Pathfinder 1E How about a Pathfinder CRPG?

[Ahnehnois]

Paizo is likely as well-connected as they need to be.

As for resources, they would likely license it, so they may not have to use their own resources at all.

The question is more along the lines of "does a software company think there's money to be made off of such a game?". If the answer is "yes", they'll make it. If not, they won't.

Well, wizards wasn't connected enough to get a really good crpg out during the entire lifespan of 3e, so I have my doubts whether Paizo is (esp since it's a lot of the same people).

Obviously, Paizo is not a group of programmers, but they would have to consult on a crpg, and they would probably design tie-in products, which would be a big committment of resources for a company that size.


As far as the money to be made, I'd look at Dragon Age. It was a big financial and critical success, using D&D-ish mechanics. What's more, a somewhat dumbed-down, combat-focused, lower quality sequel provoked widespread criticism, proving the market has some taste and creating an opportunity: a new group of disaffected players hunting for a good rpg. It's like 4e all over again!

Honestly, CRPGs do great without licenses. I can't see any company that you'd want a Pathfinder CRPG from being interested in acquiring the license.

Plenty of companies make licensed games based on other properties far more expensive than Pathfinder. One could say there are plenty of license-free stealth action games that do well, so who would want spend the money and effort to do a quality Batman game? Look what happened there (Arkham Asylum). I'm not saying it's easily done, but there's a great crpg waiting to be made...

 

[IronWolf]

Yes, but logically, it has to be a sum of money with multiple zeroes in it, if only to protect the brand and to prevent random jackasses from trading on Paizo's name. If that money -- including the time spent on negotiating the license -- isn't made up in additional sales, it's not worth it.

Way too much hypothetical to rule it out though. Say a company such as Bioware decided they didn't mind throwing out some money for a license and saw *some* benefit, coupled with Paizo deciding they would sell a license cheap just to further gain exposure of the Pathfinder brand. That idea is not so far fetched - especially as Pathfinder seems to be riding a nice wave right now.

Do certain conditions need to exist? Yep. But not nearly impossible conditions.

Honestly, CRPGs do great without licenses. I can't see any company that you'd want a Pathfinder CRPG from being interested in acquiring the license.

Again - depends on conditions. We don't know what Paizo would sell a license for. And we don't know who might come asking.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Way too much hypothetical to rule it out though. Say a company such as Bioware decided they didn't mind throwing out some money for a license and saw *some* benefit, coupled with Paizo deciding they would sell a license cheap just to further gain exposure of the Pathfinder brand. That idea is not so far fetched - especially as Pathfinder seems to be riding a nice wave right now.

I'm sorry, but yes, that's amazingly far-fetched, especially for BioWare. The only licensed product they're doing right now is Star Wars. Please don't say you think the licenses are comparable.

And every bit of time they spend making sure they do the license right -- always a longer process than just dealing with in-house systems and an in-house setting -- is money lost. Pathfinder, as popular as it is, could not off-set that additional cost.

<--- has worked in the videogame industry for a company that did both licensed products and their own properties

 

[IronWolf]

I'm sorry, but yes, that's amazingly far-fetched, especially for BioWare. The only licensed product they're doing right now is Star Wars. Please don't say you think the licenses are comparable.

It isn't like I am holding my breath for something like this. I just don't see flat out saying it could never happen due to license cost is necessarily accurate either. There are other video gaming companies and the cost of a license also factors into the equation as well - something we have no idea what Paizo would want for such a license - especially if they saw that such a license would be advantageous to them.

And every bit of time they spend making sure they do the license right -- always a longer process than just dealing with in-house systems and an in-house setting -- is money lost. Pathfinder, as popular as it is, could not off-set that additional cost.

This cost could perhaps be more substantial and the more likely cost that a company would have to decide if they could recoup. There tend to be easy ways around this to a degree though by placing things in a previously not highly detailed area in Golarion to give the video game developers a little more freedom and less chance of contradicting already published details.

