Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Beginner Box (OGL) PDF

Not that anyone asked me, but I wonder if you couldn't have put in twice as many tokens, rather than upright-standing pawns?

Pawns are easier to move around, and easier to read from an angle other than "above." We also like that pawns let us depict full body art instead of just a head shot.

But even if we had gone with tokens, we'd have the same number of them, since they're mapped to the contents of the books.

For those subscribers who don't want this as part of their subscription, keep in mind that you can cancel and resubscribe. A little bit of a hassle, yes, but Paizo does not seem to mind.

On the other hand, if it wasn't part of the subscription, those of us subscribers who DO want it would have to buy it separately, as well as buying the PDF separately -- assuming the PDF will be available separately at all.

So, including it in the subscription gives those of us subscribers who do want it exactly what we want, and a way for those who don't to also get what they want. Not including it would give those who don't want it what they want, but would not allow those of us who do want it any way to get it using subscriber perks.

Shame about the thing about shipping :(

I've just taken the subscription to get the PDF as well as the hardback, but I'm going to have to cancel so I don't get this via shipping.

I -do- want it, but I can't afford to get it straight from you guys. I've had this problem with a few things I've wanted, that shipping eventually just gets in the way of it.

Here's hoping that my local game shop gets in one or two of the boxes!

LRN

Here's hoping that my local game shop gets in one or two of the boxes!

I'm sure if you ask them to bring in a copy for you, they'll comply!

Bit of a hope, and I'm not sure if it's been answered already, but there won't be a diceless version of the set made available as a replacement?

Bit of a hope, and I'm not sure if it's been answered already, but there won't be a diceless version of the set made available as a replacement?

I don't quite understand your question (replacement for what?) but there will only be one version made.

LittleRedNekra wrote:

Bit of a hope, and I'm not sure if it's been answered already, but there won't be a diceless version of the set made available as a replacement?

I don't quite understand your question (replacement for what?) but there will only be one version made.

Sorry, that was my mental failure :x

I was meaning for the subscription, I thought I typed that, but apparently not >_<

That answers the question anyway, thanks!

I like what you guys are doing with the Rise of the Runelords anniversary edition book for subscribers, getting the PDF for free if a subscriber pre orders. Have you guys thought about doing the same for the beginners box. That might make those subscribers who think this should not be part of the subscription happy, and still let those subscribers who want it for the free PDF the ability to get it.

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

I am actually happy that it will be part of the subscription. I might not have purchased it otherwise, but since I am already getting it, I now know what my nephew is getting for Christmas. I'm pretty sure he will love it.

Vic Wertz wrote:

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

I am actually happy that it will be part of the subscription. I might not have purchased it otherwise, but since I am already getting it, I now know what my nephew is getting for Christmas. I'm pretty sure he will love it.

I totally agree that it should be there, just a shame that the tax man is wanting a piece, which can't be helped by anyone.

Scribbling Rambler wrote:

Zaister wrote:

joethelawyer wrote:

Question, if you can answer it, will it be more like Holmes which lead players to AD&D by design? or more like BECMI and stand alone as a game in itself, a more simplified Pathfinder, taking characters to high levels with more releases?

What is "Holmes"?

Holmes is the "Blue Box" original Basic Set, from the days before "Keep on the Borderlands". It came with the Basic Rulebook, Module B1 ("In Search of the Unknown"), and no dice.... instead, the rulebook had chits that you cut out and pulled out of a cup. It's the set I started with.

OHHHHH. Holmes was the author who created the basic rules based on Gygax's rule set. Sheesh, you'd think someone would mention that. Yeah, I've never heard it called "Holmes" either; I've always heard it called the blue box, and I got one at Toys 'R Us back when it first came out.

Scribbling Rambler wrote:

EDIT: It had no rules for characters above 3rd, and the module included pre-gens which used AD&D rules in their stats, rather than the accompanying basic rules.

Note that the blue box set DID come with Keep on the Borderlands when I got it, but still had those damnable chits and you had to send away for an (uber crappy) set of polyhedral dice. I still have some of them, but most were lost over the years.

