Was it Paizo's intention to ruin the weekend by announcing the playtest for UM starts on Monday or just and added bonus?
Does a paladin loose its flavor on the wyvern's bedpost overnight?
Creative Director
|
As well-loved as the Iconics are, do you think it’s better not to set their escapades into stone (and thus into Golarion canon) in novels so that they can continue be showing in art unhindered by whatever should befall them in print?
Absolutely; the more of their adventures and personalities get set in stone, the more difficult it is to use them in art. It's better for us to have an idea internally about their personalities and adventures so we can keep a handle on things when we order art—I'm really not interested in setting things up so that someone can point to some obscure bit of Merisiel fiction where it's established that she's allergic to garlic and then some day we show a picture of her eating garlic. That's unnecessary complication.
Which of the iconics would most enjoy being slapped in the ass by a slimy, oversized frog tongue?
Kyra! She LOVES it.
Do you think it’s a poor idea to print novels onto stone?Yes. Very expensive to ship.
This question makes me think of the Flintstones.
1. You are mankind's only hope for survival. What is the situation that leads up to this scenario?
2. You are on an airplane heading to Indianapolis for Gen Con '11 when a Terrorist hi-jacks the plane. What fictional charater would you rather have save you, Jack Bauer or Superman?
3. You have the ability to change one famous written story (fiction or comic book). Which story do you change and what do you change?
4. Stephen King approaches you and says he wants Paizo to make a line of products based on his book the Stand. Do you accept this daunting task, try to talk him into a different project or decline it all together?
As well-loved as the Iconics are, do you think it’s better not to set their escapades into stone (and thus into Golarion canon) in novels so that they can continue be showing in art unhindered by whatever should befall them in print?Absolutely; the more of their adventures and personalities get set in stone, the more difficult it is to use them in art. It's better for us to have an idea internally about their personalities and adventures so we can keep a handle on things when we order art—I'm really not interested in setting things up so that someone can point to some obscure bit of Merisiel fiction where it's established that she's allergic to garlic and then some day we show a picture of her eating garlic. That's unnecessary complication.
Only if you care.
There's no particular reason the game art and the novels would have to be in strict continuity with each other, especially considering the iconics only feature in the art and not in the actual storylines. Just have the art be the art, and the novels be the novels.
And hey... no piece of Merisiel fiction would ever be "obscure..."
|
Creative Director
|
When deadlines are not eating you alive, how often do you play Pathfinder and what day(s) do you play?
I run a Pathfinder game twice a month on Saturday, each session being about 7 to 8 hours long.
I run another Pathfinder game every other Thursday after work—each of those sessions is about 3 to 4 hours long.I play in a Pathfinder game every other Friday; those sessions are about 4 to 5 hours long.
I play in another Pathfinder game every other Tuesday; those sessions are about 3 to 4 hours long.
|
Creative Director
|
If / When Paizo does a post Apocalyptic game, would you prefer to see a rule book, a campaign setting, both as separate books, or both integrated into one book?
If it were up to you, would the Paizo post-apocalyptic setting be Earth, Golarion or other? Would it contain a mix of sci-fi, fantasy and horror tropes or stick more or less to one of these?
EDIT: Would one of the other planets in the Golarion solar system well suit a post apocalyptic game? Do you think Golarion immediately after Earthfall would make a good setting for such a game, or were things far too effed up after that?
I would prefer to see a single book that covers both the rules and the campaign setting as one book.
The post-apocalyptic setting would most assuredly be Earth, because the big appeal of the genre to me is seeing recognizable features that are all messed up. A post-apocalyptic game set on another planet has no frame of reference for us—it doesn't feel post-apocalyptic as a result, just dirty and filthy.
Golarion immediately after Earthfall would be interesting... but again, it's such a different setting that it's better to set it elsewhere.
|
Creative Director
|
Why do you think gamers find half-dragons so appealing?
I think that, in early 3rd edition, the concept of both prestige classes and templates were SO NEW and EXCITING that game designers went overboard with them. And since they went overboard, they were very well-represented in print, so customers were exposed to them more and thus grew to love them or hate them faster than normal.
As to why gamers like half-dragons? Partially because dragons are really cool, and this is a way to play a dragon but still be able to fit into the dungeon with the other PCs and still be able to use all the treasure.
|
Creative Director
|
Outside of Paizo, whom else would you recommend as a source of good adventures for Pathfinder?
Any of the 3rd edition adventures produced by WotC, Goodman Games, Necromancer, Green Ronin, and Malhavoc for the most part.
And pretty much all of TSR's 1st edition adventures. They'll need some conversion, but it's worth it!
|
Creative Director
|
Do you know, currently, the answers to the many Golarion mysteries (i.e., what really happend to Azlant, the source of the Worldwound, Seoni's background, etc.)? Or are those mysteries to be solved later, if ever?
Yes. I do know most, if not all of those answers. I have to, because even if we NEVER reveal them, those answers help to shape what's going on elsewhere in the world.
|
Creative Director
|
Are the lack of official psionic rules the only reason Vundra will not be explored for a while? (Well, besides y'all are overworked....)
The lack of official psionic rules is a big part of it. But also—we just haven't decided to do anything with Vudra yet. We can't do everything at once, and that means we have to choose what things we DO want to do, which means somethings won't be done.
|
Creative Director
|
A Paizo staffer once commented there's no psionic rules expert on staff. Is it because no one used psionics in their campaigns? Or did and dropped it for various reasons?
