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Dennis, My initial thought is that is there a way to simplify it even further. For instance, in terms of feats and the new player. Maybe letting them chose between 3 options for their initial fighter feat: weapon focus, power attack, and dodge (just throwing these out there). It gives introduces them to the concept of chosing between options without overwhelming and minimizes the amount of detail they have to sift through. A new player will not have the appreciation for a mass of options in the same way a seasoned player would. So to the extent any choice can be limited to a couple options. Beyond that the finalized character will need to be able to 1) make it through to beginning adventure and 2) introduce them to key concepts without throwing the book at them. There is a good intro book on web usability called "Don't Make Me Think" which talks about designing a website so the user can accomplish their objectives with minimal friction. I think initial character design for a "basic" edition should be the same way. A new player should be able to put together a character without really having to think about it.
Since you guys are working on rules here is a straw man microsite that could support the rules... RPG ORIENTATION
PLAYER SECTION: Pathfinder Basic Rule Orientation
DM SECTION: Run a Pathfinder Basic Game
EVENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Gamer-Initiated
PLAYER/GROUP REGISTRY: searchable by location TAKING THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Ok, I'm going to throw this out here. If I put together a Wiki or a Blog would anyone be interesting in plonking around with this and maybe playtesting it? I'm obviously very interested, but would want to get the official "thumbs up" from someone at Paizo. I wouldn't want to overstep my bounds, because there could be very good reasons for not doing this. Team Paizo, would you guys be okay with us taking a crack at this?
One thought. A “freemium” business model would go really well with Pathfinder Basic and help to overcome challenges with distribution and the cost of acquiring new players. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freemium_business_model 1) Make Pathfinder Basic available on the Internet to anyone who wants it for FREE in pdf form. Allow for FREE character generation software. Build a microsite that streamlines the entire roleplaying experience from cradle to grave for a new roleplayer: everything from what the heck is roleplaying to graduating to more advanced forms of roleplaying. Potential features: 1) email Pathfinder Basic to a friend, 2) system for announcing events similar to meetup, 3) system for inviting people to events, 3) registry of events that any web visitor can search, etc. While to many experienced gamers they may know where to find this, for new gamers it may be a much more difficult hurdle and consolidating it in one spot makes sense. 2) Also have “youtube” DM training videos covering both the basics of how to run a game, as well as getting some of the best DMs around to cover asthetics to really bring a game to life. Give away a couple of the best introductory modules that have been thoroughly playtested to see how they appeal to new players. Heck if people really like "Burnt Offerings" during Pathfinder Basic, chances are they could become a new subscriber. 3) Leverage the power of crowdsourcing. Instead of building it themselves, see if the online community can build it for them with some degree of supervision.
Just a thought and it may not even be in line with your strategy, but perhaps you could unleash some of the pent up playtester restlessness on brainstorming a basic version of Pathfinder rules to appeal more to the "uninitiated." Figure out a way to keep Alpha 3 rules intact, but find "innovative" ways to make it less daunting for someone who has never played an RPG before. It might be interesting running "Pathfinder Basic" playtests with people who have never gamed before and give people an execuse to introduce their hobby to a wider circle of friends and family.
The problem for the prospective gamer is that there are so many barriers in the way that are largely invisible to the average gamer. 1) Limited distribution at mainstream retail and visibility to mainstream prospects.
I think the “quickstart” modules are a great idea, but I would say the challenge is even broader. Is there some way to restructure a basic version to overcome these barriers? Let’s think blue sky… how could you sell Pathfinder Basic at Walmart?
