Pathfinder Player Companion: Arcane Anthology (PFRPG)

3.80/5 (based on 4 ratings)
Pathfinder Player Companion: Arcane Anthology (PFRPG)
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Throw the Book at Them!

If knowledge is power, then the eldritch secrets presented in Pathfinder Player Companion: Arcane Anthology represent significant sources of potential might! From magus and wizard spellbooks to alchemist formula books to mystical options for bards, bloodragers, sorcerers, and witches, this volume presents tomes of spells and uncanny knowledge written and recorded by Golarion's mightiest arcane casters. In addition to new spells and secrets of spell preparation found in spellbooks such as the collected Analects of Aroden, the Wisdom of Jatembe, and the Runes of Wealth, this Player Companion also includes archetypes, feats, and character options for PCs of nearly every character class. Inside this book, you'll find:

  • Rules for copying preparation rituals into new spellbooks, and ways for every spellcaster to use such rituals through prayer books and meditation books.
  • Archetypes for spellcasting traditions inspired by the fallen god Aroden, the legendary Old-Mage Jatembe, and a nearly forgotten runelord of greed.
  • Dozens of spells, ranging from handy low-level options such as expeditious construction and heckle to the powerful 9th-level mass Last Azlanti's defending sword.
  • New traits and character options, including alchemist discoveries known as anointings that transmute the inherent properties of any weapon or suit of armor.
  • New feats, including some inspired by the Ten Magic Warriors of Mwangi legend that allow characters to bond with ritual masks to hide their names and identities and enhance their spells' power.

This Pathfinder Player Companion is intended for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and the Pathfinder campaign setting, but can easily be incorporated into any fantasy world.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-814-4

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

Hero Lab Online
Archives of Nethys

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3.80/5 (based on 4 ratings)

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Nice concept, meh execution

3/5

I like that they tried to give some meat to the idea of books of magic qua books, but didn't think any of the actual results were amazing. GMs can probably get some use out of the premade spell books to spice up treasure they give the party, if that's what you want. I found the spells pretty mediocre to bad. Some (e.g. Celestial Healing) have rightly been aggressively mocked throughout the forums. A couple of the archetypes are interesting ideas, but as usual for the large majority of Paizo archetypes they aren't actually worth taking.

I will, however, offer some moderate praise for the Runes of Wealth section. I did enjoy that one.

If you're looking for a good magic supplement and are budget constrained, try the Magic Tactics Toolbox instead.


Loved it!

5/5

Plenty of goodies for bards--and that is my admitted bias--including an archetype reminiscent of the Arcane Archer but with a style all its own. There is also a Masterpiece than partially satisfies the frustrating lack of Spell Kenning for Bards.
Force Sword may be the spell you were looking for if you did not want to spend money on the ghost touch property. I love it--and because of the above mentioned Masterpiece, Bards can use it!
That's not even the tip of the ice berg. If you are fan of the arcane, you should have plenty of reasons to pick this up.
If you're looking for anything Occult, this isn't the place--Arcane Anthology is very aptly named.


Eh...

2/5

So, I was kind of hoping that this would be something *other* than just another bunch of spells. Yeah, a lot of them are cool (and if you're just looking for a bunch of spells, more power to ya'), but frankly, there's nothing all that special here.

Maybe I'm being a buzzkill, but the fluff was lacking, and I'd been hoping it would've focused on alternate casting, magical traditions, or (long shot I know) maybe some content for the Occult classes (specifically, the seriously lacking Kineticist). Again, while for the price, the spells weren't horrible, but after stuff like the Weapon Master's Handbook, and the Ranged/Melee/Dirty Trick handbooks, this is seriously weak-sauce.


Slick rules content matched with tightly-themed fluff

5/5

I feel that the more recent Player Companions have been hit or miss. Arcane Anthology is one of the hits.

Most of the new spells are ones I want to use. I dig the new rules for copying preparation rituals--they're not too overpowered and generally well-balanced for the cost, plus they lend much-needed flavor to what would otherwise just be a list of spells. The new prayer and meditation book rules also give options for more scholarly-minded casters who are members of classes that don't traditionally use spellbooks.

I especially like the Magaambya content--all of it. The new bloodrager and arcanist archetypes are on point.

All in all, a good marriage of rules content with interesting setting information, perfectly bundled.


