I'm not willing to suspend my disbelief enough to accept that a melee fighter, no matter how heroic, could even come close to one who bends reality with words and gestures. It's a common genre trope to have the arcane more powerful than the fighting class, with a few exceptions. Ars Magica was based on it, and I'd make the claim that early DnD was as well. That didn't make all players want to play a wizard, or feel useless as a fighter type. It wasn't until PVP type games, where this was even a discussion point in tabletop gaming.
Even in ODnD or 1st edition where this was most true, I rarely played a Mage, and I was never jealous of the power differential, rather I loved my place in the scheme of things protecting the wizards. It felt like a correct representation of what I'd read growing up.
What is it about the mere mention of a non-hetero attraction between two consenting adults that somehow crosses the line into being harmful to impressionable players/readers? Yeah, it's your home game, do what you want... but why are LGBT people automatically censored in it?
I believe it's to do with our very existence being objectionable, a regrettable fact that they prefer not to be reminded of in their fun time reading. Of course calling it an agenda is a way to stigmatize and vilify: We act from carefully-considered principles; They have the agenda.
There are certainly things I don't want in my fun time reading, but I can't say that I always want it purged of, say, homophobes. A setting where nobody ever objects to LGBT people is very nearly as bizarre and impossible to relate to (if in a more positive way) than one where LGBT people simply don't exist. It's nice for an occasional break, of course.
But really I think Paizo did a great job way back in the original Sandpoint write-up. There's a closeted gay couple that everyone in town knows about and nobody cares except one guy that has an E in his abbreviated alignment. It strains my credulity a lot that a somewhat isolated small town (like the one I live in) is that broad-minded, but I'm willing to spot that as Sandpoint is meant to endear itself to the players and it comes from a world that does not have the same obsessive sexual hangups that ours has so often suffered.
Exactly, I don't need sexuality mucking up my D&D or Pathfinder fun. It's not supposed to be part of the game. I must say that I am extremely disturbed about this little tidbit about Sandpoint. They make the one guy that isn't okay with the homosexual couple evil? That truly is bigoted. Yes, let's villify everyone that has moral objections to homosexuality. That sort of thing definitely has no place in Pathfinder.
Just stop. You've been told multiple times to knock off your hate on these forums. Go out, experience more life, and grow up. The western world is steadily getting more progressive, and inclusionary and you'll find that you're going to be on the wrong site of history, just like the bigots were during the civil rights struggles in the US during the 60s saying many of the same things you're saying now.
Paizo, thank you for simply recognizing that us gay folks aren't anything more or less than straight folks.
Plus playing more than one chara get robs a new player from a really unique part of roleplaying games: experiencing the world from the POV of a single character.
Playing an entire party becomes more boardgame, than fantasy experience. Avoid this.
We have five star GMs and Venture folks completely disagreeing, and IMO some unneeded rudeness on display.
Both Mike and Mark have chimed in on this specific issue in the past. Read the thread...people posted links to those quotes. Both Mike and Mark are on the lenient side of the fence.
I have been reading. If this is so cut and dry why so many varied GM styles?
The Bullman posted this today on his Facebook page:
"For any who might be interested.. the Mythic Playtest document got turned over to the editors yesterday. Its going to take a bit to get it ready for release, but it should be quite soon..."
My ideal is and has been a full novel featuring the excellent characters from Mother Bears
by Wendy N. Wagner. Still my favorite Pathfinder Tales web fiction, not starring Count Jeggare and Radovan.
Have you considered posting the far future rules updates (I.e. those you would still have the time to alter, if needed) to the boards as a sort of informal playtest process? That way you may be able to head some of the potential difficulties off at the pass, so to speak.
Given all the time and development staff in the world... maybe? With the demands of a monthly line's development, though, it's just not feasible. I also really wouldn't want to disappoint folks by promising X and delivering Y, as so, so, so much changes from outlining to what an author writes and then from an author's work through development (you might be shocked). Sometimes we're tinkering literally up to the day things go to print.
But you know, we're not above revision and evolving our designs and rules sets.
For example, I really like how the squires in Knights turned out, so much so that we're going to take an upcoming opportunity to do something related for another book in this line (hint, it's the Dungeoneer's Handbook). But you can bet we're going to take what we learned here and use it that next thing.
