RPG SUPERSTAR’S TOP 4 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

 Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder  Comments Off on RPG SUPERSTAR’S TOP 4 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
Mar 042015
 
RPG SUPERSTAR’S TOP 4 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

From Hundreds of Contestants, Now Down to Four, as Global Competition to Find New Stars in Game Design Enters Final Round

REDMOND, WA (March 3, 2015): Paizo Inc., creator of the popular Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, announces today the Top 4 Finalists in the 2015 RPG Superstar Game Design competition.

RPG Superstar™ 2015 Top 4 Finalists and their Winning Encounter with a Map Designs

Brian J. Fruzen (Milwaukee, WI) – The Gloomsworn Path
Monica Marlowe (Cincinnati, OH) – The Hanging Gardens of Karexin
Kalervo Oikarinen (Helsinki, Finland) – Fellforge Chapel
Christopher Wasko (Connecticut) – Darkblight Fallow

“Behold our four finalists! They have navigated the surprise of creating a new category of magic item, diligently labored to create stand-alone maps, wrought creatures of the Darklands, and braved the travails of creating new and interesting encounters,” says Owen KC Stephens, Pathfinder Developer and Host of RPG Superstar 2015. “Hundreds began this exhausting and arduous path, and now these four have proven themselves to be the best of the year.”

In the final round, the Top 4 must design a 32 – 40 page adventure for 5th level characters, set in the Nar-Voth. The deadline for the final round’s entries is March 13, 2015, and public voting will begin March 17, 2015 on paizo.com/rpgsuperstar.

Now in its 8th year, RPG Superstar receives thousands of entries from all over the world, which are reviewed by a panel of experienced game designers, and then voted on by the paizo.com community, who have cast millions of votes over the years.

The winner of the competition will have their adventure published by Paizo as a Pathfinder Module, a full-color, 64-page, high-quality softcover book, compatible with not only the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (RPG), but also with any game published under the Open Gaming License (OGL). Also, three runners-up will win assignments to write adventure scenarios for Paizo’s Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign, offering all four finalists professional writing contracts with Paizo Inc., and an opportunity to begin their game design careers by working on the world’s best-selling roleplaying game.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is the wildly popular tabletop RPG, in which players take on the role of brave adventurers fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil. The Pathfinder RPG is currently translated into multiple languages, and the vibrant Pathfinder universe has been licensed for comic book series, graphic novels, miniatures, plush toys, and apparel, and is being developed into a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

About Paizo Inc.
Paizo Inc. is publisher of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, as well as Pathfinder Tales novels, board games, and gaming accessories. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the twelve years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 60 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry. For more information, visit paizo.com.

AN ARMY OF GIANTS MARCHES INTO THE PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAME’S NEWEST ADVENTURE PATH, GIANTSLAYER

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Mar 032015
 
 

 FromPaizo

AN ARMY OF GIANTS MARCHES INTO THE PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAME’S NEWEST ADVENTURE PATH, GIANTSLAYER

 

Newest 6-Part Campaign Kicks-Off with the first Installment, “Battle of Bloodmarch Hill”

 

REDMOND, WA (March 2, 2015): Paizo Inc., publisher of the wildly popular Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, announces today the kick-off of the Giantslayer Adventure Path, the latest 6-part adventure series in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Pathfinder Adventure Path #91: Battle of Bloodmarch Hill, written by Patrick Renie, is now available in hobby game stores nationwide, and on paizo.com.

 

Deep in the Mindspin Mountains, a storm giant warlord known as the Storm Tyrant is gathering an army of giants from across western Avistan—first to bring the orc hordes of Belkzen under his banner, then to conquer the neighboring realms. Working their way through an abandoned border fort, an ancient giant temple, the tomb of an undead frost giant, and an elite fire giant training facility beneath a dormant volcano, the heroes eventually take the fight to the Storm Tyrant himself inside his flying fortress. Can the giant army be defeated, or will all of Avistan bow down in fealty to the Storm Tyrant?

