Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to Absalom (OGL)

4.00/5 (based on 7 ratings)
Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to Absalom (OGL)
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Founded 4,700 years ago and designed by the god Aroden himself, Absalom is a hub of mercantile and spiritual activity. Traders come from all over the globe to sell their wares in the City at the Center of the World, while those hoping to become gods work up their courage to attempt the Test of the Starstone. Many armies have tried to conquer Absalom, but the city has never fallen. Thrown into chaos since the death of Aroden, the island city fights to maintain its independence and prestige as a shining beacon of civilization.

The largest and most important metropolis in the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting comes alive in this comprehensive sourcebook! Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to Absalom includes:

  • Neighborhood-by-neighborhood summaries loaded with adventure hooks, from the flooded slums of the Puddles to the temples of failed gods in the Ascendant Court.
  • Key movers and shakers in the city, and their eternal shadow war for ultimate control.
  • Detailed information on organizations both good and evil, from the Smoke Knights to the Gillmen.
  • Absalom's war-torn history.
  • Descriptions of daily life in the city, including cost-of-living information by district.
  • Information on the ruined siege castles of the Cairnlands and the Absalom's other holdings.

Except for a short chapter on Absalom's secrets, all of the information contained in this book is safe for players in any Absalom-based campaign, and is compatible with any edition of the world's most popular roleplaying game!

By Owen K.C. Stephens

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-141-1

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Archives of Nethys

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscription.

Product Availability

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Available now

Ships from our warehouse in 11 to 20 business days.

PDF:

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Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at store@paizo.com.

PZO9205


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Average product rating:

4.00/5 (based on 7 ratings)

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Portuguese - Br

4/5

O livro é bom e informativo, porem como livro de uma cidade genérica para ser utilizada como palco de uma campanha, é inferior ao Guide to Korvosa. O livro é um livro de referencia do cenário e apenas isso, dando menos subsídios para se criar uma campanha do que na outra obra citada. Para fãs do cenário de Golarion e que acompanham as grande metatramas do cenário o livro é importante, mas mesmo assim poderia ser melhor escrito para gerar mais empolgação na leitura.


A Little Light

3/5

Overall, I do not regret purchasing this companion. It briefly touches on many subjects allowing you to build the city from this framework. I did expect more substance considering this is the most coveted city in the Inner Sea Region. Case in point, the harbor is protected by hippocampus cavalry (Wave Riders). No stats on the hippocampus and it is not in the bestiary. Better map of Kortos?


Good ideas - needs better support

3/5

Of all of the Pathfinder Chronicles volumes I have (which is most of them), I found the Guide to Absalom to be the most uneven in quality. There are plenty of good ideas in there for running a campaign in the city, but I found that parts of the product didn't live up to other parts.
The cartography, in particular, falls short. The city-wide map offers little to support some of the features of the city - flooding in the Puddles, the Beast in the Docks, Misery Row. The city map, while it has little buildings dotting all over it, fails to include much in the way of major landmarks, either identified or implied.


With no hesitancy, pick this one up.

4/5

This book really, really made me want to run a campaign in Absalom. Lots of really interesting, internally consistent tid bits about Absalom.

A book this size can't be super detailed, but there is a whole lot more to this book than we have seen about the city before, including enough information to pretty much run an entire campaign just on the Isle of Kortos.


AWESOME BOOK

5/5

This is another high quality product from Paizo. I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 but will round up this time.

The background of the city as well as the current state of play is surperb. It makes me want to jump in there straight away and play. Have not participated in the PFS yet, this book makes me what to get involved in the politics and excitement. I should also mention that there is a small amount of artwork but what is present is up to scratch.

There are no player options in this book and I would recommend it to any DM. Saying that, there is plenty for a player to get out of the book for character background and knowledge to enhance RP.


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Paizo wrote:
A beautiful poster map reveals the entire city in glorious detail.

w00t!!!!

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Will there be more Urban adventures to complement this?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

yoda8myhead wrote:
Will there be more Urban adventures to complement this?

There will be more urban adventures, but you'll really want to pay attention to the Pathfinder Society, which will have plenty of stuff set in Absalom.


After the awesome of the Korvosa guide, I think I've just found my Christmas present.

For me, and for everyone else too! ;P

Contributor

Ya know, I'm also looking forward to this book. I'll definitely be picking it up. I got to write up a little chunk of the city in Gallery of Evil and it was a ton of fun. I never realized how much I enjoy city building. I'm looking forward to seeing how all of the rest of city turns out and if anything has been added to my little corner of the hub of civilization.

Silver Crusade

This will be the best book for those running Pathfinder Society.


I am already drooling copiously for this...

Oh wait...

Thats horrendous flame!

I am looking forward to lots more Urban adventures too. This should be an awesome book.
I like this avatar.

Liberty's Edge

Yes Please!

Scarab Sages

Steve Greer wrote:
I'm looking forward to seeing how all of the rest of city turns out and if anything has been added to my little corner of the hub of civilization.

