Path: ...!local-3.nntp.ord.giganews.com!local-2.nntp.ord.giganews.com!Xl.tags.giganews.com!local-1.nntp.ord.giganews.com!news.giganews.com.POSTED!not-for-mail NNTP-Posting-Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 19:43:32 +0000 From: Spalls Hurgenson Newsgroups: rec.games.frp.dnd Subject: Re: [Wargamer] Pathfinder rolls back controversial license changes Date: Sun, 25 Aug 2024 15:43:32 -0400 Message-ID: References: X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 2.0/32.652 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Lines: 41 X-Usenet-Provider: http://www.giganews.com X-Trace: sv3-WD4qQVsSsUJ/Wy1XLOdLR1OY8XxI/RnKT8qCxP5cQda7J144QzfMpa3oet5GsaPivuMEIb02IDTtDdO!YB4Z2zOcCE7hEn1bFcW5Av/e21TyXSAfCj1j5r0v45RayNhUzjgP6rtf9opWmRH/3bS1CwbS X-Complaints-To: abuse@giganews.com X-DMCA-Notifications: http://www.giganews.com/info/dmca.html X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Please be sure to forward a copy of ALL headers X-Abuse-and-DMCA-Info: Otherwise we will be unable to process your complaint properly X-Postfilter: 1.3.40 Bytes: 3009 On Sat, 24 Aug 2024 23:13:58 +0200, Kyonshi wrote: >Source: https://www.wargamer.com/pathfinder/license-changes-OGL-controversy > >DnD’s top rival Pathfinder rolls back controversial license changes > >Paizo, publisher of Dungeons and Dragons’ alter ego RPG Pathfinder, has >retconned planned changes to its game licenses after fan feedback. The first thought that went through my head was that the WOTC lawyers, having lost their job after the OGL fiasco, got hired at Paizo. I mean, that's not what happened, but it was my first impression. I mean, how else could Paizo make such a bone-headed move after watching WOTC crash onto those same rocks? Still, I get it. Paizo made it big largely as a result of D&D 4E's unpopularity. Their fortunes have been dwindling since 5E was overwhelmingly welcomed by the fans. I've no idea how their finances are, but from everything I can tell, they're nowhere near as popular as in their heyday. And with decreasing sales and the threat of D&D 6E on the horizon, I can imagine the C-levels are trying to stem the bleeding. So it doesn't surprise me if they look at their decreased book sales, then look at the popularity of third-party Pathfinder book sales, and a thought of 'hey, how about we tap into that market somehow' creeps into their head. Which leads to ideas on how to force people onto the Paizo marketplace, which leads to other ideas on how to restrict developers from NOT using that marketplace, etc. etc. What Paizo really needs to do is work to compete with WOTC and put out a product people want to play more than 5E/6E. But too often games publishers start seeing their own customers and supporters either as competitors or sources of additional revenue. It never works out well in the long run for either group. But at least Paizo backed down before things got too bad. Give them that much, at least.