Playable Races in PFS

[Jack-of-Blades]

So obviously the core races are available, but are there any other races open for play in PFS games?

Races such as:

Aasimar/Tiefling
Drow
Hobgoblin
Bugbear
Gnoll
Kobold
etc.

I realize from a roleplaying aspect some of these races could be challenging, but I'm just curious as to whether or not there are any rules set up so that they can be played?

[Mark Garringer]

Jack-of-Blades wrote:

So obviously the core races are available, but are there any other races open for play in PFS games?

Races such as:

Aasimar/Tiefling
Drow
Hobgoblin
Bugbear
Gnoll
Kobold
etc.

I realize from a roleplaying aspect some of these races could be challenging, but I'm just curious as to whether or not there are any rules set up so that they can be played?

As per the Guide, no they are not. Only the races in the Core Rules are.

[Branding Opportunity]

Nope, only the core races are playable. I believe this was done to simpify things for organized play and also due to Paizo's general human- and demi-human-centric philosophy of RPGs.

BrOp

EDIT: Dern, ninja'd!

[Jack-of-Blades]

Ah, right. Thanks!

[Corneleus Idaho]

What about in the "We Be Goblins" Module? It is legal for play in PFS, yet the players are meant to play Goblin characters. Are goblins only legal in this module but nowhere else?

[Alex Draconis]

Corneleus Idaho wrote:

What about in the "We Be Goblins" Module? It is legal for play in PFS, yet the players are meant to play Goblin characters. Are goblins only legal in this module but nowhere else?

It's a one shot, you only get to play goblins in that one mod.

You apply that chronicle to another character.

[Mike Mistele]

Corneleus Idaho wrote:

What about in the "We Be Goblins" Module? It is legal for play in PFS, yet the players are meant to play Goblin characters. Are goblins only legal in this module but nowhere else?

Correct. When you play "We Be Goblins" for PFS credit, you play a pregenerated goblin PC, and receive a Chronicle sheet which you can apply to a PFS character (who, clearly, cannot actually be a goblin). You can't continue to play the goblin PC which you played in "We Be Goblins" in other PFS adventures.

[Dojohouty]

Tengu, and some other non demi-human races are legal for PFS - but only if you a boon awarded to you at a convention.

I don't know all the races that are now legal, and as a GM it is kind of difficult to have little things for for the players in mind during the games. (Like the party goes into the local pub, the owner's cat "Mouser" crys out, runs and hides in terror when it sees the Tengu walk in!)

[Heroic Gnome]

Its going to become legal with ARG getting release I hope. Already prepurchased it.

[Michael Brock]

I am evaluating what will and won't be legal out of ARG. But, not every alternate race in it will be made legal. Also, the chapter allowing you to create a new race will not be made legal.

[Heroic Gnome]

Thanks. I hope some of the races I like make the cut.

[Michael Brock]

Any new races that may be opened up won't happen until the start of Season 4, which is August 16 at Gen Con.

[Shivok]

I beleive the playable races currently available aside from the core book are:

Aasimar -sadly I dont have one yet. :(
Tiefling
Wayang
Nagaji
Kitsune
Sylph
Oread
Ifrit
Undine
Dhampir
Tengu

All are currently awarded from Boons won at conventions/events with more than 15+ tables of PFS/GMing/Special PFS Promos)

I've been lucky enough to review a physical copy of the ARG and I can only say...it rocks!!! I mean it rocks hard!!!

So I know many people will enjoy it. The artwork is great, especially the Ifrit and its... oh well you'll all have to see for yourselves in a few weeks.

[Lass]

Michael Brock wrote:

Any new races that may be opened up won't happen until the start of Season 4, which is August 16 at Gen Con.

Thats wonderful news... I think. I hope this means some of the ARG races are going to be made available without special boons post GenCon. If this be so then I nominate Mike Brock as Master of the Universe!!!!

[Todd Lower]

Lass wrote:

. . . so then I nominate Mike Brock as Master of the Universe!!!!

Psst - He already is.

[Senmitsuya]

Finally found an answer for a question the guides never cover in any clarity, which races ARE playable without boons. Now that that's settled I will be gladly on my way to making a dwarf character to make all them goblins run away, and even the most fanatical Orc think twice.

On the topic of adding ARG races without boons, it's always fun IMHO to play underdogs, or races that are capable of being civilized, but are not widely accepted as equals to the more common races of that society. It gives an additional facet of role play to work with, as Pathfinders of these demihuman races effectively put their respective races in a spotlight, and intentional or not, their actions and deeds may sway society's view of them.

[Paz]

Senmitsuya wrote:

Finally found an answer for a question the guides never cover in any clarity, which races ARE playable without boons.

The latest version of the Guide is pretty clear IMHO:

Guide to Pathfinder Society Organised Play v5.0, page 7 wrote:

Step 2: Race and Class

Select your character’s class and race from the choices offered in the Core Rulebook. You may also select aasimar, tengu, or tiefling as your character’s race with access to the proper Additional Resources book. Other races are not legal unless the character’s Chronicle stack includes a race boon.

But I'm glad you found your answer.

[Senmitsuya]

Must have missed that. Thanks for correcting me though.