“Giantslayer is a return to the blood-and-thunder, sword-and-sorcery roots of the Pathfinder RPG,” says Paizo Publisher Erik Mona. “Our last few campaigns have jumped from world to world, cast the heroes and super-legendary über-heroes fighting off a demon invasion, and other madness. Giantslayer tells an epic fantasy story against epic villains that helps players and GMs get back to basics in the most ass-kickingest way we know how.”

The Giantslayer Adventure Path includes 6 monthly, 96-page, full-color softcover books:

–       AP #91: Battle of BloodMarch Hill (February)

–       AP #92: The Hill Giant’s Pledge (March)

–       AP #93: Forge of the Giant God (April)

–       AP #94: Ice Tomb of the Giant Queen (May)

–       AP #95: Anvil of Fire (June)

–       AP #96: Shadow of the Storm Tyrant (July)

–       Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Giantslayer Poster Map Folio (July)

Each volume contains an in-depth Adventure Path scenario, stats for new monsters, and several support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign.

For more information, visit paizo.com/adventurepath.

ABOUT PAIZO

Paizo Inc. is publisher of the wildly popular Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, as well as Pathfinder Tales novels, board games, and gaming accessories. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the twelve years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 60 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry. For more information, visit paizo.com.

Copyright © 2015 JBCO, All rights reserved.
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Words With Owen K.C. Stephens Part 1&2

 Featured, Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder, Words With  Comments Off on Words With Owen K.C. Stephens Part 1&2
Mar 022015
 

It’s the season for RPG Superstar and I managed to borrow some of Owen K.C. Stephens time fo ran interview.

I broke it into two parts, Bio and RPG Superstar/writing tips.   I was going to break into a third part but that would have made it a little awkward.  Any way here is what we talked about

The first 6 minutes of my interview with Owen discusses his history. His humble beginnings at Wizards of the Coast and his journey to Paizo.

 

In this next portion of the interview we discuss RPG Superstar and writing.   Looking back I can see how closely related the writing is to RPG Superstar – on your first listen it might seem like we get distracted. The reality of it is that writing is really the essence of RPG Superstar.  I hope you enjoy it.

I apologize for my user error.  I made myself the presenter and I omitted Owen from the camera. But you have to thank him anyway, he saved you by giving me some of his favorite photos for a slide show saving your eyes from face.

 

RPG Superstar round four just ended and the finalists will be announced tonight. If you haven’t taken part in the contest it’s not too late to join the community. I’ve been gaming a long time and I have to say it’s one of the best communities to be involved in.

Flip Through Lost Treasure

 Featured, Flip Through, Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder  Comments Off on Flip Through Lost Treasure
Feb 272015
 

In this Flip Though Matt takes a look at Lost Treasure.  Paizo has created a book that reinforces the Pathfinder story line by give more locations flavor and giving GM’s the idea to do the same.

 

 

I’m sure there will be countless adventures around some of these in my house.

March Releases for Pathfinder

 Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder Mini's  Comments Off on March Releases for Pathfinder
Feb 212015
 

hill giants pledgePathfinder Adventure Path: The Hill Giant’s Pledge (Giantslayer 2 of 6)

$22.99

The marauding orcs have been defeated, but great danger remains – the hill giant chieftain Grenseldek did not recover the treasures of the tomb beneath the besieged town of Trunau, and she will never rest until she has made them her own. The heroes must travel by riverboat through the orc-hold of Belkzen to the abandoned border fort that the giant has claimed as her lair and put a stop to the threat at its source!

 

“The Hill Giant’s Pledge” is a Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for 4th-level characters. The adventure continues in the Giantslayer Adventure Path, a classic sword & sorcery campaign that pits the players against hordes of evil giants. Several new monsters, additional missions for the Mindspin Mountains region, an article on the ecology of drakes, and Michael Kortes’s Pathfinder Journal round out this volume of the Pathfinder Adventure Path!

