Pathfinder Chronicles: Faction Guide (PFRPG)

4.70/5 (based on 6 ratings)
Pathfinder Chronicles: Faction Guide (PFRPG)
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Loyalty over all

Every campaign has organizations that pull the secret strings of the world, toppling monarchs or leading revolutionaries toward freedom and war. These secret societies, bardic colleges, wizard academies, military orders, and religious cults capture the imagination—and now your PCs can join Golarion’s own movers and shakers with the Pathfinder Chronicles Faction Guide. This book presents a new and detailed rules system for PCs who throw in their lot with one or more of these groups, as well as the responsibilities—and rewards—that membership entails. With membership in a faction, PCs gain a whole new reason to adventure, as well as countless roleplaying opportunities in any sort of campaign, from dungeon crawl to courtly intrigue.

In addition to new goals and motives, membership in a faction comes with tangible in-game benefits. Gain enough of a reputation with the Hellknights, and a PC can become a fearsome lictor, complete with Hellknight minions. Gain prestige with the Pathfinder Society, and a PC adventurer can get his foot in the door to become a venture-captain. Everything your players need to infiltrate the halls of power is right here.

    Inside this 64-page book, you’ll find:
  • Rules on how to gain prestige with various factions and how to use it to secure items, boons, and allies.
  • Twenty-four sample factions and the specific benefits of joining them—these factions include the fearsome Red Mantis assassins, the notorious Whispering Way, the righteous Eagle Knights of Andoran, the demon-hunting Mendev Crusaders, the calculating Prophets of Kalistrade, and the blasphemous Church of Razmir.
  • Standard rewards available through every faction, such as helpful spells, expert hirelings, and access to specific magic items and equipment.
  • New feats, spells, magic items, and traits for all factions.
  • This book is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting but fits easily into any fantasy game world.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-221-0

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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PZO9221


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4.70/5 (based on 6 ratings)

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Good investment for Guild heavy campaigns

4/5

For the longest time, I always wanted to run a pathfinder/3.5 Ravnica campaign. But seeing that I never GM before, I was nervous as to how the guilds would function.

This book helped. It gave me the tools needed to support the my campaign.

I don't recommend this book to those who aren't guild/group heavy. But to everyone else who need advise as to what spells/equipment/boons would fit each guild/group, this book is a great place to start.


Great for fleshing out power groups . . .

4/5

This book has some great information for giving you some snapshot information of various power groups in the campaign setting, without getting too in depth, so that players can get a taste for them.

The faction point system seems to work well, and is pretty much the same one that is in effect in PFS organized play.

My biggest concern is that too many factions in the guide have rewards that have to do with granting followers, which can be a pain for a GM that doesn't quite know what to do with those extra bodies, especially when some of them are implied to being active participants in adventures (like bodyguards) instead of just non-combatants for roleplaying purposes (which some of them are).


One of the Best Suppliments.


Few Suppliments challenge a player to think of their characters motivations more than this one. Nationality, ethnic origin, race, all shape us, but what we choose to join, that defines us. This is a great piece of work.

Check out my full review Faction Guide


adds flavor!

5/5

I love the Faction Guide because it has 24 factions that hve different flavors. They endulge your players to add that flavor to their characters. Like the Kusari-Gama be all the monk that you can be and some more! and you get rewards! Players must love this. I think it should be a for both DM and PC.
For me? a must have to spice up a character.


Excellent

5/5

I really enjoy the way the new rules can be included or not; the non overbearing nature of the new mechanics is a nice addition. If i wanted I could use the book without the mechanics and that makes my day. If a dm wants to add something to tie his players better to the world this book does that.


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Ravenmantle wrote:

Arcanamirium

Aspis Consortium
Bellflower Network
Bloodstone Swords
Church of Razmir
Eagle Knights
Greeen Faith
Hellknights
Kitharodian Academy
Kusari-Gama
Lantern Bearers
Lion Blades
Mendev Crusaders
Ninth Batallion
Old Cults
Pathfinder Society
Prophets of Kalistrade
Red Mantis Assassins
Religious Factions
Risen Guard
Shackles Pirates
Ulfen Guard
Varisian Wanderers
Whispering Way

Aww. No Iridium Fold? (I think that's what the group was called...) Or is the group more likely to show up (if it hasn't been allowed to fade into the background & forgotten) in a product dealing with a non-Inner Sea region of Golarion?? (If I remember the fluff correctly, the group was supposed to be from some unspecified distant land...)

