Pathfinder Companion: Andoran, Spirit of Liberty (PFRPG)

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Pathfinder Companion: Andoran, Spirit of Liberty (PFRPG)
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Unwilling to bend a knee to the devil-worshipers of Cheliax, the people of Andoran declared themselves a free country where all men and women had the right to choose their own rulers. Unique among the lands of Golarion, Andoran is a representative democracy; foreign nobles declare it a doomed experiment, yet simultaneously fear that the power of its philosophy may cause peasant uprisings in their own lands. True Andorens believe in self-determination at all costs, and hate slavery with a passion, even going so far as to send their glorious Eagle Knights on dangerous missions to undermine the slave trade in other lands and spread far and wide the call of freedom.

    Inside this Pathfinder Companion you’ll find:
  • Details on the people of Andoran—how they live, how they govern, their relationships with neighboring countries and former nobles, their spiritual outlook, and their deep national connection with birds of prey.
  • The Steel Falcon prestige class, representing the branch of the Eagle Knights devoted to battling slavery.
  • An in-depth history of Andoran, from humble beginnings as a logging territory to the current glorious Republic.
  • Descriptions of the major and minor cities of Andoran.
  • Potent new magic items and spells.
  • New traits to customize Andoren characters.

Written by Hal Maclean, Colin Moulder-McComb, Jason Nelson, Jonathan Keith, and Hank Woon

Each bimonthly 32-page Pathfinder Companion contains several player-focused articles exploring the volume’s theme as well as short articles with innovative new rules for social, magic, religious, and combat-focused characters, as well as a persona section detailing helpful NPCs and traits to better anchor the player to the campaign.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-205-0

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

Hero Lab Online
Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Archives of Nethys

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An Interesting Look at an Interesting Place

4/5

Andoran, Spirit of Liberty is a 2010 product in the Pathfinder Player's Companion line of books. Andoran can best be summed up to newcomers as "the American colonies during the Revolutionary War", as everything from the common clothing styles to the emphasis on yeomen farmers to the deep-seated individual commitment to freedom are evocative of that time period. One of the things I really like about Andoran is that it's a "good" country, but unlike those in most other fantasy settings (like Cormyr in the Forgotten Realms) it's not premised on the ideals of monarchy, chivalry, and nobility. Instead, it's premised on ideals that (hopefully) are more prevalent today: equality, liberty, democracy, and justice. The inside front cover is an attractive, full-color map of Andoran, while the inside back cover is a reproduction of the cover but without the title or logo. The interior artwork isn't of the more refined quality of most of Paizo's later work, but it really gives you a feel for what the book is about. The contents of the book are divided into seven sections.

Section 1 is a thirteen-page overview of Andoran. Most of what you would expect to find is here, including information on the country's history, government, and military. But there's also at least a few paragraphs each about material you might not expect, like banking and music. The section does a great job giving one a real feel for what life in Adoran would be like. I found most interesting the parts about Andoran's relationship with the Fey and on "Ongoing Problems" with the Darklands, kobolds, piracy, and more. As with most of these early Player's Companions, a lot of this information is equally more even more essential for GMs. This section includes two new regional traits (neither mechanically powerful but each reasonably flavourful) and five new achievement feats. The concept of achievement feats seems to have withered in Pathfinder over the years, but I actually really like the notion that in-game actions could serve as a prerequisite for taking some feats (though the benefit of these achievement feats are often underwhelming compared to the difficulty in getting them).

Section 2 contains eight pages on the cities of Andoran. The major city of Almas receives a few pages itself, and other cities covered in some detail are Augustana, Bellis, Carpenden, and Oregent. Interestingly, these last three cities come with a few regional traits each. This section concludes with one-paragraph descriptions of several other cities in Andoran.

Section 3 is a two-page "Combat" section that consists solely of the Steel Falcon prestige class. Steel Falcons are one branch of the famed Eagle Knights, and are known for carrying out Andoren values in other countries. It's a bit of an unusual prestige class in that players could conceivably take it starting at character level 3, and there are only five levels to it. It's actually pretty powerful in terms of class abilities.

Section 4 is a two-page "Faith" section. A brief overview of how some of the major deities are perceived in Andoran is included, but of more interest is the discussion of Talmandor, an avoral (a bird-like celestial creature) that is thought of as the country's spiritual patron.

Section 5, "Magic," consists of two pages of magical items that are very strongly tied to Andoran and four spells, three of which are themed around detecting and liberating others from magical charms and compulsions.

Section 6, "Persona", gives descriptions of two prominent NPCs in Andoran (Alysande Benedict, deceased, and Reginald Cormoth) and a full stat block for a "local hero" named Jamus Hainard, a halfling paladin of Erastil.

