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Pathfinder Chronicles: Book of the Damned—Volume 1: Princes of Darkness (PFRPG)

4.30/5 (based on 16 ratings)
Pathfinder Chronicles: Book of the Damned—Volume 1: Princes of Darkness (PFRPG)
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Abandon All Hope...

From the origin of the gods to the inhabitants of the darkest infernal pit, Princes of Darkness: Book of the Damned Volume 1 is an unflinching look at the methods, motivations, and goals of Asmodeus, the archdevils, and the entire hierarchy of Hell. Whether you’re planning to storm the gates of Avernus or trade in the exotic and immoral markets of Dis, or simply want to add a splash of diabolical flavor to a standard campaign, this 64-page book is full of delicious temptations worthy of Faust himself.

    Princes of Darkness includes:
  • A layer-by-layer description of Hell and its rulers
  • The hierarchy of Hell, and how devils are promoted
  • The role and duties of each kind of devil, including the infernal dukes and the herald of Asmodeus
  • Guidelines for infernal contracts
  • Devil talismans, true names, and their uses
  • New Hell-themed spells, magic items, and artifacts
  • The diabolist prestige class, complete with imp companion
  • Five new kinds of devils, from the blaspheming apostate devil to the relentless levaloch

This stand-alone book can also complement the material found in the Council of Thieves Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Chronicles: The Great Beyond, and Pathfinder Companion: Cheliax, Empire of Devils.

By F. Wesley Schneider

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-189-3

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 Lost Omens Subscription.

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This product is non-mint. Refunds are not available for non-mint products. The standard version of this product can be found here.

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

PZO9213

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4.30/5 (based on 16 ratings)

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Fiendishly Flavourful

5/5 —

A very flavourful product that will be useful to both NPC's and PC's of a diabolical bent. Information is presented on each of the levels of the Nine Hells, and the archdevils who rule them. There's also extended information on the hierarchy of devils, and some new LE fiends to unleash on your players. Add in some new spells and magical goodies, and this is a great package.

There's also information on literally dozens of powerful devils, from the arches on down, who accept worshippers - which can add some new devilish options to spice up an evil cult, or give you some new character concepts.

Well done!

4/5 —

I must say that I like this better than the stuff I've found in the Book of Vile Darkness and the Manual of the Planes. This thing doesn't look that sterile. I'd appreciate more details on various layers, but the space is limited There is enough to tip the DM's imagination toward the right direction. Maps of infinite layers are impossible to make, but some vaugue illustrtions of the hellscape would support the text nicely IMO. It's good that there are no details on the lords of hell stats, because like gods, they should be nearly allmighty in thir layers and not meant to physically enter the fight against the PCs. Some manifestations, perhaps a template for the lord of hell posessing a humanoid or an outsider would be nice. More detail on the lords of hell personality and way of things would, again, be good to have.

I won't comment on the rules, I didn't play-test them, but I appreciate that there are some basic mechanics describing basic workings of the hell's machinery.

I must say, that I'm pleased overall with this book.

Frustrated by lack of archdevil stats

3/5 —

I realize that the Chronicles are stat light and fluff heavy, but I was very disappointed in this product for the simple reason that a book titled 'Princes of Darkness' didn't have stats for the archdevils.

This seems to be a trend in PF so far, with no high level content released or even scheduled for release from Paizo. While the Beastiery had stats for some high level monsters (pit fiend, Tarrasque) overall high level stats are few and far between so far from Paizo.

I can only hope Paizo rectifies this once they finally create epic rules for the Pathfinder system, as the archdevils would certainly qualify.

On the plus side, the narrative concerning the devils is well written and informative. I'd have given this product 4.5 or 5 stars had there been some attempt to stat the archdevils, even without solid PF epic rules in place.

Hell is Cool Again!

5/5 —

Only one more wish...

5/5 —

Being a fan of everything related to hell, Asmodeus and that entire aspect of roleplaying, I simply had to get this book. And I can't say that I regret it now, on the third day since picking it up from postal delivery.
I enjoy the stories and flavour in the start and ending, the content is great and very rich on details.
The diabolist prestige class covers an area I have missed proper coverage of and has exactly the right feeling of both the great powers a pact with hell has - as well as the ultimate damnation it includes.
A great thanks for the notes on the Pathfinder version of the Archdukes as well. I am generally very happy that the take manage to have all that I loved and adored about earlier versions of hell, while still being uniquely pathfinder.

At the end of the day all I can say about this is: I wish, burningly, that there was more. And well, I must say a more detailed description of the individual layers of hell, with drawings, maps and more of the (already adorable) interesting locations would definitely be an adorable addition to this book. Especially for GM, who like me, find the urge to send the players on a visit to the plane of LE-alignment nearly irresistible (this book certainly doesn't make that urge smaller!)

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Contributor
BenS wrote:
As for the book itself, I'm sure Wes did a bang up job; a real labor of love. Can't...wait...

