I still hold to that the most useful degree in RPGs is Law. Theory of Law, in particular, and preferably at a PhD level. ;-)Eew.
I've read legal documents written by lawyers, and I've read RPG books written by writers. I'll take the RPG book written by a writer any day of any week.
But there are many successful fiction writers that are lawyers. John Grisham and Paul S. Kemp just to name two.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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But there are many successful fiction writers that are lawyers. John Grisham and Paul S. Kemp just to name two.I still hold to that the most useful degree in RPGs is Law. Theory of Law, in particular, and preferably at a PhD level. ;-)Eew.
I've read legal documents written by lawyers, and I've read RPG books written by writers. I'll take the RPG book written by a writer any day of any week.
Also Terry Brooks.
It's a shame that the salary is advertised as entry level, otherwise I'd throw my hat into the ring. I've always wanted to work for a company like Paizo, but the opportunity was never really there, so I went into journalism instead...
So here's a question. I have the necessary qualifications for this job, and would be willing to relocate if the pay was sufficient. I have nearly 12 years experience as a journalist, editor, writer, PR professional and communicator. The thing I don't have is direct experience with working for an RPG company. But there must be some role that people like myself can play in a company like Paizo, no?
It's a shame that the salary is advertised as entry level, otherwise I'd throw my hat into the ring. I've always wanted to work for a company like Paizo, but the opportunity was never really there, so I went into journalism instead...
So here's a question. I have the necessary qualifications for this job, and would be willing to relocate if the pay was sufficient. I have nearly 12 years experience as a journalist, editor, writer, PR professional and communicator. The thing I don't have is direct experience with working for an RPG company. But there must be some role that people like myself can play in a company like Paizo, no?
Sounds like you'd be great, but everyone in the RPG business makes entry level salaries :P
Creative Director
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It's a shame that the salary is advertised as entry level, otherwise I'd throw my hat into the ring. I've always wanted to work for a company like Paizo, but the opportunity was never really there, so I went into journalism instead...
So here's a question. I have the necessary qualifications for this job, and would be willing to relocate if the pay was sufficient. I have nearly 12 years experience as a journalist, editor, writer, PR professional and communicator. The thing I don't have is direct experience with working for an RPG company. But there must be some role that people like myself can play in a company like Paizo, no?
Entry level salary or not... the RPG industry is NOT the industry to get into if you want to make a lot of money. Nor is it the industry to get into if you want to make a medium amount of money, really.
As for a place for someone who has over a decade of experience as a journalist, editor, and writer... absolutely! That's more or less EXACTLY the type of person we'd look for to fill an editor position. And if that person had years of game playing or game writing experience (even if said experience was on the hobby level), that'd be a great candidate for a developer position as well.
But the same position at, say, Time Magazine or Tor Books or something like that would still pay more.
Sounds like you'd be great, but everyone in the RPG business makes entry level salaries :PIt's a shame that the salary is advertised as entry level, otherwise I'd throw my hat into the ring. I've always wanted to work for a company like Paizo, but the opportunity was never really there, so I went into journalism instead...
So here's a question. I have the necessary qualifications for this job, and would be willing to relocate if the pay was sufficient. I have nearly 12 years experience as a journalist, editor, writer, PR professional and communicator. The thing I don't have is direct experience with working for an RPG company. But there must be some role that people like myself can play in a company like Paizo, no?
Well, it's not as if journalism is a road to riches either. You know, I'm thinking of just putting in a resume for the heck of it. It is a dream job, and salary is not everything, especially not if you get a chance to work at something you actually love. In my experience very few people can say that they wake up in the morning and go off to do such a thing.
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Creative Director
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Well, it's not as if journalism is a road to riches either. You know, I'm thinking of just putting in a resume for the heck of it. It is a dream job, and salary is not everything, especially not if you get a chance to work at something you actually love. In my experience very few people can say that they wake up in the morning and go off to do such a thing.
