Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Class Guide (OGL)

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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Class Guide (OGL)
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A New Breed of Hero

Adventure like never before with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Class Guide! Explore new heights of heroism with 10 new base classes, each with 20 levels of amazing abilities. Incredible powers also await existing characters, with more than a hundred new archetypes and class options. Prepare characters for their most legendary adventure ever with massive selections of never-before-seen spells, magic items, and more!

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Class Guide is a must-have companion volume to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. This imaginative tabletop game builds upon more than 15 years of system development and an open playtest featuring more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Class Guide includes:

  • Ten new base classes—the magic-twisting arcanist, the ferocious bloodrager, the cunning investigator, the daring swashbuckler, the formidable warpriest, and others.
  • Variant class abilities and thematic archetypes for all 29 base classes, such as the counterfeit mage and the mutagenic mauler.
  • Nearly a hundred new feats for characters of all classes, including style feats, teamwork feats like Coordinated Shot, and more.
  • Hundreds of new spells and magic items, such as feast on fear and skullcrusher gauntlets.
  • An entire armory of amazing equipment, from vital new adventuring gear to deadly alchemical weapons.
  • ... and much, much more!

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-671-3

Errata
Last Updated - 7/22/2015

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A Great (if errata-filled) Book for Players

4/5

This book has gotten a lot of flack for two reasons: (1) A number of people were upset by the large amount of errata posted after the book came out. (2) A number of people were upset by the perceived power-creep that this book carried with it, especially in the archetype section.

Both of these are reasonable complaints that I largely agree with.

That said, this book also contains a cornucopia of player options that are great fun. A number of the classes it introduced are now mainstream: it’s hard to imagine playing the game without options like the Brawler, the Investigator, the Slayer, the Bloodrager, the Hunter, or the Warpriest. Or to play without archetypes like the Bolt Ace (Gunslinger), Mutation Warrior or Martial Master (Fighter).

Moreover, the book introduced a number of feats that improve on the available build options available to most players (Extra Hex! Slashing Grace!). Likewise, although the spells in this book seem to have flown under the radar, there are a lot of nice and interesting spells are introduced in this book (Glue Seal, Communal Align Weapon, Wall of Blindness/Deafness, Wall of Nausea, Anti-Incorporeal Shell, Adjustable Disguise, Adjustable Polymorph, Investigative Mind, etc).

Easily 5 stars worth of good material here. Given the unusually large amount of errata, I feel compelled to deduct a star. But all that said, it’s hard to imagine playing Pathfinder without this book -- after the Core Rulebook and Advanced Players Guide, it’s probably the best book for players to pick up.


Unbalanced, uninspired and rushed.

1/5

This book still sticks out as one of Paizo's biggest missteps. It was extremely rushed and it shows.

At least half of the new classes don't even need to exist as anything other than archetypes. Even among the ones that actually work, most feel very uninspired.

There are a few good things in it, but not really enough to justify buying it. It's not worth your money and it's best not to encourage sloppy work.

Hopefully Paizo learns from this and prioritizes quality over quantity and speed from now on.


A continuing disappointment

1/5

The ACG had problems. Many problems. And it continues to have problems.

From concept ("Let's make ten classes as complicated and broken as the magus, or more so!"), to out-of-whack game design, to simply poor editing, the ACG is a mess. The book's philosophy seems to be "create a new utterly unbalanced mechanic, and proliferate it as far as possible." The (quickly issued) errata pulled some of it a bit more into line, but it just doesn't come close to correcting it.

Even something as simple as alchemical items are way out there. Holy Weapon Balm costs 5gp more than holy water, and does 1400% more damage. And that doesn't even include increasing damage to incorporeal creatures.

Even two years after it was released, I continue to be impressed with the complete disregard for balance and sense in this book. If power creep had happened this much every year, we'd be looking at 9999 damage caps by now. The ACG stands out for its insanity.

Perhaps pulping it for the cover error would have been the better move.


The first real dud in my Pathfinder collection

1/5

I am extremely disappointed in this product, and glad I only purchased the PDF version. As other reviewers have pointed out, the new classes are poorly balanced when compared to the preexisting ones, and would be a better fit for a book like Unchained, much like Unearthed Arcana's gestalt characters.

There's far too many feats and toys dedicated to these new classes, which drastically lessens this book's universal appeal, and even though some contrivances are provided to make some of said feats accessible to other classes, it ends up painting the book's title as a misnomer - it isn't an "advanced class guide" any more than it is a guide mostly about ten new classes, that are "advanced" only in the sense that they're more powerful than the others.

