Its a bit of a dream for collectors though.  There is now an end to the collection  Its sad to see the publication go out the door but I haven't read through an issue since #300.  I wonder how low sales have become on the publication.

Mars wrote:There is now an end to the collection

Actually, I must admit that that was one of my first reactions, too. I guess it was the collector in me thinking of all the angles, as usual.

Traveller wrote:For example, this could be an opportunity for The Crusader to step up and fill that niche, assuming the trolls can get on a regular production schedule.

All due respect to the people who work hard and try to put out a good magazine ... but that's just not going to happen. Dragon had 30-plus years of history, a large subscriber base, and was sold in major bookstores (and virtually every gaming store) throughout the country. The Crusader is a niche publication with limited appeal outside of its current base of support. I'm not saying that "niche" means "bad," but no smaller publication is ever going to be able to fill the void left by Dragon's departure, especially in the electronic era we live in now.

Traveller wrote:Oh...just to add this little tidbit.  I'd like to think they ended the magazines simply because their atrophied imaginations couldn't keep up.

Ouch! (*cough*not that I disagree*cough*)

+++++

For the record, I have not been a huge purchaser of either magazine for the past few years (3e content began in issue #274, BTW), but I did pick up about every third or fourth issue of Dragon.

It's not the 3e-heavy content of the current magazines that I will miss, it's the sense of a continuous publication history that dates back to D&D's earliest roots. The press release I linked to above is just shameful with its casual dismissal of Dragon's and Dungeon's long history and its long-winded sales pitch on just how awesomely kewl the new monthly 3e adventures will be. They will be teh r0XxZoRz, bro-brah!

I also think it's a sad day when our hobby is not supported by any notable printed publications. Inquest, with its heavy, heavy emphasis on CCGs, barely counts. Publishers can chirp all they want to about "content" going up on their web-sites, but it's not the same thing. It's not the same thing at all.

Online content doesn't cut it for me either.  Also, if WotC is getting rid of a income generating product to move online, I'm doubtful that the online content will be free.

I think it's a given that no one is as interested in "online" publications as they are in having an ACTUAL magazine.

I used to play lots of Games Workshop's specialist games - Mordheim, etc. - until they cancelled all the magazines for the individual games and put ONE BIG magazine ONLINE.

Yuck. The content is bad, the articles are fan-generated, and needless to say, not only did I quit reading them, I quit the GAMES.

Vote NO on online periodicals.

Xaxaxe wrote:My favorite line from the press release: "Both companies [Paizo and WotC] remain on good terms and continue to discuss future opportunities for publishing partnerships."

I liked the part in the FAQ that asked if it means that Paizo would have to lay off staff.  The good news is that they don't and have actually hired 3 new staff.  That was my first concern too.

looks like we were mostly thinking the same thing  

I can't believe Dragon and Dungeon, two direct links to gaming's roots, are giving up their lives for ... this.

http://paizo.com/pathfinder

I could live to be 1,000 years old and I'd still never subscribe to what looks like a Dungeon Of The Month Club. And check out that price point, too: $20!        

But I'm sure all of the adventures will have phat lewt, kewl tats, and l33t bossez. What a freaking cartoon 3e can be sometimes ...

- I could live to be 1,000 years old and I'd still never subscribe to what looks like a Dungeon Of The Month Club. And check out that price point, too: $20!        

no money from you in that case?

wait for wizards to get the last backstab with updated - and COMPLETE!! - Dragon magazine archive at 100 bucks a pop

Maybe it is now time to start a new magazine in the style of very early Dragons or Dungeons published quarterly by The Acaeum! There are enough of us old schoolers here. Perhaps we can compile and publish some of our old creations.