I'm playing a PC for the first time in 5 years (I've DM'd the years in between), in a Shattered Gates of Slaughtergaurde campaign. I've thoroughly enjoyed tailoring my PC to the campaign, by choosing reading the player's guide, and joining an affiliation.
Those two things alone have been wonderful.
So the kind of PC products I would like:
Player's guides for the different areas of the setting with regional feats, organizations, and areas of interest, much like the players guide for Sandpoint or Sasserine.
I like the little book format, too. A few bucks to pick up a book on a city that piques your interest (I would love to have one about Gradsul!) instead of 20-40 bucks on a hardcover... though I know it would be worth every penny, too.
A deity book is a must.
A races book would be great, but I'd want some good mechanics to be thrown in (regional feats, weapon familiarization, wizard specialty bonuses, etc) to bring the flavor of the regions into play beyond just flavor.
That's just a few ideas.
Oh... and an NPC named Big Jake. (Another shameless plug that hasn't worked so far.)
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The Player's Guide to Golarion
Plenty of stuff to draw the players in to the setting without any DM spoilers. A book DM's can recommend to the players that the players can read in full. It is hard (as in time-consuming) to patch pieces of handouts together for the players. And it is hard (as in self-control) for the players to really follow thru on the DM's request to "not read chapter 5" or somthing like that.
Hence, a soft cover (maybe 96 page, less than $20?) for the players.
Contributor
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Yeah, plenty of smaller books would be cool, even 32 pagers about a city or country or the main deities (a page and a half or so each would go a long way to helping define them).
Player stuff is good, as well as all the "toys" you guys seem to be so good at- cards, maps, maybe minis, dice (how cool would Sidehdron rune dice be?), even things like cardstock counters for monsters, spells, traps, etc. would be cool. Maybe an artbook like a "DM's companion to Rise of the Runelords" that just reprints the maps, NPC pics and handouts all in one place, so we don't have to copy them ourselves. It could even include a brief spreadsheet of "major players" to give to the players so that they don't have to keep refering to people as "the mayor" or "the father" when they come back from a few weeks away from the game.
Specifically:
1) Regional books with background (culture & climate stuff), player options (feats, skills, PrC's, other flavor stuff), region specific monsters, bad guys, sample encounters, mini adventures, more detailed regional maps..2) Book of villians/evil organizations....'nuff said on that. You can not have good guys/heroes without bad guys. Expanded details on the more infamous bad guys, complete with lair, minions, sample encounters etc...
These I agree with, but with some modifications:
1) Region books that are not ... Small Area books. Region books that focus on a single country or even a single city, while they can really flesh out a single small location, they can also be to limited in their focus. Recommended comparison books: Exalted's Compass of Terresterial Direction series. Each covers a large region (North, South, West, etc). These books have very broad appeal and sell well to the entire fanbase.
2) Book of Orginizations. Give players a reason to buy it as well. Making it villain/evil only, makes it a GMs supplement for the most part. And not categorizing an orginization as "good" or "evil" but instead an orginization that does some good things and some not so nice things makes for much better for plot hooks. Add in orginization specific PrCs/feats and people for players to look up to can add alot to flesh out a world.
I'd add to this the folklore and mythology of the area- my players love to hear about the grand heroes of yore and the vanished kingdoms they came from- it gives a depth of texture that's very immersive, especially if the stories can impact or hook into a here and now event, even a sidetrack one-nighter. Speaking for my own part, myths and stories are always linked geographically, and adding that to the setting can really help add an extra patina to the game.
NPC Cards: Make them similar to the Item Cards for each AP, with artwork, a description, player knowledge details and space for notes.
Ohhh good idea!!! Picture of a particular King/Queen of a particular location. On the back, you have a quick description and info that 3 different knowledge (nobility/royalty) DCs reveal. Same with local personages (local), golem designers (arch & eng), famous archanists (arcana), priests (religion), etc. Definitely a DM must have.
Same can be done with a deck of named monsters.
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NPC Cards: Make them similar to the Item Cards for each AP, with artwork, a description, player knowledge details and space for notes.
This is an awesome idea! My players always seem to have a hard time keeping track of NPCs. I like this idea even better than item cards. I'd pay for a deck of NPC cards for every adventure path.
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NPC Cards: Make them similar to the Item Cards for each AP, with artwork, a description, player knowledge details and space for notes.
