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Monsters Unleashed, Volume 2, is more monsters rescued from obscurity by the fine people at Purple Duck Games. If you need some interesting monsters at a bargain price, take a look.
Monsters Unleashed, Vol 2 is a 16-page PDF (12-pages if you remove the OGL pages) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Mark Gedak and Stefen Styrsky and published by Purple Duck Games. This is part of Purple Duck Games’ Monsters Unleashed Subscription.
The layout is a traditional book design, primarily two-column and easy enough to read. The monsters follow standard Pathfinder template. The art is black and white with each creature having its own illustration. A sheet of creature tokens is included on the last page.
The Challenge Ratings of the monsters unleashed here range from three to 22 (!) mostly good direct combat creatures, including the Fenris Wolf (the CR 22), yes, that Fenris Wolf. Indeed, the Clay Warriors even come in three varieties. Each creature descriptions suggests some good adventure hooks for each of the creatures. All of the creatures each has its own table of what you can find out about it on a successful knowledge check.
Additionally, there is a named and leveled version of one of the monsters, a companion creature for the named monster and a new spell.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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While designed for a particular game world, the flux horrors can easily be slid into any ongoing campaign using M&M (which is what I intend to do with them). They are a useful set of creatures if you wish to have creatures from beyond to throw at your players and the art for the monsters are very evocative.
Minions of Splintered Serenity: Flux Horrors is a 22-page PDF (19 pages if you remove the cover, OGL page and ad) for the Mutants & Mastermind RPG (3rd ed) written by Stephen Coburn and Nathan Ellsworth and published by Ignitus Innovation. This is part of their supplements for the Untold (Superpowered by M&M) line.
The layout is a predominantly single column, and everything is clear and easy to read. The art is full color throughout and each of the horrors gets its own full color illustration. It looks very slick overall.
Flux Horrors opens with a short introduction to the place of Flux Horrors in the Untold setting. Then it moves to the horrors themselves, detailing eight of them. Ranging from PL 3 to 10, the horrors cover an interesting range of abilities, from the purely physical threats of the Wrecker and the Hydra Strand to the inscrutable motives of the Disciple of Pain and the actions of the Flux Warper and Corrupter both of which spread the influence of the Flux in different ways.
The product ends with a brief outline for using M&M with the Splinter Serenity setting.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Ultimate Options: New Arcane Discoveries builds on the new arcane discovery mechanic introduced in Ultimate Magic, providing a variety of new possibilities for modeling classic wizards from fiction and making more interesting wizards for all.
Ultimate Options: New Arcane Discoveries is a 10-page PDF (9 pages if you remove the credits/OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Owen K. C. Stephens and published by Super Genius Games. This is part of Super Genius Games’ Ultimate Options line.
The layout is a screen-friendly landscape design, with cover art and 1-column on the first page and three columns on the rest. The chart of feats is clear and easy to read. The art is primarily in color and supports the magic and magic-using theme of this product.
New Arcane Discover opens with a discussion about the place of wizard and magic and the use of arcane discoveries (introduced in Paizo’s Ultimate Magic book) to expand on the idea of the wizard as the ultimate masters of magic and its knowledge.
Twenty-nine new arcane discoveries are included which open up a wide variety of abilities:
Discoveries that improve elemental attacks, others that enhance various schools in minor ways, one that gains the wizard a genie companion (!), and -for the 20th level wizard- the ability to become undying (bandage wraps are optional)! A wealth of possibilities are provided for interesting character builds.
Lastly there are two new alternate wizard class powers sets: academician, a mage-scholar, and zauberer, which uses a variant spell casting system. Both of which will appeal to certain players types.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThruRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Once Upon the Time is inspirational with some useful ideas, unfortunately it is hampered by a poor conversion to the Pathfinder rule set. I hope that a second edition with a cleaned up and improved set of rules for Pathfinder will be released soon.
Once Upon A Time: A Guide to Fairy Tales for Pathfinder is a 46-page PDF (36 pages if you remove the cover, OGL and ads) written by David Caffee and published by Avalon Games.
The layout is most standard, double column (interspaced with single column) and easy to read, unfortunately it lacks both a table of contents and index though it is still short enough that things should be easy enough to find. The interior art is black and white and suited to the product’s theme.
