The Stars Are Falling Soon!

Friday, June 13, 2014


Illustration by Patrick Reinemann

The latest volume of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting line has started shipping out to subscribers, and it's one that I know a lot of players and Game Masters are very excited to get their hands on—Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars I asked one of the book's co-authors, Jim Groves, to write a few words about his own excitement surrounding the book, and what a few of his favorite elements of it are. Here's what he has to say (as well as a few pieces of preview art I generously appended to his text).

Like many fans, I was at home during Gen Con 2013. My personal situation required me to live vicariously through the Twitter feeds and messageboard posts of fans who generously kept me informed. When I read James Jacobs had announced the Iron Gods Adventure Path, I wasted no time e-mailing him, right then and there, while he was still on the convention floor. A few days later, I received a very friendly and gracious reply. James already had a list of authors in mind, and it is vital for the health of the product line to add new authors and vary the cast up from AP to AP. So I understood James's reasoning perfectly, but when Mark Moreland contacted me a few weeks later to work on Numeria, Land of the Fallen Stars, I was overjoyed.

When writing for Numeria, I felt it was important to honor the theme of otherworldly super-science, but not to absolute exclusion. There are a number of elements, like the Plain of Ten Thousand Swords and the Battle of Grasyhot, which are all about traditional barbaric adventure. I was also very aware throughout the entire process that Ustalav, the Worldwound, and the River Kingdoms were right across a borderline—a division many adventurers and barbarians do not honor. My hope is fans gain insight into how Numeria fits and interacts with the world around it.

Among my favorite plots is the Chapel of Rent Flesh, dedicated to kyton activities on Golarion. The origin and history of the kytons is wonderfully mysterious and provocative. They demonstrate an aspect of the campaign setting which does not conform to a tidy and artificially organized cosmology. The Chapel doesn't upend what we know about the universe, but it asks some interesting questions. I also love Hajoth Hakados and Chitterhome. These communities allow a GM to introduce unusual player characters and NPCs, not just for a Numeria campaign but for all of Golarion, without feeling they're "fighting the campaign setting." GMs should never feel that way, but I think we help with a liberal sprinkling of rationale and context. I hope the book inspires and supports people to develop their own incredible and original campaigns.


Illustrations by Caio Maciel Monteiro

As I said above, Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars is already on its way to subscribers and will be available in game stores, bookstores, and for PDF download to the general public on June 25! The book is a vital source of setting information for Game Masters running the Iron Gods Adventure Path or anyone looking for more highly-anticipated information on one of the Inner Sea region's most exotic locales.

Mark Moreland
Developer

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Tags: Caio Maciel Monteiro Iron Gods Pathfinder Adventure Path Pathfinder Campaign Setting Patrick Reinemann
Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

SWEET!

Contributor

5 people marked this as a favorite.

Alright, who came up with "The Chapel of Rent Flesh," huh? Give that man or woman a raise...and keep them under close observation...


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Two of the Pictures have what looks like the same staff used by what I believe to be two Technomages.

That or their staffs look similar to each other.


Can we have a tie-in adventure module about shutting down the Chapel of Rent Flesh?
Please?

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

4 people marked this as a favorite.
The Friendly Lich wrote:

Can we have a tie-in adventure module about shutting down the Chapel of Rent Flesh?

Please?

I refer you to Mr. Owen K. Stephens. :)

I am so pleased to read this, I'm okay with one of my many fine colleagues writing it.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
zergtitan wrote:

Two of the Pictures have what looks like the same staff used by what I believe to be two Technomages.

That or their staffs look similar to each other.

One is a staff of lightning, the other a staff of fire with some sort of neural link to its Technomage wielder.

Just a similar appearance.


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Kvantum wrote:
zergtitan wrote:

Two of the Pictures have what looks like the same staff used by what I believe to be two Technomages.

That or their staffs look similar to each other.

One is a staff of lightning, the other a staff of fire with some sort of neural link to its Technomage wielder.

Just a similar appearance.

Maybe the link acts as a bonded item function, or the link allows her to channel her arcana through the staff.


That "Sovereign's Reach" picture is awesome.

Dark Archive

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Though I'm not getting the AP, I'm rather intrigued in this product for the kyton-tie in alone.

Also, the spider-bot is putting me in the mind of 'Old World Blues' from Fallout.


I really like that picture of the Annihilator and how the yellow and black industrial stripes look like wasp coloration.


This looks interesting.


I love this ^^


Is that a Crystal Dragon?

Paizo Employee Developer

Alex G St-Amand wrote:

Is that a Crystal Dragon?

Spine dragon


....oh, rent as in "torn". Totally not the verb. Got it.


Beautifully done artwork. Monteiro deserves a pat on the back for those.

Grand Lodge

For more Numeria goodness, everyone should pick up the Pathfinder Tales: City of the Fallen Sky!!


I may just have to pick this baby up. *sigh* So much for having money to spend on other things...


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

But I want it now!

Lantern Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Jim Groves wrote:
The Friendly Lich wrote:

Can we have a tie-in adventure module about shutting down the Chapel of Rent Flesh?

Please?

I refer you to Mr. Owen K. Stephens. :)

I am so pleased to read this, I'm okay with one of my many fine colleagues writing it.

I would write that for a handshake and a wink at this point. My hype levels about the Chapel of Rent Flesh are off the charts.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Really excited about the chapel; Kytons haven't had their day in the limelight yet. And depending on the reception, it might pave the way for a full write-up of the Kyton demagogues.


God I am so amped for this.


Any chance of a summary of what's included in here in terms of rules content?


