Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Andoran, Birthplace of Freedom (PFRPG)

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Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Andoran, Birthplace of Freedom (PFRPG)
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Wedged between the crumbling empire of Taldor and the devil-worshipers of Cheliax, the self-made nation of Andoran shines proudly on the coast of the Inner Sea. Ruled by a Supreme Elect chosen by the people, Andoran is surrounded by aristocratic enemies who believe the republic is an experiment doomed to failure, but who also fear its growing power. Within its own borders, Andoran must face the threat of the greedy Lumber Consortium, warbands of hobgoblins, tribes of werewolves, and increasingly violent creatures of the wilds who are enraged at seeing their forests destroyed for profit.

Whether your players are noble supporters of freedom, agents of older empires, or opportunists seeking to carve out their own places in a young nation, this book has everything you need to run a campaign in the tumultuous land of Andoran, including:

  • In-depth gazetteers of Andoran’s settlements, from the seaport capital of Almas to the Lumber Consortium-controlled city of Oregent, and all the minor settlements clinging to existence on the dangerous wilderness frontiers.
  • Details on the organization of the Eagle Knights, including the Golden Legion, Steel Falcons, Twilight Talons, and Gray Corsairs.
  • Secrets of groups with no loyalty to the government of Andoran, including the thuggish Lumber Consortium and the deposed nobles of the Seven Houses.
  • Numerous adventure sites ripe for exploration, including the fey-ruled Candlestone Caverns and the ancient burial mounds of the Nogortha Necropolis, plus a detailed regional map that allows heroes to navigate the untamed lands between civilized settlements.
  • New monsters, NPCs, random encounter tables, a full write-up of the nation’s patron agathion, and more!

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Andoran, Birthplace of Freedom is intended for use with the Pathfinder campaign setting, but can be easily adapted to any fantasy world.

Written by Tim Hitchcock and Jason Nelson
Cover art by Igor Grechanyi

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-721-5

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Birthplace of Freedom

4/5

Not bad, but it is hard to compete with some of the other campaign setting books out there.


Competent but not exciting

3/5

Read my full review on Of Dice and Pen.

By itself, I think Birthplace of Freedom will be a very useful tool for people who have already decided to set an adventure or campaign in Andoran. However, I don't think it's likely to attract new people to the setting. It lacks the “Cool!” factor it needs to overcome the fact that, on the surface, Andoran doesn't look all that different to countless other generic fantasy settings out there. Guide to Darkmoon Vale showed that such a factor exists for that region of Andoran, so there's no reason one shouldn't exist for the rest of the country. Political intrigue could easily be that factor, but the book doesn't spend enough time on the politics, focusing instead on generic adventure locations. Birthplace is a competent book, but it's not an exciting book, and Andoran really needs something exciting.


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Paizo Employee Developer

2 people marked this as a favorite.
xavier c wrote:

1)what is the Cervapral like?

2)what is Talmandor like?

They're both just celestial furries, really. Agathions. Geez.


Mark Moreland wrote:
xavier c wrote:

1)what is the Cervapral like?

2)what is Talmandor like?

They're both just celestial furries, really. Agathions. Geez.

Do you have a problem with furries?

Paizo Employee Developer

4 people marked this as a favorite.
xavier c wrote:
Mark Moreland wrote:
xavier c wrote:

1)what is the Cervapral like?

2)what is Talmandor like?

They're both just celestial furries, really. Agathions. Geez.
Do you have a problem with furries?

No, just being sarcastically reductive of an entire subtype of outsider. They're anthropomorphic animals from the upper planes. Lulz.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Is there any reason to keep the old book now that the new one has come out? I'm guessing that the feats, spells & prestige class may not have been reprinted, but the rest of the book seems superfluous now. Am I mostly right or mostly wrong?


Silver Griffin wrote:
Is there any reason to keep the old book now that the new one has come out? I'm guessing that the feats, spells & prestige class may not have been reprinted, but the rest of the book seems superfluous now. Am I mostly right or mostly wrong?

Well besides the feats, spells, and etc. were not reprinted...I usually loan the Player's Companion to my players if it relates to their characters. It gives players a nice overview and information to base their characters on without giving away too many secrets their characters would not know.


Valantrix1 wrote:
Could somebody give me a breakdown of the creatures in the bestiary section?

