State of the Pathfinder RPG


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Scarab Sages

So I was wondering, it seems there are a lot of new faces around here - a steady stream for a while now.

I was wondering a few things, namely, how many people have actually registered on the forums recently as compared to say, year ago?

Also, I personally thinks this bodes well for Pathfinder for 2 reasons:

1) It could mean that some people may be leaving 4th Edition for other pastures. This validates their business plan.

2) It means that Pathfinder/Paizo is attracting new members, and hopefully, customers.

So how is Paizo doing it?

When I "discovered" Paizo, it was by accident while looking for old pdfs of modules and rulebooks. I had never subscribed to the magazines, and I realized only afterwards that I had already enjoyed their products (Shackled City as an obvious example, but "Paizonian" products as well like Expidition to Castle Greyhawk).

So how are the new people coming by it? Obviously, Dungeon and Dragon are not marketing, so what is Paizo doing aside form word of mouth?

Sovereign Court

I've been lurking around here for approximately 2-3 years now. I arrived when I heard about the Shackled City Hardcover, and after picking that up, came to the messageboards for advice on running it. I created an account just one short year ago, and have only recently been posting frequently (about two months or so).

As a Dungeon subscriber, the cancellation and the announcement of Pathfinder last summer really made me interested in the direction that Paizo was going. As I kept getting more and more Pathfinder stuff, I got more and more interested, and with the announcement of the Pathfinder RPG, I knew I had found the right place. That's around when I started posting regularly, and have been doing so since.

So I'd attribute Paizo's recent success to two things: The substantial quality of all of their products, and their keen understanding of their market and how to appeal to them.

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

I had registered awhile ago...To ask for a clarification about the AoW path, but I don't really remember now. (If anyone can find my first posts here, you're better than I am.)

I was far from being active, though, until after the cancellation of the Magazines, when I basically started residing here full time.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

As I said elsewhere on these boards . . .

"My whole introduction to Pathfinder, and the two campaigns that have sprouted from it, and my choice to continue with the PathfinderRPG (as opposed to 4th Edition) were because of seeing Seoni on the cover of "The Skinshaw Murders" on the shelves of my Local Game Store.

Otherwise, I would likely have walked on by the adventure path, and (my personal gaming history) would likely have been different - and poorer - for it. :("

I have been fairly active since then. :)

Liberty's Edge

I registered after Age of Worms, but left midway through Savage Tide. I then spent most of my time at Giant in the Playground. When the RPG alpha came out, I returned under the name I use at GiantITP.

Scarab Sages

I've been a member since around may 2006, shortly after my introduction to dungeon and dragon I believe, when I signed up to order a subscription. I've sort of been on and off on the forums though. more or less just showing up to throw out my opinion. and moreso last summer and again this summer, what with all the free time at work.

Scarab Sages

Insert Neat Username Here wrote:
I registered after Age of Worms, but left midway through Savage Tide. I then spent most of my time at Giant in the Playground. When the RPG alpha came out, I returned under the name I use at GiantITP.

Urg. I really wish Rich had used a different URL. I have no doubt that when family or coworkers see the address come up, they read:

"Giant-Tit-P" instead of "GiantITP"


I found out about Pathfinder after reading the 4E rules and looking for an alternative.


I just got here. Basically 3p is what brought me here. We, my wife and I, heard about pathfinder RPG almost immediately after it was announced, and even down loaded the Alfa. However at 65 pages, we kinda skimmed it and then forgot about it. For myself I started looking at 4e, and waited for it's release. My group was also saying that thought they may enjoy 4e. However, after I had run the Oakhuast preview adventure, many of them were a bit shaken about 4e. They began to form some doubts about the system.

