Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2 (OGL)

# The Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 includes: More than 300 different monsters including new golems, giants, dragons, planar denizens, and classic creatures from mythology and gaming tradition

# An innovative format that gives each creature its own page or two-page spread for complete ecological detail and ease of reference
# Dozens of monstrous variants to modify creatures and keep players on their toes
# Numerous lists of monsters to aid in navigation, including lists by Challenge Rating, monster type, and habitat
# Universal monster rules to simplify special attacks, defenses, and qualities like breath weapons, damage reduction, and regeneratio
# Suggestions for monstrous cohorts
# Plenty of new animal companions and familiars
# AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

Two questions regarding the announcement above:

Thanks in advance!
Günther

Two questions regarding the announcement above:
- The "innovative format": Is it the same as in Bestiary I or is it a new format?
- "Universal monster rules to simplify special attacks": Could you please shed some light on these?

I guess both are just like Bestiary I: Monsters in that stat block format, always getting its whole page (unless they're special groups of critters that can be grouped together on one page). Common special attacks like rake and the like aren't explained in the monster entry but rather in a glossary.

I'm wondering how many of the AP Bestiary entries will be getting updated from 3.5 and making it in.

Two questions regarding the announcement above:

- The "innovative format": Is it the same as in Bestiary I or is it a new format?

From the description, it sounds like the same full page view.

"Universal monster rules to simplify special attacks": Could you please shed some light on these?

These are the rules at the back of the Bestiary (thankfully also included in the Bestiary II) that describe things like Regeneration, "Grab", Undead traits, etc. Makes the entries shorter, and provides a single set of rules for those abilities.

Any *differences* from the norm would be spelled out in the monster's entry - so you don't have to hunt through two paragraphs for anything changed from every other monster with that ability.

I'm wondering how many of the AP Bestiary entries will be getting updated from 3.5 and making it in.

Me as well. From what I heard, there won't be any from Legacy of Fire forward yet.

Heathansson wrote:

other kytons?

There's already a new CR16 kyton in Pathfinder #30, but others would be nice, too.

We've got plans for kytons, and actually had intended to have more out for them by now, but the timing (and some iffy art) just didn't work out. There's a little about them in PF #30, the Zon-Kuthon article in #11, and in Book of the Damned. All that meant that they didn't quite make the cut for this book either, but we'll have more from them down the line.

Aeons???? Anymore information?

Yeah. In this book. Tune in come October. :P

I want to start the petition now for Dropbears. :)

Believe it or not the outline of 400 some potential monsters included dropbears. And actually yesterday when asked about something ordered for this book I nearly had a heart attack, opening the wrong file and seeing drop bears still on the list. But, luck is not with our silly Ausie cyptid friends for this book... and no book in the foreseeable future. Don't expect the Cracked Cyptids Redeemed book anytime soon?

Guennarr wrote:

Two questions regarding the announcement above:
- The "innovative format": Is it the same as in Bestiary I or is it a new format?
- "Universal monster rules to simplify special attacks": Could you please shed some light on these?

I guess both are just like Bestiary I: Monsters in that stat block format, always getting its whole page (unless they're special groups of critters that can be grouped together on one page). Common special attacks like rake and the like aren't explained in the monster entry but rather in a glossary.

What he said.

Wildfire142 wrote:

I'm wondering how many of the AP Bestiary entries will be getting updated from 3.5 and making it in.

Me as well. From what I heard, there won't be any from Legacy of Fire forward yet.

Yeah, that stuff is just too new to make us interested in repackaging it and turning it around again. Maybe in another few years, but not now. As for updated 3.5 stuff, there's a lot of 3.5 holes that the original Bestiary just didn't have room to cover that we'll be filling in. That DOES NOT mean that all the stuff deemed too lame for the Bestiary will be in here: delvers and tojinidas, still gone. There's also a fare share of Tome of Horrors monsters updated in here - who wants daemons!? But the parts we're most excited about are getting our first chances to expand beyond the basic core monsters. Chimeras and wyverns and chromatic dragons are fun and all, but we've seen them a hundred times before. Lets see some new devils and demons, some new dragons, some other stuff that's been mentioned in our books but never stated up, new dinos (for James), lots of new gothic horror stuff (for me). Oh and familiars: new low-level, familiar-ready creatures for every fully detailed planar family (why should imps and quasits be the only helpers, protean familiar here we come!).

