Pathfinder Gamemastery Guide

They are actually lowering page count by roughly 20 percent and raising price by the same. Original Gamemastery Guide had an MSRP of 39.99, vs the new 49.99, with a page count in the 320s vs 256 for the new edition. We are charged more for less. And we already know roughly 30 of those pages are NPC statblocks,

It’s just the invisible hand of the market correcting the price to match the supply and demand curve.

I'm happy with the price to content ratio for 2nd edition.

Yes, as has been established, inflation rate is 17%, however the book has increased in price by 25%, while offering 20% less.

I did a little more digging, and I think I can explain what's going.

The overall inflation rate is an average of the inflation rates of a number of different goods and services. The prices of some things rise more slowly, like manufactured goods that require little labor and can benefit from advances in automation. The prices of other things rise more quickly, especially things that require a lot skilled labor. So we'll get a more accurate picture by looking at inflation rates in this category, instead of average inflation rates in general.

This website has inflation rates for a number of different goods. I think the closest fit is the inflation rates for magazines and newspapers, which is 39% since the the 1e Gamemastery Guide was published.

So inflation alone accounts for almost all of the discrepancy.

And then a few other factors (e.g., increasing cost/page for smaller page-count products, increases due to the fact that Paizo's publisher is in China, and the US/China tariff war, etc) probably make things a bit pricier on Paizo's end as well.

I pay money for quality content, which requires professional writer, editors, designers, etc. Page count is a good metric of quantity but not quality. So I'm not bothered by the price increase/fewer pages.

Paizo continues to create high quality products. Everything produced so far in 2e has blown me away, seriously beautiful, well written RPG products that continue to support Artists and Writers in the industry. (Just look at all the great talent that contributed to Gods and Magic in the latest blog). Well worth it.

Though back on topic, Excited for this! Gonna be crammed full of awesome and useful content!

It sounds like Paizo undercharged early in the first Pathfinder life cycle. Trying to work their brand into the conversation. I admire how well it went! At the same time, however, they are still producing better, prettier, and more interesting content than Wizards is, while at a more pleasant price point. Comparing Paizo a decade ago to Paizo now is a poor metric, as the world is not the same. Comparing the amount and cost of Pathfinder content now to D&D instead is a more healthy and telling metric.

I've enjoyed the hell out of the books I've bought so far. Been great stuff, and only the World Guide has felt a little thin.

Let's also not forget that Wizards of the Coast has this little side business in form of that funny card game... what was it's name ... Magic: the Gathering, right? I've heard it earns enough small change as to allow WotC a wee little more financial leeway in how the price their products than Paizo can.

… so about that there Guide to masterin the game...

… so about that there Guide to masterin the game...

To be honest, when this was added to the schedule I had every intention of cancelling before it came out.

Now, I'm pretty stoked to see what's inside.

I'm especially intrigued by the variant rules.

Why spend any money on a system you don't like? Out of support for Paizo? Then why complain about it? I'm confused, because I wouldn't spend money on any 2E products unless I genuinely liked them. I just couldn't afford it anymore, because my expenses have radically gone up since 1E came out, and yet my salary is still pretty much the same it was 9-10 years ago.

Good question. I'd say it's a combination of factors:

* I have friends I don't really get to play with anywhere other than PFS
* Some of the expenditures (core PDFs, Fall of Plaguestone) came before I had really formed an opinion about 2E one way or the other
* Some of the items (maps, pawns) work fine for other systems
* At least some is company affinity...I did a similar thing with Starfinder before I decided I didn't care for it
* I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it; $30 or $40 is under my "impulse purchase" threshold
* Last -- but definitely not least -- emotional, rather than rational, decision-making =D

Removed some posts.

So i just noticed there is no pdf copy listed. Is that a mistake or are we really not getting a pdf copy of this rule vook with subscriptions?

You will, Paizo store has lately tendency to have the PDF option for books disappear randomly.

