A Tale of Two Covers

Friday, August 1, 2014

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Class Guide is only a few weeks from release, and we're all getting excited about what the book has to offer. Over the last several weeks, we've revealed a ton of details about the 10 classes in the book, from hints at their game details to a look at the backgrounds of the iconic characters that represent them in the book's art. Looking over the final hardcover here on my desk, I'm enormously proud of the work our team has put into it, and I'm grateful for the tireless efforts of our playtesters, who made the Advanced Class Guide shine with their diligent testing and commentary. We could not have done this book without you, and we're all really pleased with how it came together.

With one major exception.

The cover of the Advanced Class Guide contains a huge error of the most embarrassing kind imaginable—we printed the book with the wrong logo.

That's right, the Advanced Class Guide, in many ways the most important release of the year, features the wrong logo. Instead of the "Pathfinder Roleplaying Game" logo, the hardcover's front cover features the "Pathfinder Adventure Path" logo.

The story of how something like this slipped through our assiduous quality controls turns out to be pretty boring. On the third round of back-and-forth changes after the book was sent to the printer, an image link somehow got changed, switching the logo to the wrong one at the absolute last minute. After the last minute, in fact. We have sign-off approval sheets for every stage of editing. Multiple employees sign off on the correct logos, on the trademark circle, on the "printed in country," basically on every single element of a book. But this error was introduced after all of those safeguards had been correctly adhered to, and the first time we noticed the mistake was when the first copies arrived from the printer.

Naturally, we were mortified and checked with our printer about turning around a ship with tens of thousands of copies of our book, destroying them, and reprinting from scratch. That effort would have cost more than $100,000, and resulted in literally tons of 99.9999% correct books going into a landfill. We've had considerable success over the last few years, but honestly there's a lot more that we can do with $100,000 to benefit the game above and beyond wiping some egg from our faces. Ultimately, after lots of consideration, we decided that it wasn't worth the expense to fix the logo.

And to be clear, the misprint concerns about three square inches on the front cover. The logo on the spine is correct. The logo on the cover page is correct. The logo on the back is correct. The logo on every spread in the book is correct. One image link broke, to one logo. Yes, it's the most important one, and yes, that's very embarrassing, but ultimately it makes no difference to the book's content. Many folks I've shown the book to did not even notice the difference, as the logos are very similar.

We've already shipped the book to a few distributors. Subscribers could start receiving them as early as next week. Many of you will notice the different logo, and will naturally have questions. I wanted to get out in front of that and explain what went wrong, and why we decided not to fix it.

It's a bummer. It's something we'll fix on subsequent printings, assuming that we do them. We considered making a sticker, or a paper wrap-around cover, or just about anything, but ultimately decided that it wouldn't make much of a difference. The covers are screwed up. Putting a little sticker over the mistake wouldn't fix the mistake, it'd just make the book look even more messed up.

So, yeah. Lame. The Advanced Class Guide has the Pathfinder Adventure Path logo on it. We apologize for the inconvenience this will cause to bibliophiles everywhere. Know that we feel your pain.

The book remains incredible, despite the cosmetic error. We're sure you'll really like it, and we've taken what steps we can to prevent this sort of thing from happening in the future.

Thanks for your understanding.

Erik Mona
Publisher

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Tags: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
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I can't even imagine what that must have felt like when you guys found out.

I'm still very much looking forward to the book, as are my players who are about to start a new campaign using the new classes.


4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

A bit of a wound to your pride I'm sure, but no big. I, and my gaming group, are so pumped for these new classes that I doubt I would have even noticed the error.

Paizo Employee Developer

166 people marked this as a favorite.

We on the design team are really not looking forward to writing the remaining five volumes of the Advanced Class Guide Adventure Path. Geez, 50 more classes!

Shadow Lodge

eh no big deal lol, its not the covers we love, its the content inside :)


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Erik Mona wrote:
The story of how something like this slipped through our assiduous quality controls turns out to be pretty boring

I have a few opinion, all regarding this supposedly "assiduous" adjective. Here, have a synopsis


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Logan Bonner wrote:
We on the design team are really not looking forward to writing the remaining five volumes of the Advanced Class Guide Adventure Path. Geez, 50 more classes!

I will take what I can get, haha!

Grand Lodge

4 people marked this as a favorite.

While I would get frustrated with Paizo if this thing happened regularly, I would be even more upset if Paizo wasted that many books and their financial resources on such a small error. I think you made the right decision and I'll happily place this volume on my bookcase. Just as soon as you ship my subscriptions, that is ;)

Shadow Lodge

Logan Bonner wrote:
We on the design team are really not looking forward to writing the remaining five volumes of the Advanced Class Guide Adventure Path. Geez, 50 more classes!

lol dont forget all the archtypes and spells and feats and stuff lmao XD

Paizo Employee Developer

38 people marked this as a favorite.
Logan Bonner wrote:
We on the design team are really not looking forward to writing the remaining five volumes of the Advanced Class Guide Adventure Path. Geez, 50 more classes!

