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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Class Guide (OGL)

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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Advanced Class Guide (OGL)
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A New Breed of Hero

Adventure like never before with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Class Guide! Explore new heights of heroism with 10 new base classes, each with 20 levels of amazing abilities. Incredible powers also await existing characters, with more than a hundred new archetypes and class options. Prepare characters for their most legendary adventure ever with massive selections of never-before-seen spells, magic items, and more!

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Class Guide is a must-have companion volume to the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. This imaginative tabletop game builds upon more than 15 years of system development and an open playtest featuring more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Advanced Class Guide includes:

  • Ten new base classes—the magic-twisting arcanist, the ferocious bloodrager, the cunning investigator, the daring swashbuckler, the formidable warpriest, and others.
  • Variant class abilities and thematic archetypes for all 29 base classes, such as the counterfeit mage and the mutagenic mauler.
  • Nearly a hundred new feats for characters of all classes, including style feats, teamwork feats like Coordinated Shot, and more.
  • Hundreds of new spells and magic items, such as feast on fear and skullcrusher gauntlets.
  • An entire armory of amazing equipment, from vital new adventuring gear to deadly alchemical weapons.
  • ... and much, much more!

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-671-3

Errata
Last Updated - 7/22/2015

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A Great (if errata-filled) Book for Players

4/5 —

This book has gotten a lot of flack for two reasons: (1) A number of people were upset by the large amount of errata posted after the book came out. (2) A number of people were upset by the perceived power-creep that this book carried with it, especially in the archetype section.

Both of these are reasonable complaints that I largely agree with.

That said, this book also contains a cornucopia of player options that are great fun. A number of the classes it introduced are now mainstream: it’s hard to imagine playing the game without options like the Brawler, the Investigator, the Slayer, the Bloodrager, the Hunter, or the Warpriest. Or to play without archetypes like the Bolt Ace (Gunslinger), Mutation Warrior or Martial Master (Fighter).

Moreover, the book introduced a number of feats that improve on the available build options available to most players (Extra Hex! Slashing Grace!). Likewise, although the spells in this book seem to have flown under the radar, there are a lot of nice and interesting spells are introduced in this book (Glue Seal, Communal Align Weapon, Wall of Blindness/Deafness, Wall of Nausea, Anti-Incorporeal Shell, Adjustable Disguise, Adjustable Polymorph, Investigative Mind, etc).

Easily 5 stars worth of good material here. Given the unusually large amount of errata, I feel compelled to deduct a star. But all that said, it’s hard to imagine playing Pathfinder without this book -- after the Core Rulebook and Advanced Players Guide, it’s probably the best book for players to pick up.

Unbalanced, uninspired and rushed.

1/5 —

This book still sticks out as one of Paizo's biggest missteps. It was extremely rushed and it shows.

At least half of the new classes don't even need to exist as anything other than archetypes. Even among the ones that actually work, most feel very uninspired.

There are a few good things in it, but not really enough to justify buying it. It's not worth your money and it's best not to encourage sloppy work.

Hopefully Paizo learns from this and prioritizes quality over quantity and speed from now on.

A continuing disappointment

1/5 —

The ACG had problems. Many problems. And it continues to have problems.

From concept ("Let's make ten classes as complicated and broken as the magus, or more so!"), to out-of-whack game design, to simply poor editing, the ACG is a mess. The book's philosophy seems to be "create a new utterly unbalanced mechanic, and proliferate it as far as possible." The (quickly issued) errata pulled some of it a bit more into line, but it just doesn't come close to correcting it.

Even something as simple as alchemical items are way out there. Holy Weapon Balm costs 5gp more than holy water, and does 1400% more damage. And that doesn't even include increasing damage to incorporeal creatures.

Even two years after it was released, I continue to be impressed with the complete disregard for balance and sense in this book. If power creep had happened this much every year, we'd be looking at 9999 damage caps by now. The ACG stands out for its insanity.

Perhaps pulping it for the cover error would have been the better move.

The first real dud in my Pathfinder collection

1/5 —

I am extremely disappointed in this product, and glad I only purchased the PDF version. As other reviewers have pointed out, the new classes are poorly balanced when compared to the preexisting ones, and would be a better fit for a book like Unchained, much like Unearthed Arcana's gestalt characters.

