Paizo Gives PDFs Some Love: 35% Off!

[Nameless]

Vic Wertz wrote:

Nope—that text ("The Pathfinder Advantage does not stack with other subscription or sale discounts") has been part of the subscription description since we introduced the Pathfinder Advantage. We may have made a couple of exceptions in the past, but the default is that they don't stack.

One of the advantages of running an RPG business: You can specify that discounts "don't stack" and everyone will immediately know exactly what you mean.

[Asgetrion]

Mothman wrote:

Nice work Paizo! Class act.

Yeah, even though I prefer the "dead tree" versions, this is indeed a class act, and I applaud it! :)

[Evilgasm]

I just had another evilgasm. Could I bum a cig from someone....:)

[Beggin Bogie]

Anybody have a smoke for a fellow rpger whose down on his luck?

[Archon of Light]

This is outstanding. I haven't purchased an RPG product in over a year, mostly due to the financial strain of being unemployed. But I am pledging, right now, to purchase at least one product from a third-party publisher this month. Thankfully, Paizo is making it easier for me to do this.

We need to support the last remaining bastions of decent RPG companies left in this deteriorating industry. But we also need to get others to help with this effort. I have posted on my own various social sites, like Facebook and MySpace, to encourage others to do the same. We need to support these companies, if for no other reason than to send a very strong message (you-know-who) that we will not tolerate having the value of our consumerism and our loyalty continually diminished. I encourage others to share this message with their friends and pledge to support their favorite third-party publishers with at least one purchase this month.

If you're interested, you can read the post I've made on my Facebook account below.

Spoiler:

Yesterday, the 6th day of April in 2009, Wizards of the Coast (WotC) formally requested that all online retailers and distributors pull their entire catalog of WotC-owned products from their virtual shelves and instated a new Internet Sales Policy which, among other things, requires ALL potential distributors of their products, both physical and electronic, to show proof of a "brick and mortar" building of their store, complete with cash register and product displays. (You can read more about this at EN World.)

At this point, their reasons are inexcusable as well as irrelevant. Their notice to shut down the availability of these products was less than 24 hours; not nearly enough time to allow customers an opportunity to evaluate their current collections and give them a chance to backup their files, or even allow them to purchase some last few titles for themselves. Lately, it seems that WotC will do anything to further alienate their once-loyal fans and customers in order to monopolize the gaming industry for their own insatiable greed. This needs to stop and it is up to us, the passionate consumers and loyal fans of our games and hobbies, to send a strong message that they cannot ignore.

There are still a handful of honest and caring professionals in the gaming industry that are doing their best to survive under the totalitarian rule of the 4th Edition regime at WotC. Most of these companies comprise of former WotC alumni who were 'removed' from the corporation, some might say because they stood in the way of allowing such tactics, like these, from taking place. But it should be obvious by now, that with every move WotC makes, it makes it harder and harder for these companies to continue. These are the companies that are now keeping the spirit of the game alive, the one's caring enough to listen to their audiences, and the one's worthy enough to put out excellent products. It is time to support them, to help them continue to become a powerful presence in a captured community, and in doing so, defy the tyranny of WotC.

In the face of all this, however, many of these other companies have used this opportunity to showcase where their value lies; almost every third-party publisher and retailer out there has now offered a discount on various pdf products for a limited time. But the best offer, as of today, comes from those great people over at Paizo. They are offering a 35% discount on most of their Pathfinder pdf products through the end of April! Un-freakin-believable. I guess we can thank WotC for something afterall.

Admittedly, this is just smart marketing on their part, as it also builds a much better repoire with the fans who feel they've just been betrayed. But what better way to respond to WotC directly than to give your support somewhere else? Maybe somewhere more deserving, to be sure.

I have not purchased an RPG product in some time, mostly due to the financial strain of not having a job in almost a year. This month, however, I intend to purchase at least one product from my favorite third-party publisher, Paizo. While I still await anxiously on their Pathfinder RPG to be released, their continuing line of 3.5 edition Pathfinder adventure paths and game world supplements are among the best I've ever seen. This month, I will purchase something out of their line of products, and hope that every gamer out there will likewise support their favorite non-WotC publisher this month. Even if you don't want anything for yourself, buy something as a gift for someone else. (You can even buy something for me, if you like! :D)

Spread the word. Tell everyone you know. Buy something, even if it's only for a buck or two. Keep the true friends of gaming in business, and let's kill the Wizard.

[Disenchanter]

Sothrim wrote:

See, THAT's how you run a business: building and rewarding customer goodwill.

You guys rock.

It's as if I already posted...

[Jason Beardsley]

Vic Wertz wrote:

The Dragons Revisited PDF, though, will be available on April 15th, so you will be able to apply the discount code to that one.

