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Paizo CEO Lisa has mentioned more than once that, due to the company's size*, it has to be focused on its products.
But what if Paizo was bigger? Specifically, it had the resources of Games Workshop or -- gasp! -- Wizards of the Coast.
What products could you see such a company making? Personally, I'd love "Rai-Paizo"** to secure either the rpg rights to a Marvel or DC supers game.
*She also said there are many advantage to said small company, but I can't find her post on it with my Google fu.
**based from raichu, the evolved form of pikachu.
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So..in pokemon terms, Paizo is a pikachu? Interesting. I approve, though that makes the analogy of change something similar to a thunder stone, change that would come from outside of Paizo. Similar to what happened to TSR or Wizards of the Coast honestly, someone came in and evolved them at their whim.
I'm not sure we want that kind of change in our trusty little Paizochu. I'm a little worried what will happen to them if the Pathfinder RPG explodes with popularity as much as hope that it does happen. Could they handle the responsibility of having effectively the "next Dungeons and Dragons."
That's a lot of new money, but a lot of new costs and growth at the same time. Not only that but it's the kind of thing that a trainer would look for when trying to catch said Paizochu for their own use. Would they treat it as a friend and train it to be a strong combatant in the world of gaming, or would they simply strip it for parts and try to make as much money as possible at the expense of the fans.
I'll support my favorite pokemon for as long as I can though, just like I support my Friendly Local Pokemon Stadium...erm...game store. Maybe this analogy is going a bit too far?
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Maybe this analogy is going a bit too far?
It's definitely interesting :-)
I meant the analogy more in homage to Steven's "Pokemon" funds which she used to help finance Paizo, nothing else. The OP basically asks, "if Paizo had either Games Workshop or WotC resources, what products would you like to see from such a company?"
A skill-based point buy system.
Why would they have increased costs for growth? They already have a product schedule and staff to support it. they wouldn't necessarily need to increase that, just an increase in the number of copies printed.
As for the OP, I would like to see a Golarion video game RPG, something that lets you use/run a whole party. Neverwiner nights engine?
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Heck with it, I'll say it.
A Pathfinder miniature skirmish game. Here are my initial thoughts:
--not like the clix games
--non random minis
--no stat cards (not like D&D mini game)
What I'm thinking is the 5 factions from the Pathfinder Society. You have 5 figures per side. The rules are a direct relation to the PFRPG, just streamlined. You would create the stats for each figure just as you would a character. Of course there would be special "feats" that would directly relate to miniatures and the battlefield.
Think of the possibilities:
Heroes from each faction (basically the squad leader)
special troops (genies from Qadira, devils from Cheliax, etc)
independant figures from other supporting countries.
Scenarios would be about territories, fighting over an artifact, etc.
After all this comes out, organized play.
Computer Games.
Pre-painted plastic miniatures of course.
With round black bases (Im sure shape and color isnt trademarked) so they blend seamlessly with D&D minis.
Metal that I need to paint or cardboard counters hold no interest for me at all.
Thats the #1 thing I wish Paizo to work toward that isnt possible for them to do as of now.
Boxed sets.
What he said.
Also stronger miniatures (plastic preferably) or token support.
For example: Hardboard tokens (like those found in the 4E Battlebox) released in tandem with each AP volume. It would be a separate release so that people arent forced to buy something that they may or may not use.
I'd also like to see them do scalable good quality PDF/JPEG printouts for the maps in the AP's. Done in a manner so that all one would have to do is print them out, glue / tape them to poster-board, lay them on the table and they're ready for use with miniatures, tokens whatever.
I'd like to see them partner up with Necromancer games to RE-Release their boxed sets like Rappan Athuk Reloaded, Wilderlands of High Fantasy and City of Brass. If not as boxed sets, maybe as massive hardcovers ala Ptolus.
And here's the real selling point...They'd all be re-done using Pathfinder stats. Or at least contain a small (Okay, NOT so small...) booklet with the conversions
I'm astonished no one mentioned this:
Buy D&D.
Rebrand 4e as the "Points of Light Tabletop Skirmish Game". Usable with...
D&D prepainted plastic miniatures - in a quality on par with Underdark or better, completely non-random, with a decent selection of minis.
Rebrand PFRPG as "Dungeons And Dragons 3e Pathfinder Edition" or something like that.
Prepare for the next version of the game as "Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition" (this would probably not be anything like 4e, so to avoid confusion, they shouldn't use 4e for what would be PF RPG 2.0).
Publicly state that Cadderly wook up and everything happening to the Realms leading up and during 4e was just a dream, and put Ed in charge of the new old Realms.
