Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Artifacts & Legends (PFRPG)

Announced! Cover image is a mock-up and will change.

Are we finally going to get that direct deposit feature so I can just have my paycheck sent DIRECTLY to you guys and eliminate the middleman? :) Really excited about this one, and I'm sure it'll be filled with crunchy goodness!

Great companion to Ultimate Equipment ;)

Sweet a book for artifacts.

Drool...

Will these ever be the goal of an AP?

Legacy Weapons that don't suck? Didn't think so.

Will these ever be the goal of an AP?

Well,

So I'd say there's a chance of at least one appearing!

How many artifacts will there be in this book?

Can you possibly outdo Roger E. Moore's Dancing Hut?

Will these ever be the goal of an AP?

These specific ones? Perhaps.

In the meantime, Shattered Star's all about recovering artifacts. And as such, it's no real coincidence that we're putting out a book about artifacts while we're publishing the AP where you're hunting down artifacts.

Can you possibly outdo Roger E. Moore's Dancing Hut?

I think we can. It won't be easy though.

-Nostalgic sigh- This reminds me of the old 1e DMG and the Book of Artifacts from 2e. Particularly the charts. -goes to hunt through boxes for old books-

SEXY.

So sexy!

Can you possibly outdo Roger E. Moore's Dancing Hut?

God Bless Roger E. Moore!

I'm especially interested in the notes on the construction of the hut. What? A chicken-legged hut is so much nicer than a magnificent mansioln.

Will this focus on just 10-12 artifacts or will we get something close to 20 or more?

Will this focus on just 10-12 artifacts or will we get something close to 20 or more?

It is a Campaign Setting book, so it will be 64 pages. Also, quoted from the text above "in this collection of dozens", I would say closer to 30 would be accurate, with probably 2 pages per item, a couple of introductory pages and a couple of pages of charts. And it may be well over 30, as I am sure they are counting the Seven Swords and the Orbs of Dragonkind as individual items and not a collection of each as one item.

So this is kinda like Classic Treasures Revisited but with new things thrown into the pot too? Much more epic-y and powerful!

So this is kinda like Classic Treasures Revisited but with new things thrown into the pot too? Much more epic-y and powerful!

no...

Classic Treasures focused on only 10 different items.

There's a lot more than 10 items in this book.

I will definitely not cancel my subscription over this one.

It's Pathfinder's Wondrous Relics (Judges Guild). Yay!!!!

I'm somewhat nervous about this book.

Simply put, I'm not at all sure what it will deliver, because the perception of (major) artifacts has been vastly skewed across the various editions of D&D. There doesn't seem (to me) to be any sort of consensus regarding how powerful artifacts should be, how many powers they have and how to determine them, etc.

Does anyone remember how, in older editions, you rolled randomly for an artifacts lesser powers (most of which were spell effects)? That wouldn't fly with most Pathfinder gamers, I suspect; and yet I'm sure there are plenty of players of older editions who'll be disappointed if that's not there.

Similarly, some people probably think that all artifacts should be similar to how they were in 3.X, where they were all basically epic-level magic items, but harder to break. Sure the Axe of Dwarvish Lords does some other stuff, but it's big thing is just how many magic weapon qualities go along with it's high enhancement bonus. Give those players an artifact like the Coin of Jisan the Bountiful, and it'll almost instantly be forgotten.

Honestly, no one is really to blame for any of this - these changes are all a direct result of the changes that each edition made. Back when magic items were exceptionally difficult to craft, and the rules about how to do so were murky and complicated, something that could whip out five or six different spell effects was a big freakin' deal, no matter what they were - now take into account a much looser skill system, and suddenly things like granting the power to be a perfect craftsman was something to get excited over.

Artifacts for Pathfinder will, if they want to recapture the feeling of being more than just magic items with the dial turned up to 11, need to work harder. They'll need to go beyond what the game rules allow, rather than just extending them; and they'll need to do it without breaking the game in the process.

That's a tall order, one that I hope the Paizo people are up to.

James, will there be more detail on the Relics of Kazavon than previously found in other materials (that I'll refrain from naming to protect the innocent)?

Alzrius,

You do know there are already artifacts in the Core Book, including the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords. So you can look there and see how they are designed. This book will be taking the artifacts and giving them fluff for Golarion and maybe expanding on their powers.

James, will there be more detail on the Relics of Kazavon than previously found in other materials (that I'll refrain from naming to protect the innocent)?

Probably not MORE detail. We'll see.

Alzrius,

You do know there are already artifacts in the Core Book, including the Axe of the Dwarvish Lords. So you can look there and see how they are designed. This book will be taking the artifacts and giving them fluff for Golarion and maybe expanding on their powers.

