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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL)

4.60/5 (based on 130 ratings)
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL)

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Enter a fantastic world of adventure!

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game puts you in the role of a brave adventurer fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil. Will you cut your way through monster-filled ruins and cities rife with political intrigue to emerge as a famous hero laden with fabulous treasure, or will you fall victim to treacherous traps and fiendish monsters in a forgotten dungeon? Your fate is yours to decide with this giant Core Rulebook that provides everything a player needs to set out on a life of adventure and excitement!

This imaginative tabletop game builds upon more than 10 years of system development and an open playtest involving more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook includes:

  • All player and Game Master rules in a single volume
  • Complete rules for fantastic player races like elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and half-orcs
  • Exciting new options for character classes like fighters, wizards, rogues, clerics, and more
  • Streamlined and updated rules for feats and skills that increase options for your hero
  • A simple combat system with easy rules for grapples, bull rushes, and other special attacks
  • Spellcaster options for magic domains, familiars, bonded items, specialty schools, and more
  • Hundreds of revised, new, and updated spells and magical treasures
  • Quick-generation guidelines for nonplayer characters
  • Expanded rules for curses, diseases, and poisons
  • A completely overhauled experience system with options for slow, medium, and fast advancement
  • ... and much, much more!

Available Formats

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook is also available as:

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-60125-150-3

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Looking for more? Check out the Resources and Free Downloads available for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Errata
Last Updated - 5/30/2013

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

Hero Lab Online
Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Archives of Nethys

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Rulebook Subscription.

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

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Beware of wrought and make your perception checks

2/5 —

And we arrive at core. I personally have more experience with beta through heavy play testing. I’m giving this book a 2 specifically because it brings plenty of good ideas over from beta, e.g. what was done to skills, the tailoring choice of barbarian rage powers, the art, the presentation, the mixing of the players and dm into one book. However, balance has been abandoned. The monk and paladin class get far too much, compare them to the bard and the old stable, balanced fighter. Paladin has taken abilities from the healer class, an entire other class, while retaining its old abilities in the mix. The monk is frankly ridiculous, with ki, with bonus feats, with all the old monk gamut, but an increased progression on ac (yes I noticed). The penalties of flurry are also lessened, monk level and wisdom bonus added to combat manoeuvres so that they can be as proficient as what is the fighter’s specialty.

Few other things, the hit die change is just stupid. Upping the ranger’s hit die to the fighter level is a mistake. The ranger already gets more skills and a better selection. Why should he equal the highly drilled fighter when he already has points on him? Where is the balance? Wizards on a d6 is a laugh, an attempt to escape their old weakness. Rogues on a d8 is too much. The fighter in beta differs to the fighter in core. I far prefer the small steady bonuses in beta over the stolen 3.5 knight abilities in core.

I borrow a little from pathfinder in my 3.5 games, but what was done to the combat manoeuvres was just dreadful. A line to cross and beat isn’t as exciting as an opposed roll, although it does speed up play. CMD also gets dreadfully high far too quickly and easily. Defensive combat training (as in core, not in beta) is completely wroughty. Sure, the wizard adds his level to counter-disarms, why not? Seems plausible yes? Free and limitless cantrips, the wizard is not a warlock. Cantrips from a prohibited school (p. 79) also makes me think the wizard creators forgot what prohibited means.

Really close to a 1 with all the wrought and unbalance.

I <3 the Hardcover

5/5 —

Love the hardcover, It makes it a lot more durable and a book you are going to use this often needs to be durable. I mean come on its the core book used for almost if not every aspect of play!

Well overdo review

5/5 —

I have been playing D@D since second edition in the early 90's, when I went to walden books and bought the Monter manual they had there. I read that book many times and evently got the other books and started playing with my friends. I haven't felt that way since like forever until Pathfinder came along and renewed my interest in 3rd edition and D@D in general. This book is well done with many (needed) changes to classes, spells, rules, and that horrid 3.0/3.5 skill system. I love what Paizo has done with 3.5 and after 2 years I haven't been disapointed with there products yet. Thank you Paizo.

