STILL No Character Builder Update?

[UngainlyTitan]

I know they've got a huge amount of data to update, hence why I expressed concern about the snowball effect. If it takes them x hours in a normal month, now they have presumably x*2 or even 2.5 if essentials is as much work to integrate as I'd expect it is.

We all know they're under no legal obligation to provide their updates, thanks Jester. I don't believe anyone was threatening legal action though, people seem to be expressing disappointment.

My suggestion (which I have sent over, FWIW) is for them to update the "easy" stuff, i.e. Dungeon/Dragon articles, PP, and Dark Sun (assuming themes aren't too difficult to implement) on their regular release schedule of next Tuesday.

Updating the easy stuff may not be an option it all depends on weither the update delay is a data entry one or an application developement one.
If it is application development then a lot depends on how their development process works.
In my opinion an outfit lit Wizards that are doing regualr scheduled releases should be using an agile development process. That is all application methods should have test code written (ideally before the production code is written) and continous application integration and build. With the test automatically run after each build.
If that is the case then they could release the last stable build that has completed features and whatever content that exposes.

Now the problem with that approach often is that senior management does not buy into that approach. The lines of test code written usually matches or exceeds the lines of production code and is seen as wasteful efford by many managements, despite all the studies to the contrary and that is in dedicated software development outfits. So Wizards management with no real development experience could be even harder to convince.

So if that is the case then they are now caught with unstable codebase and no way to just include completed features as the last known stable build was the August release.

Of course it could be much worse than that, in that some design choices made 2 years ago to get the CB out the door after the debacle of Glessmax et al is now biting them in the ass and now they need to rebuild something core (like say the database) in order to accomadate Essentials or the Dark Sun themes or what ever.

 

[Zaran]

I know they've got a huge amount of data to update, hence why I expressed concern about the snowball effect. If it takes them x hours in a normal month, now they have presumably x*2 or even 2.5 if essentials is as much work to integrate as I'd expect it is.

We all know they're under no legal obligation to provide their updates, thanks Jester. I don't believe anyone was threatening legal action though, people seem to be expressing disappointment.

My suggestion (which I have sent over, FWIW) is for them to update the "easy" stuff, i.e. Dungeon/Dragon articles, PP, and Dark Sun (assuming themes aren't too difficult to implement) on their regular release schedule of next Tuesday.

Don't forget that they also said we have another round of errata this month. Which is supposed to rewrite wizard encounter spells

 

[jbear]

Coming from someone who bitched and got a refund for September:

Calm down peeps. It's October 1st. They may not know the exact date yet that they'll get it out. The time to get irritated is not now, but around Halloween if they haven't updated by then.

They've got Dark Sun, Essentials, both September's and October's data to include in the next update.

So, just relax. Check back in a month (at the end of October) or when WotC announces no update for October, and then we can express our dissatisfaction.

...

Yeah.

Sadly, the WotC fanboys are already jumping on this thread making little and fun of our dissatisfaction. Let's not give them fuel for the fire. Let's be calm. We got our refund for September because WotC understood our dissatisfaction. Now, let's give the company a chance to make due on their promise to update in "early" October. And, if they do fail to live up to, as always, email CS and vote with your dollar. Money is what matters to these companies.

Thanks!

I'm glad you are lending your voice to that of reason. You have an issue. You did something about it, complaining to the right people. For now they have responded satisfactorily according to your post. Good for you (honestly).

As for me being a fan boy, assuming you are talking about me and my initial post, that in all fairness did make light of the OP's cries of woe, err ... fear not, I am just a normal person who found the OP's lament rather odd and pointless post. How that makes me a 'fan boy,' assuming that it is something you consider to be negative, I'm a little unclear.

My personal opinion, I imagine a lot of people are working that arses off trying to get the update online as fast as they can. They probably have encountered problems and complications they hadn't forseen. I'm sure the second they resolve that they'll have the update available. My personal philosophy to stay sane in this messed up world: If you can't change your situation, change your atitude towards the situation.

 

[Ahrimon]

I've come to the conclusion that fanboy is the generic label given to anyone who doesn't have an anti-wotc stance and doesn't agree with the other poster.

See also:
Fanboi
Apologist
Drinking the corperate cool-aid.

 

[fba827]

Hey, is anyone else having trouble using WotC's "email customer service" feature? I can't get it to work.

I've been trying to use it for weeks and it isn't working for me either.

I just sort of hangs like it's trying to read something then gives me a confirmation screen, then seems to be reading the same thing again.

I've tried it on different computers and browsers and even with minimal security settings and still the same thing.

(I have been able to successfully use it in the past, as recently as a couple months ago, without a problem with the same browser).

 

[mudbunny]

I've been trying to use it for weeks and it isn't working for me either.

I just sort of hangs like it's trying to read something then gives me a confirmation screen, then seems to be reading the same thing again.

I've tried it on different computers and browsers and even with minimal security settings and still the same thing.

(I have been able to successfully use it in the past, as recently as a couple months ago, without a problem with the same browser).

Try posting in this thread here (http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1133626) and the ORCs should be able to clear it up. Make sure to read the first post for instructions.

Of course, this is after clearing your cache, temp internet files, etc...

 

[SabreCat]

Of course it could be much worse than that, in that some design choices made 2 years ago to get the CB out the door after the debacle of Glessmax et al is now biting them in the ass and now they need to rebuild something core (like say the database) in order to accomadate Essentials or the Dark Sun themes or what ever.

As somebody who's not particularly bothered by a late update, I think this would be fantastic! Imagine the performance improvements and the bugs (e.g. Master's Wand of XX) they could straighten out by rewriting some of the core data structure...

 

[Minifig]

I've come to the conclusion that fanboy is the generic label given to anyone who doesn't have an anti-wotc stance and doesn't agree with the other poster.

See also:
Fanboi
Apologist
Drinking the corperate cool-aid.

What if we're ambivalent/neutral to the point where we just.. don't care?

 

[Markn]

What if we're ambivalent/neutral to the point where we just.. don't care?

Depending upon your edition, that's called True Neutral or Unaligned.

 

[Minifig]

I really want to subscribe to D&DI for the Character Creator, but dang, I don't want to pay the five bucks for it... especially if you guys are saying there hasn't been an update in a while.. .

I just want the ability to keep track of my character while we play in 4.0e.. but.. dang, 5 bucks? That's a meal in my stomach.