An interesting debate, and I very much appreciate Dougs dilema with this. Perhaps it would help if I describe the 'Warp Rift pyramid management structure' for those which are unaware of it. The magazine has five sections (general articles, new rules, painting and converting, fiction and battle reports/scenrios). Each of these sections has an individual editor - giving four editors and myself, who also compiles the various bits.
This does have a lot of advantages, and I do recommend it as a system. Firstly, we have back-up editors if things go wrong. So, if a particular editor has problems one month, we have another four ready to step up. Also, if any one section is a bit light that issue, we simply drop it for one issue, and the general quality of the mag doesnt suffer so much.
There are a number of tricks with this system. I would say that the most important thing is who you get as the section editors. For example, our new rules editor is Ray (occassionally on these boards as 'raysokuk'). He is excellent with new rules, and has been compiling them for years, including being instrumental in the generation of the Tau rules for Gothic, having them playtested and contributing way before anyone else got hold of them. This means that he has a stash of a lot of rules ready to go, and he can theme them. In addition, our general articles editor is Chris, and I am sure that he wont mind if I descibe him as an occassional player, but he is extremely dedicated to the game and has a background of history and is interested in it. I guess that I am trying to say that the individual roles are important, and that they should play to the strengths. This system also means that each issue is automatically balanced in terms of the articles.
Secondly, we have quite an advanced schedule, for example this weekend I am collecting submissions from the editors for issue six due in January. This allows a lot of panic time (although I continually produce the finished version late, but that is completely my fault!).
Thirdly, we have an excellent network and a strong contributors base. Nate is well known to the Gothic community being on the rules review and he is a strong supporter of the publication (I have even heard that Fanatic dont object to the idea!). In addition, the community has put together a few graphics for the publication, and the front cover and title graphics as well.
It sounds like Incoming would do well to 'hibernate' for a couple of months. A gap in production would allow the publication to build reserves and sort out whatever problems currently exist. I also think that it should stay Epic focussed. I honestly dont think that broadening the scope will solve the problems. There should be a strong enough base to support the publication in the Epic community, and people appreciate the focus.
I would say that there are a number of stages to setting up a system similar to Warp Rift:
Decide on the sections. You want about four to seven - enough to provide a range of interesting, but which themselves provide scope for adapting the content each time (for example our painting section sometimes displays examples of people minis, and sometimes has articles on how to convert and build).
Get a sub-editor for each of the sections. Be careful, there is a temptation here to say that 'I will do three sections'. Each person should only do one, except that possibly the main editor could do one as well. Also, these section editors dont need to be necessarily well-versed in the game, but when the excrement hits the air-conditioning, they need to make up the material!
Put out a general shout for graphics. I compiled a library of graphics. Once you have enough for one and a half issues, then that is really all that you need. More is good, but as long as each picture is not repreated in each mag, then things are good.
Then, set a timetable and go.
This type of project is never easy, and some issues are really hell to get done my the deadline. No-one should take this post without thinking, and I have been extrememly lucky with my section editors.
And, of course, while I dont have the time to section edit no matter how much I would like to, feel free to let me know if there is anything at all that I can do to help.
_________________ https://www.cybershadow.ninja - A brief look into my twisted world, including wargames and beyond. https://www.net-armageddon.org - The official NetEA (Epic Armageddon) site and resource.
|