Tag: Paizo

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Intro: Year of Immortal Influence

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Product– Pathfinder Society Intro: Year of Immortal Influence

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer–   Paizo

Price– $8.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq03g2r?Pathfinder-Society-Intro-Year-of-Immortal-Influence 

TL; DR– A good, but not perfect intro.  97% 

Basics– Pathfinders, are you ready to PARTY!?  This intro scenario for this year’s Pathfinder Society season has you go hobnob with the snobs of Absolom to make a good impression.  All you got to do is be nice, show the Pathfinder Society is good, and make a friendly impression.  What could go wrong?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure’s mechanics are on point for an intro adventure. There are about four different encounters in this adventure.  It’s pretty heavenly split between some social, some light exploration, and combat.  All of them feel like they fit for the levels they aim for.  This adventure is the standard excellent Paizo crunch I expect.5 /5

Theme or Fluff–  Intro adventures have tough ground to cover, and this one does well, but it’s not perfect.  The adventure has the players go to the party, and start with a few different mini interludes.  These work well, but players can’t see all the characters and their small side quests and vignettes.  Not bad, as the forced adventures where players have to do all the side quests get a bit story heavy, but these all kind of boil down to “do good and learn that one person doesn’t like you”.  Next there is the new antiPathfinder group who aren’t evil, and you have to avoid them.  Then you quite literally have to fight devils and then save someone’s life.  After that people try to run you over.  After that you must convince everyone you’re awesome after literally saving people from the devil.  Lastly there is one last optional combat that’s fun.  The story gets a bit disjointed as you save them every step of the way, but people still don’t like you.  Maybe that’s more realistic than I think having just reread that again.  4.5 /5

Execution–  This is just a yadda yadda of all my other Pathfinder reviews.  Good layout, easy reading, good pictures, good resources, good handout….yadda yadda yadda.  I expected Paizo to make a good layout for the adventures, and I got it.  I might quibble about not having all the monster pictures in the book, but that has more to do with there being three different fights possible in the middle, but seeing as those on their free database with pictures, that feels too pedantic for even me to downgrade them for.  5/5

Summary– This isn’t perfect, but this might be one of the better year intro adventures out there.  The mechanics are good.  The flow is not perfect, but it works decent enough. The adventure itself is solidly crafted.  It players in under four hours, and is fun enough that everyone had a blast.  If you want to jump in to Pathfinder Society, this is a good starting point as either a GM or a player.  97%  

Ring Side Report-Book Review-Pathfinder: Godsrain

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Author– Liane Merciel

Book- ~$24.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq06j6k?Pathfinder-Godsrain 

TL; DR– Solidly for the fans, maybe too much. 87%

Basics-Gods can’t die…except when they do!  The god of war is murdered and it kicks off a series of events that might result in the death of them all!  Can iconic Pathfinder characters stop the death of every god? 

Characters– This book uses iconic pathfinder characters and follows them on a typical, world shattering adventure.  This is the first book I’ve read featuring these characters.  The iconics all feel like they should and are well written.  The one issue I have is the book feels like it was written with only diehard Pathfinder fans as the audience.  Readers who don’t know these characters from playing Pathfinder Society might be a bit lost.  I enjoyed it, but some newer fans might be lost.  4.5/5

 Setting– This book features a number of iconic Pathfinder Society locations, but has the same issues as the characters.  This book is pretty world spanning as characters run from desert, to Pirate Cove, to Lost Island in an eternal hurricane.  The places are well described, but are not as linked to a larger world or history as newer readers might need.  It’s good but some readers might get lost if they don’t know these locations from the Pathfinder game.  4.5/5

 Story-The story is good, but feels disjointed.  The main event of the title is the death of a god, but then that is just kind of abandoned.  I felt like that was important and might be the main threat in multiple novels after this one.  The main story is more about the threat that a different god might have to all other gods.  That’s intriguing, but a major event in the world happens, and then is just kind of abandoned.  It’s a plot point, but not a major one. I felt like there was lost potential and that that main event was just abandoned. 4/5

 Summary-This is a good book and a fun step back into the Pathfinder Tales.  I want more books, so I’m glad this book exists.  It’s not perfect; the novel might not have enough inroads for new readers to Pathfinder.  Also, the title feels abandoned about a quarter of the way into the book.  I want to know more about the Godsrain, but this book won’t tell you about it.  If more novels focus on that and these characters, I’ll keep reading!   87%.

