For many months now, a good portion of the staff here at Paizo has been slaving away in secret, working on a project that has only been mentioned in hushed tones and vague inferences. While its existence has become common knowledge, few outside the halls of Paizo know much about this rumored product. Well, the time for secrecy is over! Now it is time to take our first look at the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box!
Personally, I have wanted to do this project since the early days of the Pathfinder RPG. A beginner set not unlike this one is what got me into gaming over 20 years ago. While I can't go into all the details of this impressive box just yet, it is time to give you some of the basic details about what to expect from the Beginner Box and what it will contain.
First off, this box is designed to contain everything that a new gamer needs to begin playing the Pathfinder RPG, from dice and pawns to a simplified rules set and an exciting starter adventure. There are enough rules in this box to take characters all the way up to 5th level, and plenty of tools for the GM to create countless hours of play. But that's not all. Take a look at this list of components.
A 64-page Hero's Handbook, detailing character creation, spells, equipment, and general rules for playing the game
A 96-page Game Master's Guide packed with adventures, monsters, magical treasures, and advice on how to narrate the game and control the challenges faced by the heroes
A complete set of 7 high-impact polyhedral dice
More than 80 full-color pawns depicting tons of heroes, monsters, and even a fearsome black dragon
Four pregenerated character sheets to throw you right into the action
Four blank character sheets to record the statistics and deeds of your custom-made hero
A durable, reusable, double-sided Flip-Mat play surface that works with any kind of marker
Suffice it to say, that is a lot to pack into one box. I am going to have a lot more to say about this particular product in the coming months (especially during the banquet at this year's PaizoCon). Until then.
Finally! We don't have to hide this super-cool product from our fans any longer!
I haven't been this excited about a product since I was a pint-sized junior gamer. It takes me right back to my very first boxed set, freeing dwarf slaves from an evil wizard's mine!
Of course, I want more information! But I will start with what is in the post.
What's a "pawn" in this context? Like a standee illustration type thing? Are we talking plastic? Plastic base? Is it like a pog or a lay-flat cardboard token?
We will not be answering any further questions about the product at this time. Other than the info in the product description and this blog post, we are going to play it close to the vest until the banquet at Paizocon!
Can you say if the Hero's Handbook and Game Master's Guide are actually bound books or just stapled?
Bound books could still be useful to me, just to have an extra set of rules floating around the table. But a 64 page book that is just stapled together? Probably wouldn't last long enough to be worthwhile.
Hmmm, if this is part of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Subscription, does that mean no Bestiary 3 this year? That would be too bad if that's the case...
With the projections of super-adventure boxed product prices I've heard come from the mouths of Paizo, I'm pleased the starter set has such an accessible price point. It's less than the Core Rulebook!
I wonder is it meant not to come with a marker as that is not listed as the contents.
There are no markers, pens, or pencils in the box. Too many complications to add writing implements (especially the marker as it turns out).
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
Any plans to have a separate set of markers, pens, and pencils printed with, say, the iconic characters who I note can easily be slotted to various colors? No, you don't need markers printed with the iconic characters, but they would be cool.
Finally! We don't have to hide this super-cool product from our fans any longer!
I haven't been this excited about a product since I was a pint-sized junior gamer. It takes me right back to my very first boxed set, freeing dwarf slaves from an evil wizard's mine!
Ah, good old Zanzer Tem and his mine full of dwarves. And we can play the PF Beginner's Box game without having to fold up all those flimsy standees!
Does "pawns" = super awesome plastic, or equally fantastic thick punchout card board, 1" toke with full color image of monsters and NPCs that will make a perfect stand alone product???
Finally! We don't have to hide this super-cool product from our fans any longer!
I haven't been this excited about a product since I was a pint-sized junior gamer. It takes me right back to my very first boxed set, freeing dwarf slaves from an evil wizard's mine!
So.. um, yesterday? ;-)
(I don't know why, but I always picture Ms. Frasier being about 5' nothing and 98 lbs soaking wet. Never been able to make it out to Seattle to say hi)
We all know paizo likes to use Icons on the covers they use in products. Based off the four lined up icons on the side of the box we are getting: Mage,Rogue,Cleric and fighter and Human and elf as races at lest.
Paizo Charter Superscriber, Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber, Pathfinder Comics Deluxe Subscriber
Mordo wrote:
Does "pawns" = super awesome plastic, or equally fantastic thick punchout card board, 1" toke with full color image of monsters and NPCs that will make a perfect stand alone product???
Well, I can guarantee they're not shipping 80 full color plastic miniatures in a $34.99 box set.
I'm hoping they're not shipping 80 circular color counters like were in a lot of the WoTC stuff, those are yuck when you're using only the counters, and utterly terrible if you use even one actual mini.
I'm hoping they are stand-ups of one kind or another. Heavy gauge cardboard with a base is good, but probably prohibitively expensive, so I'm hoping it's heavy cardstock similar to the existing Pathfinder Paper Miniatures, but without all the cutting.
We will not be answering any further questions about the product at this time. Other than the info in the product description and this blog post, we are going to play it close to the vest until the banquet at Paizocon!
(I don't know why, but I always picture Ms. Frasier being about 5' nothing and 98 lbs soaking wet. Never been able to make it out to Seattle to say hi)
In truth, she is 6'5" and build like a weightlifter. I've seen her fold pennies with her fingers. Better watch what you say about her...
Can you say if the Hero's Handbook and Game Master's Guide are actually bound books or just stapled?
Bound books could still be useful to me, just to have an extra set of rules floating around the table. But a 64 page book that is just stapled together? Probably wouldn't last long enough to be worthwhile.
I can't talk about the Beginner Box specifically, but I *can* tell you that generally, the limit for saddlestitched (that is, stapled) books is 32 pages; after that, you pretty much have to go perfect bound (that is, bound with a spine).
Gorbacz
Nightfall
baron arem heshvaun
Crystal Frasier
Digital Products Assistant
Dragnmoon
Snorter
AlanM
Scribbling Rambler
