EN World D&D / RPG News - View Single Post - Pathfinder IS there some kind of "high level" overview of what it changes?

Kaisoku · 26th August 2008, 01:40 AM

CapnZapp, I think you need to actually spend the 5 minutes it'll take to get the pdf and check out the introduction.

From the way you speak in your posts, it sounds like you have only read peoples misinformed opinions on threads here and other places and are assuming that what these people are saying and feeling are true.

I'm not trying to be a jerk here, there is serious insight into the design goals of what Paizo is doing in their introduction, and could radically change how you look at Pathfinder.

In short, they have three main goals: Improve the Game, Add Options, and Compatibility.

In there, they specifically mention that while they want to "fix" some of the problems people have found or perceived over the years, but just as important they want to add more options for those areas that seem short (no one took fighter beyond 2nd or 4th if they had any access to splatbooks, and often even just in core). Yes, their goal was to actually add more things into the core game, that is a main design goal.

Lastly, they say they want to make sure that the change they made were "adaptable" to the main 3e ruleset. They use the words "any conversion work would be minimal".

Yes, you heard right... they INTEND to REQUIRE conversion work to run Pathfinder. Some people start tossing around the words "100%" or "Backward" in the compatibility, and use that as false ammo that Paizo is failing. More people need to read what Paizo is actually trying to accomplish and stop spreading false information.

Paizo isn't in the business of just remaking the core rules into a new book to sell with a couple minor changes and be done with it. They are setting up their core rules as a springboard for their campaign setting and adventure paths.

Basically, when you saying "Cleaning up isn't what a fix should be about", well.. maybe that's because they aren't just patching the game, they are making a core ruleset, and while that includes fixes, it also includes making the game more fun and all that entails.

Specifically, they broke compatibility when too much "fun" would be lost by trying to remain too compatible.

26th August 2008, 01:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
Kaisoku Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 108	CapnZapp, I think you need to actually spend the 5 minutes it'll take to get the pdf and check out the introduction. From the way you speak in your posts, it sounds like you have only read peoples misinformed opinions on threads here and other places and are assuming that what these people are saying and feeling are true. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, there is serious insight into the design goals of what Paizo is doing in their introduction, and could radically change how you look at Pathfinder. In short, they have three main goals: Improve the Game, Add Options, and Compatibility. In there, they specifically mention that while they want to "fix" some of the problems people have found or perceived over the years, but just as important they want to add more options for those areas that seem short (no one took fighter beyond 2nd or 4th if they had any access to splatbooks, and often even just in core). Yes, their goal was to actually add more things into the core game, that is a main design goal. Lastly, they say they want to make sure that the change they made were "adaptable" to the main 3e ruleset. They use the words "any conversion work would be minimal". Yes, you heard right... they INTEND to REQUIRE conversion work to run Pathfinder. Some people start tossing around the words "100%" or "Backward" in the compatibility, and use that as false ammo that Paizo is failing. More people need to read what Paizo is actually trying to accomplish and stop spreading false information. Paizo isn't in the business of just remaking the core rules into a new book to sell with a couple minor changes and be done with it. They are setting up their core rules as a springboard for their campaign setting and adventure paths. Basically, when you saying "Cleaning up isn't what a fix should be about", well.. maybe that's because they aren't just patching the game, they are making a core ruleset, and while that includes fixes, it also includes making the game more fun and all that entails. Specifically, they broke compatibility when too much "fun" would be lost by trying to remain too compatible.