You will, Paizo store has lately tendency to have the PDF option for books disappear randomly.

Ah ok. Thanks.

I am SOOOO looking forward to this one!

okay, I am now ready to receive this product. Paizo, feel free to press the "Release" button.

That will be all - Thank you,

NiftyB

Is it weird to say that this is the product I've been most looking forward too since the PF2 playtest, including the PF2 core rule book? Because apparently I think it makes sense to release a book that used to help build a game world, before releasing the book that has the actual rules for the game. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to put on my pants followed by the underwear because apparently that works for Superman.

Hi, this is Gorbacz's wife taking over his account for one post. Many hearts to whoever came up with the previewed Doctor NPC and their ranged atack "Thrown medical textbook" - I've thrown a few during my studies and yes, they do a lot of damage.

Its weird to see Gorbacz's account being sincere in tone :O

Its weird to see Gorbacz's account being sincere in tone :O

I'm always sincere, you just can't take that level of sincere.

I'm going to withhold judgement until I actually get the book. Based on the 2nd set of inflation data, I was probably premature. Flavor has been pretty good, it's just been a sticking point for me that, at the same time a wizard can throw a fireball, a goblin can set themselves on fire and do a ranged fire punch. It's basically giving them Produce Flame, but they take damage for it. That as a general complaint on power disparity in feats, and the specifics that we should have had the monster building rules in the Bestiary.

Still, this could be interesting, looking forward to the settlement rules and relics, hopefully they will be better than Weapons of Legacy. I loved the flavor, but the mechanics just didn't work.

So...going by average Paizo release timetables. Next week?

So...going by average Paizo release timetables. Next week?

Normally shipping to subscribers would start on monday 10th of february.

But as Sara Marie wrote in the february 2020 new release and shipping thread:

"I'm holding off on order creation until at least tomorrow (Friday, February 7th) as we work to ensure some outstanding issues from the recent retail tax code update have been resolved."

it could take a while longer.

Street date (when stores are allowed to sell it) for this and the other february products is february 26th.

"More than 60 new NPCs to use in your game, designed for maximum usefulness to all Pathfinder campaigns!"

Single best part of the 1E GMG in my opinion, and alone justifies the $15 for the PDF, even for an occasional GM like me. Now I'll just hope against hope for a new NPC Codex...

Interesting how Alanizt(apologies if I am butchering the spelling) is on the cover. I know the 1ed had karazoug on the cover, but he was one of the first big bad evils from rise of the runelords. The runelords in this case is one who was thwarted in 1ed return of the runelords. I know it’s probably not the best to take all the art for the covers in absolutes, but if alanizt did return, I imagine she would be needing a lot of help to return to prominence, power(or life). Not that would not be impossible. I think the right forces and the right bit of scheming, and a sufficiently powerful artifact could definitely restore her. Though personally I think Ileosa has a better shot of coming back. And her coming back would likely be quite the spectacle.

I'm pretty sure her (and the dragon as well) are just an homage to P1's cover.

Flavor has been pretty good, it's just been a sticking point for me that, at the same time a wizard can throw a fireball, a goblin can set themselves on fire and do a ranged fire punch. It's basically giving them Produce Flame, but they take damage for it. That as a general complaint on power disparity in feats, and the specifics that we should have had the monster building rules in the Bestiary.

( It's way better than produce flame because it's a ranged unarmed attack that bypasses all physical resistances, can benefit from handwraps of mighty blows, adds bonus damage from weapon specialization, and can be used with monk abilities like flurry of blows and Stunning Fist. Also the goblins who can take that feat have fire resistance and will almost never take damage from it. And it can't be counterspelled and doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. )

Will this book include rules or guidelines for creating ancestries or class options in addition to the other stuff? Is there such a resource for PF 2e already or in the works, if not?

I guess it's a lot more complex but the details and guidelines of npc/monster creation makes me want something similar for player options.

