Page 5 of 6

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:39 pm
by geneweigel
I recently had the chance to check out a PATHFINDER hardcover. Its basically a rechurned version of a previous edition that WOTC would have done if they followed Williams' policies more. That is, the policy of selling you air with a few modifications and some new art. Its really sad to go through, especially the art (its almost as if that style streamlines the reality of everything into this cosmetic fakery and every face must lean towards recent theoretic depictions of neanderthals. I recall in the late 90's when that art style emerged in comic books especially the XMEN books.) but the piled on system is unredeeming to someone like me who wants to feel like he isn't wasting time on game parts that only serve themselves and not the feel.

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 10:26 pm
by foxroe
"3000 copies puts you in the top 5"... that's crazy. :shock:

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 11:59 pm
by Falconer
I saw a Pathfinder Core Rules book at B&N today. Cracked it open to see what the fuss was all about. The art is BLEARGH!

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:53 am
by James Maliszewski
foxroe wrote:"3000 copies puts you in the top 5"... that's crazy. :shock:
Crazy or not, it's likely reality. The scale of RPG publishing has dropped precipitously since the late 1990s (never mind the '80s). Long gone are the days when when even middle-of-the-road games could reasonably expect to sell 10,000 copies. The early 2000s D20 boom was a bubble that soon burst. WotC's shift in attention toward the subscription-based DDI is, in my opinion, a tacit acknowledgment that they need to shore up their earnings with a more reliable source of income.

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:57 am
by James Maliszewski
Falconer wrote:The art is BLEARGH!
I'm definitely not a fan of Pathfinder's art, but it's precisely that style of art that its fanbase expects. It's very much in keeping with what Paizo did during the days when they ran Dragon and Dungeon, which a lot of 3e fans look upon in the same way we might look upon earlier eras of Dragon. So, much as I dislike the art, I'm not at all surprised Paizo went that way. Heck, I'd have been more surprised if they'd abandoned it.

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:04 am
by ChicagoWiz
DungeonDork wrote:Can't wait to collect virtual miniatures and print the screenshots. I'll probably print them on archival quality paper and preserve them in comic book bags inside of a humidor or other controlled atmosphere environment.
Coffee. Out of the nose. Your post is full of win! Image

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 10:15 am
by foxroe
Welcome aboard, ChicagoWiz!

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:06 pm
by Tholianweb
I recently had the chance to check out a PATHFINDER hardcover. Its basically a rechurned version of a previous edition that WOTC would have done if they followed Williams' policies more. That is, the policy of selling you air with a few modifications and some new art. Its really sad to go through, especially the art (its almost as if that style streamlines the reality of everything into this cosmetic fakery and every face must lean towards recent theoretic depictions of neanderthals. I recall in the late 90's when that art style emerged in comic books especially the XMEN books.) but the piled on system is unredeeming to someone like me who wants to feel like he isn't wasting time on game parts that only serve themselves and not the feel.
I play Pathfinder and find your opinion a bit narrowminded but each to his own.

I'm definitely not a fan of Pathfinder's art, but it's precisely that style of art that its fanbase expects. It's very much in keeping with what Paizo did during the days when they ran Dragon and Dungeon, which a lot of 3e fans look upon in the same way we might look upon earlier eras of Dragon. So, much as I dislike the art, I'm not at all surprised Paizo went that way. Heck, I'd have been more surprised if they'd abandoned it.
I Play Pathfinder because of the content, not its art inside or outside of the book. My players do not care about the art and as far I am concerned, none of the dozen or so gaming groups that play Pathfinder at my FLGS are playing Pathfinder because of the art. They play because they like the content of the book which relates to gaming. They are playing Pathfinder because they are part of the BIG SCHISM that developed when that crap called 4th edition came out. I am playing Pathfinder because I am not going to devote my time in wasting money on a game (4th Edition) that is easily played on the computer by the same name (WoW).

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:34 pm
by PatW
Wild guess, but this probably isn't the forum to argue the merits of Pathfinder

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:09 pm
by Flambeaux
PatW wrote:Wild guess, but this probably isn't the forum to argue the merits of Pathfinder
IIRC, it's actually verboten here. But the mods are both quick and capable.

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:18 pm
by geneweigel
I play Pathfinder and find your opinion a bit narrowminded but each to his own.
Heh, and here I was being reserved!

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 1:22 pm
by ChicagoWiz
foxroe wrote:Welcome aboard, ChicagoWiz!
Oh, I've been here in the past. Just lurking a bit today :twisted:

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:09 pm
by geneweigel
In regards to the look and feel of 4E as well as its aesthetic game-changing rules how will that "convert" to non-edition D&D? The succubus is a devil, for example but most monsters have lame ass feats involved that rip the original feel to shreds. Plus the new monsters are so awkward like the various "titans" is that going to be converted? See what I mean?

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 5:14 pm
by Tholianweb
Heh, and here I was being reserved!
ha ha ha, it is ok. I just do not like people who do not know me to lump me into a group of people with a certain viewpoint. I also do not like people to speak for me as to why I like playing a certain game or a certain edition of D&D.

I will say one thing though. I despise WoW and D&D 4.0.

Re: D&D Insider to support older editions?

Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:14 pm
by ken-do-nim
Tholianweb wrote:I Play Pathfinder because of the content, not its art inside or outside of the book.
I honestly couldn't get past the art. That, and the intimidation factor of the book's bulk.