Pathfinder OGL/3.5 RPG system from Paizo

[Zaukrie]

(((not sure who's comment annoyed me, but there is a general tone here sometimes that people that disagree with people are stupid, not sure why people get that way, but we do)))

Oh, we gamers are an odd lot (collectors many of us, we just keep buying more and more adventures and books, among other oddities). I think there is clearly space for this move, and I think they'll make money for some time, I'm just not sure how much or for how long. New editions come out for a reason.

That said, I really like most of Paizo's work, and for that reason alone I hope they are successful. I'm personally bummed, as I'm moving onto 4E, and I won't benefit from their work now, probably, at least for some time.

 

[Treebore]

I didn't mean to say they had chained themselves to 3.5, merely that they were going after what I assume is a market segment that is not likely to grow over time. They are, of course, perfectly free to move to 4E if they want, but that isn't what they've just announced they are hooking their future to, so I'm not sure why I'd comment on that rather than the decision they just announced. Sorry, but of the three game stores around here, only 1 (admittedly the largest) carries much Paizo at all. I can't imagine the smaller game stores taking the chance of having more stuff sitting on their shelves.

People that disagree with you (not Paizo, some posters) aren't necessarily stupid, btw. Some of us even have masters degress in marketing and are compensated very well for our business acumen.

I didn't say you were stupid, I only said "they" would be stupid if they think PAIZO was stupiid enough to irrevocably chain themselves to the 3E market.

So my use of "you" was in no way meant as a "personal you", but as a generalization.

But if you and your Masters degree has a better idea for PAIZO then by all means shoot them a proposal. Their goal is to stay in business and supply us with top quality gaming goodies.

 

[GVDammerung]

. . . they were going after what I assume is a market segment that is not likely to grow over time.

You know what they say about what happens when you "assume." With the open playtest, the organized play and Paizo's superior quality product - and established and very loyal fan base - there is no reason to imagine that Paizo can't grow the segment.

This is the thing I think people have been missing in all the 4e hubbub - the 3x rules set is OPEN and can then be MODIFIED and IMPROVED to produce what will be a NEW version of THE WORLD'S MOST POPULAR ROLELAYING GAME. The OGL is a sword and has been waiting for someone to pick it up and figure out how to swing it now that Wotc has moved on and left the very popular 3x field open. Paizo has pulled the sword from the stone.

 

[Michael Dean]

Well, as someone who has thousands of dollars worth of 3.0 and 3.5 material on his bookshelves, and has been getting steadily more lukewarm about 4.0 as more information comes out about it, this is very good news. One of the things I love about the OGL is the sheer volume of creativity that many different designers have put into it, so I have no qualms about a "3.75" from Paizo. I'll still buy 4.0 when it comes out to see what they've done, but I cannot see myself spending the kind of money I have over the last 10 years on WOTC products. It will have to be a real standout product for me to do so as I've been (somewhat) underwhelmed by Wizards' releases the last three or four years. But Paizo I can trust; their Adventure Paths have been great and the Gamemastery Modules as well.

So good luck to Paizo!

 

[Timespike]

Isn't one of the big criticisms of WOTC that they basically made a few cosmetic changes to 3.5, stuck a new name on it, and forced everyone to pay again for a game system they already owned. In other words, there is something of an underlying resentment out there in certain circles against 4.0 because people feel that WOTC cheated them with releasing 3.5, rather than doing real revisions and making it 4.0 at that point.

My question is, are people really going to pay a third time for the same materials, that still will likely have basically the same structural flaws that in large part prompted WOTC to create 4.0 at this point anyway?

Download & read the alpha material. Besides, it's all going to be in ONE massive $50 book rather than 3 $30 ones. A saving of $40 cover price ALONE. And we all know almost nobody buys RPG books at cover price.

 

[Klaus]

Thanks Eric.

Just because a rule currently is in there, does not mean that we will not change it if a better idea comes along. I would love to hear what you have done with SR.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer

Jason,

First of all, congrats! Pathfinder RPG is shaping up nicely. I specially like the wizard school powers (including Universal) and the "energy burst" feel of Turning (although I must say, I'd remove the "fleeing" part of Turning, and in fact change the name to reflect the Healing/Damaging aspects).

I am eager to see what you did to the Paladin, since it was the first class I messed up with when I was starting my own 3.75 notes (I'd like to share those with you if you don't mind).

My one criticism? The racial line-up image. Specifically, that Herculean elf! That doesn't look frail to me!

At any rate. kudos!

 

[kenobi65]

A minimum of two per month with 4+ for Origins and Gen Con. Frankly, the appetite of our Pathfinder Society members will determine our volume, but these are our targets for Season 0.

Cool. I think that one a month is the bare minimum that a campaign can get away with and keep players interested, so, if you can meet that, you should be in good shape.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wow - the boards are going to explode with debate on all these new rules - wizard school at will/ daily powers, combat feats, skill amalgamation, (ducks) grapple...

... ranged cover...

-Hyp.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

My one criticism? The racial line-up image. Specifically, that Herculean elf! That doesn't look frail to me!

Ditto. Aside from this nitpick-congratulations Paizo!

 

[Hunter In Darkness]

This is just to cool .the sher awesomeness is to much. I have downloaded alpha and use alot of the same changes in my houserules gods I love this great work looking forward to more .