Release Greyhawk into the PD for fans to keep alive.
I'm happy with Paizo, Pathfinder, and their production schedule exactly the way they are.
I honestly don't want them to change a thing.
It seems like they have a stable of regular talented writers who produce the adventures and setting material I want at the perfect pace for me to read and run all of it.
I don't want Paizo to get any bigger.I don't want Paizo to get any smaller. It's perfect as is. It's like the porridge that Goldilocks ate.
I'm happy with Paizo, Pathfinder, and their production schedule exactly the way they are.
I honestly don't want them to change a thing.
It seems like they have a stable of regular talented writers who produce the adventures and setting material I want at the perfect pace for me to read and run all of it.
I don't want Paizo to get any bigger.I don't want Paizo to get any smaller. It's perfect as is. It's like the porridge that Goldilocks ate.
In the end, I agree. And I think that Paizo agrees, too. Being a small company has its advantages.
Computer Games.
This, made by Bioware.
Computer Games.This, made by Bioware.
I think they can do that without becoming bigger.
My only condition would be that Bioware itself does the game. Keep those hacks Oblivion away from it. They butchered NWN2, I don't want them do the same with the PF game.
Hm... a worthy successor to the original NWN and its strengths. Maybe coupled with a worthy successor to the original BG2 and its strengths.
Computer Games.
Seriously, this is where to go. Sure, tabletop games give you the most opportunity for customization and personal hang-out time with friends, but video games are where the money is at, if you can do it well. I would kill for an adventure fantasy game with as much flavor and polish as Paizo puts into its setting.
Computer Games.This, made by Bioware.I think they can do that without becoming bigger.
My only condition would be that Bioware itself does the game. Keep those hacks Oblivion away from it. They butchered NWN2, I don't want them do the same with the PF game.
Hm... a worthy successor to the original NWN and its strengths. Maybe coupled with a worthy successor to the original BG2 and its strengths.
I would rather see it closer to the Baldur's Gate (computer version) series. I realize that's pretty unlikely since the engine is pretty out of date, but hey, this is a fantasy right? :-)
I agree that they don't have to be big to have another company make a game for them, but I not sure if Bioware would make a game for what might be perceived as a niche or outdated system.
I'd like to see them partner up with Necromancer games to RE-Release their boxed sets like Rappan Athuk Reloaded, Wilderlands of High Fantasy and City of Brass. If not as boxed sets, maybe as massive hardcovers ala Ptolus.
And here's the real selling point...They'd all be re-done using Pathfinder stats. Or at least contain a small (Okay, NOT so small...) booklet with the conversions
I just checked Rappan Athuk Reloaded is around 390 pages
Wilderlands of High Fantasy might be a problem at over 500 pagesCity of Brass is around 450 pages.
It might be a stretch but those can be redone as hardcovers and notes on where to possibly place them in Golarion and replacement deities. If there's a demand these would be AWESOME.
This would take care of the demand for a super dungeon and a boxed set / hardcover in one fell swoop! Since the originals were limited edition boxed sets the reprints can have a regular print run for everyone else. Most of the heavy lifting is done, the books can stay in black and white. Reformatting and page layout is going to be a monster but less so than doing something like this from scratch I guess...
There's no reason City of Brass couldn't have been a big hardback. I think it was made a boxed set strictly for the nifty factor. Not that I'm complaining...
Bleh. So many bad ideas.
Paizo sells flip-mats, great adventures, a flexible and stable rules set, and an enormously useful campaign setting.
I don't think at any time have the makers of the game I play been able to deliver such high-quality, useful products.
I don't need some boxed set that I'll read rather than play, or a skirmish miniatures game that isn't actually much fun.
As long as Paizo keeps focusing on the products that are fun and useful, I'll be happy.
I just checked Rappan Athuk Reloaded is around 390 pages
Wilderlands of High Fantasy might be a problem at over 500 pages
City of Brass is around 450 pages.
It might be a stretch but those can be redone as hardcovers and notes on where to possibly place them in Golarion and replacement deities. If there's a demand these would be AWESOME.
Ja, Necro has made some great stuff. I hope they do what you suggest ;)
But I'd rather have a marketplace where other companies can support Pathfinder, rather than Paizo publishing everything.
Necro has a very different brand and style to Paizo, which really complements the game. I love those black and white old-school illustrations and maps. I don't think Paizo would do something like "Gary Gygax's Necropolis", or "The Wurst of Grimtooth's Traps"... but those are great books.
Or those Gem Cards they highlighted at the Paizo store the other day.
