So here's a secret about the text we create for the back cover of our books and the blurbs that go on our website and catalogs. They're usually done at the last minute by a developer who's been working on the product possibly for many months. In my case, that means I get a chance, finally, to play around with some writing of my own, even if it's only for a few paragraphs. When I wrote the blurb for Bestiary 6, I mentioned something called "strangely sentient oozes," because of the new category of ooze I came up with to include in the book. I didn't want to reveal their name or theme yet (that's for this blog post... read on for more!), but I did want to mention them in some way that felt nice to read and fun to write. And so I came up with the phrase "strangely sentient oozes," because I enjoyed the sound of the phrase; its consonance makes you hiss when you read it, which evokes in the mind (in theory) imagery of something slithering and sliding sloppily in subterranean sloughs or sepulchral sewers. See? I wasn't trying to give folks hints as to a new system of calculating intelligence for ooze monsters or trying to make folks deduce the nature of how a primordial ooze might become self-aware. It wasn't a clue as much as it was an attempt at lyricism.
Blights of Bestiary 6
Thursday, March 30, 2017
So here's a secret about the text we create for the back cover of our books and the blurbs that go on our website and catalogs. They're usually done at the last minute by a developer who's been working on the product possibly for many months. In my case, that means I get a chance, finally, to play around with some writing of my own, even if it's only for a few paragraphs. When I wrote the blurb for Bestiary 6, I mentioned something called "strangely sentient oozes," because of the new category of ooze I came up with to include in the book. I didn't want to reveal their name or theme yet (that's for this blog post... read on for more!), but I did want to mention them in some way that felt nice to read and fun to write. And so I came up with the phrase "strangely sentient oozes," because I enjoyed the sound of the phrase; its consonance makes you hiss when you read it, which evokes in the mind (in theory) imagery of something slithering and sliding sloppily in subterranean sloughs or sepulchral sewers. See? I wasn't trying to give folks hints as to a new system of calculating intelligence for ooze monsters or trying to make folks deduce the nature of how a primordial ooze might become self-aware. It wasn't a clue as much as it was an attempt at lyricism.
But it was certainly a blast seeing folks try to figure out clues anyway!
So, the time is here to reveal a little more about these strangely sentient oozes. They comprise a new category of ooze called a blight. This is a subtype of ooze, all of which are very intelligent (the dumbest one in the group has an Int of 15), all of which are quite powerful (the CR scores range from CR 13 to CR 19—I can't see any blights coming in future products that are CR 12 or lower, but there's absolutely room for blights above CR 19!), and all of which are linked to a remote, wilderness terrain.
Blights themselves were created eons ago by serpentfolk druids who worshiped the raw savagery of nature, and when they discovered a way to infuse the terrain itself with malevolence and sentience to recruit the land as yet another minion against their enemies, the first blights were born. But when they performed the ritual, it backfired... not only did the land liquefy and awaken, but so did their culture and the druids themselves. These druids, their sacred grounds, and the surrounding terrain transformed into a protoplasmic monstrosity that viewed all civilization (yes, including serpentfolk civilization) as the enemy. The first blight split itself apart into countless blots of slimy hatred and infested several different regions. The nature of those regions further shaped and forged these first blights' powers. The least powerful of them settled in the relatively lifeless deserts, where they developed powers of drawing moisture out of surrounding life and cursing their domains with extreme temperatures. The most powerful seeped into the deep caverns in the heart of the serpentfolk domain, absorbing radioactive ores and developing the power to petrify at a touch. Others settled in forests or mountains, sewers or swamps, and even in the frozen tundra. All possess spell-like abilities, a favored terrain, the ability to curse that terrain, and a tendency to rejuvenate if you don't uncurse their realm after defeating them. Blights are also tailor-made to serve as "boss" monsters for wilderness-themed adventures, for while they detest other creatures that have intellects, they understand that such creatures make great agents and soldiers in their campaigns against civilization. That they save their agents for last in their murderous plans is an uncomfortable truth that all who serve blights eventually learn.
Although there's seven blights in all, I'm only gonna show off three of them, but that should be enough to get an idea of their shared physical traits and themes!
Now that the hardcover edition of Curse of the Crimson Throne is out, countless groups of adventures are going to have the chance to meet the vast cast of NPCs featured in this campaign. The images in this blog post serve to highlight several, but not all, of the individuals you will be encountering or at least hearing a bout during the Adventure Path. For the player, consider the following information as common knowledge to anyone who's spent a few years living in Korvosa, while for the GM, the accompanying illustrations are great play aids to show during the game when the PCs are interacting with the NPC in question!
Faces of Korvosa
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Now that the hardcover edition of Curse of the Crimson Throne is out, countless groups of adventures are going to have the chance to meet the vast cast of NPCs featured in this campaign. The images in this blog post serve to highlight several, but not all, of the individuals you will be encountering or at least hearing a bout during the Adventure Path. For the player, consider the following information as common knowledge to anyone who's spent a few years living in Korvosa, while for the GM, the accompanying illustrations are great play aids to show during the game when the PCs are interacting with the NPC in question!
Those familiar with Curse of the Crimson Throne will doubtless note that certain key and important NPCs are missing from the following list, and that others might not have a significant role to play at all in the adventure—remember, this is a list of notable faces of Korvosa, and NPCs who only rise to prominence or arrive in the city after the campaign begins simply aren't logical choices to include here. Also, the presence of a few famous Korvosans on this list who don't play significant roles in the campaign should help to obscure for the new player exactly which NPCs have significant roles and are destined to play key parts! And of course, many of the NPCs presented below have secrets, hidden agendas, or surprises in store. In order to solve these mysteries, though, you'll need to play the game! (Or in the case of the GM, read the book—if you're having trouble finding an NPC in the text, don't forget the index of primary NPCs that appears on pages 438-439 of the book!)
King Eodred Arabasti II, ruler of Korvosa, is rumored to be in ill health.
Queen Ileosa Arabasti's popularity in Korvosa among the commonfolk has never been strong—many see her as a petulant spoiled young woman.
Ausio Carowyn is one of Korvosa's many nobles—an aristocracy increasingly out of touch with the commonfolk.
Boule is a successful businessman, but has long been rumored to be the leader of Korvosa's thieves' guild, the Cerulean Society.
Captain Cressida Kroft is the leader of the Korvosan Guard.
Archbanker Darb Tuttle is the leader of the faith of Abadar in Korvosa.
Darvayne Gios Amprei is one of many Chelish ambassadors who dwell in the city.
High priestess of the Cathedral of Pharasma, mysterious Keppira d'Bear is one of Korvosa's most powerful clerics.
Marcus Endrin is the leader of the Sable Company—Korvosa's elite hippogriff-mounted defenders.
Ruan Mirukova is a talented musician who finds his skills in rising demand for aristocratic galas.
Thousand Bones is a Shoanti shaman who has recently become a spokesperson for his people in Korvosa.
Toff Ornelos is the headmaster of Korvosa's world-renowned magical university, the Acadamae.
