It’s FAQ Tuesdays now (FAQuesdays?)
They can only issue an FAQ is the entire PDT is in the office; with Con season and holidays that usually makes this time of year sparse in terms of FAQs. I wish it was a higher priority as well, but I’ll take what I can get.
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Hey everybody. I'm answering this from the office right now, where I'm currently working (for those of you from the fuuuuuture, it's Saturday). We have one that's in progress, but we're also incredibly hosed right now. We'll try to push out a few when we can, but I'd expect the FAQs to be quieter for a few months.
I understand Mark, but you guys have to support the products already out there, not just those coming up.
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Hey everybody. I'm answering this from the office right now, where I'm currently working (for those of you from the fuuuuuture, it's Saturday). We have one that's in progress, but we're also incredibly hosed right now. We'll try to push out a few when we can, but I'd expect the FAQs to be quieter for a few months.
Thanks for working Saturdays. What book is occupying your time, atm? Has it been announced yet?
Is it perhaps possible to “queue up” faqs when the entire team is in the office and then stagger their release somewhat? It sounds odd to suggest holding back an FAQ, but perhaps it would be better (from those hungry for FAQs perspective) if there were a constant stream of say fortnightly faq blogs, rather than a busy period and a quiet time each year.
I wonder if there’s a risk FAQs released in a rush get half-debated then passed over by the community as next week’s controversy comes into view. Or maybe even that they slip out unnoticed by some. Perhaps a methodical release schedule would sort of “bed down” faq rulings in the community better. I could imagine drifting off and not focusing on them so much if a previously weekly release skipped a few.
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Hey everybody. I'm answering this from the office right now, where I'm currently working (for those of you from the fuuuuuture, it's Saturday). We have one that's in progress, but we're also incredibly hosed right now. We'll try to push out a few when we can, but I'd expect the FAQs to be quieter for a few months.Thanks for working Saturdays. What book is occupying your time, atm? Has it been announced yet?
Is it perhaps possible to “queue up” faqs when the entire team is in the office? It sounds odd to suggest holding back an FAQ, but perhaps it would be better (from those hungry for FAQs perspective) if there were a constant stream of say fortnightly faq blogs, rather than a busy period and a quiet time each year.
Since working here, I think Starfinder might have been the only book I've ever still been working on while it has also been announced and thus I was able to talk about it during the process. So as usual, a fun book we haven't announced yet!
I understand the pressure to have all hands on deck to work on new products. Long-term though, it hurts the perception of the company as standing behind what it has published if FAQs, errata, clarifications, etc. fall by the wayside.
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I'd rather they devote the resources to do it well in a timely fashion. This is totally in their control.
Do we really need to do the Bill and Tedd's 'Eddie Van Halen' Logic Loop here?
That being said, I think the FAQ have been pretty reasonable and timed, given the significant amount of material that needs to be checked and cross-checked.
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Not if it harms the deadlines of actual revenue generating product.
That's my point that there are short term and long term implications to devoting all resources to new products at the expense of supporting older products.
Meh. I'm fine with the rate at which these happen. For home games, I do what is best for my group anyways, and I don't do organized play. I enjoy seeing what the PDT comes up with, but I don't carve them in stone.
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And I believe Paizo is better equipped to evaluate those implications than messageboard users.
j
I love Paizo as much as anyone, but infallibility is not the trait of any business. I also understand the impulse to reflexively defend the company from any perceived critique. But to my mind, there are two issues on the table:
1) Companies in this industry, like any industry, either get things done or they make excuses. New products, conventions, staffing, etc., are understandable excuses, but they're not exactly unprecedented or unforeseeable--they're regular parts of the industry and can be planned for. The choice to put FAQs on hiatus *is* a choice. (and I don't blame any particular staff member, as they all have their designated projects--it's a question of resource allocation)
2) Pumping out new rules without a working system to issue binding interpretations of them is like a government whose legislature (the publisher) issues thousands of new statutes (rules) every year, and while lawyers (gamers) debate what parts of those statutes mean there's no judges (a FAQ team) to conclusively settle the disputes.
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I will say that I find it absurd that there are FAQs that are over a year old and retail unanswered.
Even if they can't actually answer a FAQ each week, it shouldn't take too much time to out out a blog/post saying: "We are currently looking at this faq, but the implications are massive and would effect X, Y, Z. As such we want to give it more attention before answering."
I think a lot if dissatisfaction with the FAQs is that there is no transparwncy. We don't know what is being worked on.
