Attack Cantrip Concentrate manipulate Sanctified Spirit or Void Traditions divine Cast [one-action] somatic Range 30 feet; Targets 1 creature Defense AC
You quickly slap toward an enemy and your deity continues the push. Choose spirit or void. You can’t cast this spell if you don’t have a deity or if your deity is true neutral. Make a ranged spell attack roll against the target’s AC. On a hit, the target takes damage of the chosen type equal to 2. On a critical hit, the spell also pushes the enemy five feet away from you. The spell gains the trait of the alignment you chose.
Trigger you are the target of a non-magic melee or ranged attack and the attack does not hit you and you are aware of the attacker
You funnel excess spell energy into your own body. You gain temporary hit points equal to the highest level spell or heightened spell you cast last turn.
Basics– It’s Pathfinder 2nd ed-AGAIN! Player Core is the ORC approved, non OGL version of Pathfinder. Spoilers for this one- If you liked Pathfinder 2nd Ed, you’re gonna like this. If you HATED Pathfinder 2nd ed, you’re still not gonna like this! Let’s look at the parts.
Mechanics or Crunch– This is the exact mechanics you saw in the original Pathfinder 2nd Ed book. The system’s basic mechanic is level based bonuses with ability bonuses to a d20. If you would like a deeper breakdown check out our original review here https://throatpunchgames.com/2019/08/18/ring-side-report-pathfinder-rulebook-2nd-ed/. It’s a solid game. 5/5
Theme or Fluff– Like Golarion? If you liked 1st Ed and you like the previous 2nd Ed world, then you will like this. Nothing really changed in this book aside from switching out what classes made the cut: witch is in but paladin/champion is out. Things do not drastically change with this new book, but I liked the old book too. 5/5
Execution– Paizo does good books. Layout, text, pictures, and words all flow well. What this book does differently than the last one is some edits to explain some concepts better. I think this is the distinction between the two versions. Also, since we moved from the OGL to the ORC some game terms changed, and honestly despite it being mostly superficial, these are good changes I like. I can sum this up in one example spell LEVEL vs spell RANK. Those two things mean the EXACT same thing. BUT, too many new players get confused when you say level with spells, and anyone with any experience with games can tell you about a 3rd level wizard, shocked they only get 2nd level spells. Now, that’s gone. That right there is worth this five out of five. 5/5
Summary– Welp this review can be summed up as “if you liked Pathfinder core rulebook you will like Player Core, and if you hate Pathfinder 2nd Ed, you won’t come back for this one!”. And that’s about it. The elephant in the room is “was this needed?”. And honestly, not really and yes. Not really because this book’s biggest changes are cosmetic. The cosmetic updates are welcome, but are really just surface changes as the base mechanics haven’t changed. I like them, so that’s not an issue. And completely needed because WotC hinted at major changes and this book makes Paizo stand on its own with its own rules and systems. So, your mileage will vary as you can get quite far with an old player book and have a blast, but if you have holiday money and want to get into Pathfinder 2.1 (since this isnt as big a change as DnD 3 to 3.5, not even close), then this is a great book to buy and play. 100%
Archetype Archetype Eldritch Armor PrerequisitesEldritch Armor Dedication Trigger An opponent hits you and you do not reduce the damage. Requirements You must have cast a spell last turn
You response to a strong hit by encasing yourself in residual spell energy. After you are hit by an enemy attack and you do not reduce the damage with an activated ability, you gain a circumstance bonus to your AC equal to the last spell level you cast till the start of your next turn.
Your magic has fully empowered your body. You gain the armor proficiency feat for heavy armor and can apply your full spell casting ability score place of a required Strength score for armor requirements.
You’ve learned to further channel your magical might into your body. You gain the armor proficiency feat for medium armor and can apply your spell casting ability score up to 16 in place of a required Strength score for armor requirements.
You funnel excess spell energy into protecting yourself. If you spend two actions casting a spell or use an ability or feat to reduce actions required to cast a two action spell and cast a spell,, you gain a +2 circumstance bonus to AC until the start of your next turn.
You are not the most physically imposing person, but you have learned how to muster magical power to enhance your physical abilities. You can use your spell casting ability modifier up to 12 for wearing armor in place of your Strength score. You gain the armor proficiency general feat for light armor. If you are already trained in that feat, you gain a +1 circumstance bonus to the skill associated with your spell casting tradition instead..
Special You cannot select another dedication feat until you have gained two other feats from the Eldritch Armor archetype.
Basics– The hunger never ends! This book starts the Blood Lords adventure path and provides information on new spells, an archetype, factions of the adventure, and the city of Graydirge.
Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure plays well. The monsters are right about where they need to be for combat, and the mix is fun. The new archetype is interesting, and the spells are something my players (who accidentally stumbled upon them on Archive of Nethys) already wanted. My one major issue is factions. Factions are done as well as they can be, but I feel it’s not well supported by the whole system. You can move up or down in the factions’ esteem, but I just can’t shake the feeling of, “Who cares?” I don’t have the mechanical background of why I want to make people like me in each faction. It’s a minor thing that I feel will build up more in the upcoming adventures. 4.5/5
Theme or Fluff– This is a a solid story. The story is fun, and my players had a blast playing in it. I felt equipped enough to make the characters and locations interesting. The world is fleshed out enough to make it a fun place to play, and all the new things are introduced well enough to make me either intrigued enough or disgusted enough in them to have a blast. 5/5
Execution– Welp, it’s Paizo and they made a book. Paizo is one of the industry’s best layout people, and this is no exception. It reads well, easily, and quickly. Hyperlinks make it a quick thing to read through and scan through. Solid work here. 5/5
Summary– My brother is the one who got me interested in this adventure path, and I am glad he did. It’s a fun story with new toys for both the GM and players that is just put together well. My one issue is a more system-wide issue of factions and influence, but that’s the one thing I can point to as something that just makes me unhappy with this product. My players and I can’t wait to hop into the next one ASAP! 97%
Throat Punch Games 