An adventurer's life can be difficult, but long journeys and heavy burdens are easier when you have company. This guide to the world of Pathfinder presents the people and organizations that can help—or hinder—heroes like you!
The Lost Omens Character Guide features new heritages and feats for existing ancestries, as well as three brand–new ancestries for unusual heroes forging a place for themselves in an uncertain age. Join five of Golarion's most influential organizations, fight alongside the rank–and–file members provided in these pages, or clash against them in pursuit of your own passions and goals!
This must-have 136-page guidebook for characters of all types introduces three new ancestries to the Second Edition of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game—the regimented and warlike hobgoblin, the plant-like leshy, and the inquisitive lizardfolk—provides 10 new heritages for the game's core ancestries, offers nearly 100 new ancestry feats, and presents 10 new archetypes to allow characters of any class to participate in the world's most notable organizations, from the adventurous Pathfinder Society to the rabble-rousing Firebrands to the magical masters of the Magaambya!
Written by: John Compton, Sasha Lindley Hall, Amanda Hamon, Mike Kimmel, Luis Loza, Ron Lundeen, Matt Morris, Patchen Mortimer, Andrew Mullen, Mikhail Rekun, Michael Sayre, Owen K.C. Stephens, Isabelle Thorne, Linda Zayas-Palmer
ISBN: 978-1-64078-193-1
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This book highlights the richness of Golarion as a setting.
The opening chapter that fleshes out the different ethnicities for each of the CRB ancestries is really cool. I also like how they highlight that even the Halflings, which are typically sort of "chameleon"ish in adapting to the culture around them, still have exceptions to the rule in the form of some unique halfling-only enclaves with their own cultures.
The chapter introducing Lizardfolk (Iruxi), Leshies, and Hobgoblins is great, as these ancestries are each interesting and you get a clear picture for how they fit into the setting.
My favorite chapter might have been the one on the organizations in the setting. I went from disliking Firebrands to respecting them, got a deeper sense for the Knights of Lastwall (whom I already liked), and went from disinterested to very interested in Hellknights after reading about them. The bit on the Pathfinder Society didn't have much new for me, but I've been playing PFS for 6 years. With that said, the Pathfinder Society archetypes and magic items are very cool and themey. I also liked the mechanics for each of the other organizations's archetypes, especially the Hellknight abilities.
Obviously PFS has built a whole campaign off of the Pathfinder Society organization. While reading I felt like each of the other organizations presented had the potential to be the centerpiece of a campaign (i.e. "your characters will be Hellknights/Firebrands/Knights of Lastwall, etc.") and there are adventure hooks for how a non-affiliated party might interact or work with each organization sprinkled throughout.
In the back there is a section on adapting stat blocks of creatures from Bestiaries or other NPC templates into NPCs from a particular organization, based on the level of the underlying NPC or creature, which looks super helpful for GMs rolling up their own campaigns or wanting to insert these organizations into pre-packaged campaigns.
Overall I found this book to be a great value-add for both players and GMs.
This book has been fantastic. The amount of character options in it have really opened up my character building in ways that weren't possible in the Core rulebook alone. I agree with the sentiment another user shared that this is "the perfect companion to the Lost Omens World Guide"
While the mechanics may be able to be found off-site, I have found the information on each organization to be invaluable. The artwork is great, and overall the book has already been worth the price. I look forward to continue getting a lot of use out of this over the years to come.
A perfect companion to the Lost Omens World Guide! The loads of new heritages and organizational archetypes give players ways to tie their characters into Golarion not just through flavor, but through mechanics, making them inseparable from the world they inhabit down to how and why they roll the dice.
The Pathfinder Lost Omens Character Guide really impressed me with the quality of character options, lore, and artwork. I'm used to some pretty great material and this really showcases why. There are several options for characters that are interesting and thematic enough to build entire characters around, and the lore detailing them is extensive enough to naturally integrate them into a campaign without feeling like these characters appeared out of nowhere. A great purchase overall, I hope this book sets the standard for the Lost Omens line of products.
A return to quality with a questionable price tag.
When the Inner Sea World Guide hit a decade ago, I was blown away. More than the elegant refinements made to the 3.5 system, it was the richly detailed and innovative setting that cemented my loyalty to Pathfinder. Over the years, that began to change. I started seeing a lot of supplemental books that had a lot of space allocated to either pitching other products (multiple sidebars that essentially said "if you want to make full use of these rules, check out these other books we make.") and consolidating materials that had already appeared in other sourcebooks. Until 2nd ed hit, I think it had been two years since I purchased a Pathfinder product. They were getting sloppy and they were getting lazy.
