Paizo is attempting to get more players interested in Pathfinder. The fantasy TTRPG, seen as the largest competitor to the ubiquitous Dungeons & Dragons, has risen in popularity thanks in part to recent actions by the publisher and several successful sales. Now, Paizo is attempting to lower the bar to entry for new players to their game with their recently announced Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project.
The Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project announcement
According to an official press release from Paizo, the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project will be four new hardcover books. Those books are Pathfinder Player Core, Pathfinder Player Core 2, Pathfinder Monster Core, and Pathfinder GM Core respectively. As the names imply, these books will contain key information for both players and Game Masters, including all comprehensive errata and rules updates as well as the best additions from later books. Finally, these books will all have streamlined presentations inspired by years of player feedback, allowing for easier readability.
As for why the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project is happening, part of the answer refers to licensing and long-term business. According to an official blog post, Paizo stated that the revised books will help move Pathfinder away from the original D&D Open Gaming License (OGL), since the game was built on the D&D 3.5e SRD, and to the new ORC license. As such, certain terms and mechanics will be either reworded or removed. This will include the alignment system as well as certain nostalgic spells, items, and creatures that are exclusive to the OGL. Paizo does restate that all prior content released for the game is still compatible and that the fundamental rules of Pathfinder will remain the same.
In addition, the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project is meant to be less financially taxing for consumers. TTRPG books can get expensive, and consulting multiple supplements can be time-consuming. For example, to have access to most player options (classes, ancestries, feats, etc.), they would need the Core Rulebook, Advanced Player's Guide, one or two Ancestry Guides, as well as the Guns and Gears, Dark Archive, and Secrets of Magic supplements. Alternatively, Game Masters wanting to run a campaign in Golarion will need the Game Mastery Guide and up to three different Bestiary books. This is before factoring in unique options found in certain Lost Omens supplements. Not only is that a lot of money, it can be alienating for new players that don't even know where to start.
Pathfinder Player Core and Pathfinder GM Core will release this November. Pathfinder Monster Core will release March 2024. Lastly, Pathfinder Player Core 2 will release July 2024.
