Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to the River Kingdoms (PFRPG)

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Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to the River Kingdoms (PFRPG)
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Stake your claim! In the anarchic hills and valleys of the River Kingdoms, all you own is what you can hold by force. Dozens of nations flourish in this land of outlaws and scoundrels, from high-walled city-states to tiny tribal enclaves, and any hero with strength and vision can claim a throne at the point of a sword. Here secretive druids protect ancient forests, and downtrodden refugees and exiles cast longing eyes toward lost homelands. Civilized sea monsters trapped far from the briny deep rub shoulders with legitimized assassins, and strange magic can pull a prosperous town in and out of time and space. With the constant rise and fall of bandit lords, there’s no limit to the power and prestige bold adventurers can find—though whether they can keep it is another story.

    Inside this 64-page book, you’ll find:
  • A complete overview of the River Kingdoms, their statistics and history, and the Six River Freedoms that enforce honor among thieves
  • In-depth entries on 22 new nations from some of the most imaginitive authors in fantasy and science fiction, including award-winning author China Miéville, New York Times bestseller Elaine Cunningham, and gaming legends Chris Pramas, Colin McComb, Lisa Stevens, and Steve Kenson
  • Adventure hooks for every nation, fully fleshed-out and ready to be dropped into your existing campaign
  • New feats, spells, class abilities, and poisons native to the River Kingdoms
  • An exhaustive map of the River Kingdoms, including ancient ruins, haunted cities, monstrous lairs, and much more

Though created for the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting, the information presented in this book is perfect for inclusion in any game world, and makes an excellent supplement for the Kingmaker Adventure Path.

by Eric Bailey, Kevin Carter, Elaine Cunningham, Adam Daigle, Mike Ferguson, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Rob Manning, Colin McComb, Alison McKenzie, China Miéville, Brock Mitchel-Slentz, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Chris Pramas, Jeff Quick, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Neil Spicer, Lisa Stevens, Matthew Stinson, and John Wick.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-203-6

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Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscription.

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A Workmanlike Overview

3/5

In the official Pathfinder campaign setting of Golarion, the River Kingdoms is an area intentionally underdeveloped to give room for the GM and players to create or import their own fictional creations without clashing against established canonical countries. The River Kingdoms are really a couple of dozen small, independent nations that range from small city-states to bandit fortresses; all they have in common is dependence on the River Sellen. One of the River Kingdoms, the Stolen Lands, is the site of the Kingmaker Adventure Path, a campaign that sees PCs carving out their own state. The Guide to the River Kingdoms provides short descriptions of 22 different areas, and although it’s certainly not comprehensive in detail, it provides enough of an introductory overview to get creative GMs on the right track. Interestingly, each of the areas is written by a different author, and Paizo was able to get some big names (like China Mieville and Elaine Cunningham) to contribute.

The inside front cover is a map of the River Kingdoms, showing the different branches of the Sellen, notable settlements and ruins, and the wavy borders between the different kingdoms.

The book starts with a nine-page overview that talks about life in the River Kingdoms, with a focus on the Six River Freedoms, an unwritten code that binds the people of the disparate kingdoms together. There’s also a good discussion of how those countries that border the River Kingdoms interact with it. The section concludes with a brief entry for two minor deities widely worshipped in the River Kingdoms: Gyronna (hag goddess of hatred, extortion and spite) and Hanspur (god of rivers and river travel). I thought this section was really well done, and gives the River Kingdoms a unique niche in Golarion.

The entire rest of the book are entries for the River Kingdoms. The entries are either 1 page, 2 pages, or 4 pages long for each kingdom. Each entry includes a brief introduction, a settlement stat block (not the full version from the Game Mastery Guide, unfortunately), and then paragraphs on Government, Notable Sites, Resources, Adventurers, and (for the longer entries) Adventure Hooks. The entries are in alphabetical order, and it’s not necessarily clear why some countries got very short entries and others got longer entries. The kingdoms covered are:

• Artume (1 page): Thug-ruled kingdom—forgettable.

• Cordelion (1 page): Xenophobic kingdom deep in the forest with elven ancestry—also forgettable.

