Game Geeks #190 Pathfinder RPG, Campaign Setting The Inner Sea World Guide by Paizo

[TheUnnbreakable]

3.5 tried that it was ok but id like half orcs to get a little more divers and gnomes and halfings to

[RedBladeShining]

This lazy pastiche of real world Europe/Africa./Near east has put me off Paizo for good. How can they peddle such unimaginative rubbish. There is no originality in this! Just play in ancient Europe- its the same! (The artist even mimics Delacriox's painting for the Andoran- ie.e France). Very poor. Avoid. Creat your own world instead.

[BobCain2006]

You forget the Keebler elves!

[BanjoSick]

yeah, the different human races is Merps and ICE's achievment in the early early 80's. You also find that in ICE's Rolemaster setting Shadow World from the eighties ,fe. The Iron Wind published in1980.

[kaymanklynman]

"The best of all possible wolrds"

Play Pathfinder.

[99davecutts]

Come on MERP broke down humans way before birthright.

[doremicom]

Kurt, fantastic review..... been looking for some pathfinder background.

[AFnord]

One of the problems with stating out several different kinds of humans is the in reality we are quite similar. We are quite familiar with what a human is, so how would you explain that people from say the cold north have +1Str? One of the reasons why different fantasy races works well is because you effectively avoid such awkward questions that in reality often just comes down to stereotypes.

By the way, if you want a game with plenty of human types, check out The dark eye.

[Ulairi]

Hey Kurt! Birthright is the setting that got me playing D&D! it's really cool to see you mention it and that you also enjoyed it.

[pridday88]

Thanks for another great review Kurt--even though some of us love that certain games have a ton of way cool different elves to play =)

[Xoguran]

One of the most well written and developed fantasy worlds until date. It not only manages to break with some stereotypes like the Tolkien effect (or as Kurt said, "Under the table elves") but also mix elements from pulp fantasy, cthulhu mythos, space fantasy to steam punk without become a unpalatable "pastichio". All is constructed so well it makes even more sense than classic settings like Dragonlance's Krynn or Forggotten Realms' Faerun. No matter which game system you use, acquire it now.

[theBeorn]

i have this setting and though it has good ideas, it feels too disconnected for me, no logic to all of it. it is so kitchensink that it works on an individual nation level but overall just lacks punch and feels very fake. (a nation of egyptian like megastructures, pyramids, pharaohs and slaves and just some miles north there is an 18th century france mindset and fashionsense country? really?)

[MrReki101]

I agree that Drow should stay monsters, but I've always kind of thought that there should be a Half-Drow PC race. It would provide a lot more versatility than you'd get from playing strait up Drow, and would still differ from the normal Half-Elf. Also, I myself am into the differences in lore, culture and behavior of the different races of Elves, but I don't really think it matters since they are mostly clumped together into one composite race by most players and GMs anyway.

[MaxxTheMerciless]

@MrReki101 Totally agree.

I am sick and tired of sicking my world on the idiotic Drow PCs that I'm can't stand them anymore. I've personally hanged...HANGED...so many Drow PCs I feel like something like a white supremacist! I'm tired of it.

[MrKeroro623]

kind of reminds me of the eberron 3.5 book

[kaosdevice]

Good review, thanks Kurt.

[Samwise7RPG]

You should review Birthright! :)

[WalrusDoom]

Glad to hear they added in-chapter maps to the various regions. In the original book, it got pretty confusing as to what was where, because they laid out the regions in alphabetical order, rather than in geographic, which would make more sense IMO.

It's a shame that this campaign setting seems so divisive with many players. I think it's one of the best out there today but a few of my friends feel that it's modeled too heavily on existing cultures on earth.

[RabiesBunny]

Glorious Cheliax would never worship such base creatures as demons! We have an amicable relationship with Asmodeus and his devils, however...

[tetsubo57]

I was rather underwhelmed by this book. I had heard some really good things about it. But after reading it I was like, 'Yep, that's a campaign setting.' The Demon Wound seemed downright trite. Best PF supplement I have read? Psionics Unleashed. just awesome.

[walt776]

...earth elves, space elves, ocean elves, mountain elves, desert elves, tundra elves, arctic elves (also known as Santa's elves), green elves, yellow elves, pink elves, blue elves with purple polka dots...

[ArchArturo]

@walt776 punk elves, lactose-intolerant elves, eldar -Oh, wait, you said space elves, right :p ?-.

[mephisto40]

Chillaxians? surely thats some sort of joke?