Late to the party - total convert

5/5 —

So I played D&D for years and then converted to the Warhammer RPG years ago. At one point, based on the awesome artwork, I picked up the "Rise of the Runelords" adventure path and converted it for my Warhammer group. It rocked Last year, I picked up a copy of the Pathfinder core rulebook jsut based on the fact that the ROTRL adventure path was so awesome. I basically just had the book for a year and only looked through it to marvel at the artwork. I have moved away from my rpg group so it has been a game free three years for me (ouch)
At a recent con, my eldest son (a teen) looked at the Pathfinder stuff and said "That looks fun,Dad". (Game on!). I told him I had the book and some adventures. We bought some condition cards and went home and cranked up a campaign. As I looked at the Pathfinder rulebook, it was familiar enough from my D&D days to come back to me quickly, but different enough for me to say "Hey...this is better!"
My younger son (tween) joined in and we had a blast! Reminded me of my opening days of D&D back with the orange books in, like 1980, and how much fun it was (Yes, I am old).
I love the fact that many titles have the .pdf dowload. When I have to buy three copies of most books, that is a huge value to me.
Thanks Paizo! Three new avid players onboard!
JG

Amazing on all levels

5/5 —

This is fantasy RPG at it best.
Rules, Content, Art & Layout all five stars.
The rules are solid, achieving that balance between the best of the classic game and a modern style of play. The content is excellent. This is one of the few rule books I throughly enjoyed reading cover to cover. The art, graphics and layout are superb. This tomb conveys exactly the look and feel of the game my group loves to play.
I started out with the PDF, and loved the design and layout so much I purchased the printed version as well. Just the fact that Paizo offers a PDF is wonderful. The hyperlinked indexing makes navigating effortless. I view the PDF on my desktop machine when prepping, and on an iPad when at the game. The hardback version is there when I want to browse the beautiful artwork, or enjoy the feel of a real book in my hands.

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The Exchange
3 people marked this as a favorite.

This could solve the whole 3.5 vs 4.0 debacle! Please more information as soon as possible. Paizo, you seriously have just made my day!

Wayne
Liberty's Edge

420 pages!!??! WOW
Liberty's Edge

Awesome! Very, very excited! As its own system, I think I now have my 2009 and beyond RPG-of-choice. Thanks, Paizo!

PS
Any chance of getting autographed copies?

*happy dances*

Thank you Paizo! You have made an old (style) gamer very happy today! I was dreading the possibility of me having to get out of fantasy roleplaying altogether once i ran out of the published material I had (have no real interest in learning a whole new system). You have just saved my game and ensured a very loyal customer for years to come. I look forward to the new system and have just placed an order for the new book!

This is just too awesome. I saw the announcement after coming home from gaming last night and was thrilled. Even more excited this morning! I've preordered this and the beta hardcopy as well.

Good luck Paizo!

As soon as I was told about the Pathfinder set-up, I had to get on the website and check it out for my self. I’m new to the Piazo family, but love what I have seen so far.
The fact that the huge sums of money that I have put into the 3.5 system will not be going to waste is great!
I’m also exited about the additional tweaks being made to the system. The expanded abilities for the cleric and wizard classes look very interesting.
I’m looking forward to Pathfinder with an excitement, as opposed to the looming dread that 4.0 has created with me and many of my gaming friends.
Thank you all so much for keeping a great system alive and my subscription to the magazine is on the way!

esta bueno el manual pero deberian de cambiar lo de los puntajes de los rangos de los skills, en ves de hacerlo automata como lo hace saga, hacerlo por el medio clasico de reparticion de puntos de skills, lo unico que tendrian que arreglar solo es la tabla de rangos por nivel.

asi no se vuelve muy mecanico y carente del factor creativo del jugador, lo cual es lo malo que ha tenido Starwars saga en ese lado, los skills muy mecanisados y monotonos en ves de arreglarlo de una forma mas fluida

O_o

Any chance of this getting out to us before GenCon Indy '09? It'd be great to not only be able to have a booth and sell the product to GenCon goers but also bring my copy and have you guys sign it.

Oh... even better is if I could set up a 3.75 game to run at GenCon..
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

We intend to release it *at* Gen Con Indy '09. In an ideal world, we'll ship paizo.com preorders shortly before the show.

Thanks Vic! That seems like an excellent idea as well. If it is ready for GenCon '09 do you (Paizo) have any ideas set up for playtesting at the convention? Games, encounter runs.. etc..
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Paul Ackerman 70 wrote:
Thanks Vic! That seems like an excellent idea as well. If it is ready for GenCon '09 do you (Paizo) have any ideas set up for playtesting at the convention? Games, encounter runs.. etc..

Right now, we're focused on Gen Con '08, where we'll launch the Pathfidner Society organized play program, but you can expect us to make it a very big deal for '09.

I have resisted the forked tongued devils trying to push me to 4th edition. I have steeled my resolve and resisted, and for my rewards a light has shone down upon me and revealed in all it's glory this product.