Trinia Sabor is a young but talented artist who's recent commission to paint the king's portrait has brought her increased fame.
Zellara Esmeranda is a talented Varisian fortune teller.
Arbiter Zenobia Zenderholm, known locally as the “Hanging Judge,” is well known among Korvosa's citizens for her harsh stance on criminal activity.
Illustrations by Kremena Chipilova, Julie Dillion, Andrew Hou, Irina Kuzmina, Nikolai Ostertag, and Imaginary Friends Studios
Goblins! Free to a Good Home! Or a Bad Home! Please Take Them Away!
Everyone knows that the surest way to improve the quality of any tabletop game is to invite the wholesome goodness* of goblins into your home, and your heart**. For this year's Free RPG Day, Paizo did just that, by delivering the whimsical prequel to our We Be Goblins series of adventures: We B4 Goblins. This lighthearted coming-of-age tale takes your players back in time to adolescence of our iconic goblin heroes***, where they can help these young adventurers reach adulthood by claiming their toads and joining in on their very first raid in a scenario ideal for introducing new players!
Goblins! Free to a Good Home! Or a Bad Home! Please Take Them Away!
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Illustration by Andrew Hou
Everyone knows that the surest way to improve the quality of any tabletop game is to invite the wholesome goodness* of goblins into your home, and your heart**. For this year's Free RPG Day, Paizo did just that, by delivering the whimsical prequel to our We Be Goblins series of adventures: We B4 Goblins. This lighthearted coming-of-age tale takes your players back in time to adolescence of our iconic goblin heroes***, where they can help these young adventurers reach adulthood by claiming their toads and joining in on their very first raid in a scenario ideal for introducing new players!
And now, We B4 Goblins is available to YOU free of charge on your paizo.com account!
As happens alarmingly often with these adorable*** little tykes, we have more goblins than can reasonably fit in the space provided! So for those of you who plan to run a table with five or six players, we have two brand new goblin characters for your PCs to test drive: the warchanter-in-training Bisbee, and the ever-lovable Smuz, who so obviously a goblin that you shouldn't even consider the possibility that he might not be. Because, I mean, come on.
These two little champions are ready to join Reta, Mogmurch, Chuffy, and Poog as they brave the world for the very first time! Visit your friendly local game store today, and print out these handy companions to join your own game today!
*For certain, nonbinding values of wholesomeness and goodness.
**Paizo Inc. assumes no responsibility for goblins applied to the heart.
***Heroism subject to change. Odds of winning 1 in 1s0,000.
***Adorableness not guaranteed. Consult your owner's manual.
The Paizo crew has begun to roll out for Gen Con 2015. Our trucks are loaded up with tons of Pathfinder products, including some fabulous promo items! Here's the run down of Paizo Promos, that will be available be at the show:
Fantastic Promos and Where to Find Them!
Monday, July 27, 2015
Illustration by Andrew Hou
The Paizo crew has begun to roll out for Gen Con 2015. Our trucks are loaded up with tons of Pathfinder products, including some fabulous promo items! Here's the run down of Paizo Promos, that will be available be at the show:
At the Paizo Booth
Daily Button
Each day we will have a unique button to hand out. These buttons are free, with no purchase necessary. Make sure you get yours early in the day as supplies are limited and they often go fast! Button designs are a surprise until the day they are released and will be featured during the Gen Con live blogging each morning.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Promo Card
The "Temptation of Big Die" promo card is free, with no purchase necessary, while supplies last.
Discounted Occult Adventures PDF
Purchase the Occult Adventures hardcover at the Paizo Gen Con booth and get the PDF for just $5.00! The $5.00 PDF cannot be gifted and purchaser must provide an email address. PDF will be available through purchasers paizo.com "My Downloads" page.
Pathfinder Society
Unique Button
The Pathfinder Society button will be available at the PFS HQ in the Sagamore Ballroom. (Free, no purchase necessary, while supplies last).
Pathfinder Battles Mystery Miniatures
Pathfinder Battles prepainted "mystery figures" for ticketed participants in the Thursday-night and Friday-night Pathfinder Society "Special" events.
Scotty's Brewhouse
Pathfinder Minimate
Limited-edition glow-in-the-dark Ghost Goblin Minimate figurine, available for sale ($5.00) exclusively at Scotty's Brewhouse. And while you're there, why not grab a pint of "Goblin Ghost Ale" or snack on something from the Pathfinder themed menu specially provided for Gen Con weekend?
In addition to our promos, we have a couple community and social media activities for attendees to join in on:
Annual Costume Contest
The Gen Con Costume Contest is back! If you plan on attending Gen Con in Pathfinder cosplay, stop by the booth and get your picture taken to enter.
#GoblinHorde
Have you gotten your hands on all of our goblin promos at the show? Share your finds using this hashtag!
Pathfinder Iconic Standees
Strike a pose! Tag your pictures with #paizoatgencon to get featured on Paizo's official social media outlets (Facebook, Tumblr, or Twitter).
Live Audience-Participation Author Game at Gen Con!
To celebrate the new partnership between Pathfinder Tales and Tor, this Gen Con we'll be hosting a live audience-participation Pathfinder game with a bunch of celebrity authors! Join me and Editor-in-Chief F. Wesley Schneider as we run acclaimed fantasy and science fiction authors Max Gladstone, Elizabeth Bear, Wesley Chu, and Scott Lynch through a pig-riding, fire-setting, dog-slicing goblin adventure!
Live Audience-Participation Author Game at Gen Con!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Illustration by Andrew Hou
To celebrate the new partnership between Pathfinder Tales and Tor, this Gen Con we'll be hosting a live audience-participation Pathfinder game with a bunch of celebrity authors! Join me and Editor-in-Chief F. Wesley Schneider as we run acclaimed fantasy and science fiction authors Max Gladstone, Elizabeth Bear, Wesley Chu, and Scott Lynch through a pig-riding, fire-setting, dog-slicing goblin adventure!
Yet this won't be just any celebrity game session. Everyone who shows up to watch will be given a Plot Twist card, and every 5 minutes, Wes will select someone from the audience to play their card, forcing me to rewrite the story on the spot. It'll be a madcap improv adventure—but what else would expect from goblins?
Come play with your favorite authors (and maybe snag an autograph afterward), and learn once and for all whether Wes's audience-fueled heckling can cause me to spontaneously combust! (WARNING: The test-run of this game was so intense that at one point my glasses actually flew off my head and smashed against the wall. So anything could happen!)
The game will take place in the Paizo seminar room (Room 233) on Thursday, July 30th from 5:00-7:00 PM.
Erik has been hit with some mighty fierce crud and is currently engaging in battle with the invading germs at home. In the meantime, you can check out the winners of this year's Gen Con Costume Contest in today's earlier blog. Be sure to stop by next Friday for more awesome Pathfinder Battles miniature previews!
