Thundercallers? I needed this book 2 years ago.
Yay! Nagging works!
Each monthly 32-page Pathfinder Player Companion
That's new.
Does that mean that the Companion line is doing away with the "faith, combat, magic, social" layout?
I'd love for that to happen, since I consider the current orgnization as somewhat restraining and awkward
I hope they are just interspersed with the line to have faith, combat, magic, social and the countries. Ican see these with a lot more fluff and a little crunch.
Monthly huh...hmmm...may need to drop that sub then...I'll keep my AP sub though.
Looking forward to this. Coming to Golarion late, I never did the Varisia APs. I am glad to be able to get a look at that region without having to shell out for the old APs.
Why have they gotten rid of the faith/combat/magic/social sections?
What will they be replacing them with?
... NOM NOM NOM NOM NOM!
So excited for this - it's like getting a brand new Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide!
Monthly huh...hmmm...may need to drop that sub then...I'll keep my AP sub though.
Yeah, I only just signed up for with the Dragon Empires Primer, due to the fascinating upcoming slate. Unfortunately, I'm the only one in my group that really looks at this stuff, and I'm usually the DM. Really going to depend upon the continued quality of topics covered in order for me to keep it worth it at a monthly rate.
To be fair, though, this is a good start.
Creative Director
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Why have they gotten rid of the faith/combat/magic/social sections?
What will they be replacing them with?
We're getting rid of them because they're too constricting. We want to be able to do more with the line.
As for what we're replacing them with... stuff that's WAY more awesome. Details to come in a few months. Like at Paizocon, most likely.
Announced! The cover image is a mockup, and will change prior to publication.
Also, note that this release will mark the first monthly volume of the Player Companion, and it also debuts a fresh look and a new option-rich approach for the line.
Are you willing to say anything yet about what "a new option-rich approach" entails?
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Creative Director
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Are you willing to say anything yet about what "a new option-rich approach" entails?Announced! The cover image is a mockup, and will change prior to publication.
Also, note that this release will mark the first monthly volume of the Player Companion, and it also debuts a fresh look and a new option-rich approach for the line.
Nope; not yet. Probably not until Paizocon.
Cheers. Disappointing, but not entirely unexpected.
I'm really glad this has moved to monthly - thanks to whoever it was at Paizo who rejigged things to make that manageable. Thanks also to whoever is in charge of its content/focus (Wes?) - the line has really developed, evolved and improved since it's launch. That's true of all your subscription products, I guess, but the player companions had one of the shakier starts, imo and the efforts you've made to address that is really evident.
Another book centered on Varisia? Shocking.
Somehow I get the feeling that it's more popular in Paizo's staff than in gamer populace.
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Somehow I get the feeling that it's more popular in Paizo's staff than in gamer populace.
Really? I love that place!
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I get that. But there's FIVE APs that start in Varisia. Three of them wholly center around Varisia. I just think that Golarion is big enough of a place so that we don't need that many APs based there.
Not thrilled by the monthly move.
The sweet spot of the CS sub was for each month:
1ap
1cs
1module or companionNow that 3books a month thing is shaken up.
My concern as well.
I get that. But there's FIVE APs that start in Varisia. Three of them wholly center around Varisia. I just think that Golarion is big enough of a place so that we don't need that many APs based there.
Or, you know, Varisia is the designated part of the world for GMs who like as much pre-written material as possible for their campaigns.
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Creative Director
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OR... despite the fact that there are five APs that start in Varisa... there's really only one that fully explores the region—Rise of the Runelords.
Curse of the Crimson Throne and Second Darkness and Jade Regent do a little bit of poking around here and there... but don't go to really all that many new Varisian sites. Furthermore... we've really NEVER done much with Magniamr, which is weird considering it's the first big city we've ever detailed.
Furthermore... We're doing Shattered Star and setting it in Varisia because we're celebrating the fact that Pathifnder is 5 years old, and that Paizo is 10. Going back to where it pretty much all started is a good way to celebrate an anniversary!
Being the Creative Director's favorite part of Golarion helps though. I won't deny that.
In any case, as I've said elsewhere, we're going to entirely new places (with the exception of Magnimar, which again, has barely been touched) in Shattered Star, so it's not like folks who've played other adventures set in Varisia will feel any sense of repetition.
