Pathfinder Starter Set: What’s in the Big Blue Box?
March 1, 2012 by beerogre
Video Sponsors: Battle Foam - Heavy Gear
Andy takes a look at the mysterious contents of the Pathfinder Starter Set from Paizo.
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Looks pretty good. I have always loved RPG’s in a box and at a smidge over £20 (depending where you look its good value too
If you’re part of a club, get a few folk to drink a pint or two less one night and chip in together for it, then everyone gets to go find a model they like then roll it up some stats.
Let’s see what’s inside the box?
http://youtu.be/KezvwARhBIc
With at funny bit from the classic UHF aside, this looks like a well designed game. Could be a starting point to get others into RPGing.
I have to say, regardless of which system you prefer of the two, the contents of that blue box look of a significantly higher quality than those in the red one.
If I was in a shop as a complete novice looking to get into RPGs and had a choice of the two, I think this one would get my money, it just looks a better product.
Thats got to worry wizards of the coast.
Certainly a better box than the Red Box from WotC. A lot more effort and thought going into this one with a better grasp of quality. The map is better, they provide you with those little stand-up character which are much better than the counters and seems a lot more thought out.
A great way to get people interested in RPing simply because it will seem more akin to a boardgame with the way it has been set out. Perfect really.
BoW Ben
Hmm.. might have to pick this up now and put it away for a few years since I’m only just about to introduce my kids to gaming via Super Dungeon Explore (er.. once I get a copy. In April, hopefully).. but after that, the Blue Box seems like the perfect next step.
Thats very nice starter box.
Andy, how do you think this sets people up for playing the full game? Enough of the rules to make an easy transition, or are they still a bit basic?
My RPG group is slowly transferring over our D&D 3.5 campaign to Pathfinder. I really like he Pathfinder system, though it didn’t quite solve the class balance problems of #.5 from what I can see.
Interesting
Having looked at and failed to comprehend D&D this looks perfect for the absolute numpty noob such as myself
It takes you up to level 5 Andy not 4 as stated (according to the video on the website) which doesn’t seem very high? Does that allow for a fairly good length of use before needing the full rules? (Though I like that it can be supplemented by free downloads if I understand correctly)
Well that really depends on how fast you want to level up (e.g. the rate at which the GM hands out XP per session) but my experience as both a GM and a player of D&D 3.5 / 3.75 is that if your GM is giving out standard-ish XP, something like this might be reasonable: 2-3 sessions to get to Level 2 2-3 sessions to get to Level 3 4-5 sessions to get to Level 4 4-5 sessions to get to Level 5 That’s assuming you are playing for around 5 hours in a session, which should mean around two… Read more »
Also, I don’t know if it is a feature of the Blue Box rules, but the full rules for Pathfinder include a table where the XP targets for each level vary according to how fast or slow you want to level up.
You can see what I mean here:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/character-advancement
Many thanks Siygess That sounds decent value to me in that case. The only problem is whether I can get to use it to finish a campaign. Was thinking that it could be ideal for the library kids but they don’t attend at regular times and the sessions would be limited to 1-2 hours Couldn’t hold their attention long enough to finish a Heroquest campaign! lol I was given a D&D boxed set about 3 years ago and it is too baffling for a bear of small brain like me! There is one lad that is really into gaming and… Read more »
D&D 3.5 and 3.75 (e.g. Pathfinder) are simple enough if you remember.. that it is called the D20 system for a reason. In combat, you are rolling a D20, adding your to-hit bonuses and comparing it to a fixed value (the defence of your opponent) and in opposed checks (generally involving skills) you are both rolling a D20, adding your relevant bonuses and comparing the results. The only time you aren’t rolling a D20 – sadly – is for damage 😀 There are only two things that could make it difficulty to learn the game: 1) Tracking all of your… Read more »
So this is Pathfinder holmes edition?? Looks rather nice and a great intro set. i wish rpg’s still came in box sets
That set looks nice. I’ve picked up the Pathfinder book a few times off the shelf but always put it back. Getting the box looks like it’ll tip me in favour of picking it up.
Also Reaper Mini’s have done some great work on their Pathfinder range. Great way to add a bit of character to the set.
One mistake, made repeatedly in this review, is that the game only goes to level 4 – it goes to level 5, so the wizard actually gets to start chucking fireballs….
Fireball?
That’s XL5 not L5 lol
Can you buy those card monsters and heroes separately? They look fantastic.
I’m currently running a Pathfinder game set in the Warhammer Fantasy universe. I’ve found it to be an elegant system which lends itself easily to both the novice and the master.