Awesome! Congrats!
Congrats Owen!
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Congratulations Owen. :) This is definitely very interesting
I guess this is interesting to me as I have seen a lot of class related stuff from SGG/RGG, but I'm not very familiar with Owen with regard to modules/adventures/scenarios... I am ready to be informed as to the naivety of my understanding…
(Showing even more naivety…) Will this position allow Owen to "even-more-awesomerise" Iron Gods or Pathfinder Scenarios (looking at you scrumptious Season 6/Numeria, or "just" the modules outside of AP's and PFS?
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Now untergo the whole company, to release revised Core Rules, where every class is replaced by Genius Guide to Talented *-Stuff.
I know you're joking, and I am entirely up for some ribbing. AND I love and appreciate the support the Talented line and Rogue Genius Games have received. But this kinda touches on something I need to make clear, so I am going to use this opening to do it. :D
Yes, I will continue (as time allows) to produce material through Rogue Genius, including talented books. But my becoming a Paizo developer won't change the status of any of that material (or make it more likely to be adopted by the design team), any more than Minotaur Games or Sean K Reynolds Games Pathfinder-material became Paizo-official.
I'll be compartmentalizing my Paizo duties and work, Green Ronin duties and work, and RGG duties and work as unrelated endeavors.
On top of that, I'd actually argue against replacing the core rule classes with my Talented versions, if anyone DID suggest it. The talented classes are much more complicated than their core counterparts, and are designed for people who have already achieved a high degree of game system mastery. I know that's true of a whole lot of Pathfinder fans, but it's not true for everyone. So I am thrilled that Paizo's policies makes it easy for me to offer them as an alternative, but I never envisioned them as "core" material.
Okay, back to the more lighthearted tone of the thread!
Of Oklahoma foods, I will most miss Braums.Not Whataburger? BLASPHEMER!
Sorry, no ice cream anywhere I have ever gone matches Braums. And their French Onion Dip is a national treasure.
I guess this is interesting to me as I have seen a lot of class related stuff from SGG/RGG, but I'm not very familiar with Owen with regard to modules/adventures/scenarios... I am ready to be informed as to the naivety of my understanding…
I wouldn't say your understanding is naive. I am *much* better known for my rules 'crunch' (I have been dubbed the "Wide-Girthed God of Crunch," and I'm okay with that) than for adventures. I have a passion for both, but the SGG/RGG business plan made short, fungible rules-based products make more sense than adventures, and in general they sold better. I certainly have adventure experience, from doing background material (Guide to Absalom), short adventures (The Penumbral Accords), and adventures set in pre-existing campaign settings (Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn for Thieves World, Jungle Fever in "Heart of the Razor" for Razor Coast, and Tempest Feud for Star Wars -- which later was turned into a novel by my co-author Jeff Grubb).
Erik and Wes hammered me pretty hard on my adventure-creating experience during the interview, for exactly that reason. Obviously I managed to convince them I was right for this job. In time, I hope I'll convince all of you, as well. :)
(Showing even more naivety…) Will this position allow Owen to "even-more-awesomerise" Iron Gods or Pathfinder Scenarios (looking at you scrumptious Season 6/Numeria, or "just" the modules outside of AP's and PFS?
The plan is I am just going to be doing the 64-page adventures. Both the PFS adventures and adventure paths have lots of talented people looking over them already.
Now Paizo is a smartly-run business, who know how to put people where they can do the most good, so that's not to say I might not get shuffled around at some point, or be given new duties as new opportunities arise. But the position I am being hired for is specific to the 64-page stand-alone modules.Okay, now seriously, a warm welcome to you!
Seriously though, congratulations!
Congratulations Owen. :) This is definitely very interesting
And thanks (to everyone) for the ongoing warm welcome.
I'm fussy and particular about my RPG supplements, but I loved "Races of Wind and Wing", which I used to create and play a Kestrel PC. I later created an Aellar, whom I'm still playing.
And now that I've seen "Cackle of the Gnolls" and "The Genius Guide to the Talented Barbarian", I can't wait to use those as well.
