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I know it's been touched on before. I know you all have a lot of irons in the fire. However, after seeing the Pathfinder RPG in all its glory, I'm begging you to do a Pathfinder-treatment of D20 Modern.
I have total faith that you could do the same improvements and treatments for the modern, pulp, and sci-fi genres.
I know there is a lot of 3rd-party stuff out there and that their are alternatives like True20 (which I like but I still like D20 Modern more) and Modern20 (which I cherry-pick for rules but it changed too much IMO), but there's something about D20 Modern that just clicks for me.
Even though fantasy RPGing is my genre of choice, I find myself evaluating characters in fiction, video games, TV, and movies through the lens of D20 Modern base classes. (She's a Fast/Charismatic, he's a Strong/Fast, he's a Dedicated/Tough, etc.)
I realize it'd be smaller print runs and serves a smaller audience than fantasy, but damn I'd love to have it.
Paizo fans, tell me you wouldn't want the following (apologies for poorly-riffing the Pathfinder meme):
"Explorer: The Role-playing game of Modern adventure" (Pulp, Modern)
-- Genre sourcebooks include:
Sci-fi. C'mon sci-fi treatments from Paizo? Do I even need to say more? Especially with Planet Stories inspriation?
Pulp. You already tap this source of gaming goodness with Pathfinder, so you're capabilities are already proven here. You could even do a pulp-era version of the Pathfinder Society.
Horror You sprinkle this in to great effect now. Logue & Pett unleashed?!? Failed sanity checks abound!
I realize you've probably already kicked this around and have an idea or two or perhaps that door's already closed. However, a Pathfinder fan can dream and after seeing the great job done with the Pathfinder RPG, I know the D20 Modern/Future OGL torch would be in good hands with Paizo as well.
I'd buy Explorer if it became available.
Unfortunatly D20 Modern was always the red-headed stepchild of the D20 System (Apologies to any red-headed stepchildren reading this) and never got the attention it deserved. A shame, really.
d20Modern has so much potential! But I think a Paizo version would probably kick it up a HUGE notch. I especially like pulp genre games and would LOVE a fantastic Explorer based ruleset to make it happen!
I agree. It really is one of my favorite settings. I never liked the Shadowrun system much, but I love that I can create something with the same feel if not the same rules with Urban Arcana.
"Explorer", good name! I had the notion of "Pathfinder: Past, Present, and Future" but Explorer is better.
I'd like to see a rules set flexible enough to support any genre. That means a set of generic classes and rules for how to customize them to match the needs of the particular genre. Likely something similar for races/backgrounds.
Imagine rules capable of supporting post-apocalypse, cyberpunk, space opera, sword and planet, westerns, steampunk, time travel, etc.
I'd be all over this. I could not believe the lack of support D20 Modern received. I'd love some new ideas in the modern vein.
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Imagine rules capable of supporting post-apocalypse, cyberpunk, space opera, sword and planet, westerns, steampunk, time travel, etc.
I've would like to use Pathfinder as the core of a classless, skill-based game so I can run plane, time and genre hopping campaign.
I want to get a little experience running Pathfinder before I start hot-rodding the internals.
A ruleset that works with these genres would allow me to convert all my Star*Drive stuff over so I can finally run that campaign!
SM
This would be something I would be interested in as well!
I use and like d20 modern for all my modern games. It works well and is in my opinion very underrated.
d20 Modern was something I never wanted to shell out any money for. Perhaps I would do so for the Dark Matter supplement and just use the srd. If they did do a Pathfinder: Modern I would hope they wouldn't make it backwards compatible with d20 Modern, I'd rather it be their own d20 system. Though that's mainly because I loath the stat based class system so take that as you will.
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Well until Paizo does something with it I'd recommend taking a look at Fantasy Craft. Crafty Games did a decent job with it and had Pathfinder not been the show stealer it was I think it would have made a bigger impression this year. They've designed it to be a basic fantasy game but the rules are designed to play in any era of fantasy. So modern fantasy is very possible with it. I'm still reading over it when I have the time and not buried in Pathfinder or I'd give a better break down.
"Explorer", good name! I had the notion of "Pathfinder: Past, Present, and Future" but Explorer is better.
I'd like to see a rules set flexible enough to support any genre. That means a set of generic classes and rules for how to customize them to match the needs of the particular genre. Likely something similar for races/backgrounds.
Imagine rules capable of supporting post-apocalypse, cyberpunk, space opera, sword and planet, westerns, steampunk, time travel, etc.
It already exists, it's called GURPS (I play Gurps 3 ed).
Pathfinder is great for high fantasy (the new book rocks!), but there are other systems better built to handle things like horror and westerns.Now, space opera... hm, I can see a Pathfinder version of that.