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If they find a way to bring Tact-Tiles back, that would be sa-weet.Tact-Tiles?
Tact-Tiles are interlocking pieces of plastic that with a grid on them that you can use dry erase markers (or wet erase markers) on. They are great because if you have enough of them you can add one on if your map goes out into the nether regions. You can also make a map in advance and lay it down a piece at a time. I have several of them but being they are OOP they were expensive. I find some on ebay from time to time. There are two companies making a similar product now.
One company I thought had improved on them but I bought one set of 4 I believe to check them out and although I like the actual tiles better the way there are made leaves dark edges that are very pronounced through out the map and the lines did not line up well.
The other people made almost the same product as the original tact-tiles and I ordered two sets but they changed them in between the time I found them and received my order. They have gone to a completely clear format. Nice to put a map under but if we had lifesize maps we would be using them to map anyway. I think they are great for war games and such and they actually remind me of my Army days but I was very disappointed when I received them.
I have spent a lot of time on this over the years so if anyone has any questions let me know.
I agree that they don't have to be big to have another company make a game for them, but I not sure if Bioware would make a game for what might be perceived as a niche or outdated system.
Outdated? Nah. Brand new. And related to a kick-ass world.
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If they find a way to bring Tact-Tiles back, that would be sa-weet.Tact-Tiles?Tact-Tiles are interlocking pieces of plastic that with a grid on them that you can use dry erase markers (or wet erase markers) on. They are great because if you have enough of them you can add one on if your map goes out into the nether regions. You can also make a map in advance and lay it down a piece at a time. I have several of them but being they are OOP they were expensive. I find some on ebay from time to time. There are two companies making a similar product now.
Oh, those! Yeah, I've seen a couple of DMs use them. Yeah, they say they're great but difficult to find.
- A computerized character generator that provides PDF's of character sheets for printing and emailing;
- A computerized combat manager for DM's. I currently use DMGenie for this, but it's V3.5 and no longer supported. This would greatly speed the running of higher level games and would crunch much of the numbers for a DM;
- A computerized NPC generator for DM's. I use NPC Designer for this, but it's V3.5. This would save a TON of time for a harried DM!
Hurm.
Outdated? Nah. Brand new. And related to a kick-ass world.
I agree that they don't have to be big to have another company make a game for them, but I not sure if Bioware would make a game for what might be perceived as a niche or outdated system.
Oh, I certainly know that! It's just that others aren't quite as enlightened yet. I'm as anxious for August 13th as anyone. :-)
Learn to Paint (minis) kits. I haven't found a really good one for rank beginners. I've learned by screwing up a lot of things and by doing outside research, much that could and should have been mentioned in any decent set for the complete novice (for example, the first Reaper kit didn't even mention anything about basic brush care.)
- A computerized NPC generator for DM's. I use NPC Designer for this, but it's V3.5. This would save a TON of time for a harried DM!
This site is coming soon in a PFRPG flavor.
Chief Technical Officer
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- A computerized NPC generator for DM's. I use NPC Designer for this, but it's V3.5. This would save a TON of time for a harried DM!This site is coming soon in a PFRPG flavor.
That's hot.
I'm astonished no one mentioned this:
Buy D&D.
...
Release Greyhawk into the PD for fans to keep alive.
As long as we're dreaming, change that last part to "Make the current PF map the western end of Oerik, w/ the Flanaess as the eastern end, and plenty of room to flesh out the other parts of Oerth, including central Oerik.
I might just die of bliss on the spot...
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
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I'm astonished no one mentioned this:
Buy D&D.
Rebrand 4e as the "Points of Light Tabletop Skirmish Game". Usable with...
D&D prepainted plastic miniatures - in a quality on par with Underdark or better, completely non-random, with a decent selection of minis.
Rebrand PFRPG as "Dungeons And Dragons 3e Pathfinder Edition" or something like that.
Prepare for the next version of the game as "Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition" (this would probably not be anything like 4e, so to avoid confusion, they shouldn't use 4e for what would be PF RPG 2.0).
Publicly state that Cadderly wook up and everything happening to the Realms leading up and during 4e was just a dream, and put Ed in charge of the new old Realms.
Release Greyhawk into the PD for fans to keep alive.
LOL! It's weird, cos I don't mind 4e at all, but if all this happened I'd be over the moon!
And my suggestions include lots of nice interweb tools -PFRPG Organized Play.Living PFRPG games.
- A computerized NPC generator for DM's. I use NPC Designer for this, but it's V3.5. This would save a TON of time for a harried DM!This site is coming soon in a PFRPG flavor.
Sweet!
