Unearthed Arcana!

[TarionzCousin]

It also seems that you are assuming that if this article didn't exist it would be replaced with something you like- but that isn't necessarily true. It could just be replaced with something else you equally dislike- or even nothing at all.

Something is better than nothing.

 

[Bagpuss]

It also seems that you are assuming that if this article didn't exist it would be replaced with something you like- but that isn't necessarily true. It could just be replaced with something else you equally dislike- or even nothing at all.

Not really, there a plenty of weeks Dragon/Dungeon has things I can't use, right now. I've not been running D&D for nearly a year but I renewed my subscription, last time. It's more a case that I can see them using Unearth Arcana to hide the fact they have nothing else. They should be delivering the content as advertised when we signed up for Dragon/Dungeon and their integration to the D&D Insider, once they do that, then they can offer extras.

Of course it's better than nothing at all but that doesn't make it good enough, to fill in for properly developed and supported material we should be getting.

 

[shamsael]

I think a reduction in content corresponding to the release of Essentials is more likely a sign that a set number of months ago, WotC started taking fewer submissions for non-essentials related articles because they are hoping to feature the new line in Dragon for a while.

Whether or not that means we'll get standard 4e content afterword is another matter.

 

[Scribble]

Not really, there a plenty of weeks Dragon/Dungeon has things I can't use, right now. I've not been running D&D for nearly a year but I renewed my subscription, last time. It's more a case that I can see them using Unearth Arcana to hide the fact they have nothing else. They should be delivering the content as advertised when we signed up for Dragon/Dungeon and their integration to the D&D Insider, once they do that, then they can offer extras.

Of course it's better than nothing at all but that doesn't make it good enough, to fill in for properly developed and supported material we should be getting.

We can go back and forth on this like Aegeri mentioned, but suffice it to say- I think there are a lot of people that tend to approach these things with "What's the negative slant that could possibly fit this particular issue? How are they screwing us?"

I don't see it that way. Personally I see a section of the magazine that is going to offer us stuff that doesn't "fit the mold." This offers people who don't need/want everything to fit the mold a place to get that content.

Look how much back and forth there was by people about that original "magic items we can't publish" blog post. Clearly there's a group that wants stuff like this.

I see it as akin to deleted scenes and blooper reels on DVDs. Some people think it's a waste of space, others think it's a neat look at content that otherwise wouldn't see the light of day.

If this type of content isn't your thing- I got no beef with that.

I just don't agree with the "I've found the secret reason they're doing this, and here's why it's bad" posts... Pretty much ever.


Would it be better if they also published more "official" content... Sure (Although I think the quality of articles in dungeon has actually increased) but I think that's a discussion for that other thread I'd say.

 

[Scribble]

Also what's cool about this, is it's a way for us to sort of drive the game.

Since they mentioned if some things really take off in popularity we'll probably see it done up and released as "official."

This lets us really be in charge of stuff we want in the game. It keeps WoTC in touch with what the fans want.

Personally I think this is another sign out of a bunch lately that WoTC really DOES listen to it's customers.

 

[Phaezen]

I am very interested to see how they will present the curses in tomorrow's article. Although my first reaction is: using the disease track for curses? Why didn't I think of that?

the new column also opens the way for bringing variation into different campaigns and more options are never a bad thing.

 

[Bagpuss]

I see it as akin to deleted scenes and blooper reels on DVDs. Some people think it's a waste of space, others think it's a neat look at content that otherwise wouldn't see the light of day.

I'll be happy if it is a bonus like the extra content on a DVD (which I happen to love), but tomorrow it isn't a bonus it is a replacement. I'm glad we are going to see this stuff, just concerned that it is in place of other stuff.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Another quite logical reason why Unearthed Arcana stuff wouldn't appear in the Character Builder is that there's a chance that some of the stuff that will be introduced isn't in the same game format as the official rules, and thus would be incapable of being programmed into it. And if given the choice between programming only some of Unearthed Arcana (the parts that are equatable to current 4E game mechanics, like for instance "gunpowder weapons" probably would be) while leaving other articles out to dry... versus just leaving all UA out of the programming so as to not create the differentiation in people's minds that "well, maybe some of this is more official than other bits because it's in the CB"... the latter is probably the better choice.

Keep the entirety of UA out just makes it more official and less like to generate arguments about what is official-optional and optional-optional.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I think this was the one editorial that I am very glad to see. This is like an official statement, that houserules are now accepted.

In a different thread i mentoned, that as the game grows, monitoring everything becomes a terrible annoying task.

We now see wotc back off from its "its our game and we watch it like a watchdog" attitude. With this in mind, there could be chances third party producers will come back to DnD 4e.

Less control and more freedom is what many posters wanted, and now we get it. I also believe, we will soon see an increase of articles, when peopleactually know what "essentials going forward" means.

 

[Camelot]

This sounds really awesome! This could be the thing that gets be to subscribe to DDI. I like that they're experimenting; it could open up whole new things that nobody has thought of before. In a way, it's like 3rd parties are being allowed to make homebrew stuff, but those "3rd parties" are actual D&D designers who have a great comprehension of the rules, so I don't see much of this stuff being too imbalanced that it can't be fixed.