Yeah, over 30 years later this was the first time I ever heard it called Holmes. I own the Keep of the Borderland blue box. I might have some of the chits, but actually tried using them and they may have disappeared in the couple moves in the last 30 years.

Yeah, over 30 years later this was the first time I ever heard it called Holmes. I own the Keep of the Borderland blue box. I might have some of the chits, but actually tried using them and they may have disappeared in the couple moves in the last 30 years.

Yeah I hadn't heard about "Holmes" or the "Blue Box" until a few years ago when I went to an old school D&D website. I started with what is now called the Moldvay basic set but we just called it the basic set since Holmes was out of print (and we knew nothing about it) and the "Mentzer" Red Box wasn't out yet. By the time Mentzer came out we had moved onto AD&D and never talked about the Mentzer set. To our teenaged minds who needed basic when you can get advanced. :)

Pawns are easier to move around, and easier to read from an angle other than "above." We also like that pawns let us depict full body art instead of just a head shot.

Well, since those tokens have a regular side and a bloodied sided (which is an important feature in D&D's combat), it makes more since for WotC to use those. But since Pathfinder does not use a rule like that, it makes more sense to have the stand ups (and they are easier to see ;)

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

Guess I'll cancel my RPG subscription for a month then.

Yep. Class of 1981, here, and I'm getting one for myself right off, and planning to pick one up for my nephews later.

Yup yup, one for myself and another for my nephew. (amazing, for once I can actually echo Mairkurion's words... ;))

Vic Wertz wrote:

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

Guess I'll cancel my RPG subscription for a month then.

I'm not saying it's a bad product. Anything to bring new players into the game is beneficial. That said, I have no interest in it either.

Coridan wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

Guess I'll cancel my RPG subscription for a month then.

I'm not saying it's a bad product. Anything to bring new players into the game is beneficial. That said, I have no interest in it either.

Ditto. I have no use for it and October is a pretty product heavy month (was over $100 from my subscriptions with it) so I'm not gonna get it just to give to someone else.

I've cancelled this on my sub but will probably get my FLGS guy to get me one..the only reason I cancelled was that the thought of paying $44 postage on a game that costs $35 plus an extra 21% in tax plus customs duty on top of that,as it's a game, was just too much.

CD8D wrote:

Coridan wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

The Beginner Box will be part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game subscription. That's not going to change.

Guess I'll cancel my RPG subscription for a month then.

I'm not saying it's a bad product. Anything to bring new players into the game is beneficial. That said, I have no interest in it either.

Ditto. I have no use for it and October is a pretty product heavy month (was over $100 from my subscriptions with it) so I'm not gonna get it just to give to someone else.

The same for me. I have no use for this product. I already have plenty of dice, 2 different play mats and many miniatures. As a subscriber since the first core book, I also have all pathfinder RPG books, so I don't care for the booklets.

Hi there,
as a mostly BECMI and AD&D DM, I would like to know how, in terms of actual rules, this product works. For example, does combat require the grid due to Attacks of Opportunity? Are the skills simplified w.r.t. the SRD? How many feats are there? How many spells? Are the monster stats simplified?

Thanks in advance,
Antonio

Thanks for the Beginner Box Paizo! I already own every single product you have made, so I will admit that while I may never get much use out of it, I still am jazzed about it. Here is why:

1. I dig boxed sets. I have a few copies of the old white box D&D from 1974 and those are cool and fun to look at. I also still have my original red box D&D set from the early 80's. Many good memories and now I can add a Pathfinder set to the mix and hopefully enjoy looking at it in 35 years in my retirement home.

2. I have three kids who would really dig this set. This could be their red box. If the one you send me goes over well, and I am sure that it will, then I will have to buy two more (Christmas gifts - Santa's a gamer), maybe three because I want one too. If we really want this game to continue to thrive and survive, then we must go out of our way to get the younger generations involved. We are competing with video games and many other forms of media now, so this can be a difficult sell.

So for those two reasons alone, I will buy and enjoy your set. This seems like it is a great set to get new people into the game.

Thanks!

Hi there,

as a mostly BECMI and AD&D DM, I would like to know how, in terms of actual rules, this product works. For example, does combat require the grid due to Attacks of Opportunity? Are the skills simplified w.r.t. the SRD? How many feats are there? How many spells? Are the monster stats simplified?

