|
I just wanted to say thanks for some really amazing products for the last several years and your visionary sense every step of the way. The Pathfinder RPG and how you are putting it together is yet one more example of that. While I have no doubt you guys do quite well, one long-term issue revolves around how you are going to bring new players into your system. The name recognition built up as publisher of Dragon and Dungeon no doubt resulted in a one-time migration of consumers into your fold, however, my sense is in the future it may be more difficult to achieve such a shift.
In the long term if D&D is what brings new players into the hobby and lays the groundwork for their preferences in roleplaying, you guys may ultimately end up as a “switcher” system for those that are dissatisfied by other options. Undoubtedly, your plates are more than full at this point, but are you guys looking at tactics to attract the newest gamers and non-gamers to your system (e.g. non-FLGS distribution, targeted advertising, etc.)?
One of your biggest advantages is that your revenue comes not from the system, but from supplements to the system. Similar to the Gillete razorblade and razor it is a matter of getting the system into right people’s hands cheap (free?) and then profiting off of the supplements to the system.
Relative to other systems on the market, which rely on selling their core books I would take the opposite approach. What is the cheapest and easiest way to get as wide distribution for the system as possible even beyond the core gamer market. Here are a couple of ideas…
1) Put the Pathfinder RPG “introductory set” (downloadable rules lite pdf, truly amazing intro module) something similar to an iTunes gift card. (Think of it as putting the ultimate roleplaying introduction on a card). This could be given out for free at conventions, in direct mail, at retail, etc.
2) Test offering Pathfinder RPG “introductory set”, free chargen software, and cheap dice for anyone new registering with their name and address online. Determine in a year if you can achieve a relatively quick breakeven. My sense is if you get someone hooked they will eventually want to upgrade and you can more than make up for someone less than $1 initial investment.
3) Offer a discount to anyone who refers a friend. Offer an even bigger discount if that friend goes on to purchase a Pathfinder product.
Anyway, thanks again for the awesome job you guys have been doing across the board. You guys never cease to amaze me.
|
Well, I think Paizo is doing much in the realm of freebies for its RPG that's in development. As I understand it, the beta version will pretty much be the final working draft and while you can buy the softbound version for $24, you will also be able to download it for free.
What's more - no surprises, good or bad. Historically, you'll find many here disenfranchised with WotC's "behind closed doors" approach to gaming development, as well as WotC's lack of repertoire with its consumer basis. Paizo gets 10s on both counts - open doors (as much as they can be, I'm sure) and regular communication with its audience.
My feeling is Paizo is pretty well set up to bring new players into the hobby.
Who got you into the hobby? My bet it was some one in a group of people centred around a particularly enthusiastic player who took the role as the DM.
Paizo makes products for players but their core product is stories and adventures that appeal to the DMs of the world or those that want to be DMs. Think of it as a kind of inkblot strategy - Paizo makes products that make people want to be DMs and form groups (or keep the ones they have already formed a going concern). This means that there are more DMs out there and the more DMs there are the more players are being brought in to play in the DMs game.
Essentially Paizo is a DM generator, they make DMs. In turn DMs make players.
Creative Director
|
Yeah... I more or less agree with that. By turning readers and customers into GMs... we sort of pass along the "infection" that way. The GMs in turn gather players, and eventually those players want to become GMs, and the circle of nerdery continues! :)
That all said... I certainly do have fond memories myself of learning the game with the old red box basic set. Good times! Of course... it wasn't that simple a game, even though it was the "basic" set. I think that a lot of other introductory sets that have come along since have actually oversimplified the game. It's not, at its heart, a simple game, and I for one kind of like that. It gave me a sense of accomplishment to learn the rules, and I appreciated that the rules weren't oversimplified to the extent that I felt like the game itself was talking down to me.
That might not work for everyone, of course, and it might not be the best way to get new players into the hobby... better minds than mine have done more work on this subject, that's for sure!
In any case, I suspect eventually we'll start thinking about doing some sort of introductory type product, but in the short-term for now... we want to focus on getting the game itself out there. Which'll take us more than a year...
|
From what I’ve seen of Paizo and what has made me a major supporter of the company is that they have excellent customer service and are really into interacting with their customer base. Also, they constantly strive to and consistently do put out excellent product both in its look, design and over all writing quality. All the while taking into account what their customers thoughts and desires are.
I would also agree with the above statements that word of mouth has a lot to do with Paizo’s current and future success. Now that they have struck off on their own path I’m sure they will have the freedom to really explore and expand the kind of products that both they and the fnas who will buy them will want.
To qout from the SAS motto: Those who dare, win.
There has been a shift recently in R&D worldwide, to the "prize model" for getting answers to difficult problems. There are prizes for genomics, rocketry etc.
There are large reserves of people who get their D&D fix from computer games. Neverwinter nights one and two have large communities of modmakers that are remaking some of the great modules of the Moldvay era, or total conversions of Ravenloft using the engine. A mod team just made a full remake of "Keep on the Borderlands" for the now defunt Troika games "Temple of elemental evil"
I think it would be a fun thing to do to make a competition for someone to come up with a pc game version of a Paizo adventure, using the Paizo ruleset as it comes to completion. Modmakers can do just about anything.
Games like Baldur's Gate and Planescape:Torment drew a lot of people into the hobby. No matter what the grognards on forums like Knights and Knaves might say, getting fresh blood into the hobby is a good thing, and electronic media are a good way to do so.
The prize might not need to be financial. You are a retail site, and could grant the rights to sell the best mods and conversions on the site to the winners. Most modmakers are probably keen to see some rewards for their work.
Once mods are created, of course, they will proliferate into markets that you otherwise might not reach. A lot of people download mods from sites like c|net and others. Having a Pathfinder computer game need not necessarily be an in-house project, or even cost anything.
Wizards are certainly going to be making computer games of their lines. They will probably be selling licenses however, or funding studios to make games for them in the future.
Amateur filmmakers are out there too. A competition to make the best Pathfinder fan film would also attract a lot of eyeballs who would otherwise never find the gem that is Golarion.
As a final idea, it would be easy in the extreme for you guys to make a pdf of an A4 ad for Pathfinder that we fans can print out and stick up at a local game store. The goblin song and Wayne Reynolds goblins picture from "Burnt Offerings" followed by a "Download Pathfinder Alpha today! Be part of the largest open Playtest in R.P.G history and ...." This stuff really writes itself.
Just a few suggestions. I like the O.P and the spirit of this post.
Get as many marketing suggestions here as you can.
Any chance of getting a full page ad in the 4ed DMG? Just asking?
a book line would be sweet.I have a void where i used to have FR books to buy that needs feeling .
