Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

• 1. Origins And Development

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  In 2007, Wizards of the Coast announced they would not renew Paizo's contract to publish Dragon and Dungeon magazines. This decision left a gap for fans of Dungeons & Dragons who relied on those periodicals for new adventures. Jason Bulmahn, a designer at Paizo, proposed creating a modified ruleset based on the existing 3rd edition D&D system. The company decided to invest fully in this new project, which became known as the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Paizo began developing the game using an open playtest model where players could test the system online and provide feedback. By March 2008, the game was officially announced to the public. Preorders for the first printing sold out before Paizo even received their initial stock of books. A second printing was quickly issued to meet the overwhelming demand from customers.

• 2. First Edition Mechanics

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  The first edition of Pathfinder functioned as a modification of the 3.5e rules used by Dungeons & Dragons. Designers felt that basic classes in the older system lacked incentive for players to stay with them through twenty levels of play. Pathfinder added many options to these classes and boosted their abilities in core roles. Less combat-oriented classes received more hit points each level than their counterparts in the previous version. Changes were made involving balance between different game elements such as spells and skill systems. Combat maneuvers like tripping and grappling also underwent significant revisions. The material published by Paizo for the Pathfinder system was set in a world called Golarion. Paizo introduced the Pathfinder Society, an organized gameplay program allowing players to register characters on their website. Players could use their characters in different sessions while earning experience, money, and prestige points. After each session, players received a chronicle sheet listing what they had earned during that time.

• 3. Second Edition Overhaul

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  Paizo announced in March 2018 that it would conduct a playtest for a second edition of Pathfinder. The final rule set was released on the 1st of August 2019, after refining elements based on feedback from the prior years. A key change involved streamlining the action economy so each character could perform up to three actions per turn plus one reaction. Most basic moves cost a single action while complicated maneuvers required two or three actions. Rules around magic items changed to discourage hoarding and encourage seeking powerful equipment instead. Critical hits now occurred any time a combatant rolled ten more than the target's armor class. Defenders could also critically succeed when defending which usually resulted in no effect rather than reduced effects. All number scaling for skills, armor class, attack rolls, saves, and difficulty classes now scaled one-to-one with a character's level plus a stat plus a bonus between two and eight depending on proficiency. Stats had their range lowered compared to the first edition resulting in extremely bounded values.

• 4. Licensing Evolution

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  Starting in 2023, the game began using the Open RPG Creative License instead of the previous Open Game License. This shift followed significant controversy over the license earlier that year involving Wizards of the Coast. Because of this transition, certain game elements inherited from Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition SRD had to be renamed or replaced. Some elements were fully removed including alignment and the eight schools of magic. Despite these changes, new books remained backwards-compatible with existing Second Edition supplements. Paizo announced a set of four new primary rulebooks collectively referred to as the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project. These books included Player Core, GM Core, Monster Core, and Player Core 2 released over 2023 and 2024. The core rulebook, bestiary, gamemastery guide, and advanced player's guide would not be reprinted in the future due to the licensing change.

• 5. Commercial Reception

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  Pathfinder became the top-selling role-playing game during spring 2011, fall 2012, spring 2013, fall 2013, and summer 2014. During that four-year period, Pathfinder was able to outsell Dungeons & Dragons itself which had been the best-selling game through various editions between 1974 and 2010. Upon release of Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition, that game regained the top spot since fall 2014 while Pathfinder consistently ranked second. Paizo won ENnie Awards at Gen Con in categories including Best Publisher and Best Game. The beta release of the first edition won the 2008 Silver ENnie award for Best Free Product or Web-Enhancement. The Pathfinder Second Edition Core Rulebook received a 2020 Origins Award nomination and won the 2019 Techraptor Award as Readers' Choice Tabletop RPG of the Year. Scott Taylor rated Pathfinder number three among the top ten role-playing games of all time in 2013 saying it revolutionized how companies used an OGL favorably.

• 6. Multimedia Adaptations

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  A card game based on the role-playing game called Pathfinder Adventure Card Game was released at Gen Con 2013 designed by Mike Selinker of Lone Shark Games. Initial sets included Rise of the Runelords followed by expansions Skull and Shackles, Wrath of the Righteous, and Mummy's Mask. A second edition core set introducing story book elements arrived in May 2019. Paizo published novels under the title Pathfinder Tales with the first book Prince of Wolves released in 2010 written by Dave Gross. Over thirty books exist in this series including City of the Fallen Sky by Tim Pratt and Winter Witch by Elaine Cunningham. Dynamite Entertainment produced comic books featuring characters like Red Sonja, Tarzan, and John Carter. Big Finish Productions created audio dramas called Pathfinder Legends while Geek & Sundry partnered to produce actual play series Knights of Everflame. Three video games have been published including Pathfinder Online which attracted crowdfunding via Kickstarter but never left early enrollment. Pathfinder Kingmaker released the 25th of September 2018 adapting the Kingmaker adventure path using first edition rules. A sequel titled Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous launched the 2nd of September 2021.