It’s a big day for Know Direction staff making RPG career moves.
Congratulations to two longtime Know Direction staff members Vanessa Hoskins and Dustin Knight, both hosts and members of the Know Direction board of directors, who each announced today that they accepted developer positions at Paizo.
Vanessa Hoskins
Before joining Know Direction as a blogger in March 2018, Vanessa Hoskins already established herself as a talented and dependable freelancer. She wrote several popular Pathfinder Society scenarios, earning her the right to produce 2017’s multi-table convention special, The Solstice Scar. Since then, she’s worked on multiple Pathfinder 1st and 2nd edition and Starfinder sourcebooks for Paizo, and most recently wrote Hands of the Devil, book 2 of the beloved Abomination Vaults adventure path, as well as Punks in a Powderkeg, the module that kicked off the Outlaws of Alkenstar adventure path. She also famously wrote Legendary Kineticist: Second Edition for Legendary Games, bringing her favourite 1e Pathfinder class to 2e even before Paizo did. Finally, she cocreates Pathfinder Infinite serialized fiction series Vellum & Lace with Helen Savore.
As a member of the Know Direction staff, she just about did it all. She wrote Craft (Adventure), an advice blog for prospective adventure writers. She GMed and produced Stellar, an Actual Play of Starfinder’s Against the Aeon Throne adventure path. She plays everyone’s favourite Milanite rebel rouser, Idonia, on Adventurous, as well as its sequel series Young and Adventurous. Finally, she joined Know Direction: Beyond as a host and producer before moving onto the flagship, hosting and eventually producing the Know Direction podcast.
Oh, and she played a PFS character who bought an airship.
Dustin Knight
Dustin’s list of freelance credits for Paizo keep growing, like his PFS scenario The Crashing Wave, and his contributions to popular hardcovers like The Grand Bazaar, and Guns & Gears. But recently he’s become known for his work as a Pathfinder influencer, Booster Bestiary streams, adapting Magic: The Gathering cards into Pathfinder 2e monsters, and Infiknight Reviews, promoting the best Pathfinder and Starfinder Infinity have to offer. His commitment to the Pathfinder content creators and the innovative ways he supports the community make him stand out.
Although Dustin’s primarily know as the author of Fox’s Cunning -one of our more mechanically focused blogs, which might feature anything from a comprehensive index of summoning spell options to a bed frame hazard– Dustin’s constantly finding new ways to contribute to the network. Like his Battle of the Pantheons initiative, in which he coordinated with Paizo to run a contest that officially added a new and Pathfinder Society legal Pantheon to Pathfinder lore. Or the playtest actual plays he GMed. Or playing as Kuro Kishimono, kitsune witch in our Troubles In Otari playthrough. He even designed a Know Direction Dice Rolling App for April Fools so convincing, our readers wished it was real. More recently, he took over production and co-hosting duties on Know Direction: Beyond.
On A Personal Note
Vanessa’s one of the most dedicated Pathfinder enthusiasts and freelancers I’ve known, constantly breaking new ground, earning new opportunities, and excelling when given the chance. Not only am I happy for her, I’m excited to see what she brings to Pathfinder’s adventures in the future.
Meanwhile, Dustin’s an under the radar network MVP. One of his greatest contributions to the quality of our content is his participation in live episodes of Know Direction. I’m not sure if listeners picked up on how often we credit “Kitsune Warlock, Know Direction’s own Dustin Knight” during live episodes for questions and for finding info the hosts couldn’t remember, but it happens a lot.
Congratulations to you both!
