Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

by Wolfgang Baur, Christopher Paul Carey (Editor), Rob McCreary (Editor)

PZO1116 Bestiary 2 Hardcover Pathfinder Roleplaying Game by Paizo Publishing

Go beyond goblins with an army of fantasys most fearsome foes! Bestiary 2 presents hundreds of different creatures for use in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Within this collection of creatures you will find undead dragons and mischievous gremlins, shrieking banshees and unstoppable titans, the infamous jabberwock, and so much more! Yet not all these monsters need to be foes, as new breeds of otherworldly guardians, living shadows, and vampires all might take up adventures call. In addition, new rules for customizing and advancing monsters and an expanded glossary of creature abilities ensure that you will be prepared to challenge your heroes wherever adventure takes them!

The Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 is the second indispensable volume of monsters for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game and serves as a companion to the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook and Pathfinder RPG Bestiary. This imaginative tabletop game builds upon more than 10 years of system development and an Open Playtest featuring more than 50,000 gamers to create a cutting-edge RPG experience that brings the all-time best-selling set of fantasy rules into the new millennium.

The 320-page Pathfinder RPG Bestiary 2 includes
- More than 300 different monsters
- Creatures both new and familiar, drawing upon the best-known beasts of legend, literature, and Pathfinder RPG adventures
- Challenges for any adventure and every level of play
- Hosts of new templates and variants, including simple templates for on-the-fly creature customization
- Numerous lists of monsters to aid in navigation, including lists by Challenge Rating, monster type, and habitat
- New rules for creating and running high-level menaces
- Expanded universal monster rules to simplify special attacks, defenses, and qualities
- New familiars, animal companions, and other allies
- And M

Genres: Role Playing Games, Gaming, Fantasy, Games, Dungeons and Dragons, Reference, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2010

Reviews

[Patrick Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

An almost perfect opposition between dungeon cruft and some pretty good ideas and images. Did a longer breakdown on the blog.

[Jamais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dungeonmasters are always looking for new monsters. //Pathfinder RPG: Bestiary 2// offers a plethora of new monsters from old sources, as well as some new ones from other sources completely. If the first //Bestiary// was all of the relatively normal monsters, these are the fun monsters, where the developers brought back all of the monsters that developed the game past just the usual dragons, goblins and sea serpents. The really weird monsters are back, and this means that even the Jabberwock puts in an appearance.

This is an excellent companion to the first //Bestiary//, covering a number of monsters that were missing from any decent compilation of role-playing monsters. Featuring the aranea from the Red Box set to some Lovecraftian specialties, there are some great monsters in here. The only strike is that there are few original monsters, but some of the really weird monsters, such as the trilloch and glumph, are still thankfully missing, and others, such as the revenant, are actually improved. This is a great book for those looking to add a few new races, flesh out the cosmos, or just want some fun creations to play with.

As written by Jamais Jochim for http://sanfranciscobookreview.com/

[Bill Coffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A robust offering of monsters both new and familiar, though for an old-time gamer such as myself, the familiar ones tend to be the more welcome entries in this, the second of Pathfinder's various monster books. The overall variety of monsters here is to be commended, giving Bestiary 2 a feel of a wide-ranging survey of monsters of all shapes and sizes, to be incorporated in any combination, in any campaign. The strong theme orientation of Bestiary 3 and Bestiary 4 have a way of giving the menageries there feel like an all-or-nothing deal, but Bestiary 2 provides a proper survey for the Gm looking to populate dungeons, adventures and campaigns with a diversity of monstrosity.

As always, the production value is very high - Paizo really sets the standard for modern RPG publishing. And while there were plenty of monsters that are obligatory entries for readers of D&D monster books of previous edtions, there are others that either provide a fresh twist on old favorites, or offer up new monsters that feel right at home among the legion of classics so many gamers have come to know and love.

[Jeramy David Spicer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a treasure trove for any Dungeon Master (DM). It's like a monster buffet! You've got everything from classic fantasy creatures like dragons and giants to weird and wonderful things you've never even dreamed of. I spent hours just flipping through the pages, imagining the chaos these creatures would unleash on my poor, unsuspecting players.

The artwork is fantastic. Each monster is brought to life with incredible detail. You can practically hear the roar of the dragon or the slithering of the serpent. The descriptions are also top-notch, giving you all the information you need to bring these creatures to life at your table.

Pathfinder Bestiary 2 is a must-have for any serious Dungeon Master. It's a valuable resource that will inspire countless hours of imaginative gameplay. Just be prepared to spend a lot of time browsing and drooling over all the creatures inside.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually like this book better than the 1st book. The format is all the same, but I feel like the monsters printed in these pages are cooler and more varied, book 1 was all about normal animals and standard low level or fantasy adventure stock baddies (goblins, orcs and dragons oh my! *eye roll* Boooooring), this had vastly more interesting baddies.

Artwork is fantastic and I'd recommend if you use the free resources as well, skip the 1st book and just get this one if you're looking for a quick non-digital monster selection guide.

[JT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once upon a time, someone was reading some Lovecraft, and they ran across their copy of the old AD&D Fiend Folio - the one with the ludicrous monsters - and said, to himself, "Self, I bet I can make these work." And so he did. And while he was at it, he sketched up stats for Shantaks and Lengites, and all manner of eldritch abominations. But no, he said crestfallen, Nightgaunts.

This is an OK book. Little bit heavy on the outsiders, little bit light on low CR critters, excellent selection of fey.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic Premise: Monsters and beasties to throw at players in the Pathfinder RPG, 1st edition.

Every game master needs more monsters. It's a rule. The first bestiary was filled with great monsters that are commonly found in rpgs. This volume expands that collection. There are more commonly found monsters as well as some new ones. The pictures continue to be great, and the organization as well. The appendices are useful, and I'm glad that Paizo publishes all of this information in every bestiary, because it saves a lot of time.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 2nd year of the Pathfinder RPG, they put out their 2nd Bestiary - an excellent guide to monsters in Pathfinder!

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

really great selection of new undead and some new lovecraftian or folk mythology tinges stuff, but outside of that I liked the first bestiary much more overall.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous layout, artwork, and rules clarity.