I've opened a #pathfinder chat on the OtherWorlds IRC Network. Those interested in joining have two options:
GO HERE:http://irc.otherworlders.org/chat/cf.php and put #pathfinder as the channel
If you're using a chat client, such as mIRC, you can access the #pathfinder channel as follows:
SERVER: chat.psionics.net
PORT: 6667
CHANNEL: #pathfinder
Edit (text from Lilith later in this thread):
Here's a better link: http://www.otherworlders.org/chat/index.html
Type "/join #pathfinder" in the status bar and you'll be hooked up. :)
Oh, and to change your name...type "/nick MyRealName"
For those of you who have stopped by the chat: I'll be gone for a few days, but Liam (ldw) should be holding down the fort. See you in the middle of next week.
This is a great idea. Thanks. :)
I'll be saving a log of tonights chat, if anyone is interested...
Thanks, EP Healy.
Erik Mona, Paizo Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Dragon Magazine, dropped by the #pathfinder chat tonight. I've got the complete log, as promised, but here is a short summary of what was discussed (unattributed quotes were made by Mr. Mona).
Note: To encourage participation by fans and Paizo employees alike, Tuesday nights (in the USA) will be designated as "weekly Pathfinder chat night" from here on out. Tell your friends and their friends... but bring your own munchies!
- - - - -
RE the GAMA Trade Show:
"Distributors were very supportive, as were retailers. We are making the first three issues fully returnable by game stores, so we encourage them to order heavy in anticipation of strong demand. If it doesn't materialize, we'll take them back."
RE Gm vs. Player content in Pathfinder:
"We're splitting Pathfinder in half. The first half will be a huge adventure and the second half will be various articles in support of that adventure. Some of the articles will be very general in nature, and will have lots of use beyond the adventure. "Core Beliefs" style god write-ups, for example, will include lots of information for players. We'll also have monsters every issue, some looks at the wider world, and other fun stuff. It's not aimed specifically at players, though."
"The Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide is 100% safe (for players to read), and we'll make an effort to make articles on gods and things safe to copy and give to your players."
Sharoth wrote "What crunchy stuff will you have for the players?"
Erik Mona responded: "The Player's Guide will include a large number of player options, including some new weapons some regional-style feats and the like. This is a good question for the message boards, as the Pathfinder staff would be able to give more details."
RE monsters:
"I had conversations about that orc problem with both Jason Bulmahn and Clark Peterson today."
"I think that almost all of the 'core' (i.e. 'boring') D&D monsters could use a reimagining that managed to hint upon both mythology and first edition roots."
"The reaction to the Pathfinder goblins was very interesting."
EP Healy wrote: "Your discussion (last year) of dragons included cabalist links (something about seals and such). Any chance those elements will make it into Pathfinder?"
Erik Mona responded: "Maybe. Mike McArtor has sort of claimed the dragons as his special project, so I suspect he will be going a different route."
jlward wrote "Who designed the monsters that were written up in the recent blog post? Is anyone person responsible or was it collaborative?"
Erik Mona responded: "Very much collaborative. In the case of the goblins, James Jacobs and art director Sean Glenn discussed the monsters' thematic and visual elements, which resulted in a description we call an 'Art Order.' Sean sent that to Wayne Reynolds, who drew the amazing beasties. Riffing off the final picture, James Jacobs wrote up the 'Fun Facts' post to the Pathfinder blog, and the rest is history."
Samuel Weiss wrote "I hope the Pathfinder elves find a decent new expression."
Erik Mona responded: "Elves are tough, because there are certain elements that people who play elf characters won't want messed with. Same with dwarves. Those sorts of roles appeal to very specific types of D&D players, in my experience. Guys who play dwarves tend to play a lot of dwarves. Ditto wizards, honestly, but for different reasons."
"I don't really care for the 'elves as American Indians in the forest' approach. I am a fan of laconic, effete elves. I also like the idea that they are generally unemotional or at least somewhat detached, but they are capable of furious mood swings when their ire is somehow raised.
