Out Of The Giant’s Shadow: How Pathfinder Made Its Name
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For decades, Dungeons & Dragons has reigned over tabletop role-playing games (RPGs). In 2009, however, a worthy contender emerged from the shadows: Pathfinder. Paizo Publishing developed Pathfinder based on the revised 3rd edition of D&D, keeping what the company loved about D&D and combining it with a unique take on fantasy role-playing games. With its rich lore, iconic gameplay mechanics, and dedicated community, Pathfinder has solidified its place in the world of tabletop RPGs.
From 2002 to 2007, Paizo Publishing produced Dragon and Dungeon magazines based on the revised 3rd edition of D&D (3.5e). These magazines provided source material and additional adventure paths to D&D players. In 2007, Wizards of the Coast, who owned the license for D&D since 1997, announced an upcoming 4th edition. With the threat of changes to game license and uncertainty around compatibility with the newest edition at the time, Paizo Publishing decided to create a standalone product that would bridge the gap between editions 3.5 and 4. Jason Buhlman, managing editor of Dragon magazine, had already been working on a “homebrew” version of D&D edition 3.5, streamlining rules and modifying gameplay to his taste. When Paizo decided to pursue their own product, Buhlman proposed his edited version and became the lead designer for the Pathfinder tabletop RPG.
Pathfinder is set in the fantasy world of Golarian. Like D&D, it’s a dice-based tabletop RPG in which players create their own characters from a range of classes and races, each with their own skill proficiency and abilities (called feats). Led by a Game Master (similar to the D&D Dungeon Master), they follow an adventure of their own choosing, whether it’s a published adventure path or a unique story created by the Game Master. The gameplay is turn-based and depends on rolling a 20-sided die to determine whether the player’s chosen action succeeds or fails.
Paizo’s revisions to the core D&D rules helped set Pathfinder apart from its parent game. Over time, as more revisions were made, and particularly with the release of the Advanced Player’s Handbook, Pathfinder really cemented itself as a fantastic game in its own right. It’s widely regarded as a more customizable game than D&D, with more detailed rules that allow for more role-playing scenarios. Players have more turn actions, there are variable degrees of proficiency for each skill, and the rules about advantage, disadvantage, and critical roles are more complex. Pathfinder also features a greater range of character classes and, with its 2nd edition in 2019, introduced character feats that make character creation even more customizable, to the delight of creative fans.
Pathfinder’s additional rules and options mean it can be more complicated than D&D and may seem overwhelming to newcomers. Paizo understood this and created the Pathfinder Beginner Box. This pack contains everything you need to get started, but without the more complex rules that can trip up and intimidate new players. Instead, the Beginner Box is designed to teach the gameplay mechanics and provide players with the tools to build their own adventures and, most crucially, have fun. It includes the Heroes’ Handbook, the Game Master’s Handbook, character sheets, a full set of dice, and an unlabeled, laminated two-sided flip-mat. Jason Buhlman explained that the unlabeled map is meant to be inspire to players to pursue their own adventure: “You can put in whatever you want.”
The Pathfinder community is large and growing. While Dungeons & Dragons remains the dominant force in tabletop RPGs, Pathfinder’s fans are dedicated, enthusiastic, and passionate about their game. Paizo shares that enthusiasm and continues to deliver the kind of content and products fans look for. Like with the Beginner Box, the company does its best to cater to fans of all levels. It’s keen for players to make their own adventures but also produces some excellent adventure paths for Game Masters to explore with their parties. One of its most famous adventure paths is Kingmaker is one of its most famous and best campaigns, and inspired the 2018 video game by Owlcat Games. With its huge variety and attention to detail, Pathfinder’s library of excellent adventures will keep any party entertained and enthralled.
In early 2023, it seemed that Paizo and other companies who had produced games and content based on D&D’s original open game license might come into conflict with Wizards of the Coast. In response, Paizo announced the roll-out of the Pathfinder Remastered Core project throughout 2023 and 2024. Pathfinder: Player Core Rulebook, Pathfinder: GM Core Rulebook, Pathfinder: Monster Core Rulebook, and Pathfinder: Player Core Rulebook 2 will replace the original primary rulebooks, with all D&D associations removed. Despite the enormity of the project, Paizo took the opportunity to drill deeper into the lore and history of Golarian and the classes, races, and heritages within the game. By revising its fundamental terminology and renaming certain mechanics, character attributes, and creatures, Paizo has shown just how far from D&D’s shadow Pathfinder truly stands.
Paizo’s love and enthusiasm for Pathfinder are evident in how they balance new and old fans. Products like the Beginner Box are designed to help newcomers get involved and enjoy themselves, while the more complex adventure paths and additional rulebooks honor and challenge more experienced players. With the Pathfinder 2e remaster project, the game now stands firmly on its own feet. The shared history with Dungeons & Dragons is no longer central to Pathfinder but the love for fantasy RPGs and tabletop gaming remains in common between them. Pathfinder is the perfect game for players who love challenging and customizable adventures. Now that its association with D&D is at an end, we can’t wait to see how it will evolve in the future.
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