My Favorite RPG Book of 2022 | Pathfinder 2e Lost Omens Travel Guide

[@IcarusGames]

What do you think of the Lost Omen's Travel Guide? Can you see yourselves picking this one up? Don't forget to sign up to get notified when the SIDEQUEST Annual Kickstarter goes live: bit.ly/3PGkfk4

[@funionsflagons7844]

To answer this question, I would strongly consider this if I were to pick up PFS games as a GM, where the settings are quite varied. As someone running the Alkenstar Adventure Path, I want to focus on lore provided in G&G, the AP itself, and the upcoming LO book for Impossible Lands

[@sarhodes87]

You pointed out that people think of Pathfinder as very min-maxy - while 1E was all about that, I think 2E has gone in totally the opposite direction and is now all about offering interesting and meaningful choices. I know that's not the point of this video, but just wanted to offer my piece for an 5E players that were coming through and heard that. Many of the lost omen books are very very good for getting the creativity flowing. The lost omens series are the settings guides, so, *generally* feature less rules and more fluff.

[@IcarusGames]

Yeah, I definitely think PF2 isn't any where as close to as complicated as people assume it is. If you can play 5e, you won't struggle with PF2. Little more to do during character creation, but beyond that it's no more difficult I don't think.

[@dungeonmaster16]

more gms for pf2 realize what fetch ppl in is the character customizations and options. ppl love it so with that they shouldnt restrict them. if a player wants to play a sharpshooter automaton with tiefling versatile heritage thats druid with later lvls fire blast of energy from their chest... let them. they have alot of fun and love how their character goes in rp and on table then thats a win.

[@evocaeden2932]

Books like this are the reason I prefer the Pathfinder system so much over the D&D 5E system. I'm a 1E player and GM, I'm writing a fully homebrew setting, right down to the creation mythos, gods, and the histories that lead the world to the current day. Not so much detail that it could fill several tomes, but enough for me to know my world. Paizo's systems and books lend so much detail to the users that it's almost impossible not the be inspired in some way, shape or form. I felt as though with nearly all the 5E releases that they were focusing less and less on detail and more and more on spectacle, the idea of big, hard-hitting adventures, but that don't last very long. There are exceptions, I know of course. But I have never found myself lacking for nuance and detail with Pathfinder releases. And it's a misconception I think many 5E players have about the Pathfinder system since there is so much detail mechanically. But when you think about it - the real world is full of detail. The closer you look at something or someone, the more nuanced your perspective becomes. If all you see when you look up is "Blue sky, some clouds, the sun" that's accurate, but lacking flavour or feeling. "You see the bright blue of the sky stretching above you, dotted with the occasional fluffy cloud moving slowly with the gentle breeze. The spring morning sun feels warm on your skin as you take in this vision" To finish - More is better. :D

[@IcarusGames]

I do think that people don't mention the fact their fluff is just as bountiful as their crunch. You've got all the mechanics you could want, but also all the lore and inspiration you could want too. And often, they go hand in hand and make each other better.

[@lorenzovaletti4951]

Beautifully put

[@primarchstar2087]

Love to see more books like this! Can't wait for Impossible Lands!

[@IcarusGames]

Me too!

[@mirrorwolf9]

I've been playing Pathfinder since I started playing RPGs in 2014. And while it's always been my system of preference even through the update to 2nd Edition. But it's definitely the world of Golarion that I fell in love with. It's so rich with flavor and detail that it genuinely feels like a living world, and the Lost Omens Travel Guide has just added a whole new level to that. Getting a feel for how the world feels from the ground up was an absolute delight, and there's so many things I'm looking forward to sprinkle in as additional details to future characters and campaigns. The Lost Omens team has been nothing but absolutely exceptional since the line started with PF2, and I can't wait for Impossible Lands this November.

[@IcarusGames]

I've really enjoyed all of the Lost Omens books I've read thus far, and have found inspiration for my own game in each of them.

[@BasementMinions]

Oh wow! Such an incredibly in-depth and thoughtful GM tool. :D

[@stormy7722]

You need more subs. Most concise, detailed PF2E channel on youtube!. Not only the aforementioned details, but you always hit on the most important things about each of the books in regards to player and GM needs. Well done!! keep up the good work!

[@woutio]

I wasnt going to buy the book because it is all about Golarion (in which i rarely GM) But you persuaded me to buy it, Great video!

[@IcarusGames]

I have absolutely no intention of running Golarion either, but I'd challenge any GM to read the book and not come away with some inspired notes to add to their own world!

[@aamirhussain26]

I prefer using the term flavour rather than fluff. Goes better with the texture of crunch and less dismissive of the non mathy parts of a system.

