OMG!
I am profoundly unhappy with the new interface. Is this here to stay? If so, my days of ordering RPGA scenarios are likely at an end.
And when/where was I going to be informed of my membership number changing?
The new site is easy to use. Just explore it for a bit. It's about as intuitive as the old one.
And it tells you when at the login screen that you need to add either '1' or '10' to the beginning of your RPGA number. It's not like you needed to know before then.
But seriously, what? You'd stop ordering RPGA adventures just because it'll take you a couple minutes to learn how to use the new website?
Wow, way to overreact.
The new site is easy to use. Just explore it for a bit. It's about as intuitive as the old one.
And it tells you when at the login screen that you need to add either '1' or '10' to the beginning of your RPGA number. It's not like you needed to know before then.
But seriously, what? You'd stop ordering RPGA adventures just because it'll take you a couple minutes to learn how to use the new website?
It is not your place to scold me. My comments were clearly directed at RPGA. If you can help, fine. If not, please keep your snarky retorts to yourself.
Despite your claims, this is one of the most user-hostile sites I've seen in years. I'm fairly good at figuring out these kinds of systems -- I do it routinely at work. I find it passing strange that anyone can call this system intuitive.
Among my immediate objections:
- I was not informed of a membership number change. The login screen does not tell me to add any digits. I hit "RPGA member?" out of desperation. Some clear indication on the login page would have been useful.
- The event ordering system is MUCH clumsier than before.
- There is no obvious filter to shorten an extremely long list of scenarios I must choose from.
- I was not allowed to proceed until fairly personal information was provided (specifically, phone number and address), information that has never before been required.
- I have no idea how to actually download my ordered scenario (there is no obvious guidance available).
So it's hard to login, hard to order a scenario, and hard to download it.
It is not your place to scold me. My comments were clearly directed at RPGA. If you can help, fine. If not, please keep your snarky retorts to yourself.
Despite your claims, this is one of the most user-hostile sites I've seen in years. I'm fairly good at figuring out these kinds of systems -- I do it routinely at work. I find it passing strange that anyone can call this system intuitive.
Among my immediate objections:
- I was not informed of a membership number change. The login screen does not tell me to add any digits. I hit "RPGA member?" out of desperation. Some clear indication on the login page would have been useful.
- The event ordering system is MUCH clumsier than before.
- There is no obvious filter to shorten an extremely long list of scenarios I must choose from.
- I was not allowed to proceed until fairly personal information was provided (specifically, phone number and address), information that has never before been required.
- I have no idea how to actually download my ordered scenario (there is no obvious guidance available).
So it's hard to login, hard to order a scenario, and hard to download it.
So how do you down load mods u need?
So how do you down load mods u need?
I just managed it by going to "My Events" on the links menu, and then clicking "Search". You can then click on the new-style event code for the relevant event, and at the bottom of that screen you'll see a link to download the adventure.
I guess I'll have to pick on Chris Tulach about it since he's here at GenCon.
My old number (986xxxx) isn't working in and of itself, but when adapted to 10986xxxx it still doesn't work. *shakes fist*
I just managed it by going to "My Events" on the links menu, and then clicking "Search". You can then click on the new-style event code for the relevant event, and at the bottom of that screen you'll see a link to download the adventure.
I've done all of that. I see everything you describe except a download link -- it's just not there
I've done all of that. I see everything you describe except a download link -- it's just not there
Well, when I do it, I see a list of the adventures I've ordered right at the bottom and in the right-hand column there is a link with the scenario code which links to a .zip file.
It may be that this is not available until a particular date prior to the event - are you creating an event for a while in the future?
It is not your place to scold me. My comments were clearly directed at RPGA. If you can help, fine. If not, please keep your snarky retorts to yourself.
Despite your claims, this is one of the most user-hostile sites I've seen in years. I'm fairly good at figuring out these kinds of systems -- I do it routinely at work. I find it passing strange that anyone can call this system intuitive.
Among my immediate objections:
- I was not informed of a membership number change. The login screen does not tell me to add any digits. I hit "RPGA member?" out of desperation. Some clear indication on the login page would have been useful.
- The event ordering system is MUCH clumsier than before.
- There is no obvious filter to shorten an extremely long list of scenarios I must choose from.
- I was not allowed to proceed until fairly personal information was provided (specifically, phone number and address), information that has never before been required.
- I have no idea how to actually download my ordered scenario (there is no obvious guidance available).
So it's hard to login, hard to order a scenario, and hard to download it.
I just logged in for the first time since the change. It took a minute or 2 longer than usual to order the first adventure with the new method. After that it is actually faster for me to order adventures than it was before. I call that a plus not counter-intuitive.
The somewhat oddly named "New Prefilled", which you can only get at by clicking "Cancel/View List" is actually quite useful as it adds all the info you put in for your last event into the contact/location details fields.
Scheduled events removed, others added. My Xen'drik character tracker is nowhere near the accurate numbers.
I also miss the "filter" - - is there any easy way to tell which adventures are LFR?
