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Pathfinder Player Companion: Heroes from the Fringe

2.70/5 (based on 3 ratings)
Pathfinder Player Companion: Heroes from the Fringe
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Fringe Benefits!

Delve into the many non-human societies found outside of the Inner Sea region! From elves to gnomes to halflings to dwarves, Pathfinder Player Companion: Heroes from the Fringe offers new options to expand upon non-human characters who come from lesser-known civilizations and backgrounds. Find the right archetype, feats, alternate racial traits, and equipment to reflect your character's heritage, whether she's a graceful elven samurai from Jinin or one of the festive gnomes and halflings of Segada!

Inside this book you'll find:

  • Character options for unique cultural groups of major non-human peoples of Golarion, including Osirion's Pahmet dwarves, the Ekujae elves of the Mwangi Expanse, and gnomes who never left the First World!
  • Feats for half-orcs and half-elves who hail from different parts of the world, from unyielding half-drow who escaped their murderous kin to vivacious sandkin half-orcs who view themselves as Sarenrae's chosen people!
  • New occult choices spawned from unusual backgrounds, such as whimsical phantoms formed from the lost wonder of gnomes who fell to the Bleaching and a terrifying psychic archetype for gloomkin half-orcs!

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

ISBN-13: 978-1-64078-053-8

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

Hero Lab Online
Archives of Nethys

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2.70/5 (based on 3 ratings)

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Options From The Fringe

3/5 —

Not a great book but still okay with some interesting options.

Package of crunch with a few gems

4/5 —

This Player Companion is a rapid journey through Golarion, the different heritages make you travel between continents in quick succession.

Content summary and highlights (in my opinion):

Spoiler:
The book starts with some traits which are ok, but sometimes overly specific for an usual campaign (+2 on Bluff & Diplomacy against speakers of Kelish).

Dwarves and elves gain the most material, with 6 pages each. I liked the dragon hexes for dwarves, and there are several more darven weapons. Feats for dwarves are interesting and flavorful, with a focus on hammer throwing and hiding in stony terrain. Only offender here is a breath weapon for dwarves which is totally overpriced for what it does.

Elven martials get some love, with an alternate racial trait for being proficient with Eastern weapons and... a Dex based samurai archetype! This variant is probably the best part of the book, replacing the standard juggernaut with a very mobile and still devastating warrior.

Gnomes, half-elves and half-orcs get 4 pages each. There is a fey-touched template which can be used for summons and familiars (provided the character has some link to fey), basically a toned down version of the fey creature template in Bestiary 3.

Half-elf heritages get a decent feat linked to each: Create a free potion each day (druid spell only, CL 1, needs natural water source, but still), fight better at low HP, be aware of invisible allies or gain haste for 1 round. The half-elf vigilante archetype is straight-forward and nice.

Half-orcs gain access to a single feat, depending on heritage, too. Gain a boost to skill checks, catch your foe flat-footed in difficult terrain or get some cold resistance which stacks with any other. There are also two considerable combat focused feats, available for all half-orcs.

Halflings get the short end of the stick, with just 2 pages (maybe the author didn't deliver more in time). The Segadan heritage allows to boost your allies a bit, so it's welcome for a support role. Half a page is spent on an equipment trick feat for slings.

Surprisingly, ratfolk ninjas get the most part of the next page, with a focus on explosions. They can now pick up tricks to shut down magic items with daily uses or to do more damage by swarming.

Even more surprisingly, merfolk and sahuagin (!) get the last page, with a few alternate racial traits and a combat style chain related to Sahuagin blood frenzy.

Overall, the book comes with a lot of character options and a limited amount of flavor - as usual for current instances of this product line. There are a few gems, especially the samurai archetype, but otherwise it's rather a book for collectors than a must-have.

A waste of my money and time.

1/5 —

I was hoping for at least one archetype for each sub-race and quite a few racial feats and traits as well. Instead we get repeat traits that were in other books and so little material it's practically useless. Such a huge letdown.

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Dark Archive
3 people marked this as a favorite.

Definitely looking forward to more about bleachlings, pahmet dwarves, snowcaster elves, ekujae elves, mordant spire elves and aquatic elves!

Huh, all these years later, in a setting that doesn't have gray / high / wood / wild / grugach / silver / gold / sun / moon / dargonesti / dimernesti / avariel / etc. elves, I'm still an elven sub-race junky...
3 people marked this as a favorite.

I do miss those sub races from older editions like the stout and tallfellow halflings, forest gnomes, wood and grey elves, etc.

