Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Hey guys. I had made a quick comment about this in another thread, but I feel it deserves its own thread.

When the Elders/Playtesters/Officials come to a conclusion about rulings in the hidden forum, could those discussions be moved somewhere public so we can see the reasons behind any potential changes? I wouldn't mind if they were locked once moved, or if upcoming cards were edited out, I just want to see the thought process behind these rulings.

If you guys cannot, that's fine, I just think this would be a great way to help us understand the rules even further.

I don't think this is a good idea.  One of the big benefits of having a separate place where these decisions are made is that they can be made there and then communicated to everyone as a consensus.  This enhances the perception that the people who are making these decisions are unified and gives people more confidence in the rules.  Showing the disagreements that happen there would probably just make some people feel more justified in continually attacking certain official rulings.

On the other hand, I do think it is a good idea for people to see the thought process behind the rules.  Therefore, perhaps one of the elders (NOT ME) could be responsible for communicating this perspective with the general forum after a ruling has been made official.

I don't think this is a good idea.  One of the big benefits of having a separate place where these decisions are made is that they can be made there and then communicated to everyone as a consensus.  This enhances the perception that the people who are making these decisions are unified and gives people more confidence in the rules.  Showing the disagreements that happen there would probably just make some people feel more justified in continually attacking certain official rulings.

But some threads come to a resolution that most if not all agree with. Yes, there is discussion/debate, but a thread isn't actually resolved until the debate has finished. Things that could come across as heated exchanges and inspire more discontent could be edited/carefully explained. Most of the really controversial rulings continue to be debated until Rob makes a ruling anyway, and since EVERYONE agrees that Rob's word = Final word, I don't think any appearance of disunity would matter too much.

So far, no one else has supported the idea on the Elders side, and others have said it would cause several issues that are better avoided. However, I will do what I can to have explanations for rulings and why we came to the conclusion we did, and hopefully the other Elders will do likewise. But for now, it is fairly apparent that this idea (at least in its original proposed form) will not come about.

I would agree something is being made by the Elders and the playtesters need to be hidden secret, because it is a discussion with few people, with a lot of people making different kind of decisions, not only everyone would be mad at each other, but nothing gets, done; however, when the decision is done, why don't we just have the Elders and playtesters tell their playmates, because I believe a web communication work the best, I mean rumors pass around really fast, I believe people treat the new ideas as rumors would really benefit all players. Plus, for those people who doesn't check their forum so often might not get many rules. I mean with the official words pass around, even in a tournament, people would understand what is going on. Thank you.

Michael Leung