VUACS: Call For Review (3.X and 4E)

[afroakuma]

The crunch portion of the Vote Up A Campaign Setting megaproject (from the Homebrew board) is slowly nearing completion, leaving us with a lot of untried material. While we've given it a thorough look-over, and consulted other homebrewers on the material we've crafted, the DM and player perspective is really the alpha and omega when it comes to how good a campaign setting is.

I am officially putting out a call to those of you who are very familiar and comfortable with 3.X or 4E, who have some experience to share (and some time to kill).

We are seeking review of prestige classes, monsters, spells, feats, concepts, rules... anything you're willing to look at, we want your views on.

Specifically, we're looking for people:

• Of known or proven experience on the Roleplaying Games board, specifically as regards 3.X or 4E
• Who consider themselves to understand issues of game balance
• Who enjoy new ideas
• Who are discreet and can be trusted with classified material

If you're interested, post here along with what it is that you'd like to review. I or Shadow_Elf will send private messages to qualified people containing material to look over.

[afroakuma]

*bump*

What, nothing? Nobody curious? Eager to voice an opinion?

[arguskos]

Never thought you'd call for something like this! I'll take a look at whatever you're willing to show me. Just lemme know.

[afroakuma]

Specifically, we're looking for people:

• Who do not have any prior knowledge of the VUACS project

Sorry argus. Saw that coming.

I wouldn't, but we have some pretty radical stuff planned and I want to gauge opinions ahead of release. Last leak we did got instant complaints.

[arguskos]

Sorry argus. Saw that coming.

I wouldn't, but we have some pretty radical stuff planned and I want to gauge opinions ahead of release. Last leak we did got instant complaints.

Urr.... I don't know crap about it? As far as I know, there are genies. That's... about it. Honestly, I've been waiting for a pdf or final release. If you still wish to keep me in the dark, that's cool, I can wait.

Or are you merely looking for someone who hasn't heard of it before? That makes sense I guess.

[afroakuma]

You voted.

[arguskos]

I did? Really? I have... no knowledge of this. Meh, guess that disqualifies me then. Oh well.

[afroakuma]

I could've sworn...

well, apparently you didn't. Bizarre. Of course, I really have to ask why you didn't.

If you're sure you want to spoil things for yourself, then by all means, ask for something to look over.

[Reverent-One]

• Who do not have any prior knowledge of the VUACS project

Honestly, I think this requirement will really restrict your choices of people. Given how large scale the VUACS project is, any regular to the Homebrew forum is going to know about it, and I would not be surprised if word on it spread to people outside the Homebrew forum too.

[arguskos]

I could've sworn...

well, apparently you didn't. Bizarre. Of course, I really have to ask why you didn't.

If you're sure you want to spoil things for yourself, then by all means, ask for something to look over.

Cause I wanted to wait til material was released!! I like waiting for the Homebrewers to finish stuff.

Also, yes, my desire to proofread stuff still stands. Send me whatever you want, though I prefer classes/spells/feats.

[afroakuma]

Cause I wanted to wait til material was released!! I like waiting for the Homebrewers to finish stuff.

Also, yes, my desire to proofread stuff still stands. Send me whatever you want, though I prefer classes/spells/feats.

Feats it is. Check your inbox for the new Form feats.

[afroakuma]

Honestly, I think this requirement will really restrict your choices of people. Given how large scale the VUACS project is, any regular to the Homebrew forum is going to know about it, and I would not be surprised if word on it spread to people outside the Homebrew forum too.

Well, you know that I'm really just trying to chase away the salivating crowd that's built up two closed threads and is halfway through a third. I couldn't figure out how to phrase "must not have a discernable vested interest in, or insatiable curiosity about, etc., etc..."

[Reverent-One]

Well, you know that I'm really just trying to chase away the salivating crowd that's built up two closed threads and is halfway through a third. I couldn't figure out how to phrase "must not have a discernable vested interest in, or insatiable curiosity about, etc., etc..."

And why is that restriction required exactly? Are you looking for unbiased new-blood to review the basic ideas, feel, or other non-mechanical aspects of the setting, or people to go over the mechanical balance of it? If it's the first, then I understand the restriction, but if it's the second, then I don't get it. If the people you get to review the stuff are capable of objectively analyzing the mechanical aspects of the material in the first place, they should be able to do so even knowing about the setting.

[afroakuma]

And why is that restriction required exactly?

