Pathfinder 1E Pramas on Paizo

[TerraDave]

Note: this is clearly in the context of "reaction to 4E".

From his blog.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Question Answered
Six weeks ago I posted this:

"I think the big question is whether any of the prominent third party publishers will decide to just skip 4E and the GSL and continue to publish 3.5 material. I think Paizo is best positioned to pull this off but it would be a gamble for sure."

Paizo announced today that they are taking that gamble. They will continue to publish under the 3.5 rules and are beginning an open playtest to lead up their own core rulebook based on those rules for August, 2009. This is a ballsy decision and I have to salute Erik Mona and company for rolling the dice. I think they are approaching this in the right way too. They are not trying to put out new rulebooks in the face of 4E. Instead they are doing what WotC did not: conducting a long open playtest. They are also making backward compatibility a big goal, so folks can continue to use their large library of 3.5 material with Paizo's new stuff.

I'm sure that some fans will think this is a foolish move on Paizo's part. How do you fight against the 800 lb. gorilla after all? Here's the thing: they don't have to. If Paizo can peel off even 20,000 current D&D fans and make them Pathfinder fans, that's a great business for a company of Paizo's size. WotC is likely going to lose at least that number of fans anyway, so at the end of the day I doubt it'll really affect 4E. I can easily envision 4E and Pathfinder both being successful for their parent companies.

Less good for WotC are the PR implications of this announcement. Third party companies have been waiting and waiting to see the new Game System License and here is a major player in the field saying, "Sorry, can't wait any more." If WotC is going to support third party publishing, they really want companies like Paizo as allies. Now Paizo is still Necromancer Games' publisher and Necro says they are going 4E regardless, so if the GSL allows it Paizo will be publishing 4E books as well. That really can't mask the shock waves this is likely to send throughout the world of third party publishing. Interesting times.

For the record Green Ronin's position remains the same: we'd like to see the GSL before making any decisions.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Would Green Ronin consider using the Pathfinder rules if there was an open license? Or will Green Ronin stick with True20?

I think either way is good for the gaming community, but it would give greater weight and credence to Pathfinder for another big third party company to jump on board too. If not, True20 is another great alternative.

The winner here: the fans. Having a choice is great, and gamers can choose the system that best works for them.

 

[Crothian]

The winner here: the fans. Having a choice is great, and gamers can choose the system that best works for them.

Well, it could just as easily split groups if one person wants Pathfinder, one wants true 20, and one wants 4e. As we've seen from the threads in these games there are gamers who will only want to play one of those and this could fracture the D&D population a bit.

 

[TerraDave]

They have already made freeport "rules neutral", with both True 20 and D20 support products (They have also already sold out of the D20 freeport companion, which could be used with the PFRG).

I guess they could also do one or more for 4E, essentially supporting all three. (And I think they have mentioned doing others, savage worlds?)

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Well, it could just as easily split groups if one person wants Pathfinder, one wants true 20, and one wants 4e. As we've seen from the threads in these games there are gamers who will only want to play one of those and this could fracture the D&D population a bit.

Most importantly is keeping an open mind, since after all, the system you use is less important than the story. Some systems support a story much better than others do.

So lastly it all comes down to: you play, whatever system your DM is most comfortable with... if you don´t like that, find a different DM or take over his place...

 

[Shroomy]

I pretty much agree with everything Chris Pramas says in his blog post; this doesn't spell economic doom for 4e or WotC (I'm sure their market research said they'd lose a certain percentage of their current customer base anyways), but it is a PRI hit (to everyone who pays attention to messageboards and 3rd party companies, which is probably not the majority of gamers). I'm not sure that they will support Pathfinder since they have both True 20, M&M, and Song of Fire and Ice to support (assuming they also dabble in 4e). That's a lot of stuff. I can see them perhaps doing some online conversions of their existing d20 stuff compiled in a .pdf to be used in Pathfinder.

 

[Dragonblade]

I can't imagine GR specifically supporting Pathfinder when they have True20, their own house system. If they want to make 3.5 stuff, they can just use the SRD and make their own 3.5 compatible stuff without worrying about what Paizo is doing. If Pathfinder ends up being as backwards compatible as Paizo claims, then there shouldn't be a problem.

More than likely they will make system neutral, True20, or 4e products. Probably a mix of all three.

 

[DaveMage]

Wouldn't surprise me to see a Pathfinder Freeport Companion book one day, but then again, it depends how close the final product is to 3.5. No need to do another one if the 3.5 one works just as well. (Although if it's out of print, then....anything goes.)

 

[seskis281]

They have already made freeport "rules neutral", with both True 20 and D20 support products (They have also already sold out of the D20 freeport companion, which could be used with the PFRG).

I guess they could also do one or more for 4E, essentially supporting all three. (And I think they have mentioned doing others, savage worlds?)

GR has also said Freeport will be released for C&C, so they're obviously looking at the market as far more completely fractured already...

I wouldn't be surprised if what he says about the ripples through the third-publishers continues beyond Paizo.

 

[Dragonhelm]

Well, it could just as easily split groups if one person wants Pathfinder, one wants true 20, and one wants 4e. As we've seen from the threads in these games there are gamers who will only want to play one of those and this could fracture the D&D population a bit.

The solution is simple. The three individuals take turns DMing. The group plays Pathfinder for a while, then switches to True20, then to 4e. Problem solved.