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I Lyus Here by volunter to be a Fourth Edition Play Tester.....

There is a lot of vitriol on this. I will try to keep it constructive, but I won't necessarily be short.

In the past 5 years, I purchased Dragon based on occasionally liking an article. I never purchased Dungeon, it didn't fit my DMing style. You need some non-subscription way to allow access for those who don't want everything. Many players-only wouldn't be purchasing Dungeon. Since it has so little value to them, it makes the subscription price seem high even if they are getting all that content.

Perceived value is a huge part of this. People are complaining about needing laptops or to print out a lot. Printing and distribution are very real costs - pass a significant fraction of that on as savings and you're seen as a good guy for giving a lot on cheap while having lower total costs.

Talking about printing, what about those in armed forces, etc, who don't have regular access to the internet while playing? Have you considered how not to alienate those customers? Someone had suggested regular compendiums, I have no idea if that makes sense but you should give some thought to how to manage those who aren't happy with the internet as the only way to get the content.

Part of the D&D Insider package as mentioned (though not directly Dungeon nor Dragon) is that purchased books will have keys to unlock additional content with an D&D Insider subscription. Many will see that as holding part of the content they are paying for with the hardcovers as "hostage" for a D&D Insider subscription. This again hits perceived value.

Just to sum up, 4ed can be a very exciting time. Lots of people don't like change, and no matter what there would be some nay-sayers. However the fact that here and other online gamign communities is overwhelming negative should be a sign that as well as the current plan looks on paper, there is and will continue to be a customer backlash against it. It's hard to admit when something you believe in and fought for needs to get changed, especially if it's also something that has a profound impact on your career, but don't let pride get int he way or reevaluating so Dragon and Dungeon can end up a win-win for both Wizards and the readers.

I still have Dragon issues in the double digits stored away, and so many gamers have fond memories of those two magazines. Wizards of the Coast will need to really work hard to rebuild the new online Dragon and Dungeon mags in the hearts of gamers after the perception of killing them. Releasing it in such a way that seems solely profit oriented will not endear your audience, and may just remind them of the "bad-old-days" at the end of the TSR reign.

You have such potential here, but it needs to show value before widespread acceptance, and it can only show value if people - specifically the doubters unwilling to pay for it - have a chance to see continued quality. Free through 2008 is a good start, really make the most of that by putting out a lot of quality content. Think of it as a loss leader. And still prepare to be flexible as the fervor dies down and you see what type of subscription models shake out as sustainable. Linking subscriptions of Dragon and Dungeon to the rest of D&D Insider may not be a step the customers are willing to embrace. Or maybe they are, after you show them the value they will be getting.

Good luck,
=Blue(23)