We don't even know if our specific FAQ is even considered to be looked at.
Something that would potentially help this is if Paizo published the list if pending FAQs say one a month and just said which they are working on, which they feel will take longer, and which are simple to answer.
I understand that work needs to be done on new product.
However I feel if they could get people together for an hour a week to sort through the backlog of FAQ requests it would only be a good thing.
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The FAQ's have been like this for years. We will get a few, and then none for a while, then a few more.
They just don't have the manpower to do it. The PRD has also not been updated in a while.
Not if it harms the deadlines of actual revenue generating product.
Older products still sell.
FAQ have impact on so many current and future builds/issues that I am fine with slow deliberate FAQ's that "get it right."
Suggestion:
An iterative process may be good to let the community know that items are being worked on. Perhaps consider a list of FAQ items that will be reviewed each month/quarter. The community can discuss the implications of the items in question, knowing their thoughts and concerns will be seen.
An iterative process will effectively reduce the perceived amount of time between FAQ activity. Just make sure the people on this board know that any decision made does not reflect whether their initial interpretation was right or wrong.
Just an idea.
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I love Paizo as much as anyone, but infallibility is not the trait of any business. I also understand the impulse to reflexively defend the company from any perceived critique.
I see that I am not allowed to disagree with your stance and will kindly remove myself from the discussion.
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I'd much rather the team take all the time they need to handle the FAQs to the best of their ability, rather than usher out clarification half-cocked and make a bigger mess with unclear answers in need of further polish.
^ this.
I’m okay with waiting and getting a decent FAQ rather than something rushed that causes more issues. FAQs are nice, but they’re not required for me to purchase from Paizo. I was introduced to thsi hobby through 3.5 and then my group switched to Pathfinder, and then a few years later I joined this site, so I’ve played for awhile without the knowledge of FAQs. So again, I’m okay with waiting, since if they have to decide between working on something that will not create revenue versus something that does I know which priority they will take. And if they have to decide between doing something fast or doing something right I know which one I hope they will pick.
FAQs aren’t something that’s required of their job, but it’s a nice little extra that they do, just like how they come into the threads and chat with us and let us know they’re keepimg an eye on things (especially on a Saturday). Not required, just something extra that is nice and appreciated.
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And I believe Paizo is better equipped to evaluate those implications than messageboard users.j
I love Paizo as much as anyone, but infallibility is not the trait of any business. I also understand the impulse to reflexively defend the company from any perceived critique.
Many of us have defended Paizo and argued against other things they have done. Assuming someone is defending reflexively, and has not actually thought about the issue is short-sighted and insulting unless of course you have proof.
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The FAQ's have been like this for years. We will get a few, and then none for a while, then a few more.
They just don't have the manpower to do it. The PRD has also not been updated in a while.
I would really like to see the PRD get updated. If not the new material, at least the errata for the older material would be nice.
I agree on the PRD
I often send people to the PRD to get an idea of the game rules and style of writing before they buy the game.
It would be great if it was up to date
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Oh no, how will anyone live without regular FAQs?
First world problems and all that...
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Oh no, how will anyone live without regular FAQs?
First world problems and all that...
It is not a life threatening issue, you are right.
However there is something that leaves a bad taste in peoples mouths when you say "Faq Tuesday" and then dont release a Faq or FAQ related/update/list/acknowledgement every Tuesday.
If a restaurant chain advertised a special every Wednesday, and then just didn't have the special half Wednesdays it wouldn't look very good would it?
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Oh no, how will anyone live without regular FAQs?
First world problems and all that...
It is not a life threatening issue, you are right.
However there is something that leaves a bad taste in peoples mouths when you say "Faq Tuesday" and then dont release a Faq or FAQ related/update/list/acknowledgement every Tuesday.
If a restaurant chain advertised a special every Wednesday, and then just didn't have the special half Wednesdays it wouldn't look very good would it?
Except they never advertised you would get a FAQ every Tuesday, Tuesday is just the day they put FAQs out if they have one.
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I know it isn't actively advertised.
However it is often refered to on the boards as
It’s FAQ Tuesdays now
Before that it was known as Faq Fridays.
Whether that is something that started with Paizo themselves or if the boards coined the phrase it creates an expectation.
Now whether that expectation is fair is an entirely different issue.
I feel it is unfair to expect them to forego future material to deal with Faq's.
