A start with a recommendation to get a Covid booster. You might be like, gee Rob, this article is shorter than normal. And you’re right, cause somehow, even though I didn’t go to Gen Con, I caught the latest Covid variant and it’s a nasty head cold, sinus pressure bugger. I couldn’t look at a screen without getting ill. So much for vegging out with the television while sick. I listened to it, sure, but I was also dozing in and out a lot. So here’s my recommendation to get that Covid booster and hopefully you’ll avoid getting the latest incarnation of this respiratory nightmare. Ever thankful to our support healers here in the real world, i.e. our Doctors and Nurses and emergency medical services. No, no, I wasn’t like rush to ER bad, but thankful I can call up my doctor for a quick 1 on 1 for advice and guidance.
In A Palace!
And since, like I said, I didn’t get to Gen Con, I wanted to make sure to review all that did happen (primarily from a Paizo perspective) and all we did learn about so I can be ready for the months ahead. Also, I’m definitely going to PAX Unplugged in Philly so it’ll also be a bit of prep for that! But really the hype started before Gen Con actually with the news about Pathfinder (or Starfinder) in a Palace. This first time is in the Philly area and I’m quite tempted. I’m wondering if any Order of the Amber Die folks (many are in that area) would join too. For ~$1K you get your hotel room (Holiday Inn & Suites), food, drinks, snacks, adult beverages, and the gaming over a weekend. There’s the museum, an estate house, and a cathedral that all look quite lovely. Check out that Bryn Athyn Historic District youtube vid below. For a little more you can arrive early/stay a night extra for an extended week getaway. I’m quite tempted and talking to my friends about it. Could be a nice getaway, and I do love Philly! You get to choose your adventure to play and of note, Prey for Death (by the lovely Vanessa Hoskins) is a choice!!! I’m sure more from War of the Immortals will find its way to the list. I’ll let you know if I end up going and maybe I can meet some readers!
Starfinder 2E
Gen Con brought many announcements. First and foremost, I’ll start with the Starfinder2E playtest launch! I even had someone inquire to me specifically about my investing in of such; shout out to Descriptivist! You can get the playtest rulebook online, for a free PDF I might add! I’ve already started messing around with character creation in Herolab as they have a free 2nd Edition playtest running for free or paid accounts. It’s pretty great. I use it for Pathfinder2E a lot. I’m excited to dig into 2E for Starfinder and all it’s capable of. I recently had a friend saying he wanted to do a Star Wars campaign and I pointed him the way of Starfinder. He’s pretty psyched. There’s also an adventure for the playtest already available (though not free) called A Cosmic Birthday. It’s written by Jenny Jarzabski who is a co-lead for SF2E has been contributing to adventures and sourcebooks for some time, notably my favorite of Extinction Curse, the 2nd part titled Legacy of the Lost God. I’m hoping to find out what No Quest for the Wicked has in mind. They did a sneak peek of SF2E before and you should watch them for an exciting chance in the near future as their current Starfinder season wraps… By the by have you seen the cover art for Starfinder GM Core?
Tian Xia Character Guide & ENnies
Of course, and I’m very excited to release my article for such is the Tian Xia Character Guide! It’s available 8/28, so a couple weeks out by the time you’re reading this! We’re getting remaster info in there for Samsarans and Wayangs, but also the Tanuki, the Sarangay, the Yaksha, and the Yaoguai. I love that the developers and writers got to bring their cultures forward in this book, and others, so do remember to be respectful and do some research on the origins. There will be lots more ancestry details for Tian Xia characters of various heritages as well. You might have heard actually that the World Guide won the Gold ENnie for best setting while Player Core picked up silver for best rules! Congrats Paizo and to all those involved!
