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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4.60/5 (based on 130 ratings)

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Ring Side Report- A review of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL)

5/5

Originally posted on www.throatpunchgames.com
TL;DR-This is the basic rule book for the amazingly popular Pathfinder role-playing game. It's an phenomenal book that is well executed. I have a few problems, but nothing that isn't easy to overlook. 5/5

Art-The art style in this book sets the pace for all the other books in the Pathfinder RPG. Its a nice style that always looks heroic and fits well with the world they created. Damn fine stuff.

Mechanics-The mechanics of pathfinder are basically DnD 3.5. Nothing too risky here. If you liked 3.5, then you will like this game. Any problems in 3.5 show up here. That's part of the good and bad with building of an established OGL system. However, Pathfinder is worth the price of admission alone for simplifying the grapple rules. That right there makes the game worth it. HANDS DOWN!

Execution- The book is well organized with nice tables of contents and indexes to help you find what you need. It describes the mechanics well, but as before, some of the minor problems from 3.5 creep into the execution of the book. These are smaller issues, but they will end up making you go to the Paizo forums to get help. Another problem I have is the lack of a bestiary in this book. Most books at the $50 price typically include a small bestiary. I know that many more will follow, but why include the GM guide and the Players guide together if you don't include a smaller bestiary too? Again, it's a minor problem, but some food for thought.

Book Quality- This book is well done. Its heavy, and it should be for the price. You feel like you get your value for the price. The paper quality is high, so no smudging!

Final Thoughts-This is a good book. The problems I have are nit-picking. Good value for the money. If you like 3.5, you will love this! 5/5


The one, the only, the CORE

5/5

This book holds everything needed to play. Explained fairly well, lots of content, and greatly illustrated, this is book of all books. There is an app on the Android market called Masterwork tools: Pathfinder, that has most of the stuff from this book and other books available on your phone. While you can do just fine with the app, there is a certain allure to owning the actual book itself, and for that, this deserves a 5/5


THE book

5/5

This is THE book for Pathfinder, everything else is just additional material. As such, it lives up to what is expected and then some. Every player I GM for now has a copy of this book, it has everything a new player needs and then some.


Excellent Product; Interesting Layout

4/5

I am not fond of the way that they set up character creation with you picking stats then races and then classes; but now that my ONLY complaint is out of the way.

Bravo. This book swept the floor with me and my friends when we took it off the shelf, from the fun, power-driven art style to the entertaining and note worthy snippets at the beginning of each chapter Paizo did a great job of reeling in the fantasy esque atmosphere.

I never played 3.5 so I have no experience with the value of the rule changes but I have played 4th Ed., CoC, and Mouse Guard and I find this game is a masterful menagerie of all of them- allowing for one of the MOST flexible systems I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing.


Can't go wrong

5/5

This is a very nice reference book. Great improvement over DnD 3.5 rules.


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Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Navdi wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
In most cases, though, the cheapest international shipping method is a Priority flat-rate box, which means you can probably add in a few more books without increasing the shipping rate.
In case I decide on this method of purchase, how much exactly is a few more books. Say I decide to order multiple copies of the Pathfinder RPG. How many can I order without increasing the shipping cost?

There's no flat answer to that—it's based on the dimensions of the books and the location you're shipping to. All I can say is experiment!

Liberty's Edge

Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
Montalve, every time you say that, somewhere, somebody drowns a puppy.

not my fault... such is life


Heh-heh...You're a hard guy.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Ah can't you just feel the love in this thread? Though I don't understand the urge of people to come post in the thread to say how they are going 4th edition. I mean really do we have to keep up this silly childish edition war nearly a year after it started?


Actually, the war is pretty much over.

Gamers won. :)


Dark_Mistress wrote:
I don't understand the urge of people to come post in the thread to say how they are going 4th edition.

LET THEM COME!


It's a amazing what you can learn if you just look at a person's posting history. They might as well fill out a profile
RACE: Troll
If we checked their profile before we posted as if they were somebody just wandering in off the street, we'd not only save our own time, but we'd rob them of whatever sick jollies they get from getting responses. In real life, they must get ignored a lot, I guess. Sometimes, just assuming the best about a poster or reacting before checking are not the best things to do.

