RSS RSS Facebook Twitter Email
Pathfinder / Setting / Campaign Setting

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Bestiary (PFRPG)

5.00/5 (based on 3 ratings)
Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Bestiary (PFRPG)
Show Description For:
Non-Mint

Print Edition Unavailable

Add PDF $15.99

Non-Mint Unavailable

Facebook Twitter Email

Mind-Shattering Monsters!

Little is known about some of the deadliest horrors inhabiting the world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, and that's just how these denizens of dream and thought like it. The less their secrets reach the average adventurer, the more easily they can hunt in the Dimension of Dreams, steal the minds of unsuspecting victims, and spread fear and discord throughout the multiverse. But their secrets are finally revealed! The perfect companion to Pathfinder RPG Occult Adventures, this grimoire of new monsters is a must-have for any Game Master running an occult campaign, whether or not the player characters are themselves psychic spellcasters. Within these mysterious pages you'll find:

  • Nearly 50 new creatures that possess psychic abilities or are based on occult themes.
  • New playable races, including variant duergar and samsarans, as well as munavris—albino humanoid denizens of the Darklands' Sightless Sea.
  • Aliens from Golarion's planetary neighbors and beyond, including yithian elders, enlightened contemplatives, and Liavaran dreamers.
  • Denizens of the mysterious Dimension of Dreams, including rival azatas and demons who vie for control of sleepers' minds.
  • Seven creature templates to turn your favorite monsters into mind-bending foes such as alter egos, animus shades, relentless psychic liches, or thought-sapping psychic vampires.
  • Statistics for powerful aboleth omnipaths, neothelid overlords, and the unique otherworldly horror known as Tychilarius—the perfect capstone to high-level occult adventures.

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Bestiary is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting, but can easily be used in any fantasy game setting.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-767-3

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Hero Lab Online
Archives of Nethys

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Lost Omens Subscription.

Product Availability

Print Edition:

Unavailable

PDF:

Fulfilled immediately.

Non-Mint:

Unavailable

This product is non-mint. Refunds are not available for non-mint products. The standard version of this product can be found here.

Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at store@paizo.com.

PZO9284

See Also:

Average product rating:

5.00/5 (based on 3 ratings)

Sign in to create or edit a product review.

Psychic and Occult style Critters Abound

5/5 —

I love bestiaries and Paizo doesn't disappoint in quality and variety when it comes to there monsters.
The Good
-A new Aeon, Azata, Azura and Rakshasa.
-New 0HD races.
-New fey(Boggart and Fear Eater)
-Some alien life forms like the Shotalashu.
-Alternate/more powerful versions of many creatures.
-Psychoplasmic creatures! and other interesting templates.
-New type of Naga(Dream).
The Bad
-A lot of alternate versions of existing creatures.
-No new elementals.
-Almost half the book are outsiders.

And Madness Followed

—

As the title suggests, this is a sourcebook of critters for the new Occult Adventures source material. Most of them use psychic magic or rules or variant class skills, so if you don't intend on buying the master volume, leave this one on the shelf. There are however, a handful of psychic-flavoured adversaries that don't use these rules. The creatures presented have a scale of OA knowledge, so DMs can jump right in with some of the less complicated offerings. Tychilarius the BBEG is actually free of psychic rules, strangely enough.

The creatures presented are of all CRs and most, if not all, major creature types have something added to them. This book is packed cover to cover with usefulness, the inside cover having the standard bestiary breakdown of CR, type and role. I wish Paizo would release this page as a preview for perspective buyers.

Flavour-wise, we have denizens of any place dark, mysterious or dark and mysterious place. The Dominion of the Black gets a major nod in Tychilarius; the underdark has many new hazards; Vudra and Tian Xia get foes to fit with their exotic feel; and many of these critters have ties to the shadow plane, astral plane or dreamscape.

Players have complained that some of the more recent creature offerings feel uninspired. I do not feel this way about this book. There are variants for some creature types, but mostly the creatures feel exotic and fresh. My favorite so far is the tattoo guardian, a construct with a wonderful flavor appeal. There are also lots of templates.