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Starfinder Playtest Scenario #4: Rescue at Shimmerstone Mine

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Product– Starfinder Playtest Scenario #4: Rescue at Shimmerstone Mine

System- Starfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $5.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq04v06?Starfinder-Playtest-Scenario-4-Rescue-at-Shimmerstone-Mine 

TL; DR-Good, but outside flaws hurt the adventure.  95% 

Basics– Hey Kid, want to find some miners for us?  Rescue at Shimmerstone Mine is a quick adventure for level 15 Starfinder 2nd Ed characters.  Players are contracted to find some missing miner after communications went dark.  What happened in the mines?

Mechanics or Crunch– It’s high level Pathfinder/Starfinder 2nd Ed content by Paizo-it’s good.  The math works well here as it’s more of the classic formula with players attempting to find all the missing miners.  There are fights, traps, and puzzles for them to solve.  Mathematically it works well. 5/5

Theme or Fluff– For what it is, it’s a solid adventure.  This is a three hour adventure, so if you want more story, you will be a bit out of luck.  It is an engaging story of a mine that went crazy and understanding why the mine exploded into crazy riots is part of the Starfinder RPG system and Starfinder universe update, but the adventure’s story works well enough all on its own.  For a short adventure, it’s a fun one. 5/5

Execution– Paizo did a good job here, but dropped the ball in some very serious ways.  It’s hyperlinked, well laid out, yadda yadda and the standard good things that Paizo does.  But, there are serious issues as well as some minor issues.  The minor:  the adventure says there are x number of miners and you will not find that number.  That’s minor, but it drove a player of mine mad!  The majors are Paizo didn’t put in a separate picture page for the NPCs.  They do that in the Pathfinder and Starfinder adventures, but why not here?  It’s even more of an issue because they literally put pictures of the NPCs in the text.  Give me a page with them alone to show the players.  But the biggest sin here is the lack of pregens.  Paizo wants players to make level 15 characters.  No, give me some you think my players would build. You did it for level 1 and 5, but why not 10 and 15?  You can find them online as people are making them, but that’s a big issue here.  This is a good adventure with some serious outside execution issues.  4.25/5

Summary–  I like this one, but the flaws are here.  In terms of pure math and crunch, it’s solid workmanship showing off the system.  For the story itself, it’s fun and expands the world.  For the execution, there are a few faults.  No pregens is a big red flag.  GIVE ME THOSE PREGENS!  Make this plug n’ play for tables!  Beyond those issues, it’s a good adventure that will play in 2-3 hours while expanding a bit on the world.  95%  

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Monster Core

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Product– Pathfinder Monster Core

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed 

Producer– Paizo

Price– $59.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02ej4 

TL; DR-Another Solid Addition to the Core line. 97% 

Basics– We’re all gonna die!  Monster Core is the last of the three main books needed to play Pathfinder, providing the foes that the heroes will face in their journeys.

Mechanics or Crunch–  Paizo knows their math.  These monsters are the ones we know, mostly, and love.  The Paizo staff designed good monsters and this just gives them the 2.5 glow up new coat of paint the system needed to get them fully ORC compliant.  It’s well done. 5/5

Theme or Fluff–  The story of the monsters takes a tiny bit of a dip.  As we move from 3.5/SRD base to ORC/Paizo’s own world, we lose a few things.  A major example is alignment.  We have Demons, Daemon, and Devils.  We have three different groups that are basically out to destroy everything but all just end up with the bad guy banner.  There is a story, but it’s that part of the story supported by differences in alignment and motivations that really separate these different D-based bad guys (that and centuries of European occult history).  The same goes with different dragon types.  I want to reiterate that what’s here is good, but the theme of these different monsters does miss alignment. 4.5/5

