Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 the8bitdeity Oct 07, 2009 12:53:52	This thread will hopefully be a critique (though hopefully constructive criticism) of the recent lack of bug fixes in the Character Builder. This should not be a lambasting as I believe the developers are currently doing a good job.  Full disclosure, I'm a application / middleware developer myself so I have somewhat of a professional point of view on the process.  Let it be said I wholly like the Character builder. It is the best tabletop RPG software product I've ever used.  One item though I've been keenly worried about is the defect accumulation I've been noticing. These are mostly edge case items (dual weapon wielding, etc...), but I'm worried they will always stay as "known issues".  I implore WotC to add needed resources to squash bugs, as if these edge cases are not squashed they will just accumulate over time, and it will be wholly impossible to realistically fix them.  Let it be said I understand the business requirements of "new content" every month, but also let it be said from a software development point of view that adding new features before fixing defects is the ROAD TO HELL for software development. (www.joelonsoftware.com/articles/fog00000...). A house cleaning needs to happen before too long.  In short, I realize these defects are edge cases, but also realize that the GAME rules allow these things to happen, and there are some people who want to uses these options in their games. Please WotC, please please please. Add a dev or two (junior devs are cheap these days and defect triage / fixing is how you cut your teeth in the development industry) and let's make this bleeding edge tabletop RPG product even better!
#2 whitebaron Oct 07, 2009 13:07:03	hasbro has issued a global hiring freeze for all its companies. so whatever they've got at the moment, they're stuck with. that stupid hiring freeze also includes positions that are much needed.
#3 dm_raven Oct 07, 2009 18:16:07	Hey Deity, Thanks for the post, let me just say that we are doing all we can to find all bugs (edge case and otherwise) and fix them in each monthly Character Builder update.  Any bugs on hold are issues that would require considerable code changes to the current system Character Builder uses.  We plan to make these changes in the future, but we have to prioritize all our bugs based on the time it takes to fix them and the actual impact that fix would have on the application.  Feel free to post any bugs you find on these forums or report them to our Customer Service department and we'll do our best to address them for the next scheduled update. Raven
#4 the8bitdeity Oct 07, 2009 20:34:41	Hi Raven,  I appreciate the response, but I would like to point out there has been some bugs on that list for nearly the current life of the product. I understand and appreciate those are intended to be dealt with at some point in the future, but from a person who has worked on smaller development teams I also realize those bugs tend to exist MUCH longer than people originally intend. I guess I'm just hoping to bring some awareness and transparency on some of the lingering defects that seems to continually be slated for fixing "at a later time".    EDIT: I hope to respond in the next day or two with concrete examples, but basically I'm pointing at the items in the "known issues" CustService list that have been there since the CB shipped.
#5 mdonais Oct 12, 2009 5:20:24	Thanks for the post. No real need to post concrete examples. I have them right here in the bug database already. We agree with you and, like you, feel it is important to fix even the little things (like spiked shields).
#6 kilpatds Oct 13, 2009 15:18:57	No real need to post concrete examples. I have them right here in the bug database already. I don't suppose there's anyway to get you to open up the bug DB?  And .. um, that list of known issues in the FAQ isn't the bug DB. It would be nice to be able to track the issues I submit.. especially the ones that are rather marginal, so I know if they will be fixed, or the final determination is "works as designed".  (For example, should be Avenger/Fighter to Son of Mercy or Pitfighter?  I'd rather go Son of Mercy, which I believe is legal RAI, but if that's officially illegal, then I'll go Pitfighter)