Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Book of the Damned (PFRPG)

So, my copy hasn't arrived yet but I have a more (publisher-oriented) question about the new nomenclature for kytons:

Is velstracks an OGL term? Or is it specifically Paizo IP?

The PI statement in the book is as follows:

Product Identity: The following items are hereby identified as Product Identity, as defined in the Open Game License version 1.0a, Section 1(e), and are not Open Game Content: All

trademarks, registered trademarks, proper nouns (characters, deities, locations, etc., as well as all adjectives, names, titles, and descriptive terms derived from proper nouns), artworks,
characters, dialogue, locations, plots, storylines, and trade dress. (Elements that have previously been designated as Open Game Content, or are exclusively derived from previous Open
Game Content, or that are in the public domain are not included in this declaration.)

Hope that helps! (Don’t have time to do more digging than that right now)

James Jacobs has mentioned before that D&D is the highest profile game in the industry,* and so D&D doing well or doing poorly brings up or drags down the rest of the industry accordingly.

Pathfinder ever outselling D&D in the first place had at least as much to do with WotC's mismanagement of 4E D&D as it did with Paizo's excellent work with Pathfinder. It seems WotC finally got its s@+! back together with 5E, and so it's leading in sales again.

So I guess the key measure isn't whether 5E is outselling Pathfinder; it's whether Pathfinder's sales have actually gone down.

* As easily demonstrated by Stranger Things - they simply threw D&D into a show with no need to explain it. You couldn't really do that with Pathfinder or Call of Cthulhu or Warhammer - you'd need to at least introduce it to avoid losing people. But folks who've never even played a pencil and paper game before know what D&D is.

The Raven Black wrote:

Is it a good idea for Paizo to hedge its bets so heavily only on the people who play in the Golarion-setting ? I think not

*looks at the Adventure Path line*

The adventure path line does well because it's a godsend to busy GMs: instead of spending precious time creating custom encounters, maps, and NPCs, there's an entire book of them already laid out with care. Not to mention that most things are self-contained enough that, with a few exceptions, you could jam them into any world and have the game continue running as normal. Doing so would require some adjustments of course, but generally speaking if I wanted to set Hell's Vengeance in my world of "Megalarion" where the gods are dead and zombie hordes roam the night in a world ruled by magitek corporations, I could. As long as all the story beats remain similar and the maps are the same, I still have a full adventure already written for me.

Plus, plenty of people use them as jumping points for other custom adventures. Besides just the high-level adventures that most books have hooks for at the end of the paths, I've heard of plenty of Reign of Winter groups who just stuck around on Earth and adventured around, or groups that jump from one AP to another to create a different narrative.

But folks who've never even played a pencil and paper game before know what D&D is.

Yeah, that's the thing that made Tom Hanks go nuts isn't it?

Also, I don't entirely understand why some people would think that this content is Golarion specific. Much of the information in this book is not about how the fiendish demigods relate to one planet, but their respective histories in the planes which could apply to any world that uses the Core cosmology.

Golarion in this context refers to the setting, not the planet.

For example, this Book is far too specific to the Golarion Setting that I cannot use it in my games outside of a some of the feats, the monster stats, spells, and the rituals.

Ixos wrote:

Also, I don't entirely understand why some people would think that this content is Golarion specific. Much of the information in this book is not about how the fiendish demigods relate to one planet, but their respective histories in the planes which could apply to any world that uses the Core cosmology.

Golarion in this context refers to the setting, not the planet.

For example, this Book is far too specific to the Golarion Setting that I cannot use it in my games outside of a some of the feats, the monster stats, spells, and the rituals.

How so?

I think you've said before that you use a different sytem of Planes, correct?

There is a Core cosmology otherwise the forthcoming Planar Adventures wouldn't be a thing. But not everything from the Core line needs to be in every game.

There is a Core cosmology otherwise the forthcoming Planar Adventures wouldn't be a thing. But not everything from the Core line needs to be in every game.

Core cosmology as in that found in the CRB is quite light

AFAIK BotD is the first book in the RPG line that brings so much detail to the planes and their powers that be

Also James Jacobs stated that Planar Adventures just could not happen (as in not in the RPG line) before the RPG-Setting fusion

Hi, all!

I've got the pdf copy of this, and a paper copy coming in the mail, but my quick review left me with a pretty big question that I really thought this book would answer.

Is there any spot, anywhere, that lists all of these evil creature types and gives their "role?" I know I can look up devil, or demon, or any of the others, individually. But there are close to a dozen of these things, and each fills a specific niche.

I think that's awesome, but I don't have the brainpower after work, family, and everything else to keep eleven different brands of evil straight.

I really thought this book would take one or two pages and give a quick blurb on what each one of these things is, and why it operates the way it does...

Am I missing it? Or is there something to that effect somewhere else?

My addled brain thanks you!!!