*nods*
I suggested campaign specific cards a while back.. didn't get much of a reply on it, but I'd still buy it. Such cards would be a nice way to whip out the stats for an NPC without carrying all the AP books around. :)
Awesome idea! Would buy this in a heart beat. Incredibly useful.
NPC Cards: Make them similar to the Item Cards for each AP, with artwork, a description, player knowledge details and space for notes.
The NPC and Monster cards to give players to fill out what they know on the back is brilliant!!
I dont use the item cards but this is a great idea. For the visual reference on each card alone it would be worthwhile.
And Big Jake hit the nail on the head as far as books. The man is very wise.
Books for DMs to read are great but books players can read that have no spoilers are worth their weight in gold.
Really cheap "Players Guides to..." books would be fantastic handouts for DMs to give players.
Books for DMs to read are great but books players can read that have no spoilers are worth their weight in gold.
Really cheap "Players Guides to..." books would be fantastic handouts for DMs to give players.
I gotta admit, he's got a point. A Player's Guide to the Dark Moon Veil, The Isle of Terror, and other points of interest. I understand if these can't be produced economically, but these would be WONDERFUL if was a new one like 2 a year, besides the ones made for Pathfinder.
These would be great if GMM was going to have a few adventures taking place there. I.e. say for example a Player's Guide to Falcon's Hallow.
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Contributor
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A Player's Guide to the Darkmoon Vale... I.e. say for example a Player's Guide to Falcon's Hollow.
Your wish is my freelance project. ^_^
Your wish is my freelance project. ^_^
Any chance we can get one of those for *Booming Voice* THE ISLE OF TERROR */Booming Voice*?
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Contributor
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Your wish is my freelance project. ^_^Any chance we can get one of those for *Booming Voice* THE ISLE OF TERROR */Booming Voice*?
*shakes Magic 8 Ball*
Answer unclear. Ask again later.
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RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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I'd really like to see a "Faiths & Pantheons" book for Golarion. In-depth info on the relgions, their associated deities, and maybe some assorted Prestige Classes/Spells/Magic Items relevant to the religions presented.
It's so hard to accurately portray a cleric with next to zero functional knowledge of your character's faith.
I want a Manual of the Planes. Cosmology matters to me.
Sourcebooks for the Mars and Venus analogs would be good too.
A Monster compliation every few years would be nice, since you guys are putting out >60 monsters a year. Collecting them into an MM every two years or so would make for easier reference.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Some great ideas here. In no particular order, I'd like to see a manual of the planes type book, a deities book, and a player's guide with solid crunch based on region, class, etc, to give a stronger campaign feeling to characters.
In addition, I'd love to see some books in the style of the Forgotten Realms Volo's Guides. It would probably be better to focus these on a region as opposed to a single large city, so more like Volo's Guide to the North than Volo's Guide to Waterdeep. I'd also like to see a little bit less information on specific recipies for meals, and a little more on detailing shops and sites of interest to adventurers (weaponsmiths of exceptional skill, temples that provide free healing to those in need in exchange for a service, etc.)
I'd really like to see a "Faiths & Pantheons" book for Golarion. In-depth info on the relgions, their associated deities, and maybe some assorted Prestige Classes/Spells/Magic Items relevant to the religions presented.
It's so hard to accurately portray a cleric with next to zero functional knowledge of your character's faith.
Whoohoo! I am hearing a common theme here...
It's so hard to accurately portray a cleric with next to zero functional knowledge of your character's faith.
To heck with that. Its so hard to accurately portray ANY CHARACTER with next to zero functional knowledge of your character's faith.
Why limit it to clerics. Just because they're suppose to know and understand the finer points of a faith, its hard to portray any person with more then an ounce of faith in a religion if all the player knows about the faith is that they have XXX in their portfolio.
Well, you could just be faithless.
Also, how many people in real life know next to nothing about their religions?
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Well, you could just be faithless.
Also, how many people in real life know next to nothing about their religions?
I agree with this, but at the same time would imagine that in a D&D world, where clerics and other priests can perform magic granted from their gods on a daily basis, that there would be a much stronger sense of faith than in modern day Earth.
Or less. Proof begets belief, not faith. And would commoners be able to make the distinction between arcane and divine magic?
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I am a big fan of small portable game aids. The Map Folio is an amazing idea that I will be buying as soon as I can. I would like to see more products like this. Collections of maps for more random locations like ruined buildings or forest clearings. Or even city street maps for the towns and villages that are in the APs.
