And we are back for Part III of our interview with the ENnie award winning desginer Ben McFarland (Kobold Quarterly, Tales of Zobeck), as we talk with him about his newest project:
21. What makes a good Pathfinder product?
I think what makes a good Pathfinder product is what makes any product good; you've got to have an engaging story that's fun to play. That's the secret, the alchemy that you've got rediscover every time-- you take that tiny bit of lead-in lead, and you've got to spin it into gold.
22. What is your favorite Pathfinder product (besides the core book)?
I love Pathfinder Chronicles: The Great Beyond—A Guide to the Multiverse, because of the Proteans and the style of the whole thing. It's gorgeous and inspiring. I'm a sucker for the naming conventions of the Protean stuff.
23. What makes a good patronage project?
A good patronage product listens to its patrons-- you've got to tap into that collective creative stream of consciousness of people who are just as excited as you are about that concept. Hell, they signed up for it before they ever held it in their hands because they loved the concept. You've got to respect that trust and that excitment and make sure you give it everything you've got.
24. What is your favorite Ben Mcfarland product and why?
That's a tough question...you love different projects for different reasons. I love the mythic possibility of the Circle of Cybele article I wrote for issue #3 of the Ars Magica fanzine, Sub Rosa. I love the random mayhem of the riot scene in Tales of Zobeck's "Redcloak Ruckus." Halls of the Mountain King was my biggest project yet, between the OGL and 4E versions, and that makes it this intricate labor of love.
25. What has been your best moment playing with a Pathfinder product?
I have to admit, I've only gotten to run-- but the experience of testing out the small shifts between editions has been a lot of fun. I love the changes in the classes like the rage powers, or the shift in channelling, the critical feats.
26. What has been your most memorable fan response to Breaking of Fostor Nagar?
One of the senior patrons said he'd signed up because of the responses I'd given in the first part of this interview. That's pretty fantastic and humbling at the same time...like when I did some writing in the Middle Earth space. You get this twinge of, "Wow this is awesome cool!" followed immediately with the muted panic of, "No pressure-- don't screw it up!"
27. What role do you think Breaking of Fostor Nagar will play in the Pathfinder gaming community?
I hope it'll be something people enjoy running, that they then loot for parts, and rummage through to launch new storylines-- consuming the whole thing by using every bit like a buffalo on the plains of the Wild West.
28. Any plans on personally running a Breaking of Fostor Nagar game using Fantasy Grounds or Maptool?
I'd love to! I have a group of old friends from college who live out in Colorado while I'm in New York. I think they'd really like the opportunity to play together again, and this would be a great way to do it. The tools built into the adventure should even make it easier for them because I know they're not playing Pathfinder yet.
29. Could you tell us a little about the differences between professional game design and designing for play?
When you're designing for home play, you have the benefit of knowing your table, knowing what they like and tailoring the encounters to provide the greatest entertainment in relation to their composition. When you're designing for publication, you have to imagine a sort of "everytable" and create engaging material independent of any details. That material may or may not get customized by the GM who picks it up, and you've got to make sure it's ready to roll.
30. Why do you think fans of Pathfinder should join the Breaking of Fostor Nagar patronage project?
Because they're looking for a great story that's going to keep them on the edge of their seat while giving them the opportunity to contribute through the design process-- not many projects out there offer that sort of input! Why pass it up when you've got the chance to participate?
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