Wayfinder #14 (PFRPG) PDF

Now available—and FREE!

Squee!

Many thanks to all those that produce this wonderful magazine, and to the Paizo staff for their products that inspire it.

On behalf of the folks who put his wonderful magazine together (that would be the folks who make up the Wayfinder staff and volunteers as well as all the artists and authors without whom we would have a very short magazine), quite welcome. :)

Seriously though, many thanks to everyone who submitted material to this issue. There is some really good stuff between these covers. And many thanks to the editors/proofreaders (because editing and proofreading are not a strong portion of my skill set). Also to Garrett who helps shoulder the layout load in a serious way. And Tim and Paris, because, you know, you guys rock.

And if you download this, please take a moment to review it after you have taken in all this free goodness. Let the folks who created this material know how much you liked it.

I need to thank everyone involved in this issue, especially my "permanent" volunteer staff: Paris Crenshaw is my right-hand man, handling the editing process so that I can handle the art and ads. He is also my sounding board. And a really good friend. I cannot imagine doing this 'zine without him. Dain Nielsen is our layout designer and with the excellent and crucial help of Garrett Guillotte in production, puts all the pieces together, and helps give each issue the unique thematic look. I may get really picky about little things, and these guys have to deal with me. For that, they are HEROES! Plus, Dain's been with me since #6, our trial by fire issue.

And then we have our CABAL of editors....who check over all the articles to find the problems and polish them out.

And finally, all the contributors, authors and artists. All the great articles you'll read, and all that spectacular art you'll admire...all due to these folks stepping up and giving their time and talents to make this issue AWESOME.

SO, I will second zylphryx's request. I really want to hear what people thought of this issue. REALLY. And I know that all these people who pitched in to help make this issue a great one...they would appreciate hearing what the readers think of it, too.

But, most all, thanks for supporting Wayfinder, just by downloading and reading it. We all appreciate it, and hope you enjoy it!

Woo-hoo!
Review, you all!

This was a very interesting issue. I thought everything was solid and on thematic point. While I'm not a big fan of some of the monster races that got focus in here, I can't really fault this particular issue for not being my cup of tea. Excellent work as always.

I'm about a third of the way through the issue, and have posted a review on where I have got to so far. I will add more review once have read a little more.

Thank you for the (first) review and the kind words! ^_^

New Wayfinder Day, the day I get a whole bunch of new artist Facebook friends and send out facebook messages asking if they want to draw for me. This is followed by the month of me adding new writer facebook friends and sending out facebook messages asking if want to write for me.

I'm about a third of the way through the issue, and have posted a review on where I have got to so far. I will add more review once have read a little more.

Glad to see your review—you're doing a nice, thorough job.

I enjoyed your article about a creature's essence, too.

Thank you for the review, Mr. Fu!

I also enjoyed your creature's essence article. It is a great resource for all those monster makers out there.

Hey, look at that advertisement on the last page!

Is that the iconic Vigilante I'm looking at?

Review has been extended, I am now just over half way through the issue - so much goodness in this issue! I will continue to update the review as I go.

I also really love the setting coverage we have attained in this issue, Golarion has been well and truly covered with new creature related shiny!

Review has been extended, I am now just over half way through the issue - so much goodness in this issue! I will continue to update the review as I go.

I also really love the setting coverage we have attained in this issue, Golarion has been well and truly covered with new creature related shiny!

Thanks for such a detailed review! I'm glad we haven't dipped below a 7 for you yet!

One note about the card game scenario article....those are actual game card images, not new cards. Part of the CUP allows us to use images from the blog, and since these are scenarios created with existing cards, why not use them? Just wanted to clarify.

Wow. I am so moved from obtaining a 9/10 at the first review.
As a thank-you gift, you may ask me any favored class option that I couldn't include in the article! ^_^

Template Fu wrote:

Review has been extended, I am now just over half way through the issue - so much goodness in this issue! I will continue to update the review as I go.

I also really love the setting coverage we have attained in this issue, Golarion has been well and truly covered with new creature related shiny!

Thanks for such a detailed review! I'm glad we haven't dipped below a 7 for you yet!

One note about the card game scenario article....those are actual game card images, not new cards. Part of the CUP allows us to use images from the blog, and since these are scenarios created with existing cards, why not use them? Just wanted to clarify.

Fair enough, I havent got all of the card games / expansions (yet), so wasnt sure. I'll adjust the review when I get the next few parts done.