Liberty's Edge

Mairkurion {tm} wrote:
Heh-heh...You're a hard guy.

je

not to much this days :P since we got a dog it hurts me to look at dying or sick dogs...

still such is life... but if i see them drowning the puppies i will get medieval on them :D


I hear you. I can't stand to see suffering animals. Just ask abandoned kitty. It's how she found a new place to live.


When will the official cover for this go up on the website, out of interest?


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
However, even in those other countries, once you add a couple of things to the box, you *will* be in a Flat-Rate box, and then you can just keep on adding stuff with no additional shipping charge until you exceed the size of the box. So, while it currently costs $44.03 to ship one copy to the UK, it only costs $45.05 to ship two copies, or even three!

Sweet. Now the only questions remaining are: How big is the box and how many copies will I be able fit in it without the total price going over the Finnish VAT for books meaning I'd have to pay customs for the darn thing. My guess is somewhere in the region of 3-4 Pathfinder RPG books. I know for a fact that the Finnish Pathfinder enthusiasts will buy a total of around of dozen of these so... ;)


James Sutter wrote:
Asgetrion wrote:
does Vic really look like Abadar in real life?
Vic Wertz wrote:
Yes, I do.
The weird thing is, he's not kidding. Every time I open up Gods and Magic to the Abadar spread my brain goes: "Wha...? Vic?"

All Hail Lord Vi- Abadar!

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

vagrant-poet wrote:
When will the official cover for this go up on the website, out of interest?

We don't have a particular date planned. So "shortly after it's done" is the best available answer.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Navdi wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
However, even in those other countries, once you add a couple of things to the box, you *will* be in a Flat-Rate box, and then you can just keep on adding stuff with no additional shipping charge until you exceed the size of the box. So, while it currently costs $44.03 to ship one copy to the UK, it only costs $45.05 to ship two copies, or even three!
Sweet. Now the only questions remaining are: How big is the box and how many copies will I be able fit in it without the total price going over the Finnish VAT for books meaning I'd have to pay customs for the darn thing. My guess is somewhere in the region of 3-4 Pathfinder RPG books. I know for a fact that the Finnish Pathfinder enthusiasts will buy a total of around of dozen of these so... ;)

Looks like the answer is 3, because the price goes up when you try 4.

Grand Lodge

If I buy this and it becomes part of a subscription, will there be some kind of pro-rate situation? As much as I like you folks, I don't think I need that many copies of the RPC and Monster book. I will want to have a subscription for the books if and when it becomes available.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Herald wrote:
If I buy this and it becomes part of a subscription, will there be some kind of pro-rate situation? As much as I like you folks, I don't think I need that many copies of the RPC and Monster book. I will want to have a subscription for the books if and when it becomes available.

While we don't have details on subs, I can tell you that we won't penalize you for ordering early, and if you order one and then sign up for a sub, we'll just send you one.

Grand Lodge

Cool, preorder is done on the both the Moster book and the RPG book.

Liberty's Edge

Two questions (and I apologize if either have been covered already - I looked but didn't see these answered ...)

1. Preorder: if I preorder this now, will my card be charged in ANY way? Will the funds in any way be put on a hold or anything like that?

2. Benefit of Preordering: If I preorder now, is there any added benefit to me? I realize it will lock in the price (on the off chance it will be higher once the book actually ships) and it guarantees that I will get a copy if they sell out quickly. Beyond these two (admittedly valid) things, is there any incentive to preorder? A free PDF or something maybe?

Thanks!!!!

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Marc Radle 81 wrote:

Two questions (and I apologize if either have been covered already - I looked but didn't see these answered ...)

1. Preorder: if I preorder this now, will my card be charged in ANY way? Will the funds in any way be put on a hold or anything like that?

2. Benefit of Preordering: If I preorder now, is there any added benefit to me? I realize it will lock in the price (on the off chance it will be higher once the book actually ships) and it guarantees that I will get a copy if they sell out quickly. Beyond these two (admittedly valid) things, is there any incentive to preorder? A free PDF or something maybe?

Thanks!!!!

1. We never charge for preorders until the order ships. However, we do acquire an authorization for the total, which isn't a monetary transaction, but it does reduce your available credit on that card until the authorization expires. Your bank determines how long it takes to expire, and we have no insight or control over the duration, but I think it's a day or two for most banks.

