If Hasbro Pulls the Plug....

[S'mon]

I only skimmed this thread, so not sure if this has been mentioned already. If Hasbro pulls the plug then Paizo will become the new 800-pound gorilla, and soon the honeymoon they're currently enjoying will be over. Once they release a new edition, the flaming will start, because if you make significant changes to a game, you're bound to piss someone off, and if you don't, people will complain that not enough was "fixed" (not to mention it won't sell). Sorry if that sounds a bit cynical.

Well, I think Pathfinder is all about maintaining the 3e/d20 D&D system, Paizo would be crazy to shelve that. They might tweak it a little bit over the decades, but the big selling point is those mechanics. And Paizo have a business model based on Adventure Paths - they can keep doing APs for the system indefinitely, and compatibility is very important.

So I'd expect very incremental change in the core Pathfinder system, like BRP Call of Cthulu, say. What I think they might do eventually is find that Golarion is looking a bit played out, so they create APs set in other worlds. They might also look at 'Pathfinder Modern'; after all they've got great use out of the main d20 SRD, but the d20 Modern SRD is still just sitting there waiting, like a maiden on her wedding night...

 

[Pour]

I think you are hoping they have opposing, contradictory mindsets executed in tandem. One says they aren't going to support previous editions, that will be inclusive of 4E (leaving aside how they smooth over the transition or do with the occasional overture to older editions with a "Return to the . . . " and such). There really seems to be two competing philosophies that govern internally at WotC, one that wants a rising tide to raise all RPG community ships (and I don't mean just "big tent" lip service, I'm talking OGL-esque behavior) and one that wants to isolate the brand from other RPGs (including previous editions). The two don't seem to play well together. I think they have already reached that crossroads and determined which way to go, and that we are just waiting for an official announcement.

I think you're right, they do have their strategy planned and we're just waiting to hear it. I'm all for either scenario, though, communion or isolation. Honestly, my main concern is the continuance of my edition of choice, whether by opening it up OGL style or through continued control by WotC in conjunction with an eventual 5e.

 

[MoxieFu]

Well, I think Pathfinder is all about maintaining the 3e/d20 D&D system, Paizo would be crazy to shelve that. They might tweak it a little bit over the decades, but the big selling point is those mechanics. And Paizo have a business model based on Adventure Paths - they can keep doing APs for the system indefinitely, and compatibility is very important.

So I'd expect very incremental change in the core Pathfinder system, like BRP Call of Cthulu, say. What I think they might do eventually is find that Golarion is looking a bit played out, so they create APs set in other worlds. They might also look at 'Pathfinder Modern'; after all they've got great use out of the main d20 SRD, but the d20 Modern SRD is still just sitting there waiting, like a maiden on her wedding night...

Starfleet Games has released Prime Directive PD20 Modern, an RPG using the D20 Modern SRD for the game set in the Star Fleet Battles universe. You can see more at starfleetgames.com.

 

[Aldarc]

Well, I think Pathfinder is all about maintaining the 3e/d20 D&D system, Paizo would be crazy to shelve that. They might tweak it a little bit over the decades, but the big selling point is those mechanics. And Paizo have a business model based on Adventure Paths - they can keep doing APs for the system indefinitely, and compatibility is very important.

So I'd expect very incremental change in the core Pathfinder system, like BRP Call of Cthulu, say. What I think they might do eventually is find that Golarion is looking a bit played out, so they create APs set in other worlds. They might also look at 'Pathfinder Modern'; after all they've got great use out of the main d20 SRD, but the d20 Modern SRD is still just sitting there waiting, like a maiden on her wedding night...

Isn't that a somewhat stagnant business model, given that this pretty much means that Paizo is effectively bound to the 3e/d20 system of the SRD and OGL without being able to make more profound improvements?

 

[William Ronald]

If Hasbro pulled the plug, I would be sad. I have meet a lot of people who like 4E and enjoy it.

Sure, there would be some small news items, but I think that the gaming public would adapt. I would imagine that we would see a lot of the folks at WotC moving elsewhere. I am not sure what sales would look like for RPGs if Dungeons and Dragons closed, but I imagine that they might rebound as other systems flourish or are introduced.

As for Pathfinder, I imagine that Paizo could move on from their current rules, but perhaps build off of 3.0/3.5. This way, they could create a different system and still be covered for some of the OGL mechanics.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

I think the biggest impact would be on the overall number of people playing RPG's and on brick and mortar stores. Like it or not, D&D is probably the biggest gateway game into the roleplaying hobby.

Losing the big fish in the pond would likely see less people playing RPG's and would probably be the straw that broke the camel's back for several gaming stores.

On a personal level, the only impact it would have on me is that new players would be harder to find, especially as time went on. We've been playing 3.5E for around 6 years now and will continue to do so in the near future at least. So no more 4E products won't stop my game.

Olaf the Stout

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I only skimmed this thread, so not sure if this has been mentioned already. If Hasbro pulls the plug then Paizo will become the new 800-pound gorilla, and soon the honeymoon they're currently enjoying will be over. Once they release a new edition, the flaming will start, because if you make significant changes to a game, you're bound to piss someone off, and if you don't, people will complain that not enough was "fixed" (not to mention it won't sell). Sorry if that sounds a bit cynical.

I think that it is more of a matter of there no longer being any 800 lb. gorillas.

There are two 400 lb. gorillas, one living on an island, the other living on a hill, with wildly screeching chimpanzees swimming back and forth to do battle, while the gorillas both wonder what all the fuss is about.

The orangutans are busy making adventures for both gorillas, and the monkeys are swinging free from tree to tree, playing whatever they like.

And the lemurs are still in the closet about gaming at all.

The Auld Grump, wait, what was the question again? I got distracted by the monkeys....

 

[Dice4Hire]

I think that it is more of a matter of there no longer being any 800 lb. gorillas.

There are two 400 lb. gorillas, one living on an island, the other living on a hill, with wildly screeching chimpanzees swimming back and forth to do battle, while the gorillas both wonder what all the fuss is about.

The orangutans are busy making adventures for both gorillas, and the monkeys are swinging free from tree to tree, playing whatever they like.

And the lemurs are still in the closet about gaming at all.

The Auld Grump, wait, what was the question again? I got distracted by the monkeys....

Someone help!! A metaphor has taken TheAuldGrump and will not give him back.

 

[Dice4Hire]

Pathfinder is a good game, and has a strong following among gamers, but I still think it has only a pittience of the brand recognition D&D has. Not really surprising, but for non gamers, Paizo has a long way to go to be as well known as D&D.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

If Hasbro pulls the plug then Paizo will become the new 800-pound gorilla...

One does not become the new 800lb gorilla of the marketplace simply because the old 800lb gorilla is gone. One must have market share, power, and recognition, history- IOW, it has to be earned. D&D isn't just a game, it's a name...one synonymous with the industry to most outsiders.

Even if Paizo became the undisputed front runner in the RPG industry after D&D got shelved, it would be an open question of whether it was truly the 800lb gorilla...or a 400lb gorilla in a slightly less culturally relevant niche hobby market.