Transition Guide

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Pathfinder Products
Page 96 of the Game Master’s Guide gives you a preview of the Core Rulebook, the Bestiary, and
The Inner Sea World Guide, but they’re just the beginning of your adventure!
PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAMEMASTERY

GAME BOOKS GUIDE
The great thing about a fantasy roleplaying game is that there This book is packed with valuable
are always new places to explore and new things to try. Paizo’s advice and hints for GMs who want to
hardcover books for the Pathfinder RPG add more options for your make their games more intense and
character and your campaign—more spells, magic items, character more fun. Filled with pages of secrets,
classes, character options, monsters, feats, and equipment. Here’s tips, and suggestions from experts,
a quick rundown of the available books—you can learn more this book makes sure you always stay
at paizo.com/pathfinderRPG. one step ahead of your players.
ADVANCED BESTIARY 2
PLAYER’S GUIDE Who doesn’t love more monsters? This
book picks up where the Bestiary leaves
If you like the new classes in the Core
off, adding more than 300 different
Rulebook, you’ll love this book’s new
monsters to the game, with challenges
classes: alchemist, cavalier, inquisitor,
for characters from 1st to 20th level.
oracle, summoner, and witch! This
Undead dragons, shrieking banshees,
book also has over a hundred new
half-vampires, and jabberwocks are
feats, hundreds of new spells and
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just a few of the strange and unique 1378407
magic items, and much more!

creatures within this tome.
PATHFINDER PATHFINDER
PLAYER MODULES
COMPANION Pathfinder Modules are deluxe 64-
page adventures designed to cover
Pathfinder Player Companions are
several levels worth of adventuring.
monthly, 32-page sourcebooks that
These beautifully illustrated, full-color
include new adventuring gear, spells,
adventures include a two-sided color
and player-focused information about
poster map and all the information
Golarion—everything your character
you need to run a short campaign for
needs to survive and thrive.
the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
PATHFINDER PATHFINDER
PAWNS BATTLES
Do you love the monster pawns from
the Beginner Box? Then you should
MINIATURES
If you prefer miniatures to pawns,
take a look at the Bestiary Box—a
try Pathfinder Battles prepainted
collection of more than 300 creature
miniatures! Based on Paizo’s award-
pawns of monsters described in the
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fantasy miniatures come in a variety
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of formats, from major randomly
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assorted sets like Heroes & Monsters
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to nonrandom Encounter Packs
the right creatures to push your Pathfinder campaign to the
featuring several useful figurines.
next level!
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Transition Guide
This book is for players and Game Masters. You should be familiar with the
Beginner Box Hero’s Handbook and Game Master’s Guide.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TAKING THE NEXT STEP 2 READING A BESTIARY MONSTER STAT BLOCK 8
NEW RULES TO KNOW 3 6TH LEVEL AND BEYOND 10
READING A CORE RULEBOOK SPELL STAT BLOCK 7 CONVERTING ADVENTURES 13
AUTHOR • SEAN K REYNOLDS

INTERIOR ARTISTS • Alex Alexandrov, Alex Aparin, Eric Belisle, Matt Dixon, Andrew Hou, Steve Prescott,
Scott Purdy, Wayne Reynolds, Dan Scott, and Tyler Walpole
CREATIVE DIRECTOR • James Jacobs PUBLISHER • Erik Mona

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • F. Wesley Schneider PAIZO CEO • Lisa Stevens
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SENIOR EDITOR • James L. Sutter CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER • Jeffrey Alvarez

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and Ryan Macklin
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Document at paizo.com/prd.
PAIZO.COM/BEGINNERBOX
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box is published by Paizo Publishing, LLC under the Open Game License version 1.0a © 2000 Wizards of the Coast,
Inc. Paizo, Paizo Publishing, LLC, the Paizo golem logo, Pathfinder, Pathfinder Society, and GameMastery are registered trademarks of Paizo Publishing, LLC;
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder Campaign
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Rise of the Runelords are trademarks of Paizo Publishing. © 2011, 2013, Paizo Publishing, LLC.
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TRANSITION GUIDE
Taking the Next Step

So you’ve been playing with the Hero’s Handbook and Game Master’s Guide and you want more—
more spells, more classes, more monsters, more magic items, more fun! You’re ready to take the
next step in learning the full version of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. You see that 576-page
Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook... and you’re probably feeling a little intimidated. That’s okay!
The Core Rulebook is a big book with a lot of rules and options, READING A BESTIARY MONSTER
but you don’t need to learn them all right away. The Transition
Guide is here to help you make the change from the Beginner STAT BLOCK
Box to the Core Rulebook. It uses friendly language—just like The Pathfinder RPG Bestiary has more than 350 different
you’re used to seeing in the Beginner Box—to explain what monsters for the full Pathfinder RPG. You can use these
you’ll find in the Core Rulebook. Just remember that you can monsters with the Beginner Box, but (like spell stat blocks) the
take your time when learning the full rules, and you can add monster stat blocks look a little different than what you’re used
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Remember when all the spells and class abilities seemed like a where to find things on its stat block, and explains what the
lot to understand? Remember when an ogre was a hard monster new parts mean.
to run because it was Large and had long reach? With practice,
you figured out how to use those rules. They’re easy now, as easy 6TH LEVEL AND BEYOND
as making an attack roll. In the same way, you’ll soon be able to This section explains what to do when your 5th-level Beginner
handle the Core Rulebook, and this book will help you do it. Box character is ready to level up to 6th level using the Core
Here’s a quick rundown of the various sections in the Rulebook. It points out all the changes like spells known,
Transition Guide. attack bonus, and saving throws.
NEW RULES TO KNOW CONVERTING ADVENTURES

This section gives an overview of important rules in the Core Once you’ve read up on some of the new rules, you may want
Rulebook—major concepts that you’ll run into a lot. Just like to try using a published adventure. This section takes the free
the Beginner Box explains how to read dice, make attacks, adventure Pathfinder Module: Master of the Fallen Fortress
and choose spells, the Core Rulebook explains how to grapple and walks you through it step by step, pointing out where
enemies, gain levels in more than one class, and use special it uses new rules from the Core Rulebook so you can keep,
rules like “attacks of opportunity.” This section gives you a change, or drop them when you run the adventure.
short description of each of these rule ideas and the page
number in the Core Rulebook you can turn to if you want to PATHFINDER PRODUCTS
read more about that rule. Paizo publishes many rulebooks and accessories for the
Pathfinder RPG. The inside front and back covers describe
READING A CORE RULEBOOK some of Paizo’s books, maps, and miniatures you can add to
SPELL STAT BLOCK your game.
The Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook has more than 400 different PATHFINDER SOCIETY
spells for the full Pathfinder RPG. You can use these spells Do you want to find other gamers in your area? Do you want
with the Beginner Box, but the spell stat blocks look different to join an ongoing campaign with players all over the world?
than what you’re used to. Using the fireball spell, this section The back cover explains the Pathfinder Society Organized
shows you where to find things on the new spell stat block Play program—Paizo’s network of gamers, short adventure
and explains the new information about spells. scenarios, and game convention events.
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New Rules to Know

The Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook and Pathfinder RPG Bestiary use a lot more rules than the
Pathfinder RPG Beginner Box. Many of these rules are simply more of the same things you’re already
familiar with—like feats, spells, and monsters—and you can easily add them to your campaign.
However, there are also new rules that change or enhance how things work in the Beginner Box,
and you’ll need to make sure you understand them before adding them to your game. This section
summarizes those rules and tells you where you can find more information on how they work.
Remember, if you don’t like a rule, you don’t have to use it in your game!
WHAT DO I NEED TO READ?