 

[DaveMage]

Well, wizards wasn't connected enough to get a really good crpg out during the entire lifespan of 3e, so I have my doubts whether Paizo is (esp since it's a lot of the same people).

Well, I liked Neverwinter Nights 1 so I have to disagree.

Obviously, Paizo is not a group of programmers, but they would have to consult on a crpg, and they would probably design tie-in products, which would be a big committment of resources for a company that size.

I think it depends on who does it, and if they know the game. The amount of consultation required may not be so bad. I mean, for a lot of it, all they'd need to tell the developer is "read the book(s)".

As far as the money to be made, I'd look at Dragon Age. It was a big financial and critical success, using D&D-ish mechanics. What's more, a somewhat dumbed-down, combat-focused, lower quality sequel provoked widespread criticism, proving the market has some taste and creating an opportunity: a new group of disaffected players hunting for a good rpg. It's like 4e all over again!

Plenty of companies make licensed games based on other properties far more expensive than Pathfinder. One could say there are plenty of license-free stealth action games that do well, so who would want spend the money and effort to do a quality Batman game? Look what happened there (Arkham Asylum). I'm not saying it's easily done, but there's a great crpg waiting to be made...

I agree with the rest of your comments.

There may be little value in paying Paizo for a license if you can make a great (and popular) game without it. The object of such a license would be to attract Pathfinder fans. If the software company feels the numbers of Pathfinder fans are insufficient to make attracting them worthwhile, then no sense in doing it.

 

[Ahnehnois]

Well, I liked Neverwinter Nights 1 so I have to disagree.

I enjoyed NWN and its expansions; I would categorize them as good but not great, certainly not on level with the legendary Baldur's Gate games (I didn't play BGII until years after NWN). NWN2, however, was a disaster. The reviews on Daggerdale haven't exactly been inspiring. There's room for improvement, that's all I'm saying.

 

[Gorgoroth]

on that note, I read yesterday that Daggerdale was the 4th highest seller on XBLA, bad reviews notwithstanding...

Goes to show that people will often pay for a game with a familiar name on it (even if it doesn't have even the remotest association with actual 4e mechanics, good playability or even word of mouth. The facebook site is all bad...it's quite surprising their sales, even to me, who has worked in videogames for years as well).

 

[PatCap]

I personally would make it a downloadable client, and you could buy and play through the various Adventure Paths. Maybe not as an MMO, but as a Cooperative game. Say you and 3 friends bought it, you could link up and play through the content. I think it would be fun and cool. My group curently plays with 2 members on Skype. This could make it so that you could all link up and play through the games...Hmmm...Hey Paizo...Call me!!

 

[Urlithani]

Games are pretty expensive these days. You would need over 10m to make a multiplatform game. You'd need to spend a bit more to advertise also. However, you could make a smartphone/indie steam game for very cheap; Sell it for $5 or less and make your money through volume. Minimal investment and tons of exposure via Steam and phone platforms.

Lastly, IMO, it needs to be turn based. The last RPG that was turn based was Temple of Elemental Evil. Live action RPG's are a dime a dozen; even with the pause feature, it's not the same. Make it a Dungeons of Dredmore style with a small party. As soon as an encounter happens, everyone rolls initiative and all the monsters/characters take their turn in order every round just like you were at the table. Make all the Iconics pre-generated characters to play. Take the same Dungeons of Dredmore concept but with a party of 4 to 6 and sell it for $5, and people will know the name Pathfinder. If it's a success, sell expansions for $5 with more abilities, feats, spells, and classes. Each expansion will add more iconics from APG and the Ultimate books.

Dungeons of Dredmore for reference: Dungeons of Dredmor on Steam
It's a rogue/nethack style game with graphics.

 

[Gorgoroth]

yep

I agree, D&D / Pathfinder are turn-based games and it makes no sense trying to make it RTS or whatever, square peg = round hole. Much better off to use a custom system.

Now if I didn't find most MMOs to be too easy / forgiving, I might be able to forgive myself for spending time playing one...especially in the summertime.