• Daggermark (4 pages): Apparently the largest of the kingdoms, despite having a well-regulated system where anyone can legally hire assassins to kill anyone else (except military personnel)! I don’t know why anyone would live there, but the entry is interesting. Five new poisons are introduced, but they’re pretty boring except for Shamweed (which gradually buffs the recipients Constitution for a week before turning incredibly nasty)

• Gralton (4 pages): An interesting country formed by refugees from the inquisitions in Galt, with nobles forced out of necessity to take up trades while dreaming of returning to their homeland. I could imagine using Gralton in a storyline.

• Heibarr (1 page): A cool ghost city.

• Hymbria (1 page): An elven community with a dark side—not too shabby.

• Lambreth (4 pages): Great backstory of a kingdom rescued from Razmiri encroachment by a savior who was too good to be true.

• Linerthane (1 page): Nice little story of idealist paladin with a fortress and big dreams of someday fixing Galt.

• Loric Fells (1 page): Monster infested.

• Mivon (4 pages): Cowards who fled Brevoy while maintaining the Aldori sword-dueling ethos. The entry includes a good codified list of rules for Mivoni duelling.

• Mosswater (1 page): A good adventuring locale: a town long overrun by merrow.

• Nystra (1 page): A concept very similar to Mosswater, but this time the culprit is yellow musk creeper and strange insect-like gargoyles.

• Outsea (4 pages): My personal favourite of the bunch. Written by China Mieville, the backstory to this place is just crazy-ridiculous-cool. I have an Undine PFS character from Outsea, aided by a regional trait in Blood of the Elements.

• Pitax (4 pages): Interesting, politically-divided town that is infested by thieves. A good place to start a campaign, as it could support various themes.

• The Protectorate of the Black Marquis (2 pages): Pirate despot town with interesting backstory.

• Riverton (1 page): Theocracy with a great cult leader.

• Scrawning Crossing (1 page): Classic “all villagers mysteriously disappeared one night” hook.

• Sevenarches (4 pages): Original kingdom ruled by druids, with fey support, with no elves allowed due to mysterious disease.

• The Stolen Lands (4 pages): As I mentioned, this is apparently where Kingmaker takes place. From the description here, it’s hard to imagine why anyone would *want* to make a kingdom in this sh#*hole.

• Touvette (2 pages): Harsh, lawful kingdom.

• Tymon (4 pages): Lisa Stevens’ baby, a gladiatorial kingdom with a constantly reincarnated leader who has been running the joint for 2,700 years!

• Uringen (4 pages): Adam Daigle’s baby, a fun concept of a town partially “unstuck” in a pocket dimension. Great place for adventures that players haven’t seen before.

As indicated above, the quality of the entries varies, with some really great ideas and some fairly generic ones. Although the cover art is great, the interior art is very much a mixed bag. The bullet point on the back cover about “New feats, spells, class abilities, and poisons” is literally true but hyperbolically misleading—this is *not* a crunch book, with only a handful of player options throughout. In one respect, however, this is good: with the launch of Pathfinder Second Edition, this book is just as valuable as it was in First Edition.

All in all, I’d say this was a solid, average Paizo book. I wouldn’t rush out to buy it, but I certainly don’t regret owning it either. Obviously, those running something like Kingmaker or other campaigns set in the River Kingdoms will find it indispensable.


Gets creative juices flowing

5/5

Trying not to replicate the other reviews, this campaign setting is exactly that - a sketch of many different cities and city-states within a loosely defined country. The locations are creatively detailed, with the intent to provide a HUGE variety of rulers to parlay with as players build their own domain during the Kingmaker campaign. For that it works brilliantly! There are regions to trade with, city-states to provide problems for the new PC rulers, leaders to ally with, and locations to be explored. As I read through this sourcebook cover to cover (despite often finding it difficult to stay engaged with other PDFs), I couldn't help but think about the possibilities for many of the areas.

Admittedly, as many of the other reviewers stated, this is light on crunch. If you are interested in stats, stay away from this product as there are only two gods with basic worshipper info, 5 new poisons, 1 spell, 1 alternate bard class ability, 1 region affinity, and 1 magic salve in the 32 pages. However, the nature of the sandbox campaign compliments Paizo's approach with this product: giving a huge range of idea-generating options for the GM to flesh out. The only thing I found wanting is the region to the east, immediately abutting the Stolen Lands, was not detailed as much as the other areas surrounding the campaign. However, that being said, if you are going to play Kingmaker I think the number and variety of kernels of adventure-generating encounters far outweighs that gripe.


Variables, Variables...