I would also like to see smaller guidebooks, say around the 32 page mark, for various races and cultures. The kinds of things that a player can pick up and read in and hour or so and then say “oh, so that is what a member of X culture is like.” Painted in broad brushstrokes is best, with the ability to draw a correlation to familiar cultures and societies in Earth history. Same books that I would like to see;
The Player’s Guide to Chelaxians: more general information about their empire, its’ history, how the people interact with each other, their military strategy as well as their style of politics. How do the various classes fit into this society. What does the world look like from their point of view. Also a little bit about language use and slang terms would be great.
The Player’s Guide to the Shoanti, Information on the various tribes, how they live, how and why they fight, how they see the world around them. What are their myths and legends? What stories do they tell their children at night?
The Player’s Guide to Varisians: The same information as the above books. Just looking at the world through their eyes and showing the world why they are the way they are.
The Player’s Guide to Magic, This would be a great way to show how you can re-imagine classic spells. Also show how magic interacts with the world and how people commonly view it in various regions. Do they have Wizard schools? Are wizards mainly taught through an apprenticeship? How do Sorcerers usually learn their craft? Do Wizards and Sorcerers have a standing feud?
The Player’s Guide to the Gods A book which describes how the common man views religion in this world with a section about each region and culture. This would be great for clerics who just want to know how to play their character without going too deeply into the cosmology and the nitty gritty of the behind-the-scenes stuff in religion. It would also work for anyone who simply wants to play a religious character.
The Pathfinder Arms and Equipment Guide, a book which describes not only the equipment in the AP Player’s Guides but also the equipment in the Players Handbook and the SRD. Which cultures are most likely to use which kinds of armor and weapons? Some rules and ideas about how to handle alchemy would be nice. Where in the world might I find various elements and alternate metals for weapons, armor and equipment? What gear was available during different time periods in the world’s history? A section about different kinds of money and trade goods would be nice as well. I know that both my players and myself would love this kind of information. Also, expanded rules for Masterwork Weapons and Armor would be nice. I’d like to see them take a place of respect in the campaign world instead of simply being a one-step stepping stone between normal and magical.
The Pathfinder Book of Artifacts and Magic Items, a book about various artifacts and magic items which have existed through the world’s history. Each artifact would get its’ story and the legends surrounding it, as well as information about how it can be created, destroyed and used. This should help a lot of GMs get ideas for adventures, and I know a lot of players who enjoy reading that sort of material because it makes the game world more real to them. This would also be a great place to put legends and other short stories about the heroes of the past.
The Dungeon Master’s Guide to Pathfinder, this book I see as being a larger book, and probably a hard-cover. Here is where a DM could find all of the extra information that they might want for running their Pathfinder games, as well as DMing tips from the Paizo staff. Details on running games set in the different historical ages would be great as well. But basically it would be a book for everything that players shouldn’t know or have quick access to.
The main thing is, though, that a player who doesn’t have all of the books shouldn’t feel like he of she can’t play a member of a certain race or culture. That was a problem that I experienced will the FR setting. The thing which draws me to Pathfinder is that everything necessary for play is provided in the monthly subscription. So, the information in anything that is released should be clearly supplemental and providing ideas and fluff. Go light on the crunch please. A few feats and skill options here and there go a long way. Some alternate class features would be pretty nice as well.
I can think of a lot of other things that I would like to see, but I’m limiting myself to telling you about the ideas that I know I would buy.
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Cosmology. In-depth treatment of the gods (ala the Book of the Righteous from Green Ronin). Regional data. Further detail on the 'wild' areas and the critters therein (including, perhaps, cultural details and the like for the sapient ones; are *all* goblins like the Varisian breed, or is there someplace where fiendishly clever goblin spellchuckers have assembled something resembling Real Civilization?) Some crunch to provide for the 'feel' - spells, items, feats, organizations (like more detail on the Pathfinders!), and so on.
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Theres too major things I would like to see as part of Pathfinder...
Scenery/random encounter charts
What I would like is a book full of neutral visual aids to help describe the environments throughout the world. These could be linked to specific areas, tied to a specific AP, or details of important locals such as Korvosa. The artwork should be scenic representations of the general environments to help the GM describe the area the PCs are in. for example a scene from Mierani Forest could be vastly different to Lurkwood and even Churlwood. Accompany each series of pictures with a typical random encounter chart details of the local terrain (with battle mat rules), maybe even a couple of same battle maps like the ones that appeared in the back of Frostburn, and perhaps even a sample encounter or two that is specific to the area, such as meeting an elven patrol in Mierani Forest.
