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Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige

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Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Paths of Prestige
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While many legendary heroes of Golarion fit easily into the core classes of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game—the sword-swinging fighters, fireball-flinging wizards, backstabbing rogues, and others—there are some who specialize in unique styles and techniques, perfectly customizing themselves for their roles. For these characters, there are prestige classes. From the undead-hunting Knights of Ozem to the revolutionary Gray Gardeners of Galt, this book collects 30 of the most prominent faiths and factions from around the Inner Sea and transforms them into prestige classes designed to help you take advantage of the tricks and tactics of some of Golarion’s most famous (and infamous) groups, all while rooting your character firmly in the lore and societies of the Pathfinder campaign setting.

    Within this 64-page book, you’ll find new prestige class options for every character class in the Pathfinder RPG, including:
  • The Aldori swordlord, world-renowned dueling master of the turbulent north.
  • The Hellknight signifer, an armored spellcaster who uses magic to pursue the perfect, iron-fisted law of Hell.
  • The gun-toting shieldmarshal, whose bright badge brings order to the chaos of the Mana Wastes.
  • The mammoth rider, savage megafauna cavalry expert.
  • The Sleepless detective, uniquely suited to solving mysteries both magical and mundane in haunted Ustalav.
  • The winter witch, whose ice magic keeps a whole nation in thrall.
  • ...and 24 more!

Paths of Prestige is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting, but can easily be used in any fantasy game setting.

By Benjamin Bruck, Jason Bulmahn, Matt Goodall, and Jason Nelson

September 13, 2012 The Winter Witch prestige class has been updated and is available for download. (1.2MB zip/PDF)

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-451-1

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Everyman Product Reviews: Paths of Prestige

4/5 —

Final Score & Thoughts:
Crunch: 4/5 Stars
Flavor: 5/5 Stars
Texture: 4/5 Stars
Final Score: 13/15 Stars, or 4/5 Stars

Paths of Prestige is an awesome Paizo Product; it’s one of the very best by a long shot. That said, it isn’t without it’s flaws. Paizo hadn’t perfected the spellcaster prestige class by this point and honestly, maybe they never will; almost all spellcasting classes are dreadfully ill-designed for multiclassing because of the lack of a character-wide statistic like base attack bonus. Prestige Class flavor is awesome in this book, but don’t expect to be learning anything new about the organizations that they represent. That’s one of the curious things about these classes, as a matter of fact. The prestige classes that tend to be the most mechanically powerful are the ones that have campaign-neutral themes that are attached to specific organizations: for example, Bellflower Tiller is essentially “Harriet Tubman the Prestige Class,” Knight of Ozen is essentially “Undead-Slaying Knight,” and “Mammoth Rider” is less of an organization and more of a hobby-turned prestige class. This is coming from someone who is obviously biased on the topic, but I think Paths of Prestige proves that while prestige classes might be conceptually easier to design if they’re assigned to an organization, mechanically they’re more interesting and viable options if their themes are extend beyond that specific organization.

Read the full review at the Everyman Gaming blog.

5/5 —

I've reviewed this book over on RPGGeek.com.

Solid guidebook

4/5 —

Pathfinder is better known for it’s complete and ‘go for 20 level’ base classes than it’s Prestige Classes. After all, the Archetypes make many PrC’s obsolete.

But here we have another thirty prestige classes for your use and reading pleasure. One I thought was great but might be a better base class is Noble Scion, which is Aristocrat done at a playable (but not power gamed) level.

Fun classes include the Mammoth Rider!

I have two quibbles- at least three of the PrC’s depend upon non-Core material, such as a feat found only in a sourcebook. The writers should have repeated the feat here. True, Core rulebook stuff doesn’t need to be, but this does. A more minor quibble is that some of these classes here are very region dependant.

A extra bonus is the table of where to find another three dozen Prestige classes, including some very basic info on each. Nice!

Many paths to choose from...

5/5 —

This slim 64 page addition for the Pathfinder Campaign Setting adds 30 new prestige classes to your favorite Fantasy role-playing game.

Section One, "Arcana", has 8 new mage prestige classes, including the Arclord of Nex, the Blackfire Adept, the Magaambyan Arcanist, the Razmiran Priest, the Riftwarden, the Tattooed Mystic, the Veiled Illusionist, and the Winter Witch.

