Pathfinder 2e
Pathfinder 2nd Edition is a tabletop roleplaying game, or TTRPG, in which players create heroic characters to embark on fantasy adventures. You might play as a noble elven wizard, a roguish halfling scoundrel, or a stout dwarven warrior, just to name a few. Pathfinder is famous for the incredible variety of options players can choose from; there are over three dozen character classes alone, so intrepid players might just as well choose the sword-and-sorcery wielding Magus, the spooky Witch, or the gritty Gunslinger! One player, the Game Master (GM), acts as the rest of the world those heroes explore. The GM presents encounters with memorable characters, mystical places, terrible monsters, and myriad other challenges to overcome. The players decide on a course of action using their characters’ skills, magic spells, or equipment—the only limit on what they can attempt is their imagination! Often, they’ll need to roll dice to find out whether they succeed or fail. But no matter what, the players’ choices result in a unique story of which they are both author and audience. For this reason, TTRPGs are often considered games of collaborative storytelling. Pathfinder Second Edition revamps the rules from the game’s first edition, making character creation, adventuring, and combat more intuitive and easy to learn. It and its predecessor remain as two of the most popular roleplaying games in the world!
Originally created by Paizo
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Pathfinder 2e Reviews (37)
See what other Game Masters and players are saying about Pathfinder 2e
I played Pathfinder 2e with some friends for a few sessions. It was an enjoyable and well-balanced system. However, be aware that it requires a more significant investment in time to learn and create characters compared to other systems. Unfortunately, it also lacks comprehensive character builders and sufficient YouTube content for character and rules optimization. Despite these challenges, the experience was rewarding and the system has a dedicated following.
Pathfinder’s Second Edition built on some of the issues of its first edition. A fantasy styled game similar to Dnd, Pathfinder focuses on the ability to make a character that feels unique, has abilities that are distinct, and with a variety of option style rules can offer something for everyone. As the remastered version of the game fine tunes some of the game balance issues, it also adds with it new classes, equipment, and creatures. There is a reputation that comes with this game about it being a bit more difficult to pick up compared to other systems. While this is true, I would also say that this is a major strength of the system. The difficulty in learning everything in the system is mostly based on the options available. With over double the classes of 5e and hundreds of feats to pick from, there can be a decision paralysis that overtakes anyone jumping in blind. What I would say to ease concern about this is that once you know what character you want to build, the rest of the rules are simple to pick up. Archives of Nethys offers all Pathfinder material for free, and it is supported by Paizo in this action. This means that you aren’t forced into buying hundreds of dollars worth of books before you can kick off your campaign. Pathbuilder is an amazing tool for character creation making your options much more manageable, and I have found Foundry’s Virtual Tabletop to do an amazing job of tracking all the bonuses and penalties that come up during a campaign. With these three tools, PF2E ends up being one of the best systems for making custom characters ready to jump into any story. For dungeon masters, the conditions, effects, and abilities can be difficult to keep track of during a session. The variant rules for Social Interactions, Chases, Research, Downtime, and so many more present ways to enhance your story and style, but they can also add even more to the learning curve that comes with this system. However, the modules and campaigns in this system are among the best written I have ever seen. The authors write these clearly for a Game Master to pick up and be able to run things without much pain or prep giving you time to focus on your players and the things that they enjoy. I would suggest PF2E if you are looking for a fantasy game where you can make the exact sort of character and campaign you want with plenty of options for customization along the way.
PF2E is a well crafted system with tight math, that scales well and has lots of character freedom and options. Much more defined than D&D 5e. And all the rules are freely available. Also run by a company that cares about it's employees and customers.