Dude, you're not going to believe some of the stuff in here. This is a very different book than anything we've ever done and looks incredible. Not just the wart or the words, but Sarah's layout work on this is beyond cool and she did an AMAZING job getting just the right people for just the right feels. Can't wait to get this myself! :P

Contributor
Dark_Mistress wrote:
Very cool cover, I always wondered what Wesley looked like.

My bangs aren't usually on fire, but you get the gist. I do like 500 crunches every day.

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Dude, you're not going to believe some of the stuff in here. This is a very different book than anything we've ever done and looks incredible. Not just the wart or the words, but Sarah's layout work on this is beyond cool and she did an AMAZING job getting just the right people for just the right feels. Can't wait to get this myself! :P

Not just the wart, huh?

:-)

I'm looking forward to it, just giving you a hard time.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Dark_Mistress wrote:
Very cool cover, I always wondered what Wesley looked like.
My bangs aren't usually on fire, but you get the gist. I do like 500 crunches every day.

Usually on fire? So that means sometimes they are right?

Oh mai gawd... I LOVE stuff on the Hells.

This is soooo mine.

With so much covered in Vol. One I can only dream (darkly of course) as to what future blasphemies these tomes of revelation might spread.

Small linking bug: this product links to Cities of Golarion (which then links to Classic Horrors). Classic Horrors back-links to the Cities Map Folio (which then back-links to Princes of Darkness). So sandwiched between Princes of Darkness and Classic Horrors is Cities (going forward) and the Map Folio (going backward).
The Exchange

I'm loving the art for the Erinyes Queen. Very much looking forward to having this in my hands.

I so want this book. I'm absolutely a fan of the devils :)

Damn I really want this book.

Paizo is draining my coffers for reals! :(
Brakkart wrote:
I'm loving the art for the Erinyes Queen. Very much looking forward to having this in my hands.

Where did you find art for the Erinyes Queen?

In the Paizo blog entry concerning the book.
Paizo Employee CEO
Arakhor wrote:
In the Paizo blog entry concerning the book.

Which you can find here!

-Lisa

You sold me on the book the moment you said it was about Hell and the devils. The art was just a bonus :)

Is this also for PDF download? I don't see it as such. O_o
Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy
Razz wrote:
Is this also for PDF download? I don't see it as such. O_o

PDFs are made available on a book's street date. Since this book won't hit game stores until next month, the PDF product page doesn't exist yet. So far, all Paizo publications have had PDFs (since they're a bonus of being a subscriber), so don't worry. Just have patience.

Dark Archive

Yay! I <3 this stuff!

Is there a hard date yet?

All this "Expected in October" business is not good for my nerves.

Will the Diabolist PrC be anything like the original Diabolist PrC from the Book of Vile Darkness?
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Eric Hinkle wrote:
Will the Diabolist PrC be anything like the original Diabolist PrC from the Book of Vile Darkness?

Not really; the BoVD version of the Diabolist is closed content and we can't really copy it. The Diabolist Prestige Class in Book of the Damned is similar in that it's a Prestige Class that a devil worshiper takes, but that's about it.

I do like the Book of the Damned version a lot better than the BoVD one, though...
The Exchange RPG Superstar 2009 Top 8

Look at that beautiful cover! Excuse me, Paizo, did you just outdo yourself?
Liberty's Edge

+1 to beautiful cover.
Scarab Sages
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Ooo, I got pending on this one! Anyone else?

Come on PDF!!! Come to your undead daddy!
Shadow Lodge

Hmm let me see that.
*Turns it into a Unholy + 5 Disruption Book of the Damned Volume 1
*Bashes Cralius the Dark on the head with it.
*Blows the dust off the cover
Thanks now mine isn't pending anymore:)
Liberty's Edge

*Shakes head in disgust, proceeds to use flamethrower to dispose of the remains* First, last, I'm the only thing that remains.
Contributor
Eric Hinkle wrote:
Will the Diabolist PrC be anything like the original Diabolist PrC from the Book of Vile Darkness?

Short form: the BOTD diabolist is our first look at applying animal companion-style rules to creatures that aren't animals. For example, imps.

Cralius the Dark wrote:

Ooo, I got pending on this one! Anyone else?

Come on PDF!!! Come to your undead daddy!

I've got a copy. I'm good like that. So let's talk souls and you might be able to get a copy for yourself, or not. Probably just lose your soul, but that's how the world works. My world at least.

*grin full of fangs*
Grand Lodge

Out of stock?! Nooooo! It hasn't even released yet! I foolishly had it in my cart forgetting that I hadn't finalized the order. And now it is gone.

I hate double-name prestige classes or feats. It's annoying for me and my gaming group to have to differentiate all the time. I guess this one will be called "Diablo Binder" or some such to avoid confusion.
Paizo Employee Creative Director
Razz wrote:
I hate double-name prestige classes or feats. It's annoying for me and my gaming group to have to differentiate all the time. I guess this one will be called "Diablo Binder" or some such to avoid confusion.

