Is there really any way to make June?

[mxyzplk]

So they are still saying they're gong to deliver all three core books in June even though other designers are saying the core books are "in constant flux"? It sounds like they are still working on the core mechanics and classes. I worked in publishing and 7 months before you're supposed to land in stores isn't a happy time to not be well into the copyediting stage. Bets on when they are really going to hit stores?

 

[Rechan]

Considering that the sorcerer was shoved into 3e at the last minute, and they realized when the thing was about to hit the printers that they had forgotten to put the d12 in the game, it's no surprise things are "currently in flux".

 

[MerricB]

Good question.

I'm getting visions of the amount of work that Peter Jackson and his editors were doing on the Return of the King as the deadline approached - and was missed, IIRC.

It may be that they've got cut-off dates for when everything has to be set in stone, so they're working towards them. I'm sure the playtesters have been very busy indeed!

Cheers!

 

[FadedC]

I'd be more worried if they were not in constant flux. I would assume that actual hard copies of the books exist (otherwise nobody could playtest them), they are just constantly having their rules and text changed. Seems pretty similar to what I'd expect in a copy editing phase, but then I'm not a publishing person.

 

[mxyzplk]

I'll have to dig out the actual timeline when I'm back at home, but for 3e I was one of the original Living Greyhawk Triads, and they sent us early galleys of the 3e rules to prepare to run LG adventures at GenCon with the launch. As I recall, it was some time before sale date and there was very little change between the copies we got and the published product.

 

[danbuter1]

I imagine the books will be out in June no matter what. If we don't get the most optimal rule for something because it was "locked" early, then we will just have to live with it.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

I imagine the books will be out in June no matter what. If we don't get the most optimal rule for something because it was "locked" early, then we will just have to live with it.

Ditto. It's not that I "believe in them", but rather that I believe that they will do everything necessary to make the June deadline.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've been involved in getting far more complex games out the door in a similar time frame. It's not only doable, it'd be pretty sad if they couldn't get it done in time.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

I've been involved in getting far more complex games out the door in a similar time frame. It's not only doable, it'd be pretty sad if they couldn't get it done in time.

I don't know how streamlined their processes are, but I've seen many a project get hung up more due to red tape and beuracracy than due to project complexities.

 

[Kevin Brennan]

I'd be deeply, deeply amazed if they don't get it out in June. As others have said, there's no question as to whether the game will be released on time. The only question is whether everything will be fully playtested and edited.