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This complete, standalone, fantasy roleplaying game takes your fantasy campaigns to new heights of adventure! Backward-compatible with 3.5 fantasy rules but offering new solutions and options that place it firmly on the cutting edge, the Pathfinder RPG is the culmination of the largest open public playtest in RPG history. The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook includes: revised rules for the classic seven fantasy RPG races; updated options for the 11 core classes; a streamlined skill system that makes things easier for players and GMs; a host of new and familiar feats, including innovative combat feats and item creation rules; new equipment; additional combat options; overhauled rules for domains, familiars, bonded items, specialty schools, and more; dozens of new and revised spells; updated rules for NPCs, including quick-generation rules; new rules for curses, diseases, and poisons; a completely overhauled experience system with options for slow, medium, and fast advancement; hundreds and hundreds of magic items... and much, much more!
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The first thing to understand about this book is that is not a new game. Pathfinder's rules are an evolution of the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game rules. However, that said, it certainly feels like a new game. The people at Paizo have taken the old rules and given them a muchly needed overhaul to produce a game that is old and yet new at the same time. The change are subtle, but there are many of them and while these rules are technically backwards compatible with existing 3.5 products, it stands alone just fine.
The book is big, 576 pages and hardbound and it weighs a fair bit. This is hardly surprising as it is essentially the 3.5 DMG and PHB rolled into one volume. The pages are of good paper stock and there is a lot of art in this (albeit mostly recycled art from other Pathfinder products, but when the art is this good it's worth using it more than once!). The cover is by my favourite fantasy artist Wayne Reynolds, and there's plenty more art from him (and many others) inside too.
So if this is the same rules but yet not, what has changed? A lot of the problems with 3.5 have been tweaked and fixed (Shapechanging spells I'm looking at you), as well as all of the 11 core classes have been given a bit of a boost. Too often before they came across as the poor option and were only taken as a springboard into getting a Prestige Class. Prestige Classes are still present, but the core classes are now much more attractive, Fighters get bonuses for weapons and armour mastery, Monks get a pool of Ki points they can spend to power a multitude of abilities, Sorcerors get a bloodline which adds spells & powers to their repertoire, Barbarians have rage powers, and Paladins can do far more than just restoring hit points when laying on hands.
Races have been tweaked too. There are no new ones here, but the ones present (Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Halfling, Half-Elf, Half-Orc & Human) have all been subtly revised. Gnomes are now a fey race, Halflings are luckier and Half-Elves are more adapatable than before.
If you love D&D and yet do not like the 4th edition of that game, then I'd strongly advise you to give these rules a try. They are in my opinion a far more faithful continuation of the traditions of D&D than 4th edition will ever be.
The book is big, 576 pages and hardbound and it weighs a fair bit. This is hardly surprising as it is essentially the 3.5 DMG and PHB rolled into one volume. The pages are of good paper stock and there is a lot of art in this (albeit mostly recycled art from other Pathfinder products, but when the art is this good it's worth using it more than once!). The cover is by my favourite fantasy artist Wayne Reynolds, and there's plenty more art from him (and many others) inside too.
So if this is the same rules but yet not, what has changed? A lot of the problems with 3.5 have been tweaked and fixed (Shapechanging spells I'm looking at you), as well as all of the 11 core classes have been given a bit of a boost. Too often before they came across as the poor option and were only taken as a springboard into getting a Prestige Class. Prestige Classes are still present, but the core classes are now much more attractive, Fighters get bonuses for weapons and armour mastery, Monks get a pool of Ki points they can spend to power a multitude of abilities, Sorcerors get a bloodline which adds spells & powers to their repertoire, Barbarians have rage powers, and Paladins can do far more than just restoring hit points when laying on hands.
Races have been tweaked too. There are no new ones here, but the ones present (Dwarf, Elf, Gnome, Halfling, Half-Elf, Half-Orc & Human) have all been subtly revised. Gnomes are now a fey race, Halflings are luckier and Half-Elves are more adapatable than before.
If you love D&D and yet do not like the 4th edition of that game, then I'd strongly advise you to give these rules a try. They are in my opinion a far more faithful continuation of the traditions of D&D than 4th edition will ever be.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
To be very straight: do you still feel confused or betrayed by the rules of d&d 4rth edition? Do you still think that a wizard should be more... "magic" and a warrior less... "card-tapping-dependant"? I am a believer of the 4rth ed, but I do have been playing it in a sort of limbo, willing to find the core of the game but never really feeling like I was getting nearer to it (to the point you completely ARE your pg, I mean).
So what with Pathfinder? 3.5 is back, really back, with strongly differentiated classes, a fairly good bunch of abilities, nice description in every paragraph to let you r-o-l-e-p-l-a-y every aspect of your pg, alot of interesting tuning on the "old" 3.5 rules (paladin are usable in a very rewarding way, every classes gets a curios and innovative rule like for wiz choosing between familiar and bonded object, or for barbarian to have special "moves" during rage, and so on).