And all of that comes back to the weird fact that, despite having set multiple APs there... we've not done a Varisia book in the Player Companion line yet. This product fixes that.
Yes yes yes. I am so happy to see this coming out. Any chance we'll see a Varisia gazetteer as a full-sized book as well?
Yes yes yes. I am so happy to see this coming out. Any chance we'll see a Varisia gazetteer as a full-sized book as well?I'd love to eventually do a 320 page (or bigger) hardcover on Varisia, frankly.
That would be a interesting book, until others start wanting a hardcover for their favorite region as well...
Put me down for hardcovers for Numeria, Andoran, The Shackles, the Dragon Empires... :D
Yes yes yes. I am so happy to see this coming out. Any chance we'll see a Varisia gazetteer as a full-sized book as well?I'd love to eventually do a 320 page (or bigger) hardcover on Varisia, frankly.
That would be a interesting book, until others start wanting a hardcover for their favorite region as well...
Put me down for hardcovers for Numeria, Andoran, The Shackles, the Dragon Empires... :D
Nothing for Absalom, Vudra, or Thuvia? How dare you even state an opinion when it doesn't dovetail perfectly with mine!!!!?
I get that. But there's FIVE APs that start in Varisia. Three of them wholly center around Varisia. I just think that Golarion is big enough of a place so that we don't need that many APs based there.
You're not wrong. But as the oldest and best explored region of our campaign setting, it's had the most history, plots, and behind the scenes agendas set up in it. I think the difference you'll see between the first three APs set in this region and the newer ones is that those first ones were set there because there weren't any options at the time. Now the APs being set in Varisia are picking up on threads that woven five years ago. There was some of this in Jade Regent, but what you'll be seeing in Shattered Star should be really exciting - especially if you've been on board since the beginning (but also even if you haven't).
All that being said. We've got plenty of world left to explore and don't plan to neglect other regions with our plans for the AP line.
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Why have they gotten rid of the faith/combat/magic/social sections?
What will they be replacing them with?
These sections have always been more than a little forced. Some were easy to fill, but others, depending on the overarching topic were often left feeling unmoored - I'm looking at you Social. This sort of thing, along with a lot of feedback from the message boards led us away from trying to fit topics into a set format and toward creating a more flexible format that will serve a greater variety of topics - while also allowing for more weirdo stuff. (You can still see discussions going on in the information gathering threads I posted on the Player Companion message boards several months ago.)
As for what we're replacing them with. We're replacing them with Awesome. But details on said awesome needs to leak out slowly so it doesn't blow your mind. Expect more on this in the coming months, especially at Paizocon.
Looking forward to this. Coming to Golarion late, I never did the Varisia APs. I am glad to be able to get a look at that region without having to shell out for the old APs.
This was one of the big reasons we wanted to do this book. We can't assume that every Pathfinder fan has been on board since Pathfinder AP #1, so this is really meant to serve as both an intro to all the cool stuff in Varsia for new players, a collecting of tons of great details about Varisia in one place, and lots of new stuff, from new details and rules to new ways to utilize existing options.
It's really important to me that this project strike that balance between great details to excite new visitors to Varisia, and plenty of cool new stuff to rile up folks who have been living there for the past 5 years. So whether you know nothing about Varisia or think you know everything about it, this book was made for you.
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Are you willing to say anything yet about what "a new option-rich approach" entails?
Less of the same. In a way similar to how the Campaign Setting line serves a variety of topics with a versatile format, the Player Companion line will be moving toward increased flexibility. Playing with new options from across our various lines, experimenting with new subsystems, better integrating some of the most exciting parts of the Pathfinder rules into the Pathfinder campaign setting, and giving players more reasons to care about Golarion are just a few goals we're striving toward with this new format.
I know that's still pretty vague, but for right now I just want to say it'll be cool. I'm not going to give the wild speculation mill too much grist, I'd much prefer to slap down three or four totally polished spreads that don't look like anything you've seen in other Paizo products before and say "This is what I mean when I said 'It'll be awesome.'" ;)
Expect that around Paizocon.
Also, although there's definitely going to be more than a few words from me in this, we've got quite a few familiar names working on this release. I'll get an updated list to the web team ASAP so ya'll can start plumbing them for details.