Check pages 218–239. That might be what you're looking for.

Of course, the "big three" get more attention than the other fiends, but there's also hand tables talking about their niche and what offerings they prefer (for all fiends).

Check pages 218–239. That might be what you're looking for.

Of course, the "big three" get more attention than the other fiends, but there's also hand tables talking about their niche and what offerings they prefer (for all fiends).

I'll check it out! Thank you so much for responding, and so quickly!!!

Edit: That's pretty much EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thanks again!

Yay! Glad to help!

See Mister Daigle DOES help people. Just you know, you have to know how to ask him.

Btw the artwork for each section is probably my favorite parts of the book.

I have a question regarding Oni Daimyo, specifically the Empress of the World (who, btw, has my favorite art in the book).

As written it says that most Oni Daimyo are circumspect about their power, but everything about them seems to indicate that they would rule openly, including their grandiose titles. How do they acquire such wealth and standing by hiding away?

With Inma specifically, she is said to dwell in Chu Ye. Does Chu Ye's void yai shogun know she is there? If so does he pay tribute to her? Does he do it secretly or openly?

Does anyone know what Cixyron, Jakarkas, Uaransaph, and Zaigasnar are like, both physically and temperamentally? I'm honestly curious as to why a daemon would be a slaver (Jakarkas) or into body mods (Zaigasnar). Maybe as a way to get at Zon-Kuthon and his kyt- er, velstracs?

How so?

I think you've said before that you use a different sytem of Planes, correct?

I use the same ruleset for the planes so that planeshift/shadow walk/astral projectiion/etc. type effects work and the names are generally the same as CRB planes so I can go Devils are in Hell, Yazata are in Elysium, etc. (though I did move Div to Elysium to pair with Yazata). But yes my setting's planes, reincarnation system, and outsiders works differently enough that this book doesn't really work for it (my setting even uses subjective morality so Fiend doesn't even equal Evil in my setting).

It's a planar setting with a lot of interaction with fiends so I was hoping the book would still be useful (since the rest of the RPG-lines stuff hasn't had any conflicts with my setting, though I haven't purchased Adventurer's Guide so I cannot say if there are any conflicts in it).

I have a question regarding Oni Daimyo, specifically the Empress of the World (who, btw, has my favorite art in the book).

As written it says that most Oni Daimyo are circumspect about their power, but everything about them seems to indicate that they would rule openly, including their grandiose titles. How do they acquire such wealth and standing by hiding away?

With Inma specifically, she is said to dwell in Chu Ye. Does Chu Ye's void yai shogun know she is there? If so does he pay tribute to her? Does he do it secretly or openly?

Yup, the void yai shogun knows and pays tribute openly. In the same way a priest of any faith would pay tithes or sacrifice to the gods.

As for how the oni daimyo gain their wealth and standing... it's by sheer virtue of the fact that they're immortal divinities who have been doing what they're doing in various ways for many many centuries, and have become very good at it. They function in the shadows and their "rule" is less of one akin to a king or queen on a throne and more like the god who inspires the king or queen.

Does anyone know what Cixyron, Jakarkas, Uaransaph, and Zaigasnar are like, both physically and temperamentally? I'm honestly curious as to why a daemon would be a slaver (Jakarkas) or into body mods (Zaigasnar). Maybe as a way to get at Zon-Kuthon and his kyt- er, velstracs?

In cases where we have very little room to get into details explaining a deity, we often throw in tiny little bits of intriguing information like this. Back in the early days of the game, a great example of this was giving Pharasma the Water domain. Now that we've had time to explain that (it refers to her role as goddess of birth and death, for waters are important in birth, and legends like the River Styx and the River of Souls are basically the "water" in which souls travel from their bodies to the afterlife), it's all good, but at the time we only had one word to imply that information.

In time, we'll hopefully get to all of the fiend demigods and quasi-deities in one way or another and give out more info, but for now... that's all the room we've had to tease. Until then, feel free to run with those tantalizing hints however you wish for your home game, or to brainstorm other ideas with other GMs online!

Mister Jacobs (or anyone else), if you have the time and the inclination, perhaps you can be so kind as to explain something about the Oni and Rakshasa petitioners. They're inhabitants of the material plane, but where? I suppose they live close by their Oni and Rakshasa masters (In their lairs? As servants?) but are they something like undead or what?

I thought the material plane lacked all whatever it is the Hells and Abyss and Abaddon has that permits souls to be 'upgraded' into new fiends.

They just feel a little confusing to me.

Mister Jacobs (or anyone else), if you have the time and the inclination, perhaps you can be so kind as to explain something about the Oni and Rakshasa petitioners. They're inhabitants of the material plane, but where? I suppose they live close by their Oni and Rakshasa masters (In their lairs? As servants?) but are they something like undead or what?