Section 7 is a "Social" section that discusses more of how Andorens view the world. There wasn't a lot here that couldn't have been inferred from Section 1.

The strengths of this book are in its descriptions and flavour of Andoran, and players or GMs looking for that sort of material should be happy. Players looking for major new mechanical options, however, are likely to go home disappointed compared to the various other books available. Overall, I would say this was a solid book, just not an exemplary one.




5/5

At last, the location of so many of our adventures finally gets fleshed out and opens the door to so many more options for adventure!
The details on Almas, Augustana & others will be most helpful for Players and GMs alike, + the nations history, which is spread throughout the companion, was an eye opener!
This is a must for those whom call Andoran home will complement the Darkmoon Vale series nicely!

Well done & keep those dice rolling!
Hip Hip... Haazzzaaa! ;)

P.S.: Steel Falcons... Yes Please :D


Fantastic supplement, but garb needs to be re-imagined

4/5

I not only think that this supplement is bold and inspired contribution to the Pathfinder cosmos, but, more importantly a prominent contribution to the corpus of fantasy (gaming and otherwise). This is not hyperbole on my part, but rather an honest assessment.

The supplement would have gotten a five star rating if it weren't for the uniforms worn by the military folk of Andoran. It's just too close to the Continental Army of the revolutionary war period. In a second edition, I wonder if this might be re-envisioned in such a way so that it is rooted solidly in Golarion and its lore. By my estimation, this would make a huge difference.




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Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Gah every time you come out with a new product I think, boy I can't wait to get that to start a game. But if I do this i will be starting a new game every few weeks.

Sovereign Court

When do disaffected Andoran youth start complaining that; "We are the Taldorans!"

Spoiler:
possibly obscure joke

Dark Archive

Dark_Mistress wrote:
Gah every time you come out with a new product I think, boy I can't wait to get that to start a game. But if I do this i will be starting a new game every few weeks.

My thoughts exactly. I hope my wife will understand that I just want *EVERYTHING* they're putting out this year...


This one looks like yet another must-buy for me. I'll enjoy learning more about Andoran outside of Darkmoon Vale.

One thing I hope they at least touch on is why Andoran's trade partners (the ones dealing in slaves, among other things) keep dealing with the country that's attacking and sinking their merchant ships as part of their effort to end slavery.

Hmm, now I'm wondering if some of theose countries might be sending troublemakers to Falcon's Hollow to try and destroy the logging communities who produce the wood the Andoran navy needs to keep those anti-slavery expeditions going...


Urg. "Wake me up... When November ends" Drool drool drool. I don't like having to wait such a long time for a fix, but this itch is going to just get worse as time trudges ever so slowly towards the Ides of December! Wah! Cry cry. I won't be happy till this thing lands!

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Updated author listing: Jonathan Keith, Hal Maclean, Colin McComb, Jason Nelson, and Hank Woon


Asgetrion wrote:


My thoughts exactly. I hope my wife will understand that I just want
*EVERYTHING* they're putting out this year...

Just do what I do...don't tell her!

Grand Lodge

My wife has a very understanding attitude about my Paizo habit. She says it's cheaper than golf and much better than gambling.

I need this!

RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, 2011 Top 32, 2012 Top 4

Avemar wrote:

My wife has a very understanding attitude about my Paizo habit. She says it's cheaper than golf and much better than gambling.

I need this!

Yeah, I'm in trouble with my other half. I play golf TOO!

Dark Archive

Lord Pel wrote:
Asgetrion wrote:


My thoughts exactly. I hope my wife will understand that I just want
*EVERYTHING* they're putting out this year...
Just do what I do...don't tell her!

She is a telepath... she instictively knows when I've bought stuff (or perhaps she has just memorized the titles in our bookshelf?). And when she gets angry, I'd rather be tied to an altar of Norgorber or Lamashtu than face her wrath...


Will there be information on an Eagle Knight Prestige Class?

Liberty's Edge

I am looking forward to this one, having run the "Darkmoon Vale" series of modules for my group! This will no doubt aid in expanding on the region for my players... once their characters make it back there!

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 16

Zarn Malovius Thrune wrote:
Will there be information on an Eagle Knight Prestige Class?

I believe that was on the list of topics we were supposed to cover. I do remember exchanging some emails about the Eagle Knights and chatter about a possible PrC. However, it wasn't one of the things I dealt with so I can't say 100%.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 16

Lord Thavian wrote:
I am looking forward to this one, having run the "Darkmoon Vale" series of modules for my group! This will no doubt aid in expanding on the region for my players... once their characters make it back there!

I hope you like what we wrote! I know we all had a lot of fun working on it.

Grand Lodge

Lord Thavian wrote:
I am looking forward to this one, having run the "Darkmoon Vale" series of modules for my group! This will no doubt aid in expanding on the region for my players... once their characters make it back there!