This book, and the Lost Omens World Guide, was like going back a decade in many respects. It's not wanting in either crunch or fluff. In addition to new options for all existing ancestries, it goes into new, previously unexplored detail on non-human ethnicities (and a few new human ones), something I've wanted to see approximately forever. The three new ancestries get a similar treatment, though they are, being new, a little heavier on the crunch side. While I'm a little bummed that we still don't have rules for playable Aasimars and Tieflings, it seems Paizo wants to forge its own path in this edition, and that includes branching out with their first non-core PC races. Lizardfolk seem cool, and with Oparak being added to the setting hobgoblins are a natural choice, though the leshy really come out of left field.
Ancestries comprise about half of the book, and the other half is organizations and factions. Though the Firebrands seem like uninspired ("we're a loosely organized and generic chaotic good faction, but we also dress fashionably so as to not be TOO generic!"), the rest are fantastic. We get expanded or new archtypes for all of them, as well as more feat support, and that's on top of histories, information on how they've evolved since 1st ed, and (very) brief writeups of major NPCs.
What impresses me most is that the book is all about ancestries and factions, but I didn't feel like it was stretched or padded. All 138 pages are worth reading.
But are all 138 pages worth paying for? If you like hardcover, it's probably just a little overpriced. If you prefer PDFs, though, it's almost insulting. At 10 bucks for its PDF, the Inner Sea World Guide was a steal. I happily would have paid twice that. And though this book's overall quality is similar to the ISWG, it's less than half the length for more than twice the price. Even if we account for inflation, this kind of increase is about 15 years ahead of schedule.
Overall, the books has great fluff and provides more options that are a bit inconsistent in their viability. Definitely add this to your wishlist, but unless you have a lot of disposable income, wait for a sale.
I'm not sure how broad Keeping Up Appearances is supposed to be... If an enemy intimidates you, can you roll Deception to negate the effects of Frightened against anyone who's Perception you beat?
Thanks, Sasha and Mikhail! It's great to hear these insights from you, although I'm fairly sure you couldn't have called a feat "Stiff Upper Lip" (TM) without inciting the wrath of the British people! ;)
Thanks, Sasha and Mikhail! It's great to hear these insights from you, although I'm fairly sure you couldn't have called a feat "Stiff Upper Lip" (TM) without inciting the wrath of the British people! ;)
Thanks, Sasha and Mikhail! It's great to hear these insights from you, although I'm fairly sure you couldn't have called a feat "Stiff Upper Lip" (TM) without inciting the wrath of the British people! ;)
Alas. Thus is my creativity constrained by cruel reality, and Golarion forever loses a spark of genius.
Very disappointing book. The races are weak or uninteresting compared to PHB races. The new archetypes aren't very good. The feats are all weaker or too wordy.
Thanks, Sasha and Mikhail! It's great to hear these insights from you, although I'm fairly sure you couldn't have called a feat "Stiff Upper Lip" (TM) without inciting the wrath of the British people! ;)
Alas. Thus is my creativity constrained by cruel reality, and Golarion forever loses a spark of genius.
Blimey! That is true, but jolly good you noticed your error before the book went into print, eh? That's a strapping fine lad, innit? ;)
(Er, I better stop mangling the Queen's English before I commit some horrible grammatical mistake and draw the ire of our good Captain)
Very disappointing book. The races are weak or uninteresting compared to PHB races. The new archetypes aren't very good. The feats are all weaker or too wordy.
Not a good purchase.
Hmmm... can you give any specific examples of weak or uninteresting mechanics?
Almighty Asmodeus willing, I'll get the book on Saturday, but I've already taken a good look at the contents on Archives of Nethys, and I really like what I see. Naturally there's a feat, ancestry or item I'm not so keen about, but I can honestly say I think this is a great book. My favorite is probably the Knight Reclaimant which just oozes flavor and cool abilities. I'd want to play one, but as a GM it's unlikely to happen; however, it'd be great to read the Crimson Oath aloud during gameplay! :)
My favorite is probably the Knight Reclaimant which just oozes flavor and cool abilities... however, it'd be great to read the Crimson Oath aloud during gameplay! :)
I made sure to include it, so you can! And thank you for your kind words. ^_^
Thanks, Sasha and Mikhail! It's great to hear these insights from you, although I'm fairly sure you couldn't have called a feat "Stiff Upper Lip" (TM) without inciting the wrath of the British people! ;)
Alas. Thus is my creativity constrained by cruel reality, and Golarion forever loses a spark of genius.
Blimey! That is true, but jolly good you noticed your error before the book went into print, eh? That's a strapping fine lad, innit? ;)
(Er, I better stop mangling the Queen's English before I commit some horrible grammatical mistake and draw the ire of our good Captain)
No horrible crimes against the Queen's English have yet been committed by your good self. Jolly good show to recognise limitations of being used to the debased colonial education, though. Carry on.
PS: Don't get too comfy. I've got my eye on you, son.
Anyone know why adding the PDF to my cart is giving me errors? This is the message I'm getting: Your request produced an error. and then I need to reload the page in order to see the prices again....
