World of Niobe

Thursday, October 18, 2018

A while back, our friends at Stranger Comics, creators of the Niobe comic, launched a Kickstarter that had a reward level that included a limited-edition Pathfinder book that brought the world of Niobe into the Pathfinder rules, allowing fans of the comic and character to play within the fantasy world of Asunda. They recently launched a second Kickstarter, with the finished Pathfinder book including exclusive new art. I sat down with Sebastian A. Jones, Niobe's creator, and talked about roleplaying games and their inspiration on the world of Asunda.

Here's what Sebastian had to say:

What are your previous roleplaying game experiences that were an inspiration for Niobe?

Dare I show you my LARP outfits over the years?

Honestly, I found Niobe, or perhaps she found me, some thirty years ago amidst my adolescent fears hidden under the invisibility cloak of being too cool for school. People tend to see through that crap - she did.

Niobe would soon reflect my own ambitions, rage, and whatever raw emotions I was feeling. As I grew, she grew with me, a mirror of my own design and desire. A being of darkness and light, she would make the fantasy world of Asunda I was creating a better place, no matter the cost. As an outlet for Niobe and her world I created Stranger Comics, where I could tell her stories as well as other tales of conflicted characters. She was first introduced in The Untamed painted by Peter Bergting (Lord of the Rings), dubbed a "Frazetta Western," and then Niobe: She is Life coauthored by Amandla Stenberg (Hunger Games) and now... she is about to be deified in Pathfinder! (All of which are available on our current kickstarter, titled Niobe Returns).

I mostly GM'd, so sculpting Asunda was a constant. MERP and Rolemaster, First and Second Edition D&D, and a healthy dose of wielding foam swords kitted out in my Mum's bathrobe. (I did eventually level up to thrift store attire).

The stories (campaigns) I wanted to tell always had grand world changing underlying plots, but the seasonal arcs reflected what we would go through—the pain and beauty of coming of age, revenge vs. redemption, love vs. lust, and so on. I was usually inspired by my personal life and creators across all genres ranging from Kurosawa to Kirby, John Lennon to John Coltrane. How could we translate an emotional connection to gaming was important, so being in character was second nature, but I don't want to sound all melodramatic - we had a boat load of fun!

It also was apparent as a young mixed kid, that there were little to zero characters that reflected folks of color in these worlds I played in, unless they were a fetish sidekick, an obligatory dark elf, or the easily seduced Umbar in Middle Earth. And the stories told, as amazing as they were, well, I wanted them to reflect not only a global audience, but the duality of sinner and saint within us all.

That is who Niobe is, half angel, half demon. The chosen one. And anyone can be her, all they have to do is pick up the sword.

What are you most excited to see translated into Pathfinder?

All of it! I think the new races and feats that have been with me, Darrell, Josh, and the rest of the Asunda crew—to be able to experience them in an official Pathfinder game setting (no house rules lol!) is such a dream. Paizo are kicking ass with their designs on everything, I can't wait for folks to also share their own experiences in the same world, it has me geeked out. To everyone reading this, please check out the Esufey race… our elemental first born fairies, and of course Niobe's own paladinic type class, the paragon. Yeah, goosebumps.

Why did you choose Pathfinder for this project?

From a mechanic perspective I have played a lot of systems, and Pathfinder seems to have nailed down the perfect harmony of simple to complex. You can mold the character you want to play, in any way shape and form, while maintaining originality in a well-balanced gaming world. I love it! From a social standpoint, I love how the team at Paizo clearly believes that representation matters in a most authentic way. So, Niobe's world of Asunda fits in perfectly.

What are you most excited about seeing in the World of Niobe book?

Niobe herself—and all of the people that can now be her. That is just badass.

What from Erathune do you think would best fit in a roleplaying game?

MOOOOOOOOOG!!! Moog Thrak Gorbak, our resident Ogre Queen, ain't pretty but she will jack you up if you tell her otherwise. She killed enough of us when we were gaming. My co-creator Darrell May is responsible for this tons-of-fun menacing masterpiece.

Erathune, which is also available now in oversized deluxe hardcover on our Kickstarter, is probably the most gamerish and RPGesque of all our Asunda titles (plus it has Niobe in it). Four issues of full-scale war bedlam between Macgrom (dwarves) and Grachukk (great orcs) should rattle any roleplayer's senses, plus it ties in all of our other titles—and all of this is set in the icy mountains of Herfang with art by Hyoung (The Last of Us) and Sheldon Mitchell (Cable, Vampire Hunter D).

Regarding the question, I think what Darrell has created as far as a full town setting above ground as well as below, with trade routes, surrounding Isinniel (elven) and Urzoth (barbarian) clans easily lends itself to any campaign. Plus, I am excited to finally show off Soul Sunder, King Buxton Stonebeard's legendary cursed axe of Madraq (The Goddess of Death).

Every item across our various books will have runes on them, it is up to you to translate. Every race has a story to tell, every town has a past, it is up to you to dive in and explore. So click the Kickstarter link and roll d'em dice.