A few minor edits have been made to the issue. We somehow misspelled an author's name (something I really, REALLY hate when it happens), so we wanted to get that fixed ASAP.

Also, wanted to put the proper credit for that great Daigle the Mantis illustration for the foreword, so we added that to the Special Thanks section as well (Artist was Adam Koca, and coloring by Liz Courts, btw).

Hope you are all liking the issue!

The art is very good throughout. Each piece wows in its own right, while boosting and complementing the related article.

There's one piece in particular that I really like: the cyclops with the lightning javelin, by Andrew DeFelice, I believe. The article it appears in, Remnants and Relics of the Ghol-Gan by Ian "Set" Turner, includes some cool class options, feats and items for cyclopes.

Also, the 4 pregen goblins and their illustrations are all excellent. The art for Marga is superb.

New Wayfinder Day, the day I get a whole bunch of new artist Facebook friends and send out facebook messages asking if they want to draw for me. This is followed by the month of me adding new writer facebook friends and sending out facebook messages asking if want to write for me.

Okay I am totally going to have to steal this tactic Dale!

Also, the 4 pregen goblins and their illustrations are all excellent. The art for Marga is superb.

I love that one best, although I thought she was sitting on a mushroom at first. My brain just refused to see that as a skirt...

Since Anthony didn't make any request, but I wanted to give the thank-you gift however... here are the favored class options for

Another subtype will follow for each new review...

Ack! Just tried to post my update and it lost it! The page refreshed to the main page rather then the post - I think I probably blew the 2500 word limit - lol. It would have been kinder to represent the page saying "too many words".

I'll have to start a second review post to complete the review if that is allowed?

You could post in here in the discussion, and add the link to end of your review (see more HERE <link>)?

Having lost way too many posts due to timeouts and such, I always COPY what I've typed before submitting, so if it doesn't work, I can just PASTE, and try again.

We do appreciate your extensive review, Anthony! I've been checking back OFTEN to see if you've continued!

Always ready to grab that free stuff. :)

Downloaded!

Ruyan.

You could post in here in the discussion, and add the link to end of your review (see more HERE <link>)?

Having lost way too many posts due to timeouts and such, I always COPY what I've typed before submitting, so if it doesn't work, I can just PASTE, and try again.

We do appreciate your extensive review, Anthony! I've been checking back OFTEN to see if you've continued!

Okay, I will add a link when I'm ready to post - I want to finish off the magazine and write the last parts of the review in one hit, just a day or two needed to finish reading :)

Timitius wrote:

You could post in here in the discussion, and add the link to end of your review (see more HERE <link>)?

Having lost way too many posts due to timeouts and such, I always COPY what I've typed before submitting, so if it doesn't work, I can just PASTE, and try again.

We do appreciate your extensive review, Anthony! I've been checking back OFTEN to see if you've continued!

Okay, I will add a link when I'm ready to post - I want to finish off the magazine and write the last parts of the review in one hit, just a day or two needed to finish reading :)

Well, thank you for taking the time! We all appreciate it!

Ok, I managed to squeeze in a small update recovered from my notes, more tomorrow.

And the review box isn't big enough :P

My review continues here... Sorry for any inconvenience.

Primitive and Deadly next, a collection of four magical weapons that giantkin would use, consisting of a greatclub, greataxe, earth breaker, and longspear. A nice variety of weapon types that allow players to find something of use. There is incosistency in the tagging of sourcebooks it looks like, one is PF84 (I think means p[age 84 in the core book, and the other is ACG but no page number. Ooops, channelling the TemplateFu too much there - grin. The weapons are mean and mighty, and the greataxe artwork is very nice indeed.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the artwork 10/10

Next we have an article in the realms of army based campaigns and events. A collection of special abilities for armies of specific races (boggard, gnoll, goblin, hobgoblin, kobold, orc and giant). Your players may scoff at a Kobold army before, but the crunch and options herein might just catch them by surprise! The goblin army art accompanying the article has a real pathfinder Golarion feel to it, you can just picture them singing their weird little songs. Definitely an article to squirrel away and spring on players when there is an army based event in your campaigns.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the artwork 9/10