Thanks for answering.
C.


James Jacobs wrote:
That's one of several reasons we're revising the Campaign Setting rather than reprinting it. And it's worth pointing out that there's really NOT a lot of those disconnects in the world, actually; the current Campaign Setting book is a really solid and award-winning book, after all! :)

As well it should be. I am curious as to what these few items are


Psiphyre wrote:


Aww. No Iridium Fold? (I think that's what the group was called...) Or is the group more likely to show up (if it hasn't been allowed to fade into the background & forgotten) in a product dealing with a non-Inner Sea region of Golarion?? (If I remember the fluff correctly, the group was supposed to be from some unspecified distant land...)

Thanks for answering.
C.

Edit: I meant Iridan Fold. And after rereading the little paragraph on the group, I suppose it wouldn't really make much sense to have it in the Pathfinder Chronicles: Faction Guide, particularly if the focus of this product is on the different factions (& the benefits of belonging to them) of the Inner Sea. And the IF isn't from any nation (named or unnamed) of the Inner Sea...

('¬_¬) : Guess I answered my own question - at least in part.

So, will the Iridian Fold appear in a much later product dealing with a non-Inner Sea region of Golarion, or has it gone the way of the Darklight Sisterhood?? (Inquiring minds would like to know...)

Thanks for answering.
C.


I can't wait for the pdf to go on sale, I'm eager to create an affiliation for the Acadamae of Korvosa. In our upcoming CotCT campaign one of my players will be a graduate conjurer, with dedicated feat to boot. Anyone already thought of that? :)

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Mikaze wrote:

I still kind of like the Darklight Sisterhood, although not so much as real rivals to the Pathfinder Society and more like what was discussed here.

Looks at that list.

Hot damn!

Getting into the Risen Guard should be easy for PC's! :D

You and me both on the Darklight Sisterhood. FreeholdDM mentioned posting his work up about him. Looks like those of us interested will just need to share our stuff together. I am waiting to see what he has done and then add my own thoughts. As well as read others thoughts on it. :)

The Exchange

There will still probably be room for the Darklight Sisterhood in the fan magazine "Wayfinder", if someone wants to submit something! Just like there is stuff focusing on the Grand Duchy of Alkenstar, when James said Paizo is de-emphasizing that country in the Inner Sea book (collapsing it into a chapter on the Mana Wastes as a whole).
Thought, since I'm not directly involved in the project I don't know if they are focusing on strictly current canon stuff or not - I suspect not, because it's for FAN-made stuff after all.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Yeah and it would be cool if someone did it Zeugma. I like that kind of talent personally. :) Or I would already be doing it, I gave it a try in the... well lets just say it's been awhile.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So could you be a member of more ten one faction, and if you are would you track your PA seperately for each?

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Zeugma wrote:

There will still probably be room for the Darklight Sisterhood in the fan magazine "Wayfinder", if someone wants to submit something! Just like there is stuff focusing on the Grand Duchy of Alkenstar, when James said Paizo is de-emphasizing that country in the Inner Sea book (collapsing it into a chapter on the Mana Wastes as a whole).

Thought, since I'm not directly involved in the project I don't know if they are focusing on strictly current canon stuff or not - I suspect not, because it's for FAN-made stuff after all.

We actually aren't de-emphasizing Alkenstar in the reprint. There's going to be MORE info on Alkenstar and the surrounding Mana Wastes in the reprint—it's just that all of that info will be found in the four pages under the heading of "Mana Wastes" rather than a 2 page entry under the heading of "Alkenstar."

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Psiphyre wrote:
Aww. No Iridium Fold? (I think that's what the group was called...) Or is the group more likely to show up (if it hasn't been allowed to fade into the background & forgotten) in a product dealing with a non-Inner Sea region of Golarion?? (If I remember the fluff correctly, the group was supposed to be from some unspecified distant land...)

We have a entire book on Kaer Maga coming out in a few months. That book will have info on the Iridian Fold, Bloatmages, Sweettalkers, troll augers, and a LOT of other organizations—they aren't presented as factions, but we didn't want to double up too much between books on the organizations.

Since we had a whole book on Kaer Maga, it made sense to not include any Kaer Maga specific groups in another book.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Justin Franklin wrote:
So could you be a member of more ten one faction, and if you are would you track your PA seperately for each?

