Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige

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Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige
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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

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Everyman Product Reviews: Paths of Prestige

4/5

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.

Read the full review at the Everyman Gaming blog.


5/5

I've reviewed this book over on RPGGeek.com.


Solid guidebook

4/5

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!


Many paths to choose from...

5/5

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.


Good and useful book

4/5

Read my full review on my blog.

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.


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Scarab Sages RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16

Generic Villain wrote:
Rusty Ironpants wrote:


Is the Risen Guard actually printed as a prestige class somewhere? All I am aware of is the prestige award in Pathfinder Society Field Guide.
There's a 4th-level example of a Risen Guardsmen in the NPC Guide. He's a ranger 2/fighter 2 I believe. No prestige class though.

Thanks, I didn't recall that. I will have to check it out.


So personally I'm kind of surprised there are paladins of Irori, given the lack of codes in the Faiths of... series. I took that to mean that only those six (Abadar, Erastil, Iomedae, Sarenrae, Shelyn, and Torag) had paladins.


Any deities within one step of LG can have paladins. Beyond that, you're either bad at being a paladin or bad at representing your deity. (To paraphrase something that I think JJ said.)


Fredrik wrote:
Any deities within one step of LG can have paladins. Beyond that, you're either bad at being a paladin or bad at representing your deity. (To paraphrase something that I think JJ said.)

Well that's what i thought, but then Faiths of Balance explicitly has a paladin code for Abadar but didn't for Irori.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I googled and found this illuminating thread. I think you'll like it. :)


ThatEvilGuy wrote:
Sleepless Detective - WUT R U?

Frederick Abberline (played by Johnny Depp in "From Hell")? ^^

Liberty's Edge

How is it there are already half a dozen threads about Ultimate Equipment and no one is talking about this book yet?!

Silver Crusade

Specifically the Paladin of Irori? HINT HINT

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Shisumo wrote:
How is it there are already half a dozen threads about Ultimate Equipment and no one is talking about this book yet?!

I have no idea if anyone had the same thing happen, but I only had Ultimate Equipment and one other book ship today. The bulk of my order is still waiting to be sent, and that included Paths of Prestige.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Mikaze wrote:
Specifically the Paladin of Irori? HINT HINT

Ah... And here I thought of you (Mikaze specifically) when I read the Magaambyan Arcanist.

1) Requirements: Any good

Paths of Prestige wrote:
Magaambyan Arcanist are students at one of the oldest academis of learning on Golarion, located in the heart of the Mwangi Jungle. The legendary Old-Mage Jatembe and his Ten Magic Warriors founded the school...

It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.

As for the Champion of Irori it requires the smite evil and still mind class features... and it has a Whirlwind Smite as one of the class abilities. :)

How is that for a tease?


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
IconoclasticScream wrote:
Shisumo wrote:
How is it there are already half a dozen threads about Ultimate Equipment and no one is talking about this book yet?!
I have no idea if anyone had the same thing happen, but I only had Ultimate Equipment and one other book ship today. The bulk of my order is still waiting to be sent, and that included Paths of Prestige.

I got everything except my Bestiary Box shipped.

Silver Crusade

chavamana wrote:
Mikaze wrote:
Specifically the Paladin of Irori? HINT HINT

Ah... And here I thought of you (Mikaze specifically) when I read the Magaambyan Arcanist.

1) Requirements: Any good

Paths of Prestige wrote:
Magaambyan Arcanist are students at one of the oldest academis of learning on Golarion, located in the heart of the Mwangi Jungle. The legendary Old-Mage Jatembe and his Ten Magic Warriors founded the school...

It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.

As for the Champion of Irori it requires the smite evil and still mind class features... and it has a Whirlwind Smite as one of the class abilities. :)

How is that for a tease?

NIEC!

The images that pop in my head with Whirlwind Smite combined with an unarmed warrior are...oh man...

Regarding Magaambyan Arcanist and Any Good: Good ol' Jatembe and Nantambu came through again. :) Really happy to see that town get some more love.

Thanks!


Mikaze wrote:
NIEC!

The Knights Who Say NIec!


Mikaze wrote:


It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.

Odd, considering that Jatembe himself was neutral. Magaambya is certainly a good-aligned city though.

Silver Crusade

Generic Villain wrote:
Mikaze wrote:


It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.
Odd, considering that Jatembe himself was neutral. Magaambya is certainly a good-aligned city though.

The N listing in the first printing of Inner Sea Magic was actually a typo(I'm not certain but there may have been a couple of other alignments that were off a bit, maybe a Runelord? Can't recall). His actual alignment crossed over to the city he founded, though what each of his Ten Magic Warriors were, be it alignment or anything else, is still unknown!

