State of the V:EKN - May 1

Can we please move on to something constructive?

Now, who do I make this out to?

Award

Damnans wrote:

www.vekn.net/index.php/vampire-elder-kindred-network/213-state-of-the-vekn-may-1
....The good news is this only slightly impacted the development process and we are still on track for Round 3 of playtesting. Ben Peal will speak to more details in an upcoming Designers' Diary....
Johannes Walch
Chairman of the V:EKN

Please forgive me if this has been asked and I missed the response, or if we're clearly supposed to simply wait for the next Diary. But I think these questions are timely and appropriate.

First, I am curious to know if the 3 departed members of the DT have been replaced, or if Round Three and the release versions will be handled by an abbreviated team. If so, how abbreviated?

I know that you have intentionally been secretive about who sits on the design team to protect them from a deluge of unsolicited email. I'm fine with that, I'm not asking for names, just numbers.

Second, from the IC's viewpoint, what will be the structure of the Design Team for any subsequent fan-based sets? Are we looking at the same process and people, or would a new group be assembled with some latitude for self-governance?

(I'm not suggesting that the V:EKN immediately be glutton enough for punishment that a second set is commissioned immediately - I just want to know if this is the IC's vision for "business as usual going forward"

Thanks in advance.
Darby

The Design team has had people join, leave, return, go silent and resign over the course of the process. Also, new production positions have been added and new people have stepped up over the months.

There are many voices contributing to the current production and cards and all is proceeding on schedule.

There is going to be a detailed review and if and when a next set is produced, there will be a structure in place and a team set up that is a direct reflection of what has been learned, both good and bad, during the course of this production.

I would say that the current process and how it came about could be simply described as:
"Let's create a small set of cards to keep the game fresh and alive while waiting for a new publisher. We will ask some folks to help and ask for volunteers and they will go off and create a small set. No problem."

It could have been that easy. It is really not that hard to design a set of cards. But things got a little crazy and now we have this... distraction that has taken up way too much time, caused a lot of pain and distrust and has the player base questioning nearly everything the IC does and says. Much more effort and time has been devoted to dealing with all the "issues" then has been spent working on the set, and that is a waste of valuable, volunteer, time and a real shame.

So yes, things will be done differently and every system, procedure and person will be reviewed, input will be requested from the player base and maybe the next time will be a pleasant and rewarding experience for all involved.

Thanks,