Yes and yes.

Of course, some factions don't mix well together... but there's nothing stopping anyone from trying to belong to more than one.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Hey look color pictures of all the new Iconics at the end of the book.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
James Jacobs wrote:
Justin Franklin wrote:
So could you be a member of more ten one faction, and if you are would you track your PA seperately for each?

Yes and yes.

Of course, some factions don't mix well together... but there's nothing stopping anyone from trying to belong to more than one.

Cause there are 2 I can't see how to not be a member of both coming out of Taldor.

Sovereign Court

MerrikCale wrote:


curious, will any of these disconnects be corrected in the new Campaign Book?

I, for one, hope we don't "correct" the giant Slor! And maybe we could get a large and moving Torg in the hypothetical epic level sourcebook.

Contributor

Plz to be keeping the Riftwardens as a group? I referenced them in 'Classic Treasures Revisited', just saying. ;)

Scarab Sages

I am very very happy with this book. I am starting to use the Prestige Award system in my RotRL game so far, and it will help out immensely with encouraging social activies in my less roleplaying enthusiastic players. Plus I have a bean-counter or two in my game and now they have new beans to count, hehe...

The Exchange

James Jacobs wrote:
We actually aren't de-emphasizing Alkenstar in the reprint. There's going to be MORE info on Alkenstar and the surrounding Mana Wastes in the reprint—it's just that all of that info will be found in the four pages under the heading of "Mana Wastes" rather than a 2 page entry under the heading of "Alkenstar."

Ah. That clarifies things greatly. I am looking forward to the Inner Sea book even more now!

Contributor

Justin Franklin wrote:
So could you be a member of more ten one faction, and if you are would you track your PA seperately for each?

Yes. And the book talks about "spillover" prestige gains from allied factions... and reductions in prestige for advancing your rep in an opposing faction....

Sovereign Court

Zeugma wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:
We actually aren't de-emphasizing Alkenstar in the reprint. There's going to be MORE info on Alkenstar and the surrounding Mana Wastes in the reprint—it's just that all of that info will be found in the four pages under the heading of "Mana Wastes" rather than a 2 page entry under the heading of "Alkenstar."
Ah. That clarifies things greatly. I am looking forward to the Inner Sea book even more now!

+1

Scarab Sages

I enjoyed reading the PDF of this book.

I think I was lucky and had my subscription shipped early. I was wrapped by the book and how factions work into general play and also the enhancements to PFS.

A question, how would you go with characters who have multiple prestiage with factions? I assume it would be possible... or do PC loyalties lie with one only?


Is that a spiderman on a cover? :)

Regards,
Ruemere

Silver Crusade

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

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

Masika wrote:

I enjoyed reading the PDF of this book.

I think I was lucky and had my subscription shipped early. I was wrapped by the book and how factions work into general play and also the enhancements to PFS.

A question, how would you go with characters who have multiple prestiage with factions? I assume it would be possible... or do PC loyalties lie with one only?

As Sean stated above, you can be in several factions at once. In addition, each faction has allied factions, so prestige in one gives you some minor carryover in working with allied factions (and some minor negatives when dealing with enemy factions).


Ravenmantle wrote:

Arcanamirium

Aspis Consortium
Bellflower Network
Bloodstone Swords
Church of Razmir
Eagle Knights
Greeen Faith
Hellknights
Kitharodian Academy
Kusari-Gama
Lantern Bearers
Lion Blades
Mendev Crusaders
Ninth Batallion
Old Cults
Pathfinder Society
Prophets of Kalistrade
Red Mantis Assassins
Religious Factions
Risen Guard
Shackles Pirates
Ulfen Guard
Varisian Wanderers
Whispering Way

What? Where is the Belkzen Unification Front? Is that going to be in the Orcs of Golarion book? ;)

Uggh! I have to wait until something like thesecond of June to get the PDF. (Note: I have a bad habit of not being around when things are shipped, so I just stick with the PDFs and then print them out and put them in a binder myself...)

*waiting patiently*

Sovereign Court

I know that several of the factions have particular symbols (Open Road rune for Pathfinders, Green Man for Green Faith, etc.), but does the Whispering Way have a symbol? There's not one pictured in the Campaign Setting and I didn't see one mentioned in this fine Faction Guide either...

On a similar note, does Tar Baphon have a heraldic symbol we should be aware of?

