cinderember's page

cinderember wrote:

I am a satyrist at heart. I have the best intensions, really.

You have sex with satyr's I didn't even know those were real?

Yeah

Ya all forgot another pathfinder. sheesh! Which is a pretty cool one by the way.

I rather like Pathfinder as a name. Even if the name was "Poop in a bucket," that does not change what a decent product it is. At least the name invokes a good and perhaps adventurous image. If it is a great product it may even become synonymous with gaming. I mean, look at Kleenex. That's a pretty dumb sounding and looking name, yet most people refer to tissue paper as kleenex.
I suggest a nice big dose of "get over it."
What would you have it be, "darth_borehd's big adventure?"

Edit: I apologize for those last lines.I'm in a pissy mood.

Noted. Pre-fanboys would buy it even if it was called "Poop in a bucket"...so what's the hassle with changing the name again?

darth_borehd wrote:

Something more related generic fantasy. Keep the campaign setting and the adventure paths named Pathfinder but change the RPG rules to something not connecting to them. (Sort of like the relationship between "Eberron" and Dungeons & Dragons".

I agree; using the name Pathfinder for everything is overkill, IMO.

My suggestion: Paths & Perils

I like Paths & Perils. Damned good. Sounds great!

What's a pre-fanboy?

A fanboy of something before its even out of alpha.

Pathfinder = finding the adventure path

I like the name just fine. It doesn't conjure up images of a movie or a vehicle to me. Rather, I think of a ranger trailblazing and exploring.

As for newbies, yeah, a few have asked me if it was based on the movie, but as soon as I tell them that it's not, they forget about it.

Also, Pathfinder doesn't have the geek/devil worship associations to it that Dungeons & Dragons may have. I don't have to feel uncomfortable wondering what people are thinking when I say that I'm playing a game called Pathfinder.

No pathfinders associations are much less relavent, but also not that great:

1. A fairly low rated SUV by Nisan.
2. A very low rated Viking movie.
3. A non-profit family planing organization. Free condoms!
4. A malfunctioning Mars lander.
5. A Socialist Publishing Company (No really, Pathfinder Press is dedicated to the socialist movement)
6. Hundreds of little companies that use the name because its very COMMON.
7. And finally, it ultimately conjures up images of a poor old native american guy being duped into leading early settlers into more land they could later "aquire".

Some people. myself included, have stated that they like Pathfinder but prefer it to have a better name. In trying to get people to try it, a common misconception is that it is based on that Viking movie of the same name.

We all know "Dungeons & Dragons" and other names have been taken, so what would you rename it?

Bridges and Bullywugs definitely. Damned I'd buy that in a second. I love that name. Awesome!

Well, seriously though, Pathfinder Chronicles RPG sounds sweet. Pathfinder is a car, bad viking movie, or an old indian guy. In any case, I have no idea what it has to do with fantasy roleplaying. Oh yeah, there is that magazine that "is SOOO much better than just a magazine *anime style knee-knocking and tittering*" that I don't subscribe to and never will because I don't use adventure paths or extra fluff.

Seriously though, change the name to something relevant. We can't possible be stuck with a bad name just because the pre-fanboys are used to it. Come on, if its soooo popular, it can only get more popular if you change the name. The pre-fanboys may get mad, but seriously, they'll buy it no matter what at this point.

BTW, take me with a grain of salt people. I am a satyrist at heart. I have the best intensions, really.

Heck, why not call it Mazes and Monsters?

I second it. Maybe Paizo can get Tom Hanks to endorse it as well. Ok its settled then. The new name is "Mazes and Monsters: A Pathfinder Chronicles Roleplaying Game that is not Dungeon's and Dragons because we can copy everything else from 3.5 except the name." I think that actually might leave room for a little cover art too. Maybe a naked anime-style goblin in the corner with violet who-ville hair holding a lollypop. Thats fairly unique. People will love it. I'm on board. I'll only buy this game if it has those things. Oh, and if they buy my 4e books for 3 cents and then publically light them on fire while dancing in circles shouting "Shub-Nirgoth, iya iya" at least 5 times. Then, and only then, will they have my sale. Oh and I want a pony.

Thanks

LogicNinja wrote:

Thousands of downloads? Like, tens of hundreds? Wow! This game is a HUGE HIT.

I believe the Alpha got 10,000 unique downloads in the first week, and topped out at 25,000 uniques.

The beta, meanwhile, sold out at Gen Con in less than 9 hours.

Yeah, but how many copies? If they only brought 3 copies, nine hours would be pretty pathetic.

If the OP was trying to be constructive he sure made some bad choices in his words. And suggesting that Paizo do something as WT as offering credit for turning in their 4e books is crude and silly. Not Paizo's style of doing things.

A lot of stores/companies do this. I never found it crude or silly, I found it convenient and smart. How about you take your own advice and back it up with more than just one example that was poorly exicuted to begin with.

Constructive would have been...

1.) I'm not entirely convinced that Pathfinder is the best choice for the name of this game. It does not conjure up visions of high fantasy adventures that are indicative of Dungeons and Dragons. This doesn't create that connection in peoples minds between Pathfinder and D&D. It may potentially confuse them and people won't realize what it s....

PotAto ..patato, we all say things in our own way. If you could provide some solid proof that your way gets things done faster, then I may conform a bit. According to politicians and cooperations, who actually make the money, your way is the losing way.

or Something to that effect. I personally think it's a very appropriate name considering the fluff of the game. OH and if your going to make a statement like "There are a lot of people put off by the name as well..." well how about some solid proof? This is the FIRST POST I've read by anyone here suggesting that it's a bad choice for a name.

