Over at RPG Blog 2, I was able to get Lead Designer for Pathfinder, Jason Bulmahn, to answer a few questions. Click here, as he tackles the origins of the Pathfinder RPG, a peek at the Pathfinder Bestiary, design philosophies, changes from 3.5, keeping up enthusiasm until August, life at Paizo after the magazines licenses were pulled, and more!

Excellent interview! Thanks...

Everyone should read some of the other entries - especially the one about the SORD Plus. I love my copy!

Great stuff!

I like this part:

-ECLs and Challenge Ratings were one of the most frustrating aspects of 3.5 D&D for a large number of players. Are there plans to simplify these for easier usage in Pathfinder?

ECLs are being handled differently, as you will find out in the Bestiary, but these rules are still coming together, so I don't want to give away too much just yet. The CR system in Pathfinder is a bit simpler to use now. Instead of having to do complex math to get an encounter to the correct EL, now you can deal with it solely from the XP side of the equation, using the monster's XP value to work out the appropriate challenge for an encounter.

Thanks for sharing.

Robert

Glad you guys are enjoying these! Both James and Jason were really gracious to give their time on these and to answer all the questions as they did.

I'd like to do another Paizo interview soon as I ratchet up my Pathfinder coverage, I'm just not sure who to ask next...

Erik and Sean seem like good targets. Josh to talk about Pathfinder Society, and Lisa to give us the "bird's-eye" view on the whole thing?

Erik and Sean seem like good targets. Josh to talk about Pathfinder Society, and Lisa to give us the "bird's-eye" view on the whole thing?

Good advice! Thank you!

Erik and Sean seem like good targets. Josh to talk about Pathfinder Society, and Lisa to give us the "bird's-eye" view on the whole thing?

Or Sutter to get the skinny on the upcoming novels line.

I'm just not sure who to ask next...

Interview the great Mastermind behind the whole operation: Lisa Stevens.

Interview the mastermind! I want to hear more from She Who Controls Paizo!

Thanks for another good interview!

Awesome news...that was a great interview...I'm really excited to find out what the final classes are like, I'm hoping the new monk will be the first teaser class we get on the Blogs before the release...

Awesome news...that was a great interview...I'm really excited to find out what the final classes are like, I'm hoping the new monk will be the first teaser class we get on the Blogs before the release...

I'd like to see Monk and Barbarian. I'm most curious about those two. Bard's my fave class, though, so I'd like to see any tweaks there as well.

I am most interested in the "suite of fun rage powers" the barbarian class employs and how they will work in the game. Does anyone know where I can go to see what direction this is taking?

I just rolled up a barbarian using the layout draft of the final rulebook this evening, so I can probably answer some questions about this. Lots of really cool rage powers. I ended up taking Endurance and Die-Hard for my first-level feat choices, which means I can "stay up" through -19 hp when I'm raging!

I have never played a barbarian PC before in any edition of D&D other than one-offs, so I am really excited by some of the new rules.

I just rolled up a barbarian using the layout draft of the final rulebook this evening, so I can probably answer some questions about this. Lots of really cool rage powers. I ended up taking Endurance and Die-Hard for my first-level feat choices, which means I can "stay up" through -19 hp when I'm raging!

I have never played a barbarian PC before in any edition of D&D other than one-offs, so I am really excited by some of the new rules.

Ok, this sounds pretty awesome! I've never played a barbarian either, but now I really want to, just from these little tease...er... preview.

I just rolled up a barbarian using the layout draft of the final rulebook this evening, so I can probably answer some questions about this. Lots of really cool rage powers. I ended up taking Endurance and Die-Hard for my first-level feat choices, which means I can "stay up" through -19 hp when I'm raging!

I have never played a barbarian PC before in any edition of D&D other than one-offs, so I am really excited by some of the new rules.

Are the rage powers going to:

bumpt

bumpt

I doubt you are going to get Erik to give you any of the info you want Charlie. We will be releasing previews starting in May and going up to the launch date. Whether the barbarian rage powers are in those previews remains to be seen, but I doubt Erik will be spilling all the beans in a messageboard thread. That kind of spillage will be happening in the Paizo Blog.

-Lisa

>=D

That kind of spillage will be happening in the Paizo Blog.

-Lisa

Ewww.

