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Firstly I have this really nice Jinx Dungeons and Dragons ball cap. I liked it when I played D&D but now I feel like I'm not representing myself truthfully when I wear it. I would proudly wear some paizo swag if you sold more of a variety. Think about it, I pay you to advertise your product. Get those tshirts and hats out there!!! Oh and no cafe press please, they suck so does zazzle. Sell some quality clothes and I will buy them. They should have the pathfinder name on them. You've got a number of cool Pathfinder Society tshirts but I didn't see anything that just has the Pathfinder logo on it. Oh put out different colors too. I like to have my choice of colors. I may not want that golem tee in white but I would probably buy it in blue or black.
Secondly Art is obviously an important part of the RPG world and despite the attention it does get I think that it could get more! I've had this idea in my head for a while that a how to draw line of books geared towards the fantasy roleplaying genre would be an amazing product. I'm picturing them in hardcover styled and laid out in the same manner as the rulebooks. Actually Impact puts out some cool how to books like this. I own a few of those but I would still buy them from Paizo if they have my favorite artists name on them.
Thanks!
I don't know whether anyone will agree with me, but personally, I don't think a giant purple pi-shaped golem is an image I'd like to wear. A little Paizo logo in the corner would be fine, but the bulk of the T-shirt should have, say, a picture of an iconic, with the word "Pathfinder" in big letters.
(But then, I'm not your target customer. I never wear t-shirts anymore, and I doubt you're ever going to make sweatshirts. So what would I know?)
Chief Technical Officer
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Firstly I have this really nice Jinx Dungeons and Dragons ball cap. I liked it when I played D&D but now I feel like I'm not representing myself truthfully when I wear it. I would proudly wear some paizo swag if you sold more of a variety. Think about it, I pay you to advertise your product. Get those tshirts and hats out there!!! Oh and no cafe press please, they suck so does zazzle. Sell some quality clothes and I will buy them. They should have the pathfinder name on them. You've got a number of cool Pathfinder Society tshirts but I didn't see anything that just has the Pathfinder logo on it. Oh put out different colors too. I like to have my choice of colors. I may not want that golem tee in white but I would probably buy it in blue or black.
So, right there, you've hit on the big problem.
There are basically two ways to sell T-shirts: print them in advance, or print them on demand.
The benefits of printing on demand are that you can offer a wide variety of designs, with a wide variety of garment types to apply that design to. But getting into the "on demand" business is not cheap, and the quality of on-demand apparel is, as you have pointed out, generally not as high as the quality of premanufactured apparel.
Unfortunately, premanufacturing has big problems too. You have to carry inventory, and unless you have the ability to move an awful lot of product quickly, that means you have to limit yourself to just a few different items in order to avoid tying up all your capital in inventory.
Trust me, we'd love to offer a wide variety of high-quality products in a bunch of cool designs on lots of different garment choices, but economically, it just doesn't make sense.
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Chief Technical Officer
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I don't know whether anyone will agree with me, but personally, I don't think a giant purple pi-shaped golem is an image I'd like to wear. A little Paizo logo in the corner would be fine, but the bulk of the T-shirt should have, say, a picture of an iconic, with the word "Pathfinder" in big letters.
(But then, I'm not your target customer. I never wear t-shirts anymore, and I doubt you're ever going to make sweatshirts. So what would I know?)
Do you mean something like this?
In order to minimize our risk on getting stuck with inventory on unpopular shirt designs, we tried something a bit different a couple of years ago. We put up a survey with a number of designs, and asked people which ones they would buy. Once we had enough pledges to make a design profitable, we'd make the shirts.
People jumped on the survey, and within a couple of weeks, we had enough pledges on all three of the designs that we had put up. So then we called for orders, and the *majority* of people went back on their pledges. That Valeros shirt I linked above was the worst case—fewer than 30% of the people who pledged actually placed orders, so we had to kill it; it was never made. We made the other two designs—the golem shirt, which is still available in every size two years later, and a black goblin shirt, which did eventually sell out.