This is a book about bringing elements of fairy tales into gaming, this version providing rules to be used with the Pathfinder system. It begins with an introduction to fairy tales (not originally for children alone) and then moves into the structure of the tales and how to apply that to a game structure.
A random table of fifty fairy tail plots seeds and twenty random encounters provide inspiration for adventures. Four useful characters -evil witch, good witch, seducer, strong person- are statted out but not very well with several omissions and errors (the good witch is statted as a cleric but is listed as a sorcerer for example).
Next there are new skills -detective work, puzzles and riddles, and rhyming- which to fit the Pathfinder paradigm really should have been folding into existing skills, the later two would have been excellent additions to Perform for example. There are four new feats, which are nicely thematic for fairy tail games but would be more of a challenge for other settings.
Six advance/prestige classes follow (it mixes and matches those terms) which while brilliant thematically -fair maiden, gallant hero- are just the same version from the OGL version of this product. The character skills have not even been converted to the Pathfinder versions. These classes need to be completely rewritten and available to take as base classes to achieve what they need to achieve for the implied setting.
The monsters are fun and interesting, including a big bad wolf and a wicked trader (ala rumplestiltskin), but poorly converted to Pathfinder.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThruRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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The Tome of Monsters is an interesting book of monsters for Pathfinder mixing creatures from legendary sources with entire new creations. Like any book of monsters, it depends on the campaign world how useful it will be. It has a variety of interesting beings especially among the fey and legendary creatures included and as a resource for new familiars.
The Tome of Monsters is a 118-page PDF (114-pages if you remove the cover, OGL page and a blank page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sean O’Connor & Katheryn Bauer with Connie J. Thomson & Robert W. Thomson and published by 4 Winds Fantasy Gaming.
The layout is primary traditional two columns, if you have looked at any book of monster for Pathfinder you will recognize the format and is fully book-marked for easy navigation. The cover is full color while the interior art is black and white with each monster getting it own illustration. The art quality is a bit variable however, some are quite well done, while others are a bit primitive.
The monsters presented range widely: in CR from 1/8 to 20 and in type. Some have shown up before in other versions, redcaps and scarecrows for example, but many are new and several draw upon legends from across the world. Those that are created from legends get a note about the source and some comments on the legendary creature. Some, but too few, get adventure seeds as well. A few of the creatures (clockwork familiars and ekatonkier) appeared in previous 4 Winds products but have been expanded on for this book.
It introduces a new type of elemental (aether) which are intriguing but not very well elaborated upon. Many new familiar creatures and possible animal companions are included along with four that are suitable for use as player characters (goatman, machlyes, neanderthal, and otso)
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Thank you for the review! |
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The Book of Drakes is a beautiful and useful product. The drakes provide a wealth of adventure ideas and roleplaying opportunities. While they may seem ‘cute’ that is only true of a few of them, many of the drakes are quite serious creatures and can be used in a range of roles. The Book of Drakes provides the tools to use them as allies, enemies or some mix of the two.
The Book of Drakes is a 62-page PDF (57-pages if you remove the cover, OGL page and ads) for the Pathfinder RPG designed by Adam Daigle and Mike Welham and published by Open Design.
The layout is primary traditional two columns and the charts are easy to read. The art is beautiful, lavish and -mostly- full color. No one should have any complaints about the appearance of this product. Additionally, it is fully book marked for easy navigation.
The Book of Drakes begins with a short introduction and moves into Chapter 1: Ecology of the Drake. Which talks about the origin and spread of the drakes and gives ideas of where they may be found. A list of ten famous drakes give a wealth of plot seeds and ideas for roleplaying drakes.
Chapter 2: Players and Drakes, this provides the mechanics for integrating drakes into a campaign as well as some advice for the roleplaying side of things. New feats, new drake-aligned archetypes even the Drake Handler base class make their appearance here along with new drake-based spells and items. But perhaps the most interesting section is the option of drakes as a player character race (for Candle Drakes and Pseudodragons) which could be quite fun for the right group but will not fit every campaign.
