Yay!
That is great news!

Monte - how's that 'retirement' thing treating you? ;)

Monte Cook Joins the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game™ Team

Co-creator of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons® to act as Rules Consultant

May 12, 2008 (BELLEVUE, Wash.) – Paizo Publishing®, LLC today announced that Monte Cook, the co-creator of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons and author of the 3.5 PHB and DMG as well as the Ptolus™ campaign setting and the recent Book of Experimental Might™, has joined the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game team as a Rules Consultant.

"This is going to be a lot of fun," said Monte Cook. "Pathfinder is a fresh spin on a rules system that I love and the guys at Paizo are great to work with. They produce nothing but the highest quality products."

"Monte Cook is a legend of third edition and of the Open Gaming movement," said Paizo’s Publisher, Erik Mona. "He’s also a great DM, and has the best mind for mechanics I’ve ever seen. To have one of the original third edition designers helping us with the Pathfinder RPG is like a dream come true. With Monte’s involvement, I am certain that the future of the edition he helped to create will be very long and very fruitful."

"I am really excited to be working with Monte on this project," said Paizo’s Lead Designer, Jason Bulmahn. "His advice has been a great help to the Pathfinder RPG. When it comes to rules design and knowledge of the 3.5 system, there is absolutely no one better."

Monte Cook will also be contributing an introduction to the final Pathfinder Roleplaying Game hardcover, scheduled for an August 2009 release.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is a tabletop fantasy roleplaying game that will serve as the anchor for Paizo Publishing’s popular line of Pathfinder adventures, sourcebooks, and campaigns. Last March marked the beginning of a year-long Open Playtest of the new rules, which are based on the popular 3.5 rules available under the Open Game License. The Pathfinder RPG is designed with backward compatibility as one of its primary goals, so players will continue to enjoy their lifelong fantasy gaming hobby without...

...without buying the crappy 4.0 ed. I am sold now. Monte has taken D&D 3.0 & 3.5 to new heights, and now it will just continue on. D&D 3.75 will rule.

Considering the Hardcover Setting has Ed Greenwood, RA Salvatore, and Keith Baker working on it, and now Monte Cook on the Pathfinder RPG...

...Yeah, I'm pretty satisfied with the lineup going on here. :D

QFT

Now if only Ryan Dancey can help out with the license.

Good gravy!! I think coup has just been counted!

Mosaic wrote:

Great news. I think Paizo may have EVERYONE I think is cool working on this now.

Considering the Hardcover Setting has Ed Greenwood, RA Salvatore, and Keith Baker working on it, and now Monte Cook on the Pathfinder RPG...

...Yeah, I'm pretty satisfied with the lineup going on here. :D

So is Pathfinder now the official "We all used to work for WotC and/or TSR until they ticked us off, now we're doing this" book? It sounds more and more like everyone in the industry not working for WotC or Green Ronin is writing at least some piece of Pathfinder.

Welcome aboard Monte. Thanks for "retiring" in time to pick up a new hobby. :P

The bar just went up another step and we all get to reap the rewards of this transaction, welcome aboard Monte.

It sounds more and more like everyone in the industry not working for WotC or Green Ronin is writing at least some piece of Pathfinder.

And this is a bad thing? :P

Another big catch for Paizo!!!!

And this is a bad thing? :P

It is if you're WotC. :)

Wow, I could not be happier to hear this news. This is fantastic! I really feel thios will take a very good game to great!

I think that there can be no doubt now that this will be the true successor to D&D 3.5

I'm really looking forward to the final product. And as amazing as I think Monte Cook is, you have good ideas too, Jason. Don't forget who's boss. He's a great designer, but he has to be reigned in sometimes... Just like the rest of us on the boards.

Monte Cook Joins the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game™ Team

Co-creator of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons® to act as Rules Consultant

May 12, 2008 (BELLEVUE, Wash.) – Paizo Publishing®, LLC today announced that Monte Cook, the co-creator of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons and author of the 3.5 PHB and DMG as well as the Ptolus™ campaign setting and the recent Book of Experimental Might™, has joined the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game team as a Rules Consultant.

This...is a pleasant surprise.

One thing immediately comes to mind, though:
Will Mr. Cook's participation delay the release of the beta and final version of the Pathfinder RPG?

Otherwise, welcome aboard, Mr. Cook. :)

Wonderful news!

I was wondering how to mix up Pathfinder and Experimental Might, but this might not even be necessary if some of Monte's touch is added to Pathfinder.

That made my day!

<<checks calendar ... Not April 1st. ... Checks calendar again ... Still not April 1st>>

This is for real? SQUEEE!

Oh! So that's what a geekgasm feels like. I thought those were just made up.

Paizo, your depthless talent and ongoing competence in most matters disgusts me. Shame on you.

Yay Paizo. ;)

Mosaic wrote:

Great news. I think Paizo may have EVERYONE I think is cool working on this now.