Adventures Ahead
Erik Mona and team also unveiled the Pathfinder adventures to come. The Claws of the Tyrant adventure will be a hardcover in three parts, starting low level, taking you through mid level, and then finally high level. They’re stand alone adventures though, so could be for different groups. Could be useful at a con… Maybe we’ll get lucky and see something of it at PAX U? Probably not, but I can dream. It’s supposed to come out early 2025. Then, from the adventure path perspective, is the Spore War. The first will come out in December, following all related to the War of the Immortals events this summer/fall and then the Triumph of the Tusk adventure path. Spore War is all about Kyonin and the war with the vile Treerazer, a dangerous demon lord that’s long terrorized the elves. It’s not clear if you’ll have to go into Tanglebriar – the foul swamp home of Treerazer – but I wouldn’t be surprised.
Finally, and I have little info on this path, but Shades of Blood will come spring of 2025 all about some surviving Azlanti vampires who want to block out the sun. Interesting that image for the Starfinder GM Core featuring a ruthless looking azlanti… There’ll be a setting book called Rival Academies as well, featuring various schools across Golarion in “a World’s Fair-style festival of magic, science, and invention” to quote the official press release. I first saw it announced by Wargamer but it will include the Academy of the Reclamation, Cobyslarni, Kitharodian Academy, the Monastery of Unbreaking Waves, the University of Lepidstadt, and of course the Magaambya. Presumably each school will be an actual school for the Wizard class. Also, importantly, the Runelord archetype will be introduced in this setting book. I know many – myself included – are intrigued by how that archetype will work after the wizard changes. It too will come in the spring! There’s still a ton of excitement to come for this year of course. War of the Immortals as noted, kicking off with part 3 of Curtain Call. I’ll also be reading Godsrain when it comes out! It’ll all tie in with Divine Mysteries, which Luis discussed during the keynote that is also on youtube for you to view. I love that it’s a psychopomp – apparently named Yuvali if my spelling is correct – that’s lending an in-character voice as they write of the changing divinities. I love this technique much like they’ve done for in-character voice perspectives for other books. I so want more detail on Arazni, so I’m very excited.
Love These Folks
Some quick shout outs first to Stephen Koontz, who ran some 5th Conspiracy at Gen Con. I’m working on a pretty detailed article to discuss his game (our game) as our season ended. I hope he’s back at PAX U because you need to play! Also there was another Himbo game by Jay Foster and crew. Omega Jones, whose brand is now known as QR0WN, posted this amazing picture of the Himbros (as they called themselves) together as seen below. The moment I can find the recorded game on Youtube or twitch I will share! They played Tales of the Valiant and included a great cast of individuals. It sure looks like Jesse can take a lot of pinkies to the mouth. Sandeep sure jumped in to the fun too. It’s fun to see all the different individuals meeting one another as I saw No Cast run into Jesse and Johnny Stanton too. Love all the cool people doing things together. Oh yes, Gehenna Gaming also was there, featuring Eldritch Automata, which No Quest for the Wicked is also playing in promotion. See? Awesome people all coming together. That’s what Gen Con is all about!
If you went to Gen Con, tag me on your social posts! I want to see, or by all means start a chat via my posts for this article. I hope you’re investing in some fun gaming this summer, and if you’ve started playtesting Starfinder 2E let me know! And get that Covid booster!
https://twitter.com/QR0WNTV/status/1819711375997821050
Investing In:
I wasn’t quite sure what to name my article series when I first started but the idea of showcasing or discussing things that make me excited, that I find new and interesting, or maybe I’m otherwise passionate about seemed to fit with the idea of Investing In something like the Pathfinder 2E mechanic. To use some magic items you have to give that little bit of yourself, which helps make these things even better. I like the metaphor of the community growing and being strengthened in the same way!
I also want to hear what you’re Investing In! Leave me a comment below about what games, modules, systems, products, people, live streams, etc you enjoy! You can also hit me up on social media as silentinfinity. I want to hear what excites you and what you’re passionate about. There’s so much wonderful content, people, groups (I could go on) in this community of ours that the more we invest in and share, the better it becomes!
Sources
Banner – Gen Con 2024 program book cover, Gen Con, art by Elaine Ho
- Starfinder GM Core cover, Starfinder GM Core, Paizo
- ENnies award image, Paizo
- Rival Academies promo image, Paizo
