|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 8:55AM
#41
|
|
|
Maybe the WotC team isn't doing it right? Maybe they should start claiming it will take 2 years for each update, and when it only takes a month, they will be heroes?
Underpromise and overdeliver.
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 12:39PM
#42
|
Date Joined:
Aug 16, 2007
|
I do wonder if people would prefer that they push out the release schedule a month or more so that the data update for CB is ready when the book is on the shelf? Because they can't program it into CB until it is done being written, so it isn't like they can start sooner.
Also, I'm always amused at people disparaging the character of folks they have never met based on no information but their own frustration. Nobody here knows why it is late. Nobody here knows how hard the folks at WotC are working on this. Nobody here knows what issues they are running into. Nobody here knows if creative or marketing made promises without consulting them. So, honestly, everyone inclined to speculate on these matters should keep it to themselves. Unless, of course, they work for Wizards and are in the loop.
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 3:36PM
#43
|
Date Joined:
Jul 15, 2002
|
I do wonder if people would prefer that they push out the release schedule a month or more so that the data update for CB is ready when the book is on the shelf? Because they can't program it into CB until it is done being written, so it isn't like they can start sooner.
Normally, I'd agree with you, except that it's done being written about three or four months prior to hitting the shelves. At least, that's how they describe the production process.
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 3:54PM
#44
|
Date Joined:
Dec 26, 2007
|
You know what, I've been waiting anxiously for this update and gotta admit I feel very upset over this. I bought the Red Box, I'm about done with the adventure and now I would love to tinker with classes and rules and combinations on the character builder (which as "loser-ish" as it sounds I do quite often) and I feel almost robbed. WOTC needs to do a better job of implementing things and having things done on time.
The argument about how hard it is to develop and code or how long they work doesn't matter. WOTC promised its paying customers an update after almost a month long delay and didn't deliver. That's it. They are in the wrong and should make it better for their loyal customers. Heck we don't even get a new deadline just a vague "pushed to october" non promise.
We don't need excuses or apologies WOTC. We just want what you promise (and what we pay for) on a regular and timely basis and if you can't do it make it up to us without us having to resort to being the first one to reach out.
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 4:02PM
#45
|
Date Joined:
Aug 14, 2009
|
Agreed, this is totally unexceptable, we are paying for a monthly update, end of, not a one month when it suits them. i do hope to that refunds will be sorted out quicker than them telling us any info about the updates.
one quick way to P-off what support u have, unhappy here in the UK
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 6:53PM
#46
|
Date Joined:
Aug 20, 2007
|
OK, I feel compelled to weigh in on this with several points. My history began with the Red Box, no the other one when an Elf was both your race and your class. I have had the pleasure of RPGs being my hobby for more than 22 years and chief among them D&D. D&D has a long and littered road through the valley of its software failures. Including but not limited to cumbersome and problematic 2nd edition software, 3rd edition Fluid character program that finally had to be handed off to another company to fix (codemonkeys anyone…) for 3.5? I signed up for DDI day 1 and have never looked back! In fact I have often commented that the content online is very good, frequent and diverse. Having originally been very sad about the cancelation of Dungeon Magazine & Dragon Magazine print versions, my faith was renewed with many months of great content and advance information. Now let’s move on to the character builder and to a lesser degree the monster builder. In my opinion this is the best character software that Wizards/TSR has ever released. Was it rough when first released, yes! Have they updated it and made it better? Yes! I can now generate characters faster than ever before in any edition (except maybe basic). Hmm maybe a race between basic D&D one page sheet and the 4th edition character builder. Oh did I mention as a GM how great the online compendium is, my goodness, never before, have we had the type of pure data at our gaming fingertips. My group was just recapping at how good of a job Wizards have done updating their new books each month in both the software programs and online. Are the errors? Yes but not crippling for me and my group. Are there functions I would like to have? Yes but they will come. Would I like to have 4 choices of characters sheets vs. the stock sheet? Yes it is a willing trade-off for now. I am also very disappointed that we do not have an update in September as I am using Dark Sun and the Essentials but I was not even a bit surprised with the amount of products released in addition to the new rules and changes (themes, Essentials, etc…). Now the key, it is always about money, I agree. However the monthly subscription is not completely based on the character builder, monster builder and compendium data. You also have access to the online Dungeon Magazine, online Dragon Magazine, and other minor tools (I agree those other tools are not much use). So if you divide your monthly fee across several items we would not be talking about a full monthly fee. Now what portion of this monthly fee accounts for the software, oh wait maybe a part of it accounts for the continued usage of the current functioning version. So what portion accounts for just the update of new date in this month? Maybe Wizards has an assumed amount of the monthly fee towards development/R&D, etc. Let’s just speculate that they owe us a dollar or two. Now I agree they own us this and I think we should all go after these couple of dollars. Or may I will spend time to draft this reply and then read my new rules compendium. I will also point out that for the next couple of weeks I will continue to enforce the rules for my game that the characters may only select items currently in the character builder, let’s be honest just makes it easier for now. Guess what, our group still levels up, fight the good fight, disagrees on how to distribute party treasure, fights to the last man, sings the songs of bardic power, uses wizards spells and rituals in ways I never plan, split the party when they should not, miss the most obvious clues, smile, laugh, disagree and have fun in our hobby. Plus once the update is out I will give them greater flexibility to re-train or choose any of the items that would have been available to their characters from the update.
