Aberzanzorax
Hero
They aren't.
Take a deep breath and read what I'm about to say, please.
Paizo fans are often seen as fanboys. "Fans" of WotC range from fanboys to critics, to lots in the middle, and seem to exemplify nerdrage (both for and against) their favorite WotC edition.
Why is this?
My theory, which was developed based upon the recent events of Monte leaving WotC and the hamhanded use of "hey, here's a playtest!" along with some unusual blips of unknown questions regarding reprints of 3.5 on Barnes and Noble, is communication.
Paizo fans, when they (rarely) feel left in the dark...go and ask someone at Paizo what they're doing...and usually get an answer, or if not an answer, get a "sorta answer" of "we can't tell you, but will release the info soon".
WotC fans, when they (often) feel left in the dark...go and ask someone at WotC what they're doing...and usually don't get an answer. With no answer the other options are ugly comments to pressure WotC into doing something (either give an answer or in some way address the confusion) or rampant speculation, which generally is akin to poking a hornet's nest.
I'm still befuddled why WotC remains so fantastically close lipped about just about EVERYTHING they do or don't do.
Some may say "they're damned if the do, and damned if they don't" whatever it is they say. To that I'd respond that they might be damned either way, but if they say SOMETHING then people will rage/accept it and then move on.
E.G. What's going on with the 3.5 reprints? That's a pretty nonsensitive issue, I'd think. Why not share what is going on...or if they can't do that, at least let us know "we may reprint them in the future, but don't read into that, that was an error."
In short, Paizo fans aren't better than WotC fans....but they have a lot more communication...they aren't handed a rope by the company they admire with which to hang themselves.
Finally, please note that I was a big fan of 3e and I think WotC was guilty of this then as well. This is not an edition issue...it's a longstanding company issue that I think they really need to look in the mirror about.
Please, WotC...you're turning your own fans into monsters. You want an edition that unites them? Maybe you need to unite them by stopping your practice of dividing them through noncommunication, rampant speculation, and aggressive information seeking.
I know that I'm much more aggressive (one of these monsters) when attempting to understand one company than another.
In case anyone missed it...I'm not saying WotC is evil. I'm saying their failure to communicate is something they need to address. I think that it causes more division than the editions themselves (just look at the division between the 4e players and the 4e essentials crowd on their own forums--that was the SAME edition, and WotC's unclear path led to a lot of people being unsure what to buy, what to play, and where to go).
Anticipation of fear is greater than almost every fearful reality. Fan behavior is not based upon the fans...it is a reflection on how the company interacts with/treats its fans.
Take a deep breath and read what I'm about to say, please.
Paizo fans are often seen as fanboys. "Fans" of WotC range from fanboys to critics, to lots in the middle, and seem to exemplify nerdrage (both for and against) their favorite WotC edition.
Why is this?
My theory, which was developed based upon the recent events of Monte leaving WotC and the hamhanded use of "hey, here's a playtest!" along with some unusual blips of unknown questions regarding reprints of 3.5 on Barnes and Noble, is communication.
Paizo fans, when they (rarely) feel left in the dark...go and ask someone at Paizo what they're doing...and usually get an answer, or if not an answer, get a "sorta answer" of "we can't tell you, but will release the info soon".
WotC fans, when they (often) feel left in the dark...go and ask someone at WotC what they're doing...and usually don't get an answer. With no answer the other options are ugly comments to pressure WotC into doing something (either give an answer or in some way address the confusion) or rampant speculation, which generally is akin to poking a hornet's nest.
I'm still befuddled why WotC remains so fantastically close lipped about just about EVERYTHING they do or don't do.
Some may say "they're damned if the do, and damned if they don't" whatever it is they say. To that I'd respond that they might be damned either way, but if they say SOMETHING then people will rage/accept it and then move on.
E.G. What's going on with the 3.5 reprints? That's a pretty nonsensitive issue, I'd think. Why not share what is going on...or if they can't do that, at least let us know "we may reprint them in the future, but don't read into that, that was an error."
In short, Paizo fans aren't better than WotC fans....but they have a lot more communication...they aren't handed a rope by the company they admire with which to hang themselves.
Finally, please note that I was a big fan of 3e and I think WotC was guilty of this then as well. This is not an edition issue...it's a longstanding company issue that I think they really need to look in the mirror about.
Please, WotC...you're turning your own fans into monsters. You want an edition that unites them? Maybe you need to unite them by stopping your practice of dividing them through noncommunication, rampant speculation, and aggressive information seeking.
I know that I'm much more aggressive (one of these monsters) when attempting to understand one company than another.
In case anyone missed it...I'm not saying WotC is evil. I'm saying their failure to communicate is something they need to address. I think that it causes more division than the editions themselves (just look at the division between the 4e players and the 4e essentials crowd on their own forums--that was the SAME edition, and WotC's unclear path led to a lot of people being unsure what to buy, what to play, and where to go).
Anticipation of fear is greater than almost every fearful reality. Fan behavior is not based upon the fans...it is a reflection on how the company interacts with/treats its fans.
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