There's far too many feats and toys dedicated to these new classes, which drastically lessens this book's universal appeal, and even though some contrivances are provided to make some of said feats accessible to other classes, it ends up painting the book's title as a misnomer - it isn't an "advanced class guide" any more than it is a guide mostly about ten new classes, that are "advanced" only in the sense that they're more powerful than the others.

It's my fault for not properly researching the book before buying it, so buyer beware if you're expecting to find a literal advanced class guide, as opposed to a lengthy introduction to ten new ones.

Overall disappointing

2/5 —

Okay, there's a lot here that's just terribly rushed and it shows, like the editing here is painful at points. The classes themselves range wildly in value, and there's a lot of examples of Paizo's classic retro nerfing of things to help make options here look better. This was an obvious rush to gencon book, and it shows. While not everything in it is bad, and there's some salvageable content, you could easily continue to play the game without this book and miss out on absolutely nohthing.

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Grand Lodge

Thank you Jason! You and the design team rock the socks out a this world something fierce!
Zark wrote:
Necromancer wrote:
Zark wrote:

Two questions (I think a lot of people wants an answer to these as well)


  • 1) Any feat that grants more skills?
  • 2) Any feat with fighter as a prereq? I mean, any fighter only feats?

Believer's Boon grants limited access to a domain (can be taken twice, doesn't stack, deity restrictions)

Nope; if anything, this book has pickpocketed the fighter with extra gropes and everything's out on the table for the rest of the classes.

OK. Thanks.

So no feat that grants more skill ranks (like toughness but for skills)?

I looked over the chart again and found nothing; the bonuses are mostly for combat and saves. Keep in mind, I've only skimmed through the chapter and might've missed the odd loophole. Several archetypes gain extra class skills, so maybe something will line up that way.

Webstore Gninja Minion
3 people marked this as a favorite.
DM Papa.DRB wrote:

Liz Courts,

Favor to ask of you. Before you go home next Wednesday evening (13 Aug), could you preset this PDF to go on sale as soon as it rolls midnight PDT?

My wife will kill me, or at least make me sleep on the couch, but I'll get up at 03:01 EDT and purchase and download if it is available then!

I really want to see the final Shaman and Warpriest.

-- david

Already done—I know how we gamers are. ;)

Grand Lodge
3 people marked this as a favorite.

Biggest thing of note from the ACG PDF: Paizo fixed the logo.
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Liz Courts wrote:
DM Papa.DRB wrote:

Liz Courts,

Favor to ask of you. Before you go home next Wednesday evening (13 Aug), could you preset this PDF to go on sale as soon as it rolls midnight PDT?

My wife will kill me, or at least make me sleep on the couch, but I'll get up at 03:01 EDT and purchase and download if it is available then!

I really want to see the final Shaman and Warpriest.

-- david

Already done—I know how we gamers are. ;)

THANK YOU!!!!!

Webstore Gninja Minion
11 people marked this as a favorite.
Imbicatus wrote:
There is literally no way I can ever play all the ideas this book is giving me.

Be a GM. You get to play everything! :D

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Liz Courts wrote:
DM Papa.DRB wrote:

Liz Courts,

Favor to ask of you. Before you go home next Wednesday evening (13 Aug), could you preset this PDF to go on sale as soon as it rolls midnight PDT?

My wife will kill me, or at least make me sleep on the couch, but I'll get up at 03:01 EDT and purchase and download if it is available then!

I really want to see the final Shaman and Warpriest.

-- david

Already done—I know how we gamers are. ;)

Once more absolute proof that Liz Rocks! :D

Liberty's Edge

Thanks Jason for posting that.

The Sacred Fist gets a monk like AC bonus although the description is deflection not dodge for the improvements.

The monk archetypes are Kata Master (showy swashbuckler influenced) and Wildcat (dirty fighting style).
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Huh, a fighter archetype that lets them fly. Interesting.
Grand Lodge

Anything on the shield thrower?
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
London Duke wrote:
Anything on the shield thrower?

