While many legendary heroes of Golarion fit easily into the core classes of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game—the sword-swinging fighters, fireball-flinging wizards, backstabbing rogues, and others—there are some who specialize in unique styles and techniques, perfectly customizing themselves for their roles. For these characters, there are prestige classes. From the undead-hunting Knights of Ozem to the revolutionary Gray Gardeners of Galt, this book collects 30 of the most prominent faiths and factions from around the Inner Sea and transforms them into prestige classes designed to help you take advantage of the tricks and tactics of some of Golarion’s most famous (and infamous) groups, all while rooting your character firmly in the lore and societies of the Pathfinder campaign setting.
Within this 64-page book, you’ll find new prestige class options for every character class in the Pathfinder RPG, including:
The Aldori swordlord, world-renowned dueling master of the turbulent north.
The Hellknight signifer, an armored spellcaster who uses magic to pursue the perfect, iron-fisted law of Hell.
The gun-toting shieldmarshal, whose bright badge brings order to the chaos of the Mana Wastes.
The mammoth rider, savage megafauna cavalry expert.
The Sleepless detective, uniquely suited to solving mysteries both magical and mundane in haunted Ustalav.
The winter witch, whose ice magic keeps a whole nation in thrall.
...and 24 more!
Paths of Prestige is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting, but can easily be used in any fantasy game setting.
By Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Matt Goodall, and Jason Nelson
September 13, 2012 The Winter Witch prestige class has been updated and is available for download. (1.2MB zip/PDF)
ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-451-1
DriveThruRPG: This product is available as print-on-demand from DriveThruRPG:
Final Score & Thoughts: Crunch: 4/5 Stars
Flavor: 5/5 Stars
Texture: 4/5 Stars
Final Score: 13/15 Stars, or 4/5 Stars
Paths of Prestige is an awesome Paizo Product; it’s one of the very best by a long shot. That said, it isn’t without it’s flaws. Paizo hadn’t perfected the spellcaster prestige class by this point and honestly, maybe they never will; almost all spellcasting classes are dreadfully ill-designed for multiclassing because of the lack of a character-wide statistic like base attack bonus. Prestige Class flavor is awesome in this book, but don’t expect to be learning anything new about the organizations that they represent. That’s one of the curious things about these classes, as a matter of fact. The prestige classes that tend to be the most mechanically powerful are the ones that have campaign-neutral themes that are attached to specific organizations: for example, Bellflower Tiller is essentially “Harriet Tubman the Prestige Class,” Knight of Ozen is essentially “Undead-Slaying Knight,” and “Mammoth Rider” is less of an organization and more of a hobby-turned prestige class. This is coming from someone who is obviously biased on the topic, but I think Paths of Prestige proves that while prestige classes might be conceptually easier to design if they’re assigned to an organization, mechanically they’re more interesting and viable options if their themes are extend beyond that specific organization.
Pathfinder is better known for it’s complete and ‘go for 20 level’ base classes than it’s Prestige Classes. After all, the Archetypes make many PrC’s obsolete.
But here we have another thirty prestige classes for your use and reading pleasure. One I thought was great but might be a better base class is Noble Scion, which is Aristocrat done at a playable (but not power gamed) level.
Fun classes include the Mammoth Rider!
I have two quibbles- at least three of the PrC’s depend upon non-Core material, such as a feat found only in a sourcebook. The writers should have repeated the feat here. True, Core rulebook stuff doesn’t need to be, but this does. A more minor quibble is that some of these classes here are very region dependant.
A extra bonus is the table of where to find another three dozen Prestige classes, including some very basic info on each. Nice!
This slim 64 page addition for the Pathfinder Campaign Setting adds 30 new prestige classes to your favorite Fantasy role-playing game.
Section One, "Arcana", has 8 new mage prestige classes, including the Arclord of Nex, the Blackfire Adept, the Magaambyan Arcanist, the Razmiran Priest, the Riftwarden, the Tattooed Mystic, the Veiled Illusionist, and the Winter Witch.
Section Two, "Brawn", has 9 new fighter prestige classes, including the Aldori Swordlord, the Brother of the Seal, the Golden Legionnaire, the Knight of Ozem, the Lantern Bearer, the Mammoth Rider, the Pit Fighter, the Shieldmarshal, and the Skyseeker.
Section Three, "Guile", has 6 new rogue prestige classes, including the Aspis Agent, the Bellflower Tiller, the Daggermark Poisoner, the Gray Gardener, the Noble Scion, and the Sleepless Detective.
Section Four, "Piety", has 7 new clerical prestige classes, including the Champion of Irori, the Dawnflower Dissident, the Green Faith Acolyte, the Hellknight Signifier, the Prophet of Kalistrade, the Storm Kindler, and the Umbral Court Agent.
