Pathfinder OGL/3.5 RPG system from Paizo

[Ripzerai]

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?

They're not "forcing" you to buy their new rules - they're going to be available as free PDFs (at least, they are presently), and it sounds like you can continue to play Pathfinder modules using your 3e Player's Handbook. But the new rules will exist if you want them, and they'll be the form in which "3e" remains in print for future generations of gamers.

 

[Zaukrie]

I guess I'll be first to say I'm disappointed. I love Paizo's work, but I'm moving onto 4E unless there is some huge bugaboo that I'm not seeing yet. This cuts off one of the best avenues of adventures and fluff still in existence. Oh well, it will save me money I guess.

 

[Bacris]

I guess I'll be first to say I'm disappointed. I love Paizo's work, but I'm moving onto 4E unless there is some huge bugaboo that I'm not seeing yet. This cuts off one of the best avenues of adventures and fluff still in existence. Oh well, it will save me money I guess.

Can you blame them, though?

WotC taking so long to get 3rd Parties into the 4E ruleset has sort of forced this.

 

[mhensley]

Wow, I don't know who's dumber in this situation- WotC for delaying the license for so long and pushing Paizo in this direction or Paizo for actually doing their own game. If I said Paizo to anyone in my group they would say "bless you". Outside of the hardcore D&D crowd who haunt messageboards, they have little name recognition. Plus how many people said they don't want to upgrade from 3.5 or 3.0? Why would they want to buy yet more rulebooks for what is essentially a minor rules update? I have all the 3.5 stuff I need to last me for several years if I wanted to continue playing 3.5. I certainly don't want to buy another set of core rulebooks for it. Maybe when my rulebooks wear out... in another 5-10 years. Plus they have to compete against all the other D&D clones out there, not just 4e. Good luck to them, they're going to need it.

 

[trancejeremy]

Cool! Shoot your feedback over to the Paizo site. That's the awesome thing about an open beta playtest. Your opinions matter! Rock!

I've been trying to, actually, but their boards are sloooooow. Even slower than here. Guess everyone's downloading the PDF...

 

[DaveMage]

I'll bet that somewhere, Ryan Dancey is smiling.

 

[Kryndal Levik]

I'm unbelievably thrilled by this news- more so than I would have thought. I'm looking forward to playing in Paizo's sandbox for a long time to come.

 

[CaptainChaos]

Can you blame them, though?

WotC taking so long to get 3rd Parties into the 4E ruleset has sort of forced this.

Yeah, the whole OGL situation has become a train wreck.

 

[stonegod]

WotC taking so long to get 3rd Parties into the 4E ruleset has sort of forced this.

It forced them to commit AP 3 to 3.5. It did not force them to do this. This seems to be a calculated business decision where they attempt to play both sides: Pro 3.5 (Paizo) and Pro 4E (Necro).

Its a gutsy move, and it will be an interesting experiment to see develop. I will be curious to see how things develop in 2-3 yrs time from here.

 

[Nellisir]

I love this idea. I'm a big fan of the OGL; I'm not wholly dissatisfied with 3.5; and 4e hasn't been thrilling me. I think WotC dropped the ball big time by sitting on the GSL, and I'll expect to see Paizo eventually develop their own version of the d20 license to let other companies that are 4e-reluctant support the Pathfinder line instead.

And with a projected release date of late 2009, Paizo has time to switch gears if 4e takes off; heck they might even save the $5000!