Pathfinder 1E Clark Peterson supporting Pathfinder?

[Dark Mistress]

I am really sad. Clark was one of the most enthusiastic defenders of 4th edition. I would really like to know what made him abandon it that hard. He is a great guy, and it was his efforts that helped 4e a lot. But I am glad he is coming back and supporting D&D whatever edition.

I have never owned any Necromancer stuff. But when he released something for 4e someday, i will buy it... And I will at least have a look into his Pathfinder doings.

The GSL is the main reason he left 4E. There was also the changes in the way the game played and finally he had some major changes in RL happen to him that dramaticly changed things for him. Like has been mentioned he become a Judge.

 

[Treebore]

What Clark likes doesn't matter. Its a business, and he will do what he thinks will work best. Part of that is to provide the best product he can, so no matter what he likes best, he will do what is best for business, and a big part of that is giving the best product he can, no matter what edition he likes better.

So don't worry about that. Clark will deliver the best he can.

 

[Dark Mistress]

As someone that knows Clark, I have known him for about 10 years and have spent plenty of time just hanging out talking online and exchanging emails and stuff. I just wanted to make a few comments.

Clark wanted to support the current edition of DnD even before he knew what 4e was like he wanted to support it for the love of DnD.

He was a huge supporter of 4E and the GSL before they came out. The GSL had a poison pill in it, in his opinion when it first came out. His support waned but he still wanted to support the current edition of DnD.

The whole GSL thing dragged on and on and his passion lowered and lowered. Then as things got resolved, he had the idea of making a rules book to bring a more "old School" feel to 4e, with optional rules. This got a lot of interest at first but the problem was no one could agree on just what that meant. His passion burned even lower as their was no clear cut way to go.

Then RL stuff happened including him becoming a Judge. Which eat up pretty much all of his free time he had to spare, so all things game related especially publishing was set aside. Recently things in RL have changed again and he has some more free time. Which is why he is now looking back into publishing again.

As of now his plans are to support Pathfinder. The reasons for this are a few. One he was never 100% happy with the GSL. Two he believes Pathfinder carries on with the elements he most liked about DnD best. Three as has been mentioned he believes retro clones violate the spirit if not the letter of the OGL to make old versions of the game. Which is why he has said in the past he won't support them.

As for his support of Pathfinder, he has plans and idea's but nothing set in stone. He doesn't want to make promises and then not keep them. That's why he is being vague. He is exploring the idea of publishing for Pathfinder and has a desire to do it. When he has decided how and what he will do then he will make a official announcement.

***Note - All I have said is based on memory(which can be faulty) and my personal opinion of what he has said. So take anything I say with a grain of salt. I was just hoping to share a little light on the subject for people. I will point out this thread to him and hopefully he will come along and post himself and possible prove me wrong on some stuff.

 

[JohnRTroy]

The whole GSL thing dragged on and on and his passion lowered and lowered. Then as things got resolved, he had the idea of making a rules book to bring a more "old School" feel to 4e, with optional rules. This got a lot of interest at first but the problem was no one could agree on just what that meant. His passion burned even lower as their was no clear cut way to go.

That makes a lot of sense. I wasn't questioning him so much as saying the general vagueness and the false starts might have hurt Clark in the long run, as I think people moved on. (It makes sense if being a Judge now takes a lot of his time). I think he should have made a line in the sand earlier.

Since I know for a fact that the people behind OSRIC have had communication with WOTC, there are no issues. IF there were, they would have stopped doing OSRIC years ago, when the communication occurred.

Unless they actually committed and said "we will never sue", there is always some sense of risk, no matter how remote or unlikely when dealing with stuff that touches on other people's properties. What people like Umbran, Billd, and myself are saying is that this is sort of "untested" ground. Clark himself, both atty and biz owner felt it was a bit risky. My point was they have to figure out what can and can't be done. Meantime, I'm sure the makers of OSRIC are confident of its legality. Different attorneys' can have different legal opinions. The only way to know for sure is to have legal precedent that would be clearly definitive.

 

[Maggan]

He spent a lot of time cheering on 4e and trying to work with WoTC.

... and then things happened and he changed his mind.

I've changed my mind several times during my lifetime, sometimes over trivial things, and a few times over life changing things. I've done things I've promised never to do, and neglected things I did promise to carry out.

One pledge is sacred to me, and that is to my wife. The rest is up for reconsideration as the situation merits. My game system of choice is constantly up for reconsideration, for example.

Clark, if you are reading this, go ahead and do what feels the best thing for you. If it is 4e yesterday, Pathfinder today and something else tomorrow, just go for it!

/M

 

[billd91]

What Clark likes doesn't matter. Its a business, and he will do what he thinks will work best. Part of that is to provide the best product he can, so no matter what he likes best, he will do what is best for business, and a big part of that is giving the best product he can, no matter what edition he likes better.

So don't worry about that. Clark will deliver the best he can.

Are you serious? Why would anyone invest their effort into producing IP if they aren't sure they like what they're doing? There are plenty of people who put in a week's work without liking what they're doing, but most of them aren't self-employed side-businessmen creating intellectual property.
I suspect a more appropriate approach will be putting his best business model to the project he prefers doing.

 

[Treebore]

Are you serious? Why would anyone invest their effort into producing IP if they aren't sure they like what they're doing? There are plenty of people who put in a week's work without liking what they're doing, but most of them aren't self-employed side-businessmen creating intellectual property.
I suspect a more appropriate approach will be putting his best business model to the project he prefers doing.

Well then I guess you will be happy to hear that I just read a post by Clark, and now that all the dust has settled from the shake down cruises and such, he prefers Pathfinder.

Can't say as I blame him, I prefer Pathfinder too. Just I like Castles and Crusades best. But I don't work for Clark, never will, so you don't have to worry about that!

 

[Umbran]

Since I know for a fact that the people behind OSRIC have had communication with WOTC, there are no issues. IF there were, they would have stopped doing OSRIC years ago, when the communication occurred.

Yeah, but copyrights are not trademarks, so "they" (being an amorphous, non-constant conglomerate of unknown businesspeople) could change their minds at some later date. Unless they have a written license, I wouldn't expect "communications" to be dependable in a court of law.

Quite honestly, so long as OSRIC is small, I would not be surprised if WotC (or Hasbro, above them) chose to ignore it as not worth the effort and legal costs - their lawyers usually have bigger fish to fry. But, it might well be challenged if it looked like a real commercial success.

 

[thedungeondelver]

Yeah, but copyrights are not trademarks, so "they" (being an amorphous, non-constant conglomerate of unknown businesspeople) could change their minds at some later date. Unless they have a written license, I wouldn't expect "communications" to be dependable in a court of law.

Quite honestly, so long as OSRIC is small, I would not be surprised if WotC (or Hasbro, above them) chose to ignore it as not worth the effort and legal costs - their lawyers usually have bigger fish to fry. But, it might well be challenged if it looked like a real commercial success.

This is an "industry" where "real commercial success" means selling over a thousand copies.

I think if OSRIC went from what it is to "people are quitting all forms of D&D and buying or downloading OSRIC to play instead" (and that would be hilarious), then they'd go after it.

But who can say? TSR in the 1990s used to threaten people for posting up campaign notes. Can't say the same thing won't happen again.

 

[Dark Mistress]

Whizbang - Just to be clear, what I posted wasn't facts. What I posted was how I seen things from talking to Clark. A lot of what I posted is from memory and the impressions I got from what Clark said at the time. While I think i am right or at least close enough to right to get the gist of it. I wouldn't call anything I said other than Clark becoming a Judge as "fact".