Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 1

I've been very happy with all the Pathfinder resources that I've purchased. The books seem sturdy. The artwork is good. The content is good. The presentation of the material in this book is very good. Flipping through the pages made me remember looking through the original monster manuals when I first got those in the 80s. Good stuff.

This is the best revision to the Dungeons and Dragons game so far. Options have been expanded and rules have been tweaked in a positive manner, consistent with the ongoing game mechanic. Explanations of game mechanics are well worded and the artwork is simply inspiring. In addition, The book is simply huge and the the store price makes it extremely affordable.

If you have enjoyed Dungeons and Dragons 3.0/3.5 but are interested in a change, then this is it. This is a rework built on the original system, and not a completely different game system. (i.e. 4th edition) My suggestion: If you have played D&D and enjoyed it, then buy this game. It will likely be the best core rulebook you have ever purchased.

However, If you have played D&D and you hated it, then go buy 4th edition. It seems to have been designed by people who shared the same opinion.

Started playing with friends and couldn't find D&D books as they are out of print. They made changes to simplify the game, provided better balance to classes, but the races are still unbalanced. Can't find a reason to play small races who use small weapons. Its nice to have both the players handbook and DM Guide in one book, however I don't think the binding is going to hold up.

Many years ago-- far more than I like to acknowledge!-- TSR published something called "The Rogues Gallery," a supplement for 1st edition Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. This little book published, in a series of charts, blocks of statistics for "average" AD&D characters from each character class at various class levels. It also included statistics for some of the legendary characters of Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk game setting-- famous characters like Bigby and Mordenkainen, names straight from the core books of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: names we all knew.

The genius of "The Rogue's Gallery" was that it put statistics for hundreds of nonplayer characters at every Game Master's fingertips, making it much easier to manage random encounters. Need a fifth-level fighter? BAM! A tenth-level wizard? BAM! Armed with this book, Game Masters were much better prepared for nearly any unexpected interaction between a player character and an (otherwise) anonymous townsperson.

Fast forward to Paizo's "NPC Codex," and you have essentially the same type of product, only exploded into something much bigger and better than the original. Instead of a chart depicting averages for each class at a variety of different levels, this weighty tome contains a fully-developed character for each level of every class in the Pathfinder basic rules!!! By "fully developed," I don't mean cardboard cutouts depicting vanilla characters at various milestones, but actual character ideas, built around unique concepts, so that each character is a living, breathing, unique personality ready to populate your Pathfinder game. Approximately every third or fourth character is named, with a brief character history, which provides a nice sample of even more identifiable individuals. There is also a chapter which provides the same type of examples for several of Pathfinder's more common prestige classes, unique statistics for player character animal companions, and multiple versions of Pathfinder's so-called 'iconic characters' (i.e., the characters depicted on various book covers and GM screens throughout the Pathfinder line).

While the number of fully-developed NPC's in this book is staggering, providing GM's with dozens and dozens of ready-made character descriptions and stat blocks, going to this extreme level of specific detail is actually something of a double-edged sword. Many of these characters are actually so unique (and so readily-identifiable!) that they couldn't be recycled or re-used without a bit of modification. The more generic approach taken by the original "Rogue's Gallery" was in some ways more useful than this collection of unique, one-of-a-kind characters. However, the pluses to this more detailed approach far outweigh the minuses, making the NPC Codex an incredibly useful tool for any GM. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who runs, or intends to run, a Pathfinder campaign-- and I promise you that at some point you'll be thankful to have a useful tool like this to refer to.

I've been very happy with all the Pathfinder resources that I've purchased. The books seem sturdy. The artwork is good. The content is good. The presentation of the material in this book is very good. Flipping through the pages made me remember looking through the original monster manuals when I first got those in the 80s. Good stuff.

There could always be more content, and that is what this offers... more content. I like the optional rules and builds for some classes that have struggled for flavor. While it is not as fulfilling as some of the previous supplemental resources, it does offer new and interesting choices. It is certainly not necessary for the game, but if you want to simplify a few options then this might be your go-to.

I just recently got back into Dungeons and Dragons. After doing some research I found that Pazio had created new books from the D&D 3.5 books. I did some reading and most people seem to like the Pathfinder books better. So I went ahead and purchased the books. They are quality books and I love them. This Bestiary book is a quality book and it looks great.

The rules are really quite good for traditional role-playing. They offer a little more in the way of advantages for the player but retain play balance. This should appeal to players and GMs alike. It is a good system for beginners but can scale to handle even the most advanced players. Given the scope of what is included in this volume it is a fine price as well.

This book (like all the other Pathfinder books) is heavy, with a beautiful glossy cover and an absolute pleasure to hold. Each page in the Bestiary is decorated with beautiful artwork and filled with everything you need to know to fill your campaigns with exotic monsters.

I particularly liked the oriental-inspired monsters which are great for creating an Eastern-fantasy setting!

