Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Book of the Damned (PFRPG)

I definitely had it in my head this was an October release. September 20th is a pleasant surprise!

The Archdevils (except for Mephistopheles) also get new art. Same artist for them (William Liu) as Bestiary 6, oddly enough. I'd have figured they'd just reuse the same art.

As a general rule, once art appears in a hardcover, we try not to reuse it in a following hardcover.

Who are the minor fiendish demigods that got illustrations? Did any of the Qlippoth Lords get new arts?

Asura Rana - None

Tabris also gets a new, high-detail piece of art as the opener for the appendix. Not entirely sure where to categorize him.

My favorite of the bunch is Sugroz (though Folca and Alichino are also quite well-done). Her piece is one of the better new ones in the book, and she manages to look both appropriately creepy and ethereally serene.

I'm quite pleased with the Kyton info overall and am having trouble conclusively picking a favorite Demagogue. The Oitos also got really good art.

Lord Gadigan, if it's not too inconvenient, could you describe Ravana, Inma,and Zipacna? They're mythological classics so I'm wondering how they look here.

Thanks for sharing, Lord Gadigan. I'm sure Treerazer and Yamasoth are the most infamous of their respective categories, so I'm glad to see these two getting illustrated in a hardcover.

Did Pazuzu, Dagon and Kost get new arts as well? They were in Bestiary 4, so I was thinking that might be the case. Am I wrong?

Lord Gadigan, if it's not too inconvenient, could you describe Ravana, Inma,and Zipacna? They're mythological classics so I'm wondering how they look here.

Thanks Kvantum! I'm very glad Zipacna is caiman-like like in the myth, and Ravana's design sounds like a good interpretation as well.

Everybody, I just posted a review with a breakdown of page counts for the chapters, but let me just reiterate again: as soon as it's available for you,

Buy. This. Book.

Wow. Just... wow.

Did Pazuzu, Dagon and Kost get new arts as well?

Dagon, Kostchtchie, and Pazuzu have new art.

Dagon's is a side-front-angle view of him attacking with a tentacle.

Kostchtchie's is a fairly dramatic pose of him mid jump-attack. He got more human-looking and a bit less bulky, but is still huge and imposing.

Pazuzu's is him mid-flight with a two-handed sword ready and eyes glowing; it's a wide piece that occupies the whole top half of a page. There's something familiar about it, but I think it's just because it's in the same general vein as the art style that Pazuzu already has.

Well, I do have my PDFs and time to kill so let 'er rip!

Also, I am assuming Todd Stewart is responsible for Folca in the Daemon Harbinger obediences. You demented monster. Amazing. Just... *shudders*

Folca also gets artwork. Creepy as sin, too.

So, what is Folca's obedience? I have the idea it's something that would warm the cockles of Freddy Krueger's heart.

Also pleased to hear that Xibalba made it in. I wonder if we'll see Mictlampa someday as well?

Lastly, I am very much looking forward to seeing the art of the Queens of Night and Vorasha.

So, what is Folca's obedience? I have the idea it's something that would warm the cockles of Freddy Krueger's heart.

The NPC wrote:

Kvantum wrote:

Rituals?

** spoiler omitted **

Anyway, everybody, all of this that I'm mentioning doesn't even scratch the surface of the, err, fiendish brilliance of this book.

Go. Buy. It.

It's one of the best Paizo's put out in a long time.

Anymore you can give us on become a fiend? Is it permanent, what type of fiends are available, etc.?

Sorry all, had some other stuff to attend to.

** spoiler omitted **

Sounds a lot like the become-a-demon ritual from Lords of Chaos, which I always liked.

Eric Hinkle wrote:

So, what is Folca's obedience? I have the idea it's something that would warm the cockles of Freddy Krueger's heart.

** spoiler omitted **

That's just vague enough to be so very creepy. Great work, Mr. Stewart.

Everybody, I just posted a review with a breakdown of page counts for the chapters, but let me just reiterate again: as soon as it's available for you,

Buy. This. Book.

Wow. Just... wow.

I really enjoyed your review, I'm still waiting on my order to ship out. And Gods is the wait killing me. I'm so ready for this to ship so I can get my PDF. I keep checking my email and on here. I love reading what everyone is posting on here. I love the Fiends and all the Dark Powers and this is just what I've wanted. So just wanted to say loved the review and it's heightened my excitement for this book.

When will my order ship, O great Paizo Overlords. I'll sign an Infernal Contract.

