Does anyone know if this compendium's weapon section contains info on gunpowder weapons from Dragon 321?

I'm afraid it doesn't. It's still worth a look, though. I and my players are having a great time with it, and generally place it right next to the PHB.

First off, let me say I absolutely adore this product...

Useful, informative, and as a collector, converting the old 2nd edition and 3.0 resources to 3.5 made this an invaluable resource.

That being said, I have to say the name and advertising for the Dragon Compendium, much like WotC's Spell Compendium before it, is bitterly misleading.

I remember when D&D writers and publishers knew and understood what "Compendium" means. Back in 2nd ed days, when the first spell compendium came out, we didn't sweat too much just because it only had A-D, because we -KNEW- TSR would publish a 2nd, 3rd and 4th. And they did. Exhaustively. They even went back and made sure Priests got their own three volumes.

Dragon Magazine had an archive. And when they said complete-they meant it. Those CD-ROMS are some of the best investments in D&D expenditures I have ever made.

Now to the current product. Much like WotC's Spell Compendium, I see little hope of further volumes actually seeing the light of print.

PLEASE let this not die just because of Wizards (more importantly) Hasbro's inept inability to put customer satisfaction over their greed for profit margin. We have seen them effectively kill Ravenloft with Sword & Sorcery.

Under OGL, I would think it would be a fairly simple matter to go back and revisit your previous publication(s) under intellectual property laws and produce d20 Conversions and "republication".

I mean, is there not a similar logic behind continuing to produce the Pathfinder Setting in 3.5?

I would think the sales have justified a Volume 2 by now...

Thank you for your time and consideration.

PLEASE let this not die just because of Wizards (more importantly) Hasbro's inept inability to put customer satisfaction over their greed for profit margin. We have seen them effectively kill Ravenloft with Sword & Sorcery.

We did, indeed, have plans to produce a whole line of Dragon Compendiums, thus the Volume 1 moniker. Alas, in order to make those Dragon Compendiums, we needed permission from Wizards of the Coast, since our license for Dragon and Dungeon magazines didn't allow us to do any compilations. For reasons never revealed to us, WotC decided to not approve us making more Dragon Compendiums. Now that our license has expired, the only hope for more Compendiums is if WotC decides to do them.

-Lisa

For reasons never revealed to us, WotC decided to not approve us making more Dragon Compendiums.

Lisa,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply!

Is there anything we, as consumers, can do? Perhaps start a petition? I have been in on the ground floor of several, and I would be happy to publicize and/or organize any effort to get Paizo the permission it requires!

Is there a contact at Wizards Customer Service or Marketting we should spam? (J/K ;-) )
Let us know and I will be glad to go about such in a professional and concise manner that will show the incumbent need for such a license renewal. Tell us how we can help you continue to provide the quality and thorough product(s) that we love so well... I know you as a company have avenues to pursue this (and I assume you have, as clarified here and elsewhere). So I would not presume to any role save as an enthusiastic consumer.

Thank you again for your time and consideration.

Is there anything we, as consumers, can do?

I could be wrong though - right now I can't find the place I think I got this from....

Nope - still can't find it....

Peace,

tfad

Is there anything we, as consumers, can do? Perhaps start a petition? I have been in on the ground floor of several, and I would be happy to publicize and/or organize any effort to get Paizo the permission it requires!

I own this book and it's awesome.

It took me a long time to come around to buying it but I finally did and when I got a chance to look through it, I was amazed that I hadn't bought it sooner.

Since then I've picked up a number of Dragon back-issues here on Paizo. Never was a reader when it was in publication but now that it isn't and I've had a chance to spend some time with it, I wish I had been.

Really sucks that there won't be a Volume 2.

I own this book and it's awesome.

It took me a long time to come around to buying it but I finally did and when I got a chance to look through it, I was amazed that I hadn't bought it sooner.

Since then I've picked up a number of Dragon back-issues here on Paizo. Never was a reader when it was in publication but now that it isn't and I've had a chance to spend some time with it, I wish I had been.

Really sucks that there won't be a Volume 2.

I had a particular attraction toward the Flux Adept. I also like the Diabolus, Glyphs of Cerilon, and Critical Hit and Fumble Effects.

Just my 2 cp.