2. In addition to the price, it also locks in the shipping cost (so long as you don't have us make future modifications to the order that would potentially change the shipping cost, like adding other products, or changing the shipping address); note that the USPS is going to increase some of their rates in May, so this may actually be meaningful in some circumstances. Other than that, we haven't announced any other incentives for preordering... but if we do, they'll apply to *all* preorders retroactively.

In short, while there may or may not be good enough reasons for you to preorder, there really isn't a lot of reason *not* to.

Scarab Sages

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Maps Subscriber

I am planning on pre-ordering 3 copies (the break-point for overseas orders), however, if a subscription comes along, how does that effect the postage??

Sovereign Court

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
In short, while there may or may not be good enough reasons for you to preorder, there really isn't a lot of reason *not* to.

OK, I preordered two of each, just to be safe

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
note that the USPS is going to increase some of their rates in May, so this may actually be meaningful in some circumstances. .

What the hell?.... Didn't they just increase their shipping rates?..

Vic you have any insight in this?... Is it a significant hike or just a minor one?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

sanwah68 wrote:
I am planning on pre-ordering 3 copies (the break-point for overseas orders), however, if a subscription comes along, how does that effect the postage??

It won't—we'll just count one of the three as fulfilled against your subscription.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Dragnmoon wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
note that the USPS is going to increase some of their rates in May, so this may actually be meaningful in some circumstances. .

What the hell?.... Didn't they just increase their shipping rates?..

Vic you have any insight in this?... Is it a significant hike or just a minor one?

This year, they started to split up their annual rate change into "shipping services" (which increased in January) and "mailing services" (which will increase in May). "Shipping services" include Priority Mail and Express Mail, while "mailing services" includes First-Class, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services (including Parcel Post) and "extra services," such as Certified Mail and insurance.

The May increase will take standard First Class stamps from $.42 to $.44; they claim that the "average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index."


Vic Wertz wrote:
Dragnmoon wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
note that the USPS is going to increase some of their rates in May, so this may actually be meaningful in some circumstances. .

What the hell?.... Didn't they just increase their shipping rates?..

Vic you have any insight in this?... Is it a significant hike or just a minor one?

This year, they started to split up their annual rate change into "shipping services" (which increased in January) and "mailing services" (which will increase in May). "Shipping services" include Priority Mail and Express Mail, while "mailing services" includes First-Class, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services (including Parcel Post) and "extra services," such as Certified Mail and insurance.

The May increase will take standard First Class stamps from $.42 to $.44; they claim that the "average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index."

Accursed recession. Luckily I might be able to save enough money on rent next year to keep me in paizo.

Scarab Sages

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Maps Subscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
sanwah68 wrote:
I am planning on pre-ordering 3 copies (the break-point for overseas orders), however, if a subscription comes along, how does that effect the postage??
It won't—we'll just count one of the three as fulfilled against your subscription.

OK, the plan just became a reality....3 copies pre-ordered. I feel absurdly excited....


I may get my copies at GenCon Indy 2009. Should I cancel my pre orders then?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Russell Akred wrote:
I may get my copies at GenCon Indy 2009. Should I cancel my pre orders then?

Well... last year, we *almost* implemented a convention-pick-up plan for Beta preorders, but we didn't have time. No telling whether it'll happen this year yet....


Vic Wertz wrote:
Russell Akred wrote:
I may get my copies at GenCon Indy 2009. Should I cancel my pre orders then?
Well... last year, we *almost* implemented a convention-pick-up plan for Beta preorders, but we didn't have time. No telling whether it'll happen this year yet....

That would be great! I would go for it and it would save you postage. Where should I picket for convention-pick-up?

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Russell Akred wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
Russell Akred wrote:
I may get my copies at GenCon Indy 2009. Should I cancel my pre orders then?
Well... last year, we *almost* implemented a convention-pick-up plan for Beta preorders, but we didn't have time. No telling whether it'll happen this year yet....
That would be great! I would go for it and it would save you postage. Where should I picket for convention-pick-up?

You pay for shipping, so it would save *you* postage. However, it would cost you Indianapolis sales tax. Still probably a savings overall, though.

As for whether it happens or not, it's all a matter of how much other stuff we need to do before the show.