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Kalindlara wrote:
Emperor Point wrote:
The PDF describes one of the archetypes being inspired by the runelord of greed, which archetype is that?
Eldritch scoundrel (which keeps trapfinding, for the record).

I'm not quite sure about the Eldritch scoundrel's spellcasting.

It says she learns, prepares and casts spells like a wizard, but has a daily spell allotment like a magus.

So she can learn 7th to 9th level spells but can't cast them? (Unless she has an INT of 28 for 9th?)


DM Sothal wrote:
Kalindlara wrote:
Emperor Point wrote:
The PDF describes one of the archetypes being inspired by the runelord of greed, which archetype is that?
Eldritch scoundrel (which keeps trapfinding, for the record).

I'm not quite sure about the Eldritch scoundrel's spellcasting.

It says she learns, prepares and casts spells like a wizard, but has a daily spell allotment like a magus.

So she can learn 7th to 9th level spells but can't cast them? (Unless she has an INT of 28 for 9th?)

I think it means she's a prepared spellcaster with magus spell slot progression, so learn 1-6 only? But I don't have my book yet


djones wrote:
DM Sothal wrote:

I'm not quite sure about the Eldritch scoundrel's spellcasting.

It says she learns, prepares and casts spells like a wizard, but has a daily spell allotment like a magus.

So she can learn 7th to 9th level spells but can't cast them? (Unless she has an INT of 28 for 9th?)

I think it means she's a prepared spellcaster with magus spell slot progression, so learn 1-6 only? But I don't have my book yet

That would have been easier to understand if it said: Learn, prepare and cast spells like a magus, use wizard spell list.

I'm still not convinced that's the meaning...


What does the feats Painful Blow and Spell Denial do?

Dark Archive

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Barachiel Shina wrote:
What does the feats Painful Blow and Spell Denial do?

I'm going to randomly guess that Painful Blow makes an attack count as continuing damage and forcing a concentration check to cast spell for the next round.

And if it isn't, then that sounds like a cool Feat to write up!

Spell Denial manifests a spectral voice that says, 'D. E. N. I. A. L. Denial.'


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Painful blow:

just like Set said.

Spell denial:

gain a bonus on saving throw against one school of magic

Silver Crusade Contributor

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I simply must play a child of Acavna and Amaznen with the magus VMC.

That is all.


Painful Blow sounds like a good feat for martials to take. Nice. I am always looking for anti-spellcaster/anti magic type material for my games. Spellcasters have ran the show for far too long heh.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

We haven't told you the Prerequisites and uses per day yet.
:D


Fun, fun, fun! Love this book already and don't even have it in my hands... Oh yeah, because I have the PDF--Subscriptions are a wonderful thing! Just wish I could afford to permanently subscribe.
Some of my favorite tidbits come from Player Companions, particularly masterpieces (Clamor of the Heavens-Champions of Purity, Vindictive Soliloquy-Magical Marketplace and now Arrowsongs Lament-Arcane Anthology for example!).


Are any of the spells or other options useable by psychic casters?


Slithery D wrote:
Are any of the spells or other options useable by psychic casters?

Some of the spells are for mediums or occultists or spiritualists et al. Not just arcane casters.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Slithery D wrote:
Are any of the spells or other options useable by psychic casters?

yes spells

occultist 14
medium 9
spiritualist 6
psychic 14
mesmerist 6

Dark Archive

Question - is the returning property also in "winged sword"?
Also can anyone please share the traits?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Souphin wrote:

Question - is the returning property also in "winged sword"?

Also can anyone please share the traits?

No, just throwing. Can be used as a prerequisite spell to make it throwing

but there is a spell to make a weapon returning can't think of it's name.


What exactly does the anointing alchemist discoveries do? I have been wondering about that for some time now.


KaveDweller9876 wrote:
What exactly does the anointing alchemist discoveries do? I have been wondering about that for some time now.

There are 4 of them. Each changes aspects of various items. One can change the elemental properties (fire, cold, electricity, acid) to another of those. One increases the effectiveness of abilities (increasing a lesser to a greater). One raises caster level and another increases damage.


Fourshadow wrote:
KaveDweller9876 wrote:
What exactly does the anointing alchemist discoveries do? I have been wondering about that for some time now.
There are 4 of them. Each changes aspects of various items. One can change the elemental properties (fire, cold, electricity, acid) to another of those. One increases the effectiveness of abilities (increasing a lesser to a greater). One raises caster level and another increases damage.