In my opinion: Pathfinder get the best structure (3.5), revitalizing it, adjusting classes to make every single one amusing, removing the more frustating aspects (warriors are war-machines and can be proud to be, for example - all of this just tuning a bit some feats, as to say "dogde" now gives you +1 to AC when you are not flat-footed, or cleave: you hit the first target? you can attack an adjacent one... grasp the twist, uh?), letting you created vivid and complete pg - in doing so, you also get some ideas that are taken from the spirit of the 4rt ed... without it's questionable "rules" and math background.
Be happy, buy it - what's more, the adventures are incredibily well written and organized, and "old" 3.5 adventurers are easily adaptable.
Laslty: in ONE BIG book you have player AND master's handbook. And very good illustrations too; believe me, when you open this tome in front of your wanna-be-players, fairy magic start sprouting around, I never had this kind of "magic-portal" sensation since whe first saw the Immortal Set box when we where kids.
So what with Pathfinder? 3.5 is back, really back, with strongly differentiated classes, a fairly good bunch of abilities, nice description in every paragraph to let you r-o-l-e-p-l-a-y every aspect of your pg, alot of interesting tuning on the "old" 3.5 rules (paladin are usable in a very rewarding way, every classes gets a curios and innovative rule like for wiz choosing between familiar and bonded object, or for barbarian to have special "moves" during rage, and so on).
In my opinion: Pathfinder get the best structure (3.5), revitalizing it, adjusting classes to make every single one amusing, removing the more frustating aspects (warriors are war-machines and can be proud to be, for example - all of this just tuning a bit some feats, as to say "dogde" now gives you +1 to AC when you are not flat-footed, or cleave: you hit the first target? you can attack an adjacent one... grasp the twist, uh?), letting you created vivid and complete pg - in doing so, you also get some ideas that are taken from the spirit of the 4rt ed... without it's questionable "rules" and math background.
Be happy, buy it - what's more, the adventures are incredibily well written and organized, and "old" 3.5 adventurers are easily adaptable.
Laslty: in ONE BIG book you have player AND master's handbook. And very good illustrations too; believe me, when you open this tome in front of your wanna-be-players, fairy magic start sprouting around, I never had this kind of "magic-portal" sensation since whe first saw the Immortal Set box when we where kids.
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First of all - I didn't get the book via Amazon yet. The first printing was sold out even before the official launch and Amazon world wide seemed to have trouble getting enough books - in the US they eventually arrived - same for Germany - the UK is still waiting. Therefore be aware if you buy now there is a chance you might have to wait for the second printing scheduled for November. If you wonder how I can review the book if my own order still hasn't arrived? Well - I got lucky and picked up one of the last copies at Orcsnest in London. My Amazon order I will keep in reserve - if it arrives prior November that is.
About the book - we are talking 576 page hard-bound - it really weights A LOT. The reason that the book has that many pages is, that in effect it represents an extended Players Handbook compared to D&D 3.x with all you need from the Game master guide. In effect - just one book with the contents of two.
The paper quality and print is good with lots of graphics and overall the book is well laid out. If you have played D&D 3.x you will be used to the usual order. Starting with Races, Classes, etc. All the standard races and classes from D&D3.x are available. If you are looking for new or strange ones - or even 4.0 ones you will be disappointed.
So if there isn't anything new - why should I bother? First of all - it gets more and more difficult to get 3.5 Player Handbooks (for a decent price). In addition - while Paizo tried to keep Pathfinder compatible with D&D 3.x - it isn't the same. They did a lot of tweaks. In my view I regard 90% of them as a step in the right direction. You can't please all - so if you rely on strange feat&weapon&skill combinations you might be disappointed that some of them got neutered.
In my view these changes are to cut obvious excesses while trying to make classes more distinct and add more 'Role' to the RPG. An example I like - the wizards have a limited number of Cantrips to memorize per day - but then they can cast them as often as they like. In addition they get small advantages depending on school they belong too. Now you really can play a wizard in the second row - casting away (and be it just a dazzle) without fear he is useless after room 3 and is out of spells - or would have needed to learn a missile weapon.
Another of the small changes - speed for dwarves stays the same - no matter if in Armour or not. Yes - the human is faster in leather - but give him plate and the dwarf will happily keep up with him.
In addition to the changes I feel that a lot is written in a more concise way. I read a few parts of the fighting chapter and realized how I should have played it in D&D3.x all the time. I also like to have all the sprawl cut back to a single book. Off course - who knows how the space will look in 5 years time.