Considering the Hardcover Setting has Ed Greenwood, RA Salvatore, and Keith Baker working on it

I did not realize that at all - is there a link where I could confirm that? If true, I am really happy to see the Pathfinder RPG gather such momentum!

Mosaic wrote:

Great news. I think Paizo may have EVERYONE I think is cool working on this now.

Considering the Hardcover Setting has Ed Greenwood, RA Salvatore, and Keith Baker working on it, and now Monte Cook on the Pathfinder RPG...

*blinks*

Umm Ed, Bob, and Keith doing the Campaign Setting? When.. where.. how'd I miss that?

Great news. I think Paizo may have EVERYONE I think is cool working on this now. Pathfinder seems to be gaining phenomenal momentum. You should all be really proud of what you've begun here. And thanks for letting us as participate.

Exactly my thoughts! Great news! Let the Golden Age begin!!! :)

Outstanding news, guys. I guess Monte's retreat from the RPG industry is going slower than he hoped. :)

Good for us, though.

Lilith wrote:

Mosaic wrote:

Great news. I think Paizo may have EVERYONE I think is cool working on this now.

Considering the Hardcover Setting has Ed Greenwood, RA Salvatore, and Keith Baker working on it, and now Monte Cook on the Pathfinder RPG...

*blinks*

Umm Ed, Bob, and Keith doing the Campaign Setting? When.. where.. how'd I miss that?

Same here. Are you referring to the Forgotten Realms, Lilith?

Oh it's on!

When I first heard about 3.PF, I specifically went to Monte's site to see if he had posted a reaction, and was disappointed he hadn't.

I am so excited for the Pathfinder RPG now it's not even funny. It's going to be old-school in the best possible way.

Awesome news. It totally made my day!

Same here. Are you referring to the Forgotten Realms, Lilith?

No she's not...

I haven't found the post yet, but I've known it for a while. McArtor pulled out the stops when he set the line-up for the HB Campaign setting.

You noticed Mike McArtor is no longer an 'Associate Editor' didn't you? ;) They dropped the Associate.

Wow, this is excellent. Please bring in the feats from BoXM I and II, the fighting domains, and the 20-level spell system. We've been using the BoXM spell progression for a month now, and it is simply great. And backward compatable with no work on the part of the DM...

This is great news - until your post confirmed it, I wasn't sure whether it is a true rumor or not, but now that it is confirmed I am very happy.

When its a news item posted by the Director of Sales & Marketing, you can trust that it's not a rumor. :-)

Roman wrote:

This is great news - until your post confirmed it, I wasn't sure whether it is a true rumor or not, but now that it is confirmed I am very happy.

When its a news item posted by the Director of Sales & Marketing, you can trust that it's not a rumor. :-)

Ahh, sorry - I did not notice the company tag by your name and am relatively new to the Paizo boards, so I don't know all of you guys by name yet. But yes, you are correct... please accept my appologies!

I'm pretty sure I'd read somewhere that Monte felt like his time as an RPG designer was winding down. If thats true I'm doubly happy that he found a project to keep him excited in product development. MC is one of my favorite designers, from AE to the CoC book he did at Wizards, if there was any question about whether or not Paizo had become the true home for D&D, its answered now.

I always found the timing of Monte's "withdrawal:" from RPG and WoTC in particular just before WoTC's decison to not renew Paizo's license for Dungeon and Dragon mags and only 2-3 months before the big 4e annoucement ot be quite telling.

My belief is that he was as disgusted with WoTC's attitude towards its 3.5 customers and the lack of backwards compatibility in 4e as we all are. He decided to hang his hat for a while.

But with PAIZO taking on Hasbro for the soul of DnD - I guess he heard the call of destiny.

Roman wrote:

This is great news - until your post confirmed it, I wasn't sure whether it is a true rumor or not, but now that it is confirmed I am very happy.

When its a news item posted by the Director of Sales & Marketing, you can trust that it's not a rumor. :-)

Sorry, but I've worked in marketing and with sales. Rumours are often more reliable than the people who do either. ;-)

joela wrote:

Same here. Are you referring to the Forgotten Realms, Lilith?

No she's not...

I haven't found the post yet, but I've known it for a while. McArtor pulled out the stops when he set the line-up for the HB Campaign setting.

You noticed Mike McArtor is no longer an 'Associate Editor' didn't you? ;) They dropped the Associate.

It's in this thread.

When its a news item posted by the Director of Sales & Marketing, you can trust that it's not a rumor. :-)

Ah ha! It's just hype then. ;)

Wow, this is excellent. Please bring in the feats from BoXM I and II, the fighting domains, and the 20-level spell system. We've been using the BoXM spell progression for a month now, and it is simply great. And backward compatable with no work on the part of the DM...