So yeah. Lots of familiar stuff, but way more new and cool stuff. And as always, drawing off of both our world, our imaginations, and classics of folklore and fantasy you've always known but probably have never had in your game before. That should be 100% clear from the cover once we have something to show off.

I would have figured the drop bears for Bestiary VII or so, the same year as World Guide: Sarusan.

Edit: Wes, did you just say Protean Familiar? Awesome.

Actually... I think we cherry picked a few monsters from Legacy of Fire now that I think of it, but mostly from the earlier ones.

That teaser list sounds great, lots to look forward to.

2E put out annuals of critters from every product once a year. I would love to see a complied pathfinder bestiary annual

A collection of all the monsters used in the APs would be really handy. I try to maintain a custom pdf myself but it's a pain I don't have a hardcopy.

any chance of seeing dinos like Liopleurodon and Postosuchus in the new bestiary James?

Actually... I think we cherry picked a few monsters from Legacy of Fire now that I think of it, but mostly from the earlier ones.

You mean one of my all time favorite monsters -- Peryton -- might be in it? :)

Pugwampis!

Protean familiar? A little bit of chaos all for me? Sounds great!

Will there be some new proteans we haven't seen beyond the familiar one?

Pugwampis!

Those are a total must!

Vigil wrote:

Pugwampis!

Those are a total must!

YES!

Actually... I think we cherry picked a few monsters from Legacy of Fire now that I think of it, but mostly from the earlier ones.

Now that I think of it you're right. Pretty much just the first one though... hint hintity hint hint. (Oh and it does collect in any stray proteans.)

It better be Pugwampis !

any chance of seeing dinos like Liopleurodon and Postosuchus in the new bestiary James?

Sort of. As in, there'll be a tylosaurus. he's pretty close to liopleurodon.

As of right now... I'm thinking there'll be 4 more "dinosaurs": compsognathus, tylosaurus, allosaurus, and some sort of hadrosaur.

Anyone have any other nominations?

Pugwampis will be all over the book. Perhaps literally.

new low-level, familiar-ready creatures for every fully detailed planar family (why should imps and quasits be the only helpers, protean familiar here we come!)

*DROOL*

heath mosasaurs
are way cooler.

Pugwampis will be all over the book. Perhaps literally.

I take this a cover spoiler! Can't wait.

As of right now... I'm thinking there'll be 4 more "dinosaurs": compsognathus, tylosaurus, allosaurus, and some sort of hadrosaur.

Anyone have any other nominations?

Vastatasaurus?

As of right now... I'm thinking there'll be 4 more "dinosaurs": compsognathus, tylosaurus, allosaurus, and some sort of hadrosaur.

Compys are my fourth fave, right after the pleisosaur!

Will there be rules for hippogriff PCs? I ain't buying this book unless I can have a hippogriff character!

Looks like the dhampir will have pleanty of company.

Ju Ju Zombie?

Nice...helps spice up things for GMs and players alike - this is great news.

(Oh and it does collect in any stray proteans.)

And add how many new ones? A dozen? Or only a handful?

ulgulanoth wrote:

any chance of seeing dinos like Liopleurodon and Postosuchus in the new bestiary James?

Sort of. As in, there'll be a tylosaurus. he's pretty close to liopleurodon.

As of right now... I'm thinking there'll be 4 more "dinosaurs": compsognathus, tylosaurus, allosaurus, and some sort of hadrosaur.

Anyone have any other nominations?

Compsognathus in both regular and swarm-versions would be neat. I'd be all over a therizinosaur.

October, damn. Need NAO plox! ;) Sounds great.

I want rules for the Hippogriff bonded mount personally. Considering that they were a large part of where the very concept came from (the legends of Charlemagne) not having the chance for one is almost a disservice.