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Well, I hope you like the Magaambyan Arcanist, that was one of mine. I think it's a good prestige class (and good-aligned).


1 person marked this as a favorite.
chavamana wrote:
IconoclasticScream wrote:
Shisumo wrote:
How is it there are already half a dozen threads about Ultimate Equipment and no one is talking about this book yet?!
I have no idea if anyone had the same thing happen, but I only had Ultimate Equipment and one other book ship today. The bulk of my order is still waiting to be sent, and that included Paths of Prestige.
I got everything except my Bestiary Box shipped.

Great,

Now that I know they are shipping,
I'll be check my e-mail box every hour.

Edit: scratch that, every 10 minutes


Mikaze wrote:
Generic Villain wrote:
Mikaze wrote:


It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.
Odd, considering that Jatembe himself was neutral. Magaambya is certainly a good-aligned city though.
The N listing in the first printing of Inner Sea Magic was actually a typo

But don't you want to keep the original author's original intent for it to be N? (kidding!)

The teaser she gave you sounds pretty cool!


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Can we get a list of all the prestige classes?


Robert Jordan wrote:
Can we get a list of all the prestige classes?

+1

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Mikaze wrote:
Generic Villain wrote:
Mikaze wrote:


It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.
Odd, considering that Jatembe himself was neutral. Magaambya is certainly a good-aligned city though.
The N listing in the first printing of Inner Sea Magic was actually a typo(I'm not certain but there may have been a couple of other alignments that were off a bit, maybe a Runelord? Can't recall). His actual alignment crossed over to the city he founded, though what each of his Ten Magic Warriors were, be it alignment or anything else, is still unknown!

The two typos in that section were Jatembe (who should be neutral good) and Iomedae (who should be lawful good).


chavamana wrote:


Ah... And here I thought of you (Mikaze specifically) when I read the Magaambyan Arcanist.

1) Requirements: Any good

Paths of Prestige wrote:
Magaambyan Arcanist are students at one of the oldest academis of learning on Golarion, located in the heart of the Mwangi Jungle. The legendary Old-Mage Jatembe and his Ten Magic Warriors founded the school...

It gives us arcane magic users with good auras and the 10th level ability is Altruistic Guardian. I like it a great deal.

As for the Champion of Irori it requires the smite evil and still mind class features... and it has a Whirlwind Smite as one of the class abilities. :)

How is that for a tease?

I was actually sort of lukewarm* about the Magaambya and Old Mage Jatembe before this, but having heard this much I am now SO eager to see more! Gotta get this book!

* -- 'Lukewarm' by Paizo/Golarion standards, that is, meaning that I've been hoping for more but only after they covered places like Numeria and the Mana Waste.

Scarab Sages Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games

3 people marked this as a favorite.

This product really should knock your socks off. The PrC's in here have interesting foci and suites of abilities that aren't necessarily BETTER than things a base class character could do, but they are DIFFERENT and offer up some very interesting thematic opportunities for being out of the ordinary. The themes are tight and well-integrated with Golarion lore. In all, it really came out very well.

If you must have spoilage, check out the Riftwarden's capstone ability, Greater Counterport, which allows it to negate a teleportation effect as it happens, redirect its arrival point, or even forcibly recall a creature that has teleported away. Sure, they get a save, but still it's a fun way to say NO ESCAPE FOR YOU!


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Only real spoilage I desire is a list of the Prestige Classes in the book so I can see if there's anything other than the Swordlord and Shieldmarshal for me to be salivating over.


I know JJ mentioned a winter witch PrC.


5 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

... But there are so many...

Please delete if this is not an ok spoiler

PrC:
Arcane
Arclord of Nex
Blackfire Adept
Magaambyan Arcanist
Razmiran Priest
Riftwarden
Tattooed Mystic
Veiled Illusionist
Winter Witch

Divine
Champion of Irori
Dawnflower Dissident
Green Faith Acolyte
Hellknight Signifer
Prophet of Kalistrade
Storm Kindler
Umbral Court Agent

Brawn
Aldori Swordlord
Brother of the Seal
Golden Legionnaire
Knight of Ozem
Lantern Bearer
Mammoth Rider
Pit Fighter
Shieldmarshal
Skyseeker

Guile
Aspis Agent
Bellflower Tiller
Daggermark Poisoner
Gray Gardener
Noble Scion
Sleepless Detective


^WOW


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

to chavamana -- Thank you very much for the list!

Here is a question whose answer will point me to various things that I have been wondering about:

Do any of the prestige classes listed under "arcane" or "divine" advance any prior class features other than spellcasting?


The only problem with this book is that even only with the names of the prestige classes, I'd love to play all of them, all at once.


So.....the Signifier is for divine casters ???

I'm so confused :(


David knott 242 wrote:

to chavamana -- Thank you very much for the list!