Then next step in the process to bring here was the downloading of the 4e core 3 torrents. We figured we'd preview them, play a few games, and then get the physical books, in a couple of months. I am so glad we never actually bought those books. After play testing 4e, we came to the conclusion that as a system it is, frankly, unfun, for us. generally we feel its too restrictive, uncreative, and incomplete. If maybe it had double the powers, double the classes, and feats, and maybe had more then 5 reflavoured mechanics it may have been better. perhaps in time, maybe when 4.5 comes out, we'll try it again. Actually another player and I agreed to give it another go in 2009, when Ebberon 4e is released. But I don't have high hopes.

It was my wife whom pulled out the pathfind PDF as an alternative to completely going back to 3.5. After downloading the latest version, and dispersing it amongst the group, it was very well received. So I'll be converting my 4e Kalamar game to a 3P Kalamar game, The wife will run a one shot, and we'll take it from their. I do have every intention of getting the free beta test, and participating in it, hence this new account (I can't b+$+& about the system without the internets :P). I also have high hopes, and confidence in Pathfinder RPG's final version due in 2009.


I have friends that are well into D&D. They can quote stories (and stats - amazes the hell out of me) from all the way back to 2nd ed. and one even has a copy of "Dangerous Journeys". We'd been into D&D -- well, I came in at about 3rd ed. from SR3.. from then on, we've been players. 4th ed was 'eh', just didn't have that "feel" to it, so we looked at it and let it go.

Then one of our friends comes in with a .pdf, and says "Its like D&D 3.75 -- y'know, what it should have been". From the time I opened the file and started reading, the only thing running through my head was "YES!"

The same for the rest of us. So, we're doing what we can to test and help catch any errors missed by the editors and tossing our 2c where we feel its necessary. I've already passed the links onto my PBeM group's page, and hopefully, it'll spread.

Sovereign Court

I was active in the RPGA Living City in Second Edition, but got out of the scene when 3rd edition appeared. Recently playing NWN and NWN 2 got me interested in getting back to my tabletop roots.
Somwhere, I no longer remember where anymore (probably Monte Cook's website), I encountered Ptolus, and saw that Paizo had supporting products, so i visited the website, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Contributor

I've been registered for I don't even know when, but I started hanging out here when the Pathfinder RPG caught my eye. That was when I started reading over the Pathfinder books that I had been subscribed to since it was first announced and realized that Paizo was my new home for RPGs.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

I subscribed to Dungeon in March of last year, and my first issue was accompanied by the announcement that the magazine was being discontinued. I signed on for the Pathfinder transition option because it seemed the best of the choices available, but never really looked at them beyond a passing glance at the artwork and maybe the bestiaries. I didn't have a consistent gaming group at the time, but have since started playing Savage Tide, which put Paizo back on my radar.

After playtesting 4e for six months (starting in October of last year) I was not happy with the direction of D&D, but then the PfRPG announcement came out, and I instantly downloaded it, started looking through past Pathfinder issues I had on the shelf, and bought a few other Paizo products like modules and Guide to Korvosa. I was hooked from then on, and as you can see, there's little that Paizo puts out now that I don't get.

So it really was due to the PfRPG that I got so involved with Paizo, but I had been a customer for months before then. It was what made me take a second look at the company and their products, however, and it's certainly one of the things I most heavily support them in from here on.


I just signed up last month. I was reading reviews for 4E on Amazon and multiple reviewers mentioned Pathfinder. I was curious, found my way here (yeah google), and started an account to DL alpha 3. I lurked on the boards a couple days before diving into the discussion. This is actually the first board I've ever participated in.

Sovereign Court

I've been a gamer for going on 18 years.. I was glad when Paizo spun off from WotC because my subscription to Dungeon had been suffering. The first year Paizo ran Dragon/Dungeon it was a bit rocky but then it got better and better.

I'm not active on the message boards as much as I'd like, life has a way of getting in the way. But I'm definitely a strong supporter of all things Paizo.

Trent
DigitalDungeonCast.com
Infinet Media & Design

Liberty's Edge

I've been here for some time, since the dungeon/dragon shift when I decided to subscribe. I'd been a member before that, but I rarely post.