Lord Gadigan can you describe Ardad Lili and Socothbenoth please?

Are there any overland maps, encounter tables, sample dungeons or the like that a DM could use to put together an adventure? Do I get a decent idea of how to get around in each plane, what the important cities are, if there are nasty swamps or the like?

Lord Gadigan can you describe Ardad Lili and Socothbenoth please?

Are there any overland maps, encounter tables, sample dungeons or the like that a DM could use to put together an adventure?

There's a section on the Book of the Damned's interior that may qualify as part of what you're looking for. It has stats for some stuff in there.

By and large, though, no. This is more of a monster/villain resource than a direct adventure base.

How much use would you say this book is for gameplay at levels 1-5?

How much use would you say this book is for gameplay at levels 1-5?

There are plenty of potential plots in here for PCs under 6th level. The CR 4 Nucol Sahkil, for example, could inflict a disease on a young child, then offer their parent the chance for a Remove Disease effect, but only if they agree to perform some twisted act on its behalf, like befouling the town's well with parasites. Is the parent to be held guilty for their actions? Can the infected be saved? Could a band of low-level PCs fall victim to the same plague? Could they threaten the fiend with its destruction if it won't heal all of its victims?

It all depends on how creative a GM you want to be.

How much use would you say this book is for gameplay at levels 1-5?

Not a ton is specifically aimed at those.

The various Petitioners, the Nucol Sahikl, and the Deinochos Qlippoth are fightable at those levels. The Bushyasta Div, Sepsidaemon, and Najikai Oni would be usable at the upper end of the range. A few of the magic items could be used in that range too.

Beyond that, there's a paragraph or two of info on each of the existing Devil/Daemon/Demon types, as well as info on what their preferred sacrifices are.

The obediences and demigod info-blurbs could be mined for ideas on how cults would operate.

I'd say that the meat of the product starts kicking in around Level 7, which is when the Obediences start kicking in and the prestige classes enter play.

Thanks guys!

Is there any new lore in the appendix or is it all reprints?

Yes! Alichino!

I've been hoping we'd get more on him. Information on him has been so scant, for him supposedly being the one charged with the infernal conquest of Golarion.

How many pages for each type of fiend?

How many pages for each type of fiend?

It'd be really hard to count pages, because that's not how it is divided.

All fiend types have one new bestiary entry, a small section describing their cults, and a summary of fiends of that type. In addition, there's some information about where they live in the various fiendish realms sections (ten pages for Hell and the Abyss, six for Abaddon, and four pages for everything else).

Demons, devils, and daemons all get multiple two-page fiendish divinity spreads with obediences (mostly demons and devils, since there are only four horsemen for deamons) and at least one minor fiendish divinity obedience section of two or three pages (devils get two). They get several magical items and/or artifacts. Each gets a PrC.

The remaining fiend types generally get a minor fiendish divinity section of two or three pages. The exceptions are:
- Demodands have no minor obedience section.
- Divs have no minor obedience section, but get a two-page spread for the head div. They also get a magic item.
- Asuras also get a magic item.
- Kytons also get a couple spiked chain feats and a magic weapon.

It's possible that I missed something! That's the gist of things, though.

Makes sense, there are no demodand demigods(i forget if bestiary mentions possibility of them existing, but at least there aren't any named ones) and Divs only have one demigod

Makes sense, there are no demodand demigods(i forget if bestiary mentions possibility of them existing, but at least there aren't any named ones) and Divs only have one demigod

Don't believe so, the Thanatonic Titans made em.

Since demodands are extremely anti-divine, it kinda makes sense. Rather than racial demigods, their creators and oft-times masters are the thanatotic titans.

Oh yeah, almost forgot about that. And now I really want campaign setting books for titans/gigases(and not just because I want to plan year ahead were my party could find fitting titan if I continue certain ap after final boss in order to destroy one artifact. Totes not just because of that.)

BTW, out of curisioty, does this book reprint anything from Hell Unleashed? Like details on plane inside the book or the research rules for using Book of the Damned as "library"?

