Only in the minds of the fans...

[DEFCON 1]

Just read Chris Perkins' newest column post on the Wizards website... and I found it very amusing that he mentions that one of his players is Jeff Alvarez, the VP of Operations at Paizo.

You ever get the feeling that after days upon days, years upon years of Pathfinder fans throwing stones at D&D fans over their games, and those D&D fans slinging mud right back... that the guys and gals who work at WotC and Paizo just sit back together at the game table laughing at us, for taking all of these Edition Wars so goshdarned seriously?

If the people in charge of their respective games can play them both equally without issue... maybe the rest of us should loosen up a little bit, eh?

 

[Stumblewyk]

Frankly, I'm sure they do just that. I'm 100% positive they sit back and go, "Cripes. It's a game. Get over yourselves, people."

Personally, I never got the edition rancor. I DM'd 2e until well into the life cycle of 3.5. I upgraded to 4e. I still run a 3.5 game, I run a 4e game, and I play in a 4e game. And you know what? If a friend said they wanted to run a Pathfinder game and it fit my schedule, I'd play that too. Because it's a game. And the fun is what you make of it.

 

[Ryujin]

Frankly, I'm sure they do just that. I'm 100% positive they sit back and go, "Cripes. It's a game. Get over yourselves, people."

... in a vaguely "William Shatner on Saturday Night Live" sort of way.

 

[Incenjucar]

I imagine that it's difficult to be a quality designer while fanaticism clouds your perceptions. Of course, that doesn't stop them from marketing to people who get uppity for silly reasons. Works for Apple and Microsoft in their brand wars.

 

[Badwe]

By necessity, a good game designer should have to play all editions to understand what's better and worse about the edition they make their living on. Every new mechanic played is an opportunity to learn. most of us only have time/money for one edition or the other or have subtle preferences that drive our choice.

That being said, we can all stand to be nicer about disagreements. Even if you play 4e, you have to admit it's great that pathfinder has let people who prefer 3.5 continue to play a living, actively supported edition. Hell, I'm sure even a lot of 4e fans would love it if there were paizo 4e products. On the flipside, sometimes it's like some people who gripe about WotC are most interested in making 4e players feel as insecure about their edition choice as possible.

 

[Incenjucar]

In general, people need to keep in mind that they are, whether they like it or not, an ambassador for their activities and interests. Every time you, as a gamer who plays X, Y, or Z, present your opinion, you are showing yourself as an example of a player. If your words are full of bitterness and spite, you will paint that image into someone's mind about the sorts of people who enjoy what you do. If you truly believe that someone should "convert" to your edition, then put your best foot forward and show them how it has brought great happiness into your life instead of simply stamping on the joys they have found in other things.

 

[TarionzCousin]

Just read Chris Perkins' newest column post on the Wizards website... and I found it very amusing that he mentions that one of his players is Jeff Alvarez, the VP of Operations at Paizo.

Isn't this called "Market Research"?

 

[SSquirrel]

I don't enjoy Pathfinder, but I know other people do. That's fine by me, not like I have to play in their games

 

[Dice4Hire]

We'll never know what designers think of all the games.

As for me, I like discussing my game of choice.

 

[wedgeski]

I don't so much "get the feeling" as "both Paizo and Wizards people have said so in the past".