Is this evidence that the public playtest is going to happen soon?

[Gundark]

I am wondering if some comments that have been dropped around the interwebs today point to the public playtest beginning soon. Admittedly the "evidence" is me reading between the lines quite a bit, but hey it's fun to speculate right?

This from Mike from his last L&L article "

Right now, I'm working with the design team to review the upcoming draft of the playtest. The feedback we've received from our current group of playtesters as been invaluable. However, we still have a number of big issues to work through before making the materials widely available. Instead of hitting one topic this week, I want to discuss two smaller topics, due to some feedback we've received

" Yeah there is the "big issues" thing in the quote, but in theory this could be worked through after feedback from PAX east.

This from the front of Enworld's "What's up with D&D" on the front page

The Art Galleries for Dragon 409 and Dungeon 200 along with the Map Gallery for Dungeon 200 have been released. Put those portraits away because lots of fans are probably going to be making new characters real soon

This has the feel of the "make sure you check in next week" line that was given just before the announcement of D&D next.

My guess? Mid April. Maybe a week after PAX east.

Your guess?

 

[Arytiss]

My guess? Mid April. Maybe a week after PAX east.

Your guess?

I think you're being overly optimistic with this. They need time to compile and implement the data that they've gathered from the playtest at PAX. A week won't be nearly enough for that.

 

[Jeff Carlsen]

I think you're being overly optimistic with this. They need time to compile and implement the data that they've gathered from the playtest at PAX. A week won't be nearly enough for that.

While you're probably right, it's possible that they'll try to deal with those big issues first and use PAX East as a sort of release candidate test to make sure nothing major comes up before starting wider testing.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I would guess end of April or beginning of May.

Definitey not till the 15th at least, as PacEast is until the 8th.

 

[Stormonu]

Remember how long it took them to get us a GSL so publishers could have a "sneak peek" look at designing 4E stuff? How long after the launch of 4E before we even got the character creator that had been promised back at the 4E reveal?

I'd say expect the playtest to be that far away.

 

[keterys]

It looks like they'd want to show the draft of the playtest they're working on to their current playtesters before sharing with the wide world... which suggests _well_ after PAX. Sometime in May, maybe?

 

[Piratecat]

I'm less optimistic than you guys. I'd say end of summer.

(and that's a pure guess, nothing more.)

 

[tuxgeo]

I'm less optimistic than you guys. I'd say end of summer.

(and that's a pure guess, nothing more.)

Based on your posting style (I've never had a chance to meet you), I would estimate that your guess is going to be subject to some amount of revision once you have had a chance to see how far they've gotten in the revised playtest version of the game that they're frantically trying to pull together for your use (among others) at PAX East.

 

[Truename]

Hmm... I'd guess that PAX is the beginning of the public playtest, myself. A big marketing splash at PAX, a short delay while they take care of errata, and then the same playtest materials come to us.

 

[delericho]

In fairness, they always said "Spring", and there's no particular reason to doubt that. Of course, that means that it pretty much has to be soon.

My guess would be April 13th. That's the day I go offline for two weeks, which suits my lousy timing. Anything before that, and I can download the rules and take them with me; much after that and I won't be missing much. But release on that day, and I miss everything - the excitement of the rules being released, the mass of conversations here... everything. So, Friday the 13th it is.