(Part 2) Best pathfinder books according to redditors

Most of these games just cost way too much compared to their enjoyment and very few of them are really good. If they are popular and good, they will eventually hit retail (see Gloomhaven, Scythe, etc). There is no reason why you should buy/pre-order things, pay like an idiot and also shoulder all of the risk.

If you want dungeon crawlers look into DnD 5e and Pathfinder 2e (provided you have people to play with). The starter adventure is 15$ (at least 6 sessions a 4-5 hours of playtime) the rules are free (https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/features/basicrules or http://2e.aonprd.com/) and and the best thing: there is no limit/minimum playtime: you guys can decide anytime if you want to quit or play the next encounter.

Link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pathfinder-Bestiary-P2-Paizo-Staff/dp/1640781706

Oh man, I've got a long list of large premade adventures I'm looking to run over the next few years for my players. So these are not adventures I'm suggesting because I've heard about them, but because I've read them, loved them, and chosen to actually run them. There's only one exception and that is "The Blight". I have not had the chance to pick it up yet, but I have a lot of trust in Frog God Games, so I will recommend it sight unseen.

• Curse of the Crimson Throne - Starting this for my primary group in a few weeks. Just waiting to finish a small adventure to test out a system. I've read through most of it and man, it's got a bit of everything. Lots of political intrigue, plagues, factions, batman, all sorts of cool stuff. Looking forward to running it and my players are looking forward to playing it.
  
  
• Kingmaker and with the same characters in the same place and world, we're going straight into Eyes of the Stone Thief - Kingmaker is often considered the best adventure path Paizo has ever put out. I grabbed the PDF's a while back. I see why they think that. It truly looks amazing. By the end of the campaign the players will have built up a kingdom and one of them will likely be crowned king. And then the Stone Thief comes along and devours that kingdom whole... (My players are going to hate me, so damn much and it will be glorious). Eyes of the Stone Thief is a living and truly sentient dungeon. It devours cities and kingdoms and burrows under ground. Your players will hate this thing on a visceral level. It is, without a doubt, the best mega dungeon I've ever seen. Makes for a great campaign to boot.
  
  
• The Northlands Saga - This one makes me giddy even thinking about it. Your players will gamble with their souls, pillage and plunder, fight eldritch horrors from the deep, drink with the gods and all around have a great time. This adventure will span years. The writing is excellent, the world is detailed and interesting and honestly it has one of the best layouts of any adventure book I've ever read.
  
  
• Razor Coast - Man, I've wanted to run this for the last year and I just haven't gotten around to it yet. While not necessarily a pirate campaign, it's definitely a nautical campaign. Your players will fight everything from weresharks to the Kraken and everything in between. Lots of political intrigue and infighting between factions with a deep political history and plenty of characters just oozing "awesome". This isn't a typical Adventure Path however, and is a sort of true sandbox. You will have to read this thing cover to cover a couple of times before trying to run it. It's designed specifically in such a way as to allow you to run it as either a true sandbox, or as a bit of a hybrid with a linear campaign with tons of sidequests an interesting things to do. Assuming you're not making any content for your players, you'll get years out of this one. Your players will enjoy every moment of it.
  
  
• The Lost City of Barakus - I'm actually going to use this as the introductory adventure to a longer campaign in Frog God Games's campaign setting, The Lost Lands. Don't let that fool you though, it's got at least a year of content in it and perhaps much more. This adventure is what turned me on to the rest of Frog God Games's stuff (other than the Razor Coast). It's one of the better designed adventures I've read. Your players find an "abandoned" underground city with plenty of magic and interesting locations. Without getting to much into spoiler territory, the city was besieged by a Lich King. Those in the city managed to capture it and hold it in a lower level of the city. The Lich King, having lost most of his power took a risky gamble and did "something" (no spoilers) that drove everyone mad. The people of the city ended up killing each other off or simply died from hunger and the city was left abandoned for hundreds of years and forgotten. The Lich King however, still remains. I personally can't wait to run this for my players.
  