My only major complaint is that the book seems to have a disproportionate number of undead. Woe betide the psychic spell caster who dies any sort of death! All in all, a book I'm excited about. I really have to commend the designers on having a variety of creatures of all types, CRs and with varying amounts of OA rules.

You can never have too many monsters

5/5 —

Read my full review on Of Dice and Pen.

Monsters enjoy an interesting privilege in roleplaying games. It seems that no matter how many there are, there are never too many. There are a lot of monsters in Pathfinder and there's a very good chance that many of the ones in Occult Bestiary will never see use in any of my games. But I like having them nevertheless. And some will see use. Maybe a lot of use. Overall, Occult Bestiary is a great addition to any GM's bookshelf.

Worth the Wait

5/5 —

At first when I heard that the Occult Bestiary was meant to be appended to Occult Adventures I was irritated that we weren't getting the book all in one.

After reading the book, however, I've totally changed my opinion. I loved the flavor of the monsters in this book, and especially the templates, and having to wait a little longer to get just that little bit more out of the first burst of truly weird and wacky baddies now seems totally justified.

There are more than a few occult reskins of traditional monsters, which I am personally a big fan of, a smattering of templates that help bring the monsters they didn't give an eldritch makeover into the fold, and more than a couple brand-new ones that hail from places like The Dimension of Dreams or The Dominion of the Black.

This book has got me all kinds of excited for Bestiary 5!

Search Thread

Search this Thread:

151 to 200 of 325 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | next > last >>

Fetchlings and Wayangs are more related to the Plane of Shadow; dhampir might not fit the flavor unless underground vampires are a thing, but I'd let someone play one if they had a really cool idea. Kobolds are spot-on, orcs are fine too, but goblins and hobgoblins typically hang out on the surface.

Underground vampires are likely a thing
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Considering there is a Darklands city canonically populated with vampires, I would say underground vampires are definitely a thing.

Orcs originated underground so that makes since and I believe in Into the Darklands it states that goblins sometimes live in the caves but im not sure.

I feel like Tieflings wouldn't be out of place due to the amount of demonlord worship in the Darklands

You know technically you can pick any race in a Darklands campaign and just be like "I'm from one of the vaults" :P
1 person marked this as a favorite.

For anyone after more playable underground races, Adventureaweek produced some.
Click here for details.

Alter Egos, I hope this isn't just a template to make creatures switch from good to evil at random.
Shadow Lodge

If there is going to be a psychic vampire, will there be a new dhampir bloodline to boot?
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Aren't vetala already psychic vampires?

Well hopefully the psychic vampire is new type of vampire and not template for existing vampires.
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I'm wondering if the psychic vampire isn't just going to be a variant vetala vampire. Though, I suppose it might not even be an undead, just a template that makes a living creature need to subsist off of the mental energies of others...that could be pretty interesting.

I'm rather curious what caused the delay this time. Although I'm fine with it, better a well written book then one that needs to be errata'd to be useful. Still its the second 'postponing, the previous estimation to optimistic? or just the idea of, a lot of other things ship august, lets just bundle it up.

What delay?

Probably THIS delay.
Dragon78 wrote:
What delay?

They changed the date from early august, to mid august. Not a big one, so I wondered if it was related to shipping or getting out some last minute errors. Heine Stick thanks for the link.

1 person marked this as a favorite.

nor errors...the way the printing process works IIRC, for the book to be released in Mid August would mean its probably already on a boat coming across the Pacific.
MMCJawa wrote:
nor errors...the way the printing process works IIRC, for the book to be released in Mid August would mean its probably already on a boat coming across the Pacific.

true enough, however we are generally not privileged to know when the delay occurs, often company's may try to save time on other parts of the process in order to catch up, only to adjust the date when that falls through.

Well as long as it is still coming out this month I will be happy.

So have we gotten an official number of how many monsters will be in this book? I know it is less then 50 like the Inner Sea Monsters book.

Will there be any references to lashuntas?
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Dragon78 wrote:
Well as long as it is still coming out this month I will be happy.