Intuitive is in the eye of the beholder of course.
The somewhat oddly named "New Prefilled", which you can only get at by clicking "Cancel/View List" is actually quite useful as it adds all the info you put in for your last event into the contact/location details fields.
Thanks. That will probably help a lot.
And for what its worth, my job involves a great deal of instruction -- I have to deliver technical information to non-technically-adept people, so I like to think I'm fairly sensitive to what is good and what is not. This will be a difficult site to navigate for most users.
IMO, there is nothing good about the new site.
But again, thanks for the info
- I was not informed of a membership number change. The login screen does not tell me to add any digits. I hit "RPGA member?" out of desperation. Some clear indication on the login page would have been useful.
- The event ordering system is MUCH clumsier than before.
- There is no obvious filter to shorten an extremely long list of scenarios I must choose from.
- I was not allowed to proceed until fairly personal information was provided (specifically, phone number and address), information that has never before been required.
- I have no idea how to actually download my ordered scenario (there is no obvious guidance available).
Ditto.
I think the problem isn't so much that the site does not work, but more the abrupt, unannounced change that will be problematic.
I can easily see a percentage of the RPGA gamer population being confused / upset by this. My hope is that this doesn't drive any players away.
Thoughts?
I'm doing things right, it seems. The system just doesn't want to give me the Living Forgotten Realms scenarios I ordered. Other scenarios work fine
I went to log on and when my login didn't work, I noticed the "RPGA member?" tag. Since I wasn't a DCI member I clicked on it and it explained the additional digits to me. I followed the next buttons and was able to create a sanctioned event. I did get caught up on the list of events and having to click the (add/remove) button at the bottom of the list for them but it didn't take me long to figure it out.
I headed to "My Events" after that and sorted by events that I was the coordinator for. I clicked on the event and in the lower right hand corner, there was a download link. It all seemed to work rather easily for me.
But then again, I never used the old system (new judge here) so maybe it's a 'old dog new tricks' thing.
Not sure how else I could help you than explaining what I did. I'm now off to see if there's a way for me to cancel these events since I really only did this as an experiment. ;)
Edit: Cancelling the event worked easily enough as I just checked the cancel box at the bottom of the list and updated it. How it can tell which event to cancel though I don't know as there's no box to select on just the event itself. Maybe it will work from the top down.
And it tells you when at the login screen that you need to add either '1' or '10' to the beginning of your RPGA number.
Or 1000 to the front...
(not impressed by the number change - computers are smart enough to handle five & six digit numbers instead of nine digits).
Now that I've determined that my biggest problem was specific to the mods I was ordering, it seems better. Until then, it just seemed like a lot of effort to have an event with no mods -- I thought it was simply broken.
The old RPGA site was bad, but it benefitted from being very simple. This one is very cluttered, and that slows new users down a lot.
I'm on another messageboard where virtually all the discussion today has been about login difficulties. And I feel this is a pattern that doesn't go away. WotC appears to have little more than rudimentary skills when it comes to designing and maintaining web interfaces.
Well, I'm less upset than before.
Now that I've determined that my biggest problem was specific to the mods I was ordering, it seems better. Until then, it just seemed like a lot of effort to have an event with no mods -- I thought it was simply broken.
The old RPGA site was bad, but it benefitted from being very simple. This one is very cluttered, and that slows new users down a lot.
There's one new user in this very thread who specifically stated that he'd never touched the old system and had no problem whatsoever with the new one.
There's one new user in this very thread who specifically stated that he'd never touched the old system and had no problem whatsoever with the new one.
For the record, I did have some problems but nothing that had me quit my task.
I think some things could be a bit better laid out/explained, such as:
-where to find the download of the mod
-what choices to make at the beginning if you want to get a mod/start a game.
-the choose, then click update, then click next function of selecting a mod
-A sort function so if you're looking for 4E games, you don't have to go through the entire list looking for them
But yeah, I was able to muddle through it in 5 minutes with just a little bit of difficulty. Oh, and a big chunk of that was because I chose an Adaptive mod and didn't realize that you had to own the mod (it wasn't downloadable).
Now though, I can reserve, select and download everything in under 60 seconds. I am a little bit gifted with understanding computer procedures however I figure most people who are here know their way around a computer (you know, us being geeks and all) ;)
There's one new user in this very thread who specifically stated that he'd never touched the old system and had no problem whatsoever with the new one.
OK. One.
I can take you to a messageboard where several dozen have complained today about the difficulties. Do I win?
Just because someone takes you to task for whining doesn't make them a troll.
This from someone starting his contribution with "Wow, way to overreact." To be fair, I probably did -- but that does not make your tone useful or appropriate, nor his.
The line between "taking to task" and needlessly insulting is not so fine that you should have missed it.
I followed the instructions and added 100000000 to my number, giving me the new number of 10xxxxxxx.
I entered that number and my password andwas slightly confused by the new interface. Being a Senior Technical Support Specialist for a rather large call center I've mecome used to things changing without notice. I just took my time, explored the new links and options, found the event I ran last night and the one I'll be running in a couple of weeks.
