D&D 5E How WOTC can ensure my support of D&D Next

[forrgott]

Nor has anyone suggested that they are.

The original poster simply said that it would be in WotC's self-interest to reach out to Paizo and try to convince them (presumably by offering them cash or a superior business model) to support the new edition of D&D.

While I agree that this would be in WotC's best interest, I have to concede that I don't see an upside for Paizo. Even if WotC doubled the current combined sales of D&D and Pathfinder, Paizo's support material would have a hard time matching the volumes they're doing now as a standalone game.

Paizo has never hid the fact that the Adventure Path's make up the bulk of their business. Rule books share a secondary position with just about every other product line. And they could still sell those, just as modules, if the environment supported it.

In the end I would be just as happy to see Pathfinder continue alongside D&DN. I just hope D&D embraces the opensource approach again. I mean, they are selling game rules - which in and of themselves can't be copyrighted. So in a way D&D has always, and always be, "open" whether WotC likes it or not. What's the gain in not embracing it?

 

[trancejeremy]

I think most companies want to be in control of their own destiny, and not have to rely on the good will of another company.

I just don't see Paizo moving from Pathfinder, because they've already had WOTC pull their rug out from under them once (terminating the Dragon/Dungeon license).

 

[Dausuul]

I think most companies want to be in control of their own destiny, and not have to rely on the good will of another company.

I just don't see Paizo moving from Pathfinder, because they've already had WOTC pull their rug out from under them once (terminating the Dragon/Dungeon license).

I agree that Paizo won't abandon Pathfinder. They might be willing to publish "bilingual" adventures, with stats for both editions, if Wizards makes it easy to do and doesn't try to get grabby with the license like they did with 4E. But Paizo has built a strong customer base with PF and they'd be fools to walk away from them.

 

[Croesus]

I think most companies want to be in control of their own destiny, and not have to rely on the good will of another company.

Change that statement just a bit, and you get a pretty good reason why WOTC doesn't want to offer another OGL. Whatever the (intangible) benefits of an OGL to their business, it involves giving up a lot of control over their product.

 

[Herremann the Wise]

Paizo will do what they have always done. They will always offer support for what their customers want. If their customers are wanting to pay for something, then Paizo will produce it as quick as they can. They know by supporting their customers, their customers will financially support them and in the end that is the bottom line. Add in excellent customer service, positive interactions between their staff and their customers and you have a very strong relationship.

So, if Paizo customers want them to support 5e, and WotC allow Paizo some path to do that (certainly not a given), then I could see Paizo looking to support 5e in some way. On the whole though, chances are that WotC will make the conditions of such support too risky and the amount of 5e customer demand too sparse.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[mudbunny]

Of course, what hasn't been mentioned in the thread is that after WotC said that they would be pulling back the licenses, Paizo asked for the date of the final issue to be pushed back so that they could finish up some stuff.

WotC, being the evil, soulless corporation that they are, said " Yes, no problem."

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Ain't Paizo what needs the olive branch. Wizards hanging them out to dry was the best thing ever happened to them.

 

[CleverNickName]

Well, I've decided to support the development of D&D Next as much as I can, in the role of a playtester. I can't say whether or not I will buy and support the products until I see them on bookshelves.

As for the "olive branch" analogy, maybe the OP was talking about the OGL?

 

[the Jester]

I'd love to see some 5e Paizo adventure paths, mostly because NOBODY writes adventures (and especially adventure paths!) like Paizo does.

I hope 5e is open enough for Paizo to publish stuff for it alongside Pathfinder, because I basically strongly disbelieve that they will stop supporting PF as long as they have a strong fanbase- and some of their fanbase is not going to go back to the "ex-girlfriend" that they feel left them.