Honestly... I would do it! Being a dream job DOES have a HUGE role to play. Being able to wake up in the morning and be excited about going to work is INCREDIBLE. The satisfaction of working at Paizo is the reason I've stayed at the company for longer than I've ever stayed at any job I've ever had (coming up on 8 years now)—it's not because the pay is great. The pay is frosting on the cake for me.
So yeah; apply. And if you get to the interview stage, and if when we talk salary with you what we're saying could effectively be summarized as, "If you come to work for us you'll need to take a 75% pay decrease from your current job" (or however much the salary adjustment works out), then you're still free to make the decision that as great as the job might be, it's not one that you could survive on.
But you won't know until you try.
Being able to wake up in the morning and be excited about going to work is INCREDIBLE.
Word. \m/
Honestly... I would do it! Being a dream job DOES have a HUGE role to play. Being able to wake up in the morning and be excited about going to work is INCREDIBLE. The satisfaction of working at Paizo is the reason I've stayed at the company for longer than I've ever stayed at any job I've ever had (coming up on 8 years now)—it's not because the pay is great. The pay is frosting on the cake for me.
So yeah; apply. And if you get to the interview stage, and if when we talk salary with you what we're saying could effectively be summarized as, "If you come to work for us you'll need to take a 75% pay decrease from your current job" (or however much the salary adjustment works out), then you're still free to make the decision that as great as the job might be, it's not one that you could survive on.
But you won't know until you try.
Awesome James! This is the type of thing that has me supporting Paizo. Good luck to all the candidates and here's to hoping that whoever gets hired has just found their dream job too.
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You know, I'm thinking of just putting in a resume for the heck of it. It is a dream job, and salary is not everything, especially not if you get a chance to work at something you actually love. In my experience very few people can say that they wake up in the morning and go off to do such a thing.
Always put in the resume. Never make the decision on whether you are the right person for the job on the behalf of the company. Good luck.
*goes back to dull, 8pm, unpaid overtime*
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Well, it's not as if journalism is a road to riches either. You know, I'm thinking of just putting in a resume for the heck of it. It is a dream job, and salary is not everything, especially not if you get a chance to work at something you actually love. In my experience very few people can say that they wake up in the morning and go off to do such a thing.Honestly... I would do it! Being a dream job DOES have a HUGE role to play. Being able to wake up in the morning and be excited about going to work is INCREDIBLE. The satisfaction of working at Paizo is the reason I've stayed at the company for longer than I've ever stayed at any job I've ever had (coming up on 8 years now)—it's not because the pay is great. The pay is frosting on the cake for me.
So yeah; apply. And if you get to the interview stage, and if when we talk salary with you what we're saying could effectively be summarized as, "If you come to work for us you'll need to take a 75% pay decrease from your current job" (or however much the salary adjustment works out), then you're still free to make the decision that as great as the job might be, it's not one that you could survive on.
But you won't know until you try.
I get excited just hearing you two talk. Ah, if only I was still living on the West Coast... :)
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Director of Brand Strategy
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For anyone questioning what the position pays, I'd recommend applying. If you're a candidate in consideration for the position, the salary would be one point discussed in the interviewing process. If it turns out your needs require a more lucrative position, no one's loss.
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Also, if you are serious about wanting to get published as a RPG writer, think you have the experience and talent to do so, but are not sure whether you can afford to make it a full time job, what do you have to lose by applying? At the worst, you could get a chance to talk stuff over with the folks that do this for real and get your name and face known as a potential freelance...
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32
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I really want to apply, and I feel like I could make it to the interview process if it was not for one thing. I don't have a bachelor's degree in anything. However, I feel I can meet all the other requirements. I have been gaming for 14 years, and developing my own material to play with. Kingmaker is the first game I ran where I didn't develop the world, story and NPCs, and that was last week.
I guess I should just finish collage first, then apply. Two or three years isn't that long.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 6
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I really want to apply, and I feel like I could make it to the interview process if it was not for one thing. I don't have a bachelor's degree in anything. However, I feel I can meet all the other requirements. I have been gaming for 14 years, and developing my own material to play with. Kingmaker is the first game I ran where I didn't develop the world, story and NPCs, and that was last week.