Monthly product lines can totally be killers and lock us into an endless "Go, go, go!" pace, but they also mean that the next thing comes fast. It makes it easy--especially with a line as flexible as the Player Companion--to experiment. Things folks like can make it into upcoming outlines speedily, while things folks don't can be excised even faster.
So keep talking, folks. We're listening and it's our job to make these even better every time.
Totally understandable, and when I asked I knew it was a bit Iike grabbing smoke.
But a question unasked, is an opportunity stillborn. :)
Just google up Perram's Spellbook and enjoy. A print compendium would be worthless after a few new spells hit, while a web based service like Perram's is always viable.
Plus Perram supports the community via Know Direction podcast, and is a great guy.
After reading Dave Gross' amazing Prince of Wolves, I find myself hoping for a Blood of the Moon next with some were-options, specifically Sczarni options!
I have an idea. Let's take the Paladin out of this special category that he's somehow been put into, and treat him like any other character with motivations.
A code is no different than how any other character should see his/her motivations. Every character is living by their own codes, they just don't name them.
The first issue of the Pathfinder comic series is now out in the wild and reviews are rolling in. Here are some highlights:
• Newsarama: “Taken as a whole, this is one entertaining read and a more than welcome entry in the woefully small fantasy comic genre. Dynamite has a strong team on this book. 8/10″
• Unleash the Fanboy: ” the first issue of Pathfinder is everything you want as a beginning to a fantasy epic. 4/5″
• eXpert Comics: “I was lucky to get to see a preview of issue number one, and boy is it awesome. Not only do you get the comic itself, which is excellent, but you get a map of the city the comic takes place in as well as descriptions of all of the places of interest in the city.”
• Comic Book Bin: “I would highly recommend ‘Pathfinder’ to anyone who enjoys fantasy, or just a good read. 8.5/10″
• One Geek Nation: “Andrew Huerta’s illustrations and Ross Campbell’s colors jump out of the panels, successfully opening readers’ eyes to the amazing Pathfinder world.”
• iFanboy: “The story had a great mix of action and comedy”…”I loved this comic.”
• Sci-Fi Pulse: “The dialogue in this book is pretty sharp and fun at times. And the action is thick and fast.”
• Fanboy Buzz: “The dialogue is all very natural and the storytelling/pace is top notch. A lot could be said for how well this issue was written.”
• Frickin’ Awesome: “Dynamite Publishing’s Pathfinder doesn’t focus on the theoretical enticements of RPGs, but instead on using the game to create an adventure story that comes hard and fast with succinct, enjoyable characterization and hearty action.”
• Fanboy Comics: ” What really makes this book work are the characters. He somehow took these awesome creations that were just a stat block and a few pictures and has crafted really interesting and flawed people out of them.”
• Silver Snail Blog: “…the characters are actually very well-crafted and likeable; this is actually kind of tough to pull off when you’re trying to fulfill the major RPG stereotypes.”
None of these are flaws to me. Class balance is nothing to strive for IMO. Back in the day, Wizards were the most powerful by far. My groups were never affected by this fact, and played what they liked.
In life, some things are inherently better than others and that's ok.
The artwork looks like something out of a third tier 90's Marvel comic. Sorry, but, ugh. I hate the heavily distorted faces, they look like they melted.
Totally disagree. It's not trying to be superhero art, but a stylized fantasy and it works great. One of our best artists, Frank Quietly has "distorted faces".
The storytelling/layouts are inventive and clear, and the backgrounds detailed. I'd say they got quite a catch as far as the art.
I know the writing is top notch as Skullkickers rocks.
There's no point in attempting to correct perceived imbalances unless you already recognize them yourself. They are all matters of opinion and circumstance; the most you could accomplish is create variants that you, personally, feel are balanced, because it is impossible to appease everyone's complaints. All those complaints are different, and as such asking the general community for things that should be addressed is futile.
First poster nailed it. Lists of perceived imbalances belong on the WOW boards.
Reading back I'm getting a lot of usage out of the list of expectations. I also have to thank Jiggy, et al for being as cool as you were to me when I first came to the boards and posted my thoughts on this topic without considering the fact that PFS charas are trained Pathfinder agents, and would have foreknowledge of these situations.
