DeadDMWalking's page

I want to agree with what Kei just said. I really can't say it better, so I won't.

I don't really want to see support for 3rd party stuff, even if that were an option. In all honesty there are enough campaign settings that Dragon couldn't do them all justice, and there aren't enough that I would like to see full support for. A great article may include "this is designed for world x, but can work in world y with these minor changes, or any world that has a, b, and c".

For example, "this is designed with Greyhawk city in mind, but it can be set in Waterdeep with minor changes. Alternatively, any large city with a generally lawful ruler can be used that is close to an ocean port, whether by river or actually set on the coast."

Does that make sense? That helps show how an article can fit a wide range of worlds without making it SPECIFIC to any world.

I have just received issue #326 today in the mail. I haven't finished reading it because on the first few pages they told me to come to the paizo.com message boards. Too many distractions. But, I just grabbed a dozen or so most recent issues off of my desk, and will consider them in order (ignoring the vast majority of my issues stretching back to 132)[I have one earlier, but the cover fell off]

326 - The cover is beautiful. The background is a little dark, but we have a group of heroes fighting something that certainly looks evil. There is some exposed flesh, but there is nothing indecent about it.

325 - The wizard is a little intriguing, and there are background details that add to the "fantasy feel" of the magazine. But despite that fact there isn't a lot of oomph! The text is tucked out of the way. Definitely decent.

324 - Another good cover. The text is a little large, but it doesn't obscure the cover art. Good detail, and it definitely has a fantasy feel. The snow covered woods adds tremendously to this feeling.

323 - Pretty lame. I can tell it is a dragon. And he is coming through the magazine. Still, it is mostly blank space. There are no text blocks, but this is a cover that a text block wouldn't hide or conceal anything, since there isn't anything to get in the way of. The actual effect is kind of neat, but it isn't the "high fantasy" look that I crave.

322 - We see a mysterious figure infront of a red/black storm. This cover definitely hurts because there is too much text on the sides. The "DO IT IN THE DARK" on the character's left shoulder is partiularly bad, since that is where most of the detail lies. This could have been better, but hte actual quality of the art is very high; better than 325 above.

321 - The artwork isn't bad, but there is definitely too much additional text. The artwork would have had a much better impact if the faces were centered, or at least dropped below the masthead, but in that case the side text would have been in the way. Side text is generally bad. Of, if it needs to be included, it should be smaller.

320 - 30 years of dragon and this is what you give us? Where is the background? Just black? I have the holographich cover from the 20th anniversary (or maybe that was issue 200? I've just disvoered it appaers to be missing. Not good.)

319 - Celebrating Athas, and the artwork fits in with that style. Still I would have liked more. An actual background would have been nice. I mean, I guess you can kind of see what is supposed to be a sun from the left edge, but it fades into the rest of the picture, so I'm not sure. Because it fits the game world, however, I can't really complain.

318 - The actual illustration is again good, but the background is kind of bland. I just now noticed the "asian dragon" motif. Far too subtle for the cover of a magazine.

Those are of course just my thoughts. I do think it is getting better. The worst covers are those like #299. I would consider that a warhammer feel, and no noticeable background.

Also, if you do want to put cover print, fine. Just include a full page of the cover as an interior page. The artwork is often inspiring. Showing pictures to my players can really help to set the mood. Showing them a text plastered cover doesn't immerse them the same way.

I just spent a little time reviewing old Ecology articles. The one I just read in depth was from issue 218 - Bird Maiden. It was quite enjoyable - but it was more fiction than ecology. A happy balance needs to be reached. I would like to know several things from an ecology article.

1) What is the creature's normal environment and how does it interact with it.

This would include where it makes its home, what it does for food generally, and things like that. Whether intelligent or non-intelligent, these would be essential.

2) How does the creature normally respond to "people" entering its territory?

If the creature is very aggressive and likely to fight, I should know that. If typically it will avoid fights with more than a certain number of creatures, I'd like to know that. If it tends to run away if brought below 1/2 hit points, I'd like to know that.

3) How can this creature be interacted with on a role-playing level.

Does it make a good animal companion? Can it be made friendly? How can a fight be avoided? Will it accept treasure or food in exchange for a service or free passage?

4) How does this creature interact with others of its kind.

Is it tribal, or solitary? Things like that.

5) If the animal is killed, what items of use might I get from it? Can it's teeth make a dagger? Can its hide make a cloak? Are there any spell components?