When learning to use the Core Rulebook, you don’t
have to read it cover to cover; you can take pieces
and add them to your campaign as you’re ready. For
example, one week you could read about the paladin
class in Chapter 3 and add that to your game, and
the next week you might read some of the feats in
Chapter 5 and add them to your game. Just like the
Beginner Box, the Core Rulebook allows you to plug
in parts of the rules as you learn them. The easiest
chapters to add in small pieces are Races (Chapter 2),
Classes (Chapter 3), and Feats (Chapter 5).
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ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY opponent so she’s at a disadvantage. The Core Rulebook calls

With the Core Rulebook, when you do something reckless these kinds of special attacks combat maneuvers and gives
in combat and let your guard down, nearby opponents can rules for how characters and monsters can perform them.
take advantage of your moment of weakness and make a Performing a combat maneuver is similar to making an attack
free attack against you. That attack is called an attack of roll, except instead of using your attack bonus, you use a special
opportunity (or AOO). If you like a more tactical game where bonus called a Combat Maneuver Bonus (CMB), and instead of
players can take risks to accomplish interesting things, you rolling against your target’s Armor Class, you’re rolling against a
may want to try adding attacks of opportunity to your game. special defensive number called a Combat Maneuver Defense
Generally, if there’s an action you could perform in the Core (CMD). If your d20 + CMB equals or exceeds the target’s CMD,
Rulebook that would trigger an attack of opportunity from an you succeed at the maneuver. In addition to being able to
enemy, the Beginner Box rules won’t let you do that action at all. disarm, grapple, and trip, you can bull rush (push an enemy into
For example, on page 61 of the Hero’s Handbook, the Beginner another square), overrun (move through an enemy’s square
Box rules say you can’t cast a ranged spell when you’re next to into a square past it), or sunder (break an opponent’s weapon
an enemy. If you’re using the attack of opportunity rules, you or held item). The full rules for combat maneuvers (including
can cast a ranged spell next to an enemy, but the enemy gets how to figure out your CMB and CMD) start on page 198 of the
to make an attack of opportunity against you! Likewise, on page Core Rulebook. The Core Rulebook also includes feats that make
56 of the Hero’s Handbook, the Beginner Box says you can’t you better at performing combat maneuvers (see page 110).
attack with a ranged weapon unless you’re at least 10 feet from
an enemy. If you’re using attacks of opportunity, you can use a
ranged weapon even if you’re only 5 feet away from an enemy,
but the enemy gets to make an attack of opportunity against
you. It’s a risk... but sometimes you have to take that chance in
order to win a battle or save a friend. The full rules for attacks
of opportunity are on page 180 of the Core Rulebook.
DISARM, GRAPPLE, AND TRIP

The Beginner Box doesn’t let most creatures perform fancy
maneuvers like disarming an opponent’s weapon, grappling
a bandit so you can take him prisoner, or knocking down an
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TRANSITION GUIDE
BASE ATTACK BONUS MONSTER TEMPLATES

In the Beginner Box, a character’s attack bonus is based on his A monster template (or “template”) is a way to modify a
class and level. In the Core Rulebook, this modifier to attack monster by changing its stat block. For example, if you had a
rolls is called the base attack bonus (BAB). Both characters dungeon full of giant spiders and wanted an encounter with
and monsters have a base attack bonus, even monsters in a very tough spider, you could add a template to the giant
the Beginner Box—the base attack bonus isn’t shown for the spider stat block to make it deal more damage and increase
Beginner Box monsters, but it’s built into the attacks listed the difficulty class (DC) of its poison. Alternatively, if you
in their stat blocks. A character’s base attack bonus works wanted to have a herd of demon-tainted boars attacking a
basically the same as an attack bonus in the Beginner Box. village, you could add a template to the boar stat block to
The full rules for base attack bonuses are on page 11 of the create a “hell boar” with damage reduction (like a gargoyle
Core Rulebook. has), fire resistance (like a resist energy spell grants), and spell
resistance (like a serpentfolk has).
Some templates are called simple templates because they
only change a few things and you can make the change in
about a minute. Other monster templates are more complex,
greatly changing a monster from its original form—the
ghost, skeleton, werewolf, and zombie in the Beginner Box
are actually humans transformed with complex monster
templates. Simple templates are on page 294 of the Bestiary,
and complex templates are listed in the Bestiary under the
template’s name (ghost, half-dragon, skeleton, and so on).
BONUS TYPES, OVERLAPPING,

AND STACKING
With the Core Rulebook rules, every bonus you add to a roll
has a bonus type. For example, the bless spell gives you a
morale bonus on attack rolls and the divine favor spell gives
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you a luck bonus on attack rolls. This is important because

if you have more than one bonus of the same type, you only
use the highest bonus of that type. For example, if you had
a ring that gives you a +1 luck bonus on saving throws and a
cloak that gave you a +2 luck bonus on saving throws, the luck
bonus from the cloak is more powerful and is the only one that
counts. Two bonuses of the same type are called overlapping
bonuses—the bigger bonus of that type is dominant. This
rule keeps players from reaching overly powerful bonuses by
adding together multiple weak items of the same type.
The Beginner Box incorporates this into the rules behind the
scenes, without telling you why it’s doing it. For example, you
can only wear one ring of protection at a time—that’s because
in the Core Rulebook, the ring gives you a +1 deflection bonus,
and wearing two +1 deflection bonus items just gives you
a +1 bonus, not a +2. Another example is the mage armor
spell, which says if you’re wearing armor, you use either the
HIT DICE +4 bonus from the spell or the armor’s bonus, whichever is
Hit Dice (HD) are a rough measure of a creature’s power and greater—that’s because both the spell and the armor give
skill. Each PC has a number of Hit Dice equal to her level (a you an armor bonus, so you’d only get the armor bonus from
2nd-level fighter has 2 HD, a 4th-level wizard has 4 HD, and either the spell or the armor, whichever is greater.
so on). Monsters also have Hit Dice; they’re just not shown in If you have two different kinds of bonuses, however, they
the Beginner Box monster stat blocks because most of the still add together. This is called stacking. For example, if you
time you don’t need to know how many Hit Dice monsters have a ring that gives you a +1 luck bonus to AC and an amulet
have. (Only a few spells and monster abilities grant different that gives you a +1 natural armor bonus to AC, these bonuses
effects depending on how many Hit Dice the target has.) If stack since their bonuses are of different types—both of them
you need to know how many Hit Dice a monster has, look up count, for a total of +2.
the monster in the Bestiary; the monster’s Hit Dice are listed A few kinds of bonuses stack even with bonuses of the same
on the same line as its hit points. type, though these are rare. For example, dodge bonuses to
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AC always stack. If you have a +1 dodge bonus from a feat and druids, paladins, and rangers). More information on arcane
a +1 dodge bonus from a racial ability, these bonuses stack spell failure is on page 150 of the Core Rulebook. Certain
and both of them count toward your AC. feats make it easier for a wizard to cast spells while wearing
armor—see Arcane Armor Mastery, Arcane Armor Training,
SKILLS, TAKING 10, AND and Still Spell in Chapter 5 of the Core Rulebook.
Additionally, just as you can get masterwork weapons that
TAKING 20 are better than normal weapons, you can get masterwork
The Core Rulebook details several skills that aren’t in the armor that’s better than normal armor. Masterwork armor has
Beginner Box: Appraise, Craft, Disguise, Escape Artist, Fly, an armor check penalty 1 lower than normal, but it costs 150
Handle Animal, Intimidate, Knowledge (engineering), gp more. All magic armor is automatically masterwork armor.
Knowledge (nobility), Knowledge (planes), Linguistics, More information on masterwork armor is on page 153 of the
Perform, Profession, Sleight of Hand, Survival, and Use Magic Core Rulebook.
Device. The descriptions for these skills begin on page 87 of
the Core Rulebook.
The Core Rulebook also details two shortcuts for using skills,
called taking 10 and taking 20. Taking 10 lets you attempt an
easy skill check as if you had rolled a 10 on your d20—you’d
only want to do it for an easy task that you could succeed at
by rolling 10 or higher. Taking 10 is in the rules so you don’t
risk failing easy tasks. The rules for taking 10 are on page 86
of the Core Rulebook.
Taking 20 is a little more complicated. If you are up against
a difficult DC, but have some time to make sure you get a
task done right, you can take an extra long time to perform
the task and attempt the skill check as if you had rolled a 20
on your d20. Normally players take 20 on Perception checks
(to search for a secret door or trap) and Disable Device checks
(to pick a lock). It’s easier and faster for the player to take 20
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instead of rolling the d20 again and again until she succeeds.
The rules for taking 20 are on page 86 of the Core Rulebook.
MORE ARMOR RULES

