2 questions:
1: (and it's not tied specifically to this product but please bear with me) Are NPC stats in most Paizo products based around a 15 point buy?
2: More specific to this product, can someone from Paizo work with someone from Wolf Lair to see that somehow, someway, the stats for these NPCs end up as HeroLab files? I have no issue whatsoever paying extra for this. I understand that not everyone uses HeroLab (though IMO anyone who can, should) so these would definitely be a separate item from the core product.
The future of GM convenience is HeroLab, or something like it. A book loaded with NPC stats BEGS to end up in HeroLab files for mass consumption. There would be much GM rejoicing in the streets.
Generally, WolfLair does release all of the Pathfinder books. The NPC Gallery from the GameMastery Guide, for example, is all present and accounted for in the monster list when you choose to add a monster. I expect that this will be no different.
Sold!
I really like that cover though. You sure you guys can't keep that one?
I really like that cover though. You sure you guys can't keep that one?
I think that's the inside of the Golden Goblin from second Darkness: Shadow in the Sky.
Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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Folks,
If this book sells the way I expect it to, we will add an "Advanced NPC Codex" that uses archetypes, classes from the APG and Ultimate Books, and more.
First things first. There isn't enough space to do all of that in one book, so we're going to space them out.
And we're going to get back to Bestiaries as well, so those mourning more monster books will not be missing them for too much longer.
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I really like that cover though. You sure you guys can't keep that one?
The actual cover (which is being painted now) features similar subject matter, only painted by Wayne Reynolds.
I'm confident you'll love it. The sketch is one of the most amazing cover sketches I've ever seen, and I've seen a LOT of cover sketches!
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Very cool.
I'm really impressed by the design choice. As a DM, what I need most often is an appropriately-leveled Bad Guy with the right role. I need them fast, and easy to run. CRB gives us that.
I don't know that I'd find any use for 20 different Summoners from 1st to 20th. Seriously? That'd be 320 pages on its own.
I honestly view the APG classes as mostly player-oriented options. Yes, it's nice to hand-craft the occasional witch or inquisitor to mess my players pretty little characters up with, but most of the time the APG classes just don't fit for NPCs. Here's why: they get four rounds to live. APG classes have tonnes of things to do every round, which is great for a PC, but as an NPC who's going to be defeated in mere moments, it's a huge waste of ability-depth.
So anyway, while I'd love to see APG classes appear from time to time in adventure material, I'd rather not see them in this book. Codex II, maybe. Maybe. But this book just shot up in utility to me.
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Creative Director
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2 questions:
1: (and it's not tied specifically to this product but please bear with me) Are NPC stats in most Paizo products based around a 15 point buy?
2: More specific to this product, can someone from Paizo work with someone from Wolf Lair to see that somehow, someway, the stats for these NPCs end up as HeroLab files? I have no issue whatsoever paying extra for this. I understand that not everyone uses HeroLab (though IMO anyone who can, should) so these would definitely be a separate item from the core product.
The future of GM convenience is HeroLab, or something like it. A book loaded with NPC stats BEGS to end up in HeroLab files for mass consumption. There would be much GM rejoicing in the streets.
I can answer the first one of these...
1) Yes. If they use more points, we make note of that in the description.
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I am glad for the sharpened focus of this book.
A request: can you please spend extra pages on indexes? I imagine there will be an index that lists all Fighters, then all Druids, etc.
But can there be another index that lists things by conceptual categories? (Kindof a replacement for the "environment" section in Bestiaries.)
Examples:
"finesse builds" includes DEX-based Fighters, combat Rogues, TWF Rangers, etc.
"savages" that includes not just Barbarians, but shape-focused Druids, 2H-Fighters, and other outdoorsy ones.
"city gaurds" isn't just polearm-focused Fighters, but also battlefield-control Wizards, sensemotive-focused Paladins, lawfully-aligned Rogues, and the ilk.
As a GM, I often think first in terms of niche, then in terms of class. Providing an index to help me along those lines could really make this product extra useful for me!
I am glad for the sharpened focus of this book.
A request: can you please spend extra pages on indexes? I imagine there will be an index that lists all Fighters, then all Druids, etc.
But can there be another index that lists things by conceptual categories? (Kindof a replacement for the "environment" section in Bestiaries.)
Examples:
"finesse builds" includes DEX-based Fighters, combat Rogues, TWF Rangers, etc.
