All I ask is that the blow be lessened by including more outstanding adventures by Wolfgang Baur and Greg V in DUNGEON. They are both truly incredible authors and produce the highest quality adventures.
I've got completed adventures from both of them on my desk, just waiting to be slated into a specific issue.
Both have agreed to write an installment of the Age of Worms Adventure Path.
That work?
Dude, You rock!...despite the whole Wil Save thing.
ASEO out
P.S. Watch out, Greg V might try to slip an NPC Dwarf named Huckabee Leafbiter into a future adventure...this way you can't say that you weren't warned ;-)
I can back down too. :) If Wil Save costs that little to have in the magazine and Erik (and others) do really get something from it, then it's worth having in Dungeon. I will give it the benefit of the doubt and try rereading some Wil Saves from my back issues. Maybe I can start to relate to it. :)
--Ray.
I will give it the benefit of the doubt and try rereading some Wil Saves from my back issues. Maybe I can start to relate to it.
Now I can't recommend subjecting yourself to that. Back issues are only bound to re embitter you to Wil Save. Perhaps future issues will be better and be about D&D.
While I now understand why Erik put Wil Save in DUNGEON, I still very strongly dislike the uselessness of the article in terms of game value. And, while I'll no longer call for Wil Save to be removed from DUNGEON, I may from time to time, if the article is particularly poor, still comment on it.
I wouldn't want this board to get dull now.
ASEO out
For anyone that is interested, I'm posting write-ups from a campaign I ran on the Campaign Journal board. Feel free to swing by and check it out if you are interested.
Um...I still think Wil Save is a waste. Why don't you have him create an NPC, or an encounter area with some creatures? That way we would get something useful and Wil Wheaton would still bae able to write for the magazine.
Um...I still think Wil Save is a waste. Why don't you have him create an NPC, or an encounter area with some creatures? That way we would get something useful and Wil Wheaton would still bae able to write for the magazine.
Some of us still see providing the human connection as useful. I still like Wil Save, and it is still one of the first things I read every issue.
- Ashavan
"Some of us still see providing the human connection as useful."
Agreed. When you're not connecting with a self-absorbed, boring human.
Well, as I said before, the reason I subscribed to Dungeon was AFTER I read Wil Save. I like having an article that "bridges the gap" as was stated earlier. It's still the first article I read and I still enjoy every one. I have avoided the True Dungeon experience, but have already convinced my fellow gamers to join me in a round at Gen Con Indy '05, all due to Wil's article. Personally, I don't associate Wil Wheaton with Wesley Crusher, anymore than I associate Jeri Ryan with Seven of Nine. Wil could have used the pseudonym of "Joe Bob in the Mail Room" and I would enjoy it for the insight into an experienced gamer's mind. The articles are entertaining, fun and a joy to read. Maybe you have to had played games outside of D&D to really "get it"!
"Dungeon readers are my favorite readers of all."
Well, I must admit that I am getting a little tired of the notion that readers who can't stand Wil "Hey, Did I Mention I Used To Be Famous?" Wheaton's column are somehow against having a "human element" in the magazine. I, for one, used to love Roger Moore's multi-page Dragon editorials in the 90s where he would wax philosophic on roleplaying and how it relates to the "real world." Probably that's a minority opinion, but they really made me think and reflect, and that's good.
Personally, I found your recent editorial about the old dungeon notes that you created as a kid and recently unearthed (exploding dogs!) to be about a million times more entertaining and relevant to the hobby of roleplaying and how it shapes us as people. The point is: It's not that what Wil Save is intended to do isn't worth doing, but rather that it is worth doing well.
Wil Wheaton is great at relating the details of the pedestrian life of Wil Wheaton, but as for making that relevant to us, or even just not dull, he does a poor job IMHO.
Maybe you have to had played games outside of D&D to really "get it"!
Maybe Wil Save should be put in a magazine that caters to more than D&D.
Hey, I liked Car Wars...so I bought Auto Duel Quatrterly.