3/5

This is a somewhat strange campaign setting book, in the sense it seems not only is the various regions described in the book very different (from very regular fantasy tropes and/or very real world inspired) to the very fantastic... But how they are described also varies so much, because the authors do their pieces in very different ways.

For example, one region might have a city statblock, a lot of info on people there that can be usefull and inspiring, written in an entertaining way... While at least one other is pretty much "there are these guys guarding something but I won't tell you much about either" over three pages.

I found some of the articles in the book excellent, some average and some bad. As there is something to every taste here (except crunch, this is pretty much pure fluff), I guess that would be true for most people too.


One of the most ambitious Paizo Products yet...

5/5

Indispensable with the Kingmaker Adventure Path, The River Kingdoms reads like a fantasy novel sampler kit; look who wrote it after all. My only complaint? Why did they limit it to 64 pages? This could easily have gone much bigger...adventure path sized. Check my full review Guide to the River Kingdoms


Great sourcebook

4/5

The River Kingdoms is one of the more interesting settings for Golarion. Paizo does a nice job of keeping things detailed just enough to give creative GMs some leeway to add in some details of their own.
Being a big fan of China Mieville, I greatly appreciated his contributions in the description of the unique city state of Outsea.
There are some great sites of interest within one of the more standout areas of the campaign milieu that the PCs can explore. For example, a town that is a town but not a town... Can't say more as I don't wish to spoil it for any upcoming readers.
If you're thinking about using Paizo's next AP- Kingmaker, I strongly recommend purchasing this sourcebook.
I too wish there were more NPCs in the sourcebook but the material was an intriguing read.


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Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Updated author listing: Eric Bailey, Kevin Carter, Elaine Cunningham, Adam Daigle, Mike Ferguson, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Rob Manning, Colin McComb, Alison McKenzie, China Miéville, Brock Mitchel-Slentz, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Chris Pramas, Jeff Quick, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Neil Spicer, Lisa Stevens, Matthew Stinson, and John Wick

Sovereign Court

Vic Wertz wrote:
Updated author listing: ...Elaine Cunningham...China Miéville...

Does this mean Pathfinder fiction?

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
Updated author listing: Eric Bailey, Kevin Carter, Elaine Cunningham, Adam Daigle, Mike Ferguson, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Rob Manning, Colin McComb, Alison McKenzie, China Miéville, Brock Mitchel-Slentz, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Chris Pramas, Jeff Quick, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Neil Spicer, Lisa Stevens, Matthew Stinson, and John Wick

McComb ?

Pett ?
Pramas ?
WICK ???

/spits out beer
/preorders

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Gorbacz wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
Updated author listing: Eric Bailey, Kevin Carter, Elaine Cunningham, Adam Daigle, Mike Ferguson, Joshua J. Frost, James Jacobs, Steve Kenson, Rob Manning, Colin McComb, Alison McKenzie, China Miéville, Brock Mitchel-Slentz, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Chris Pramas, Jeff Quick, Sean K Reynolds, F. Wesley Schneider, Neil Spicer, Lisa Stevens, Matthew Stinson, and John Wick

McComb ?

Pett ?
Pramas ?
WICK ???

/spits out beer
/preorders

...And don't forget all of the RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

GeraintElberion wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
Updated author listing: ...Elaine Cunningham...China Miéville...
Does this mean Pathfinder fiction?

No more than normal fiction you see in a game book; they're each designing one of the many River Kingdoms.

Sovereign Court

James Jacobs wrote:
GeraintElberion wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
Updated author listing: ...Elaine Cunningham...China Miéville...
Does this mean Pathfinder fiction?
No more than normal fiction you see in a game book; they're each designing one of the many River Kingdoms.

That's cool, I just like them as novelists and was getting carried away.

Are we going to know which River Kingdom Lisa Stevens designed or will it be anonymous like the classic x revisited books?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

GeraintElberion wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
GeraintElberion wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:
Updated author listing: ...Elaine Cunningham...China Miéville...
Does this mean Pathfinder fiction?
No more than normal fiction you see in a game book; they're each designing one of the many River Kingdoms.

That's cool, I just like them as novelists and was getting carried away.

Are we going to know which River Kingdom Lisa Stevens designed or will it be anonymous like the classic x revisited books?

Dungeon Denizens Revisited revealed who wrote what in the intro; we'll probably be doing something similar to this in all our "written by lots of folks" books in the future.

