Pathfinder 1E Paizo = Play WoTC = Pay?

[Erik Mona]

In the immortal words of Mr. Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

--Erik

PS: While I have said many times that a lot of Pathfinder buyers doubtless read the AP installments and do not play them, I can't imagine I ever said it was anything like "50%" as quoted earlier in this thread. The fact is that I have no idea what percentage of purchasers play the adventures vs. read them, so I'm not really in the business of pulling numbers like that out of my butt.

 

[gamerprinter]

In the immortal words of Mr. Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?"

--Erik

PS: While I have said many times that a lot of Pathfinder buyers doubtless read the AP installments and do not play them, I can't imagine I ever said it was anything like "50%" as quoted earlier in this thread. The fact is that I have no idea what percentage of purchasers play the adventures vs. read them, so I'm not really in the business of pulling numbers like that out of my butt.

Sorry, misremembered the specifics, there.

I think, except for a few, we all get along fine.

This thread is mostly about marketing direction, not 'us vs. them'.

 

[Bluenose]

That's not necessarily true though. Even the 'great' adventures had a default assumtpion to them. There are also different branches of adventures Paizo offers. They have the Adventure Path and the single modules. Some of those singles are very easy to slot into a 'standard' fantasy setting.

Will people complain that the WoTC adventure use the Vale setting when that comes out next year? Will they claim that they can't use those adventures in the setting?

Probably, yes. Some people already are complaining about Nentir Vale being defined at all, and how it de-canonises their version to have it in print.

Also, I remember a few years ago when a list of the best/favourite adventures came out in Dungeon, and I'm old enough to be familiar with nearly all of them. In the older ones, like Tomb of Horrors, the background is extremely vague in a way that isn't as true with newer adventures. Do I remember some adventures that had detailed background information provided in a specific setting, yes, of course I do. But I remember at least as many where the background was something a lot more vague, and yet they still provide a fascinating situation/story to involve the characters.

Over the last two years, I've largely used the Pathfinder AP books as "resource material". I've never bothered running any of them from beginning to end.

The only thing I found useful about the 4E WotC modules produced over the last two years or so, is seeing how combat encounters are constructed and designed. Otherwise I didn't really play any of them straight through, other than "Keep on the Shadowfell" and "Thunderspire Labyrinth" as a way of becoming familiar with the 4E ruleset and style of DMing.

Well that's consistent of you. The thing I wonder is why? Or perhaps how? Beyond a certain point, unless you've made an index of encounters by level and type of opposition, how do you keep track of the existing encounters? Haven't you got too many for it to be practical?

 

[ExploderWizard]

The only thing I found useful about the 4E WotC modules produced over the last two years or so, is seeing how combat encounters are constructed and designed. Otherwise I didn't really play any of them straight through, other than "Keep on the Shadowfell" and "Thunderspire Labyrinth" as a way of becoming familiar with the 4E ruleset and style of DMing.

Interesting. I have been running a 4E campaign for almost a year now and haven't used any 4E adventure material, including parts, or as a reference for my campaign.

I think thats because I don't let the ruleset inform my style of DMing (as least as far as D&D is concerned). I will play with 4E mechanics but after reading through a few adventures no way would I DM a campaign in that style.

 

[Mallus]

I think thats because I don't let the ruleset inform my style of DMing (as least as far as D&D is concerned).

Same here.

I run my 4e campaign much like I ran the 3e campaign before it. I'd probably try to run Rolemaster, OD&D, or Burning Wheel in the same style, too.

 

[ggroy]

Well that's consistent of you. The thing I wonder is why? Or perhaps how? Beyond a certain point, unless you've made an index of encounters by level and type of opposition, how do you keep track of the existing encounters? Haven't you got too many for it to be practical?

It's something which jogs my memory, whenever I have to improvise an encounter. Some stuff I may recall reading before in a Dungeon Magazine article, AP book, module, etc ...

 

[ggroy]

I think thats because I don't let the ruleset inform my style of DMing (as least as far as D&D is concerned). I will play with 4E mechanics but after reading through a few adventures no way would I DM a campaign in that style.

After awhile, I didn't really follow the DMing style in the 4E modules.

For example, I didn't really use the skill challenge mechanic much after a few times. We ended up doing things the old school way, by role playing things out.

 

[TarionzCousin]

I'd rather see both RPG companies 'come home' - I live in Illinois, Lake Geneva is much closer to me than Washington state... (I can't justify going to a Paizocon ever, its not in Wisconsin!)

Hey. You got Gencon in the divorce.

For example, I didn't really use the skill challenge mechanic much after a few times. We ended up doing things the old school way, by role playing things out.

That's crazy! I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to turn in your 4E card.

 

[ggroy]

That's crazy! I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to turn in your 4E card.

A 4E card made out of chocolate.

 

[Agamon]

I kinda see what Joe's getting at, but I disagree. Both games you can buy the core and play your game, both games you can spend a lot of money to enhance that game.

At he Paizo boards, there was an announcement that Inner Sea, the PFCS update got pushed back to next March, most of the replies were, "That's good, it's getting tough paying for what's already coming out now."

Don't get me wrong, Paizo's sub system is pretty cool, I was a member at one time, but it helps show that you can play/pay with both systems.