Man in the Funny Hat
Hero
Just happened to be poking around Wizards site for the first time in... months?... and I took a look at Sage Advice. It's an interesting little format they used there. In fact, I think it's BRILLIANT. It is what Sage Advice should have become long ago and should continue to be into the future. By that I mean that it should NOT be "These are THE RULES. This is the OFFICIAL WAY. Do as WE INSTRUCT HERE." It should be a gathering of a variety of (preferrably informed) opinions but chosen for slightly differing emphases, preferences, and opinions of "the sages".
Heck, they could simply leave the official post of "The Sage" empty or at least non-public. Have the sage advice questions submitted as usual and then choose which will be put up for public comment. Let people submit their opinions, staff and public alike, and then choose the best responses to accompany the question. Rotate questions weekly.
Yeah, it's not much different than simply submitting questions to an open rules forum except that they maintain editorial control since they choose the responses THEY like best. But the point is that it becomes ADVICE - not rules dictation. It would also have the advantage of freeing an official "Sage" from the occasional embarrassment of simply getting things wrong. THIS would be a Sage Advice feature that I would regularly read.
Heck, they could simply leave the official post of "The Sage" empty or at least non-public. Have the sage advice questions submitted as usual and then choose which will be put up for public comment. Let people submit their opinions, staff and public alike, and then choose the best responses to accompany the question. Rotate questions weekly.
Yeah, it's not much different than simply submitting questions to an open rules forum except that they maintain editorial control since they choose the responses THEY like best. But the point is that it becomes ADVICE - not rules dictation. It would also have the advantage of freeing an official "Sage" from the occasional embarrassment of simply getting things wrong. THIS would be a Sage Advice feature that I would regularly read.