GRU
I'd love to see this too. I've thought about homebrewing and I've seen a few efforts---but none that click with me like d20 Modern, yet d20 Modern does need a few fixes. Even just one book--just one update, and then people can use/convert the supplements (like Future and Urban Arcana) as they feel they need to.
Heck, Pathfinder's skill system ALONE would make d20 Modern work so much better (especially the once a class skill, always a class skill rule).
OTOH, most Modern classes had a LOT of bonus feats to them, so would Pathfinder's faster feat advancement be too much? Or would it just allow more customization?
I'd also like to see something that addresses some multiclass issues I felt d20 Modern had. Some cool abilities were wrapped up in class abilities so that when trying to build a concept, I found it crazy tempting to multiclass a character to death and would end up with low BAB or saves (I noticed this while trying to write up actual characters from other fictional works---"well, he clearly has this skill, but that's a Gunslinger ability, but then he also can Interpose, so I have to give him Bodyguard levels..."). Maybe more Talents and fewer Advanced Classes? No Advanced Classes at all? (Crazy idea.)
Creative Director
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Several years back, before d20 Modern even, I wrote up a post-apocalyptic "Cthulhu meets Road Warrior meets Fallout" type game called "Unspeakable Futures." It was a blast. I recently updated these rules to Pathfinder's ruleset and ran a game at Paizocon a month or so ago, and had PCs with pet robots, making sneak attacks with shotguns, doing a car chase along a narrow mountain road, and blowing up mutants and mi-go with rocket launchers. It was a blast, and the PRPG rules handled it very well.
We've got a lot of other things to take care of before we do much of anything in a print format with a sci-fi or modern game version of the PRPG, but as far as I can tell, the rules will handle it pretty well.
I am currently working on a homebrew fantasy* game using D20 Modern with heavy Pathfinder and Book of Experimental Might influences.
I have keep some of the d20 Modern skills, spliting search off from the Pathfinder Perception and rolling it in the D20M Investigate skill. I also kept the D20M craft skills (though somewhat modified) because I find them easier for the players to use.
*It started out more traditional fantasy but has since developed into a steam punk/fantasy hybrid.
While I'm on board wit this, I think this is one area Wizards has the edge, quite frankly. Star Wars Saga is the best D20 derivitive yet, way better than 4th ed, and only slightly better than Pathfinder. It is already way more in tune with D20 Modern, and would require extremly few tweaks IMHO. Talent trees updated, core classes revisited, it could not only work, but work WELL. Hopefully, if they do it, Rodney Thompson does the lead work, as he did a great job with Saga.
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I would add another subscription to my growing list, if Pathfinder did to d20 Modern what they've done with the 3.5 line. I think it's mostly based on the dedication that the Paizo team gives to their creations that really makes me think that their d20 Modern would be sound and solid and incredible.
I am all for Pd20Modern so to speak. I like d20M ok, but I never liked the wealth system well enough, and while I know it's blasphemy never liked the stat based classes. I have tried to essentially combine them down to 3 archtype classes being the warrior (Tough and Strong heros), the Rogue (Fast and Charismatic), and the Expert (Smart and dedicated) with a few of the talent trees moved around for good measure. It feels a little better to me as the classes feel more streamlined, and as a system I've tried to change things a little more to represent unique choices such as giving away base attack and save points every level (the player gets to assign them essentially choosing new BaB or which save to increase so as to custom build themselves). It isn't perfect but with the new PFRPG ideas (CMB is a biggy) I think it will work nicely. However if Paizo ever does their own book, consider it pre-ordered!
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As far as the "Sci-Fi" thing goes, I was thinking about a homebrew "Pathfiderized" Traveller T20 (Traveller for the D20 System). Now that was a system that also had potential but never got the respect that it deserved!
Well, until just recently I was working on a project for a sci-fi game using Pathinder rules. I hoped that if it was really well received I'd try and sell it. Essentially it was a Renegade Legion meets Traveller meets Twilight 2000 game. lol But a new job I'm starting this weekend has put that project on the backburner.
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As far as the "Sci-Fi" thing goes, I was thinking about a homebrew "Pathfiderized" Traveller T20 (Traveller for the D20 System). Now that was a system that also had potential but never got the respect that it deserved!Well, until just recently I was working on a project for a sci-fi game using Pathinder rules. I hoped that if it was really well received I'd try and sell it. Essentially it was a Renegade Legion meets Traveller meets Twilight 2000 game. lol But a new job I'm starting this weekend has put that project on the backburner.
Yeah "real world commitments" prevent me from doing certain things as well. If I could get myself more free time (yeah right), I just might do a homebrew "Traveller PFRPG". If only I knew how to make PDF files, then I could design the character sheet as well.
