Dear Wizards: How about some real information?

[mhensley]

Ah, since having an ENworld account does not grant anonymoty (wotc could sue someone for violating the NDA by posting info here) perhaps a wiki is the best way to go for information-- people can edit them anonymously. Someone suggested starting one, but nobody seemed to be interested-- but a Wiki would allow access to more info than these boards can I think...

Are you really suggesting that playtesters should violate their NDA? I can wait.

 

[Felon]

I think it's obvious that a lot of stuff is still up in the air, even at this relatively late date. I really don't know what the point of having playtesting is when the release is 8 months. There's not a lot of time for testing, feedback, and revision before the final copy has to go off to the printer.

 

[am181d]

Why? Why should Wizards tell us *anything* over the next six to eight months. Sure it's fun to find out things in drips and drabs, but why do they *need* to announce anything until it's time to start pre-ordering the books???

Yes, I'd love to have previews over the next few months. I just don't get the concept that we're *owed* details now.

 

[Stalker0]

The more info you give us, the more people will want to buy it. Remember 3rd Ed at launch? A lot of us had almost the entire SRD for months before the launch and we still bought the book.

How many months though?

We have to remember, 4e is not just a few months away it is 8 months away (7 if its in the very beginning of june). That's 2/3 of a year!

I'm chomping at the bit for more 4e news as well but we have to show some patience.

 

[jolt]

Kesh has the right of it. The 'preview' books will not have much hard info in them but it will serve as the launching point for discussion I am hoping.

I agree that it will but not in a good way. By their own admission, things have changed since the playtests of the summer about which many of the design notes in the December books are based. As a result, what info we get may, or may not, reflect aspects of the game that have since changed or been discarded. Unfortunately as well, we won't know which is which. I wish they weren't even releasing these books as they're only going to increase the already rampant (and largely pointless) speculation that already exists.

My personal opinion (which I realize doesn't matter and will be soon forgotten by most people who read it anyway) is that little information (that is both "hard", accurate, and meaningful) will come out before the big D&D day in early February.

jolt

 

[jolt]

How many months though?

We have to remember, 4e is not just a few months away it is 8 months away (7 if its in the very beginning of june). That's 2/3 of a year!

Or 3 months (1/4 of a year) if you count "First chance to play 4E" at the beginning of February. If they're still making design changes at that point, they're cutting it awfully close in terms of editing, printing and distributing.

but why do they *need* to announce anything until it's time to start pre-ordering the books???

Because if WotC, or any other company for that matter, expects someone to spend almost $100 on a preorder for something that hasn't been previewed at least moderatley, then they deserve to sell zero copies.

jolt

 

[am181d]

but why do they *need* to announce anything until it's time to start pre-ordering the books???

Because if WotC, or any other company for that matter, expects someone to spend almost $100 on a preorder for something that hasn't been previewed at least moderatley, then they deserve to sell zero copies.

Repeat:

"but why do they *need* to announce anything until it's time to start pre-ordering the books???"

How is WotC providing hard details today instead of in April going to better help you make a decision in April?

We may want the entire SRD 4.0 now. We may enjoy hints and teases between now and then. But we don't *need* anything from WotC till it's time to start pre-ordering.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Because if WotC, or any other company for that matter, expects someone to spend almost $100 on a preorder for something that hasn't been previewed at least moderatley, then they deserve to sell zero copies.

I'll point out that I have the 3 books preordered for 68.58 (with shipping).

But, come on. In reality, we don't need a review until one to one and a half months ahead of time. All this other stuff we're getting now? This is gravy.

 

[ZappoHisbane]

We may want the entire SRD 4.0 now. We may enjoy hints and teases between now and then. But we don't *need* anything from WotC till it's time to start pre-ordering.

It's time. I already have.

That being said, I'm already happy with what information I've heard and the direction things are going. I'll look forward to hear more info as it comes out, but I don't *need* anything.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Why? Why should Wizards tell us *anything* over the next six to eight months.

It must be quite difficult for them in a way - trying to say enough to generate 'buzz' (which is a legitimate reason for releasing snippets here and there) while not saying too much.

I'd like to see a little more hard stuff (like the spined devil card) now and then, because I enjoy getting my teeth into something to speculate on. Since it hasn't come recently, I hope it will start cropping up more in the relatively near future

Cheers