  
• The Lost Lands: The Blight - This one is a hard one to talk about for a variety of reasons. It's hard to discuss without giving things away and I've also not actually picked it up yet. So, as someone who hasn't actually read through it yet, let me give you my thoughts. This is a city adventure, an adventure that takes place in a dying, decaying city. This is the sort of place that give even eldritch horrors nightmares. From what I can tell, it feels like an eldritch horror version of 1940's LA with all the seedy underbelly that comes with it. And then it gets worse. Looking forward to picking it up. It's also the longest adventure Frog God Games has ever made and it's reviewing very well. Estimation time to complete without adding any of your own content, 4 years.
  
  
• Rappan Athuk - I'm adding this as part of my larger, The Lost Lands, campaign. This is a mega dungeon and one of the most well designed ones I've ever seen. The only two dungeons, let alone mega dungeons, I've seen that are better are The Eyes of the Stone Theif and the Maze of the Blue Medusa. Your players will spend years going through this thing. I personally would work in my own quests and such while running this as no matter how good the dungeon, it's a rare group that's going to want to do just a dungeon crawl for 3-4 years. My intent is to break it up so that for every four or five sessions players spend in the dungeon, they'll spend about as many outside of it doing other things. Break it up a little.
  
  So that's my lineup of adventures for the next couple of decades I believe. Such good stuff here.

I think this might be what you're looking for:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Collected-Monsters-Sin-Pathfinder/dp/1936781220

Advanced Class Guide and Pathfinder Unchained are really good.

A piece of paper with male, female and family names. I use OneNote for my campaign notes and i use Discord for Cam-Calls and Screensharing battlemaps via Affinity Photo. I also use Table Fables, Table Fables II and the Character Compendium (books). Usually also some scribble paper.

In Horror Adventures it literally states on page 212 "Each act of torture shifts the torturer’s alignment one step toward evil, and it counts as a willful evil act for the purpose of effects like atonement." written under torture implements, so yes, it does, and yes, it is.

Possibly the Emerald Spire SuperDungeon? "16 levels designed by a who's-who of gaming legends"

Phew This'll be a long a post, but certainly reward to read by the end of it. Playing D&D/Pathfinder really is the Nerdiest, Nerd thing I've ever done, and it is a lot of fun! Watch +DawnforgedCast's Session 0 video and download his checklist here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0FmGxmJLiw It's meant for a GameMaster/Dungeon Master, but that checklist will help you out greatly in understanding what you want when starting out in a new group, with or without veteran players. If you aren't able to find a group locally (I don't recommend online groups for your first introduction) then taking up the mantle of leadership as the GameMaster/Dungeon Master, can be both exciting and overwhelming at the same time. However, if you're one with a vivid imagination, or are good with thinking on the fly (believe me, it gets better with time) then you'll already have a headstart on the majority of GMs out there. A great beginning module that has a little bit of everything, adventure hook (i.e., reason why your players should be doing this), NPC interaction, wilderness adventuring, dungeon crawling, is the Hollow's Last Hope module for 1st Level Players as it works for both D&D and Pathfinder. You don't really need the print version, since you can download it for FREE at Paizo's website https://pathfinderwiki.com/wiki/Hollow%27s_Last_Hope

I greatly recommend you get the Pathfinder RPG: Beginner Box ($25-$35) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601256302 it is a different game, but the rule set is uber-simplified and honestly, superior to the D&D Starter Set ($15), and is worth the extra money. The Beginner Box literally has the all of the beginning needs for play. Pre-generated characters, blank character sheets for the four classes (Wizard, Rogue, Cleric, and Fighter) with either of the three races (Elf, Dwarf, and Human) that are easy to introduce new players to, a flip out map that you can use dry-erase- or wet-erase markers, and permanent markers on (all of which can be erased off, I use these wet-erase makers that are $9 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFGW because I'll draw camp fires with brown, yellow, orange, and red colors, green helps with trees and shrubbery, blue for water, and black for everything else), a Hero's handbook, and really, really, good GM guide, plus thick, cardboard punch-out marker pawns of various Monsters, NPCs, Player characters, and other creatures, that amount to a wealth of miniatures that would take a lot of money and time to paint them all up, plus they're easier to store in the box. Unfortunately, it only comes with one set of dice, so it wouldn't hurt to get these on these 7 sets ($12) on the cheap https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MDJNE93 and pass them out to your players, or if they have their own, then you'll have plenty of extra multiples of dice, which will come in handy during combat with spellcasters and sneak attacks by Rogues. I handed them out to my players after they told me what their favorite colors were. =P