Contributor

James Jacobs wrote:
GeraintElberion wrote:


Are we going to know which River Kingdom Lisa Stevens designed or will it be anonymous like the classic x revisited books?

Dungeon Denizens Revisited revealed who wrote what in the intro; we'll probably be doing something similar to this in all our "written by lots of folks" books in the future.

What?! You mean we won't be able to take credit for the things people like while avoiding blame for those that they don't? Madness!

...seriously, though, I'm guessing you'll be able to pick at least certain authors out of the mix by flavor alone, especially China and Elaine.

Sovereign Court

Wow.. Paizo got China Miéville to write something for them, and you aren't trumpeting this from the rooftops? That's a pretty big name that's not normally associated with RPG development that you've got for it.

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Uzzy wrote:

Wow.. Paizo got China Miéville to write something for them, and you aren't trumpeting this from the rooftops? That's a pretty big name that's not normally associated with RPG development that you've got for it.

Blowing trumpets in July for a December product doesn't usually work very well.


It was just pointed out in another thread that China Mieville is contributing to this volume (it's also listed on the author list). Color me ecstatic! He's one of the most fantastic author's I've come across in the last year (yeah, I'm late to the party, I know). Just curious if anyone from Paizo can give (or would be willing) a hint of what he might be contributing to this volume?

(I know, I know, I'm shooting in the dark, I don't really expect an answer. Not until this is closer to being released. But you can't blame me for trying.) :)

This news had tickled me pink.


Vic Wertz wrote:


Blowing trumpets in July for a December product doesn't usually work very well.

I don't know Vic. I mean, I'm a subscriber, so I'm getting it anyway, but... I'm still pumped for this seeing that China Mieville is working on it.

Contributor

I just finished Mieville's 'The City & The City' two days ago. Am I allowed to leave my jaw on the floor as I see that you've managed to get him on board as a contributor?

Dude.

Wow. I am impressed. :D

Contributor

lojakz wrote:
Vic Wertz wrote:


Blowing trumpets in July for a December product doesn't usually work very well.
I don't know Vic. I mean, I'm a subscriber, so I'm getting it anyway, but... I'm still pumped for this seeing that China Mieville is working on it.

When I saw the names attached to the project, I figured Sean was just being silly.

Seeing them actually announced... well. I'm officially stunned.

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development

I know! Crazy, i'nit?


Todd Stewart wrote:

I just finished Mieville's 'The City & The City' two days ago. Am I allowed to leave my jaw on the floor as I see that you've managed to get him on board as a contributor?

Dude.

Wow. I am impressed. :D

I've only read the Scar so far, and I'm very impressed by the guy. I'm really excited to see what he will bring to the table.

Paizo Employee CEO

GeraintElberion wrote:

Are we going to know which River Kingdom Lisa Stevens designed or will it be anonymous like the classic x revisited books?

I did the gladiator city-state of Tymon. Turned it in last week. It was quite exciting to be back designing again. I hope everyone likes what I did! :)

-Lisa

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4

What I'm looking forward too is seeing how everyone's areas fit together as far as style and role-playing. Since we didn't really talk to one another, the differences over just a few miles on the map could be great. I hope the new neighbors play nice!

Contributor

lojakz wrote:
It was just pointed out in another thread that China Mieville is contributing to this volume (it's also listed on the author list). Color me ecstatic! He's one of the most fantastic author's I've come across in the last year (yeah, I'm late to the party, I know). Just curious if anyone from Paizo can give (or would be willing) a hint of what he might be contributing to this volume?

Like most of the contributors, China Mieville did a writeup of a small territory within the River Kingdoms (4 pages). It's certainly unlike anything else in the area.... ;)


Vic Wertz wrote:
Blowing trumpets in July for a December product doesn't usually work very well.

Tinkling a triangle?

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4

Any word on who is doing the cover art of this book?

Sovereign Court

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
It's certainly unlike anything else in the area.... ;)

Completely at peace, totally unfantastical, given over to humble subsistence and home crafts, with nothing whatsoever to lure adventurers into shaking up the status quo?

Scarab Sages Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games

cappadocius wrote:
Sean K Reynolds wrote:
It's certainly unlike anything else in the area.... ;)
Completely at peace, totally unfantastical, given over to humble subsistence and home crafts, with nothing whatsoever to lure adventurers into shaking up the status quo?

All I know is that Lambreth don't play nice with NOBODY!!!