I thought the material plane lacked all whatever it is the Hells and Abyss and Abaddon has that permits souls to be 'upgraded' into new fiends.

They just feel a little confusing to me.

Oni and rakshasa petitioners are pretty rare in the grand scheme of things, because there's just not a lot of mortals who worship them overall. They are native outsiders who inhabit their deity's Material Plane domain. They aren't undead; they're prey petitioners (as detailed on page 241 of the Book of the Damned).

These petitioners generally do not ever ascend into the role of rakshasas or oni; those outsiders have their own methods of coming into being that bypasses the petitioner route. A petitioner of one of these divinities could, in theory, be ascended to a full on oni or rakshasa by their divinity, but that'd be very rare indeed.

So they are basically people who worshiped demigods who live on material plane and as result got sent to material plane? ._. Cool

Creon Vizcarra wrote:

I have a question regarding Oni Daimyo, specifically the Empress of the World (who, btw, has my favorite art in the book).

As written it says that most Oni Daimyo are circumspect about their power, but everything about them seems to indicate that they would rule openly, including their grandiose titles. How do they acquire such wealth and standing by hiding away?

With Inma specifically, she is said to dwell in Chu Ye. Does Chu Ye's void yai shogun know she is there? If so does he pay tribute to her? Does he do it secretly or openly?

Yup, the void yai shogun knows and pays tribute openly. In the same way a priest of any faith would pay tithes or sacrifice to the gods.

As for how the oni daimyo gain their wealth and standing... it's by sheer virtue of the fact that they're immortal divinities who have been doing what they're doing in various ways for many many centuries, and have become very good at it. They function in the shadows and their "rule" is less of one akin to a king or queen on a throne and more like the god who inspires the king or queen.

Would it be fair to presume that the Chu Ye Shogun rules with her blessing? A warped reflection of the Mandate of Heaven?

My regards to whoever wrote the "Kiss of Gogunta" ability. You certainly shouldn't go around kissing frogs in hopes of finding your prince.

Not unless you want to turn into one. ;)

Not unless you want to turn into one. ;)

So I shouldn't want to turn into a Prince?

But what if I want the power of Purple Rain?

*prefers to turn into Orcus* He's my kind of prince. :p ;)

If I wrote a review of this book, it would not be glowing.

I thought the art was good usually.

I found the text to be a lot of lists; I might enjoy that but I often did not know what they were lists of...because I do not own every bestiary.

I would have much preferred an greater expansion on the Infernal Dukes, Malbranche, Qlippoth Lords, Nascent Demon Lords and Daemonic Harbingers. I may not want my players to face Ardad Lili or Lamashtu but there are a number of lesser fiends that might better fit the campaign.

I would have loved an expansion of fallen fiends! What could be a better dungeon than a temple built for the deceased daemon, demon or devil? Aolar, Ibdurengian, Mharah, Lyutheria, Drulaema, Horeksim, and Ortaro would all be interesting entries.

As it is, I can only recommend buying the pdf.

I have not scanned the 970+ post about this book, but have any of you that have the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Subscription, had any problems with this title? Like not being in their Subscription orders page, never getting the free download email or book, & it generally looking like its not part of the PRGS at all? I emailed CS about this a week ago but have not hear anything???

I bought this a few days ago, and I think I caught an error; aren’t the sakhils supposed to be NE? Why are they CE in this book?

I bought this a few days ago, and I think I caught an error; aren’t the sakhils supposed to be NE? Why are they CE in this book?

Where are you seeing this? The write-ups of the Tormentors on p 132 give them the Evil domain, but not the Chaos domain, and I'm not seeing anything right off about them being chaotic in the Xibalba write up on p 164.

Anybody else curious about the

Noticed a sharp drop in quality for the newer artworks in the book.

Some of the artwork looked really rush or is meant to be just a sketch in photoshop and not the final artwork.

Given the past level of art quality in previous books, especially for flavor heavy books, this seems really weird.

What is happening?

Noticed a sharp drop in quality for the newer artworks in the book.

Some of the artwork looked really rush or is meant to be just a sketch in photoshop and not the final artwork.

Given the past level of art quality in previous books, especially for flavor heavy books, this seems really weird.

What is happening?

Huh? There was a lot of really cool art in here, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Well, like I said earlier, Charon's entry picture looks like shading wasn't finished. I guess that is what he is talking about?

Secane wrote:

Noticed a sharp drop in quality for the newer artworks in the book.

Some of the artwork looked really rush or is meant to be just a sketch in photoshop and not the final artwork.

Given the past level of art quality in previous books, especially for flavor heavy books, this seems really weird.

What is happening?

Huh? There was a lot of really cool art in here, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Have a look at one of the whore queens, the one with the green dress with white frills. I think its Ardad Lili.

That artwork and many of the non-recycled ones are much lower in quality then previous works.

