D&D Compendium, Revision Control - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

D&D Compendium, Revision Control

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
szaijan
Nov 14, 2008 12:59:15 I'm aware there's a D&D Compendium feedback thread already, but this issue deserves its own thread and immediate attention, IMO.

The Compendium needs to clearly delineate rules that deviate from the original Core Rulebook releases and indicate the dates on which changes were made. It already tracks the source of the rules it presents, which is great, but it should be clear when a rule has been superseded by a FAQ or Errata ruling. IMO, all previous versions of a given rule should be listed at the bottom of the Compendium entry, along with the date they were instituted (EDIT: the suggestion above to list previous version when a click box is checked is even beter.)

Why? When my group plays the game, most of us will use the core rulebooks as the source of rules look ups. To make use of the FAQ and Erratas practical, a list is needed of all the changes or we need web access to look the rule up on the Compendium. Unfortunately, the Compendium is neither comprehensive (it lacks many generic rules, like the definition of a 'Weapon Group', for instance), nor is it usable as a replacement for a rulebook, as it lacks an index and is designed only for searching, not for browsing.

So, until and unless the Compendium is beefed up to replace the rulebooks altogether, we need a convenient way to know when a rule we're looking up in a rulebook has been superseded. IMO, one way to do this is to have all of the Errata rules applicable to a given character print out on a separate sheet when the character sheet is printed. The only way for that to work is for the Compendium to contain enough revision control information to know what rules have been changed.

For many other reasons, keeping such change records would benefit the Compendium and make future tools easier to use. The time to get such information into the database is now, before the population of entries gets any larger.
#2
the_redbeard
Nov 15, 2008 17:32:35 Yes.

You would think a revision date field would be useful not just for us the players but for WoTC as they check the content of the Compendium vs the books/FAQ/etc.

Adding a 'revision date' filter would be the next best step. Want to know if powers/skills/classes/races have changed since you last checked? Presto.

Being able to check a box (not the default selection) to see past revisions would also be helpful.

I know that adding a new field for a current data set is a pain. But the problem would only get worse.

(Frankly I'm surprised it wasn't included when they first began design.)
#3
asmodeuslore
Nov 16, 2008 19:07:52 When a rule is revised, there is a footnote tagged at the bottom of the compendium entry.

See the Stealth Skill for an example. The details of what used to be there are not present though.
#4
Neejix
Nov 16, 2008 19:51:16
The Compendium needs to clearly delineate rules that deviate from the original Core Rulebook releases and indicate the dates on which changes were made. It already tracks the source of the rules it presents, which is great, but it should be clear when a rule has been superseded by a FAQ or Errata ruling. IMO, all previous versions of a given rule should be listed at the bottom of the Compendium entry, along with the date they were instituted (EDIT: the suggestion above to list previous version when a click box is checked is even beter.)

Though I'd not argue against this (in fact I'd like to see this suggestion implemented), I'm curious if can you detail a little more what situation you are running into where you can not just enforce the updated rule at the time it is realized? Is this something to do with organized play (RPGA)--or just a home-game issue?

I would think in the case of a home game the newest version rule should always apply--unless the DM running it house-rules differently.
#5
szaijan
Nov 17, 2008 0:05:49
Though I'd not argue against this (in fact I'd like to see this suggestion implemented), I'm curious if can you detail a little more what situation you are running into where you can not just enforce the updated rule at the time it is realized? Is this something to do with organized play (RPGA)--or just a home-game issue?

I would think in the case of a home game the newest version rule should always apply--unless the DM running it house-rules differently.

I would always want the latest rule for look up, but when I'm looking in my PHB, how do I know which rules have been revised?

Keeping previous versions of the rules as records in the Compendium database is needed to produce a difference document from a given rules set to the current rules set. If all the previous revision records exist in the compendium, such a document could be set to print the changes since a specific version of the PHB was published. Say I have a 2nd edition copy of the PHB (or 3rd, or 4th.) I might want to print out a document from the Compendium with all of the changes made since that document was published, so I'd have a reference I could keep with the PHB to verify that I'm always looking at the latest rule. One which would be concise and have only the changes I need.

