The Compendium and Character Builder News told us what we could expect in this update. WODERFUL!! really it is! It's exactly what people like me and others are looking for, to see what is being worked on, what is going to be included, what we will be getting in the future.
I proppose a public "To Do" list.
Basically telling us, what is being worked on, what has priority at the moment, what we can expect to see soon, what we can expect to see in the future, perhaps even who is working on what and what progress is being made. A public work log if you will.
Not only would that be a huge advertising bonus, it would put all of us who are using the tools, who are using DDI, your customers a little more at ease.
It would show us that you are listening, and I know you keep saying you are and I believe you, but many don't.
It would give all of us an idea of when we can expect something new, or in the case of the Character Builder, when we can expect fixes for the bugs we reported.
Just a thought I had, I'm sure others had similar ideas too...
Speculation:
They feel that the ungrateful currs will ***** and moan regardless of what they do, but will do so to a lesser extent if they only say what they will have out that they are 100% sure about.
It's simple really. WotC tells us what they know will be out when. They do this because they got a lot of flack for being missing the mark on a few things and being vague about the rest.
It's pretty simply to avoid too... don't set things in stone.
Say, we are working on this and this and this if it's something they are ACTUALLY working on.
Say, we are looking at this and this and this if it's something they're hoping to have in the future.
Say, we are considering this and this and this, if it's something they are unsure of all together.
Their Calender could be expanded so much, with so much more detail. Goals for completion dates, (goals not set in stone completion dates) we would be able to see when they hope to have things done and when it actually get's done, we would have a live understanding when something gets pushed back or doesn't make the cut into an update or whatever.
I feel like the forums are overrun with threads complaining about things that I KNOW wizards is working on, that I KNOW will get fixed.
I mean, its quite obvious to me that they are going to give us the tools that we'd like to see for the character builder, but it's not so clear to a lot of people out there.
Also removing any and all mention of the Character Visualizer and some other projects without telling us why, just leads to anger and dissapointment.
If they can't make it happen, then say so. Name your reasons, everyone will be a lot more understanding if we know why something is done.
Speculation:
They feel that the ungrateful currs will ***** and moan regardless of what they do, but will do so to a lesser extent if they only say what they will have out that they are 100% sure about.
lol, that would be the dumbest thing they could do. Cutting communication will alianate thier customer base not stop them from complaning or whining. (as proven by the current amount of threads complaining about having no communication with them)
To go further WotC has (or maybe had...I don't know.) a page where they give (gave?) the expected release dates of each dungeon/dragon article rather than releasing a whole magazine as it completed. These were expected dates. Whenever an article was late, there was one heck of a flack raised about it in the forums. So, in this instance, WotC did get hammered for not meeting their expected release dates.
indeed, but that's because they made the mistake of setting a set release date. I'm porposing they show us set goals. basically implying that they WANT to get it out by this date, but it may be delayed.
That way we know what's going on, what we can expect, and all without the negative backlash if something goes wrong. (each delay would be explained by either the fact that they were simply not able to get it done, or for whatever reason they choose to provide us with)
It's just a thought... I think it would make a lot of the complaints go away.
It could be because they lost staff or because of the recession, but either way I am offereing a simple solution to undo that.
This is something we need more off:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1180862
indeed, but that's because they made the mistake of setting a set release date. I'm porposing they show us set goals. basically implying that they WANT to get it out by this date, but it may be delayed.
That way we know what's going on, what we can expect, and all without the negative backlash if something goes wrong. (each delay would be explained by either the fact that they were simply not able to get it done, or for whatever reason they choose to provide us with)
It's just a thought... I think it would make a lot of the complaints go away.
With respect to the articles, those were goals. They were not set.
With respect to the articles, those were goals. They were not set.
No, they were set expectations that they did not meet, not goals.
If you don't set an expectation for a certain date then you are much better off than if you set the expectation for a date and then miss it.
IIRC, the calendar says that they are subject to change, so yes they were goals and people complained that they weren't met.
IIRC the dates weren't changed, so no, the complained because they were late....
no one COMPLAINED when the PHB3 playtest was pushed back... because it was posted.... some asked about it but no one complained