Pathfinder Monster Core

Do we know when Howl of the Wild will be released?

Blog said Spring 2024, product discussion is not yet there

Will this remaster cover only creatures from Bestiary 1 or is it a scattering across all 3, or is it all 3 combined?

Will this remaster cover only creatures from Bestiary 1 or is it a scattering across all 3, or is it all 3 combined?

It favors updating monsters from Bestiary 1, but doesn't update them all, and does bring in some from Bestiary 2 and 3, and also has some brand new monsters.

So, will the artwork be redone as there is a Drow on the cover?

So, will the artwork be redone as there is a Drow on the cover?

This is the place holder art, the art itself is the Monster Codex's cover art.

Little sad we’re losing the Bestiary name. Monster implies all of the creatures inside are scary/hostile/to be killed, Bestiary was a bit more nuanced.

Cover Art Updated.

I love this Adamantine Dragon!!!

That is the best Chonky Boy!!!

I'm just confused of what will happen to starfinder adamantine dragons ._.

There shouldn't be any problem with using an adamantine dragon across both games! I made sure to keep a lot of the essence of SF's adamantine dragon when designing PF's take. They should still have the same personality traits and now have some fun new abilities that play well with the three-action system. I wouldn't be surprised if SF's adamantine dragon ends up using the same stat block with a slightly sci-fi skin as appropriate for the game.

I wonder how Paizo is gonna handle Celestials in this manual if their not gonna use the classic Celestials from D&D?

I wonder how Paizo is gonna handle Celestials in this manual if their not gonna use the classic Celestials from D&D?

My theory is the Angel names may be bases on the names of the angelic choirs.

Solar - Seraphim, Planatar - Cherubim

And so on.

Yeah, the angel types shouldn't be too hard to finagle. They'll have to source more from public domain concepts (although the source of the deva names is itself PD) but the actual types and ideas will likely remain intact.

I've been a lot more interested in what happens to the venerable MotP/Planescape/SRD demons and devils, since they've been around for ages but are *very obviously* D&D intellectual property. Some of the demons, in particular, are iconic but also *extremely* specific to D&D and its descendants.

PLEAAAAAAASE, bring back the Xenopterids!

Berselius wrote:

I wonder how Paizo is gonna handle Celestials in this manual if their not gonna use the classic Celestials from D&D?

My theory is the Angel names may be bases on the names of the angelic choirs.

Solar - Seraphim, Planatar - Cherubim

And so on.

Solar and Planatar are not names of choirs in angelology.

Love the cover~

Prince Setehrael wrote:

Berselius wrote:

I wonder how Paizo is gonna handle Celestials in this manual if their not gonna use the classic Celestials from D&D?

My theory is the Angel names may be bases on the names of the angelic choirs.

Solar - Seraphim, Planatar - Cherubim

And so on.

Solar and Planatar are not names of choirs in angelology.

I know. I have a lot of books on Angelology and Demonology.

I saying I think that the Solar could be renamed the Seraphim, since both are angels of the highest choir and have 6 wings.

Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:

Prince Setehrael wrote:

Berselius wrote:

I wonder how Paizo is gonna handle Celestials in this manual if their not gonna use the classic Celestials from D&D?

My theory is the Angel names may be bases on the names of the angelic choirs.

Solar - Seraphim, Planatar - Cherubim

And so on.

Solar and Planatar are not names of choirs in angelology.

I know. I have a lot of books on Angelology and Demonology.

I saying I think that the Solar could be renamed the Seraphim, since both are angels of the highest choir and have 6 wings.

Only if the choir from Sister Act comes out and sings Hail Holy Queen?

Hmmm...are these eight new Dragons going to be a part of already existing True Dragon families (aka Chromatic, Metallic, Primal, Imperial, Outer, and Planar)?

I believe the goal is to have them map to the four Traditions, "True Dragon families" aren't going to be a thing anymore.