I would have been pissed if I had found an article about D&D in Auto Duel Quarterly.
No difference.
There is no gap in DUNGEON. DUNGEON is a place for adventures and in game useable resources. Look at DUNGEON's great history.
I still say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Although I bet a centerfold would increase readership more than Wil Save does. But I don't want that either. DUNGEON should continue to focus on D&D useable resources as it always has. And with the exception of Wil Save I think it has done an outstanding job. Full color, monthly, adventure paths, some of the best authors in the industry, DUNGEON rocks. I don't think it needs flavorless puffy icing, but The staff seems to think that is what will attract the kiddies.
The idea of keeping Wil (and thus his name on the cover) but having him write an actual usefull game artical is the best of both worlds and a Win-Win solution, but I suspect that it is beyond both Wil's capabilities and his understanding of D&D game mechanics.
ASEO out
"Some of us still see providing the human connection as useful."
Agreed. When you're not connecting with a self-absorbed, boring human.
Chuckle. Very few posts make me laugh out loud out work but that one did.
Creative Director
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I still say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Agreed. Before issue #114, the sad truth is that Dungeon WAS broke. Wil Save is one of many steps we took to fix it, and those steps seem to have done just that; fixed it. Now that we seem to have a combination in the magazine that has resulted in increased numbers across the board and a dramatic increase in positive reader feedback, I'm hesitant to make any changes to any element of the magazine for the exact reason you quote. It's not broke, so it doesn't need fixing.
Amen, James. From looking at the posts, several readers like Wil Saves.
I'm just somewhat confused as to WHY ASEO feels he MUST read Wil Saves if he doesn't enjoy it. It's pretty easy to finish with Downer and close the magazine. He doesn't even have to look at Wil's by-line.
As soon as he gets his copy, he can take a bottle of elmer's glue, open the last page, glop on some glue, close the last page, and it's as if Wil Save's didn't exist for him! Problem solved! The rest of us can enjoy our article in peace and ASEO can feel like he's "king of the world"!
[Couldn't leave Yamo that Fodder! He'd break sooner or later!]
"Any chance Wil can get a special insert as well?!"
So...tempting...
Too easy, though. Even for me. :)
In all fairness I likED Wil Save but it has gotten sad. Maybe he could try to LISTEN to some of the criticisms.
As far as Wil adding to sales...maybe we're coming back to Dungeon because the adventures and cover art are better. I don't know your demographics research but I'd guess that the people who remember Wil from STNG aren't just discovering Dungeon.
I'd like free convention listing page there or another Zogonia.
If Wil's been hurt by this thread tell him we're sorry, Then ask if he's got Alf's number and if he's available to write Alf Save.
Hey, since Wil Save is evidently a huge bost to DUNGEON, then I'll not fight to have it removed. I would just like to think that there is a way that I could enjoy the ENTIRE magazine like I did for 114 issues.
Would readers who like Wil's writing complain if he wrote something that had in game value? You could always still go to his Blog for the fluff.
ASEO out
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I could have purchased (had intended to purchase) Dungeon today, as I have for several years and with particular enthusiasm since Eric Mona's reign, but I chose not to buy it specifically because of Wheaton's "column." I simply cannot tolerate this piece any longer.
I have been following this discussion for sometime but have allowed ASEO to speak for me, now the wallet speaks for me.
Useless drivel that has driven me away from one of my favorite sources for Dungeons and Dragons material. (I bought Dragon, though! Please don't move that "blog" to Dragon!)
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I could have purchased (had intended to purchase) Dungeon today, as I have for several years and with particular enthusiasm since Eric Mona's reign, but I chose not to buy it specifically because of Wheaton's "column." I simply cannot tolerate this piece any longer.
Well, it's bound to end at some point. Hope to see you back with the magazine when that happens.
It is beyond belief to me that one page could encourage you to stop buying something you once bought enthusiastically, but that is your decision, no matter how bewildering I find it, and I must respect it.