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
Dracala wrote:
Anyone know why adding the PDF to my cart is giving me errors? This is the message I'm getting: Your request produced an error. and then I need to reload the page in order to see the prices again....
Just got my copy (yay US to AU shipping), and I've noticed that the back cover is slightly bowed, which would normally bother me, but it has somehow resulted in the strangest air pocket forming between pages towards the middle of the book.
It's only noticeable when running my hand across the left-side page, from spine outward, at which point I'll hear a tiny pop and the corner of the page jumps. It's actually quite funny, to be perfectly honest, and I'm going to accept it as a little quirk.
Has anyone else experienced this with their copy, or am I lucky enough to have an entirely unique copy of an already fantastic book? =3
Something I just realized: Despite lizardfolk on cover having terbutje, terbutje isn't actually statted out in 2e yet nor do iruxi get proficiency for it.
That is disappointing for me D: Where I can inform devs about needing dat lizardfolk terbutje profiency even though weapon doesn't exist yet?
Something I just realized: Despite lizardfolk on cover having terbutje, terbutje isn't actually statted out in 2e yet nor do iruxi get proficiency for it.
That is disappointing for me D: Where I can inform devs about needing dat lizardfolk terbutje profiency even though weapon doesn't exist yet?
Hear hear!
This is lizardfolk cultural erasure!
More vaguely mesoamerican weapons now!
On the subject of iruxi proficiencies, the rules text for their various natural weapons do not actually put any of them in a weapon group, meaning that Iruxi Unarmed Cunning technically doesn't do anything.
This feels like an issue from rules authors who aren't quite familiar with everything a weapon needs to have in 2E to be "finished" as compared to 1E, and best to nip that in the bud now.
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"...mangling of the English language" and "I had expected Paizo to take a bit more pride in their work," does not help foster an environment where this can occur. It doesn't create a welcoming space for creators to engage and it doesn't help with productive discussion. There are ways to discuss errata or editing without assuming our editors don't care, or questioning their pride in their work.
Is there are page citation or rules link somewhere you can give me that says that all unarmed attacks are in the brawling group? Because I can't find one.
Is there are page citation or rules link somewhere you can give me that says that all unarmed attacks are in the brawling group? Because I can't find one.
Table 6-6 (Unarmed Attacks) on p. 280 list Brawling.
Monk Unarmed Attacks Table on p.159 has all the attacks in the Brawling group.
Barbarian’s Animal Instinct’s Bestial Rage’s Unarmed Attacks on p. 86 are all in the Brawling group.
Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
Read the section on unarmed attacks on page 278, and tables 6-6 and 6-7 on page 280 in addition to Rysky's references.
I know that all the unarmed attacks in the core book are in the Brawling group, but the basic rules for unarmed attacks (pg 278) say that unarmed attacks "can" belong to a weapon group, not that they must - and it definitely doesn't specify which group that is.
I've no doubt that the iruxi weapons are supposed to be in the Brawling group, but it doesn't change the fact that - as written, without errata or similar - they aren't.
Wait....there's a Human Ethnicity with a Breath Weapon?!
This shouldn't be too surprising, since I've met some people on Earth who had weapons-grade breath . . . .
"If her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were none living near her; she would infect to the North Star." - Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing
I know that all the unarmed attacks in the core book are in the Brawling group, but the basic rules for unarmed attacks (pg 278) say that unarmed attacks "can" belong to a weapon group, not that they must - and it definitely doesn't specify which group that is.
I've no doubt that the iruxi weapons are supposed to be in the Brawling group, but it doesn't change the fact that - as written, without errata or similar - they aren't.
... they are.
You’re not going to find any rule stating “[weapon] always belongs to [group]”.
Every single type of Unarmed Attack introduced belongs to the Brawling group. Find a rule that says otherwise.
Character options from the Lost Omens guides, as well as those from other print products, went live in a blog last Thursday. Check out all the things here.
Character options from the Lost Omens guides, as well as those from other print products, went live in a blog last Thursday. Check out all the things here.
That link leads to tie product page of this very product...
I haven't been able to locate an answer (or even the question) anywhere else, so I wanted to clarify: the sun blade focus spell still does full damage on a miss?
I haven't been able to locate an answer (or even the question) anywhere else, so I wanted to clarify: the sun blade focus spell still does full damage on a miss?
I haven't been able to locate an answer (or even the question) anywhere else, so I wanted to clarify: the sun blade focus spell still does full damage on a miss?
Jen Page
Media Specialist, SmiteWorks USA (Fantasy Grounds)
Hello everyone! Excited to say this is now available for purchase from Fantasy Grounds or on Steam. Sync your FG account first to get it a discount equivalent to the PDF Price ($24.49)
So I'm curious, what are the 10 new Heritages they're offering here? I'd like to have some idea what I'm looking at before I decide on whether or not to order this, since I already have the Ancestry Guide.