I miss James Bond the game originally printed by Victory Games. It has been out of production for a very long time thanks to a fan of Squad Leader. He bought the whole company, but only tried to continue Squad Leader...grrrrrrrrrrr.....
I also miss Star Frontiers. Originally published by TSR....yes, I am one of the hold outs waiting for it to come back.
Star Frontiers has such a great feel to it! I'd love a new version.
Hmmm....maybe that would make a good Savage Worlds skin...
EDIT: quickly looking into it, it appears there are good conversions out there, xanthemann!
http://www.savageheroes.com/conversions.htm
Seeing how you said you will be doing an internet game, are you using a Virtual Tabletop? If you haven't picked one, I can recommend Roll20. It's simple, not having rules integrated into it, so easy to learn. Built in video chat. If evrybody you game with is on Google+, you can launch the sessions in a Hangout. It runs in your web browser, so no software to download. Best of all, it's free.
Cannot second this recommend high enough. I love this free app. So ridiculously easy to use compared to other tabletops I've tried.
And welcome TRDG to Pathfinder and to the community here. So helpful, friendly, and the Paizo staff posts here quite frequently and are a joy. In a year, I've learned to appreciate both the game and Paizo as a whole.
A few years back I was in your shoes. Long time, but lapsed gamer who longed for the adventure. I got into DnD 4th edition, had some fun (mainly because of a wonderful group I met through meetup.com who favored story over dice), but eventually grew tired of the 4E system, and needed something that was more in line with the game I fondly remembered, which definitely turned out to be Pathfinder. It's love child of Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson and the Collective Paizo staff. It's that damn good.
The Beginner Box, I can say without any second guessing, the best RPG product I've ever bought in terms of quality and usefulness, and that comes from someone with countless dead trees worth of gaming books under his belt. It's truly a labor of love, and it shows throughout.
I too am looking into PFS lately, and should have some experience under my belt after my first ever Gencon next month. Wow, that's embarrassing to admit after gaming for over 30 years. But Gencon here I come!
So again, welcome and many years of adventure to come!
I hope this is more hints toward the "inevitable" Jim Groves Vikings vs Witches AP!
Jim Groves wrote:
Justin Franklin wrote:
Ravenmantle wrote:
Nah, this summer's all about Worldwound/Mendev announcements (I hope!) That said, an Irrisen/Linnorm Kingdoms adventure path would be awesome.
Well they are going to announce 2, one at PaizoCon and one at GenCon.
2013 Season of the Witch!
Screw the ninjas. Vikings versus Witches! Blackravens on red alert! Support your local ice troll! Don't kid yourself, they're gonna frackin tear up the border along the Iceflow river!
Grandmother Winter is on a timetable, boys and girls. The jadwiga Elvanna know it, the ulfen know it, and anybody with 5 ranks of Knowledge (history) knows it!
Elvanna has already tested the waters of rebellion by (spoilers from the Witchwar Legacy) ** spoiler omitted **
The Linnorm Kings got calenders, they know what year it is!
Back in the early days of the Winter War, the ulfen traded kids for First World warriors and weapons! (Pathfinder Chronicles: Lands of the Linnorm Kings)
You got the rest of the jadwiga Elvanna making their own creepy plans, like Lady Tetra and her Iron Tooth project which looks suspicious like some kind of artifact doomsday bunker to hold over 1,000 people! (Cities of Golarion)
There's so many kick ass plotlines going on in and around Irrisen you can't shake a stick at all of them. This is the makings of a great AP.
Not to mention that the Artifacts and Legends book has a version of the Dancing Hut coming! Whoohoo!
I like Distant Worlds and Numeria too, but this is full of awesome, and I would be delighted to support those ideas AFTER an Irrisen AP.
NOTE: None of this comes from insider knowledge, just...
That's a bonus, as far as I'm concerned, I hope paizo don't avoid it in the future.
I like modules which utilize paizo products from other lines and appreciate being told when such tie-ins exist.
Totally agree. While some (perhaps) jaded folks just see "marketing gimmick", I see really nice product synergy that actually aided my local store, and sold some product.
Kudos!
Note: I didn't have a issue with the mini portraits, but I can see as some could. That's how aesthetic choices work.
Winter_Born