However I also feel it is unfair to leave Faq's unanswered with over 400 requests for 2 years.
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It does not create an expectation in the way you claim, especially if Paizo didn’t coin the terms (which is just putting the word FAQ in front of the Day so... not even really a term).
We the Fans can come up with whatever nicknames or assumptions we want, that does not make them obligations on Paizo’s part.
They have chimed in multiple times that they are keeping an eye on and working on the Bardic Masterpiece FAQ, just that it’s going to take a blog to answer it and that it’s pretty much going to have to go over every Masterpiece individually, rather than just give us a conglomerate yes/no.
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I understand if it's difficult to answer questions about how Bardic Masterpieces interact with other things, but a simple question like "Can you 5' step out of difficult terrain?" should not be unanswered after four years.
The current system isn't working. For basic yes/no questions, I'd suggest running community polls and making the most popular answer official.
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I understand if it's difficult to answer questions about how Bardic Masterpieces interact with other things, but a simple question like "Can you 5' step out of difficult terrain?" should not be unanswered after four years.
The current system isn't working. For basic yes/no questions, I'd suggest running community polls and making the most popular answer official.
... that’s only got 7 FAQ clicks on it...
@Rysky
The fact that this thread exists indicates the fact that there is an expectation for weekly Faqs.
Who is to blame for that expectation is a different story once again.
To me and many people I know, the second you link something to a repeating timeframe such as a day, it creates an expectation that that will happen on that day.
It creates a link, "Oh, they do faqs on Tuesdays." and then a week later "Oh, It's Tuesday, I wonder if there is a new Faq?"
Does that make sense?
This could just be a cultural thing and is certainly anecdotal.
But I do feel I am not the only one with this experience. "
Inconsistent Weekly FAQ Fridays", this thread title indicates that the poster was under the impression the Faq's would be released consistently on a day of the week.
We know that that is not the case though. However there is a group on the boards who has an expectation and it should be addressed by Paizo in my opinion.
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That is not an expectation, that is an assumption.
Again, the Design Team releases a FAQ on that day when they have one, they have never claimed that we are going to get one in that day of the week every single week. People can have whatever expectations and assumptions they want, that doesn’t mean someone has to deliver on those expectations, especially if they never promised those expectations to begin with.
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I do understand that FAQ's are not an action that directly generates money so it is not as high on the totem pole for them.
After so many years here I can't say I expect for the FAQ to be better, but I sure would like for it to get better.
They could hire someone else, but then they'd have to pay that person, and that would mean that person would likely be put on a money making task, and therefore defeat the point of them being hired.
I don't think people actually expect it as in them "believing FAQ's will be consistent". It is more like they think it is Paizo's responsibility to be more consistent.
Just gonna chime in wishing for the PRD to get updated as well.
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@Rysky, you would be right on a personal level.
Unfortunately Paizo is a company, and unless they want to garner bad press they do need to manage the expectations that arise around their work.
It is an unfortunate side effect, but not dealing with your client's expectations, whether you are the cause or not, is a bad move.
And by dealing with the expectations I do not mean that you have to do what is expected. I mean you have to address what is expected and set those expectations straight.
You have to manage your client's expectations of you.
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And they have managed those “expectations” with the very fact that they have never claimed there will be a FAQ every week, and Mark has been forthright multiple times with why there will not be a FAQ for certain weeks or time periods.
And yet people still assume and insist that there will be a FAQ every week, that there has to be a FAQ every week, and this has been going on for years now. That’s not on Paizo, thas on them.
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It's a conscious choice for Paizo on whether or not to devote resources to thinks like FAQs, errata, PRDs, etc. This thread illustrates that many, but not all, customers would like them to devote more resources to it. They're perfectly free to say no, and we're perfectly free to keep asking :)
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I do understand that FAQ's are not an action that directly generates money so it is not as high on the totem pole for them.
I don’t think it’s just about the money. It’s easy to forget that those of us who post here are the enthusiastic tip of a very big iceberg. FAQs are important to many of us who frequent the forums, but unimportant to a large segment of the fan base (I would claim a larger segment, but who knows?)
I think it’s similar to the PFS vs homegame distinction - resolving PFS issues appears to be of paramount importance in the PFS sub forum. It’s a less important consideration elsewhere on the messageboards.
In any allocation of resources, there are many competing cohorts of customers and we don’t all want the same things.
