Be it laptops displaying maps from a mounted projector, or online applets like Maptool, more and more people are turning to digital resources for their gaming sessions.
In my mind, Wizards of the Coast is doing plenty of things that aren't in the best interest of the community, including alienating developers such as Paizo by withholding life-giving rules. One thing that WotC is trying to do is step boldly into the digital age and, up until now, I feel as if Paizo has had them beat on that subject. Paizo offers PDFs for all of their Pathfinder products, making it a breeze to reference them. With only minor technical wizardry involved, I can export any map from said files for use in applets such as Maptools, making gameplay set up fast and fun.
Obviously both parties can expand their influence upon this particular crowd of gamers by taking different steps, but from what I can see only WotC is looking to do so (though perhaps only in an attempt to play catch-up). With the announcement of The Pathfinder RPG, I wonder less about rules and more about what direction of availability Paizo is going to be looking at with their products. Wizards is boasting an online game tabletop, and honestly I can't expect Paizo to offer one themselves (nor would I want it with free, robust alternatives readily available), but with promises of online content available for download with every hard-cover book purchased, I suspect WotC may be taking a note from Paizo's wisdom. Maps, clear of annotation, strike me as the biggest benefit here; images of monsters, NPCs and items would be taking what has been, up until now, a Paizo exclusive as well. Ultimately we will not know until such service goes live with Wizards, but it could definitely sway a few votes towards 4.0 and their products if they get savvy to offering their customers these resources.
From the moment I discovered Paizo, I was impressed with their eagerness to work beyond what was required. Putting out web enhancements for Dungeon magazine helped me and countless others in ways I cannot describe. When Wizards decided to move to a new format for encounters (read: Eyes of the Lich Queen Eberron Adventure) with the hopes of making it easier for the DM to use, they managed to do the opposite entirely. Paizo stuck true to the mold and now they hope to expand upon it. I can only hope they look to cull what does not work, and emphasize what does.
So as I see this new ruleset take it's first baby-steps, I'd just like to remind Paizo of some of the things I absolutely love about playing D&D in the Digital Age:
- Large maps, preferably both annotated and non-annotated, in a high enough resolution to print or use in online map applets.
- Artwork from the supplements. Wizards used to have an online gallery. Maybe limit it to the customers, but if it's in the book, I wanna have a .png or .jpg of it!
- There was talk of a Pathfinder RPG player sheet; beat WotC to the punch and make that baby a form-fillable PDF!
- If you intend to offer any of the content under the OGL, look into getting it easily referenced like so many online resources have with 3.5; perhaps offer customers quick online reference tools to products they have purchased, if content is not OGL, via snap-in modules to said online reference tool.
You've already done so much to embrace the Digital Age with these forums, IRC channels, web enhancements, and PDF support. Not to mention the amazing amount of customer-company feedback that goes on. I cannot expect myself to ever drop support from WotC or Paizo, no matter what you do, but I have a feeling by this time next year, I will be sorely wishing one had the resources of the other. Hopefully it wont take a wisdom check to determine which one that will be :)
I would like to see Paizo strike a deal with someone that could offer software support for the system. At the moment I'm using DM Genie to run my games, and it's a BIG help for me. I can't see myself go back to running a non-digital game anymore. DM Genie has a new version on the horizon that may or may not offer support for Pathfinder RPG, but I'm not saying that this would necessarily be the best option for Paizo. There's also RPGXplorer and probably other tools that I'm not aware of. In any case, I think it is in Paizo's best interest to make sure that there's some sort of software support for the digital DM to run his game.
I would like to see Paizo strike a deal with someone that could offer software support for the system. At the moment I'm using DM Genie to run my games, and it's a BIG help for me. I can't see myself go back to running a non-digital game anymore. DM Genie has a new version on the horizon that may or may not offer support for Pathfinder RPG, but I'm not saying that this would necessarily be the best option for Paizo. There's also RPGXplorer and probably other tools that I'm not aware of. In any case, I think it is in Paizo's best interest to make sure that there's some sort of software support for the digital DM to run his game.
This seems like an ideal situation, though it would require a lot of negotiating that I am not sure Paizo is in a position to seek out at this time. For them to endorse one specific application, it would mean possibly bringing in some extra revenue but at the same time I wonder if they couldn't take a Web 2.0 approach and simply open up some sort of online resource for people to collaborate on existing systems with.
There has been mention, for example, of a Pathfinder wikipedia. This web software is not only free, I am certain Paizo could pull it off with great ease and bring another first to the table of D&D publishers. Wikipedia notwithstanding, you have sites like [RPG Mapshare allowing people to share user-created content, some of which is already based off of the Rise of the Runelords setting and for use with previously mentioned virtual game table software. These are things that the players will adopt, with or without Paizo, but it'd be so much more satisfying if the company was involved in the process, if even in a minor way. A seal of approval, a small nod and URL plug, and that's to name just a couple of the ways they could achieve this integration.
If it mostly stays OGC as it is now, then a deal with a software company isn't needed. A software company just uses the OGL.
If it mostly stays OGC as it is now, then a deal with a software company isn't needed. A software company just uses the OGL.
Yes, I'm aware of that. But without a deal they are dependent on the willingness of a software publisher to support their system. With a deal they make sure the system is supported.
Quick question(reposted here from another thread); how does pre-ordering work? What information I am looking for: when will I be charged (and will that change if the price goes up/down), when will I be notified my Pathfinder books have shipped (and how? e-mail, I presume), and if I want to add ,say, another copy or three do I need to make a new order or can I modify the pending one?
Director of Games
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Quick question(reposted here from another thread); how does pre-ordering work? What information I am looking for: when will I be charged (and will that change if the price goes up/down), when will I be notified my Pathfinder books have shipped (and how? e-mail, I presume), and if I want to add ,say, another copy or three do I need to make a new order or can I modify the pending one?
CharlieRock,
You are going to want to post these questions to our Customer Service forums.
Everybody Else
As for digital products, we have already heard a number of calls for support in this area and I believe some of them are being investigated. That said, this material is open content, so anyone could make digital software for it (afaik).
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
PCGen has already begun offering support for Pathfinder Adventure Paths, tha latest beta I think already includes the data sets for the RotRL Players Guide and Pathfinder #1, and more is to follow. If Paizo permits, I will make sure that PCGen will also support the Pathfinder RPG.
Stefan Radermacher
PCGen Development Team
PCGen has already begun offering support for Pathfinder Adventure Paths, tha latest beta I think already includes the data sets for the RotRL Players Guide and Pathfinder #1, and more is to follow. If Paizo permits, I will make sure that PCGen will also support the Pathfinder RPG.
Stefan Radermacher
PCGen Development Team
Great! I've been using PCGen for years. Now I won't have to figure out another application.
Maptools would be nice...
because its..um FREE and all (and awesome).
:)