
|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Baphomet in Golarion is more of Minotaur, as described in Book of the Damned Volume 2: Lords of Chaos
Actually... that's how Baphomet appeared in his initial incarnation, ages ago. Today, he does indeed look much more like his classical real-world depiction (sans female breasts!). That does mean he has a goat-like head, a pentagram on his forehead, and is less muscular than the typical minotaur.
We deliberately chose to move away from the more classic D&D incarnation of him as a big minotaur for Wrath of the Righteous to star putting a more "Pathfinder" and "classical" spin on him... this decision was made after we published Lords of Chaos, alas, so we're assuming that information applies to him in the past, before a certain event caused a significant change in his appearance. (The nature of that certain event will be revealed in Pathfinder #77... but it has something to do with a certain Prince of Darkness...).
He DOES remain the Lord of Minotaurs, despite this change to his appearance, and minotaurs remain a significant theme throughout Wrath of the Righteous as a result, and his Abyssal Realm is still an immense maze called the Ivory Labyrinth.

| Axial | 
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            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet
I just took a trip to Wikipedia. I always knew that Baphomet was some kind of Satanic idol, but I didn't know that he was a deity that the Knights Templar were accused of worshiping by the church. Hence, the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth in PF, who actually DO worship a goat-headed demon lord! :)

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
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            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet
I just took a trip to Wikipedia. I always knew that Baphomet was some kind of Satanic idol, but I didn't know that he was a deity that the Knights Templar were accused of worshiping by the church. Hence, the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth in PF, who actually DO worship a goat-headed demon lord! :)
Yup!

|  DitheringFool | 
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            I have to say, this was a project where I had to ask myself "Can I really DO that to the players? What have I become?" As in, more than once.
It's vile. It's full of horrors. It's a mere appetizer for the city of locusts, but really, I think Pathfinder needs some one-off Sanity rules for this whole AP.
Uh, that actually makes me nervous - I still have trouble thinking about Enemies of my Enemy...it's uncomfortable how familiar you are with this material...not that I'm questioning your allegiances...but it does make one wonder just who your friends are

| Axial | 
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            I predict hilarious anecdotes of people high-fiving/fist-bumping/hugging/flirting with/casting buffs/giving magic items/giving gold/proposing to/insulting/attacking (!?)/telling jokes to/asking for autographs/and otherwise interacting with her in ways that people aren't expected to act towards deities in their physical presence.
It could be made doubly more amusing judging by how the GM has her react to anything listed above.

| Alleran | 
So that's what Baphomet looks like? Interesting. Not sure which one I prefer (his D&D one or his Pathfinder one - if that's him, he actually looks a bit "spindly" to me), but interesting. Hopefully he'll be tough enough that if the players want to take a shot at killing him they'll have a serious fight on their hands.

|  Cat-thulhu | 
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Wow.  Been waiting to see the cover art, totally worth the wait.  I love the new (old?) look for Baphomet, so much better than the tired old overgrown minotaur look. That is a demon lord.  As for the rest of the cover 

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
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            Our version of Baphomet is, of course, VERY influenced by his real world depictions... although we chose to not give him feminine breasts...
In any event...

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Wow. Been waiting to see the cover art, totally worth the wait. I love the new (old?) look for Baphomet, so much better than the tired old overgrown minotaur look. That is a demon lord. As for the rest of the cover
** spoiler omitted **
Nope.

| Demiurge 1138 RPG Superstar 2013 Top 8 | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            An interesting take on Baphomet ... but what's with that flaming torch sticking out of his head?!?
I give you Baphomet. As James said, Paizo's Baphomet is pretty much this illustration from Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual.

| cannon fodder | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Vic Wertz wrote:Dibs on Planar Hardcover by Wolfgang, Ray, Colin, Erik, James, Todd and Monte.Marc Radle wrote:When the heck did you find time to do this????? ;)Yeah, between that, his own company, RPG Superstar judging, and the thing he's doing for us that's getting announced at PaizoCon—you know, that really major thing that nobody even knows about yet—he's got to be one of the hardest working people in the game industry.
This would be....SO sexy.

|  Wolfgang Baur 
                
                
                  
                    Contributor; Publisher, Kobold Press; RPG Superstar Judge | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Well, there was Beyond Countless Doorways, the planar hardcover by me, Ray, Colin, and Monte.
And there was Dark Roads & Golden Hells, the ENnie-nominated planar handbook for Pathfinder.
So... It's not like we haven't gotten pretty close. We just need to get Erik, James, and Todd in for the next one. :)

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            I love Baphomet!!! But do I see a Marilith on the cover? It's really one of my favorite demons and even creatures, but now with 4 bestiaries why so much creatures just from Bestiary 1??
Because Bestiary 1 contains the "most commonly encountered" monsters, and as such that means that it's the book we go to most often. Also—when a monster's the right choice for theme reasons, we'll use that monster.

| Bellona | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            An interesting take on Baphomet ... but what's with that flaming torch sticking out of his head?!?
I give you Baphomet. As James said, Paizo's Baphomet is pretty much this illustration from Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual.
Okay, I get the classic status of the source image (thanks for the link!), and I get that the torch is supposed to represent Sophia/Wisdom ... but I still think that the flaming torch looks silly.

| Mythic Rysky | 
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. | 
Bellona wrote:An interesting take on Baphomet ... but what's with that flaming torch sticking out of his head?!?Demiurge 1138 wrote:I give you Baphomet. As James said, Paizo's Baphomet is pretty much this illustration from Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual.Okay, I get the classic status of the source image (thanks for the link!), and I get that the torch is supposed to represent Sophia/Wisdom ... but I still think that the flaming torch looks silly.
"You no take torch!"