Friday Publisher Preview: Out Sick
Friday, September 19, 2014
Illustration by Andrew Hou
Erik has been hit with some mighty fierce crud and is currently engaging in battle with the invading germs at home. In the meantime, you can check out the winners of this year's Gen Con Costume Contest in today's earlier blog. Be sure to stop by next Friday for more awesome Pathfinder Battles miniature previews!
Right after the debut Pathfinder Legends full-cast audio drama was released, my wife and I got stuck in an unexpected traffic snarl (which shouldn't have been too surprising, living in Seattle, and all). To kill the time, I put on the CD, and my wife—Shelyn bless her—obliged me by listening. It didn't take very long before she was getting into the story and following closely. There were a few instances when she made me pause playback, however, so that I could explain what certain locations, creatures, and characters looked like. It hit me then that not everyone listening to Pathfinder Legends may play Pathfinder or be familiar with some of the fantasy tropes that those of us who've been playing D&D or variants thereof for decades can sometimes take for granted. One of the reasons the audio drama is so captivating is that it doesn't include a lot of exposition dumps or narration, meaning some of the physical descriptions one might expect in a novel or RPG experience just aren't there.
Pathfinder Legends: A Visual Companion
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Right after the debut Pathfinder Legends full-cast audio drama was released, my wife and I got stuck in an unexpected traffic snarl (which shouldn't have been too surprising, living in Seattle, and all). To kill the time, I put on the CD, and my wife—Shelyn bless her—obliged me by listening. It didn't take very long before she was getting into the story and following closely. There were a few instances when she made me pause playback, however, so that I could explain what certain locations, creatures, and characters looked like. It hit me then that not everyone listening to Pathfinder Legends may play Pathfinder or be familiar with some of the fantasy tropes that those of us who've been playing D&D or variants thereof for decades can sometimes take for granted. One of the reasons the audio drama is so captivating is that it doesn't include a lot of exposition dumps or narration, meaning some of the physical descriptions one might expect in a novel or RPG experience just aren't there.
Thus, I put together this quick visual guide for listeners new to the Pathfinder universe to aid you in acclimating to some of the elements encountered in Burn Offerings. The following images and descriptions could be considered a spoiler, so if you aren't familiar with the Burnt Offerings story, I recommend scrolling down the page as you're listening to the audio drama.
First up we have the town of Sandpoint, where the adventure begins. This is a settlement of about 1,200 people in the nation of Varisia, in a coastal wilderness region known as the Lost Coast.
Illustration by Noah Bradley
Among the personalities the heroes encounter during the Swallowtail Festival are Mayor Kendra Deverin, Sheriff Belor Hemlock, and Lonjiku Kaijitsu (all pictured below).
Illustration by Andrew Hou and Maichol Quinto
Lonjiku's daughter, Ameiko, has a prominent role in the adventure, serving as their hostess at the Rusty Dragon, Sandpoint's finest inn and tavern (she appears on the cover of the third Pathfinder Legends release, The Hook Mountain Massacre). Her half-brother, Tsuto, also makes an appearance. It's pretty clear from the dialogue in the audio drama that he's a half-elf—here's what he looks like.
Illustration by Eric Belisle
One of my wife's most pressing questions toward the end of the adventure was, “what's a bugbear?” The character Bruthazmus plays a large role in the adventure's conclusion, as does his boss, Nualia Tobyn. They're both depicted here. He's a large-yet-sneaky goblinoid (bugbear), while she's a demon-tainted human with angelic ancestry (making her both beautiful and ugly at the same time).
Illustration by Eric Belisle and Eva Widermann
That should take you right up to the adventure's end. Does having images to accompany the audio heighten your listening experience? We can't add visuals to the audio itself, but if this is the sort of thing listeners like, we may make a habit of this sort of blog for future Pathfinder Legends releases. Comment on this blog and let us know your thoughts, both about this visual companion as well as Pathfinder Legends in general.
Paizo's Community Use Policy is a great tool for members of the community to use to share their passion for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting. Whether such projects take the form of fan fiction, a wiki cataloguing the continuity and canon of the setting, or a series of handouts or posters to advertise a local convention or game day, the CUP allows for non-commercial use of Paizo's intellectual property, including some pieces of art. Many of these art resources can be found in the Community Use Package here on paizo.com, but also on this very blog.
Demons Invade the Community!
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Paizo's Community Use Policy is a great tool for members of the community to use to share their passion for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting. Whether such projects take the form of fan fiction, a wiki cataloguing the continuity and canon of the setting, or a series of handouts or posters to advertise a local convention or game day, the CUP allows for non-commercial use of Paizo's intellectual property, including some pieces of art. Many of these art resources can be found in the Community Use Package here on paizo.com, but also on this very blog.
With the launch of the Wrath of the Righteous Adventure Path, we thought it would be helpful to the community to release some images of demons into the Community Use Package via the blog so that folks can use them legally to promote the adventure path and the Pathfinder Society's Year of the Demon metaplot. So take these images and use them in your Pathfinder community project. We can't wait to see what the creative minds who read this blog can come up with!
Click here For more information on the terms of the Community Use Policy and a registry of existing Community Use projects.
Illustrations by Eric Belisle, Eva Widermann, Andrew Hou, Tyler Walpole and Ben Wootten (Pathfinder Pawns: Bestiary Box, Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea World Guide, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary, and Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Lords of Chaos)
Advanced Race Guide Preview: Kill it With Fire!—Fire Bomber (Alchemist)
Advanced Race Guide Preview: Kill it With Fire! Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Everyone knows goblins have an unnatural love of fire. They love to see it flicker and burn to the sounds of their enemies' screams. While goblin adventurers, in an effort to get along with other more squeamish races, may control their pyromaniac urgings, others learn to harness that power and focus it into devastating force. ... Of course, since the goblin section of the Advanced Race Guide has plenty of options for fiery...
Advanced Race Guide Preview: Kill it With Fire!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Everyone knows goblins have an unnatural love of fire. They love to see it flicker and burn to the sounds of their enemies' screams. While goblin adventurers, in an effort to get along with other more squeamish races, may control their pyromaniac urgings, others learn to harness that power and focus it into devastating force.
Of course, since the goblin section of the Advanced Race Guide has plenty of options for fiery destruction, an alchemist archetype focusing on fire seemed like a good fit, so this week we present you with the fire bomber. As you'll notice from this archetype, there are many more options for goblin mayhem in this book, from a host of feats to some new discoveries, but you will just have to wait until the book comes out to check those out.
Fire Bomber (Alchemist)
Fire bombers are exceptionally good at using bombs to burn creatures and blow things up, but are not quite as good at creating other types of bombs or extracts. A fire bomber has the following class features.
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: A fire bomber treats torches as a simple weapon.
Illustration by Andrew Hou
Fire Bombardier (Su or Ex): At 1st level, when a fire bomber throws a bomb that deals fire damage, all creatures in the splash radius take an additional point of damage per die of fire damage dealt. Fire bombers only add their Intelligence bonus to damage from bombs or alchemical substances that deal fire damage. This otherwise works like the alchemist's bomb and throw anything abilities. This ability alters bomb and throw anything.