If you want a strong, stable system, this is where you go. (Most of) the rules are very well defined and consistent, and if you're playing with people you are unfamiliar with, knowing that everyone will be treated the same because of rules, not rulings, is important. Coupled with an extremely strong VTT scene through Foundry and some of the best designed APs in the market, a PF2e table can be a safer bet than many other systems. As for all that crunch and "spending so much time looking at rules" and such, tools like Archives of Nethys make that a breeze if you know the basics of what you want to find. VTTs take so much pain away from worrying about remembering bonuses or long turns having to do everything for your actions. Anyone who says the system is difficult or cumbersome is either disingenuous or didn't actually give it an honest try.
How to play Pathfinder 2e
Pathfinder’s core mechanic is rolling a 20-sided die, adding any bonuses or modifiers from a character’s skills, and comparing the result to a target number to determine if a given action succeeds or fails. A character’s abilities come from a combination of their ancestry, class, attributes, and training, all of which players can fully customize from a sprawling selection of options. Pathfinder also contains robust rules for fighting monsters and other adversaries, delving into dungeons, and exploring trackless wilderness.
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Pathfinder 2e map makers
Cze and Peku
Cze and Peku are well-known in the TTRPG community for their vibrant and highly detailed battle maps. They specialize in fantasy, sci-fi, and modern settings, offering maps for everything from dungeons to sprawling cities. Their Patreon provides a variety of map styles, along with grid and gridless options, making them perfect for both virtual tabletops and print. With frequent updates, they’re a go-to for immersive game experiences.
Explore MapsTom Cartos
Tom Cartos is a renowned creator of highly detailed, multi-level battlemaps for tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons. His work enhances gameplay by providing immersive environments that captivate players. Tom offers a diverse range of maps, including fantasy and modern settings, available through his website and Patreon. Patreon supporters gain access to weekly map sets, asset packs, and monthly adventures, with higher tiers offering additional benefits such as DungeonDraft integration and limited commercial licensing.
Explore MapsVenatus Maps
Venatus Maps specializes in creating clean, modular battle maps for virtual tabletops. Their work covers a wide range of environments, from haunted forests to ancient ruins, with meticulous attention to detail. Venatus Maps also offers map packs designed for specific adventures, making it easier to plug them into existing campaigns.
Explore MapsHeroic Maps
Heroic Maps delivers high-quality, printable battlemaps that cater to both fantasy and sci-fi settings. Known for their versatility, Heroic Maps provide a mix of atmospheric dungeons, vivid landscapes, and detailed interiors. Their offerings include modular designs that can be pieced together for expansive settings, perfect for GMs looking for flexibility in map design.
Explore MapsPathfinder 2e community artists
Wayne Reynolds
Wayne Reynolds is a British artist renowned for his dynamic and detailed illustrations. He has contributed extensively to Pathfinder 2nd Edition, providing cover art and interior illustrations that capture the game's vibrant fantasy elements.
Explore ArtEric Deschamps
Eric Deschamps is an American freelance and concept artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games, science fiction, and fantasy books. He has contributed to Pathfinder 2nd Edition with illustrations that enhance the game's immersive world.
Explore ArtSteve Prescott
Steve Prescott is an American artist whose work has appeared in role-playing games. He has produced interior illustrations for many Pathfinder 2nd Edition books, adding depth and detail to the game's visual storytelling.
Explore ArtCrystal Frasier
Crystal Frasier is an American artist, author, and game designer known for her work on the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. She has contributed to Pathfinder 2nd Edition with illustrations that reflect her unique artistic style.
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Explore Pathfinder 2e Classes
Magus
You are both warrior and mage: arcane power wielded not only beside, but intertwined with, that of your unyielding weapon. From book to battle you practice the art of practical application, imbuing your strikes with the power of your spells and giving your enemies the best - and last - show of their lives.
Monk
The strength of your fist flows from your mind and spirit. You seek perfection, honing your body into a flawless instrument and your mind into an orderly bastion of wisdom. You're a fierce combatant renowned for martial arts skills and combat stances that grant you unique fighting moves. While the challenge of mastering many fighting styles drives you to great heights, you also enjoy meditating on philosophical questions and discovering new ways to obtain peace and enlightenment.