What do you want to know? Anything specific?

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
Cheapy wrote:
Huh, a fighter archetype that lets them fly. Interesting.

Wait, what?

Grand Lodge
Cheapy wrote:
Huh, a fighter archetype that lets them fly. Interesting.

Wait... Where... Who... What!

Also anything like blessed hammer (feat) or spellstrike to help with action economy for Gish types?
Grand Lodge

Jim... At this point I will settle for anything you could provide. It's long been a character I have hoped to play and optimize.
Paizo Glitterati Robot
3 people marked this as a favorite.
Feros wrote:
Liz Courts wrote:
DM Papa.DRB wrote:

Liz Courts,

Favor to ask of you. Before you go home next Wednesday evening (13 Aug), could you preset this PDF to go on sale as soon as it rolls midnight PDT?

My wife will kill me, or at least make me sleep on the couch, but I'll get up at 03:01 EDT and purchase and download if it is available then!

I really want to see the final Shaman and Warpriest.

-- david

Already done—I know how we gamers are. ;)
Once more absolute proof that Liz Rocks! :D

She's basically a wizard! :D <3

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Why the change from <3 to :D ? Are you saying you don't love her?!
Jiggy wrote:
Cheapy wrote:
Huh, a fighter archetype that lets them fly. Interesting.
Wait, what?

Well, it was spoiled a few pages ago. But no one really realized the implications of the spoiler ;)

Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Feros wrote:
Liz Courts wrote:
DM Papa.DRB wrote:

Liz Courts,

Favor to ask of you. Before you go home next Wednesday evening (13 Aug), could you preset this PDF to go on sale as soon as it rolls midnight PDT?

My wife will kill me, or at least make me sleep on the couch, but I'll get up at 03:01 EDT and purchase and download if it is available then!

I really want to see the final Shaman and Warpriest.

-- david

Already done—I know how we gamers are. ;)
Once more absolute proof that Liz Rocks! :D

Liz rocks so much that she retroactively had every other PDF release at midnight PDT on their respective release dates.

(note that the slightly snarky tone of this post highlighting that the request is actually Paizo standard practice is not to imply that Liz does not rock...)
Scarab Sages
Liz Courts wrote:
Imbicatus wrote:
There is literally no way I can ever play all the ideas this book is giving me.
Be a GM. You get to play everything! :D

Almost all of my play right now is from PFS, and I'm still new to PFS, so the number of scenarios I've played is small. I don't want to spoil myself. However, I may start GMing a scenario here or there for our local events.

Grand Lodge

The alchemist mix?
Grand Lodge

Any cool archetypes for inquisitors?
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
1 person marked this as a favorite.
London Duke wrote:
Jim... At this point I will settle for anything you could provide. It's long been a character I have hoped to play and optimize.

Well, she is proficient with all shields but the tower shield. Unlike normal brawlers.

She can throw a light or medium shield as a thrown weapon. No improvised weapon penalties. Shield spikes do apply. Assumed to have Far Shot for this purpose only. At 7th level, this throw shield can be used to make combat maneuvers.

At 5th level there is an ability to make it come back.

At 15th level there is powerful damage absorbing ability if you're going to be dropped below 0 hit points.

EDIT: There is a lot more, and stuff about how brawlers flurry factors in, but I am trying to stay in preview mode. A couple good bonus feats if you meet the prerequisites.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Jason Bulmahn wrote:
<snip>

Thanks, Jason, for taking your time to explain. "Human error" is of course a much more logical explanation than "bizarre reasonings". I should have realized that in the first place.

Now I got to print your post out to show it to my GM tomorrow...
Grand Lodge

Thanks Jim!
Necromancer wrote:


DeciusNero wrote:
Any new sorcerer bloodlines?
No new bloodlines, but the bloodrager's bloodlines have been broken into pieces for barbarians to scavenge as rage powers.

Poor Sorcerer. It gets an archetype to be the mutt of sorcerers and then an archetype to punch things from what I understand. I haven't seen it but unarmed melee attacks just don't seem like a good idea for 1/2 BAB d6 HD. It can't even get a freaking Arcanist bloodline.

