Necromancer Games' Clark Peterson swears off 4E, says "Pathfinder is the D&D I love"
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Badwe
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it seems like there's plenty going on there. clearly mr. peterson is an avid D&D player in general and so he has his own biases to play to (as we all do) but he also has modules to publish and to sell. Add to this, it's certainly possible the initial potential of 4e was very appealing to someone looking to develop and sell adventures, only to find out that while they might be more condusive to this or that, it doesn't really jive with his perception of what it means to be D&D. Having pored over (but never found a group to play) Necromancer's Wilderlands series, it seems as though necromancer was big on extraneous skill checks and things like the sage (a very non-combat oriented class) and other bits of maintenance that were largely discarded with 4e.
So for someone who has a strong notion about how D&D should be but who still wishes to publish and sell modules, pathfinder seems like the obvious choice. Indeed, any 3rd party publisher seems to be facing an uphill battle to break into 4e. WotC has, for better or for worse, perfected their own formula and are largely able to press on with or without support from other companies, whereas 3.x was generally equal parts 1st and 3rd party. Much as i vastly prefer 4e for my own games, i can't deny that it's a rough market for 3rd parties and i find it very difficult to branch out my dollars to their products even though i would like to see them succeed. For these reasons, I would say Clark's decision, if a bit poorly worded, makes good sense and i genuinely hope that it brings him some book sales, although i hope once he gets some 3.x style adventures out of his system and onto paper he'll be willing to give another try to "the 4e way" and see what he can create.
So for someone who has a strong notion about how D&D should be but who still wishes to publish and sell modules, pathfinder seems like the obvious choice. Indeed, any 3rd party publisher seems to be facing an uphill battle to break into 4e. WotC has, for better or for worse, perfected their own formula and are largely able to press on with or without support from other companies, whereas 3.x was generally equal parts 1st and 3rd party. Much as i vastly prefer 4e for my own games, i can't deny that it's a rough market for 3rd parties and i find it very difficult to branch out my dollars to their products even though i would like to see them succeed. For these reasons, I would say Clark's decision, if a bit poorly worded, makes good sense and i genuinely hope that it brings him some book sales, although i hope once he gets some 3.x style adventures out of his system and onto paper he'll be willing to give another try to "the 4e way" and see what he can create.
El Mahdi
Muad'Dib of the Anauroch
I agree with everything you said, and especially this.
Nothing against Clark Peterson. I know who he is, but I don't know him, so I don't get why his stating that "Pathfinder is D&D" is supposed to matter to me (other than for marketing purposes
). I think that D&D is whatever every individual gamer and GM says it is. Barring the trademark usage of the name, AFAIAC, any and every RPG game is D&D.A Gazillion Flavors of D&D for a Gazillion Gamers.
From major league 4e cheerleader to "Pathfinder is D&D," I can only imagine it's been an interesting ride for Clark 
Desdichado
Hero
I'm sure Clark Peterson is a nice guy and all. Maybe even a great gamer. But what I'm less sure of is why his declaration of what game scratches his D&D itch is supposed to matter to me, or anyone else who posts here.
Treebore
First Post
If people could get over themselves there would be no edition wars. Clark Peterson is just saying "Pathfinder is D&D" for him, not the whole world.
Castles and Crusades is D&D, for me. For others 4E is D&D, for them. Then there are those for whom 2E, 1E, OD&D, etc... is "D&D", for them.
So some of you think 4E is "D&D". So what? As long as your having fun why should anyone care what others prefer as "their D&D"?
We each play the version of "D&D" that gives us the rules that allow us to do what we want with "my D&D". I don't like what 4E, 3E, or Pathfinder has to offer. So what? I am not ruining any of your games because I feel that way. Nor are any of you ruining my Castles and Crusades games because you like 4E, 3E, or Pathfinder instead.
So why edition wars? Why get bent out of shape because someone dares *GASP* say they think "X" is "D&D"? Everyone just needs to get over their personal ego's and accept that we all play "D&D", our own D&D. Whatever edition or variant that may be.
Its friggin D&D, and we all play what we play to have fun. Whether its Pathfinder, 3E, 4E, C&C, 1E, LBB's, whatever. So get over yourselves already. Go play.
Castles and Crusades is D&D, for me. For others 4E is D&D, for them. Then there are those for whom 2E, 1E, OD&D, etc... is "D&D", for them.
So some of you think 4E is "D&D". So what? As long as your having fun why should anyone care what others prefer as "their D&D"?
We each play the version of "D&D" that gives us the rules that allow us to do what we want with "my D&D". I don't like what 4E, 3E, or Pathfinder has to offer. So what? I am not ruining any of your games because I feel that way. Nor are any of you ruining my Castles and Crusades games because you like 4E, 3E, or Pathfinder instead.
So why edition wars? Why get bent out of shape because someone dares *GASP* say they think "X" is "D&D"? Everyone just needs to get over their personal ego's and accept that we all play "D&D", our own D&D. Whatever edition or variant that may be.
Its friggin D&D, and we all play what we play to have fun. Whether its Pathfinder, 3E, 4E, C&C, 1E, LBB's, whatever. So get over yourselves already. Go play.
City State of the Invincible Overlord should ring a bell with lots of the older players. The translation from the original work to the d20 version was well done and gives him a really good resume point, speaking for myself. Sure, he's just a gamer....with a lot of really good ideas that people bother to print. I'm not going herald him as a god of writing, but he's at least worthy of a 'notable' status at my gaming table.
Anyways... If he's hopping on the PF band wagon, it's not going to hinder the brand.
Anyways... If he's hopping on the PF band wagon, it's not going to hinder the brand.
catsclaw227
First Post
All due respect for some in the thread....
But Clark Peterson is more than just some dude that likes Pathfinder better. Necromancer Games was a major 3PP during the 3.x era, influenced MANY games in many places around the world with his 3rd edition rules with 1st edition feel. They were among my favorite publishers for that era, and I won't sell any of my necro adventures, even though I have been paring down my 3.x library.
Does it matter to the masses what game he feels, in his heart, is closer to the D&D he likes to play? No.
Yes, he puts his pants on like anyone else... but if a heart surgeon and cardiovascular expert was talking about an alternative medicine product that may help reduce hypertension, I would listen even if I didn't agree.
Clark was a well respected publisher from the 3.x era whose opinion carries more weight than an average joe down the street. I may not agree with his opinion, but people can respect it.
But Clark Peterson is more than just some dude that likes Pathfinder better. Necromancer Games was a major 3PP during the 3.x era, influenced MANY games in many places around the world with his 3rd edition rules with 1st edition feel. They were among my favorite publishers for that era, and I won't sell any of my necro adventures, even though I have been paring down my 3.x library.
Does it matter to the masses what game he feels, in his heart, is closer to the D&D he likes to play? No.
Yes, he puts his pants on like anyone else... but if a heart surgeon and cardiovascular expert was talking about an alternative medicine product that may help reduce hypertension, I would listen even if I didn't agree.
Clark was a well respected publisher from the 3.x era whose opinion carries more weight than an average joe down the street. I may not agree with his opinion, but people can respect it.
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