It would be interesting to see a 1e version of the background system from 2e.
Dragon78 wrote:
I do miss those sub races from older editions like the stout and tallfellow halflings, forest gnomes, wood and grey elves, etc.

plz no strongheart halflings

This looks interesting. Still hoping for a giant themed book, like Blood Of Giants or something.
Dark Archive

This should be in stores on august 2nd.
While i like the "River Drake attack on caravan during a downpour" cover, i suspect we'll get an updated cover soon.
Do we know how many races are covered in this book yet?
Marco Massoudi wrote:

This should be in stores on august 2nd.

While i like the "River Drake attack on caravan during a downpour" cover, i suspect we'll get an updated cover soon.
Do we know how many races are covered in this book yet?

I like the defender in the process of throwing a star knife at that drake...very cool.

Web Product Manager
2 people marked this as a favorite.

Updated with final product description and cover image!
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Gnomes that never left the First World sound interesting.

That Psychic archetype sounds cool!

Whimsical phantoms sound interesting...options for regional Half Elves? Thank you, I like that a lot.
Ah, and it isn't too far off. Just next month. Very nice.
Dark Archive

Great Yeti fight cover, even if the human bloodrager doesn't match the content (but the half-elf swashbuckler sure does)!

I have to buy this because of the half-drow content, but i also like the sound of the half-orc sandkin & gloomkin flavor.

I'm also hoping for albino dwarves & snowcaster elves from the crown of the world & maybe mordant spire elves.

I just like people fighting yetis...
Dark Archive
5 people marked this as a favorite.

Ha! Snowcaster elf fighting Yeti! It really is Heroes from the Fridge!
Liberty's Edge
1 person marked this as a favorite.

I'm really hoping for some Samsaran support myself...
Dark Archive
Chris Lambertz wrote:
Updated with final product description and cover image!

The date still needs to be updated to august 2nd. ;-)

Thx Chris!

It doesn't say that the release date has changed in the release schedule?
Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

The release schedule and the July/Gencon subscription thread in Customer Service both have this product as shipping this month and a street date of August 2nd, so an update to the top of this page is slightly overdue.
Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber
Jean_Ra-Khum wrote:
I hope geniekin get some more loving here. I'm guessing this isn't the book for them, but I can still dream.

Blood of the Elements covered those races.

Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

By the way -- Is this product supposed to ship this month or next month? I have seen contradictory indications in various places. This page has it for "mid-August" and its absence from my "My Subscriptions" page would seem to confirm that, but the top pinned Customer Service thread has it as being shipped this month and available for Gencon pickup.
David knott 242 wrote:
By the way -- Is this product supposed to ship this month or next month? I have seen contradictory indications in various places. This page has it for "mid-August" and its absence from my "My Subscriptions" page would seem to confirm that, but the top pinned Customer Service thread has it as being shipped this month and available for Gencon pickup.

Sara Marie has confirmed that this book has slipped to August.

Dark Archive

Street date should now be august 29th.
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Damn it, I hate pushbacks so much.
Secret Wizard wrote:


plz no strongheart halflings

What's wrong with Strongheart Halflings?

Thomas Seitz wrote:
Fringe minorities are cool! :)

SO true, it will be exciting.

Sooooo... Am I the only one who's noticed that this is listed as a 3.5 splatbook? Seems like a bit of a goof on somebody's part.
(unless after 9 years Paizo decided to go back to making 3rd edition supplements, which would be a twist)
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Product Description wrote:
she's a graceful elven samurai from Jinin

I'd love to play one of those someday. ^_^

Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber
Erudite Malefactor wrote:

Sooooo... Am I the only one who's noticed that this is listed as a 3.5 splatbook? Seems like a bit of a goof on somebody's part.

(unless after 9 years Paizo decided to go back to making 3rd edition supplements, which would be a twist)

It is also designated as a Campaign Setting book when it is actually a Player Companion.

Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I really home this includes information on the Mbe'ke and Taralu dwarves of Garund!

I would also some to see something more written on aasimar, elemental-kin, tieflings etc that don't use human as the assumed base race. How does a dwarven aasimar or ifrit differ from an elven sylph?

Well the release date has changed now:(
Dragon78 wrote:
Well the release date has changed now:(

Yes, the book didn't from the printer in time for the July shipment.

Thanks for the information Joana.
Scarab Sages
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Gorbacz wrote:
Geez, Paizo *is* running out of ideas, what kind of heroes live in a refrigerator?

In hindsight, the answer to this is obvious....

Can't wait for the 29th, I'm very curious about the gnome based options, especially what seems to be a spiritualist archetype or perhaps even a phantom archetype
Liberty's Edge
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Us subscribers will get it a bit earlier, so hopefully we can start giving out some tasty details when we have them.

I look forward to hearing more about all of it. :)

So, any feedback yet? Anyone had the time to look through this?

I thought I was pretty much done with Player Companions, but I find myself interested in this one, mainly because of the oddball subraces. Is this title worth making an exception for?
Dark Archive
J. A. wrote:

So, any feedback yet? Anyone had the time to look through this?