Execution– Yeah, we all know this was gonna be a 5/5.  It’s a Paizo book.  It reads fast, well, and is pretty.  Monsters get art for me to show players.  I get a good layout and hyperlinks.  Heck, there are even a few player things like a few rituals to sell your soul or talk to god!  5/5

Summary-This is a good book.  My view might be tainted by the changes from 3.5 to ORC.  I love the ORC, but we do lose some things along the way due to the legalese.  Those are things you will have to bring with your own stories to the table now.  This book will easily give you the foes to make those stories full of conflict and victory.  97 %

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder One-Shot #3: Head Shot the Rot

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Product– Pathfinder One-Shot #3: Head Shot the Rot

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 9.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02aoq?Pathfinder-OneShot-3-Head-Shot-the-Rot 

TL; DR-This is what I want more of.  100%

Basics– AIM FOR THE HEAD!  Head Shot the Rot is a one-shot drop-in game for four PCs set in Alkenstar.  It’s a glorious “Kill the bad guys, save everyone!” kind of adventure.

Mechanics or Crunch– This is Night of the Living Dead in Pathfinder.  You have some zombies and you have some people.  You get some skill checks, some combat, and some social.  That’s all the pieces of the game I want.  And I’m happy!  It’s solid mechanics with 3rd level PCs and some monsters that can tear them up if they screw up, but enough firepower to make sure that doesn’t happen.  Finely balanced as all things should be.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– You start in a bar with your buds, bad happens, and you kill it.  Save the people, get the money.  That’s the story and there is enough in the adventure and maps to build that into a fun place to play and explore even if you don’t go far.  The PCs and I had a blast with this one.  5/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  They know how to lay out a book, make nice art, make it easy to read, and get me the information I need in a hurry.  It’s 10 bucks, which is a bit pricey, but it filled four hours.  This beats the movie test of if I went to the movies with the same friends, would we spend more.  So, I don’t feel ripped off here.  It comes with art, maps, and PCs – all the toys I need to literally just drop in Roll20 and play.  5/5

Summary–  Some days you crave Game of Thrones level intrigue, and others you  just want a bunch of zombies, a gun, and a goal.  This is the latter.  I loved everything here.  It’s a fun one shot where all the players get what they want out of this, while I had fun and did not need hours of prep before.  Hey Paizo! Make more of these, and then connect them to each of the adventure paths.  I’d buy them!  100%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Intro: Year of Unfettered Exploration

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Product– Pathfinder Society Intro: Year of Unfettered Exploration

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 8.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02eqo?Pathfinder-Society-Intro-Year-of-Unfettered-Exploration   

TL; DR– Too much money for a too short adventure.  77%

Basics– And we’re walking!  This Pathfinder Society adventure features you as a tour guide to a multidimensional maze where you guide a new venture captain to a lodge, then help round up some little elementals all while trying to be on time for his party.

Mechanics or Crunch– Paizo understands its mechanics.  The game itself works well here, but the adventure is a bit short.  What is in this adventure is about two fights and several skill checks to help multiple different players feel involved with a bit of exploration thrown in.  Solid work overall, but a bit short for my players as no players felt too challenged and a few checks cleared the adventure with no problem. 4.5/5

Theme or Fluff– The adventure works, but it feels off. We have a new guy who wants to see a place.  Cool, but there is a random fight, some random elemental stuff, a kind of random handout, and a random place that doesn’t feel all that connected.  It works, but my players and I felt that it was a bit disjointed.  Furthermore, it didn’t really introduce any major metaplot or content.  It was a decent distraction and having more pure noncombat adventures would be fun, but this wasn’t that nor was it pure combat adventure.  It felt like too much of a mix.  3.5/5