[thetruemorg]

Under the table Elves...

[thespiritcoyote]

From the review one might say - It compares to the richness of quantity and quality of content with setings like the Forgotten Realms(Mazteca to Kara-tur) and Mystara(Known World/Hollow World), given in a compact and singular tome, and considerably more cross-system portable.

nice review - XD

I do enjoy the worlds of Aballon. Castrovel, Golarion, Akiton, Verces, Eox, Triaxus, Liavara, Bretheda, Apostae, and Aucturn... the others need some detailing such as this has provided for Golarion.

[blackbarnz]

IMHO ISWG's strengths are it's weaknesses. kitchen sink setting where you could run into just about anything is a good thing. But by covering each iconic genre it lacks an overall theme to other settings (Ravenloft,DragonLance,etc) . The shape/postioning of the continents and their respective human cultures resemble real life. Lastly the faction names just didn't hit me. Besides that it's very well done. Also Azirk83 pointed out Paizo figured out how to package a map in a hardcover.

[LordSathar]

I don't think kurt ever played Greyhawk, there are Baklunish, Flan, Suel, Rhenee, Oeridians, and Touvians, all Human.

[knwiegel]

@LordSathar I remember them well (although the Touvians have gotten by me) but I never felt much detail was there- yes, the Baklunish and Suel went to war and broke everyhting, the Flannae got run around and displaced, etc. Birthright had thwe different races mechanically MEAN something, which was impressive.

[LordSathar]

@knwiegel Well you kind of have to get into suppliment, obscura hell, and a lot of it was nicked from fantasy novels (the Suel were basically Melnibonians and Flan were half Pictish, half Native American), and the Touv were the jungle race based mostly on the Aztecs.

[knwiegel]

@LordSathar I'd never caught the Suel/Melnibonean like, but it mad sense. I knew the background (except for the Hepmoland peoples) pretty well- I just always preferred the Birthright races more. The Greyhawk folk were defined first, I'll concede the field.

[Ocannae]

Good review Kurt. Im Glad to hear that it is more peopel interested in ideas of religion in various games. A short question do: I am very interested in religion in Fanasy games because I like to play, Knight, Paladin or Cleric. Do you also, or you have another reason? Really curious .. What is Kurt's Favorite class?

[knwiegel]

@Ocannae I like clerics. I feel that the Paladins actions are more limiting (ironcally) buta my favorite characters I've played in fantasy games have been Clerics: Lathander, Pelor, Haelyn... Wow, I just noticed there's a sun theme there....

[DarthScythe1290]

shouldnt*



[DarthScythe1290]

Just curious why you dont feel Drow's should be a PC race

[knwiegel]

@DarthScythe1290 Well... I'll admit its because I go back a really log way, I still pronounce Drow to rhyme with Throw.

The Drow are a wonderful, abmush villan. It really messed with player expetactions. All Drow I've ever seen played have been emo and useless.

And DON'T get me started on the 2nd edition Bladesinger from the Complete Elves Book....

[DarthScythe1290]

Just curious why you feel Drow shouldnt be a PC character?

[YuriPRIMEpoland]

GUNPOWDER?! Finally! Ok, I might give it a try, now. Always liked ranged classes and combat, but I fkn hate bows and crossbows... ffs... I hate this shit so much.

[Maehedrose]

It has been confirmed that "Drow" is pronounced as if rhyming with "cow"; that was set straight some years ago.

[knwiegel]

@Maehedrose Maybe, but I am very, very old....

[Maehedrose]

@knwiegel You're probably about my same age-I started GMing 20 years ago, though, so you might have a few years on me in that respect. That said, I can understand getting stuck in one's gaming ways...in the old PC game,"Menzoberranzan" they pronounce Drizzt and the city's name as well...neither of which I cared for, official or not - and I still pronounce Sigil, "Sigh-jil", so it happens. I'd just hate to see you inadvertently tainting a new generation of gamers who look to you for such things.

[omenseer]

Under the Table Elves? Must be followers of Calistria.

Also, the Gods and religion is also one of my favorite parts as well.

[tarboy69]

i liked it when drow were npcs

[falloutmnky]

personally i love playing a Drow but i think it takes a certain person to be able to play one.

[Duffmanohyeah1]

WOOT!!! for looking at other rpg games religions too :D

[vanceludemann]

Chelaxian = Devil worship, not demon 8)

[knwiegel]

@vanceludemann Whoops. My bad....

[ZwittyD]

I would love to see your take on GURPS.