David Noonan on playtesting experience

[SavageRobby]

So, the playtest is only starting on the beta version ? And the PHB will be there in May ? Let's say that the expanded playtest (they are recruiting volonteers NOW) last 6 months (they need to cover those damn 30 level !). Compiling, editing, last minute modifications... 2 months. Then, the books will need to be print (I think they will target hundred of thousands), distributed... and we are in May.
This is short. Short playtest, short editing. There will be countless bugs, typo and errata.

Yeah, I was going to call BS on this timeline as well, but you beat me to it.

 

[heirodule]

Yeah, I was going to call BS on this timeline as well, but you beat me to it.

I'm gonna laugh when some 3.5isms fall into the core products or future products.

Like when Libris Mortis printed Summon Undead spells that referenced non-existent 3.0 sized skeletons and zombies.

 

[Razz]

So, the playtest is only starting on the beta version ? And the PHB will be there in May ? Let's say that the expanded playtest (they are recruiting volonteers NOW) last 6 months (they need to cover those damn 30 level !). Compiling, editing, last minute modifications... 2 months. Then, the books will need to be print (I think they will target hundred of thousands), distributed... and we are in May.
This is short. Short playtest, short editing. There will be countless bugs, typo and errata.

Get ready to see 4.5E about a year after 4E comes out, making your three core books and 7 4E books in 2008 you'll most likely purchase completely obsolete.

 

[Maggan]

Get ready to see 4.5E about a year after 4E comes out, making your three core books and 7 4E books in 2008 you'll most likely purchase completely obsolete.

Ok, we'll revisit the topic in a year and a half, and see what powers of foresight you possess!

/M

 

[Glyfair]

BTW, now that the D&D site is up, can anyone see where to apply to playtest?

 

[Jhaelen]

Get ready to see 4.5E about a year after 4E comes out, making your three core books and 7 4E books in 2008 you'll most likely purchase completely obsolete.

It will take a bit longer than that until 4.5 comes out. They'll want to make sure that the 4.0 core books have been translated and published in all supported foreign languages. That way there'll be a lot more books that'll become obsolete

 

[Kestrel]

All i want to know is how to get my group into the playtests.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

So, the playtest is only starting on the beta version ? And the PHB will be there in May ? Let's say that the expanded playtest (they are recruiting volonteers NOW) last 6 months (they need to cover those damn 30 level !). Compiling, editing, last minute modifications... 2 months. Then, the books will need to be print (I think they will target hundred of thousands), distributed... and we are in May.
This is short. Short playtest, short editing. There will be countless bugs, typo and errata.

First off, I doubt the expanded playtest will last 6 months running from level 1 to 30. More likely it will be divided up over multiple groups. Some will be asked to create 1st level characters and play them through 4-5 levels. Others will be asked to create higher level characters, or maybe given pregens,and bring them up another 4-5 levels covering the entire range of levels.

Second, if they have any brains, they are already doing compiling and editing especially of sections that are less rules-intense, or simpler and less likely to need significant changes following expanded playtesting.

Last, I think you would be surprised at how quickly the books can be printed once they are ready. Harry Potter books I believe were being printed a few months in advance of release, but they were dealing with having to have millions of copies available on the release date.

 

[Remathilis]

I'm gonna laugh when some 3.5isms fall into the core products or future products.

Like when Libris Mortis printed Summon Undead spells that referenced non-existent 3.0 sized skeletons and zombies.

My personal favorite is In SAGA: Acrobatics reference to rolling a reflex save...

 

[Scribble]

My only fear is that they sacrifice uniqueness in favor of reduced prep time... Like all of x monsters have x hitpoints and attack in this order always... etc.

Shrug...

As far as 4.5... I don't know about that... I think they saw the problems 3.5 created and are working to fix that... The whole auto updating books thing seems like part of it... Instead of a 4.5 some of the online books will just eventually be updated to reflect the newly learned features.