Pathfinder 2E The Golarion Role Playing Game

[Aldarc]

They're clearly trying to move away from D&D IP. Thus the baked-in Golarion, the monster name changes in the Bestiary, etc. Not so much that they're not still using the OGL though. But it's definitely a branding move.

Not just the names, but also the art direction. If you were searching for goblins, you can readily recognize Paizo's goblins. It's pretty clear that their new versions of monster art in PF2 (e.g., hobgoblins, kobolds, etc.) was inspired by their success with goblins in PF1. It helps reinforce their own flavor, brand, and IP.

Fantasy words never make great setting names. It's "Game of Thrones" not "Westeros" for a reason.

It's actually "A Song of Ice and Fire."

 

[kenada]

Reading through the Core Rulebook and Bestiary one thing that really struck me is that Pathfinder 2 is intimately tied to Golarion in a way that the first edition was not. These are not just Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, Goblins and Gnomes. They are the Pathfinder versions of them which in this edition emphatically means the Golarion versions. From small things like a Dwarf's Clan Dagger to big things like Gnomes that came from the First World and must contend with the bleaching the unique struggles and cultures of these races are directly embedded into the fabric of the game. You can also see this in the Bestiary entrees for Orcs, Hobgoblins, and Kobolds. It's also particularly prominent in classes like the Barbarian, Bard, Champion, Cleric, and Sorcerer. These classes are embedded into Golarion with features that tie them directly into the world.

I think this can be seen with even more strength when you take a look at the supplement lineup for the next year. The Lost Omens line absolutely dominates the schedule. We will be seeing detailed write ups of the various cultures for the core ancestries, write ups for meta regions and organizations, full page spreads for many of the gods with curses and blessing they can provide, and archetypes that are directly embedded in the setting. We are even going to get an entire supplement devoted to the city of Absolom and a lore heavy adventure that takes place around the city.

I am personally a big fan of this embrace of Golarion. What are your thoughts?

Everything outside of the core rulebook line was already set in the Pathfinder Campaign Setting (now Lost Omens), so it’s not really a big change. Even the core rulebooks were Golarion-flavored; they just didn’t use the names.

From a homebrew perspective, it’s not too difficult to file off names and use the core material in another setting. There are Golarion-specific concepts, but Paizo seems to be saving the deep integration (e.g., Golarion-specific archetypes) for the Lost Omens line. Once you do need to make changes, the way customization works makes it easy to modify existing or add new options. The only real challenge might be adapting a setting with a different set of deities, since you need to come up with anathema and spell lists, but there is ample material for inspiration.

 

[Kaodi]

Depending on the setting you probably do not even "need" anathema. The spell lists are the only strictly necessary part.

 

[Greg K]

I am personally a big fan of this embrace of Golarion. What are your thoughts?

My friends and I didn't like Paizo's PF1 goblins or their take on the majority of the PF classes including the changes to the 3e classes (with the exception of two or three specific class features). As a result we passed on that edition. Therefore, based on what you have written, we will, almost assuredly not be give PF2 a look. However, I do wish Paizo the best of luck with PF2.

 

[Green Onceler]

Age of Lost Omens is a MUCH better setting name than "Golarion".

I thought the 1e setting would have been the Inner Sea? I never saw Golarion mentioned in the title of a supplement CF the main campaign setting books, Inner Sea World Guide and Inner Sea Gods.

I assumed they did this to more explicitly open up other areas in their campaign setting, which seems like a good move.

 

[kenada]

I’d always assumed it was called the “Pathfinder Campaign Setting” since that’s what the subscription was called, which is admittedly not a particularly evocative name.

 

[Xenonnonex]

My friends and I didn't like Paizo's PF1 goblins

I could never take the horsehating doghating pyromaniac football headed freaks seriously.

 

[CapnZapp]

I could never take the horsehating doghating pyromaniac football headed freaks seriously.

 

[pcrotteau]

I could never take the horsehating doghating pyromaniac football headed freaks seriously.

I don't think they were meant to be taken seriously, especially after the release of "We Be Goblins"

This "reboot" of the ancestry tones this down, trying to make them an integral part of the existing societies. It will be a challenge for veterans of the old culture to change how they view/play goblins. The New adventure "We Be Heroes" goes some distance to fixing that.

 

[Hrothgar Rannúlfr]

I like that Golarion is infused into the Pathfinder 2nd Edition rulebooks.

Although I have been using PF1 as the core rules for my homebrew since shortly after PF was released, I haven't been playing in Golarion. Now, from the little bit of it that I've seen in the PF2 Core Rulebook and Bestiary, I'm excited to learn about Golarion and eventually use it as my default setting.