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Actually D20 Modern and D20 Future get updates all the time. Mostly from 3rd party PDF publishers. I recently bought some interesting ones called "1001 Weapons Revised" and "Shape Memory Polymers". The former has a hilarious tag line: "Now with more violence!" and has some pretty imaginative weapons like living torpedoes, coagulators, gamma ray guns, etc. The latter is interesting because it deals with tools and weapons that change shape when an electric charge is applied. Very Popular Mechanics.
I love to see this as well. But I only have one thing to ask: Please, no Ability-based classes. No Strong Heroes or Smart Heroes ... it really turned me off from d20M. I'd rather have Soldiers or Scientists.
Also, any chance that Paizo could snag some of the other settings from WotC? Or maybe just make them with the serial numbers filed off? ;)
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I'm curious.
Please choose one of the following. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a little bit on your thoughts on the following question, if you would.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
If the game becomes as successful as it appears it may, something like this is definitely within the realm of possibility in the medium to long term.
Please pick one of the choices above and expound a bit on the way you voted the way you did.
Thanks!
I'm curious.
Please choose one of the following. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a little bit on your thoughts on the following question, if you would.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
If the game becomes as successful as it appears it may, something like this is definitely within the realm of possibility in the medium to long term.
Please pick one of the choices above and expound a bit on the way you voted the way you did.
Thanks!
B (and a little bit of A).
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1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
--snip--
Please pick one of the choices above and expound a bit on the way you voted the way you did.
Thanks!
My answer is:
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
I really love the concept of modern fantasy, but don't want it tied to specific mechanics necessarily. For example I liked d20 Modern, but didn't like the class structure, believing it would have been more appealing to devise a class structure that wasn't tied directly to the abilities, but still reliant upon them. Maybe more generic, but modernized versions of the base classes such as Solder or Mercenary instead of Fighter. Maybe Occultist instead of Mage. Basically names that give the classes modern feel while the class offers similar things a modern world counterpart might have but with a mix of fantasy and modern.
The world, or at least the genre, presented in the book should portray what a fantasy world would be like if it took on modern elements instead of the more popular theme of modern world turned fantasy. By this I mean I'd like to be shown a world similiar to Eberron, but even more modern. Sort of a cross between Eberron and Etherscope, but with more magic and less steampunk.
I say this because when it comes to real world reflections, such as computers and the internet, portrayed in modern fantasy the technology is usually based on real world mechanics only with magic giving additional access to it. What if it that were changed and all technology was created by potent or complex spells? There's a lot of possibilities that could be done that would allow real world rational to be ignored. I would really like to see a modern world created through magic from the ground up and not just be a mix of ours.
That kind of approach could loosen the restrictions that govern a lot of mechanics related to modern fantasy gaming, allowing a modern game to keep more of the Pathfinder elements.
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1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
I like Modern Settings for all sorts of things, from Horror games, to action/adventure games and WW2 espionage type games (complete with Nazi-Robots). If the Paizo guys handled a "Modern" game I'd have complete confidence in them.
That said, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Talent Trees are a great mechanic that even PFRPG could make use of.
I'm curious.
Please choose one of the following. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a little bit on your thoughts on the following question, if you would.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
If the game becomes as successful as it appears it may, something like this is definitely within the realm of possibility in the medium to long term.
Please pick one of the choices above and expound a bit on the way you voted the way you did.
Thanks!
B
Because sometimes one wants a break from "Fantasy" (what I have called "Elf Fatigue").
And, your own offerings in Planet Stories provide different directions to explore - Planetary Romance (i.e, The Swordsman of Mars, The Ginger Star), Space Opera (like Northwest of Earth), Post-Apocalyptic (Sos the Rope), and some others that Planet Stories does not yet cover, like Modern Horror, Esponage, etc.
You ask a hard Question Erik, but if pressed, I would go with B. I like the idea of a "generic" modern rules set that can be adapted to a number of settings, such as horror, sci-fi, or even low power fantasy.
I DO like the talent system of D20M, though. Having a floating group of class abilities that players may choose from to customize their character is nice. I have expanded on it in the homebrew I am working on by adding talents and giving access to talents to the advanced and prestige classes of D20M. This allows a character to further distinguish their character as they advance.
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1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
Sort of both for me, actually. I'd love a Paizo version of d20 Modern to bring those rules in line with the updates to 3.5 in Pathfinder RPG, but also liked the way Modern handled Base classes, Advanced classes, and Talent trees.
I'd love a Modern version of the Pathfinder system that felt different enough to stand on its own but wouldn't be like having to learn a new system if I wanted to play both.
I'm curious.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
Thanks for the opportunity to respond Erik.