I'm running out of Darkmoon Vale adventures for my group as I type. What did you do with them post-modules?


Thorkull wrote:
Lord Thavian wrote:
I am looking forward to this one, having run the "Darkmoon Vale" series of modules for my group! This will no doubt aid in expanding on the region for my players... once their characters make it back there!
I'm running out of Darkmoon Vale adventures for my group as I type. What did you do with them post-modules?

Cleaning up the blasted town would make a good start. Is there anyone who didn't want to run Thuldrin Kreed and Kabran Bloodeye out of town on a rail, or maybe an impaling pike?

And depending on what adventures you've run through and what's happened, dealing with the local Fey and/or werewolves can make for problems. Or the hobgoblin army massing in Arthfell Forest.

Though my favorite idea was that one PC fell in love with Ralla. He and his fellows started looking after her and her little brother (he was one of the kidnapped children in Crown of the Kobold King) -- so when his nightmares become bad enough to open him up to otherworldly assault, the PCs take Hollin and Ralla along to a major city (Korvosa or Absalom?) to find some mage or cleric skilled in dream-crafting to try to cure him before he goes insane and turns evil like seemingly everyone else in town...

Contributor

Zarn Malovius Thrune wrote:
Will there be information on an Eagle Knight Prestige Class?

Yes.

Dark Archive

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Zarn Malovius Thrune wrote:
Will there be information on an Eagle Knight Prestige Class?
Yes.

And it will totally *suck* when compared to Hellknights, right? ;P

Contributor

Of course it will. *pat*

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

I've updated the cover and description to match the finished product. (If you still see a lot of green, clear your browser's image cache or consult a physician.)

Paizo Employee Chief Creative Officer, Publisher

Yes, yes, yes!

This cover says "Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting" as much as any in our line to date. There's so much there that is uniquely "Pathfinder": the colonial style of Andoran, the diabolical Chelaxian slaver on the high seas, and best of all: HALFLING SLAVES.

Pitch perfect!

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4

There's no better kind of slave, than a halfling slave. For halflings the best jewelery is chains.


I was looking forward to this companion, because I wanted more details for the area surrounding darkmoon vale - but, damn... this whole "fantasy colonial america" thing is just... too lame.

Bummer.


[humorous exaggeration] The Eagle Knights? That's the organization where hiring assassins is a minor pecadillo, but they throw you out at once if you're ever anything less than impeccably dressed for a formal evening dinner? ;)
[/humorous exaggeration]

Edit:
Seriously, though, I don't think I've ever seen a picture in a Paizo product of an even slightly dishevelled looking Eagle Knight. How do they keep the bloodstains off those uniforms?

Contributor

Really liking this one so far.

[planar related continuity nitpick because this is what I do] And looks like we've finally established firmly just what celestial race Talmandor is a member of after some waffling among the sources early on back and forth between agathion and archon. Avoral it is. [/planar related continuity nitpick because this is what I do]

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Charles Evans 25 wrote:

[humorous exaggeration] The Eagle Knights? That's the organization where hiring assassins is a minor pecadillo, but they throw you out at once if you're ever anything less than impeccably dressed for a formal evening dinner? ;)

[/humorous exaggeration]

Edit:
Seriously, though, I don't think I've ever seen a picture in a Paizo product of an even slightly dishevelled looking Eagle Knight. How do they keep the bloodstains off those uniforms?

One of their class features is that their uniform is affected by a permanent prestidigitation effect that prevents blood and dirt affixing to it. Probably. Or not.

Liberty's Edge

Erik Mona wrote:

Yes, yes, yes!

This cover says "Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting" as much as any in our line to date. There's so much there that is uniquely "Pathfinder": the colonial style of Andoran, the diabolical Chelaxian slaver on the high seas, and best of all: HALFLING SLAVES.

Pitch perfect!

Its a thing of beauty Erik, I love it too!

Ukos


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Ukos wrote:
Erik Mona wrote:

Yes, yes, yes!

This cover says "Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting" as much as any in our line to date. There's so much there that is uniquely "Pathfinder": the colonial style of Andoran, the diabolical Chelaxian slaver on the high seas, and best of all: HALFLING SLAVES.

Pitch perfect!

Its a thing of beauty Erik, I love it too!

Ukos

I concur!

Contributor

scooviduvoctagon wrote:
I was looking forward to this companion, because I wanted more details for the area surrounding darkmoon vale - but, damn... this whole "fantasy colonial america" thing is just... too lame.

Don't go thinking that a French-styled revolution has to lead to something like Galt. Andoran is as much inspired by the positive aspects of the French revolution as it is the American revolution.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I think they are trying to rescue my new mail order halfling cook I ordered... damn them.


