Whether you fight for law, chaos, or a philosophy in between, Pathfinder Player Companion: Champions of Balance allows you to tip the scales in your favor! Make sure your resolve is known by claiming the new options in this book designed specifically for neutral characters—hone your pragmatic battle prowess with new combat feats, overwhelm your extremist rivals with never-before-seen items, and even command opposing forces from the Outer Planes with powerful new summoning magic.
Inside this book, you’ll find:
Discussions on how to create a huge variety of lawful neutral, neutral, and chaotic neutral characters and inspire neutral heroes and antiheroes.
New traits and rules for characters who hail from neutral lands or belong to one of the Inner Sea’s various neutral organizations.
New spells, magic items, feats, and other character options to embolden adventurers dedicated to the principles of neutrality.
Rules for an all-new prestige class committed to maintaining moral and ethical equilibrium throughout the multiverse—the enigmatic envoy of balance!
New archetypes for bards and druids, a cavalier order, a sorcerer bloodline, subdomains, and more!
This Pathfinder Player Companion is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting, but can easily be incorporated into any fantasy world.
Written by Matt Goodall, Jason Ridler, Ron Lundeen, David Schwartz, and Philip Minchin.
Cover Art by Kieran Yanner.
ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-603-4
Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:
Final Score & Thoughts Crunch: 3/5 Stars
Flavor: 3/5 Stars
Texture: 5/5 Stars
Final Score: 11/15 Stars, or 3.5 / 5 Stars, rounded up for it’s layout.
Champions of Balance is one of my favorite Paizo products because of it’s beautiful layout. The colors throughout the product complement themselves perfectly and it’s extremely pleasing to look at. While the flavor could be stronger, I felt that this product was worth it’s price by merit of the Practiced Leadership feat alone; it is a new mechanic that I would love to see expanded upon in the future. Note that most of the other options in this product are great, it’s just that nothing stands out as the iconic, quintessential Neutral character option. And honestly, that’s okay considering that Neutrality is much harder for us to quantify as players compared to something easily identifiable such as Good or Evil. Despite my critiques, this is an excellent book to check out and a worthy addition to your collection for the reasons I’ve noted.
Product- Pathfinder Player Companion- Champions of Balance
Producer-Paizo
Price- $20 or $13 for PDR
System- Pathfinder
TL;DR- Slight story concerns, but awesome character options.93%
Basics- Time for the epic battle of good vs. neutral! Champions of Balance covers the hows and whys of neutral characters. The first section covers the types of neutral characters (LN, N, and CN). Next the book discusses neutral countries and organizations. From here, the book introduces new character options from new subdomains, ninja tricks, feats, spells, orders, archetypes, magic items, and a prestige class.
Fluff or Theme- I liked and didn't like this one. The story and backgrounds of neutral characters is well written, but it didn't hook me. I didn't hate reading it, but neutral characters have an uphill battle for getting me as a motivation. What I saw was well done, but it just isn't what I want in a character. And I think many other readers will have the same problem. 4/5
Crunch or Mechanics- This was really well done! There is an amazing amount of stuff in this book. Almost all the classes get a bit of stuff even more than most of the player companion line. Even if you don't care about neutral characters, this one is worth a look for the plethora of options alone. 5/5
Execution- This one is as well done as any of the other player option book. Lots of art and well done layouts make this a pleasure to read. Well done. 5/5
Summary- This book might not have hooked me on story, but everything else is amazing. If you play or want to play a neutral character, then you need this to make a well done and flesh out character. Even if you want some character option, this is an excellent book. 93%
Champions of Balance is quite a remarkable book and exceeds my already high expectations of it. I’m not a fan of alignment overall, and I honestly think the game could be improved without it—though it would entail quite a bit of work to make the change. However, if it’s going to be there, you might as well make the best of it. Yet alignment can be a difficult thing to adjudicate. Good and evil can be hard to fully define, and if you can’t define good and evil, then how do you define what fits between them? In the real world, these are just abstract concepts. Everyone has their own concept of what good and evil are, and they bring these concepts with them into the game. Yet in the game, alignment is not so abstract; indeed, it is an absolute concept where one can be objectively defined as “lawful good” or “chaotic evil”. In the real world, most people will agree that other people can behave in evil ways, but virtually no one would ever actually admit to being evil, as no one actually believes themselves to be evil. There are always justifications and reason for actions. Yet in-game, a detect evil spell can state quite clearly that someone is evil and there’s little one can do to argue against it. Outsiders representing the ideals of particular alignments exist in the multiverse. These powerful beings’ very existences are centred on, and defined by, their alignments. As such, the game needs a clear definition of what good and evil are. I’m not sure that that definition has been fully attained—it probably hasn’t, as there will still be disagreements between players—but books like Champions of Purity and now, Champions of Balance have moved things a little closer to achieving that definition.
The Best players companion to hit so far this year
After last months Bastards of Golarion I was worried I wasn't in the best of spirits for this books release, worried that it would be another book with weak mechanical offerings and content that is either too focused on small sections of the pathfinder homeworld or just not that interesting all together. I can tell you here that this book is nothing like Bastards, literally everything in this from the thematic elements, the new mechanics, and the discussions on the nuances between the neutral alignments is solid gold.