Section Two, "Brawn", has 9 new fighter prestige classes, including the Aldori Swordlord, the Brother of the Seal, the Golden Legionnaire, the Knight of Ozem, the Lantern Bearer, the Mammoth Rider, the Pit Fighter, the Shieldmarshal, and the Skyseeker.

Section Three, "Guile", has 6 new rogue prestige classes, including the Aspis Agent, the Bellflower Tiller, the Daggermark Poisoner, the Gray Gardener, the Noble Scion, and the Sleepless Detective.

Section Four, "Piety", has 7 new clerical prestige classes, including the Champion of Irori, the Dawnflower Dissident, the Green Faith Acolyte, the Hellknight Signifier, the Prophet of Kalistrade, the Storm Kindler, and the Umbral Court Agent.

There's also a chart showing where to find 36 other prestige classes. The classes in the book are presented in alphabetical order. A canny GM would look to see if any of these classes would be more appropriate for NPC's. There are two pages for each class, and the necessary chart, as well as a sample picture of what a generic member of that class would look like. All new prestige classes in this volume, and references to the prestige classes in other Pathfinder products, make this just about a must-have for GM's. Highly recommended.

Good and useful book

4/5 —

Read my full review on my blog.

If this book had come out during the time of 3.5, I probably would have groaned and ignored it. Over the years, I have had very few players ever take a prestige class (I’m pretty sure I could count the total number on one hand), and so this just would have been more bloat that would probably never get used. However, with recent emphasis being away from prestige classes, my reaction to this was one of interest. The scattered prestige classes that have appeared in other Golarion sources have all been very flavourful, so there was every reason to believe Paizo could keep it up with a book full of them. To be honest, most of the classes in this book will still likely never see use in any of my games; however, I would consider it very likely that some will get used, if only for NPCs. With only a couple of exceptions (that seem strangely generic), all the classes are extremely flavourful and help to add more options and life to the world of Golarion.

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I can hardly wait for this book!

I'm usually not a big fan of PrC, but this is one looks really looks Really interesting. I will get the PDGF for sure.

Any class that will be good if you are a bard?
My bards are more buffers and strikers (striker as melee or archer) than spell casters. I usually prefer to play melee bards, since archer bards are very feat intense.

Edit:
That said I wouldn't mind a bard that would focus more on buffs and spells, but that kind of bard wound need more spells know and more spells per day and the ability to add other spells than bard spells to the list.

Why not play a sorcerer with the Maestro bloodline?
Silver Crusade

We bought the book at GenCon and the majority of my gaming group are all foaming at the mouth over various Prcs in the book. I'm going to get the pdf also.

I can hardly wait for mine!
Liberty's Edge

wondering what goodies the champion of irori gets from the monk side of things?

Wasnt this pdf suppose to be out on the 16th? Its why I didn't buy it at gencon, i was going to just wait til i went home and bought the pdf! >.<
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Elias Darrowphayne wrote:
Wasnt this pdf suppose to be out on the 16th? Its why I didn't buy it at gencon, i was going to just wait til i went home and bought the pdf! >.<

Delays in shipping subscription orders led to pushing back the PDF release date until the 23rd. (IE, tomorrow).

Dangit!
Liberty's Edge
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Now debating ass to whether or not I stay up until 4 am to get this book. Or wait until I get up so I have money in the bank for certain to make this purchase.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Flamehawke wrote:
Now debating ass to whether or not I stay up until 4 am to get this book. Or wait until I get up so I have money in the bank for certain to make this purchase.

You're debating ass? With who or is it someones you are debating with? :)

Liberty's Edge

I meant as. I didn't realize the typo right away until it was too late to edit it. My cat decided she wanted to petted as I was typing. At least she didn't hit the keys and force me to re-type everything.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Flamehawke wrote:

I meant as. I didn't realize the typo right away until it was too late to edit it. My cat decided she wanted to petted as I was typing. At least she didn't hit the keys and force me to re-type everything.

Yeah I know, I am just a smart-ass :)

Liberty's Edge

I don't mind. My mother does it to me all the time. I was just embarrassed due to how paranoid I usually am after getting through school and having my mother correct my papers more thoroughly than my teachers ever did.

Besides I thought that was why we all love you here on the boards.
Dark Archive
2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I thought you all worshiped me, loved me and despaired. :)
Liberty's Edge

I don't despair, but I do love your style when it comes to wording things. Of course I do play a sorceress who is a quarter succubus and plays with fire (literally and figuratively) so I may be biased.