"savages" that includes not just Barbarians, but shape-focused Druids, 2H-Fighters, and other outdoorsy ones.
"city gaurds" isn't just polearm-focused Fighters, but also battlefield-control Wizards, sensemotive-focused Paladins, lawfully-aligned Rogues, and the ilk.
As a GM, I often think first in terms of niche, then in terms of class. Providing an index to help me along those lines could really make this product extra useful for me!
I agree, indexes are a must have for this book.
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If all of the NPCs from the NPC Gallery are already available then I'm just not using the software correctly, as I own that supplement.
To import an NPC from the GameMastery Guide, simply click on Portfolio in the toolbar, then Import Stock Hero. The GameMastery Guide NPCs can be found under the various "NPCs (GMG - " entries. I assume the setup will be the same (Portfolio -> Import Stock Hero) once the NPC Codex is released for Hero Lab.
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I am glad for the sharpened focus of this book.
A request: can you please spend extra pages on indexes? I imagine there will be an index that lists all Fighters, then all Druids, etc.
Actually, I expect that there won't be an Index for this, rather that will be what is in the contents - the NPCs should hopefully be Barbarian 1-20, Bard 1-20 etc.
Actually, I expect that there won't be an Index for this, rather that will be what is in the contents - the NPCs should hopefully be Barbarian 1-20, Bard 1-20 etc.I am glad for the sharpened focus of this book.
A request: can you please spend extra pages on indexes? I imagine there will be an index that lists all Fighters, then all Druids, etc.
I also hope the NPCs will either be sorted by class, or alternatively by level (but hopefully as Enlight Bystand suggests). If the NPCs are sorted by name it would make the book less useful as a quick resource to find what I want.
Sorting by class (or level) also makes it somewhat unnecessary to have an index, which would leave more pages for cool NPCs :)
I'm subscribed to two lines: The RPG line and the AP line.
Every year I ask myself should I cancel my subscription to either.
Last year I told myself after Bestiary 3 I was going to cancel my subscription and never did. Now the NPC Codex is coming out and I'm glad that I DIDNT.
Holy Crap if this thing gets ported over to HERO LAB then it will be THE BEST THING EVER. I know Paizo is not directly responsible for that but they're producing the book and the guys at HL usually are on the ball with this sort of thing.
While I dont cart around my HC to games anymore (THANK YOU iPAD and subscriber PDF's. THANK YOU.) I do like to read them in bed or on the couch occasionally.
SO in short, keep up the awesome work Paizo. Someone values what you do and will find use for it in their games. We know you produce stuff so that you can stay in business but you also produce stuff you think your fans will actually use and like. So I know that you guys get a metric assload of complaining on these boards just know that there are those of us who appreciate that you support a game that we like to play.
As for stuff that you produce that I dont like, I simply dont buy them. I figure that if enough people are doing the same you'll get the message. And If people are buying them then that item wasn't for me...
Did it again! Awesome book idea, and I can't wait. I like to make my own NPCs as much as anyone, but sometimes you need something special on the fly. Best game company out there.
After having used about 1/2 of the stuff from the Rival Guide I'm cautiously optimistic about this. Starting up 15th lvl spellcasters for a 22 minute life span is a pain in the tookus.
Straight stats are cool, but I do like a little fluff to help me along. Not full bios necessarily but a little blurb for convenience sake is nice. I start feeling schizrophrenic sometimes when I'm juggling to many NPC personas simultaneously.
Also I'd like to put in that I'm glad this first offering is a CRB focused tome, from a speed perspective only. I'd hate to need to cross reference feats from UC and spells from UM with a build CRB just to finish out a short term encounter. That would almost defeat the purpose of the book.
Now Codex II, that one can get crazy deep. But a simple book would be better for the target demographic on the first go. The stressed, time limited DM.
Having had one too many games run short, end up with extra play time, or worse having a busy work week and not enough time to prep a more serious adventure, I love this type of product. Pick a level appropriate bad guy, come up with some hook, and have the PCs have at. To be fair, I've used my players' own characters against them, but eventually they figured out what I was doing.
Maybe this will keep them guessing for an extra week or two?
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Generally, WolfLair does release all of the Pathfinder books. The NPC Gallery from the GameMastery Guide, for example, is all present and accounted for in the monster list when you choose to add a monster. I expect that this will be no different.
