Pathfinder 1E Curious... what does Wizards think of Pathfinder?

[Evenglare]

Is it a Frankenstein type of thing or what (look at the monster I have created)? Or what? Have they ever mentioned anything about it ? Just curious... im sure there is little to no information on it, but I'd like to know if they have said anything.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I get the feeling that the people at WotC have been told not to talk about Pathfinder in public. It sort of reminds me of how politicians will say "my opponent" instead of actually calling their opponent by name, as if naming them gives them credibility. One example I can think of is a Rule of Three where they ask about other systems people play and they name a bunch but not Pathfinder. (Though its also possible nobody at WotC plays it). I can't find it, but I feel like somebody somewhere asked if D&D Next was hoping to win back Pathfinder fans, the WotC person commented that they weren't trying to target an specific RPG audience.

So it's hard to know what they think, but I'm guessing there's a range of opinions, as WotC is made of many individuals and these people likely have a range of opinions. Also many of them have worked together in the past and maintain friendships outside of work.

 

[Kinak]

I think Matthew nailed it. They don't talk about it in public.

What I can say is that there's a lot of overlap between the freelancer pools, with people writing for both Wizards and Paizo. So there isn't any bad blood at that level.

And, talking to the Paizo folks about the other side of this (what they think about 5e/WotC), at least one Paizo employee was in the friends and family testing for 5e. So no fear there.

So, the freelancers are fine and the developers are fine. It's possible management is losing sleep over it, but we'll never get a straight answer out of them in any case.

But I haven't seen anything negative at the level of the people who actually do the work.

Cheers!
Kinak

 

[gamerprinter]

Paizo and WotC hold company picnics together - really. As publishers and creators they have mutual respect for one another, and many have done freelance work with the other in the past.

As game publishers neither side makes any official statements about the other, since they are competition - there are legal and PR reasons to remain aloof.

Any bad blood is between fans, not the publishers.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I'm guessing they think "I hope that company hires me whenever WotC lays me off".

 

[billd91]

Paizo and WotC hold company picnics together - really. As publishers and creators they have mutual respect for one another, and many have done freelance work with the other in the past.

As game publishers neither side makes any official statements about the other, since they are competition - there are legal and PR reasons to remain aloof.

Any bad blood is between fans, not the publishers.

Do they still hold company picnics together? That sounds unlikely to me these days.

Clearly, there isn't significant bad blood between creative staff. But I'd still be surprised if there isn't some bad feeling over management issues.

 

[Crothian]

I've talked to some Wizards people at cons and many have played and enjoy Pathfinder.

 

[the Jester]

EDIT: Whoops, wrong thread.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I presume it's just like any other team thing...

As a group, you want to "kick the other team's ass!" because you want to do a better job, or you want to win, or its a way to bring your group together to do stronger work.

But on a personal level? Each person probably harbors no ill-will to anyone else on "the other team" because at the end of the day you're all just the same thing... poor schleps just trying to do your job effectively so you can earn a living.

The McDonalds Corporation may want to stomp Burger King and Wendy's into the dirt... but does any guy or woman who actually works there care one way or other about the folks on the other side? I doubt it.

 

[gamerprinter]

Do they still hold company picnics together? That sounds unlikely to me these days.

Clearly, there isn't significant bad blood between creative staff. But I'd still be surprised if there isn't some bad feeling over management issues.

I know that the company Memorial Day picnic 2 years ago, both WotC and Paizo were there. But I don't follow their company picnic schedules, so unless they tell, I don't know, but the 2 years ago event was unofficially announced on the Paizo boards.