Armor in the Core Rulebook is a little more complex than in CREATURE SIZES
the Beginner Box. The Core Rulebook includes three additional Dwarves and elves are about the same size as a human, but
rules for those wearing armor. The first is the maximum Dex ogres are much bigger, and goblins are much smaller. The Core
bonus. All armor restricts your movement, and if your DEX is Rulebook has rules for creatures of all sizes, from a housefly to a
higher than the maximum Dex bonus of your armor, you don’t house-sized dragon or whale. Every creature has a size category,
get to add all of your DEX to your Armor Class. For example, such as Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, or Huge. A creature’s size
full plate has a maximum Dex bonus of +1, so even if your category determines its size modifier, which is added to
DEX is +4, you only get to add +1 from your DEX to your AC. the creature’s AC, on attack rolls, and on some skill checks.
This means characters with a high DEX usually wear light or For example, an ogre is Large, and the size modifier for Large
medium armor so they can take full advantage of their DEX. creatures is –1, so an ogre has a –1 penalty on its attack rolls
The rules for maximum Dex bonus are on page 149 of the Core (because creatures smaller than it are harder for it to hit) and a
Rulebook, and the armor table is on page 151. –1 penalty to its AC (because it’s big and easier to hit). A goblin is
The second new rule is the armor check penalty. Armor Small, and the size modifier for Small creatures is +1, so a goblin
and shields interfere with STR- and DEX-based skills, giving has a +1 bonus on its attack rolls (because creatures bigger than
you a penalty on such skill checks equal to the armor check it are easier for it to hit) and a +1 bonus to its AC (because it’s
penalty of the armor and shield. For example, chainmail has small and harder to hit). These size modifiers are already built
an armor check penalty of –5, so you take a –5 penalty on into a monster’s stat block—even the Beginner Box monster stat
Acrobatics checks, Climb checks, and so on. The rules for blocks you’ve been using—so you don’t have to change anything!
armor check penalties are on page 150 of the Core Rulebook. The size modifiers are listed on page 179 of the Core Rulebook.
The third new rule is the arcane spell failure chance. You Two new races in the Core Rulebook—gnomes and
know how wizards can’t wear armor in the Beginner Box? halflings—are Small. This is an advantage for fighters and
Well, they can wear armor in the Core Rulebook... but each rogues of these races, because it’s like getting a free +1 on
time a wizard casts a spell while wearing armor, there’s a attack rolls and to AC! However, Small races usually have lower
chance the spell is ruined and has no effect. The arcane spell Strength scores than Medium creatures—gnomes and halflings
failure chance does not affect divine spellcasters (clerics, have a racial Strength penalty.
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TRANSITION GUIDE
MULTICLASSING Some monsters have an even more powerful ability called

Probably the biggest change the Core Rulebook has for ability drain. Ability drain is just like ability damage, but
character options is multiclassing. Instead of staying in the only magic can fix it—no amount of rest is good enough.
same character class for an entire adventuring career, you can Fortunately, monsters with ability drain are very rare. Ability
pick a level in a new class every time you level up, gaining the drain is explained at the end of the ability damage section on
benefits of the old class as well as the new one! For example, page 555 of the Core Rulebook.
if you’re a fighter and you reach level 2, you can decide to
gain a level of rogue instead of a level of fighter, so you’ll CONCENTRATION
be a fighter 1/rogue 1 instead of a fighter 2. You can do this You know how clerics and wizards in the Beginner Box can’t
each time you level up—when you hit level 3, you can take cast a spell while next to an enemy unless it’s a touch spell?
another level of fighter and become fighter 2/rogue 1, or take In the Core Rulebook, spellcasters can attempt a special check
another level of rogue and become a fighter 1/rogue 2, or called a concentration check to cast spells while standing
take a level of cleric and become a fighter 1/rogue 1/cleric 1. next to an enemy. If you succeed at the concentration check,
You can find more information on multiclassing on page 30 of you cast the spell successfully. If you fail the concentration
the Core Rulebook. check, the spell is ruined. It’s risky, but sometimes your best
choice is casting a ranged spell when you’re in melee. More
information on concentration checks is provided on page 206
of the Core Rulebook. See also the Attacks of Opportunity
section (page 3 of this book).
LANGUAGES
The Beginner Box assumes that all PCs can talk to each other
using a common language. In the Core Rulebook, that language
is called Common, but there are many other languages, such
as Dwarven, Elven, and Goblin. You start play knowing
Common and your own racial language (and if your INT is at
least +1, you know even more). If you don’t speak the language
of another creature, you can only communicate with gestures
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and drawings. You learn languages by putting ranks in the

Linguistics skill. More information on the Linguistics skill and
languages is given on page 100 of the Core Rulebook.
ABILITY DAMAGE
Monsters like dire rats and mummies can infect characters
with horrible diseases, and monsters like giant spiders and
venomous snakes can inject characters with dangerous
poisons. In the Beginner Box, this usually means the character
takes a penalty or extra damage. Diseases and poisons in the
Core Rulebook are a little more complex. Instead of just giving
the character a penalty or dealing extra hit point damage,
diseases and poisons affect a character’s ability scores. This AWARDING TREASURE
is called ability damage—when one of your ability scores is The Beginner Box tells you how to build a treasure hoard up to
damaged, you use a lower number for that ability score. For Challenge Rating 8. In the Core Rulebook, giving out treasure
example, the disease called devil chills gives you 1d4 points of rewards is basically the same, just with bigger numbers—up
Strength damage every day, and deathblade poison gives you to CR 20 instead of CR 8. The expanded Treasure Values per
1d3 points of Constitution damage every round. Encounter table for up to Challenge Rating 20 is on page 399
Fortunately, you can recover from ability damage by resting, of the Core Rulebook.
just like you can recover from hit point damage. Magic spells The Core Rulebook has hundreds of new magic items, which
like lesser restoration and restoration can also cure ability are split into three categories: minor, medium, and major. An
damage. More information on ability damage is given on page average minor magic item has a value of 1,000 gp, an average
555 of the Core Rulebook. Diseases and poisons are described medium item has a value of 10,000 gp, and an average major
on page 557 of the Core Rulebook. item has a value of about 40,000 gp (Core Rulebook 401).
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unsuccessful dispel magic spell does not detonate the spell. easily ignite a flammable object or
Underwater, this ward deals half damage and creates a large cloud a creature it strikes.
of steam.
You can use the fire-trapped object without discharging it, as can Flame blaDe
Reading a Core Rulebook

any individual to whom the object was specifically attuned when School evocation [fire]; level druid
cast. Attuning a fire-trapped object to an individual usually involves Casting Time 1 standard action
setting a password that you can share with friends. Components V, S, DF
Spell Stat Block

