Tatisman Pathfinder 2e is a role-playing game published by Paizo Publishing. It is a tabletop RPG that offers players a vast world to explore and numerous adventures to embark on. The game is set in the fantasy realm of Golarion, where players can create unique characters and participate in epic quests. In Tatisman Pathfinder 2e, players take on the role of adventurers, known as pathfinders, who travel across the land in search of treasure, fame, and glory. The game offers a rich and immersive experience, with detailed maps, complex character progression systems, and intricate combat mechanics. One of the key features of Tatisman Pathfinder 2e is its emphasis on player choice and customization.
A kingdom that embraces darkness but not evil is an interesting concept but not enough to make up for choppy pacing and flat characters; here’s hoping the sequel is better balanced. (map, cast of characters) (Fantasy. 9-13)
Twelve-year-old Thorn is unexpectedly purchased at a slave market far from home by Tyburn, executioner for the dread Shadow family, necromancer rulers of Gehenna. Here is a fantasy world you will lose yourself in with Six Great Families of magic, the nicest princess of darkness you ve ever met, a peasant boy with skills to rival Robin Hood, and a supporting cast of zombies, paladins, ghost puppies, executioners, minstrels, murderers, and a giant hero bat.
One of the key features of Tatisman Pathfinder 2e is its emphasis on player choice and customization. Players have the ability to create characters from a wide variety of races and classes, each with their own unique abilities and powers. They can then further customize their characters through the game's robust character creation and leveling systems.
Review: Shadow Magic
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
Disney Hyperion, New York, 2016.
MG fantasy, 324 pages.
Lexile: 540L .
AR Level: 4.1 (worth 11.4 points) .
NOTE: First in a trilogy.
Thorn was just trying to find his outlaw father when he got caught by slavers and was sold to executioner Tyburn of House Shadow. Lilith Shadow was never supposed to rule Gehenna, but then her family was killed.
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan, illustrated by Ben Hibon.
I picked this one up because of this review. Initially this series didn’t strike me as particularly diverse from reading the blurb, but the author’s commentary on the Middle Eastern inspiration as well as an #ownvoice Muslim reviewer’s thoughts quickly confirmed that this was a trilogy I wanted to read.
The white-guy-being a slave part made me nervous, but it was a small part of the overall story and not poorly done. I did also wish for the House of Shadow to have more skin tone variety, but some information about House Solar covered that to my satisfaction.
Khan invests heavily in three similarly-aged characters, but only two have viewpoints in this book, which was so smart. While K’leef is a main part of the trio and the plot, his motivations and actions ultimately have to be deduced, and the novel manages to be balanced. What I didn’t love, even though I understood it, is the whole arranged-child-marriage thing. Thankfully, Lilly was not afraid to repeatedly call out how ludicrous it was and exercise her own agency to change her situation (not always for the better).
Page 249 of Shadow Magic illustrates a dramatic moment in the book.The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
Khan does a good job of parceling out all this information without doing infodumps. He uses situations, like when Thorn angers the wrong noble and the other boys point out that he’s the outsider and they need to stay out of trouble. Of course, Thorn’s isolation combined with hidden heritage make him a good target for Lily’s friendship.
Lily finds that unexpected leadership comes with many more headaches and sorrows than desired. Her arc was all I could have desired, and I especially appreciated that Khan allowed her and Thorn (and K’leef) to be equal partners. Finding out that the character was inspired by Malala Yousafzai made so much sense.
The book is divided into three sections based on the location. Most is set at Castle Gloom, with the first and last sixth in another place. Chapters are kept short and the plot is always moving even when the characters are pinned down, to the very last page! Regular full page artwork is interspersed, which is mostly excellent with a few duds. Gehenna gets a full map with lots of interesting tidbits that don’t come in to this story, and I always appreciate that in a fantasy novel. This was still middle grade, but the plot was less MG-ish than most, which made it far more interesting to an adult fantasy fan.
Pages 128 and 129 of Shadow Magic show one of the full page illustrations as well as the flipbook bat in the upper right hand corner.