I guess I should just finish collage first, then apply. Two or three years isn't that long.
Go ahead and apply. I don't have a degree, because I started my professional career before finishing. But I still thought about applying, because why not? It's a mark against you, but if the positives outweigh it, you've got a shot, just like any other applicant.
You know, seeing jobs like this make me wish that I lived on the west coast instead of the east coast. All you can do over here is work for the government (either directly or indirectly...).
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Hmm, I would actually move and live in Redmond for a dream job. I might add that I thought the Seattle area rocked too. Let's see, dollars or dreams. Dreams or dollars.
Somehow, I know very few happy people who sidetracked their dreams for money. Even fewer happy people who never pursued their dreams.
As much as I would love to apply. I must admit, I am poorly read, without degree and most importantly, ill prepared for the position's requirement of gaming experience.
I wouldn't waste anyone's time.
However, that does not mean I can't get a degree, read a crapload of books and get more gaming under my belt.
I might also add that "force of will" helps.
This sounds like an awesome opportunity for someone, a real DREAM job in this industry, for sure. Personally, I'd love to apply for it. I have a master's in liberal arts with a concentration in English and a decent list of editing and writing credits to my name. Alas, I don't think I could take the move or the pay cut.
I look forward to hearing who is chosen.
Interesting little note.
Somehow I am listed as the "Owner" of Paizo Publishing on Linked In.
I didn't do anything to make it this way. Apparently, I was somehow automatically added. (Via their "companies" tool, now in beta) I don't even think "Paizo Publishing" is on my page anywhere T.T
I really want to apply, and I feel like I could make it to the interview process if it was not for one thing. I don't have a bachelor's degree in anything. However, I feel I can meet all the other requirements. I have been gaming for 14 years, and developing my own material to play with. Kingmaker is the first game I ran where I didn't develop the world, story and NPCs, and that was last week.
I guess I should just finish collage first, then apply. Two or three years isn't that long.
No harm in applying. A college degree is important chiefly as evidence of your ability to show up consistently and follow through in pursuing a goal, but they have stated that lack of a degree is not a bar to employment.
No harm in applying. A college degree is important chiefly as evidence of your ability to show up consistently and follow through in pursuing a goal, but they have stated that lack of a degree is not a bar to employment.
I think this is funny, actually, and true. I would rather hire someone who worked in a restaurant consistently for four years than a college grad who was basically permitted to no-show whenever they wanted for four years — and I've done both.
The former has more responsibility, less margin for error, and trains social skills and teamwork as critical. College especially fails on that last point.
But I suppose I'm biased.
The former has more responsibility, less margin for error, and trains social skills and teamwork as critical. College especially fails on that last point.But I suppose I'm biased.
I don't know, I think it depends on your major... as an anthropology major we had plenty of team work assignments, but I noticed there were far fewer of them in the history and english classes I took as electives (though english had a lot of peer feedback type stuff).
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Creative Director
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No harm in applying. A college degree is important chiefly as evidence of your ability to show up consistently and follow through in pursuing a goal, but they have stated that lack of a degree is not a bar to employment.I think this is funny, actually, and true. I would rather hire someone who worked in a restaurant consistently for four years than a college grad who was basically permitted to no-show whenever they wanted for four years — and I've done both.
The former has more responsibility, less margin for error, and trains social skills and teamwork as critical. College especially fails on that last point.
But I suppose I'm biased.
Well... if that restaurant worker doesn't know the difference between it's and its, it doesn't really matter how long or how trustworthy that person is. They're not qualified to work as a developer. Now, don't get me wrong—responsibility, attention to detail, and good social/teamworks skills ARE critical... but not as critical for this job as are writing skills.
RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Well... if that restaurant worker doesn't know the difference between it's and its, it doesn't really matter how long or how trustworthy that person is. They're not qualified to work as a developer. Now, don't get me wrong—responsibility, attention to detail, and good social/teamworks skills ARE critical... but not as critical for this job as are writing skills.