Alright, sounds interesting, thanks for the information.


Thank you all for the information! *has decided this is a good thing to have*

Secondly, is a question for whom ever:

Spoiler:
Could I get some more information the following spells: Expeditious construction, Grand destiny, Guardian Monument, Lesser and Greater, Linked legacy, Rags to riches, Rune of ruin

Thank you! :)


Someone mentioned that the Eldritch Scoundrel gets delayed class features. I Know the Rogue Talents and Sneak attack are delayed, is anything else and by how much?

Silver Crusade

celestial healing seems to have no effect at caster level 1, pretty impressive.


Is there anything else to Rhetorician besides the diplomacy killer abilities and the patron spells?


What does the fighter archetype get?


What does the Extra Spontaneous Spell Mastery feat do?

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.
David knott 242 wrote:

What does the Extra Spontaneous Spell Mastery feat do?

Interacts with the Magaambyan arcanist prestige class and let's you use spontanous spell mastery more often.


Rowe wrote:
Is there anything else to Rhetorician besides the diplomacy killer abilities and the patron spells?

Technically, yes, but it's minor enough that it doesn't trade out anything. Perform as a class skill and a scaling reduction to the DC to hear you in difficult conditions.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Entryhazard wrote:
What does the fighter archetype get?

Prepared Int-based 4/9 casting off the Bloodrager list gained a level late, but with cantrips taken from the wizard list. As you can probably guess, you don't get to keep a lot of your old class features.


Deadkitten wrote:
Someone mentioned that the Eldritch Scoundrel gets delayed class features. I Know the Rogue Talents and Sneak attack are delayed, is anything else and by how much?

half skills

half armor
half talents
half sneak attack
dangersense/trapsense gets toyed with
uncanny dodge becomes an option


Seriously, no one is answering my questions?


Hello,
I would like to know what does the Bard lose and what does the Arrowsong Minstrel gain...?

Please and Thank You!


Thomas Seitz wrote:
Seriously, no one is answering my questions?

Have you not looked at my post with the spoiler for all the spells?


SamuraiFlamenco wrote:

Hello,

I would like to know what does the Bard lose and what does the Arrowsong Minstrel gain...?

Please and Thank You!

Arrowsong Minstrel:

Altered Weapon proficiency
- Diminished Spellcasting: (not delayed, just reduced)
- Arcane Archery: gain a number of sorcerer spells to the spell list (from a limited list of spells). use bard level as BAB for feats. Can cast while wielding a bow. This replaces a host of bard-features.
- Precise Minstrel: Precise Shot and a nice minor effect for a bow wielder.
- Arrowsong Strike: spellstrike, replaces suggestion and mass suggestion.


Dm Sothal,

Spoiler:
I was hoping for a little more detailed info on those particular spells is all.


Thomas Seitz wrote:

Dm Sothal,

[spoiler]I was hoping for a little more detailed info on those particular spells is all.[/spoilers]

What exactly? I can't copy the spells, so do you want to know on which spell lists they are on, or which level-range they are?

I don't think I should post more about their effects...


Thomas Seitz wrote:

Dm Sothal,

** spoiler omitted **

Yeah, you're getting really pushy, dude. You're seriously on every new book thread demanding detailed spoilers on everything.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

That fighter sounds rather cool. Looking forward to pick this one up.

Shadow Lodge

Sebastian Hirsch wrote:
celestial healing seems to have no effect at caster level 1, pretty impressive.

Ehh, I assume it comes out as a minimum 1 round thing but yeah it's pretty s#+* as presented. For my home games I'm just going to assume it has the same timer as infernal healing. Otherwise it's pretty useless even as a thematic option and kind of just reinforces that tires issue of, "good spells are like evil spells except crappy."


1 person marked this as a favorite.

By my reading there is at least one other niche use for Celestial Healing, it gives you the Good Aura of a Cleric. This would mean that you would qualify for the double damage effect of Litany of Righteousness

Shadow Lodge

JohnHawkins wrote:
By my reading there is at least one other niche use for Celestial Healing, it gives you the Good Aura of a Cleric. This would mean that you would qualify for the double damage effect of Litany of Righteousness

Yeah but it would be a super corner case since you still have burn a round to cast celestial healing so you'd need to start casting CH the round before LoR, tap the target, cast, and then do the round.