For the record, I loved your little corner, and have high hopes of adding to it!

Sovereign Court

Owen, are you writing this? If so,
a)that rocks!
b)you need to get your name on the product description above!
c) I can't wait!

Paizo Employee CEO

Btw, I saw the sketch today of Wayne Reynolds' cover for this book. I have one word to say...

Frickinawesomemaniastokism!

-Lisa

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

I've posted the final cover. If you still see a mountain view, reload your browser's image cache.

Dark Archive

Okay, that looks sweet! Sweet! SWEEEEEEET! Nice.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

The lack of poster map in this is very disappointing. Any chance of getting a poster map to buy on its own?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

yoda8myhead wrote:
The lack of poster map in this is very disappointing. Any chance of getting a poster map to buy on its own?

We were unable to get things to come together properly in time for this project, but we expect to provide a large map of Absalom in an as-yet-unannounced product for next spring.

Silver Crusade

Now that is the way I like my Pathfinder products--graced with WAR!!!


Haldir wrote:
Now that is the way I like my Pathfinder products--graced with WAR!!!

Yeah, the official cover is just amazing :D

Dark Archive

Is it me, or does Joshua...er...Ezren look real menacing in that painting?

Sovereign Court

Nice cover!

The Exchange

I like Merisiel's expression on the cover: "Only eight thugs? We can take 'em."

Liberty's Edge

Uh oh, looks like January could be a double month...

Liberty's Edge

Pygon wrote:
Uh oh, looks like January could be a double month...

Yes December seems slow this year :-(

Paizo Employee CEO

It is because of the Christmas season, since the printers get busy. Currently, our schedule has product arriving in the third week of the month. But the Christmas rush caused a 10 day delay or so, causing the products to be pushed to the end of December. We won't know an exact date until we get closer.

To combat this problem, we are working our schedules so that product is supposed to arrive in the first week of the month. That way, if there is an slippage due to customs or Christmas or whatever, the products will still come out in that month. However, moving a schedule up is a very hard task that only comes in baby steps. Hopefully, we can get this accomplished by next fall.

-Lisa

Liberty's Edge

Lisa Stevens wrote:

Hopefully, we can get this accomplished by next fall.

-Lisa

No hard feelings from here, just looking forward to your products and would like to read some of them over the holidays.

Liberty's Edge

*runs around in desperation*
jeje sorry had to do that

i really really hope its ships early
snif
i want to put a campaign in Absalom... because i fell in love with the city and have been wanting to do a city campaign for a while

and while Korvosa is nice... its to strict for the things my players want to do (like being heroic vigilantes saving damsels from slavers and that sort of things)

Liberty's Edge

Steve Greer wrote:
Ya know, I'm also looking forward to this book. I'll definitely be picking it up. I got to write up a little chunk of the city in Gallery of Evil and it was a ton of fun. I never realized how much I enjoy city building. I'm looking forward to seeing how all of the rest of city turns out and if anything has been added to my little corner of the hub of civilization.

iu just got my claws in Gallery of Horror... mostly because a friend of mine told me there was a map of Ivy District... (which i need to begina a campaign, since i have a player deeply interested in Sheylin and the art around her we decided to use the Ivy District... i imagined the temple of Sheylin a bit different, but i loved the rescription of the groove, quite similar to what had in mind... just i have soemthing else in the center... still i think i am taking yours :D}

a question do you or anyone else involved in the book, could tell me where they put the Temple of Calistria? i thought it would be in the Ivy too, but i sawthey put it elsewhere...

since it will take a month or more to get the copy of Absolom guide... could someone tell me where this temple would appear? thanks :D

Liberty's Edge

whoa! the Starstone Cathedral by Ben Wootten just looks awesome!

its a plae i want to visit... and i hope not to stay :D

also the first guard looks very impresive

i can wait for my Guide to Absalom... can i have it now?

Liberty's Edge

Vic Wertz wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
The lack of poster map in this is very disappointing. Any chance of getting a poster map to buy on its own?
We were unable to get things to come together properly in time for this project, but we expect to provide a large map of Absalom in an as-yet-unannounced product for next spring.

I hope this un-announced product also has a map of the whole island with Absalom too. Is there at least a small map of the city on the interior cover or something?


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Totally awesome pic of the city and the Cathedral. Precisely the way to depict the city.

Montalve wrote:

whoa! the Starstone Cathedral by Ben Wootten just looks awesome!

its a plae i want to visit... and i hope not to stay :D

also the first guard looks very impresive

i can wait for my Guide to Absalom... can i have it now?

Contributor

Coridan wrote:
I hope this un-announced product also has a map of the whole island with Absalom too. Is there at least a small map of the city on the interior cover or something?

Guide to Absalom has a full-page map of the city and the towns that butt up against the city's outer wall. It identifies all the city's districts and such.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Coridan wrote:
I hope this un-announced product also has a map of the whole island with Absalom too. Is there at least a small map of the city on the interior cover or something?
Guide to Absalom has a full-page map of the city and the towns that butt up against the city's outer wall. It identifies all the city's districts and such.

