Pathfinder Playtest

This article is about the 2018 second edition playtest. For the first edition playtests, see Pathfinder RPG playtest.

The Pathfinder Playtest was a year-long playtest of the second edition of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game that began at Gen Con 2018. Announced on March 6, 2018, the playtest received a number of previews throughout the following months, the Doomsday Dawn adventures, accessories, and Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild scenarios. Players were asked to provide gameplay reports and respond to surveys and polls throughout the playtest. The most recent rollout of playtest materials was on November 5, 2018, though Paizo continued to accept feedback after that point until January 1, 2019.

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In 2008, Paizo launched an unprecedented public playtest aimed at updating the third edition rules to make them more fun, easier to learn, and better able to support thrilling fantasy adventures. More than 40,000 gamers just like you joined in the fun by playtesting the new Pathfinder RPG rules and providing feedback, and the rest is gaming history. Now, 10 years later, it's time to put the lessons of the last decade to use and evolve the game once again. It's time for Pathfinder Second Edition!

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Features

The new Pathfinder Playtest rules are the first step in the evolution to the new edition. Paizo incorporated the best innovations and lessons of the last 10 years to move the game forward in new and exciting ways. In the leadup to the Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook release, they revealed more information on the following topics (and more!) on the Paizo blog:

• 10th-Level Spells and 4 Spell Lists
• Alchemists in Core
• Archetypes and Multiclassing
• Class Changes
• Classic Monsters and Magic
• Clean, Modular Information-Based Design
• Combat Maneuvers that Rock
• Designed for All Levels of Play
• Easier to Play
• Goblin Player Characters
• Golarion-Infused
• Heroic Storytelling
• Innovative Initiative
• More Customization
• New Background System
• Pathfinder Society
• Production Values
• Race Changes and Feats
• Rebalanced Magic Items
• Simplified Actions
• Streamlined Proficiencies
• Support
• True to Pathfinder
• Wayne Reynolds Art

Products

All Pathfinder Playtest products were released as free downloads exclusively at paizo.com, starting on August 2, 2018. On the same day, Paizo released limited-edition print versions of the Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook, Pathfinder Playtest Adventure, and Pathfinder Playtest Flip-Mat Multi-Pack for players and Game Masters seeking the ultimate playtest experience. These print editions were made available for preorder from local retailers and paizo.com between March 20 and May 1. Copies were also available at the Paizo booth during Gen Con 2018 in Indianapolis on August 2–5. Additionally, the Free RPG Day 2019 adventure We Be Heroes? used the Playtest rules set.

Cover	Title	Release Date	Author
	Pathfinder Playtest Rulebook	20180802 August 2, 2018	Paizo staff
	Pathfinder Playtest Adventure: Doomsday Dawn	20180802 August 2, 2018	Paizo staff
	Pathfinder Playtest Flip-Mat Multi-Pack	20180802 August 2, 2018
	Pathfinder Playtest Bestiary	20180807 August 7, 2018	Logan Bonner, Jason Bulmahn, Stephen Radney-MacFarland, and Mark Seifter
	Rose Street Revenge, The The Rose Street Revenge	20180807 August 7, 2018	Linda Zayas-Palmer
	Raiders of Shrieking Peak	20180807 August 7, 2018	Luis Loza
	Arclord's Envy	20180807 August 7, 2018	Lyz Liddell
	Frozen Oath, The The Frozen Oath	20180926 September 26, 2018	Ron Lundeen
	Pathfinder Playtest Character Folio	20181003 October 3, 2018	Ultra PRO
	Pathfinder Battles: Playtest Heroes	201905XX May 2019	WizKids

External links

• Pathfinder Playtest Blog