Hello All,
First off, thanks for quality and creative work! I figured I'd start a thread as a way to offer feedback on the PG as I work through it, and perhaps as a place for others to do so.
Comments:
- I would appreciate an Index for the PDF. This allows one to get needed information quickly.
- I enjoy the overarching focus on character creation.
To be continued...
I'm wondering, previous Paizo products have a PZO nuber product code, like PZO1000 for The Shackeled City Hardcover, PZO9501 for Module D1, PZO9502 for W1.
I found no such number on the RotR Players Guide (also not on D0). Why do these not get a product number?
Okay, sorry if this is dumb, but... am I missing something? Is the guide already available and I'm not seeing it yet?
Edit: Nevermind, no announcement that I saw, but I found it,here!
Okay, dumb question number two, now that I'm actually reading the book (which is beautiful so far, btw): IS there anyplace other than the SRD's that the priest domains used here which are not listed in the PH (Nobility and Community, for example) can be found, or should I just go ahead and point my players to the SRD's?
Chief Technical Officer
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I'm wondering, previous Paizo products have a PZO nuber product code, like PZO1000 for The Shackeled City Hardcover, PZO9501 for Module D1, PZO9502 for W1.
I found no such number on the RotR Players Guide (also not on D0). Why do these not get a product number?
They both have PZO numbers, whether or not they're printed on them. D0 is PZO9500, and the Player's Guide is PZO9000 (for a pack of 5) and PZO9000-S for a single copy.
The main reason for printing them on the product is to make it easier for retailers to figure out what they need to reorder. D0 isn't available to retailers (except as part of the Free RPG Day promotion a while back), so they can't reorder it. The Player's Guide is only available to retailers in 5-packs, and I think that pack is supposed to have a sticker with the 5-pack version of the PZO number and bar code.
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Creative Director
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Okay, dumb question number two, now that I'm actually reading the book (which is beautiful so far, btw): IS there anyplace other than the SRD's that the priest domains used here which are not listed in the PH (Nobility and Community, for example) can be found, or should I just go ahead and point my players to the SRD's?
I believe that many, if not all, of these domains can be found in the Spell Compendium, Complete Divine, and the Forgotten Realms Campaign Settings. And of course, in the SRD; my preferred SRD delivery method being d20srd.org.
They both have PZO numbers, whether or not they're printed on them. D0 is PZO9500, and the Player's Guide is PZO9000 (for a pack of 5) and PZO9000-S for a single copy.
Thanks for the info, Vic. Do you by any chance also have a PZO number available for the Savage Tide Player's Guide?
By the by, for Whizbang and everyone else who wanted Varisan names, they're in there just for you, just becuase you asked for them. Great idea guys. Keep 'em coming!
Okay, dumb question number two, now that I'm actually reading the book (which is beautiful so far, btw): IS there anyplace other than the SRD's that the priest domains used here which are not listed in the PH (Nobility and Community, for example) can be found, or should I just go ahead and point my players to the SRD's?
Deities & Demigods has them all in one place, but of course that's 3.0 not 3.5.
I would appreciate an Index for the PDF. This allows one to get needed information quickly.
This is my biggest wish, at this point.
What are fans allowed to do? Can we index the pdf and then distribute our version (with the body of the pdf unchanged)? My gut says "no", but it seems worth asking.
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Creative Director
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I would appreciate an Index for the PDF. This allows one to get needed information quickly.This is my biggest wish, at this point.
What are fans allowed to do? Can we index the pdf and then distribute our version (with the body of the pdf unchanged)? My gut says "no", but it seems worth asking.
You can't redistribute the PDF without making Paizo sad, alas.
Gabriel, I'm assuming that major "setting spanning" information will be found in the Pathfinder books, and the Pathfinder Chronicles products. However, the Modules will have some stuff you can't find anywhere else.
For instance, Droskar. He's very specific to the Falcon's Hollow area. It makes sense to put him in the modules that are set in that area. I certainly wouldn't expect to see him in the Pathfinder books. The first two Adventure Paths are set in Varisia, and I'd rather have content that helps me run the AP than random tidbits about other areas.