Currently, we're finishing up development of the World of Niobe Pathfinder book and hope to have it in backers' hands very soon. I hope you all have enjoyed this glimpse into another world.

Adam Daigle
Managing Developer

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Licensed Products Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Stranger Comics
Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Dang it, I was just about off of Kickstarters for awhile...

Silver Crusade

Woohoo! I've been excited for this for awhile :3


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

Wish I'd heard about the first KS too. Gonna need to dig into this to check out the comics and the game portion. Is the PF part in this KS more like a module adventure, a CS book or some blend? Anyone know?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Dhampir984 wrote:
Wish I'd heard about the first KS too. Gonna need to dig into this to check out the comics and the game portion. Is the PF part in this KS more like a module adventure, a CS book or some blend? Anyone know?

Glad it caught your eye. Just wanted to let you know that even though you missed the last 2 kickstarters, it's not too late. We have a level on this campaign called EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING that has all the books, including the ones from the first 2. And then you can add on the Pathfinder book. If you don't want to go all in on that one, there are plenty of other pledge levels but just make sure you add on The Untamed: A Sinner's Prayer, as that's where it all begins. There are hardcover and paperback versions.

And based on your username, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you'll like my vampire book, Essessa :-)


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Dhampir984 wrote:
Wish I'd heard about the first KS too. Gonna need to dig into this to check out the comics and the game portion. Is the PF part in this KS more like a module adventure, a CS book or some blend? Anyone know?

The book is supposed to be a bit of a hybrid, by the way. New classes, races, and feats. Not strictly an adventure module but everything you need to know to run the story of Niobe: She is Life as an adventure or start delving out into the world of Asunda on your own.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
TriOmegaZero wrote:
Dang it, I was just about off of Kickstarters for awhile...

Come on, just one roll. It's just a D20, no big deal...


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Rysky wrote:
Woohoo! I've been excited for this for awhile :3

We are too. I've been itching to play test it since we toured the Paizo offices at Emerald City Comic Con.

Liberty's Edge

Is this a second Niobe pathfinder book, or the same book that is for sale on the stranger comics website with a different cover?


So, is this going to be meant for PF 2e or 1e?


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Is there any way to get this book physically from Paizo perhaps? While I participated in the kickstarters, I only pledged for the digital comics, because the shipping to Europa was prohibitively expensive.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Patrick Newcarry wrote:
So, is this going to be meant for PF 2e or 1e?

It will be 1e, but if it goes well, then the next one...


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Gilliby Ban wrote:
Is this a second Niobe pathfinder book, or the same book that is for sale on the stranger comics website with a different cover?

It's the same one that's up for preorder on the website. We just didn't have the actual cover when that listing went up, so it was a mock up.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Zaister wrote:
Is there any way to get this book physically from Paizo perhaps? While I participated in the kickstarters, I only pledged for the digital comics, because the shipping to Europa was prohibitively expensive.

I think Paizo will only be selling it digitally, but you can get it digitally on the KS too.


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Stranger Joshua wrote:
Zaister wrote:
Is there any way to get this book physically from Paizo perhaps? While I participated in the kickstarters, I only pledged for the digital comics, because the shipping to Europa was prohibitively expensive.
I think Paizo will only be selling it digitally, but you can get it digitally on the KS too.

Thank you but I can only see a signed print version as a possible add-on.

I'd have pledged for print comics plus thisbook in the first kickstarter already, or in the new one, but the shipping is like $90 if I remember correctly.


Wow, that's very Сool !


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Stranger Joshua wrote:

Glad it caught your eye. Just wanted to let you know that even though you missed the last 2 kickstarters, it's not too late. We have a level on this campaign called EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING that has all the books, including the ones from the first 2. And then you can add on the Pathfinder book. If you don't want to go all in on that one, there are plenty of other pledge levels but just make sure you add on The Untamed: A Sinner's Prayer, as that's where it all begins. There are hardcover and paperback versions.

And based on your username, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that you'll like my vampire book, Essessa :-)

Hey, thanks for the update! I might have to pass the EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING level and looks a little further down to see what I can find. The comics look good!

Silver Crusade

Any news on this?


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

PDFs should be out this week sometime and physical rewards are still due in March as last expected. At least according to the update from last week.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Dhampir984 wrote:
PDFs should be out this week sometime and physical rewards are still due in March as last expected. At least according to the update from last week.

I'm really glad to hear that this is about to be released. I ordered my copy through the Stranger Comics website a while back, and I'm eagerly looking forward to it.

Silver Crusade

I still haven't received the module.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Interesting – HBO is apparently working on a TV show based on these comics: Link

Paizo Employee Managing Developer

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Yep! I'm so happy for Sebastian and his team!

Silver Crusade

AWESOME!!!


Is the Niobe PFRPG book available outside of the Kickstarter?

Paizo Employee Managing Developer

PFRPGrognard wrote:
Is the Niobe PFRPG book available outside of the Kickstarter?

It appears you can get the PDF on the Stranger Comics website.

Community / Forums / Paizo / Licensed Products / General Discussion / Paizo Blog: World of Niobe All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in General Discussion