Sold! Gotta wait till the end of the month though...

I told you Paizo smelled like Awesome..

[Gamer Girrl]

Thanks to the awesomeness that is Paizo, my husband and I know have all the PDFs that we missed before we subscribed, thus saving much wear and tear on our Runelords and first couple Crimson Throne books :)

WTG Paizo!

[Lanx]

Since I like bound books more for reading and consider PDFs a nice addition (after all, I am a librarian), I don't really have a demand for this promotion, so I have decided to show my support by rounding up my subscriptions (and shortening all those tags to the right of my name to a little nice catchy phrase).

[GeraintElberion]

I love the sheer aplomb of this offer.

Time to get up-to-date with society scenarios.

[RunelordDM]

Excellent stuff. After getting so annoyed about the WotC decision it's a great relief to see that some companies do know how to do business! :)

I'll be back for some more PDF goodness in about a week - if I'm not mistaken that's when the first Legacy of Fire PDF arrives.

[MacFraggin]

It's a great idea (and I also drew a lot of amusement out of all the "WE"s.)

But if I might make a suggestion: so far, the announcement seems to be made only on this forum thread and customer newsletter. You should definitely post it on your website's main page. And if at all possible, apply the discount automatically, without the need to enter a promotional code.

Here in the forum it's rather hidden and a lot of people won't see it. And those who buy stuff and _then_ see they could have had a discount afterwards will be annoyed. Probably they'll be mailing you to complain, giving you a lot of extra work.

The way it is now, you'll only reach people who already are regular Paizo customers anyways. If you make it a big promo on your main and shop pages, I predict you'll attract quite a lot of new customers who are pissed off at a _certain other company_ right now and who now can be convinced to switch to Pathfinder more easily than ever.

Thanks for listening, and keep up the good work.

[Aberzombie]

*Screams like a young girl at a Hannah Montana concert*

Edit: I just took advantage of this to order 8 modules I did not yet own. PAIZO ROCKS!!!!!!

[toyrobots]

I hope WotC enjoys their newly created spike in piracy as much as I enjoy my $8 pdf of Classic Monsters Revisited — a book that is only available in PDF.

Another smooth move from Paizo. I not only applaud it, I open my wallet.

[Dale McCoy Jr]

veector wrote:

Best gaming company in the world. Period.

What veector said.

[Dale McCoy Jr]

Aberzombie wrote:

*Screams like a young girl at a Hannah Montana concert*

*DMcCoy1693 looks around for his daughter* Oh its you, Aberzombie. *raises one eyebrow*

[Callous Jack]

DMcCoy1693 wrote:

Aberzombie wrote:

*Screams like a young girl at a Hannah Montana concert*

*DMcCoy1693 looks around for his daughter* Oh its you, Aberzombie. *raises one eyebrow*

I thought it was Ned Flanders.

[Ankounite]

Paizo is awesome... But now I have to budget getting all the Pathfinder Society pdfs... Oh well! It's still awesome!

[Montalve]

WotC drops the ball, loses his Dex Modifier to defense an Paizo does a AoO that result that is confirmed critical...

oh I am not complaining, I agree, great marketing...

i received bad news 2 days ago.. I still have an income, but it won't be for long... and I have debts... so I will try to get something... I had canceled my suscriptions to go easy... but if the 2 new books of LoF are in PDF I might buy them...

I want that info on Sarenrae!

[Bill Dunn]

I just spent a chunk of money on PDFs that I've been wanting for a while (particularly the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting). Will probably buy some more PDFs before the end of April. Paizo rocks, my bank account weeps (though not as bitterly as it would without the discount).

[MongooseMan]

Thank You Paizo!!!

Your 35% sale on PDFs finally got me off my butt and get all 18 Pathfinder Society Scenarios purchased.

Is there a way to add this product to my subscriptions?

You are definitely THE Gaming Company when you want great quality at a very fair price.

Keep up the great work!

[Zombieneighbours]

Thank you guys. I will be purchasing some stuff thanks to this...even if i have to hammer a friend over the head to pay for it on his card.

[Vic Wertz]

MacFraggin wrote:

But if I might make a suggestion: so far, the announcement seems to be made only on this forum thread and customer newsletter. You should definitely post it on your website's main page.

It'll be featured in one of the little boxes on the front page as soon as we get the image finished. It's also going out as a press release, and will thus be added to the news page.

[Dark_Mistress]

Yeah I will be picking up the last of the PDF's I don't have already this month. Well at least as many as I can. I also plan to go buy something from RPGnow to support them as well. Just not sure what I will buy their yet.