I also came here to get tips on running the Shackled City hardcover adventure path. I used to spend more time on the WotC message boards, but the 3.5 boards aren't as busy as they used to be so I've been posting here more.

(I think it's a little disappointing that the excellent product that brought me here -- an adventure path collected in hardcover form -- is something that the Paizo folks have said they're not likely to do in the foreseeable future.)

Scarab Sages

hogarth wrote:

I also came here to get tips on running the Shackled City hardcover adventure path. I used to spend more time on the WotC message boards, but the 3.5 boards aren't as busy as they used to be so I've been posting here more.

(I think it's a little disappointing that the excellent product that brought me here -- an adventure path collected in hardcover form -- is something that the Paizo folks have said they're not likely to do in the foreseeable future.)

I was asking about this awhile ago, and for now it makes sense from a business standpoint. When Shackled City was in the magazine, they could afford to make a hardcover, because it wasn't the only reason to buy the magazine (okay, for some people it was).

Anyway, with the new AP format, they would be producing APs that no-one would buy as they waited for hardback, or they would produce no APs for several months, and then they would not be APs, it would just be a super-module.

So, I am content to get the very high quality APs, the only advantage of a single hardcover is you have one place to reference campaign material, other than that I find the smaller AP package much easier to use in games and prep.

Too bad about Age of Worms though...

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Jal Dorak wrote:
Too bad about Age of Worms though...

I know. Despite all our efforts, Kyuss's return could not be prevented.


Jal Dorak wrote:
So, I am content to get the very high quality APs, the only advantage of a single hardcover is you have one place to reference campaign material, other than that I find the smaller AP package much easier to use in games and prep.

Well, presumably a collected hardcover might be cheaper than purchasing all of the individual softcover books as well. And there's no possibility of 1/6 of a hardcover book going out of print. :-)

I understand the business reasons, though (regular monthly cashflows and all that). I just thought it was a bit ironic that the thing that originally pulled me in might have been a one-time-only fluke.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
yoda8myhead wrote:
Jal Dorak wrote:
Too bad about Age of Worms though...
I know. Despite all our efforts, Kyuss's return could not be prevented.

And we got 4e instead. WotC at work, folks.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

hogarth wrote:

Well, presumably a collected hardcover might be cheaper than purchasing all of the individual softcover books as well. And there's no possibility of 1/6 of a hardcover book going out of print. :-)

You wouldn't be meaning "The Skinsaw Murders" would you?

But, it looks like Paizo is going to do another printing of that module. :)

Liberty's Edge

Not really sure how long I have been a member of the forums.

Originally what I came for was the Free Stuff for Dragon and Dungeon Magazines. I was just getting into Digital Suppliments. I was gonna start buying Older Game Suppliments. I use to buy The Maps and FR suppliments in print and I wanted to suppilment those with Digital Versions.

I Started Buying Paizo Moduals as a way to say thanks for the freebies, after WOTC announced the Switch to 4E I was so Damn happy I had.

We have no desire to switch and I hope Paizo stays with thier path. Pathfinder is close enough to what we play that I can pick up some Stuff that I can Use.

Moneys tight for me right now but I still wanna pick up the Nostalgia Stuff in Digital Format. I hope Paizo doesn't loose the right to sell them before I do. I have been Playing since 1978.

Paizo has had great response to their Customers and Great service thats why I stayed with them.


What can I say? I've lurked around here a long time. Grabbed a few PDf's and that was about it until...Our DM ran Age of Worms and now we're finishing up with Rise of the Runelords and gearing up to start Crimson Throne using the Pathfinder Rules (Already got my beta book on pre-order). And well, bought the 4E core books and really wasn't all that impressed. So y'all will probably seeing me pop in much more often.

Paizo is my master now!


Want to talk Irony.