Liberty's Edge

If this question has been asked before then please accept my apology!
As a far as character creation, will "starting packages" be included with each of the core classes like in the Player's Handbook of the "World's Most Popular Role-playing Game"?


I just looked over the whole book.. W00t. I love it. It really flushes out many of the character classes by adding unique abilities, without making them redundant and static as seen in 4E. I'm so glad that somewhere 3.5E is still alive and well and that it is being handled with such love and talent! Thank you guys so much for all your hard work! I will def get this book!

Sovereign Court

Vic Wertz wrote:


You pay for shipping, so it would save *you* postage. However, it would cost you Indianapolis sales tax. Still probably a savings overall, though.

As for whether it happens or not, it's all a matter of how much other stuff we need to do before the show.

Indy sales tax is 7%, for those interested in this method.


I just downloaded the beta a few days ago and I absolutely love it. Many of the changes mirror some of the house rules that I already have going on in my current 3.5e game, obviously an example of great minds thinking alike... I am particularly excited by the differing sources of power that a sorcerer can choose from, it makes me want to start playing again instead of just DMing! Methinks I will preorder a copy of the core rulebook as soon as I get done posting this!

Liberty's Edge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure Subscriber

It would be really cool if we could have our pre-orders available for a GenCon pick up.

I totally understand that this is easier said then done.

Liberty's Edge

When pre-ordering, are we charged money right away or will the money be taken out upon arrival of the book?

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Kevida wrote:
When pre-ordering, are we charged money right away or will the money be taken out upon arrival of the book?

There's a verification check which can hold money on the account for a couple of days depending on the bank, but no money is taken off your card until the book ships.

Liberty's Edge

Question: Will the Hardbound Core Rulebook come w. a .pdf or otherwise will there be an option to buy the .pdf along with the hardbound at a seriously discounted price? (The same inquiry applies for September's Bestiary as well.)


There is talk about a Subscripton-option for the Rulebooks. You probably get a free pdf with a subscription.

Liberty's Edge

Franz Lunzer wrote:
There is talk about a Subscripton-option for the Rulebooks. You probably get a free pdf with a subscription.

Do you have a link for this?


Saurstalk wrote:
Franz Lunzer wrote:
There is talk about a Subscripton-option for the Rulebooks. You probably get a free pdf with a subscription.
Do you have a link for this?

Vic talks a bit about it in this thread.

Vic Wertz wrote:
We'll be announcing additional Pathfinder RPG products, a subscription option, and details of how one can acquire free PDFs in the coming weeks.

Scarab Sages

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Maps Subscriber

Hurray....

Liberty's Edge

Will the PRPG be available through Borders? I normally don't shop there, but everybody and their brother gave me Borders gift cards this Christmas...

If yes, then yay!
If no, then...anyone want to buy some Borders gift cards?

Dark Archive

Will there be a PDF of this too?


chopswil wrote:
Will there be a PDF of this too?

Absolutely

Liberty's Edge

Vic Wertz wrote:
sanwah68 wrote:
I am planning on pre-ordering 3 copies (the break-point for overseas orders), however, if a subscription comes along, how does that effect the postage??
It won't—we'll just count one of the three as fulfilled against your subscription.

Just that I get this right - the PFRPG is NOT PART of any subscription, isn't it?!


Dryder wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
sanwah68 wrote:
I am planning on pre-ordering 3 copies (the break-point for overseas orders), however, if a subscription comes along, how does that effect the postage??
It won't—we'll just count one of the three as fulfilled against your subscription.
Just that I get this right - the PFRPG is NOT PART of any subscription, isn't it?!

Not as of yet.

Dark Archive

Franz Lunzer wrote:
chopswil wrote:
Will there be a PDF of this too?

Absolutely

how about a buy the physical book and get a free PDF option?


chopswil wrote:
Franz Lunzer wrote:
chopswil wrote:
Will there be a PDF of this too?

Absolutely

how about a buy the physical book and get a free PDF option?

How they're going to handle this hasn't been announced yet (look seven posts up from your post).

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

chopswil wrote:
how about a buy the physical book and get a free PDF option?

Probably, but no official announcement as to how one would get this has been announced yet. My guess is that a new subscription will be set up, or that any AP subscriber who buys a book through Paizo will get a pdf along with it.

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