D&D 5E D&D 5e is fantastic. Just a topic of appreciation and some forum analysis.

[Umbran]

I'm not ignoring the "back side of that blade," but you seem to be saying that no communication is better than potentially risky or imperfect communication.

I seem to be saying that? Apparently, I was not clear. Let me repeat myself, with appropriate emphasis for the point.

"With the way the messageboard communities work these days, missing an announced date MIGHT BE a lot worse than having no announcement."

Somehow my fairly plain and clear "might be" became "is". I daresay, sir, that you are kind of making my point for me - are you not showing how we tend to distort what's said when we get into discussion of it?

 

[Trickster Spirit]

Maybe, @Hussar. But I refuse to believe that skillful communication is impossible. Non-problematic communication? Yes, that is impossible because someone is always going to mangle the message. but skillful communication that minimizes problems? Yes, it is possible.

And understand that I'm speaking as someone who has never been offended by anything WotC has ever said and generally don't get hot and bothered about this stuff. I'm speaking more out of intellectual curiosity.

Possible? Sure.

Worth the effort, when it's a heck of a lot easier to just keep quiet about stuff like the Fantasy Grounds deal, especially after seeing how muck flak they took after Dungeonscape crashed and burned? Probably not.

 

[Mercurius]

I seem to be saying that? Apparently, I was not clear. Let me repeat myself, with appropriate emphasis for the point.

"With the way the messageboard communities work these days, missing an announced date MIGHT BE a lot worse than having no announcement."

Somehow my fairly plain and clear "might be" became "is". I daresay, sir, that you are kind of making my point for me - are you not showing how we tend to distort what's said when we get into discussion of it?

Now you're picking nits. "Distortion" is part of communication and unavoidable. Thanks for the snarkery, though.

 

[Jester David]

I almost wonder, though, if WotC would be well served in having Mearls or someone write a monthly column that gives us a sense of what they're working on, what the plan is going forward, how the game is doing, etc. Maybe that is too revealing, and they clearly prefer to not show their cards until they're ready to play them, but again, in the absence of any solid information we're left to speculate. Some communication would be a good thing, no? If only, "Hey, we've got something really cool for GenCon - a major product release!" And then in later columns they could gradually roll out hints and previews - build the excitement. Isn't that what they used to do in Dragon? Was there something wrong with that approach? Given the fan-base, or at least the online forum community, I'm just not so certain that "mum's the word" is the best approach to take.

The problem with this is that the first column would have all the information they'd be willing to share for several months. So you'd have four months of "we're working on stuff that we're not ready to talk about yet", one month of "here's what we've been working on" and one month of "wasn't last month's release awesome?"
They're just not working on enough content to regularly discuss upcoming content.

Especially since projects and books could apparently be cancelled at any time.

I also get the impression official communication on WotC matters needs approval. That Mearls and co. need a manager's rubber stamping before releasing any news. They *really* stick to the corporate talking points when in public.

 

[Hussar]

After the feeding frenzy of 4e, can you blame them?

 

[The Grassy Gnoll]

It's a shame that a celebratory thread is again causing accusations of snarkery and further criticism of the work the company the thread is designed to praise and show some positive love.
Wizards, if you're reading this, c'm'ere and have a big old hug. I think you're doing a great job *ruffles hair*

 

[Jeff Albertson]

After the feeding frenzy of 4e, can you blame them?

No, I applaud their cagey/cautious approach, right on. Something odd happened along the way, during 3rd Ed, something gross.

 

[darjr]

I'm having a blast with 5e. With it I can run meaningful short games in about an hour! That is IMHO a great way to give folks a way to play at conventions that can't commit to a four or five hour game.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

We have the game, we should just go play the game. And if every couple months we receive a note that says "X book is on target to be released in Y month", we should count ourselves lucky for even getting that.

I like the cut of your jib sir!

It seems like for some people the fun of the game is talking about the next book of rules. I don't really understand it. I enjoy playing 5e as it is and I'll be fine if this is the extent of rules for the game.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I like the cut of your jib sir!

It seems like for some people the fun of the game is talking about the next book of rules. I don't really understand it. I enjoy playing 5e as it is and I'll be fine if this is the extent of rules for the game.

Yep. Maybe it's because I grew up in my main gaming years in the early 80s where we did all our own maps and adventures, but to be perfectly honest, all I need is the PHB and maybe MM and I could game for decades with just that and have fun. After all, they haven't officially announced any new AD&D1e stuff for decades and I still play that to this day (although it is being replaced by 5e).