Another thing you should know about T-shirts? Everyone always begs and pleads for non-black shirts, but nobody ever buys them. Black shirts are pretty much the only shirts that ever sell well. White shirts sell *a lot* less. And colored shirts generally sell even less than white shirts.
As you can probably tell, I'm pretty down on the whole T-shirt thing these days. In my experience, apparel is just a way for Paizo to lose money.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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Luckily, the Community Use Policy makes use of the iconics artwork and product logos legal for non-commercial purposes. If someone really wants a shirt with Valeros or Seoni or Lem on it, they can make one on any number of on-demand clothing sites, as long as they don't sell it to other people and include a tag or slip of paper with each one (if they give them as gifts) with the text from the CUP on it.
As you can probably tell, I'm pretty down on the whole T-shirt thing these days. In my experience, apparel is just a way for Paizo to lose money.
Thanks for telling it so frankly. Now I know not to bother asking anymore.
I don't know whether anyone will agree with me, but personally, I don't think a giant purple pi-shaped golem is an image I'd like to wear. A little Paizo logo in the corner would be fine, but the bulk of the T-shirt should have, say, a picture of an iconic, with the word "Pathfinder" in big letters.
(But then, I'm not your target customer. I never wear t-shirts anymore, and I doubt you're ever going to make sweatshirts. So what would I know?)
Do you mean something like this?
In order to minimize our risk on getting stuck with inventory on unpopular shirt designs, we tried something a bit different a couple of years ago. We put up a survey with a number of designs, and asked people which ones they would buy. Once we had enough pledges to make a design profitable, we'd make the shirts.
People jumped on the survey, and within a couple of weeks, we had enough pledges on all three of the designs that we had put up. So then we called for orders, and the *majority* of people went back on their pledges. That Valeros shirt I linked above was the worst case—fewer than 30% of the people who pledged actually placed orders, so we had to kill it; it was never made. We made the other two designs—the golem shirt, which is still available in every size two years later, and a black goblin shirt, which did eventually sell out.
Another thing you should know about T-shirts? Everyone always begs and pleads for non-black shirts, but nobody ever buys them. Black shirts are pretty much the only shirts that ever sell well. White shirts sell *a lot* less. And colored shirts generally sell even less than white shirts.
As you can probably tell, I'm pretty down on the whole T-shirt thing these days. In my experience, apparel is just a way for Paizo to lose money.
Are any shirts like that still available?
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CEO
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I haven't given up on the t-shirt business yet, though the problems Vic mentions have plagued us from the beginning. But I am unswayed and undaunted. I WILL find the answer that allows us to have a bunch of cool t-shirts. However, I am still looking for the perfect solution at this point. So hang in there, I am trying to solve this seemingly unsolvable conundrum. :)
-Lisa
Would Paizo consider giving a company like Jinx the ability to sell Pathfinder branded apparel? This could relieve Paizo from the burden of stocking and selling this type of product, and give fans an opportunity to purchase items they may like.
I don't purchase a lot of t-shirts, but over the years, I've picked up a few from them. Their service has been pretty good, and the shirts seem to hold up well.
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CEO
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Would Paizo consider giving a company like Jinx the ability to sell Pathfinder branded apparel? This could relieve Paizo from the burden of stocking and selling this type of product, and give fans an opportunity to purchase items they may like.
I don't purchase a lot of t-shirts, but over the years, I've picked up a few from them. Their service has been pretty good, and the shirts seem to hold up well.
We would totally be interested in licensing out t-shirts to a company like Jinx who is set up to make them. They just need to inquire. :)
-Lisa
We would totally be interested in licensing out t-shirts to a company like Jinx who is set up to make them. They just need to inquire. :)
-Lisa
Yeah, but you have to not mention them by name, else you'll... well, THEM the whole thing.
Luckily, the Community Use Policy makes use of the iconics artwork and product logos legal for non-commercial purposes. If someone really wants a shirt with Valeros or Seoni or Lem on it, they can make one on any number of on-demand clothing sites, as long as they don't sell it to other people and include a tag or slip of paper with each one (if they give them as gifts) with the text from the CUP on it.
