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Dungeon & Dragon

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
dimento
Apr 08, 2009 4:16:28 Hello,

I have a question, do you really think that these two magazines are needed?

I mean, for me and I would say a lot of people, it would be more than enough to have a only magazine with the most important mixed information of both, personally I think that they're wasting their time with a lot of unuseful articles, that makes to navigate into both magazines a mess.

The time they'd save by just doing one only magazine, they could use it to make more DDI content, like the rest of the software we are waiting for.

Regards
#2
GMforPowergamers
Apr 08, 2009 4:25:08 I could not disagree more...

first: The people writing articles would NEVER work on the software, so it would not hlep there...

Second: Dungeon is 'mostly' just mods, and is geared entirely toward the DM well Dragon is the 'player mag'

third: Some sacred cows can not be hamburged...there have always been two

fourth: Just becuse you dislike an article doesn't mean everyone does...what would you cut?
#3
dimento
Apr 08, 2009 5:05:25
I could not disagree more...

first: The people writing articles would NEVER work on the software, so it would not hlep there...

Second: Dungeon is 'mostly' just mods, and is geared entirely toward the DM well Dragon is the 'player mag'

third: Some sacred cows can not be hamburged...there have always been two

fourth: Just becuse you dislike an article doesn't mean everyone does...what would you cut?

Well, first I didn't say that everyone has to agreed with that, only that I am sure that many people think the same than me. Personally I am only interested in new adventures/maps and new powers for PCs, not much more stuff.

I'm not going to tell what this people have to do if they don't work in those articles, but I am sure that not only programmers are supposed to cover the rest of DDi tools.

Concerning the sacred cows, well what do you want me to say, for me there's a thing more important than a sacred cow, and this is a practical cow.
#4
WolfStar76
Apr 08, 2009 7:39:39
Hello,

I have a question, do you really think that these two magazines are needed?

I mean, for me and I would say a lot of people, it would be more than enough to have a only magazine with the most important mixed information of both, personally I think that they're wasting their time with a lot of unuseful articles, that makes to navigate into both magazines a mess.

The time they'd save by just doing one only magazine, they could use it to make more DDI content, like the rest of the software we are waiting for.

Regards

I'm really happy with there being two magazines. I, for one, don't have time to DM a lot of adventures (at least, not outside the RPGA) so the articles in Dungeon are of marginal use to me - I simply don't have the time to read them, much less run them.

The content in Dragon, however, is something I look forward to on a regular basis - previews, new options, even the "fluff" for the occasional bit of the game adds to my enojyment of the campaign.

To combine these two, to me, would be superficial, and wouldn't be a savings in any way. Some of the articles are written by R&D (or other WotC staff) - but there are also articles written by outsiders (typically Dungeon content). So any "savings" in time would also be minimal as well.

I'm all for the format as it stands now. I know where to find the content I want, and while I'm just as eager as the next guy for the rest of the DDi content, the (theoretical) gains wouldn't offset what was lost to the magazines if they were cut and combined.

I see no practical steaks being made from these sacred cows.
#5
kyros_tachyus
Apr 08, 2009 10:12:48 I can see what your saying, but they cover all of the bases pretty well with these two magazines. New powers come out by way of Dragon and new feats, as well as new class options etc... etc...

They don't offer maps as of now... Which I think is sad. But I think that everything is good so far outside of that. They have had some really bad off months in late 08, but so far it has been very good in 09'.

Forgive me if I didn't answer your question completely or seem to have not seen some points. In a bit of a rush.
#6
tomlib
Apr 08, 2009 12:23:24 I'd actually take it a step further than combining the two magazines. In the digital age I don't even see the need for magazines, just articles.

The magazine format is basically a nuisance in my opinion. It locks together articles that are unrelated.

With appropriate software it is possible to combine whatever articles are desired into a single file with great ease. WotC might even offer some sort of pay as you go menu choice to articles or combination of articles. Perhaps I want all the Scales of Wars articles in a single download. I don't see a great difficulty in programming a robot to do this but maybe I'm wrong.

The customer would pick from a series of articles, the file would be compiled, and after the fee processed, the download starts.

Anyway, just a thought!

Happy Gaming :-)

Tom
#7
VerysArkon
Apr 09, 2009 11:19:16 I prefer it the way it is (or with slightly MORE content per month).

Dragon and Dungeon have always been separate publications. There was considerable vitriol levied at WotC for pulling them in-house and going digital only. Can you imagine the ill-will levied at them for abolishing one of them completely?

Each person will find the articles of relative use to them. The things the OP wants, or what WolfStar wants, from the magazines is not the same as I want exactly. I think they are right to aim for a broad target audience.

I find the compiled PDF versions of the magazines to be very useful, especially for archiving to CD (don't kid yourself into thinking you'll always be able to access the articles online).

There are some areas that could be improved though. I would like to see the list of adventures in Dungeon split into different lists by tier, and the level of the adventure put in the title of the adventure.

I would also like to see the 'general feature' list of articles further subdivided to make finding related articles easier. As Dragon continues to be written, this list will eventually become long and unmanageable.
#8
VerysArkon
Apr 09, 2009 11:22:27
They don't offer maps as of now... Which I think is sad. But I think that everything is good so far outside of that. They have had some really bad off months in late 08, but so far it has been very good in 09'.

There are maps provided in the art and map galleries from Dungeon now, including PC and DM versions. Higher resolution would be nice, so they don't go all pixilated when blown up to 1' scale, but definately a step in the right direction.

