Friday, March 21, 2008
Pathfinder: The New Dungeons & Dragons 3.5?
For those of us who aren't expecting Dungeons & Dragons 4.0 to knock our socks off, Paizo Publishing (the former publishers of Dragon and Dungeon magazines, and THE biggest D20 publisher out there to my knowledge) is offering an alternative.Entitled the "Pathfinder RPG," it seems to be Dungeons & Dragons 3.6. It is designed to be compatible with the existing 3.5 source material, yet fix a lot of the remaining problems with 3.5.
The lead designer explains his rationale:
"Back in October 2007, I began a small side project. Since 4th Edition had recently been announced, I began to wonder how many people would stick with the 3.5 rules set. Everyone could agree that 3.5 needed some work, but the system itself was mostly sound. I thought that those folks might want some updated rules, since support was beginning to wane. What started out as a simple side project soon turned into an obsession as the rules document got longer every day. When Paizo started looking for alternatives, my side project was a natural fit, leading us to where we are today.Changes to 3.5When work first began on the Pathfinder RPG, I set down a number of principles to guide me. Since this game is based off the 3.5 rules set, I wanted to make sure that it stayed true to the original vision of the game."
My brief exploration into the rules (I am still in crunch at work - it keeps going and going and going...) revealed a significant change to the skill system. Skills are now all-or-nothing... which generally reflects how they get purchased by players, anyway, with the exception of those rogues who ended up with a few half-maximum skills. Certain of the less-useful skills have had their names changed, been combined with other skills, and usage expanded in order to make them more valuable.
Only four classes were represented in the alpha documentation - the four "base" classes - but they did get some interesting updates and new abilities. And the rogues and wizards got extra hit dice. As a fan of rogues, I really like the new rogue abilities (and fewer restrictions on sneak attack... now rogues may be able to really put the hurt on vampires...) Fighters get even beefier per level. Clerics get Orisons, and their turn attempts act as mass cures or mass inflicts for all within the radius (friend and foe), which significantly boosts their abilities. The design notes say that this was in an attempt to let clerics actually, you know, CAST their non-healing spells once in a while. Wizards get bonus abilities from their specialist schools similar to cleric domains.
I do have a concern about how much this "beefing up" will affect other classes. Our Dice & Paper group consists of a spirit shaman, a druid, and a swashbuckler, a bard, and a non-human monk amongst the core four classes. Will these other classes need a similar "beefing up?" I get worried about escalation here, but I'm kinda cool with this in general.
There's a "Combat Maneuver Bonus" used to simplify everything where there used to be opposed rolls. And they have alternate level-up schedules for DMs who want progression slower than "normal" for D&D 3.5.
Available Now!
But most interesting of all, the game is FREE during alpha as a PDF download (and I suspect PDF versions of the beta and final will also be a little cheaper), and it offers the opportunity for everyone - not just special invitees - to participate in playtesting. There is expected to be a series of "alpha" releases, each expanding the rules and making changes based on playtesting feedback.
From a business perspective, it's an interesting move on Paizo's part. Obviously, they have been burned a little bit in their otherwise (I think) friendly relationship with Wizards of the Coast. This move addresses what might be a pretty substantial niche, and allows them to become independent of WotC's whims. If it catches on, of course. But I think Paizo is the one company in position to pull this off.
Hmmm... I'm suddenly imagining Pathfinder RPG licenses for computer RPGs... not that it'd necessarily be the best system for a CRPG... but it might be a cool opportunity at FAR LESS of a license cost than D&D.
Update: Added the link, since in my half-asleep, overworked stupor I neglected that little helpful item...
(Vaguely) related flotsam and jetsam:
* Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Announced
* Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition Reviewed
* Original Dungeons & Dragons Trivia
* Adult Dungeons & Dragons
Labels: Roleplaying Games
- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 3:00 AM (Permalink)
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It's interesting to note that everything you mention in your 'Changes to 3.5' paragraphs already got addressed in 4th, and in very similar ways.
After reading both rulesets (using the 4e Players Handbook Lite that's up on EnWorld) I have to wonder how much Pathfinder is really a different system and how much it's an imitation system but skipping over the more drastic changes.
Certainly the skills part of it is almost a 'read and rewrite in your own words' type of thing.
Anyway, just wanted to tell you there's already enough material out there to playtest both systems and make a decision from a much stronger place. I've playtested 4e three times by now (and will run it again tonight in fact) and I have to say I've been very pleasantly surprised.
After reading both rulesets (using the 4e Players Handbook Lite that's up on EnWorld) I have to wonder how much Pathfinder is really a different system and how much it's an imitation system but skipping over the more drastic changes.
Certainly the skills part of it is almost a 'read and rewrite in your own words' type of thing.
Anyway, just wanted to tell you there's already enough material out there to playtest both systems and make a decision from a much stronger place. I've playtested 4e three times by now (and will run it again tonight in fact) and I have to say I've been very pleasantly surprised.
# posted by 
: March 21, 2008 10:32 AM
: March 21, 2008 10:32 AM
I'll definitely be checking out 4E at some point - most likely with the release of the Player's Handbook 4.0. Though now I'm tempted - time permitting - to hunt down the Handbook Lite and give it a gander.
But a big factor in us NOT making a radical change is due to the group dynamic. We're a bunch of married couples with kids, and said group won't be interested in invalidating what they've learned and what they've bought for the "next big thing" unless said big thing offers a clear and compelling advantage over what we've got.
I haven't seen that yet. Especially if the incremental changes in Pathfinder resolve the issues we DO have while leaving our current skills and libraries intact.
But a big factor in us NOT making a radical change is due to the group dynamic. We're a bunch of married couples with kids, and said group won't be interested in invalidating what they've learned and what they've bought for the "next big thing" unless said big thing offers a clear and compelling advantage over what we've got.
I haven't seen that yet. Especially if the incremental changes in Pathfinder resolve the issues we DO have while leaving our current skills and libraries intact.
Oh, and BTW - if 4E really does kick me in the butt and knock my socks off, I'll be happy to publicly eat crow here on Tales. 3rd edition did that to me, and I'll be thrilled to have it happen again - though I'm not sure my group will allow me to switch systems on 'em. :)
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