GREAT WORK!!! The Players Guide is such a pleasure to read, and as previously mentioned, it exceeds expectations. I can't wait to get a group together to play! I especially like the quotes from Darvayne, Cevil and Koeas-Civin - different perspectives on Varisia make it come alive! For the same reason, I also enjoyed the bestiary, familiars and feats - especially the latter for how they encourage players to resist the "faraway" origin and plant themselves firmly in the land they are supposed to care about and ultimately save from peril.
Back to rereading it and rereading it and...
Gabriel, I'm assuming that major "setting spanning" information will be found in the Pathfinder books, and the Pathfinder Chronicles products. However, the Modules will have some stuff you can't find anywhere else.
For instance, Droskar. He's very specific to the Falcon's Hollow area. It makes sense to put him in the modules that are set in that area. I certainly wouldn't expect to see him in the Pathfinder books. The first two Adventure Paths are set in Varisia, and I'd rather have content that helps me run the AP than random tidbits about other areas.
I have no idea why this post ended up in here. It was supposed to be in another thread :(
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I think it is awesome and thank you for releasing the pdf early enough yesterday that I could read it multiple times instead of doing work. I paid for it today, but it was well worth it.
I have a question. It says all information is suppose to be common knowledge. In the Sandpoint article, which is a great teaser, it gives a list of rumors which make the characters roll dc 10 to learn. So are the rumors common knowledge and if not why are they listed in the player's guide. Though I would like to know if Sczami actually stole those pies and sheets. That bastard.
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Creative Director
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I think it is awesome and thank you for releasing the pdf early enough yesterday that I could read it multiple times instead of doing work. I paid for it today, but it was well worth it.
I have a question. It says all information is suppose to be common knowledge. In the Sandpoint article, which is a great teaser, it gives a list of rumors which make the characters roll dc 10 to learn. So are the rumors common knowledge and if not why are they listed in the player's guide. Though I would like to know if Sczami actually stole those pies and sheets. That bastard.
The rumors listed in that section are pretty much common knowledge to anyone who's lived in Sandpoint for a while. Characters who are native to Sandpoint have CERTAINLY heard them all. And no... they're not all true.
GREAT WORK!!! The Players Guide is such a pleasure to read, and as previously mentioned, it exceeds expectations. I can't wait to get a group together to play! I especially like the quotes from Darvayne, Cevil and Koeas-Civin - different perspectives on Varisia make it come alive! For the same reason, I also enjoyed the bestiary, familiars and feats - especially the latter for how they encourage players to resist the "faraway" origin and plant themselves firmly in the land they are supposed to care about and ultimately save from peril.
Back to rereading it and rereading it and...
Yay! Those are like my favorite parts too! Having the quotes from the explorer who loves the place and the cultured chronicler who sees the place as a dirty, worthless backwater is a lot of fun. As for the final quote, that one comes from James and has probably the best story of all...
- Graphically beautiful.
- The quotes are evocative -- more! :)
- I would like to see common sayings from the different races, groups, regions, religions, etc. I've always found this to be useful when it comes to portraying NPCs. For example (just going off of the info in the PG):“The unnamed” – referring to the tribes that were lost in the Chelaxian expansionist wars. “We shall meet the unnamed.” – referring to a hopeless but honorable situation e.g. facing a much larger force, etc, etc.
- I noticed quite a bit of info/flavor on the Shoanti tribes in comparison to the other human groups/races, which is awesome. Would love to see as much or more on the others as well. I imagine that will show up in other documents, so consider this my vote :)
Comments:
- I would appreciate an Index for the PDF. This allows one to get needed information quickly.
- I enjoy the overarching focus on character creation.
To be continued...
I noticed quite a bit of info/flavor on the Shoanti tribes in comparison to the other human groups/races, which is awesome. Would love to see as much or more on the others as well. I imagine that will show up in other documents, so consider this my vote :)
This is the first--and for the time being only--the Shoanti get to shine for a while. The Varisians and Chelish folks show up in the adventurers far more frequently and you'll get a much bigger taste of their cultures there.
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The rumors listed in that section are pretty much common knowledge to anyone who's lived in Sandpoint for a while. Characters who are native to Sandpoint have CERTAINLY heard them all. And no... they're not all true.I think it is awesome and thank you for releasing the pdf early enough yesterday that I could read it multiple times instead of doing work. I paid for it today, but it was well worth it.
