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Core Rulebook (First Edition)

From PathfinderWiki
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook
Cover Image
Book - Core
Authors
Publishers
Pages
576
Rule set
PFRPG
Series
Follows
Precedes
Awards
Gold ENnie – Product of the Year (2010)
Gold ENnie – Best Game (2010)
Gold ENnie – Best Interior Art (2010)
Gold ENnie – Best Production Values (2010)
Errata
Releases
Hardcover
Date
August 2009
ISBN
Price
$49.99
PDF
Date
August 2009
Price
$19.99
Softcover
Date
August 2009
Price
$49.99
Pocket Edition Softcover
Date
August 4, 2016
ISBN
Price
$24.99
I.svg

This article covers the Pathfinder First Edition Core Rulebook. For the Pathfinder Second Edition equivalent, see Core Rulebook (Second Edition).

The Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook was released in August 2009. It is on its sixth printing, which was published May 30, 2013.

The Core Rulebook provides rules, classes, and content to run the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in any setting.

A smaller, softcover Pocket Edition of the Core Rulebook was released on August 4, 2016, containing all of the original content of the hardcover format, but in a smaller, 8.4" x 6.5" softcover format.

It was succeeded as the primary reference work for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in August 2019 by the Pathfinder Second Edition Core Rulebook.

Enter a fantastic world of adventure!The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game puts you in the role of a brave adventurer fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil. Will you cut your way through monster-filled ruins and cities rife with political intrigue to emerge as a famous hero laden with fabulous treasure, or will you fall victim to treacherous traps and fiendish monsters in a forgotten dungeon? Your fate is yours to decide with this giant Core Rulebook that provides everything a player needs to set out on a life of adventure and excitement!

This imaginative tabletop game builds upon more than 10 years of system development and an open playtest involving more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook includes:

  • All player and Game Master rules in a single volume
  • Complete rules for fantastic player races like elves, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and half-orcs
  • Exciting new options for character classes like fighters, wizards, rogues, clerics, and more
  • Streamlined and updated rules for feats and skills that increase options for your hero
  • A simple combat system with easy rules for grapples, bull rushes, and other special attacks
  • Spellcaster options for magic domains, familiars, bonded items, specialty schools, and more
  • Hundreds of revised, new, and updated spells and magical treasures
  • Quick-generation guidelines for nonplayer characters
  • Expanded rules for curses, diseases, and poisons
  • A completely overhauled experience system with options for slow, medium, and fast advancement

...and much, much more!

Contents

Chapter 1: Getting Started
p. 8
  • Using This Book
  • Common Terms
  • Example of Play
  • Generating a Character
  • Ability Scores
Chapter 2: Races
p. 20
Chapter 3: Classes
p. 30
Skills
p. 86
  • Acquiring Skills
  • Skill Descriptions
Chapter 5: Feats
p. 112
  • Prerequisites
  • Types of Feats
  • Feat Descriptions
Chapter 6: Equipment
p. 140
  • Wealth and Money
  • Weapons
  • Armors
  • Special Materials
  • Goods and Services
Chapter 7: Additional Rules
p. 166
  • Alignment
  • Vital Statistics
  • Movement
  • Exploration
Combat
p. 178
  • How Combat Works
  • Combat Statistics
  • Actions in Combat
  • Injury and Death
  • Movement and Distance
  • Combat Modifiers
  • Special Attacks
  • Special Initiative Actions
Magic
p. 209
  • Casting Spells
  • Spell Descriptions
  • Arcane Spells
  • Divine Spells
Spells
p. 224
  • Spell Lists
  • Spell Descriptions
Gamemastering
p. 396
  • Starting a Campaign
  • Building an Adventure
  • Preparing for the Game
  • During the Game
  • Campaign Tips
  • Ending the Campaign
Environment
p. 490
  • Dungeons
  • Traps
  • Simple Traps
  • Wilderness
  • Urban Adventures
  • Weather
  • The Planes
  • Environmental Rules
Creating NPCs
p. 448
Magic Items
p. 458
  • Using Items
  • Magic Items on the Body
  • Damaging Magic Items
  • Purchasing Magic Items
  • Magic Item Descriptions
  • Armor
  • Weapons
  • Potions
  • Rings
  • Rods
  • Scrolls
  • Staves
  • Wands
  • Wondrous Items
  • Intelligent Items
  • Cursed Items
  • Artifacts
  • Magic Item Creation
Appendix 1: Special Abilities
p. 554
Appendix 2: Conditions
p. 565
Appendix 3: Inspiring Reading
p. 568
Appendix 4: Game Aids
p. 569
Open Game License
p. 569
Character Sheet
p. 570
Index
p. 572