And what Armor Class do those "colonial" soldiers have on the cover? 11? Poor Andoran will be conquered in the moment the enemy learns that they dont give out any battle armor to their soldiers. :)

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Today's blog post is awesome. I like it when Sean does art previews! Not only is it always cool to see more art, but there's always just a hint of context and enough information on the story behind all the art to whet my appetite more than it already is. Looking forward to more great preview art tomorrow! And Thursday! And Friday! And Monday! Etc.


I really want to like this one and it sounds very good.

I really, really don't like the 18th-century window dressing/costumes. Yeah, I know everything doesn't have to look like the Classical, Middle Ages, or Renaissance era but I also know what my players' knee-jerk reactions to such window dressing will be...

Sovereign Court

There's something wrong with the Eagle Knights on the cover.

Their heads are too big!


Enpeze wrote:
And what Armor Class do those "colonial" soldiers have on the cover? 11? Poor Andoran will be conquered in the moment the enemy learns that they dont give out any battle armor to their soldiers. :)

No, they oviously wear "stainless uniform jackets of protection".

Stefan


You all realize, don't you, that all of the uniform wisecracks aren't helping, right? :)


Giving the whole 18th-century uniforms some additional thought, the only way I could potentially sell this to my players would be if such uniforms are limited to naval forces. If those are supposed to be infantry or marine uniforms, Andoran's "social experiment" has a very short lifespan, methinks.

Hellknight in full plate and shield vs. Andoran officer sans armor and shield, both equipped with longswords? I smell Andoran blood, Chelaxian steel, and hellfire.


BPorter wrote:

You all realize, don't you, that all of the uniform wisecracks aren't helping, right? :)

Yeah, but I couldn´t help it either. :-)

SCNR (in both regards)

Stefan


By the way, who is this new artist - Florian Sitiz?
(If his name is even right - Florian sounds like a typical german name, but the name Sitiz is all but unheard of...)

Stefan

Dark Archive

Methinks it may be an error. At least there's an artist on DeviantArt named Florian Stitz whose style seems familiar.

DeviantArt

Sovereign Court

For a moment there I thought it was Florian Fritz.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Ravenmantle wrote:

Methinks it may be an error. At least there's an artist on DeviantArt named Florian Stitz whose style seems familiar.

DeviantArt

It is Florian Stitz.

Liberty's Edge

BPorter wrote:

Giving the whole 18th-century uniforms some additional thought, the only way I could potentially sell this to my players would be if such uniforms are limited to naval forces. If those are supposed to be infantry or marine uniforms, Andoran's "social experiment" has a very short lifespan, methinks.

Hellknight in full plate and shield vs. Andoran officer sans armor and shield, both equipped with longswords? I smell Andoran blood, Chelaxian steel, and hellfire.

Andoran may have had an industrial revolution as well and mass produced mithril shirts that fit under their uniforms! I am kidding of course!


Is there any chance we could see the prerequisites for the Steel Falcon prestige class prior to the book's release? We're starting a new game and one of the character's background would seem like a natural for this class.

Thanks in advance, but I fully understand if this can not be done.

Dark Archive

Talomyr wrote:

Is there any chance we could see the prerequisites for the Steel Falcon prestige class prior to the book's release? We're starting a new game and one of the character's background would seem like a natural for this class.

Thanks in advance, but I fully understand if this can not be done.

As a Chelaxian you should suggest that it is a foolish path -- our Hellknights are far superior in both flavour and game mechanics! ;)

Contributor

Talomyr wrote:
Is there any chance we could see the prerequisites for the Steel Falcon prestige class prior to the book's release? We're starting a new game and one of the character's background would seem like a natural for this class.

Alignment: Any good.

Base Attack Bonus: +2.
Feats: Iron Will.
Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks, Knowledge (history) 2 ranks, Knowledge (local) 2 ranks, Sense Motive 5 ranks.
Special: A senior Eagle Knight must invite the character into the organization.


Sean K Reynolds wrote:


Alignment: Any good.
Base Attack Bonus: +2.
Feats: Iron Will.
Skills: Diplomacy 5 ranks, Knowledge (history) 2 ranks, Knowledge (local) 2 ranks, Sense Motive 5 ranks.
Special: A senior Eagle Knight must invite the character into the organization.

Thanks, much appreciated!


That is some of the prettiest cover art I've ever seen. I may actually need the print copy of this one.

Sczarni

Hey I know pre orders for this are supposed to ship out this week but out of curiosity. Do the eagle knights have anything to do with eagle riding? (sorry had to ask)


I haven't seen it of course, but I think they're called Eagle Knights because Andoran is obsessed with raptors in general, and the eagle is supposedly one of the most noble. Not because eagles are actually involved.

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