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Pathfinder 1e

Pathfinder 1e

Pathfinder 1st 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. But Pathfinder is famous for the incredible variety of options players can choose from; there are two dozen character classes alone, so intrepid players might just as well choose the sword-and-sorcery wielding magus, the inspiring skald, 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’s publisher Paizo has since released a second edition, but the first edition (or 1E) remains one of the most popular roleplaying games in the world!

Originally created by Paizo

Details

3–6 Players
d20
based on the d20 SRD
Edition 3.5

Themes

High Fantasy
Fantasy

Publisher

Current Version

1st Edition

Release Date

2009
System Reviews (5)

See what other Game Masters and players are saying about Pathfinder 1e

DerWolfDenGaming  avatar

DerWolfDenGaming

New review

Ran 215 sessions

Boy howdy, do you like Dungeons and Dragons, but always felt you wanted a bit more crunch, maybe some more options for your character? Well, let me tell you about Pathfinder 1e. I've been running it since its release and coming from 3.0 - 3.5 D&D Pathfinder fixes most of, if not all, the issue that were present within that system while still keeping the core of the D20 system. The best part of Pathfinder 1e are the Archetype for each of the classes. Rather than just playing a fighter, you have dozens of different options for how to play a fighter so much that you could have an entire party of fighter who all feel valuable and efficient while still each feeling unique. Above and beyond the core books of the system there are countless supplements and third party material that expands the system above and beyond what was just written by Piazo. The core setting of Golarion, the Inner Sea is a robust and fascinating world that I have run dozens of their pre-written adventure paths in as well as several "Home brew" games and still feel even after 15 years I've hardly scratched what exists in the setting. You will never get bored with the system, and will spend countless hours crafting characters looking at feats, traits and builds and wishing you had more time to play them all! I am all in for Pathfinder, and you should be too!

Dean  avatar

Dean

New review

Ran 245 sessions / Played 8 sessions

Based on the 3.5 edition of D&D, pathfinder 1e is a system with immense amounts of support & content over the last 20 years. If you enjoy crunchy systems, with rules for just about every situation you can think of then pathfinder 1e can supply it. The options for character choices are the most detailed & its my go to fantasy system because of that fact. Additionally, because its based on the 3.5, its very easy to convert material from those books to the system with minimal effort, thus giving you content that stretches literally hundreds of books.

DM Greg avatar

DM Greg

Ran 29 sessions

Based on the extremely popular 3.5 OGL, Paizo has created a massive world of lore, storytelling, and character options. Hands down, I own more Pathfinder 1e books than any other system. Whether campaign setting books, adventures, or rules accessories, my VTT digital shelf may have a larger collection than most of my other games combined. And with the rules text being published for free, players can access everything!

Alex Lawler avatar

Alex Lawler

I am a GM that fully commits to the idea that mechanics should support roleplaying, and in my opinion, the best way to do so, is to have support for anything a player or their character might want to do. Pathfinder is a game that commits to this philosophy too. It is a sprawling simulationist dream. It can feel intimidating, and I wouldn't recommend it to first-timers. But I would say that with the right attitude, there's a relatively low barrier of entry. Just look up what's relevant to you, don't worry about everything else. The game does not strongarm you into knowing everything about itself to just get started. In being so big, it gives up on the idea of how you are "meant" to play it, and just lets you do you.

Lost Lion Gaming avatar

Lost Lion Gaming

Played 17 sessions

Crunchy and Delicious! Pathfinder 1e is not the best system for new players, as the depth of rules can be intimidating,but for an experienced player of ttrpgs looking to play a system for detailed rulesets for everything you can imagine, so you can feel like you are having a real impact on the world, Pathfinder 1e is the system for you. Golarion is also one of the most well flushed out world settings in the world of TTRPGs, and rather in Pathfinder 1e or 2e, it is a world worth exploring!

How to play Pathfinder 1e

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 accrued over the game’s 15-year lifespan. Pathfinder also contains robust rules for fighting monsters and other adversaries, delving into dungeons, and exploring trackless wilderness.

Map makers

Venatus 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.

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Tom 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.

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Heroic 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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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.

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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.

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Steve 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.

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Eric 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.

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Crystal 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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Frequently asked questions

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Virtual table tops

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