Bonus Feats: A fire bomber can select the Burn! Burn! Burn!, Fire Tamer, or Flame Heart feat in place of a discovery.
Fiery Cocktail (Su): At 4th level, whenever a fire bomber uses a discovery that deals damage other than fire damage, he can split the damage dice evenly between the bomb's primary damage type and 1d6 points of fire damage; when there is an odd number of damage dice, the odd die of damage comes from the primary damage type. For example, an 8th-level fire bomber could throw a concussive bomb that deals 2d6 points of fire damage and 3d4 points of sonic damage. Additional effects from the bomb still apply, but the save DC for admixture bombs is reduced by 2. This replaces the alchemist's 4th-level discovery.
Fire Body (Ex): At 8th level, a fire bomber adds elemental body I to his extract list as a 3rd-level extract. Elemental body extracts prepared using fire body are limited to fire elementals only. This ability replaces poison resistance +6.
Improved Fire Body (Ex): At 10th level, fire bombers add elemental body II to their spell list as a 4th-level extract. Elemental body extracts prepared using improved fire body are limited to fire elementals only. This ability replaces poison immunity.
Greater Fire Body (Ex): At 14th level, fire bombers add elemental body IV to their spell list as a 5th-level extract. Elemental body extracts prepared using greater fire body are limited to fire elementals only. This ability replaces persistent mutagen.
Discoveries: The following discoveries complement the fire bomber archetype: fire brand, rocket bomb (see sidebar); explosive bombs, fast bombs, inferno bomb, precise bombs (Advanced Player's Guide); breath weapon bomb, explosive missile, immolation bomb (Ultimate Combat); bottled ooze, confusion bomb, strafe bomb (Ultimate Magic).
... Illustrations by Andrew Hou, Michael Saas, and Florian Stitz. Wallpaper design by Crystal Frasier. Widescreen version here. ... Goblins for All! Friday, April 1, 2011Because you asked for it, the following changes are coming to Pathfinder: Introducing the next in our popular Players Companion line of products: Goblins of Purity! ... Goblins are popular. But they're not popular enough! With Goblins of Purity, we're giving you what you've been asking for—the chance to fully embrace...
Illustrations by Andrew Hou, Michael Saas, and Florian Stitz. Wallpaper design by Crystal Frasier. Widescreen version here.
Goblins for All!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Because you asked for it, the following changes are coming to Pathfinder:
Introducing the next in our popular Players Companion line of products: Goblins of Purity!
Goblins are popular. But they're not popular enough! With "Goblins of Purity," we're giving you what you've been asking for—the chance to fully embrace all of the madness and mayhem that is being a goblin—but in a way that allows you to still be a hero. This book is jam-packed with all manner of fun and exciting options for goblins dedicated to fighting against the rise of evil (as most often personified by greedy adventurers, slavering dogs, and those hateful horses with their sharp, sharp hooves and soulless eyes), all while maintaining the rip-roaring fun that being an arsonist or a baby-eater brings.
Goblins of Purity includes:
Two dozen goblin archetypes, including the Dog Hunter ranger, the Friendly Picklechucker rogue, and the Peaceful Beachcomber paladin
An extensive discussion of brand-new goblin versions of your favorite deities
An exciting reworking of the alignment system that allows you to play arsonists and baby-eaters while still being good-aligned
A brand-new 20-level base class built especially for would-be goblin heroes—the Goblin Babysitter, a class that gets extensive use out of this book's new "innocent accident charts"
We're not there yet, but when we send the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook back for another reprint, we'll be adding goblins to the list of core player races. Now everyone can be a goblin!
Starting today, goblins are now mandatory for play in the Pathfinder Society. Every group must have at least one goblin in the party. I expect some awesome stories from your games this weekend!
Later this year, we'll release the Goblinomicon, a 64-page book that outlines the foes goblins confront in daily life—including true and accurate stat blocks for dogs and horses!
Spoiler:
And... if you haven't figured out already, Happy April Fools Day!
... Illustration by Andrew Hou ... Introducing Squealy Nord! Wednesday, February 23, 2011Among the Licktoad Goblins, fame doesn't come easily. If you want to be taken seriously by His Mighty Girthness Chief Rendwattle Gutwad and allowed to undertake a dangerous mission—such as retrieving a load of fireworks from a goblin cannibal—you need to be ready to prove yourself. That means engaging in any number of deadly and disgusting dares, from eating a bag of bull slugs or braving the...
Illustration by Andrew Hou
Introducing Squealy Nord!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Among the Licktoad Goblins, fame doesn't come easily. If you want to be taken seriously by His Mighty Girthness Chief Rendwattle Gutwad and allowed to undertake a dangerous mission—such as retrieving a load of fireworks from a goblin cannibal—you need to be ready to prove yourself. That means engaging in any number of deadly and disgusting dares, from eating a bag of bull slugs or braving the dreaded Earbiter to the most fearsome challenge of all: attempting to ride the infamous Squealy Nord himself! (Presented above is an artist's rendition of one such attempt. Images of the aftermath have been deemed too graphic for public display.)
For more information on Squealy Nord and your chance to join the Licktoad heroes on their epic quest, be sure to stop by your local game store on June 18th to pick up your free copy of our Free RPG Day adventure, We Be Goblins!
... Illustrations by Andrew Hou. Wallpaper design by Crystal Frasier. ... We Love Goblins! Friday, February 4, 2011We definitely love goblins here at Paizo. In fact, more than anything we love them blinded, helpless, and fascinated. And with this new wallpaper, you can too! This wallpaper uses artwork from the soon-to-arrive Condition Cards, the latest Game Mastery card set from Paizo. With these cards you'll be able to easily keep track of the Pathfinder RPG's most common conditions, making...
Illustrations by Andrew Hou. Wallpaper design by Crystal Frasier.
We Love Goblins!
Friday, February 4, 2011
We definitely love goblins here at Paizo. In fact, more than anything we love them blinded, helpless, and fascinated. And with this new wallpaper, you can too! This wallpaper uses artwork from the soon-to-arrive Condition Cards, the latest Game Mastery card set from Paizo. With these cards you'll be able to easily keep track of the Pathfinder RPG's most common conditions, making it so you'll never miss a modifier again!
Where’s the “Gassy” Condition? Thursday, November 18th, 2010For some time now James has been warning the rest of the office of his general cheeriness or crabbiness with a printout of the goblins from the GameMastery Condition Cards and a Post-It arrow hanging on his door. Without the cards themselves, though, some of the meanings have been mysterious. Like the goblin below, for example: are his ears loose? Is he using mind powers? Could he be trying to keep the demons out? Yesterday it was...
Where’s the “Gassy” Condition?
Thursday, November 18th, 2010
For some time now James has been warning the rest of the office of his general cheeriness or crabbiness with a printout of the goblins from the GameMastery Condition Cards and a Post-It arrow hanging on his door. Without the cards themselves, though, some of the meanings have been mysterious. Like the goblin below, for example: are his ears loose? Is he using mind powers? Could he be trying to keep the demons out? Yesterday it was hard to say, but not today, with the printer proofs of the Condition Cards that just drifted in.