Now having said all of that and being a manager in the customer service and hospitality industry I have a strong expectation that Wizards act in a professional, honorable and transparent manner now and in the future. Communicate well and often. Thank you for your time. Regards Graylion
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 7:05PM
#47
|
Date Joined:
May 23, 2007
|
WotC said there would be an update 21 September 2010. No update, they lied. Liars are people of bad character. Has WotC done this before, totally (Game Table). Is this good business? Absolutely not. How do they expect to attract new players with their shiny new red box and cool online tools, when they don't even update them when they say they are going to update them?
I will not be buying any WotC products for the months of September or October 2010. I ask all of you to also not buy WotC products for these months in order to teach WotC a lesson and perhaps force them to change their poor customer service.
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 8:49PM
#48
|
Date Joined:
Jan 31, 2004
|
Well I will be buying, I'm not putting my game on hold to teach anyone a lesson. Stuff happens, I've seen plenty of companies postpone patches/updates and not seen near the complaining that I do here, and those are actually software development companies.
Joe
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 9:31PM
#49
|
|
|
I totally understand that shift happens. I'd go so far as to guess that unlike our average monthly update, thanks to Dark Sun's inclusion of themes, which possibly is going to become a new tab in the character builder, this update is turning into one of the bigger overhauls of the CB in some time. Sure it would have been nice to have the Dark Sun material day one, but my group has managed to start our campaign with 'beta versions' of our characters which will be tweaked whenever the update comes. Yeah we can't play as crazy bug people but that's ok for now.
Now, in regards to people wanting 'refunds.' Personally, I don't feel anyone deserves refunds for something like this in the typical sense of refunding. Wizards should not give anyone 'funds' for this month delay, especially not on an automatic, mass refund type of system. Wizards does not owe us money. If they were to owe us anything, which I am not saying that they do, it would be time.
I propose this. Instead of asking Wizards to refund you for the month of September, how about instead we ask for an extension of our current subscription period by either i) 1 full month (ie from Feb-7 to Mar-7, or Jul-7 to Aug-7) or ii) the total number of days between the originally scheduled date of the updates and the actual date of the update.
Yes, in one frame of mind this means Wizards loses a months worth of payment from a large group of people (those willing to make the effort to demand compensation, which thankfully will never reach 100% of the total group) but it's the difference between us taking away money from Wizards that they have already earned, and Wizards giving us extra time to get what we paid for.
I guess it all depends on what you think you deserve from Wizards. I just personally think that if Wizards owes us anything because of one month of sub par product, it's one month extra of an overall above par product. Keep the money we've given you. Keep your employees paid. Keep them working. Keep the machine running. But if you feel like we do deserve something, give us a month to remember.
And more Penny Arcade podcasts would be sweet. :P
|
|
|
|
3 years ago ::
Sep 20, 2010 - 9:58PM
#50
|
Date Joined:
Jan 31, 2004
|
I believe someone did ask for an extension and was told they weren't set up to do that so instead gave the individual the refund.
Joe
|
|
|