And modules are among my favorite type of RPG products. I look forward to finding out how Owen K. C. Stephens handles those.
Congratulations, Owen!
"I wouldn't say your understanding is naive. I am *much* better known for my rules 'crunch' (I have been dubbed the "Wide-Girthed God of Crunch," and I'm okay with that) than for adventures."
Love that quote. :) Hence the reason I have so much crunchy stuff from SGG/RGG and other stuff too.
For adventures I remembered the Jungle Fever since you were a stretch goal I think for the Razor Coast, but I had to go dig out my copy of Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn as I had completely forgotten about that one and open it up and 'lo and behold,there it is author Owen K.C. Stephens. Now i have to go back and read that one and apparently buy the Penumbral Accords as I didn't have that one.
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Gooble gobble gooble gobble, one-of-us! One-of-us!I'm sure we can find rum just as good in Seattle.
The Kraken ensures this, in fact.
ALSO! Welcome to the hivemind!!!! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!
And I thought I was the only one who saw that movie...
Congrats Owen! Just don't forget to give any dragon gods that show up in a module protection from archer paladins...
Congratulations Owen! Your presence at Paizo will make it easier for me to convince my group to let me play a RGG class.
"It was written by a Paizo developer!" carries a lot of weight with them.
I wouldn't say your understanding is naive. I am *much* better known for my rules 'crunch' (I have been dubbed the "Wide-Girthed God of Crunch," and I'm okay with that) than for adventures. I have a passion for both, but the SGG/RGG business plan made short, fungible rules-based products make more sense than adventures, and in general they sold better. I certainly have adventure experience, from doing background material (Guide to Absalom), short adventures (The Penumbral Accords), and adventures set in pre-existing campaign settings (Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn for Thieves World, Jungle Fever in "Heart of the Razor" for Razor Coast, and Tempest Feud for Star Wars -- which later was turned into a novel by my co-author Jeff Grubb).
Erik and Wes hammered me pretty hard on my adventure-creating experience during the interview, for exactly that reason. Obviously I managed to convince them I was right for this job. In time, I hope I'll convince all of you, as well. :)
I can say that Owen's Jungle Fever from Heart of the Razor is a really great adventure, even if I did find some of the imagery...disturbing. As in "This really goes well with Nicolas Logue's material" disturbing.
In my opinion, this bodes very well for his position as lead developer for the module line. :)
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For adventures I remembered the Jungle Fever since you were a stretch goal I think for the Razor Coast, but I had to go dig out my copy of Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn as I had completely forgotten about that one and open it up and 'lo and behold,there it is author Owen K.C. Stephens.
I am particular proud of how many ways Murder can run... all leading to conclusions a GM can prepare for.
For adventures I remembered the Jungle Fever since you were a stretch goal I think for the Razor Coast, but I had to go dig out my copy of Murder at the Vulgar Unicorn as I had completely forgotten about that one and open it up and 'lo and behold,there it is author Owen K.C. Stephens.I am particular proud of how many ways Murder can run... all leading to conclusions a GM can prepare for.
I haven't read it since it first came out, so now I am going to have to go back and re-read it. I was/am a huge fan of the Thieves' World material books and RPG material. I just wish the new books had sold better so it would keep going. But alas, I guess it is not to be...
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How do you make Paizo more awesome?
Hire Owen K.(ing) C.(runch) Stephens.
Congrats!!
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I hope you have lots of input on the crunch side of things, as you are one of the top mechanics combined with flavour developers currently working on PFRPG both first and third party.
Thanks! That's a major compliment!
One of the reasons Paizo has all their on-staff folks in one office is that it allows for a natural flow of ideas and improvements you just can't get through telecommuting. So even though I have every confidence in Jason Bulmahn and SRM's ability to handle more awesome crunch (and to find someone to add to their team who will also do an amazing job) I'm pretty sure I'll be around for a few rules discussions too. :D
Well, this is definitely good news. Congratulations.
Sorry, no ice cream anywhere I have ever gone matches Braums.
Can't argue with that.
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Of Oklahoma foods, I will most miss Braums.Not Whataburger? BLASPHEMER!
