Saturday, January 18, 2025

Pathfinder 2, Dark Times

The game gets involved in a controversy.

People on both sides jump in and defend or attack the game.

People pretending to be on both sides rabble-rouse and keep the anger boiling. I swear, many people I see in Pathfinder 2 on social media are people I have not seen before, and it seems like they are just "using the moment" to swing in and destroy the community.

We got this.

We "saved" you.

Here is some more hate and anger.

You can thank us later.

Even some posts by people pretending to want to return their books are just trolls. They post some of the dumbest lunacy you have ever read, and then they get both sides in their posts, arguing, making points, fighting, and calling each other names. Some play different games and likely want to "drop by" to destroy a game that takes players away from them.

If a community ever got like that, and I was the owner and moderator, I would delete the group and walk away. Who cares? Why do I want "ownership" of a place that spreads hate and ruins the game for so many? Deleting the group is the best option at this point. The trolls will make their own group, and wasting your life energy trying to stand in front of a burst dam isn't helping all that much.

The Pathfinder 2 team does the right thing by saying the designer does not speak for the team. It is all they can do at this point. They can hope Wizards makes a colossal mistake to "save" them from this "outrage of the week."

But this is what happens when a team lacks discipline, and the individual members lack self-control. What you say reflects on the people you work with, for good or bad. Sometimes, people I have worked for have asked me to "watch my tone" and to "avoid saying things that could make people angry."

Yes, you have a First Amendment right, but as someone employed by an organization, you must think before you open your mouth since everything you say could come back on them, too—and the people you work with and the thing you are building together. What you say publicly reflects on your team.

This isn't rocket science.

This is how the workplace has been for centuries.

Other game companies also follow this line, and some are highly progressive and socially conscious. They have the discipline and foreknowledge to avoid letting their company fall into the mud-filled gutter of Internet culture and political arguments. And they still keep their values while smiling and delivering a product for everyone to enjoy. Even Goodman Games, a company built on old-school values, manages to walk this line well and shows respect to everyone. I see Pride merch in their store, but it is meant to include everyone and doesn't tell people to 'return the books.' This is a good company with solid values and runs a tight and disciplined ship.

Shadowdark's Arcane Library is another company that runs an amazingly inclusive and tight ship. Companies like this aren't unicorns, and they exist everywhere. These are the ones worth supporting. These games will keep their value and will not make you feel like you have wasted your money.

I still hope Pathfinder 2 can get through these dark times. The team that worked hard on this did a good job. It would be a shame if this is how it ended for them. I am keeping my subscriptions for the next year, but I am moving the game to a secondary shelf to avoid negativity.

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