NO DREAM WOLVES ? :(

I was so hoping we would finally get Dream Wolves....


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Silver Griffin wrote:
Is there any reason to keep the old book now that the new one has come out? I'm guessing that the feats, spells & prestige class may not have been reprinted, but the rest of the book seems superfluous now. Am I mostly right or mostly wrong?

The new book doesn't reprint the old book's half-page section about Andoran's colonies. For example, while the colony of Elesomare in Arcadia received 18 lines in the old book, it's not mentioned in the new one. (Granted, that's not a lot of content, but it is a difference beyond game mechanics.)


1 person marked this as a favorite.
nighttree wrote:
Valantrix1 wrote:
Could somebody give me a breakdown of the creatures in the bestiary section?

NO DREAM WOLVES ? :(

I was so hoping we would finally get Dream Wolves....

Me too. I own Darkmoon Vale and was pretty disappointed to not have stats for them in the book they were introduced.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Do they address how the Eagle Knights run around in non-armored outfits and yet mechanically still wear armor? Or did they address that elsewhere?


Fourshadow wrote:
nighttree wrote:
Valantrix1 wrote:
Could somebody give me a breakdown of the creatures in the bestiary section?

NO DREAM WOLVES ? :(

I was so hoping we would finally get Dream Wolves....
Me too. I own Darkmoon Vale and was pretty disappointed to not have stats for them in the book they were introduced.

Yeah, I've been chomping at the bit ever since I saw them referenced way back when. Hopefully someday...


1 person marked this as a favorite.
magnuskn wrote:
Do they address how the Eagle Knights run around in non-armored outfits and yet mechanically still wear armor? Or did they address that elsewhere?

I think this is what your looking for from Adventurers Armory.

Parade Armor: Most wealthy countries with standing armies have a different uniform for use in showy noncombat situations such as parades, coronation ceremonies, and so on. The appearance of this armor varies by the country of origin and the branch of the military, but still provides some protection in case the soldier needs to fight while in parade dress (for example, the parade armor of the Eagle Knights of Andoran is a blue coat reinforced with light chain, white breeches, and thick blue leather boots).
If you’re wearing a country’s parade armor, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks to influence a person from that country.

Liberty's Edge

magnuskn wrote:
Do they address how the Eagle Knights run around in non-armored outfits and yet mechanically still wear armor? Or did they address that elsewhere?

Are you sure that they are mechanically wearing armor in those situations? Maybe they haven't donned their armor yet in those pictures.


Valantrix1 wrote:
magnuskn wrote:
Do they address how the Eagle Knights run around in non-armored outfits and yet mechanically still wear armor? Or did they address that elsewhere?

I think this is what your looking for from Adventurers Armory.

Parade Armor: Most wealthy countries with standing armies have a different uniform for use in showy noncombat situations such as parades, coronation ceremonies, and so on. The appearance of this armor varies by the country of origin and the branch of the military, but still provides some protection in case the soldier needs to fight while in parade dress (for example, the parade armor of the Eagle Knights of Andoran is a blue coat reinforced with light chain, white breeches, and thick blue leather boots).
If you’re wearing a country’s parade armor, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy and Intimidate checks to influence a person from that country.

SKR addressed this awhile back. Read the whole thread and you will find it. It's not that long.

Lantern Lodge RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4

There's also lots of art depicting Eagle Knights in medium and heavy armor in this book.

Dark Archive

What does the fellsig eruption special attack do?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Samy wrote:
magnuskn wrote:
Do they address how the Eagle Knights run around in non-armored outfits and yet mechanically still wear armor? Or did they address that elsewhere?
Are you sure that they are mechanically wearing armor in those situations? Maybe they haven't donned their armor yet in those pictures.

You mean the iconic picture of the Eagle Knight army storming over the hill or the one where two of them confront a slaver? They always seem to be wearing the outfit and very seldomly (although apparently in this book actually not) any sort of mechanically useful armor.

Liberty's Edge

I always interpreted the Eagle Knight Armor as the Armored Coat.

Liberty's Edge

magnuskn wrote:
You mean the iconic picture of the Eagle Knight army storming over the hill or the one where two of them confront a slaver? They always seem to be wearing the outfit and very seldomly (although apparently in this book actually not) any sort of mechanically useful armor.