Meanwhile the Wizard is taking spells from other class lists, and playing with Arcanist Exploits, Hexes, and Shaman spirits. With all that and the new Arcanist why do we even have the Sorcerer again? Heck you can even take a lot of the Sorcs class features with Eldritch Heritage but the poor Sorc can't get anything to improve its casting?

I'd really like to know what there isn't at least an Arcanist bloodline.
Grand Lodge

One more spoiler request before ingonto sleep (cental european time), please give p the details on the stygian slayer. Please please please!

So can anyone give any details on the sorcerer Eldritch Scrapper archetype? Is it really viable to go into melee? Can you give an example of its abilities?
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Enlight_Bystand wrote:
Feros wrote:
Liz Courts wrote:
DM Papa.DRB wrote:

Liz Courts,

Favor to ask of you. Before you go home next Wednesday evening (13 Aug), could you preset this PDF to go on sale as soon as it rolls midnight PDT?

My wife will kill me, or at least make me sleep on the couch, but I'll get up at 03:01 EDT and purchase and download if it is available then!

I really want to see the final Shaman and Warpriest.

-- david

Already done—I know how we gamers are. ;)
Once more absolute proof that Liz Rocks! :D

Liz rocks so much that she retroactively had every other PDF release at midnight PDT on their respective release dates.

(note that the slightly snarky tone of this post highlighting that the request is actually Paizo standard practice is not to imply that Liz does not rock...)

Well, I was aware of this, but the fact that it IS SOP for Paizo should be considered absolute proof that Liz Rocks. :p

Grand Lodge

OK I lied... What's the deal with the Hooded Champion ranger archetype?
Scarab Sages
Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
So can anyone give any details on the sorcerer Eldritch Scrapper archetype? Is it really viable to go into melee? Can you give an example of its abilities?

Seconded. I've wanted a pathfinder arcane fist for awhile now. Magus or Monk multiclass and dragon disciple doesn't really cut it.

Shadow Lodge
Jason Bulmahn wrote:
Advanced Class Guide Origins .. FENCING GRACE (COMBAT) ..
wakedown wrote:
... that ability has been cherry picked to appear in Advanced Class Origins

I pick back up the mic, yo.

Called it!

Now, about that AP that follows Giantslayer...
Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
So can anyone give any details on the sorcerer Eldritch Scrapper archetype? Is it really viable to go into melee? Can you give an example of its abilities?

Just to list everything of the archetype, but not its meaning

Eldritch Scrapper:

Martial Flexibility (Ex); (Modified version of brawlers)
This ability replaces the sorcerer’s bloodline powers gained 1st, 9th, and 15th levels.

Bloodline Weapons;

Grand Lodge

Also the bard archetypes? What's their deal?
Also is there any sweet druid options?
Shadow Lodge

I just felt the slightest disturbance to the universe... and then it was gone.
Paizo Employee Lead Designer
4 people marked this as a favorite.

Pulled a few posts.. lets not backslide.

Moving on...

Jason
Shadow Lodge

Must be from that stygian slayer archetype, the one that gets invisibility at 4th level, shadowy, dark spell use at 7th and the ability to turn into gaseous form at 10th.

Yeah, definitely that guy.
RHMG Animator wrote:
Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
So can anyone give any details on the sorcerer Eldritch Scrapper archetype? Is it really viable to go into melee? Can you give an example of its abilities?

Just to list everything of the archetype, but not its meaning

** spoiler omitted **

Can someone please give an explanation of these abilities and if possible answer my original question of the viability of this archetype in melee.

I'm very curious about the Investigator. Any archetypes strike anyone as particularly cool?
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Wolfgang Rolf wrote:
Can someone please give an explanation of these abilities and if possible answer my original question of the viability of this archetype in melee.

Even if the archetype itself isn't up to meleeing, it's probably a nice choice to combine with Dragon Disciple. I've seen enough people go after that on its own merits that I've given up questioning the viability/practicality of melee Sorcerers.

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor
wakedown wrote:

Must be from that stygian slayer archetype, the one that gets invisibility at 4th level, shadowy, dark spell use at 7th and the ability to turn into gaseous form at 10th.