I have a question. It says all information is suppose to be common knowledge. In the Sandpoint article, which is a great teaser, it gives a list of rumors which make the characters roll dc 10 to learn. So are the rumors common knowledge and if not why are they listed in the player's guide. Though I would like to know if Sczami actually stole those pies and sheets. That bastard.
My player characters aren't from Sandpoint or Varisia as stated in In the beginning thread. I have to wait till the Burnt Offering so I can have a more detailed version of Sandpoint. Must wait...
Thanks FWS - cool to hear that they are your favourites too! Now that I have reread it more, and then some - I will add two small, constructive points:
On first reading, making a Chelish character didn't seem that enticing... now I realize that the Chelish Empire was once great and now fallen into decadence, with a shadow of the same fate soaking the rulers of Korvosa and Magnimar.
The second option would be to reward players (with bonus feats or extra gold pieces or a masterwork item) if they can tie their PCs even more directly to Sandpoint. Kind of a consolation prize for starting in a sleepy and peaceful town, instead of a Pirate City, a Haunted Forest or a Giant-trodden wasteland.
And again, what amazing work you are putting out!!!
Cheers
You can't redistribute the PDF without making Paizo sad, alas.
Could someone take the initiative to index the PDF and get it back to someone at Paizo for distribution through Paizo?
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Creative Director
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It there going to be a Players Guide for every new AP? If so will subscribers still get one with the first chapter of the next AP?
There will be a player's guide for every AP. I'm not sure how they'll be distributed though. I would suspect it'd be similar to how we're handling the one for Runelords, though.
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Creative Director
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Are the bonus feats in the ROTRAP PG meant to truly be a bonus to characters at creation? In other words, a feat that can be chosen in addition to the normal number of feats one gets for race/class?
Or, are they meant to be like regional feats as in the FR campaign setting?
We pretty much leave that decision to the individual GM, but my preference (and the one we went with for the sample PCs in Pathfinder) is to give each character a bonus feat from those in the Player's Guide, chosen in addition to the normal number of feats one gets for race/class. NOTE: Only PCs should get these as bonus feats. NPCs don't get them, but could use their normal allotment of feats to take some of them.
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We pretty much leave that decision to the individual GM, but my preference (and the one we went with for the sample PCs in Pathfinder) is to give each character a bonus feat from those in the Player's Guide, chosen in addition to the normal number of feats one gets for race/class.
Ah! The sample PCs! I hadn't thought to look there. Thank you.
<EDIT: But, then again, I'm thinking of the the sample characters as written in the GameMastery Modules, not the as yet unseen Pathfinder versions. So, even if I'd have thought to look there. There's no there, there. Yet.>
On a side note, I would like to comment positively on Paizo's outstanding responsiveness and great customer service. This post is a prime example. What other company on the face of the earth would have the Editor-in-Chief responding to customer comments on a messageboard . . . eleven minutes after the question was posted? I swear, I'd spend more money if I could just to ensure Paizo stays in business! Keep up the good work.
It looks like the Player's Guide is gonna be a winner. Things are looking good for Pathfinder! Now, just 2 problems. One, I don't have a hardcopy yet. I can't stand reading on the computer. Two, I've seen a couple typos and mistakes (hide shirt). I'm not saying that's horrible, but it's still noticeable.
Anyways, can't wait until I get that package in the mail. :)
First, let me say how blown away I am by everything I've seen so far from the world of Golarian. I've been thinking about a new campaign world recently and this makes my decision VERY easy. The ROTRAP PG is a fantastic resource (and teaser) for the new AP and I can't wait to see more.
I haven't complete read through the player's guide yet but I had a couple of comments and questions on what I've read so far.
The first thing I noticed was the really small font used in the body text of the guide. As a gamer with bad eyesight, I desperately hope that font size isn't going to be a standard in the Pathfinder publications.
Though there was a lot of information on the Shoanti I didn't see a dominant hair color mentioned. Are the Shoanti the classic blonde barbarian archetypes or are we looking at a people like the Cimmerians from Conan?
While reading, I was referencing the Varisia map. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate several of the places and landmarks mentioned in the text. I knkow that many of the locations are off the map and will be shown later but I believe the ones below should be on the map.