I wish there was good prestige class in here for her, but I'll settle with my witch getting a good one.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Yeah I agree, i have not really found any PrC I like for Sorc other than demonist.
Silver Crusade

Still have that new shiny feeling all over the Champion of Irori. Still planning and plotting off that one. :)

One odd thing I liked: There seemed to be an unusually high number of characters wearing hoods in this book. This is not a complaint. I've missed that actualliy. None of the iconics wears a hood. Technically. And it's such an fantasy fashion standard that it's been a bit missed when it comes to PC-appropriate artwork lately. Not here. This book has a LOT of art that wouild serve well as PC representations. And a lot of them have hoods.

Now we just need to get some with liripipes. Also, skullcaps.
Liberty's Edge

Demonist? I don't think I've seen that one.

I do wish that there were a few PrC's that were spontaneous caster friendly. I've discovered I adore playing those and especially the sorcerer with some of the bloodlines. I just need some really tasty ones to make me really happy for my sorceress.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Ok I had the name slightly wrong it is Demoniac. I think it works pretty well with a Sorc, as long as you don't mind being evil.

I would recommend choosing me... er I mean Nocticula if you go that route.

Not to break up this lovely conversation of worship but when do the pdf's get released on the day that they come out?
Silver Crusade

Yep, on the current street date. 23rd, I think?
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Elias Darrowphayne wrote:
Not to break up this lovely conversation of worship but when do the pdf's get released on the day that they come out?

Likely whenever Paizo peeps get into the officer this morning. Say in about 9-11 hours, unless someone is hanging around the office and put them up at midnight their time.

Ahh thanks alot DM, either way i'm probably going to sleep before then. lol
Liberty's Edge

Sadly. I cannot take that one. The GM I play under gets rather nasty if you go evil or act evil. I'm lucky she lets me play my character as a quarter succubus. I'll keep that one in mind though I have an opposite of the same character for when I want to really play up the succubus on her and just go flat out evil when I GM.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

@Elias - You're welcome.

@Flamehawke - Well with a little work you could easily rework the class to be angelic. Your GM might work with you to do that, it wouldn't require a lot of work.

Since you were being a smart-ass about someone else's type earlier, I guess that makes you fair game, Dark_Mistress. ;)

Dark_Mistress wrote:
Likely whenever Paizo peeps get into the officer this morning. Say in about 9-11 hours, unless someone is hanging around the office and put them up at midnight their time.

What else would they do in the officer? Also, what kind of officer? And how would they get into him/her?

Liberty's Edge

Good point Dark_Mistress. I'll see if I can convince her into that point of view. I'll have to prep it in advance for her to prove it can be done. She is not fond of having to do any of that work so if it is already done and looks balanced she is more likely to say yes to me.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Thinking more about the class and a angelic counterpart. I put it in spoiler tags below.

Angeliac:

Damned (Ex)
When a demoniac is killed, his soul is instantly claimed by the Abyss. In time, the demoniac’s soul is transformed into a demon appropriate to the greatest sins the demoniac gloried in while he lived. Any character attempting to resurrect a slain demoniac must succeed at a caster level check equal to 10 + the demoniac’s level or the spell fails. That character cannot attempt to resurrect the demoniac again until the following day, though other characters can attempt to do so if they please.

Change to

Saved (Ex)
When a angeliac is killed, his soul is instantly claimed by Haven. In time, the angeliac’s soul is transformed into a angel appropriate to the greatest virtues the angeliac gloried in while he lived. Any character attempting to resurrect a slain angeliac must succeed at a caster level check equal to 10 + the angeliac’s level or the spell fails. That character cannot attempt to resurrect the angeliac again until the following day, though other characters can attempt to do so if they please.

Demonic Mark (Ex)
A demoniac bears the sign of his chosen demon lord as a tattoo-like brand somewhere on his body. Once per day, a demoniac can call upon the profane power of this mark to power a spell as he casts it. Doing so causes the spell to gain the chaotic and evil descriptors, and causes the spell not be expended as it is cast, allowing the demoniac to cast the spell again at a later point in the day.

change to

Angelic Mark (Ex)
A angeliac bears the sign of his chosen archangel as a tattoo-like brand somewhere on his body. Once per day, a angeliac can call upon the holy power of this mark to power a spell as he casts it. Doing so causes the spell to gain the lawful and good descriptors, and causes the spell not be expended as it is cast, allowing the angeliac to cast the spell again at a later point in the day.