We're not ready to reveal full details just yet, but the design goal was "simpler than the full Pathfinder RPG, but compatible with the full Pathfinder RPG."

rabindranath72 wrote:

Hi there,

as a mostly BECMI and AD&D DM, I would like to know how, in terms of actual rules, this product works. For example, does combat require the grid due to Attacks of Opportunity? Are the skills simplified w.r.t. the SRD? How many feats are there? How many spells? Are the monster stats simplified?

We're not ready to reveal full details just yet, but the design goal was "simpler than the full Pathfinder RPG, but compatible with the full Pathfinder RPG."

Snippets revealed so far point to: no AOOs, fewer skills, feats and spells, no combat maneuvres (therefore: no CMB and CMD)

I am in talks of setting up a Release event at the Local RPG store here, and would like to know if you have an estimate on how long the Adventure that comes with this can be played in? Is it similar to PFS scenarios?

Assuming you mean the starter adventure in the GM book (and not the solo choose-your-own-adventure in the player book), it could easily fill a 4 hours, especially if you have new players who are working their way through learning the basics.

Sean K Reynolds wrote:

rabindranath72 wrote:

Hi there,

as a mostly BECMI and AD&D DM, I would like to know how, in terms of actual rules, this product works. For example, does combat require the grid due to Attacks of Opportunity? Are the skills simplified w.r.t. the SRD? How many feats are there? How many spells? Are the monster stats simplified?

We're not ready to reveal full details just yet, but the design goal was "simpler than the full Pathfinder RPG, but compatible with the full Pathfinder RPG."

Snippets revealed so far point to: no AOOs, fewer skills, feats and spells, no combat maneuvres (therefore: no CMB and CMD)

Thanks for the info! Looks like this could be simple and fun indeed.

Another question/request...any chances that the demo adventures in the boxed set will be printed on separate booklets?
From my 20+ years experience with the Mentzer Red Box, once you have run them, they only become filler, make the rulebook unnecessarily heavy, and clutter the presentation of the material.

Another question/request...any chances that the demo adventures in the boxed set will be printed on separate booklets?

From my 20+ years experience with the Mentzer Red Box, once you have run them, they only become filler, make the rulebook unnecessarily heavy, and clutter the presentation of the material.

No. The solo adventure is in the player book, and the multiplayer adventure is in the GM book. For one thing, that easily allows us to introduce people to the books themselves from within the books themselves...

...and for another, because we didn't want a higher price point, our margins on this product are already very slim, and putting them in separate books would just cost too much.

I will buy it for my nephew , he has 12 years .

Thanks Paizo.

I'm wondering if there will be pawns pack? It would be nice for those who want to play with the grid but don't have money for the miniatures.

But I can difficultly imagine pawns for creatures larger than medium...

I'm so disappointed in you guys for this. I've been a subscriber for years (and a regular Dragon/Dungeon buyer before that) and I think that this is just unacceptable. If you don't make provisions to omit this from my subscription, I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel. Foisting a kid's game on your subscribers is, frankly, a very Wizards of the Coast-style thing to do. I thought you were better than that.

As weird as this may sound, I don't actually play RPGs - haven't for years. I collect them to read. For people like me - and I know I'm not the only one out there - this item is useless. However you feel about its utility, though, I don't think that it can be reasonably argued that this should be a part of the regular subscription (or that it was implied by Paizo that the subscription would encompass items like this). It's completely different from what I signed up for.

I am THRILLED that you are putting out this product. I plan on using it to introduce my gaming group to Pathfinder...Then my kids!! Can't wait to get my hands on it!

I'm so disappointed in you guys for this. I've been a subscriber for years (and a regular Dragon/Dungeon buyer before that) and I think that this is just unacceptable. If you don't make provisions to omit this from my subscription, I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel. Foisting a kid's game on your subscribers is, frankly, a very Wizards of the Coast-style thing to do. I thought you were better than that.