Where are the Curchaintian Hills?
Where is the cliff-side, elven city of Arsmeril?
Where is the elven trading post of Crying Leaf?
As a final question, how long ago did the elven city of Celwynvian "fall under the deepest shadow?" This may be an issue with PC elves since they may have been alive when it happened.
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Contributor
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It looks like the Player's Guide is gonna be a winner. Things are looking good for Pathfinder! Now, just 2 problems. One, I don't have a hardcopy yet. I can't stand reading on the computer. Two, I've seen a couple typos and mistakes (hide shirt). I'm not saying that's horrible, but it's still noticeable.
Anyways, can't wait until I get that package in the mail. :)
Minor errors are unavoidable, unfortunately. Editors hate typos and other little mistakes with a fiery burning passion, but we have to accept a certain (small) percentage of them. We're only human (and cyborg).
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I can only echo the sentiments already expressed by others here - outstanding effort on the Players Guide, and GameMastery Modules received so far.
I'm wanting to start a new campaign, and as Pathfinder hasn't arrived just yet, I was thinking of starting with D0 and D1 in Falcon's Hollow. However, the players are asking about the world, and character backgrounds etc, and not much of that is currently available for the Falcon's Hollow region. By comparison, the Player's Guide contains exactly the kind of information they're looking for, but for the Varisia region.
I'm wondering whether I should relocate Falcon's Hollow to, say, Sandpoint? Or should I hold off, until the Falcon's Hollow region is further developed in later products, and wait until Pathfinder#1 is released and start out with Burnt Offerings instead?
One of my players expressed an interest to play an Elf air elementalist spellcaster. I thought the Raptorans from Races of the Wild might be a good fit. That sourcebook suggests this winged elf-like race live in homes carved out from cliff-faces - the Storval Rise would seem to be the perfect setting!
Cheers,
DarkWhite
"geological leprosy.”
Harsh!
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Creative Director
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The first thing I noticed was the really small font used in the body text of the guide. As a gamer with bad eyesight, I desperately hope that font size isn't going to be a standard in the Pathfinder publications.
That font is, for now, the font we'll be using. We may switch up to a larger font if we hear enough complaints/requests.
Though there was a lot of information on the Shoanti I didn't see a dominant hair color mentioned. Are the Shoanti the classic blonde barbarian archetypes or are we looking at a people like the Cimmerians from Conan?
The Shoanti are descended from the same "stock" as the Varisians; as a result, most of them have darker colored hair.
Where are the Curchaintian Hills?
They're just north of Churlwood in the shadow of the Storval Rise. The map tag reads "Curchain Hills" though; Curchainian is a variant of the region. We probably shouldn't have tried to pull that off, though, at least not without some more explanation. In the future, we'll likely just refer to them by their more common name of "Curchain Hills."
Where is the cliff-side, elven city of Arsmeril?
It's not in Varisia; it's elsewhere in unrevealed regions as of yet.
Where is the elven trading post of Crying Leaf?
It's somewhere on the border of the Mierani Forest and the Velashu Uplands.
As a final question, how long ago did the elven city of Celwynvian "fall under the deepest shadow?" This may be an issue with PC elves since they may have been alive when it happened.
At this time, we're keeping that a secret. It was a long time ago, though; I'm talking many thousands of years. I doubt any elves who were alive at the time Celwynvian fell are still alive today.
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Creative Director
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I'm wondering whether I should relocate Falcon's Hollow to, say, Sandpoint? Or should I hold off, until the Falcon's Hollow region is further developed in later products, and wait until Pathfinder#1 is released and start out with Burnt Offerings instead?
Well... I'm biased, but I'd vote for waiting for Pathfinder; it'll give you a campaign out to level 16 or so (starting at level 1), and Sandpoint plays a pretty important role along that way. If you replace Sandpoint with Falcon's Hollow, you'll be hooking yourself up with a lot of headaches in reworking stuff (the least of which is the fact that Sandpoint's location on the coast is pretty key).
Personally, I don't like the raptorians much at all, but if you want to find a place for them in Varisia, I'd suggest placing them in a coastal mountain range. The Storval Rise is pretty infested with ogres, giants, and other menaces; it's not an easy place to live in.
