Is this true about 3e playtesting?

[buzz]

I read the following on another RPG board about how 3e was playtested.

The playtesters weren't allowed to test the whole system all at once, only parts of it. Different playtest groups were given different parts to look at. The developers didn't want anybody (including playtesters) too see the whole system prior to it's release. Yes, I would call this call this a horrible testing method.

The person posting says he was told this by a 3e playtester.

Is thie true? Any former playtesters here who can testify?

 

[smetzger]

I don't think its completly true.

However, I think they concentrated on specific parts to test, at specific times. Also, if I remember correctly most groups did not have 3e stats for monsters when they did playtesting.

I believe they used a spiral testing model. i.e. they would make some changes, then do testing, make some more changes, and then do more testing. So, although the 3e system was in playtest from a long time, I don't think the system we have today was tested in its entirety for any significant amount of time.

 

[WisdomLikeSilence]

Is thie true? Any former playtesters here who can testify?

No, it's not true. Obviously they didn't finish all of the books at once, but we got complete versions of the PHB to playtest.

As playtesting progressed, they did redo the PHB and send out new copies. That's a positive testament to the process, though, because it means they were really responding to our comments.

Different groups were given different splat books to test, but I suspect this was just a way of managing the writing/testing process.

I certainly never got *any* indication that WOTC was compromising the playtest process by trying to hold back information.


-WLS

 

[ced1106]

I actually don't think that "modular" playtesting is a bad idea, as **part** of the process. 3e is certainly quite a bit to learn, and if there's a modular approach to picking up the rules, that would make the system both easier to learn and usable as a supplement.

Anyone up for the EQ faction rules?


Cedric.
aka. Washu! ^O^

 

[Piratecat]

We were playtesters. Nope, that's complete hooey.

 

[Angcuru]

We were playtesters...

...once, and young...

 

[A'koss]

I also wanted to point out that this was simply not true. Our group had playtest material for all 3 books and later were given assignments to concentrate on certain areas of the game.


Cheers,

A'koss.

 

[Wayside]

Nope, not true. Still, it's not a bad idea necessarily, since the full texts that go out to playtesters almost always end up pirated online.

 

[Technik4]

Nope, that's complete hooey.

You don't happen to know what "hooey" translates to in Russian? I guess it's just amusing for me

Technik