Inside you will get 32 pages of solid content awesome starting with an excellent discussion of the various nuances of the neutral alignment from how being LN does not mean that you cannot break laws to how CN does not mean you can play it like you are CE. These sections are incredibly well written, providing numerous examples of archetypes that exist within those alignments and some guidelines as to how to play those alignments well and in a fulfilling way. The rest of the book focuses on the various new mechanical offerings along with information on various references to many of the major nations and factions of Golarion and how to incorporate characters into those organization. As for the mechanical options they are all awesome, from the new gun twirling bullet naming death that are the new gunslinger feats to the new Impossible bloodline every piece of mechanics presented in this book is not only well thought out but evocative, leaving you wanting to play with them and build characters that take advantage of their abilities. Special mention must also be given to the 2 new archetypes presented here The Negotiator Bard and Survivor Druid. The former is basically a bard turned into professional lawyer, able to talk himself out of near any situation and convince people of just about anything he says. Meanwhile the Survivor Druid is like a survivalist or primitive hunter variant, trading some of your spellcasting and your wildshape ability for the trap mechanics presented in Ultimate Magic. In all honesty these are both some of my favorite archetypes I've seen all year, the bard fills a perfect niche that I have desperately been looking for in a bard archetype and the Survivor is such a cool option for druids, putting a whole new spin on the usual protectors of nature, setting them up as a magical trapper who supplements his hunting and trapping with more potent magical power. That alone has got my mind whirring on dozens of new druids alone and with the dozens of other options that this book presents in content I know I'm going to have more then enough to play with both as a gm, player, and pathfinder society member for the next year at least!
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a cavalier of the scales hellknight to design, an impossible sorcerer, and figuring out if I can give my slayer the blood pact ninja trick.
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
CN: *Yells at top of lungs* "I will do whatever I want when I want to, be it charity or punching your face in."
LN: *Pins CN against the wall* "We will have order above all else, and as long as evil plays fair they shall have the same rights as good."
N: *separates CN from LN* "Meh. Do what you want but remember, for there to be good there must be evil for it to fight. for there to be law there must be chaos to counteract and vice versa."
Considering that 40% of PCs in my games are CN (the other 40% are CG and there's 20% of strange people with weird alignment ideas) I'm turbo sold on this one.
CN: *Yells at top of lungs* "I will do whatever I want when I want to, be it charity or punching your face in."
LN: *Pins CN against the wall* "We will have order above all else, and as long as evil plays fair they shall have the same rights as good."
N: *separates CN from LN* "Meh. Do what you want but remember, for there to be good there must be evil for it to fight. for there to be law there must be chaos to counteract and vice versa."
Everybody Else: *glares at N and starts cracking their knuckles ominously*
Ah, yeah, definitely looking forward to this. Champions of Purity was definitely a good buy, looking forward to more of the same. I am a little disappointed that apparently Champions of Chaos and Champions of Order don't deserve their own books, but I'm still happy. Then again, true neutral is one of my favorite alignments (though my paladin-loving friend always calls me 'dissolute neutral'), so maybe I should count my blessings...
I certainly hope there will be some nice lawful-oriented or chaotic-oriented spells for non-divine types, Champions of Purity did a lot to balance the fact that wizards got so many evil spells, while hardly any good-aligned spells, so it'd be nice if we could do the same for lawful and chaotic spells...I think the only ones most arcane classes get are the protection from X/magic circle against X/summon monster X/planar binding line. Well, there's rift of ruin, but that's also evil...I mean, I know that clerics, inquisitors, paladins, and antipaladins get first dibs there, but it'd be nice to still be able to dedicate yourself a bit as a sorcerer, a summoner, a wizard, etc. Protean bloodline calls out for it!
Now if only we can get books along the lines of Chronicle of the Righteous for proteans and axiomites/inevitables...
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Any discussion of the difference between "Neutral = ambivalent," almost non-aligned, and "Neutral = actively seeking balance"? A lot of people are Neutral, but most aren't actually seeking to balance the forces of law and chaos, or good and evil.
Any discussion of the difference between "Neutral = ambivalent," almost non-aligned, and "Neutral = actively seeking balance"? A lot of people are Neutral, but most aren't actually seeking to balance the forces of law and chaos, or good and evil.
This book will very much hit on the themes you've described.
I tend to prefer playing Good characters, but I'm interested to see what this book includes - I like a lot of neutral gods, and there's lots of other stuff that could be useful. And I wouldn't mind playing neutral occasionally.
Any discussion of the difference between "Neutral = ambivalent," almost non-aligned, and "Neutral = actively seeking balance"? A lot of people are Neutral, but most aren't actually seeking to balance the forces of law and chaos, or good and evil.
This book will very much hit on the themes you've described.
This gives me good hope for a Champions of Corruption book with ideas on how to incorporate Evil in your game, whether as a lone party member, a whole party or NPCs.