I thought I was pretty much done with Player Companions, but I find myself interested in this one, mainly because of the oddball subraces. Is this title worth making an exception for?

This begins shipping monday 27th...

Dark Archive

Can anybody spoil the Half-Drow stuff? ;-)
6 people marked this as a favorite.
Marco Massoudi wrote:
Can anybody spoil the Half-Drow stuff? ;-)

Spoiler:

There's about a half-page on half-drow. It amounts to an alternate race trait and a feat, plus an item and a spell.

-Skeld

PDF prophet...Man that's genius.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

So, I want to double-check, but Improved/Master Hammer Throw lets you bypass the normal size restriction when tripping a target, right? Since Improved lets you use Hammer Throw against "targets at any range and of any size", but that just means you can target them, it doesn't mean that the trip attempt will work.

Any info on the archetypes would be very welcome, PDF Prophet!
4 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Since it seems quiet, and since I've seen it done before, I'll just post the rules index.

ARCHETYPES:

Calamity caller Warpriest 12
Ferocious hunter Vigilante 26
First World caller Wizard 17
Gunpowder bombardier Ninja 30
Half-elf double scion Vigilante 22
Psammokinetic Kineticist 6
Symbol striker Bloodrager 7
Terror weaver Psychic 26
Twilight speaker Skald 12
Warrior poet Samurai 13

FEATS:

Blood Frenzy Assault Combat 31
Blood Frenzy Strike Combat 31
Blood Frenzy Style Combat, Style 31
Equipment Trick Combat 29
Dwarf feats — 9
Half-elf heritage feats — 20–22
Half-orc combat feats Combat 27
Half-orc heritage feats — 24–26

OTHER RULES OPTIONS:

Bardic masterpieces 15, 19
Dwarf alternate racial traits 4–6
Dwarven weapons 7–8
Elf alternate racial traits 10–12
Elven magic items 15
Fey-touched creature template 17
Gnome alternate racial traits 16–17
Gnome spells 18–19
Half-elf alternate racial traits 20–22
Half-elf equipment 22–23
Half-elf magic items 23
Half-elf spells 23
Half-orc alternate racial traits 24–26
Halfling alternate racial traits 28
Halfling magic items 29
Merfolk alternate racial trait 31
Phantom emotional focus 17
Psychic discipline 18
Ninja tricks 30
Sahuagin alternate racial trait 31
Samurai order 14
Shaman hexes 8
Sling equipment tricks 29
Traits 2–3
1 person marked this as a favorite.

What! MORE Masterpieces?! Lovely! That Kineticist archetype is especially intriguing to me.

Any chance of a few more details on those I mentioned?

Thank you!

Psammite is a reference to sandstone, so I take it this is Earth related? Cool, my 2nd fave element after Wood.
Alchemaic wrote:

Since it seems quiet, and since I've seen it done before, I'll just post the rules index.

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

Info on the samurai stuff?

can you give better info for kineticts and vigilante archetypes
2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Fourshadow wrote:

What! MORE Masterpieces?! Lovely! That Kineticist archetype is especially intriguing to me.

Any chance of a few more details on those I mentioned?

Thank you!

Psammite is a reference to sandstone, so I take it this is Earth related? Cool, my 2nd fave element after Wood.

The Psammokinetic is... really weird. It's sand-focused, but it starts with a special air-based sand blast and can also do fire damage. Also it's a pseudo monk?

The masterpieces are interesting, but I don't really know what to make of them. One's a Tiny Hut spell, except it only works when it's raining, another wards your home (as in, a house in which you have to have lived in for a lengthy period of time), and the third is Beast Shape/Baleful Polymorph/Beast Shape 2.
3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Ludovicus wrote:
Alchemaic wrote:

Since it seems quiet, and since I've seen it done before, I'll just post the rules index.

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

Info on the samurai stuff?

Warrior Poet's interesting. It's a light-armor Samurai who gets a bunch of "flourishes" that grant various bonuses (one of them is Improved Feint plus extra bonuses to feinting for example), seems to be designed more around hit and run tactics.

Order of the Songbird also looks like it was made to be paired with it (unsurprisingly). Dodge bonuses and bard-lite abilities. Beautiful Strike though is great, I love the flavor as well as how the ability is worded to make it sound like the samurai makes the attack and then says "Mmmm, a beautiful strike indeed".

khadgar567 wrote:
can you give better info for kineticts and vigilante archetypes

Half-Elf Double Scion and Ferocious Hunter are both kind of light archetypes. They don't change too much besides Dual Identity and adding a few talents unique to their respective archetypes.

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Already love the Samurai and Kineticist archetypes...at least the overall flavor and impression.
Psyched for the Masterpieces, too. Very intriguing. Cannot wait to read these myself!
Thanks again!
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