Samuel Weiss wrote "What I absolutely despise is the mega-paternalistic elves that gave all of creation culture and magic."
Erik Mona responded: "Yes, that is lame. Perhaps the greatest human magics were developed to overcome the influence of the elves. Claims of monopoly are an absurdity. Surely the abolteth disagree."
RE prestige classes:
"I'm sure we'll introduce some new prestige classes - when the need arises. But there are already a LOT of them in WotC books and just about everywhere else."
Rick Miller wrote: "I'd like to see a bit more of a focus on training for PrC's. Instructors who can teach that trade and such."
Erik Mona responded: "A series of instructors for various skills and such would be a cool article idea."
RE deities and cosmology:
"We already have developed a core pantheon of deities."
"Our basic assumption, at least for the first long while, is that most players will be using the D&D core cosmology. If the setting really clicks with people and they no longer care about D&D traditions, we'll probably do something strange with the planes. We will be exploring other dimensions, to a degree, as well as planets in the solar system modeled on Mars and Venus. Both of those things are extremely minor hooks and elements I've been working on, though, and won't manifest until at least next year. Venus will be filled with jungles and lusty amazons. :)"
RE high-level NPCs:
Hobert wrote, "Will there be any high level NPC's a la Elminster and if so how big of a role will they play?"
Erik Mona responded: "I think we want to keep the focus on the PCs, but there will be prominent NPCs in the world itself. Leaders, heroes, villains, etc. But the story is not about them, it is about the PCs."
RE magic level of the setting:
Hobert wrote, "On a scale of 1 to 10 one being Conan And 10 being Ebberon, what amount of magic will there be?"
Erik Mona responded: "Conan has a fair amount of magic in the stories I've read. But I understand your meaning... 7? With times in the distant past that might have gone up to 11. The Runelords date back to such an era, for example."
RE technology:
Gary Holian wrote "Is anything ruled in or out a priori in Pathfinder? Like gunpowder?"
Erik Mona responded: "Though the final decision has not been made, we are leaning toward some sort of firearms."
Dav wrote "Does the tattoos (the iconic sorceress) carries have a cultural significance within Varisia or is it just artistic license?
Erik Mona responded: "The story of the tattoos has not yet been told."
RE Pathfinder look and feel:
farewell2kings wrote, "When I see the artwork and blogs for Pathfinder and I hear descriptions of the Runelords, I'm thinking more of a throwback to the way the game used to be... is that intentional?"
Erik Mona responded: "Yes. That is by far the most popular brand of D&D, in my experience (and in my preference). It's really what we did with Age of Worms and Maure Castle and basically everything else that has been popular in Dungeon over the last several years. (Save for conceptually innovative stuff like 'The Styes' or 'Quicksilver Hourglass' and some pretty excellent Eberron adventures.)"
RE Why two paths each year?:
"Mostly to keep the pace going quickly and to allow more "jumping on" points. We don't want our Adventure Paths to stagnate or for people to lose interest. Plus, we'll probably not take all of them all the way to 20th level, which will keep the focus on the levels most people enjoy playing. We'll have lots of high-level support in the GameMastery Modules line."
RE interconnected storylines:
jlward wrote "So can I expect some of the modules to run togeather (Allowing me to keep a certain sense of imminent danger) or will each module sort of end with a go back to town and re-group. The regrouping is fine and does allow for some downtime RP but sometimes I like to just keep pushing on. Which I suppose I could do myself regardless of what the module says but I like being able to run the modules 'as writen'."
Erik Mona responded: "I think we'll let the story dictate that, but I suspect a strong preference for 'go back and regroup' scenarios."
RogueMonkeyChief wrote "Will we eventually see some sort of advancing timeline within the product line, with new APs referring to events in previous ones, or will it be static?"
Erik Mona responded: "It'll probably be similar to the relationship between the three Dungeon APs. The second Pathfinder AP (which is looking awesome in its birth caul) will follow the events of the first one, and will be set in the same nation. It is still being written, so I haven't had a chance to play it yet."
guest wrote "What about the GameMastery modules? They will be fleshing out a bit of the world while the Pathfinder focuses on Varisia(sp?)?"