Yes, it took me longer that it would have last week, but that's just because it was not what I was used to seeing. I'm sure that, once I've used it for a while, the ease of use will return....and might even be enhanced.
Everything changes...it's better to be the water in the river rather than the bolder in the river bed.
Other than that I find it a nice change.
OK. One.
I can take you to a messageboard where several dozen have complained today about the difficulties. Do I win?
This from someone starting his contribution with "Wow, way to overreact." To be fair, I probably did -- but that does not make your tone useful or appropriate, nor his.
The line between "taking to task" and needlessly insulting is not so fine that you should have missed it.
And I didn't.
I am a member of the DCI with another number, so it is easy for me to access at the new site. The exception was the "add a 1 before your 8 number digit", if I was not reading the forum, I won't know it.
That "RPGA Member?" link right below the box just doesn't exist, huh?
A disavantage I find is the adventure list that doesn't appear without been log-in.
also I had an issue trying to report a mod when my 4th member is brand new with a new RPGA # ... got this awesome Error ....
I am assuming they are still working the bugs out ... but the question is ... how long will it take
and now another error is comming up
The DELETE statement conflicted with the REFERENCE constraint "FK_PSEAdventurePSE". The conflict occurred in database "OPIS", table "dbo.PreSanctionedEventAdventure", column 'PreSanctionedEventID'.
Error 547 in CheckPreSanctionedEvents: Error deleting dead rows from PreSanctionedEvent
The statement has been terminated.
and I cannot Clear the error
I was a bit confused with the new site but I have to admit I like what they have done to the site. I was able to schedule many events in the future so it matches my calendar for the events that are orderable quite easily. There were a few things that made it difficult since there weren't postbacks on the adventure checkboxes.
I too have to chime in that a filter would be nice to have again for adventure ordering.
The first question I have is I haven't been able to figure out how search adventure summaries. In fact, many of the RPGA forums like this one has a link still that seems to point to a page that doesn't appear to be able to be searched; at least not for adventure summaries. (https://events.wizards.com/RPGAWeb/external/scenarios.asp). Any ideas?
The second question/observation has to do with searching the events calendar. I tried to enter country and/or region with my zip code and it returns an odd error message: Please choose exactly one geographic search criterion. If I leave country and region blank and enter only zip code it works fine. If I enter city and zip it gives me the same message. I think I found the work around but was curious if I may be missing something here.
I believe that DCI numbers and RPGA numbers are essentially the same thing now. For people who are members of both, you can have them give you their DCI number or convert their RPGA number into a nine-digit number. Both will report ok, but they might want to contact the RPGA to merge the numbers. There's an answer on http://wizards.custhelp.com on merging DCI and RPGA numbers, though I don't have a direct link - a search for "Merge DCI and RPGA" or something similar will probably find it.
. It's about as intuitive as the old one.
Thats not saying much....
That "RPGA Member?" link right below the box just doesn't exist, huh?
Boy, the snarkiness continues.
You could have just politely pointed it out.
It might have also helped if you had not assumed "RPGA Member?" was an obvious choice in his situation. A massive system change should be accompanied by clear instructions on how to deal with it, not various links in fine print dotting a page (which is arguably a fair description of every DCI page).
I have tried adding the 10000000 number to my rpga number and can not login, I can't not even reset my password, I have emailed on the help link. Having worked in IT for many years not they just litterly drop the ball.
I like the old site as it was friendly and easy to use, wonder if they are changing the reward system as well.
Is there anyone out there who knows how to report an event when you have 3 new RPGA memberships? In the old system, you could type in the membership number from their card then type in their first and last name then continue to report your event.
Now it doesn't allow you to enter anyone who's not already in the database. Does this mean I have to wait 3-4 weeks for their card to be processed at Wizards?
Is there really any acceptable answer here? I can't hold your hand and click the scary buttons and tabs for you, or else I would.
Honestly, my advice (if you're having such an awful time with the mean ol' newfangled interface) would be to either practice and learn how it works (aka just deal with it) or completely refuse to use it.
This is one of the rudist responses I have seen on these boards in quite some time. I would definitely recommend avoiding this thread, since it seems to bring out the very hostile responses from you.
-SYB
Please keep your posts polite, respectful, and on-topic, and refrain from making personal attacks.
Is there anyone out there who knows how to report an event when you have 3 new RPGA memberships? In the old system, you could type in the membership number from their card then type in their first and last name then continue to report your event.
Now it doesn't allow you to enter anyone who's not already in the database. Does this mean I have to wait 3-4 weeks for their card to be processed at Wizards?
Unfortunately the new system cannot recognise less-than-ten-digit numbers if the number was not active before the database changed.
In other words, if you used cards for your new players with less-than-ten-digit numbers on them, you are going to have to issue the players with different numbers from cards with ten-digit numbers on. RPGA membership application forms/cards with less than ten digit numbers on them are now obsolete. You can apparently get packs of new cards from [email]dci@wizards.com[/email]