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From Goodman Games:
Level up your 4E game! Level Up is the official 4E RPG magazine from Goodman Games. Covering all things 4E, Level Up includes adventures, character options, new monsters, Azagar’s Advice for Adventurers, and the endearing wisdom of Dear Archmage Abby. All for only $1.99! Look for the first issue at your local store in April.
Rest of the post can be found here
A print magazine for $2? Is this possible, or is it a loss-leader?
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Two thoughts:
1. This won't end well. It's competing directly with WOTC's Dungeon and Dragon and they won't like that one bit.
2. Does this mean KQ can finally stop trying to appease the 4e crowd and go completely OGL? I for one would welcome this!
1) I worry about this too. That said, Goodman seems to be the guys willing to push what can be done, and there is a niche for print magazines. The question will be 'is it big enough?'
2) Wolfgang is a businessman, he'll go where the money (and articles) are. I'm all for KQ being OGL, but understand if GSL content slips in now and again.
(I'm reading through vol II of Kobold's guide to game design, given me a lot of food for thought)
As is, two 3PP magazine, one accepting only GSL, and one accepting both, gives lots of oportunities for local submissions.
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1. This won't end well. It's competing directly with WOTC's Dungeon and Dragon and they won't like that one bit.
Huh. Both are going to hate me still I'll be purchasing both.
2. Does this mean KQ can finally stop trying to appease the 4e crowd and go completely OGL? I for one would welcome this!
I hope not. I like/play both systems and cheered when KQ offered 4E stuff.
A print magazine for $2? Is this possible, or is it a loss-leader?
From what I understand, it's going to be 32 pages, so yes, a loss-leader, but one that shouldn't hurt the bottom line too much.
I would think that this is an educational tool to let the public know that Goodman is 4e compatible. I remember seeing threads on the Goodman forum about how it was a constant fight to inform people that, "Yes, DCCs are indeed compatible with 3.X!" I've even heard that one of the most common questions Wizards had regarding Dungeon and Dragon (when they were still in print from Paizo) was if it was indeed official content and if what was found within could be used in official campaigns.
Ludicrous yes, but it seems that brand loyalty for D&D is very high if people actively inquire about the validity of a product that says "100% official D&D content".
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32
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From what I understand, it's going to be 32 pages, so yes, a loss-leader, but one that shouldn't hurt the bottom line too much.
I'm going to guess that this is viewed by GG as less of a magazine and more as an advertising tool. And a brilliant one, if it works and if WOTC's notorious L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. don't come down on them like hammers for some imagined slight or another.
I'm going to guess that this is viewed by GG as less of a magazine and more as an advertising tool. And a brilliant one, if it works and if WOTC's notorious L.A.W.Y.E.R.S. don't come down on them like hammers for some imagined slight or another.
With a banner over the title exclaiming, "Save 20% on 4E Modules! See Inside Cover" it's advertising at its best.
This is the same size as the Free RPG day DCC modules they put out, so I hope Mr. Goodman has some statistics on pricing and effects on sales. Putting this out four times a year is probably nothing on their bottom line.
With the GSL mess and the PR hit that WotC took subsequently (and the birth of Pathfinder as the biggest by-product of it all) I would venture a guess that they don't sick the legal team on this one.
I don't think there's a whole lot of "competition" that GG's magazine can pose when the big dog in the arena features articles by the game's designers, official content for living games, preview and playtest material for upcoming products, bonus tools and a fully-functional character builder program featuring 100% integration with digital magazine and published product material.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I don't think there's a whole lot of "competition" that GG's magazine can pose when the big dog in the arena features articles by the game's designers, official content for living games, preview and playtest material for upcoming products, bonus tools and a fully-functional character builder program featuring 100% integration with digital magazine and published product material.
Have they got that "bonus tools and a fully-functional character builder program featuring 100% integration with digital magazine and published product material" working yet?
And I disagree, this is aimed more at the FLGS gamer, or the Goodman Games Geek. Heck, with the recent layoffs at WotC, Goodman Games could get articles by Linae Foster, or other former WotC employees. Heck, maybe Ari for that matter.
Heck, if I'm a 4e player with the Goodman Games class book, and I can get a $2 magazine that has an article on 'Goodman Games Shaman and 4e druids. Two great tastes that taste great together!' I'll likely plop down the $2 to show my DM to increase the playability of the book I own.
I think it's a good move. Not to put words in Wolfgang's mouth, but KQ is more popular than expected, and it doesn't have all the electronic toys.
*Snarky Alert*
Nah, it'll never be successful.
