December Editorial Calendar - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

December Editorial Calendar

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Cinnibar
Nov 21, 2008 11:21:52 Wow... four playtests. Cool!

Druid : Awesome

Adventurer's Vault 2 ? I'm guessing items?

Mercykiller? Wonder what that is.

Invoker : Nice
#2
mudbunny
Nov 21, 2008 11:29:31 My guess is that Adventurers Vault 2 should actually be Players Handbook 2...
#3
whitebaron
Nov 21, 2008 11:37:04
My guess is that Adventurers Vault 2 should actually be Players Handbook 2...

i hope so, but it could really be that they plan to release phb1/av1/phb2/av2/phb3/av3 and so on....
#4
mudbunny
Nov 21, 2008 11:45:07 I am sure that they are, but AV2 hasn't been announced yet, while the PHB2 has.

I am just playin the odss.
#5
Cinnibar
Nov 21, 2008 13:19:24
December Editorial Calendar

We’re going to start publishing our Editorial Calendars before the new month actually begins. This means you can look forward to seeing the December calendar, which will detail both the features planned for the pay side of the website along with the ones that will be free, on Friday.

Meanwhile, I have seen an advance copy and I’m pretty excited to report that in addition to the usual collection of awesome feature articles it includes both an official playtest of new weapons and magic items from Adventurer’s Vault 2 and also a sneak preview of the first few levels of another class from Player’s Handbook 2.

Nope, I'm pretty sure it's a AV2 playtest.
#6
mudbunny
Nov 21, 2008 13:30:03 Huh. Nifty!!
#7
whitebaron
Nov 21, 2008 13:44:45
Huh. Nifty!!

well, i'd have some other words for it: cheap moneymaking. they did noteven try to test the AV 1 items, and are already moving on to relase av2...
#8
anubis_reynard
Nov 22, 2008 10:37:39
well, i'd have some other words for it: cheap moneymaking. they did noteven try to test the AV 1 items, and are already moving on to relase av2...

Well, now they're letting us test the items for us.

I mean, really, which do you think is more cost effective- Hire a few playtesters, and let them mess around with it for a few months, or "prieview" it to min-maxers around the world, and let them break it?
#9
serphet
Nov 22, 2008 11:08:59
I am sure that they are, but AV2 hasn't been announced yet, while the PHB2 has.

http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/241777200
#10
whitebaron
Nov 22, 2008 11:16:34
I mean, really, which do you think is more cost effective- Hire a few playtesters, and let them mess around with it for a few months, or "prieview" it to min-maxers around the world, and let them break it?

the problem is, they're gonna preview like 5% of the items.
and even with those items, there's likely not much fixing to be had - AV1 preview has proven that.
#11
kouk
Nov 23, 2008 4:36:27
the problem is, they're gonna preview like 5% of the items.
and even with those items, there's likely not much fixing to be had - AV1 preview has proven that.

The difference is between a "preview" and a "playtest." A preview is just excerpted things from an already complete book. A playtest, at least in theory, is unfinished material that is known to need some more work; and by harnessing our collective observational and min/maxing abilities, we can point out the flaws.

If only all classes and mechanics were able to get such scrutiny and have their feedback reflected, then there would be practically no problems with the printed books.

Of course, that itself would be a bit tiresome and troubling, but if it produces better content I think many of us would be willing.
#12
citan
Nov 24, 2008 6:53:47 Playtesting would only make sense if they showed us the complete classes not just one build and some of the powers. The playtests we get now are just advertisments for the books and about 50% of december's dragon will be junk if the books finally come out.
#13
kouk
Nov 24, 2008 7:12:24 I think (hope) they show us the ones they aren't real sure about for playtesting.
#14
whitebaron
Nov 24, 2008 9:00:06
I think (hope) they show us the ones they aren't real sure about for playtesting.

they'll draw a line, somewhere. we don't know yet where it will be, but most likely either one group of items, a level range, or randomly picked items.
each of those selection methods has its ups and downs, but none of those can guarantee good playtesting, as it is certainly not more than 5-10% of the content, else noone would buy the books.
#15
Cinnibar
Nov 24, 2008 13:48:11
Playtesting would only make sense if they showed us the complete classes not just one build and some of the powers. The playtests we get now are just advertisments for the books and about 50% of december's dragon will be junk if the books finally come out.

This is actually starting to dig at the back of my head.