Hmmm...are these eight new Dragons going to be a part of already existing True Dragon families (aka Chromatic, Metallic, Primal, Imperial, Outer, and Planar)?

At a minimum Chromatic and Metallic dragons are out, as they are too tied to D&D. If memory serves, Primal and Imperial dragons are 100% Paizo inventions, not sure about the other two categories.

Most likely these will be 4 mostly new dragons. We already know a few of them: Adamantine, Diabolocal, Mirage have been shown in prior disclosures.

Hmmm...are these eight new Dragons going to be a part of already existing True Dragon families (aka Chromatic, Metallic, Primal, Imperial, Outer, and Planar)?

New families I think.

What I miss about dragons is the detail in the first edition bestiaries, covering the ages and sizes of everything from wyrmlings to great wyrms. Also, there's a picture in the Dragonslayer's Handbook giving a size comparison of various dragons by age/size with a human. Puts things in perspective, it does. :-) Plus there's a lot more good info in there and in Dragons Unleashed. Yeah, those are PF1E books, but the info is mostly still good. :-)

Note a gargantuan Great Wyrm stands a bit more than 72 feet high! So a full sized Great Wyrm mini on the 25mm scale would be 30 cm or about one foot high. :-)

At a minimum Chromatic and Metallic dragons are out, as they are too tied to D&D. If memory serves, Primal and Imperial dragons are 100% Paizo inventions, not sure about the other two categories.

Most likely these will be 4 mostly new dragons. We already know a few of them: Adamantine, Diabolocal, Mirage have been shown in prior disclosures.

So there will be some completely replacements for some monsters then. Interesting.

Apropos of the PFS announcement today, I am super curious to see the final stat blocks for the celestials, fiends and undead with the holy/unholy change implemented.

Kelseus wrote:

At a minimum Chromatic and Metallic dragons are out, as they are too tied to D&D. If memory serves, Primal and Imperial dragons are 100% Paizo inventions, not sure about the other two categories.

Most likely these will be 4 mostly new dragons. We already know a few of them: Adamantine, Diabolocal, Mirage have been shown in prior disclosures.

So there will be some completely replacements for some monsters then. Interesting.

Yes. We've known this for months. D&D (OGL) classics like Otyugh and Owlbear will be replaced with new monsters unique to Pathfinder. Doesn't mean you can't use the good old owlbear from the Beastiary 1, but it is not going to be used in the future in Paizo products.

Will the art in this book be the same as in the old Bestiary?

Will the art in this book be the same as in the old Bestiary?

It will be a mix of new and preexisting art.

In the Monster Core, more than anything, I am hoping we can finally get a Creature Trait for the Netherworld (formerly Shadow Plane). It is the only Plane that Paizo has not established a Creature Trait for and desperately needs one. A Creature Trait for the Netherworld would go a long way towards helping to establish and define families of creatures that originate from the Netherworld.

The Universe: Creature Trait = Many

Plane of Air: Creature Trait = Elemental
Plane of Wood: Creature Trait = Elemental
Plane of Water: Creature Trait = Elemental
Plane Metal: Creature Trait = Elemental
Plane of Earth: Creature Trait = Elemental
Plane of Fire: Creature Trait = Elemental

Astral Plane: Creature Trait = Astral
Ethereal Plane: Creature Trait = Ethereal
Creation’s Forge: Creature Trait = Positive
First World: Creature Trait = Fey
Netherworld: Creature Trait =
The Void: Creature Trait = Negative

Nirvana: Creature Trait = Celestial
Elysium: Creature Trait = Celestial
Heaven: Creature Trait = Celestial

Axis: Creature Trait = Monitor
Boneyard: Creature Trait = Monitor
Maelstrom: Creature Trait = Monitor

Outer Rifts: Creature Trait = Fiend
Abaddon: Creature Trait = Fiend
Hell: Creature Trait = Fiend

Dimension of Dreams: Creature Trait = Dream
Dimension of Time: Creature Trait = Time

Yeah, sad to see the Shadow trait (for natives of the Shadow Plane/Netherworld) wasn't on the GM Core's Creature Identification list. Maybe there can be an FAQ establishing which of the Recall Knowledge skills we should use for that?