Which they shouldn't tell you. o_o
Looks like it's Year of Varisia coming up. No surprise, between 5th anniversary of Pathfinder and Varisia's popularity.
Cheese it, they're on to us!
Are you willing to say anything yet about what "a new option-rich approach" entails?Less of the same. In a way similar to how the Campaign Setting line serves a variety of topics with a versatile format, the Player Companion line will be moving toward increased flexibility. Playing with new options from across our various lines, experimenting with new subsystems, better integrating some of the most exciting parts of the Pathfinder rules into the Pathfinder campaign setting, and giving players more reasons to care about Golarion are just a few goals we're striving toward with this new format.
I know that's still pretty vague, but for right now I just want to say it'll be cool. I'm not going to give the wild speculation mill too much grist, I'd much prefer to slap down three or four totally polished spreads that don't look like anything you've seen in other Paizo products before and say "This is what I mean when I said 'It'll be awesome.'" ;)
Expect that around Paizocon.
I'm looking forward to it. The companion line has really improved over time, IMO - this blurb sounds like it's going to get even better.
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I'm really glad this has moved to monthly - thanks to whoever it was at Paizo who rejigged things to make that manageable. Thanks also to whoever is in charge of its content/focus (Wes?) - the line has really developed, evolved and improved since it's launch. That's true of all your subscription products, I guess, but the player companions had one of the shakier starts, imo and the efforts you've made to address that is really evident.
The Player Companion line has had a lot of masters to serve from the beginning, while regularly taking a back seat to the hardcover/Adventure Path/Campaign Setting book/crazy scheme du jour. Who's overseeing and working on this line has juggled a lot in the past years, but it's typically been the tie-in line--always the bridesmaid, rarely the bride. In the past year(s) James has been writing the outlines and assigning freelancers for this line, but after that, development typically fell to either James Sutter or Patrick Renie or both or others--somewhat detaching the creative intentions from those carrying them out. While this brought about the cool "Faiths of" series and the SUPER cool "Blood of Fiends/Angels" double team, the system has been imperfect.
With the mandate of taking this line monthly, James's renewed responsibilities on the Adventure Path line, and Adam Daigle coming on to step into some of my duties on the APs, we're doing some shuffling. Sutter and Patrick are stepping into having far more ownership over the Player Companion line, and I'm going to be taking up the reins on a lot of the outlining, assigning, oversight, and so forth. The mix on the art team - which is mostly to say Andrew Vallas - is remaining the same, though Sarah and I have had some pretty exciting discussions about what opportunities this line presents and what out of left field experiments we might be able to pull off. The editorial team - Chris and Judy - stay put too, being the super heroes they are for this line just as they are with all others.
So we're all jazzed about this, and we're really looking at August and the Varisia book as a new start for this line, a chance to show readers a few things they've never seen us do before, and an opportunity to get players excited about Varisia like never before.
I'm looking forward to the changes. Extreme focus will be great on this line.
Yes yes yes. I am so happy to see this coming out. Any chance we'll see a Varisia gazetteer as a full-sized book as well?I'd love to eventually do a 320 page (or bigger) hardcover on Varisia, frankly.
I would definately get that
I am waiting to see how this is going to go. It looks very interesting to say the least and I hope that the new format will work!
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I can't wait to find out more about this new format.
Are you willing to say anything yet about what "a new option-rich approach" entails?Less of the same. In a way similar to how the Campaign Setting line serves a variety of topics with a versatile format, the Player Companion line will be moving toward increased flexibility. Playing with new options from across our various lines, experimenting with new subsystems, better integrating some of the most exciting parts of the Pathfinder rules into the Pathfinder campaign setting, and giving players more reasons to care about Golarion are just a few goals we're striving toward with this new format.
Love these ideas! Especially further integration into Golarion.
I just want to say that imho I think you guys are taking this in the right direction. At this point I'm definitely of the opinion that the campaign setting line is definitely the superior of the 2 and I think one of the reason for this is the variety and the depth the CS line has. I also agree that the format of the companion seemed a bit hemmed in, although I could specifically identify the issue until I saw this thread.
Having said that, I just want to add that I'm super excited by everything Paizo puts out. Knowing that you guys are commited to improving despite the already high quality of your products really blows my mind. You have my upmost respect and Kudos to everyone who works at Paizo.