What in the nine hells is that creature on the cover? An ogre? A troll? It looks like one of the "evolved" vampires from Blade 2...

Looks like one of Nick's inbred Ogre's getting heavied buy some of Jame's psychotic Goblins (or maybe a barbarian with alergies)

Looks like an ogre being attkacked by goblins IMO.

So, since I don't want to buy sight unseen and unreviewed, does anyone know which monsters are being done in addition to: orcs, ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, trolls, and bugbears? Also, can anyone comment on the quality?

Bugbears, Gnolls, Goblins, Hobgoblins, Kobolds, Lizardfolk, Minotaurs, Ogres, Orcs and Trolls.

I haven't read through it completely yet, but at a glance, looks like it will be quite useful.

Artwork is top notch, especially the Ben Wooten peices.

Atrocious wrote:

What in the nine hells is that creature on the cover? An ogre? A troll? It looks like one of the "evolved" vampires from Blade 2...

looks to me to be a ghoul or something (what are those undead pulling the guy out of the well in pathfinder#2?) thats my guess

Edit: but they said no undead... so I'm guessing this is one of those "this is not the real artwork for the cover since this monster is not in the book"?

Looks like an ogre or hill giant to me.

Looks like an Ogre being harassed by Goblins to me.

I say that it look like an ogre, or mabe an ogrekin from Pathfinder#3

It's an ogre being attacked by goblins.
Let me just put the link up again for the full picture by Andrew Hou.
Clicky clicky
Remember to click the picture on the page to get the full sized version

I'll bet ten bucks that's an Ogre, being beaten by Goblins.

I've never been fond of the original Ogre style from 3.5 MM. That looks like an Ogre to me.

Dude! Those goblins are VICIOUS!!!

I have to admit, this product didn't interest me much at all. I don't play 3x; I convert everything to another system, and this didn't sound at all useful. I almost cancelled my Chronicles subscription for the month, and then added it back again - but instead I decided to let it ship.

Holy smokes am I glad I did that. Color me mightily impressed (again). This book is simply, pure AWESOME, and terribly, terribly useful. Great takes on the monsters, lots of original flavor but with enough familiarity that they don't seem contrived or purposefully "different to be different". The writing is (as usual) excellent, the art is great, and like I mentioned before, the usefulness factor is off the chart. Heck, I plan on cutting and pasting some of this stuff verbatim for player knowledge. To me, the ability to do that is one of the marks of well-written fluff.

I hope the rest of the Pathfinder Chronicles books, especially the Gazetteer and Gods and Magic, are this good. And I hope there are more in this line. I'd love to see this kind of guide on another crop of classic monsters (dragons?) as well.

I'm gnashing my teeth in anticipation for my copy of this book. Of course, seeing as I decided to save on shipping by bundling it with the Gazetteer and the fact I live in Australia, I might be waiting a little while. But HEY! Good things are worth waiting for.

I'm particularly anxious to see the Pathfinder take on the Lizardfolk. They've always been a favorite.

It's on it's way! It's on it's way! It on it's way! Hooray Hooray!

...yeah, I'm a little excited.

I've read my copy cover-cover (though not in that order; I skipped around a bit) and I have to say, I love it. The material is presented in such a way where you can see exactly how to use the various creatures in your games, and gives an interesting continuum of evilness. For instance, Ogres are truly, utterly vile. They're sadistic, immature, and licentious, whereas trolls are more like a bipedal shark. Ogres know what they're doing is wrong, and think it's hilarious. Trolls are just perpetually half-crazed with hunger. That makes a real difference. That makes a huge difference if you're playing a paladin, for instance. The paladin will see the troll about the same way he sees an owlbear or mountain lion, but a camp of ogres he'll be highly motivated to exterminate.

Question, thinking of buying it but are races set up for being playable? ECL levels and such? I've always allowed Lizardfolk in my game, and have given them a culture like the West of Eden series but instead of biological sicence, Durid spells that do the same for bio-tech. Anyways just curious.

I had a couple of minor complaints in an otherwise excellent book:

1. A very strong focus on low level creatures. Yes, it makes the first creatures that players are likely to go up against more memorable than the stereotypical goblins, orcs, kobolds, lizardfolk, etc, but that's four 'monsters' that the players will outgrow very quickly. One other, the Minotaur, seems almost too specific. Perhaps a giant race would have been a useful replacement?

2. A slightly missed opportunity to make a truly special book. One thing I was thinking was that the book was too short. I really didn't want more information about each race, as what was there was quite good and sufficient. I really didn't want a huge number more races in the book itself (though I might have quibbled a bit with the actual makeup of the races). Instead, it may have been fun to have an 'encounter site' with a key for each included monster, some hooks for adventurers, etc. In other words, not a full fledged adventure, but something a DM could use more or less intact in an adventure.

Nevertheless, I found this to be an excellent little book and a great read.

I will add one quibble. While the work is good, there are far more typos in this book than in any others I have read that Paizo has produced. Most of the errors seem to be the result of editing the sentence from one structure to another and leaving in an inappropriate word.

For example, Page 25 (Hobgoblins), 2nd column, first paragraph (under the sidebar). "Hobgoblins they are utterly ruthless in the face of weakness."

I don't want to re-read the book cover to cover again, but I'm fairly certain that all but one of the monsters had such a type, and I believe at least one had two. Since Paizo is usually so close to flawless, I admit to being surprised and a bit disappointed. However they crept in, I hope you will take pains to improve the process so that doesn't happen again...

PS - I think I will go back and find all of them just to make sure you are aware of the total number. I should be done before tomorrow morning.

Is there any approximation when the backorders will be available to purchase?

Is there any approximation when the backorders will be available to purchase?

We have a few copies coming back from GenCon in a few weeks. After that it will be a few months.

Lisa

We have a few copies coming back from GenCon in a few weeks. After that it will be a few months.
Lisa

Thank you. I won't bother gambling on successfully getting one at this time :)