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I realize this might not be viable, as a lot of people don't want to by more rulebooks, but personally, I would be happy to see a PHB-like book with the SRD integrated with setting-specific material from the new Paizo Campaign setting.
For example, the major deities in the cleric class description, starknife in the equipment section etc.
Also, it would be a good opportunity to fill in the blanks in the SRD. I don't remember exactly, but IIRC there are some key elements left out, like experience progression and stat generation. Replacements for these could be brought in as well. Plus you could throw in some other OLG material that you want to use, and integrate important erratta.
Obviously it's not worth doing until you've proven that the adventures are selling, but you have already generated a lot of interest.
One more advantage is this; IF WotC is ending all of their liscencing because they're getting ready to release a closed-liscence 4th edition (not that I'm convinced of this, but I can't deny the possibility), you will already have a new core product in place that you can continue to build off of. In fact, it would put Paizo in good position to be the centre of the new OGL market.
If WotC does creeate a new closed-liscence D&D, all of the third-party OGL companies will be left with 3 options. 1) Continue to run with the OGL, which means at least one company putting out a core rules set. 2) Branching off and creating your own new system. 3)Packing it in.
Option 1) is ideal for Paizo's Gamemastery/Pathfinder line because it already has an established following. Some players would still follow Paizo into a completely new game, but more will follow down an established successful path. And right now Paizo has the most D&D brand power other than Wizards themselves.
Craig Shackleton
The Rambling Scribe
PS: I'd be happy to write that rulebook! :-)
You'd have to make new rules for experience and stat generation, since you can't use the PHB/DMG ones. There are plenty of OGL methods of XP, but I can't really think of alternate stat generation methods that I like.
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Contributor
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You'd have to make new rules for experience and stat generation, since you can't use the PHB/DMG ones. There are plenty of OGL methods of XP, but I can't really think of alternate stat generation methods that I like.
I wrote one for Dragon a while back, using three-dragon-ante. Obviously that wouldn't be usable for these purposes, but I have several more up my sleeve.
Craig Shackleton,
The Rambling Scribe
Eventually, I'd like to see a book that compiled a buch of useful OGL Feats (plus all the ones in the SRD) - maybe call it "Essential Feats" if that name isn't already taken, and have the entire thing be OGL. There are a bunch of useful feats from Wizards products that aren't in the SRD so aren't available for this new setting, and that means we need to start creating and compiling some new feats to add in the flexibility we're otherwise losing. (Not the SAME feats, I'm not advocating violating copyright here.) I'd pay good money for a hard copy, even if it was OGL and even if the list was hosted on Paizo's site for a while first, until it grows enough to produce an entire book.
And likewise, an "Essential Spells" book, to expand on the SRD spell list with some expectation that the spells will be balanced. I'd buy two copies of this book (one for me and one for my husband).
I already expect new monsters to be provided, and eventually compiled in collection volumes. But having a common pool of feats and spells that we know we can draw on, when playing Pathfinder adventures (or making submissions), would be cool.
Threadjack alert! Go to yellow alert!
I wrote one for Dragon a while back, using three-dragon-ante. Obviously that wouldn't be usable for these purposes, but I have several more up my sleeve.
Yes you did. I always have that issue near, but never noticed the author until now. Your name is so small up and to right of the full page illustration.
I use a modified version of what is in there (the reading is a little faster), and my players and I love to use it when we have no particular character concept in mind.
Anyway, very good article, just wanted to let you know.
The threat is over, cancel yellow alert.
When I posted my earlier wish for OGL feat and spell books, I actually didn't mean to say they HAD to be OGL - I think I was having a low-blood-sugar moment. ("Can only use other folks' stuff if it's OGL" turned into "Can only use stuff if it's created to be OGL" in my head - WEIRD.)
By the time I thought about it again, it was too late to edit my earlier post. So I just wanted to clarify/override what I said 2 posts ago; if Paizo made a book of feats and/or a book of spells for Pathfinder, that Pathfinder games could assume as part of the "feats and spells available to PCs and NPCs in this setting," I'd be thrilled, and I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
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Contributor
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Yes you did. I always have that issue near, but never noticed the author until now. Your name is so small up and to right of the full page illustration.I use a modified version of what is in there (the reading is a little faster), and my players and I love to use it when we have no particular character concept in mind.
Anyway, very good article, just wanted to let you know.
Thanks! You can always hijack a thread I started to compliment my work!
I'm glad that you like it!
Craig Shackleton,
The Rambling Scribe
I think a setting-specific rulebook for Varisia as discussed would be a GREAT idea! What technical difficulties would need to be overcome to make it happen? (xp awards and character generation already mentioned, but further expansion on the ideas are welcome)
(NOT like I'm anyone with pull, but I think the concept deserves exploration.)
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I think a setting-specific rulebook for Varisia as discussed would be a GREAT idea! What technical difficulties would need to be overcome to make it happen? (xp awards and character generation already mentioned, but further expansion on the ideas are welcome)
(NOT like I'm anyone with pull, but I think the concept deserves exploration.)
In all honesty you can easily just leave out stat generation and xp awards. Many others have. But there must be a way to allow them since Monte Cook's Iron Heroes has them.
I would be more interested in extra races and classes, the deities most certainly (they really provide a LOT of the background framework everything else is set against). Some new monsters and feats, you get the idea...
If you are really feeling up to it have a look at "the Iron Kingdoms" from Privateer Press. Their Player's Book is just rocking (and huge). Then they have a DMs book as well that is awesome and huge.
Another option would be a PDF version... anything at all would be nice really.
Iron Heroes does too. The book Mastering Iron Heroes also gives a simple and dirty way of doing XPs without needing the XP table in the DMG. It works well for Iron Heroes (especially if the game is more story or event based) where you don't use XP for crafting magic items and such.
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You'd have to make new rules for experience and stat generation, since you can't use the PHB/DMG ones. There are plenty of OGL methods of XP, but I can't really think of alternate stat generation methods that I like.I wrote one for Dragon a while back, using three-dragon-ante. Obviously that wouldn't be usable for these purposes, but I have several more up my sleeve.
Craig Shackleton,
The Rambling Scribe
That was YOU?
That is my default method of character creation now. It takes hella long, but the conversation involved in reconciling each of the cards to one another makes for AWESOME background and well-developed characters.
Thank you.