As weird as this may sound, I don't actually play RPGs - haven't for years. I collect them to read. For people like me - and I know I'm not the only one out there - this item is useless. However you feel about its utility, though, I don't think that it can be reasonably argued that this should be a part of the regular subscription (or that it was implied by Paizo that the subscription would encompass items like this). It's completely different from what I signed up for.

The provision they've made is for you to cancel and subscribe from the next item in the line. It involves two emails from you and one online transaction. Many of us are looking forward to the discount, the free PDF, whatever...

This way, nobody loses.

Libra wrote:

I'm so disappointed in you guys for this. I've been a subscriber for years (and a regular Dragon/Dungeon buyer before that) and I think that this is just unacceptable. If you don't make provisions to omit this from my subscription, I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel. Foisting a kid's game on your subscribers is, frankly, a very Wizards of the Coast-style thing to do. I thought you were better than that.

As weird as this may sound, I don't actually play RPGs - haven't for years. I collect them to read. For people like me - and I know I'm not the only one out there - this item is useless. However you feel about its utility, though, I don't think that it can be reasonably argued that this should be a part of the regular subscription (or that it was implied by Paizo that the subscription would encompass items like this). It's completely different from what I signed up for.

The provision they've made is for you to cancel and subscribe from the next item in the line. It involves two emails from you and one online transaction. Many of us are looking forward to the discount, the free PDF, whatever...

This way, nobody loses.

I'm actually really surprised that people think this is ok. Everyone that's left a comment here has stated that they're going to gift this set to someone else. It certainly isn't a product intended for established players. So what it boils down to is that you're going to advertise for Paizo and pay them for the privilege! Now, what should really disturb you is that it's pretty clear they knew that this act would alienate some of their subscribers, but they felt that the cost/benefit ratio would play out in their favor with new customers. That's the kind of trade-off Paizo has never made before - they've always been loyal to their loyal fan base. This represents a change in that philosophy. I don't think it's good at all.

OK you're right. It's my responsibility to stop and start my subscription so that Paizo can send out a boxed set of little cardboard tidbits and stripped down rules to everyone,

Exactly! So that those of us who DO want it as part of the sub (myself and many others included) aren't penalized. Doing it this way allows Paizo to make everyone happy, considering that they make it so easy and worry-free to cancel a sub for a product at any time.

even though the subscription was clearly never intended for items like this. Got it.

I disagree. I think if this was the FIRST thing they ever put out, people wouldn't have any issues at all with this being a part of the RPG line sub. One needs to remember that, in theory, this WILL be the first product for many people taking up the RPG sub. I really don't see why they would have done things any differently.

Libra wrote:

OK you're right. It's my responsibility to stop and start my subscription so that Paizo can send out a boxed set of little cardboard tidbits and stripped down rules to everyone,

Exactly! So that those of us who DO want it as part of the sub (myself and many others included) aren't penalized. Doing it this way allows Paizo to make everyone happy, considering that they make it so easy and worry-free to cancel a sub for a product at any time.

Libra wrote:

even though the subscription was clearly never intended for items like this. Got it.

I disagree. I think if this was the FIRST thing they ever put out, people wouldn't have any issues at all with this being a part of the RPG line sub. One needs to remember that, in theory, this WILL be the first product for many people taking up the RPG sub. I really don't see why they would have done things any differently.

I don't think there's any evidence that there's going to be a massive influx of new RPG subscribers just in time for this boxed set. I think what Paizo intends is that you're going to shell out 30 bucks for an intro boxed set that you'll then give away. If you want to do something like that, fantastic. It's clearly not what the subscription service was meant for, and it's a crooked thing for Paizo to do.

As others have said, there's nothing intrinsically wrong with an intro set of stripped down rules and playing aids - but the subscription line is the wrong place to put it.

I don't think that it can be reasonably argued that this should be a part of the regular subscription (or that it was implied by Paizo that the subscription would encompass items like this). It's completely different from what I signed up for.

Take your game to the cutting edge with a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game ongoing subscription! Stay on top of new rules developments, exciting new classes and character abilities, and great game mastering tools with hardcover rulebooks, monster books, and rules-focused accessories aimed at giving you the best possible Pathfinder RPG experience!

I'm actually really surprised that people think this is ok. Everyone that's left a comment here has stated that they're going to gift this set to someone else.