Can we see this as another art preview? I think it'd not only make people want to buy the book (cause who doesn't love maps?) but will also be helpful to people running the Pathfinder Society scenarios, and being able to send players (and GMs) to a public map would be niiiiice.

Spoiler:
If I send you a pie?

Liberty's Edge

yoda8myhead wrote:
Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Coridan wrote:
I hope this un-announced product also has a map of the whole island with Absalom too. Is there at least a small map of the city on the interior cover or something?
Guide to Absalom has a full-page map of the city and the towns that butt up against the city's outer wall. It identifies all the city's districts and such.

Can we see this as another art preview? I think it'd not only make people want to buy the book (cause who doesn't love maps?) but will also be helpful to people running the Pathfinder Society scenarios, and being able to send players (and GMs) to a public map would be niiiiice.

** spoiler omitted **

yes please!!!! already in the middle of an Absalom campaign and Paizo doesn't sends my copy yet... we need our maps! :D

pretty please :D

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Sean, I owe you a pie now, don't I?

Dark Archive

A full page map?! This city deserves a poster map!

Liberty's Edge

yoda8myhead wrote:
Sean, I owe you a pie now, don't I?

i think we owe him at least a pizza, but long dstance pizza always arrive cold :S

Edit: because my memory is lax... THANKS!!!!!!

Liberty's Edge

Excellent blog entry today!!!

Liberty's Edge

ok i first saw the map and went crazy
came to the forum to thank
then i read the entry in the blog *^_^*

i can imagine Jason as he makes and designs the map under the constant vigil of the fading candle... awesome design indeed

but more like a crab monster i thoug it wasa brain-map :D

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Guide to Absalom has a full-page map of the city and the towns that butt up against the city's outer wall. It identifies all the city's districts and such.

Hurray! There's stuff outside the walls! Absalom is a real city! (I am often frustrated by fantasy city maps where there is lots of stuff inside the city walls and nothing, not even a tavern or wagon-seller, outside.) Hurray!


Mosaic wrote:
Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Guide to Absalom has a full-page map of the city and the towns that butt up against the city's outer wall. It identifies all the city's districts and such.
Hurray! There's stuff outside the walls! Absalom is a real city! (I am often frustrated by fantasy city maps where there is lots of stuff inside the city walls and nothing, not even a tavern or wagon-seller, outside.) Hurray!

Thats a good point. It is rare.


So... how does this map match up to the city district map shown in Gallery of Evil?

After looking at the map posted in the Paizo Blog and re-examining the one in Gallery of Evil, I can't quite see where they match up...

Contributor

Trust me, making that work was important. It's hard to tell in the map posted online because the tags obscure what you're looking for, but the Ivy District shown in GoE fits nicely into the posted Absalom map ... right under the letters "ist" in "Ivy District." Not under as in "south of," under as in "OMG there are giant letters in the sky above us, about to crash down upon us and destroy our very expensive homes! Don't they know we're rich!"

The Ivy District is tiny. Absalom is huge. On the Absalom map, I think the entire Ivy District is smaller than my pinky fingernail. But it's on the map.


Awesome!

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought there were goodies in here that Society members could use on their characters

Scarab Sages

Just got mine yesterday. Great book!

Liberty's Edge

haven't got the physical one, but my digital oneis great

i have just 2 complains... there are not all the prices for livingin for district, only half of them...

and it would have been great that like in Guide to Korvosa it showed small maps of each distrcit saying where each location stands (not the districts, but the interesting places)...

ii know i would have beena lot bigger book if it had that... but it really would hae been useful

the only 2 districts i know well are Precipice and Ivy and that is becuas ei got both urban modules

Sczarni

Matthew Morris wrote:

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought there were goodies in here that Society members could use on their characters

I think you're looking for this

Sczarni

Montalve wrote:


the only 2 districts i know well are Precipice and Ivy and that is becuas ei got both urban modules

Some of the Puddles district notable places were mapped out in silent tide PFS senario

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Cpt_kirstov wrote:
Matthew Morris wrote:

Maybe I'm misremembering, but I thought there were goodies in here that Society members could use on their characters

I think you're looking for this

Thank you Cpl_kirstov, that would be what I'm remembering.

Just in time for season 1

Scarab Sages

Quick question:

On page 3 it mentions an appendix with movers and shakers, and fighting techniques. Was this simply something that didn't make it into the final product?

thanks,
Heather

Liberty's Edge

Cpt_kirstov wrote:
Montalve wrote:


the only 2 districts i know well are Precipice and Ivy and that is becuas ei got both urban modules
Some of the Puddles district notable places were mapped out in silent tide PFS senario

yes... but still i don't know in whichplace of the map they are, jeje :)

i am more inmto where in the map i would find a store or somewhere important than havign actual maps of this place, those i can work them myself

but the other... yes its a bit more complicated

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