Aand now its september 2nd :'D

CorvusMask wrote:
Dragon78 wrote:
Well as long as it is still coming out this month I will be happy.
Aand now its september 2nd :'D

That's the street date, yes, but since Dragon78 subscribes to the Pathfinder Campaign Setting line, chances are good that he'll get it in August. :)

Well that is disappointing for it to be pushed back to September:(
Lantern Lodge
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Subscription, baby! It's in my sidecart now. Very excited. :)

So, does anyone have there PDF yet?
Shadow Lodge

Unfortunately no, I was hoping to find it in my inbox today after my classes started but that does not appear to be the case T-T.

I was hoping someone would find it in there in box on my day off but it looks like I will be waiting after 9:00 tonight to find out anything about this one.
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Color me shocked to get my shipping email at what was 7:30 Paizo time.

And color me, at least at first glance,

Spoiler:
as severely disappointed in the mechanics for psychic magic for the monsters in this book. I thought the whole reason behind the Occult approach over psionics was a general dislike amongst the Paizo developers for points-based "magic" systems.

The monsters in this book have points-based psychic magic.

Yes, it's called "psychic energy", and it's a much less discrete, more big chunk-style approach to it, but it's still just a points system.

I really hope one of the developers can explain the reasoning behind this, because right now I'm just massively disappointed. It really feels either disingenuous or else glaringly inconsistent.

So what are the monsters in the book?
Dark Archive
4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Table of Contents:
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Aeon, Synesis . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Alter Ego . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5
Animus Shade . . . . . . . . . 6–7
Asura, Vayuphak . . . . . . . . . 8
Azata, Uinuja . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Baku Dreamweaver . . . . . . . 10
Boggart . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Caulborn Thoughtkeeper . . . 12
Cerebric Cyst . . . . . . . . . 13
Chyzaedu . . . . . . . . . . 14–15
Combusted . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Contemplative, Enlightened . . 17
Dark Empath . . . . . . . . . . 18
Demon, Painajai . . . . . . . . . 19
Derro Magister . . . . . . . . 20
Devil, Mnemor . . . . . . . . . 21
Dreamthief Hag . . . . . . . . 22
Duergar Tyrant . . . . . . . . 23
Echohusk . . . . . . . . . . 24–25
Egophage . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Fear Eater . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Feargaunt . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Hive Mind Beetle Swarm . . . 29
Kyton, Cantor . . . . . . . . . 30
Liavaran Dreamer . . . . . . . 31
Lich, Psychic . . . . . . . . 32–33
Munavri . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Naga, Dream . . . . . . . . . . 35
Neothelid Overlord . . . . 36–37
Omnipath . . . . . . . . . . 38–39
Prana Ghost . . . . . . . . 40–41
Prism Dragon . . . . . . . 42–43
Psyche Serpent . . . . . . . . . 44
Psychic Stalker . . . . . . . . 45
Psychoplasmic Creature . . 46–47
Rakshasa, Amanusya . . . . . . 48
Rakshasa, Avatarana . . . . . 49
Samsaran, Reborn . . . . . . . 50
Serpentfolk Reclaimer . . . . 51
Seugathi Savant . . . . . . . . 52
Shotalashu . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Tattoo Guardian . . . . . . . . 54
Tenebrous Blight . . . . . . . 55
Tychilarius . . . . . . . . . 56–57
Vampire, Psychic . . . . . . 58–59
Xill Matriarch . . . . . . . . . 60
Xulgath . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Yithian Elder . . . . . . . . 62–63

What is a prism dragon?

What is the Liavaran dreamer like?

Do you have any favorites?

What are the playable races and how are they?

What is the psychic vampire like?

Any new fey, elementals, plants, or oozes?

What is a omnipath?
Silver Crusade
4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Are there any monsters in this book?

Oh man, two Rakshasas? I'd love any details you can spare on those!
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber
Dragon78 wrote:
Do you have any favorites?

I don't like the Occult approach at all. Period. Every single monster in the book will take reworking with psionics before I can call any of them a "favorite". As it sits, this book is just source material for conversions.