There's also a chart showing where to find 36 other prestige classes. The classes in the book are presented in alphabetical order. A canny GM would look to see if any of these classes would be more appropriate for NPC's. There are two pages for each class, and the necessary chart, as well as a sample picture of what a generic member of that class would look like. All new prestige classes in this volume, and references to the prestige classes in other Pathfinder products, make this just about a must-have for GM's. Highly recommended.
If this book had come out during the time of 3.5, I probably would have groaned and ignored it. Over the years, I have had very few players ever take a prestige class (I’m pretty sure I could count the total number on one hand), and so this just would have been more bloat that would probably never get used. However, with recent emphasis being away from prestige classes, my reaction to this was one of interest. The scattered prestige classes that have appeared in other Golarion sources have all been very flavourful, so there was every reason to believe Paizo could keep it up with a book full of them. To be honest, most of the classes in this book will still likely never see use in any of my games; however, I would consider it very likely that some will get used, if only for NPCs. With only a couple of exceptions (that seem strangely generic), all the classes are extremely flavourful and help to add more options and life to the world of Golarion.
Picking this up on Saturday at GenCon! What I am curious..are any of the PrCs like a Shadowknight or Deathknight? Trying to find the perfect anti-pally/death spells caster for our new Dragonlance Pathfinder campaign.
Also, is there any way at all for the Champion to advance his Lay on Hands? He can trigger it with two ki, but I don't see anything about it getting better if he has Paladin 2. 2 ki for 1d6 isn't impressive.
You may, but still will not get access to it until the 23rd, unles they do something a little different. Doubtful, as it was mentioned above that the PDF was intentionally delayed to match up with the new shipping date for the physical book.
I know how you feel nighttree. I have players looking forward to this release. So was I for the rare game I play in instead.
Its the way it works sometimes. On the plus side it will give me a chance to order from the game store and allow my players to look at a physical copy instead of a pdf.
It occured to me that it's a rather pathetic comment on my life when a Pathfinder release is the "highlight" of my week.....Ah well....set counter back to "ten days to go"....
It depends, I think, on how they do it. I really am not that interested in the seedy underbelly of mundaine corruption (outside of antagonists), but would love it is it was handled the same way as Skull and Shackles, that is to say something along the lines of, "you can, but probably don't want to play a Rogue, Summoner, or Druid. Paladins, holy Clerics, and noble Fighters and Cavaliers will make an excellent option however. . ."
I'd really like a Setting/Player's Companion/Gazeteer for the area, though, especially if they handled the Ward stones as a sort of Divine version of the various ruin sites like Riddleport.
Where can we read more about the GEN CON Paizo announcements?
Various Podcasts (3.5 Private Sanctuary, and Pathfinder Chronicles are two good ones for this). A lot ot the time under the Paizo or Store Blogs (up top), or under the newly revealed (and usually mocked up art) of the material once it's been officially anounced in the Paizo products.
I believe, for the Magus at least, above was mentioned that it was kept that way to keep them out, as they are already a decent magic-warrior type themselves, and could have the title/flavor without needing the class. Summoner, I don't know? Not really sure that the Summoner fits either, personally.
I believe, for the Magus at least, above was mentioned that it was kept that way to keep them out, as they are already a decent magic-warrior type themselves, and could have the title/flavor without needing the class. Summoner, I don't know? Not really sure that the Summoner fits either, personally.
That makes no sense....
It's already been stated that the majority of Signifers are magus (looking for exact reference).
As to Summoners, someone capable of summoning Devils seems to fit perfectly IMO.
I believe, for the Magus at least, above was mentioned that it was kept that way to keep them out, as they are already a decent magic-warrior type themselves, and could have the title/flavor without needing the class. Summoner, I don't know? Not really sure that the Summoner fits either, personally.
That makes no sense....
It's already been stated that the majority of Signifers are magus (looking for exact reference).
As to Summoners, someone capable of summoning Devils seems to fit perfectly IMO.
Highly doubtfull that the majority of them are Magus's as this order predates the Magus by a full edition plus, and is I would say even more a Cleric than a Wizard PC flavor.
But, that is what I think I recall being said, and I could easily be confussing this with some other thread. Honestly though Prereqs aside, I would be surprized if 15% of the Signifiers are Magus, though, but don't have the book, so this could be a very different focus than the organzation. Are you confussing Magus with Eld Knight, maybe?
I believe, for the Magus at least, above was mentioned that it was kept that way to keep them out, as they are already a decent magic-warrior type themselves, and could have the title/flavor without needing the class. Summoner, I don't know? Not really sure that the Summoner fits either, personally.
That makes no sense....
It's already been stated that the majority of Signifers are magus (looking for exact reference).
As to Summoners, someone capable of summoning Devils seems to fit perfectly IMO.
Inner Sea World Guide, page 275, under the magus in "Adventurers in the World".
"...Many Hellknight signifers are magi, as are many of the technology-embracing members of Numeria’s Technic League."
Inner Sea World Guide, page 275, under the magus in "Adventurers in the World".
