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A 5e OGL isn't going to cause another Pathfinder scenario and here's why
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<blockquote data-quote="Jester David" data-source="post: 6430988" data-attributes="member: 37579"><p>I have to agree. The rise of Pathfinder was an anomaly, only partially the result of the OGL. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Yeah, everyone seems to have forgotten the plethora of stand alone d20 games that existed during the 3e era. And everyone also seems to forget that while Paizo created the most successful 3e with revisions, other 3PP did as well. Pathfinder was just the most successful because it was the one backed by a published capable of print products and high production values. I'm not sure this will be as possible for future editions. If we do see a new OGL and WotC moves to 6e, there's less chance of a single voice emerging like Pathfinder. </p><p></p><p>Now, I doubt that Pathfinder alone killed 4e. Pathfinder's sales were good, but didn't match 4e's early sales. For every person that left 4e for Pathfinder another left for 3e or another game system (or just left gaming). Of course, without a visible alternative, 4e might have limped along for another year before ending. But maybe not. There were signs of worry over sales prior to Pathfinder's release and prior to Pathfinder really taking off.</p><p></p><p></p><p>I definitely remember being upset at the quick edition change, still thinking 3e had lots of life. </p><p>The edition turnover also hit the Ravenloft community hard. White Wolf had licensed the campaign setting for their 3e line but a stipulation was they had to reprint any campaign sourcebooks with an edition update. So in 2003 we saw a re-release of the campaign and monster book (badly) updated from 3.0 to 3.5. Having to wait longer for new material delayed to reprint books didn't help my opinion of WotC. </p><p></p><p></p><p>The magazines certainly helped, as it allowed the company to get used to producing monthly products and get started on making the type of content they wanted to make. It made the first few Pathfinder products much more solid as they already had a wealth of artists and writers and experience. Plus the reputation/cred.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Maybe. Maybe not. But if Paizo had the GSL from the start they might have opted to go the safe route and produce 4e content. The fact WotC didn't share the ruleset or get the GSL out certainly made the choice easier for Paizo. </p><p></p><p></p><p>One of the reasons for the OGL was encouraging quality. It was remarked that WotC couldn't just publish a new edition and expect everyone to follow along because the old books were out of print. The new edition had to be undeniably better and designed for the broadest possible audience. And 4e was very much a deniable improvement. A lot of people were unhappy from the very start, from before the edition launched, and that really gave people time to make an alternative product. And there were people with a fanbase positioned to make an alternative. And those people were not given a reason to not do their own thing.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jester David, post: 6430988, member: 37579"] I have to agree. The rise of Pathfinder was an anomaly, only partially the result of the OGL. Yeah, everyone seems to have forgotten the plethora of stand alone d20 games that existed during the 3e era. And everyone also seems to forget that while Paizo created the most successful 3e with revisions, other 3PP did as well. Pathfinder was just the most successful because it was the one backed by a published capable of print products and high production values. I'm not sure this will be as possible for future editions. If we do see a new OGL and WotC moves to 6e, there's less chance of a single voice emerging like Pathfinder. Now, I doubt that Pathfinder alone killed 4e. Pathfinder's sales were good, but didn't match 4e's early sales. For every person that left 4e for Pathfinder another left for 3e or another game system (or just left gaming). Of course, without a visible alternative, 4e might have limped along for another year before ending. But maybe not. There were signs of worry over sales prior to Pathfinder's release and prior to Pathfinder really taking off. I definitely remember being upset at the quick edition change, still thinking 3e had lots of life. The edition turnover also hit the Ravenloft community hard. White Wolf had licensed the campaign setting for their 3e line but a stipulation was they had to reprint any campaign sourcebooks with an edition update. So in 2003 we saw a re-release of the campaign and monster book (badly) updated from 3.0 to 3.5. Having to wait longer for new material delayed to reprint books didn't help my opinion of WotC. The magazines certainly helped, as it allowed the company to get used to producing monthly products and get started on making the type of content they wanted to make. It made the first few Pathfinder products much more solid as they already had a wealth of artists and writers and experience. Plus the reputation/cred. Maybe. Maybe not. But if Paizo had the GSL from the start they might have opted to go the safe route and produce 4e content. The fact WotC didn't share the ruleset or get the GSL out certainly made the choice easier for Paizo. One of the reasons for the OGL was encouraging quality. It was remarked that WotC couldn't just publish a new edition and expect everyone to follow along because the old books were out of print. The new edition had to be undeniably better and designed for the broadest possible audience. And 4e was very much a deniable improvement. A lot of people were unhappy from the very start, from before the edition launched, and that really gave people time to make an alternative product. And there were people with a fanbase positioned to make an alternative. And those people were not given a reason to not do their own thing. [/QUOTE]
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