Magic traps such as fire trap are hard to detect and disable. A Range 0 ft.
character with trapfinding can use the Perception skill to find a fire effect sword-like beam
trap and Disable Device to thwart it. The DC in each case is 25 + spell Duration 1 min./level (D)
level (DC 27 for a druid’s fire trap or DC 29 for the arcane version). Saving Throw none; Spell Resistanc
A 3-foot-long, blazing beam of red
A FiReball from your hand. You wield this bla
B School evocation [fire]; level sorcerer/wizard 3 Cscimitar. Attacks with the flame bla
D Casting Time 1 standard action The blade deals 1d8 points of fire d
E Components V, S, M (a ball of bat guano and sulfur) caster levels (maximum +10). Since
F Range long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level) your Strength modifier does not a
G area 20-ft.-radius spread blade can ignite combustible mate
H Duration instantaneous straw, dry sticks, and cloth.
I Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resistance yes J
A fireball spell generates a searing explosion of flame that Flame STRike
detonates with a low roar and deals 1d6 points of fire damage per School evocation [fire]; level cleric 5
caster level (maximum 10d6) to every creature within the area. Casting Time 1 standard action
Unattended objects also take this damage. The explosion creates Components V, S, DF
almost no pressure. Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level
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You point your finger and determine the range (distance and area cylinder (10-ft. radius, 40-ft. hi
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height) at which the fireball is to burst. A glowing, pea-sized bead Duration instantaneous
streaks from the pointing digit and, unless it impacts upon a Saving Throw Reflex half; Spell Resi
material body or solid barrier prior to attaining the prescribed A flame strike evokes a vertical colum
range, blossoms into the fireball at that point. An early impact deals 1d6 points of damage per cast
results in an early detonation. If you attempt to send the bead the damage is fire damage, but the
through a narrow passage, such as through an arrow slit, you divine power and(like
is therefore not su
A The spell’s name goes at the top of the stat block. F The spell’s range may be a specific distance
must “hit” the opening with a ranged touch attack,
“touch” or or else
“30 the or it might
feet”), resistance
change to fire-based
with your attacks.
B This is the spell’s school, which
bead strikes theisbarrier
important for
and detonates caster level (Core Rulebook 213).
prematurely.
wizards (who choose a school of magic as part of their
The fireball sets fire to combustibles and damages objects Flaming SpheRe
training), some monsters (for example, undead are immune
in the area. It can melt metals with G melting
low
The spell’s area is listed here instead of in its
points, such as School evocation [fire]; level druid
to enchantment spells), and other parts of the rules (Core description paragraph (Core Rulebook 214).
Rulebook page 209). lead, gold, copper, silver, and bronze. If the damage caused to an Casting Time 1 standard action
interposing barrier shatters or breaksHthrough it, the fireball
The spell’s duration mayis listed Components
in this entryV, (Core
S, M/DF (tallow, bri
C The spell’s level tells you which classes
continue beyondcantheget that spell
barrier Rulebook
if the area permits; 215). it stops
otherwise Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level
and the spell level for each of those classes. A spell can
at the barrier just as any other spell effect does. effect 5-ft.-diameter sphere
have different spell levels for different classes (hold person is I If the spell allows a saving throw to resist it, the kind
a 2nd-level cleric spell but a 3rd-level sorcerer/wizard spell. of save is listed here. If no saving throw is allowed, this
section says “none.” The DC of the saving throw is 10 + the
The casting time is the kind of action it takes to cast
D spell’s spell level for the class you’re using to cast it + your
the spell. Most combat spells take 1 standard action, spellcasting ability modifier (Core Rulebook 216).
just like the Beginner Box, but some take longer (Core
Rulebook 213). J Some monsters (like serpentfolk) have an ability called
spell resistance that gives them an extra chance to not
E This entry tells you what kind of components (magic be affected by a spell. This line tells you whether the spell
words, gestures, or weird ingredients) the spell uses resistance ability can work against the spell or not (Core
(Core Rulebook 212). Rulebook 217).
The rest of the spell’s entry gives information on how the spell works and any special rules for what it does in the game.
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TRANSITION GUIDE
Reading a Bestiary
Monster Stat Block
The monster stat blocks in the Game Master’s Guide are simplified versions of monster stat blocks
from the Pathfinder RPG. This section shows you the ghoul from page 146 of the Pathfinder RPG
Bestiary and explains everything in that stat block for you. You may want to have page 70 of your
Game Master’s Guide open while you look at this so you can see how the Beginner Box and the
Bestiary are similar and how they differ.
A Description: This is a two-line description of what the called “channel resistance,” which gives it a bonus on its
PCs may see when they encounter the monster. This saving throws to resist a cleric’s channel energy ability. The
has no spoilers, so you can read this out loud to the players. Universal Monster Rules appendix, which begins on page
297 of the Bestiary, explains this ability.
B Icons: The first icon is the monster’s type (undead), just
like in the Game Master’s Guide. The second icon says All monster speeds are listed here, including burrow,
K
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what kind of terrain the monster usually lives in—for ghouls, climb, fly, and swim speeds.
that’s ruins. The third icon is the monster’s climate—for
ghouls, that’s temperate (not too hot or too cold), but this The monster’s Melee entry lists all of the melee
symbol can also mean it can be found in any climate (you
L attacks the monster makes when it spends a move and
could place ghouls in the desert or on a frozen mountain). standard action to attack (just like the “move and standard
You can see all the monster icons on page 5 of the Bestiary. action” attacks of a Beginner Box monster). If the monster
can spend only a standard action to attack, you can pick any
C The monster’s name and CR go at the top of the stat one of those attacks for it to make.
block.
The Special Attacks entry is a list of the monster’s special
D XP is on the second line.
M attacks. The description for how an attack works is listed
either at the bottom of the monster stat block (like the ghoul’s
E The third line lists the ghoul’s alignment (“chaotic evil” paralysis in the Beginner Box) or in the Universal Monster
is abbreviated “CE”), size (Medium; see page 5), and Rules appendix, which starts on page 297 of the Bestiary.
type (undead).
This entry lists the monster’s ability scores—the Bestiary
N
F The fourth line is Initiative, Senses, and Perception bonus. and other Pathfinder books list ability scores, rather than
the ability mods. Use the table on page 13 of the Hero’s
This shows the ghoul’s Armor Class totals and all the Handbook or page 17 of the Core Rulebook to figure what
G bonuses and penalties that add up to get those totals. the ability mods are. Notice that if you figure out this ghoul’s
The “natural” bonus is a kind of bonus to AC (see page 4). ability mods, they match what’s in the Game Master’s Guide.
H This shows the monster’s hp and its Hit Dice (see page 4).
O This line gives the monster’s base attack bonus (see
page 4), Combat Maneuver Bonus (CMB; see page 3),
I This entry lists the ghoul’s saving throws. and Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD; see page 3).
J Any special defenses the monster has are listed here.

P Monsters get feats, too! Even the monsters in the Beginner
The ghoul has an ability that’s not in the Beginner Box Box have feats—the names of those feats aren’t shown
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Ghoul
in the stat blocks there, but the rules for those
Though m
feats are built into the monster stat blocks. For
speak of g
example, the ghoul in the Game Master’s Guide
This humanoid creature has long, sharp teeth, and its pallid f lesh who worsh
already has its Weapon Finesse feat added into
A is stretched tightly over its starved frame. of hunger.
its Melee attack bonuses. Keep an eye on the
monster’s feats—it may have feats that must B in their ea
be activated, like Power Attack. C Ghoul CR 1 laid ghoul
D XP 400 than the co
Q This entry lists the ghoul’s skills. This version E CE Medium undead
of the ghoul also has the Acrobatics skill. F Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7 Ghast
DefenSe Ghasts are
R This entry lists the languages the monster G AC 14, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 natural) ghast’s par
can speak and understand (see page 6). H hp 13 (2d8+4) of their ow
I fort +2, Ref +2, Will +5 stink of dea
S The Environment entry tells you where
J Defensive Abilities channel resistance +2 is overwhel
the monster usually lives. It’s the same offenSe ability (10-
information as the environment icon at the
top of the stat block. You don’t need to worry
K Speed 30 ft. 1d6+4 minu
about this in the middle of combat.

