Pathfinder 1E I get the feeling Paizo isn't worried about Wizards of the Coast.

[DMKastmaria]

I don't know if they're worried or not, but I do think Paizo may be implementing a major marketing push. They're stocking the hell out of the retail book chains in my area, including cardboard displays, endcaps, etc.

My local FLGS owner made a remark the other day, to the effect that he was about to flood the whole area with Pathfinder stuff. I didn't think too much of that at the time, because he always fills his store to the brim. But now, I'm wondering if he was referring to a more specific marketing campaign of some sort from Paizo.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I don't know if they're worried or not, but I do think Paizo may be implementing a major marketing push. They're stocking the hell out of the retail book chains in my area, including cardboard displays, endcaps, etc.

My local FLGS owner made a remark the other day, to the effect that he was about to flood the whole area with Pathfinder stuff. I didn't think too much of that at the time, because he always fills his store to the brim. But now, I'm wondering if he was referring to a more specific marketing campaign of some sort from Paizo.

If they are, this is the perfect time for it. There's potentially six months where they have little to no competition with any WotC rpg products for shelf and market space... so if they can get more eyes on their products before Next shows up, best strike while the iron's hot. Not a bad strategy whatsoever.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

Seeing the ad on this website inspired me to bring it up in this thread. It looks as if Green Ronin Publishing is printing things that are Pathfinder compatible such as the "Advanced Beastiary". This tells me that other companies on board with Pathfinder and are embracing it.

 

[Starfox]

It has been said about general Grant that he worried about his own armies, where earlier northern commanders had been worried about the armies of the south. Because the north had such superior resources, this was a viable strategy. Instead of being distracted by the ingenious but ultimately feeble moves of southern forces, he forged his own inexorable advance, forcing the south to react to what he did.

Sometimes this is the best tactic to take - focus on your own thing. The competition will or will not do anything, you have no control over that. The only thing you can really control is what you are doing yourself.

Not saying that Paizo has superior forces to WotC/Hasbro, mind you.

 

[Jester David]

Seeing the ad on this website inspired me to bring it up in this thread. It looks as if Green Ronin Publishing is printing things that are Pathfinder compatible such as the "Advanced Beastiary". This tells me that other companies on board with Pathfinder and are embracing it.

WotC has said they're committed to winning back 3rd Party Publishers. There's not much they can do at the moment with the game unfinished. But getting the new license out before the game is released might help.

 

[Kobold Boots]

Paizo needs to worry about the power bloat inherent in their game that makes running it a chore beyond certain levels of experience if it's run by the book. No one plays a game to take a math test.

WoTC needs to worry about creating a game that they can support for a decade without having to create a new edition. No one buys books or materials so they can feel like they wasted money or trust.

Both of these things are the root cause of their respective problems with fans. Everything else is an emergent worry and secondary.

 

[DEFCON 1]

WoTC needs to worry about creating a game that they can support for a decade without having to create a new edition. No one buys books or materials so they can feel like they wasted money or trust.

You're kidding, right? WotC made more money selling the respective "core books" of 3E, 3.5E and 4E than they did of anything they published after it. The one thing that has been shown is that people WILL buy a new edition's first set of books. Always. Much moreso than anything they might publish in Year 8 of this decade plan you mention. And the reason why is that it's a "new game"... and new games usually get bought in greater numbers that supplements to existing games.

 

[Kobold Boots]

[MENTION=98938]DeF[/MENTION]con -

No, I'm not kidding. Last I checked Pathfinder was able to do so and maintain their customer base just fine with high-quality supplemental material. Gamers will buy multiple copies of core materials when they have enough reason to buy replacements or extra copies.

Just because a company can't make money with anything beyond their core books does not mean the only way to make money is to constantly tweak the core.

 

[Starfox]

I really don't think Pazio and WotC are in serious competition. Yes, Pathfinder sells to the former 3.5 crowd. And that crowd is probably largely beyond WotC's reach at the moment. But that is not all gamers, and even less so all potential gamers. If WotC can bring in a mix of old retired gamers and new blood, 5E has a potentially very lucrative market indeed. From what I've seen of 5E so far, it is pretty casual-friendly and newbie-friendly which makes me think these are the two main markets they are aiming at. And that will also increase the total size of the RPG market, which s also good for Pazio, and for everybody else for that matter. If WotC can bring in some new blood, that could be a real lifesaver.

If Pathfinder has a weakness, it is that it is not so newbie-friendly, even if they do have a starting kit that is just a subset of the game.

If WotC tries to reclaim customers already claimed by Pazio, everybody could lose but most likely WotC. I don't think they'd be that foolish. Of course they will reclaim a few Pathfinder players. And some will play both. But this is hopefully not be their main audience.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

You're kidding, right? WotC made more money selling the respective "core books" of 3E, 3.5E and 4E than they did of anything they published after it. The one thing that has been shown is that people WILL buy a new edition's first set of books. Always. Much moreso than anything they might publish in Year 8 of this decade plan you mention. And the reason why is that it's a "new game"... and new games usually get bought in greater numbers that supplements to existing games.

I'm sorry by Kobold Boots has a point.

I did exactly what you said with 4E. I bought the gift set (Player's Handbook, DM's Guide and Monster Manual) ran a few games and the system wasn't for me. And I was stuck (and still am) with a core set than I'm never going to use. Not because I cant find players, not because there's no time but because I don't care for the game.

I used to buy games that I was interested in playing but knew that I'd never be able to get a group together to play it. Now I only spend my cash on things that I like, can use and /or going to actually play.
Numenera looks interesting but at $60? When I know that I'm not going to play or run the game? NOPE. FFG Star Wars RPG looks interesting but at $60? When I still have my Saga materials? NOPE. On top of that I have to plunk down more money just for the dice? NOOOOOOPE. WOTC / D&D no longer has that blind loyalty from me anymore. I have no intention of plunking down my cash for the 5E core books because I have no intention of playing the game. At one time I would have bought it just to have it. Now? NOPE.