Guss I joined about the time the best of Dragon Came out. I really had no idea that Paizo and Wizards were two differnt companies. Then 4th gets annouced. My thinking at the time was "a little soon" but thats okay I think I'm done with epic fantasy. Like the old World of Darkness I haven't finsihed reading everything yet. So I started getting everything I could for 3.5 and OGL. Then all the crap about 4th form Wizards. Loss of settings, forceing companies to choose, then not, then sortof, and the game was a new beast altogether. I thought 4th would be more like Pathfinder, sure you'd have to modifiy some but hey I've added Parry and Dodge form Conan to my game, that wasn't an issue for me, but a whole new game. One of the selling points of 3rd was that even variant games had at there core the d20 system. Then Wizards telling me you wasted 8 years of money to them and others on that system.

Then Pathfinder came along, not only was it what I thought 4th would be, but after looking at what they were doing, and more importantly how they wre doing it I decided to go Pathfinder all the way. Its a new editon, but I'd say 80% of the ideas in it either I like, done myself, or I can easily swith back to what I like # of skills for instants, I like more skills not less, but I like how they worked skill ranks and I like Fly as being far better then simply poor okay and good.

I've ghosted most rpg boards, en, and now, but I saw them as being very mean spirited, mind you this was at the time when the edition wars first began and without Pathfinder pro 4thers were yealling then just take care of your old books its over the system is dead. I've noticed they are the most hatful of Paizo now.

In any case I didn't have a player group, then one that looks to me has had problems and to be honest they don't know anything about the industry and don't care. sad really. So to be able to talk to people in the know started using my automatic membership here. Simply to get my fix you understand. Maybe its because this is mostly pro-Pathfinder but all in all I find these boards far more friedly and open to both pro and con about either edtion.

Sorry for rambling. TTFN Dre


Jal Dorak wrote:


When I "discovered" Paizo, it was by accident while looking for old pdfs of modules and rulebooks.

Ditto. 'Twas the old D&D Gazetteers for me.

I got signed up for their newsletter and the rest is history...!


I'm a recent member to these boards. After being a long time lurker and occasional poster on the WotC boards I had heard reference to Paizo several times and had seen the Pathfinder name on paizo.com, but hadn't bothered to see what it was. I eventually caught wind of it on the WotC boards and came here to look and soon registered on the boards so I could keep tabs on it. I had never liked the idea of 4th edition and so when I heard there would be this kind of continuing 3.5-type support I was quite interested.

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I started playing DnD in 1977. I picked up the boxed set at a children's game store and I've been DMing ever since. For me, the story's the thing, and I used to spend a lot of time crafting "modules" for my players, sometimes borrowing bits and pieces from adventures in Dungeon magazine. I don't have time to put it together from scratch anymore. Anyway, I'm thrilled with Paizo's commitment to what I love about this game. My regular group (one player has been there since 1977) shares my enthusiasm for Pathfinder. So we're in for the long haul. We're happy to throw our $$$ Paizo's way.


I am nearly brand new to these boards. I saw a banner on rpg.net. I love the art and the concept so I downloaded the alpha 3 edition. I bought a few products to show my support and have enjoyed them. Paizo has a new fan (with disposable income!).

As for D&D, I have not played D&D in about 10 years, and Paizo is bringing me back.

Angelo

Liberty's Edge

Hmm, well I have been around here since Shackled City was just finishing its run in Dungeon, so what, 5 years now? Been off and on, depending on life with how steady of a poster I could be, but I've always loved the community here. Its definitely the site I spend the most(too much) time floating at.

-Tarlane

Liberty's Edge

I joined not that long ago...What prompted it?

I was not satisfied with the direction WotC was taking my favorite hobby. On an RPG/PBP site...Plothook for those that are interested...I asked in one of the threads concerning the edition wars...if anyone knew of any 3PP that was going to be taking the ball and running with it after seeing 4e...This was even before I saw the GSL.

