What do you expect from WotC?

[spunky_mutters]

this is easy.

I expect them to be in command of the rules they developed.
I expect them to write clear, unambiguous rules that are clear-cut in their application. When they are not clear-cut, or when a combo comes up later in their own product line that makes thei rules unclear, I expect them to publish an official ruling that clears it up.

This is my biggest beef. What do you do when there's one wording in the PH, and then you see in the FAQ that they're telling people to do the opposite of what is explicitly laid out in print, without any errata to indicate they are changing the wording.

Who knows what's considered official? I get the impression that it depends who you ask and when.

 

[dm4ever]

Like to see

It seemed that 3rd edition had errata every week. I mean how many times have they printed ball lightning revisions. It seemed that with all the great changes 3rd edition made to the system, too many flaws were left unchecked. I hope that massive playtesting of these rules were done so that any errata will be kept to a minumum. Please spellcheck everything! I am paying dearly for all three books, so I expect them to be top rate when it comes to grammar and spelling. I also hope the bindings are of better quality than the first books I purchased. All mine have seperated and are being held together with ductape.

 

[bwgwl]

Who knows what's considered official?

who cares what's official? use what works best for your group and keep playing.

 

[Umbran]

Who knows what's considered official? I get the impression that it depends who you ask and when.

Yes, bwgwl has a point. Who cares what's official? Unless you're playing in a tournament of some kind, you play with the rules you like, the ones that work and make sense for you.

 

[alsih2o]

what do you expect from Wizard's products?

i don't.

no expectations whatsoever. if it is good enough to entertain me, i will buy it.

just like every other consumer relationship i have

 

[Drawmack]

What an odd question, what to I expect from Wizard's products?

I expect the same thing I expect from any comsumer good.

I expect to get a product that reasonbly well meets the purpose it was intended for. If for some reason, besides by own personal opinion, it does not meet that purpose I expect the problem to be corrected in a reasonable time and maner.

If you expect anything diferent from a company you are expecting too much.

 

[reapersaurus]

Yes, bwgwl has a point. Who cares what's official? Unless you're playing in a tournament of some kind, you play with the rules you like, the ones that work and make sense for you.

Wow - what an incredibly self-defining statement.

SOME people may not care what the 'official' rules are.

I DO.

In fact, an easy case could be made that IF you believe that 'rules are not important', than why do you bother buying, then reading closely those 500 pages of rules?

IF rules aren't important, and role-playing is the only point, than why bother with stat-blocks, attack boni, etc?

Most people consider rules to be an integral part of the roleplaying experience - if there are vastly different ways that an official rule can be interpreted, this leads to variation amongst the participants, which can lead to conflict (general conflict, not literal conflict) stemming from these variations.

Putting out errata, or an FAQ which clears up the comparably few rules questions that people have, would be painfully simple for a company like WotC. I'd ball-park figure that out of all the rules, less than 10% need much clarification.
Why they don't spend the little amount of money and effort to clear up that small number is truly baffling, and disappointing as a consumer.
It certainly leads one to believe that rules are not on the front burner to them - which brings me back to my main point - if rules aren't important, than why do they expect us to continue purchasing their product(s)?
You can see incredibly creative, and well-thought out and tested House Rules by any number of people on the web - it's WotC's place to set the official line, and be the benchmark by which everyone can base their interpretations and House Rules from.

You shouldn't need to interpret and guess-Rule the base rules set of D&D.

 

[I'm A Banana]

What do you expect from WotC?

FIRE AND BRIMSTONE FROM THE HEAVENS, A LAZER SHOW SET TO METALLICA, AND FREE KOOSH LAUNCHERS!!!111

Actually, I more expect them to be the best at designing stuff for the game that they made, but I realized quickly not to be dissapointed when they aren't...after all, they're only human...at least, most of them are. Those who aren't are probably demented man-child leprechauns like Monte Cook.

MONTE, I TOLD YOU GET OUT OF MY COLLECTION OF SHARP OBJECTS!

*crash! Squish!*

DAMMIT, MONTE!

 

[Wormwood]

I expect WotC product to:

1. Define "official" rules
2. Keep working on streamlining, clarifying and improving the 3e ruleset. Kill as many idiotic 'sacred cows' and unbalancing rules artifacts as possible. 3e designers/playtesters dropped the ball here---I only hope their replacements do a better job.
3. Be 4e compliant by 2006.

 

[spunky_mutters]

who cares what's official? use what works best for your group and keep playing.

Okay, so if I play in a couple of different groups, and also participate in LG or similar, my situation is a little bit different than a 1-group guy. If you DM at cons, you need to know as well. It just makes sense that there is a defined authority on what the official rules are.