They look like the midway point in a photoshop drawing, instead of the final work.
As CorvusMask said, shading is missing on them.

It is very jarring to read the book.

While there is a couple of pieces I don't care for, Ardad Lilil, one of the Queens of Night, isn't one of them.

This is going to sound kind of goofy, but...

When looking at the new Asmodeus art on page 27, his face absolutely reminds me of something Jack Black-ish.

Ardad Lili, Charon, and Doloras looked unfinished to me as well. I wasn’t a fan of Orcus, either.

Also, Asmodeus’s and Dispater’s art were a little underwhelming. Like Dark Midian above me said, Asmo looked less like the undisputed ruler of hell and more like a late night comedy host lampooning him. Dispater, on the other hand, doesn’t look regal at all; his clothes are in tatters and his posture doesn’t give him any sort of elegance. I like how smug his face is, though.

This is going to sound kind of goofy, but...

When looking at the new Asmodeus art on page 27, his face absolutely reminds me of something Jack Black-ish.

I know, I don't hate the art, but I can't get the idea of AsBROdeus out of my head >_<

Secane wrote:

Noticed a sharp drop in quality for the newer artworks in the book.

Some of the artwork looked really rush or is meant to be just a sketch in photoshop and not the final artwork.

Given the past level of art quality in previous books, especially for flavor heavy books, this seems really weird.

What is happening?

Huh? There was a lot of really cool art in here, so I'm not sure what you're talking about.

The only one I thought looked bad was Doloras. Apollyon had a weird soft focus coloration issue that made him a bit cartoonish, but overall he looks good.

Charon is pretty meh in design, but the implementation isn't actually bad.

Ardad Lili, Charon, and Doloras looked unfinished to me as well. I wasn’t a fan of Orcus, either.

Also, Asmodeus’s and Dispater’s art were a little underwhelming. Like Dark Midian above me said, Asmo looked less like the undisputed ruler of hell and more like a late night comedy host lampooning him. Dispater, on the other hand, doesn’t look regal at all; his clothes are in tatters and his posture doesn’t give him any sort of elegance. I like how smug his face is, though.

I will point out that all of Dispater's depictions have had his clothes depicted that way.

Reduxist wrote:

I bought this a few days ago, and I think I caught an error; aren’t the sakhils supposed to be NE? Why are they CE in this book?

Where are you seeing this? The write-ups of the Tormentors on p 132 give them the Evil domain, but not the Chaos domain, and I'm not seeing anything right off about them being chaotic in the Xibalba write up on p 164.

The sakhil tormentors are all considered chaotic evil in BotD, but the regular sakhil monsters (including the one introduced in BotD) are listed as NE.

Set wrote:

Reduxist wrote:

I bought this a few days ago, and I think I caught an error; aren’t the sakhils supposed to be NE? Why are they CE in this book?

Where are you seeing this? The write-ups of the Tormentors on p 132 give them the Evil domain, but not the Chaos domain, and I'm not seeing anything right off about them being chaotic in the Xibalba write up on p 164.

The sakhil tormentors are all considered chaotic evil in BotD, but the regular sakhil monsters (including the one introduced in BotD) are listed as NE.

Ah, just saw it. It's the only occurence I could see, so just a typo.

Orcus told me he likes his new look. Way better than 4th edition.

Orcus' design is cool, but art does have weird proportions and shading going on. Like his staff mace thing looks bit small and kind of... Plastic-y? Anyway, like I said, weird shading

If anyone is want to make use of the Deinochos Qlippoth and has access to a 3D-printer, here you go.

Reduxist wrote:

Set wrote:

Reduxist wrote:

I bought this a few days ago, and I think I caught an error; aren’t the sakhils supposed to be NE? Why are they CE in this book?

Where are you seeing this? The write-ups of the Tormentors on p 132 give them the Evil domain, but not the Chaos domain, and I'm not seeing anything right off about them being chaotic in the Xibalba write up on p 164.

The sakhil tormentors are all considered chaotic evil in BotD, but the regular sakhil monsters (including the one introduced in BotD) are listed as NE.

Ah, just saw it. It's the only occurence I could see, so just a typo.

That is indeed an error. Sakhil tormentors are Neutral Evil. Sorry about that.

Ardad Lili, Charon, and Doloras looked unfinished to me as well.

That artist's style is not as detailed as I would prefer for some depictions, but I really like the look on Ardad Lili.

Reduxist wrote:

Ardad Lili, Charon, and Doloras looked unfinished to me as well.

That artist's style is not as detailed as I would prefer for some depictions, but I really like the look on Ardad Lili.

Agreed, I really liked how she turned out.

I'm on fence since I do like the design, but I'm bit bothered by shading in that one as well ._. Though out of the weird shading pics, its the best one easily.

Shade is all in the eyes of the people casting it.

Also Orcus told me his wand changes all the time.