On the other hand, it was the easiest Adventure Path that Team AP has ever done!

Grand Lodge

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Raphael Valen wrote:
Logan Bonner wrote:
We on the design team are really not looking forward to writing the remaining five volumes of the Advanced Class Guide Adventure Path. Geez, 50 more classes!
lol dont forget all the archtypes and spells and feats and stuff lmao XD

And I've been suggesting over the past couple years that Pathfinder isn't suffering from game breaking bloat. This Adventure Path is going to change all of that.


16 people marked this as a favorite.

mistakes happen
SWIM THROUGH THE DOOR


5 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Eh, as far as I'm concerned it's the content inside the book that really matters. I'm actually hoping I can get one of these copies for myself and my players, they'll probably end up thinking it makes the book more memorable and/or cool regardless.

Logan Bonner wrote:
We on the design team are really not looking forward to writing the remaining five volumes of the Advanced Class Guide Adventure Path. Geez, 50 more classes!

Hear that, guys? 50 more classes confirmed! Can't wait!

Paizo Employee Developer

6 people marked this as a favorite.
Adam Daigle wrote:
On the other hand, it was the easiest Adventure Path that Team AP has ever done!

We're going to retroactively need some of your development time on a PFRPG book...

Paizo Employee Developer

30 people marked this as a favorite.
LuniasM wrote:
Hear that, guys? 50 more classes confirmed! Can't wait!

Let's just say if you're a fan of the commoner, you're going to be really pleased with what we've come up with. :)

Paizo Employee Developer

24 people marked this as a favorite.
LuniasM wrote:
Hear that, guys? 50 more classes confirmed! Can't wait!

I sure hope the hybrid adept/expert isn't OP.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I actually really love that you made the call not to send it back. Us fans know just how much time and effort go into building this product, and how much I would want it to be perfect - but as you mentioned, that would be such a colossal waste to have all of those otherwise flawless books in a landfill. Now, 1)Those of us who get our hands on the first run of these books have something obvious to point to, and 2)It's like home cooking. There's lumps, but that's how you know it was made, with love, by people.

Designer

16 people marked this as a favorite.

It's also the only Pathfinder Adventure Path so far that isn't set on Golarion at all, so it could be of great use to our fans who play in other settings.


23 people marked this as a favorite.

"Okay, welcome to the first session of the new adventure path!"

"Rad! Do we start in a tavern?"

"Let's see...nope, says here you all are currently in a...uh, an Arcanist."

"...what?"

"Okay, yeah. So you all are in an Arcanist...what do you want to do? You can go investigate the recent..uh...investigator...or you can certainly travel to...uh...Bloodrager...town?"

"Dude what the hell?"

Designer

22 people marked this as a favorite.
Logan Bonner wrote:
LuniasM wrote:
Hear that, guys? 50 more classes confirmed! Can't wait!
I sure hope the hybrid adept/expert isn't OP.

Hey, that one's my pet class Logan. The iconic is going to have a loving family and plenty of friends.

Liberty's Edge

This brings up the question guys - Why so many logos? You've re-branded before, and the game has never really been more unified than it is today. (Ok, not counting the online game or the card game)

But it seems you guys could go with one new fancy Pathfinder logo, and brand the lines separately.


16 people marked this as a favorite.

Hmm, Advanced Class Guide with rare cover printing error?

Hold onto your copies, people. Could become a collectible in 20 years. :)

prototype00


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Don't sweat about it. All Pathfinder books are amazingly intricate with attention to countless detail. The result is always gorgeous, and with this much to do, it's bound to occur some mistake once in a while. I don't think the team will find any lack of support because of this.


3 people marked this as a favorite.

Fun story.

The same thing happened with Halo: Combat Evolved. Originally, the pistol in that game was meant to be a weak standby to use when all other weapons were out of ammo. But literally right before the disk went to be printed, someone changed the weapon to deal 3 times as much damage.

But it went on to become the defining weapon of that game, and people were pissed when it Halo 2 had a wimpy little pistol in it that didn't hit like the handcannon that was in Halo: Combat Evolved.

What I'm trying to say, is that maybe this will stick.

Paizo Employee Developer

10 people marked this as a favorite.
Mark Seifter wrote:
Logan Bonner wrote:
LuniasM wrote:
Hear that, guys? 50 more classes confirmed! Can't wait!
I sure hope the hybrid adept/expert isn't OP.
Hey, that one's my pet class Logan. The iconic is going to have a loving family and plenty of friends.

Like... *still* have? Like... alive? o_O

Dark Archive

I just look at it as something that makes the books more unique.

Dark Archive Software Developer

6 people marked this as a favorite.
Mark Seifter wrote:
The iconic is going to have a loving family and plenty of friends.