Like finding your first magic item, I will savor opening the 420 pages and smelling the fresh print and know I made the right choice, new is not always better, but this is one of the exceptions.

To the abyss with you 4th edition, you will not capture my soul with your honey flavored lies!

I cannot wait to attain this book, for inside is all that glitters.

HH.

p.s. Our D&D group switched to the Pathfinder adventures after our DM of 15+ years disappeared on us, and so far we love it.

august 2009? i still need to finish my current homebrew campaign...then play Age of Worms... then play Savage Tide... then play Rise of the Runelords... then Curse of the Crimson Throne... and really wanted to give a shot at Star Wars Saga... aw my gawd... so much to play... so little time...

maybe i could be done by the time DnD 25th edition comes out... aw well...
Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Delazar wrote:
maybe i could be done by the time DnD 25th edition comes out... aw well...

Doesn't that come out next year?

Liberty's Edge

We're passing on GenCon this year but you BET we'll be there will bells on in 09.

Paizo wrote:
It's less expensive than the 3.5 core rulebooks it replaces, and it serves as the foundation for decades of roleplaying enjoyment.

Emphasis mine

That's more like it. Awesome.

-DM Jeff

Is this in 2008 or 2009? It says Pre-order July 2008.....
Hamdir Redaxe wrote:
Is this in 2008 or 2009? It says Pre-order July 2008.....

Probably a typo.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Hamdir Redaxe wrote:
Is this in 2008 or 2009? It says Pre-order July 2008.....

Yarr. August 2009. I keep fixin' it, and Jeff Alvarez's evil robot keeps unfixin' it.

ALVAREZZZZZ! Control yer robot!
Liberty's Edge

A "quick" time line is needed here.....

Mid Last year a friend introduced me to Dungeon Magazine (and I must admit to being very ashamed of that fact - been playing D&D and others since 1980)

shortly after - found out that Paizo was bumped by WotC

yesterday talked to a Game Shop owner who mentioned Pathfinder (he told me that it was a "new version of Dungeon" and that Paizo was going to be putting out a "3.75 version"

I then went home and looked up Paizo on the internet and have been reading the Alpha and the two released arcs constantly since. (GF will not be happy when I tell her that I will be getting back into DMing ;) )

Great news and awaiting with baited breath
Sovereign Court

Welcome aboard, Arda Badgerhill.
Liberty's Edge

Simple question here...maybe it was answered in the boards not sure.

On the Equipment section...will it contain everything from the PHB and the Players Guide's for the various AP's as well as new equipment?

I also have the same question when it comes to spells.

I'm curious if I'm still going to need my PHB along with this.

Thanks!
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Azoun The Sage wrote:

Simple question here...maybe it was answered in the boards not sure.

On the Equipment section...will it contain everything from the PHB and the Players Guide's for the various AP's as well as new equipment?

I also have the same question when it comes to spells.

I'm curious if I'm still going to need my PHB along with this.

Thanks!

It will replace the Player's Handbook for sure. I'm not sure if Jason has worked out what else will be added yet.

Liberty's Edge

Does anyone know if they plan on releasing a PDF version?

One of my projects after the PRPG's release is combine all the spells I'll allow into my game in one huge binder for easy acces/reference. Being able to copy and paste the spells from my rulebook of choice would greatly speed up the process.

Still have the print version on pre-order by the way.
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Forgottenprince wrote:
Does anyone know if they plan on releasing a PDF version?

Yes—the PDF of the Beta this August will be free; the PDF of the finished product in August '09 will be available for purchase.

Liberty's Edge
Vic Wertz wrote:
the PDF of the finished product in August '09 will be available for purchase.

Thank you very much! That will make things so much easier!

As for replying this quickly, on a Saturday, I've said it before, and I'll say it again.

I appreciate how Paizo treats the public.

Thank you.

FP

A question about the Pathfinder RPG cover: Is that the final version or just a mock-up? I really like the cover art, btw. But is it really going to be orange/reddish? The gray of the Alpha and the beige of the Beta look a lot more stylish IMO. Goes better with the winter-themed artwork, too.
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Navdi wrote:
A question about the Pathfinder RPG cover: Is that the final version or just a mock-up? I really like the cover art, btw. But is it really going to be orange/reddish? The gray of the Alpha and the beige of the Beta look a lot more stylish IMO. Goes better with the winter-themed artwork, too.

It's just a mockup. The Alpha and the Beta use artwork that was scavenged from our other products—that particular piece was taken from the cover of Pathfinder #5. We'll be commissioning new art for the final cover.