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development

Uringen is a mostly nice place, if you can find it and they want you there.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Sadly, Lambreth and Uringen had to be cut for space reasons. Sorry, guys.

Paizo Employee Director of Game Development

Sadly, yoda8myhead had to be cut for spite reasons. Sorry, fella.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut

Woo-hoo! More room for my tiny kingdom! Sadly, Mark had to be cut to ribbons for this to take place. :-)

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

I know this has gone to the printer already, soooo ... can we see the cover?

:-D

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

I've updated the image and description to match the finished product.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Vic Wertz wrote:
I've updated the image and description to match the finished product.

Wow. That is awesome. I can't remember and don't feel like looking, but is the first time Sajan has been on the cover?


I like the cover.

So...have we reached the horn-tootin' stage? I've been working on my embouchure.

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4

So, is that a Pathfinder merrow on the cover?

Contributor

Looks like a merrow to me. If it were a scrag, it would have a larger bottom jaw.

Dark Archive

Cover art by Dan Scott?

Dark Archive

Ooh, I love it! Nice perspective and sense of action -- definitely one of the best from Paizo so far, and truly fits the concept perfectly! :)


Now that I have this book in hand and have re-read the sections I wrote, there's a small errata for page 13. The date of the infamous winter that starved a large portion of Daggermark's population should be 4657-4658 and not, as written, 40-some years in the future. ;-)

I seem to have momentarily forgot what year it was.

Contributor

Ravenmantle wrote:
Cover art by Dan Scott?

Yep!

Liberty's Edge

Just curious if this book is still on track for releasing next month. I have it prordered and I'm anxious to read it! Plus, I have the Dwarves of Golarion book ordered and set to ship with this, so I'm double excited (is that a word :)

Thanks!

Paizo Employee Chief Technical Officer

Marc Radle 81 wrote:
Just curious if this book is still on track for releasing next month.

It is. Keep in mind we keep the Product Schedule page updated with the latest info.


The cover is amazing


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Ok, after thumbing through the PDF, I have to say: This is one of the most amazing and awesome chronicles of all times!


Just got the PDF. Excuse me but I cannot find reference on China Mieville except from the index. Which chapter did he write?

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

China wrote about Outsea.

Paizo, this book is awesome. Really ... wow. I am speechless.

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2009, RPG Superstar Judgernaut

If I'm not mistaken, this is also the first product that the Top 4 from RPG Superstar 2009 contributed to...and I'm eagerly awaiting my own copy! :-)

Contributor

Now this was mean, the pdf was released and I never got the email telling me that it was ready to happily unzip and devour. But now I has it. *clawed fist of victory*

The Exchange

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

I have to admit, this book is wonderful. Out of all the "Guides" in the Chronicles line, I would have to say that this one is the best, if only for the sheer fact that this describes so many differing kingdoms.

Also, the author list is awesome...

Jon Brazer Enterprises

Great book so far. One issue: When I open it it says that it cannot extract the embedded font "HTMONE+PrioriSansOT-Bold". Then, when I am leafing through it, most (if not all) of the side text boxes, Nation Stat blocks, the OGL, the back cover (except for "New York Times") and the Timeline in the back display as little dots instead of characters.

I'm using Adobe Acrobat Pro 7 and Reader 9.3 on a windows machine if that makes a difference.

Thank you. I appreciate all your hard work.


I have a pathfinder chronicles subscription, but this pdf isn't available in my downloads section. Are you guys getting copies early because you're all contributors, or do I need to contact tech support?

-Ken

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
kenmckinney wrote:

I have a pathfinder chronicles subscription, but this pdf isn't available in my downloads section. Are you guys getting copies early because you're all contributors, or do I need to contact tech support?

-Ken

No, it usually takes several days for all subscribers to get the pdf as it takes awhile to get the physical copies out the door. The rarer your order, the longer it takes.


DMcCoy1693 wrote:

Great book so far. One issue: When I open it it says that it cannot extract the embedded font "HTMONE+PrioriSansOT-Bold". Then, when I am leafing through it, most (if not all) of the side text boxes, Nation Stat blocks, the OGL, the back cover (except for "New York Times") and the Timeline in the back display as little dots instead of characters.

I'm using Adobe Acrobat Pro 7 and Reader 9.3 on a windows machine if that makes a difference.

Thank you. I appreciate all your hard work.

Same problem here....

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