I mean, c'mon, everyone knows that the printed page is a dying medium, and that providing a virtual product is much more in tune with the mindset of a new generation of gamers; at least much more than something that they can actually purchase, touch and collect. GG does not even mention if a subscriber has the choice of incurring the extra added expense of using ones own ink, paper and printer to make another hard copy of product, which as we all now know, is the successful wave of the future.
Heck, I bet that GG will even be able to provide relevant and timely 4E content on a monthly schedule! A monthly schedule??! What a joke! Everyone now knows that customers would much rather have to log onto the internet each day to see if such content has been squeezed out in dribs and drabs over a thirty (or so) day schedule.
And look at the planned content! Adventures! Character options! New monsters! An advice column??! How 1990's is that? Companies much smarter than GG have shown that people don't want such relevant content! They would much rather hear about how wonderful it will be that they are going to have to buy yet another $35 hardcover to find out what will be the "official" rules for character classes that were left out of the first two $35 hardcover books that they were thrilled to spend their money on. And as an added bonus, they get to read that despite the delays on promised content, the company has no new news to provide in weekly update, so the company has discontinued the weekly update.
It is obvious that THAT is the new online paradigm of customer service; that THAT is what the new generation of D&D players are all about, and that THAT is where the smart money is being made these days.
And the price!!??!! Are you KIDDING me? Two dollars each month?! Two dollars for something that I can actually buy and take home from my local game store which could provide well-written and interesting content for my 4E game? That is just plain silly! It has been shown over the last year or so that no one wants to buy an actual "print" magazine about Dungeons and Dragons. They would much rather download, read and/or incur the expense of printing out a series of combat encounters under the heading of an "adventure". Indeed, string enough of them together and you have an "adventure path"! Let's see GG do THAT with a silly $2 monthly print magazine.
Now that it has been revealed that Kobold Quarterly's sales sales are tied directly into Wolfgang's family buying multiple copies each month, the evidence that the print magazine - at any price - is dead is simply overwhelming.
I've always liked GG, but I fail to see how they arrived at the decision to publish this product. My fear is that by having to produce a high-quality, content-rich, inexpensive paper periodical each month they will soon fall victim to the same insidious disease that caused the much-deserved death of the previous incarnation of Dragon and Dungeon. Slowly, as sales increase, they could well be rotting their business from the inside.
Heck, I bet they even plan to *actually produce and ship* this thing each month as they have promised. That in and of itself is bad for this hobby, for if we as customers held successful game companies to their promises of content, some of which we have already paid for, where would it end?!!?
Anarchy, unrest and a vague feeling of ennui, that's where!
GG, I wish you well, but I cannot help feeling that if you were REALLY serious about providing 4E content, you would not be pursuing a tottering, decrepit, and failed medium such as the printed page, and instead would learn from the runaway success of other giants in the industry in promising access to rich online content, and sometimes even *delivering* on that promise.
Good luck to GG. They will need it.
*Snarky Alert has ended*
Heh. Snarkiness aside, Bear, you've got some good points. If I was playing in a 4E campaign I would buy a print magazine. I wouldn't subscribe to any of WotC's delayed, annoying, badly-delivered online content. Give me a printed magazine or give me death! :)
The edition of the game is irrevelant. As a gamer, a printed magazine is far superior and desireable than any electronic version. I'd rather spends 2 bucks at something I can flip through before I buy it at the FLGS than take my chances with some corporation telling me that I need to pay a subscription and blindly hope I get what I want. No contest here, as a gamer of any game/edition, I would always buy the paper edition.
1. See it before I buy it.
2. Remove the article and file it so I have my hard copy without wasting my own money on ink.
3. Can take it with me to work or elsewhere.
4. If I don't remove the article and would rather start a magazine collection, I can do that.
5. I can borrow it to you so you can read it as well without worrying about illeagal file sharing.
6. Printed magazines assist in retaining part of the charm of the hobby. One less step to RPG becoming a dying breed of gamers.
7. Some magazines go on to be collector items, never heard of a collector file yet.
Not saying GG magazine will go on to be a collectors item, but you know what, a mint condition 1st edition of Dragon magazine, let's see, what's that selling for these days?
Let's see....paper or electronic? Paper or electronic? Paper or electronic?
No contest, I'll take paper.
From the GG site:
"Level Up will be available in bricks-and-mortar retail stores for the low, low price of only $1.99. It will also be available via subscription and PDF for the still-reasonable price of $4.00."
Well, that's better. It's reassuring to see that GG is following the leaders and innovators in the industry by charging more for the online version than the paper one.
