Headed down the Dark Pathways!
How can you say "No" to a FREE collection of Pathfinder templates, encounters, feats and domains, and all of it bundled together with a new fiction piece by author David Bain? You'd have to be crazy to turn it down.
Includes an interview with over Creighton Broadhurst of Raging Swan Press and Living Greyhawk fame.
Get your FREE copy HERE
I read the magazine and enjoyed the content it delivers including the interview with the Raging Swan Press. Very enlightening.
The one thing that got to me about this issue is that every single review was 5/5. Every single one. I know this magazine is free, thank you for putting it out, but is there ever an issue where you have material less than a "PERFECT" score? I've started glazing over this section as there is no way that every single product can be "PERFECT". I know you can pick and choose what product you want in place and what review you want put in there I just find the "PERFECT 5/5!" on every product unbelievable.
Are there products out there that are 5/5 quality? Yes. Every issue? No.
Looking forward to the next magazine.
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I'm just guessing, but I would not be surprised if Steve doesn't just let the reviewers send in their favorite reviews for the month, which means they are each going to send in reviews that are more likely than not 5 star reviews. They do each review things which recieve less than 5 stars and you can click on the products on this site to get other reviews if you think a particular reviewer may be too glowing.
I read the magazine and enjoyed the content it delivers including the interview with the Raging Swan Press. Very enlightening.
The one thing that got to me about this issue is that every single review was 5/5. Every single one. I know this magazine is free, thank you for putting it out, but is there ever an issue where you have material less than a "PERFECT" score? I've started glazing over this section as there is no way that every single product can be "PERFECT". I know you can pick and choose what product you want in place and what review you want put in there I just find the "PERFECT 5/5!" on every product unbelievable.
I am glad you are enjoying the product, and the answers by Creighton Broadhurst to the interview were very enlightening.
As to reviews.
I only post 5/5 star reviews in pathways unless its for a Rite Publishing product (I swear I posted a 4/5 star review of ours once but I could be wrong). It would be improper of me (or at least have the appearance of impropriety) to post a lesser review of another companies product. I also do my best to offer balance one review for Rite Pub one for someone else, this limits me from being a total shill.
Finally there is my simple feeling that I want Pathways to recommend products to purchase. I want to be positive. If its reviewed in pathways its because its the best product that from the last 30 days.
Are there products out there that are 5/5 quality? Yes. Every issue? No.
Reviews are the most subject thing out there, so I disagree with you and understand how you decided that was the truth because just like a review its your opinion.
I realized while researching this I missed one SGG Ultimate Options Grits and Gunslingers I apologize to owen, stan and hyrum and will correct this in the next issue.
Also just so folks know out of the 54 pathfinder compatible products released between issue #7 and #8, we posted 9 products with 5/5 star ratings from 5 different reviewers. So adding in the SGG review that I screwed up on that means we are talking about the top 18.5% of products. With half of those being mine.
Now you have a point,I am cherry picking the best reviews for my products, yes I am, but I am also cherry picking the best reviews for everyone's products.
My rebuttal to that point is Google. Go to the sales page of say #30 haunts for objects and read the other Three 5/5 star reviews and the One 4/5 star review. My hope is to introduce you to good quality products that are worth buying, but your always free to do your own due diligence to see if I am just blowing smoke.
I hope that helps explain why I handle reviews the way I do and again I hope you continue to enjoy the content.
Thanks
Steve Russell
Rite Publishing
As to reviews.
I only post 5/5 star reviews in pathways unless its for a Rite Publishing product (I swear I posted a 4/5 star review of ours once but I could be wrong). It would be improper of me (or at least have the appearance of impropriety) to post a lesser review of another companies product. I also do my best to offer balance one review for Rite Pub one for someone else, this limits me from being a total shill.Finally there is my simple feeling that I want Pathways to recommend products to purchase. I want to be positive. If its reviewed in pathways its because its the best product that from the last 30 days.
In that case would it not make more sense to scrap the star system if it is pointless anyway and instead of calling it a review section, call it a recommended products section.
Steve,
Thank you for your honest reply. I will continue to read,purchase,and download your products.
In that case would it not make more sense to scrap the star system if it is pointless anyway and instead of calling it a review section, call it a recommended products section.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. This is your magazine and I appreciate you putting it out every month. It's a labor of love.
Dark Mistress, Geist, and MRobertson go into such depth and detail with their review that you do know the whole product inside and out after you are done. Changing it to this format means you'll get to know a piece of work without having to worry about ratings or hurting another publisher's feelings. These are the top 2 items each person reviewed and felt was the best of this month.
Steve,
Thank you for your honest reply. I will continue to read,purchase,and download your products.
I try to operate with the idea that transparency breeds trust and trust breeds faith.
The only thing I struggle with is that an honest reply from me can be full of snark which in person can be amusing but in print just comes across as arrogant and rude; hopefully I avoided both.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. This is your magazine and I appreciate you putting it out every month. It's a labor of love.
Thanks for noticing :)
Dark Mistress, Geist, and MRobertson go into such depth and detail with their review that you do know the whole product inside and out after you are done. Changing it to this format means you'll get to know a piece of work without having to worry about ratings or hurting another publisher's feelings. These are the top 2 items each person reviewed and felt was the best of this month.
If it were possible, its something I would do but as others have pointed out all i am doing is copy pasting existing reviews, while I won't make this suggested change I will put a disclaimer in the credits from now on about the nature of the reviews posted in pathways so that folks know what's going on.
I hope everyone continues to enjoy the E-zine.