Pathfinder Cards: Deluxe Harrow Deck

I've used the Deluxe Harrow Deck several times in my Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign. It's an impressive set--far more than a simple deck of playing cards. The 54 cards are larger, tarot-sized cards, with full-colour artwork on one side and an interesting design (tied to the six ability scores of D&D) on the back. In addition to the main cards, the set contains a extra card for the GM to help them remember how to do a spread, and a few "Harrowing Chronicle" cards to enable them to keep track of particular PC draws and how it should influence the campaign. There's also a 30-page-long instruction booklet that's well-written and contains some Golarion flavour. It goes through how to use the Harrow deck for different purposes, such as general fortune-telling for flavour or more concrete predictions to be integrated by the GM into the campaign. It includes a new spell that creates mechanical consequences for the cards drawn and helpfully summarises other Paizo books and adventures that make use of the Harrow. Each card is given a description of its meaning, and there's a sample narrative Harrowing on the back so the reader can get a sense of how it all comes together in practice.

Having performed a few Harrowings, I can say it's not easy to do well. Some solo practice is a good idea, as the cards have very different meanings depending on placement, and trying to interpret the cards in relation to the characters and the adventure can sometimes be a challenge. Fortune-telling is an art and a skill, but it's pretty cool how the concept has been imported into Pathfinder through Varisians and their culture. I think my only criticism of the deck is that I'm not a big fan of the artwork--it's more cartoony than I'd like. But apart from that, this is a really good deck, useful in a lot of different ways.

I purchased a set of these cards off of Amazon, along with the harrow handbook, and am completely satisfied with both. The artwork is beautiful and often hilarious, and I can't wait to use the archetypes in PFS. Mild confusion, however, regarding the rules for towers. I can't seem to find them anywhere. The harrow handbook says that it's in the divination book included with the deluxe harrow deck. Well, I have the aforementioned book, but haven't seen the rules anywhere. I rather like card games, and would like to be able to learn the most popular one, according to Galorian lore.

Definitely put in for this deck if you're considering the use of the Harrow in your games. I originally picked up my copy in anticipation for the Harrow themed medium (alas, it won't be published until well after Occult Adventures), but I'm still glad I bought the deck. Tarot sized and formatted to show off the art, they're a treat to handle and admire. I recommend picking up some tarot sized card sleeves to keep the cards in good condition.

I don't often write reviews since as a freelancer I try to remain as impartial as I can be. However, this particular product is a bit outside the norm so I don't feel as constrained by personal preference to avoid a review. That said, the Deluxe Harrow Deck is fantastic. I own the original Harrow Deck and have always been looking for proper "tarot" sized cards and these absolutely fill that need. The cards are made from durable stock and have a wonderfully redesigned card back that looks much more thematic than the original. I brought these to Paizocon 2014 to use with my harrow-focused Pathfinder Society character and everyone at the table wanted to look at the new Harrow deck and check out the cards. They feel so much more natural to shuffle and use during gameplay than the smaller cards and they're absolutely a must have for fans of the Harrow or if you've purchased the Harrow Handbook.

I sincerely hope Paizo produces more special edition cards/props like this in the future. With Occult Adventures on the way maybe we can get a Pathfinder planchette board! ;)

to get best use of the deck, it is best paired with the Harrow Hand book:
http://paizo.com/products/btpy95zm?Pathfinder-Player-Companion-The-Harrow-H andbook

I love this prop. I also own the first deck, that was more playing-card sized. The deluxe deck, tarot-proportioned, feels more comfortable in my hands. Full disclosure: I suck at shuffling but the cards hanlde better in their longer size.

There is rules for a game "Towers" included with this book, bidding and bluffing. But the Handbook, link above, talks of more games. Game that could be played as a pathfinder character or by your gaming group during downtime. the games are "illusionit" and "Last Azlant"

Oh and Aroden is mentioned as part of the lore, the namesake of one of the games and linked to Harrow history. In the Harrow Handbook, above.

This is a review of the deck itself, not the book, but you will get more use out of the Harrow in your games with these together (feats, archtypes, equipment and magic items).

Another disclosure: the art is unchanged. But Kyle Hunter put alot of work into the original art, backstories, and creating them all from scratch. I do wish the art had been refined for the Deluxe Harrow Deck, by Kyle. though it was not. Admittedly the art on some of the common tarot decks is similar in style and line-work. So the art only seems less in comparison to the first Harrow deck.

I pre-ordered this and am completely satisfied with my purchase. Maybe you will too. 5 stars