Illustrations by Andrew Hou
Deafened, James? If only it was that easy to make the screaming stop.
Guest Blogger Blake Davis Announces Special PFS Event
... Guest Blogger Blake Davis Announces Special PFS Event Tuesday, September 28, 2010 ... Illustration by Andrew Hou ... The Year of the Shadow Lodge is coming to Redmond, WA! Clear your schedules, as you won't want to miss this unique Pathfinder Society event coming up this Saturday, October 2nd at the Redmond Games and Gizmos at noon. ... Year of the Shadow Lodge is a unique Pathfinder Society adventure in which multiple tables of Pathfinders work together throughout the mission....
Guest Blogger Blake Davis Announces Special PFS Event
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Illustration by Andrew Hou
The Year of the Shadow Lodge is coming to Redmond, WA! Clear your schedules, as you won't want to miss this unique Pathfinder Society event coming up this Saturday, October 2nd at the Redmond Games and Gizmos at noon.
Year of the Shadow Lodge is a unique Pathfinder Society adventure in which multiple tables of Pathfinders work together throughout the mission. Pathfinders from levels 1–11 are welcome to come join and share their skills to help fight an epic battle that threatens Absalom's Grand Lodge itself.
As a special treat, since Games and Gizmos is one of Paizo HQ's local game stores, several members of the Paizo staff will be present and participating in the event! Events Manager Joshua J. Frost will be dusting off his own PFS character to play alongside one lucky table, and Developer Mark Moreland will be GMing. Other Paizo VIPs may stop by to observe and mingle with fans and players as well!
Details for holding yourself a spot can be found in this thread in the Pathfinder Society messageboards. Players can show up on October 2nd and hope for a space, but signing up as indicated on that thread is recommended due to limited space and to ensure there are enough GMs.
The event is also still looking for a few GMs to lead their fellow gamers through the stunning adventure, and as with any PFS adventure, GMs can apply credit for the scenario to one of their own level-appropriate PCs.
... Backup Blog! Thursday, September 23, 2010Sometimes, when we're trying to push a big book like Bestiary 2 out the door, it's five o'clock before anyone realizes we didn't put together a blog. So no one out there thinks the cave raptors finally got loose and gobbled us all up, please enjoy a new goblin from the upcoming Pathfinder Condition Cards and this picture of Sutter hard at work editing Plague of Shadows! ... Illustration by Andrew Hou ... Wes Schneider ... Managing Editor ...
Backup Blog!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sometimes, when we're trying to push a big book like Bestiary 2 out the door, it's five o'clock before anyone realizes we didn't put together a blog. So no one out there thinks the cave raptors finally got loose and gobbled us all up, please enjoy a new goblin from the upcoming Pathfinder Condition Cards and this picture of Sutter hard at work editing Plague of Shadows!
... 2 Many Monsters! Tuesday, September 21, 2010This is the final week of editing before we ship the Bestiary 2 off to the printer and that means the whole office is neck deep in monsters. Since we've nowhere else to put them in the ever-more-crowded editorial pit, I thought a nice way to get them out from underfoot would be to exile a few to the blog. So here are a handful of beasties we no longer need immediately on hand. Enjoy! ... Art by Damian MammolitiArt by Andrew Hou ... Art by...
2 Many Monsters!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
This is the final week of editing before we ship the Bestiary 2 off to the printer and that means the whole office is neck deep in monsters. Since we've nowhere else to put them in the ever-more-crowded editorial pit, I thought a nice way to get them out from underfoot would be to exile a few to the blog. So here are a handful of beasties we no longer need immediately on hand. Enjoy!
These Goblins Are _____, _____, and _____. Tuesday, September 14, 2010Goblins have the worst luck! Check back here in the coming weeks for more malicious misadventures from the upcoming GameMastery Condition Cards. ... Sketches by Andrew Hou ... Wes Schneider ... Managing Editor ...
These Goblins Are _____, _____, and _____.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Goblins have the worst luck! Check back here in the coming weeks for more malicious misadventures from the upcoming GameMastery Condition Cards.
... Oh, Yes We Did! Monday, July 26, 2010PRESENTING! The action scene you’ve all been waiting to see! ... Illustration by Andrew Hou ... James Jacobs ... Creative Director ...
Oh, Yes We Did!
Monday, July 26, 2010
PRESENTING! The action scene you’ve all been waiting to see!
... GameMastery Guide Preview: It's Here! Thursday, June 17, 2010 ... Illustration by Andrew Hou ... As I write this Cosmo is standing in our warehouse, shin deep in packing Styrofoam, yelling about peanuts to anyone who passes by. Such strangeness might be chalked up to the daunting nature of his task—though it is hard to tell with Cos—as he's surrounded by huge walls of boxes filled with books. Guides, of a sort. GameMastery Guides, even. Which he's helping to ship out right now....
GameMastery Guide Preview: It's Here!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Illustration by Andrew Hou
As I write this Cosmo is standing in our warehouse, shin deep in packing Styrofoam, yelling about "peanuts" to anyone who passes by. Such strangeness might be chalked up to the daunting nature of his task—though it is hard to tell with Cos—as he's surrounded by huge walls of boxes filled with books. Guides, of a sort. GameMastery Guides, even. Which he's helping to ship out right now.
That's right, the GameMastery Guide is shipping at this very moment. Tomorrow at PaizoCon hundreds of gamers will pick up their copies of our newest hardcover, getting one of the world's first looks at this indispensable new arsenal for Pathfinder GMs. In the days and hours to follow, subscribers and game stores should also be receiving their copies (if they're not there already), so keep an eye on your mailboxes and store shelves. And if you don't have your copy spoken for already... well, I won't get into numbers, but you might want to speak up soon! They're on sale now, so the time is finally here!
With the wait being almost over I could close this out here... but that seems lame. But what's left to talk about? We've looked at the rules, the art, the crazy extra elements, the dozens of pregenerated NPCs, the hundreds of charts, the art again, and tons more. Well, how about we look at it all again—in a totally new way. Below is the complete index for the GameMastery Guide, listing every topic, every table, and every NPC in this giant. That's it. That's everything. The whole book. How's that for a preview?
So thanks to everyone for reading, commenting, and being so excited about one of this year's biggest releases. And if you haven't checked out the GameMastery Guides and my past previews already, just click on the "Game Mastering" tag below for a look back at what everybody's been talking about.
As for what's next, next week it's time for something completely different.
... The GameMastery Guide: Mascots & Masterpieces! Thursday, May 6, 2010Aside from a metric ton of advice, new rules, charts, tools, and the like, one thing the GameMastery Guide has in spades is awesome new art! As you might have seen on the snippet from the credits page last week, a horde of fantastic artists contributed to this tome. We also did something a little unusual. Rather than illustrating every topic with our iconic heroes or scenes of battle or whatever have you, Andrew Hou...