Here is a question whose answer will point me to various things that I have been wondering about:

Do any of the prestige classes listed under "arcane" or "divine" advance any prior class features other than spellcasting?

I don't have the book yet, but due to the philosophy that you need to give up something for PrCs, I doubt so.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

The signifier is an unusual case in that it works for ANY spellcaster—its prerequisites for spellcasting are "Able to cast 3rd level spells." So you can be divine or arcane.

"Piety" in this case is not a rules term, but a general organization term that we use to lump together prestige classes that have elements of faith and worship in their flavor OR in their rules. In the case of the Hellknight signifier, there's an element of faith in the order and perhaps in matters diabolical.


James Jacobs wrote:

The signifier is an unusual case in that it works for ANY spellcaster—its prerequisites for spellcasting are "Able to cast 3rd level spells." So you can be divine or arcane.

"Piety" in this case is not a rules term, but a general organization term that we use to lump together prestige classes that have elements of faith and worship in their flavor OR in their rules. In the case of the Hellknight signifier, there's an element of faith in the order and perhaps in matters diabolical.

Thank the god's.....and thank you James ;)

Shadow Lodge

Yes, it would have been extremely obnoxious if it where an Arcane caster only. I just honestly do not see much in the way of Arcane Hell Knights in my mind. Not with the Magus and the Eldritch Knight already that would work just fine.


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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Only thing that's made me sad, I really wanted the Shieldmarshal to be in a browncoat.

Dark Archive

I might be a little confused for the winter witch prc,

Spoiler:
do they get everything a witch does normally on top of the prc abilities?


James Jacobs wrote:

The signifier is an unusual case in that it works for ANY spellcaster—its prerequisites for spellcasting are "Able to cast 3rd level spells." So you can be divine or arcane.

"Piety" in this case is not a rules term, but a general organization term that we use to lump together prestige classes that have elements of faith and worship in their flavor OR in their rules. In the case of the Hellknight signifier, there's an element of faith in the order and perhaps in matters diabolical.

This does clarify things. I seem to recall it being mentioned as a PrC that would work very well with the Magus class.

Shadow Lodge

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I wonder if the Aspis Agent will be legal for PFS... ;D


1 person marked this as a favorite.
brad2411 wrote:

I might be a little confused for the winter witch prc,

** spoiler omitted **

Short answer: almost. The exception is that your first level in the winter witch PrC doesn't count toward your spells per day in the witch class, as noted on the Winter Witch table on page 63 of Paths of Prestige.

Dark Archive

Thanks Patrick


Eric Clingenpeel wrote:
I wonder if the Aspis Agent will be legal for PFS... ;D

Now there's an idea :P


Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Cheapy wrote:
David knott 242 wrote:

to chavamana -- Thank you very much for the list!

Here is a question whose answer will point me to various things that I have been wondering about:

Do any of the prestige classes listed under "arcane" or "divine" advance any prior class features other than spellcasting?

I don't have the book yet, but due to the philosophy that you need to give up something for PrCs, I doubt so.

Not so fast -- I was not assuming that any prestige class would get full spell casting as well as full progression in something else. I just figured that since many prestige classes advance spell casting ability in full or in part, I would try to shift the focus to those classes that advance something else.

So would the Winter Witch be an example of what I was looking for?

Dark Archive

It looks like Winter witch is what you are looking for David, at least from how I understand it and Patrick's answer to my question.


So many different PrC's to look at and try. Will this book be uploaded to the PFSRD in a couple of weeks?

Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber

Campaign Setting books are not part of the PFSRD, so I wouldn't expect to see it there.


James Jacobs wrote:

signifier

Hellknight signifier

NOT YOU TOO, JAMES!

Poor Signifer, always getting misspelled...


What is the schtick of the pit fighter in general?


Glutton wrote:
What is the schtick of the pit fighter in general?

To fight in a pit.... I think, I could be wrong.

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Glutton wrote:
What is the schtick of the pit fighter in general?

In brief terms, you can imagine them as the barbarian version of the gladiator fighter archetype. Performance combat meets rage, including a neat ability to rage without spending rounds of rage as long as the crowd is on your side.

Also, I WANT TO PLAY A CHAMPION OF IRORI SO BADLY. Mikaze, you are going to be very happy.


Shisumo wrote:
Glutton wrote:
What is the schtick of the pit fighter in general?

In brief terms, you can imagine them as the barbarian version of the gladiator fighter archetype. Performance combat meets rage, including a neat ability to rage without spending rounds of rage as long as the crowd is on your side.

Also, I WANT TO PLAY A CHAMPION OF IRORI SO BADLY. Mikaze, you are going to be very happy.

That actually sounds pretty awesome, as for the Champ of Irori, It sounds quite awesome.

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