Psychic
You have been awakened to the power of the mind, tapping into your very will to manifest your magic. Master of both conscious and subconscious, you embody the very concept of "anything is possible if you can think it". Your mind perceives the hidden truth of the world, and it is your instrument, tool, and weapon against the dangers within it.
Bard
You are a master of artistry, a scholar of hidden secrets, and a captivating persuader. Using powerful performances, you influence minds and elevate souls to new levels of heroics. You might use your powers to become a charismatic leader, or perhaps you might instead be a counselor, manipulator, scholar, scoundrel, or virtuoso. While your versatility leads some to consider you a beguiling ne’erdo- well and a jack-of-all-trades, it’s dangerous to dismiss you as a master of none.
Champion
You are an emissary of a deity, a devoted servant who has taken up a weighty mantle, and you devoutly pursue a cause that holds you apart from those around you. You have powerful defenses that you share freely with your allies and innocent bystanders, as well as divine power you use to end the threats your deity opposes.
Druid
The power of nature is impossible to resist. It can bring ruin to the stoutest fortress in minutes, reducing even the mightiest works to rubble, burning them to ash, burying them beneath an avalanche of snow, or drowning them beneath the waves. It can provide endless bounty and breathtaking splendor to those who respect it— and an agonizing death to those who take it too lightly. You are one of those who hear nature’s call. You stand in awe of the majesty of its power and give yourself over to its service.
Fighter
Fighting for honor, greed, loyalty, or simply the thrill of battle, you are an undisputed master of weaponry and combat techniques. You combine your actions through clever combinations of opening moves, finishing strikes, and counterattacks whenever your foes are unwise enough to drop their guard. Whether you are a knight, mercenary, sharpshooter, or blade master, you have honed your martial skills into an art form and perform devastating critical attacks on your enemies.
Kineticist
You are a master of the elements: fire, water, air, earth, wood, and metal are at your beck and call. Channeling energies through your body from the elemental planes, you conjure them to hand, and then outward, blasting your enemies with raw elemental power. As you grow, so too, does your connection to the elements, and from there you may attain true mastery over them.
Gunslinger
You have embraced the genius of rapidly-propelled projectiles. Whether powered by explosive gunpowder or the mechanical heft of a crossbow, you steady your aim and track your targets across the battlefield. Distance is but another ally, and when the battle is over and the smoke clears, you are already staring down the sights at your next target.
Inventor
Your dreams become reality through clever determination and peerless wit. With your hands, you manifest impossible contraptions and devices with each astounding breakthrough. Every invention unique, every experiment a failure in any hands but your own. You are a one person industrial revolution.
Investigator
You seek to uncover the truth, doggedly pursuing leads to reveal the plots of devious villains, discover ancient secrets, or unravel other mysteries. Your analytical mind quickly formulates solutions to complicated problems, and your honed senses identify even the most obscure clues. Wielding knowledge as a weapon, you study the creatures and dangers you encounter to exploit their weaknesses.
Ranger
Some rangers believe civilization wears down the soul, but still needs to be protected from wild creatures. Others say nature needs to be protected from the greedy, who wish to tame its beauty and plunder its treasures. You could champion either goal, or both. You might be a scout, tracker, or hunter of fugitives or beasts, haunting the edge of civilization or exploring the wilds. You know how to live off the land and are skilled at spotting and taking down both opportune prey and hated enemies.
Barbarian
Rage consumes you in battle. You delight in wreaking havoc and using powerful weapons to carve through your enemies, relying on astonishing durability without needing complicated techniques or rigid training. Your rages draw upon a vicious instinct, which you might associate with an animal, a spirit, or some part of yourself. To many barbarians, brute force is a hammer and every problem looks like a nail, whereas others try to hold back the storm of emotions inside them and release their rage only when it matters most.