Seriously though, congratulations!
Seriously? Did you just try to claim Whataburger as Oklahoman? You only have it up there because Texans get hungry on the drive to Kansas City! It's a Texas chain first, last, and everything in between! There's a Whataburger on basically every other block in Corpus Christi.
And congrats, Owen. I think the plan is now clear. That version of the game with all the Talented classes? It'll never happen with Pathfinder. They're saving it for 2020's massive new GenCon release, PfRPG 2.0.
Seriously? Did you just try to claim Whataburger as Oklahoman? You only have it up there because Texans get hungry on the drive to Kansas City! It's a Texas chain first, last, and everything in between! There's a Whataburger on basically every other block in Corpus Christi.
I know it's Texan. I'm a native Texan. At least Oklahoma has them though. I currently live in South Dakota, and we don't have 'em. :(
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Seriously? Did you just try to claim Whataburger as Oklahoman? You only have it up there because Texans get hungry on the drive to Kansas City! It's a Texas chain first, last, and everything in between! There's a Whataburger on basically every other block in Corpus Christi.I know it's Texan. I'm a native Texan. At least Oklahoma has them though. I currently live in South Dakota, and we don't have 'em. :(
I am reminded to put Whataburger on my list during my yearly pilgrimage.
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I am reminded to put Whataburger on my list during my yearly pilgrimage.Seriously? Did you just try to claim Whataburger as Oklahoman? You only have it up there because Texans get hungry on the drive to Kansas City! It's a Texas chain first, last, and everything in between! There's a Whataburger on basically every other block in Corpus Christi.I know it's Texan. I'm a native Texan. At least Oklahoma has them though. I currently live in South Dakota, and we don't have 'em. :(
I married into the cult of Whataburger, growing up in Illinois and Arkansas. Now it's one of the biggest reasons I hesitate about moving away from the Houston metro area. That, and HEB. Second best grocery chain in America, after Publix.
And a lot of Whataburgers are open 24-7. You want a taquito at 3 am? Go for it!
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Has anyone else noticed how many threads suddenly veer off topic into food?
I blame Cosmo.
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Has anyone else noticed how many threads suddenly veer off topic into food?
I blame Cosmo.
When in doubt, yep, blame Cosmo.
Owen, by the way, when can we expect some progress on the Green Ronin front? Haven't heard anything beyond the Advanced Bestiary Kickstarter (which I'm certainly a backer of.)
I've never had Braums, but Tillamook ice cream measures up well against Blue Bell. It's not the same, but it's good.
Always been a huge fan of Owens! Couldn't have found a more talented man, Congrats!!!
Always been a huge fan of Owens! Couldn't have found a more talented man, Congrats!!!
i saw what you did there. Also, congrats owen!
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Congratulations Owen! Your presence at Paizo will make it easier for me to convince my group to let me play a RGG class.
"It was written by a Paizo developer!" carries a lot of weight with them
I hope you have lots of input on the crunch side of things, as you are one of the top mechanics combined with flavour developers currently working on PFRPG both first and third party.
Owen has been (quietly, modestly) freelance developing for Paizo since at least as early as the Advanced Player's Guide. Flip to the credits on your Paizo hardcovers (and probably other stuff) to see just how often his name turns up.
Congrats on the job and welcome to the community. I look forward to playing your results.
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Total OKCS fanboy here. Sincerest congratulations to our new Module Overlord.
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Great news: Owen's a great designer.
Owen/Christina: how did the Grand Temple of Jing handover go?
As a result of a number of things happen to my schedule after I originally agreed to help (not the least of which was getting this job), I had to step down. So Christina has taken over that project and (last I heard from Danny) it's going well.
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It's been a few days, and a few similar and related questions are coming up a lot. So, here's a quick Q&A about Owen K.C. Stephens, and the Move to Seattle.
"What are you doing at Paizo?"
Well, nothing yet. My first day isn’t until the end of the month, and I have to plan, pack, sell, divest, ship, drive, and move a lot of stuff before I'll get access to the Secret Paizo Plan for World Domination, and get to read about my place in the Great Work.