The answer came back from a friend of mine who has also joined the site..."Mike you need to try out Pathfinder, Its going to be like D&D 3.75..." he then went on in that sites chat to go over point after point of the changes.

I joined that evening and downloaded the PDF....

Im here to stay.


I'm very interested in the Pathfinder RPG. When I got my 4e books I was looking to see what WotC was going to do about multiclassing, etc...and I didn't like what I saw. It's a different game. I'm sure 4e will work well when it goes online ala World of Warcraft ;) but I wanted an improvement of the existing system. I haven't kept up with the Pathfinder series after #7 but methinks I'll buy the hardcover rpg next year.

They need to toss item creation feats and do something for multi-class spellcasters, though. My 2 cents worth.


veector wrote:
I found out about Pathfinder after reading the 4E rules and looking for an alternative.

This is the same reason I now crawl the Pathfinder forums... searching for a 4E alternative. I love Eberron, love 3.5, and would love to find a publisher who can keep my gaming group supplied with fresh content. Version 3.75 (as some call Pathfinder) is more than acceptable from what I've been reading and I'm looking forward to getting to know the platform more.

WyvernSting

Liberty's Edge

Let's see I joined about 2 1/2 years ago for my Dragon and Dungeon Subcriptions, wanted it delivered to my door instead of waiting for it to show up at the game shop. Then I was deployed and heard about 4E and Dragon/Dungeon discontinuing and this new Pathfinder thing.

Well I immediately (when the internet worked) switched my order to get the AP's. I read the first one and the second when they came in. Really enjoyed what I read, but at first was dissappointed in that they didn't exactly fit too easily into my homebrew setting. So they sat on the shelf, but my subscription continued.

So Alpha came out and informatoin on Golarion. Well that sold me! I was hooked. I still kept my ear and eyes out for 4E, but when I started hearing about them ditching classes (Bard, Barbarian, Druid) I was really getting disappointed with WoTC. So i've stayed with Pathfinder, saw the 4E books on base, looked inside and was greatly disappointed. But am ultimatly glad Paizo is there with Pathfinder.

Honestly Pathfinder is the AD&D (1st Edition) I remember starting out with and playing with my dad and his friends. I love the creativity, the story lines, plot hooks, sample hooks to grow on as you like...really it's where my funds will be going!

And i'm really excited about playing at Gen Con UK in a Pathfinder Society game!!!!

Now where is that Beta?!?!?

Sovereign Court

TickTockMan wrote:
I am nearly brand new to these boards. I saw a banner on rpg.net.

Paizo's marketing gnomes should be glad to see their efforts are paying off.

Liberty's Edge

I was in the D&D forums, mourning over the loss of my beloved 3.5 and I left for a couple of weeks. When I came back (to read some rants on FR) someone mentioned Paizo... and then in another thread the name came out with more strength...then again, and again. I was like "What's this Paizo you are talking about?".

I wasnt in contact with 3rd companies so I didnt knew nothing about Pathfinder RPG. I entered the site the next day Alfa came out. It was Fate, I tell you.

I loved it. Every bit.


Saw something on the Candlekeep forums about this and decided to check it out. Given the absolute crap that is 4th ed and the wotzi mentality at WOTC/Hasbro I'm really glad I did. I really love most of the stuff I've seen here. Not to mention this is how I think a game company should be run, so I'm gonna support Paizo.

The Exchange

Jal Dorak wrote:
So I was wondering, it seems there are a lot of new faces around here - a steady stream for a while now.

I did not know who or what Paizo was. I just know that I ordered subscriptions to Dungeon and Dragon magazines, and then one day get this notice that WotC is cancelling the magazines!

NOT knowing that Paizo were the ones actually DOING the magazine, and thinking they were just a distribution wing, I fired back a "I do not want to sit here and watch the death-throes of these - cancel my subs."

