Pathfinder Online


Pathfinder Online

Grand Lodge

While I have wanted a Pathfinder based title since I first read the CRB, I am not sure how excited I am for a Pathfinder MMO.

With the likes of sandbox spoilage of Skyrim and soon SWTOR and Guildwars 2 in their glory, how do you think the recently announced title will fair?


I love the idea and I hope it's as good as I see it in my head!


Moved thread to Pathfinder Online forum.

Since Pathfinder Online has it's own forum, please keep posts about it there. :)

Liberty's Edge

I equally love the idea though have some questions:

1. How will it work?

2. Will it be free to play?

3. Will there be a Beta and how do we sign up for it?

I know those questions may yet to be answered or perhaps even have unknowns with them...but they are my thoughts on it.

I'd love a Pathfinder game, MMO style even, but from one who does play another MMO...I wonder how it will compare.


@Ravenbow: Skyrim is a single player offline sandbox, SWTOR and Guildwars 2 are themepark, not sandbox at all.

Actually the mmo market have no true, fantasy, AND GOOD sandbox mmo. Mortal Online got some potential but the infinite bugs ruined my experience and the experience of all of my guild's teammates.

Liberty's Edge Goblin Squad Member

Azoun The Sage wrote:

I equally love the idea though have some questions:

1. How will it work?

2. Will it be free to play?

3. Will there be a Beta and how do we sign up for it?

I know those questions may yet to be answered or perhaps even have unknowns with them...but they are my thoughts on it.

I'd love a Pathfinder game, MMO style even, but from one who does play another MMO...I wonder how it will compare.

Behold the FAQ

Scarab Sages

How well did Dungeons and Dragons Online fair?

When DDO was first announced they made many promises regarding the system that never materialized. A Pathfinder MMO is going to bear the stigma created by that title... perhaps even more so because the Pathfinder MMO is changing the mechanics so much.

My Questions

1. What differences does the design team think there are between a TTRPGs and a MMORPGs and what do they plan to do to bridge the gap?

2. What is the team's general design philosophy? Will they make dungeons that are static (that we can run over and over and memorize the locations of the traps / secret doors, etc.) or dynamic (where the traps (/secret doors / treasure) move around at random and the type of trap is selected at random)?

Goblin Squad Member

Cele wrote:

How well did Dungeons and Dragons Online fair?

When DDO was first announced they made many promises regarding the system that never materialized. A Pathfinder MMO is going to bear the stigma created by that title... perhaps even more so because the Pathfinder MMO is changing the mechanics so much.

My questions to you would be, what (failed) promises? What stigma?

I've been playing DDO for several years, and seen it expand and grow extensively in that time. It was on its death bed back in 08, but after they plugged in the FTP model, it has done amazingly well, and fostered continuous expansions/updates for the last 2 years.

Sure, its not a perfect rendition of D&D, and its got a fair share of quirks, but overall I'd rate the game a success.

Which brings up the question of how does one rate success in an MMO? Is it initial sales? Subscribership? Reviews at launch? The great thing about MMOs is that they tend to *live* longer than other computer games if they have constant support, growth, and a healthy feedback loop between players and devs.

Warhammer is a great example of an MMO that had an awesome launch, precipitous decline a few months later, then a slow burn resurgance.

Lantern Lodge

Definitely make sure you check out the discussion on the blog post. Lots of questions being asked/answered there!

Scarab Sages

The blog says wrote:
A lot of big picture work has already been done on Pathfinder Online, and it's going to be a bit different from your traditional fantasy MMO. It's going to focus around the characters you create, in a world that will grow out of your interactions, developing the way you choose to develop it. It takes place in the River Kingdoms of Golarion, with our own Kingmaker Adventure Path providing some of the inspiration. There will be an overarching storyline, and dungeons aplenty to explore, but where Pathfinder Online is going to thrive is in the ability of each of you to leave your mark on the world. Do you want to build a castle that you own and control? Go for it. Want to start a town and rally folks to your banner? Do that. Do you want to ally with the neighboring villages to form a new nation—or perhaps wage war on them instead? The choice is yours. Want to become the most feared bandit in the River Kingdoms? The path is available. Want to become the greatest armorer that Golarion has ever seen? All it takes is hard work. If you can imagine doing something in the world of Golarion, we want you to be able to do that in Pathfinder Online.