[@IcarusGames]

Fluff is my preference; it's always how I've referred to narrative and lore elements and never considered it dismissive, but both words do the same job of meaning then non-mechanical elements 😀

[@hightde13]

I'm excited about this book. It gives me a lot of vibes I got from Namegivers of Barsaive from Earthdawn years ago. It was just a source book that went over the society of each of the 8 races in that game. But it was all written 'in world' by someone who had spent a year in that society. Customs, foods, holidays etc. It is to this day one of my favorite rpg books.

[@IcarusGames]

I really like the ground level approach to books like this. Stories of epic heroes are great, don't get me wrong, but seeing how the normal people of a fiction world live is so useful as a game master.

[@ASalad]

The only problem with this book... is that it's so good you want like every section to have 5x as much stuff in it. But knowing Paizo we'll definitely see a lot more added on!

[@JohnSmithAprilMay]

P2 core was my first pathfinder purchase. All I knew of pf was the grognards who played it because they hated 4e, and they only played homebrew campaigns. I was shocked at how much cool world building and lore was involved.

[@jasondarbe80]

For me the whole Weather and Climate section especially the rare weather event, I mean blood rain. also I love how it got me thinking world and common knowledge.

[@sgtwanderer]

You've convinced me to get it! I've got my own "inner sea" Mediterranean region my players are about to head into so the book sounds great!

[@camiloguadalupetorres2442]

Thanks a lot for this review!!

[@lorenzovaletti4951]

100% agree! One of the best setting books of this line, and in general, imo

[@James-io1pk]

I picked this up on your recommendation. Big question: how did you turn basilisk into a mini game? I would love any guidance you may have.

[@IcarusGames]

I posted a playtest packed for free on my patreon here: www.patreon.com/posts/gorgon-sports-71297403

[@bobturpin7611]

got the book on Pre-order so i will get it soon

[@IcarusGames]

I went into a FLGS today to try and find a physical copy of it (or dark archive) but they weren't in stock :(

[@SheenaTigerspielt]

I still have to stick my nose into the book but you talking about it makes me wonder, did you ever hear about "The Dark Eye"? I do not know how much has been ported to English by now and is thus available but over here in the native language of German, there is a lot of world building books from a general one touching every region a bit to those specific for each region.

[@IcarusGames]

I've never heard of The Dark Eye, but a quick look shows there is an English translation, so I'll try and find a copy to take a look through!

[@SheenaTigerspielt]

@@IcarusGames oh yes, I knew that the rules have been brought to the US, among other countries, but for this video I was thinking about the regional additions similar to Mwambi and Inner Sea. Few rules, lots of lore and specific information.

[@scarabart6598]

when kingmkaer releases,you will eat your words, also ,read avatar legends

[@IcarusGames]

I've been looking through kingmaker and there's some very cool stuff in there.

[@funionsflagons7844]

so how do you feel about travel guide being sorted by. aspects of culture/region vs being sorted by the actual reigon? do you think that you not using the golarian setting in your games affect how you may like the organization?

[@IcarusGames]

I have no complaints of the organization. Starting out with time & calendars, doing a day in the life, then expanding on cultural elements before ending with more large scale elements like religion, weather, and the cosmos worked fine for me :D I had the bookmarked PDF though, so zipping between sections was super easy.

[@hatchlingsgames]

Pathfinder class sheets next then!

[@IcarusGames]

The beginner box comes with player cheat sheets! They aren't class specific, but they are very appreciated.

[@Tronnyverse]

When will the pdf be available? I can't seem to get my hands on it.

[@IcarusGames]

PDF Should be available here: paizo.com/products/btq02c20

[@Tronnyverse]

@@IcarusGames Found it! :D thank you!

[@TylerWx]

Is it possible to buy the pdf version? The link you have is only for hardcover.

[@IcarusGames]

You can pick the PDF up direct from paizo's website :)

[@TylerWx]

@@IcarusGames Ahh, thanks!

[@nihlus4752]

DId we really get 9 videos in the space of a week? 🤩

[@IcarusGames]

Haha yeah, I made all my Jewel Cities Worldbuilding streams public. Enjoy the like 16+ hours of content 🤣

[@7someone]

This video aged well after the OGL 💣

[@RicardoPM777]

👏👏👏

[@BB-pn2qv]

Is this for first or second Ed Pathfinder?

[@szegediadam8793]

It's - officialy - for 2e, but because it's mostly a world guide / lore dump it's 99% useful for 1e players too :)

[@IcarusGames]

Yep, it's a PF2 book, but there's very little actual mechanics going on in the book, it's mostly narrative which will work with any system.

[@DiegoGonzalez-ur5bp]

Dude, we get it. You love Pathfinder. You should just make your channel a Pathfinder exclusive channel.

[@IcarusGames]

Really? Thanks for the permission, maybe I will!

[@DiegoGonzalez-ur5bp]

@@IcarusGames You're Welcome!