And also, a minor annoyance for me, can we either 1) Add the Humanoid trait to Trolls in Monster Core, so we can assuredly identify them with Society, or 2) Add an FAQ establishing which skill to use on Trolls or Giants in general for RK? We got 7 different Trolls, and all 7 only have the Troll and Giant traits on their statblocks. And neither are on the Creature Identification list, too.

Positive and Negative should probably change as well. Void works well as a trait for Void creatures, but probably something else than Vital for Creation's Forge creatures.

Ever since I realized that xorarian(intellect devourer replacement) sounds similar to egophages, I'm curious to see art :O I wanna know if they were inspired by egophages from occult bestiary or if its just coincidental parallel design

The Painted Oryx wrote:

Will the art in this book be the same as in the old Bestiary?

It will be a mix of new and preexisting art.

Specifically, I would imagine that anything previously sourced directly from the SRD and "D&D-adjacent" (the SRD demons, devils, celestials, etc) will get new art. So a Kalavakus or a Contract Devil would be fine, for example, but Not-Babaus (who'll probably get renamed) and Not-Pit Fiends will get changed.

Aaron Shanks wrote:

The Painted Oryx wrote:

Will the art in this book be the same as in the old Bestiary?

It will be a mix of new and preexisting art.

Specifically, I would imagine that anything previously sourced directly from the SRD and "D&D-adjacent" (the SRD demons, devils, celestials, etc) will get new art. So a Kalavakus or a Contract Devil would be fine, for example, but Not-Babaus (who'll probably get renamed) and Not-Pit Fiends will get changed.

Mios shined Treachery Demon in pathfinder blog article. It may done before.

As for now, this is the only Monster Core book that is being released, correct?

So far, yes.

Note that Tian Xia World Guide (April), Howl of the Wild (May), and the Wardens of Wildwood Adventure Path (April-June) will all have remastered bestiary content too. 'Twill be a Spring of Monsters! (or for our southern hemisphere fans, an Autumn of Creatures!)

I was curious, is the sketch cover for Monster Core available for preorder?

I can't wait for this book to come out, I have to know about all of the new dragons!!

Berselius wrote:

Hmmm...are these eight new Dragons going to be a part of already existing True Dragon families (aka Chromatic, Metallic, Primal, Imperial, Outer, and Planar)?

At a minimum Chromatic and Metallic dragons are out, as they are too tied to D&D. If memory serves, Primal and Imperial dragons are 100% Paizo inventions, not sure about the other two categories.

Most likely these will be 4 mostly new dragons. We already know a few of them: Adamantine, Diabolocal, Mirage have been shown in prior disclosures.

Back when the gem dragons came out (yes, I'm old...) I was annoyed that Pearl dragons were included next to Ruby, Emerald, etc. (Cause A) I worked in a jewelry store at the time and B) I'm pedantic AF/OCD, depending on what generation you're from.)

I wanted Pearl to be part of a completely new dragon category, based on precious organic products used similarly to gemstones like Ivory, Amber, Coral, Pearl, etc. But I stalled thinking up a fifth and abandoned the idea. :)

I was curious, is the sketch cover for Monster Core available for preorder?

We have solicited the Monster Core sketch cover to the industry, so you should be able to tell your local game store you want it, yes,

Back when the gem dragons came out (yes, I'm old...) I was annoyed that Pearl dragons were included next to Ruby, Emerald, etc. (Cause A) I worked in a jewelry store at the time and B) I'm pedantic AF/OCD, depending on what generation you're from.)

I wanted Pearl to be part of a completely new dragon category, based on precious organic products used similarly to gemstones like Ivory, Amber, Coral, Pearl, etc. But I stalled thinking up a fifth and abandoned the idea. :)

Your fifth could be jet (gemstone-quality coal)!

