D&D 4E 4e Playtesters revealed!

[Wisdom Penalty]

I may be alone on this, but I'm actually surprised there are that many playtesters. I had, at some point during these oh-so-fun internet discussions, gotten the impression that 4e was less playtested that 3e. Not that I know how many playtested 3e.

Anyway, those numbers of simple folk are good to see, and make me feel better about the whole shindig.

Wis

 

[Henry]

Oh, good. It's nice to be recognized.

 

[Stalker0]

Ah, I'm not on the list

And here I was hoping I had been secretly playtesting this entire time behind my own back and just not telling myself.

Oh well.

 

[mearls]

I may be alone on this, but I'm actually surprised there are that many playtesters. I had, at some point during these oh-so-fun internet discussions, gotten the impression that 4e was less playtested that 3e. Not that I know how many playtested 3e.

Anyway, those numbers of simple folk are good to see, and make me feel better about the whole shindig.

One of the frustrating (perhaps the only frustrating) parts of the 4e process was watching people blatantly lie about the process behind creating the game, and knowing that piping in to correct them was a waste of time.

The "4e isn't being playtested" meme was perhaps the most common one that tempted me to say something. I think for some people, that meme was more wishful thinking than anything else.

 

[Wisdom Penalty]

One of the frustrating (perhaps the only frustrating) parts of the 4e process was watching people blatantly lie about the process behind creating the game, and knowing that piping in to correct them was a waste of time.

The "4e isn't being playtested" meme was perhaps the most common one that tempted me to say something. I think for some people, that meme was more wishful thinking than anything else.

I think what we have recently entered is the Pull the Curtain Aside phase of the whole process. That's where we begin to see more facts and actual rules excerpts from the new edition. Until this phase, conjecture and hyperbole ruled the day. As the weeks progress, we see that many complaints and concerns - while not all - were simply baseless, incorrect, and perhaps merely spiteful. For whatever reason, some people seem to believe that if it's not "their D&D" then it should be "no one's D&D", and that type of thinking has caused more heartache throughout history than spicy pasta.

I'm hoping that the process of incremental informational updates will accomplish two things:

(1) It will validate my thoughts/hopes about the framework behind 4E, and

(2) It will cause some of the usual suspects to lower the volume and frequency of their complaining.

Anyway, Mike, here's one old fart who began playing around the same time you did and is very appreciative you and WotC are showing the courage to push the game we love forward.


Wis

 

[Starbuck_II]

I may be alone on this, but I'm actually surprised there are that many playtesters. I had, at some point during these oh-so-fun internet discussions, gotten the impression that 4e was less playtested that 3e. Not that I know how many playtested 3e.

Anyway, those numbers of simple folk are good to see, and make me feel better about the whole shindig.

Wis

I don't know, 3E seemed awfully little playtested. I mean, Dragon Disciple was the rather a bad Prc. MT was good in appearance, but lacking compared to full Wiz or ful Cleric (so we can let that slide). You can walk briskly by Dwarven Defenders (since can't move more than 5 feet with ability on). So many broken spells.
I mean, I heard playtesters in 3.5 played for fun more than look for rule issues so that would explain it, but seems to be not doing their job at optimum.

But um, not to just be negative: cool names in book

 

[Psion]

I may be alone on this, but I'm actually surprised there are that many playtesters. I had, at some point during these oh-so-fun internet discussions, gotten the impression that 4e was less playtested that 3e. Not that I know how many playtested 3e.

What worried me wasn't the number of playtesters (which I suspected would be sizeable), but how late in the process they solicited outside playtesters and how committed to their design they seemed to be when they brought in playtesters.

 

[bobthehappyzombie]

Ah, I'm not on the list

And here I was hoping I had been secretly playtesting this entire time behind my own back and just not telling myself.

Oh well.

Oh you were, you were, you just don't want to spoil your suprise... oops

One of the frustrating (perhaps the only frustrating) parts of the 4e process was watching people blatantly lie about the process behind creating the game, and knowing that piping in to correct them was a waste of time.

The "4e isn't being playtested" meme was perhaps the most common one that tempted me to say something. I think for some people, that meme was more wishful thinking than anything else.

Some of the memes must have really tested your resolve... 4e is just like a MOREPIG/WoW is my favourite pet hate.

I think it is only right to provide a target rich enviornment for our Q's give the playtesters their dues.

 

[Psion]

I don't know, 3E seemed awfully little playtested. I mean, Dragon Disciple was the rather a bad Prc. MT was good in appearance, but lacking compared to full Wiz or ful Cleric (so we can let that slide).

Neither of these were original 3.0 items, appearing in 3e supplements or being made for 3.5.

 

[OchreJelly]

What worried me wasn't the number of playtesters (which I suspected would be sizeable), but how late in the process they solicited outside playtesters and how committed to their design they seemed to be when they brought in playtesters.

I respectfully disagree with this sentiment. I feel they should have a pretty solid design foundation before opening the doors for a closed beta. It's really not for the playtesters to say what the design tenants should be. Sure betatesters can influence design with feedback, but the framework should be there already. The place the public at large can influence the design team early on is through feedback, focus groups, and surveys.

While game design isn't programming, there are some parallels. I mean WoW went into closed beta 9 months before release, roughly the same timeline for 4E.