 

Softcover, full color

96 pages

Continue reading »

TOP 8 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 GAME DESIGNER COMPETITION

 Paizo Publishing  Comments Off on TOP 8 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 GAME DESIGNER COMPETITION
Feb 192015
 
This was released a couple of days ago – I’m still catching up from crazy children.  Oh wait that’s real life!
TOP 8 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 GAME DESIGNER COMPETITION

REDMOND, WA (February 17, 2015): Paizo Inc., creator of the popular Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, announces today the Top 8 finalists for 2015’s RPG Superstar, the annual, worldwide, game designer competition.

RPG Superstar™ 2015 Top 8 Finalists and their Winning Monster Designs

Gabriel Almer — Gloomwasp
Brian Fruzen — Geomaw
Scott LaBarge — Coryphae
Monica Marlowe — Narrick
Ben Iglauer — Occularictus
Kalervo Oikarinen — Dread Glutton
R Pickard — Spiroskek
Christopher Wasko — Deeplit

“Making it to the RPG Superstar Top 8 is a major achievement,” says Owen KC Stephens. “These contestants have overcome some of the most difficult and unexpected challenges we’ve ever had in this contest, and my sincerest congratulations go out to the Top 8 and their monster designs.”

There are two rounds left in the competition, where the remaining finalists will be kept on their toes with next round’s challenge, Design an Encounter. Contestants will be required to design a new map for a location within Nar-Voth (the subterranean realms of Golarion, Pathfinder’s campaign world). They must design an encounter for that map, use another contestant’s monster from a previous round, make the encounter balanced for specific level range, and hit a 1,300-1,400 word count.

The deadline for Round Four entries is February 20, 2015, and public voting on the encounters will end on March 2, 2015. For more information, visit paizo.com/rpgsuperstar.

Now in its 8th year, RPG Superstar receives thousands of entries from all over the world, which are reviewed by a panel of experienced game designers, and then voted on by the paizo.com community, who have cast millions of votes over the years.

The winner of the competition will have their adventure published by Paizo as a Pathfinder Module, a full-color, 64-page, high-quality softcover book, compatible with not only the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (RPG), but also with any game published under the Open Gaming License (OGL). Also, three runners-up will win assignments to write adventure scenarios for Paizo’s Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign, offering all four finalists professional writing contracts with Paizo Inc., and an opportunity to begin their game design careers by working on the world’s best-selling roleplaying game.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is the world’s best-selling tabletop RPG, in which players take on the role of brave adventurers fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil. The Pathfinder RPG is currently translated into multiple languages, and the vibrant Pathfinder universe has been licensed for comic book series, graphic novels, miniatures, plush toys, and apparel, and is being developed into a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

About Paizo Inc.
Paizo Inc. is publisher of the world’s best-selling Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, the wildly popular Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, as well as Pathfinder Tales novels, board games, and gaming accessories. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the twelve years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 60 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry. For more information, visit paizo.com.

TOP 16 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 GAME DESIGNER COMPETITION

 Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder  Comments Off on TOP 16 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 GAME DESIGNER COMPETITION
Feb 042015
 

From Paizo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TOP 16 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 GAME DESIGNER COMPETITION

REDMOND, WA (February 3, 2015): Paizo Inc., creator of the popular Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, announces today the Top 16 finalists for 2015’s RPG Superstar, the annual, worldwide open call for would-be game designers to have their talents discovered, and the chance at being published in an official Pathfinder RPG module.

Round Two required contestants to develop a single, one-page map, and the Top 16 Finalists were determined from the Top 32 Finalists announced in January. The Top 16 will move on to Round 3, with the task to develop a Monster and Stat Block.