Also, I think I asked this before, but now that some people have access to the book, does the book actually go into about "Sacred Apocrypha" aka bad things celestials and good deities have done that book of the damned in lore apparently has? I'm still salty considering even Chronicles of the Righteous artifact statblock mentions it having "unsettling truths" about good outsiders, I mean seriously Paizo, give a break to good guys :' D I'm bit confused about why they are good aligned if writers keep insisting they have a dark side

Also, I think I asked this before, but now that some people have access to the book, does the book actually go into about "Sacred Apocrypha" aka bad things celestials and good deities have done that book of the damned in lore apparently has? I'm still salty considering even Chronicles of the Righteous artifact statblock mentions it having "unsettling truths" about good outsiders, I mean seriously Paizo, give a break to good guys :' D I'm bit confused about why they are good aligned if writers keep insisting they have a dark side

At least some of this is likely just propaganda, that the fiends are using to sully the good names of the celestials.

And there might also be a 'Book of Hope' somewhere in one of the libraries of the divine, listing scandalously nice things that various fiends have done.

'Chapter 7, Asmodeus once petted a puppy and let it lick his face and smiled, but then noticed that everyone was staring and kicked it.'

'Chapter 9, Lamashtu once relinquished the soul of a midwife who had worshipped her and spent her life protecting deformed infants from being left to die, giving it to Sarenrae, justifying it as 'She was getting it all wrong anyway, and it's not like I don't have an infinite number of idiot goblin souls anyway, I can't even move something in here without knocking over a stack of souls...''

CorvusMask wrote:

Also, I think I asked this before, but now that some people have access to the book, does the book actually go into about "Sacred Apocrypha" aka bad things celestials and good deities have done that book of the damned in lore apparently has? I'm still salty considering even Chronicles of the Righteous artifact statblock mentions it having "unsettling truths" about good outsiders, I mean seriously Paizo, give a break to good guys :' D I'm bit confused about why they are good aligned if writers keep insisting they have a dark side

At least some of this is likely just propaganda, that the fiends are using to sully the good names of the celestials.

And there might also be a 'Book of Hope' somewhere in one of the libraries of the divine, listing scandalously nice things that various fiends have done.

'Chapter 7, Asmodeus once petted a puppy and let it lick his face and smiled, but then noticed that everyone was staring and kicked it.'

'Chapter 9, Lamashtu once relinquished the soul of a midwife who had worshipped her and spent her life protecting deformed infants from being left to die, giving it to Sarenrae, justifying it as 'She was getting it all wrong anyway, and it's not like I don't have an infinite number of idiot goblin souls anyway, I can't even move something in here without knocking over a stack of souls...''

That would be fun yeah :D

But yeah, just to note I'm referring to this quote "It details the geography of the good-aligned planes, the gods, empyreal lords, and celestial creatures who live there, and the unadulterated truths of these beings and their acts—truths that are sometimes heartening and at other times unsettling." from the artifact item statblock text for the Chronicles, so basically something that is supposed to be objective fact about nature of the item. Of course, for all I know, "unsettling" fact could mean "Ragathiel really likes staring at snails for hours. Its really weird, but we aren't judging." :p

Unsettling Truth: Ragathiel *really* is an omnicidial psychopath.

Unlike any of the archdevils, Ragathiel actually succeeded in infiltrating the celestial ranks. Even so, he still likes burning his diabolic kin.

So if there's a ritual to discover an outsider's True Name, are there more mechanics for True Names as well? Paizo has been pretty...quiet about what they can be used for.

There's actually a picture of an asura rana in the book..

That said, what's Geryon obedience like?

Are obedience's just for fiends or any demigod (not asking if there are any non-fiendish obediences in the book, just like if it's a mechanic that is purely exclusive to fiends in the rules)?

Are obedience's just for fiends or any demigod (not asking if there are any non-fiendish obediences in the book, just like if it's a mechanic that is purely exclusive to fiends in the rules)?

The feat that fuels it is called Fiendish Obedience, and specifies a "fiendish" demigod/quasi-deity/etc. But you can easily ignore that part and just apply it to whomever you like. Same for the feats that build from it.

Mechanically, it's almost exactly Deific Obedience, but with differently-functioning prestige classes (which make up for the more powerful fiendish boons by having you gain them two levels later than a ISG prestige-classed character would gain them). The book even has a sidebar for using it with those prestige classes as well.

So if there's a ritual to discover an outsider's True Name, are there more mechanics for True Names as well? Paizo has been pretty...quiet about what they can be used for.

Not much. It just makes the calling/binding ritual easier.

The ritual for getting a true name requires having the Book of the Damned, so that's heavily plot-hated.

Would anyone like to share any info on the Sakhil Tormentors?

Desril wrote:

So if there's a ritual to discover an outsider's True Name, are there more mechanics for True Names as well? Paizo has been pretty...quiet about what they can be used for.

Not much. It just makes the calling/binding ritual easier.