See you when we see you.
--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dragon & Dungeon
I am sorry to see some do not value Wil Wheaton's contribution. I think getting over worked over any one or five articles in a magazine is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Overall, the magazines promote gaming and contribute to what I consider an excellent way of socializing with friends and family.
Moreover, I specifically charge to the last page now, because of Wil's real life application of my favorite hobby. His experiences are a window into the soul and life of this gamer. He sees things as I do and his writing style shows how he has managed to balance our hobby with real life. Which at times is quite awkward at best among certain company.
I am not a fan of the comics. Not one do I follow since Wormy so long ago. If I can pay for a few pages I don't enjoy, I think others can learn to appreciate that not every page or article will appeal to every reader. $3.40 is a small price to pay for a single useful idea or thought. Look for the one that returns that value instead of trashing on any single article or author.
Moreover, I specifically charge to the last page now, because of Wil's real life application of my favorite hobby.
I'm sorry to hear that D&D is not you favorite hobby. Must be Steve Jackson games, Larping, or Star Trek...or Wil Wheaton?.
Oh well, to each his own.
I think there are many people, including myself that see Wil Save as the first non-gaming page to worm it's way into what has always been a great DM resource magazine. It is not a gamer magazine, but a D&D magazine, full of in-game useable resources. I just hope Wil Save isn't the first sign of things to come and the anti-D&Ding of DUNGEON.
I really hope people don't cancell their subscriptions over Wil Save, and I honestly believe that people are not foolish enough to pay for the magazine just for the one page that is Wil Save. Once again, though, if this is the case, I'll gladly sell anyone my copy of Wil Save for half the subscription price of the Magazine. I'll even put it in a protective plastic page protecter and mail it directly to you using your choice of post (at buyers expence).
I would encourage people to stop by Wil's Blog (the address is at the bottom of his advertisement for the site titled "Wil Save"). When you are there, if you think Wil Save should actually have some D&D content, then leave Wil a NICE note (less you be labeled a “Wesley Hater” and instantly have your comments discounted) telling Wil that you would be more favorably attuned to his adverti...um...article, if he would be kind enough to please discuss the topic for which the magazine is written, D&D, and please refrain from mentioning anything to do with Star Trek, Steve Jackson Games, or the pitiful state of any part of his existence. My guess is that Wil is so busy with his new writing career that he hasn’t had the chance to check out these boards, and has yet to be informed by his audience that he is a bit off topic.
And for those of you who live Wil Save the way it is. I would encourage you to subscribe to DRAGON if you have not yet done so. DRAGON includes short stories, and other out-of-game articles that should be right up your alley if you find a magazine completely and utterly devoted to a single topic (D&D) to tedious that you believe it needs a articles related to other topics.
ASEO out
Please don't let Wil Save be the first drop in the bucket.
I've been amusedly reading these posts for weeks and kept silent. But I think I'll chime in.
#1: ASEO, you have my vote for Grand Pooba of the He-man Wil Save Haters Club. You've worked very hard to let us all know that you have an opinion, so there you go. Congrutalations!
#2: For my part, I don't find the article detracting or significantly beneficial to the magazine. Some have been amusing. Others a little trite. But the same can be said of many other articles that have made it in to various issues over the years. And most of those were definitely more than a single page at the VERY BACK of the magazine.
#3: I never realized how many drama queens play D&D. It's very enlightening! And a bit embarassing.
#2: For my part, I don't find the article detracting or significantly beneficial to the magazine. Some have been amusing. Others a little trite. But the same can be said of many other articles that have made it in to various issues over the years.
What such articles?
#3: I never realized how many drama queens play D&D. It's very enlightening! And a bit embarassing.
Add the fact that one is writing Wil Save...I agree, embarassing ;-)
ASEO out
#3: I never realized how many drama queens play D&D. It's very enlightening! And a bit embarassing.