I chose "A" because the modern RPG really is meant to be a setting-neutral playground for anything you want to do post-industrial age. I especially like the extra books such as d20 Past, d20 Apocalypse. What the modern setting really offers is a base from which you can really customize and expand to make it your own game.
I thought the concept of Advanced Classes as well as Prestige Classes was much more in line with a more flexible class system so that GMs can really develop the flavor of the campaign.
The ONE thing that I have yet to see is good vehicle chase rules. If you guys ever tackle this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make chase rules that are as exciting as car chases in movies.
The ONE thing that I have yet to see is good vehicle chase rules. If you guys ever tackle this PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make chase rules that are as exciting as car chases in movies.
Or horse chases for westerns (and that can be ported back to Pathfinder).
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Choices A and B are hardly exclusive.
Choice A) I love modern's versatility, humans of modern day certainly don't fit into one of 11 classes, we mix and match our lives. I myself have a bit of a soldier in me, a bit of an animal handler, and quite a bit of nerd. In d20 modern I mix a bit of fast, smart, charismatic, wildlord and soldier. d20 modern needs a lot less work than 3.5, but I'd love to see better systems for vehicle use and wealth.
Right now my group is running an Urban Arcana game where the setting invading modern earth is Golarion rather than Greyhawk and are having a blast. The Pathfinder Society is a ton better than 'Department 7'.
That all being said, I'd love a PFModern regardless of mechanics. Just try to keep the versatility of plugging the system into any time era.
I'm curious.
Please choose one of the following. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a little bit on your thoughts on the following question, if you would.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
If the game becomes as successful as it appears it may, something like this is definitely within the realm of possibility in the medium to long term.
Please pick one of the choices above and expound a bit on the way you voted the way you did.
Thanks!
1) A) For me, for many of the same reasons I was eager to see Pathfinder. D20 Modern is a great, flexable system but it has it's share of problems. My main bugbear, like a lot of people, was the wealth system. For me I never flet like it worked properly. Also, D20 Future's gadget system, while a brilliant and powerful idea and one I liked a lot, never quite completely geled, again particially because of the wealth system.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
Mainly B. However, I like talent trees and while I'm not wedded to the stat based base classes I think the base/advanced/prestige classes format supported multiclassing better than 3.5e.
Jim.
I would say mainly B. There are some cool concepts in d20M (like Talent Trees), but I'd really like to see a Pathfinder Modern/Explorer take on less baggage from d20M and be something exciting. I do think there were some great mini-settings from Poly that could be a blast to play in a new game ;)
On the other hand, Erik, has Paizo considered making a trade e-zine or magazine to support Pathfinder? A modern section of that could be a fun place to display new mini-settings ...
I'm curious.
Please choose one of the following. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a little bit on your thoughts on the following question, if you would.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
If the game becomes as successful as it appears it may, something like this is definitely within the realm of possibility in the medium to long term.
Please pick one of the choices above and expound a bit on the way you voted the way you did.
Thanks!
I'm curious.
Please choose one of the following. I'd appreciate it if you could elaborate a little bit on your thoughts on the following question, if you would.
1) I am interested in a "Modern" Pathfinder RPG because:
A) I specifically prefer the rules conceits of d20 Modern (Fast Hero, Smart Hero, etc., talent trees, other mechanics stuff).
B) I am excited by the idea of a "Pathfinder" Modern RPG, regardless of mechanics.
'B'. I Run a regular D20 modern game and, while it has its happy moments, it is not liberated by its rules as they stand, its suffocated by them. Most pointedly, the 'base' classes, while effectively conveying a sense of unlimited flexibility, are only ever being used as a way station for the advanced class most players wanted to get into anyway, which is certainly a drag for anyone with an FX bent, as they have a 3 level drag in their 'apprenticeship'.
I do like the way talent trees function in D20 modern (more of that 'flexibility' thing) and would not be sad if they remained in any form.
The wealth system could go. while a system to track all the ups and downs of modern money would be tedious, the wealth system was very unintuitive.
Batts
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We almost started playing a D20 modern campaign at my library (zombie survival horrer. DM denied my Ash character build with a chainsaw hand) but finding adventures was hard. I have recently been looking at Shadowrun or Star wars just to get away from the fantasy for a campaign.
I never looked hard at the modern D20 mainly because there was not any adventure support. I did like that there was one core book and other books to supplement them (apocalypse, future etc)
I would choose B becuase of the fact that I don't know anything about the classes for the current d20 modern. I trust the Paizo staff to make a great system regardless of the mechanics. Plus, I think it would be alot easier to get my group to play a Pathfinder Merdern. I guess it could be easier to convert the d20 modern than to start from scratch.
A pathfinderish future adventure would be outstanding, but do you really have the time to do this with all the PFRPG work being done? *puppy dog eyes*
B but I would really like to see a sci-fi game.