Mad props to Paizo.
They're sticking to the D&D Third Edition rules we've been playing and loving for the last eight years. They're calling their revision to the rules Pathfinder, after the monthly publication they started when their license to publish Dragon and Dungeon magazines lapsed. The announcement is here. I can't say it any better than Chris Pramas: "This is a ballsy decision and I have to salute Erik Mona and company for rolling the dice." Not quite as ballsy as Necromancer's decision to develop 4th Edition products before seeing the new game system license. I really hope that both of these gambits pay off; I have a suspicion that they will, but keep your finger's crossed.
Maybe I should take a second look at the 3rd-edition compatible stuff I wrote back when Pirates was a d20 game.
I haven't read the whole announcement page yet, and I just finished downloading the free open playtest PDF, but I'm really excited about all of this. Of course, excitement has not historically translated into games played for me; I've still never played Mutants and Masterminds, or True 20, though I love them dearly. I think I may be turning around, though. I've started playing (admittedly, non-roleplaying) games with my family regularly, but who knows how that will blossom. I've started going out to find games, rather than waiting for special occasions when my friends are together. Playing Dread at DC Gameday II and D&D 4th edition at the D&D Experience was awesome, and I'll be going the Compleat Strategist on Thursday nights to play "indie" RPGs.
The more I game, the better the gaming experience I can bring to my friends on those special occasions, and, ultimately, the better products I'll write. Practice makes perfect, right?
EDIT: I don't think I communicated how big this news is. How about this Gareth Michael Skarka quote for some perspective: "I'm not exaggerating at all when I say this: Paizo has just single-handedly insured that there will be a commercially-viable audience for non-4E D&D releases, industry-wide. Bravo." From this source.
Maybe I should take a second look at the 3rd-edition compatible stuff I wrote back when Pirates was a d20 game.
I haven't read the whole announcement page yet, and I just finished downloading the free open playtest PDF, but I'm really excited about all of this. Of course, excitement has not historically translated into games played for me; I've still never played Mutants and Masterminds, or True 20, though I love them dearly. I think I may be turning around, though. I've started playing (admittedly, non-roleplaying) games with my family regularly, but who knows how that will blossom. I've started going out to find games, rather than waiting for special occasions when my friends are together. Playing Dread at DC Gameday II and D&D 4th edition at the D&D Experience was awesome, and I'll be going the Compleat Strategist on Thursday nights to play "indie" RPGs.
The more I game, the better the gaming experience I can bring to my friends on those special occasions, and, ultimately, the better products I'll write. Practice makes perfect, right?
EDIT: I don't think I communicated how big this news is. How about this Gareth Michael Skarka quote for some perspective: "I'm not exaggerating at all when I say this: Paizo has just single-handedly insured that there will be a commercially-viable audience for non-4E D&D releases, industry-wide. Bravo." From this source.