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Gorbacz wrote:
Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

[Cue: screaming brass intro chords]

[Cue: upbeat bongos]

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Kills on orders from his clan.
Cuts your throat, slits your wrist,
When he's killed, turns to mist.
Hey there! There goes the Mantis-man!

Neither druid's spell, nor a bard's serenade
Matter half as much, as a good poisoned blade.

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Deadly, neighborhood Mantis-man.
Makes no sound, in the grass;
He's his own, prestige class.
Look out! Here comes the Mantis-man!!!

(It's okay. I feel all better now.)

Owner - House of Books and Games LLC

Chris Mortika wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

[Cue: screaming brass intro chords]

[Cue: upbeat bongos]

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Kills on orders from his clan.
Cuts your throat, slits your wrist,
When he's killed, turns to mist.
Hey there! There goes the Mantis-man!

Neither druid's spell, nor a bard's serenade
Matter half as much, as a good poisoned blade.

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Deadly, neighborhood Mantis-man.
Makes no sound, in the grass;
He's his own, prestige class.
Look out! Here comes the Mantis-man!!!

(It's okay. I feel all better now.)

Aw man, that was uncalled for. Now I'm doomed to be singing "Spider-man, Spider-man" to myself for the rest of the afternoon.

Dooomed!!

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

What? Where is the Belkzen Unification Front? Is that going to be in the Orcs of Golarion book? ;)

They have been replaced by the Unification Front of Belkzen ;)

Owner - House of Books and Games LLC

Dragnmoon wrote:
The Thing from Beyond the Edge wrote:

What? Where is the Belkzen Unification Front? Is that going to be in the Orcs of Golarion book? ;)

They have been replaced by the Unification Front of Belkzen ;)

I thought it was the People's United Belkzen Front ...

Sovereign Court

BLOODY SPLITTERS!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Lamashan Dalastonor wrote:

I know that several of the factions have particular symbols (Open Road rune for Pathfinders, Green Man for Green Faith, etc.), but does the Whispering Way have a symbol? There's not one pictured in the Campaign Setting and I didn't see one mentioned in this fine Faction Guide either...

On a similar note, does Tar Baphon have a heraldic symbol we should be aware of?

We haven't revealed the symbol of the Whispering Way yet. It's sort of a secret symbol, I guess—they don't really advertise their presence that much, after all.


Chris Mortika wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

[Cue: screaming brass intro chords]

[Cue: upbeat bongos]

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Kills on orders from his clan.
Cuts your throat, slits your wrist,
When he's killed, turns to mist.
Hey there! There goes the Mantis-man!

Neither druid's spell, nor a bard's serenade
Matter half as much, as a good poisoned blade.

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Deadly, neighborhood Mantis-man.
Makes no sound, in the grass;
He's his own, prestige class.
Look out! Here comes the Mantis-man!!!

(It's okay. I feel all better now.)

...Crap, that's going to be in my head all day now... Somebody should record this. :D

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

James Jacobs wrote:
We haven't revealed the symbol of the Whispering Way yet. It's sort of a secret symbol, I guess—they don't really advertise their presence that much, after all.

Well, since there are now rules for PCs belonging to the organization, I suppose the recommendation is: "GM, make one up for your campaign."


Chris Mortika wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

[Cue: screaming brass intro chords]

[Cue: upbeat bongos]

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Kills on orders from his clan.
Cuts your throat, slits your wrist,
When he's killed, turns to mist.
Hey there! There goes the Mantis-man!

Neither druid's spell, nor a bard's serenade
Matter half as much, as a good poisoned blade.

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Deadly, neighborhood Mantis-man.
Makes no sound, in the grass;
He's his own, prestige class.
Look out! Here comes the Mantis-man!!!

(It's okay. I feel all better now.)

very well done, sir. very well done indeed

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

MerrikCale wrote:
Chris Mortika wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

[Cue: screaming brass intro chords]

[Cue: upbeat bongos]

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Kills on orders from his clan.
Cuts your throat, slits your wrist,
When he's killed, turns to mist.
Hey there! There goes the Mantis-man!

Neither druid's spell, nor a bard's serenade
Matter half as much, as a good poisoned blade.

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Deadly, neighborhood Mantis-man.
Makes no sound, in the grass;
He's his own, prestige class.
Look out! Here comes the Mantis-man!!!

