What does it mean to be a Design Decision Forum member?
- Thread starter exioce
- Start date
Generally speaking, the devs will post a proposal for how an aspect of the game will operate. The DDF members will then raise any issues or concerns with the proposal, including suggestions for how it could be improved. The devs take all this onboard and then post an updated proposal (which is usually what gets taken forward into the game).
You should be able to have a look at the DDF archives to see how the existing discussions unfolded. There have been votes but they're few and far between.
You should be able to have a look at the DDF archives to see how the existing discussions unfolded. There have been votes but they're few and far between.
Philip Coutts
Volunteer Moderator
Yes they get to vote on proposals. They don't get to come up with their own proposals but can really effect what's going into the game. For example the initial proposal for travelling in systems and in particular fast travel was changed because the DDF reacted so strongly against it. I'm not in the DDF but they do seem to be quite a switched on lot but ultimately the design decisions rest firmly with Frontier.
It's also important to remember that the DDF will have an ongoing relationship with Frontier after the release of the game.
It's also important to remember that the DDF will have an ongoing relationship with Frontier after the release of the game.
Thanks for the answers, guys. Since we've had Last Orders called, I was considering upgrading to DDF member/station name. The idea of an ongoing relationship with FD sounds like a promising reward for that pledge level.
Hopefully, ED is a game with at least half a decade of life in it after release and to be able to influence the galaxy throughout that time would be very nice.
Hopefully, ED is a game with at least half a decade of life in it after release and to be able to influence the galaxy throughout that time would be very nice.
Have a look at the Design Discussion Archive , It will give you a good idea on what the DDF folks get up to. 
ddf is an awesome way to integrate the community into the product. however, for me is serves mainly as an information tool. it takes way to much time to follow all the discussions in earnest.
however, if you are deeply into detail and like to spend time trying to argue, gauge and develope game design, this is for you ^^
As others have said, at least 99% of the DDF winds up in the archive. After that, there's the "open discussion" thread (mostly chatter, some discussion about the DDF itself), the "fiction questions" thread (like Mostly Harmless Questions, but for fiction), and the list of upcoming topics (updated once every few months, with no input from us). Frontier put forward a proposal most weeks, revise it (or not) the next week, then put it in the archive.
It's not yet clear what role the DDF will play now the game is reaching the alpha stage. We've been told to expect some kind of significant in-game thing (many expect the collective to sway the progress of in-game history), but Frontier's detailed proposal is still in the backlog. I would expect them to review the process when they start work on the expansions, so we may or may not get to continue commenting on their proposals.
Joining the DDF this year has got you more access to the developers, but people still had to learn how to make a good argument - I often point to Extra Credits as mandatory reading. If that continues, reading the archive will give you a good idea of whether the DDF is for you.
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Philip Coutts
Volunteer Moderator
I should also add I can only dream of being in the ddf, I had to upgrade to a new PC and just managed to scrape together enough for the Alpha testing. The DDF seems like an excellent way of making people feel included in the game making process.
Bah, you show no commitment - we have people who have pledged DDF and above and don't even have PCs that can run the game!
It is to have godlike powers!
Actually it is a pretty interesting thing to have. And, like jabokai said, it is quite a time sink also (well, all forums are such). I'm enjoying the DDF, although I do not participate actively in all discussions - just the ones more significant to me.
And it is a great place to discuss stuff with people that are really interested in the game and sometimes have quite diverse vision of what the game should be like. Their input helps to construct new visions of the game, even if not implemented as originally thought.
FD has been quite interactive in the issues raised in DDF.
Anyway, consulting the archives you can see exactly how it is.
Now that the game enters alpha stage, I'm interested in seeing how it will play out. Still different will be the DDF while the game is live.
Actually it is a pretty interesting thing to have. And, like jabokai said, it is quite a time sink also (well, all forums are such). I'm enjoying the DDF, although I do not participate actively in all discussions - just the ones more significant to me.
And it is a great place to discuss stuff with people that are really interested in the game and sometimes have quite diverse vision of what the game should be like. Their input helps to construct new visions of the game, even if not implemented as originally thought.
FD has been quite interactive in the issues raised in DDF.
Anyway, consulting the archives you can see exactly how it is.
Now that the game enters alpha stage, I'm interested in seeing how it will play out. Still different will be the DDF while the game is live.
You get to argue about canon and handwavium with us bunch of nutters
I have loved every minute of it, great being involved, great experience.
Yeah I can echo this statement
For me FE2 (and Elite) is the most memorable game of my teenage years, I still remember my daily routine...
College/Work 9-5
Girlfriend 6-11
Frontier 11-4
Having insomnia has its benefits!
I used write down trades routes, where certain ships could be bought, stock prices... to say I got a bit addicted is an understatement. A couple of years ago I contacted Jimplaysgames youtube channel and shared some info on Frontier for his fundamentals videos (if you havent see the videos, go check them out... jim is awesome), I also supplied him a copy of my original save game and he was shocked with the amount of time I had sunk into the game.
Although the kickstarter couldn't of come at a worse time having just been made redundant, having the chance to be involved the design of the modern version of my most played game was what I considered a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.
Bah, you show no commitment - we have people who have pledged DDF and above and don't even have PCs that can run the game!
Yes I have seen this too. People have alpha access too. It just goes to show how different humans can be. My first thoughts were do I have the hardware to play it as it deserves to be. I have been busy feeding the PC.
It's a time-sink PITA.
Apart from that, it's great.
This for me...
If you choose to read all the posts (which is not actually required), it's time-consuming to say the least. Also, I've actually found it slightly stressful a few times, especially in the early days when arguments would endlessly go in circles.
Sometimes it's very difficult to get a handle on how the proposal will manifest in game, and I wonder whether all the detail will actually make it through clearly. There was loads of awesome stuff on NPCs, but I'm not at all clear on what interacting with them will be like. Are Frontier doing something very new, or will it turn out a bit like some existing game I've already played?
So it's not fun, but I do find it rewarding.
If you had ditched the girlfriend you would have got more game time in ...
Being in the DDF is great, mostly because someone at Frontier has to read every single post. While it's true that we don't get to propose our own topics, we do get to make suggestions on the topics that are being discussed. An early example I can think of is the iron man mode where death means that you can continue your commander in the normal game, but not in iron man mode. And of course there's the in system travel... I think that's been the cause of significant delays, and maybe even floating FD on the market !
I used to try and read every post in the DDF at the beginning, but I just couldn't do it. I read the first post in every new proposal, and post my thought on that; often, that's the end of my involvement. But if I'm interested I do try to follow the thread, and get stuck in.
We don't know what the role of the DDF will be after game release, but there definitely will be one, so it could still be worth upgrading even after missing nearly a year's worth of proposal discussions
!I used to try and read every post in the DDF at the beginning, but I just couldn't do it. I read the first post in every new proposal, and post my thought on that; often, that's the end of my involvement. But if I'm interested I do try to follow the thread, and get stuck in
.We don't know what the role of the DDF will be after game release, but there definitely will be one, so it could still be worth upgrading even after missing nearly a year's worth of proposal discussions
I think the words "God-like powers" were mentioned but I have to go back to the audio...