[Montalve]

White Wolf did the same through Drive Thru... of course 10% and ust till sunday... but its interestign to see how everyone acts this way and how the public is answering...

i doubt WotC learns anything from this experience... yet this is good.

[Vic Wertz]

Vic Wertz wrote:

MacFraggin wrote:

But if I might make a suggestion: so far, the announcement seems to be made only on this forum thread and customer newsletter. You should definitely post it on your website's main page.

It'll be featured in one of the little boxes on the front page as soon as we get the image finished. It's also going out as a press release, and will thus be added to the news page.

And it's in tonight's store blog. Which means it'll also be in a future "This Week at Paizo" mailing.

[Scott Betts]

toyrobots wrote:

I hope WotC enjoys their newly created spike in piracy as much as I enjoy my $8 pdf of Classic Monsters Revisited — a book that is only available in PDF.

Amazon has the softcover Classic Monsters Revisited in stock. It is not a PDF-only product.

But way to stick it to the man.

[silverhair2008]

Scott, didn't you just chide someone on the wotc thread here about "sticking it to the man"? Are you talking out of both sides of your face?

EDIT:

scott betts wrote:

I expect to see fervent Paizo supporters here. I'm a fervent Paizo supporter, so I'm among good company in that sense.

What I shouldn't expect to see here, but what I do see here quite often regardless, is an unrestrained, unmitigated river of vitriol directed at WotC, quite often by people who are completely unaffected by the issue they're complaining about.

If you want to give Paizo money because they're discounting their products, that's a fantastic idea! If you want to give money to Paizo because you think you're "sticking it to the man", you need to take a good hard look at yourself.

[Gamer Girrl]

silverhair2008 wrote:

Scott, didn't you just chide someone on the wotc thread here about "sticking it to the man"? Are you talking out of both sides of your face?

EDIT:

scott betts wrote:

I expect to see fervent Paizo supporters here. I'm a fervent Paizo supporter, so I'm among good company in that sense.

What I shouldn't expect to see here, but what I do see here quite often regardless, is an unrestrained, unmitigated river of vitriol directed at WotC, quite often by people who are completely unaffected by the issue they're complaining about.

If you want to give Paizo money because they're discounting their products, that's a fantastic idea! If you want to give money to Paizo because you think you're "sticking it to the man", you need to take a good hard look at yourself.

I beleive he was intending to be chastizingly sarcastic ::shrug::

[silverhair2008]

It is confusing to this "Grouchy Old Fart" to read one thing posted from someone on one thread and then read something totally opposite in another thread contradicting his earlier post. Please be consistent. My nerves cannot handle this.

[Gamer Girrl]

silverhair2008 wrote:

It is confusing to this "Grouchy Old Fart" to read one thing posted from someone on one thread and then read something totally opposite in another thread contradicting his earlier post. Please be consistent. My nerves cannot handle this.

::gets Silverhair the comfy chair, afghan and a mug of hot chocolate::

:)

::and a hug::

[silverhair2008]

Hangs on to the hug as long as he can. Don't get many of them anymore.

[Gamer Girrl]

silverhair2008 wrote:

Hangs on to the hug as long as he can. Don't get many of them anymore.

As many hugs as you like :) Best way to keep friends close!

[silverhair2008]

A person can never have too many friends. Although there is a very big difference between friends and acquaintances. A lot of acquaintances are called "friends" but aren't. Just rambling, maybe it's my bedtime.

[Pax Veritas]

Montalve wrote:

WotC drops the ball, loses his Dex Modifier to defense an Paizo does a AoO that result that is confirmed critical...

oh I am not complaining, I agree, great marketing...

i received bad news 2 days ago.. I still have an income, but it won't be for long... and I have debts... so I will try to get something... I had canceled my suscriptions to go easy... but if the 2 new books of LoF are in PDF I might buy them...

I want that info on Sarenrae!

What do you like to do? Maybe this community can help you?

[Sharoth]

Pax Veritas wrote:

Montalve wrote:

WotC drops the ball, loses his Dex Modifier to defense an Paizo does a AoO that result that is confirmed critical...

oh I am not complaining, I agree, great marketing...

i received bad news 2 days ago.. I still have an income, but it won't be for long... and I have debts... so I will try to get something... I had canceled my suscriptions to go easy... but if the 2 new books of LoF are in PDF I might buy them...

I want that info on Sarenrae!

What do you like to do? Maybe this community can help you?

Yes. Do tell.

[Pax Veritas]

DMcCoy1693 wrote:

veector wrote:

Best gaming company in the world. Period.

What veector said.

What DMcCoy1693 and Veector said.