Therefore if you liked D&D 3.x and want to start fresh, go on with a new campaign, etc. I can fully recommend Pathfinder. If you are deciding between D&D 4.0 and Pathfinder my recommendation would be - do you prefer 3.x or 4.0. If the first is the case - you won't regret Pathfinder and like it a lot. If 4.0 appealed to you instead of 3.x you probably won't find Pathfinder that much of an improvement to go back.
About the book - we are talking 576 page hard-bound - it really weights A LOT. The reason that the book has that many pages is, that in effect it represents an extended Players Handbook compared to D&D 3.x with all you need from the Game master guide. In effect - just one book with the contents of two.
The paper quality and print is good with lots of graphics and overall the book is well laid out. If you have played D&D 3.x you will be used to the usual order. Starting with Races, Classes, etc. All the standard races and classes from D&D3.x are available. If you are looking for new or strange ones - or even 4.0 ones you will be disappointed.
So if there isn't anything new - why should I bother? First of all - it gets more and more difficult to get 3.5 Player Handbooks (for a decent price). In addition - while Paizo tried to keep Pathfinder compatible with D&D 3.x - it isn't the same. They did a lot of tweaks. In my view I regard 90% of them as a step in the right direction. You can't please all - so if you rely on strange feat&weapon&skill combinations you might be disappointed that some of them got neutered.
In my view these changes are to cut obvious excesses while trying to make classes more distinct and add more 'Role' to the RPG. An example I like - the wizards have a limited number of Cantrips to memorize per day - but then they can cast them as often as they like. In addition they get small advantages depending on school they belong too. Now you really can play a wizard in the second row - casting away (and be it just a dazzle) without fear he is useless after room 3 and is out of spells - or would have needed to learn a missile weapon.
Another of the small changes - speed for dwarves stays the same - no matter if in Armour or not. Yes - the human is faster in leather - but give him plate and the dwarf will happily keep up with him.
In addition to the changes I feel that a lot is written in a more concise way. I read a few parts of the fighting chapter and realized how I should have played it in D&D3.x all the time. I also like to have all the sprawl cut back to a single book. Off course - who knows how the space will look in 5 years time.
Therefore if you liked D&D 3.x and want to start fresh, go on with a new campaign, etc. I can fully recommend Pathfinder. If you are deciding between D&D 4.0 and Pathfinder my recommendation would be - do you prefer 3.x or 4.0. If the first is the case - you won't regret Pathfinder and like it a lot. If 4.0 appealed to you instead of 3.x you probably won't find Pathfinder that much of an improvement to go back.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good value for money
The best thing about this book is that it's "3 in 1". Instead of buying the PH, DM's and MM for DnD 3.5, you can just buy this and get the job done. Read more
Published 5 hours ago by Jaqvaar
D&D lives!
Despite the tragic pile of crap that the Wizards of the Coast tried to pass for 4th edition, D&D lives!
Now it is Pathfinder. It is more refined than 3.5. Read more
Now it is Pathfinder. It is more refined than 3.5. Read more
Published 4 months ago by zengardener
Mixed blessings
Firstly, I like the pathfinder revision of D&D 3.5. I like it a lot and I feel that Paizo have done an excellent job, classes are well balanced, particularly the arcane... Read more
Published 4 months ago by A. D. Miles
But it Now!
Ive played DND since the red 'Basic' box and have enjoyed its growth and transformation through the years. I was never tempted with 4th Ed, 3.5 was the rules set for me. Read more
Published 5 months ago by markmark
Could very well be the best system so far
Thoughts
I've been playing/dming role playing games for 16 years now. I've past from AD&D 2nd edition to 3rd - 3.5 and finally the notorious 4th. Read more
I've been playing/dming role playing games for 16 years now. I've past from AD&D 2nd edition to 3rd - 3.5 and finally the notorious 4th. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Nikolaos P. Kiriazopoulos
Great!
A very comprehensive guide, well written and extremely detailed. Arrived swiftly and in pristine condition. A must have for every Pathfinder player.
Published 14 months ago by Mr. P. Kersbergen
great quality
this book has a great hard cover and a great page quality. it's shipped very fast. i didn't read all of it yet but it has nica modifications over 3.5 edition. Read more
Published 15 months ago by duskdiyebiri
Pathfinder Core Rules
This, for me, took me back to third addition but sorted out some of the big problems that were in that system.
I am looking forward to playing it very soon!
I am looking forward to playing it very soon!
Published 15 months ago by StephenJT
Great Edition
A wonderful continuation from 3.5's sturdy & well defined core of gameplay. True to the path of superior play, refreshing a veteran version with a few changes for the better but... Read more
Published 23 months ago by LeoKhan
Good buy
I originally wanted to get this for my partner for xmas but it was either sold out everywhere or it was ridiculously priced so left it a while. Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by Ms. R. L. Monk
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