RPG Superstar™ 2015 Top 16 Finalists and their Winning Map Designs

Gabriel Almer – Caverns of Steam, Near Dwimovel (Darklands, Sekamina)
Charlie Bell – Smokemount Hold
Russ Brown – Lost Water Gardens of Jalmeray
Brian Fruzen — Salvation’s End
Jeff Heikkinen — Inside the Glacier
David Higaki — The Gravepit Basin of Fallen Sercai
Dana Huber — Elven Guardpost on the Tanglebriar Border
Ben Iglauer — The Haunted Dinosaur Graveyard of Mediogalti Island
Jason Keeley — Leviathan’s End
Scott LaBarge — Shadde-Quah Shoanti Cliff Dwelling. Calphiak Mountains
Monica Marlowe — Firebrand’s Redoubt: Stronghold of Lady Delbera Axebringer
Kalervo Oikarinen — Ancient Cyclops Stronghold in the Icerime Peaks
Anthony Pennington — The Fancy Reefclaw Brewery
R Pickard — Town of Griffon Falls
Chris Shaeffer — Treant’s Crossing
Christopher Wasko — The Drowning Temple

Says Owen K.C. Stephens, Pathfinder RPG Designer, “We’re cranking up the pressure again with the Bestiary entry for round 3. We’re giving the tightest word count range we’ve ever required, and every monster has to be strongly tied to Nar-Voth, a subterranean realm within Golarion, Pathfinder’s game world.”

The deadline for Round Three entries is February 6, 2015, and public voting on the maps will end on February 16, 2015. For more information, visit paizo.com/rpgsuperstar.

Now in its 8th year, RPG Superstar receives thousands of entries from all over the world, which are reviewed by a panel of experienced game designers, and then voted on by the paizo.com community, who have cast millions of votes over the years.

The winner of the competition will have their adventure published by Paizo as a Pathfinder Module, a full-color, 64-page, high-quality softcover book, compatible with not only the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (RPG), but also with any game published under the Open Gaming License (OGL). Also, three runners-up will win assignments to write adventure scenarios for Paizo’s Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign, offering all four finalists professional writing contracts with Paizo Inc., and an opportunity to begin their game design careers by working on the world’s best-selling roleplaying game.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is the world’s best-selling tabletop RPG, in which players take on the role of brave adventurers fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil. The Pathfinder RPG is currently translated into multiple languages, and the vibrant Pathfinder universe has been licensed for comic book series, graphic novels, miniatures, plush toys, and apparel, and is being developed into a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

About Paizo Inc.
Paizo Inc. is publisher of the world’s best-selling Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, the wildly popular Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, as well as Pathfinder Tales novels, board games, and gaming accessories. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the twelve years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 60 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry. For more information, visit paizo.com.

SEARCH FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015

 Paizo Publishing  Comments Off on SEARCH FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015
Dec 112014
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEARCH FOR RPG SUPERSTAR 2015 

Paizo Launches Annual Contest to Find the Next Generation of Game Designers

REDMOND, WA (December 9, 2014): Paizo Inc., creator of the popular Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, announces today’s kick-off of RPG Superstar 2015, the annual, worldwide open call for would-be game designers to have their talents discovered, and the chance at being published in an official Pathfinder RPG module.

Now in its 8th year, RPG Superstar receives thousands of entries from all over the world, which are reviewed by a panel of experienced game designers, and then voted on by the paizo.com community, who have cast millions of votes over the years.

The winner of the competition will have their adventure published by Paizo as a Pathfinder Module, a full-color, 64-page, high-quality softcover book, compatible with not only the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (RPG), but also with any game published under the Open Gaming License (OGL). Also, three runners-up will win assignments to write adventure scenarios for Paizo’s Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign, offering all four finalists professional writing contracts with Paizo Inc., and an opportunity to begin their game design careers by working on the world’s best-selling roleplaying game.

RPG Superstar will see a new Master of Ceremonies this year, game designer Owen K. C. Stephens, who promises more surprises, and more difficult challenges. Says Stephens, “Ramping up the degree of difficulty in several rounds is a result of how consistently amazing the entries have been year after year. We’re convinced the talent pool exists to make several of the stages tougher than previous years, and that the best contestants are going to thrive under the pressure.”