You get the idea. Just change demoniac to angeliac on most of them and they work fine.

Demonic Boon
As a demoniac gains levels, he gains Boons from his demonic patron as his body and soul become increasingly infused with demonic energies. The nature of the Boons granted varies, depending upon the demoniac’s chosen demon lord. Each demon lord grants three Boons, each more powerful than the last. At 3rd level, the demoniac gains the first boon.

At 6th level, he gains the second boon, and at 9th level, he gains the third and final boon. Consult the Demonic Obedience feat and the various demon lord descriptions for details on demonic Boons. When a demonic boon grants a spell-like ability, his caster level for the spell-like ability equals his total character level. This ability allows a demoniac to access these Boons earlier than normal; it does not grant additional uses of the Boons once the character reaches the necessary Hit Dice to earn the Boons normally.

Make up some archangels and use the demon lord boons as equals.

Demonic Form becomes Angelic Form and just change a couple of spots where it says DR vs good to vs evil etc and it works.

Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Kajehase wrote:

Since you were being a smart-ass about someone else's type earlier, I guess that makes you fair game, Dark_Mistress. ;)

Dark_Mistress wrote:
Likely whenever Paizo peeps get into the officer this morning. Say in about 9-11 hours, unless someone is hanging around the office and put them up at midnight their time.
What else would they do in the officer? Also, what kind of officer? And how would they get into him/her?

How do they get into a officer? Well when a enlisted person and a officer love each other very much...

Liberty's Edge

@kajehase- Good catch. I totally missed that one.

As for the pdfs I usually am able to purchase them at like 3 or 4 am though. This time since I want two pdfs I'll have to wait for my paycheck to clear at 7 am so I'll be heading to bed shortly.
Liberty's Edge

@Dark_Mistress I am going to use that and see what I can put together I think I can pull it off fairly well. I will use the ideas you presented and craft my angels and maybe a couple of deity avatars. I have a succubus (CG) who is the avatar of the goddess of love and a shovel wielding human (Male and N if I recall the character) that is the avatar of the goddess of time and fate.

I have yet to create the others. Fiona, the succubus, was a whim of mine to mess with people's minds. She actually made my fire and love deity very popular as everyone seems to love being able to pull power from a goddess with a succubus as her friend and avatar.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Cool. For CG I would name it a Azataiac and leave the chaotic parts in on the demoniac and just change the evil to good and then make a few other changes like those i suggested. i honestly think that PrC is very easy to switch to any other alignment and makes a good PrC for a Sorc.

If you want start a new thread about creating one and I will toss in any idea's I have.
Liberty's Edge

So I made the thread: Celestial version of the Demoniac Prestige Class. Now discussion of this alteration can proceed to that spot.

Congrats DM you pushed me into making my first thread ever on the forums.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Temptation it's what I do.

PDF is up, btw

A bit spoilery but, couldn't resist ...

Arcane
Arclord of Nex (First to build an armor powered by it wins)
Blackfire Adept (Because red fire is stupid, and black is more like, deep, you know?)
Magaambyan Arcanist (I've ... got ... nothing. The Solo is weak with me)
Razmiran Priest (With burrow speed, so you can hide from the guy who took over the country)
Riftwarden (makes sure silly youths don't wear their trousers to low)
Tattooed Mystic (Pre-requisite: Getting drunk at the docks and waking up with a tat!)
Veiled Illusionist (If you don't want the baddies to see how you do the magic trick)
Winter Witch (New familiar: Snowman Minigolem)

Divine
Champion of Irori (Being a fanboy of self-perfection makes you a ..?)
Dawnflower Dissident (for garden-hating gnomes. They strike at dawn!)
Green Faith Acolyte (Too much magic creates a greenhouse effect! No, a bad one! Stop it!)
Hellknight Signifer (Goading you for the good cause (ie Hell))
Prophet of Kalistrade (It's better than Gatorade! Really, it is!)
Storm Kindler (Alchemists with really cool matches)
Umbral Court Agent (You can run, but you can't hide (from jury duty))