"...Many Hellknight signifers are magi, as are many of the technology-embracing members of Numeria’s Technic League."
Could be an oversight, before the creation of the Magus class, "Magi" referred to arcane spellcasters, more specifically wizards and sorcerers. Things like the ‘Staff of the Magi’ are obviously not a reference to the Magus class and the original wording of the Signifer may have been written the same.
The Magus and the Signifer
The magus gets Heavy Armor Proficiency and the ability to cast magus spells in heavy armor at 13th level, which is pretty late in a character's career so she couldn't get all 10 levels of the prestige class.
Arcane Armor Training is a dead feat for magi at 7th level when they qualify for Hellknight signifer, but for a magus this is the only real cost to enter the prestige class. A 1st level signifer magus gets Heavy Armor Proficiency pretty much for free, and at 2nd level signifer gets Arcane Armor Mastery and can use an immediate action to trigger this ability, for those magus signifers who want to wear non-mithril heavy armor.
It's not a perfect fit as a prestige class for magi but it certainly isn't terrible either.
Also, on Golarion not every character who joins a Hellknight order and becomes a signifer takes levels in this prestige class. A bit like this.
Where can we read more about the GEN CON Paizo announcements?
Various Podcasts (3.5 Private Sanctuary, and Pathfinder Chronicles are two good ones for this). A lot ot the time under the Paizo or Store Blogs (up top), or under the newly revealed (and usually mocked up art) of the material once it's been officially anounced in the Paizo products.
Inner Sea World Guide, page 275, under the magus in "Adventurers in the World".
"...Many Hellknight signifers are magi, as are many of the technology-embracing members of Numeria’s Technic League."
Could be an oversight, before the creation of the Magus class, "Magi" referred to arcane spellcasters, more specifically wizards and sorcerers. Things like the ‘Staff of the Magi’ are obviously not a reference to the Magus class and the original wording of the Signifer may have been written the same.
But of course I could be wrong. ^-^
Nah. It's literally under the "magus" so I'm guessing it means magus. :)
Inner Sea World Guide, page 275, under the magus in "Adventurers in the World".
"...Many Hellknight signifers are magi, as are many of the technology-embracing members of Numeria’s Technic League."
Nah. It's literally under the "magus" so I'm guessing it means magus. :)
Thanks Evil....I KNEW I had seen that somewhere....you saved me the digging time ;)
Question: Based on earliest possible entry of the PrC by a Magus.
Do the reductions in ASF (from the PrC) fall at a faster rate than the Magus would gain medium and heavy armor prof ?
Can someone tell me the prerequisites for Dawnflower Dissident? I'm still waiting for my book to be shipped so I don't have the pdf yet and I want to make sure that I can get a character to meet the requirements while I can still rebuild them for society play.
Can someone tell me the prerequisites for Dawnflower Dissident? I'm still waiting for my book to be shipped so I don't have the pdf yet and I want to make sure that I can get a character to meet the requirements while I can still rebuild them for society play.
Deity: Must worship Sarenrae.
Feats: Dervish Dance, Weapon Finesse.
Skills: Bluff 5 ranks, Disguise 5 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 5 ranks, Sleight of Hand 5 ranks.
Spells: Able to cast daylight as a divine spell.
Well, the skill requirements are a bit... unusual. I mean, they make sense in context of the class abilities, but consider this: one of Sarenrae's portfolio elements is Honesty. You're required to take Bluff, Disguise, and Slight of Hand.
Yes, I realize you can be honest and have those skills. It just seems a tiny bit out of place.
Well, because I was really looking forward to this class for (finally) straight Cleric. Looks like min Cleric 5/Rogue 5, or maybe Inquisitor. More astonished disappointment at what I had thought, than the class itself, and not having the book it does seem extremely odd, even for what I'm guessing is sort of an anti-Taldor purge sort of thing.
You can get in with straight cleric pretty easily. Human with 10 int and favored class goes into skill, or 12 int and FC bonus goes into skill point as well.
Honestly didn't really look that close to at them. I just copied and pasted them right out of the PDF. So no not kidding, baring errata that is the requirements.
Question: Based on earliest possible entry of the PrC by a Magus.
Do the reductions in ASF (from the PrC) fall at a faster rate than the Magus would gain medium and heavy armor prof ?
The earliest would be 8th level (7th level magus/1st level signifer), so as soon as you get to this level you can cast in mithril heavy armor. Heavy Armor Proficiency (which you get at your first signifer level) means you can wear heavy armor and not take attack roll penalties. Mithril fullplate counts at medium for almost all purposes, and a normal magus* can already cast in medium armor, so you are good to go.
You get full spellcasting and your BAB is medium, so it really comes down to magus abilities vs. magus abilities.
* A kensai magus or a wizard/sorcerer needs to get to 3rd level signifer to cast with 0% spell failure in mithril fullplate using Arcane Armor Mastery (another bonus feat for the signifer).