That being said, the prana ghost template lets you have "ghosts" that don't have to change their alignments. That's something we've needed in the game for a long time now.

Prism dragons are not a true, 12-age category dragon. You can maybe reverse engineer the given stats to create one, as it has a 20d6 breath weapon, so maybe this is an Ancient (category 10) one?

Liavaran dreamers are descendants of a failed colony of Brethedans, now drifting along Liavara's ley lines as they dream... unless you're dumb enough to wake them up. Then they get nasty.

What is the Synesis Aeon like?

What is the dream naga like?

What is the Yithian Elder like?

Doesn't sound like a Bestiary I really want to buy, only curious at the Kyton, Boggart (with a T) and the Tattoo Guardian.

On to Bestiary 5!
Dark Archive
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

New kyton, Rrakshasas, azata, and asura sounds good to me!
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

what's the racial stats on the Munavris?

Holy crap there's a new AEON!?!!?

They haven't been forgotten! Yay!

Hmm...I wonder how to convert some of these as psionic creatures? That may be tough to do.

Munavri

spoiler:

Type:humanoid(munavri)
Stats -2Str +4Dex +2Con +2Int +2Wis +2Cha
Size: M
Speed: 30ft
Senses: Darkvision 120ft
Telepathy(with other Munavri only)
Advanced Object Reading
Spell Resistance 8+ character level
Light Blindness

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Dragon78 wrote:

Munavri

** spoiler omitted **

That's a playable race! O.O

I know what I'm playing next!

Yeah the ancient Azlanti have nothing on these guys as far as racial stats go.

Whoa, they're right up there with Drow Nobles on the "THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT BALANCED, TAKE NOTICE!" scale.

What do they look like?

What are the variant Duergar and Samsarans like?

They look like pale humans with white hair, glowing eyes, wearing jade armor.

Duergar Tyrant

spoiler:

Stats: +2Str +4Con +2Wis -2Cha
Telekinic Adept(has basic telekinesis, kinetic form, telekinetic finesse, telekinetic haul, telekinetic invisibility)
Psychic Magic(ironskin, mind thrust I)
Psychic Resistance(+4 save vs psychic magic)
Spell Resistance (11+ character level)
All the racial abilities of a regular Duergar except spell powers)

Samsaran

spoiler:

Stats: -2Con +2Int +2Wis
Low-light Vision
Psychic Attunement(bonus feat: psychic virtuoso or psychic sensitivity)
Reborn Magic(If Cha11+ gain psychic spell powers)
Aura Transparency(easier to read the samsaran's aura)
Psychic Learning(when using psychic reading to identify a targets class he treats two of the targets skills as class skills)

Silver Crusade Contributor

What can you tell me about the Cantor Kyton? I'm working on a kyton project at the moment, so as much as you can tell me about its role, appearance, and the theme of its abilities is appreciated. Also, its CR.

Thank you in advance. ^_^
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Cantor Kyton

spoiler:

CR9
small size
grey skinless creature with glowing eyes.
Lingering Touch- poison like mind-affecting effect.
Oneric Invasion- silent scream that causes oneric horror spell effect plus greater invisibility on Cantor.
Unnerving Gaze- -4 penalty to attack rolls, skill checks, and ability checks.

Well that is it for me tonight, have to work early tomorrow.
Paizo Employee Developer
4 people marked this as a favorite.
zergtitan wrote:
Dragon78 wrote:

Munavri

** spoiler omitted **

That's a playable race! O.O

I know what I'm playing next!

They are a 0-HD race, which only means "playable" if your GM allows it. They are as playable as svirfneblin, trox, strix, or, as Axial mentioned, drow nobles. They are intentionally more robust than the races in the Core Rulebook. When you grow up sailing the Sightless Sea, as your ancestors have for ages, you tend to end up pretty badass.

Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Dragon78 wrote:

Cantor Kyton

** spoiler omitted **

Well that is it for me tonight, have to work early tomorrow.

Cool - I like higher-CR that are Small-sized.

151 to 200 of 325 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Paizo / Product Discussion / Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Occult Bestiary (PFRPG) All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.