Database Issues Are Crippling XE [Archive] - Wizards Community

Database Issues Are Crippling XE [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
airwalkrr
10-04-06, 03:37 AM Let me begin by saying I mean no disrespect. I have no exact knowledge of what goes on behind closed doors and I am not pointing the finger at anyone. I have the utmost respect for those working on the campaign and I certainly do not believe anyone is intentionally trying to screw the players over. That said, I have a serious beef with the way this campaign is being handled.

Xen'Drik Expeditions is a marvelous campaign so far. All the adventures I have played have been fun and thrilling. They get me outside of my comfort zone and I truly feel like I am exploring a different world. But the campaign is marred by the fact that the database is hounded with numerous unresolved problems. I am no computer whiz, but having served as a webmaster for a university gaming club, I know enough about web programming to know that fixing these issues should not be an extremely complex problem. I would dare say that they could all be dealt with easily by one expert in web development working full time for a mere week with change left over. XE is an RPGA campaign and as such it should be receiving support from WotC of some kind. Even if they do not have an employee available to do such work, I cannot see how it would be so difficult to contract out a web developer to fix said issues.

I realize the RPGA campaign is free. But saying "you get what you pay for" is irrelevant to the fact that having a campaign like this is pointless if WotC is not going to support it. As a consumer with little time to design his own campaigns and hardly the luxury to find another DM who can, I turn to RPGA campaigns to give me something I cannot find elsewhere. I buy the Eberron books solely to play this campaign and Mark of Heroes because there are no other Eberron campaigns in my area. If these issues are not fixed soon, it is possible I will stop playing Eberron altogether and focus on something else.

Honestly, this campaign has too much promise to be seemingly neglected like it has. I want to be a part of this campaign and contribute to it by playing and GMing it, but if the reporting issues are not corrected, there is little reason to play. What is the point without earning gp, xp, and seeing the certs earned from each adventure? I can get one shots much more easily.

I'm really not angry. I promise. I am just stating how I rationally perceive things and the consequences for me if I do not see improvement. If you agree with me, post your agreement. Likewise if your disagree, as it is just as likely that everyone else simply has a better stomach for these kinds of errors than I do, in which case, my voice will be insignificant. But if, as I suspect, there are those like me out there who will cease playing this campaign if the issue is not fixed, then perhaps a vocal presence in this thread might clue in some of the execs overseeing the RPGA branch of WotC.
kiddoc
10-04-06, 09:00 AM While I definately understand the frustration with past issues, I also want to take the time to clear something up here.

Database related problems will NEVER "cripple" or otherwise impede Xen'drik Expeditions from the point of release of the next CS forward. That should be within the next several weeks. While the database will be a nice tool of convenience, it will now be redundant with the campaign standards. We have solved that problem by creating a more detailed system to track character advancement and augmentation.

Furthermore, given the expansion of the Adventure Journals, you should have no difficulty in "enjoying" the Xen'drik Expeditions campaign. If the database miraculously jumps to 100% error free, immediate update efficiency--yipee kye yay! What a bonus. If it suddenly falls to 0 and never works again--no big deal, we have a way to track every single detail now.

Now, if what's at issue here is RPGA # reporting issues for bonus points--that has nothing to do with Xen'drik Expeditions. That's a larger RPGA issue. In addition, while RPGA rewards are a cool part of any system, I hardly think they're necessary to derive "any" enjoyment out of the campaign.

Now... off to court to fight the badguys! ;)
Sianger
10-04-06, 10:56 PM I think the best way to look at things now (or when the next CS comes out) is basically like this:

Assume the database doesn't really exist. Everything will be tracked on paper, through the Adventure Journals, as [will be] detailed in the CS.

The database is an experimental tracker that will be running parallel to the paperwork tracking. What the database actually says is not important because the paperwork comes first. Naturally, being an experiment, the database will have problems, but they won't actually affect anything, so we don't need to worry about it - just report problems as they occur. Life goes on happily with Adventure Journals.

Am I reading the situation correctly?
Jesse Heinig
10-05-06, 04:32 AM Not necessarily database related, but wasn't the CS 2.0 supposed to be released on Sep. 30th? That's what I was told in another thread, anyway.

EDIT: See here:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=9939971&postcount=10
. . . wherein Kiddoc states that the update to CS should be at the "end of September."

Database related problems will NEVER "cripple" or otherwise impede Xen'drik Expeditions from the point of release of the next CS forward. That should be within the next several weeks.
Butterface
10-05-06, 09:44 AM Not necessarily database related, but wasn't the CS 2.0 supposed to be released on Sep. 30th? That's what I was told in another thread, anyway.

EDIT: See here:
http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=9939971&postcount=10
. . . wherein Kiddoc states that the update to CS should be at the "end of September."

I recall Kiddoc saying something like "as close to September 30 as possible," or the like. Anyway, I don't think he has any control as to when they post it online. Last I heard the factionmasters had submitted their stuff to Greg Marks for final editing. That was about a week ago I think.
smerwin29
10-05-06, 10:44 AM The draft version of the CS is currently being reviewed by the Factionmasters. This will take the weekend, at least, to complete. When we have all had the chance to review it and come to agreement about all points, then the draft will be released for public review. There will most likely be a brief (5-7 days at most) chance for y'all to review it, make suggestions and ask questions, after which we will implement any changes and then release as the final CS until the level bump.