So far Pathfinder has produced a number of excellent images throughout the first AP but many of these images include key characters or plot items that prevent their use as visual aids to the players. providing neutral visual aids would help wonders.
Plastic Miniatures
I harp on about this a lot but I really do enjoy the simplicity of the plastic/pre-painted miniatures over metal unpainted figures for so many reasons. They are more durable, lighter, easier to transport, safer for young children, and visually more attractive than unpainted characters on the battle mat.
I still wish Wizards would produce non-random sets of their DDM range, I have only been buying single figures for the past 5 sets they have released, avoiding the rare miniatures because the cost of a single is far too much. I can pick up every common and uncommon from a set for the same price as two boxes but still find that certain rare miniatures would see far more use by a roleplayer. I'd happily pay for a fixed set containing 1 guaranteed rare (such as the beholder) with a selection of thematically matching commons and uncommons.
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Plastic Miniatures
I harp on about this a lot but I really do enjoy the simplicity of the plastic/pre-painted miniatures over metal unpainted figures for so many reasons.
In total agreeance here.
In over 20 years of D&D, I have never purchased unpainted metal figures. Since D&D pre-painted plastics arrived, I've collected hundreds (thousands?) of the little things!
As much as I love Pathfinder and their goblins, I'll continue using D&D pre-painted plastics from my collection, than purchase unpainted metal.
Pathfinder minis would be an instant hit if they were available in pre-painted plastic.
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The Pathfinder Book of Artifacts and Magic Items, a book about various artifacts and magic items which have existed through the world’s history. Each artifact would get its’ story and the legends surrounding it, as well as information about how it can be created, destroyed and used. This should help a lot of GMs get ideas for adventures, and I know a lot of players who enjoy reading that sort of material because it makes the game world more real to them. This would also be a great place to put legends and other short stories about the heroes of the past.
And, let's face it, they've got a few hundred free examples kicking around the office already...
<rubs hands>
The Chelaxian Oubliette will be made reality! Bwahahaha!
Lots of great ideas in this thread. Since I'm a dreamer, and you asked, here's what I'd like to see as well.
1) 2 pages in the back of every issue devoted to a new Kyle Hunter comic. Like a Downer prequel, if WOTC doesn't own the rights.
2) I'm a big fan of counters (in lieu of miniatures) from Fiery Dragon Productions. I'd love to see a Golarion/Pathfinder set from them, like they did w/ Ptolus.
I had a great idea last night: FICTION!
One of the reasons why the Forgotten Realms got to its level of popularity is becuase of the books detailing the exploits of a certain drow ranger. What if Paizo commissioned a standalone fiction novel or two that contained no canon info (so those that don't read it are not affected by it). But something to spark the imagination of players and something simple to give non-players that they can relate to would be awfully nifty.
I'd prefer to see as few player oriented products as possible.
One of the things I like about Pathfinder and Gamemastery is that, in stark contrast to just about every other 3.5 product ever made, they are intended for DMs rather than players.
I'd hate to see Pathfinder corrupted and rendered unusable by an endless glut of feats, PRCs, and obscure character options. That's exactly what WOTC did with 3.5 as a whole. And that's one of the main reasons why my gaming money now goes to Paizo instead of WOTC .
The very thing that attracted me to Pathfinder was that it made my job as a DM easier.If Pathfinder turns into another setting that primarily markets itself to players by using overpowered feats and class options as bait, it's going to make my job as a DM harder.
If that happens, I might as well just go back to homebrewed settings and adventures instead of playing in Golarion. Please don't water down the good thing that you have going with a bunch of "crunchy" player supplements.
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No particular order:
1. Golarian Art Book. You probably have enough to do one a year. Make it a softcover so it's not 40 bucks. Sold! Really, who wouldn't want a book with a centerfold of Karzoug? Okay, don't answer that.
2. Sell whole pathfinder journals at an interesting size on nice paper. I'm thinking something like a moleskine, except it's filled with interesting personal observations and illustrations.
