Pathfinder 1E Paizo being mysterious

[EATherrian]

I think their web-site has finally just given up the ghost. Maybe they can upgrade their software to something that doesn't run on MS-DOS 3.1.

 

[Dragonblade]

Maybe Wizards stuck the license in the mail. Paizo being in the same city as WIzards, they'd receive it faster. Just saying.

Well, WotC and Paizo have close ties. I wouldn't be surprised if Paizo got the GSL before anyone else, or got some other special deal with WotC.

 

[aaronm]

I think it is a safe but not smart business move. Getting a jump on the competition is important. Getting your products branded with the new players is important. For long term success, I think the better move is to do 4.0 right away, even if you want to continue some 3.5/d20 as well.

Seconded. If this indeed the direction they are going, they will live to regret it imho.

 

[dmccoy1693]

Or maybe Rouse or some of the former Paizo employees came over for a visit and dropped off the GSL while they was there.

 

[joela]

S/W update

They did say there would be numerous message board fixes done yesterday. Could be something required more drastic measures. The boards over there have been very wonky lately.

Oh, good point. That would leave Paizo STILL on the fence regarding 4e :\

 

[Rauol_Duke]

I think it is a safe but not smart business move. Getting a jump on the competition is important. Getting your products branded with the new players is important. For long term success, I think the better move is to do 4.0 right away, even if you want to continue some 3.5/d20 as well.

How can you get the jump on the competition if WotC won't let you see the rules and the GSL? Paizo's production schedule has a 6 month lead time. If they keep waiting for WotC, they won't have time to produce anything for GenCon.

 

[helium3]

Yes, they really do need to get new software. And they've been trying to hire someone for 14 months to no avail. Perhaps I'm just being bitter, because I never got a response to my query, but I think they might be a *tad* unrealisitic in their expectations if they can't find someone after 14 months...

Heh. I wouldn't take their lack of a response too personally. They're sorta known for that, as I understand it.

 

[AZRogue]

Seconded. If this indeed the direction they are going, they will live to regret it imho.

That depends. I'm as eager for Paizo to make 4E products as anyone, but the polls have shown a very clear majority of their customers want them to remain with 3.5 and this number is just getting larger the longer WotC decides to drag their feet over the GSL. They don't have an easy decision either way.

 

[helium3]

3.5 for another year is a safe business move. WotC is releasing adventures this year but we'll see how the release schedule changes in '09. It gives Paizo the opportunity to test the waters of staying 3.5/d20 for future releases, but does not lock them into that path. Judging by Paizo folks cool reception of the 4E rules at DDXP, I think they are taking time for a reality check on the pulse of the gaming community and their views. They only lose 4 months lead time by not taking the early adopter route. One of their partners, Necromancer, will be testing the waters of 4E in the meantime. It's a smart play. It guarantees another year or so of Paizo products so it is all good.

Besides WotC own marketing, what real test of the "reception" of the 4E game has there really been? People point to the boards, but frankly I think we're just fanboys either way. The bigger question is what their customers want and I suspect they just don't know the answer to that question.

No one should forget the example of "Snakes On A Plane." If you went solely by the "internet buzz" you would've thought it was going to be a blockbuster. In reality, it was just another "meh" sort of movie. It turns out the intertubes also function as a really great echo-chamber.

As much as the pro-4E faction touts the inevitability of 4E, Paizo should not be basing critical business decisions off the buzz on Enworld, the Paizo boards, the WotC boards or any other internet forum unless they have good hard evidence that their market IS those boards.

 

[zoroaster100]

What polls were those? I am a Paizo subscriber and I am definitely switching to 4E, and I have not seen any polls. If there were any, I'm sure many of the subscribers might also not spend too much time on the messageboards to know when a poll goes up. I certainly never received an email from Paizo requesting a poll response, which is what I think they would do if they wanted a more accurate sense of their subscribers.