"You know what we meant!"
Fair enough. I'll be the Developer of the Pathfinder Modules line of stand-alone adventures. These are separate from the PFS or adventure path things. I think there's a lot of exciting stuff that has been done with these, and I am excited about getting to help make them "awesome-er."
You can look current at books in the line here!
"SO you *didn't* get the design job?"
No, that's still open (and good luck to everyone doing a design test right now!) I'm going to be working for Wes, rather than Jason, and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity. I've been moving toward development for years, and I still have RGG as a design outlet, so this is *perfect* for me!
"What about Green Ronin?"
It's pronounced ro-neen.
"How did you know how we pronounced it?"
I'm a rogue-wizard-ronin-genius-golem.
"Okay, but are you still *working* for Green Ronin? However it's pronounced?"
Yep! Paizo and Green Ronin are both okay with me keeping both positions. So I will continue to develop Green Ronin Pathfinder products, currently Freeport: The City of Adventure and the Advanced Bestiary. There will be more, but we want to give those two all the attention they need (even when that is more than expected) so we can fulfill our commitments to our Kickstarter patrons in a timely manner.
"So what about Rogue Genius Games?"
It's an awesome company I happen to run. You should check out our pdfs at d20pfsrd.com, DriveThruRPG, or here at Paizo!
"Okay, but how can you maintain three jobs in the game industry at once?"
Time management?
Seriously, a lot of people think I am biting off more than anyone could chew. Fair enough. I have some things going for me. First, I have Christina Stiles (and increasingly Steve Helt) pitching in with RGG things. I don’t have to give it my full attention all the time, so if I HAVE overbooked myself, I can spend less and less time on RGG without the company coming to a screeching stop.
Second, I *already* maintain three jobs in the industry – it's just that one of them is "Freelance Writer." Having a full-time job at Paizo IS going to mean I am less free to be a stretch goal in folks' Kickstarters, write for cool projects I am offered by other publishers, do a friend a favor and read over a manuscript, or write long emails about why I am rejecting or changing something to less-experienced freelancers. That's a lot of my time right now, and I am intentionally replacing it with giving my all to Paizo.
And third… I LOVE doing this. I am a game writer, because that is how I like to spend my down time. I'd be doing this even if no one paid me. In addition to being work, it's a hobby, a favored option for down time, and sometimes my 3am therapy for insomnia.
Yes, the amount of game material I produce is insane. But I can’t help myself. I am a pathological gamer, and table top is my medium of choice. And RPGs are my style of choice. And Pathfinder is my game of choice. So spending 60-70 hour weeks on it IS work, but it's work that puts a big stupid grin on my face half the time.
I love these games, I love these companies, and I love the people in them.
So sure, I want you to buy games from all of them because that pays my bills. But I also want to be part of bringing awesome stuff into your gaming circles.
So I'll just find the time. :D
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Heh. I wonder if I can get Paizo to make "Module Overlord" an official tag for my avatar?
How about "Demon Prince of Modules"? :D
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Total OKCS fanboy here.Awwww, thanks!
Sincerest congratulations to our new Module Overlord.Heh. I wonder if I can get Paizo to make "Module Overlord" an official tag for my avatar?
Owen, have you ever read the boards before? Of course they'll change it. That, or "Master of a Thousand Hats".
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How about "Demon Prince of Modules"? :D
I think "Empyreal Lord of Adventure" has just as good a ring to it. :)
Owen, have you ever read the boards before?
I might have put up a post or two.
Or three-thousand...Of course they'll change it. That, or "Master of a Thousand Hats".
I kinda LIKE that one.
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Still gonna say "roh-nin". ;p
Very clear responses, thank you Owen. This is welcome news and will hopefully see a bunch of synergies emerge in a bunch of as-yet-undetermined areas, both in and out of Paizo, and both related and unrelated to your good self. Beyond that I am afraid I cannot be more cryptic as I have no idea what I mean. Let's just say it is a feeling...
And Christina is working on GToJing? I had no idea. With the amount of fingers she has in pies, she will need a couple more hands. Maybe she uses her medusa snakes...