Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
 Pathfinder Core Rulebook cover | |
| Designer(s) | Jason Bulmahn |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Paizo Publishing |
| Publication date | August 2009 |
| Years active | 2008-present |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game |
| System(s) | d20 system |
| Random chance | Dice rolling |
| Website | http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/ |
The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is a fantasy role-playing game (RPG) that was first published in 2009 by Paizo Publishing. It extends and modifies the Revised 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) game rules published by Wizards of the Coast under the Open Game License. Pathfinder RPG is intended to be backward-compatible with D&D version 3.5, while addressing some of its issues.[1]
The Pathfinder RPG supports Pathfinder adventure paths as well as other works set in the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting.
Background
The Paizo Publishing company had been publishing Dungeon and Dragon magazines, which were about the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game. Paizo was publishing under contract with Wizards of the Coast, who held the rights to D&D. Wizards of the Coast chose not to renew the contract in early 2007, and Paizo began publishing the Pathfinder periodical line as a replacement.[2] In August 2007, Wizards of the Coast announced the pending release of the 4th edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which replaced version 3.5. Many of the staff at Paizo were concerned about the more restrictive Game System License the 4th edition was being released under.[3] Instead of continuing to support D&D, Paizo released Pathfinder as a modified version of the 3.5 edition game, under the Open Game License used by the older version.[4][5] Announced in March 2008, the Pathfinder RPG was designed over the course of a year using an open playtest model, where players could try the system and post their feedback on Paizo's website.[6]
Reception
Paizo’s decision to create Pathfinder RPG at the same time as the release of Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition split the gaming community, with some showing more loyalty to the 3.5 compatible system and others showing more loyalty to the Dungeons & Dragons brand. Jeff LaSala writing for geekosystem.com says that the system has drawn away half of the gaming base from Dungeons & Dragons.[4]
Paizo has won ENnie Awards at Gen Con in a variety of categories including Best Publisher and Best Game.[7][8] The beta release of the game won the 2008 gold ENnie award for "best free product or web enhancement."[9]
Pathfinder has frequently been a best-selling role-playing game.[10][11][12]
Design
The Pathfinder is a modification of version 3.5 of Dungeons & Dragons, and is intended to be 100% compatible with the older game.[1] Lead Designer Jason Bulmahn felt that the basic classes of D&D version 3.5 were lackluster, as they did not provide incentive to stay with a single class for 20 levels of play. Pathfinder adds many options to the classes and boosts their abilities in their core roles.[13]
The game has also been modified compared to D&D version 3.5 to clean up and streamline problematic areas. Changes were made to improve balance between different game elements. For example, less combat-oriented classes receive more hit points each level. Additionally, several aspects of 3.5 have been simplified in Pathfinder, including several spells, the skill system, and combat maneuvers such as tripping and grappling.[13]
Books and magazines
The Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook is 576-page hardback book under the Open Game License.
The Bestiary, Bestiary 2, Bestiary 3, and Bestiary 4 contain statistics and descriptions of creatures that player characters may encounter. The Pathfinder Bestiary includes over 350 monsters designed for use with the game.[14]
Paizo also publishes the Pathfinder periodical product lines. The Pathfinder Modules line has been entirely compatible with the Pathfinder RPG since July 2009.
In addition, there have been numerous other expansions and accessory books which contain expanded rules, new classes, spells, equipment and other optional game features.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Pathfinder RPG Frequently Asked Question". Retrieved 2011-01-11.
- ↑ "'Dragon' and 'Dungeon' Magazines to End Paizo Launching 'Pathfinder'". ICv2.com. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ↑ Tito, Greg (28 December 2011). "The State of D&D: Present". The Escapist. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 LaSala, Jeff (March 29, 2013), "7 Role-Playing Games You Should Play on International TableTop Day", Geek O System (Geekosystem, LLC), retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ↑ Baichtal, John (25 March 2008). "No D&D 4E for Paizo?!?". Wired.com. Conde Nast. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
- ↑ Pathfinder RPG Main Page.
- ↑ "2013 nominees and winners". ENnies. 2013-08-17. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ↑ "2010 nominees and winners". ENnies. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ↑ "Review of Pathfinder Beta". RPGnet d20. 2007-10-23. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
- ↑ "Top 5 RPGs—Q2 2011". IcV2. 2011-08-04. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ↑ "Top 5 RPGs—Fall 2012". IcV2. 2012-03-29. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ↑ "Top 5 RPGs—Spring 2013". IcV2. 2013-07-15. Retrieved 2013-10-02.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Paizo Publishing Announces the Pathfinder RPG". Retrieved 2008-07-10.
- ↑ "Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary (OGL) Hardcover". paizo.com. Retrieved 2011-01-20.
External links
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