L Melee bite +3 (1d6+1 plus disease and paralysis) and 2 claws +3
(1d6+1 plus paralysis) Lacedon
M Special Attacks paralysis (1d4+1 rounds, DC 13, elves are These aqua
T The Organization entry gives you some
immune to this effect) or other pl
suggestions on how a monster normally
lives or hunts. Use this to help you build StAtIStICS Lacedons h
encounters that include this monster. N Str 13, Dex 15, Con —, Int 13, Wis 14, Cha 14 speed of 30
O Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 14
U The Treasure entry tells you whether P feats Weapon Finesse

the monster has a standard amount of Q Skills Acrobatics +4, Climb +6, Perception +7, Stealth +7, Swim +3
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double, triple, or even none at all. Treasure in eColoGy

the Pathfinder RPG works a little differently S environment any land
from in the Beginner Box (see page 6). T organization solitary, gang (2–4), or pack (7–12)
U treasure standard
The Special Abilities section describes
V V SPeCIAl ABIlItIeS
any unusual abilities the monster has.
If the stat block lists an ability (like channel
W Disease (Su) Ghoul Fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 13; onset
1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Con and 1d3 Dex damage;
resistance in the Defensive Abilities line) but
cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Charisma-based.
it’s not explained here, turn to page 297 of
A humanoid who dies of ghoul fever rises as a ghoul at the
the Bestiary and look in the Universal Monster
next midnight. A humanoid who becomes a ghoul in this
Rules appendix. In some cases, a common
monster ability is written as an abbreviation, way retains none of the abilities it possessed in life. It is not
such as “DR” instead of “Damage Reduction.” under the control of any other ghouls, but it hungers for
the flesh of the living and behaves like a normal ghoul in all
respects. A humanoid of 4 Hit Dice or more rises as a ghast.
W Ghouls in the Pathfinder RPG infect their
enemies with disease when they bite. See
the section on ability damage on page 6 for X Ghouls are undead that haunt graveyards and eat corpses.
more information on how diseases work. Legends hold that the first ghouls were either cannibalistic
humans whose unnatural hunger dragged them back from
X The rest of the monster’s entry gives death or humans who in life fed on the rotting remains
information on the background, lairs, of their kin and died (and were reborn) from the foul
and motivations of the monster. It may also disease—the true source of these undead scavengers is
give rules for creating variant versions of the unclear.
monster, such as the ghast (a tougher ghoul Ghouls lurk on the edges of civilization (in or near
whose paralysis is so powerful that elves aren’t
cemeteries or in city sewers) where they can f ind ample
immune to it) and the lacedon (a swimming,
supplies of their favorite food. Though they prefer rotting
water-dwelling ghoul). Use this information to
bodies and often bury their victims for a while to improve
inspire you with ideas for creating encounters
their taste, they eat fresh kills if they are hungry enough.
and campaigns using this monster.
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TRANSITION GUIDE
6th Level and Beyond

You’ve played a character up to 5th level using the Pathfinder RPG Beginner Box rules, you’ve earned
23,000 XP or more, and you’re ready to level up to 6th level with the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. This
section explains how to level up a cleric, a fighter, a rogue, and a wizard to 6th level or higher.
The Core Rulebook doesn’t divide rules for leveling