Erik Mona responded: "Yes. Precisely."
RE conversion to other settings:
"We're trying to make it easy to convert to other settings. Incidentally, we're also trying to make each module stand on its own as a one-shot. We'll probably have a column or so of 'to play this as a stand-alone adventure' advice that would include some adventure hooks, some suggested AP-related plot elements to avoid, etc."
RE minis:
jlward wrote "I'd like to see a miniature line, at least one with all the major bad guys. Can Paizo throw that togeather in 4 months"
Erik Mona responded: "Working on it."
RE goblin plushies:
"The funny thing is I bet there's a way we could do goblin plushies. How about little plastic statues of them? Plushies are not out of the question, I suppose."
RE submission guidelines:
"Lots of chances to contribute."
jlward wrote, "So, from the few messageboard posts that I've read it seems as if GameMastery modules are going to become the entry level for aspiring freelancers while Pathfinder modules are going to be reserved for past contributors who've established a previous relationship with Paizo. Just my impression on the topic from what I've read and it may very well be that the matter still has not been resolved, but I thought I'd ask - is that about right?"
Erik Mona responded: "Yes, that is about right. Although there is something else in the works that will be open exclusively to writers who have not published a GameMastery Module or Pathfinder adventure with us."
jlward wrote, "And I'm assuming that you're choosing coverartists for Planet Stories based off of pre-existing relationships as well given the Andrew Hou did all of the ones for the current crop of releases and that he had previously done work for the magazines. Is that right as well?"
Erik Mona responded: "I think we'll be concentrating on established artists (not necessarily only ones we've worked with before, though) for Planet Stories. Andrew will not have a monopoly on the line."
RE conventions:
jlward wrote "Any chance that Paizo employees will be attending DragonCon in Atlanta this year?"
Erik Mona responded: "I don't think we're hitting that one this year. Gen Con is by far the biggest show. I went to Dragon Con a few years ago. A GREAT convention, but only a VERY GOOD game convention. Gen Con is worth the trip. It is absolutely phenomenal. I have been for the last 12 years unfailingly, and would still go were I living in Hawaii. And working at McDonalds."
"Gygax will be signing in the Paizo booth this year. WOO HOO!!!!"
Holy shazbot, Gygax in the Paizo booth?
Out of everything that was in the chat log, when Erik said this about NPCs - "but the story is not about them, it is about the PCs" - it gave me all sorts of warm fuzzies. It's an adage I try to DM by.
Pathfinder campaign setting. Big shiny book. *dreams fondly*
This has got me all excited and wanting to play/run a new campaign!!!
Great summary, EP. I almost feel like I was there. ;)
Just a reminder to all you intrepid forum lurkers: The weekly #pathfinder chat is currently on. Check the first post of this thread for details on how to join us.
Man, I missed it! Damn other side of the world!
Man, I missed it! Damn other side of the world!
Excuses, excuses!
Dagnambit! I too couldn't get on to irc. Stupid computers. Next week hopefully!
It's a little quiet...
Not any more!
*bump*
Ow, I bumped my toe...
We're all hanging' and a-chillin' - get in the room and chat!
Here's a better link: http://www.otherworlders.org/chat/index.html
Type "/join #pathfinder" in the status bar and you'll be hooked up. :)
Oh, and to change your name...type "/nick MyRealName"
Some BIG NEWS was leaked in #pathfinder tonight. When / if anyone gets me a chat log, I'll post a summary.
Hint: Path 2 was discussed.
Some BIG NEWS was leaked in #pathfinder tonight. When / if anyone gets me a chat log, I'll post a summary.
Hint: Path 2 was discussed.
and backfat gnomes . . . .they're as cool as they sound! ;)
BIG NEWS??
Please post a summary. I NEED TO KNOW.
Patience, Grasshopper, Patience. You will gnow when you gneed to gnow.
