races. I certainly don't think we'll see any Playtest or Preview content as there would be no point in publishing the material twice and publishing the rough content would only cause confusion.
#4 sfdragon May 18, 2009 13:49:21	ecologies, back drops, few other things. playtests will not likely end up in them.
#5 Mist-Bound May 18, 2009 13:52:52	Personally, I don't expect previews/playtests to show up -as was mentioned, it makes no sense and is just confusing- but is it likely that the "Setting" articles will get published? The Domains of Dread, that article on Hazards of Dark Sun, Cormyr, etc?
#6 Kensan_Oni May 18, 2009 16:21:58	Well, get rid of the playtest and preview junk, make sure that it has the Races and the FR Articles, and I'll be happy. When 2 comes around, make sure to include the Eberron ones, also.
#7 revenant02 May 18, 2009 16:42:56	Personally, I don't expect previews/playtests to show up -as was mentioned, it makes no sense and is just confusing- but is it likely that the "Setting" articles will get published? The Domains of Dread, that article on Hazards of Dark Sun, Cormyr, etc? I think the setting information won't be a priority if Wizards targets players which I suspect they will. There's also a 160 page count, if they draw from Dragon #364-376 which would make sense for an annual they have about 900pages of content (assuming 75 pages of content per issue, w/o full-page illustrations, cover, and contents). They have room for approximately 13 pages per issue. Some of the setting articles are short (Hazards of Dark Sun) but others are quite long, Mithrendain is 12 pages, with only about a combined page of graphics that could be cut out for space. What I'm starting to wonder, looking at the space limitations, is if they might do a magical item compilation or some such from the settings they don't include. I think they'd lose a lot in without the background story, but people love new toys and a lot of setting material won't make the cut. Smiilar things could happen with feats. One more thing, Dhampyres? I think we'll probably see them in there, though I'm just as happy with my players not knowing about that particular option (Can I name him Alucard? No! ).
#8 Seeker95 May 18, 2009 19:24:23	After (if) we see the first one, I will gladly pontificate and prognosticate on what will be in the second. But until then, I'm playing "wait and see".
#9 Artifact May 18, 2009 20:01:45	I'm hoping that a compilation will contain several issues in their entirety (sorta like 6 or 7 comics are collected into trade paperbacks). The issues are 90 pages on average (maybe?), so they should be able to squeeze three or four issues into a decent-sized, single volume. I doubt this will actually happen but that's what I'm hoping ;). If they're just collecting individual aritcles however, I'd like to see recurring features like Demonomicon, Codex of Betrayal, Court of Stars, Deities & Demigods, Domains of Dread. The Ecology articles would also be fun, so would Creature Incarnations and Playing As features; but they're of secondary interest to me.