The interior pages made a little flipbook of a bat flying. The book as a whole had a interesting design and I appreciated that the letterer and cover designer got cover billing, even if they and the artist, were relegated to the back cover. It has a sturdy matte cover and acceptable pages and binding, which has me perplexed – Disney Hyperion is so inconsistent with paperback quality! I ended up buying a used softcover copy of this first book for expediency and cost efficiency, but maybe I’ll look at new for the others.
Be forewarned that this novel contains significant deaths including murder, zombies vampires and other undead, grave-robbing, slavery, poaching, starvation, kidnapping, attempted forced child marriage, loss of parents, burning, petty thievery, bullying, beatings, betrayal, political maneuverings, a menagerie, and lots of bats. That sounds really dark, doesn’t it? But it’s also a beautiful story about friendship and loyalty and accepting yourself no matter how strange, with serious-yet-campy goth trappings and lots of magic.
Yes, this had more death and gloom than I remember middle schoolers wanting in a fantasy novel. It’s not horror exactly, despite all the murders and zombies and so on. Those are all tied up in the magic and politics of this fantasy world. I think this would work well for kids who are into the School of Good and Evil series, or fans of Hoodoo. Simply because of said murders and horror trappings (plus very mild romance) I’d put this at the upper end of MG or a high-low read for teens.
Recommended for mature MG and up.
The magic system is fairly complex, so a good deal of this first book had to go towards introducing readers to the workings of not just the magic, but also the political systems that work around the various types of magic. And also how daily life works in this world and how it is influenced by both politics and magic.
The game also includes a dynamic and challenging combat system, which is both tactical and strategic. Players must carefully plan their actions and utilize their character's abilities to overcome challenging encounters and defeat powerful enemies. The combat system also incorporates various elements of teamwork, as players can work together to coordinate attacks and support each other in battle. Tatisman Pathfinder 2e also offers a rich and immersive world for players to explore. The game's setting, Golarion, is a vast and diverse realm, filled with unique locations, cultures, and creatures. Players can journey through towering mountains, ancient ruins, bustling cities, and mysterious forests, encountering a wide variety of non-player characters and engaging in thrilling quests and adventures. Overall, Tatisman Pathfinder 2e is a comprehensive and engaging tabletop RPG that offers players a rich and immersive experience. With its deep character customization options, dynamic combat system, and expansive world, the game provides endless opportunities for adventure and storytelling. Whether playing with friends or in a solo campaign, Tatisman Pathfinder 2e is sure to provide countless hours of enjoyment for fans of the genre..
Reviews for "Harnessing the Elements in Tatisman Pathfinder 2e: Wizard Guide"
1. John - 2 stars - Unfortunately, I was not impressed with Tatisman Pathfiinder 2e. The game seemed overly complicated and confusing, with a steep learning curve that made it difficult to pick up and play. The rulebook was also poorly organized, making it hard to find specific rules when needed. Additionally, I found the character creation process to be convoluted and time-consuming. Overall, I was disappointed with this game and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I found Tatisman Pathfinder 2e to be a major letdown. The mechanics felt clunky and the gameplay itself was slow and tedious. Furthermore, the balance between different classes and abilities seemed off, with certain characters clearly overpowered compared to others. The art and illustrations in the rulebook were also lackluster and didn't add much to the overall experience. Overall, I would not waste my time or money on this game again.
3. Alex - 2 stars - Tatisman Pathfinder 2e was a disappointing experience for me. The complexity of the game made it inaccessible for new players, and even as an experienced tabletop gamer, I found myself struggling to grasp all the rules and intricacies. The combat system, in particular, felt slow and cumbersome, dragging out encounters unnecessarily. Additionally, the lack of clear guidelines for building custom adventures and campaigns left me feeling limited and stifled in my creativity. Overall, this game did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it to others.
4. Emily - 3 stars - While I didn't dislike Tatisman Pathfinder 2e, I also didn't find it particularly impressive. The game felt average in many ways, lacking the innovation and excitement that I had hoped for. The character progression system was a bit too rigid, leaving little room for experimentation or customization. The artwork and design of the components were satisfactory but didn't stand out. Overall, Tatisman Pathfinder 2e is a decent game, but fell short in terms of delivering a truly captivating and memorable experience.