I have over 5,000 well-written and properly punctuated posts on these very forums. Does that count as sufficient evidence of my writing skills? :)
That being said, we keenly watch Kobold Quarterly, Wayfinder, Pathfinder Society Open Calls, those few third-party Pathfinder products we get copies of, and - especially - RPG Superstar for new talent. If you want to get your foot in the door here now, cutting your teeth in any of the aforementioned places would be a wise first step to landing a paying freelance gig.
I want to hear more about this. Who has been culled from these sources alone to work for Paizo? Which source proved to be the most watched? Did Paizo approach them, or did they approach Paizo? Does meeting the developers at PaizoCon play into being offered gigs?
I've been freelancing in the d20 arena for some time, and I'm really interested in learning how to get my foot in the door.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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That being said, we keenly watch Kobold Quarterly, Wayfinder, Pathfinder Society Open Calls, those few third-party Pathfinder products we get copies of, and - especially - RPG Superstar for new talent. If you want to get your foot in the door here now, cutting your teeth in any of the aforementioned places would be a wise first step to landing a paying freelance gig.I want to hear more about this. Who has been culled from these sources alone to work for Paizo? Which source proved to be the most watched? Did Paizo approach them, or did they approach Paizo? Does meeting the developers at PaizoCon play into being offered gigs?
I've been freelancing in the d20 arena for some time, and I'm really interested in learning how to get my foot in the door.
I got my start with Paizo writing for Pathfinder Society, and from there on several other Pathfinder lines. I submitted an open call pitch and went from there. I had also dedicated a lot of time to the PathfinderWiki, where I showed my knowledge of the setting, writing/editing skills, and organizational ability. I also made a point of introducing myself to Paizo staff at PaizoCon and GenCon so they had a face to go with the name. Needless to say, I'm one example of someone who now works at Paizo who jammed my foot in the door through some of the methods mentioned in Wes's post, but not everyone needs to take the same route to getting work for Paizo I did.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Rob McCreary was a finalist in the inaugural RPG Superstar prior to working for Paizo.
We also first became aware of Ross Byers through RPG Superstar, and though we knew of Liz Courts from the messageboards, her work on Wayfinder helped cement our impressions of her abilities. Crystal Frasier's situation is similar. And Hyrum Savage's work with Super Genius certainly played a role in his hiring.
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The applications go to different people, so we wouldn't even know if you did. The only problem is that if both groups wanted to hire you, we'd have to have a rumble to settle it.If you are a software developer instead of an RPG developer, please do not hesitate to apply for that job instead.How about both? ;)
Also Terry Brooks.But there are many successful fiction writers that are lawyers. John Grisham and Paul S. Kemp just to name two.I still hold to that the most useful degree in RPGs is Law. Theory of Law, in particular, and preferably at a PhD level. ;-)Eew.
I've read legal documents written by lawyers, and I've read RPG books written by writers. I'll take the RPG book written by a writer any day of any week.
and David Drake.
I've said it before, but it might be worth saying again. The skillset we need for a developer is one of the hardest ones to find out of ALL the jobs here at Paizo. It's also the job that's most likely to entail working extra hours on weekends or late nights due to problems with freelancers. As such, it's VERY important that we find someone who's right for the position.
If you have a degree in English, that tells us that you're not only willing to take on a responsibility and stick it out for years until you finish what you set out to do, but it also tells us that you're capable of working with the English language in a way that produces clean text.
If you do not have a degree in English, that's one strike against you. But that doesn't mean you'd be auto rejected if you applied. Because a degree in a related field (which is basically any field where you are expected to read and write a lot of sentences and paragraphs—history's a great example, while botany is not) proves a fair amount of that as well—in this case, we'll end up paying a lot closer attention to your writing sample, I bet.