I'm also interested in some CN-material as Yog-Sothoth and Azathoth would see it... so some things that deal with the unknowable, not just the random and unpredictable. XD Either way, though, I'm glad to see stuff like this being made!
Hmm, looking forward to it. I wonder what the new sorcerer bloodline will be? Considering we have Protean, I'd think the primary candidates would be Aeon, Axiomite, Inevitable, or Psychopomp...Inevitable seems like the natural counterpoint to Protean, though any of them would make pretty interesting options in my opinion...
I liked Champions of Purity, so I hope this lives up to it, though it already looks like it won't have as many options for as many classes...I was kind of hoping for some evolutions for an Inevitable-themed eidolon and other such. Well, like I said, still looking forward to seeing what's inside.
come on inevitable based bloodline! We got one that fits for everyone else now give me a bloodline that gives me a cold clicking metallic heart! And if not them then the Axiomites, we need at least 1 to round out the LN section of the bloodlines.
come on inevitable based bloodline! We got one that fits for everyone else now give me a bloodline that gives me a cold clicking metallic heart! And if not them then the Axiomites, we need at least 1 to round out the LN section of the bloodlines.
I feel that axiomite is more likely than inevitable.
I don't want to think about how inevitables would ... oh. OH GOD. ITS IN MY BRAIN! THAT THOUGHT IS IN MY BRAIN!
Just remember that bloodline doesn't necessarily have to involve fluid transfers or intercourse. (And, in the case of people with elemental or undead or construct or plant or some forms of outsider 'bloodlines,' actually *can't.*)
An inevitable 'bloodline' might be a little bit cyborg, having been altered surgically by inevitables as part of some 'organic outreach program,' or have nano-tech in it's blood, or machine thoughts in its head, or be a (more or less) normal appearing humanoid lovingly crafted out of synthetic components, each replacing an organic body part or system, with ceramic for bones and fine strands of cord for muscle and crystal lenses over translucent sacks of clear oil for eyes, etc.
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Set wrote:
Just remember that bloodline doesn't necessarily have to involve fluid transfers or intercourse. (And, in the case of people with elemental or undead or construct or plant or some forms of outsider 'bloodlines,' actually *can't.*)
An inevitable 'bloodline' might be a little bit cyborg, having been altered surgically by inevitables as part of some 'organic outreach program,' or have nano-tech in it's blood, or machine thoughts in its head, or be a (more or less) normal appearing humanoid lovingly crafted out of synthetic components, each replacing an organic body part or system, with ceramic for bones and fine strands of cord for muscle and crystal lenses over translucent sacks of clear oil for eyes, etc.
Yeah, being a sorcerer doesn't necessarily mean you're actually descended from something not human, there are a lot of other methods. Exposure to planar contamination, magical experimentation, a curse on your family that for you has become something more, being born dead before returning to life, being part of a family destined for great things, descended from someone driven to artistic madness by exposure to a shoggoth...there are plenty of possibilities.
For an inevitable...
Inevitables do their best to preserve innocent life, though they will not allow such considerations to prevent them from carrying out justice. When a pregnant witch who has long been stealing years from others is finally brought to justice by a marut, she points out that the developing child is innocent of her crimes, seeking to gain time to plot an escape. Consulting one of their axiomite masters, the witch's child is instead transferred to an artificial, mechanical-looking womb, and the witch killed...when the child is 'born', she is given to an orphanage on the Material Plane, yet something of her origin seems to have produced a strange mindset in her, some part of her judging fairness in a distinctly inhuman manner.
A lawful neutral hellknight signifier and wizard has grown to rely on the judgment of his arbiter familiar as he strives to adhere solely to clean law and avoid the distasteful methods some of his fellow hellknights revel in. Yet while he sleeps, his familiar can be found perched over the bed of his newborn son, cooing as its truespeech ability can apparently discern meaning in the babbling of the infant...and make itself understood with equal facility as it indoctrinates the infant in the ways of law.
Many find the maltheistic government of Rahadoum to be overly oppressive in its restrictions, leading to various rebel groups. One of these groups, expecting only to fight against the representatives of the government, were shocked when a pair of zelekhut were determined to bring them down as well, the inhuman pair doing massive damage before being destroyed themselves. One of the rebels, having lost his arm, believed keenly in fair play, escaping Rahadoum and fleeing to Alkenstar, where he had the bladed chains that served one of the destroyed pseudo-constructs as arms remade into something like a clockwork prosthesis...but little did he understand that the inevitables are more than just mere machines, made as much of Law as they are of metal. Over time, his mind splintered into various personalities of law and chaos in the struggle between his original self and the golden chains, which proved to have woven themselves further into his body, knitting with his flesh in a way that left it impossible to remove without killing him. What became of him is unknown, but several of his personalities had children...some of whom seem to have golden thread woven through parts of their flesh...
Yes, I really did like the Aeons and would love to see some more of them. Particularly as I don't use the Golarion-'verse function of Pharasma (as the one-and-only arbiter of souls), so the Psychopomps aren't of much interest to me.
