It appears, that the Hero Lab version for Pathfinder Beginner Box is free, full functioning, and works wonders:
This creature stands barely three feet tall, its scrawny, humanoid body dwarfed by its wide, ungainly head.
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Grinder: Male Goblin (Neutral)
Goblins are hateful, suspicious creatures about 4 feet tall. They prefer to dwell in caves or buildings abandoned by others. They love fire, hate dogs and horses, and believe that writing steals the words from your head.
Initiative +6; Speed 30 ft. (6 sq.); CR 1/2; HP 8
Senses Darkvision (60 feet); Perception +4
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DEFENSE
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AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+3 armor, +2 Dex, +1 size)
Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +0
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OFFENSE
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Melee (M) Dagger +0 (1d4+1/19-20/x2) and
(M) Dagger +0 (1d4+1/19-20/x2) and
Unarmed Strike +2 (1d2+1/20/x2)
Ranged Shortbow +3 (1d4/20/x3)
Special Attacks Sneak Attack +1d6
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STATISTICS
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Str +1, Dex +2, Con 0, Int 0, Wis 0, Cha 0
Skills Climb +5, Disable Device +7, Knowledge (Dungeoneering) +4, Knowledge (Local) +4, Knowledge (Nature) +1, Perception +4, Ride +6, Sense Motive +4, Stealth +10
Feats Improved Initiative
Equipment Backpack (empty), Belt Pouch (empty), Caltrops, Dagger, Dagger, Flint and Steel, Sack (empty), Sack (empty), Shortbow, Studded Leather, Thieves' Tools, Waterskin
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ECOLOGY
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Environment Temperate forest and plains (usually coastal regions)
Organization Gang (4-9), warband (10-16 with goblin dog mounts), or tribe (17+ plus 100% noncombatants; 1 sergeant of 3rd level per 20 adults; 1 or 2 lieutenants of 4th or 5th level; 1 leader of 6th-8th level; and 10-40 goblin dogs, wolves, or worgs)
Treasure NPC gear (leather armor, light wooden shield, short sword, short bow with 20 arrows, other treasure)
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SPECIAL ABILITIES
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Darkvision (60 feet) You can see in the dark up to 60 feet. This works like normal vision, but it's only in shades of gray.
Sneak Attack +1d6 +1d6 damage if you flank your target or your target is flat-footed.
Trapfinding +1 +1 to find or disable traps.
Hero Lab® and the Hero Lab logo are Registered Trademarks of LWD Technology, Inc. Free download at http://www.wolflair.com
Pathfinder® and associated marks and logos are trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC®, and are used under license.
This rocks! Now, I must play a PFBB campaign!
TB
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Home...
Home at last, though I thought I would get alot of blogging done while on my business trip, it never came to fruition. Now, I hope, I can delve off into some PFBB ramblings...
TB
TB
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Pathfinder Beginner Box and D&D Red Box
I had blogged about getting the Pathfinder Beginner Box (PFBB) a while ago, but I just picked up the D&D Red Box too. Which, I swore I wouldn't get, but I found it on sale for $9.50
Talk about totally different attempts at what, I think, was meant to be the same thing; an introduction to 'the' game.
The PFBB was a trip down memory lane. I really enjoyed the solo adventure and all the way through to page 53 of the Hero's Handbook. That is where the crunch began under the heading of "Combat"... I stomached through to the end because it was only an additional ten pages that covered only first through fifth level (the sweat spot for me personally).
The PFBB Game Master's Guide had a nice mini-adventure and, though it was tailored to new GMs, was an enjoyable read.
In short, the whole PFBB screamed quality.
The D&D Red Box (RB), on the other hand, whimpered. From the box and booklet quality, to a Player's Handbook that was 39 pages of solo-adventure ONLY! I did like how they had you develop you character sheet throughout the adventure, but this did not make up for my less than gloomy first impression.
The D&D RB Dungeon Master Book had me crying before I even finished it, which I did not do. The rules where like reading a 60+ page boardgame instruction manual...
Now to admit, I currently play D&D 4e with a great group, and the GM handles it very old school. So I know it is possible, but if I had to start a group with this thing, it probably would never happen.
PFBB on the other hand has me compelled to start a new campaign, should I find the players.
To answer a few questions directed to me from the last post by Erin:
"....looks friendly enough and I'm sorely tempted to pick it up, but is it good enough to launch a whole new campaign..." ~ Absolutely. It is solid, and much more of what I wanted out of PF 3.5 than what it has become. I could totally see repeat playability just by staying in the 1st to 5th level that the box set covers. I must admit that I have always liked the idea of a E6 style game anyway. This scratches my itch!