Right. Who knows, they might have been caught in the middle of a parade or formal ball.


Question about Talmandor and his Twin Talons ability ("When using the attack action, Talmandor can attack a single target with both claws"): Isn't that how claw attacks normally work?

Was the ability supposed to be something like he could attack two separate targets and rend both if the attacks hit?

That said, Talmandor's pretty cool, and I hope to see more unique outsiders like him in the future.

Liberty's Edge

Zhangar wrote:
("When using the attack action, Talmandor can attack a single target with both claws"): Isn't that how claw attacks normally work?

Don't you normally have to take a full attack, instead of a single attack, to make more than one attack?


Yep,it allows him to move and take 2 attacks.


Ah, okay. Thanks!


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With regard to military forces in armor, they are likely to wear identifying tunics or coats (surcoats or tabards) OVER the armor, so they don't hack at friendlies and can recognize them from a greater distance. Military forces, as opposed to adventurers, have to worry about rank. Also adventurers tend to get away with pretending you can wear armor and carry weapons all day and all night anywhere and everywhere.
Cover page: Andoran knights are boarding a slave ship -- light or no armor at sea.
Over the hill charge: Andorans en masse -- common soldiers in a spontaneous popular rebellion are lucky to have uniforms or weapons or shoes at all. No level appropriate wealth for these guys.

And, please note, dream wolves are actually Andoran Furry Knights.


Got the physical copy today (which was really fast for international shipping btw), and my immediate reaction is that I want a whole book dedicated to Almas - just the map is enough to make the place interesting.


This was a good book, but for me there's nothing that can polish the turd that is Andoran. Hate that stupid country.

Liberty's Edge

Kajehase wrote:
Nope. Plenty of background information about the Eagle Knights, though - which should come in handy to everyone playing a member of one of their branches.

edited

Is there any more information on the cities?

Mike


Generic Villain wrote:
This was a good book, but for me there's nothing that can polish the turd that is Andoran. Hate that stupid country.

Is that because you hate freedom?


Qstor wrote:
Kajehase wrote:
Nope. Plenty of background information about the Eagle Knights, though - which should come in handy to everyone playing a member of one of their branches.

edited

Is there any more information on the cities?

Mike

Almas - 4 pages including half-page map and settlement statblock.

Augustana, Carpenden, Oregent, & Bellis - 1-3/4 page with half-page map and statblock.
Other settlements- about a paragraph each.
.


Axial wrote:

Is that because you hate freedom?

That is, at most, like 40% of the reason. I just don't like the super exaggerated, hokey, anime-level America stuff.

Liberty's Edge

Generic Villain wrote:
Axial wrote:

Is that because you hate freedom?

That is, at most, like 40% of the reason. I just don't like the super exaggerated, hokey, anime-level America stuff.

I just have to ask. How much of stuff on Andoran have you actually read? Because what you describe and what I have read seem like two very different things.


graywulfe wrote:

I just have to ask. How much of stuff on Andoran have you actually read? Because what you describe and what I have read seem like two very different things.

Everything. Eagle Knights might as well be driving Ford F150s with an Andoran Flag painted on the side while shotgunning a Bud Light, as they sic their Freedom Birds on the enemies of Freedom. The Pseudo-colonial look of the army, the Thomas Paine stuff, the evil corporation that's slowly but surely chiseling away at the ideals of democracy... it's a bit much.


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'Murica!

Or, if you prefer:

'Doran!

(graywulfe - are you American? That might explain your response. To a number of non-Americans, Andoran is pretty hilarious.)

Verdant Wheel

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I find it funny too, how many pseudo-england or pseudo-denmark we did see across campaing settings ? A pseudo-"America" is new. Or at least, doing the same to themselves as they have done to others. It seems legit.


Draco Bahamut wrote:
I find it funny too, how many pseudo-england or pseudo-denmark we did see across campaing settings ? A pseudo-"America" is new. Or at least, doing the same to themselves as they have done to others. It seems legit.

Yep, Andoran is very original.

Actually, I liked Andoran long before I knew it was so America-esque. I find Darkmoon Vale very intriguing and have since its appearance. I just wish we could get dream wolf stats!

Verdant Wheel

Fourshadow wrote:


Actually, I liked Andoran long before I knew it was so America-esque. I find Darkmoon Vale very intriguing and have since its appearance. I just wish we could get dream wolf stats!

