D&D General A video called "Don't Survey Your Players"

[Maxperson]

Of course you still need designers, as well as playtests and a bunch of other things. But without surveys it's easy to get tunnel vision. I know some people think a more "purist" game is somehow superior and more power to them but I disagree - D&D is not a bespoke niche game, it's designed for the masses.

I don't think either method produces a purer or superior game. I will say, though, my favorite incarnation of D&D is 3e/3.5e, and that wasn't done via survey. 5e is also a fantastic game, and it did have surveys.

 

[Stormonu]

My TTRPG ideal has always been that WOTC should priories the strong (ENworlders like you and me) even (or especially) if that means they must purge away the weak in the process. I was just inquiring to see if you shared worldviews with me

I hope you're being sarcastic, but I don't even find this funny.

 

[Stormonu]

Bollocks. Those responses tell me as a corporation why they're not my customers and maybe provide me some insight as to how to make them my customers. Those responses also give me some vague idea of how many with similar views are out there and whether I should pay some attention or not.

I'm of the opposite opinion. Concentrate on keeping the customers you have, find out if you're doing anything that is making them move away from you.

If you can do things that will get you even more customers, do that. But otherwise don't worry about those you'll never pick up. We don't need a version of D&D that's hunting for two birds in the bush when they have one already in hand. And they certainly don't need to be scouring the skies for birds overhead.

 

[Maxperson]

I'm of the opposite opinion. Concentrate on keeping the customers you have, find out if you're doing anything that is making them move away from you.

If you can do things that will get you even more customers, do that. But otherwise don't worry about those you'll never pick up. We don't need a version of D&D that's hunting for two birds in the bush when they have one already in hand. And they certainly don't need to be scouring the skies for birds overhead.

You can't do that, either. If all you focus on are the customers you have, you'll eventually have none as they die off. They have to focus on customers they don't have, as well as keeping the ones that they have.

 

[Lanefan]

I don't think either method produces a purer or superior game. I will say, though, my favorite incarnation of D&D is 3e/3.5e, and that wasn't done via survey.

3e was totally done via survey. The difference was that there they did all the surveying before really starting design.

They did, though, arbitrarily ignore a bunch of responses; I cynically suspect this was so they'd end up with some results they sort-of already wanted. In fairness, they were transparent and honest enough to admit to doing so, so props for that if nothing else.

 

[GreyLord]

So when they ask "What should we include in this new edition of D&D?" only those who play 5e (or, in 2012, 4e) should be allowed to answer and be heard?

Bollocks.

That's just a surveyor's way of dodging responses they don't want to get, from people who play and enjoy other editions and-or systems. That, and not providing response choices that go against what they have already decided.

And if you've already decided something, why waste everyone's time with a bogus survey?

Asked a while back in the thread, but even if you already have hard set the rules, a playtest or survey is a great idea these days?

In answer to your question of...Why?

Marketing. It seems these things do great for marketing product these days. I'm not quite sure why, but I think it is because it doesn't matter if you actuallly use anything from the playtest or survey or not, if people think you are listening to their input, they'll be more invested in the product in the future. They will feel they contributed and want to see how that contribution turns out or something.