It's my fault for not properly researching the book before buying it, so buyer beware if you're expecting to find a literal advanced class guide, as opposed to a lengthy introduction to ten new ones.


Overall disappointing

2/5

Okay, there's a lot here that's just terribly rushed and it shows, like the editing here is painful at points. The classes themselves range wildly in value, and there's a lot of examples of Paizo's classic retro nerfing of things to help make options here look better. This was an obvious rush to gencon book, and it shows. While not everything in it is bad, and there's some salvageable content, you could easily continue to play the game without this book and miss out on absolutely nohthing.


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1 person marked this as a favorite.
Kairos Dawnfury wrote:
So many negative Nellys wanna step on my underpowered, completely not thought out character concept.

Well, clearly, the thing to do is to homebrew a prestige class that advances all class abilities. Maybe it advances caster level, but not actual spellcasting (new spells per day, spells known/prepared)? And adds full BAB?

*breaks out the box of tools*


Kairos Dawnfury wrote:
So many negative Nellys wanna step on my underpowered, completely not thought out character concept.

Optimize or GTFO! [/joke]


Wi1dfireMonk wrote:
Kairos Dawnfury wrote:
So many negative Nellys wanna step on my underpowered, completely not thought out character concept.

Well, clearly, the thing to do is to homebrew a prestige class that advances all class abilities. Maybe it advances caster level, but not actual spellcasting (new spells per day, spells known/prepared)? And adds full BAB?

*breaks out the box of tools*

...I WILL do this MCA

Shadow Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber

Any chance you can bring this book forward a month so I can have it now?


August 14!? Nice!

I thought it was coming out August 30th. So this means I'll be able to buy it before I go off to college.


August 14th is the weekend of Gen Con so that is when it will be available for subscribers as well as the street date.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Any chance there is a ranger wildshape variant? A real shapeshifter :-)


I'm hoping for a Slayer that can get favored enemy back. So many Demons in Wrath of the Righteous and I gotta use a move action to get a less good bonus!

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Maps Subscriber

I like the way the Slayer does it. You are not locked in to a particular type of creature.


Kairos Dawnfury wrote:
I'm hoping for a Slayer that can get favored enemy back. So many Demons in Wrath of the Righteous and I gotta use a move action to get a less good bonus!

It becomes a swift action at level 7 bro.

Contributor

Kairos Dawnfury wrote:
I'm hoping for a Slayer that can get favored enemy back. So many Demons in Wrath of the Righteous and I gotta use a move action to get a less good bonus!

Our archer slayer has been ROCKING those demons. Even when it was a move action to use Favored Target.


Well, you don't have to hope for the archetype I want. That's why they have archetypes.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Will there be rules on designing your own classes? I am so excited about this book.


DungeonmasterCal wrote:
Will there be rules on designing your own classes? I am so excited about this book.

I don't think so, and it's very unlikely given the books description.


That's too bad.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

There is a chapter on class design...it's just more theory and advice than a set of points or something like the Advanced Race Guide has.

Scarab Sages

Oh this is gonna look incredible! I can't wait to see what's in store for the new classes!


Is there supposed to be any new racial archetypes in this book? Or will I just have to wait to find out. Also super pump!


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I really want to like this book, but I've been reading the blog previews and I wonder if a lot of the classes were written with a different play style in mind than my own. Or maybe that's how the previews are written/geared toward. I didn't get that feeling from APG, UM or UC or their previews. But something in these previews makes it feel different to me and that is making it harder for me to really like or get into this book right now.

Webstore Gninja Minion

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Dhampir984 wrote:
I really want to like this book, but I've been reading the blog previews and I wonder if a lot of the classes were written with a different play style in mind than my own. Or maybe that's how the previews are written/geared toward. I didn't get that feeling from APG, UM or UC or their previews. But something in these previews makes it feel different to me and that is making it harder for me to really like or get into this book right now.

Previews only show a small portion of the book—if you're hesitant, wait until you have a chance to see the book in its entirety through your FLGS and then make a decision. :D


So any thoughts on which of the new classes the powergamers are going to gravitate towards? Which ones are going to give GMs the biggest headaches?

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

To be honest, a power-gamer is going to find a way to make a crazy combination with any one of these classes, just like all the current classes. You can always find ways of breaking the game.