I then got an email that they understood, and that I could either get my money back, store credit, or have it funded to this Pathfinder thingie. Hmmm. Well, I'll take a look-see .... let me in as a charter Patherfindererer-whatever.

The rest, including a whole lot of education in the process, is history.

OPEN APOLOGY for Lisa Stevens and Crew -

I am SO sorry I didn't know it was you all doing the magazines! I was really enjoying the quality of what I was getting, which I guess is what hurt me so that they were being cancelled! Glad I left the money with you though - because I've loved EVERYTHING you've done since! Thanks for a great time!!

Grand Lodge

The state of Pathfinder... I though t it was Washington...

Liberty's Edge

Krome wrote:
The state of Pathfinder... I though t it was Washington...

Nah, they renamed it because Paizo's so awesome.

Grand Lodge

Insert Neat Username Here wrote:
Krome wrote:
The state of Pathfinder... I though t it was Washington...
Nah, they renamed it because Paizo's so awesome.

Is it now Seattle, Golarion! That would be freaking awesome... or better yet Seattle, Paizo... yeah WOTC would have to be in Paizo that way!

lol


I downloaded Age of Worms overload, founnd the online supplements, then noticed the messageboards, and stayed.

Dark Archive

A friend suggested that he might like to look into Pathfinder because-- from what he'd heard-- the people at Paizo were going to continue publishing for a generally 3.5E system. (While there's a little interest in 4E, it seems to be more like the kind of detached interest that keeps a person watching a train wreck to see if any bodies show up... we're all pretty happy with the majority of the 3.5 system, and are pretty deadset on not invalidating the ludicrous amount of books we've already invested in... at least for the time being.) So I looked up the game, found the site, signed up, and DL'd the Alpha.

And damn it all, now I feel like a bona fide addict, because I became a Superscriber after just my first couple purchases, and I have every intention of buying the Beta and Campaign World, and running the PfRPG with my 3.5 group.

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development

I've been around here for a few years. My first post regarded a problem player and his creative interpretation of a spell, to which I gots heaps of helpful answers. The comedy and community kept me around.

Welcome all of you new and newer folks! I love seeing new blood in the water!

Dark Archive

I've been here for several years, but pretty quiet. I joined to order back issues of Dragon and Dungeon magazines, surfed the boards on occasion, and eventually ordered the adventure paths.

When I started reading about Pathfinder, I got pretty excited and started hitting up the boards more. So far, I'm glad I have...

Dark Archive

I've been here for no more than a couple months, found Paizo accidentally while browsing ppnp forums, someone recommended pathfinder. Once I saw pathfinder, that's all it took. I love paizo, and enjoy their products. They make quality products!


I originally came here to order my copies of the Order of the Stick books. Recently, what with the buzz over the Pathfinder RPG and the appalling suckiness of 4th Edition, I decided to post a few times :)


Found out that my favourite old skool D&D module was being redone in dungeon - Isle of Dread (I am now one year into DMing STAP). The quality hooked me, then lo and behold I discover that there was an wonderful online support and a great online community. I have lurked mostly, since then.


Krome wrote:
The state of Pathfinder... I though t it was Washington...

Even with the in-state sales tax I have the pleasure of paying when buying product from Paizo online... I"m STILL a fan. :)


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Accessories, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Just like most of the folks my group wasn't really all that keen on 4e once it actually came out and we got to read over the books. So, since that wasn't an option, and I have a LARGE stack of 3.0 and 3.5 books already, the whole Pathfinder thing really appealed to me. Also, as I now have three small children of my own but still like to DM, the Adventure Paths also are very attractive.

So.... now... here I have... a superscriber without seeing one of the Pathfinder books up front. Basically I was just going on the strength of what I heard regarding past Adventure Path books. And now, I get the massive August shipment (which hurt to a small degree, but I know it's a one time thing) sent out and I see some of the quality in the PDFs I'm able to download as a subscriber.

I am impressed. I am hooked. I am enthralled. :)

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