The ritual for getting a true name requires having the Book of the Damned, so that's heavily plot-hated.

Oh, hey Quid.

But g!$*+*nit *WHY*!?

The Book of the Damned GIVES YOU THOSE BONUSES ANYWAY! What's the point! The True Name would never ever be worthwhile to have unless you're too weak to actually perform the ritual! At that point it's just a bad plot point the GM should be dealing with off screen, not an option for players!

QuidEst wrote:

Desril wrote:

So if there's a ritual to discover an outsider's True Name, are there more mechanics for True Names as well? Paizo has been pretty...quiet about what they can be used for.

Not much. It just makes the calling/binding ritual easier.

The ritual for getting a true name requires having the Book of the Damned, so that's heavily plot-hated.

Oh, hey Quid.

But g$@%+$nit *WHY*!?

The Book of the Damned GIVES YOU THOSE BONUSES ANYWAY! What's the point! The True Name would never ever be worthwhile to have unless you're too weak to actually perform the ritual! At that point it's just a bad plot point the GM should be dealing with off screen, not an option for players!

Uh, if I'm not mistaken, the BoD gave you bonuses whereas knowing a Fiend's Truename gave it penalties when resisting you.

How much new information does this book going to have about Orcus? Wasn't he going to get new art and a redesign to distinguish him from his WOTC counterpart?

How much new information does this book going to have about Orcus? Wasn't he going to get new art and a redesign to distinguish him from his WOTC counterpart?

He does have new art, yes; the major change being that he's got a ram's skull for a head rather than a fleshy one. We didn't want to go TOO far from the classic D&D look and feel, since unlike, say, Demogorgon or Tiamat, this information IS open content thanks to the agreement WotC made back in the day with Necromancer Games regarding the Tome of Horrors.

*cheers for skull shaped Orcus* :)

He does have new art, yes; the major change being that he's got a ram's skull for a head rather than a fleshy one. We didn't want to go TOO far from the classic D&D look and feel, since unlike, say, Demogorgon or Tiamat, this information IS open content thanks to the agreement WotC made back in the day with Necromancer Games regarding the Tome of Horrors.

Good stuff. I'm a fan of Paizo making things uniquely unique, but not to the point of unrecognizability. What Wayne and you did to goblins... perfect.

Besides, I'd hate for the multi-hundred-dollar Orcus "mini" I bought for the pinacle of my old Tsar campaign be really wrong. He just got re-used Saturday for something um... warm and formerly purple... in my current CotCT campaign.

Wow, so Folca is finally getting full worshiper stats and an illustration? Paizo is really pulling the trigger on this one huh?

So what does he look like? Cause my headcanon is he looks like Slenderman. How close am I?

Wow, so Folca is finally getting full worshiper stats and an illustration? Paizo is really pulling the trigger on this one huh?

So what does he look like? Cause my headcanon is he looks like Slenderman. How close am I?

He, like the other Harbingers and rest of the 'other fiends' groups, is getting a lean version of the worshiper stats that includes an obedience, three spell-boons that it grants, and info-paragraph as opposed to the larger boon-blocks and two-page spreads the more-major beings get.

CrinosG wrote:

Wow, so Folca is finally getting full worshiper stats and an illustration? Paizo is really pulling the trigger on this one huh?

So what does he look like? Cause my headcanon is he looks like Slenderman. How close am I?

He, like the other Harbingers and rest of the 'other fiends' groups, is getting a lean version of the worshiper stats that includes an obedience, three spell-boons that it grants, and info-paragraph as opposed to the larger boon-blocks and two-page spreads the more-major beings get.

** spoiler omitted **

Yeah he needs to die.

CrinosG wrote:

Wow, so Folca is finally getting full worshiper stats and an illustration? Paizo is really pulling the trigger on this one huh?

So what does he look like? Cause my headcanon is he looks like Slenderman. How close am I?

He, like the other Harbingers and rest of the 'other fiends' groups, is getting a lean version of the worshiper stats that includes an obedience, three spell-boons that it grants, and info-paragraph as opposed to the larger boon-blocks and two-page spreads the more-major beings get.

** spoiler omitted **

I don't know whether to be disturbed because holy crap that is disturbing or because I just realized that wouldn't be out of place in modern cartoon shows O_o;

Like seriously man, disturbing "really unfriendly to children" monsters are getting more common(though right now I can only remember the Beast from Over The Garden Wall). I guess modern television is more open to nightmare fuel...