3. Organizations book (with all alignments covered).
I don't particularly want a whole book for this, but a nice timeline of general world events would be neat. If the world isn't fleshed out enough for this, then forget the request. It seems like the history of the world is goes from runelords to present day with only a "..." in the middle. :D
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Scenery/random encounter charts
What I would like is a book full of neutral visual aids to help describe the environments throughout the world. These could be linked to specific areas, tied to a specific AP, or details of important locals such as Korvosa. The artwork should be scenic representations of the general environments to help the GM describe the area the PCs are in. for example a scene from Mierani Forest could be vastly different to Lurkwood and even Churlwood. Accompany each series of pictures with a typical random encounter chart details of the local terrain (with battle mat rules), maybe even a couple of same battle maps like the ones that appeared in the back of Frostburn, and perhaps even a sample encounter or two that is specific to the area, such as meeting an elven patrol in Mierani Forest.
I like battle mats, and visual aids are fun!
The Forge Studios made some art packs for the Ptolus book and I LOVE them (and bought all of them, iirc).Here there be samples.
If Pathfinder turns into another setting that primarily markets itself to players by using overpowered feats and class options as bait, it's going to make my job as a DM harder.
The few feats and PrCs we've seen so far have not been overpowered so I am not worried about that. Heck, if anything, the Paizo guys are some of the best equiped to deliver balanced material since WotC generally turn to the Paizians to write their better material.
The component of gaming that seems to be the biggest draw for me as a player and dm is player "gimmes". The harrow deck for example is an awesome piece because the players can touch it and watch it in action. Handouts of written materials have always been a great addition as well (this was one of my favorite things about Warhammer Fantasy Role Play and their first campaign).
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I want to see a PC PHB (obviously after the 'edition decision' since if you go 4E you won't be allowed to do one).
You could throw in a few new base classes (Ninja and possibly another type of Healer maybe a spont healer that's not as dumb as Favored Souls) and some modifications to the original base classes (Clerics should always be proficient in favored weapon)
And also more race information could be included. You could even work in new rules for Grapple and other special combat maneuvers if you wanted.
I want to see a PC PHB (obviously after the 'edition decision' since if you go 4E you won't be allowed to do one).
You could throw in a few new base classes (Ninja and possibly another type of Healer maybe a spont healer that's not as dumb as Favored Souls) and some modifications to the original base classes (Clerics should always be proficient in favored weapon)
And also more race information could be included. You could even work in new rules for Grapple and other special combat maneuvers if you wanted.
Coridan my friend, this sounds suspiciously like a 3.75! :D
Though, since I am pretty edition neutral, I wouldn't mind that either.
Question: What kind of stuff that currently doesn't appear on Pathfinder/GMM/PC coming products do you want to see?
City books (ie. books that are easily insertable into my campaign).
I would love to see two resources available to subscribers, things I have often wished were available for the Forgotten Realms:
1) an online map that's annotated, so you can click on a location and get a list of game products and stories in which this area appears, and
2) a comprehensive, searchible online encyclopedia of lore.
Yeah, I know--this is a HUGE undertaking. There would be considerable overlap between these two, which would make the project somewhat less daunting, and since the world is still fairly new the lore wouldn't be too difficult to catalogue. Better yet, turn it over to the fans. The perfect model would be the Wookipedia, a Star Wars branch of Wikipedia.(Although I must admit that "Golaripedia" is somewhat less than strikingly euphonious...)
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2) a comprehensive, searchible online encyclopedia of lore.
Yeah, I know--this is a HUGE undertaking. There would be considerable overlap between these two, which would make the project somewhat less daunting, and since the world is still fairly new the lore wouldn't be too difficult to catalogue. Better yet, turn it over to the fans. The perfect model would be the Wookipedia, a Star Wars branch of Wikipedia.(Although I must admit that "Golaripedia" is somewhat less than strikingly euphonious...)
The fan based Pathfinder wiki project has already begun. Unfortunately I don't have the link saved on this computer, but I'm sure some of my fellow posters can provide a link.
The interactive map idea is pretty cool. Wonder what it would take to get that going ....?
SirUrza is working on a map project, but he hasn't released it for general public viewing. :)
SirUrza is working on a map project, but he hasn't released it for general public viewing. :)
Thanks for the link! This is good news.
Thanks for the link! This is good news.SirUrza is working on a map project, but he hasn't released it for general public viewing. :)
It's hardly comprehensive at the moment, but I for one am working hard to make it so. You're right that it's a huge undertaking, but someday Pathfinder's the world over will flock to the wiki to find all the support they need for their games.
Director of Brand Strategy
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Some products I'd love to see are (in no particular order):
Thought that I would ressurect this thread after I went looking for it yesterday.
It is crazy how many of these ideas are either already out or coming soon.
Paizo is a company that listens to their customers. One of the reasons they're the company they are today.