Shawn

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
airwalkrr 10-04-06, 03:37 AM	Let me begin by saying I mean no disrespect. I have no exact knowledge of what goes on behind closed doors and I am not pointing the finger at anyone. I have the utmost respect for those working on the campaign and I certainly do not believe anyone is intentionally trying to screw the players over. That said, I have a serious beef with the way this campaign is being handled. Xen'Drik Expeditions is a marvelous campaign so far. All the adventures I have played have been fun and thrilling. They get me outside of my comfort zone and I truly feel like I am exploring a different world. But the campaign is marred by the fact that the database is hounded with numerous unresolved problems. I am no computer whiz, but having served as a webmaster for a university gaming club, I know enough about web programming to know that fixing these issues should not be an extremely complex problem. I would dare say that they could all be dealt with easily by one expert in web development working full time for a mere week with change left over. XE is an RPGA campaign and as such it should be receiving support from WotC of some kind. Even if they do not have an employee available to do such work, I cannot see how it would be so difficult to contract out a web developer to fix said issues. I realize the RPGA campaign is free. But saying "you get what you pay for" is irrelevant to the fact that having a campaign like this is pointless if WotC is not going to support it. As a consumer with little time to design his own campaigns and hardly the luxury to find another DM who can, I turn to RPGA campaigns to give me something I cannot find elsewhere. I buy the Eberron books solely to play this campaign and Mark of Heroes because there are no other Eberron campaigns in my area. If these issues are not fixed soon, it is possible I will stop playing Eberron altogether and focus on something else. Honestly, this campaign has too much promise to be seemingly neglected like it has. I want to be a part of this campaign and contribute to it by playing and GMing it, but if the reporting issues are not corrected, there is little reason to play. What is the point without earning gp, xp, and seeing the certs earned from each adventure? I can get one shots much more easily. I'm really not angry. I promise. I am just stating how I rationally perceive things and the consequences for me if I do not see improvement. If you agree with me, post your agreement. Likewise if your disagree, as it is just as likely that everyone else simply has a better stomach for these kinds of errors than I do, in which case, my voice will be insignificant. But if, as I suspect, there are those like me out there who will cease playing this campaign if the issue is not fixed, then perhaps a vocal presence in this thread might clue in some of the execs overseeing the RPGA branch of WotC.
kiddoc 10-04-06, 09:00 AM	While I definately understand the frustration with past issues, I also want to take the time to clear something up here. Database related problems will NEVER "cripple" or otherwise impede Xen'drik Expeditions from the point of release of the next CS forward. That should be within the next several weeks. While the database will be a nice tool of convenience, it will now be redundant with the campaign standards. We have solved that problem by creating a more detailed system to track character advancement and augmentation. Furthermore, given the expansion of the Adventure Journals, you should have no difficulty in "enjoying" the Xen'drik Expeditions campaign. If the database miraculously jumps to 100% error free, immediate update efficiency--yipee kye yay! What a bonus. If it suddenly falls to 0 and never works again--no big deal, we have a way to track every single detail now. Now, if what's at issue here is RPGA # reporting issues for bonus points--that has nothing to do with Xen'drik Expeditions. That's a larger RPGA issue. In addition, while RPGA rewards are a cool part of any system, I hardly think they're necessary to derive "any" enjoyment out of the campaign. Now... off to court to fight the badguys! ;)
Sianger 10-04-06, 10:56 PM	I think the best way to look at things now (or when the next CS comes out) is basically like this: Assume the database doesn't really exist. Everything will be tracked on paper, through the Adventure Journals, as [will be] detailed in the CS. The database is an experimental tracker that will be running parallel to the paperwork tracking. What the database actually says is not important because the paperwork comes first. Naturally, being an experiment, the database will have problems, but they won't actually affect anything, so we don't need to worry about it - just report problems as they occur. Life goes on happily with Adventure Journals. Am I reading the situation correctly?
Jesse Heinig 10-05-06, 04:32 AM	Not necessarily database related, but wasn't the CS 2.0 supposed to be released on Sep. 30th? That's what I was told in another thread, anyway. EDIT: See here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=9939971&postcount=10 . . . wherein Kiddoc states that the update to CS should be at the "end of September." Database related problems will NEVER "cripple" or otherwise impede Xen'drik Expeditions from the point of release of the next CS forward. That should be within the next several weeks.
Butterface 10-05-06, 09:44 AM	Not necessarily database related, but wasn't the CS 2.0 supposed to be released on Sep. 30th? That's what I was told in another thread, anyway. EDIT: See here: http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=9939971&postcount=10 . . . wherein Kiddoc states that the update to CS should be at the "end of September." I recall Kiddoc saying something like "as close to September 30 as possible," or the like. Anyway, I don't think he has any control as to when they post it online. Last I heard the factionmasters had submitted their stuff to Greg Marks for final editing. That was about a week ago I think.
smerwin29 10-05-06, 10:44 AM	The draft version of the CS is currently being reviewed by the Factionmasters. This will take the weekend, at least, to complete. When we have all had the chance to review it and come to agreement about all points, then the draft will be released for public review. There will most likely be a brief (5-7 days at most) chance for y'all to review it, make suggestions and ask questions, after which we will implement any changes and then release as the final CS until the level bump. Shawn