As cool as all these playtests are... if all I'm doing is paying to QA stuff most of the time, I'll start getting a little (more) jaded. I think I'm hoping for more new and original content exclusive to Dragon rather than paying for exclusive access to playtest/QA unfinished product in the long run.

At present, it looks like a pretty large percentage of the stuff is Playtest. That'd be all well and good if there were lots of new stuff coming along... but in the Dragon schedule, I only see a Bestiary article that probably includes new content (monsters, I assume). I don't really know if the Agents of Tiamat or the Lords of Chaos articles will include anything along those lines... but even so, that'd be three rules-additions vs four playtests.

What I'd really love to see is a continuation of the monthly enhancement per-class or role type of thing we've seen... a Class Acts every month, at least one themed release (Gladiators, Dragonslayers, etc), a Bestiary and a Bazaar article... one each of four weeks of the month.

I mean.. look at the last (full) free issue of Dragon, #367.
We have at least SEVEN new, exclusive features :
- New FR Epic Destinies
- Class Acts : Swordmage
- Smart Swords
- New Drow Feats and Weapons
- Bestiary : Golems and Oozes
- Gnoll PC's
- Hall of the Frostmaiden

In #370, we have... Four Playtests of beta content that we'll get in the final form when we buy the books and three potential articles of new content.

I'm hoping in the long run, Dragon looks more like #367 and less like #370. Sure, I'll QA stuff... but I'd rather have more content that's useful long-term, not earlier content that obsoletes when the books come out with the revisions.
#16
citan
Nov 25, 2008 1:08:00 There is a thread on this over there at the Dungeon/Dragon general forum:
http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1115942

Many people agree that playtets are fine but not instead of original new material. My personal advice would be:
Only 1 playtest each month in Dragon. If they want to let us playtest additional material, then it should be released in addition to Dragon material.

I hope that the editorial calender for december is some kind of exception because it's the holiday issue of dragon or because they want to show us some things of the coming year.
#17
Cinnibar
Nov 25, 2008 6:52:14
I hope that the editorial calender for december is some kind of exception because it's the holiday issue of dragon or because they want to show us some things of the coming year.