Lol now that I think about I'd be willing to bet that work around gets patched out of Litany before they fix celestial healing.

Silver Crusade Contributor

I'd love to see litany of righteousness get some sort of downgrade.

I like the lower power level of celestial healing... but then, I never cared much for infernal healing either. (I liked the idea that infernal healing was specially designed by Asmodeus to tempt mortals into using the powers of evil for their healing needs.)

Dark Archive

I hear people talk about the return of rituals but I am unclear on the process for pathfinder. How do rituals work?

Silver Crusade Contributor

Souphin wrote:

I hear people talk about the return of rituals but I am unclear on the process for pathfinder. How do rituals work?

These are called preparation rituals, and they're associated with certain spellbooks - you can learn more about them here. ^_^

Shadow Lodge

Kalindlara wrote:

I'd love to see litany of righteousness get some sort of downgrade.

I like the lower power level of celestial healing... but then, I never cared much for infernal healing either. (I liked the idea that infernal healing was specially designed by Asmodeus to tempt mortals into using the powers of evil for their healing needs.)

I don't know, I've never found the actual mechanics of Infernal healing to be that powerful save that it offers healing options to arcane casters. Beyond that it still takes a round to activate and though it offers more healing than clw at low levels it's action economy sucks (it still takes 1 round which is often forgotten) and you still need a minute to get all of its buff which can be hard in a lot of circumstances. That is exacerbated if you're looking to get that bump in combat since Infernal healing gets completely shut down if you are taking pretty much any damage during the healing's run.

Silver Crusade Contributor

It's mostly just the idea of wizards having healing... especially healing comparable to that of a divine caster. I don't think it's overpowered by any means. I'm not sure silver/good damage is that common, but that depends on what you're doing, I suppose.

Silver Crusade Contributor

I do like that relying on it eats a party's buffs, though.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
doc the grey wrote:
Kalindlara wrote:

I'd love to see litany of righteousness get some sort of downgrade.

I like the lower power level of celestial healing... but then, I never cared much for infernal healing either. (I liked the idea that infernal healing was specially designed by Asmodeus to tempt mortals into using the powers of evil for their healing needs.)

I don't know, I've never found the actual mechanics of Infernal healing to be that powerful save that it offers healing options to arcane casters. Beyond that it still takes a round to activate and though it offers more healing than clw at low levels it's action economy sucks (it still takes 1 round which is often forgotten) and you still need a minute to get all of its buff which can be hard in a lot of circumstances. That is exacerbated if you're looking to get that bump in combat since Infernal healing gets completely shut down if you are taking pretty much any damage during the healing's run.

Most of the time I see Infernal healing used it is for out of combat healing on arcane casters with wands. So most of that does not matter.

I don't think it is bad that celestial healing scales based on level, I just think it should be more like 2 round per level with a max of 10 rounds.


Still reading and discovering all the goodies in this gem of a book! Arcane 'good' spells?! Huzzah! From Magaambayan casters even(like Jatembe)--makes sense.
I'm loving this book! Can you tell?

Dark Archive

Kalindlara wrote:
Souphin wrote:

I hear people talk about the return of rituals but I am unclear on the process for pathfinder. How do rituals work?

These are called preparation rituals, and they're associated with certain spellbooks - you can learn more about them here. ^_^

I was expecting something like the 4th edition or something on top of spells but this also works


Ashram wrote:
Thomas Seitz wrote:

Dm Sothal,

** spoiler omitted **

Yeah, you're getting really pushy, dude. You're seriously on every new book thread demanding detailed spoilers on everything.

If you don't want to buy the book (I cannot figure why you would not!), then it will all eventually be on the d20 or archives of nethys sites....eventually. It appears to be a rather slow process, though. They do have lives, after all.

The Exchange

Fourshadow wrote:
Ashram wrote:
Thomas Seitz wrote:

Dm Sothal,

** spoiler omitted **

Yeah, you're getting really pushy, dude. You're seriously on every new book thread demanding detailed spoilers on everything.
If you don't want to buy the book (I cannot figure why you would not!), then it will all eventually be on the d20 or archives of nethys sites....eventually. It appears to be a rather slow process, though. They do have lives, after all.

We're just very excited when new player options come, and the tease increases a profound unbearable want that is almost acted on. This is why strip clubs have bouncers.

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