Preview: Paizo’s first new rulebook since fully abandoning D&D

In January, on the heels of the disastrous OGL fiasco, Pathfinder Second Version writer Paizo absolutely dedicated to breaking free of its attachments — authorized and in any other case — to Dungeons & Dragons. Earlier this month the Seattle-based firm delivered on that promise, launching new core rulebooks that absolutely strip Wizards of the Coast’s mental property from its distinctive fantasy setting on the planet Golarion. Howl of the Wild would be the firm’s first new rulebook revealed because the Pathfinder remaster. Polygon has an unique preview of a few of the new creatures detailed inside — and of the all-new character templates that may quickly be accessible to gamers.

Howl of the Wild is instructed from the attitude of Baranthet, an growing old naturalist looking for to depart his ivory tower and stroll the earth looking for the creatures he’s beforehand solely encountered in dusty books. He’s joined by a number of fanciful creatures, together with a minotaur, a sentient insect, and merfolk. Collectively they assist to element dozens of creatures, revealed right here for the primary time.

Senior designer James Case stated that the writing staff’s aim was to evoke the surprise and curiosity of Sir David Attenborough’s spirited narrations.

“He’s a primarily a scholar who, from the time he was a child, was instructed this bedtime story of those 4 legendary creatures that exist on the market someplace referred to as the Wardens of the Wild,” Case instructed Polygon. “However he additionally was a timid scholar who by no means actually obtained on the market and did any area work. And now he’s aged, and he has happening his first journey.”

Picture: Luca Sotgui/Paizo

Picture: Damien Mammoliti/Paizo

Probably the most uncommon new creatures is named the Apothecary Bee, which when on the offensive can drain the potions carried by gamers. When allied, it could actually inject what it has gathered to assist buff gamers. Different newcomers to Pathfinder are extra threatening, like the large Thrunosaurus Rex — which is imbued, Jurassic World-style, with unnatural powers, however extra suited to Pathfinder’s fantasy themes.

Imasge: Vira Linevych/Paizo

Picture: Justine Nortjé/Paizo

“It [literally has] unholy [energies within it],” Case stated, “which is new to the remaster. In order that signifies that regardless that it’s an animal, as a result of it fairly actually has satan essence coursing by means of it […] and perhaps a few of your divine characters who would in any other case be as missing […] have a strategy to work together with it.”

However whereas Howl of the Wild is primarily a bestiary, it additionally accommodates six new playable ancestries. And, whereas ancestries have beforehand been revealed on the Paizo web site, Case was capable of share the guide’s three new archetypes right here for the primary time.

Picture: Wilmar Ballespí Escarp/Paizo

The Wild Mimic is a tackle the basic Tarzan or, for online game followers, Avenue Fighter’s Blanca. They’ve entry to expertise involving trampling, rending, and pouncing, but additionally producing electrical energy, regenerating limbs, and making shockingly loud vocalizations. In the meantime, the Swarmkeeper — proven in early artwork as a personality with Goblin ancestry — retains a swarm of symbiotic bugs on their particular person. Characters just like the Swarmkeeper are the outcome, Case stated, of extraordinarily open-minded brainstorming introduced on, partly, by a want to additional differentiate the Pathfinder universe from its rivals.

Picture: Wilmar Ballespí Escarp/Paizo

Picture: Luca Melo/Paizo

However by far probably the most anticipated addition to the Second Version’s remastered ruleset is werecreatures — shapeshifting humanoid creatures impressed by werewolves and different legendary creatures. And Paizo’s system for creating these creatures, Case stated, is much more nuanced than its different archetypes.

“That is double-length ancestry [in terms of page count] that offers you your whole basic stuff — form shifting and therapeutic, that form of factor,” Case stated. Nevertheless it additionally presents extra skills, like echolocation for werebats and pack assaults for werewolves along with “extra normal werecreature skills.”

Howl of the Wild is due out as each a digital and a bodily guide in Could 2024.