A $2 surcharge to access the same content of the print magazine in PDF format is entirely reasonable. Obviously, as has been shown by the successful companies in this industry, charging more for a package of content (whether or not the customer actually desires everything in that package) that the customer has limited access to (requires a PC/reader and an internet connection as opposed to a back pocket and a folded magazine) simply makes the actual content provided that much *better*.
$2 better a month, in fact.
(Note to all reading from the rational right-half of Bear's brain: I truly do wish GG the best of luck with this. I applaud them for their printed pricing decision and their stated commitment to the local game stores. While I play little 4E, I certainly will pick up the first issue or two of this publication to see if there is anything inside that is of value to me. Who knows, if the content is useful and well-written, it might even cause some folks to re-evaluate their impressions of 4E. I truly don't see a downside to any of this, aside from the fact that if it is successful it makes some decisions by that huge mega-company(tm) look a little bit more foolish. Now, how do we get KQ out bi-monthly and available at game shops for the other half of the D&D player base?)
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From the GG site:
"Level Up will be available in bricks-and-mortar retail stores for the low, low price of only $1.99. It will also be available via subscription and PDF for the still-reasonable price of $4.00."
Well, that's better. It's reassuring to see that GG is following the leaders and innovators in the industry by charging more for the online version than the paper one.
A $2 surcharge to access the same content of the print magazine in PDF format is entirely reasonable. Obviously, as has been shown by the successful companies in this industry, charging more for a package of content (whether or not the customer actually desires everything in that package) that the customer has limited access to (requires a PC/reader and an internet connection as opposed to a back pocket and a folded magazine) simply makes the actual content provided that much *better*.
Hmm, I think the subscription model means that you get the Dead-Wood and PDF product.
Hmm, I think the subscription model means that you get the Dead-Wood and PDF product.
Yup, I think you're right.
And $2 for a PDF is not out of line with the industry norm, so I retract my snarky in my previous post.
I still wish GG the best of luck, I suspect that they have found a niche that might well be good for them and the game. At least, we who like dead-wood things can hope. :)
Have they got that "bonus tools and a fully-functional character builder program featuring 100% integration with digital magazine and published product material" working yet?
Yes. In fact, two weeks ago I printed a character builder-made copy of all of my players' sheets to give to them. Now not only do I have a completely rules-valid set of PCs, but I have all of their data on my computer in an easily viewable format that allows me to do things like generate appropriate treasure. That's not even counting the increase in playability at the table, or the PCs I've created for games that I play in.
And I disagree, this is aimed more at the FLGS gamer, or the Goodman Games Geek. Heck, with the recent layoffs at WotC, Goodman Games could get articles by Linae Foster, or other former WotC employees. Heck, maybe Ari for that matter.
I agree completely. My point was that the target audience for this publication will probably be much, much smaller than Wizards' D&DI program. So much so that Wizards probably won't even consider it much in the way of competition.
The edition of the game is irrevelant. As a gamer, a printed magazine is far superior and desireable than any electronic version. I'd rather spends 2 bucks at something I can flip through before I buy it at the FLGS than take my chances with some corporation telling me that I need to pay a subscription and blindly hope I get what I want. No contest here, as a gamer of any game/edition, I would always buy the paper edition.
1. See it before I buy it.
2. Remove the article and file it so I have my hard copy without wasting my own money on ink.
3. Can take it with me to work or elsewhere.
4. If I don't remove the article and would rather start a magazine collection, I can do that.
5. I can borrow it to you so you can read it as well without worrying about illeagal file sharing.
6. Printed magazines assist in retaining part of the charm of the hobby. One less step to RPG becoming a dying breed of gamers.
7. Some magazines go on to be collector items, never heard of a collector file yet.
Not saying GG magazine will go on to be a collectors item, but you know what, a mint condition 1st edition of Dragon magazine, let's see, what's that selling for these days?
Let's see....paper or electronic? Paper or electronic? Paper or electronic?
No contest, I'll take paper.
As an exercise in counterpoint, let me list the pros of owning a digital copy of the publication:
1. Takes up no space, which is at a premium for college students.
2. I don't have to hunt through a stack of magazines to find the issue (much less the article!) that I'm looking for. Even if they're sorted alphabetically, this means you need to place them back in the correct spot each time you take one out.
3. I can copy them and share them with my friends without losing access to my own copy.
4. I can use the search command to find the article, rule, player option, monster, etc. that I'm looking for instantly.
5. It doesn't take up extra space at the game table, which is ALSO at a premium regardless of whether you're a college student or not. A lot of DMs already keep a laptop in front of them anyway.