I'm excited to see what the regeneratio universal monster ability does. ;)

I also wish to know what regeneratio is all about! ;D

How about more fey? That's always cool.

Justin Sluder wrote:

I'm excited to see what the regeneratio universal monster ability does. ;)

I also wish to know what regeneratio is all about! ;D

It's clearly regen that changes based on the ratio between current hp and max hp... at full hp the creature has the standard regen, at half hp it has double, and at 0 hp it has [ERROR: DIVISION BY ZERO] regen.

I hope that's the final cover art. Awesome!

I hope that's the final cover art. Awesome!

No, that's a place-holder. Wayne will do the final cover! :)

There goes my budget...

srd5090 wrote:

I hope that's the final cover art. Awesome!

No, that's a place-holder. Wayne will do the final cover! :)

Awww, I really like the place-holder art.. Is it already from a previous book?

Either way I hope the new (real) art is as cool.

Yes, it's artwork from PF 12, Crown of Fangs.

Any chance that we might see a few other Lovecraft-inspired critters in Bestiary II? Maybe Nightgaunts? ;)

Any chance that we might see a few other Lovecraft-inspired critters in Bestiary II? Maybe Nightgaunts? ;)

Bwahaha... "Tickle(Su): ..."

There goes my budget...

Heh, my budget went downhill a long time ago... ever since I ordered my first Paizo product. And this year looks to be even worse -- I'll be dirt-poor by December, but at least I'll be happy with all my Pathfinder books! :)

ulgulanoth wrote:

any chance of seeing dinos like Liopleurodon and Postosuchus in the new bestiary James?

Sort of. As in, there'll be a tylosaurus. he's pretty close to liopleurodon.

As of right now... I'm thinking there'll be 4 more "dinosaurs": compsognathus (dinosaur familiar!), tylosaurus, allosaurus, and some sort of hadrosaur.

Anyone have any other nominations?

Rhamphorhynchus, shonisaurus, (and even though the name duckbilled dinosaur is a bit of a misnomer, I'm still amused James suggested a hadrosaur for Bestiary 2 without being prodded into it)

For the hadrosaur I'd say edmontosaurus or kritosaurus would do but include variants for lambeosaurids like parasaurolophus, corythosaurus and /or lambeosaurus; could possibly tweak it into iguanadontids as well: more bang for your entry buck.

One question: I noticed that the avoral got printed in Andoran: Spirit of Liberty-I am guessing this means it won't be in the Bestiary 2? Will there be agathions (leonal, possibly others) in the book and will they have a combined segment (and common traits) like the archons, angels and azatas did in Bestiary 1?

One question: I noticed that the avoral got printed in Andoran: Spirit of Liberty-I am guessing this means it won't be in the Bestiary 2? Will there be agathions (leonal, possibly others) in the book and will they have a combined segment (and common traits) like the archons, angels and azatas did in Bestiary 1?

Actually, there WILL be an avoral in Bestairy 2; there'll be several agathions, in fact.

I initially had no interest in buying new rulebooks for the game because I want to limit the number of books I bring to the table.

Now I find that the Game Mastery Guide has random treasure tables, the Advanced Player's Guide's new classes are awesome, and the Bestiary 2 has the Jabberwock in it.

The freakin' Jabberwock.

You guys are really good at luring me in despite my best wishes to stay away. I'm just thankful you also sell these things in PDF so I can print off what I need and put it in my ever-growing gaming binder.

Will the monsters from Bestiary II be added to the PRD ? I know that jreyst will add them to the pfsrd anyway, but it would be cool to have them all on the main PRD page :).

Thanks for keeping the OGL torch burning bright, folks !

I'm hoping Divs made the cut because they go well with the other planer families. s for the fourth dinosaur, I wuld like to humbly request the spinasaurus, my personal favorite dinosaur.

Serpent folk had an entry in the Darklands book. Will they also get an entry in the Bestiary II?

Also,

- more fey?
- more oozes, slimes, puddings, etc?
- any chance for Neogi?

And, of course, my broken record request....