WotC playtesting

[Blacksad]

I remember hearing comments from playtester of the ELH that WotC didn't listen to their comment, and in fact, the playtest document and the actual book have very few differences (the magic items pricing formula, and some DC for epic spell that were corrected).

I say this, because for 3.5 it seems that while the problem have been pin-pointed by all the fans, the playtesting seems to have been first in-house.

and I do not understand why they haven't released this new content in the draft SRD first, before the release of the books, this would have ensured that the changes were meaningful and not worst than the problem

 

[KnowTheToe]

I would think, if you released the SRD first and people got used to referencing it, it may effect the sales from existing customers.

If the reverse takes place, people see the SRD, love it and then buy the books, WoTC will still get those sales if they release both SRD and books at the same time.

It would also get very messy, because they would get thousands of suggestions and have to take another year going through them. In the mean time, they may have to reprint the existing books to meet demand and then wait another year to print the new version.

 

[jasamcarl]

I remember hearing comments from playtester of the ELH that WotC didn't listen to their comment, and in fact, the playtest document and the actual book have very few differences (the magic items pricing formula, and some DC for epic spell that were corrected).

I say this, because for 3.5 it seems that while the problem have been pin-pointed by all the fans, the playtesting seems to have been first in-house.

and I do not understand why they haven't released this new content in the draft SRD first, before the release of the books, this would have ensured that the changes were meaningful and not worst than the problem

You seem to have a somewhat simplistic understanding of what playtesting means. Just because Wotc did not impliment many of the suggestions from the playtesters does not mean they did not read them. It is just that, from their much more comprehensive and broad vantage point (having taken feedback from multiple as well as applying their experience in gaming theory) they chose not to take specific suggestions at their word. Quite frankly, individual playtesting groups offer very little in terms of providing specific fixes to mechanics and balance; the aggregate of playtesters offer valuable impressions, but that is just about it.

Leave the design to the designers.

 

[Ranger REG]

Perhaps Wizards' playtesting procedure should be revised as well, allowing greater input from the majority of playtesters who all agree to certain contents.

For example, if more than enough playtesters (plural) says "I don't understand this Attack of Opportunity rules, can you clarify?" then perhaps the R&D Group should go back and re-word the description, even providing diagrams.

 

[Blacksad]

Re: Re: WotC playtesting

You seem to have a somewhat simplistic understanding of what playtesting means. Just because Wotc did not impliment many of the suggestions from the playtesters does not mean they did not read them.

They are playtester, they didn't provided suggestions, but said what worked or didn't worked, and many of the thing that do not scale well weren't corrected

 

[Blacksad]

I would think, if you released the SRD first and people got used to referencing it, it may effect the sales from existing customers.

Then why has this worked with 3.0 and would not work with 3.5?

 

[Ranger REG]

The SRD was released earlier for third-party publishers to get their products out at the same time as the debut of Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition. But it was a draft SRD, not officially released. After all, it is a game designer's toolkit.

Since then, most of the draft section have been approved.

I doubt Wizards will officially release the revised SRD earlier than the revised Third Edition. Instead, they set up an e-mail discussion list for publishers willing to sign an NDA to get early access to the rules. So, until July 2003, we won't see the revised SRD.

 

[kingpaul]

I doubt Wizards will officially release the revised SRD earlier than the revised Third Edition. Instead, they set up an e-mail discussion list for publishers willing to sign an NDA to get early access to the rules. So, until July 2003, we won't see the revised SRD.

Not quite...see here