1000s of words have been written about Pathfinder. I don't need to repeat them all. There are plenty of really detailed breakdowns if you want that. What I will say is short.

it's a great RPG, and beautifully done. It's how D&D should be, but hasn't been for some time. I have 100s of D&D books $1,000s worth, and I'm now, Pathfinder all the way.

The book is well made. The game system itself is a good system. It doesn't have all of the magic that D&D v4 has. While this book doesn't have the entire world background, the supplments do and they are also well designed and allow for mutliple points from where to start.
I look forward to playing this game as I have an experienced game group with a great DM who is very dedicated.

I picked up two copies after friends expressed interest in getting back to our roots. I really hated 3.5, however this looks like it will end up being our long running game from now on. Lots of customization from the core rulebook and when we finally decide to buy more it looks like we could really go a lot of ways with it. The starting classes are much better than 3.5.

Pathfinder, as a whole, is an awesome game. It 100% lives up to all the hype that has been made about this "D&D 3.75".

For those who don't know, it basically takes 3.5e and does what Wizards of the Coast should have done, instead of 4e. Take the 3.5 rules, fix some mechanics, including making critical hits slightly harder and clarifying various rules on weight mechanics, et cetera, and add awesome new stuff to things like the sorcerer rules, explaining different methods by which they get their powers and giving them new, individualistic powers for it!

Negatives (very small):

The book cover was a bit warped, making the pages not sit right. It corrected itself in a day or two. Shipping problem?

Sometimes, it can be a little difficult to find specific rules, almost as if you are expected to know them from 3.5 stuff. Overall, this is only noticeable if you are rules obsessive or GMing.

Overall, 5 stars, easy. Good job Paizo!!

This product is very well done.

Pros
Full Color Pages
Short and Sweet (Considering it's a DM Guide and a Players Handbook)
The Art is VERY well done
Rules, they seem simple enough that after awhile of playing you'll get them instead of going "What does turn undead do again?"

Cons
Price, I am a cheap skate, but I do feel I got my moneys worth out of this and paizo's other products
DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT ORDER FROM GOHASTINGS,
I'm normally only the store supplied buyer for good reason. it came in a padded envelope that when I received it was completely destroyed, my book is dented in the front, every corner is torn, many scratches, but you can say well it just had a ruff time at ups, OK. I purchased a $40 book and then paid for shipping (Gohasting only had one option that ships from TEXAS, and then start in Colorado) couldn't they have just used a box as well?

I'm currently running a Rise of the Runelords campaign and this book is mandatory if you want to run a pathfinder campaign. it's hefty and thick - but it covers most of the environmental, movement and combat that your clever PC's can dream up.

It's a fantastic resource. most of the content is available online, but it's just so great to have the books at the gaming table for everyone to page through.

A little background first: I am a veteran DM, having played D&D since the days of the old 'Red Box' Basic rules in the early 1980s. For the past three years I have run a 3.5 ruleset campaign set in the Forgotten Realms.

After some consideration I have decided not to switch over to 4e. It's just not my cup of tea. With that in mind Pathfinder is heaven-sent! I enjoy the options available, as well as the ability to make nearly any character I can conceive of using just the basic rules. The system is not perfect, just as 3.5 was not perfect. Power creep at higher levels is still a problem, but a good DM should be able to keep his or her players interested.

Pathfinder has taken the basic 3.5 ruleset and streamlined it a bit. If you don't like D&D 3.5, you will not like Pathfinder. It's basically the same game with certain issues cleaned up or improved upon (the rules for grappling and spells like Polymorph come to mind). It is not a game for the faint of heart, however. There is a lot to digest here, and a lot to read through. But I find the end result very impressive. I also have the Pathfinder Bestiary: it too has a distinctive look, and it updates many of the classic monsters of yesteryear for use in any campaign. The Pathfinder campaign world (Golarion) is also excellent, especially if you are looking for a pre-published world in which to set your adventures.

All in all, highly recommended, especially for veteran players and Dungeon Masters alike.

Pathfinder has pretty much become my new game system. I loved 3.5 D&D, and would have been interested in playing 4.0, had it not been catered for a MMORPG audience - with no crafting system to be had. A friend of mine got me interested and I've never looked back since. I can't imagine playing D&D 3.5 now, it's Pathfinder for me - they are perfectly similar, but Pathfinder however updates and streamlines things that should've been a long time ago. I have no complaints.

Sadly, the best Dungeons and Dragons game on the market isn't produced by D&D at all. That honor goes to Piazo and the best version of D&D ever made. I balked at giving this a try because of its hefty price. But I finally ordered it and loved it.

I own most of the current 4th Edition D&D releases--I really wanted to buy into new D&D--but it's just too different (all classes and races basically play the same). Not a bad game, but not D&D either. Pathfinder has found a way to preserve all the goodness of previous D&D editions (this one is based on "3rd/3/5 edition") while adding whole new dimensions. Piazo puts all their energy into each book. There is no fluff here like in 4th edition D&D (there's very little "crunch" in those books). Every page has useful info. And the accessory books are just as well done.