Let's face it, most D&D players are geeks. And we're currently having this discussion on a messageboard for a publisher of magazines related to D&D. We've got the geekiest of the geekiest here, my friend... And geeks like nothing better than to hear themselves rant at length about something they don't really know enough about. :-)
As an ubergeek, I'm allowed to make such broad generalisations. ;-)
And ASEO: I still disagree with you. I do find Wil Save contributes to my D&D campaigns. Prestige classes, spells, magic items... None of those are ever likely to find their way into my campaigns, which makes them utterly useless to me. (The vast majority of such drivel is created solely to fill page space, IMO.) Some of what Wil writes about, on the other hand, is entirely applicable to my campaigns, which makes it a lot more directly useful to my campaign than most of the stuff you want to replace it with. :-)
#3: I never realized how many drama queens play D&D. It's very enlightening! And a bit embarassing.
Add the fact that one is writing Wil Save...I agree, embarassing ;-)ASEO out
LOL :)
Some of what Wil writes about, on the other hand, is entirely applicable to my campaigns, which makes it a lot more directly useful to my campaign than most of the stuff you want to replace it with. :-)
Really? What in particulat from Wil Save made it into your game?
ASEO out
I'm really not a jerk. I just play one on this thread.
"Really? What in particulat from Wil Save made it into your game?"
Maybe his PCs spent a whole session bumming around a casino with a washed-up actor and talking about Magic: the Gathering? :)
Wil Save post #478.
Can you believe it? I would guess that by now, the word count ABOUT Wil Save is greater than the published articles themselves. How can this be?
I'm rooting for 1000 posts. It's more fascinating than a train wreck.
I had mentioned some time earlier that I don't like Wil's articles much, but I support them since they're helpful in building new readership to the magazine, and to D&D in general. But why don't I actually like the article? It isn't reasoned logic, it's emotional.
It's because I'm bitter that a non-gamer gets the right to write about my favorite pastime. Heck, I've paid my dues, spending countless $$$, time, effort, creativity, and so on, just to share my loves and philosophies about the game with a small, limited circle of friends.
Now, Wil gets to come out of the woodwork and write a monthly page in my favoirte magazine every month, reaching an audience of tens of thousands. Apparantly, he isn't discussing D&D much. To ASEO and others who have been extremely consistent about their hatred of this tiny one-page article in the back of a great magazine, I'll say that you'd be great if it were you. YOU (ASEO and others) could write a great article if you had the shot. I KNOW I could do better too, if I had a chance. . . but I don't. That's life.
Is this what is so darn offensive to everybody? Do you guys just think it's unfair because you believe you can write a better article based on your countless years of experience? Or that you somehow deserve it more? Wil's voice in the magazine may be considered unfair to a hard-core gamer who's paid his dues, but so what? Again, that's life. (It's not really unfair, IMPO)
You won't get a shot at your own monthly article by checking out Wil Wheaton's blog for hate-fodder, or posting here every single day, okay?
Sorry if I am off-base about you emotions or motivations, but other that this, I REALLY fail to understand how this topic warrants 478 posts, or the extreme act of people actually cancelling their subscriptions.
Wow.
Do you guys just think it's unfair because you believe you can write a better article based on your countless years of experience? Or that you somehow deserve it more? Wil's voice in the magazine may be considered unfair to a hard-core gamer who's paid his dues, but so what? Again, that's life. (It's not really unfair, IMPO)
You won't get a shot at your own monthly article by checking out Wil Wheaton's blog for hate-fodder, or posting here every single day, okay?
I have no interest if inserting my own fluff in place of Wil's. I understand why the editor has put Wil Save in DUNGEON. I just think that if Wil would actually write in game useable information about D&D, something that he apparently is not very familiar with, then there could be a win-win solution for everybody.
Sorry if I am off-base about you emotions or motivations, but other that this, I REALLY fail to understand how this topic warrants 478 posts, or the extreme act of people actually cancelling their...
The squeeky wheel gets the April Fool's joke.
ASEO out
Have Wil write Side Treks.
What Wil Save should be.
