So now I finished writing
Path of Shadows, and considering what to do once I finish Path of War.
There are several D20 and Pathfinder products I'd like to highlight in the future, and probably some World of Darkness books too.
So I noticed that products I feel excited about or are notable are easier to review, so I made a list here of ones which interest me. I won't touch them until I finish Path of War, but these are a taste of things to come.
D20/Pathfinder
Deep Magic: A very popular Pathfinder book full of not just new magic, but new subsystems, magical schools, etc. Made as a collaboration between D&D industry veterans such as Ed Greenwood, Margaret Weis, Wolfgang Baur, and others.
Genius Guide to the Godling: By Super Genius Games, this is a toolbox sort of class where the character claims descent from a deity. They have a list of mystic powers to choose from much like rogue talents which grant them powers based upon certain divine portfolios. Is actually 4 classes: Mighty Godling, Clever Godling, Eldritch Godling, and Mystic Godling.
Heroes of Thornwall: By Mechanical Muse. Meant to serve as a campaign starter, the author is confident enough in his project to release the PDF for free. It is a sort of mini-setting where the PCs are 1st-level folk just beginning to take up the mantle of adventurer, and promises mechanics for establishing community ties with the hometown.
In the Company of Dragons: By Rite Publishing. An honest-to-God 1st to 20th level monster class where you play as a literal dragon, breath weapons and size categories and all.
Maximum Xcrawl: Powered by Pathfinder: An alternate earth where magic, elves, etc are real, and adventurers compete in televised gladiator matches/obstacle course dungeons for cash and fame!
New Paths Compendium: By Kobold Press. A collection of new classes, archetypes, spells, and feats. Many of them are popular picks, from the benevolent white necromancer (a personal favorite of mine) to the spell-less ranger.
Parsantium: City at the Crossroads: A relatively system-less setting book for a fantasy counterpart Constantinople. Helped serve as an inspiration for my Arcana High game, and combines many tropes in interesting ways. Nordic imperial bodyguards, gnoll mercenaries, lotus-chewing mystics, and a Roman-style gladiatorial Colosseum are but a few interesting features.
Ponyfinder Campaign Setting: One of the most popular Pathfinder campaign settings, this book's actually pretty neat. Equine fey are the dominant race, not humans, and magical wonders are commonplace.
Primeval Thule: A setting by several WotC veterans designed for Pathfinder, 13th Age, and 4th Edition D&D (I own the PF version). Derives inspiration from sword and sorcery novels, and the culture and technology level is set at a definite ancient world age. Divine spellcasters go not gain their powers from the gods but instead the inner circles of mystery cults. Bronze is king, and iron arms and armor is so precious they're treated as a magic equipment in some game versions.
The Red Dragon Inn: Guide to Inns and Taverns: With detailed rules for cooking and food preparation, inn maintenance, etc, this is pretty much Sims Fantasy Tavern for Pathfinder. I have a sort of half-game going on utilizing the rules from this book, so I do have a little bit of play experience with this one.
You're Gonna Die Screaming: An optimization guide for the Commoner NPC Class.
World of Darkness
Vampire the Requiem 2nd Edition: Back in 2013 Onyx Path (the successor to White Wolf) did a major update on the Old and New World of Darkness lines, and Vampire the Requiem was one of the first. In addition to tackling several major mechanical fumbles of the previous game, along with a pseudo-setting update, I'm really liking what I'm seeing.
Damnation City: Although made for the Vampire line, it's good enough to serve as a generic city-building book for just about any RPG, particularly gothic/urban fantasy/horror ones. It was around this book that Vampire the Requiem really came into its own to distinguish itself from the older Masquerade setting.