I would love to see the 20-level spell system brought over, too. I love the idea, and it's much more backward compatible then it sounds. It might give the guys more flexibility in tinkering with all those broken spells too. :)

Now can we get print copies of BOXM I & II at the Paizo store? Please? :)

WOW! Monte Cook + Pathfinder RPG!!

Greatest news since the PRPG announcement with the Alpha Release and Nic Logue as coordinator of organized play.
Then we have also Ed Greenwood writing a bit of the Pathfinder setting coming out this August, IIRC.

Paizo, you're spoiling us. Keep going.

I am currently working with Monte on the inclusion of some of his rules into the Pathfinder RPG. More to come soon. If you want a preview, pick up BoEM and its sequel.

Woo Hoo. Good Times

I think I've just had a nerdgasm. The BoEM (I+II) is really really good stuff.

Wow I remember when it took a day or two for even the hottest topics to reach two pages, Pathfinder's forums have exploded, and with constantly awesome news like this it's not surprising.

Welcome Monte, this just proves more and more that Pathfinder is going to be the real D&D no matter what Wizards says.

At the rate that good news is coming out about the progress of PRPG, by the time the final book is out in 2009 I can't imagine how awesome it will be. Keep the great news coming!

Paizo has found a way to top the original Pathfinder announcement!

Monte's name on the project draws in more resources, more buyers, and more respect.

Congratulations, team! Keep up the good work!

EDIT: Does this mean Monte will be appearing on the forums?

HOLY %$#@

*faints*

*regains conciousness*

Monte is the Man!!

For all the fans of 4th edition who feel sorry for Paizo's "big mistake" to not go 4th edition..I wonder what they are saying now?

Pathfinder is more and more shaping up to the be the true successor to D&D after 3.5.

Great!

I am happy to see so much talent coming together for Pathfinder RPG.

Sorry, I might get flamed, but the reason I am interested in Pathfinder is because it looks like 3.5. I agree with Monte on most of his criticisms of 3.5 and would like to see them roll back on those things back to 3.0, but I want this to look like D&D as much as possible. If it changes to 20 spell levels or any of that other stuff then I might as well be playing a different game, 4e for example, which I do not want to do and I will just go back to my own homebrew.

Now can we get print copies of BOXM I & II at the Paizo store? Please? :)

Working on it... :)

-Lisa

I would love to see the 20-level spell system brought over, too. I love the idea, and it's much more backward compatible then it sounds. It might give the guys more flexibility in tinkering with all those broken spells too. :)

How is it compatible with the Spell Compendium and all the other non-PHB or non-OGL spells? Last time I checked, it wasn't very friendly to spells from other sources.

In any case, I prefer 1-9.

Sorry, I might get flamed, but the reason I am interested in Pathfinder is because it looks like 3.5. I agree with Monte on most of his criticisms of 3.5 and would like to see them roll back on those things back to 3.0, but I want this to look like D&D as much as possible. If it changes to 20 spell levels or any of that other stuff then I might as well be playing a different game, 4e for example, which I do not want to do and I will just go back to my own homebrew.

We will not be changing to 20 spell levels.

--Erik

Well, to be honest folks, I do not think we will be incorporating the 20 level spell system (its too damaging to backwards compatibility imo). There are some things that Monte is doing that I really like that will not fit into the design goals for the PFRPG. That said, he has published some of these great rules in BoXM and BoXM2, and they are just as compatible with the PFRPG as they are with 3.5.

Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing

We will not be changing to 20 spell levels.

Good. Sorry Monte, but that reorginizing the spells isn't one of my favorite things. But I am glad you're on the team.

Lots of people tend to forget that Pathfinder RPG is a replacement of the PHB and DMG. You're supposed to be able to take any 3.5 book and use it with 3P with very little conversion work.

If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

If you want to stop using your 3.5 stuff, play 4E.

WOW!

And here I thought that Monte was giving up game design. He just keeps coming back :)

Awesome news!

On second thought, this is REALLY, REALLY AWESOME news!

August 2009 will not come soon enough!

Epic win.

This has made me a very happy man.

Lots of people tend to forget that Pathfinder RPG is a replacement of the PHB and DMG. You're supposed to be able to take any 3.5 book and use it with 3P with very little conversion work.

If it isn't broken, don't fix it.

If you want to stop using your 3.5 stuff, play 4E.

That's a little harsh. I like the Experimental Might books, which provide alternatives to use with the 3.5 rules. My super casual suggestion to use one of those alternatives hardly means I "want to stop using my 3.5 stuff", and play 4e instead.

Well, too be honest folks, I do not think we will be incorporating the 20 level spell system (its too damaging to backwards compatibility imo). There are some things that Monte is doing that I really like that will not fit into the design goals for the PFRPG. That said, he has published some of these great rules in BoXM and BoXM2, and they are just as compatible with the PFRPG as they are with 3.5.

Yeah, I understand. It was just an off-hand remark. No playtesting went into it. :) Not everything awesome is also compatible. I'm sure the final product will rock, regardless.