up into Level Up boxes like the Beginner Box does.
All the information for each class is in a big table,
with each row listing what you get for that level
and explanations of those numbers and abilities
nearby. Instead of looking at the Level Up box for a
new level, you compare what’s on the row for your
new level with what’s on the row for your old level.
Keep that in mind as you read the following sections
for the four classes included in the Beginner Box.
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CLERIC 1378417
The description of the cleric class starts on page 38 of the Core Domain Spells: Every god
Rulebook, and the table of cleric abilities is on page 40. Just as gives his or her clerics access
with the Beginner Box, when you level up, you add 1d8+CON to two domains—areas of
to your hit points and gain a number of skill ranks equal to the influence relating to that god,
amount listed in Section F of your character sheet. Let’s take such as “luck” and “sun.” Each
a look at the 5th- and 6th-level lines of the cleric table and domain gives a 1st-level cleric
examine each of the columns one at a time. a granted power—these are the two powers listed for each
Base Attack Bonus: This bonus changes from +3 at 5th level deity in the Beginner Box (such as “rebuke death” and “sun’s
to +4 at 6th level. That means at 6th level you add +1 to your blessing” for Sarenrae), so your character already has those.
attack bonus. In the Core Rulebook, a cleric also gets a domain spell slot
Fort Save: This bonus changes from +4 at 5th level to +5 at and a short list of spells appropriate to that domain, called
6th level. domain spells. Domain spells have spell levels, just like
Ref Save: This bonus changes from +1 at 5th level to +2 at regular spells, and you can only prepare a domain spell of the
6th level. right spell level in that slot. Domain spells have three special
Will Save: This bonus changes from +4 at 5th level to +5 at limitations that regular cleric spells don’t have.
6th level. 1. You can’t prepare regular cleric spells using your domain
Special: There’s nothing listed in the 6th-level line for this spell slots.
column, so you don’t gain any additional special abilities at 2. You can’t swap prepared domain spells for cure spells.
6th level (though if you look at the 7th-level line, you see that 3. You can’t prepare domain spells using your regular cleric
at 7th level your channel energy goes up by +1d6 compared to spell slots unless the domain spell is on the regular cleric spell
what it was at 5th level). list. (This rule matters because some domains give a cleric
Spells per Day: First of all, you can see there is a “+1” in your access to wizard-only spells like burning hands—if the domain
listing for 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-level spells. In the Core Rulebook spell is also a regular cleric spell, this rule doesn’t apply.)
rules, you gain domain spells in addition to your regular spells For example, a 1st-level cleric of Sarenrae in the Beginner
(see below). Additionally, the number of 2nd-level spells you Box has both the Healing domain (Core Rulebook 44), which
can cast per day changes from 2+1 at 5th level to 3+1 at 6th gives her the “rebuke death” domain power and cure light
level, and number of 3rd-level spells changes from 1+1 at 5th wounds as a 1st-level domain spell, and the Sun domain (Core
level to 2+1 at 6th level. Rulebook, page 47), which gives her the “sun’s blessing”
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domain power and endure elements as a 1st-level domain doesn’t matter, and she can prepare either of those spells
spell. Each day, Rule #1 allows her to use her 1st-level domain using her normal daily limit of cleric spells.
spell to prepare either cure light wounds or endure elements In Section K of your character sheet, add “+1” or “+D” to
(not both), but she can’t use that domain spell slot for any each spell level you can cast as a reminder that you also have
other cleric spells (like doom or sanctuary). Because cure light a domain spell. When you prepare spells, mark your domain
wounds and endure elements are on the normal cleric spell spells with “(domain)” or “(D)” so you remember they’re
list in the Core Rulebook (see page 226), Rule #3 from above domain spells.
FIGHTER
The description of the fighter class starts on page 55 of the Rulebook for free. (If you’ve
Core Rulebook, and the table of fighter abilities is on page read the Beginner Box Player
56. Just as with the Beginner Box, when you level up, you add Pack PDF that’s available at
1d10+CON to your hit points and gain a number of skill ranks paizo.com, you have already
equal to the amount listed in Section F of your character sheet. learned the ways to customize
Let’s take a look at the 5th- and 6th-level lines of the fighter your fighter with combat feats.)
table and examine each of the columns one at a time. Second, you get bravery +2.
Base Attack Bonus: This bonus changes from +5 at 5th level That means the bonus from your 2nd-level bravery fighter
to +6 at 6th level. This means you get a second attack per ability increases from +1 to +2.
round (see the Base Attack Bonus section, Core Rulebook 11). Armor Training: Your armor training doesn’t increase at 6th
Fort Save: This bonus changes from +4 at 5th level to +5 at level, but this ability is even better in the Core Rulebook than in the
6th level. Beginner Box, so it’s important to mention. In addition to armor
Ref Save: This bonus changes from +1 at 5th level to +2 at training letting you move at normal speed in medium armor, at 3rd
6th level. level this ability reduces your armor’s armor check penalty (see
Will Save: This bonus changes from +1 at 5th level to +2 at page 5) by 1 and increases your armor’s max Dexterity bonus by
6th level. 1 (see page 5). At higher levels, these adjustments improve even
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Special: This line lists two abilities. First, you get a new more (see the description of armor training on pages 55–56 of the
bonus feat, so you can choose any combat feat in the Core Core Rulebook).
ROGUE
The description of the rogue class starts on page 67 of the Core Will Save: This bonus changes
Rulebook, and the table of rogue abilities is on page 69. Just as from +1 at 5th level to +2 at 6th
with the Beginner Box, when you level up, you add 1d8+CON level.
to your hit points and gain a number of skill ranks equal to the Special: This line lists two
amount listed in Section F of your character sheet. Let’s take abilities. First, you get a new rogue
a look at the 5th- and 6th-level lines of the rogue table and talent, so you can choose any
examine each of the columns one at a time. rogue talent in the Core Rulebook
Base Attack Bonus: This bonus changes from +3 at 5th level for free. Second, you get trap sense +2. That means the bonus from
to +4 at 6th level. your 3rd-level trap sense rogue ability increases from +1 to +2.
Fort Save: This bonus changes from +1 at 5th level to +2 at Uncanny Dodge: This ability is even better in the Core
6th level. Rulebook than in the Beginner Box! In addition to it preventing
Ref Save: This bonus changes from +4 at 5th level to +5 at others from flanking you, you aren’t flat-footed if an invisible
6th level. creature attacks you!
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TRANSITION GUIDE
WIZARD
The description of the wizard class starts on page 77 of the Second, using the Beginner Box
Core Rulebook, and the table of wizard abilities is on page 80. rules, evokers and illusionists
Just as with the Beginner Box, when you level up, you add can never learn or cast certain
1d6+CON to your hit points and gain a number of skill ranks spells. In the Core Rulebook,
equal to the amount listed in Section F of your character sheet. wizards pick two schools, called
Let’s take a look at the 5th- and 6th-level lines of the wizard opposition schools. A wizard
table and examine each of the columns one at a time. can learn and prepare spells
Base Attack Bonus: This bonus changes from +2 at 5th level from his opposition schools, but preparing such a spell uses up
to +3 at 6th level. two of his daily spell slots of that level instead of just one. For
Fort Save: This bonus changes from +1 at 5th level to +2 at example, an illusionist with evocation as his opposition school
6th level. can still learn burning hands, but if he prepares that spell, he
Ref Save: This bonus changes from +1 at 5th level to +2 at has to use up two of his available 1st-level spell slots for that
6th level. day. If you are an evoker or illusionist, erase your restricted
Will Save: This bonus changes from +4 at 5th level to +5 at spells from Section K of your character sheet and write in your
6th level. opposition schools: conjuration and illusion for an evoker;
Spells per Day: The number of 2nd-level spells you can cast necromancy and transmutation for an illusionist.
per day increases from two at 5th level to three at 6th level. The above rules apply to all spell levels the wizard can cast.
The number of 3rd-level spells you can cast per day increases For example, a 5th-level evoker can prepare one extra 1st-level
from one at 5th level to two at 6th level. evocation spell, one extra 2nd-level evocation spell, and one
Arcane School: Having an arcane school works a little extra 3rd-level evocation spell. If he prepares stinking cloud
differently in the Core Rulebook. In addition to the universalist, (a 3rd-level conjuration spell from his opposition school), it
evocation, and illusion schools, there are also the abjuration, counts as two of his 3rd-level spells for that day.
conjuration, divination, enchantment, necromancy, and Universalist wizards don’t get an extra spell per day, but
transmutation schools. Every spell in the game belongs to one they also don’t have opposition schools—they can learn and
of these schools. This affects wizards in the following two ways. prepare spells from any school with equal ease.
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First, in the Beginner Box, a wizard who chooses the Wizard spells are listed by school starting on page 232 of
evocation or illusion school gets one specific spell he can the Core Rulebook (they’re listed as “sorcerer/wizard spells”
cast for free once per day (burning hands for an evoker, and because the Core Rulebook has a class called the sorcerer,
disguise self for an illusionist). In the Core Rulebook, the which casts the same kind of spells as wizards).
wizard instead can prepare one extra spell per day as long Bonus Feats: In the Core Rulebook, all wizards get Scribe
as he knows the spell and it belongs to his chosen school. Scroll as a bonus feat at 1st level. That means you can use
For example, an evoker could use this extra spell per day to your prepared spells to create magic scrolls, just like those in
prepare burning hands or magic missile because both of those the Game Master’s Guide! At 5th level, you get to pick another
are evocation spells. An illusionist could use this extra spell bonus feat—either another item-crafting feat (like Brew
per day to prepare color spray or disguise self because both of Potion) or a metamagic feat (which lets you alter parts of your
those are illusion spells. If you’re an evoker or illusionist, cross spells, like the range and area). So now that you’re using the
out your extra spells per day from those schools. In Section K Core Rulebook, your wizard gets Scribe Scroll and you get to
of your character sheet, add a “+1” or a “+school” to each spell pick a bonus feat for wizard level 5 (see Bonus Feats on page
level you can cast as a reminder that you also have an extra 79 of the Core Rulebook for more information on what feats
spell from that school. are allowed).
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Converting Adventures
If you are a player instead of a GM, stop reading now, because this section is for GMs’ eyes only.
This section is a guide to converting Pathfinder RPG adventures adventure, such as having them come to the city for a festival
so you can easily use them with the Beginner Box. It takes or get hired for a job by an old friend.
you through Pathfinder Module: Master of the Fallen Fortress
page by page, telling you what you’ll need to do to play it PAGE 3: GROUND FLOOR
with the Beginner Box. You can download Master of the Fallen Notice that while the area descriptions in the Game Master’s
Fortress for free at paizo.com, and should download it before Guide and the online GM Kit start at the top of each page, the
continuing with this section. descriptions in this adventure do not. That’s normal—instead
The steps presented here walk you through the things you of having all the information on one page, you may need to
need to think about when converting an adventure for the look at multiple pages for this information. In this case, the
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Beginner Box rules. Just remember that if something in an description of the outside of the tower starts on page 3 and
adventure is causing you problems, you can change it as much continues on to page 4.
as necessary to make it work for your campaign. Unlike the adventure in the Game Master’s Guide, most
adventures don’t repeat the map for an encounter area on the
COVER page where it appears. While running Master of the Fallen
An adventure’s front cover usually says what character levels the Fortress, you’ll need to flip to the inside front cover to see the
adventure is written for (for this one, it’s listed in the upper right map. If you have the free PDF version of the adventure, you may
corner). You can use adventures for characters of other levels, want to print that page to make it easier to reference the map.
but higher-level characters will have an easier time with the If you have the printed version of the adventure, you may want
encounters and lower-level characters will have a harder time. to photocopy the map page so you don’t have to flip pages.
Some higher-level adventures may be too difficult for lower-
level PCs to finish because the PCs need to have access to PAGE 4: RAVENOUS DOGS
higher-level magic like fly or water breathing. If you’re using Notice that this encounter doesn’t start at the top of a page
a higher-level adventure for lower-level PCs, read all of the and doesn’t have a Combat! section. That’s because it’s a
way through it to make sure that doesn’t happen to your PCs. very simple encounter with three wild dogs and doesn’t need
its own page—by now you should be able to handle an easy
PAGE 2: INTRODUCTION encounter like this without needing the book to remind you
The introduction talks about where an adventure takes place. to have everyone roll for initiative, determine who goes first,
This one happens in a large battlefield called the Cairnlands and so on. Most published adventures don’t have a Combat!
outside the city of Absalom. If those places don’t exist in your section because they assume that you’ll read the encounter,
campaign, you can place the tower near a city in your world, understand when a fight should start, and know what to do
or even in a remote area for the PCs to find. when that happens.
This section also includes the Adventure Background (what The Challenge Rating (CR) for each encounter is listed in
happened leading up to the present time), the Adventure the name of the encounter. This is so you can tell at a glance
Summary (what happens as you play through the adventure), how difficult the encounter is supposed to be compared to the
and the actual Introduction to the adventure (what you need average level of your PCs.
to tell the players to get started). The Introduction usually There’s no read-aloud text for this encounter because
includes suggestions of how to get the PCs involved in the it’s a simple encounter and doesn’t require any special
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TRANSITION GUIDE
information—you can just tell the PCs that a small pack of dogs monster book like the Bestiary, but sometimes it’s earlier in the
approaches as they enter the area. adventure. For example, if page 6 of the adventure had long
The wild dogs stat block is set up in a different way from stat block for an evil fire cleric, and the PCs have an encounter
the stat blocks in the Game Master’s Guide. It’s called a “short with another evil fire cleric on page 20, the short stat block on
stat block” and is a trimmed-down version of the long wild page 20 would tell you to find the full stat block on page 6. If
dog stat block in the Bestiary. Short stat blocks are used to you’re not familiar with a monster, or it’s a custom monster
save space (it means the adventure doesn’t have to repeat (like an evil fire cleric), or an encounter has several different
text that’s already available elsewhere, like the monster’s AC monsters in it, you may want to print or photocopy the pages
and saving throws). with their stat blocks so you can look at them without flipping
The short stat block usually only includes the most important through the adventure.
information for a monster: its CR (so you know how tough it is), Note that the name “wild dog” is not the name of a monster
its XP value (so you know what reward to give the PCs when in the Bestiary. The actual monster is listed under the name on
they defeat the monster), its hit points (so you could write on the third line of the stat block (“dog”). Using a unique name
the book or printout when the monster takes damage), and its like this is helpful in an adventure with many similar kinds of
Tactics (what it does during combat and whether it ever runs monsters. If an encounter later in the adventure talks about
from a fight). Sometimes, a stat block for a creature might not wild dogs, you know it’s talking about this dog stat block
even list its Tactics because that monster doesn’t ever have instead of some other dog’s stat block (for example, “rabid
any special tactics; it just moves up and attacks. dogs” or a dog named “Kara the She-Wolf”). You can use a
A short stat block always tells you where you can find shortcut like this in your own adventures, too—if the 2nd-level
the long stat block for that monster. In most cases, this is a rogues in your thieves guild are called the Sneaky Stabbers
and the 5th-level leaders are called the Deadly Strikers, you
can write “three Sneaky Stabbers and one Deadly Striker”
in your notes for an encounter instead of “three 2nd-level
thieves’ guild rogues and one 5th-level thieves’ guild leader.”
PAGE 4: SPIDER’S LAIR