Chapter 3: Games Masters and Drakes, this section provides twenty drakes and rules for creating your own (which includes the vine drake as an example, so you really get twenty-one drakes). The drakes are divided by what they are associated with: geographic (such as the crag or tor drake), material (glass or paper) and the catch all, esoteric, category (dream or pact). Each is a unique blend of powers with a distinct personality. The gear drake, for example, loves to build -and dismantle- machines while the sewer drake lives where you would expect and are dangerous -if lazy- predators in their environment. The drakes’ CR range from 1 to 14 so they can be easily fit into most campaigns
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Secrets of the Magus provides a number of useful tool for expanding on this new class: arcana, feats, an archetype and magic items. If you need more choices for your Magus, this is a good place to look.
The Secrets of the Magus is a 13-page PDF (9-pages if you remove the cover, OGL page and ads) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Steven D. Russell and published by Rite Publishing.
The layout is primary traditional two columns. The cover is full color while the interior art is color and themed to the magus. It is also fully book marked making it very easy to navigate.
The Secrets of the Magus jumps strait in with new arcana for the Magus, thirty-four of them in fact. Primarily they are offensive abilities but several defensive and utility options are provided as well, some which build upon class ability choices for the Magus. These broaden the arcana options for a Magus considerably.
Another option included for the Magus is the Singer of Blades, designed for elven characters but not restricted to them. It is a class for those who wish to combine the magus with mobility and artistry of the elfin dance. It seems a good archetype and a good addition to the options available to the Magus.
Next are a handful of feats (OK, seven if you want to be precise), all but two of which are tied to Magus abilities. The other two are combat dance feats that tie into the Singer of Blades archetype but could be used by others who have mastered a similar style.
Two magic items and one artefact (Mournsky) keyed to the Magus finish off the product, all of which are interesting but they could be written a bit more clearly.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Like the new sword and spell-wielding Magus but feel there are not enough options? Well, this product will solve that problem for you. While the new feats are primarily focused on the Magic, two thirds of them can be used by a wider range of classes. So, if you like sorcery with your swordplay, consider giving this product a look.
Might of the Magus: Advance Feats is a 16-page PDF (14-pages if you remove the cover and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sigfried Trent and published by Open Design. This is the latest volume of Open Design’s Advance Feats line for Pathfinder.
The layout is primary traditional two columns and the table of feats clear to read. The cover is full color while the interior art is a smaller version of the cover (also in color) and lots of interesting black and white runic designs which have a nice arcane feel to them.
Might of the Magus begins with an introduction to the Magus class and its abilities, discussing the potential overlap between the Magus arcana power and feats among other things. As always, a useful overview of a new class in provided
The heart of this product is the thirty new feats, about a third are directly tied to class abilities of the Magus making this one of the most focused of the Advanced Feats lists. Each feat is followed by a paragraph or so of commentary that explains the idea about the feat and sometimes discusses balance issues. Several sidebars throughout also look at game and roleplaying issues. As is usual for the Advanced Feat line, this provides a good amount of understanding of the design concerns that are helpful for those aiming to understand the system underlying Pathfinder. The feats are good mix, building on the Magus’ specialty, mixing magic and combat, quite well. (A list of useful feats for a Magus from the Complete Advanced Feats is included as a useful form of cross marketing.)
The product concludes with three example 20-level builds for the Magus: A fae swordmaster, a whip-wielder and a magus-monk hybrid. Good food for thought is provided with these builds.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Runes are a traditional element of fantasy and part of history. Feats of Runic Might II allows you to give your character to ability to access the magic of the runes. If you like the idea of runic magic and do not mind a small increase in the complexity of your campaign, give this product a look.
The Genius Guide to: Feats of Runic Might II: Runebinding is a 11-page PDF (10 pages if you remove the credits/OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Owen K. C. Stephens and published by Super Genius Game. This is part of Super Genius Games’ Genius Guide line.
The layout is a screen-friendly landscape design, with cover art and 1-column on the first page and three columns on the rest. The chart of feats is arranged as is traditional for the OGL and easy to read. The art is mostly full color and tangentially supports the runic theme of the product.
Runic Might II begins with a short discussion about the history of runes and how this book can be used or melded with the earlier Feats of Runic Might. It adds the runebound category of feats, representing someone who has tied a rune into their aura. In general, ones’ mastery of runes (as in the more runic feats one has) the more powerful the effects they generate, but there are a variety of limitations on the use of runes as well.