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I don't think they need any increase in the number of adventure paths or standalone scenarios. In fact, they already probably produce these faster than any group can hope to play (unless they have a LOT more spare time than anyone I know).
I'm not interested in CRPGs (I game for the social interaction), minis games (limited options for RP), CCGs or anything else that would actually compete with the core product line.
What I (and I suspect, most others) really want is products that aid players and DMs in actually getting their game together, with minimum prep time.
Less prep time=more game time=more chance of actually using the products we already have!
Computerised Character Builder, updated to support new options as they see print, and easily customisable by non-tech-savvy users, so they can enter their own homebrew creations, or existing 3.5 Open Content.
A Character Visualiser, like the one promised by WotC. A Sims-like application which lets you create a 3-D model of your PC, viewable from any angle. With a large library of facial features. How much time do DMs and players spend looking for that 'perfect' representation of their PC?
Battlemap-scaled printable maps for key encounter areas from the adventures, or iconic locations from the Setting Guides.
Pre-painted plastic figs of Golarion-specific creatures from the Bestiaries. No need to waste time making Orcs, 'Dwarf with Axe', or 'Elf with Bow' that you can get anywhere, but those critters that have never yet been made by anyone.
A Seoni RealDoll.™
(OK, not really. It would have to have a selection of extras to make Amiri, too.)
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32
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Oh! Oh! Oh!
A character visualiser... and then... you mail the finished file to Paizo and a 3D colour printer MAKES YOUR CHARACTER MINI!
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If Paizo had such resources, I'd prefer they maintain the quality of their products rather than simply produce more.
When I picked up Rise of the Runelords: Burnt Offerings I thought to myself, this isn't a gamer attempting to write an adventure, it's a writer weaving a story that happens to be an adventure! I first started buying D&D adventure modules back in 1982 and eventually quit because I could write better material myself. Paizo wowed me! For the first time in a long time I found talented writing, great adventure ideas, creativity, and mature content. Very refreshing!
Oh, and one more idea for the resources question - more funding for the high quality art!
Yes. A computer game by Bioware in the BG II style, pre-painted plastic miniatures of good quality, and a Gargantuan Green Dragon!
Gargantuan everything. After all, the other dragons don't look like golarion dragons, either.
And metallics.
Oh! Oh! Oh!
A character visualiser... and then... you mail the finished file to Paizo and a 3D colour printer MAKES YOUR CHARACTER MINI!
Custom character minis would be f%%$in SWEET!
Also, I'd like to see a CRPG that actually incorporates how the game works to as much detail as possible (like switching to a grid format when combat is entered, or even gridding in dungeons period, with free movement only outside of combat and dungeons; turn based combat).
I mean, I like the games that have come out based on the d20 system (BGII and the KotOR games are the only ones I've played), but I find using battlefield tactics impossible when I control only one character at a time in a free movement, non-turn based situation, especially since the characters in those games had NPC scripting that pretty much made them either cast a spell (or use a force power) ever round, or run up to the nearest creature and engage in melee before I even have a chance to tell them what to do. (I had characters get incapacitated I don't know HOW many times from mines in the KotOR games when they would run right through them to attack a creature on the other side).
Yeah yeah, you're all gonna say "just go play the actual game with some friends." To that I have a couple counter-arguements before you guys even get started:
1. It's HARD to find gamers who aren't 16 year old powergaming brats, at least in my town, and those that do exist are already enmeshed in their own gaming groups that have no room for expansion.
2. It's even harder to come by an actually good DM.
3. A CRPG version allows for no rules arguements.
4. I don't always have time for a game, either to prepare, or just to fit schedules with the players I can find that won't just piss me off with their incessant question of "Why aren't we level 20 yet?" or "I'm already level 3, where's my [deck of many things/+5 holy avenger, etc...]"
So a CRPG with full-on Pathfinder rules (instead of abstracted rules for video gamers that don't neccessarily play table-top games) would be immensely cool in my opinion.
Besides, if we had a game like that, it would be PERFECT for introducing new players to the game, as they would learn how the rules work by what they can or can't do in the game.
Pre-painted plastic miniatures of their awesome creatures.
In my mind I added, this, but I didn't post. Glad DM Jeff did. Pre-painted non-plastic minis is about the only thing more I'd like to see from Paizo. I can hardly keep up as it is, and I want it all...eventually. The only other things to be added are service=oriented. Like the guest cubicles with bunks for customers I've been promoting...
I would love Paizo to do a "Make a new campaign world" contest like Wizards did a few years ago (and Eberron was the winner).
Ditto. Already working on mine in anticipation of the eventuality :)