The GameMastery Guide: Mascots & Masterpieces!
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Aside from a metric ton of advice, new rules, charts, tools, and the like, one thing the GameMastery Guide has in spades is awesome new art! As you might have seen on the snippet from the credits page last week, a horde of fantastic artists contributed to this tome. We also did something a little unusual. Rather than illustrating every topic with our iconic heroes or scenes of battle or whatever have you, Andrew Hou created a host of murderously adorable little mascots. A host of murderously adorable little goblin mascots. So, guiding you through the ins and outs, the perils and the pleasures of the GM's art, you'll find these mischievous little menaces causing all sorts of trouble.
Illustrations by Andrew Hou
But the goblins aren't alone. We've got an entire gallery full of incredible art, with quite a few familiar faces, to preview over the coming weeks. For now, check out a few of our mascots' hijinks, along with a sampling of some of the GameMastery Guide's other full-body illustrations.
Illustrations by Eva Widermann
Illustration by Florian Stitz
Next week, check in for a first look at one of the things sure to get you GMs drooling, a preview of the GameMastery Guide's expansive NPC Gallery.
Developer's Diary: They Came From Beneath the Sea!
... Developer's Diary: They Came From Beneath the Sea! Thursday, April 1, 2010As Wes mentioned a couple of weeks ago, our Open Design partnership project From Shore to Sea has had a few problems on its way through development and editing. But I'm happy to tell you that we are now in the final stages of getting this thing out the door and into your hands! ... Senior Art Director Sarah Robinson found a great artist, Damien Mammoliti, to pick up where the last one left off, and once that art...
Developer's Diary: They Came From Beneath the Sea!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
As Wes mentioned a couple of weeks ago, our Open Design partnership project From Shore to Sea has had a few problems on its way through development and editing. But I'm happy to tell you that we are now in the final stages of getting this thing out the door and into your hands!
Senior Art Director Sarah Robinson found a great artist, Damien Mammoliti, to pick up where the last one left off, and once that art came in, she put everything together in record time. Finally, there are some faces to go with the names (some of them pretty creepy, but faces nonetheless!). Coupled with Andrew Hou's fantastic, action-packed chapter openers, this adventure is finally coming together. And once we had the art, editorial questions like what is the correct plural of octopus (octopi? octopuses? octopodes?) were easily resolved. Here's hoping that the ocean between here and China is safely free of giant cephalopods.
Illustration by Andrew Hou
For a final sneak peek at From Shore to Sea, take a look here at Valeros trying to save some hapless (and disturbingly fishy) villagers from more of those pesky giant tentacles. And be careful when you go swimming. You never know what might be lurking beneath the waves!
... Leeches! Wednesday, March 10, 2010One of my favorite parts of being an editor at Paizo is getting to read about the new monsters in each bestiary before they come out. My favorites are the ones whose descriptions make me shiver with a delicious sense of horror and disgust. If the players facing these foul beasts make the same expression that I do reading about them, GMs will be richly rewarded for including them! ... Last week, James Sutter was casually describing some of the nasties in...
Leeches!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
One of my favorite parts of being an editor at Paizo is getting to read about the new monsters in each bestiary before they come out. My favorites are the ones whose descriptions make me shiver with a delicious sense of horror and disgust. If the players facing these foul beasts make the same expression that I do reading about them, GMs will be richly rewarded for including them!
Last week, James Sutter was casually describing some of the nasties in Heart of the Jungle as he handed over a copy of one of the chapters: "You know, giant botflies, giant leeches, and [...]" Oh sorry, could you repeat the rest of that sentence? I couldn't hear you over the sound of my inner child screaming in fear.
Illustration by Andrew Hou
You see, when I was about 10, I was reading my dad's Dragon magazine back issues while en route to a week of camping in northern Minnesota, and I came across an article called "Ecology of the Giant Leech." The description of foot-long ribbons of muscle whose bite you can't even feel slowly fattening as they fill with your blood horrified me—suddenly I was terrified to be spending a week canoeing and swimming in leech-infested waters. ("Leech-infested" is not an exaggeration; the water along the shore of every beach and campsite was thick with six-inch-long leeches.)
I studied over the article again and again, poring over the stats and descriptions of their attacks and vulnerabilities, so I'd know how to defend myself when the time came. (You can laugh, but clearly, it worked!)
Now giant leeches are back—and I can't wait to read about them again! Partly because I love being creeped out by things that go bump in the water, and okay, I confess, partly to learn whether leech-fighting methods have evolved over the years.
GMs, you're going to love these wriggly critters: monsters based on one of nature's actual horrors, and whose attack is so insidious that victims may not even notice until it's almost too late. The only thing more priceless than the expression on your players' faces when they find a couple giant leeches draining one of their comrades—and wonder about that crawling sensation on their own backs—will be the look on their faces when they realize they have to cross that swamp again on the way back.
... So... Are the Body Cards Coming Out Next Month? Thursday, December 10, 2009There's some nonsense about face cards coming out. On the one hand, I GM, and would find them very nice to have. On the other hand, my players tend to lump NPCs into two groups, one of which is rated R but not for violence, the other is dismemberable. They are motivated by things like money and loot, and if an old lady on a card asks them to get her cat out of a tree, they'll write hobo, no money, hope cat dies,...
So... Are the Body Cards Coming Out Next Month?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
There's some nonsense about face cards coming out. On the one hand, I GM, and would find them very nice to have. On the other hand, my players tend to lump NPCs into two groups, one of which is rated R but not for violence, the other is "dismemberable." They are motivated by things like money and loot, and if an old lady on a card asks them to get her cat out of a tree, they'll write "hobo, no money, hope cat dies," and then write a number which represents her physical attractiveness on a scale of 1–20. The kinds of notes they'd leave on the back of my treasured face cards would hopefully be written in pencil.
Illustration by Udon
Illustration by Imaginary Friends Studios
Illustration by Andrew Hou
That said, if you're like me and hope to one day train your players into the kind of people that are generally nice, roleplay with accents, and take feats which give bonuses to social skills, then, by all means, let them scribble on the back of something. You may be pleasantly surprised to find a card with "cool dude," or "super nice, wish her the best in Mendev," written on it. These kinds of idle hopes drive GMs to buying so-called, "nice things," and I, for one, am tired of hearing the responses my couch-seated group of closeted anarchists comes up with when I say, "blonde, good-looking, wears leather armor." I guess it's good they're just face portraits.
... Snagged from the Vault: Pathfinder RPG Bestiary Monday, July 20, 2009Work continues frantically as we put the final touches on the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. In anticipation of the light at the end of this beastly tunnel, here's a host of new divine creatures preparing to come to your PCs' aid in just a few short weeks! ... Art by Michael JaecksArt by Alex Schim ... Art by Andrew HouArt by Kieran Yanner F. Wesley Schneider ... Managing Editor ...