That's going to happen now and then; we generally try to avoid naming classes and prestige classes the same name as something that WotC's done to precisely avoid this problem, but sometimes we aren't able to do so either (as in the diabolist's case) because the name is absolutely perfect for the class in question, or because (and probably more common) we at Paizo aren't caught up on all the billions of different prestige class names that have been used in the various WotC products... especially the 3.5 products that came out in the last year or two of the 3.5 books.

Paizo Employee CEO
ithuriel wrote:
Out of stock?! Nooooo! It hasn't even released yet! I foolishly had it in my cart forgetting that I hadn't finalized the order. And now it is gone.

It is in stock for me...hummm. We have plenty of copies on hand, so don't worry about it being out of stock. Order away!

-Lisa

Damn you Paizo! Damn you! I went to order this, and then I said, "What the heck, I'll see what else they have coming up in the Chronicles subscription."

Then I saw.

Then I subscribed, yet again!

You guys practically own me.
Dark Archive

*I eat your brain*
I have quenched my thirst.
And with threat of pain,
Now none shall be first.

Btw, this looks like it will be awesome. Will it have new options for tieflings?
Grand Lodge

That's strange. I was getting "Out of Stock" and it removed itself from my order. Now I have accidentally ordered it twice :P I've made a mess out of this, but as long as it's still around I'm happy.
Lisa Stevens wrote:
ithuriel wrote:
Out of stock?! Nooooo! It hasn't even released yet! I foolishly had it in my cart forgetting that I hadn't finalized the order. And now it is gone.

It is in stock for me...hummm. We have plenty of copies on hand, so don't worry about it being out of stock. Order away!

-Lisa

I've noticed more than once myself that even when I full well know that various Paizo books are in print, local chain stores will list them as "Out of print -- no longer available". It works oddly: the second entry in the Council of Thieves AP went right from "not available yet" to "out of print" literally within a day at B&N.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

I've seen Amazon pull this stunt before with various products... not just Paizo products. I suspect "out of print" at Amazon means "out of stock for various reasons including but not limited to we didn't order enough or our distributor didn't order enough, but it's easier just to say out of print." Just a guess.
Grand Lodge

For what it's worth I was getting "Out of Stock" on this website in the store.
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
ithuriel wrote:
For what it's worth I was getting "Out of Stock" on this website in the store.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were a few moments where things were out-of-sync as we switched this product from "preorder" to "in stock."

I MUST congrat Sarah for the Magnificient new cover layout. Sarah or whoever did it. GREAT WORK!
Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer
Hugo Solis wrote:
I MUST congrat Sarah for the Magnificient new cover layout. Sarah or whoever did it. GREAT WORK!

Sarah. She's good like that.

Dark Archive
Hugo Solis wrote:
I MUST congrat Sarah for the Magnificient new cover layout. Sarah or whoever did it. GREAT WORK!

+1. Sarah is amazing! :)

Contributor
Asgetrion wrote:
Hugo Solis wrote:
I MUST congrat Sarah for the Magnificient new cover layout. Sarah or whoever did it. GREAT WORK!
+1. Sarah is amazing! :)

Wait until you see the insides. The art in this is AMAZING.

Dark Archive
F. Wesley Schneider wrote:
Asgetrion wrote:
Hugo Solis wrote:
I MUST congrat Sarah for the Magnificient new cover layout. Sarah or whoever did it. GREAT WORK!
+1. Sarah is amazing! :)
Wait until you see the insides. The art in this is AMAZING.

<shakes head>Wesley...Wesley...Wesley,</shakes head>

You do realize you've described 99.99% of Paizo products don't you???

The devils smirk that their devious plot has worked so well...
Soon they will quell the violence to appease the mindless rabble, then ensnare them in a web of deceit & corruption. First the thread, then the messageboards, then the whole website. [maniacal laughter]
Dark Archive

What about the PDF of this book? When is it going to be available?
Dark Archive
Chris Ballard wrote:
What about the PDF of this book? When is it going to be available?

OK nevermind now I see the PDF listing.

The Exchange
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Now we need a stat block for Squishable Devil. :-)

So the Scalykind domain is mentioned in Denizans of Hell chart in the back of the book. Is there a Pathfinder Scalykind domain as of yet?
Paizo Employee Creative Director
GrayPumpkin wrote:
So the Scalykind domain is mentioned in Denizans of Hell chart in the back of the book. Is there a Pathfinder Scalykind domain as of yet?

Not yet.

My guess is that it'll be in the Advanced Player's Guide, and will probably see print in something before that.
James Jacobs wrote:
GrayPumpkin wrote:
So the Scalykind domain is mentioned in Denizans of Hell chart in the back of the book. Is there a Pathfinder Scalykind domain as of yet?

Not yet.

My guess is that it'll be in the Advanced Player's Guide, and will probably see print in something before that.

Thanks for the info.

Great Book by the way I really like the take on devils and diabolatry, it fits very well into my game world's mythos.
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