This is another simple encounter. The Creature entry tells you
that the spider is hiding and the PCs need to succeed at a
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DC 21 Perception check to spot it—that’s your clue that this

combat may have a surprise round, and anyone who doesn’t
spot the spider is surprised.
Like the “wild dogs” stat block, this spider’s stat block calls
it a “scaleback spider,” but that’s not how the monster is listed
in the Bestiary (it’s listed as “giant spider”).
The giant spider stat block in the Game Master’s Guide
is a simplified version of the giant spider stat block in the
Bestiary. In fact, most monsters in the Game Master’s Guide
are simplified versions of monsters from the Bestiary. If an
adventure includes a stat block of a monster that you recognize
from the Game Master’s Guide, it’s okay to use the version in
the Game Master’s Guide, which you’re already familiar with.
This encounter has a Development section. This section is
used to explain situations like what happens if the PCs let a
monster go free, if they set off a trap that alerts creatures in
another room, and so on. When you start an encounter, check
the Development section (if it has one) to see whether there’s
anything that should happen in the middle of the encounter.
When you finish an encounter, always read the Development
section again (if it has one) and remember that information
when you go on to later encounters.
PAGE 5: SHOCKER PET

As with the scaleback spider encounter on page 4, you just
need to look up the shocker lizard’s stat block in the Bestiary,
run the encounter normally, and deal with the consequences
of the Development section.
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running an encounter with a swarm. If the swarm rules feel

PAGE 5: ARMORY too complex to handle, remember that you can always swap
This is a standard encounter with monsters from the Bestiary, the monster for something else, such as a dire bat (which is in
except that these troglodytes have the young creature simple the Bestiary, and is also CR 2).
template, which can be found on page 295 of the Bestiary.
A template is a tool used in adventures to quickly customize PAGE 6: THE TEMPLE OF NETHYS
a monster (see page 4). You can tell that these troglodyte This area is a temple to Nethys, the god of magic, who is
guards have the young creature simple template because the mentioned in the Core Rulebook but is not described in the
third line of the monsters’ stat block (the line that tells you Beginner Box. Fortunately, it doesn’t really matter that this is
the real name used for these monsters in the Bestiary) reads a temple of Nethys, so you could just tell your players “It’s a
“young troglodytes.” temple of Nethys, god of magic,” and leave it at that, or change
The Treasure section refers to the Appraise skill, which isn’t the god to someone else appropriate for your campaign.
in the Beginner Box. The Appraise skill lets you estimate an Because the temple is guarded by undead, and undead are
item’s value or quickly find the best item in a treasure hoard. almost always evil, this probably should be a temple to a
Instead of an Appraise check, you can have the PCs attempt a neutral or evil god rather than a good god.
Perception check to find the listed items. The skeletons in this area are burning skeletons, a variant
The Treasure section also mentions a silver dagger. In the of the normal skeleton described in the Game Master’s Guide
Core Rulebook, you can get silver weapons that bypass damage and the Bestiary—“burning skeleton” is basically a simple
reduction/silver in the same way that silver ammunition does template that only modifies skeletons. For a quick explanation
(Game Master’s Guide 50). The dagger is worth 22 gp instead of simple templates, see page 4. For information on burning
of 2 gp. skeletons, see page 251 of the Bestiary.
The Treasure section also mentions a masterwork light steel The Treasure section mentions a scroll of shatter and a
shield. When using the Core Rulebook, you can get masterwork scroll of shield other. These are both cleric spells in the Core
versions of armor that are a little better than regular armor Rulebook. You can read about how those spells work in the
(see page 5). If you’re using the Beginner Box and don’t want Core Rulebook and explain them to your players, or replace
to use the full rules for armor, you can simply say the shield is the scrolls with two other 2nd-level cleric spells from page 21
of especially high quality and fine craftsmanship, and is worth of the Hero’s Handbook.
159 gp instead of 9 gp.
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PAGE 7: TULOK’S ROOM

PAGE 6: TRAPPED ENTRY The Treasure section mentions masterwork studded leather
This section refers to the Survival skill, which isn’t in the armor and a masterwork buckler. In the Core Rulebook, you
Beginner Box. Survival is a skill in the Core Rulebook that can get masterwork versions of armor that are a little better
lets you follow tracks, avoid getting lost, and survive in the than regular armor (see page 5). If you’re using the Beginner
wilderness. Instead of a Survival check, you can have the PCs Box and don’t want to use the full rules for armor, you can
attempt a Perception check to notice the tracks. simply say the armor is worth 175 gp and the buckler is worth
165 gp.
PAGE 6: BATS’ ROOST The wayfinder in the Treasure section gives characters a +2
bonus on Survival checks to avoid getting lost. Survival is a
skill in the Core Rulebook that lets you follow tracks, avoid
getting lost, and survive in the wilderness. If you’re using
the Beginner Box rules, the wayfinder instead gives you a +2
bonus on Perception checks to avoid getting lost (however,
the Beginner Box doesn’t give rules for getting lost, so you’ll
have to read page 424 of the Core Rulebook for these rules).
The climber’s kit in the Treasure section is described on page
161 of the Core Rulebook and gives a +2 bonus on Climb checks.
PAGE 7: CAPTIVE PATHFINDER