As far as ones that the AVERAGE gamer will scare their GM with? I don't know. Perhaps the Brawler, since switching out feats willy-nilly can definitely make for some strong combinations.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Werebat wrote:
So any thoughts on which of the new classes the powergamers are going to gravitate towards? Which ones are going to give GMs the biggest headaches?

Three of them, actually: the Arcanist, the Arcanist, and especially the Arcanist.


I really like how the Slayer gives you a martial who can go toe-to-toe with enemies, but also gets rewarded for tactics and teamwork.

Silver Crusade RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

I really don't think the arcanist is going to blow people away, especially at low levels. But I know there are people on these forums who think it's going to completely render both the Wizard and Sorcerer useless. I just don't see it. Maybe at level 20 it will be hands-down better than both of those two, but at early levels it really won't, IMHO.


Min-maxers will min-max and munchkin ANYTHING. I had a player that min-maxed a Healer (yes, THAT Healer class, from WotC's Miniatures Handbook!)

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Axial wrote:
Werebat wrote:
So any thoughts on which of the new classes the powergamers are going to gravitate towards? Which ones are going to give GMs the biggest headaches?
Three of them, actually: the Arcanist, the Arcanist, and especially the Arcanist.

Unless they changed the arcanist to use the wizard's spell progression, I find it unlikely they are going to unseat the wizard as the power-gamer's favored arcane class. This is true even with things like Quick Study.

Shadow Lodge

Liz Courts wrote:
NoncompliAut wrote:
There will be a PDF, right?
Yes, but it won't be released until the end of August for non-subscribers.

Is this still the case? The date says Aug 14.

Webstore Gninja Minion

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Avatar-1 wrote:
Liz Courts wrote:
NoncompliAut wrote:
There will be a PDF, right?
Yes, but it won't be released until the end of August for non-subscribers.
Is this still the case? The date says Aug 14.

August 14th is correct—GenCon monkeys with our normal release schedule something fierce. :D


looks at pdf date
reads about possible early release

ARE WE THERE YET?

rattles back of seat


Excited Necromancer wrote:

looks at pdf date

reads about possible early release

ARE WE THERE YET?

rattles back of seat

Soon, only not yet. And if you don't stop trying to convert your little brother into a zombie, I'm going to turn this hippogriff right around!


Pillbug Toenibbler wrote:
Excited Necromancer wrote:

looks at pdf date

reads about possible early release

ARE WE THERE YET?

rattles back of seat

Soon, only not yet. And if you don't stop trying to convert your little brother into a zombie, I'm going to turn this hippogriff right around!

rolls eyes I'm not turning anyone into a zombie. continues scraping flesh off Bones always take forever to dry.

I WANT A TEASER PDF!

rapidly unfolds and folds cupholder

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Porkins wrote:
Almost...there...

Oh boy! :D


DeciusNero wrote:
Porkins wrote:
Almost...there...
Oh boy! :D

*DARTH VADER BLOWS UP THE LEAD SHIP! RESTART ATTACK RUN!*


Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

3 weeks.......

Sczarni

ooo i hope the warpriest gets a necromancer archtype hehe finnaly a necromancer who can join in the fray and put a beat down on others XD lol


Deliox Creed wrote:
ooo i hope the warpriest gets a necromancer archtype hehe finnaly a necromancer who can join in the fray and put a beat down on others XD lol

Cleric.


If I preorder this, is there any way to pick it up at GenCon?

RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

TobiasBlues wrote:
If I preorder this, is there any way to pick it up at GenCon?

Why not just buy it at GenCon, instead of preordering?


Ross Byers wrote:
TobiasBlues wrote:
If I preorder this, is there any way to pick it up at GenCon?
Why not just buy it at GenCon, instead of preordering?

Ah, went and reread the post that had me confused and worried about this. When I first read this post, made me think that unless you had the subscription or the pre-order you wouldn't be able to get one at Gen-Con (which seemed weird to me). but now that I read through it again. I see that I can just buy it there.

Sovereign Court

Waiting to see what changes I'll have to make for my PFS character (Halfling Bloodrager 1[Celestial] Warpriest 5 [Iomedae]).

Got a tad attached to him as a fun Tank -hope the changes won't nerf him too much

Contributor

PaulH wrote:

Waiting to see what changes I'll have to make for my PFS character (Halfling Bloodrager 1[Celestial] Warpriest 5 [Iomedae]).