[Elora]

If you're happy and you know it, shout "Hurrah - Paizo"! :-)

I almost never buy pdfs if I can get a hard copy and hadn't planned on any pdf purchases in the near future, but suddenly I couldn't live without Gallery of Evil and Entombed with the Pharaohs. "Gallery" should fit in very nicely to my ongoing Sharn PbP campaign. I have a strong suspicion I will be needing a few more pdfs before the end of the month...

Again, thanks for being a rockin' company, Paizo!!

[houstonderek]

silverhair2008 wrote:

Hangs on to the hug as long as he can. Don't get many of them anymore.

I'm telling China! You know how jealous she is!

Silverhair's my DM, China's my gf, for the people keeping score at home ;)

[golem101]

Finally completed my collection of Pathfinder Modules and pathfinder Society Scenarios.

Thanks again, Paizo. You guys rock.

[Mairkurion {tm}]

Scribbles scores down in his Moleskine.

[Boerngrim]

Thank you Paizo!

I prefer hard copy of my gaming materials, but I also fall into the long-term unemployed group. PDFs are already a reasonable alternative to acquire books I want, but can't afford. This sale makes a huge difference!

Good lookin out!

[Erik Mona]

Scott Betts wrote:

toyrobots wrote:

I hope WotC enjoys their newly created spike in piracy as much as I enjoy my $8 pdf of Classic Monsters Revisited — a book that is only available in PDF.

Amazon has the softcover Classic Monsters Revisited in stock. It is not a PDF-only product.

But way to stick it to the man.

There are currently 434 copies of Classic Monsters at our book trade distributor (and probably a few still on store shelves), which is why Amazon and other bookstores can still order this title. The book has been sold out from us for months, and game distributors have likewise been sold out for months.

If you want a hard copy of Classic Monsters, Amazon or a brick-and-mortar bookstore are your only options, and even those options will not last long.

[Emperor7]

We trees love PDFs!

Bought a couple modules and am trying to see what else I can sneak past the wife.

[self-edited]*rant about 'people' dissing Paizo for spreading some love to their EXISTING customers for a generous LIMITED TIME being a bad thing. Seriously, WTF?[/self-edited]

Thanks, Paizo!

[toyrobots]

Other Electronic versions I would pay for:

Gamemastery cards: equipment, crits, fumbles.

Gamemastery flip mats.

Harrow Deck.

I'm not sure why these aren't available as a PDF. Is it that you don't want people printing their own cards to avoid multiple deck purchases?

I want everything I can get in PDF form. My players are spread across three time zones, and we play by maptool. Even things like the gamemastery decks can be set up as random image tables in maptool, and it's nice to have images for items. More maps are always good.

So what gives?

[Vic Wertz]

toyrobots wrote:

Other Electronic versions I would pay for:

Gamemastery cards: equipment, crits, fumbles.

Gamemastery flip mats.

Harrow Deck.

I'm not sure why these aren't available as a PDF. Is it that you don't want people printing their own cards to avoid multiple deck purchases?

I want everything I can get in PDF form. My players are spread across three time zones, and we play by maptool. Even things like the gamemastery decks can be set up as random image tables in maptool, and it's nice to have images for items. More maps are always good.

So what gives?

As a whole, Paizo doesn't believe that PDF sales significantly harm sales of printed books.

It's a point of disagreement internally, but some of us believe that selling PDFs of our card products would harm sales of our printed cards to a measurable degree, and some of us believe that PDF sales of Flip-Mats and Map Packs would harm sales of print editions to the point that they would no longer become profitable to produce in any form.

[veector]

Vic, in the interest of putting this issue to rest, if you guys sent out an email directing people to a survey through Survey Monkey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/Default.aspx) regarding purchasing habits and preferred media, I'm sure you'd get an overwhelming response.

Josh... I, for one, would be happy to take such a survey.

[baldwin the merciful]

I just purchased LB2 Chimera Cove pdf....Thanks for the discount. I'm sure I will be back for more by the end of the month.

[Tigger_mk4]

How to leverage a good product and good business sense with an opportunity to make good customer relations as well as profit ....

With my professional Business analysts hat on...Kudos, guys.

With my gamers hat on...so, let me see ,thats how many pdfs I'm now gonna buy...(franticly adding up...)

I agree pdf'ing the mats/mastery packs would be a bad idea..quality of the medium they're printed on is a big part of their appeal (actually, I'd like to see the mastery packs on something a bit more substantial).

PDFing the books is good.

p.s. Another recommendation for SurveyMonkey, here. We use it at my company too, its excellent and pretty easy to configure .

Aberzombie wrote:

*Screams like a young girl at a Hannah Montana concert*

I didn't realise they'd taken to committing human sacrifice at those yet. (Makes notes)