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Five years ago my gaming buddies dragged me to hell and forced me to play World of Warcraft(?) with them. I don't like video or computer games. I made a PC, Benjy Compson, and played for 30 minutes during which I accomplished walking 15 steps forward and then 15 steps backward and then 15 steps forward, over and over again. For half an hour. Never left the room where you're suppose to get your first mission -- never even got to the guy that gives you the mission.
I hate video & computer games that much.
But I LOVE Pathfinder
And I LOVE Golarion.
So,...
How does it all work:
Does a customer first go to and subscribe for $X per month?
Does a person need any kind of special hardware? Does a person need to buy the software? Or just download something?
If I try it and hate it, how easy is it to get rid of?
Can a person buy based on how many hours he's active?
I can see myself trying this if I can pay a little bit and only get access like, less than 10 hours per month.
Can we ignore parts of Golarion? With PFS I can guarantee I'll never ever, ever see The Mana Wastes or Numeria, ever. Can I do that in Pathfinder Online?
If it's Sandbox-like, how does that work? If I want Molthune to conquer Nirmathas and I build a PC to "do that," am I competing against other people from around the world who have a PC in Nirmathas? (Who I don't even know and will never know?) Or is the game I buy only adjustable to my PC and subscription --in other words, in an MMO-RPG, is each individual subscription a world unto its own, allowing or disallowing other subscriptions? Could one check an "isolate me" preference or an "isolate me from everyone except x, y, and z subscriptions" who are friends who also have subscriptions?
If it is "the whole world" and I make a PC from Taldor and the rest of the world makes PCs from Qadira, what's to stop them from killing the Taldor I love?
Please help me understand what an MMO-RPG is.
I've played D&D exclusively for 30 years, all tabletop roleplay, all D&D. Never computers. I could really use some help.
Thanks.
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I’m probably about as clueless about MMOs as you, and have much the same feeling about them (not interested, but given this is Pathfinder, and Paizo is involved I’d be willing to give it a go).
I can’t really answer your questions, but the FAQ at Goblinworks.com does answer some of them to some extent.
Goblin Squad Member
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Does a customer first go to Goblinworks.com and subscribe for $X per month?
No, in all likelihood a separate website dedicated to the game itself (probably PathfinderOnline.com, though they'll have to steal that URL from the scam company currently operating it} will be set up closer to the game's release. You'll probably register an account on that website.
As far as subscriptions go, Pathfinder Online will be free-to-play, with both subscriptions and micro-transactions available.
What does this mean?
Free-to-play means that you don't need to pay anything to play the game. Your experience, however, will be limited in some fashion. You may be restricted in what character options you can choose, or in what dungeons you can adventure in (this is all speculation based on how other free-to-play MMOs work).
You will have the option to buy a subscription to access a much broader array of the game's features - all or most of what is available. Alternatively, you will have the option of purchasing access to individual game elements through micro-transactions (a fancy term that just means small, individual purchases). So if you want to explore Dungeon X (a dungeon that free-to-play players can't access), you'll have to either subscribe (which will get you access to pretty much everything), or purchase access to just Dungeon X.
Does a person need any kind of special hardware? Does a person need to buy the software? Or just download something?
Pathfinder Online is currently planned as a PC-only title. You'll need a relatively modern PC (every game has its own requirements, and we have no indication yet of what those will be for Pathfinder Online) to play it. I doubt this will see a physical retail release, so in all likelihood you'll just be able to download the game (for free).
If I try it and hate it, how easy is it to get rid of?
If you haven't subscribed, just delete the game. If you're a subscriber, you'll want to cancel your recurring subscription, and then delete the game.
Can a person buy based on how many hours he's active?
I can see myself trying this if I can pay a little bit and only get access like, less than 10 hours per month.
Probably not. Subscriptions tend to be defined by the features they provide access to, not the time they allow you to play.
Again, though, you'll have the option to play the game for free if you don't want to make a significant financial investment in it.
Can we ignore parts of Golarion? With PFS I can guarantee I'll never ever, ever see The Mana Wastes or Numeria, ever. Can I do that in Pathfinder Online?
Given that Pathfinder Online will only feature the River Kingdoms (as currently planned), you won't have to worry about ignoring other parts of Golarion. They won't be there.
If it's Sandbox-like, how does that work?
We really don't know. There is a long and tragic history of MMO start-up companies aiming to create an MMO where the player can have a "true impact on the world". Inevitably, those companies have either folded, been forced to dramatically cut back on their promised features, or have delivered very shallow "impact" experiences.
If GoblinWorks manages to accomplish what they've set out to do, they will be the first. EVE achieved something sort of like this, but EVE is a completely different beast.
If I want Molthune to conquer Nirmathas and I build a PC to "do that," am I competing against other people from around the world who have a PC in Nirmathas? (Who I don't even know and will never know?) Or is the game I buy only adjustable to my PC and subscription --in other words, in an MMO-RPG, is each individual subscription a world unto its own, allowing or disallowing other subscriptions? Could one check an "isolate me" preference or an "isolate me from everyone except x, y, and z subscriptions" who are friends who also have subscriptions?
No, you probably won't have the option of existing in your own little world, or even a little world with just you and your close friends. MMOs are typically hosted by servers with very large populations - in the thousands. You will be one player among many. You should temper your expectations accordingly; it is very difficult to create unique experiences for individual players with any appreciable level of depth when you're dealing with a population of thousands.
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This post summarize my first idea of PFO when I kickstarted it. Not the lack of MMO knowledge, but the idea of a MMO made from a TT RPG.
I must say I being frustrated a lot of expectation on this long run. But I'm still here, still wanting to try and trying to have fun with it.
yes, which is what I find interesting about it, the evolution of the game. And are the people who originally did this post, still around?
W E Ray is still active on the rest of the forums, but as far as I know he decided he wasn't interested in this game. Scott Bett's is also still posting elsewhere on Paizo, and I've always wondered what his response to the direction of Pathfinder Online would be.
EDIT: I have no special insight on W E Ray or Scott Betts, just what I read on these forums.
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Goblin Squad Member
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I imagine they will wait and see, mostly, but probably have low expectations. It could be that the players can really make Pathfinder Pathfinder in a very dangerous and unpredictable Golarion. From the more ominous posts that occasionally pop up that might seem a faint hope, but it will be the players that decide the issue. If it can be done I think this community can do it. If it cannot be done then I believe it will have been worth the try.
I think Bunibuni should get an award for this.