D&D (2024) Predictions for Playtest packet 7's arrival

[Parmandur]

Hmm. Felt longer last time. Maybe it was just more intense? Those packets were often bigger, or at least felt that way, as they were testing whole new systems.

I only tuned in just at the end (because of a D&D Kreo ad before the Lego movie), but I can imagine it must have been way zanier all around. But, the time-frame is similar.

 

[Parmandur]

@FitzTheRuke Per what I could find on the exact timeframe:

the first playtest was released on May 24th, 2012, about 5 and a half months after 5e and the playtest was announced.

And I bought and played the 5E Starter Set for the Fourt of July 2014, so 2 and a half years from announcement to product, ut only 2 years from first playtest packet to final product. With the '24 release, they seem to have begun laying the groundwork as they received feedback for Tasha's in 2021, and announced and dropped the first playtest August 2022. Looking at probably August or September release, so also 2 years from first playtest to final product...but stuff like Monsters of the Mukriverse shows it was well along by then, so possibly a longer lead time from conception to release.

 

[Charlaquin]

Hmm. Felt longer last time. Maybe it was just more intense? Those packets were often bigger, or at least felt that way, as they were testing whole new systems.

Yeah, the packets were complete vertical slices of the game, instead of just a few classes or whatever at a time. Classes and features would often change significantly from packet to packet (though that settled down in the later packets as the design started to solidify). And, we were testing player-facing and DM-facing mechanics simultaneously throughout, and there were a couple of modules provided with which to test the material. Definitely felt more like a real playtest, rather than just sort of a vibe check, IMO.

 

[Parmandur]

Yeah, the packets were complete vertical slices of the game, instead of just a few classes or whatever at a time. Classes and features would often change significantly from packet to packet (though that settled down in the later packets as the design started to solidify). And, we were testing player-facing and DM-facing mechanics simultaneously throughout, and there were a couple of modules provided with which to test the material. Definitely felt more like a real playtest, rather than just sort of a vibe check, IMO.

Well, it was a complete overhaul of the game from top to bottom. This playtest is just a response to the pain points from the 2021 surveys on an establiahed bedrock.

 

[bedir than]

Additionally they have a much larger team now than in 2012 and they have a larger internal playtest group too.

So they have less to do and more resources to do it with.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

A few tweaks to spells, exhaustion, and inspiration. Easy enough to drop that text where the 2014 text is. Adding a column to the weapons table and an explanatory section. Otherwise the rest of the book is untouched except a few wording tweaks.

We know they are adding art, changing the number of subclasses, that we haven’t seen all the changes they’re looking at for weapons, increasing the font size, changing feats, probably adding new spells, and probably stuff I’m forgetting.

Like I think they said in a video they’re giving every subclass art. That and the change to number of subclasses alone precludes not reworking the layout.

 

[Charlaquin]

Well, it was a complete overhaul of the game from top to bottom. This playtest is just a response to the pain points from the 2021 surveys on an establiahed bedrock.

Yeah, that’s why last time felt more full though. Cause, it was.

 

[Horwath]

We know they are adding art, changing the number of subclasses, that we haven’t seen all the changes they’re looking at for weapons, increasing the font size, changing feats, probably adding new spells, and probably stuff I’m forgetting.

Like I think they said in a video they’re giving every subclass art. That and the change to number of subclasses alone precludes not reworking the layout.

If it's going to be 2014 PHB style, then they should not bother and save page space for more sub-classes, feats, etc...

 

[doctorbadwolf]

If it's going to be 2014 PHB style, then they should not bother and save page space for more sub-classes, feats, etc...

The whole point of my post is that it isn’t. Did I miss something?

 

[Horwath]

The whole point of my post is that it isn’t. Did I miss something?

you said that they are adding art, you didn't say what kind/quality of art.