Axial wrote:
Really excited about the chapel; Kytons haven't had their day in the limelight yet. And depending on the reception, it might pave the way for a full write-up of the Kyton demagogues.

more Kytons would be great

also my dm is so looking forward for this book because he is in love with the kingdom of Numeria

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
LessPopMoreFizz wrote:
Any chance of a summary of what's included in here in terms of rules content?

Radiation, some new diseases, Numerian fluids, bit of info on gravity expanded upon from Distant Worlds, and some technology covered in a few of the NPCs in the Bestiary entry. I think that's the meat and potatoes of it. But I couda forgotten something along the way.

Oh, and the new monsters, if you count those as "rules content".


I'd like to see technological advances in Numeria, and how they affect life in Starfall.


Axial wrote:
Really excited about the chapel; Kytons haven't had their day in the limelight yet.

Kytons shun the light. They are creatures of darkness and pain.

Oh, exquisite pain.


N'wah wrote:
LessPopMoreFizz wrote:
Any chance of a summary of what's included in here in terms of rules content?

Radiation, some new diseases, Numerian fluids, bit of info on gravity expanded upon from Distant Worlds, and some technology covered in a few of the NPCs in the Bestiary entry. I think that's the meat and potatoes of it. But I couda forgotten something along the way.

Oh, and the new monsters, if you count those as "rules content".

Gotcha. So wait for the tech guide for character options.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
LessPopMoreFizz wrote:
N'wah wrote:
LessPopMoreFizz wrote:
Any chance of a summary of what's included in here in terms of rules content?

Radiation, some new diseases, Numerian fluids, bit of info on gravity expanded upon from Distant Worlds, and some technology covered in a few of the NPCs in the Bestiary entry. I think that's the meat and potatoes of it. But I couda forgotten something along the way.

Oh, and the new monsters, if you count those as "rules content".

Gotcha. So wait for the tech guide for character options.

Yep, Technology Guide's gonna have all the laser guns and robot arms, and a Technologist prestige class, plus who knows what else. The Numeria book is mostly fluff material on the communities and odd places spread all about Numeria, including everyone's new favorite, The Chapel of Rent Flesh. For less directly tech-based character rules, People of the River covers PCs from Numeria and the River Kingdoms, and will have the campaign traits for Iron Gods, much like People of the Sands did for Mummy's Mask.


I want to see the tribes man, the Kellid tribes. Also, I wonder what the influence, if any, is from Orcs, Giants, etc. in the region.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
Major_Blackhart wrote:
I want to see the tribes man, the Kellid tribes. Also, I wonder what the influence, if any, is from Orcs, Giants, etc. in the region.

Both of those topics get covered in the book. :)


Nice.
I really want to see this wasteland have an Orc tribe, maybe some sort of particularly nasty group that doesn't necessarily worship Rovagug, but rather the Orc deities like Varg and Sezelrian, two of the more intelligent minded gods. Varg is the craftiest and master of siege engines, and possibly other technological items of war, whereas Sezelrian brought both fire and magic to the Orcs and is a god of intelligence.
Numeria is a great setting for that man!

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

There's an orc community, I'll tell you that much. It's in the Felldales, which is a pretty horrible place (though on the border for easier raiding) and is run by a fighter/alchemist. I'll let you draw your own conclusions. :D


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Ok that is friggin awesome.


How about the Technomancer? :)

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Sorry, I meant technomancer, not technologist.

Technology Guide wrote:

Within this book, you’ll find:

Rules for dozens of new technological items, including weapons, armor, force fields, hologram generators, grenades, cybernetic implants, nanotech devices, remote controls for robots, and more!
New feats, spells, and archetypes for technologically savvy characters, along with rules for how your skills interact with super-science.
Extraordinarily powerful scientific items and artifacts, such as extinction wave devices, powered armor, and nuclear reactors!
The technomancer prestige class, which allows you to use magic to command robots and power your technology.
Rules for artificial intelligences, the effects of the passage of time on technological items, the dangers of radiation, the seven skymetals of Numeria, technological traps, and more!


Upon first glance at the illustration I couldn't help but think...

"The Protoss are coming to Golarion?" Followed promptly by.."Can the Zerg be far behind?"

StarCraft meets Pathfinder. Hmnnn...

Dark Archive

N'wah wrote:

Sorry, I meant technomancer, not technologist.

Technology Guide wrote:

Within this book, you’ll find:

Rules for dozens of new technological items, including weapons, armor, force fields, hologram generators, grenades, cybernetic implants, nanotech devices, remote controls for robots, and more!
New feats, spells, and archetypes for technologically savvy characters, along with rules for how your skills interact with super-science.
Extraordinarily powerful scientific items and artifacts, such as extinction wave devices, powered armor, and nuclear reactors!
The technomancer prestige class, which allows you to use magic to command robots and power your technology.
Rules for artificial intelligences, the effects of the passage of time on technological items, the dangers of radiation, the seven skymetals of Numeria, technological traps, and more!

The description of the Technomancer reminds me of the video game RoboTrek.


Is it just me or does Urgo Axebiter look more like a really refined fellow than the bulbous imbecilic hill giants we have seen before him? Loving the artwork for this by the by.
Urgo has a really interesting story to him, heart of ahriman type stuff in there. Anyway, just thought I'd bring that up, that he doesn't look like the atypical hill giant.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

I so want to make a Lich Technomancer as a villain. Like a lawful evil undead cyborg Nikolai Tesla.


Dracovar wrote:

Upon first glance at the illustration I couldn't help but think...

"The Protoss are coming to Golarion?" Followed promptly by.."Can the Zerg be far behind?"

StarCraft meets Pathfinder. Hmnnn...

The Zerg would be ecstatic. So much variance in genetic material, so many powers to assimilate... it would terrify the crap out of me if I didn't play Zerg. :D

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