As a basic, what books are required to play and dm, and do you have a suggested character building tool?
I was 1x, 2x and 3x, went to 4x. I don't dislike it any, but I can't figure out where the heck they are going with the game and this new line coming out. Plus, and maybe this hit you all as well, but there have been so many errata changes to the core books, they really are "virtually" worthless now.
So, I'm just looking...again.
Thanks
I still have a lot of 3.5 stuff, but my PF game runs Core, Bestiary, GMG, and now APG. Pretty compact over all.
And my fav character building tool is the Advice board :)
I still have a lot of 3.5 stuff, but my PF game runs Core, Bestiary, GMG, and now APG. Pretty compact over all.
Same here. I use the 3.5 library for expanded options for monsters. All that is really needed is the core rulebook and a bestiary. Campaign setting books are also nice if you don't have the time or inclination to create your own world.
I use the core rulebook, the bestiary and now the apg. I also use a backlibrary of 3.5 material (mostly the completes, spell compendium and the phbII). I use a handful of golarion based books, like the adventurers armory, classic X revisited, and the campaign setting. I also use a couple 3rd party sources, including just about everything from super genius games and 'strategists and tacticians'. Certainly you dont need to use everything i do, but it can be fun.
I agree with ender about character building, i prefer to do it manually. There is something special about clicking a mechanical pencil when i come up with an idea for a character build.
Only thing we are using right now is Core until we get a feel for what, if any, house rules or additons we might want/need.
Plus, and maybe this hit you all as well, but there have been so many errata changes to the core books, they really are "virtually" worthless now.
So, I'm just looking...again.
Yes, I'm no longer playing any 4th Ed campaign because I lost track of changes.
About the original subject, old 3.5 Monster Manuals are ok if you still have 'em, don't forget to download the free "Conversion Guide" document!
Core and Bestiary should be enough to play the game. You can download the free "Traits" document to have a few more options for players.
Later, you can take the APG and the GMG to expand the game. Don't buy the four books at once or you head will most likely explode.
IMHO The GMG may disappoint you if you are a very experienced DM or you have the 3.5 DMG2.
If you need a lot of low level NPCs the GMG have a lot, and there's also the "Pathfinder Chronicles NPC Guide"
Plus, and maybe this hit you all as well, but there have been so many errata changes to the core books, they really are "virtually" worthless now.
No they are not. All technical manuals get a certain number slips by the writers. Most of them just assume others assume ( ;) ) as much as they do. Now fantasy world is very very complex. More complex than our normal world (as there is normal world and magic for example). Do the rules try to tell you in short and simplified way how you should play. There are many shortcuts so you wouldn't collapse under the information (still 575 pages). Mostly GM just has to fill in the blank spots with imagination (gets better as you get more experience). The errata is mostly for the people who have too much time and keep complaining at these forums ;).
Yeah, but to your real question... Core is enough (=PF & Bestiary or 3.5 Players Guide, DMs guide & Bestiary). Then I wouldn't go on the APG, but on the premade adventures / adventure paths. To see what pre made adventures are like.
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I own every book Paizo has done for Pathinder and 3.5 but all you really need is the core as everyone has said and possibly the Bestiary, but in reality you do not need any of the books to play as pretty much all the info is online on the various websites. Im not suggesting that you don't buy the books, i'm just throwing that out there.
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All you really need to run Pathfinder RPG is the internet. Everything needed is OGL, so its here or here
Now, if you prefer to have books at the table, as others have said, you can run great games with just the core book and the bestiary, though, if you just wanted to print off the monsters from the pfsrd, then all you really would need is the core book.
(something)(something else)
DON'T REVEAL HIS SECRET IDENITY!
Plus, and maybe this hit you all as well, but there have been so many errata changes to the core books, they really are "virtually" worthless now.No they are not. All technical manuals get a certain number slips by the writers. Most of them just assume others assume ( ;) ) as much as they do. Now fantasy world is very very complex. More complex than our normal world (as there is normal world and magic for example). Do the rules try to tell you in short and simplified way how you should play. There are many shortcuts so you wouldn't collapse under the information (still 575 pages). Mostly GM just has to fill in the blank spots with imagination (gets better as you get more experience). The errata is mostly for the people who have too much time and keep complaining at these forums ;).
I think you're talking at cross purposes: He's talking about 4e, you're talking about Pathfinder.
As a basic, what books are required to play and dm, and do you have a suggested character building tool?
Required are only the core rules. If you want, you can look them up at The Pathfinder Reference Document (Officieal Website) for free - see whether the changes to the classes, the races, the everything are to your liking.
Unlike the 3e SRD, the PRD contains almost everything rules-related from the core rulebooks - including character creation and advancement rules! Only thing missing is setting-specific information (cos it's their intellectual property), and since there is very, very little of that in the core rules*, you'll miss out on virtually nothing.
If you decide you like, get the Core Rules and the Bestiary. They're also available as PDFs, for 10 dollars apiece.
For character builder, you could try Hero Lab (they have trial versions), which costs money but is apparently very sleek, or the free PCGen.
The Advanced Player's Guide is recommended for later, when you're sure you want to play this game. The Game Mastery Guide I'd call optional, for when you think you need the extra advise and pre-made stuff in there.
*Just enough to showcase a few things. The only thing I can think of right now are the 20 Pathfinder (Chronicles) Campaign Setting core deities, and they're in just to show you what a basic deity write-up looks like.