If you don't have a degree at all, that's an even bigger strike against you. But not even THAT means you'd be auto rejected. In this case, though, you'd need to be able to prove that you have experience working with the English language and RPG design. At this point, we'd need more than your writing sample, honestly. A list of credits is a huge boon here—that tells us that degree or not, you've been published before. If you have credits in the RPG industry, that's even better, and if those credits are for d20 games that's even better than that, and if those credits are for products we're already familiar with and like, that's the best. Getting known in RPG superstar (you certainly don't have to WIN, because we get to know the writing styles and strengths of everyone who gets to the top 32) is a great way to get your foot in the door here, as is writing for the Pathfinder Society. But until you actually DO one of those...
Wow. Cool stuff, James.
This is one of the most interesting threads around.
I'd throw my hat into the ring here,but don't feel I am knowledgable enough about the game or ruleset to be a good candidate. Also don't have any of the above credentials,live North of the Border in Vancouver B.C. as well. Did enter the RPG Superstar Contest this year for the first time.
Who might I address my cover letter to?
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Is there any more information available on the Pathfinder Developer position at this point in time? Is it still open at this point or would there be any estimated date by which a decision might be made? I sent in my application package in December, and am still very interested in the possibility of working for Paizo.
On a related note, I will be in the Bellevue/Redmond/Seattle area from the 29th of April through the 4th May; if possible, I'd love the opportunity to drop by and see the Paizo offices, and possibly chat with someone about what the company is like. Who might be a good point of contact for such a visit?
Thanks for your time,
Alex Putnam
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Creative Director
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Is there any more information available on the Pathfinder Developer position at this point in time? Is it still open at this point or would there be any estimated date by which a decision might be made? I sent in my application package in December, and am still very interested in the possibility of working for Paizo.
On a related note, I will be in the Bellevue/Redmond/Seattle area from the 29th of April through the 4th May; if possible, I'd love the opportunity to drop by and see the Paizo offices, and possibly chat with someone about what the company is like. Who might be a good point of contact for such a visit?
Thanks for your time,
Alex Putnam
It's still open. We're still looking for the perfect candidate for the position.
Again, Wes Schneider is the main point of contact for these questions, but that said, Paizo isn't really set up to do tours or the like. Fridays especially tend to be particularly busy for us, since that's usually when we're scrambling to send products off to the printer or trying to finish off our weekly deadlines and projects, unfortunately.
No decisions have been made about this position. All applications submitted remain under consideration and we are still accepting resumes. More details about the position can be found on our jobs page.
All questions about this opening are best directed to my e-mail (not my voice mail).
Hey everyone. We're currently searching for a new member of the Paizo editorial team. Having already talked to numerous gaming professionals, we wanted to broaden our search to include talented gamers whom we perhaps don't know about.
The position is for a new developer to work with us on Paizo's varied Pathfinder lines, with a focus on ordering new content, working with freelancers, managing continuity, sculpting freelance handovers into material adhering to our high standards, and various related tasks. This is an entry-level position that requires mastery of the English language, daily attendance in Redmond Washington, and an unbridled passion for RPGs, storytelling, and the varied arts that make a great Game Master.
You can read the full job description here.
We already have several candidates in consideration and would like to find the perfect fit in short order, so please send in your resumes as soon as possible. We will take down this posting when the position is filled. Thanks!
I nominate Bruce Cordell! Always loved his design. . .
Hi,
I was wondering if it would be alright to send a letter inquiring as to the status of my resume. I submitted it around the point when Paizo.com was undergoing maintenance, and am uncertain whether it was successfully received.
I was wondering if it would be alright to send a letter inquiring as to the status of my resume. I submitted it around the point when Paizo.com was undergoing maintenance, and am uncertain whether it was successfully received.
If you're concerned about us having received it, best to just kick it my way again and I'll do my best to get right back to you with a confirmation e-mail.
Excellent, thanks!
Sorry to be a bother.
Excellent, thanks!
Sorry to be a bother.
Better to be a bother than have your resume eaten by the dire hamsters in the email server! :D