Gameworm Plays!- Pathfinder Bestiary
Gameworm Plays!
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary
****
Acquired: Barnes and Nobel Booksellers
Series: Pathfinder Role-Playing Game
Paperback: 328 Pages
Publisher: Paizo Inc.; Pocket ed edition (August 23, 2016)
Language: English
Subject: Science-Fiction & Fantasy/Gaming
****
The Story: Within this tome you'll find fire-breathing dragons and blood-drinking vampires, vile demons and shapechanging werewolves, sadistic goblins and lumbering giants, and so much more! Yet not all the creatures in this book are enemies, for some can serve lucky heroes as allies or advisors, be they summoned angels or capricious nymphs. And it doesn't stop there―with full rules for advancing monsters, adapting monsters to different roles, and designing your own unique creations, you'll never be without a band of hideous minions again!
The Review: Games are great, aren’t they?
In years past, they were regarded as little better than mindless distractions for children, perhaps they were! Games have since transcended this limiting perspective, now games are vehicles for dynamic storytelling, deep characters, and wonderful artwork. This book, a slice of the roleplaying game Pathfinder, is only the latest example.
The one thing that does bother Bookworm about this book and other monster manuals from other games is that half of the pages are dedicated to the said monsters statistics and charges that would be of most concern to those who actually play the game. Bookworm is no fool, they know that the purpose of this book is to be exactly what it says on the cover. Regardless, it would be nice to have a volume dedicated solely to the lore of the creatures and critters that roam the world of Pathfinder. The lore geeks must contend with brief paragraphs regarding the monsters characteristics in this volume. These paragraphs, though are not to be missed. They all provide of snippet of what these beasts are like and leaves the reader itching for more stories about them. This book takes a lot from classic mythology and classic ‘monster’ mythology as well but there are also plenty of unique monsters sure tickle the fancy of any who favors fantasy. The best part is how the creators of these beasts take cues from a variety of different real world cultures, providing a good boost of diversity.
As one might expect, the artwork in this book is absolutely superb. They beasts and monsters seem ready to leap right off the pages. Not the most encouraging prospect though! They often are a bit on the small side though. Of course, it is not a particularly large book.
The Final Verdict: Even if the reader lacks the means to enjoy Pathfinder from the perspective of the role-playing game, the lore and story still leaves plenty for the non-gamer. This book offers a tantalizing glimpse into the world of Golaria and leaves them aching for more. It may make one a Roleplaying Gamer after all!
The Rating:
Four Pathfinder Society Symbols out of Five
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