(^_')=b

Bone is a precious organic product used similarly to gemstones, especially when polished.

I would go for a precious wood myself.

But then there are enough of these to create a whole family.

Set wrote:

Back when the gem dragons came out (yes, I'm old...) I was annoyed that Pearl dragons were included next to Ruby, Emerald, etc. (Cause A) I worked in a jewelry store at the time and B) I'm pedantic AF/OCD, depending on what generation you're from.)

I wanted Pearl to be part of a completely new dragon category, based on precious organic products used similarly to gemstones like Ivory, Amber, Coral, Pearl, etc. But I stalled thinking up a fifth and abandoned the idea. :)

Your fifth could be jet (gemstone-quality coal)!

(^_')=b

Like diamond ?

Bone is a precious organic product used similarly to gemstones, especially when polished.

Horn could work too.

I would go for a precious wood myself.

But then there are enough of these to create a whole family.

I had considered darkwood, since it was a semiprecious organic stuff available in the setting, and more 'precious' than real-world woods.

Of course the other precious organic material listed in the PHB is, uh, dragonhide... But aren't all dragons already 'dragonhide dragons?' :)

One fun thing about those dragon types is that they lent themselves to interesting breath weapons. An amber dragon sprays you with a copal-like sap that starts rapidly hardening. A coral dragon sprays you with tens of thousands of long filaments that flense and strip flesh from bone. Ivory? Spray of piercing tusks. Stuff like that.

Laclale♪ wrote:

Link to table if this is same for remaster

Tiny PC in LOAG wrote:

They can purchase weapons, armor, and other items for their size with the same statistics as normal gear, except that melee weapons have a reach of 0 for them (or a reach 5 feet shorter than normal if they have the reach trait).

Sure, that table exists as-is in the Player Core.

But nowhere in the Player Core or GM Core (that I've seen) tell you "If a monster's reach is not listed in its stat block, use the typical reach for a creature of it's size" or "If a monster's reach is not listed in its stat block, use a standard reach of 5ft".
And pre-remaster, the vast majority larger-than-medium creatures creatures have their reach specifically listed, even when it uses their Typical reach for a creature of their size and body composition.

But there are exceptions which violate either assumption.
I just want the Devs to tell us which it's supposed to be and to consistently print stat blocks that follow it.

But advice for reach-unwritten creature is more needed in blog

Kelseus wrote:

Berselius wrote:

Hmmm...are these eight new Dragons going to be a part of already existing True Dragon families (aka Chromatic, Metallic, Primal, Imperial, Outer, and Planar)?

At a minimum Chromatic and Metallic dragons are out, as they are too tied to D&D. If memory serves, Primal and Imperial dragons are 100% Paizo inventions, not sure about the other two categories.

Most likely these will be 4 mostly new dragons. We already know a few of them: Adamantine, Diabolocal, Mirage have been shown in prior disclosures.

Back when the gem dragons came out (yes, I'm old...) I was annoyed that Pearl dragons were included next to Ruby, Emerald, etc. (Cause A) I worked in a jewelry store at the time and B) I'm pedantic AF/OCD, depending on what generation you're from.)

I wanted Pearl to be part of a completely new dragon category, based on precious organic products used similarly to gemstones like Ivory, Amber, Coral, Pearl, etc. But I stalled thinking up a fifth and abandoned the idea. :)

I also love the gem dragons!

I really hope they pawn this book. Kickstart it or backerkit. I don't care. It needs something.

Just caught up with this months Paizo stream and the info there was quite nice for this.

I do have a concern though, as the power creep from the Remaster, some of the newer classes, Psychic and at least 1 of the playtest classes then what we will get for Player Core 2. So will the remastered monsters get a bit of a power bump? As I have noticed that these days post remaster and other things listed above the combats seem a lot easier for most of my groups with the pre remastered monsters very much noted.

Thanks

Tom