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 (74)
See what other Game Masters and players are saying about Pathfinder 2e
Pathfinder 2E manages to bridge the gap between D&D 3.5 and D&D 4th edition: it is a very modular and versatile system with strengths in player empowerment, class design, and encounter building. Skills have uses inside and outside of combat- whether you're using medicine to know more about how someone died, or utilizing it in-combat to heal your allies. Attributes have uses to them beyond what your class needs that makes them worth investing in. There's a wide variety of feats, abilities and ancestries that almost guarantees that no two characters are going to be the same- either mechanically or flavorfully. Spellcasters no longer completely outshine martial characters when they get access to third level spells; instead, both types of characters have situation in which one shines heavily over the other (and casters do get ridiculous eventually- it's just around level 15 instead of around level 5). As a game master, it's very easy to run. There's a wealth of rules, which provides you with a good baseline for improvisation. If you know what a character is trying to accomplish- there's likely an existing skill feat, feat, or rule that you can leverage to provide a mechanical baseline. There's a wealth of tactical options at your disposal to better roleplay your creatures inside of combat and out. Best of all - the creature creation guidelines are easy to utilize to make interesting and fun monsters for your party to fight. Is it a perfect system? No, but it's a good step in the right direction. Paizo has done a fantastic job creating a fun, tactical system with a great amount of depth to it. I look forward to every game I run and hope they can improve on it even moreso in the future.
Pathfinder 2E is a great "crunchy" role-playing game at the pinnacle of balance and diversity. While the sheer number of options available to play (hundreds of thousands of combinations of Ancestry, Heritage, Background, and Class before you even get to choosing your first Feat) may seem daunting at first, Paizo has done a great job both in balancing and advising to insure your character performs within a completely acceptable range of expectations, allowing the GM to focus on the narrative and story rather than worrying if characters are sub-optimal. Which is not the same as saying the characters don't have their own niches within the group dynamic. rather, Pathfinder 2E is meant to be played as a group game, where the rules encourage a certain amount of teamwork, especially against tougher "boss" encounters. As a GM the game's balance against the encounter expectations is unmatched in my experience. An experienced GM can predict with a fair amount of certainty the outcome of a given challenge, with the dice playing their usual chaotic selves in pushing close calls one way or another. If the game has one weakness, it is the pendulum swing of edition design slightly heavily in favor of martial characters over their spellcasting compatriots. While it can be fun playing casters in this edition, the culture shock coming from other "high fantasy" games as a spellcaster is real. It takes a wizard-like understanding of the rules to maximize the efficiency of spellcasters -- or at least a willingness to know the people swinging the swords are more often then not the stars of battles and applying your control and utility to help them out, pulling the "big gun" spells when they can be of maximum benefit rather than just expecting them to be auto-win buttons.
Pathfinder is my favourite ttrpg system, I love how customisable the character creation is, with meaningful choices at every level. In combat there is always an option for what to do next, and teamwork is heavily encouraged. The memorable moments come often as you and your allies work together to defeat your enemies. Outside of combat, all the many skill feats provide some amazing flexibility, where your character can show off their athleticism, or power of personality in interesting and different ways. Highly recommend!
Pathfinder 2e allows for deep character customization. It’s got great rule systems to help decide the outcome of almost anything you want to do! The collaborative nature of combat is my favorite part of the game system and is heavily incentivized in how combats run. Movement in combat is also incentivized and this makes for fun and engaging combat at a whole new level. The plethora of feats allows you to build any character you want.
This is finally a proper evolution to the d20 system that Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition laid out. It actually streamlines it a bit and opens up new combinations and options while keeping things balanced. All of this while being able to access the rules system easily and free online. With the addition of Starfinder 2 utilizing the same engine, the possibilities are endless.
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.
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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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