I intend to keep this. Now it's not "everyone" (not that it ever was).

It certainly isn't a product intended for established players.

How do you figure? I intend to utilize the box to introduce new people to the game, and I'm an established player.

So what it boils down to is that you're going to advertise for Paizo and pay them for the privilege!

Pump the brakes. I'm "advertising" for players so that I can continue gaming. It *IS* a privilege that I have a product designed specifically to introduce new players. I *NEED* new players.

Now, what should really disturb you is that it's pretty clear they knew that this act would alienate some of their subscribers, but they felt that the cost/benefit ratio would play out in their favor with new customers. That's the kind of trade-off Paizo has never made before - they've always been loyal to their loyal fan base. This represents a change in that philosophy. I don't think it's good at all.

What really disturbs me is comments like this. How would Paizo know that it would "alienate" their subscribers? There's an extremely simple method to temporarily end your subscription and pick it up after this product comes out.

This alienates people no more so than any other rulebook that people have complained about.

The fact that this is part of the subscription means that Paizo listened to their loyal fan base - when queried, posters here overwhelmingly responded in support of this being part of the subscription.

Libra wrote:

I don't think that it can be reasonably argued that this should be a part of the regular subscription (or that it was implied by Paizo that the subscription would encompass items like this). It's completely different from what I signed up for.

Pathfinder RPG Subscription wrote:

Take your game to the cutting edge with a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game ongoing subscription! Stay on top of new rules developments, exciting new classes and character abilities, and great game mastering tools with hardcover rulebooks, monster books, and rules-focused accessories aimed at giving you the best possible Pathfinder RPG experience!

Libra wrote:

I'm actually really surprised that people think this is ok. Everyone that's left a comment here has stated that they're going to gift this set to someone else.

I intend to keep this. Now it's not "everyone" (not that it ever was).

Libra wrote:

It certainly isn't a product intended for established players.

How do you figure? I intend to utilize the box to introduce new people to the game, and I'm an established player.

Libra wrote:

So what it boils down to is that you're going to advertise for Paizo and pay them for the privilege!

Pump the brakes. I'm "advertising" for players so that I can continue gaming. It *IS* a privilege that I have a product designed specifically to introduce new players. I *NEED* new players.

Libra wrote:

Now, what should really disturb you is that it's pretty clear they knew that this act would alienate some of their subscribers, but they felt that the cost/benefit ratio would play out in their favor with new customers. That's the kind of trade-off Paizo has never made before - they've always been loyal to their loyal fan base. This represents a change in that philosophy. I don't think it's good at all.

What really disturbs me is comments like this. How would Paizo know that it would "alienate" their subscribers? There's an extremely simple...

It's great that Paizo is creating a product that you feel privileged to be able to pay for. It's also great that you feel like somehow a book of stripped down rules and some plastic chippy things will help you bring new players into your games (are the regular Pathfinder rules really so complex that you need to buy a new set of rules for new players?). There's nothing wrong with that. Again - the subscription line isn't the place for it.

And again, I'll point out:

Take your game to the cutting edge with a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game ongoing subscription! Stay on top of new rules developments, exciting new classes and character abilities, and great game mastering tools with hardcover rulebooks, monster books, and rules-focused accessories aimed at giving you the best possible Pathfinder RPG experience!

See the bold part?

The RPG subscription most definitely IS the place for it.

Ultimately, though, the solution is simple, as I and others have pointed out.

Cancel your sub via the extremely quick and simple method provided, wait until the product ships, and restart your sub.

You've spent more time complaining about it being part of the sub then it would have taken to ensure you don't receive a copy as part of your sub.

And again, I'll point out:

Pathfinder RPG Subscription wrote:

Take your game to the cutting edge with a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game ongoing subscription! Stay on top of new rules developments, exciting new classes and character abilities, and great game mastering tools with hardcover rulebooks, monster books, and rules-focused accessories aimed at giving you the best possible Pathfinder RPG experience!

See the bold part?

The RPG subscription most definitely IS the place for it.

Ultimately, though, the solution is simple, as I and others have pointed out.

Cancel your sub via the extremely quick and simple method provided, wait until the product ships, and restart your sub.