For those that have asked, yup, I have another interview lined up! You'll have to wait and see on who it is (hint: not Seoni. I was crushed when I was informed she wasn't available for interviews. Or an actual Paizo staff member. Or an actual real person. O cruel disillusion!). :)

The rage powers do not work exactly the same way that they do in the Beta, in that there are no more "rage points". Instead you have a certain number of rounds during which you can rage, and a number of powers you can use while raging. You get access to more rage powers as a class ability tied to your level.

The rage powers do not work exactly the same way that they do in the Beta, in that there are no more "rage points". Instead you have a certain number of rounds during which you can rage, and a number of powers you can use while raging. You get access to more rage powers as a class ability tied to your level.

Spoiler!

I am tellin mom!!!

Jason

Um, I believe this has been discussed in the design forum...

Um, I believe this has been discussed in the design forum...

Oh.. I know.. I just wanted to make a scene.

Jason

Erik Mona wrote:

Um, I believe this has been discussed in the design forum...

Oh.. I know.. I just wanted to make a scene.

Jason

drama queen ;-)

Spoiler!

I am tellin mom!!!

Lisa's name is "mom" there?!?!

Uh, no.

Jason Bulmahn wrote:

Spoiler!

I am tellin mom!!!

Lisa's name is "mom" there?!?!

That's what they call Sean.

yeah well, who is dad?

yeah well, who is dad?

James, of course :)

This thread is starting to creep me out.

Jason

This thread is starting to creep me out.

Jason

Don't worry. It'll get worse...er...better.

Crimson Jester wrote:

yeah well, who is dad?

James, of course :)

I thought it would be Vic. IIRC, Lisa owns the largest stake of the company while Vic owns the 2nd largest stake.

I thought it would be Vic. IIRC, Lisa owns the largest stake of the company while Vic owns the 2nd largest stake.

Seriously? I thought Erik would be since he's the publisher. I thought Vic was just a regular employee or something.

DMcCoy1693 wrote:

I thought it would be Vic. IIRC, Lisa owns the largest stake of the company while Vic owns the 2nd largest stake.

Seriously? I thought Erik would be since he's the publisher. I thought Vic was just a regular employee or something.

Wow - did you really? Check out this page:

http://paizo.com/paizo/about/contact

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

But the real question is if Erik and Vic had a crazy no-holds-barred, clothing-optional fight with Lizzie Borden, Gandhi, and Smurfette, who would be the last person standing?

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

Is Technical Director like Operations or something?

>
-All the dragons (chromatic, metallic) we need are going to be in the Pathfinder Bestiary, right?

Yes, yes they are. All the giants too.
>

And the "God of Roleplaying" looked down and saw it was good...

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

But the real question is if Erik and Vic had a crazy no-holds-barred, clothing-optional fight with Lizzie Borden, Gandhi, and Smurfette, who would be the last person standing?

Vic.

For shear beardedness sake?

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

Is Technical Director like Operations or something?

Nope. Operations involves doing actual things. Technical Directing involves pointing at stuff for other people to do.

Samnell wrote:

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

But the real question is if Erik and Vic had a crazy no-holds-barred, clothing-optional fight with Lizzie Borden, Gandhi, and Smurfette, who would be the last person standing?

Vic.

Does anyone other than Lizzie get an axe?

joela wrote:

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

Vic is the Technical Director, which would make him a Big Wig in the company. I'm thinking Erik and Vic are probably on more or less equal level on the hierarchy ladder.

Is Technical Director like Operations or something?

Nope. Operations involves doing actual things. Technical Directing involves pointing at stuff for other people to do.

My girlfriend is really good at pointing at stuff and telling me what to do. She was wondering what other skills she'd need to secure a job in the Technical Direction field.

nope, she's all good.

oh, wait, I forgot... She needs to secure a huge bonus payable even when the entire company has to be bailed out by Gieger.

DMcCoy1693 wrote:

I thought it would be Vic. IIRC, Lisa owns the largest stake of the company while Vic owns the 2nd largest stake.

Seriously? I thought Erik would be since he's the publisher. I thought Vic was just a regular employee or something.

They areall the sameperson. It will be revealed at PaizoCon. Right before the entity known as Paizo-Person absorbs all the attendees into a ginormous multi-headed creature.

Right before the entity known as Paizo-Person absorbs all the attendees into a ginormous multi-headed creature.

With the guest lineup they've got, only gaming greatness can come of this osmosis.

>

-All the dragons (chromatic, metallic) we need are going to be in the Pathfinder Bestiary, right?

Yes, yes they are. All the giants too.
>

And the "God of Roleplaying" looked down and saw it was good...

It's okay, you can say 'Gary' here.