The Beta has been wonderful and we're looking forward to purchasing the hardcover. This is the game we've been wanting to play. Thanks so much for all the terrific Pathfinder material.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Is there any news regarding this being on the Chronicles subscription and/or free PDFs with purchase?
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Ross Byers wrote:
Is there any news regarding this being on the Chronicles subscription and/or free PDFs with purchase?

It definitely will NOT be part of the Chronicles subscription. We still have a year or so to figure out the answer to the PDF question....

Liberty's Edge

Any discussion on a limited print run, lettered or numbered, with signatures...?

Chaosium does this with their CoC rules, as do other small publishers with various books. The books are usually quite expensive, but exceptional.
Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy
Andrew Turner wrote:
Any discussion on a limited print run, lettered or numbered, with signatures...?

And randomly inserted golden tickets for a day-long tour of the Paizo offices, cleverly disguising a quest to find an heir?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
yoda8myhead wrote:
And randomly inserted golden tickets for a day-long tour of the Paizo offices, cleverly disguising a quest to find an heir?

That's how Cosmo "won" his customer service "job"!

Liberty's Edge

Is this part of any subscription?
Sovereign Court
Vic Wertz wrote:
yoda8myhead wrote:
And randomly inserted golden tickets for a day-long tour of the Paizo offices, cleverly disguising a quest to find an heir?
That's how Cosmo "won" his customer service "job"!

Heheh.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
DeadDMWalking wrote:
Is this part of any subscription?

Nope. It's its own thing.

Silver Crusade
Vic Wertz wrote:
DeadDMWalking wrote:
Is this part of any subscription?
Nope. It's its own thing.

Dang, I was hoping to get the book & a pdf copy of the rules as well.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Haldir wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
DeadDMWalking wrote:
Is this part of any subscription?
Nope. It's its own thing.
Dang, I was hoping to get the book & a pdf copy of the rules as well.

I believe that there will be ways that some people will qualify for a free PDF, but I don't think it's concrete yet.

Silver Crusade

Vic

I hope so, I like having the hardcopies, but lately most of my rpg gaming is done sitting in front of my computer & such, so it would be nice to be able reference those rules off the computer & such.

& I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I hate having to pay twice for the same product & such.

thanks for the reply

RM
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32

Hrmm. The hardcover would indicate that Dwarves are a mere foot shorter than humans (on average), while the height tables in the RotRL and CotCT Player's guides indicate an average difference of a foot and a half.

Does the CS override the older player's guides, or should this be chalked up to rounding?
Liberty's Edge
Ross Byers wrote:

Hrmm. The hardcover would indicate that Dwarves are a mere foot shorter than humans (on average), while the height tables in the RotRL and CotCT Player's guides indicate an average difference of a foot and a half.

Does the CS override the older player's guides, or should this be chalked up to rounding?

Wow. How did you get it a year early? I didn't even think it had been written yet.

(I think you meant to post this in the campaign setting hardcover thread)
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32
Insert Neat Username Here wrote:
I think you meant to post this in the campaign setting hardcover thread)

I did! Sigh.

Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Accessories, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
I believe that there will be ways that some people will qualify for a free PDF, but I don't think it's concrete yet.

Possibly for Subscribers (Superscribers) who also order the book?

Lukas Klausner wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
I believe that there will be ways that some people will qualify for a free PDF, but I don't think it's concrete yet.
Possibly for Subscribers (Superscribers) who also order the book?

Even though I may not qualify if that was the case, I'd be more than glad to buy the hardcover anyway!

Liberty's Edge

will this be the actual cover, or will there be new cover art?
Shadow Lodge
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Mr Baron wrote:
will this be the actual cover, or will there be new cover art?
Vic Wertz wrote:
...It's just a mockup...

Incredible marketing move folks. I think you have secured quite a large customer base. Those of us who prefer not to adjust our D&D experiences to drastically, both from a player and DM perspective. I was extremely dismayed when i heard about the 4.0 revision and the changes that were made. I have play tested the Pathfinder Alpha & Beta releases and it has surely secured my loyalty and that of my gamers for quite a long while yet. My sincere thanks for supporting your roleplay comrades the world over by tweaking the 3.5 rules. Long live Pathfinder and Paizo!!

Paizo Paizo Paizo, well done.

I just checked over the beta -- it looks terrific. I note the final version will clock in at 560 pages, 150 pages over the beta.

That's a significant addition. Anyone have thoughts on what might be included?
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