You've spent more time complaining about it being part of the sub then it would have taken to ensure you don't receive a copy as part of your sub.

If you think "rules focused accessory" means "board game for 13 year olds" then great - Paizo has carte blanche to send out whatever they want.

Retracted.

If you think "rules focused accessory" means "board game for 13 year olds" then great - Paizo has carte blanche to send out whatever they want. They're lucky to have you as a customer.

And you have carte blanche to cancel your sub to avoid getting any products that you don't want to receive, while those of us that do want the "board game for 13 year olds" can enjoy it along with its free pdfs. Win win! :-)

Libra wrote:

If you think "rules focused accessory" means "board game for 13 year olds" then great - Paizo has carte blanche to send out whatever they want. They're lucky to have you as a customer.

And you have carte blanche to cancel your sub to avoid getting any products that you don't want to receive, while those of us that do want the "board game for 13 year olds" can enjoy it along with its free pdfs. Win win! :-)

I appreciate your humor, but I really think it would've been more appropriate to sell this as a individual product (and throw in free pdfs with that purchase) rather than put it on the subscription path.

Joseph Wilson wrote:

Libra wrote:

If you think "rules focused accessory" means "board game for 13 year olds" then great - Paizo has carte blanche to send out whatever they want. They're lucky to have you as a customer.

And you have carte blanche to cancel your sub to avoid getting any products that you don't want to receive, while those of us that do want the "board game for 13 year olds" can enjoy it along with its free pdfs. Win win! :-)

I appreciate your humor, but I really think it would've been more appropriate to sell this as a individual product (and throw in free pdfs with that purchase) rather than put it on the subscription path.

Since when this was announced they asked whether it should be part of the subscription and the majority of responses were yes, that is why it is in the subscription. If you don't want it go a head and cancel you sub, but since the majority of subscribers do want it that is the way it is going to go.

Libra wrote:

Joseph Wilson wrote:

Libra wrote:

If you think "rules focused accessory" means "board game for 13 year olds" then great - Paizo has carte blanche to send out whatever they want. They're lucky to have you as a customer.

And you have carte blanche to cancel your sub to avoid getting any products that you don't want to receive, while those of us that do want the "board game for 13 year olds" can enjoy it along with its free pdfs. Win win! :-)

I appreciate your humor, but I really think it would've been more appropriate to sell this as a individual product (and throw in free pdfs with that purchase) rather than put it on the subscription path.

Since when this was announced they asked whether it should be part of the subscription and the majority of responses were yes, that is why it is in the subscription. If you don't want it go a head and cancel you sub, but since the majority of subscribers do want it that is the way it is going to go.

Yeah, I don't think anyone is confused about the fact that it is definitely going to be part of the subscription. Thanks.

Justin Franklin wrote:

Libra wrote:

Joseph Wilson wrote:

Libra wrote:

If you think "rules focused accessory" means "board game for 13 year olds" then great - Paizo has carte blanche to send out whatever they want. They're lucky to have you as a customer.

And you have carte blanche to cancel your sub to avoid getting any products that you don't want to receive, while those of us that do want the "board game for 13 year olds" can enjoy it along with its free pdfs. Win win! :-)

I appreciate your humor, but I really think it would've been more appropriate to sell this as a individual product (and throw in free pdfs with that purchase) rather than put it on the subscription path.

Since when this was announced they asked whether it should be part of the subscription and the majority of responses were yes, that is why it is in the subscription. If you don't want it go a head and cancel you sub, but since the majority of subscribers do want it that is the way it is going to go.

Yeah, I don't think anyone is confused about the fact that it is definitely going to be part of the subscription. Thanks.

And thank you for skipping the part where the majority of subscribers in the original thread requested it be part of the subscription.