I am sure Lonewolf will most certainly do this up for their users as they have done with every single book thus far that Paizo has created for Pathfinder to date. Now the NPC guide will be a purchasable add-on that Lonewolf will offer. Since this is not the type of book that can be called similar to the Game Mastery guide. This is major like a Bestiary.. and I am thinking this will be worth a double purchase./ Hero Labs AND Hardcover/PDF :)
Is this title intended to replace the Bestiary for this year? (Something I would be totally cool with, since I only have it in my budget for the 3 major hardcover Pathfinder RPG releases every year.) Or is there a Bestiary in the works as well?
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Chief Technical Officer
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Is this title intended to replace the Bestiary for this year? (Something I would be totally cool with, since I only have it in my budget for the 3 major hardcover Pathfinder RPG releases every year.) Or is there a Bestiary in the works as well?
This is the final core book release for 2012.
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We've had four years of gaming with the core rulebook. Are you absolutely sure you're not going to be bringing out a book of repetitious NPC statblocks that players and GMs have seen before in Adventure Paths, PFS modules, home games and built quickly on Herolab?
I am really wondering about why you would limit this product to just the core rulebook. It seems like you're missing out on so many archetypes and so much variety. I wouldn't buy this sort of product unless it included the APG, UC, UM and possibly a smattering of Inner Sea PRCs.
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Chief Technical Officer
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We've had four years of gaming with the core rulebook. Are you absolutely sure you're not going to be bringing out a book of repetitious NPC statblocks that players and GMs have seen before in Adventure Paths, PFS modules, home games and built quickly on Herolab?
Does that seem consistent with the types of product we usually do?
I am really wondering about why you would limit this product to just the core rulebook. It seems like you're missing out on so many archetypes and so much variety. I wouldn't buy this sort of product unless it included the APG, UC, UM and possibly a smattering of Inner Sea PRCs.
It seems like we've already addressed that earlier in this thread.
This product is not for everyone. It's very possible it's not for you.
We've had four years of gaming with the core rulebook. Are you absolutely sure you're not going to be bringing out a book of repetitious NPC statblocks that players and GMs have seen before in Adventure Paths, PFS modules, home games and built quickly on Herolab?Does that seem consistent with the types of product we usually do?
I just got the mental image of Vic doing a gangsta "burn" gesture while at his desk. The image makes me smile.
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Vic, All I'm saying is that there's an opportunity being lost here.
It seems clear that the plans are in motion for an NPC Codex (Advanced) that will only come out if NPC Codex (Core) does well (So buy it everyone). While it makes economic sense to have gamers buy two products, it's also pretty transparent that one could just have one hardcover that achieves the design goal (A valuable tome full of ready-to-play, intriguing Pathfinder NPCs) without separating them into two products (especially big, meaty, expensive hardcover products).
Product discussion, product gets discussed.
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To be honest, I'm really excited that this is going to only use Core Rulebook content. In my mind, this product will be most ideal to whip out NPC stats at a moment's notice, IN game.
The easier that NPC is to run on the fly, the better. If I have to look something up for such a spur of the moment character, I want to have to look no further than just 1 additional book, otherwise how much time am I really saving?
By limiting it to Core Rulebook options, Paizo is actually maximizing the utility of such a book.
At least, that's my 2 cents.
Want. Also loving the Core only direction. If only because it comeswith promises of more.
Paizo, why must you release something new to get excited about every time I make a purchase? Curse you and your effective business model!
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I am very disappointed in this. I was hoping for something more Player friendly, but this big book is only good for DMs. Will there be new feats and items and other such in here? I was also hoping for a new Bestiary.
We have a ton of NPCs from the Gamemastery Guide, please don't make NPCs as necessary as monsters. They are not that highly valued. I really hope this waste of "Big Paizo Books" per year doesn't happen again.
I was hoping for an Advanced Player's Guide II. It's about time for a new one already. I am stuck waiting another year it seems!
The very first Pathfinder book I am NOT looking forward to. Can't win them all I guess.
I shall point out that there was no way you woild be getting an Advanced players guide 2 since a, they have already done most of the class related stuff they want to do and b, if it wasent the NPC guide it would have been another bestiary.
As mentioned elsewhere they will be releasing a golarion-specific bestiary, so people who wanted Bestiary 4 will get a nice (if smaller) book of critters
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What reason is there for me to buy this book? I don't need 320 pages of stat blocks. I'm tired of seeing generic NPCs showing up in my Pathfinder Chronicles books (not to mention the 4 NPCs statted up in every AP volume now) as it is. What is your compelling case for me to purchase the NPC Codex? As it stands I'll be skipping this book in my subscription (much like I did with the Beginner's Box last year).
