Dungeon (magazine)

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Issue #1 of Dungeon Magazine cover, art by Keith Parkinson

Dungeon Adventures, commonly called simply Dungeon, is a magazine targeting people who play role playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986, as a bi-monthly magazine. It went monthly in 2003. Its sister publication is the more widely read Dragon.

Each issue provides self-contained pre-written, playtested game scenarios, often called "modules" in early issues (it is now more common to just call them "adventures" or "scenarios"). Gamemasters can present these adventures to their players as written, or adapt them to their own campaign setting. By providing ideas, plots, villains, maps, monsters, and hooks, it can save gamemasters a great deal of time preparing a game for their players. As a magazine containing several modules per issue, it is also significantly cheaper than stand-alone modules, which perhaps explains its enduring popularity.

1 The Paizo/Polyhedron era
2 The return to Dungeons & Dragons
- 2.1 Adventure Paths
3 Awards
- 3.1 Nominations
4 References
5 External links

[edit] The Paizo/Polyhedron era

In late 2002, Paizo Publishing acquired publishing rights to both Dungeon and Dragon, as part of a move by Wizards of the Coast to divest business ventures not related to its core business.

Starting with Issue 90 in 2002, Dungeon was combined with Polyhedron magazine into a single magazine. Many of the Polyhedron sections presented complete mini-games for the d20 system, starting with "Pulp Heroes" in issue 90.

[edit] The return to Dungeons & Dragons

In August 2004, starting with issue #114^[1], editor Erik Mona changed the format, focusing solely on Dungeons & Dragons and discontinuing the Polyhedron section. It now includes three adventures per issue, one each for low, medium, and high levels; about two to four issues a year contain another substantial article, which typically provides further details on the setting of one of the adventures in that issue. (Previously, Dungeon almost never had articles other than adventures). In addition, each issue contains the three-page Dungeoncraft column, at the time written by Monte Cook, as well as a few two-page articles on various subjects collectively called the Campaign Workbook.

Wil Wheaton had a regular column called Wil Save, but Wheaton chose to discontinue it as he has been extremely busy, has had health problems and was somewhat dispirited by the mixed reception the column received.^[2]

[edit] Adventure Paths

A notable feature of Dungeon magazine's recent history has been the use of connected series of adventures; these long series are referred to as "Adventure Paths" and take characters from the very beginning of their adventuring careers (1st level) up through Epic levels (20+). Two lengthy series, the Shackled City (11 parts) and Age of Worms (12 parts) have been completed, with a third, Savage Tide, in progress, having started with issue 139; this is scheduled to run until issue 150. In addition, several shorter series (typically three parts) and a sporadic, open-ended series of Maure Castle adventures have figured in recent issues. The Shackled City series has been reprinted as a hardcover book, with various revisions and corrections, new background information, and an additional adventure added to fill a gap near the beginning of the series.

[edit] Awards

1991: Origins Award for Best Professional Adventure Gaming Magazine of 1990
2002: ENnie Award for Best Aid or Accessory

[edit] Nominations

2006: Origins Awards for Best Nonfiction Publication (Dungeon magazine itself) and Best Roleplaying Game Supplement (Shackled City hardcover). Did not win in either category.