(It's okay. I feel all better now.)

very well done, sir. very well done indeed

agreed - nice work

Sovereign Court

James Jacobs wrote:
We haven't revealed the symbol of the Whispering Way yet. It's sort of a secret symbol, I guess—they don't really advertise their presence that much, after all.

But... there is a symbol! And it will be revealed at some future (but, hopefully, not so distant) time? And it's not just some plain old skull, right?

Groovy.


This is frikkin AWESOME!! Been waiting for something with this particular perspective for 25 years. Thanks!


Chris Mortika wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
Nah, that's his bootleg copy, the Mantisman !

[Cue: screaming brass intro chords]

[Cue: upbeat bongos]

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Kills on orders from his clan.
Cuts your throat, slits your wrist,
When he's killed, turns to mist.
Hey there! There goes the Mantis-man!

Neither druid's spell, nor a bard's serenade
Matter half as much, as a good poisoned blade.

Mantis-man, Mantis-man! Deadly, neighborhood Mantis-man.
Makes no sound, in the grass;
He's his own, prestige class.
Look out! Here comes the Mantis-man!!!

(It's okay. I feel all better now.)

Sheer music genius!


Wow, the music made me forget my original post:

Ki Crystal
These seem really overpriced for what they do. The cost equivalent of a level 5 potion that you get to use once. If you're a monk.

Dark Archive

Sooo.... The spells that deal permanent ability damage... Is that every time you use it or only when you first transcribe it into your book?

Contributor

Draeke Raefel wrote:
Sooo.... The spells that deal permanent ability damage... Is that every time you use it or only when you first transcribe it into your book?

We haven't given any actual examples, but the intent is that it happens every time you cast the spell.

Dark Archive

Sean K Reynolds wrote:
Draeke Raefel wrote:
Sooo.... The spells that deal permanent ability damage... Is that every time you use it or only when you first transcribe it into your book?
We haven't given any actual examples, but the intent is that it happens every time you cast the spell.

Thanks! I'm guessing it's a GM call at the moment for the amount of ability drain suffered? Probably scaling based on the benefit?

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Are there guidelines for creating your own factions in this book? If not, is there a design reason these things are being excluded? I would like to see more books that encourage play in other games, with new rules, besides Golarion. As wonderful as the setting is and all.

Dark Archive

To be honest, the way they've set up these factions, creating your own shouldn't be a problem, even if there are no "this is how you do it" guidelines. It's pretty straight forward stuff.

Contributor

Draeke Raefel wrote:
Thanks! I'm guessing it's a GM call at the moment for the amount of ability drain suffered? Probably scaling based on the benefit?

Yes. :)

Ravenmantle wrote:
To be honest, the way they've set up these factions, creating your own shouldn't be a problem, even if there are no "this is how you do it" guidelines. It's pretty straight forward stuff.

What he said. :)

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Awesome guys, thanks for the info. My print copy will be arriving shortly and can't wait to start making factions for my own campaign!

Liberty's Edge

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

Color me puzzled... Are the Eagle Knights a NG group as the Faction Guide says they are, or LG, as the Campaign Setting says?

Edit: I'm a little wuzzy* on this one, too. The rules on Prestige Points says "When a character’s Prestige Award increases, her TPA and CPA increase by the same value." So CPA can never be higher than TPA. Yet to become a knight of Andoran, a character needs to spend five points of CPA more than his TPA. Is that a typo, or should it be read "must have at least 10 TPS, but spend 15 CPA to be a knight"?

*Jane Goodall, of all people, is to blame for "wuzzy" recently entering my vocabulary. Thanks, monkey lady.


IconoclasticScream wrote:
Color me puzzled... Are the Eagle Knights a NG group as the Faction Guide says they are, or LG, as the Campaign Setting says?

Well, once they start letting those no good adventurers join up, all pretense of law just goes out the window. Bad influence, I tell ya. (Sorry, I know that wasn't helpful at all)

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
KnightErrantJR wrote:
IconoclasticScream wrote:
Color me puzzled... Are the Eagle Knights a NG group as the Faction Guide says they are, or LG, as the Campaign Setting says?
Well, once they start letting those no good adventurers join up, all pretense of law just goes out the window. Bad influence, I tell ya. (Sorry, I know that wasn't helpful at all)

Too many damn compromises in the world, I tell you what. Before long we'll have complete anarchy. :)


IconoclasticScream wrote:

Too many damn compromises in the world, I tell you what. Before long we'll have complete anarchy. :)

I like me some anarchy!

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