It's a sad reality, but you can't play great "D&D" by buying the current officially-made D&D products. You gotta jump into Pathfinder instead. It's incredible.

great great book! teaches you everything about the game, whether you're a new player or a new GM.

Pathfinder is considered to be D&D 3.75 for any of you who are D&D players, if you dont like 4e and dont feel like spending the time to mix 3.5 with 4e, you cant go wrong with pathfinder.

Great art, very well laid out, descriptive, and teaches everything you will need to know on playing pathfinder. Everything has been simplified and refined to perfection.

Bestiaries are one of the most important tools a GM has at hand. Monsters and villains are the most important factor in a game. Too much of the same monsters, and players get bored. At the same, a very weird mix can truly unbalance the game and make the players feel like a Scooby Doo show, a different monster each week.

Some other people have stated in their reviews the different components in the book. If you are a player, move on, these books are better left at the GM's hands. If you are a GM, you must have a bestiary already, so there is little we can say in terms of presentation.

Paizo has been producing book of the highest quality in terms of materials and presentation. Expect the same thing here.

As far as content go, this book offers such a mixed variety of monsters that is next to impossible to not find something that is useful for your campaigns. As well, the mythology mix in this book certainly helps you get creative in thinking in new ways to spice up the encounters in your games.

I stringly recommend this book. For me, the oriental creatures were the deal breakers and as soon as I saw an example of them, I knew I had to have this book.

Pathfinder is an excellent system. I've seen it described as 3.75 edition so was a little skeptical at first. I originally only bought this book - I have since bought numerous Pathfinder books and will NEVER return to WotC. The Pathfinder creators have upped the par of what I expect in my supplements and I have yet to see WotC produce anything that could compete with Pathfinder.

I really love the Pathfinder system. They know what they're doing and know how to cater to their fans. The system is like a streamlined D&D 3.5 (hence why this is sometimes referred to as 3.75) so if you are familiar with that version of D&D the transition will be smooth. The only complaint I have is that the books themselves don't feel very durable. My friend just had his binding rip out on his core rulebook. If they can do a better job on the physical quality of the book it'd be perfect.

There is something to be said about having a physical copy of the book. you can find the stat blocks on all these creatures online, but actually turning the pages and absorbing the artwork and letting your mind flow with the possibilities is great. I'm also a book lover and enjoy filling my bookshelves. if you're running a pathfinder game, this book is mandatory!

MONSTERS GALORE! Beautiful artwork, lots and lots of variety even within specific classes of monsters (beasts, demons, etc). I would assume a must have for a GM but even as a player I love reading this book. Of course stats and abilities are covered but also lots of lore and fluff which is what I love reading and it's all presented in a very easy to follow format.

Helpful to have premade NPCs. Also intresting comparing premade alternate class combos and Prestige classes of various levels . This REALLY helps to understand the comparative strengths & weaknesses & how they play / fit various roles and player goals.

Pathfinder puts out quality stuff. This is no different. This is the third of their Bestiary books and just like the first two, it's full of varied and mirid monsters and creatures, both animalistic and races to use in your games. Awesome art from cover to cover. The write up's are a touch small but no smaller than the previous two.

This book contains the entire set of core rules for the pathfinder game system (you'll still need the bestiary for information on monsters), so it is a massive book. The advantage to having everything in one book is that it costs less than two books and you have all the information that you'll need in one handy volume.

Absolutely essential for GM's who have to make something up on the fly (pretty much every GM in the world). Well organized and easy to use. I have come to depend on this book on all my games. This book should be your first buy after bestiary 1 and the core rule book.

Unchained contains a variety of new rules, though of the variety contained, I found two to be most useful:

1.) Background/Adventuring skill, which makes essentially relegates two free skill points per level to the skills that had very little use in game but were helpful in fleshing out your characters (Profession, Handle Animal, Craft, etc).

2.) The main draw is the 4 "redone" classes: The Monk, Barbarian, Rogue, and Summoner. The Unchained monk finally gets a full BAB and a new "Style Strike" feature that gives it a little more combat presence, however it still suffers from the core problem that pathfinder monks already did in being very MAD (multiple attribute dependent). The Barbarian functions very similarly to it's previous iteration, and is essentially a simplified/clarified version that changes little. Apparently the writers felt the rogue wasn't powerful enough as the Unchained rogue is a buzzsaw, still possessing all the skills of a rogue but now allowing it to deal melee damage based on dexterity, making the already powerful two weapon fighter rogue stronger. Lastly the Summoner, which (personally) had seemed a very very powerful class before, is brought back down in power level slightly, with archetypes for it's eidolon instead of being able to make whatever you wished.