Cleric
Deities work their will upon the world in infinite ways, and you serve as one of their most stalwart mortal servants. Blessed with divine magic, you live the ideals of your faith, adorn yourself with the symbols of your church, and train diligently to wield your deity’s favored weapon. Your spells might protect and heal your allies, or they might punish foes and enemies of your faith, as your deity wills. Yours is a life of devotion, spreading the teachings of your faith through both word and deed.
Witch
You command powerful magic, not through study or devotion to any ideal, but as a vessel or agent for a mysterious, otherworldly patron that even you don't entirely understand. This entity might be a covert divinity, a powerful fey, a manifestation of natural energies, an ancient spirit, or any other mighty supernatural being—but its nature is likely as much a mystery to you as it is to anyone else. Through a special familiar, your patron grants you versatile spells and powerful hexes to use as you see fit, though you're never certain if these gifts will end up serving your patron's larger plan.
Alchemist
There's no sight more beautiful to you than a strange brew bubbling in a beaker, and you consume your ingenious elixirs with abandon. You're fascinated by uncovering the secrets of science and the natural world, and you're constantly experimenting in your lab or on the go with inventive concoctions for every eventuality. You are fearless in the face of risk, hurling explosive or toxic creations at your foes. Your unique path toward greatness is lined with alchemical brews that push your mind and body to their limits.
Rogue
You are skilled and opportunistic. Using your sharp wits and quick reactions, you take advantage of your opponents’ missteps and strike where it hurts most. You play a dangerous game, seeking thrills and testing your skills, and likely don’t care much for any laws that happen to get in your way. While the path of every rogue is unique and riddled with danger, the one thing you all share in common is the breadth and depth of your skills.
Sorcerer
You didn't choose to become a spellcaster—you were born one. There's magic in your blood. Perhaps a divine influence blessed one of your ancestors, a forebear communed with an ancient, primordial entity, or a powerful occult ritual performed long ago influenced your lineage. Self-reflection and study allow you to refine your inherent magical skills and unlock new, more powerful abilities. The power in your blood carries a risk, however, and you constantly face the choice of whether you'll rise to become a master spellcaster or fall into destruction.
Summoner
You are the anchor of a mighty eidolon, a powerful creature from another world. Without you, it could not remain here, and so through friendship, servitude, or something deeper, you share a connection with your eidolon that is unlike any other, and your lives - and your adventures - are forever intertwined.
Swashbuckler
Many warriors rely on brute force, weighty armor, or cumbersome weapons. For you, battle is a dance where you move among foes with style and grace. You dart among combatants with flair and land powerful finishing moves with a flick of the wrist and a flash of the blade, all while countering attacks with elegant ripostes that keep enemies off balance. Harassing and thwarting your foes lets you charm fate and cheat death time and again with aplomb and plenty of flair.
Thaumaturge
You carry a mystical implement that, in combination with a lifetime of study of ancient traditions and esoteric lore, is used to bring forth any foe's bane. Your peculiar knowledge of the deepest and most forgotten archives is weaponized as you bring to bear that which your enemy fears the most, be it a superstitious emblem, a forgotten religious icon, or a specific word or phrase. Everything has a weakness, and you can not only find it, but also turn it against them when it matters most.
Wizard
You are an eternal student of the secrets of the universe, using your mastery of magic to cast powerful spells. You treat magic like a science, cross-referencing the latest texts on practical spellcraft with ancient tomes to discover and understand arcane magic. Yet magical theory is vast, and there's no way you can study it all. Most wizards learn through formal schooling, with their curriculum informing a specific rubric, although particularly driven researchers sometimes piece together their own theories.
Oracle
Your conduit to divine power eschews the traditional channels of prayer and servitude—you instead glean sacred truths and great mysteries embodied in overarching concepts, whether because you perceive the common ground across multiple deities or circumvent their power entirely. You explore one of these mysteries and draw upon its power to cast miraculous spells, but that power comes with a terrible price: a curse that grows stronger the more you draw upon it, which you might uphold as an instrument of the divine or view as punishment from the gods.