I'm particularly excited about all that this carries with it. Will every single "spec" be available to characters, creating a TRULY unique world? (different builds of classes from the APG, ultimate magic, combat, etc)

I am so excited to see the Witch & the Druid. I hope the wizard & witch are differentiated a bit more. Perhaps wizards don't have familiars - they have the bonded object. Or the witch's is tougher, or something?

That said, making a world where you can do SO much is great & a huge pull. I do hope for the focus on character customization over a mega constantly-changing world. But both options are great.

I'm hoping for a variety of options for every class - not the standard 3 builds that WoW & every other mmo is known for. It would be AMAZING.

Anyway, I'm definitely buying it when it comes out - hoping this stays true!!! Thank you Paizo

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

zabei wrote:

I'm particularly excited about all that this carries with it. Will every single "spec" be available to characters, creating a TRULY unique world? (different builds of classes from the APG, ultimate magic, combat, etc)

I am so excited to see the Witch & the Druid. I hope the wizard & witch are differentiated a bit more. Perhaps wizards don't have familiars - they have the bonded object. Or the witch's is tougher, or something?

That said, making a world where you can do SO much is great & a huge pull. I do hope for the focus on character customization over a mega constantly-changing world. But both options are great.

I'm hoping for a variety of options for every class - not the standard 3 builds that WoW & every other mmo is known for. It would be AMAZING.

You'll want to read the "What classes will I be able to play?" section of the FAQ.


Well, I have to say that I am not certain how I feel about the whole project. I have seen too many mmo's crash and burn to not be skeptical about the project. Additionally, because there is so much involvement between Paizo and Goblinworks, I am worried that there is going to be a drain on Paizo activity while the mmo is in its infancy.

I do have to say, that I like that goblinworks is following paizo's example of working in the open, with the fans/players rather than in the typical furtive manner we have seen from so many gaming companies in the past.

So far the only mmo that I have had any respect for was EVE. I left it because it was becoming a job and not a game anymore though. When I would come home from sitting in front of my computer at work for hours on end and sit in front of my computer at home and do game "work" for hours on end, I realized that there was a problem.

So from my limited experience: If the economic portions of the game are going to work, they have to be varied and provide some intrinsic entertainment value of their own.

Just out of curiosity, how are you guys planning this? Do you have someone who has planned mmos before helping? Are you building from a baseline game/mission statement?

Scarab Sages

nomadicc wrote:


My questions to you would be, what (failed) promises? What stigma?

*blinka* I don't want to start a flame war. Find someone who played DDO at one time and no longer does, and ask them "why?".

nomadicc wrote:


Which brings up the question of how does one rate success in an MMO?

It is an individual process.

For you DDO is obviously a success, it has held your interest and continued to provide you with entertainment.

For me it is not a success because some of the design decisions broke my sense of immersion to the point where the game was no longer enjoyable.

It is a matter of opinion based on if it was able to keep you interested and playing.


After reading the brief details of the game on goblinworks website i have one thing to say you paizo.

"Shut up and take my money"

Goblin Squad Member

ZetaGilgamesh wrote:
Just out of curiosity, how are you guys planning this? Do you have someone who has planned mmos before helping? Are you building from a baseline game/mission statement?

Definitely planning to have a good economic system. It's an important part of the player directed world experience. We have lots of folks who have worked on MMOs, and already have a baseline mission statement. This will all evolve as the game is developed though.

Goblin Squad Member

Mark Kalmes wrote:
Definitely planning to have a good economic system. It's an important part of the player directed world experience. We have lots of folks who have worked on MMOs, and already have a baseline mission statement. This will all evolve as the game is developed though.

Your game design document will also evolve along the way.

Hopefully feature creep does not happen in a large enough dose to kill the game.

Scarab Sages

Vic Wertz wrote:
zabei wrote:

I'm particularly excited about all that this carries with it. Will every single "spec" be available to characters, creating a TRULY unique world? (different builds of classes from the APG, ultimate magic, combat, etc)

I am so excited to see the Witch & the Druid. I hope the wizard & witch are differentiated a bit more. Perhaps wizards don't have familiars - they have the bonded object. Or the witch's is tougher, or something?

That said, making a world where you can do SO much is great & a huge pull. I do hope for the focus on character customization over a mega constantly-changing world. But both options are great.

I'm hoping for a variety of options for every class - not the standard 3 builds that WoW & every other mmo is known for. It would be AMAZING.

You'll want to read the "What classes will I be able to play?" section of the FAQ.