I guess that is about it.

I'd like to say that I appreciate our letters being included in Scale Mail. Whether I agree with the content or not, I like the fact that I have a chance to respond, rather than leaving the editors in a vaccuum. Poor Erik Mona - trying to make his deadlines every month! If he hears a lot of negative comments he will make changes. Remember, people who dislike what they see are far more likley to write in than those who like what they see. The negative letters allow us to send positive encouragement.

That said, there are areas that I believe can be improved. I just received my issue 326, and I was dissappointed to find that my letter was not included (maybe next issue!). In a letter to the editors, I think we should all attempt to mix positive encouragement with constructive (ie, negative) criticism.

I think that the fact that readers CARE so much about the direction of the magazine speaks volumes. Despite the valid claims about the magazine needing to appeal to a wide audience and a NEW audience, please remember that long-time readers are dedicated to this magazine. I don't know what percentage of players quit when they enter college, or when they graduate college, but I'm sure it is significant. Accomodating readers who will purchase a half-dozen issues at the expense of loyal readers won't make much sense in the long run. And I think loyal readers are more likely to write letters. I know that Ihave been reading Dragon since 132. It wasn't until about 2 months ago that I wrote a letter to Dungeon, and only a couple of weeks ago that I wrote my first letter to Dragon.

Troy Traylor has some good ideas about "surprises".

With 11 core classes, you may have plenty of potential future articles. Some will of course be better than others. I don't see why you can't throw in an occassional "class act" for a non-core class. Or make suggestions how a core "class act" could fit in with a WotC published class. Many fighter class acts would apply to an Oriental Adventure's Samurai, etc.

I know very few people want a 4th edition, but I do hope they'll finally resolve the psionics core/non-core debate. It either needs better inclusion (as even an option) or to be discarded altogether.

An example unrelated to the magazines - in the DMG it provides information on how to "populate" a town. It offers no suggestions for the inclusion of psionic classes. The Psionics Handbook (wheter expanded or not) does not "fix" the problem.

Paizo has a chance to independently "fix" the problem. I mean, if you can cover "D&D Miniatures" (please stop, by the way), you should be able to devote 1 page every issue to a single non-core class in "class acts". Or, as I said above, just mention how that article can "fit" with a non-core class.

Whoo! First post of mine on these boards. Better make it count.

I don't care for the fiction AT ALL. I love to read, and I do. I have actually read LOTs of the fiction you have included over the years. The quality has varied tremendously. There really were some GREAT stories in the early issues. I don't want to dig it up now, but the "wizard" family that created the "Arabian Nights" stories by trying to steal the magic lamp was great. But as a regular reader and subscriber I'd rather have NO fiction than fiction of poor to middling quality.

If fiction IS to be included, give me some crunch. I want a new feat, or a new spell or SOMETHING. If 50% like the fiction, and 50% don't, throw the people who don't like it or want it a bone. If I can get SOME use out of it in my game it might be worth it. If it is just included for my enjoyment (and I failed to enjoy it) it is a total waste.

Dragon has recently taken to providing "crunch" from other sources. I don't think it would be hard to provide from fiction. And I don't really want it every issue. I mean, I don't want it ANY issue, but if it is to be included it should be rare. It should also stand alone. A serial might work from week to week, but a monthly serial is STRETCHING. So, please no more of those.

As long as I'm stating preferences, I don't want UNDER COMMAND in Dragon. To quote from issue 326, page 23 "RPGA UPDATE": "Not a secondary thing to the great D&D roleplaying game but a growing and thriving game all on it's own."

Dragon should support the Role-playing game of Dungeon's and Dragons. Miniatures is not the same game. It is wasted space that brings somewhere between nothing and virtually nothing to my game each month. Scratch that - it has never brought anything. I hoped it had, but it never inspired a single idea that I could take to my game. And so many articles have.

That rant probably doesn't belong here, so I might have to repeat it somewhere else.

I'd also like to see DragonMirth, I've enjoyed them over time. I'm guessing that fewer than 50% of your subscribers have issues going back from before, let's say, issue 286. You might consider running some "Classic Dragonmirth" while trying to revive the comic. And as GiantInThePlayground said, you really need to be clear about what you're offering for the work. (By the way, I love your "This Old Rule: Diplomacy").

Well, since this is approach epic length, I will end it here.