OK.... here are the relevant quotes. I'm too busy / lazy to sex them up for everyone. Sorry.
I believe the idea is yes: Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide PDF will be available on Friday.
Pathfinder will eventually hit the FLGS... but who knows when. Probably mid August.
We DO have a gnome iconic coming up. He'll probalby be on the cover of around Pathfinder 9 or so. Same with our iconic halfling. Only on a different cover. Maybe 11.
- - - - -
So I asked Erik earlier if I could spill the beans on the name of the next Adventrue Path. And he said that some related announcements were coming tomorrow.
Now... I'm not goonna scoop everything, but I can at least reveal what the title of the second adventrue path is going to be.
ANYway... After Rise of the Runelords comes: Curse of the Crimson Throne
So yeah. Curse of the Crimson Throne. It's set in Korvosa, the largest city in Varisia, for about 3.5 of its six adventures.
But yes. AP2 will be very urban. THere'll be 2.5 adventures that aren't; the rest is pretty much all Korvosa (and under it to a certain extent).
Curse of the Crimson Throne will be 6 parts long. Probably go from 1st to 15th or so, just like Runelords, although it might go longer if we realize we have more elbow room for the higher level adventrues than I suspect we will.
Korvosa is about 17,000 or so souls strong.
Third AP is still WAY top secret.
The "Crimson Throne" is the throne of Korvosa. The "Curse" refers to bad luck that Korvosa's rulers seem to have over the decades.
We've pretty much done everything we want to do with the Runelords in the first AP, so while there'll be tidbits about them here and there in Crimson Throne, they won't be really involved. There will be none making an appearance, for example, and the BBEG isn't a Runelord.
One organization that is involved in the events of CotCT is one that first gets name dropped in Pathfinder #2, in "The Skinsaw Murders," a group of assassins called the Red Mantis.
The weapon of choice for the Red Mantis is a saw-bladed rapier.
So: Adventure #1: Edge of Anarchy
Adventrue #2: Seven Steps to the Grave
Adventrue #3: Escape from Old Korvosa
And any similarities between that title and "Escape from New York" may or may not mean anything.
All three of those take place pretty much all in Korvosa.
With certain ventures into underground areas, I guess, but under the city.
S.W.E.E.T.
Chief Technical Officer
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Pathfinder will eventually hit the FLGS... but who knows when. Probably mid August.
We tentatively have a retail release date of August 29 (though we will have copies for sale at Gen Con, which begins August 16; subscriber copies should begin going out shortly before that).
(Of course, until we actually have copies in our warehouse, it's all tentative.)
Pathfinder will eventually hit the FLGS... but who knows when. Probably mid August.We tentatively have a retail release date of August 29 (though we will have copies for sale at Gen Con, which begins August 16; subscriber copies should begin going out shortly before that).
(Of course, until we actually have copies in our warehouse, it's all tentative.)
great news. So if all goes well, I should have my first copy of pathfinder in a few short weeks.
Snip
The "Crimson Throne" is the throne of Korvosa. The "Curse" refers to bad luck that Korvosa's rulers seem to have over the decades.
Snip
There seem to be a lot of cursed rulers in ... "Our World".
First CotKK, now CotCT...
I wonder.
"Our World".You mean Golarion?
Yep. Somehow that name hasn't been burnt into my brain... yet.
But I promise, I will learn it!
Contributor
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"Our World".You mean Golarion?Yep. Somehow that name hasn't been burnt into my brain... yet.
But I promise, I will learn it!
There's an easy way to remember the name, especially if you're an American football fan.
First, take the word "gridiron."
Second, add the phrase "go long."
Third, add the word "cheerleader."
Fourth, drop "grid" from "gridiron."
Fifth, drop " long" from "go long."
Sixth, drop "cheer e der" from "cheerleader."
Seventh, add all the remaining letters together to get "irongola."
Eighth, capitalize the G and move "go" to the front of the word.
Ninth, move "la" to just behind "Go." So you should have "Golairon."
Tenth, swap the i and the r, to give you "Golarion."
See. Piece of cake. :)