Brawn
Aldori Swordlord (Pre-requisite: Leadership (cohort and followers all intelligent swords))
Brother of the Seal (shapeshifting ranger of the north)
Golden Legionnaire ("Relax, you're golden ...")
Knight of Ozem (Who uses ozone offensively for win)
Lantern Bearer (a PRC for the dudes who carry our torches into the dungeons?)
Mammoth Rider (BRAAAAH! -The white trash of the northlands, riding into town.)
Pit Fighter ('cause the pit nemace is spreading. Check your backyard today!)
Shieldmarshal (For police officers with the biggest badge in town!)
Skyseeker (For dwarves who got really lost)

Guile
Aspis Agent (merchant/rogue/fighter if need be. Corruptilicious!)
Bellflower Tiller (I don't know what this is but IT SOUNDS AWESOME! Who wouldn't want to till some bellflowers?)
Daggermark Poisoner (Hmm? An assassin by another name? Extra ?)
Gray Gardener (So old he had to get a prestige class to get out of bed.)
Noble Scion (a SNEAKY noble scion? smirky? 2nd in line I suppose)
Sleepless Detective ("I'm on the case! ... I'm ALWAYS on the case!", reaches for coffee)

A bit weak, but I dedicate it to SOLO!
SORCERERS RULES!
Dark Archive

I guess Starn missed the Knight Of Ozem on pages 30 - 31. That's an undead hunter.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010

And the Lantern Bearer makes a fairly good archer and outsider hunter (if only for elves or half-elves).
Silver Crusade

Magaambyan Arcanist has the coolest eyes. Creepy cool.

Shieldmarshal's art is awesome too. It's like a Pathfinder character with a Team Fortress 2 character's face. And it works.

Still rolling the Champion of Irori over in my head, thinking of the possibilities. I really love the Shield The Weak ability. It just seems like something heroic monks ought to be able to do, and is excellent for bodyguardin' type monks.
Silver Crusade
5 people marked this as a favorite.

finally notices where the chain on the Umbral Court Agent's earring is going

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

double-checks to be sure

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!
Silver Crusade
Flamehawke wrote:

Demonist? I don't think I've seen that one.

I do wish that there were a few PrC's that were spontaneous caster friendly. I've discovered I adore playing those and especially the sorcerer with some of the bloodlines. I just need some really tasty ones to make me really happy for my sorceress.

Tattooed Mystic and (especially) the Veiled Illusionist.

The Veiled Illusionist gets to add a new spell known every level. How much more friendly can you get? :-)
Mikaze wrote:

finally notices where the chain on the Umbral Court Agent's earring is going

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

double-checks to be sure

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

You think that's bad? Can you imagine how the chick in the Golden Legionnaire picture must feel after a big dinner?

Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Got a quick question here.
I don;t play in Golarion for my PF games, but I'm interested in ideas falvor wise for PrCs. I'd like to get this book.
My question is, do I need to own the other campaign setting books to use this one? Are there items or mechanics in them that aren't detailed in the book itself, that I need the others for?
I own the CRB, GM guide, bestiary 1-3, APG, UC, UM, ARG and UE, pretty much all of the core books that are non-Golarion.

Am I ok to buy this book?
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

The only book that I can think of that is referenced a little that you don't have is the Inner Sea Magic campaign book. Personally I think all the PrC's can be converted to pretty much any setting with little effort.
Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Hmmm...trust a succubus?

:P

HOW MANY MEN HAVE FALLEN VICTIM TO THINE ATTENTIONS!?!

...

So, you think it'll be ok?

Oh, and is this all of the published PrCs from the Golarion setting, or new ones not already in campaign guides?
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

They are all new ones as far as i know and of course you can trust me... would a succubus ever lie?
Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Ok, I gots it. Thanks for the quick feedback!

Just got my copy - really cool until I realized my book only contained prestige listings up to the Shieldmarshall. The last seven prestige classes, Skyseeker thru Winter Witch, weren't included in my copy. Got a message off to customer service for resolution - hope to hear something soon :(
Flutoman wrote:
Just got my copy - really cool until I realized my book only contained prestige listings up to the Shieldmarshall. The last seven prestige classes, Skyseeker thru Winter Witch, weren't included in my copy. Got a message off to customer service for resolution - hope to hear something soon :(

That's no good at all! Customer Service will be able to help you as soon as possible on Monday. In the meantime, thanks for holding tight!

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