The twenty-four feats (one of necessity a reprint) range from combat to skill use, saves to spells. The systems for runic feats looks both balanced and flexible, essentially providing minor spell-like abilities. It allows another level of character customization which some will like. Though a magic item or two in support on the runic feats would have been a nice addition to this product.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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You cannot have too many feats, right? If they are all of the quality of the ones in this collection, then, no, you can always use more. This collection is worthwhile for the feats alone, but the advice for playing the new base classes from the Pathfinder Advanced Player’s Guide is quite useful too.
The Complete Advanced Feats is a 77-page PDF (74-pages if you remove the cover, ad and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sigfried Trent and published by Open Design. This is a compilation of Open Design’s Advance Feats line for Pathfinder.
The layout is primary traditional two columns and the table of feats clear to read. The cover is full color while the interior art is mostly black and white with much of it directly tying into a feat on that page or the character class being discussed.
The Complete Advanced Feats begins with an introduction to this product and the role of feats in the game.
The majority of this product is the one hundred and eighty new feats, less than 20% are directly tied to class abilities of the new classes introduced in the Advanced Player Guide allowing for wide applicability. Each has paragraph or so of commentary that talk about the reasoning behind the feat and occasionally potential balance issues with a feat. As Mr. Trent is an old hand with feat development, his insight into game balance and feat design is interesting reading. The feats are solid mechanically and cover combat to magic, social to monster feats.
After the huge selection of feats, the product moves onto looking at each of the new APG base classes (Alchemist, Cavalier, Inquisitor, Oracle, Summoner, and Witch) in brief, giving a useful overview of the class and its ability. Each class also gets three example 20-level builds. Rounding out the product are character sheets for the Cavalier’s mount and the Summoner’s Eidelon.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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If you wish to understand the Summoner class and to expand the options available to these magical masters, the Summoner’s Circle is an excellent sourcebook. Summoners and conjurers will especially benefit from the feats but others will too.
The Summoner’s Circle: Advanced Feats is a 19-page PDF (17-pages if you remove the cover, ad and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sigfried Trent and published by Open Design. This is part of Open Design’s Advance Feats line for Pathfinder.
The layout is primary traditional two columns and the table of feats clear to read. The cover is full color while the minimal interior art is black and white and supports the theme. An eidolon character sheet is included at the end.
The Summoner’s Circle begins with an introduction to this product and its aim, which is to provide a detailed look at the Summoner class and ways to play it as well as providing additional options for the class. It does a good job laying out the basic ins and outs of the summoner and provides a grounding in the class’ abilities with a good look at the role of the eidolon.
Much of the product is the thirty new feats, only four of which are tied to Summoner class abilities though several are primarily monster-type feats, and each has paragraph or so of commentary that talk about the reasoning behind the feat and discusses balance issues -if any- with each feat. Personally, I appreciate this insight into the design process. The feats are solid mechanically and certainly aimed toward what the Summoner does well, which is creating and manipulating things.
Concluding the product are three example 20-level character and eidolon builds, showing feat and ability progressions: the Chess Master (battlefield manipulator), Mythic Rider, and the Master of Arms (combat summoner).
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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If you wish to understand the Inquisitor class and to expand the options available to them this is the sourcebook for you. The feats contained within are useful for a variety of classes and character types but they are especially useful for expanding on the Inquisitor’s options.
The Inquisitor’s Edge: Advanced Feats is a 16-page PDF (13-pages if you remove the cover, ad and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sigfried Trent and published by Open Design. This is part of Open Design’s Advance Feats line for Pathfinder.
The layout is traditional two columns and the table of feats is easy to read. The cover is full color while the minimal interior art is (including a repetition of the cover art) does not distract.
The Inquisitor’s Edge begins with an introduction to this product and it intention, which is to provide a detailed look at the Inquisitor class, examining style of play and providing additional options for the class. It then proceeds to do just that, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the class and provides basic advice to consider when playing the class. An understanding of the workings of the class is provided.
Next are the thirty new feats, only four of which are tied to Inquisitor class abilities, and each has roughly a paragraph of commentary that explains the reasoning behind the feat and balance issues if appropriate. For anyone interested in understanding the mechanics that underpin Pathfinder, such information is very useful. The feats are solid mechanically and are useful for a variety of classes and builds.