I love first level
I’ve been gaming for over 22 years now. In that time I’ve played
If your goal is to use this post to convince me why I should dislike Wil Save you have failed.
However if your goal is to right a good and entertaining post; well there you hit the nail on the head. Interesting insights and something I had never really put much thought into.
In fact as a DM I mostly don't like first level. For a DM here the pressure is really on not to make any sort of mis-step since you can so easily wipe a party out and kill off your whole campaign. So as a DM i tend to breath a sigh of releaf when the party hits 3rd. My life has just become so much easier...but your certianly correct in that the need for deoderant and air freshener around the gaming table drops dramatically as the players too know that they are no longer in likely to die at any second from something they never saw coming.
If your goal is to use this post to convince me why I should dislike Wil Save you have failed.However if your goal is to right a good and entertaining post; well there you hit the nail on the head. Interesting insights and something I had never really put much thought into.
My poinnts were
1. First level can be fun.
2. Wil could have a good article if he wrote something positive about D&D. Several people have commented that they liked my "I love First Level" post. Thost people coulf have been praising Wil had he written it. I just think Wil is not as familiar with the audience of Dungeon as he could be.
My goal has never been to convince people to like or dis like Wil Save, but my own personal viewpoint on the matter, and a desire (which Erik had finally produced answers to ) to know why what I view as an abomination to DUNGEON has appeared within it's pages. That being said, I now see why Wil Save is there (I still don't like it). I just hope to see the increased benifits that are reaped by the new readership it might be producing. I also think that If Wil would write in-game useable articles, his page would not feel so out of place.
Once again, I'm glad you liked the "I love first level" post and to this day running first level characters through their first adventure is still my favorite past time.
ASEO out
Keep the D&D coming
I kind of expected that. In short, yes. However, as I'm sure you know, it is more complicated than that. In any form of publication, there is some kind of "theme". If you read the newspaper, you are going to find information on current events. That is the "theme". If you read "Entertainment Weekly" you're going to find out information about celebrities. That is the "theme".Now, there is nothing wrong with being entertained by those magazines. However, their "purpose" is not to entertain so much as to educate. Entertainment is a legitimate by-product. Likewise, I am entertained by Dungeon. However, I can get entertainment by checking out a book at the library or turning on the TV, neither of which costs me money. If Paizo wanted to publish "Brett's Magazine" in which every article were dedicated to entertaining me, I doubt I would complain. However, I don't expect them to consider my interests when putting their magazine together. I like anime, and I like 19th century literature. If they put more than 2 pages of either in the magazine, I would stop subscribing. If I wanted a magazine on anime, I would get a magazine on anime.
You're lucky to find parts of the magazine entertaining, but I don't think you can make a legitimate argument that entertaining its readers should be the purpose of Dungeon. But, if you would like to - be my guest.
Damn you, you rotten....
Your begining to win me over to your point of view. Thats some pretty tight writing you got there. Your argument makes a fair bit of sense.
Admittedly you have some compatriots on this issue that also have some good writing and make strong points.
That said I guess I still have some patience with the Wil Save feature. Maybe it will improve. Also I tend to think Downer is kind of the weak link in your position. I find that even more useless then the Wil Save article. I love D&D themed comics but I like them short and funny.
I do think that the basic idea of a page devoted to less 'crunchy' bits of DMing would be nice. However maybe they could replace the Wil Save article with collections of stories about DMing (or maybe playing) varous D&D adventures - especially Dungeon Adventures along the lines of what we saw in the Castle Maure thread. Some of those stories where an absolute riot to read - though reading about DMs that had the adventure turn into a train wreck (or alternitivly go absolutely swimmingly) would be informative as well.
"However maybe they could replace the Wil Save article with collections of stories about DMing (or maybe playing) varous D&D adventures..."
Now that's an idea I can stomach!
The magazine is improving by almost every metric I have to measure. Subscriptions are up. Newsstand "efficiency" (ratio of sold to unsold newsstand copies) is up. Ad sales are up.