Are you serious? I'm ordering a Lem shirt right away!
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I saw it mentioned in the comments on several of the Gamemastery Cards packs that several people wished there were multiples of certain items (backpacks being the biggest request), but backpacks only seem to exist in the original set and there is only one backpack card.
In keeping with the idea behind the Essentials double-pack, an Essentials 2 featuring common starting adventure gear (backpacks, belt pouches, scabbards, spellbooks, thieves' tools, rations, rope, holy symbols (of each faith, if possible), sacks, torches, etc.) would seem like a great product.
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Seriously?!?! I will totally print my own custom pathfinder shirt! It'll be awesome!
I think POD tshirts could work just no cafe press their stuff really is terrible, at least it was a few years ago. I own a couple shirts from spreadshirt.com that I'm pretty happy with, that might be worth giving a try. As far as zazzle, I've never ordered anything from them, I just remember not liking their site, actually I don't remember why. Pathfinder skateboards would totally rock face!!!
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OK I checked out cafepress's website just now and actually it looks like they may have come along since the last time I ordered from them. I'm going to take a picture of my dog and make a shirt with it from each site. Once I get them I will tell you which one seemed to have the best quality. Plus I'll have three new shirts with a picture of my dog on them!
Any other POD sites I'm not aware of? I'll check them out too. I only know of spreadshirt, zazzle and cafepress.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Are any shirts like that still available?
You can see all of the remaining Paizo T-shirts here.
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Chief Technical Officer
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I saw it mentioned in the comments on several of the Gamemastery Cards packs that several people wished there were multiples of certain items (backpacks being the biggest request), but backpacks only seem to exist in the original set and there is only one backpack card.
In keeping with the idea behind the Essentials double-pack, an Essentials 2 featuring common starting adventure gear (backpacks, belt pouches, scabbards, spellbooks, thieves' tools, rations, rope, holy symbols (of each faith, if possible), sacks, torches, etc.) would seem like a great product.
Done and done! Please see the Adventure Gear and Adventure Gear 2 Item Card decks.
From your list, the backpack, pouch, spellbook, thieves tools, rations, rope, holy symbol, sack, and torch cards are in the first Adventure Gear set. There's a scabbard in Adventure Gear 2.
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Done and done! Please see the Adventure Gear and Adventure Gear 2 Item Card decks.
From your list, the backpack, pouch, spellbook, thieves tools, rations, rope, holy symbol, sack, and torch cards are in the first Adventure Gear set. There's a scabbard in Adventure Gear 2.
Thanks for replying, Vic. Actually I just bought these two sets a couple of weeks ago and they're great!
What I was thinking of is repackaging them in a way that one set would have multiple items that every member of a beginning adventuring party would typically have. For example, 4 backpacks, 4 tinder boxes, several ration, rope, and belt pouch cards. At least one of each set of clothing type.
I guess I was thinking of it as a general store pack that would provide the GM the ability to give an average size (4 person) adventuring group a means to equip themselves without having to buy 4 entire sets of the same cards.
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Chief Technical Officer
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Done and done! Please see the Adventure Gear and Adventure Gear 2 Item Card decks.
From your list, the backpack, pouch, spellbook, thieves tools, rations, rope, holy symbol, sack, and torch cards are in the first Adventure Gear set. There's a scabbard in Adventure Gear 2.
Thanks for replying, Vic. Actually I just bought these two sets a couple of weeks ago and they're great!
What I was thinking of is repackaging them in a way that one set would have multiple items that every member of a beginning adventuring party would typically have. For example, 4 backpacks, 4 tinder boxes, several ration, rope, and belt pouch cards. At least one of each set of clothing type.
I guess I was thinking of it as a general store pack that would provide the GM the ability to give an average size (4 person) adventuring group a means to equip themselves without having to buy 4 entire sets of the same cards.
Not every gaming group has four players. While not every player will use every item in the deck, there are enough basics in here—especially in the first set—that one deck per person should be a fairly reasonable purchase.