Execution– I was the most disappointed here.  The adventure works with classic Paizo layout and text doing their good job as always, but there is too much text and not enough guidance with some things being tried but not really working.  First, there are random things that happen.  Good!  But use the random event charts that we had in previous chapters rather than just have three options for the GM to pick.  Same goes with where the main NPC wants to go.  Add in a chart where he says where to go, describe the location, and have a random dice roll.  The main bulk of the adventure is in a maze.  Which is fun, but doesn’t have a massive location, but maybe just set pieces.  There are places that I don’t feel were all that connected nor did the riddle handout really help me or my players with it.  The price of the adventure is high, but they are now including all the information I need to run it.  However, the map they give is too big and can’t work on Roll20.  It also has a grid, so I have to fight with Roll20 to line it up.  PDFs can remove the grids, so I appreciate those.  But, here I am paying for a product that isn’t quite getting me what I want.  Honestly, if these were just set piece locations as they wander the maze, I feel that would make this run easier and make the maps small enough to upload to Roll20.  I appreciate what they gave me, but for almost 1/3 the price of their regular adventures, this costs a bit too much.   3.5/5

Summary–  Overall, this works.  It’s a fine enough adventure, but it’s short, a little disjointed, and the add-ons are a bit wonky.  I don’t hate this, but I feel some aspects hold this back.  Some small changes in organization and flow could help this be a top notch adventure.  You can easily run this, and you and your party will have fun.  But, don’t expect this to run for the full five hours.  77%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Player Core

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Originally posted at www.throatpunchgames.com, a new idea every day! 

Product– Pathfinder Player Core

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $59.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02eoj?Pathfinder-Player-Core 

TL; DR– Superficial but needed changes.  100%

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%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of The Pathfinder Beginner Box

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Product– The Pathfinder Beginner Box

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $29.99 here https://paizo.com/pathfinder/beginnerbox   

TL; DR– Probably my favorite beginner box.  100%

Basics– Let’s learn Pathfinder!  This is the Pathfinder 2nd Ed Beginner Box.  It’s got a double sided map and two level adventure.  It’s got an introduction to character building, character sheets, AND pregens.  It’s got dice.  It’s full of standees and cardboard characters.  It’s got it all!

Mechanics or Crunch– If you want the full Pathfinder experience, this is it.  You get four pregens, rules on how to play, and even a multilevel dungeon.  Now, the dungeon and the fights are nothing crazy complex, and you might even say they’re a bit easy, but as a new player, this will be fun.  And as a new GM, this is a blast as well!  You get the basics of Pathfinder 2nd Ed with real rules, so you don’t learn a system that doesn’t exist.  You can also learn character building!  This is a great intro on how to play. 5/5

Theme or Fluff–  I don’t expect a ton of crazy things from beginner boxes, but I honestly got a solid intro to the world and a great adventure.  You get a basic introduction to the world.  It can’t be an epic tale of the world’s creation and current state, but you get a good, solid idea of the basics of the world’s story.  You also get an interesting adventure where you can play and get a few sneak peeks into future adventures.  It’s just a great way to invite both players and GMs to the world of Pathfinder.  5/5

Execution–  I’ve gushed about this box so far, and this won’t be an exception.  You get great dice, great books, great standees, EXTRA standees, solid pregens, and amazing books that help the players know how to play, and the GM run an an adventure on the fly.  This is what I want as a player and a GM.  5/5

Summary– I’ve loved Pathfinder for a long time and played Pathfinder 2nd Ed since it came out.  I also love Starfinder, but you can see there is more love for Pathfinder 2nd Ed from this box.  Two levels of adventure, character generation guides for a few levels, dice, and standees make a great product.  Also, that the rules in this box set are the same as the real game, makes me amazingingly happy.  This is the kind of thing I will give to anyone who wants to learn Pathfinder.  If you are on the fence, get this now!  100%

Ring Side Report- Pathfinder Adventure Path #165: Eyes of Empty Death (Abomination Vaults 3 of 3)

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Product– Pathfinder Adventure Path #165: Eyes of Empty Death (Abomination Vaults 3 of 3)

System- Pathfinder

Producer– Paizo

Price– $24 here https://paizo.com/products/btq024xm?Pathfinder-Adventure-Path-165-Eyes-of-Empty-Death 

TL; DR-Solid finish to the AP! 97%

Basics– Time to end this!  Eyes of Empty Death is the finale of the Abomination Vaults adventure path.  You’re DEEP underground and it’s now time to deal with the evils that are rising to destroy Absalom.  What horrors are this far underground?