Well thats good news since its likely to convert into benifits of one kind or another for the readership.
Certianly the varous improvements to the magazine have helped (though there are some bits that I miss as well - Like Side Treks).
However I suspect that much of your increase in sales may have to do with a bit of a recovery in the pen and papar RPG market in general and the excellent and tight rules in 3.5 edition. Some of Wotc policies are helping to bring in players as well.
My hunch would be that magazines like Dungeon and organizations like WoTC need to work to bring back older gamers just about as much as they need to introduce new blood to the hobby. I suspect that there are many thousands of gamers who played D&D in college or wherever and then left the hobby in general when real life took over and they got careers and babys. Suddenly there was never time and getting everyone together for a game on anything approaching a reguler basis was difficult. Some of this I think is being adressed by the varous organizations involved. The tight rules in 3.5 does make adventure design that much more efficient and if you save me time in making good games I have more time to work on getting a game together.
One of the big things I think WoTC did to help the hobby was the SRD. This has allowed many publishers not directly involved in with WoTC to work within the setting under the basic premise of whats good for D&D in general is good for WoTC in particuler and vice versa. A concept I agree with. If I like some third party material I end up picking up WoTC material as well - particlualrly the core books.
That said I think they could do more to make the SRD more available and more prominent. The SRD is what brought me back into the fold. An older gamer buddy of mine ran into it in the web and forwarded it to me. Pretty soon I got excited and began to forward it to some other friends. Soon enough we all got interested and all of a sudden we had a game going again after 7 years or so of not playing. Now it soon becomes apparent that one really can't play that much with merely the SRD so we went out and grabbed the books new 3.5 books - where impressed and so it goes. For Dungeon this is a good thing since, if there is a game going, I'll buy them religously and am already going back to fill out soem of the issues I'm missing.
Agreed. Before issue #114, the sad truth is that Dungeon WAS broke. Wil Save is one of many steps we took to fix it, and those steps seem to have done just that; fixed it. Now that we seem to have a combination in the magazine that has resulted in increased numbers across the board and a dramatic increase in positive reader feedback, I'm hesitant to make any changes to any element of the magazine for the exact reason you quote. It's not broke, so it doesn't need fixing.
You'll have to eventually anyway. Certianly issue #37 is considered a real classic and it was probably note broke when it came out. Nut I doubt it would work if that exact issue where put out today.
I have to hope that Dungeon is contstantly evolving and hopefully catering to the readerships interests. On top of that I suspect that you have to take some risks some of the time in order to find out what works and what immediatly sends your readers into a frothing frenzy. Presumably sometimes it will be a brilliant call and sometimes a blunder. c'est la vie...at least the magazine won't be stagnant.
I'm just somewhat confused as to WHY ASEO feels he MUST read Wil Saves if he doesn't enjoy it.
Still if he does not like it and can express that in a reasonable way then he certianly should do so, IMO.
...and I finally made it through to the last post. Took about three days of coming back to this thread every time I stopped in (I defy anyone to read the enture thread without a breaks).
Whew...what a thread. One almost expects a medal or something when they get to the end of it.
...and I finally made it through to the last post. Took about three days of coming back to this thread every time I stopped in (I defy anyone to read the enture thread without a breaks).
Whew...what a thread. One almost expects a medal or something when they get to the end of it.
I wish this message board would let me edit my posts for a good deal longer...a bunch of mistakes in this post that I can see but can no longer correct.
Grumble...
So, I got issue 123. I was reading through it and I reached Wil Save. I must admit. I was truly impressed. It was well written and really drew mw into the story. And this time it was even about D&D. I was so impressed with the change in style that I have converted and become a true fan of Wil Save. I was glad to see that Wil actually reads Dungeon his use of the "Explosion Dog" from Erik's editorial was pure genius. And the fact that is now a fully illustrated side bar. Outstanding!
Oh wait that was Mt. Zargon, not Wil Save... um...never mind.