"...or is it just reference material I can use in my existing game?" ~ I think it can do that too, to a lesser extent. It has an 'old school vibe' to it, but it is obviously a d20 product. It introduces Sandpoint and the neighboring region and gives out a few plot hooks to expound on for sure, but it is an 'introduction' to the game.
"Is it "stand-alone" or will I have to go down the Pathfinder rabbit hole?" ~ it suggests going to the PF Core rulebook, but it is 100% stand-alone. I do not see myself investing in anything other than perhaps the setting book, where I will run a plethora of PBB adventures, should I find an interested group! So, no, no rabbit hole in my future! But I like the setting, so might get the one other book to 'expand' it some.
"I await your judgement..." ~ I recommend it, surprisingly. I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I do. I wish the entire PF line was like this though. The D&D RB on the other hand... was a waste of my money even at the 'bargain' price. I enjoy my D&D 4e group and game, I do, but reading what I was able to of the box set, well, was torture. I hoped it would have been different, because I do enjoy my face-to-face 4e group game, and assumed, wrongly that perhaps the reviews were not fair or I might like it because I had prior experience... not the case! I thought I might one day want to even GM a 4e game/campaign, but realize I don't have the chops that my current 4e GM has to make it 'old school'.
In closing, get the PFBB, I don't think you will regret it,
TB
Talk about totally different attempts at what, I think, was meant to be the same thing; an introduction to 'the' game.
The PFBB was a trip down memory lane. I really enjoyed the solo adventure and all the way through to page 53 of the Hero's Handbook. That is where the crunch began under the heading of "Combat"... I stomached through to the end because it was only an additional ten pages that covered only first through fifth level (the sweat spot for me personally).
The PFBB Game Master's Guide had a nice mini-adventure and, though it was tailored to new GMs, was an enjoyable read.
In short, the whole PFBB screamed quality.
The D&D Red Box (RB), on the other hand, whimpered. From the box and booklet quality, to a Player's Handbook that was 39 pages of solo-adventure ONLY! I did like how they had you develop you character sheet throughout the adventure, but this did not make up for my less than gloomy first impression.
The D&D RB Dungeon Master Book had me crying before I even finished it, which I did not do. The rules where like reading a 60+ page boardgame instruction manual...
Now to admit, I currently play D&D 4e with a great group, and the GM handles it very old school. So I know it is possible, but if I had to start a group with this thing, it probably would never happen.
PFBB on the other hand has me compelled to start a new campaign, should I find the players.
To answer a few questions directed to me from the last post by Erin:
"....looks friendly enough and I'm sorely tempted to pick it up, but is it good enough to launch a whole new campaign..." ~ Absolutely. It is solid, and much more of what I wanted out of PF 3.5 than what it has become. I could totally see repeat playability just by staying in the 1st to 5th level that the box set covers. I must admit that I have always liked the idea of a E6 style game anyway. This scratches my itch!
"...or is it just reference material I can use in my existing game?" ~ I think it can do that too, to a lesser extent. It has an 'old school vibe' to it, but it is obviously a d20 product. It introduces Sandpoint and the neighboring region and gives out a few plot hooks to expound on for sure, but it is an 'introduction' to the game.
"Is it "stand-alone" or will I have to go down the Pathfinder rabbit hole?" ~ it suggests going to the PF Core rulebook, but it is 100% stand-alone. I do not see myself investing in anything other than perhaps the setting book, where I will run a plethora of PBB adventures, should I find an interested group! So, no, no rabbit hole in my future! But I like the setting, so might get the one other book to 'expand' it some.
"I await your judgement..." ~ I recommend it, surprisingly. I honestly didn't expect to like it as much as I do. I wish the entire PF line was like this though. The D&D RB on the other hand... was a waste of my money even at the 'bargain' price. I enjoy my D&D 4e group and game, I do, but reading what I was able to of the box set, well, was torture. I hoped it would have been different, because I do enjoy my face-to-face 4e group game, and assumed, wrongly that perhaps the reviews were not fair or I might like it because I had prior experience... not the case! I thought I might one day want to even GM a 4e game/campaign, but realize I don't have the chops that my current 4e GM has to make it 'old school'.
In closing, get the PFBB, I don't think you will regret it,
TB
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Pathfinder Beginner Box
Staying in a hotel for weeks on end, eight hundred miles away from home, you do some strange things. Like purchase the Pathfinder Beginner Box set...
Knee-jerk reaction, I can live with it. Something between Microlite20 and full blown 3.5 might just fit the bill. Think I will go sit down in the lobby and read it. Maybe I can find some other equally as bored people to give it a run for it's money?
Later Taters,
TB
Knee-jerk reaction, I can live with it. Something between Microlite20 and full blown 3.5 might just fit the bill. Think I will go sit down in the lobby and read it. Maybe I can find some other equally as bored people to give it a run for it's money?
Later Taters,
TB
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