tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post5582629728709537753..comments2024-03-28T17:48:19.196-05:00Comments on The Other Side blog: D&D Next Playtest: First ThoughtsTimothy S. Brannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-13542268714460827902012-05-25T13:07:46.274-05:002012-05-25T13:07:46.274-05:00I hazard the same guess.
I think that they are wo...I hazard the same guess.<br /><br />I think that they are worried about their liability with including ideas gained through feedback in the final product, without having explicitly gained the rights to that feedback first. <br /><br />From my reading, the NDA's provisions seemed focused on exactly this sort of protection.<br /><br />BUT, it is the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves, that WotC would be unable to use, so I am not at all certain how realistic this problem would be. <br /><br />There is (or was) a similar sort of provision inherent in the terms for posting on WotC's message boards.<br /><br />I personally think it does more harm than good...and if they choose to go this route, I'd rather they came out and said why they are doing so than not....or pretend that it is simple a non-choice.ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-57051129182746430022012-05-25T12:32:34.688-05:002012-05-25T12:32:34.688-05:00I guess that is the real issue then.
Why wouldn&#...I guess that is the real issue then.<br /><br />Why wouldn't WotC want to do want Pazio did instead of what they have always done in the past?<br /><br />I am going to hazard a guess and say "lawyers".Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-80587108674032949892012-05-25T12:09:27.129-05:002012-05-25T12:09:27.129-05:00Okay, then that rather changes how often recent op...Okay, then that rather changes how often recent open playtests require NDAs, doesn't it? Suddenly your list that makes Paizo and Goodman exceptions becomes (maybe) a list of one.<br /><br />Moreover, given the goal of creating an edition to unite all D&Ders (which seems to need, IMHO, both goodwill and other people hyping/talking about what they see) why wouldn't WotC want to be a leader, rather than a follower, in unrestricted open playtesting?<br /><br />IOW, if Paizo and Goodman really are exceptions...and there is still no evidence that this is so...why wouldn't WotC want to be exceptional?ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-42828852351854835692012-05-25T12:01:49.625-05:002012-05-25T12:01:49.625-05:00Well typically I get in on the playtests before th...Well typically I get in on the playtests before they are "open". I was involved though in a late beta/open for D&D 3.0 and I did sign an NDA for that. <br /><br />When I have run open playtests (back in the early d20 days) I did make people sign the NDA as part of the process.<br /><br />Id have to look back on all of them. Morrigan Press maybe?Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-60617395829446491552012-05-25T11:57:59.697-05:002012-05-25T11:57:59.697-05:00I believe that I stand corrected, then, based on t...I believe that I stand corrected, then, based on the implication of your statement, but I note that you still haven't said that you signed an NDA for open playtests with any those companies.ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-9488030330912213242012-05-25T11:55:52.607-05:002012-05-25T11:55:52.607-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-8239287068077439332012-05-25T11:34:37.057-05:002012-05-25T11:34:37.057-05:00Every playtest I have ever been in regardless of w...Every playtest I have ever been in regardless of whether is was closed, open, beta, alpha or some combination thereof has had me sign an NDA.<br /><br />I have even had to sign some the expressly forbids me from even saying I signed them.<br /><br />Pathfinder, Goodman Games are the exceptions, not the rule.Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-20417375367714920902012-05-25T11:30:25.886-05:002012-05-25T11:30:25.886-05:00Really? Well I'll be damned.
I mean, assum...Really? Well I'll be damned. <br /><br />I mean, assuming that there was an "open playtest" in the cases you are describing, because saying "One NDA was used in all phases in nearly every case" doesn't actually mean that there was an open playtest, or that the cases that the NDA didn't apply weren't the "open playtests".<br /><br />I've had a chance to playtest a few things, and I've never been asked to sign an NDA (at least not post-Pathfinder's brilliant open playtest).<br /><br />So, in order to be clear, are you saying that all or most of these companies recently ran playtests described as "open playtests" for which you were required to sign an NDA?<br /><br />I don't mind being wrong...but I want to make sure I am getting a clear answer.ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-78204812414156552482012-05-25T11:21:13.364-05:002012-05-25T11:21:13.364-05:00For everything.
One NDA was used in all phases in...For everything.<br /><br />One NDA was used in all phases in nearly every case.Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-45854462200576034262012-05-25T11:20:17.175-05:002012-05-25T11:20:17.175-05:00Are those for initial playtests, or for "open...Are those for initial playtests, or for "open playtests" of Beta versions?ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-53281465462819196492012-05-25T11:07:21.352-05:002012-05-25T11:07:21.352-05:00I have a stack of NDAs on my desk for playtests.
...I have a stack of NDAs on my desk for playtests.<br /><br />Who asks for them? Here are ones I have signed in the past:<br />Eden<br />Cubicle 7<br />Mongoose<br />MWP<br />Misfit Studios<br />Battlefield Press<br />Green Ronin<br />White Wolf<br />Chaosium<br />Elf Lair Games<br />OtherWorld Creations<br />Channel M Publishing<br />Necromancer<br />WotC (many times over)<br /><br />That's just off the top of my head, I am sure I am missing more.Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-34708375346168798652012-05-25T11:00:00.561-05:002012-05-25T11:00:00.561-05:00Out of curiosity, what was the last time you were ...Out of curiosity, what was the last time you were required to sign a NDA for a Beta Playtest other than D&D Next? Especially one described as an "open" playtest?<br /><br />Normally, one hopes that people WILL talk about a Beta. Talk volumes, talk specifics, talk, talk, talk, talk.<br /><br />That talk certainly helped Pathfinder, it certainly helped DCC, and it could certainly help WotC.<br /><br />AFAICT, the NDA in this case is about nothing other than who owns your comments and any ideas you might let drop. No more; no less.<br /><br />So, here's the challenge: List who does require an NDA in the rpg industry. It is easy enough to come up with who does not.ravencrowkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315630554847698555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-33651856200880719802012-05-25T10:52:44.335-05:002012-05-25T10:52:44.335-05:00My favorite part is how everything comes back to A...My favorite part is how everything comes back to Ability scores, and we have central economy for bonuses.Cross Planeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258583245202567276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-42245873129639681882012-05-25T10:39:03.896-05:002012-05-25T10:39:03.896-05:00I am right there with you, Timothy. It already doe...I am right there with you, Timothy. It already does a really good job of combining the feel of various editions.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10678503778316350427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-25080319818669225622012-05-25T10:31:58.746-05:002012-05-25T10:31:58.746-05:00I see the blender effect here, I really do. I lik...I see the blender effect here, I really do. I like a lot of what is here my stand right now is that I can accomplish and have already done so by house ruling some things.<br /><br />Now I will say this, I am glad that there is less of 4e than I feared there might be...Rhonin84https://www.blogger.com/profile/12705745087341419896noreply@blogger.com