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Bellona wrote:An interesting take on Baphomet ... but what's with that flaming torch sticking out of his head?!?Demiurge 1138 wrote:I give you Baphomet. As James said, Paizo's Baphomet is pretty much this illustration from Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual.Okay, I get the classic status of the source image (thanks for the link!), and I get that the torch is supposed to represent Sophia/Wisdom ... but I still think that the flaming torch looks silly.
Fair enough.
I don't think it does. And it's incorporated into his stats so at least it DOES something in game.

| The Block Knight | 
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            I'm sure plenty of adventurers/challengers/crusaders have thought the torch looked silly. . . right up until Baphomet tore them a new one.
On another note, I'm really looking forward to this one. I'm especially intrigued by the Demodand article. Then again, I really look forward to every AP issue; I'm easy that way.

|  Rysky | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Please tell me you are going to be having Reaper do a mini based on that Baphomet picture. I mean, I would really like to see one for all the individuals I have seen on the covers of this AP so far, but that one practically screams metal.
Werner Klocke. Nocticula. Please and thank you.

| Bellona | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            An interesting take on Baphomet ... but what's with that flaming torch sticking out of his head?!?
I give you Baphomet. As James said, Paizo's Baphomet is pretty much this illustration from Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual.
Okay, I get the classic status of the source image (thanks for the link!), and I get that the torch is supposed to represent Sophia/Wisdom ... but I still think that the flaming torch looks silly.
Fair enough.
I don't think it does. And it's incorporated into his stats so at least it DOES something in game.
As is commonly said on the boards, YMMV. However, I am glad to hear that it at least has some sort of function.

| Cthulhudrew | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Okay, I get the classic status of the source image (thanks for the link!), and I get that the torch is supposed to represent Sophia/Wisdom ... but I still think that the flaming torch looks silly.
Anyone crazy enough to put flaming objects in their hair is someone I'd rather not have to go toe to toe with.
(See also: Blackbeard)

| Feros | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Please tell me you are going to be having Reaper do a mini based on that Baphomet picture. I mean, I would really like to see one for all the individuals I have seen on the covers of this AP so far, but that one practically screams metal.
Well, Paizo has a sculpt, but it is going to be plastic and pre-painted I'm afraid. :)

|  Cat-thulhu | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Our version of Baphomet is, of course, VERY influenced by his real world depictions... although we chose to not give him feminine breasts...
In any event... ** spoiler omitted **
OMG. How are PC's going to survive that? Can't wait.

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            James Jacobs wrote:OMG. How are PC's going to survive that? Can't wait.Our version of Baphomet is, of course, VERY influenced by his real world depictions... although we chose to not give him feminine breasts...
In any event... ** spoiler omitted **
That's up to the PCs.
I predict equal amounts of "OMG HE TPK'D US HOW IS THIS FAIR" and "OMG WE JUST RUINED HIM THE FIGHT WAS A CAKEWALK!"

|  Rysky | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Cat-thulhu wrote:James Jacobs wrote:OMG. How are PC's going to survive that? Can't wait.Our version of Baphomet is, of course, VERY influenced by his real world depictions... although we chose to not give him feminine breasts...
In any event... ** spoiler omitted **
That's up to the PCs.
I predict equal amounts of "OMG HE TPK'D US HOW IS THIS FAIR" and "OMG WE JUST RUINED HIM THE FIGHT WAS A CAKEWALK!"
I'm usually more partial to "OMG WE SURVIVED THAT! WOOT!"

|  Cat-thulhu | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Yep same here. I expect a hearty round of "YEAH, WE GT IN FIRST AND SHOWED HIM A THING OR TWO", followed by "OMG SHOUDLN'T WE RUN NOW" and finally a "OMG WE SURVIVED!" with a silly dance around the table. I just can't foresee a party that could take him with ease at this level - ain't gonna be no cakewalks in this park.
Looks like just another reason to love this AP to me.

|  James Jacobs 
                
                
                  
                    Creative Director | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Oh, hey, is that Seelah wielding Radiance? Nice touch.
Not on purpose. The art order was for Seelah wielding a glowing holy sword. Turns out... it's apparently pretty easy for glowing holy swords to look similar.
(We order the covers months before we order item cards, but order item cards before we have the covers complete, so getting things to match between the two on purpose is more or less impossible, alas...)
 
	
 
     
     
    
 
       
	 
 
                
                 
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
 
                
                 
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
 