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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL)

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

Hardcover Unavailable

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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

Downloads

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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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL) Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL) Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL) Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook (OGL)

Product Availability

Hardcover:

Unavailable

PDF:

Fulfilled immediately.

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

PZO1110

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Average product rating:

4.60/5 (based on 130 ratings)

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Glad to Own It

4/5 —

I took a few years break from Role Playing. I just felt no real excitement in the products I was reading nor the games I was playing in. I thought my RPG days were over. Then I had a friend hand me this book and he told me to read it. He wanted to know what I thought of the rules etc.

I bought the book for myself the following week. I now own a large number of the Pathfinder products. The rules, background, and feel are exciting and new, yet they were also comfortable and friendly.

Thank You for creating this new classic.

4/5 —

The content of the book is great. It's organized in a way that makes sense and is therefore easy to refer to during a game if needed. There is plenty of information, the rules and classes are well balanced, and there are so many character, spell, and item options to explore just within this basic book. My only problem is that my book, purchased less than a year ago and used gently, is already starting to fall apart. The binding is a bit fragile and some of the pages have ripped slightly. The page part is really my fault, but I would appreciate if this beautiful book could be a bit more sturdy.

Very good, though not without fault.

4/5 —

I bought the core book a couple months ago as a bit of a compromise; I know this will sound like heresy to a lot of people, but I vastly prefered 4e to 3.5. I didn't love it, but to me, 4e's faults were much easier for me to overlook, than 3.5. But I had found a gaming group, who hated 4e, and so it usually ended up with me begrudgingly playing 3.5, until one day I talked it over with the DM, who offered Pathfinder as a compromiae. As it turned out, after a few sessions, all of us (except one guy, but he's so resistant to change, that anything post-TSR was stretching it) loved pathfinder more than our respective favorite editions.

Pathfinder really just fixed a lot of my problems with 3.5 (though the addition of archetypes, as well as later books, like ultimate (insert book here) contributed more than the core book did, truth be told), and I really like the setting, much more than anything TSR/WotC produced, with the possible exception of Eberon.

The one reason I'm only giving it 4 stars is I'm a bit OCD with my books, so the fact thst it's so fragile is a big draw back; I've resorted to using the PRD almost exclusively. Though, the Art is gorgeous, so if you're not adverse to digital books, I'd recomend the $10 investment in the pdf ahead of the PRD. If you don't mind page tears, the hardcover is good too, but I can't really get over the cheap construction.

Good product, love the rules... but...

4/5 —

I bought this product, after reading it at a friend's house.

Loved the book, the rules, all of it. Make the system better then it was.

However, my major complain is concerning the sorcerer VS wizard balance.

Wizards had the flaw of preparing spells, memorizing them, and casting only those spells. They had the perk of getting more feats to compensate. Sorcerer on the otherhand did not need to memorize, they just cast, but had a limited arsenal.

Now, sorcerer still have the same flaw. However, they got the bloodlines. A way to boost they. They get: spells, powers, resistance, bonus feats, sometimes even bonus stats, depending on the bloodline. Don't get me wrong, it's cool. I love the idea. Where it's wrong it's when we look at the wizard. All they got as an improvement is this: choose between familiar or bond item. The prior is known. The latter is an item that enable the wizard to cast any spell he as in is spellbook (not prepared), whatever level he can cast, once per day. Which is good. BUT! if he should lose, or not have is item (like get confiscated by orc guards) he must make a concentration check at 20+spell lvl to cast ANY SPELL or FAIL. Oh, did i say there is no more concentration skill... good luck succeeding that... There is another perk they get, depending on the speciality the choice, which give minor powers... but still as the flaw of having the opposing schools (yes, plural... two). But these bonus are nothing close of the bonus the sorcerer get.

I say: Paizo, good work to book, good set of rules. but shame on you! You clearly favored the sorcerer and did to little to balance the power-ups you gave them.

Giant anti-noob fortress.

4/5 —

This is a great rulebook. It is where I learned to play Pathfinder. But I cannot stress how FRUSTRATING it was trying to find the little things, like Hit Points, and various Rage Powers. It took me two months to figure out how to navigate myself around with the book, and another two to master it.

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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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