So Libra, are you just trolling? You've admitted that you're not a gamer and get product from Paizo specifically to read it. The majority of subscribers were excited to receive it as part of their subscription, you weren't. Okay. But Paizo has given you an easy way to opt out if you like. Why are you being so melodramatic, sarcastic and insulting?
For most of Paizo's fans, we're gamers. And for some of us lucky ones, we remember the excitement of opening a D&D boxed set and going through these strange new contents and weird shaped dice and starting a hobby that we still, years later, absolutely love. One of the reasons you receive anything from a company called Paizo, hell, most likely the main reason there are employees staffing and in charge of Paizo, is that moment when they opened up a boxed set and experienced magic for the first time.
At PaizoCon this year, I sat in the forum for the boxed set, listening to Erik Mona and Jason Bulhman, and realized I was choking up because I was looking at the contents of this amazing boxed set and realizing that my own children will most likely never get that same feeling because of an ignorant mother who categorically forbids me to introduce my sons to something this amazing for fear they'll turn out like me someday.
This isn't some cheap little knockoff. This is a game I'd be proud to show ANYBODY.
If you don't think Paizo should have put the boxed game as a subscription item, you have made your option clear. If you feel the need to cancel your subscription, do so. Or better yet, send the game my way, where I can use it to introduce a new generation of roleplayers at my son's school (oddly enough, named Pathfinder) to this wonderful game of imagination.
But please don't insult everyone who would like to share that sense of wonder with a newbie or a child.

So Libra, are you just trolling? You've admitted that you're not a gamer and get product from Paizo specifically to read it. The majority of subscribers were excited to receive it as part of their subscription, you weren't. Okay. But Paizo has given you an easy way to opt out if you like. Why are you being so melodramatic, sarcastic and insulting?

For most of Paizo's fans, we're gamers. And for some of us lucky ones, we remember the excitement of opening a D&D boxed set and going through these strange new contents and weird shaped dice and starting a hobby that we still, years later, absolutely love. One of the reasons you receive anything from a company called Paizo, hell, most likely the main reason there are employees staffing and in charge of Paizo, is that moment when they opened up a boxed set and experienced magic for the first time.
At PaizoCon this year, I sat in the forum for the boxed set, listening to Erik Mona and Jason Bulhman, and realized I was choking up because I was looking at the contents of this amazing boxed set and realizing that my own children will most likely never get that same feeling because of an ignorant mother who categorically forbids me to introduce my sons to something this amazing for fear they'll turn out like me someday.
This isn't some cheap little knockoff. This is a game I'd be proud to show ANYBODY.
If you don't think Paizo should have put the boxed game as a subscription item, you have made your option clear. If you feel the need to cancel your subscription, do so. Or better yet, send the game my way, where I can use it to introduce a new generation of roleplayers at my son's school (oddly enough, named Pathfinder) to this wonderful game of imagination.
But please don't insult everyone who would like to share that sense of wonder with a newbie or a child.

Ah, I was wondering when the accusation of trolling would come up. It's a common way to try to silence people who don't share your opinion. I'm also not being melodramatic, sarcastic, or insulting. However you feel about my opinions, and whatever your opinions are, the fact is that this conversation is taking place on a "product discussion thread." All of my posts have been on topic. They just happen to be of a different opinion about the product from yours or, as you say, from the majority of people who have posted here. That doesn't make me wrong for posting my opinions, and it doesn't make you right about wanting this to be a thread where only praise is allowed.

You've obviously got a lot of emotional investment in your identity as a gamer. Nobody is suggesting that you shouldn't be able to purchase this item as many times as you want, least of all myself, and you misconstrue my posts to suggest otherwise. You also misconstrue me if you think that I'm some random person who's never played RPGs but collects them from some reason. Of course I used to game! Of course I've got a background full of similar nostalgic moments! But all of your talk about the magic of role-playing games isn't a substitute for a rational argument. All I'm saying is that it's inappropriate to make this product part of a subscription line that is automatically sent out. I don't see anything in your post to dispute that.

I'm glad you think that this box will spark "a new generation of roleplayers." I personally have doubts that anyone of the age demographic you speak of will have much use for it, and think that you're going to be disappointed with the reception it receives from a generation raised on video games. But maybe I'm wrong. In either case, it has nothing to do with the point I was making about whether or not this should be on the subscription path.

Doing it as a non subscription item means some people are happy and some miss out (on the free PDFs, the early release).

Doing it as a subscription product means those people get those things and the people who don't want it...unsubscribe.

What's the problem?