Pathfinder 1E Paizo being mysterious

[Dragonblade]

On the 4E forum Erik Mona asked Paizo customers (or posters, I should say) whether we were going to switch to the new edition. There are also other threads, such as whether the DnDXP has changed peoples' minds regarding the new edition. In each poll, I believe, the majority of voters and posters were for them remaining 3.5, with some people adding that they would switch if Paizo did, but would prefer they remain 3.5. Such polls have been up in the 4E forum for months now.

Thats a problem. I *was* a Paizo customer but I never really went to their forums. I popped in once a couple of months ago and I was APPALLED. Never went back since.

I would have cancelled my Pathfinder subscription right then but Erik Mona is a good guy and explained that the forums are unmoderated. I relented, but it still reflected very poorly on Paizo, IMO.

However, I did finally cancel my subscription because I'm just not interested in more 3.5 products. I'm going to 4e and so is my wallet. If Paizo wants my business they'll provide 4e products. I'm really interested in their Golarian campaign setting, but not if its a 3.5 product. I'll just happily give WotC and Necromancer all my money.

 

[Mistwell]

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.

GenCon is not the only date one can release a new product. It never was, and these days it's less and less important. The day Paizo announces a 4e product on their website, thousands will know about it within the hour. Probably within the minute.

They are not "waiting". I am sure they are producing as always, and not just standing around looking at the phone and checking the mail box every hour of every day. Like I said, they can continue to do 3.5/d20 at the same time as 4e, and I am sure they are continuing some 3.5/d20 now, along with a lot of the "fluff" and generic stuff that can eventually be turned into either 4e or 3.5/d20 right now. In fact, I think they said as much, that they are continuing production as normal right now.

You get the jump on the competition by paying the $5000 and signing the GSL when it comes out. WOTC already said they will be adjusting the dates based on the date they make the GSL available, so you will have no less than a 4 month jump on the competition and more likely 6 months or more, if you sign up right away. That has not changed.

 

[Cintra]

Dragonblade - The Pathfinder Campaign Setting is going to be "version-lite"; it will have few or no rules within that would be adversely affected by someone playing a different version of the game. For an example of a product they've done this way, see the just-released Guide to Korvosa (a city in Varisia, and the setting of the adventure path that is just starting). No rules except in the appendix, making for some easy conversion notes if/when needed.

Also, in the past week, Paizo has started to do limited moderation of their 4E boards. They're hoping to get away from moderating as soon as possible, and they're not moderating the boards where people aren't arguing about 3.5 vs. 4E. A number of folks are unhappy about the moderation, but personally, I can see the difference it's made, and hopefully, their boards will continue to be a good place to hang out, especially once they make a decision and people get used to that decision (whatever it turns out to be).

 

[Festivus]

I would have cancelled my Pathfinder if I wasn't getting such a good price on it. Once my "conversion" from Dungeon subscription runs out I plan on cancelling.

Once I get a look at 4E I will determine my need at that time. If Paizo comes out with a 4E Pathfinder or better yet, a 4E GameMastery module, I might buy it if I like 4E.

 

[Mistwell]

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.

That's not accurate. Polls ON THEIR WEBSITE of the extremely small and rather skewed population there (a board known as more anti-4e than most, and hence prone to draw more anti-4e people there) show that. But we do not have an actual poll of their broader customer base. For example, I don't ever even go to their website because of the anger I encounter there - but I would happily buy Paizo's 4e products just as I bought many of their 3e and 3.5e products. I've never had the opportunity to even vote in a Paizo poll on the topic however. I suspect there are many just like me in that respect.

 

[keterys]

With them offering a 15% discount on products from their website if you have a Pathfinder subscription, and me feeling happier supporting gamers over Amazon, it's pretty likely my pathfinder subscription will run as long as I can stand it.

Though obviously I'd prefer they switch to 4e.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Jason Bulmahn's blog post is... interesting: http://iuztheevil.livejournal.com/

Note that his current mood is 'excited'!

Yep. There's more implied there than a mere software upgrade...

 

[AZRogue]

That's not accurate. Polls ON THEIR WEBSITE of the extremely small and rather skewed population there (a board known as more anti-4e than most, and hence prone to draw more anti-4e people there) show that. But we do not have an actual poll of their broader customer base. For example, I don't ever even go to their website because of the anger I encounter there - but I would happily buy Paizo's 4e products just as I bought many of their 3e and 3.5e products. I've never had the opportunity to even vote in a Paizo poll on the topic however. I suspect there are many just like me in that respect.

You're right. I should have qualified that polls on their website, in response to a direct question from Erik Mona, show that a majority of those that responded would prefer they remain with 3E. It might not be completely accurate, but they cared about the answer enough to ask.

 

[Rauol_Duke]

GenCon is not the only date one can release a new product. It never was, and these days it's less and less important.

I have suspicions that Paizo feels differently about GenCon than you do.

 

[Mistwell]

I want to know where the new players are coming from.

I suspect a lot of 1e players who quit and are thinking of coming back with the death of Gary Gygax in the news.

3e brought a lot of people back to D&D.

4e will apparently leave a lot of 3.5e folks behind.

3e left a lot of people behind, who eventually (6 months to a year) finally gave in to the inevitable and switched. But at first, a hardcore 25% or so were saying "No way" to a new edition. Same thing that is happening now.

Taking for granted the subset of "Finally got fed up with 3e and ready to come back again to 4e" players, who are the new new players, and how will WoTC attract them?

Many of the same ways 3e attracted new players. I don't see how you can argue 3e attracted new players and didn't leave anyone behind while 4e will not attract new players and will leave people behind.