ASEO out
Back up Quarter Hack
Yeah, and it only took him, what, a year and four hundred critical posts to figure it out? What a coincidence.
But seriously, as if I would ever confuse something as well written as Mt. Zogon with the Blog advertisement that is Wil Save.
What a coincidence.
Coincidence? Que?
Although, I will give Props to Erik for putting Wil Save in the very back where it is much harder to stumble across it. If I carefully open the magazine and tape the last page to the cover I may be able to stop the infection. (This also grants me a bouns to avoid the gaze of the creepy illustration that accompanies Wil Save.)
ASEO out
Explosion Dog...that's just rich.
Erik - I'll buy you a beer (or whatever) at GenCon if you move Wil Save to some new location within the magazine, just once, solely to tweak Aseo. :smirk:
Erik - I'll buy you a beer (or whatever) at GenCon if you move Wil Save to some new location within the magazine, just once, solely to tweak Aseo. :smirk:
See Wil Save makes people evil. EVIL. Listen to the little angle on you sholder Erik. No, not the little red dude with the horns and tai... No, no not him...I don't want to cry...not anymore... please don't make me cry... I don't know if I can take it much more...:whimper: Happy thoughts! happy thughts...Full color...Monthly...Adventure Paths... Campaign Arcs...Breathe deep...there, there...he didn't mean it...everything will be alright.
ASEO out
I'm going home.
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So, I was married this weekend. Which leaves me in a generally good mood. I did read Wil Save before I left - I didn't want to have to dread reaching it while I read through the rest of the magazine.
Wil hasn't played D&D for an entire year? Is that what he's saying. For a gamer that is a long stretch.
Am I surprised? Not really.
Does that make my observations about him appearing to try to hard and fail to truly understand gaming culture appear more accurate?
I guess it doesn't matter. I can have hate for Wil Save more than China has people, but all that matters is the opinions of the editors.
I also just got the latest issue (#123) and found the "Wil Save" article totally confusing... am I to understand that a whole YEAR has gone by and he has still not been able to sit down and play ONE single game with his kid????
Maybe his step-son just doesn't want to play, and can't figure out a good way to tell him?
Yeah, he loves it so much he just can't bring himself to play the game. Guess he's too busy thinking up new ways not to talk about it in his so-called D&D column.
We're almost to 500 posts about Wil Save!!!!! Quick everyone post!!!!! :) I read the latest Wil Save. I promised to try it again earlier in the thread but maybe I'll give him next month too as I suspect that the article was already at the printer by the time I said I would give him a second chance. However, that being said.....This one sure stunk! Having a beer with a friend and talking about the kids. Hmmmmmmmm.......just didn't work for me.
--Ray.
When you play the game and you're an adult, with a family, sometimes finding time to play the game is difficult. Life has a way of interfering with something that as a hobby can't be the priority in life.
As a gamer with a family, I struggle to find time to game. With a weekly game, a freelance editing gig, and my ongoing quest to become published in the pages of Dungeon and Dragon magazines, I frequently find myself constantly short of time to get everything done. Our game often gets cancelled for a family obligation, or because one too many of the players just can't come to the gaming session for one reason or another.
For me, this was one of the most valid Wil Save articles that Wil has done. Three years ago, I was Wil - trying to find time to convert the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh so that I could finally sit down and play the game again with my husband and his friends. Something always seemed to interfere, and it was almost two years before I finally convened the game.
Now, in part because I'm actively writing, editing, and trying to get published, I make playing the game a priority because it helps me stay current with what is going on and what is out there in terms of supplements, new rules and the like. Wil stated his priority for his kids - making sure that they do their academic work. He is sacrificing something to let them concentrate on what he believes will help them in their future. D&D represents an activity he can do with his step-children that will allow him to connect more with them. Do you think he's not frustrated that they are unable to find time to game?
Feh. Good Wil Save... looking forward to the next one.
- Ashavan
Not just beer - Guinness! At least he has good taste. :D