Concluding the product are three example 20-level progression builds: the Bloodhound (bounty hunter), Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing (infiltrator) and the Detective. The builds also include some interesting play style discussion.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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If you wish to try the Alchemist class and to expand the options available to these masters of alchemy, the Secrets of the Alchemist is a solid sourcebook. The feats contained within are mostly applicable to all classes but especially those characters with a crafting or magical focus.
Secrets of the Alchemist: Advanced Feats is a 12-page PDF (10-pages if you remove the cover, ad and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sigfried Trent and published by Open Design. This is part of Open Design’s Advance Feats line for Pathfinder.
The layout is primary traditional two columns and the table of feats clear to read. The cover is color while the single piece interior art is mostly black and white public domain art which is very alchemical.
The Secrets of the Alchemist begins with an introduction to this product and it intention, which is to provide a look at the Alchemist class and ways to play it as well as providing additional options for the class. It then proceeds to do just that, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the class and provides information to consider when playing an alchemist.
Next are the thirty new feats, only five of which are tied to Alchemist class abilities, and most have a paragraph or so of commentary that talk about the reasoning behind the feat and occasionally potential balance issues with a feat. Personally, I find such discussion useful in understanding the design of the game. The feats are solid mechanically and certainly aimed toward what the Alchemist focus on including several crafting and magic related feats.
Concluding the product are three example character builds, with suggested feat and ability progression over 20 levels: the Carpet Bomber, the Mighty Mutant and the Mad Scientist.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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If you wish to understand the Cavalier class and to expand the options available to these mounted combatants, the Cavalier’s Creed is an excellent sourcebook. The feats contained within are mostly applicable to all classes but especially those characters with a mounted focus.
The Cavalier’s Creed: Advanced Feats is a 16-page PDF (13-pages if you remove the cover, ad and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Sigfried Trent and published by Open Design. This is part of Open Design’s Advance Feats line for Pathfinder.
The layout is primary traditional two columns and the table of feats clear to read. The cover is full color while the minimal interior art is mostly black and white carefully chosen public domain art to support the theme.
The Cavaliers Creed begins with an introduction to this product and it intention, which is to provide a detailed look at the Cavalier class and ways to play it as well as providing additional options for the class. It then proceeds to do just that, outlining the strengths and weaknesses of the class and provides basic advice to consider when playing the class. All quite well done.
Next are the thirty new feats, only three of which are tied to Cavalier class abilities, and each has paragraph or so of commentary that talk about the reasoning behind the feat and occasionally potential balance issues with a feat. Personally, I really like this insight into the design process. The feats are solid mechanically and certainly aimed toward what the Cavalier does well including several new teamwork feats and others to be used by mounted fighters.
Concluding the product are three example builds: the Green Knight (defensive), Tawny Knight (expert rider) and the Black Knight (challenge master).
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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Not happy with the selection of spells? This work will give you even more magics to play with (and idea on how to create more). But the Pathfinder Advance Player’s Guide is required to get full use from this work.
The Genius Guide to: 110 Spell Variants is a 10-page PDF (9 pages if you remove the credits/OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Owen K. C. Stephens and published by Super Genius Game. This is part of Super Genius Games’ Genius Guide line.
The layout is a screen-friendly landscape design, with lovely cover art and 1-column on the first page and three columns on the rest. The art is full color throughout and excellent.
The product is a set of spell variants, it opens with a brief discussion of what the spell variants are and how they are laid out and organized. The long and the short of it is that spell variants take the core of an existing spell and change it to create a new spell (the example used is changing a fireball into an iceball by making it cold damage).
The 110 spells cover the full range from zero level spells all the way up to 9th level spells. Many are quite clever and evocative such as Aspect of the Dragon, Molten Glass Bolt, and Prismatic Blade. However, several of the spells variants are based on spells from the Advanced Player’s Guide, so without that book this product will not be as useful. My only complaint is that there is no descriptive text which would have gone a long way toward making the spells even more interesting.
Disclosure: As a featured reviewer for RPGNow/DriveThroughRPG, I received my copy of this product for free from the publisher for the purpose of this review.
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