Best campaign setting / player companion products?


Lost Omens Products

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16

I've managed to spend enough money on my credit card that it's cutting me a $100 check and as I've been looking to expand my Golarion products collection, I'm probably going treat myself to a few pdfs. Question is what're the best choices? I'm more interested in setting-inspiring content, as opposed to mechanics, at the moment.

I've already got "Distant Worlds" and "Gnomes of Golarion."

"Sargava, the Lost Colony" and "Heart of the Jungle" (Mwangi) are high on my list, as I'm interested in both areas.

"Lost Cities" and "Cities of Golarion," Cheliax and "Inner Sea Magic" also seem like they could appeal to me.

"Taldor, Echoes of Glory" interests me as well, but is that product still up-to-date as it were, considering it was a 3.5 release?

I'd also consider some modules if I felt like they would give me more insight into some other areas. D3: The Demon Within and the Witchwar Legacy both have piqued my interest... (Plus I might get the Midnight Mirror as I like the Superstar contest.)

Anyway, thoughts?


Personally, I'd go for campaign setting over player companions - I think you'll get more flavor material bang for your buck and less mechanical options.

City of Strangers: Kaer Maga is my personal favorite (and got pretty glowing reviews and comments). It's not vanilla fantasy though, so may not be what you're looking for.

I'd avoid the Absalom book - it didnt have enough room, in my view, and ended up just a little too sketchy. (Guide to Korvosa would be a far better purchase if you want a 'traditional' urban setting.

Heart of the Jungle really grabbed me too - although partly because I expected to loathe it and Paizo (typically) managed to draw me in despite my preconceptions.

Lost Cities of Golarion was another very inspiring book, in my view (Dungeons of Golarion too, although less so). Both of them are obviously fairly heavily themed though and probably not so widely applicable.

The various "Nation-focussed Player's Guides" (Cheliax and Taldor) are likely to disappoint, I suspect - given your parameters. They've got a reasonable proportion of mechanical stuff and are only thirty two pages (though they're obviously cheaper). If you do go for those, I found Cheliax to be better than Taldor, although I'm not sure if that's just because I dont really have a handle on Taldor - Cheliax has a pretty clear theme to grab you quickly.

The "Revisited" lines and the Book of the Damned Volumes are pretty heavily tied to the setting, although not so much focussed on geographical areas. Avoid dragons revisited if you go down that route - it was an early one and not as well received as the others.

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16

Thanks, Steve. Anyone else with any thoughts? (And I don't mind mechanics, obviously, but I just want to make sure there's lot of material to help me grok the countries better.)


Cities of Golarion is very good as is Lost Cities. I love love love the Revisited line.

There are some really good locale ones as well. I particulary enjoyed Darkmoon Vale. Its a great read.

Land of the Linnorn Kings is a winner. Love Vikings.

If I could only go and get a few I would start with Cities of Golarion, Darkmoon Vale, the Linnorn King book and find a Revisited book or two you like


Some of the campaign setting products for the APs are amazing. Rule of Fear (for Carrion Crown) in particular, if you like Gothic horror. The aforementioned Land of the Linnorm Kings and the Dragon Empires Gazetteer (not really the same type of product as the other two) were tied to the Jade Regent AP. Those products contain an in-depth look at the regions in question, going into geographical, historical, and cultural detail. My favorite parts are the extra plot hooks that they include by way of interesting landmarks and personages. Bastardhall from Rule of Fear almost made me squee in a most undignified manner.


personally, I like the adventure paths and the map folios. awesome products. I like the players companions mostly because I like the focus on one particular subject...but you might consider campaign setting books if you want a broader overview of the setting.

Inner sea magic was pretty nifty. I'd have preferred a bit more of an expansion on some of the types of magic...but I can extrapolate what I need for my campaign based on what they've given out in that book.

again - adventure paths! even if you don't play through the AP, the setting materials alone are worth the expense.

just my .02 cents.

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Campaign Setting/Chronicles:

City of Strangers
<insert name here> Revisited
Distant Worlds
The Great Beyond
<insert name here> of Golarion

Companion:

Faiths of <insert name here>
Halflings of Golarion
Gnomes of Golarion
Cheliax, Empire of Devils

Dark Archive

The smaller Companions to Cheliax, Taldor, etc. were, IMO, too thin to do more than wet the appetite.

Of the ones you mentioned, Cities of Golarion and Lost Cities of Golarion were the most interesting reads. Inner Sea Magic had more 'crunch,' but it was specialized crunch, and not as generally useful (or compelling) as I would have liked.

My absolute favorite from the Chronicles line was the Faction Guide (as my insanity in the product thread might indicate), but I suspect that it was something of an experiment, since it hasn't really been mentioned since. I'd love to play in a sandbox style game where the PCs were members of different and at least somewhat compatible factions, and in addition to doing whatever the 'adventure' calls for, are also attempting to further the goals of their respective factions (such as the Kalistocracy or the Arcanamirum, not the amorphous 'factions' within the Pathfinder Society itself).

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16

So I ended up getting (for the first bunch; I might drop another stupid amount of money next month, as it'll be my birthday):

* Varnhold Vanishing (I'm about done with Kingmaker part 1 in a PBP and am getting ready to start a KM campaign in real life)
* The Demon Within (wanted to see what additional details it would have on Mendev, which is an area I like a lot)
* The Witchwar Legacy (ditto, but for Irrisen)

* Taldor (ditto, but for ... well, Taldor, obviously)
* Inner Sea Magic
* Lost Cities of Golarion

Still working my way through them (just bought them two days ago, so have only looked at Witchwar with more than a very cursory glance). Next batch will likely include Cities of Golarion, Advanced Race Guide, Paths of Prestige, Lost Kingdoms...

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