Snagged from the Vault: Pathfinder RPG Bestiary
Monday, July 20, 2009
Work continues frantically as we put the final touches on the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. In anticipation of the light at the end of this beastly tunnel, here's a host of new divine creatures preparing to come to your PCs' aid in just a few short weeks!
... Snagged from the Vault: Pathfinder RPG Bestiary Monday, June 29, 2009While the denizens of the Pit have been slavishly wrangling hundreds upon hundreds of beasts both fascinating and foul, we've managed to slip in and liberate a particularly interesting few. Now behold! We bring to you, our faithful readers, the terrible visages of four terrifying creatures, taken directly from the pages of the fabled Pathfinders' Bestiary that nears completion deep in the Vault of the Golem. Some of...
Snagged from the Vault: Pathfinder RPG Bestiary
Monday, June 29, 2009
While the denizens of the Pit have been slavishly wrangling hundreds upon hundreds of beasts both fascinating and foul, we've managed to slip in and liberate a particularly interesting few. Now behold! We bring to you, our faithful readers, the terrible visages of four terrifying creatures, taken directly from the pages of the fabled Pathfinders' Bestiary that nears completion deep in the Vault of the Golem. Some of these creatures are obvious, yet what the others are, we cannot say. Perhaps you, dear readers, can tell us what they are?
Art by Eric Lofgren
Art by Andrew Hou
Art by Kieran Yanner
Art by Michael Jaecks
Watch close for further glimpses into the gruesome Bestiary; next time, expect fearsome creatures from the Great Beyond!
... Infernal Sorceress Nominated for Origins Award Wednesday, April 29, 2009Here at Paizo we're pretty darn proud of our Planet Stories line of fiction. Reviving classic fantasy and science fiction by the likes of authors such as Leigh Brackett, Henry Kuttner, and Gary Gygax has been a labor of love for Publisher Erik Mona, Senior Editor Pierce Watters, and Editors James L. Sutter and Christopher Paul Carey. It's with great pride, then, that we announce that Gary Gygax's Infernal Sorceress...
Infernal Sorceress Nominated for Origins Award
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Here at Paizo we're pretty darn proud of our Planet Stories line of fiction. Reviving classic fantasy and science fiction by the likes of authors such as Leigh Brackett, Henry Kuttner, and Gary Gygax has been a labor of love for Publisher Erik Mona, Senior Editor Pierce Watters, and Editors James L. Sutter and Christopher Paul Carey. It's with great pride, then, that we announce that Gary Gygax's Infernal Sorceress has been nominated for an Origins Award! Take a look at the back cover copy:
"The underworld of the Iberian Peninsula is a dangerous place, filled with cutthroats and swindlers, and no pair is more infamous than the gaunt man known as Ferret and the broad-shouldered mercenary Raker. Yet when the swashbuckling comrades are framed for the one crime they didn't commit, the scoundrels are faced with a choice: bring the true culprits to justice, or dance a gallows jig. In order to do so, they'll need to pull out all their tricks, stretching magic and muscle to their limit as they invade castles, battle subterranean monsters, and bluff their way through courts of nobles and shape-shifters in their search for revenge. Yet can even this canny, ruthless duo prevail against the beautiful witch that plots their downfall?"
Gary's writing style was certainly unique, and for those interested in his influence on the modern English lexicon, this article by Stephen Chrisomalis is worth checking out. Among other things, the article discusses how he popularized the little-used words eldritch and psionic, and effectively created the word dweomer whole cloth. Well worth the read!
All Aboard for Absalom! Monday, December 15, 2008Earlier this week, we got in our first bound copy of Guide to Absalom. In the hectic GO GO GO! mentality that is the Editorial Pit, we're often surprised when books we send out do what comes natural and show up in completed print form back at the office. It sounds funny, perhaps, but that's the way it is in crazy Paizo-land! ... Anyway, the book reminded me that we actually haven't shown off that much art from Guide to Absalom. This blog...
All Aboard for Absalom!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Earlier this week, we got in our first bound copy of Guide to Absalom. In the hectic "GO GO GO!" mentality that is the Editorial Pit, we're often surprised when books we send out do what comes natural and show up in completed print form back at the office. It sounds funny, perhaps, but that's the way it is in crazy Paizo-land!
Anyway, the book reminded me that we actually haven't shown off that much art from Guide to Absalom. This blog rectifies that! Behold, one of the First Guards of Absalom by artist Andrew Hou, and a nice view of the Starstone Cathedral by Ben Wootten.
The Two Faces of Kyonin Friday, October 10, 2008In Pathfinder #17, the PCs visit the elven homeland of Kyonin. We'll be providing a gazetteer of this nation for GMs to use to expand adventures set in this verdant kingdom. As you can see by the two pictures here by Andrew Hou, though, Kyonin isn't just an idyllic sylvan setting with beautiful elven villages—there's a dark side to Kyonin as well. The fiend-haunted forest of Tanglebriar, empire of the demon Treerazer (that's his palace...
The Two Faces of Kyonin
Friday, October 10, 2008
In Pathfinder #17, the PCs visit the elven homeland of Kyonin. We'll be providing a gazetteer of this nation for GMs to use to expand adventures set in this verdant kingdom. As you can see by the two pictures here by Andrew Hou, though, Kyonin isn't just an idyllic sylvan setting with beautiful elven villages—there's a dark side to Kyonin as well. The fiend-haunted forest of Tanglebriar, empire of the demon Treerazer (that's his palace Witchbole shown in the not-so-friendly illustration), lies deep within the kingdom's borders, providing a constant source of high-level adventure opportunity for the brave and foolhardy.
How good? Hou good! Tuesday, December 11, 2007While we haven't completely finished the cover for Michael Moorcock's Lord of the Spiders, the sequel to City of the Beast, we wanted to jump the gun a bit and show off this great new painting from Planet Stories' go-to artistic visionary Andrew Hou. His cover for our first Moorcock book is one of my favorites, and I'm excited to see such a fitting successor! ... Michael Moorcock is a living legend, one of the writers who helped define sword...
How good? Hou good!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
While we haven't completely finished the cover for Michael Moorcock's Lord of the Spiders, the sequel to City of the Beast, we wanted to jump the gun a bit and show off this great new painting from Planet Stories' go-to artistic visionary Andrew Hou. His cover for our first Moorcock book is one of my favorites, and I'm excited to see such a fitting successor!
Michael Moorcock is a living legend, one of the writers who helped define sword sorcery fantasy (heck, he created the term "multiverse"), and I'm glad that in republishing his work, we're able to do it the sort of justice it deserves.
City of the Beast Wednesday, July 18, 2007As the second book to be released by Planet Stories, City of the Beast couldn't be more perfect for the line. First off, you've got Michael Moorcock, arguably one of the most important sword and sorcery authors of all time, the man who created the original fantasy anti-hero, Elric of Melniboné, and popularized such concepts as the multiverse. Now add in the fact that City of the Beast, the first in Moorcock's Kane of Old Mars trilogy, sends...