All of whom were brutally killed by kobolds to provide the motivation for adventuring.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Wow... well, isn't this just... I mean... this is absolutely... AWESOME! You mean you guys are going to send me what will eventually be a rare misprint of a book I am sure i will enjoy and use that could potentially become valuable in my twilight years. Thanks! :)

Yeah, I know that probably won't happen the way I stated it, but I'm not one to cry over spilled milk... as long as the lesson has been learned, no one was hurt, and measures have been taken to prevent it from happening in the future - which sounds like the case here. Plus, I really do like that my copy will be all the more unique someday as long as I take good care of it.

Scarab Sages

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Itll go great next to my ultimate psionics first edition that has three s's on press for dreamscarred press on its spine. First edition gaffes for the win!

Designer

9 people marked this as a favorite.
Logan Bonner wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
Logan Bonner wrote:
LuniasM wrote:
Hear that, guys? 50 more classes confirmed! Can't wait!
I sure hope the hybrid adept/expert isn't OP.
Hey, that one's my pet class Logan. The iconic is going to have a loving family and plenty of friends.
Like... *still* have? Like... alive? o_O

Yes. Don't worry, the artistocrat/warrior hybrid's entire kingdom died during the fall of imperial Lung Wa.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Christopher Anthony wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
The iconic is going to have a loving family and plenty of friends.
All of whom were brutally killed by kobolds to provide the motivation for adventuring.

Actually, the iconic is going to BE a kobold.


You've ruined my collection Paizo, AND the spirit of Christmas! Damn you all!

Designer

8 people marked this as a favorite.
mechaPoet wrote:
Christopher Anthony wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
The iconic is going to have a loving family and plenty of friends.
All of whom were brutally killed by kobolds to provide the motivation for adventuring.
Actually, the iconic is going to BE a kobold.

Close, he's a lawful good orc named Mica Zey. His human great-grandfather was related to Aram Zey and had a loving relationship with an orc woman. Their entire tribe became good-aligned and worships Shelyn, and after several generations, despite having a little bit of human blood, he is mechanically a full orc.


Ashanderai wrote:
Wow... well, isn't this just... I mean... this is absolutely... AWESOME! You mean you guys are going to send me what will eventually be a rare misprint of a book I am sure i will enjoy and use that could potentially become valuable in my twilight years. Thanks! :)

This.

There's those of us that will just eat up first editions with obvious differences.

Silver Crusade

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

As far as I'm concerned, a mistake on the front cover just makes the book a collector's item.


Just curious: Did anyone loose their job as the result of this mistake? They would have in most other companies? (Not that it is any or our bees wax.)

Paizo Employee Publisher, Chief Creative Officer

21 people marked this as a favorite.

Bless your heart.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 32

13 people marked this as a favorite.

With all these posts touting excitement for a rare 1st ed. misprint, I'm not convinced this isn't a finely tuned marketing scheme with an in-depth understanding of nerd brains.

Dark Archive

Not a problem now I get to screw with a friend saying it is an adventure path


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

...

Wait...

Does this mean the ACG is going to be delivered with my AP Subscription?


1 person marked this as a favorite.

No big deal, Erik. I think that you guys made that best decision to not turn the ship around. I don't care about the logo mistake. I likely wouldn't have even noticed the error if you hadn't pointed it out. I wants my book. I wants it!

Webstore Gninja Minion

10 people marked this as a favorite.
Majuba wrote:

...

Wait...

Does this mean the ACG is going to be delivered with my AP Subscription?

If you have a preordered Advanced Class Guide in your sidecart, that is the idea. :D

Spoiler:

ANDROID BLOODRAGER FOR THE WIN.

Grand Lodge

20 people marked this as a favorite.

So there was an error in the logo reigon??


As long as my Warpriest is still in there...

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.

If you signed off on a proof and it came back from the printer different than the proof you signed off, the printer is at fault and should reprint them at their cost. And why would you send them to a landfill instead of recycling them?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Scribbling Rambler wrote:
So there was an error in the logo reigon??

You are a cruel, cruel man. You probably just gave James a horrific flashback.


If a doctor makes a mistake, someone can die. If a detective screws up, a person can be wrongly convicted.

In the grand scheme of things this is no big deal. :-)


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Pity this wasn't for the Spring release or you could say April Fools!

In all seriousness, though, think of it as an opportunity for the 2015 Paizocon/Gencon, especially with the paper cover idea. And maybe even a PFS special called To Err is Human, playing the mythic pregens of Paizo staff.

Designer

17 people marked this as a favorite.

I think the real question on everyone's minds is when this AP will be sanctioned for PFS and what level range the chronicle sheet will be. There's no many different items that it would give access to, it's probably going to need multiple chronicle sheets like Destiny of the Sands did.

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I can't speak for anyone but me but I feel this "mistake" makes the ACG even more cool.


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Even though the content has not 100% sold me yet, this cover logo mix up thing has me wanting the book for sheer amusement. I don't see egg on your collective faces (except Jason, but he still needs a required Gauntlet face punch, so what's a little egg?) but just a big dopey grin of amusement. Because that's what you do. :)

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