Pathfinder Chronicles: Cities of Golarion (PFRPG) (based on
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reviews)
Paizo Publishing, LLC
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Most adventurers think of cities as the places to go after the adventure is over. It’s time to show your players that cities can be every bit as exciting—and dangerous—as the darkest dungeon!
Each city presented in this 64-page book comes complete with a full-page color map, history both ancient and modern, relations with neighboring nations and monsters, noteworthy locations, and pages of adventure hooks, making it the perfect place to run a Pathfinder campaign!
Cities in this book include:
Cassomir, home of Taldor’s aggressive navy and strange creatures that lurk beneath the streets
Corentyn, the crumbling, haunted city that gives devil-worshiping Cheliax a chokehold on trade through the Inner Sea
Ilizmagorti, a haven for pirates and secret base of the mysterious Red Mantis assassins
Nisroch, gloomy port city of shadow and bone, ruled by priests of the sadistic god Zon-Kuthon
Vigil, a bastion of law and good on the border of civilization, built to watch over the tomb of an ancient lich
Whitethrone, capital city and noble playground of the daughters of the witch queen Baba Yaga
Cities of Golarion detail six far flung cities like Whitethone and Ilizmagorti. They add richness and complexity to those kingdoms where they lie, and give players somewhere to be from. Check out my full review: Cities of Golarion
This book does a very good job of fleshing out several cities in the Pathfinder campaign setting, and many of these cities also serve to give some additional flavor to the nations that they are associated with.
The coverage of Cassomir is a perfect compliment to the Taldor: Echoes of Glory product, and immediately, perhaps more than any of the other cities, this one stands out in the product as being the best base for a "standard" adventuring party.
On the other side of the coin, Nisroch doesn't seem like a place well suited for much except a destination for an adventure where the adventurers are quick to exit the scene once their mission is done.
It doesn't run at maximum awesome. Corentyn is fine, but doesn't seem especially well suited for being called out in a product like this, as an example.
Still, none of the write ups are bad, and the product as a whole is very solid.
The book presents 6 new cities in the Pathfinder campaign setting, devised for running urban campaigns. I guess you can use them for a part of your game, or center a whole campaign in them. Either way, the information is very useful and the writing is inspiring, so it's a very enjoyable read. I personally like to pick and chose, here and there, buildings, NPCs and plots, to enhance the flavor of my own cities. However, I rated 4 stars, because I think there should be at least some more good-oriented cities, and a little less complexity throughout the book. Maybe a "Towns of Golarion" would complement these aspects. It is overall an excelent buy, especially if you're interested in running urban campaigns or urban-adventures.
Each city is unique and leaves a DM with a detailed descriptions yet still allows some room for any personal touches desired to fit a specific campaign. The cities are unique and each has a different flair. Finally, we get to see a glimpse into the dark nations of Nidal and Irrisen via a couple of the cities. Great stuff!
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