At the very least, is there an article on the kinda high level philosophy that went into PF2e ancestry and class design, so I can better see the patterns of the existing class options?

Dunno if the designers are still watching this page since the book is off to the printers, but will there be additional guidelines how to adjudicate the Recall Knowledge action? It seems to garner a very wide range of methodology of GMs and it would be interesting to know what the RAI is.

The Core Rulebook has a section on adjudicating knowledge in the Gamemastering chapter, and the GameMastery Guide has some additional advice on false knowledge and secret checks. For what it's worth, we had an Arcane Mark episode recently on Knowledge in games. It's still up on twitch at the moment. link

I know that there will be advice on designing adventures and campaigns, but will there be any advice on setting creation?

Will we get treasure tables in this book?

You will, Paizo store has lately tendency to have the PDF option for books disappear randomly.

"Randomly"? We gremlins never get any credit. Mwah-ha-ha-ha!

Gorbacz wrote:

You will, Paizo store has lately tendency to have the PDF option for books disappear randomly.

"Randomly"? We gremlins never get any credit. Mwah-ha-ha-ha!

That’s because you sabotage your own invoices!

( It's way better than produce flame because it's a ranged unarmed attack that bypasses all physical resistances, can benefit from handwraps of mighty blows, adds bonus damage from weapon specialization, and can be used with monk abilities like flurry of blows and Stunning Fist. Also the goblins who can take that feat have fire resistance and will almost never take damage from it. And it can't be counterspelled and doesn't provoke attacks of opportunity. )

( That last part's technically not correct because it's still a ranged attack. It won't provoke a Disrupt Prey though! )

Asgetrion wrote:

Why spend any money on a system you don't like? Out of support for Paizo? Then why complain about it? I'm confused, because I wouldn't spend money on any 2E products unless I genuinely liked them. I just couldn't afford it anymore, because my expenses have radically gone up since 1E came out, and yet my salary is still pretty much the same it was 9-10 years ago.

Good question. I'd say it's a combination of factors:

* I have friends I don't really get to play with anywhere other than PFS
* Some of the expenditures (core PDFs, Fall of Plaguestone) came before I had really formed an opinion about 2E one way or the other
* Some of the items (maps, pawns) work fine for other systems
* At least some is company affinity...I did a similar thing with Starfinder before I decided I didn't care for it
* I am fortunate enough to be able to afford it; $30 or $40 is under my "impulse purchase" threshold
* Last -- but definitely not least -- emotional, rather than rational, decision-making =D

Ah, no problem, now I understand. Although I usually don't spend anything on a system I don't like, I did buy a number of Forbidden Lands and Mutant : Year Zero stuff just out of support, well aware that I'll probably never play or run those games -- they're great, but I don't think I can convince my friends to try them. And to be truthful, I've even bought a number of *cough*5E*cough* books (adventures, mostly) just for inspiration and more FR lore. :)

I don't think I've been charged yet. Will I be charged once this product has shipped? When does this product release? I though it was set for later in the month.

You are charged when it is shipped.

Seems it's out (is it?), but the sign of an "add PDF" function seems missing...

Seems it's out (is it?), but the sign of an "add PDF" function seems missing...

nope, not out yet

•Street Date for Paizo Products: Wednesday, February 26th

Diego Valdez wrote in the february shipping thread:

"Howdy folks!

We're hoping to run the auth on Monday, but we still have some things to check off the pre auth list. So on Monday we will be evaluating whether we can get it started or not."

So shipping hasn't started yet, but will hopefully start soon, which means nobody has the PDF yet.

VERY MUCH looking forward to this so I can expand stuff in my games!!

Cheers

Tom

I'm interested to see what they did with Relics. I was never a fan of how those types of items have worked in the past, so I'm curious of what they did with them. Artifacts and stat blocks are also of great interest to me. I'm also curious on how city stat blocks will work in the future. The end of the month can't come quick enough.