It's a conscious choice for Paizo on whether or not to devote resources to thinks like FAQs, errata, PRDs, etc. This thread illustrates that many, but not all, customers would like them to devote more resources to it. They're perfectly free to say no, and we're perfectly free to keep asking :)
Yeah, I don’t think there’s any problem in asking for more. Paizo won’t know what you want if you don’t tell them.
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@Rysky
Unfortunately "Ignore it and hope it goes away" does not work in this regard. And this is what they are doing by not making an effort to manage the expectations of the customer base.
Yes, Mike has come forward and mentioned in threads and such that Faqs will be delayed, or wait until after a con or etc.
However that only reaches the people that read that specific thread he posts in.
All I am suggesting be done is a small write up saying that Faq's are not a regular thing. They get done when they can.
This will peeve of a lot of people who are invested in contenscious issues, but it at least provides transparency in a visible area.
I know there wont be a Faq every week, but I would still like there to be more transparency in the Faq process.
I dont want a Faq every week.
I understand they are not a high priority.
Solution:
We know there is a literal list of Faq requests generated by us pressing the button.
If, once a week, Paizo published that list, it would show people that actually, they do look at the list, and it is something they care about, even if they cant deal with it right now.
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Unfortunately "Ignore it and hope it goes away" does not work in this regard.
They're not doing that.
However that only reaches the people that read that specific thread he posts in.
His ask thread, where FAQs are announced and delays on them are announced, it's effectively the FAQ thread for the Paizo site. People go there to check on FAQs.
All I am suggesting be done is a small write up saying that Faq's are not a regular thing. They get done when they can.
This has been stated multiple times by the Designers, Mark in particular. If you don't think people read his thread I'm not sure how putting a writeup somewhere else on the site is going to help anything.
I know there wont be a Faq every week, but I would still like there to be more transparency in the Faq process.
They work on them when they've finished their current workload and the entire deign team is in the office for them to meet. I'm not sure what more transparency you could get aside from them livestreaming their meetings.
If, once a week, Paizo published that list, it would show people that actually, they do look at the list, and it is something they care about, even if they cant deal with it right now.
They don't have a short list of FAQs they're working on I'm pretty sure (though each individual Designer might have one that interests them or they have a list of very difficult ones I'm sure) due to the nature of the FAQ system, which puts the most recently FAQed post at the very top of the list that contains all the FAQs*, and how high certain FAQs that spring up can get real quick (my Haste one got answered after a few days I believe) would make making a short list they're going to work on a wasted effort as new FAQs come in that might appear more crucial or more readily answerable. I wouldn't want them to forego answering a FAQ because they announced they're working on others.
*This is what I'm remembering from what Mark and Chris said about how it functions, it could be, and probably is, more complicated than that.
I'm in favor of the design team takings its time so it provides high quality answers rather than fast ones.
That said, there appear to be some things which are never answered. One that I keep coming across is mounted combat. Here's one example of an unanswered FAQ request from 2013. It's not clear to me why the design team seems unable or unwilling to work on this topic.
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Well that one has only 11 FAQs on it, so it probably got those right when it went up, and not many after, meaning newer FAQs published it further and further down the list. If you're wanting it to be answered a good first step is posting in the thread to make it come alive again and so other people can see it in recent threads so they can FAQ it as well.
I dont mean a list of the active faws being worked on. Just literally all the faq requests they have.
That way people can see that, yes, theirs is on the list.
I think it would be better to have somewhere for the faqs to be spoken about than an ask thread.
I honestly had no idea that is what is going on in there.
I know a bunch of people were asking rules questions but last I remember people where saying he was answering less and less because every time he answered a contentions issue people flamed
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All the FAQ requests they have would be a very, very, very, very big list. The moment you FAQ something, it goes on the list.
There's MArk's ask thread, the individual FAQ threads, and of course there's almost always a thread that pop up after every FAQ is put out.
But yes, people flaming is why he posts less, in addition to being busy. It's the reason he's pretty much the only designer left that posts at all. Why bother showing up at all if a horde of people are just going to come in and throw s%#& at you?
FAQs don't have to be posted by a named staff member, and they don't have to be posted in a messageboard thread.
If they wanted to do FAQs, errata, and PRD development, they would devote the resources. I trust Paizo is quite capable of achieving what it sets its (collective) mind to do.
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I don't care about FAQs, I'm a free thinking person, I can make decisions on my own.
I do appreciate all the hard work they put into them though, so high fives to the team that does them.
And kudos to Mark for working on a Saturday. :-)