The first big change is to Round One, which has traditionally called for the design of a special type of magic treasure known as a wondrous item. For the 2015 contest, contestants are asked to create an original magic Item from one of the following categories: suit of armor, shield, weapon, staff, ring, or rod.

Round One is now open for magic item designs, which must be submitted by December 16, 2014 to be considered for moving on to the next round. There will be four rounds in all, and winners will be announced on March 24, 2015. For more information, or to submit an entry, visit paizo.com/rpgsuperstar.

The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is the world’s best-selling tabletop RPG, in which players take on the role of brave adventurers fighting to survive in a world beset by magic and evil. The Pathfinder RPG is currently translated into multiple languages, and the vibrant Pathfinder universe has been licensed for comic book series, graphic novels, miniatures, plush toys, and apparel, and is being developed into a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game.

About Paizo Inc.
Paizo Inc. is publisher of the world’s best-selling Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, the wildly popular Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, as well as Pathfinder Tales novels, board games, and gaming accessories. Paizo.com is the leading online hobby retail store, offering tens of thousands of products from a variety of publishers to customers all over the world. In the twelve years since its founding, Paizo Publishing has received more than 60 major awards and has grown to become one of the most influential companies in the hobby games industry. For more information, visit paizo.com.

From Paizo The Strategy Guide

 Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder  Comments Off on From Paizo The Strategy Guide
Nov 192014
 

straPathfinder Roleplaying Game: Strategy Guide Hardcover

$29.99

Unlock the secrets of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game! This 160-page strategy guide gives you invaluable advice on how to make a character, from the formation of a concept to selecting the best options to make your character come to life. An extensive look at the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook rules helps you explore the world and survive the terrible dangers of the adventuring life. This guide also includes rules for advancing your character from simple beginnings to the heights of power. Learn to improve your play and master the game with the Pathfinder RPG Strategy Guide!

 

The Pathfinder RPG Strategy Guide includes:

-A user-friendly step-by-step illustrated guide to building your character, everything from deciding a theme (like archer, berserker, knight, pyromancer, and more!) to picking your gear.

-Tips for making an effective and fun character to play whether exploring the world or in the middle of combat.

-Guidelines to help you navigate every aspect of the game, from dungeon exploration to combat to venturing into the wilderness.

-Comprehensive guide to complex Pathfinder RPG rules systems like combat maneuvers, attacks of opportunity, action types, and modifier stacking.

-Tips on getting the most utility out of spell selection and tactical suggestions for commonly cast spells.

-Overviews of exciting character options beyond the Core Rulebook.

Pathfinder Player Companion: Giant Hunter’s Handbook

 Paizo Publishing, Pathfinder  Comments Off on Pathfinder Player Companion: Giant Hunter’s Handbook
Nov 182014
 

Giant Hunter'sPathfinder Player Companion: Giant Hunter’s Handbook

$12.99

The bigger they are, the harder they fall! With Pathfinder Player Companion: Giant Hunter’s Handbook, you’ll be felling titans, confounding ettins, and burying hill giants by the ton.

 

Empower your adventurer with all-new goliath-slaying feats, spells, magic items, traits, and character options while picking up tips and tactics to outlast even the most mammoth foes. When you can’t overpower your enemy, learn how to outwit them or what tools you’ll need to strike with the advantage.

 

 

 

 

 

The Giant Hunter’s Handbook contains:

-Traits and advice for characters with backgrounds impacted by the ravages of monstrous giant clans.

-Details on Golarion’s most famous giant-hunting organizations, as well as teamwork feats to help your own giant-hunting team achieve victory and glory.

-New archetypes that help characters take on giants on an equal footing, including the goliath druid, who can grow to giant size, and the titan fighter, who can wield oversized weapons.

-A preview of the upcoming Giantslayer Adventure Path as well as campaign traits and suggestions guaranteed to aid you throughout this titanic campaign.

-New equipment, feats, magic items, spells, methods for shrinking oversized giant treasure down to a useful scale, and much, much more!