Press Release
For Immediate Release
UNLEASH MORE HEROES!
THE ADVANCED PLAYER’S GUIDE PLAYTEST HAS BEGUN
Get ready for more high-fantasy classes for Pathfinder Second Edition:
investigator, oracle, swashbuckler, and witch!
REDMOND, WASHINGTON (November 6, 2019): Today, less than 100 days after the launch of Pathfinder Second Edition, Paizo has launched the worldwide Advanced Player’s Guide Playtest of four new classes. Players are invited to go to PathfinderPlaytest.com, download the free PDF, make one—or more!—of the playtest classes, and put them to the test!
“We’d like you to play these classes in a variety of levels and situations. If you’re looking for a published adventure, we recommend Fall of Plaguestone, which offers a standalone experience at some of the most commonly played levels of the game with some particularly challenging combats that can help put the classes through their paces,” said Jason Bulmahn, Director of Game Design.
This playtest focuses on four new classes for the upcoming Advanced Player’s Guide, a rulebook full of new character options that is scheduled for release at GEN CON in August of 2020.
The investigator is a savvy, street-smart character who takes cases to uncover clues and solve mysteries. This class ties to parts of the game that aren’t covered in depth in the Core Rulebook, so the playtest will see if their approach to solving mysteries is satisfying while keeping the rules for the game as a whole flexible.
The oracle commands divine powers by drawing from universal concepts, casting powerful revelation spells that take a toll on their body and manifest as a double-edged curse. The designers want to make sure the curse effects are fun and engaging without disrupting the balance of the class compared to other characters. For the playtest, they’ve selected only a subset of mysteries, but there will be more in the final version.
The swashbuckler is the flamboyant daredevil of the battlefield, tumbling through foes and entering a heightened state to deliver devastating finishing blows. Players will be testing a system that encourages them to gain panache, a state of bombastic flair that lets them use more powerful abilities. The playtest version emphasizes new rules specific to the class so that they can playtest those thoroughly, but the final version might pick up some of the fighter’s weapon feats suited to dueling.
The witch serves a mysterious patron entity, casting spells and hexes learned through a powerful familiar. This is the most flexible spellcasting class Paizo has introduced since it allows you to build your own path by selecting not only feats but also lessons from your patron. The designers want to make sure those options work well both narratively and mechanically across all three of the spellcasting traditions the witch can gain access to.
Once you’ve had a chance to try the classes, you can submit your feedback in the following ways. If you only have time for one form of feedback, Paizo asks you to please take the survey. It makes it easier for them to hear and apply your feedback since it’s more structured and puts your responses directly at their fingertips.
Surveys: Head to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APGClassSurvey and https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/APGOpenResponse to take surveys that will allow the designers to gather your responses. These surveys will be available starting Tuesday, November 12, 2019 and they will remain open until the end of the playtest.
Forums: On paizo.com, you’ll find a general forum for discussion and announcements, plus forums for each of the four new classes. When you post to the forums, look for existing threads on your topic before starting a new one. Remember that every poster is trying to make the game better for everyone, so please be polite and respectful.
Twitch: Players can engage with designers on Paizo’s Twitch channel at twitch.tv/officialpaizo this Friday at 4:00 p.m. Pacific. Video from that stream will be archived on Paizo’s YouTube channel at youtube.com/PaizoInc.
The playtest will run until December 2, 2019. Paizo is looking for your feedback, comments, and criticisms regarding these classes, but they’re focusing our attention on feedback from play. Make new characters, use them as PCs or adversaries, and run a few game sessions or encounters incorporating them! Go to PathfinderPlaytest.com to unleash your newest hero!
About Paizo
Paizo Inc. is one of the world’s leading hobby game publishers. Since 2002, millions of players have joined the goblin army by playing the Pathfinder® and Starfinder® roleplaying games across tabletops, at conventions, at their favorite local game store, and digitally on virtual tabletops. Paizo.com is an online retail hobby destination for millions of gamers that carries the latest products from top hobby game publishers. Players also find accessories, like dice and maps, miniatures, T-shirts, goblin plush toys, and the newest releases to quickly replenish those adventuring supplies for the next dungeon run.