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What reason is there for me to buy this book? I don't need 320 pages of stat blocks. I'm tired of seeing generic NPCs showing up in my Pathfinder Chronicles books (not to mention the 4 NPCs statted up in every AP volume now) as it is. What is your compelling case for me to purchase the NPC Codex? As it stands I'll be skipping this book in my subscription (much like I did with the Beginner's Box last year).
If you do not need 320 pages of NPC stat blocks, then you are clearly not a GM! I'm giddy with the thought of how much time this book is going to save me.
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Thank you Paizo! As a Busy GM who has to juggle kids, a job, and a weekly Pathfinder game, i've been waiting for a product like this for a long time. I thank you mightily for the hours you'll save me from week to week with the product.
This. I expect this book to see a lot of action in my games. Even though I mostly run published adventures, I often like to add additional encounters as the game unfolds and this'll be an invaluable resource in that regard.
What reason is there for me to buy this book? I don't need 320 pages of stat blocks. I'm tired of seeing generic NPCs showing up in my Pathfinder Chronicles books (not to mention the 4 NPCs statted up in every AP volume now) as it is. What is your compelling case for me to purchase the NPC Codex? As it stands I'll be skipping this book in my subscription (much like I did with the Beginner's Box last year).If you do not need 320 pages of NPC stat blocks, then you are clearly not a GM! I'm giddy with the thought of how much time this book is going to save me.
You sir, are deeply mistaken. While I do not currently GM (playing Kingmaker currently), that is the role I normally fill. My generic NPC requirements were easily filled by the handy charts in the D&D 3.5 DMG.
I keep hearing people say generic NPC, and why no Bestiary. NPCs for my group are way more colorful then monsters. There are only so many way to make a one page monsters out of a book interact with characters before they get to killing each other. I love NPCs. I make up a lot of them, and some days I'd like to pull an interesting one out of a book. I can make up their back story if I want, I just can't always stop game to roll up stats. This really is a bestiary, and it sounds like a quality one. By the way, love the CRB focus, hope future NPC books have the one book focus. One for all the books with classes. That way I can look in one book per to know all the powers exact rules.
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I keep hearing people say generic NPC, and why no Bestiary. NPCs for my group are way more colorful then monsters. There are only so many way to make a one page monsters out of a book interact with characters before they get to killing each other. I love NPCs. I make up a lot of them, and some days I'd like to pull an interesting one out of a book. I can make up their back story if I want, I just can't always stop game to roll up stats. This really is a bestiary, and it sounds like a quality one. By the way, love the CRB focus, hope future NPC books have the one book focus. One for all the books with classes. That way I can look in one book per to know all the powers exact rules.
That sounds a wee bit racist, bub. What makes you think that all that sentient non-humanoids are good for is killing ?
If you think that only humanoid NPCs can have personalities and interesting non-combat interactions with the PCs, then you are marginalizing every creature in the Bestiaries with an Int of 3+.
Yeah, it is a bestiary....full of a bunch of different examples of about seven or eight monsters.
I keep hearing people say generic NPC, and why no Bestiary. NPCs for my group are way more colorful then monsters. There are only so many way to make a one page monsters out of a book interact with characters before they get to killing each other. I love NPCs. I make up a lot of them, and some days I'd like to pull an interesting one out of a book. I can make up their back story if I want, I just can't always stop game to roll up stats. This really is a bestiary, and it sounds like a quality one. By the way, love the CRB focus, hope future NPC books have the one book focus. One for all the books with classes. That way I can look in one book per to know all the powers exact rules.That sounds a wee bit racist, bub. What makes you think that all that sentient non-humanoids are good for is killing ?
If you think that only humanoid NPCs can have personalities and interesting non-combat interactions with the PCs, then you are marginalizing every creature in the Bestiaries with an Int of 3+.
Yeah, it is a bestiary....full of a bunch of different examples of about seven or eight monsters.
What is the ratio of humanoid to "monster"? I know that "monster" are sentient, but they almost always end in combat. Not to many befriend a Frost Worm, pg 126 bestiary 2 (totally the first random page I opened to, i can do it all day), before it it betrays them to a guild or the guard. No, that's just common since. You have three or more books like that. It's just reverse discrimination to say something like that. Are you hiding something from yourself?