By way of information, the package guy just dropped mine off about 10 minutes ago. Claire was lucky, of the admins, her's arrived last night.
Girl Power!
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By way of information, the package guy just dropped mine off about 10 minutes ago. Claire was lucky, of the admins, her's arrived last night.
7. Admins try to get a handle on the situation by using the following form responses "This would be better addressed to WotC Customer Service" and "Your thoughts/comments/opinions have been noted. They will be given due consideration." These statements come across, unintentionally, as "F--- off, as despite being the designated representatives, we're not interested." and "We took your ideas and put them in the trash can where they belong." People become pissed off more.
I fundamentally disagree with the idea that a hobby club (which is what AL is, though extremely large) should have reasoning behind decision-making that is not transparent to the membership. There is never a case where 'the public' shouldn't know - except when the core of the reasoning falls behind an NDA with the sponsor organization. Even then, I doubt it's really a case of shouldn't know, and more of a case of we can't tell you right now.
Obviously, when WotC makes a decision on its own, we can't expect to know the reasoning. They're a company. But the Admin and Leadership team should never feel it is necessary to hide their reasons for making a decision from the general membership. If they are unable to articulate their reasons for a decision to the general membership, they perhaps ought to reexamine the data points that lead to the decision.
Also, concerning my quote of point 7 - nothing there implies that the Admins aren't listening or don't care, just that it is many times perceived as such, because the form language used makes it come across that way.
I fundamentally disagree with the idea that a hobby club (which is what AL is, though extremely large) should have reasoning behind decision-making that is not transparent to the membership.
All documentation, adventures, and setting info has to be approved by WotC. So there can be no disclosure until they have approved it. Yes an NDA. And you assume that WotC gives us a reason for decision. That is not always the case.
Honestly, perception is on the one perceiving. AL says what they can. But as humans, we get frustrated when we are pushed and asked the same thing over and over. A little empathy both way would help the situation.
Everyone needs to realize that we took these positions because we love this game. Just like the rest of you. We want this to be a great organization. But we are not going to please everyone. We try our damnedest but we simple can't. We work with a company whose employees also love the game as much as you. But they are a company. A company that has received millions of pieces of criticism and suggestions. A company that had an open play test and actually took suggestions from that to develop a better game.
WotC, in comparison to other companies, is very sympathetic to its fans. And when they make a decision that is not popular that is for the most part forgotten. Know that AL understands that some decisions are unpopular, however, most times it is not our decision and we don't get a why.
While I understand the (legitimate) concern you perceive here, I think you're making a mistake in your assumption that the AL is a 'hobby club,' which it isn't -- it's more part of WotC/Hasbro's marketing department.
It doesn't exist to provide a meeting point for people of similar interests or anything like that (altho it may do that from time to time by accident). It exists to get the materials out there in the various game stores, and to promote public awareness and brand recognition of the product, and to provide additional cross-pollination and synergy between their other D&D products, such as their online MMO, video games, novel sales and such.
I'm afraid Organized Play as a 'hobby club' like what you are talking about hasn't existed since the heyday of the old RPGA, before Wizards took it over years ago and systematically dismantled it for its own use.
I'm sorta curious myself.
I think you're making a mistake in your assumption that the AL is a 'hobby club,' which it isn't -- it's more part of WotC/Hasbro's marketing department.
It doesn't exist to provide a meeting point for people of similar interests or anything like that