I do not think they want direct character submissions, and when I was play testing they did not like it if you sent back a suggested changed stat block, all they wanted was if the piece was overpowered or not.

But I know that they do look at the customs section, and quite a few people have commented on how close a new v-set piece resembles their custom.


awww echo beat me to it.

Ok so I want to follow some logic here and please correct me if I am wrong.

Do we accept character submissions? Do we look at the customs thread? Do We look at the suggested pieces thread? The answer to all of these is yes, yes, and yes. Does that make you happy? Or are you just going to rant some more because you submitted something and it didn't get used? Or the design team changed it too much? Like I have basically have said before. We are blasteded if we do and blasteded if we don't. Am i following along correctly?

DB - it is amazing how much you know what is in the designs teams head. You should meet my wife, you guys would be great to hang out with, because both of you never seem to be wrong and can tell me what I am thinking. :)

The reason we needed a new designer was that life was getting in the way of many of the designers. 4 to 5 years some of had no kids, or were not married, or had different jobs then we currently do. So we had to adjust. In keeping designer from working on back to back sets, some designers decided to "sit out" a year. This mainly has to do with work and coaching conflicts. With all that in mind we found ourselves needing one designer and instead of just picking some one that all the designer could agree on (which is sometimes like congress getting to agree on something) the designers got together to create an application process that we feel is a fair way to judge someone's ability as a designer. When Laura submitted her application I was the first person to say "hey guys the community is going to call shenanigans.". Don't get me wrong, I felt Laura was very qualified to do it as are many others. I just had the gut feeling that many of the community would make the argument that was already refereed to. She only got it because she is Jason's wife. I talked it over with several people and everyone I talked to said the same thing. "She would be great, but the community will bitch about it. Becasue they have to bitch about something."

To address the concern about all the "broken" pieces. I want to ask you this. Are you playing in regionals, gencon, or anyplace outside your own gaming group? If the answer is no, then simply have a gentlemen's agreement that you are not going to play those pieces. It is really that simple. However, if everyone in your gaming group doesn't agree that they are indead "broken" then maybe they aren't

I will only send out one $20 bill just in case you are the one person that likes the way it is folded.

As for the design teams being secret, that has never been the case to my knowledge. We talk about what the vset teams are doing and who is on them at least every other week on the Sith Holo News Network. If ever asked I will gladly tell you who is one the team. I will tell you that we are already trying to figure out who might be doing set 11 and that we will be adding another new designer then as well.

Yes I helped design Daala. I am not going to hide from that. I design stuff for a living and I am used to people having an opinion about my work both good and bad. That doesn't relly bother me. It bothers me when people rant and state things that are false.

The community had asked for two things. One Daala should be a piece we create and two the Empire needs something to build around other then Thrawn. So, we gave you what was asked for. We didn't hit the nail on the head that time. Sorry we screwed up. We are trying to fix it and possible ban her. I have said that then people are going to complain in a few months that they can only build around Thrawn again. So, once again blasteded if we do and blasteded if we don't.

Daala has brought to the attention the importance of playtesting. During set 8 I feel we really stepped up the play test and had many conversations about the pieces that were being designed. People in the community came to me directly and asked if they could playtest and I gave them stats to use and a time frame to work with in. If you ask you too can be a play tester. But you have to take the initiative to do so. You also have to be aware that you are not the only person that is playtesting the piece and the designers have to look at all the testing and make what they feel is the best dissension. That might mean that the suggestions you made don't make it to the final card or we try it both ways and evaluate which is better fits what we feel the game needs. Set 9 play testing has already started. If you are interested contact me here or on swmgamers, or on facebook.

I am sure that Brad will also be looking for people to help figure out what the new restricted map list should be as well. That is another way to get involved. I know Chris West has made new maps and those will need to be looked at. Also if you have a digital camera and photoshop and know how to use them both well, we always need help on the graphics end of the cards.

Also I am hearing talk about a 3rd Epic set and they are looking at what character should be in the Imperial faction. I am not sure who all is heading that up off the top of my head. I just know the process is starting.

This gets old fast.

I'm on the side of the V-Set designers on this one. We all know that the pieces they make are likely to be broken, however it has kept the game going even after it stopped being produced. Sorry that some users don't think input from the community is utilized (it isn't btw) but what's important is that the game has been kept going by these design wizards who know best.

/endrant

P.S

At the college I work for we have a theory, and that is if you're going to hire internally, then you better not post an ad about hiring external candidates, because the result is a lot of jaded people and bad publicity. So I think it's refreshing to see the V-Set designers step up to the plate (baseball reference) and ignore that by choosing their wife. Keep up the great work guys!

the opinion of there being sides is a recurring and negative point of view for the community
we should be on the same "side"
and free to offer opinions, without backlash like all the crap above.

IMO, designers should be more open with the process,and we are headed that way.

what makes it appear to be "secret"
is that I had to make public who the new designer was



one more thing........vsets are going to be criticized
A thicker skin may be in order

Haters gonna hate, skaters gonna skate and players gonna play, yea

I've been very specific...MORE OPEN DESIGN PROCESS

See, I don't really know what you mean. Do you want the design threads to be open to the public? Do you want more community designs like the Sarlacc? You're actually being very unspecific. What is "more open design process"?

Yes that might be a reason why you are one of the best designers.

I do like Les' posts on designing. "More open designing" during the process would muddle things up and slow things down, IMHO. More people willing to test is the biggest thing the "community" could do. And those that do the testing could also do with a little thicker skin as well.

Just want to say that I played a community designed piece at GenCon, the Sarlacc.

I am for new designers to mix in with the ones we have.

I am for creative and constructive criticism, and I will always get behind those in the community who can do that in a positive and non-combative manner. ATM Salad is an excellent example. Who knew him last year at this time? He's certainly not a part of the 'old guard', yet his words had weight this year.

I will never be a designer myself, because I don't feel like I have the imagination for it, and also my playgroup has dwindled to the point that I couldn't adequately put my time in as a playtester before graduating to a designer. So, I will help out this community in other ways and enjoy the game with pieces designed by others.

Regardless of how we feel about wanting to design pieces, I think everyone should ask themselves what they can do personally to promote the game.