Maybe it will come out in the Occult Bestiary.

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

@Generic Villain: Well on the plus side, outside of PFS, you can just ignore it. I don't really read the Eagle Knights the same as you, but everything in life is driven by one's own perspective I guess.

@Arnwyn: Yes I am an american. That said I am not a uber-patriot 'Murican. I know my country has flaws same as any other.


Is this a reprint of the earlier Andoran book, or completely separate?


This is a 64-page GM-focused book. None of the game mechanics featured in Andoran: Spirit of Liberty are reprinted in this book. This book is mostly fluff with a few monsters and NPC stat blocks.


Heine Stick wrote:
This is a 64-page GM-focused book. None of the game mechanics featured in Andoran: Spirit of Liberty are reprinted in this book. This book is mostly fluff with a few monsters and NPC stat blocks.

Which is exactly what I wanted...which is why I purchased it.

Isn't this at least the 3rd time that question has been asked/answered in this thread? A 4 page thread does not take that long to read, does it? I am baffled.


Fourshadow wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
This is a 64-page GM-focused book. None of the game mechanics featured in Andoran: Spirit of Liberty are reprinted in this book. This book is mostly fluff with a few monsters and NPC stat blocks.

Which is exactly what I wanted...which is why I purchased it.

Isn't this at least the 3rd time that question has been asked/answered in this thread? A 4 page thread does not take that long to read, does it? I am baffled.

It's been asked a few times, yes.

Also, this is another VERY fine product. The regional sourcebooks are among my favorite Pathfinder products, and this one doesn't disappoint.


graywulfe wrote:

@Generic Villain: Well on the plus side, outside of PFS, you can just ignore it. I don't really read the Eagle Knights the same as you, but everything in life is driven by one's own perspective I guess.

@Arnwyn: Yes I am an american. That said I am not a uber-patriot 'Murican. I know my country has flaws same as any other.

Honestly I may be exaggerating my dislike of Andoran just a bit. I'd never use it in my own campaign, but I also wouldn't just wipe it off Golarion either. It's a place that doesn't appeal to me, but I understand why it might appeal plenty to other people.

I'm American too, but also liberal, so... American Lite, I guess.

As for the contents of the book itself, I agree with Heine Stick that it's another solid entry as far as regional books go. I loved the info on the fey-worshiping Primordial Ones druids, thought the Bee Man of Bellis was neat (unique take on the worm that walks), and am intrigued by the possible Old Cultists living up in the Nogortha Peaks. The latter remind me of the bigoted view some people used to (still do?) hold of those living in Appalachia.

One thing that stood out to me: Thuldrin Kreed has been nerfed - now just a rogue 4/expert 4, down from Expert 3/Rogue 9 from Towns on Golarion - and is no longer in charge of the Lumber Consortium. The new boss is some nobody by the name of Garland Rakesclaw.


Generic Villain wrote:
I loved the info on the fey-worshiping Primordial Ones druids,

WAIT....WHAT ???

More info PLEASE :P


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nighttree wrote:
Generic Villain wrote:
I loved the info on the fey-worshiping Primordial Ones druids,

WAIT....WHAT ???

More info PLEASE :P

They're a matriarchal druid circle that operates in the Verduran Forest. They have close ties to the fey of the First World, and are thus... a little weird. For example: they refuse to wear clothes at home, instead tattooing their life stories on their skin for all to see. But since that sort of - ahem - exposure could give outsiders too much - ahem - information, they cover themselves in clay while traveling. Although bloody weird, they aren't evil.

Instead, the evil fey-worshipping award goes to the druids of the Arthfell Forest. Their boss is a very cool looking fellow by the name of Blooded Stag.


Emperor Point wrote:
Will this have new playable Eagle Knight stuff? Traits, feats, archetypes or a new prestige class for the Twilight Somethings?

Several of the factions got a new Feat each. (Eagle Knights, Golden Legion, Steel Falcons, Twilight Talons, and Gray Corsairs; along with less militaristic factions like the Primodial Ones, Lumber Consortium, and The Seven Houses.)

While the Twilight Talons do get a full page of text with their Feat, they still don't have any listed means for a PC to join the group. The same goes for the Primordial Ones.