Are any shirts like that still available?You can see all of the remaining Paizo T-shirts here.
Thanks Vic. Just purchased 4. (I was hoping you still ahd the Valeros ones though...)
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Chief Technical Officer
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Thanks Vic. Just purchased 4. (I was hoping you still ahd the Valeros ones though...)Are any shirts like that still available?You can see all of the remaining Paizo T-shirts here.
We never made the Valeros shirt that I posted the photo of. (See my long post above to find out why.)
We never made the Valeros shirt that I posted the photo of. (See my long post above to find out why.)Thanks Vic. Just purchased 4. (I was hoping you still ahd the Valeros ones though...)Are any shirts like that still available?You can see all of the remaining Paizo T-shirts here.
Ah. I sw the thread and thought that you still ahd a bunch sitting on the shelf because nobody bought them...
My mistake.
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You also have more of a following now do you not?
I know I was looking at the shirts awhile back but didn't see any that would fit so didn't order.
Perhaps it is the same with me as with others. I didn't even know of Pazio until Gencon 2008 and I purchased a Gamers DVD from you all.
From then on I have been a follower. Was on the edge of doing the Subscription (now I wish I started from the get go like I could of) for a good number of months.
Perhaps there are more like me now since Pathfinder Core Rules seem to be hitting it off.
Sean
EDIT: Now that was just odd.
I swear a couple of months ago there was only like Small size or extra small available.
Ordered!
OK I checked out cafepress's website just now and actually it looks like they may have come along since the last time I ordered from them. I'm going to take a picture of my dog and make a shirt with it from each site. Once I get them I will tell you which one seemed to have the best quality. Plus I'll have three new shirts with a picture of my dog on them!
Any other POD sites I'm not aware of? I'll check them out too. I only know of spreadshirt, zazzle and cafepress.
You rock!
Keep us posted... ;-)
Man, if someone did a shirt with some artwork of a bad-ass, old-school Clay golem putting the smack down on an "anime" looking wizard I'd buy it in a heartbeat.
In fact I'd probably by 10.
People jumped on the survey, and within a couple of weeks, we had enough pledges on all three of the designs that we had put up. So then we called for orders, and the *majority* of people went back on their pledges. That Valeros shirt I linked above was the worst case—fewer than 30% of the people who pledged actually placed orders, so we had to kill it; it was never made.
Man, I wish the names of those who went back were available... I'd be able to see which Paizo messageboard wankers have zero credibility the next time someone spouts they'd buy some certain ill-conceived Golarion nonsense.
Good to know about the above, in any case.
Good thing Paizo's not planning an apparel subscription. I don't think my bank account could handle it :)
At least I *hope* they're not planning one ... or do I? :)
I'd be able to see which Paizo messageboard wankers have zero credibility the next time someone spouts they'd buy some certain ill-conceived Golarion nonsense.
Luckily, ill-concieved Golarion nonsense is in short supply 'round these parts.
uuhhh, I am trying to make my own "PATHFINDER, PLAYING D&D THE RIGHT WAY" sticker - Muahahahaha
I don;t think you'll see that sort of thing here.
Paiso seems to be taking the high road here (and good for them) by holding to the "play what you enjoy" line.
I think there is a "The Edition Wars Are Over" thread somewhere.
I don't particularly like 4e all that much. But it is as close to the original D&D as PF is...
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Oh my, the internet - I wasn't even thinking of 4e while writing this post and apologize if any 4e-fan felt attacked. I just wanted to show how much I love Pathfinder and that I think Paizo did everything right with Pathfinder (without meaning that 4e is worse, or stuff like that).
And I know, how Paizo is viewing other companies, and that they never said something worse about WotC! That's why I wrote that I am off to "MAKE MY OWN" sticker.
I wasn't flame-waring. Sorry, if someone took it that way!!!
Its true again, think twice, before posting something in the internet, where only the written word of the author, but not his moot or mimic is seen...
But anyway, sticker would be cool (non-flame-war stickers, that is!).