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Creative Director
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It looks like the Player's Guide is gonna be a winner. Things are looking good for Pathfinder! Now, just 2 problems. One, I don't have a hardcopy yet. I can't stand reading on the computer. Two, I've seen a couple typos and mistakes (hide shirt). I'm not saying that's horrible, but it's still noticeable.
Anyways, can't wait until I get that package in the mail. :)
Considering we were working 70 hour weeks at the time, producing the last few issues of Dungeon and Dragon (both of which have an extra 32 pages) at the same time as the Player's Guide AND Pathfinder 1 AND the first modules... I'm pretty pleased if the only errors that crept into the Player's Guide were the hide shirt posing as medium armor (it's Light armor, for the record) and a few typos.
I'm actually a little stunned it's out at all. :)
Considering we were working 70 hour weeks at the time, producing the last few issues of Dungeon and Dragon (both of which have an extra 32 pages) at the same time as the Player's Guide AND Pathfinder 1 AND the first modules... I'm pretty pleased if the only errors that crept into the Player's Guide were the hide shirt posing as medium armor (it's Light armor, for the record) and a few typos.I'm actually a little stunned it's out at all. :)
Can I get an Amen!?
"geological leprosy.”
Harsh!
Hahahaha! Yeah, everyone likes that. ^_^
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Just finished reading it, and I enjoyed it immensely. Unfortunately, I use a homebrew setting, so everything on Varisia and Sandpoint is essentially useless to my game (though still fun reading). I do, however, plan to use the equipment and feats senctions, and the Race/Class sections give me ideas and descriptions to use in my own game.
Thank you for another great product. I'm happy becoming a Charter Subscriber includes a print copy. I hate having to read things on the computer...seems to be counter-intuitive to a Pen and Paper game, no?
If I have a complaint, and I only went out of my way to find one to try and be constructive, it's that the font is too small. It's sort of hard to read.
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Do you have to be of the Varisian race to take Varisian Tattoo feat, or simply from the Varisian region? eg, could a Gnome be enscribed with magical Varisian Tattoos if he wanted to? I'm guessing this to be the case, otherwise it would have been listed as a Prerequisite, but thought I should check.
While I certainly appreciate the attempt to present more printed information on each page, sorry, I have to agree the font is difficult to read at the current size.
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Well... I'm biased, but I'd vote for waiting for Pathfinder; it'll give you a campaign out to level 16 or so (starting at level 1), and Sandpoint plays a pretty important role along that way. If you replace Sandpoint with Falcon's Hollow, you'll be hooking yourself up with a lot of headaches in reworking stuff (the least of which is the fact that Sandpoint's location on the coast is pretty key).
I was thinking to do it the other way around - ditching Falcon's Hollow, and relocating Droskar's Crag and Darkmoon Vale etc to surround Sandpoint instead. This way, the players can create Varisian characters using the Player's Guide. Sandpoint would remain exactly where it is on the coast, and become base of operations for both D0-D1 and Rise of the Runelords. But I am swaying toward waiting until Burnt Offerings to arrive.
Personally, I don't like the raptorians much at all, but if you want to find a place for them in Varisia, I'd suggest placing them in a coastal mountain range. The Storval Rise is pretty infested with ogres, giants, and other menaces; it's not an easy place to live in.
Unless the ogres and giants actually live within the cliff-castles and carved passages within Storval Rise, I thought the skies and caverns of Storval Rise should be far out of reach of said land-bound menaces.
The Storval region may not be an easy place to live, but the Shoanti seem to be able to eke out a living. Raptorans are capable hunters, so I was considering they might ally themselves with these nomadic tribes.
Upon reaching of age, all raptorans are required to embark on a test of survival and self-reliance called the Walk of the Four Winds. So it is not unusual to find a raptoran so far from home. All a player requires is an origin for his back-story - though a coastal mountain range not far from Sandpoint could work equally well.
Do you have to be of the Varisian race to take Varisian Tattoo feat, or simply from the Varisian region?
Based on the text, there are three requirements:
- GM's approval.- must be taken as your bonus feat during character creation.
- must have Spell Focus in matching school.
Non-humans don't get bonus feats at first level. A strict reading of the text would therefore make me think this feat is not available to them.