Next, we have a short story presented as a pathfinder report. The Oiv'heur'eihr - please don't ask me to pronounce that, I'm useless at tongue twisters! The whole tone of the story keeps a filed report style that lends great authenticity and realism to the details. Again, I won't spoil the plot, but will say you should enjoy reading this immensely, I know I did. The artwork was a little cartoon like for my tastes and the face of the pathfinder seemed rather simian to me than human, I'm not sure if that was intended, but it did throw me as it was unexpected.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the artwork 7/10

Next, a cyclopean themed collection, Remnants and Relics, consisting of 3 Barbarian Rage Powers, A witch archetype, 3 combat feats, and a couple of magical items. The witch section felt out of place and tacked on when reviewing the wealth of combat oriented options provided. I think it would have felt a tighter focused article if that had been dropped in favour of an extra magical item or feat. The cyclopean artwork is super, really good lighting effect from the source of light - a huge spear of light and lightning!

TemplateFu scores this article 8/10, the artwork 9/10

Next up, Cache of the Ravener King, a collection of 3 wondrous item treasures and a minor artifact! I found the minor artifact to be very intriguing, lending itself to different plant and damage type combinations to easily create variations to suit different campaigns. I love easily adaptable things, so this scored well with me. The artwork is serviceable, representing 2 of the four items, one of which is the minor artifact in question. Personally, I would have rendered a finer gold chain to emphasise the delicacy of the flower being held, but that's just my own personal tastes.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the artwork 8/10

Articles remaining to review: Thorns in the Heart, Side Trek Seeds, Evil is your Wingman, Bestiary (each creature to get a summary review). These will be coming soon... in this thread of course! ;)

Next, we have a short story presented as a pathfinder report. The Oiv'heur'eihr - please don't ask me to pronounce that, I'm useless at tongue twisters! The whole tone of the story keeps a filed report style that lends great authenticity and realism to the details. Again, I won't spoil the plot, but will say you should enjoy reading this immensely, I know I did. The artwork was a little cartoon like for my tastes and the face of the pathfinder seemed rather simian to me than human, I'm not sure if that was intended, but it did throw me as it was unexpected.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the artwork 7/10

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Master Fu.

The name was plucked out of my head, to sound similar to the creatures' official name for themselves, as provided in 'Misfit Monsters Revisited'. Glad it sounds alien, you probably need to whistle it, rather than say it.

As to the art, I'm very happy with it, as I have been with all the artists I've been paired with. I didn't provide a description of the narrator, since the letter is written in the first person, to people he knows, so I'm pleasantly surprised it came out like the view from my head.
It's implied that he's an experienced scientist, hence likely to be middle-aged or older, and suffering recent exposure to a blizzard.
His gear is believable, evoking real-world expeditions by Peary, Shackleton, and of course Scott of the Antarctic.

I wish I had more space to expand the story, especially for descriptions and background, but 1500 words is a tight budget, when two of the cast are not of this earth, and so hog the majority of adjectives.

Now I know why Lovecraft fell back on describing his creations as 'indescribable'. LOL

As to the art, I'm very happy with it, as I have been with all the artists I've been paired with. I didn't provide a description of the narrator, since the letter is written in the first person, to people he knows, so I'm pleasantly surprised it came out like the view from my head.

Ah, see that's a success for art direction, then. I am pleased that the view from my head matched your own!

And the review finally draws to conclusion - wow, reviewing is actually more work than you think... but it's also more fun than you think too!

Moving on, we have a poem/song collection with Thorns in the Heart. The first, Road and Oak, I think is my favourite, followed closely by War Mother - which I can see both as a funeral dirge as it was intended but also could be used very nicely as a Goblin war chant! The artwork is a nice rendition of a winged lady reading a book that has just surprised or shocked her.

TemplateFu scores this article 8/10, the artwork 8/10

Next a collection of Side Trek Seeds. The first is a lizardfolk and Aspis Consortium entanglement, easily dropped into a campaign in the Mwangi Expanse. A good solid plot that allows the PCs the freedom to choose sides and live with the consequences of their choice. The next one is a location based plot, a mine infested with spores. And the third is a drop in plot involving the much loved land sharks, the bulettes! Two pieces of art accompany this article, the first a cowled medusae - I really like the innocent style of the cowl hiding the medusae within - it may end up in my game very soon! ;) The second art is that of a bulette bursting from the ground - a good rendition full of energy and action.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the medusae artwork 9/10, the bulette artwork 8/10

Next we have the last short story of the issue, Evil is Your Wingman. A story full of imps, demons and downright nastiness - I loved it. It is yet another story from the creatures viewpoint, but like the previous stories, is well written and full of action. A good closing story for the issue. The artwork made me recall meeting Diablo in the original Diablo game for the first time - and hence I really like this one for the feelings it evoked.