City of the Beast
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
As the second book to be released by Planet Stories, City of the Beast couldn't be more perfect for the line. First off, you've got Michael Moorcock, arguably one of the most important sword and sorcery authors of all time, the man who created the original fantasy anti-hero, Elric of Melniboné, and popularized such concepts as the "multiverse." Now add in the fact that City of the Beast, the first in Moorcock's Kane of Old Mars trilogy, sends this aspect of his Eternal Champion to the red planet in an epic homage to Edgar Rice Burroughs, and you've got the makings of an epic sword and planet romp.
In City of the Beast, an accident in a high-security government lab sends top physicist and expert fencer Michael Kane hurtling through space and time to a Mars of millions of years ago, in an age when the planet was still rife with life. There he meets the beautiful princess Shizala, as well as the merciless blue giants who besiege her home. Using the sword training of his youth and a tactical mind earned in the jungles of Vietnam, Michael Kane bolsters the city's defense against the barbarians, earning the respect of the locals with his quick wit and wrist. But when Shizala is betrayed by one of her own and kidnapped by the giants, Earthman Michael Kane must set out across a hostile planet in order to bring her home.
With fantastic cover art by Andrew Hou and an introduction by Kim Mohan, former editor of Amazing Stories, City of the Beast is a work of love by a master of the field. Watch for it here and in stores everywhere this September.
Points Unknown Wednesday, May 30, 2007Since we just got in some great rough sketches of notable Varisian landmarks courtesy of Andrew Hou, we thought we'd introduce you to some of Varisia's more infamous adventure sites. Presented below are but a few—look forward to more in the upcoming Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide. ... Bloodsworn Vale: A fey-haunted pass to southern lands which played an integral role in Varisia's break with the crumbling empire of Cheliax. Celwynvian: The...
Points Unknown
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Since we just got in some great rough sketches of notable Varisian landmarks courtesy of Andrew Hou, we thought we'd introduce you to some of Varisia's more infamous adventure sites. Presented below are but a few—look forward to more in the upcoming Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide.
Bloodsworn Vale: A fey-haunted pass to southern lands which played an integral role in Varisia's break with the crumbling empire of Cheliax.
Celwynvian: The doom-haunted capital of the Mierani elves, abandoned by its people.
The Face Pyramid: A great, timeless stone edifice rising forth from the Mushfen's murk.
Hook Mountain: A peak of dark repute, bent to resemble a colossal hook and the ancestral home of several tribes of inbred, brutish ogres.
The Mobhad Leigh: A vast and deep pit, which the Shoanti say has no bottom.
Riddleport: A depraved and lawless city whose ancient harbor bears a massive, rune-carved arch.
The Storval Stairs: Titanic steps cut into the face of the Storval Rise, the cliff face separating the lower half of Varisia from the eastern plateau.
Viperwall: The Citadel of Snakes, its walls of carved serpents endlessly leaking a venomous gas.
Kaer Maga: A city built inside the ruins of a single great structure of unknown function, perched atop the Storval Rise and renowned for its anarchic population of squatters and outlaws.
And Hou! Friday, May 25, 2007 ... While Wayne Reynolds has been getting a lot of press for his Pathfinder covers (and rightly so!), I'd like to stop for a minute and call out one of the other exemplary artists that Paizo will be featuring heavily in the year to come. ... Though so far we've only given you a tiny taste with the Sandpoint mayor headshot from Monday's blog post, artist Andrew Hou will be playing a key role in the visual development of Pathfinder. While you probably know him best...
And Hou!
Friday, May 25, 2007
While Wayne Reynolds has been getting a lot of press for his Pathfinder covers (and rightly so!), I'd like to stop for a minute and call out one of the other exemplary artists that Paizo will be featuring heavily in the year to come.
Though so far we've only given you a tiny taste with the Sandpoint mayor headshot from Monday's blog post, artist Andrew Hou will be playing a key role in the visual development of Pathfinder. While you probably know him best from his work in Dragon and Dungeon, Andrew will also be signing on as one of the lead interior artists in charge of making Pathfinder one of the most visually stunning products Paizo's ever produced. In addition, he's also just finished work on several covers for the Planet Stories novel line, coming through with a perfect blend of nostalgia and modernity that captures the essence of the books' original covers while still making them pop from the shelves—to see what I mean, just look at the blue giant piece, which is currently slated to grace the cover of Michael Moorcock's City of the Beast.
We hope you're as excited to have Andrew on board as we are, and expect to see plenty of his new Pathfinder art previewed here in the weeks to come.
Founded on Murder! Monday, May 21, 2007The foundation of a new town is not a matter to be taken lightly, nor one to be funded by one soul. Four powerful families from the city of Magnimar had designs on settling a region 50 miles to the northeast, and rather than work against each other, they consolidated their efforts and formed the Sandpoint Mercantile League. These four families, the Ameikos (glassmakers and jewelers), the Valdemars (shipbuilders and carpenters), the Scarnettis (loggers...
Founded on Murder!
Monday, May 21, 2007
The foundation of a new town is not a matter to be taken lightly, nor one to be funded by one soul. Four powerful families from the city of Magnimar had designs on settling a region 50 miles to the northeast, and rather than work against each other, they consolidated their efforts and formed the Sandpoint Mercantile League. These four families, the Ameikos (glassmakers and jewelers), the Valdemars (shipbuilders and carpenters), the Scarnettis (loggers and millers), and the Deverins (farmers and brewers), sailed north to claim their land after securing the rights from the Magnimar Charterhouse. Yet when they arrived, they found the place already settled by a particularly large tribe of Varisians, who held the region as a traditional place to spend the winter.
Unwilling to change course, the Sandpoint Mercantile League began a series of talks with the Varisians, promising them an important place in the new township. Unfortunately, after a week of talks seemed to go nowhere, an impatient man named Alamon Scarnetti took matters into his own hands. Rounding up a group of his brothers and cousins, the Scarnettis mounted a murderous raid on the Varisian camp, intending to kill them all and leave evidence implicating local goblins for the deed. Yet the Scarnettis, too drunk and overconfident, only managed to kill five Varisians before they were themselves forced to flee, leaving behind three of their own. The incident caused a several-month delay, but eventually amends were made and the town of Sandpoint was born.
Despite these violent first months, in the forty-odd years since Sandpoint was founded, things have been rather calm and quiet. The late unpleasantness, involving Chopper's murderous spree and followed closely by the Sandpoint Fire, constitute the worst thing that's happened to the town. Yet Sandpoint's current mayor, Kendra Deverin (female human aristocrat 3/expert 4), can't shake the feeling that the unpleasantness was but a preamble, and that dark times indeed are coming to her home town.
The excellent headshot accompanying this post is one of several Andrew Hou's worked up for Pathfinder—Kendra Deverin herself. Kendra has served as Sandpoint's mayor for the past five years. Lawmaker, judge, and general peacemaker, she has proven to be both an adept diplomat and stern hand when need be, both skills honed during her youth in Magnimar. With a personal—some say sisterly—style of governing, most of Sandpoint's citizens hold deep respect for their fiery-haired mayor.