Hi All, A group of 4 of us just put together a new game and we are looking to recruit 2-3 more players. Contact me at datasifter@gmail.com if you are interested. Let me know a little bit about yourself, what else you outside of gaming, and what you are looking for in a game. Here are the details… - Bi-weekly
I just wanted to say thanks for some really amazing products for the last several years and your visionary sense every step of the way. The Pathfinder RPG and how you are putting it together is yet one more example of that. While I have no doubt you guys do quite well, one long-term issue revolves around how you are going to bring new players into your system. The name recognition built up as publisher of Dragon and Dungeon no doubt resulted in a one-time migration of consumers into your fold, however, my sense is in the future it may be more difficult to achieve such a shift. In the long term if D&D is what brings new players into the hobby and lays the groundwork for their preferences in roleplaying, you guys may ultimately end up as a “switcher” system for those that are dissatisfied by other options. Undoubtedly, your plates are more than full at this point, but are you guys looking at tactics to attract the newest gamers and non-gamers to your system (e.g. non-FLGS distribution, targeted advertising, etc.)? One of your biggest advantages is that your revenue comes not from the system, but from supplements to the system. Similar to the Gillete razorblade and razor it is a matter of getting the system into right people’s hands cheap (free?) and then profiting off of the supplements to the system. Relative to other systems on the market, which rely on selling their core books I would take the opposite approach. What is the cheapest and easiest way to get as wide distribution for the system as possible even beyond the core gamer market. Here are a couple of ideas… 1) Put the Pathfinder RPG “introductory set” (downloadable rules lite pdf, truly amazing intro module) something similar to an iTunes gift card. (Think of it as putting the ultimate roleplaying introduction on a card). This could be given out for free at conventions, in direct mail, at retail, etc. 2) Test offering Pathfinder RPG “introductory set”, free chargen software, and cheap dice for anyone new registering with their name and address online. Determine in a year if you can achieve a relatively quick breakeven. My sense is if you get someone hooked they will eventually want to upgrade and you can more than make up for someone less than $1 initial investment. 3) Offer a discount to anyone who refers a friend. Offer an even bigger discount if that friend goes on to purchase a Pathfinder product. Anyway, thanks again for the awesome job you guys have been doing across the board. You guys never cease to amaze me.
I'm going to be relocating pretty close by myself in about a month and am looking for a group. If you are interested in another person please email me: datasifter@gmail.com
1) Do you plan to convert to the new edition of D&D? I'm pretty skeptical of 4th edition at this point. I'd take a look, but if nothing really stood out as markedly better I wouldn't convert. 2) If Paizo converts its RPG products to 4.0, how will that affect your purchasing patterns for our products? This would probably negatively impact my purchase behavior if I really didn't like 4th edition. However, one of my main criteria for whether I even consider 4th edition is which direction your company heads in. 3) If Paizo does not convert its RPG products to 4.0, how will that affect your purchasing patterns for our products? I would continue to remain a loyal customer.
I was quite upset by the news yesterday about the two magazines. However, you guys have done a spectacular job of managing this potentially devastating issue. After getting past some of the initial shock what I realized it isn't the publications that I care about, so much as the focus on quality and the passion that you guys have put behind them. What I want to know is besides buying the products (which is a given) what other ways can we help you guys out? Can you give us a top ten list of things that would really help move the needle for you? What are the major challenges that you guys need to overcome in the next couple months and how can the fans help?
My family is moving up to Santa Clarita so I am looking at either forming or joining a gaming group in the area (Santa Clarita, Palmdale, San Fernando Valley). I am 33 and work in marketing. I've been gaming for 20+ years. If you could use an extra player or would be interested in starting a group email me at ishowind@yahoo.com.
Looks like I am about to kick of my Age of Worms campaign in the next couple weeks. (There has been some chatter about plot hook issues on this board). This is compounded for me given that don't want my players going up two levels between adventures. I need to create several interlude adventures for levels 2, 4, 6, etc, without hurting the overall campaign momentum. In addition, my group is almost entirely neutral in alignment, which means they may not be motivated in saving the region. Here is the plan to deal with it, though I certainly welcome any suggestions. The first thing I plan to do is to work a couple things into their background that will have a payoff later in the campaign. - Local Events: In my game Age of Worms is based in Eberron. Diamond Lake is in the midst of an economic downturn as Sharn has begun importing their metal from overseas. Many more people are unemployed and desperate. I feel this gives more of an explanation for why Diamond Lake is so cuthroat and miserable of a place. - The Druid Character: Nogweir (leader of the Bronzewood Lodge) has been told by some of the nature spirts/animals rumors