The prisoner Balenar Forsend is a bard, a class available in the
Core Rulebook. Because he helps the PCs if they rescue him,
you should read up on bard abilities in the Core Rulebook.
However, the bard is a complex class with many abilities,
and in a fight you may want to ignore his bardic performance
This encounter is with a bat swarm. A swarm is a special type ability (a complex ability) and just have him cast spells
of monster with unusual attacks and defenses (Bestiary 312). (especially cure light wounds) to help the PCs. All of his spells
Make sure you understand swarms’ special abilities before are described in the Core Rulebook.
15
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TRANSITION GUIDE
PAGES 8–9: TOP OF THE TOWER PAGES 10–15: PREGENERATED

This encounter includes a Hazard section. The Hazard section
explains dangerous things in the room other than monsters CHARACTERS
and traps—like slimes, molds, and fungi (Game Master’s The six pregenerated characters in this section are for six new
Guide 37). classes in the Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide: the
The Hazard section mentions Medium creatures. For a alchemist, cavalier, inquisitor, oracle, summoner, and witch.
quick explanation of creature sizes, see page 5. Dwarves, You don’t need to use these characters with the adventure
elves, humans, troglodytes, and Snapjaw the crocodile are all if you don’t want to—you can use the pregenerated PCs that
Medium creatures. Races such as gnomes and halflings (both come with the Beginner Box, or your players can create their
of which are from the Core Rulebook) are Small creatures. own characters.
Tasskar is a druid, a kind of nature-priest. He worships creepy Those six classes are more complex than the classes in the
natural creatures that live in caves and under rocks. He is more Core Rulebook, with new abilities that are described only in the
powerful than a normal troglodyte, and you should use his full Advanced Player’s Guide. Once you’re familiar with the rules
stat block in the adventure instead of the normal troglodyte in the Core Rulebook, you may want to try using some of the
stat block in the Game Master’s Guide or the Bestiary. Advanced Player’s Guide classes in your campaign. As with
In Tasskar’s stat block, “mwk” means “masterwork.” most of the rules in the Pathfinder RPG, you can use the rules
If Tasskar uses a standard action to attack, he can only you like and ignore what you don’t. For example, if you really
make one attack on his turn. If he uses a standard action and like the alchemist class in the Advanced
a move action to attack, he can perform any one of his three Player’s Guide but not the cavalier
attack routines (scimitar/claw/bite, flame blade/claw/bite, or class, it’s okay to use alchemists but
2 claws/bite). not cavaliers!
Tasskar’s flame blade spell is a druid spell from the Core
Rulebook that creates a scimitar made of fire that he can wield
in combat just like a normal scimitar, except he makes melee
touch attacks with it instead of normal melee attacks. All of
his spells are explained in the Core Rulebook.
Tasskar’s Tactics section mentions spontaneously
casting a summon nature’s ally spell. Druid
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spontaneous casting is like a cleric swapping a

prepared spell for a cure spell, except the druid
can magically summon an animal to help him.
Summoning monsters requires complex rules
from the Core Rulebook (see page 210), so
until you’re familiar with how it works, you
may just want to let him spontaneously
cast cure spells like a cleric.
The Treasure section mentions several
things that aren’t in the Beginner Box.
Acid is described on page 160 of the
Core Rulebook, in the chapter on
equipment. Shuriken are weapons
described on page 148, in the
same chapter. “Cold iron”
is a special kind of metal
described on page 154 of
the Core Rulebook. Like
silver, cold iron is good
at bypassing a kind of
damage reduction).
16
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1378424
PATHFINDER CAMPAIGN SETTING PATHFINDER ACCESSORIES
The exciting world of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting comes Pathfinder Cards, Flip-Mats, and Map Packs give you the tools to
alive in Pathfinder Campaign Setting: The Inner Sea World Guide. make the most of your RPG campaigns. Item cards are full-color
With over 300 pages of races, nations, deities, equipment, magic illustrations of treasures you can hand out to players. Flip-Mats
items, monsters, and more, this tome gives you everything you and Map Packs complement the dungeon map in the Beginner
need to explore realms of endless adventure or give a home Box, allowing you to customize a wide range of encounters. The
to your favorite hero. Continue your journey through Golarion Critical Hit Deck lets you go wild with special critical effects like
every month with a new 64-page Pathfinder Campaign Setting blinding and decapitation, and the Critical Fumble Deck allows
book featuring nations, adventure sites, in-depth looks at minor and major mishaps from bad attack rolls. Other decks
particular kinds of monsters, new game options, and more. help track buffs, harmful conditions, chases, and more.
PATHFINDER ADVENTURE PATH PATHFINDER TALES
10485812 1378424
Paizo’s Adventure Paths are incredibly detailed, six-part Draw your sword and charge forth into a world of adventure
monthly adventures that take characters from 1st level to with Pathfinder Tales, official novels and web fiction that
about 15th level. Each has a different theme (such as “searching explore the fascinating world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying
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PAIZO SUBSCRIPTIONS PAIZO.COM

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10485812
Do you want to meet other people who play the Pathfinder RPG? Are you unsure where to find
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What are Pathfinder Player Companions?

What are Pathfinder Player Companions?

What does the Gamemastery Guide contain?

What does the Gamemastery Guide contain?

1378406

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

PATHFINDER ROLEPLAYING GAMEMASTERY

just a few of the strange and unique 1378407

magic items, and much more!

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

AUTHOR • SEAN K REYNOLDS

CREATIVE DIRECTOR • James Jacobs PUBLISHER • Erik Mona

SENIOR EDITOR • James L. Sutter CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER • Jeffrey Alvarez

Paizo Publishing, LLC

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

Taking the Next Step

NEW RULES TO KNOW CONVERTING ADVENTURES

SPELL STAT BLOCK your game.

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

New Rules to Know

WHAT DO I NEED TO READ?

ATTACKS OF OPPORTUNITY opponent so she’s at a disadvantage. The Core Rulebook calls

DISARM, GRAPPLE, AND TRIP

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

BASE ATTACK BONUS MONSTER TEMPLATES

BONUS TYPES, OVERLAPPING,

you a luck bonus on attack rolls. This is important because

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

MORE ARMOR RULES

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

MULTICLASSING Some monsters have an even more powerful ability called

and drawings. You learn languages by putting ranks in the

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

Reading a Core Rulebook

Spell Stat Block

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

J Any special defenses the monster has are listed here.

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

about this in the middle of combat.

U The Treasure entry tells you whether P feats Weapon Finesse

treasure for its CR, or a different amount— R languages Common 1378416

double, triple, or even none at all. Treasure in eColoGy

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

6th Level and Beyond

The Core Rulebook doesn’t divide rules for leveling

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

PAGE 4: SPIDER’S LAIR

DC 21 Perception check to spot it—that’s your clue that this

­PAGE 5: SHOCKER PET

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

running an encounter with a swarm. If the swarm rules feel

PAGE 7: TULOK’S ROOM

PAGE 7: CAPTIVE PATHFINDER

paizo.com, Kilian Donati <[email protected]>, Nov 19, 2017

PAGES 8–9: TOP OF THE TOWER PAGES 10–15: PREGENERATED

spontaneous casting is like a cleric swapping a

PAGE 5: SHOCKER PET