Quick question: does the prohibition on online play affect your playtest?

[tsadkiel]

Signing back in after two years to say YES.

 

[Holy Bovine]

Let us be honest - as a practical matter, this policy does not stop anyone from playing the playtest. It is right up there with the, "you can't print it out for your players, they must also register," policy in how foolishly unenforceable it is. GMs *will* run games online. GMs *will* print it out for their players. If they keep their mouths shut, WotC will never know.

So is Morrus cool with playtest games of 5E being played on his PBP forums? Is RPGGeek? *This* is how they will enforce it - by going after the websites hosting these games. Putting pressure on them will ensure that online games (on those forums) will be shut down.

Note I'm not saying I agree with this - I think it is stupid beyond belief - but I can see how they will enforce it (and generate just *scads* of goodwill in the process /rolleyes)

As for the OP - I don't think it will affect me but given that my one group hasn't met in months online play might be the last resort for us. I would love to run the playtest online like that - and probably would anyways no matter what rules WotC tries to force on us.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I don't suppose you mentioned skype?

No I did not mention Skype but that seems to be clearly rules out by the FAQ

 

[Hussar]

Yes, this will affect me. Since my gaming is 100% online these days, I cannot participate.

Not going to weave it into the fabric of my existence though. They don't want my 2 cents? Fair enough. No skin off my nose.

 

[bouncyhead]

Our group play pretty much exclusively online through d20 pro so yup (though I fail to see how this is enforceable). We therefore won't be participating.

A shame. Pretty much the only way our group would be prised away from Pathfinder would be for this playtest to whet our appetites. Some of our players are pretty conservative and will need to see the core mechanics and flavour in the flesh before they give 5E serious consideration. It was the PF beta test material that tempted us away from 3.5 and 4E.

Thus, as a marketing push (which, after all, is the primary purpose of the entire exercise) it is of no value. For us.

 

[Kzach]

I just played an online version of the playtest.

OH MY!

 

[Plane Sailing]

I just played an online version of the playtest.

OH MY!

Cheeky rascal. I see what you did there

 

[Andor]

No I did not mention Skype but that seems to be clearly rules out by the FAQ

That would be true, if the FAQ counted as rules. It doesn't claim to do so, and it's not mentioned in the OPTA so I fail to see how it could be considered binding.

I've just double checked the OPTA for updates, there are none. I consider myself to be bound to follow those rules I've agreed to follow. The FAQ is not part of that. Therefore when my playtest starts in an hour, I will have two players skypeing in. If WotC ninjas burst in through the windows I'll let you guys know.

As far as I'm concerned worrying about that line in the FAQ is like worrying about what the guy in marketing told you, when the engineers tell you the strut is fine.

 

[the Jester]

It doesn't affect me, though it might in the future, as an old player keeps talking smack about Skyping in.

 

[Quickleaf]

That would be true, if the FAQ counted as rules. It doesn't claim to do so, and it's not mentioned in the OPTA so I fail to see how it could be considered binding.

I've just double checked the OPTA for updates, there are none. I consider myself to be bound to follow those rules I've agreed to follow. The FAQ is not part of that. Therefore when my playtest starts in an hour, I will have two players skypeing in. If WotC ninjas burst in through the windows I'll let you guys know.

As far as I'm concerned worrying about that line in the FAQ is like worrying about what the guy in marketing told you, when the engineers tell you the strut is fine.

It falls under item 4 about ownership in OPTA, which essentially has you agree to whatever other stipulations WotC makes to help them protect their rights to the playtest materials. The "no online playtesting" remark in the FAQ falls under this. [MENTION=8858]hafrogman[/MENTION] pointed this out to me.

You agree to execute any further documents and take any further actions requested by Wizards to assist it in validating, effectuating, maintaining, protecting, enforcing, perfecting, recording, patenting or registering any of its right, title and interest in or to the above.