Any chance of a BECMI version of Pathfinder?

[William Edmunds]

I really miss the days of Basic D&D and Advanced D&D. WOTC clearly doesn't want to go that route, so I wondered... is there even a remote chance of a Basic Pathfinder or Pathfinder 'Lite'? I'd jump at the chance to buy a good old fashioned basic boxed set with simplified rules, faster play, etc.

I'm sure it's a pipe dream, but I thought I'd ask. To me, it seems like there is a genuine gap in the market for a real beginner's box set. The D&D Game doesn't count IMO because it doesn't include PC generation, etc.

[vivsavage]

William Edmunds wrote:

I really miss the days of Basic D&D and Advanced D&D. WOTC clearly doesn't want to go that route, so I wondered... is there even a remote chance of a Basic Pathfinder or Pathfinder 'Lite'? I'd jump at the chance to buy a good old fashioned basic boxed set with simplified rules, faster play, etc.

I'm sure it's a pipe dream, but I thought I'd ask. To me, it seems like there is a genuine gap in the market for a real beginner's box set. The D&D Game doesn't count IMO because it doesn't include PC generation, etc.

Um, so I guess the response is a resounding "not interested"? Too bad. It sounds great to me.

[Mairkurion {tm}]

I think this idea has been floated a couple of times on the boards...my guess is it would have to be way in the future, but I also think its a good idea to bring in new gamers.

[James Jacobs]

I have fond memories of learning the game with the blue book and the red box. Good times!

There's much more than a remote chance... I'd say a relatively GOOD chance, in fact, of Paizo some day doing some sort of basic game/intro to the game for the Pathfinder RPG. We're gonna get the full game up and running first, of course, but a basic game type product has been mentioned now and then. No one here has really thought much about what such a game would look like yet though... it's still quite a bit away in the future.

[Roman]

If you do do that... I do hope that your primary product support (through further books and so on) will stay with the 'advanced'/normal/main Pathfinder RPG game.

[vivsavage]

James Jacobs wrote:

There's much more than a remote chance... I'd say a relatively GOOD chance, in fact, of Paizo some day doing some sort of basic game/intro to the game for the Pathfinder RPG.

That's terrific! I hope that, when and if it arrives, it will be more than just a primer for the "advanced" game, but a worthy creation unto itself. I know a lot of people felt that the BECMI stuff was better than AD&D. At any rate, I truly believe this type of product is virtually absent from RPGs now; a game aimed squarely at introducing basic concepts of roleplaying to neophytes, as well as something that makes for quick & simple gaming for experienced gamers. Here's my vote for a box set!

[Krome]

I preferred the Basic set over AD&D!

I think something like this is exactly what the industry needs. To be honest trying to teach 3.x to a newbie is difficult at best.

[Epic Meepo]

Roman wrote:

If you do do that... I do hope that your primary product support (through further books and so on) will stay with the 'advanced'/normal/main Pathfinder RPG game.

They could always have the Basic game and the normal game use identical rules. Just take the normal game and do the following:

1) Reduce the number of available classes, feats, spells, and items.
2) Remove any mention of multiclassing and/or prestige classes.
3) Reduce the maximum character level covered by the rules.
4) Replace all skill choices with pre-selected skill sets.
5) Replace all feat choices with pre-selected feat sets.

And so forth.

Doing that eliminates much of the learning curve without making any changes to the way the game plays. It's just normal PFRPG with highly-simplified character options.

[golem101]

James Jacobs wrote:

I have fond memories of learning the game with the blue book and the red box. Good times!

There's much more than a remote chance... I'd say a relatively GOOD chance, in fact, of Paizo some day doing some sort of basic game/intro to the game for the Pathfinder RPG. We're gonna get the full game up and running first, of course, but a basic game type product has been mentioned now and then. No one here has really thought much about what such a game would look like yet though... it's still quite a bit away in the future.

DO WANT.

[Zootcat]

That's great news, James! I think that it's important to make sure that this item makes it into the mainstream bookstores and toystores. Because that is where you'll find the neophytes.

[golem101]

golem101 wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

I have fond memories of learning the game with the blue book and the red box. Good times!

There's much more than a remote chance... I'd say a relatively GOOD chance, in fact, of Paizo some day doing some sort of basic game/intro to the game for the Pathfinder RPG. We're gonna get the full game up and running first, of course, but a basic game type product has been mentioned now and then. No one here has really thought much about what such a game would look like yet though... it's still quite a bit away in the future.

DO WANT.

Can't edit, so here's the self-replying patch: DO WANT (IN A BOXED SET).

[Galnörag]

William Edmunds wrote:

WOTC clearly doesn't want to go that route,

I'm pretty sure WOTC has done the equivelent of a quick start rules as a box set for every edition including 4e going back to the AD&D days. Sure the starter rules won't get you to level 20, but they have produced a product with "enough" rules to play with and enjoy a game of goblin bashing fun. I wouldn't expect Paizo to release a pathfinder intro that was any more complex then this. It is a product to whet ones apatite for the concept of the game without overwhelming them with rules.

[William Edmunds]

Galnörag wrote:

William Edmunds wrote:

WOTC clearly doesn't want to go that route,

I'm pretty sure WOTC has done the equivelent of a quick start rules as a box set for every edition including 4e going back to the AD&D days. Sure the starter rules won't get you to level 20, but they have produced a product with "enough" rules to play with and enjoy a game of goblin bashing fun. I wouldn't expect Paizo to release a pathfinder intro that was any more complex then this. It is a product to whet ones apatite for the concept of the game without overwhelming them with rules.

Those sets are nowhere near as complete as the old red box stuff. I have a couple of the WOTC box sets (good for the minis and boards) and they don't have character generation and many other things.