Pathfinder Playtest Spell DB

[John Mechalas]

I've put together a database of the Pathfinder Playtest spells.

I know there are already a couple DB's and such out there. The intent of this database is to make it easier for programmatic parsing: the data is presented in multiple tables/sheets to normalize it so you aren't dealing with multiple data values in a single field. I also provide metadata information so that you don't have to guess at which each table and column means.

For the most part, I am using the data as-is in the playtest doc (including source errors, of which there are two). I also provide a couple of convenience columns: one that indicates which saving throw a spell uses (if any), and a casting time field that lists the number of actions used by the spell (or the casting time if it's measured in minutes). I also add heightened spell levels to the spell lists for each tradition.

I don't have spell descriptions yet, but they are coming (spells beginning with "A" are done). My intent here is to provide the minimum HTML formatting needed to match the source material without any CSS.

Tables:

• spell_info Spell, power and cantrip data (excluding traits and heightened level). NOTE: Spell descriptions are not complete at the current time.
  
• spell_traits The traits associated with each cantrip, power and spell. There is more than one entry per spell since a spell can have many traits.
  
• spell_list The spells and spell levels for each magic tradition. Spells that can be heightened are listed at their base and heightened levels, with a flag indicating the latter.
  
• cantrip_list The cantrips for each magic tradition.
  

[OdanBaere]

Hey! Your database is a lot better than mine! I have tried doing something a little different and wanted to run it by you. I'm not so good at this and wanted to add mine to yours. I have tried listing the spells under their essential essences rather than their spell lists. If you check the back of the book there are essences assigned to the 4 spell lists. I compared the spell lists to see if there were any overlapping spells, and of course there were, which means depending on which overlap, then the spell must have that associated essence. The book breaks down the spell lists like this:

Arcane: Material & Mental
Divine: Spiritual & Vital
Occult: Mental & Spiritual
Primal: Material & Vital

So if a spell is on the occult and arcane list, it must have a mental essence, or trait. And if it's on the arcane, occult, and primal list it's got both the mental and material essence. In some cases they end up on all the lists and these are universal spells. I have found 1 case where the spell is seemingly misplaced, where the spell is on the occult and primal list without being on any other and thus somehow attuned to all the essences without being universal. It's remove paralysis by the way.

So anyways, I'm not sure how to go about adding an essence section to this database, but I think it may add even more minutia and thus better ability to find interesting trends! I'll put here my poor attempt. Let me know how to help!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cknqI1_gIogsO2A9jOCG-C5Vk3-KkPcI/view

[John Mechalas]

Interesting. I haven't dug through the glossary at that level of detail yet so I wasn't aware of these divisions.

In database terms, these categories are essentially derived data: you should be able to generate them from the source data. Meaning, I should be able to issue a database query that produces these groupings based on the spell_list table. I haven't tried that yet, but I will poke at it. (Edited to add: They should be source data, but Paizo isn't publishing the essences for the spells so we have to derive the essence from the spell lists the spells appear on.)

I'm not sure what impact this has on the game, but it does provide an interesting look at the spells. In the case of Remove Paralysis, you've identified a spell that seemingly violates the spell system design. This could be an indication of an error in the spell listings. (We know there are errors: Glyph of Warding, for example, doesn't appear on any spell lists).

OdanBaere wrote:

Let me know how to help!

What I need most of all is to transcribe the formatted spell descriptions. I have a streamlined workflow for this, but it's a lot of copy&paste that is killing my fingers. :)

[John Mechalas]

John Mechalas wrote:

I'm not sure what impact this has on the game, but it does provide an interesting look at the spells. In the case of Remove Paralysis, you've identified a spell that seemingly violates the spell system design. This could be an indication of an error in the spell listings.

After reviewing this, I am convinced you found an error in the source material. Remove Paralysis should be on the Divine spell list, and it's not.

[John Mechalas]

OK. I was able to produce your data, though in a more technical form.

Google sheet: Spell Essences and calculated spell lists

Spells have a score of 0, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, or 1 in each of the essences. To be available to a spell tradition, both of these conditions must be met:

• The spell must have an essence > 0 in both of the tradition's core essences (e.g., a spell must have material > 0 and mental > 0 to be arcane)
  
• The sum of the spell's essences for that tradition must be >= 1 (e.g., material + mental >= 1 to be arcane)

The Remove Paralysis spell has a calculated 0.5 in all 4 essences, but is only on the primal and occult spell lists. That says there's an error in the spell list.

Since it's a status removal spell, it should also be on the divine list (thus having essence scores of material=1/3, mental=1/3, spiritual=2/3, vital=2/3)

[John Mechalas]

All spell descriptions have been added.

[John Mechalas]

I've made a number of updates to the database:

• Added bonus spell and power categories (bloodlines, deities, domains)
  
• Added bonus spell and cantrip lists for the same
  

[John Mechalas]

I've updated the database with the changes from the 1.3 errata.

[John Mechalas]

Updated with the changes from the 1.5 errata.