The second reason. As to why, as I said, it's not a blanket denial, but rather analogous to self-banning yourself from a casino. People want to see the entire setting, but they don't want to wait, which makes them want spoilers. In turn, it just makes them want more, and then, of course, there's no one to discuss it with.

Let's cut to the chase here. Are you, personally, looking to participate, or are you concerned that others in the voting audience might feel denied?

Because I know, flat-out know that among the best balance experts and homebrewers on the boards, most did not participate in the voting to any serious extent, nor in the discussion that followed.

[Reverent-One]

Let's cut to the chase here. Are you, personally, looking to participate, or are you concerned that others in the voting audience might feel denied?

Both and neither, if you can believe that. I do have no interest in doing so for the 3.5 side of this, as that is not my D&D area of expertise, but if Shadow was ever looking for people to do this for the 4e material I'd wouldn't mind signing up (and as there's no guarantee he will do so, I'm not really worried about that aspect). But it still doesn't make sense to me to cut out people like arguskos (using him as an example, not saying you are actually cutting him out), because they merely voted the months(?) ago that the voting was going on. And I do think the good balancers and homebrewers, or at least most of them, could still get the job done just fine even if they had been following the whole process, bringing me to your next point.

Because I know, flat-out know that among the best balance experts and homebrewers on the boards, most did not participate in the voting to any serious extent, nor in the discussion that followed.

And that I didn't know, I don't claim to be able to identify the best on the boards by name, outside of you guys who are doing the VUACS in the first place. Though, hypothetically, their lack of involvement so far could indicate a lack of interest, which would still leave you with a shortage of testers. Or they could have simply not noticed it so far, I don't know.

Summary of my long windedness: I don't think the restriction is totally necessary, and personally, I wouldn't have it were I in charge of this, I'd instead just being a bit more careful in choosing who would be testers. But I do understand your decision to put it in, and was giving you my thoughts about in case they might help.

[afroakuma]

Both and neither, if you can believe that.

Easily.

but if Shadow was ever looking for people to do this for the 4e material I'd wouldn't mind signing up (and as there's no guarantee he will do so, I'm not really worried about that aspect).

I'm fairly certain he could use the commentary, since unlike Zeta and I he has no counterpart to duel with.

Summary of my long windedness: I don't think the restriction is totally necessary, and personally, I wouldn't have it were I in charge of this, I'd instead just being a bit more careful in choosing who would be testers.

And I could certainly do that, but I knew it would be a criterion and I felt it best to be upfront about it.

[potatocubed]

Because I know, flat-out know that among the best balance experts and homebrewers on the boards, most did not participate in the voting to any serious extent, nor in the discussion that followed.

Have you tried just PMing these people and asking if they're interested in reviewing your material?

[afroakuma]

Have you tried just PMing these people and asking if they're interested in reviewing your material?

Some of them, yes. However, I do want a broader perspective on this than just those who I contacted personally.

[afroakuma]

Well, fine, I've removed it as a formal guideline. Now it's just going to flutter out of sight.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Eh, I mostly avoid Homebrew, so I'll look at it(too hard to get accepted in many cases for me to invest in learning new mechanics).

[afroakuma]

Anything in particular? Feats? Monsters? The new poison rules?

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Feats or classes, I have the best knowlege of balance with them.

[arguskos]

Eh, I mostly avoid Homebrew, so I'll look at it(too hard to get accepted in many cases for me to invest in learning new mechanics).

Now that you're in my group, that will all change. Homebrew is AWESOME.

[The Bookworm]

I'd love to look over anything! I don't know anything about the project, but anything goes. If there are new classes, I'd like to see those.

[afroakuma]

Alright, I sent some stuff to the both of you.

[Tehnar]

You can send me some stuff as well, if you wish. I do a lot of homebrew, and run a campaign where I try new stuff, so I can probably even give some elements a test run.

Anything you like is fine by me.

P.S. Not at all familiar with VUACS.

[afroakuma]

Alright, Tehnar, I've sent you a medley of feats.

[Talic]

I'll take a gander at anything you want to send my way. I'm pretty well-versed in most aspects of D&D, so whatever has a reviewer shortage.

[afroakuma]

Thanks, Talic. I've sent you the new Rage feats.

[Rad]

I definitely have no idea what VUACS is and have some experience in 3.x. I can definitely look through anything (is it both fluff and crunch?).
The volume of stuff that I can review and the time I can give you the reviews are directly linked (at times I've got to, you know, work).
I doubt I'll check this thread regularly, so please PM me if you want me to review something.