A just because it is the first post makes it wrong? Would you like a signed petition? Is that what it will take for you to see I have a valid argument? The point was that many people are so put off by the name, they do not want to even get involved with the boards, hence no posts by those people.

Art is subjective. Everyone is going to have a different opinion. BUT making silly statements...

Writing style and form is also subjective and so is the word "silly", but that doesn't stop you from critiquing me. News for you sir, I am not in BETA format. You can not edit me or make suggestions for improvements. This form is to critique the Pathfinder game, not me.

Very well said, most of you.

Still, let us not give Pathfinder an "Emperor's New Clothes" complex. Just because you like and want to support something, doesn't mean you have to be nice and avoid things that bother you, no matter how small. Especially at this phase, when things really CAN be changed. I hear a lot of "yes-men" out there, and that is very disturbing. The game doesn't need any yes-men right now. It needs overly critical jack-asses that will speak their mind on all matters. Its up to the Pathfinder design team to sort through these and use them to make the BEST GAME POSSIBLE. I am sure someone on the design team agreed with at least one of my points, perhaps even thought of it before, and if my post was the slightest push to change something, then all the better. If we all just say "hey dont sweat the small stuff, no game is perfect"...then what do we get? A game full of a bunch of little design flaws.

So I will now re-address my original post, in light of the feedback:

1. Yeah, I still don't like the name "Pathfinder" and I really do see it as a weakness for the RPG overall. Sure everyone who is ALREADY on board with the game may love it, gotten used to it, or see it as an icon. However, those that have NOT jumped on board often ridicule the name, and see it as a poor choice. Its never too late to change something, and you can keep product awareness with a just a subtitle; "Wizards & Warriors, a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game" or reverse it with "Pathfinder: A dungeons & dragons roleplaying game". I don't know the legal remifications of all this. Still, the people already established on this board don't agree OF COURSE. The people who disagree are likely too put off by the current name to be interested.

2. I think the consensus is that, love it or hate it, the race line-up sketch is out in the final version. The problem with doing something really odd is that a few people really will love it, while most will still hate it. You can still be edgy without being silly. The gnome in the sketch, as inspirational as many of you claim it to be, is very Yu-Gi-Oh, and will really annoy a lot of people.

3. Ok Ok, its a bad marketing thing. I was really coming at it as a sympathetic move, and not a marketing one. But whatever. Maybe they could do it privately for people who ask for it.

4. Well, a lot of you actually agree with this one. The spell format should be revised. THANK YOU.

And a final note: Don't criticize the critic! You don't want feedback? Keep up that sort of nonsense. You'll have a pretty game that only your little cliche likes, and it will die off because it doesn't have enough support. You may like something, but that doesn't mean everyone else has to. I happen to think all the things I mentioned would be very important to the success of this product. I just happen to be speaking from more an outsider's view; which is EXACTLY what this game needs right now.

cinderember wrote:

3. At the release of the final version, have people trade in their 4.0 crap for credit to get the hardcover of <What will hopefuly be the RPG formally known as Pathfinder>. I was duped into buying that load of garbage that is 4E, and feel a little obligation to that $100 pile of worthless and defiled paper. Hey, if I can get $10 credit towards pathfinder for it, its damned worth it. Then you can make a bonfire and roast hotdogs or something.

White Wolf tried to get people to trade in D&D 3.5 for Exalted, and that was extremely poorly received. Of course, it didn't help that it was referred to as "graduating" from D&D.

Don't make it competitive. Just make it an option for those that tried 4E and it wasn't the game for them. Its just sympathetic, not competitive. Yeah, i think 4E sucked, and that I wasted money on it. I think it would be nice to get some money back towards what I really wanted to begin with. Besides, exalted is nothing like D&D. Then again, neither is 4e... but it was supposed to be!

1. It would not be named "Pathfinder." I mean "Dungeons & Dragons" at least has nostalgic appeal, and nifty alliteration. Pathfinder sounds like either a crappy sport utility vehicle or a really bad viking movie, not a role playing game. What's in a name? A lot! There are a lot of people put off by the name alone...and you just don't want that! Change the name...why does it have to match the magazine? I say you hold a vote. You say this game is for gamers by gamers...then let them name it!

2. Trash that race line up sketch or nuke the gnome with the ice cream sunday on her head. It looks terrible. Its one of the first pics you see, and I would just assume to close the book and walk away than see more of that. The rest of the art is fantastic. Why is the first art you see so darn terrible and practically silly?

3. At the release of the final version, have people trade in their 4.0 crap for credit to get the hardcover of <What will hopefuly be the RPG formally known as Pathfinder>. I was duped into buying that load of garbage that is 4E, and feel a little obligation to that $100 pile of worthless and defiled paper. Hey, if I can get $10 credit towards pathfinder for it, its damned worth it. Then you can make a bonfire and roast hotdogs or something.

4. Format the spells a little better. It still looks a bit sloppy with the lines and such. I do not personally know what would make it better (I am not an editor by any means), but something is still off with that section. The rest of the book is perfect. Someone should teach the yahoos at WotC how to format a page...even the page numbers wander off occasionally in 4E.

And thats it. You do these four things,and I will garantee at least ten more people who actually buy the finished book. Maybe more feel the way I do, so if I know ten people, and they know ten people...maybe you'll get thousands with a few, simple mostly cosmetic changes!