This sucks. I have waited years and finally broke down and got a subscription this year hoping to get all the goodies contained within. Things like the deck of many things, poster maps, miniature maps, DM screens, ANYTHING.
What have I gotten? NADADAMNTHING. Since Feburary or March (can't remember, my first issue) there has been no freebies. Now my subscription will be running out soon, and I don't know whether to resubscribe. But, if I don't, I know the next issue I don't receive will have somthing in it...I'll goshdarn guarentee that.
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In general, I'd also support more freebies, but I'm greedy that way. I do know some of the reasons they aren't a frequent addition to the magazine.
1) Cost. This factors into all decisions they make. Adding something to the magazine costs more, and if they don't charge extra for it, well, it costs them something.
2) Clear wrapping. Many "bonuses" require that the magazine be wrapped to prevent the material from being lost on the newstand, etc. A number of readers have complained that they can't decide whether to purchase a copy of the magazine if they can't look through it first.
3) What do people want? There doesn't seem to be consensus about what features they can provide. The monster tokens they were offering for a while are not "universally functional". I don't know if they have any ideas for good freebies (though with Dungeon, it has been pretty frequent with bonus maps).
This sucks. I have waited years and finally broke down and got a subscription this year hoping to get all the goodies contained within. Things like the deck of many things, poster maps, miniature maps, DM screens, ANYTHING.
What have I gotten? NADADAMNTHING.
I'm confused. You paid for a product (Dragon) and have been given the product you've paid for but you're unhappy because you didn't get something free? If you're not in it for the magazine itself it'd seem your money would've been better spent elsewhere like buying a DM screen, packs of minis, downloading the Deck of Many Things PDF (which, I believe is still findable and FREE.)
Seem's Paizo's delivered on it's end seeing as you've gotten your subscription's worth, I don't see how they owe anything. Sure, getting a bonus map or some sort of handout is cool (I use the Crystal Caste free d6 that came in one issue a while back) but it's just that: a bonus, not an expectation. If Dragon & Dungeon were like most computer mags these days with "free" CDs (which at $10 a pop they ain't free, the magazine is the freebie considering the amount of advertising in them) then, sure, be miffed if suddenly you're still shelling out the $10 for just the mag. Dragon & Dungeon don't run that way and I, for one, have no complaints there. Every issue has exactly what I pay for: articles and adventures for the game I love. If I get an extra bit of fun once in a while, cool.
All I know is I'll resubscribe when the time comes, and it'll still be worth it.
- Chris Shadowens
Yes, I did buy a product and it was delivered as promised. As to the value of the product, opinions vary. I want to like it, but so far am not impressed. No offense intended to the writers, the magazine seems stagnant. Nothing I see today makes me think "wow", like I did 10 years ago.
This was not meant as a rant so much as an observation. I've bought the back issues to get the goodies. I guess I selfishly "expected" something in 7-8 months, pointing out the past frequency. Sorry, I want a little more than "delivered as promised." Sounds mediocre.
I'd wager the quantity and price of subscriptions would support a freebee every few months without Paizo "selling the farm".
The title of this thread brought to mind something totally different--check urbandictionary.com if you don't follow.
The title of this thread brought to mind something totally different--check urbandictionary.com if you don't follow.
He starts off his thread with ...this sucks....I think he meant it, Rob.
In all seriousness, Dragon magazine delivers as much usefulness to me now as it did when I first subscribed to it 25 years ago. I had all the first 250 issues on disk and I wa able to use about 10-15% of the magazine in my campaign, which is pretty darn good, I think, for $3.XX per issue.
I would never "expect" freebies in any magazine. If the freebies make it or break it for you, you probably need to spend your $39 a year on some other gaming product, like a sourcebook with a set of dice or something.
In the three issues that I've received on my new subscription so far, I've found one usable prestige class, six usable new spells, a whole alchemical system for fire, several new magic items and a great city map. Best bang for the buck in gaming...(please don't look up bang for the buck in the urbandictionary, Rob)
This sucks. I have waited years and finally broke down and got a subscription this year hoping to get all the goodies contained within. Things like the deck of many things, poster maps, miniature maps, DM screens, ANYTHING.
What have I gotten? NADADAMNTHING. Since Feburary or March (can't remember, my first issue) there has been no freebies. Now my subscription will be running out soon, and I don't know whether to resubscribe. But, if I don't, I know the next issue I don't receive will have somthing in it...I'll goshdarn guarentee that.
Did you think that maybe it might be better to buy copies with free stuff from the newsstand instead of a subscription? Apparently, you missed out on the 4-part Greyhawk map that are still available as back issues.