Had a bit of a thought. I've been seeing lots of bandwidth on the forums about how this or that thing takes up too much space in the magazine or wishes that the other thing could have taken up a bit more. How's this for a solution?
Similar to Dungeon, Dragon starts cranking out online supplements to the magazine. Things like stat blocks, expansions on articles, perhaps some material that was cut from the magazine due to space constraints could end up here. Maybe a couple of examples of semi-iconic characters using the "class acts" material. Tack on a page or two of artwork from the magazine, and I think subscribers would really go for this.
That way you get to load up lots of crunch, which does take up a fair bit of space, into a .pdf file without worrying that people will complain that the magazine is glossing over the fluff. Things like the recent "Ecologies stat blocks" requests could be put in here.
Just a thought.
Nice. Maybe you should post this in the Article Request forum.
But, this really would improve the magazine for all. Paizo people?
Erik?
WaterdhavianFlapjack
Ooo... Ooo...
and a Pony!
: )
Rob
Ooo... Ooo...
and a Pony!: )
Rob
Hello, funny man!
But, seriously?:)
WaterdhavianFlapjack
Heh, yuck it up. Sure. :)
IMO, though, this could go a long ways to quieting the criticisms you see leveled at Dragon of late. Looking at recent posts I notice that people are asking for stat blocks, looking for expansions of the Class articles and, well, just looking for a bit more meat.
If you created a 10 page pdf to go with each issue, I think most of these complaints would go away.
Bear with me a second. Take a look at 334 and think for a second where you could add ten pages of material. My wish list would look something like this:
1 page stat blocks and background for the three household ladies in Crimoor (House Crytrapper, House Krimmevol and House Ophal) complete with pictures.
1 page floorplan for one of the inns in Crimoor possibly with a bit of background
1 page extra Arabian creature, or, failing that, 1 page expansion of a particular creature - perhaps an advanced version with a few plot hooks dangling for inspiration
1 page with extra fire goodies. (Or, for my money, many pages of fire goodies)
1 page statblock and notes for an advanced Kraken, again, with hooks dangling (heh)
1 page with artwork of a Janissarry - maybe a 5th or 6th level half orc Janissarry with a bit of background.
1 page with artwork of a Bronze Solaris member - maybe one of the higher ups with some background.
2 pages of artwork from the magazine - the updated Crimoor map, maybe some of the Bazaar goodies, things like that.
and that leaves 1 extra page which I'm sure is likely going to get filled with something from the above anyway.
I'm not sure how much work that would entail, but I'm thinking not a huge amount. But it would certainly be appreciated.
Heh, yuck it up. Sure. :)
IMO, though, this could go a long ways to quieting the criticisms you see leveled at Dragon of late. Looking at recent posts I notice that people are asking for stat blocks, looking for expansions of the Class articles and, well, just looking for a bit more meat.
If you created a 10 page pdf to go with each issue, I think most of these complaints would go away.
Bear with me a second. Take a look at 334 and think for a second where you could add ten pages of material. My wish list would look something like this:
1 page stat blocks and background for the three household ladies in Crimoor (House Crytrapper, House Krimmevol and House Ophal) complete with pictures.
1 page floorplan for one of the inns in Crimoor possibly with a bit of background
1 page extra Arabian creature, or, failing that, 1 page expansion of a particular creature - perhaps an advanced version with a few plot hooks dangling for inspiration
1 page with extra fire goodies. (Or, for my money, many pages of fire goodies)
1 page statblock and notes for an advanced Kraken, again, with hooks dangling (heh)
1 page with artwork of a Janissarry - maybe a 5th or 6th level half orc Janissarry with a bit of background.
1 page with artwork of a Bronze Solaris member - maybe one of the higher ups with some background.
2 pages of artwork from the magazine - the updated Crimoor map, maybe some of the Bazaar goodies, things like that.
and that leaves 1 extra page which I'm sure is likely going to get filled with something from the above anyway.I'm not sure how much work that would entail, but I'm thinking not a huge amount. But it would certainly be appreciated.
I think this is a fantabulous idea - ten is a nice, round number that would print out well.
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This would indeed be awesome. They don't even need to keep the content regular. I'm sure every issue has stuff that gets cut out do to considerations of space. Just touch up some of that extra content, throw it in a pdf, and there you go. I for one would like to see more stuff on the Novel Approaches. I think that would be great.
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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This is a fine idea.
However, it is not something we're able to entertain at this time, because we don't have the staff for it. Basically, we're doing everything we can to stay on schedule, and there simply isn't time in the day for this type of "bonus" material. Honestly, there's not time in the day to do it for Dungeon, either, but since we've already started and people like it, we may as well keep doing it.
I understand the web supplements are popular, but it's a luxury that we just can't afford for Dragon right now.
--Erik
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I do like the idea of a dragon online suppliment. I hope it is something they will consider.
But I have also thought that this is something we could do ourselves.
Recently at work, our research lab hosted a two day electronics seminar. To assist in sharing the knowledge of the various presenters, we collected all the presentations, converted them to pdf files, and burned them on to CDs.
This made me think that it would be neat to go to a gaming convention and the various vendors or presentors giving out free or cheap CDs full of pdf of the kind of gaming material similar to what you are all talking about. Not original material, but some vendors might put them in. Stat blocks for characters and advanced creatures. Simple mini encounters. Varient rules. Etc. At a convention, each vendor would have to produce a whole CD, but they could each offer something to the convention organizers that they could burn onto a CD to hand out at the door.
I am certainly digressing. From that idea, and what you have been talking about here. What prevents we on the boards creation what your talking about. If you like an article and it inspires you to create an NPC for your campaign or an encounter in your next dungeon, create the stat block, throw in a little flavor text, and post it on these boards. If enough are ideas on a particular dungeon magazine are offered, some enterprising person could collect them together, pop them into a pdf and share them with anyone that asks for a copy.
Example: Dragon 301 had the Ecology of the Troll. I thought this an excellent article. I particularly liked the troll variants and started work on a MSWord file of stating out all the varients there. I then moved on to filling in the holes of 1st & 2nd edition trolls (giant troll, giant two headed troll, spirit troll, etc.) using various templates from a variety of sources. (Fiend Folio, Savage Species, Manual of the Planes, etc.) That dragon magazine also first introduced the Draconic template so I slapped that on the troll and had to make his half black dragon/half troll father.
Anyway, you get the picture. Something for everyone to consider. Sure, it would be nice that Paizo could do that kind of stuff for us, but nothing prevents us from doing it ourselves. As long as we give credit were credit is do, don't actually copy the source material, it should work out.
This is a fine idea.
However, it is not something we're able to entertain at this time, because we don't have the staff for it. Basically, we're doing everything we can to stay on schedule, and there simply isn't time in the day for this type of "bonus" material. Honestly, there's not time in the day to do it for Dungeon, either, but since we've already started and people like it, we may as well keep doing it.
I understand the web supplements are popular, but it's a luxury that we just can't afford for Dragon right now.
--Erik
I completely understand. I will definitely be happy with both your magazines if you keep up the good work!
WaterdhavianFlapjack