Pathfinder Player and GM Core Are Now Available

The new Remastered core rulebooks will serve as a fresh entry point for Pathfinder 2nd Edition under the ORC license.

Today, November 15th, Paizo released the first two books of their remastered line: Pathfinder Player Core and Pathfinder GM Core. They will continue the line in 2024 with Pathfinder Monster Core and Pathfinder Player Core 2.

These books serve as a fresh entry point into 2nd edition while removing any carried over OGL content and incorporating several years of errata and changes to the game. This comes as a response to the concerns brought about earlier this year with the shifting conditions of the Open Gaming License and the huge influx of new Pathfinder players. This explosion of new players saw Paizo selling out of Pathfinder Core Rulebook in Q1 and triggered an unexpected new and final printing of the book.

Paizo used this opportunity to pull content from many of the previous books, along with errata and feedback from the developers and players, to replace the OGL books as they are phased out of production. They also streamlined the organization of the books to make it easier to navigate for old and new players alike.

The design team also took this opportunity to introduce new rules, heritages, and feats, as well as overhauling spellcasting.

We did a review of both books earlier this month. They are available now in standard hardcover, Special Edition hardcover, and hobby-retailer exclusive Sketch Cover hardcovers.

If you want to find out more about the ORC license, you can find it on Azora’s website.

 

[GuardianLurker]

PF2e should've never happened. Plenty were happy with PF1e. Between WotC ditching 3e and Paizo ditching PF1e, I'm done supporting TTRPGs with the constant "Edition Cycles."

Whoof! Turn down the bitter, man. Mind you, I'm not sure a new edition once every 10 years is constant, but sure, you do you. Enjoy your game of preference.

And there's absolutely nothing stopping you from doing the conversion work yourself.

Mechanically, it's even pretty easy. The transition from a 3.x game (including to PF1) is very straightforward. For that matter, you could probably run 3.x characters directly through a PF2 adventure with no changes.

 

[TrippyHippy]

I have found it curiously hard to find previews of the product, which makes it difficult to judge it. Admittedly, it’s mostly curiosity but it would be interesting to know how the Witch Class works, for example.

 

[Morrus]

PF2e should've never happened. Plenty were happy with PF1e. Between WotC ditching 3e and Paizo ditching PF1e, I'm done supporting TTRPGs with the constant "Edition Cycles."

10 years isn't a constant edition cycle. Buying a book off someone doesn't make them your lifelong indentured servant, obligated to make things for you for eternity. Feel free to not want to buy their new product, but implying that its very existence is some kind of affront is just entitlement. We don't all want to drive Ford Model Ts, either. Companies are allowed to make new things, and that is not a moral or ethical problem.

 

[Von Ether]

If you want a chalange try getting people to play B/X !

Or Worlds Without Number!

 

[Reynard]

I have found it curiously hard to find previews of the product, which makes it difficult to judge it. Admittedly, it’s mostly curiosity but it would be interesting to know how the Witch Class works, for example.

It's not hidden. Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Core Preview | Paizo

 

[Staffan]

Or Worlds Without Number!

I can't even get my group to play TORG...

 

[Reynard]

I can't even get my group to play TORG...

Well, I mean...

 

[EthanSental]

Bait and switch.

I'm planning a game for some coworkers who have never played D&D. I didn't specify which version and the game I'm prepping is using Old School Essentials.

I bought and thought I’d like OSE, until I realized my fighter for 9+ levels could only swing my sword once in a combat round. I used to like that style game in 1985 when I first started playing but I find it more enjoyable with the game mechanics that have becomes part of the game in the last 30+ years.

 

[Jahydin]

I bought and thought I’d like OSE, until I realized my fighter for 9+ levels could only swing my sword once in a combat round. I used to like that style game in 1985 when I first started playing but I find it more enjoyable with the game mechanics that have becomes part of the game in the last 30+ years.

Can understand that.

When I run OSR games, I let my players run multiple characters so there's more to do. Also, if one dies they're still in the game.

 

[Velderan]

I bought and thought I’d like OSE, until I realized my fighter for 9+ levels could only swing my sword once in a combat round. I used to like that style game in 1985 when I first started playing but I find it more enjoyable with the game mechanics that have becomes part of the game in the last 30+ years.

I just wanted to run something simple that they can make a character themselves and not have a bunch of rules to understand. If they like the concept and want to play more, I’ll see what their tolerance for game complexity is and go from there.