Thank you for directing me there. I like what I see very much. I still don't understand, but it is based on professions rather than classes. That's great, more customization, but then how does someone become able to cast certain spells, or have an animal companion, etc? I like it & I know it's still new news but waiting to see more description of that. Unless no one can cast spells - in that case I get it.

Goblin Squad Member

Ogremoch wrote:


Actually the mmo market have no true, fantasy, AND GOOD sandbox mmo.

I am not disagreeing with this statement, but Saga of Ryzom is an old sandbox that is still active and does some things better than I have ever seen elsewhere (such as crafting and harvesting). Some might take a look if you want to see how the end-game in a true skill-based sandbox would look.


KitNyx wrote:


.... Saga of Ryzom is an old sandbox that is still active and does some things better than I have ever seen elsewhere ....

He said "true fantasy". I think that Saga of Ryzom looks like just another cookie-cutter MMO if you ask me...

Goblin Squad Member

superfly2000 wrote:
KitNyx wrote:


.... Saga of Ryzom is an old sandbox that is still active and does some things better than I have ever seen elsewhere ....
He said "true fantasy". I think that Saga of Ryzom looks like just another cookie-cutter MMO if you ask me...

Well, I am not trying to advocate SoR on these forums, as I would happily move to PFO were it ready (and it turns out how we all hope). This said, SoR is the most unique MMO I have ever played, been there on and off for over 5 years. It does some things very well, but it is older tech. It is an example of a sandbox and how the endgame in one ends up being high level harvesting, crafting, politics and PvP in such a system. If you mean "cookie cutter" by the fact that the player controls a character which interacts with a virtual environment, then you are right, but I think calling a game "cookie cutter" without looking at the game mechanics is absurd and shallow.

Define a "real fantasy" and I will confirm whether your obvious disagreement there is warranted.


Chartered Company: Mastodon Marauders

Role - Northern Tribe (Southern Development)
Alignment - Chaotic Neutral
Motto: War is not about who is right, it is about who is left!

Focus: Growth and longterm development through combined effort in PVE & PVP

Settlement: Land Rush 2 (looking for members or other companies to bind our power as one tribe) (STRENGTH IN NUMBERS)

Join our cause in Pathfinder online:

https://goblinworks.com/landrush/guild/179

The North is a cold and harsh land with harsh people capable of withstanding its elements. If you feel up to the test join our tribe, help develop our culture in the South, and help us conquer the weak Southernors who stand in our way.


...
>:I

Goblin Squad Member

And apparently this mastodon riding tribe is skilled in necromancy as well!

Queue the kobold saying you stole his mammoth-riding idea...

Edit: Argh, ninja'd by a minute!


He totally stole it. It's, like, the exact same thing as I did. >:O

Goblin Squad Member

I believe this is the oldest necro I've ever seen. Which makes sense, because as far as I can tell, it's the first thread on the boards.

Goblin Squad Member

T7V Jazzlvraz wrote:
I believe this is the oldest necro I've ever seen. Which makes sense, because as far as I can tell, it's the first thread on the boards.

Then wouldn't it be archeology instead of necromancy? They must have gotten their mammoths somewhere. ;)

Goblin Squad Member

1 person marked this as a favorite.

A Necromancer showing this level of power should live in Golgotha!

Goblin Squad Member

This thread should be in a museum.


Do I hear a bit a jealousy in those Southern clans.... Fear the mammoth!

Scarab Sages

In my knowledge mammoth < elven-archer-with-high-climb-skills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjkfZ3q8tE

Beware the elves, orc... :D

Goblin Squad Member

Both of you are pretentious.

Fear the mammoths, mortals.

Grand Lodge

The mammoths are part of pre-history, and fall under archeology so I think this instance of the Heinous Tag is permissible.

So old, much fear.

Goblin Squad Member

I'm and archaeologist I:

don't you be messin wit my money maker I MEAN PRECIOUS ARTIFACTS


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Avarus wrote:
Do I hear a bit a jealousy in those Southern clans.... Fear the mammoth!

Southern?

SOUTHERN?!

We're from the Realms of the Mammoth Lords, you damn posers!

Goblin Squad Member

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Kobold Cleaver wrote:
Avarus wrote:
Do I hear a bit a jealousy in those Southern clans.... Fear the mammoth!

Southern?

SOUTHERN?!

We're from the Realms of the Mammoth Lords, you damn posers!

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