I would propose that a shortened version of such a document, filtered to only capture the changes relevant to a given character, print out with the Character Builder record sheets.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 szaijan Nov 14, 2008 12:59:15	I'm aware there's a D&D Compendium feedback thread already, but this issue deserves its own thread and immediate attention, IMO. The Compendium needs to clearly delineate rules that deviate from the original Core Rulebook releases and indicate the dates on which changes were made. It already tracks the source of the rules it presents, which is great, but it should be clear when a rule has been superseded by a FAQ or Errata ruling. IMO, all previous versions of a given rule should be listed at the bottom of the Compendium entry, along with the date they were instituted (EDIT: the suggestion above to list previous version when a click box is checked is even beter.) Why? When my group plays the game, most of us will use the core rulebooks as the source of rules look ups. To make use of the FAQ and Erratas practical, a list is needed of all the changes or we need web access to look the rule up on the Compendium. Unfortunately, the Compendium is neither comprehensive (it lacks many generic rules, like the definition of a 'Weapon Group', for instance), nor is it usable as a replacement for a rulebook, as it lacks an index and is designed only for searching, not for browsing. So, until and unless the Compendium is beefed up to replace the rulebooks altogether, we need a convenient way to know when a rule we're looking up in a rulebook has been superseded. IMO, one way to do this is to have all of the Errata rules applicable to a given character print out on a separate sheet when the character sheet is printed. The only way for that to work is for the Compendium to contain enough revision control information to know what rules have been changed. For many other reasons, keeping such change records would benefit the Compendium and make future tools easier to use. The time to get such information into the database is now, before the population of entries gets any larger.
#2 the_redbeard Nov 15, 2008 17:32:35	Yes. You would think a revision date field would be useful not just for us the players but for WoTC as they check the content of the Compendium vs the books/FAQ/etc. Adding a 'revision date' filter would be the next best step. Want to know if powers/skills/classes/races have changed since you last checked? Presto. Being able to check a box (not the default selection) to see past revisions would also be helpful. I know that adding a new field for a current data set is a pain. But the problem would only get worse. (Frankly I'm surprised it wasn't included when they first began design.)
#3 asmodeuslore Nov 16, 2008 19:07:52	When a rule is revised, there is a footnote tagged at the bottom of the compendium entry. See the Stealth Skill for an example. The details of what used to be there are not present though.
#4 Neejix Nov 16, 2008 19:51:16	The Compendium needs to clearly delineate rules that deviate from the original Core Rulebook releases and indicate the dates on which changes were made. It already tracks the source of the rules it presents, which is great, but it should be clear when a rule has been superseded by a FAQ or Errata ruling. IMO, all previous versions of a given rule should be listed at the bottom of the Compendium entry, along with the date they were instituted (EDIT: the suggestion above to list previous version when a click box is checked is even beter.) Though I'd not argue against this (in fact I'd like to see this suggestion implemented), I'm curious if can you detail a little more what situation you are running into where you can not just enforce the updated rule at the time it is realized? Is this something to do with organized play (RPGA)--or just a home-game issue? I would think in the case of a home game the newest version rule should always apply--unless the DM running it house-rules differently.
#5 szaijan Nov 17, 2008 0:05:49	Though I'd not argue against this (in fact I'd like to see this suggestion implemented), I'm curious if can you detail a little more what situation you are running into where you can not just enforce the updated rule at the time it is realized? Is this something to do with organized play (RPGA)--or just a home-game issue? I would think in the case of a home game the newest version rule should always apply--unless the DM running it house-rules differently. I would always want the latest rule for look up, but when I'm looking in my PHB, how do I know which rules have been revised? Keeping previous versions of the rules as records in the Compendium database is needed to produce a difference document from a given rules set to the current rules set. If all the previous revision records exist in the compendium, such a document could be set to print the changes since a specific version of the PHB was published. Say I have a 2nd edition copy of the PHB (or 3rd, or 4th.) I might want to print out a document from the Compendium with all of the changes made since that document was published, so I'd have a reference I could keep with the PHB to verify that I'm always looking at the latest rule. One which would be concise and have only the changes I need. I would propose that a shortened version of such a document, filtered to only capture the changes relevant to a given character, print out with the Character Builder record sheets.