Pathfinder 1E Things you Think WoTC should follow from Paizo

[xechnao]

GURPS would fall in your description

The problem I see with Gurps is that it is bogged down with "isms" for the general public and when it comes to the established gamers, the source -read: the specialized D&Dlike game for their preferred genre and style- remains a better fit. The stats and the system Gurps uses are a modified version of what was developed for more abstract wargames -which may be a reasonably good enough fit for rpgs of the superfantasy genre- but it still fails to optimally connect to the generic casual public.

So for me, we are still not there yet.

Interestingly, you said you think that WotC should do the opposite of Paizo. But now you are advocating players look to themselves for "building of worlds" and "custom modding". If that is the opposite of anyone it is the opposite of WotC and their current "points of light" and absolute minimal prep time design philosophy for 4E.

I think it is a matter of comprehension and connection to the game system or toolset for the tabletop adventuring. Helping preparation time in terms of adventure design for gameplay is mostly welcome. 4e as a system is mostly focused on minis combat and I am not favorable of this. PoL seems to be a world style description to excuse the lifestyle of 4e PCs. Yeah, I do not think that Wotc should be trying to pass to the more open market something that focused for what tabletop rpgs are about.

 

[kenmarable]

Speaking of your want for PS, Colin McComb just wrote a planar module set within Golarion's cosmology.

Awesome! I've been meaning to catch up on some of the latest modules.

I'm just glad they didn't use that hack who writes most of Paizo's planar stuff. What was his name again?

Just kidding, of course!

 

[BryonD]

The problem I see with Gurps is ...

Well, now you've changed topic from goal to quality of progress toward that goal. And that is far enough off topic to leave it there.

 

[Rechan]

In general I just wish WotC showed more respect for the history of D&D.

What does this even mean?

Does WotC need a shrine to EGG?

 

[delericho]

It's a tricky question. Paizo have a certain formula of adventures, setting and support product that obviously work very well for them, but which probably wouldn't work for a company the size of WotC. Even the relative accessibility of the Paizo guys on their forum is not something WotC could really emulate - they just have too many fans for it to work.

I do think WotC could be a bit friendlier, and a bit less "blundering ogre" at times - even if we assume there was no malice behind the cancelling of the print mags, the end of the licenses, the rougher edges of the anti-3e marketing, and the sudden pulling of the PDFs, these could all have been handled better.

Other than that, it's hard to say. Personally, I think WotC are publishing about the right mix of product (although I would definately prefer the magazines in print). As for the quality, that is inherently subjective. Perhaps more important, since I decided 4e wasn't for me I can't really comment .

 

[Rechan]

I do think WotC could be a bit friendlier, and a bit less "blundering ogre" at times - even if we assume there was no malice behind the cancelling of the print mags, the end of the licenses, the rougher edges of the anti-3e marketing, and the sudden pulling of the PDFs, these could all have been handled better.

This gets a chuckle out of me.

A month or so ago, I had lunch with a designer from WotC, and he told me that a week beforehand, he had just came from Mona's house where they all sat around playing boardgames for 9 hours.

The cut throat conspiracies he said are all in the minds of the fans; Seattle's gaming industry is a small one, where many of your freelancers and 3rd party guys are ex-WotC employees. Everyone are friends, they attend one another's barbaques, and play games together.

 

[DaveMage]

XRP invited me over to game and they feed me homemade food made from that garden of theirs. So, no making fun of the vegetables!

Oh, no - I have nothing but respect for those able to grow their own food. Plants hate me.

 

[ProfessorCirno]

This gets a chuckle out of me.

A month or so ago, I had lunch with a designer from WotC, and he told me that a week beforehand, he had just came from Mona's house where they all sat around playing boardgames for 9 hours.

The cut throat conspiracies he said are all in the minds of the fans; Seattle's gaming industry is a small one, where many of your freelancers and 3rd party guys are ex-WotC employees. Everyone are friends, they attend one another's barbaques, and play games together.

Delericho's point still stands though - regardless of any level of malice or feelings behind the actions, they were all very poorly handled and only contributed to negative feelings towards WotC.

 

[Bumbles]

Does WotC need a shrine to EGG?

Yes, and it must have Dancing Girls.

 

[Hjorimir]

Delericho's point still stands though - regardless of any level of malice or feelings behind the actions, they were all very poorly handled and only contributed to negative feelings towards WotC.

I'm curious, what would you have done differently in the cancelling of the print magazines? Or the licences? Or in pulling the PDFs?