Yeah, definitely that guy.

He's pretty nasty, don't get on his bad side.

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Gisher wrote:
I'm very curious about the Investigator. Any archetypes strike anyone as particularly cool?

Well, nothing strikes out to me as a more martial focused one, but I didn't check too closely.

The Sleuth seems very interesting. Almost like it should've been an alternative class. He doesn't get the Alchemy ability.

What does he get in place of alchemy? Well he...
Shadow Lodge
1 person marked this as a favorite.

mrs. wakedown: honey, are we going to dinner tonight for our anniversary?

wakedown: *looks at ACG PDF* umm, how about taco bell? I uh, need to get back quick, I umm, have work to do tonight...

wakedown: what? oww!! you love tacos!! look, your warpriest chan-- owww!! hey!!!

(lack of use of capitals inspired by the most electrifying poster)
Liberty's Edge
Jason Bulmahn wrote:

So, this feat originally had nothing to do with damage. It was just a way for the swashbuckler, and a few other classes, to use slashing weapons with some of their class features. Thats it. As the book was getting close to print, we were looking over it and felt that was just too weak. The damage component was added to make the feat more attractive. It was not until after it went to the printer that we realized the odd case we had created (that you cannot get Dex to damage on a rapier). Since this was obviously a vital part of the iconic character for that class, we saw it as a real problem and started looking for a solution.

Then came the Pathfinder Player Companion: Advanced Class Guide Origins.

We were in charge of developing that book and came up with a feat to resolve the problem. Since adding rapier alone to Slashing Grace was a poor patch, we came up with an entirely different feat to speak directly to rapiers.

So...I'm apparently something of a prophet. Good to know. ;)

On a more serious note, this is an awesome solution. Thank you very much, both for having done it and having posted it here.

Okay, let's try and recap some of the things I'm really excited about.
• Bolt Ace Gunslinger. Not only for myself, but for other players. Crossbows will fit in a lot of settings better.
• Mongrel Mage Sorcerer, hopefully a way to mix bloodlines without the pain of Crossblooded.
• Fighter with mutagen and discoveries. Great Gatsby, this is great! This is a fighter I would play. This is a Fighter who can get things like temporary wings or +2 to will saves from a hedgehog-shaped tumor!
• Bloodrager. D10 arcane meets with my full approval. I'm eying Aberrant bloodline myself, possibly with Primalist to trade in some of the later-level bloodline powers for classic Barbarian pounce. Love the various archetypes!
• Shaman and Hunter, providing druidesque casting without restrictions on alignment or a tree-hugging requirement, along with giving daily swappables. Should be fun to play as a Skinwalker for even more flexibility.
• On the Shaman front, no more Cha-dependency! Your choice of a Witch Hex! Craft Wondrous Item a level before Wizard can even touch it, so there!
• Monk fix! Charging past my foes/Thanks to this nice new feat/To deliver clustered blows/This really is a treat!
• Oracle can now get Cha to all saves. What is this I don't even. Guess I'll be building the SADest Oracle at some point, with Charisma for every save, AC, CMD, initiative, and Knowledge (Planes).
Scarab Sages
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Cheapy wrote:
Gisher wrote:
I'm very curious about the Investigator. Any archetypes strike anyone as particularly cool?

Well, nothing strikes out to me as a more martial focused one, but I didn't check too closely.

The Sleuth seems very interesting. Almost like it should've been an alternative class. He doesn't get the Alchemy ability.

What does he get in place of alchemy? Well he...

Does that mean it gets Archeologist's Luck, or that it is an awesome robot?

God, I wish it was an awesome robot.

Nah, they get an ability called Luck. Not the same as Archaeologist's Luck. It's closer to Grit in use.
Liberty's Edge
Cheapy wrote:

God, I wish it was an awesome robot.

Nah, they get an ability called Luck. Not the same as Archaeologist's Luck. It's closer to Grit in use.

What does it do?

I'm hoping for something spectacular, because I'm honestly having a hard time seeing how a Grit-like mechanic could make up for losing Extracts, and given my love of noir I really want to like the Sleuth.
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