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The Wil Save article was an enjoyable read. I always read this before I embarked on the rest of the Dungeon content.
If Will Wheaton’s article is to be replaced, I would like to read brief articles on the subject of DMing, as experienced by “celebrity” guest gaming personages of the past and present.
Cheers
DDM
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Why gripe over that one page? I mean, if ya don't like it, why not just think of it as ad space? Who would bother to think twice about a one page ad in Dungeon they didn't like?Seriously.
Well, there is no sense griping over it anymore. The column has been discontinued, so there is no point in actually griping. But, in response to your point, Wil Save was not an ad. Why should I think of it that way? Wil Save, as a feature of the magazine, took up one page that could have been devoted to other content.
While it is a simple value judgement (Wil Save is good or Wil Save is bad) that has little bearing on the overall quality of the magazine, I personally felt that the one page was quite important. Those aspects of the magazine that are devoted toward providing material I can use in my game are heavily favored over those that do not.
The comics, for me, are alright, but unnecessary. I would trade in Wil Save, and all the comics for a critical threat each month. I know that won't happen, but I'm still happy to think that the one page that Wil Save occupied will be devoted toward other (in my opinion more useful) endeavors for the magazine.
I don't want to tell anyone that they're wrong to enjoy Wil Save, but I never did. I couldn't get in to it, and several of the columns were, in my opinion, horrendously bad. Those that seem to like the column seem reluctant to speak about particular columns that are not "up to snuff". The "in-character" True Dungeon column is one such "bad" column. I have yet to see anyone defend that particular column.
And, my point regarding the last column also seems to be difficult to deny. Dungeon provides at least three quality adventures in each issue, and yet Wil Wheaton chose to download the Orc and Pie adventure to DM for his step-son. He chose to ignore the resource that Dungeon provides for the course of an entire year.
While I think there is room in the magazine for ex-players as well as players, I think that regular columns should be reserved for people who are currently active in the gaming community. Whether writing game supplements, editing a major hobby publication, or playing in a weekly game, a person will have immediate experiences that would apply to a "gaming and real life column," and it became obvious to me very early that Wil Wheaton did not have any recent experiences of "true" D&D to draw upon for inspiration.
I'd rather not see the column back at all, but if it does come back, it is my sincere hope that Wil Wheaton have the opportunity (or make the committment) to game regularly in order to reconnect with the hobby and the readers that failed to "connect" to his writing.
And don't forget, you can still read about Wil Wheaton's activities at: http://www.wilwheaton.net/
Ok...I'm glad I found this thread because I've been really needing to get some things off my chest.
First...to all of you who hated the fact that Wil Save took away from "your" magazine...well...here's me telling you that you are "number 1".
Second...I loved having this article in Dungeon. This is the thing that gaming magazines were missing overall. Sure he may not be a writter, or an editor, or even a game designer, but what he does have experience in is playing.
Too often are the things we buy covered (sometimes over and over again) only by those who mainly write, edit, or design the games. Sure they have experience playing but most of their writting comes from their chosen field of expertise.
Wil brought the gamer's viewpoint to the forefront...even for a moment.
Another thing is that I'm a father of a 9 (almost 10) year old girl who loves the same movies I do (Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, comic book movies, etc). Plus my niece and nephew are near the same age as my child and both like to play games as opposed to sit in front of a TV or a video game system. Wil's view points on trying to find time to fit DnD into a growing child's scedule was what I needed to find for my own family's needs (and my own as well). So far I've been able to have the kids over twice to all play together, and part of this comes from Wil's articles. Plus on top of all that while I am not an actor (I'm a DJ/concert promoter) I can understand some of his points on how growing up in the lime light felt to him and cramped his time away from gaming.
Don't get me wrong. Dungeon is a great magazine, as is Dragon, but it's better off with Wil Save than without.
If those of you out there who scream from the rooftops in opposition of this still feel the same way after reading this post then why don't you just take your dice and go elsewhere.
Thanks.
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I still feel the same way.
I hope you find an article that fills your obvious need, but Wil Save didn't do it for me. I have no intention of taking my dice and going elsewhere. Personally, I think Dungeon is the best it has ever been, and the removal of Wil Save contributes to that impression.
I would have liked Wil Save much better if it were in Dragon magazine (I think it would have been a better fit), and I would have appreciated Mr. Wheaton having gotten in some recent playing experience.
There are also particular columns (gaming in Vegas, I'm a bard, and Orc & Pie) that I strongly disliked.
Wil Save was my favorite....