If you are thinking of Maps of Mystery, then yes I agree. I miss them too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 dimento Apr 08, 2009 4:16:28	Hello, I have a question, do you really think that these two magazines are needed? I mean, for me and I would say a lot of people, it would be more than enough to have a only magazine with the most important mixed information of both, personally I think that they're wasting their time with a lot of unuseful articles, that makes to navigate into both magazines a mess. The time they'd save by just doing one only magazine, they could use it to make more DDI content, like the rest of the software we are waiting for. Regards
#2 GMforPowergamers Apr 08, 2009 4:25:08	I could not disagree more... first: The people writing articles would NEVER work on the software, so it would not hlep there... Second: Dungeon is 'mostly' just mods, and is geared entirely toward the DM well Dragon is the 'player mag' third: Some sacred cows can not be hamburged...there have always been two fourth: Just becuse you dislike an article doesn't mean everyone does...what would you cut?
#3 dimento Apr 08, 2009 5:05:25	I could not disagree more... first: The people writing articles would NEVER work on the software, so it would not hlep there... Second: Dungeon is 'mostly' just mods, and is geared entirely toward the DM well Dragon is the 'player mag' third: Some sacred cows can not be hamburged...there have always been two fourth: Just becuse you dislike an article doesn't mean everyone does...what would you cut? Well, first I didn't say that everyone has to agreed with that, only that I am sure that many people think the same than me. Personally I am only interested in new adventures/maps and new powers for PCs, not much more stuff. I'm not going to tell what this people have to do if they don't work in those articles, but I am sure that not only programmers are supposed to cover the rest of DDi tools. Concerning the sacred cows, well what do you want me to say, for me there's a thing more important than a sacred cow, and this is a practical cow.
#4 WolfStar76 Apr 08, 2009 7:39:39	Hello, I have a question, do you really think that these two magazines are needed? I mean, for me and I would say a lot of people, it would be more than enough to have a only magazine with the most important mixed information of both, personally I think that they're wasting their time with a lot of unuseful articles, that makes to navigate into both magazines a mess. The time they'd save by just doing one only magazine, they could use it to make more DDI content, like the rest of the software we are waiting for. Regards I'm really happy with there being two magazines. I, for one, don't have time to DM a lot of adventures (at least, not outside the RPGA) so the articles in Dungeon are of marginal use to me - I simply don't have the time to read them, much less run them. The content in Dragon, however, is something I look forward to on a regular basis - previews, new options, even the "fluff" for the occasional bit of the game adds to my enojyment of the campaign. To combine these two, to me, would be superficial, and wouldn't be a savings in any way. Some of the articles are written by R&D (or other WotC staff) - but there are also articles written by outsiders (typically Dungeon content). So any "savings" in time would also be minimal as well. I'm all for the format as it stands now. I know where to find the content I want, and while I'm just as eager as the next guy for the rest of the DDi content, the (theoretical) gains wouldn't offset what was lost to the magazines if they were cut and combined. I see no practical steaks being made from these sacred cows.
#5 kyros_tachyus Apr 08, 2009 10:12:48	I can see what your saying, but they cover all of the bases pretty well with these two magazines. New powers come out by way of Dragon and new feats, as well as new class options etc... etc... They don't offer maps as of now... Which I think is sad. But I think that everything is good so far outside of that. They have had some really bad off months in late 08, but so far it has been very good in 09'. Forgive me if I didn't answer your question completely or seem to have not seen some points. In a bit of a rush.
#6 tomlib Apr 08, 2009 12:23:24	I'd actually take it a step further than combining the two magazines. In the digital age I don't even see the need for magazines, just articles. The magazine format is basically a nuisance in my opinion. It locks together articles that are unrelated. With appropriate software it is possible to combine whatever articles are desired into a single file with great ease. WotC might even offer some sort of pay as you go menu choice to articles or combination of articles. Perhaps I want all the Scales of Wars articles in a single download. I don't see a great difficulty in programming a robot to do this but maybe I'm wrong. The customer would pick from a series of articles, the file would be compiled, and after the fee processed, the download starts. Anyway, just a thought! Happy Gaming :-) Tom
#7 VerysArkon Apr 09, 2009 11:19:16	I prefer it the way it is (or with slightly MORE content per month). Dragon and Dungeon have always been separate publications. There was considerable vitriol levied at WotC for pulling them in-house and going digital only. Can you imagine the ill-will levied at them for abolishing one of them completely? Each person will find the articles of relative use to them. The things the OP wants, or what WolfStar wants, from the magazines is not the same as I want exactly. I think they are right to aim for a broad target audience. I find the compiled PDF versions of the magazines to be very useful, especially for archiving to CD (don't kid yourself into thinking you'll always be able to access the articles online). There are some areas that could be improved though. I would like to see the list of adventures in Dungeon split into different lists by tier, and the level of the adventure put in the title of the adventure. I would also like to see the 'general feature' list of articles further subdivided to make finding related articles easier. As Dragon continues to be written, this list will eventually become long and unmanageable.
#8 VerysArkon Apr 09, 2009 11:22:27	They don't offer maps as of now... Which I think is sad. But I think that everything is good so far outside of that. They have had some really bad off months in late 08, but so far it has been very good in 09'. There are maps provided in the art and map galleries from Dungeon now, including PC and DM versions. Higher resolution would be nice, so they don't go all pixilated when blown up to 1' scale, but definately a step in the right direction. If you are thinking of Maps of Mystery, then yes I agree. I miss them too.