Ok, now that I've got your attention:
As I understand it PFRPG is slated to be released as a single hard cover with a separate Monstrous Manual type book following hard on its heels. Regardless of how great a monster the PFRPG main book is It seems evident to me that the designers will be forced to cut a lot of good material out in order to meet their page quotas.
I would prefer to see PFRPG published as three books in a similar vein to the PHB, DMG, and MM structure by WOTC. The page count (and cost) of the "players handbook" materials could be reduced to make the book more palatable for Players. I don't know what kind of markup Paizo is looking at for core books, I believe it's not the heart of their business model, but I do think that selling more books would be of benefit to both the system and the publisher.
For those who cry foul at these thoughts, please do remember that Paizo has kindly released PFRPG beta with pretty much %100 open game content allowing players unwilling or unable to purchase the book to find everything they need to play on the internet. I anticipate, and hope, that they will do the same for the final version.
I thought the idea behind Pathfinder was to continue support of 3.5OGL with little tweaks to the system where needed. I don't think they set out to re-invent the proverbial wheel. Their system is support for their product line, which has already made a little money off me, and I'm not even a subscriber (yet). Golarian (adventures and world supplements), for me at least, is the meat and potatoes, where Pathfinder RPG is like a great side dish that complements the meal.
isn't the rule book over 400 pages?
I'm afraid this is a done deal, Maugan22. But looking at 560 pages to replace the PH and the DMG, I don't think we're going to lose that much. And what is left out (Dwarven Defender!), will come out later in those multiple books you want to buy.
yeah, at 560 pages, there is little difference between that and the combined DMG and PHB
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I strongly suspect there is an audience for a "so here is how you play the game" sort of book that was cheap enough you could convince a non-gamer to pick up to get a feel of how the game works. Cheap enough that it would make a great no-occasion gift to entice a new player into the hobby.
I do not think this sort of player is well served by a detailed presentation of 1/3 of the core rules in an expensive hardcover volume. It just isn't going to happen, in my estimation.
So while I think it is important that there be an intensely player-focused presentation of the core rules and I also think it is important that such a product be "affordable," I think the presentation of this type of product should be _completely different_ than most of what we have seen before.
And cheaper.
My girlfriend has expressed interest in getting into the game from time to time, but I cannot seriously convince her to get into it by handing her a 400-page rulebook filled with charts. My Dragonball-Z obsessed X-Box Live buddy TErMiNaTOR VII? Sure.
But I think a player focused book should actually focus on a player's role in the game. I think it should walk you through every line of the character sheet and explain how to create a flavorful character, with an overview of the rules that perhaps doesn't go all the way up to 20th level. By the time a player has gone through 20 levels, he or she is probably interested enough to buy the Core Rulebook.
A "player's handbook" for Pathfinder would probably be more of a "here's what the game is and how to play it, at least until a certain point" than "all of the rules a system-mastery-focused player needs to make the most effective character.
I suspect that type of player is better served by a big fat hardcover that has absolutely everything.
So when is that player intro book coming out, Erik? I mean, come on. You don't have enough work to do already, you slacker! So why not do something else? ~grins, ducks, and runs~
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Director of Games
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So when is that player intro book coming out, Erik? I mean, come on. You don't have enough work to do already, you slacker! So why not do something else? ~grins, ducks, and runs~
Please stop adding more books for me to put together.... please.. I beg you.
:-)
In all seriousness, this is a product we have discussed before and it seems likely, but I do not believe any dates have solidified.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
So when is that player intro book coming out, Erik? I mean, come on. You don't have enough work to do already, you slacker! So why not do something else? ~grins, ducks, and runs~Please stop adding more books for me to put together.... please.. I beg you.
:-)
In all seriousness, this is a product we have discussed before and it seems likely, but I do not believe any dates have solidified.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
~sighs sadly and shakes my head~ Excuses, excuses, excuses! Get back to work, you Paizo Slave! I never said that you could sleep, did I? What do you think you are, a paid employee? ~throws my hands up in disgust~ Fine! Wait until you have gotten caught up and had enough sleep! ~walks off mumbling under my breath~
~GRINS~ j/k!!!
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But I think a player focused book should actually focus on a player's role in the game. I think it should walk you through every line of the character sheet and explain how to create a flavorful character, with an overview of the rules that perhaps doesn't go all the way up to 20th level.
A "player's handbook" for Pathfinder would probably be more of a "here's what the game is and how to play it, at least until a certain point" than "all of the rules a system-mastery-focused player needs to make the most effective character.
I think a Pathfinder basic set would be an awesome idea, provided it came in a red box.
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I strongly suspect there is an audience for a "so here is how you play the game" sort of book
Many (many) years ago, I borrowed a book on role-playing from my high-school library. I think it was based on DnD, but the left hand pages had a story written on them and the right hand pages had what was going on in game terms at that point. This was a really good intro on how it all worked for me, and how the game mechanics were used to create a compelling story.
Does anyone else recall this book? I remember something about lizard men and a bridge over an underground river. Also something about a magic user agonising over which spell to memorise and possible using sleep to overcome the lizard men.
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I strongly suspect there is an audience for a "so here is how you play the game" sort of book
Many (many) years ago, I borrowed a book on role-playing from my high-school library. I think it was based on DnD, but the left hand pages had a story written on them and the right hand pages had what was going on in game terms at that point. This was a really good intro on how it all worked for me, and how the game mechanics were used to create a compelling story.
Does anyone else recall this book? I remember something about lizard men and a bridge over an underground river. Also something about a magic user agonising over which spell to memorise and possible using sleep to overcome the lizard men.
Sounds to me like "What is Dungeons and Dragons?"
And cheaper.My girlfriend has expressed interest in getting into the game from time to time, but I cannot seriously convince her to get into it by handing her a 400-page rulebook filled with charts. My Dragonball-Z obsessed X-Box Live buddy TErMiNaTOR VII? Sure.
But I think a player focused book should actually focus on a player's role in the game. I think it should walk you through every line of the character sheet and explain how to create a flavorful character, with an overview of the rules that perhaps doesn't go all the way up to 20th level. By the time a player has gone through 20 levels, he or she is probably interested enough to buy the Core Rulebook.
Yes!
A... player's guide?
And instead of a high level guidebook, a ... GM's guide?
My girlfriend has been playing Pathfinder Beta for almost three months now. She loves playing, and loves her character, but has yet to crack open the rules. This is partly because Pathfinder beta is about three steps less newbie-friendly than the PHB, but also partly the sheer architecture of information.
Something like the "SORD" is the way Pathfinder ought to go. Reduce the complexity of the PRESENTATION, not the complexity of the rules. Numbering the steps for event resolution is great. Standardizing the way abilities are presented (class abilities that allow you to choose from a list of featlike things— bloodlines, schools and domains as well) can make the whole thing SEEM as user friendly as 4e without the reduction in complexity.
Please consider streamlining the info presentation....