Pathfinder 1E WotC desperately needs to learn from Paizo and Privateer Press

[samursus]

Generally I agree with the OP's points, but to a lesser degree... like Jack99 I wish they had included descriptions in the MM's. There are many newish creatures (to me anyways) and variations within species that don't have illustrations. I also agree that tons of fluff makes for nice reading, but isn't as useful these days, what with settings incorporating traditional "baddies" like orcs/goblins/hobgoblins into mainstream races....

On the topic of Adventures, I would agree they seem to lack...something, but after reading others points of view I can see legitimate reasons for why they are done the way they are. Every group has different needs and desires re: adventures... I for one loved the 3e Sunless Citadel et al Adventure path... though we only made it to the Standing Stone (I think thats what it was called).

My desire for adventure paths is met with ENWorlds own WotBS... an I hope, hope they do another AP.

 

[Garmorn]

Not for me. Having the stats is great, but sometimes I want the fluff and backstory as well. There have been some really cool ideas as 4e starts to mature.

This is true for me as well.

As far as smaller companies are concerned. They are normally aimed at a small more uniform set of expectations. While WotC has it default setting, many of the smaller ones have a single well supported setting. This allows more 'fluff' v.s the more generic rules set that WotC must put out. Their market is more fragmented if for no other reason than its size.

 

[MrMyth]

WotC adventures could use some work, but I like some of them. And they seem to be getting better.

I like the WotC MMs. There is lots of solid content and fluff in them. And I like their settings as well - the Eberron setting book was fantastic, and I'm definitely looking forward to Dark Sun.

I think there are areas of improvement, but I don't think there is any desperate need on their part to overhaul their entire process.

 

[Crothian]

Did anyone like the 3e modules that went from 1-20?

Yes, they were good but they didn't fully go from 1-20. you needed to do more then the 8 modules to get there.

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Did anyone like the 3e modules that went from 1-20?

All of them? No. But I liked Sunless Citadel, Forge of Fury, and Speaker in Dreams.

 

[Riley]

Did anyone like the 3e modules that went from 1-20?

All of them? No. But I liked Sunless Citadel, Forge of Fury, and Speaker in Dreams.

Ditto, I like those a lot. I'm actually in the process of running the first two for 4e. I don't much care for the higher-level 3e modules in that series, but then I rarely care much for higher level D&D. I'm looking forward to discovering whether or not 4e is better in that regard.

Oh, and there are other good WOTC 3e adventures. Red Hand of Doom is great, and Expedition to Castle Ravenloft looks good.


Sadly, while I loved Paizo's early modules and Paths, their ongoing adventures have strayed further and further from my areas of interest (I like my D&D relatively low on the sex-and-gore scale), and I've ended up canceling my subscriptions. I'm hoping their next AP will be more to my taste. Otherwise, I'll just keep working with my own ideas, and conversions of my library of old adventures.

 

[Minicol]

I

But with 4E, WotC has waded deep into a rut of mediocrity with many of their products. .

Well, I believe it started way before .... most of the second half of 3.5 certainly qualifies IMO, and I am feeling merciful tonight.

 

[Hellzon]

Worth repeating.

Did anyone like the 3e modules that went from 1-20?

(I liked Speaker of Dreams, but then that was the first module I bought. It was an urban adventure with monsters. It did it for me.)

Heh, I thought everyone agreed Sunless Citadel was a classic. I liked Speaker in Dreams too, don't know if that was the module or the DM. Forge of Fury was adequate too.

Can't speak for the rest since i moved in the middle of SID. Oh college...

 

[Dice4Hire]

Another bash-WOTC / praise-pathfinder thread.

yawn

Frankly I put these kinds of thread up with edition war ones in terms of desirability.

WOTC and Paizo and whatever other companies have different styles. They attract people with different play styles and product expectations. I do not bash pathfinder, but I do ignore it after seeing where it was going with one of the free pre-releases. It is not for me. But it apparently is for enough people to make Paizo quite happy. Good for them.

 

[Umbran]

Another bash-WOTC / praise-pathfinder thread.

yawn

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