Mechanics or Crunch– This is another solid Paizo adventure.  Overall, the mechanics worked well and things felt balanced.  There are a few things that I feel need a slightly better explanation like how some elements work during the final fight.  But, those you can hand wave easily enough.  It might not be perfect, but it worked well enough.  4.5/5

Theme or Fluff– This was a fun story overall with extra interesting bits of world lore.  The story had new characters and twists with a crazy ending that the players enjoyed.  There HAS to be a load bearing boss at the end, because I’ve played enough classic Nintendo games to know it must be.  However, all those things just add to the charm of this one. 5/5

Execution– PDF? Yep.  Hyperlinked?  Yes! Solid Art?  Yep.  Good layout? Yes.  It’s a  book by Paizo, so I was never in doubt of the quality.  For 20 bucks as a PDF, you get a lot of nice toys, art, layout, and a solid extra book of maps that you can change levels and elements on.  Overall, this is all the things I wanted from a modern book!  5/5

Summary– This was a solid conclusion to the adventure path, and while well done, if you like it will entirely depend on if you want a dungeon crawl.  The levels are only semi connected and it’s a lot of random between them, but that’s the fun of a dungeon crawl.  You do random stuff and have fun.  I thought it was a well done version of that.  So, if you want a nine level dungeon crawl, here you go! 97%

Ring Side Report- RPG Review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #4-05: The Arclord Who Never Was

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #4-05: The Arclord Who Never Was

System- Pathfinder

Producer– Paizo

Price– $6 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02dw7?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-405-The-Arclord-Who-Never-Was  

TL; DR-Good overall story, but small issues in the middle beats.  83%

Basics– Who is the skull?  You find a talking skull…what the heck is up with that?  Find out who the skull is and continue the mystery of the fey who want it!  

Mechanics or Crunch– The math is all balanced for this adventure, but the progression of it is a bit skewed.  This adventure is basically several skill tests, a potential fight, skill test/fight, plot, skill tests, then end fight.  Players who are combat monsters will be a bit bored as the goal of most damage will not be a major time sink for the game.  It is all balanced for the numbers and skills used, but the game is moving to much more explore, report, corporate and less destroy all things.  4/5

Theme or Fluff– The overall story of this adventure is great, but the beat by beat is a bit off.  The basics are to learn about the skull.  Characters are introduced in throw away lines and given full pictures, but I don’t honestly know who they are and how they fit into the flow.  This leads to players asking questions that I honestly can’t answer.  It’s nice to have, but it feels off.  One example is a NPC who talked to the skull as a person, but that person is mentioned exactly four times. All four times are either in the paragraph saying he talked to her or his pictures.  NO real description of who he is and why we care.  The major pieces are fun and the second half of the adventure comes together well. The first half has good things that just don’t fit true.  3.5/5

Execution– PDF? Yep.  Hyperlinked?  Yep. Solid Art?  Yep.  Good layout? Yep!  This is what I expect from a Paizo adventure.  I complained that there are TOO many pictures.  That’s a good problem to have.  5/5

Summary– I like the metaplot between the starter adventure, this adventure, and the last of the trilogy about this magic talking skull.  The crunch is good, but not even.  If you just want to beat things, this is not your adventure.  If you want to explore a magic town, this is a blast.  As a GM, some pieces don’t quite work.  I want more background on some characters.  Help me use the NPCs and their pictures to fill out the social bits of the adventure.  It’s physically well done, and the big story is a blast.  I just need more flow in the middle.  83%