As I mentioned in another thread, WotC has mentioned repeatedly that all editorial calendars are subject to change. Hopefully they'll add some additional content to the December issue that focuses more on new rather than beta.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Cinnibar Nov 21, 2008 11:21:52	Wow... four playtests. Cool! Druid : Awesome Adventurer's Vault 2 ? I'm guessing items? Mercykiller? Wonder what that is. Invoker : Nice
#2 mudbunny Nov 21, 2008 11:29:31	My guess is that Adventurers Vault 2 should actually be Players Handbook 2...
#3 whitebaron Nov 21, 2008 11:37:04	My guess is that Adventurers Vault 2 should actually be Players Handbook 2... i hope so, but it could really be that they plan to release phb1/av1/phb2/av2/phb3/av3 and so on....
#4 mudbunny Nov 21, 2008 11:45:07	I am sure that they are, but AV2 hasn't been announced yet, while the PHB2 has. I am just playin the odss.
#5 Cinnibar Nov 21, 2008 13:19:24	December Editorial Calendar We’re going to start publishing our Editorial Calendars before the new month actually begins. This means you can look forward to seeing the December calendar, which will detail both the features planned for the pay side of the website along with the ones that will be free, on Friday. Meanwhile, I have seen an advance copy and I’m pretty excited to report that in addition to the usual collection of awesome feature articles it includes both an official playtest of new weapons and magic items from Adventurer’s Vault 2 and also a sneak preview of the first few levels of another class from Player’s Handbook 2. Nope, I'm pretty sure it's a AV2 playtest.
#6 mudbunny Nov 21, 2008 13:30:03	Huh. Nifty!!
#7 whitebaron Nov 21, 2008 13:44:45	Huh. Nifty!! well, i'd have some other words for it: cheap moneymaking. they did noteven try to test the AV 1 items, and are already moving on to relase av2...
#8 anubis_reynard Nov 22, 2008 10:37:39	well, i'd have some other words for it: cheap moneymaking. they did noteven try to test the AV 1 items, and are already moving on to relase av2... Well, now they're letting us test the items for us. I mean, really, which do you think is more cost effective- Hire a few playtesters, and let them mess around with it for a few months, or "prieview" it to min-maxers around the world, and let them break it?
#9 serphet Nov 22, 2008 11:08:59	I am sure that they are, but AV2 hasn't been announced yet, while the PHB2 has. http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndacc/241777200
#10 whitebaron Nov 22, 2008 11:16:34	I mean, really, which do you think is more cost effective- Hire a few playtesters, and let them mess around with it for a few months, or "prieview" it to min-maxers around the world, and let them break it? the problem is, they're gonna preview like 5% of the items. and even with those items, there's likely not much fixing to be had - AV1 preview has proven that.
#11 kouk Nov 23, 2008 4:36:27	the problem is, they're gonna preview like 5% of the items. and even with those items, there's likely not much fixing to be had - AV1 preview has proven that. The difference is between a "preview" and a "playtest." A preview is just excerpted things from an already complete book. A playtest, at least in theory, is unfinished material that is known to need some more work; and by harnessing our collective observational and min/maxing abilities, we can point out the flaws. If only all classes and mechanics were able to get such scrutiny and have their feedback reflected, then there would be practically no problems with the printed books. Of course, that itself would be a bit tiresome and troubling, but if it produces better content I think many of us would be willing.
#12 citan Nov 24, 2008 6:53:47	Playtesting would only make sense if they showed us the complete classes not just one build and some of the powers. The playtests we get now are just advertisments for the books and about 50% of december's dragon will be junk if the books finally come out.
#13 kouk Nov 24, 2008 7:12:24	I think (hope) they show us the ones they aren't real sure about for playtesting.
#14 whitebaron Nov 24, 2008 9:00:06	I think (hope) they show us the ones they aren't real sure about for playtesting. they'll draw a line, somewhere. we don't know yet where it will be, but most likely either one group of items, a level range, or randomly picked items. each of those selection methods has its ups and downs, but none of those can guarantee good playtesting, as it is certainly not more than 5-10% of the content, else noone would buy the books.
#15 Cinnibar Nov 24, 2008 13:48:11	Playtesting would only make sense if they showed us the complete classes not just one build and some of the powers. The playtests we get now are just advertisments for the books and about 50% of december's dragon will be junk if the books finally come out. This is actually starting to dig at the back of my head. As cool as all these playtests are... if all I'm doing is paying to QA stuff most of the time, I'll start getting a little (more) jaded. I think I'm hoping for more new and original content exclusive to Dragon rather than paying for exclusive access to playtest/QA unfinished product in the long run. At present, it looks like a pretty large percentage of the stuff is Playtest. That'd be all well and good if there were lots of new stuff coming along... but in the Dragon schedule, I only see a Bestiary article that probably includes new content (monsters, I assume). I don't really know if the Agents of Tiamat or the Lords of Chaos articles will include anything along those lines... but even so, that'd be three rules-additions vs four playtests. What I'd really love to see is a continuation of the monthly enhancement per-class or role type of thing we've seen... a Class Acts every month, at least one themed release (Gladiators, Dragonslayers, etc), a Bestiary and a Bazaar article... one each of four weeks of the month. I mean.. look at the last (full) free issue of Dragon, #367. We have at least SEVEN new, exclusive features : - New FR Epic Destinies - Class Acts : Swordmage - Smart Swords - New Drow Feats and Weapons - Bestiary : Golems and Oozes - Gnoll PC's - Hall of the Frostmaiden In #370, we have... Four Playtests of beta content that we'll get in the final form when we buy the books and three potential articles of new content. I'm hoping in the long run, Dragon looks more like #367 and less like #370. Sure, I'll QA stuff... but I'd rather have more content that's useful long-term, not earlier content that obsoletes when the books come out with the revisions.
#16 citan Nov 25, 2008 1:08:00	There is a thread on this over there at the Dungeon/Dragon general forum: http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=1115942 Many people agree that playtets are fine but not instead of original new material. My personal advice would be: Only 1 playtest each month in Dragon. If they want to let us playtest additional material, then it should be released in addition to Dragon material. I hope that the editorial calender for december is some kind of exception because it's the holiday issue of dragon or because they want to show us some things of the coming year.
#17 Cinnibar Nov 25, 2008 6:52:14	I hope that the editorial calender for december is some kind of exception because it's the holiday issue of dragon or because they want to show us some things of the coming year. As I mentioned in another thread, WotC has mentioned repeatedly that all editorial calendars are subject to change. Hopefully they'll add some additional content to the December issue that focuses more on new rather than beta.