Development Transparency Suggestion

[Casmen]

So given the server is still pretty new, and a lot of transparency is already given to the playerbase I would like to suggest that perhaps the staff also decided to be transparent with what is currently being worked on? It would both help offer the players insight into whats being done but also stop the debates some people have about the developers focusing on the wrong/right things.

The reason behind this suggestion is last time the server went down, a lot of things were said that could be done in (tentative) 10 days and when the server launched again some 8 months later there was of course improvements to the thoroughfare, but the much awaited profession system was unfinished and now that the server is done there is (to the players) a lot of essential systems around factions that also does not work.

And all it leads to is complaints and dissatisfaction that is likely largely unnecessary that I think could be eased a lot by simply letting the playerbase know what's being worked on instead of just the sporadic changelogs we get right now and I am sure there is some roadmap sites that can be used for such to give perhaps three setups for example: Not started, Started, Finished

 

[TwistyShape]

I'd love to have a peak behind the curtain, perhaps monthly? Just something to read and get excited about in terms of what's going on. Perhaps even poll now and then to see what the community might think is a priority?

 

[Aschent_]

For context - we're primarily in bug-fixing mode with a couple exceptions here and there, which we understand isn't ideal. Not really much we can share beyond that. As was already pointed out, it's frustrating to get bad estimates of when something might be completed, so to avoid that we're not really looking to give a specific roadmap at this time. Perhaps once we're passed the initial window of time where we're not fixing issues, we can put something together.

DMs on the other hand are continuing to operate in-game, and there should be story-based updates in the relative near future.

 

[Casmen]

Thank you for clarifying, I also don't think it has to be a set deadline like "We're doing this within the next week" more a broad stroke like saying "Currently we're working on making faction works" or "Currently our development time is being used on fixing crafting" because then at least we know what's being done and we'd be able to all know with an announcement on that instead of having to open tickets on subjects there might already have been answered. But keep up the good work, I think we're just some people who like our changelogs and knowing what's going on behind the curtain.

 

[Aschent_]

This came up in Discord a moment ago; so a few things (and a quick & dirty list of focuses):

• A roadmap is intended for the future, however I can't give an eta on that. I don't want to overcommit/under-deliver which has happened plenty of times in the past.
• Right now the theme of our focus is: Ensure all of TDN functions as expected/advertised.This takes a few forms, but includes (and is not limited to):
  • Bringing factions to their expected functionality [near-term].
  • Ensures all classes, abilities, spells, weapons, etc are working as advertised on the Wiki [ongoing].
  • Ensure in-game descriptions match Wiki explanations [ongoing].
• Most of our comms related to what we're working on are reactive in the form of Patch Notes. We primarily evaluate urgency for things we patch based on:
  • Immediate impact of the bug in question.
  • Length of time since the bug was reported.
  • Ease of fixing (including whether additional investigation is needed)

I'm hopeful that after April/Early-May we can shift into the more fun "adding cool features"-zone. However that is a pure gut-feeling at this time.

 

[Casmen]

Thank you for telling us, and thank you all for all the work you tirelessly do for our amusement it is greatly appreciated by all of us

 

[OccamsClub]

This came up in Discord a moment ago; so a few things (and a quick & dirty list of focuses):

• Ensures all classes, abilities, spells, weapons, etc are working as advertised on the Wiki [ongoing].
• Ensure in-game descriptions match Wiki explanations [ongoing].

Would an organised community effort for this be viable? A github project or something where discrepancies can be collated and pushed out, or a Google doc with open comments?