That'd would be all you'd really need to start, $30ish Beginner Box, plus $10 for markers, and $10 more if you or your players need dice. Now, what follows is what I used for my first GMing of a game, based on many different people's recommendations. In order to make combat work in a logical way that I could understand, I bought the Pathfinder Combat Pad $20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601255470, along with those wet-erase markers from earlier. It's usefulness has been far better, and worth it's price in gold, to use than a cheap $1 store notebook, when I would have to erase or rewrite when players would defeat monsters or would hold their actions, or would tell them the wrong initiative bonus to start (lol!). Again, rather use a dollar store binder, I bought the Pathfinder GM Screen $16ish https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601252161, because it was short enough for me to look over rather than 3-ring binders or a paper folder at the actual game table. Speaking the table, I bought the Chessex Battlemats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015IQO2O this is a link to the smaller one ($20), since I bought the Megamat ($35), only because I had a large table, and players could use it as a coaster for drinks too (even though I did have coasters, to prevent spillage). As an added bonus, I recently discovered the Condition cards $10 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601252854, to use with Pathfinder, and they are great to hand out to players (as you would already know these conditions since it's written behind the GM Screen) so they know what condition they are in at a glance. Keep in mind though, you only get 4 or each, so if you are lucky enough to have more players, it wouldn't hurt to buy an extra set (however, it would be strange if all of your players had the same condition).

Now, let's say you enjoy Pathfinder, and you bought the Core Rulebook $20 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601258879 (if it's a hardcover, always look inside for the Sixth edition printing, the paperback will already be that edition) but are getting tired of looking up Monster stats online, then grab the Paperback version of the first Bestiary $16 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601258887 which has the great majority of all of the "regular" monsters in either D&D or Pathfinder. If you're not much of an artist, then there's the recently released Pathfinder Traps and Treasures Pawns Collection $25 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601259719 but be warned that you only want to place on the board AFTER the players find out what it is or after they trip it since it does have text explaining what it is as a trap, and if you're use the treasure ones, make sure you add whatever is actually printed on the tile is IN the list of treasure you give the players, because they can and will ask about, "can't I grab that cup or sword, it's on the tile?" ;)

Lastly, if you enjoy being the GameMaster/Dungeon Master, the storyteller, the world builder, then I'd recommend getting the Pathfinder Gamemastery Guide $15 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601259492, which again, can be applied to both RPG games. And if you what better weather effects to throw at your party than what is presented in the CRB and GMG, then Pathfinder Ultimate Wilderness $30 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601259867 has all that you need, and then some, plus some cool spells and tons of new animal companions and familiars for spellcasters alike, and a new shapeshifting melee-fighting class called the Shifter, which is pretty neat to use (albeit, you may want to check out Paizo's website for any official errata or clarifications, just in case). If you want to actually create a campaign and are having a hard time coming up with ideas, locations, groups/factions, kingdoms, races, then one more purchase, which is what +DawnforgedCast used for his Pathfinder games seen here is the Inner Sea World Guide $45 https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601252692 It is pricey, but again, very much worth it, to create your own world or to use the pre-made world, as well. Remember, the Beginner Box, Markers, and Dice is really all you need, the rest of this is to expand out. I hope this helps you and anyone else out as well. =P

You're right, I grabbed the wrong link. Here's the 2e set: Pathfinder Condition Card Deck (P2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1640781781/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-JAxDbCDG7PZN

d20pfsrd resources are listed at the bottom of the page:

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Pathfinder Society Field Guide. © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC. Authors: Erik Mona, Mark Moreland, Russ Taylor, and Larry Wilhelm.