It's because no one at Paizo is particularly fond of the 3.5 implementation of psionics. I'm probably the MOST fond of them, but even then that's mostly for the flavor. I really do not like the power point system at all.
|
Creative Director
|
How do you balance converting a monster from mythology into its role in Golarion? Case in point: genies, dragons, etc. Do you select certain iconic abilities that the monster must have and provide rules for them, or look at its role in Golarion and adapt it as best as possible?
Since nothing from real life is quantified in terms of Pathfinder's rules, it's actually quite easy to create a balanced monster for Pathfinder. You could make a minotaur a CR 1, CR 5, or CR 20 creature and maintain its core flavor. It's all mostly just picking the one that makes the most sense for the purpose of the story and the way you want to present the mythological monster in Golarion, really.
|
Creative Director
|
Do the other Paizo staffers currently running rpgs use Pathfinder exclusively? Mix of Pathfinder and 3.x? Or only the latter though borrowing elements from Pathfinder on occasion?
I can't speak for anyone else, but I use 3.5 material relatively frequently. Such as the fungal creature template from Advanced Bestiary (see previous post).
|
Creative Director
|
Which Paizo staffer currently running a game focuses the most on the story? Combat? Who's the closest to being the dreaded "killer GM"?
Not every Paizo staffer is running a game. I'm certainly not PLAYING in all of their games. Of the games I'm in, I'd say Rob's more interested in running a story game while Sean's more interested in combat. Jason's the staff Killer GM.
|
Creative Director
|
Was it Paizo's intention to ruin the weekend by announcing the playtest for UM starts on Monday or just and added bonus?
Yup! Just as it is our intention to let current speculation run rampant so everyone can work themselves into a frenzy so that when Monday's playtest IS revealed, they'll have all set themselves up to be disappointed that they won't be seeing the entire book.
AKA: The playtest is pretty small. We have no intention of playtesting the whole book. It's going to be a small fraction of the size of the playtest for the APG. But that said, we'll be doing playtests for Ultimate Combat as well—the playtests are going to be a lot more spread out over the months.
|
Creative Director
|
What are your most hated typoes?
How did you learn the difference between an m dash and an n dash?
What's your most favorite word from the "words all GM's should know" section of the GMG?
Are there Dire Horses in Golarion?
Any typo that makes it into print is my most hated typo.
I learned the difference between an m and an n dash at Paizo. Erik told me.
Cyclopean.
No. There are eohippuses though.
Was it Paizo's intention to ruin the weekend by announcing the playtest for UM starts on Monday or just and added bonus?Yup! Just as it is our intention to let current speculation run rampant so everyone can work themselves into a frenzy so that when Monday's playtest IS revealed, they'll have all set themselves up to be disappointed that they won't be seeing the entire book.
AKA: The playtest is pretty small. We have no intention of playtesting the whole book. It's going to be a small fraction of the size of the playtest for the APG. But that said, we'll be doing playtests for Ultimate Combat as well—the playtests are going to be a lot more spread out over the months.
Thanks for the info. I think the fact that you playtest anything openly like this is not only useful from a design point, but is both great marketing and customer service. So I will be happy with whatever sliver of the book we get to look at.
|
Creative Director
|
1. You are mankind's only hope for survival. What is the situation that leads up to this scenario?
2. You are on an airplane heading to Indianapolis for Gen Con '11 when a Terrorist hi-jacks the plane. What fictional charater would you rather have save you, Jack Bauer or Superman?
3. You have the ability to change one famous written story (fiction or comic book). Which story do you change and what do you change?
4. Stephen King approaches you and says he wants Paizo to make a line of products based on his book the Stand. Do you accept this daunting task, try to talk him into a different project or decline it all together?
1) A cruel and cynical deity has decided to scrub creation by placing hopes for its survival on my shoulders.
2) Jack Bauer. Because he's about 100000 times more interesting a character.
3) I would put that ability up on ebay and auction it off to the highest bidder, changing the story that THEY want changed the most and walk away a bazillionaire.
4) OMG ACCEPT!!!!!
|
When deadlines are not eating you alive, how often do you play Pathfinder and what day(s) do you play?I run a Pathfinder game twice a month on Saturday, each session being about 7 to 8 hours long.
I run another Pathfinder game every other Thursday after work—each of those sessions is about 3 to 4 hours long.
I play in a Pathfinder game every other Friday; those sessions are about 4 to 5 hours long.
I play in another Pathfinder game every other Tuesday; those sessions are about 3 to 4 hours long.
*GASP*. I will, in the future, refer any poster who says Paizo doesn't know its products adequately to your answer above. W00t!
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
What is the wildest idea you came up with that's currently in Golarion? Some of the setting info? NPCs? Certain monster(s)?It's not in print yet, but the Moonscar (a lunar colony of succubi) is pretty crazy.
MOON SUCCUBI!
That's...different. Wow. And I never thought you could do much with succubi. (Well, you can, but that's NC-17....)
|
Creative Director
|
Why do you eat people who put noodles in water fountains?
It's all part of an ancient treaty between my kind and the noodle gods. Just don't do it.
|
|
Have big would the Paizo staff have to grow to fulfill EVERYONE'S wish here on the boards (e.g., ALL the countries surrounding the Inner Sea, exploring Arcadia, Vundra, Bestiary 3, Ultimate Combat, psionics, Epic level rules, Basic Set, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game II, etc.) so the finished products will be ready by, hmmm, 2011 Paizocon? This includes cloning you....
...at least twice.