6. If mechanics in the digital copy get revised at a later date, it's as simple as downloading the updated copy.
7. My entire magazine collection is as portable as a 1-inch square SD card. If I travel to another person's house/apartment/on campus/to a convention to game, I don't have to leave a treasure trove of rules and options behind.
See, that wasn't so hard.
3. I can copy them and share them with my friends without losing access to my own copy.
Interesting.
Has copying and sharing the content of DDi (ie. the Dungeon and Dragon online magazine, etc.) with non-subscribers to the service been addressed by WOTC?
3. I can copy them and share them with my friends without losing access to my own copy.Interesting.
Has copying and sharing the content of DDi (ie. the Dungeon and Dragon online magazine, etc.) with non-subscribers to the service been addressed by WOTC?
No reply.
I'd have to say that to my mind at least, Eileen has the better of the argument.
Um... I like both?
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Have they got that "bonus tools and a fully-functional character builder program featuring 100% integration with digital magazine and published product material" working yet?Yes. In fact, two weeks ago I printed a character builder-made copy of all of my players' sheets to give to them. Now not only do I have a completely rules-valid set of PCs, but I have all of their data on my computer in an easily viewable format that allows me to do things like generate appropriate treasure. That's not even counting the increase in playability at the table, or the PCs I've created for games that I play in.
That's actually good to hear. I don't wish WotC any ill will, so I'm glad to see that they're up and running. (yes, for once I was't being snarky).
Though this made me chuckle when I read it:
"Hasbro announced Monday its fourth quarter profits dropped thirty percent from last year. Still, investors are optimistic. They expect huge profits when the Pentagon orders one hundred and thirty-two thousand GI Joe dolls to replace the troops in Iraq." - Argus Hamilton
Why is this an argument?
Because Scott has taken a position which inferred that the person he replied to did not consider the whole of the issue with her post. He then posted a counter-position and listed his reasons. That *is* an argument.
The definition of the term "argument" does not have to include one side or the other using bitterness, anger or personal attacks (although that is the norm on the internet). I thought that they both did quite well in presenting their opinions.
My comment should be taken at face value - I read each post, and considered the argument on each side and found (and still find) that the first argument was the better of the two.
What I don't get is not just the need to defend which format one individually prefers, but the need to mock anyone who prefers the other format.
I don't see anyone here mocking another poster's position (unless perhaps you stretch one of Scott's comments). I *do* see two adults rather calmly staking out positions which have opposite conclusions (and will have, of course, for each person reading). I've seen too many internet "flame wars" to consider this particular discussion to be anything but what it was; an argument between two sides, each presenting their reasons for the position they hold.
I mean, that *is* kind of the reason for places like this, right? Again, I thought both did quite well.
I have personally found it among the best D&D purchases I've made, hands down.
So you have taken a counter-position in the argument. Welcome to the argument! :)
None of this, folks, is life threatening, and there are simply too many *real* problems in the world right now to get too worked up over a game. I hope everyone keeps in mind that no matter what position they take on an issue here, the sun will still rise, the dog will still have to be walked, and you'll still have to pay your taxes.
Be good to one another.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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None of this, folks, is life threatening, and there are simply too many *real* problems in the world right now to get too worked up over a game. I hope everyone keeps in mind that no matter what position they take on an issue here, the sun will still rise, the dog will still have to be walked, and you'll still have to pay your taxes.
Well not unless you're appointed to a cabinet level position, apparently ;-)
3. I can copy them and share them with my friends without losing access to my own copy.Interesting.
Has copying and sharing the content of DDi (ie. the Dungeon and Dragon online magazine, etc.) with non-subscribers to the service been addressed by WOTC?
No reply.
I'd have to say that to my mind at least, Eileen has the better of the argument.
Sorry, it's been a while since I looked at this thread. Matthew cleared it up, though. The guys at WotC have, in general, been pretty cool about how you make use of your subscription. As long as you're not significantly cutting into their business by posting articles online for anyone to get ahold of, it's fine. I expect that part of their assumption when moving to digital format was that many DMs would purchase a subscription to augment their games, providing their players with access to the online supplements in addition to using them as DM aids. (I also expect that the five downloads of the Character Builder each month was no arbitrary decision, given that 4th Edition is based around a five-person party, and the DM has little use for the Character Builder himself)
That said, the utility you receive out of the digital magazines or print magazines probably depends very heavily on how you run your games. I like to give my players a lot of options, I like using laptops at the game table and I like being able to easily transport my entire library of supplements with me when I walk onto campus to run my weekly game. My backpack is already heavy enough.