The Lumber Consortium and Seven Houses also lack a method of entry for PCs, but as the one is a group of business interests and the other a set of ex-noble families, it seems reasonable that you would be hired for the LC and would have to be born into (or marry into) the Seven Houses.

All that being said, for the folks who are unhappy about there not being a specific method of entry for PCs to join the Eagle Knights, there is. It can be found in the Pathfinder Society Field Guide, page 14, under Prestige Awards. While Fame and Prestige see use most often in PFS, those rules can be universally applied.

Want to be an Eagle Knight?:
Earn 40 Fame, spend 1 Prestige Point, and be connected with Andoran (the Liberty's Edge Faction in PFS). Congrats, you're an Eagle Knight.

Want to be a Gray Corsair?:
Join the Eagle Knights, as noted above, then pay 2 more PP. Poof! You're a Gray Corsair.

The Golden Legion and Steel Falcons each have their own Prestige Class.

So, all the major branches of the Andoran military have been opened up to PCs, other than the Twilight Talons. I suspect that this is not an accident.


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Generic Villain wrote:
They're a matriarchal druid circle that operates in the Verduran Forest. They have close ties to the fey of the First World, and are thus... a little weird. For example: they refuse to wear clothes at home, instead tattooing their life stories on their skin for all to see. But since that sort of - ahem - exposure could give outsiders too much - ahem - information, they cover themselves in clay while traveling. Although bloody weird, they aren't evil.

While the PFS Additional Resources hasn't been updated to include the book yet, I love the flavor of the Primordial Ones so much that I'm probably going to make a Druid and claim to be a Primordial One. (I don't care if the Feat gets sanctioned, or if the Primordial Ones are even available as a PC group- just the flavor is enough for me!) My PC might be lying when she claims to be a Primordial One, but who is going to be brave enough to call her on it, with her being naked, tattooed, covered in clay, and a little fey-touched?!? lol #LookingForwardToThisALittleTooMuch


Amanda Plageman wrote:
Generic Villain wrote:
They're a matriarchal druid circle that operates in the Verduran Forest. They have close ties to the fey of the First World, and are thus... a little weird. For example: they refuse to wear clothes at home, instead tattooing their life stories on their skin for all to see. But since that sort of - ahem - exposure could give outsiders too much - ahem - information, they cover themselves in clay while traveling. Although bloody weird, they aren't evil.

This is actually what I'm most interested in...just waiting for the PDF to become available on Wednesday.

Can you give a bit of information on what the feat does for you ?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber
nighttree wrote:
Amanda Plageman wrote:
Generic Villain wrote:
They're a matriarchal druid circle that operates in the Verduran Forest. They have close ties to the fey of the First World, and are thus... a little weird. For example: they refuse to wear clothes at home, instead tattooing their life stories on their skin for all to see. But since that sort of - ahem - exposure could give outsiders too much - ahem - information, they cover themselves in clay while traveling. Although bloody weird, they aren't evil.

This is actually what I'm most interested in...just waiting for the PDF to become available on Wednesday.

Can you give a bit of information on what the feat does for you ?

Primal Ancestry:
You have a deep connection to the primal First World and can channel this link into powerful effects once a day.

Prerequisites: Wis 13, member of the Primordial Ones
Benefit: Once per day as a move action, you can tap into the essence of the First World, and gain DR 5/cold iron for 1 minute. If you have 11 or more Hit Dice, this increases to DR 10/cold iron. Additionally, while under this effect, enchantment spells you cast gain a +1 bonus to caster level.

Interestingly enough, the illustration on the first page of the Factions section is of a trio of them performing a ritual skyclad.


Two things I noticed here:

First, Andoran has access to a 17th level wizard (Felandriel Morgethai, p.7-8). Besides the obvious benefits, it's good to know a high-level character can integrate into society.

Second, Talmandor has been statted up (p.62-63). I like the abilities, very befitting a CR 23 celestial, though I find the lowish Int (19) worrisome. I'd personally bump it up to 23-25 (making it comparable to solars and elohim, also CR 23), giving 54-81 points to spread on the low skills, and bumping up the Int skills by 2-3 besides.


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Is Felandriel Morgethai related to the iconic alchemist Damiel?


Morgethai is a well-known elven family that founded the Kyonin city of Riverspire.

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