TemplateFu scores this article 9/10, the artwork 9/10

Finally we have the issue Bestiary! A goodly collection of nastiness to spring on your players.

First up, at CR 7 is the Disembowled Prophet. A really nasty take on undead trolls. The abilities and theme make sense and the artwork is quite brilliant for this creature. Another of my favourites from the issue!

Next is a CR 6 air dragon, the GaleWyrm. A creature that uses the force of gales and wind as the core o its design. The abilities are consistent and the design tight. The artwork is lovely, full of dragon sinuosity and grace. I loved this too, but I love dragon art full stop! >.<

Now we head to late mid game with a CR12 Grim Harvester. An undead humanoid wielding a greataxe! This one really isn't very nice to meet but great fun to plan to run against your party! ;) I though the art was a superb rendition and only heightens just how malevolent and creaapy this creature is.

And then, joy of joy, a CR 1 ooze - the Jungle Ooze! I wondered if this needs bumping up to CR 2 though, not only is it vulnerable to something a first level party will have little to no access to, but also uses poison, very deadly to first level party saving throws. This ooze is quite vicious at CR 1, so do take care if you use it. The artwork represents it well once again.

Next a CR 3 tinty magical beast, the Mediogalti Devil. A low CR creature with one attack that confused me. If a claw deals 1d2 minus 2, then as the minimum damage for a successful hit is 1, then the claw attacks always do just one point regardless of the die roll. Also with Str being 6, there are even worse negative modifiers on its main attack resulting in a very limited damage output potential for a CR 3 creature. The artwork though is super nice.

Another CR 3 beast next, the Roperling. A humanoid creature sans skeleton that has rope like appendages, A weird and wonderful aberration with reach that is sure to creep out your players. The artwork represents the visuals I imagined very well.

Back to mid game CR 8 now with the Shepherd Devil. An outsider bardic devil who is the antithesis of inspirational bards, instead sickening its foes with its performances. The artwork is very moody and definitely brings forth the oppressive vibe of this creature.

Next a CR5 swarm, The VoidWasp Swarm. I hate wasps, if I hear so much as a buzz, I leave the room like a little girl... which I guess is why i found this design so decidedly wicked and evil. The artwork gave me the shivers too.

And closing the issue is a delightful CR 1 creature, Wechselkind. A small fey that has so many situational options that it will catch out your players time and time again. This one is going to get heavy use in my campaigns. The artwork clearly showing how evil can be found in the most innocent of looking things. I really like the possibilities of this one.

TemplateFu scores these beasties:

Disembowled Prophet - article 9/10, artwork 10/10
Galewyrm - article 8/10, artwork 10/10
Grim Harvester - article 9/10, artwork 10/10
Jungle Ooze - article 8/10, artwork 9/10
Mediogalti Devil - article 8/10, artwork 9/10
Roperling - article 8/10, artwork 8/10
Shepherd Devil - article 8/10, artwork 8/10
Voidwasp Swarm - article 9/10, artwork 9/10
Wechselkind - article 9/10, artwork 10/10

And so my review completes with an overall feeling for the issue as a whole...

It has both great diversity and great utility across many regions and campaigns. I think this is one of my favourite issues so far from the Wayfinder stable and I dare to think it may even be better than the Ennie award winning issue!

TemplateFu overall scores for this issue are: content 9/10, artwork 9/10

Dear Asmoseus. TemplateFu, you are simply brilliant!

I don't know how I'd follow that.
Possibly leaving off the marks out of ten, as I'd waver too much over them.

We also got a VERY nice review from Endzeitgeist, 5-stars, as well as a ringing endorsement!

Super big awesome thank you to Endzeitgeist for a wonderful Christmas gift!

Reviewed first on endzeitgeist.com, then submitted to NErdtrek and GMS magazine and posted here. Congrats and happy holidays to all of you fine folk!

I would have been delighted to be one of Endzeitgeist's favourites in this issue. Oh, well, I'll just have to work even harder from now on. Congrats to everyone who's been mentioned in the review!
And as promised, as a very humble thank-you gift, here's another batch of favored class bonuses for the subtype

If ez said it, you earned it!

I've been temporarily removed from the RPG world but this turned out really great. Even got a Template Fu review.