Got a tad attached to him as a fun Tank -hope the changes won't nerf him too much

Well, we know that the warpriest won't have a full base attack bonus with his deity's favored weapon anymore, so you're base attack bonus probably going to drop a point, maybe two if you're 5th level or higher.

We also know that blessings got a retune and are both stronger and Wisdom-based.

That's about all we've gotten so far for your character, though.


I think out of all the classes that were mentioned, the class I've seen the least excitement for was the Hunter. I personally like my rangers without spells and with less focus on nature, so it is safe to say the concept of the Hunter never interested me either.

Sovereign Court

Yep - the BAB will be nerfed a bit, so no iterative attack.

Eagerly awaiting the pdf in a few weeks to see how they've compensated this.

BTW - one reason I love this char is it's based on the lovely Pathfinder Halfling Paladin mini. One of their best, I think.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
I think out of all the classes that were mentioned, the class I've seen the least excitement for was the Hunter. I personally like my rangers without spells and with less focus on nature, so it is safe to say the concept of the Hunter never interested me either.

Same here, along with the Brawler - though a few of the mentioned archetypes have turned my head the other way.

I'm hoping the Hunter feels a bit more distinct in the final product.

Designer

1 person marked this as a favorite.
DeciusNero wrote:
Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
I think out of all the classes that were mentioned, the class I've seen the least excitement for was the Hunter. I personally like my rangers without spells and with less focus on nature, so it is safe to say the concept of the Hunter never interested me either.

Same here, along with the Brawler - though a few of the mentioned archetypes have turned my head the other way.

I'm hoping the Hunter feels a bit more distinct in the final product.

I have to admit--as a playtester before working here, I wasn't feeling the hunter as much as some of the others. I will just say that the hunter got something in the final that changed the way I thought about the class and that I plan to share it when the hunter class blog post goes up. Other than tantalizing you like that, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the preview.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Mark Seifter wrote:
DeciusNero wrote:


Same here, along with the Brawler - though a few of the mentioned archetypes have turned my head the other way.

I'm hoping the Hunter feels a bit more distinct in the final product.

I have to admit--as a playtester before working here, I wasn't feeling the hunter as much as some of the others. I will just say that the hunter got something in the final that changed the way I thought about the class and that I plan to share it when the hunter class blog post goes up. Other than tantalizing you like that, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the preview.

Good to hear! I'm trying to keep an open mind about the classes until I see them in full.


DeciusNero wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
DeciusNero wrote:


Same here, along with the Brawler - though a few of the mentioned archetypes have turned my head the other way.

I'm hoping the Hunter feels a bit more distinct in the final product.

I have to admit--as a playtester before working here, I wasn't feeling the hunter as much as some of the others. I will just say that the hunter got something in the final that changed the way I thought about the class and that I plan to share it when the hunter class blog post goes up. Other than tantalizing you like that, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the preview.
Good to hear! I'm trying to keep an open mind about the classes until I see them in full.

me too, i keep thinking they are keeping the hunter blog for last so they a can blow our minds with the big reveal.


christos gurd wrote:
DeciusNero wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
DeciusNero wrote:


Same here, along with the Brawler - though a few of the mentioned archetypes have turned my head the other way.

I'm hoping the Hunter feels a bit more distinct in the final product.

I have to admit--as a playtester before working here, I wasn't feeling the hunter as much as some of the others. I will just say that the hunter got something in the final that changed the way I thought about the class and that I plan to share it when the hunter class blog post goes up. Other than tantalizing you like that, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the preview.
Good to hear! I'm trying to keep an open mind about the classes until I see them in full.
me too, i keep thinking they are keeping the hunter blog for last so they a can blow our minds with the big reveal.

Here I thought the shaman was going to be the last class to be previewed.


Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
christos gurd wrote:
DeciusNero wrote:
Mark Seifter wrote:
DeciusNero wrote:


Same here, along with the Brawler - though a few of the mentioned archetypes have turned my head the other way.

I'm hoping the Hunter feels a bit more distinct in the final product.

I have to admit--as a playtester before working here, I wasn't feeling the hunter as much as some of the others. I will just say that the hunter got something in the final that changed the way I thought about the class and that I plan to share it when the hunter class blog post goes up. Other than tantalizing you like that, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for the preview.
Good to hear! I'm trying to keep an open mind about the classes until I see them in full.
me too, i keep thinking they are keeping the hunter blog for last so they a can blow our minds with the big reveal.
Here I thought the shaman was going to be the last class to be previewed.

maybe, i didnt catch the hint from the last blog.

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