of "unkillable zombies" and "green worms." He has sent out one of his initiates to each of the five nearby communities to quietly see what they can learn. The party's druid is the one to be sent Diamond Lake. The intent here is that she can helping steer the party toward investigating the worms further. - The Fighter: The fighter and his girlfriend were recently laid off from Luzanne Perrin's payroll. Well before that, though, his girlfriend has been acting distant and just last week packed her bags and left. The odd thing is in a couple papers she left behind he found that "Worms Crawl In, Worms Crawl Out" poem. She is going to reappear in the Three Faces of as one of the cultists and will throw everything into singling out the character. - Dwarven Wizard: He is the nephew of Ragnolin Dourstone. Unfortunately, he doesn't like the underground as most dwarves do and is an embaressment to his uncle, who generally tries to ignore him. When he finds out his uncle is hosting the "Ebon Triad," he should definitely be more curious about getting to the bottom of things. - Changeling Rogue: She is one of the "workers" at the Midnight Salute. A one-eyed man with facial scars (Theldrick) arrived several months ago for "services." The rogue tried to escape notice, but one of her friends as a result was assigned to the job. Unfortunately, this friend has not been seen since. The character's friend was kidnapped by the Ebon Triad and used in some fell ritual. One of the skeletons in the Three Faces of Evil is going to have a tell-tale anklet that gives her away as the character's friend. INITIAL GAMING SESSION Most of the characters are recently unemployed and comiserating at the Hungry Gar. Also their are two Ebon Triad cultists having picked up supplies in town and the halfling tourists. Also their are the rival adventures. The rival adventurers are going to be waiting very impatiently for someone to arrive. During that time Khellek is going to be fairly rude to the waitress about the poor quality of his meal, while Auric (who has been drinking a little much) decides to egg on a couple of the characters. Basically, anything I can do to have the "rival adventurers" push their buttons. I want them to really not like the rival adventurers and then put them in a position to intercept the Cartographer's Map of the Whispering Cairn. INTERLUDE BETWEEN WHISPERING CAIRN AND THREE FACES OF EVIL They will find out all the proper information from Filge or his note with one exception. It does not reveal which of the local mines the cultists are in. To get that vital piece of information they will need to go through Smenk. I will see just how motivated the party is at that point to investigate further. The druid should definitely help push the party toward investigating things further, but if that is not enough then Smenk make secretly contact on of the other players about a missing girlfriend (fighter) or friend (changeling). Smenk will help them on the condition capture someone that owes him money. At this point I will introduce a "Box Full of Flumph," where they capture the Grackle of Smenk's behalf. Of course, Smenk really does want them to eliminate the cultists and figures he can kill two birds with one stone, by pretending he is doing them a favor. INTERLUDE BETWEEN THE THREE FACES OF EVIL AND BLACKWALL KEEP Unlike the adventure I think it is actually preferrable not to reveal anything about lizardmen, the Mistmarsh, or the Southern Hills at the end of the Three Faces of Evil. Instead it is actually more beneficial to have them think they have dealt with the threat at the conclusion of the Three Faces of Evil and go about their business and all is good with the world again. Afterwords based on their reputation I am going to have them do some mercenary job that is completely unrelated to the AOW campaign. However, one of the players will still have recurring nightmares hinting that not everything is right. The second "mercenary" job I will have them do is escort of shipment of supplies to Blackwall Keep for the garrison. Marzena will actually be the sister of one of the players and will hint that she may have some work for them when they arrive. The big payoff will be when the investigate the lizard men and find the "green worms" again... and now the unkillable zombie, they will realize that this problem is a lot bigger than they initially expected and the threat is not eliminated. At that point they should start asking bigger questions and I am hoping that they will be the ones approaching certain knowledgeable researchers on their own.
One of the things I always like to do is to integrate character backgrounds into the storyline. It helps to bring the story to life for players. For Age of Worms here are a couple ideas of for how to integrate character backgrounds into the first two adventures: 1) Alistar Land is actually the PCs cousin who went missing many years ago and was never heard from again. This will give the PC even more incentive to return the boy's body to the grave. They will be even more upset when the rest of their relatives bodies have been dug up and they should absolutely reviled when they have to do battle with the corpses of their relatives or during the scene at Filge's dining table. 2) One of the PCs families is in great debt to Balabar Smenk. He meets secretly with this PC and uses cancelling the debt as leverage to get them to do his bidding or persuade the group toward certain courses of action. 3) A local barmaid that one of the characters had dated a couple times supposedly left her employment for bigger things in the Free City. When the characters fight the Hextorites in the Three Faces of Evil, she ends up being one of the cultists. What creative plot tie-ins do other people out there have? |
