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There are a lot of 4E threads lately, probably because many people are seeing signs that a 4th edition is around the corner. However, I wonder if there is a more insidious reason. Does anyone think it is possible, nay likely, that some of the posters asking for input on 4E are asking because they are currently PLAY-TESTING 4E? I think it is very possible. It is happening on WotC boards too.
There are a lot of 4E threads lately, probably because many people are seeing signs that a 4th edition is around the corner. However, I wonder if there is a more insidious reason. Does anyone think it is possible, nay likely, that some of the posters asking for input on 4E are asking because they are currently PLAY-TESTING 4E? I think it is very possible. It is happening on WotC boards too.
Not really. If they were playtesting, they'd be under strict NDA and gabbing about it would have swift and unpleasent reprocussions.
Doesn't fit, sorry.
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Not necessarily. They are not gabbing about it by just talking about prospects for 4e, especially if they do not mention any ideas specifically proposed by the play-test rules. Erik Mona hinted at his project for months before we finally found out it was Castle Greyhawk (which many of us deduced ahead of time). They would be gabbing about it by saying "We are play-testing 4e, get ready for this!" or otherwise indicating in a somewhat definitive manner than 4e is on the table. As long as they phrase their posts as loose speculation, I doubt that would violate any nondisclosure agreement.
I'm fairly certain that tx7321 at very least is NOT currently playtesting 4E
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He's playtesting 4e, how would he otherwise know of 4e?
noone without ultraviolet access code in the alpha complex should know of 4e
Citizen, please enter your head into the meat grinder selective mind cleaning device to destroy all mutant communist residue of 4e.
Have a nice day
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Level 10, essence of D&D as of November 17 2006
Wizard paralyzed, samurai 6 hp, your Fiend Hunter down to 4 hp and 1 Con, surrounded by four dead Bebilith and one still alive...
Without sheathing the greatsword, with shaky hands unstoppers the small vodka bottle, swallow it down, and hurl it at the still standing demonic spider while yelling "come and get me!" just to allow the samurai to get the edge.
Actuallly it doesnt sound that strange that WOTC would not be gathering Intel on what the public wants for a 4e by having certain people on certain boards post 4e topics to get the ball rolling down hill. Face it, it does seem like when one pops up (4e thread) more follow in a snowball like effect. Then maybe we have lurkers or guests who look at all the 4e topics to get a good idea on how the public feels.
So if that was the case wouldnt it be good for those that dont want 4e to actually post on all of these 4e threads saying No way to it?
Buy the way WOTC spy I DONT WANT 4E! Unless it's akin to 3e > 3.5 in changes.
Actuallly it doesnt sound that strange that WOTC would not be gathering Intel on what the public wants for a 4e by having certain people on certain boards post 4e topics to get the ball rolling down hill.
To me it sounds outlandish. If it was ever revealed that this particular conspiracy theory is true then I'd be so surprised that I would spontaneolusly combust.
Sure, WotC gathering information from reading threads and asking not so obvious questions in an official capacity, I can see that.
Giving people the task to subersively start 4e threads so that WotC can gather information, no I can't see that.
/M
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So all the "What does XXX eat" threads means a food sourcebook is coming out? Didn't see it on the schedule at WOTC. Msut be 3rd party.
Seriously, once a topic comes up on these boards, it spawns other threads like crazy, add in all the cross board posters and it spreads around all over the place.
Reviewing postings, every year in preperation for GenCon we get those guessing this is the year WotC will announce the next edition of DnD. Eventually they'll be right and then we'll never hear the end of it for not believing them.
It's me. Me and the poster under the name of Arashi Ravenblade (an account shared by James Jacobs, Ari Marmell and Carl Sargent) are the current developers of 4e.
Thing is, it will not only be announced at D&D Experience, we will have the five core books ready for immediate sale, as a special surprise to the ConGoers!
Everyone who completes the LGCore-Adventure "Eric's Tears or the Fall of Castle Pa'izo" will get the fourth core book (Skills) for free.
Reviewing postings, every year in preperation for GenCon we get those guessing this is the year WotC will announce the next edition of DnD. Eventually they'll be right and then we'll never hear the end of it for not believing them.
They're like televangelists predicting the end of the world.
Except, of course, the televangelists won't really get to gloat much.
Which makes the 4e demagogues just that much smarter than the televangelists.
Giving people the task to subersively start 4e threads so that WotC can gather information, no I can't see that.
That is not what I was suggesting. I was merely suggesting that perhaps play-testers are trying to furtively gather feedback from others not involved in the play-test by creating the occassionl 4e thread.
Considering the glut of 4e threads, we're going to be a bit strict about where they belong. As this is a thread about the threads, off to Meta!
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That is not what I was suggesting. I was merely suggesting that perhaps play-testers are trying to furtively gather feedback from others not involved in the play-test by creating the occassionl 4e thread.
That is not what I was suggesting. I was merely suggesting that perhaps play-testers are trying to furtively gather feedback from others not involved in the play-test by creating the occassionl 4e thread.
Ah, my mistake.
I still think it highly unlikely that WotC instituted a super secret 4e playtest program, probably regulated by NDAs covering all manner of restrictions, only to then recruit bunch of untrustworthy testers who can't stay off the messageboards trolling for under cover responses to things included in the test.
If people were untrustworthy enough to play the boards for reactions, that play test program would be in even more serious trouble, since I find it improbable that such testers would manage to keep quiet about the entire program.
/M
__________________ iAltdorf. An interactive map of the capital of the Empire in WFRP! Download today! Can be used in any fantasy campaign!
http://altdorfer.blogspot.com - Check out the Altdorf Correspondent! A WFRP blog about life in the Imperial capital.
"All editions of D&D are awesome." - Fifth Element (EN World Forums, 2008)
”The tendency to confuse personal taste with objective quality is nearly universal.” - Robin D. Laws – Robin’s Laws of Good Gamemastering (Steve Jackson Games, 2002)
That is not what I was suggesting. I was merely suggesting that perhaps play-testers are trying to furtively gather feedback from others not involved in the play-test by creating the occassionl 4e thread.
That isn't the playtester's job, though. They are supposed to gather feedback from playing. Why would they risk violating their NDA to gather information that they aren't supposed to gather?
I would find a "WotC shills are out there gathering information" plot at least plausible. But a, "Playtesters going out of their way to gather information for which they don't even have a proper submission channel," plot sounds less than reasonable.
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