The Emerald Spire is an official Super Dungeon.

I have read through much of my Iron Gods: Fires of Creation book, I think you only need two other books:

Numeria, Land of Fallen Stars and
Pathfinder Technology Guide

There is also People of the Stars but I don't think you need it. The gazetteer stuff seems to be just fluff sections of these books.

*edit: formatting

It is from pathfinder unchained, which is book full of variant rules. So your DM has to be ok with using those rules.

This is the way to go. I have figurines for the players themselves, but I use pawns for the monsters. There are four Pawn sets. Here are Amazon links:

Bestiary Box 1

Bestiary Box 2

Bestiary Box 3

Bestiary Box 4

Have you checked for alchemical items?

Fill the portable hole with water, use a Merfolk's Comb alchemical item: 750gp for a single use 8 hours of water breathing


The Pathfinder Society Field Guide has Air Crystals, which give off breathable air when chewed. 50gp for 1 minute of air. the comb is a better deal, as this gets costs 22k for 8 hours, if you buy 480 of them. Might be doable if you only need it short term.

The Advanced Race Guide has Elemental Breath, though it's only 1 minute per item, at 80gp per shot, that's 39k per 8 hours. This is definitely a more expensive item, and the other options are better.

EDIT: Actually, check this out.
https://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/f/full-pouch
You can duplicate these items, so if your DM allows the water breathing trick, you can get nearly infinite water Merfolk Combs for the price of 1.

EDIT 2: Ah, just saw that you want him to be crafting inside this hole, so filling it with water will not work.

I'm asking about 2nd Edition, rather than the Playtest, in case that wasn't clear; I can confirm that there definitely IS (or will be; another commenter says it won't be out until later) a Gamemastery Guide for 2E.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1640781986/?coliid=I1R4S5CDS3NSOV&colid=3V9CGYTOF583E&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Did some poking around and these look very promising for NPC's.

https://paizo.com/products/btpy99sc?Pathfinder-Pawns-Inner-Sea-Pawn-Box

or

https://www.amazon.com/dp/160125850X/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_hjGLDbMJJY8VF

Check out Pathfinder Pawns.

https://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Pawns-Bestiary-3-Box/dp/1601255810

http://paizo.com/pathfinder/miniatures/pawns

Pathfinder Pawns https://www.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Pawns-Society-Pawn-Collection/dp/160125850X/ref=sr_1_6?hvadid=78202825928723&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=pathfinder+pawns&qid=1571540273&sr=8-6

You can buy ult wilderness from any store right now. It is a product that has been released, and exists in the world.
https://smile.amazon.com/Pathfinder-Adventure-Card-Game-Add/dp/1640780491/

1: Paizo Sunken City battlemap 2: Paizo Flooded Dungeon battlemap 3: The Pathfinder Skull and Shackles adventure path could be easily adapted to play with D&D. 4: Underwater, ship, and coastal maps by D&D fans. 5: Paizo flip mats for a ship, a bigger ship, and a pirate ship.

• Wizards of the Coast disagrees.
  
• Pathfinder disagrees.(I play pathfinder, but all of this is convertable, so I really enjoy this subreddit)
  
• When you read any GM guide and it says "Welcome to a collection of advice and inspiration, tools and rules, designed for a game like none other: your own." So if he wants to use D&D rules to make scifi world, I see nothing wrong with that.

Hey. I live in TO so my problem might not be as bad as yours, but I'm able to buy Pathfinder minis at a few local hobby shops. They're getting harder to find and can be somewhat pricey (e.g. ~$15 for 5 figures).

For an after-work social group, we pitched in to buy a Bestiary Box from Pathfinder - which are hard-stock images on stands. One example is here.

Best of luck!