Yes, but those are almost word-for-word what was in the 3.5 books. I'm hoping that now that Paizo is taking a more active stance on artifact design, they won't go with - what I found to be - the very prosaic write-ups that were used in the Core Rulebook.

Artifacts, more than any other magic item, benefit from having a world to draw lore from. Which is why you're seeing this book appear in the Campaign Setting line and not the Rulebook line. And why that word "Legends" appears in the title rather than just the word "Artifacts."

Is it safe to asume the Orbs of Dragonkind would count as one artifact for purposes of space/information?

But on the other hand the 7 swords of sin will more then likely each get there own section. Interesting that they are artifact swords of sin when the Runelords are wizards.

What was the book called that an angel wrote about every outsider(or just about) and was punished for it? Book of the Damned?

Big expectations on the Dancing Hut! :D

Any recommendations on how to add/balance artifacts in a game in this book? That's always been the toughest thing for me.

Hubba hubba

Looking forward to it, as all Campaign Setting Books.

no... Classic Treasures focused on only 10 different items.

There's a lot more than 10 items in this book.

I said 'kinda'. :)

This and my (PDF sob!) Book of Artifacts will be good together.

My deepest regret is we won't get Hewards Wonderous Organ( the ladies always love that one..fnar fnar)or my all time Favourite..the Machine of Lum the Mad.

Always did like the Machine of Lum the Mad.

Any chance there will be more information on the Cinnamon Throne or will this be more Inner Sea specific?

Any chance there will be more information on the Cinnamon Throne or will this be more Inner Sea specific?

It's very Inner Sea specific.

My deepest regret is we won't get Hewards Wonderous Organ( the ladies always love that one..fnar fnar)or my all time Favourite..the Machine of Lum the Mad.

Well one must take into consideration that some Artifacts from THAT era were Greyhawk specific. This will be Golarian specific.

As far as my opinion of this boook goes, I have two words... DADDY LIKES!!!

Is it safe to asume the Orbs of Dragonkind would count as one artifact for purposes of space/information?

Yes and no. I gave most artifacts a one-page treatment. One artifact, one page is the idea for most of these. However, some deserve more than that and get a full spread or even two spreads. The Orbs of Dragonkind are among those deserving of a broader treatment.

What was the book called that an angel wrote about every outsider(or just about) and was punished for it? Book of the Damned?

That's the one. It's in here... multiple interesting ways.

Makes me wonder how that Angel got his information without getting captured or killed.

Makes me wonder how that Angel got his information without getting captured or killed.

A I recall, didn't that angel

Is this just already published artifacts like Blackaxe and Chellan, The Sword of Greed? Or will there be new Artifacts as well?

Additionally, will we finally get full stats for the Alara'hai (seven swords of sin/conviction) or are we still stuck with just Chellan and Asheia?

I'll get this just for the full story on the Book of the Damned!

And by any chance can we look forward to 'artifacts' that aren't mind-bendingly powerful, maybe even ones that can be used by player characters without being either a adventure career capstone event or simply breaking the campaign?

Along with the seven swords of sin, I'm very much hoping that the seven weapons of rule are included as well. Who wouldn't want Karzoug's flaming glaive or Alaznist's adamantine ranseur?

I'll get this just for the full story on the Book of the Damned!

And by any chance can we look forward to 'artifacts' that aren't mind-bendingly powerful, maybe even ones that can be used by player characters without being either a adventure career capstone event or simply breaking the campaign?

Those really wouldn't be Artifacts. Try for high level magic items and Intelligent items. Artifacts are pretty much by definition something that changes entire campaigns and stuff that campaigns can be based around. You might want to check out Classic Treasures Revisited instead.

Along with the seven swords of sin, I'm very much hoping that the seven weapons of rule are included as well. Who wouldn't want Karzoug's flaming glaive or Alaznist's adamantine ranseur?

I don't think those were originally statted as Artifacts. That said, they would be really fun to have a bit about.

As long as the book has artifacts that serve good, chaos, and law and not just evil I will be happy.

As long as the book has artifacts that serve good, chaos, and law and not just evil I will be happy.

Yes, but what sort of artifact could drive a man to be...neutral?

Dragon78 wrote:

As long as the book has artifacts that serve good, chaos, and law and not just evil I will be happy.

Yes, but what sort of artifact could drive a man to be...neutral?

Not sure, but it is probably Swiss. ;)

It's a handle that you can unfold ANY weapon from.

And any piece of equipment, too.

And a toothpick.

And some tweezers.

And...