Through the Niobe: She is Life Hardcover & She is Death #1 Comic Book Kickstarter, Stranger Comics teamed with Paizo to bring Stranger Comics’ character, Niobe, and her world to the Pathfinder 1e RPG. On July 29th 2019, Stranger Comics shared the PDF of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Niobe with the Kickstarter backers. On August 1st 2019, at Gen Con, Paizo dropped Pathfinder 2e. With Paizo’s involvement in Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Niobe, this product could be viewed as the last Paizo Pathfinder 1e product to come out before 2e debuts. Niobe’s universe is a great story (one that HBO has optioned) and it’s an excellent choice to “close out” PF1e.
What is Niobe?
First seen in the mini-series, Niobe: She is Life, written by creator Sebastian A. Jones and actress Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games, The Hate U Give), and illustrated by Ashley A. Woods, this is the story of:
“Niobe Ayutami. Half human, half elf. Half Ujoan, half Isintarrian. Half goddess, half devil. Niobe is a child of prophecy. Destined to be a queen and on the run since birth. Now a teenager and out on her own for the first time, Niobe must find her way in a world that wants her dead. After fleeing the vampire lord, Essessa, Niobe arrives at the sacred elven grounds of her ancestors, but she finds no welcome from her kind. She does, however, meet a fellow outcast in a half orc boy who is accused of murder. But Niobe’s quest to prove his innocence may expose her own past sins. Niobe: She is Life is a beauty and the beast love story threaded with murder and mystery that leads to all out war with the fate of Asunda hanging in the balance.”
What is Pathfinder 1e?
D&D 3.75e from Paizo instead of TSR/Wizards of the Coast/Hasbro. This is the system that, during the D&D 4e era, unseated D&D as the bestselling RPG in the English-centric world.
What is Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Niobe?
Clocking in at thirty-six pages long, this is a sourcebook to roleplay in the setting for Niobe, Asunda. If that world speaks to you, this book gives you the chance to play the game using the PF1e ruleset presenting a range of powers and options. It’s a good choice as the system is well-known and popular (likely to remain the PF standard for many players for many years to come, at least until Paizo makes all of the classes and favored options from 1e available for PF2e).
In the book, pages three through five of the sourcebook presents an overview of the setting including a timeline of its history. Pages six through nine add races to the game including Esufey (elf-like elemental fey), Galemren (a variation of magical nomadic elves), Sin-Galemren (akin to half-elves), and Grachukk (something like orcs). There’s a new class, the Omdura, a shaman-like variant. There are two archetypes for the Omdura, and one for the Ranger, seventeen feats, six magic items, and four new monsters. Pages twenty-six through twenty-eight is the encounter, “Battle for the Chosen.” The book wraps with the NPC stat block for the central character, Niobe.
To play, you’ll need the Pathfinder Core Rulebook, Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, and Pathfinder RPG Advanced Player’s Guide.
Who Made This?
“With regards to the PATHFINDER editions [of Niobe], PAIZO has assured us they will be ready by Autumn, really sorry for the wait but we know it will be worth it! We met with Paizo in Seattle during ECCC, and everything is in hand with a whole new team who are making it really special.”
– UPDATE #26 (Backers only) ERATHUNE HARDCOVER KICKSTARTER COMING SOON! Pathfinder and CGC updates! April 19, 2018
Paizo Inc. and Stranger Comics. This can’t be emphasized enough, this isn’t the standard 3PP Pathfinder 1e supplement crafted by a third party; this is from Paizo directly. Luis Loza, developer for Paizo Inc., is one of the authors and development leads. Adam Daigle, also of Paizo, is the other development lead. It does not get more official Pathfinder than a book from Paizo. But it’s not just Paizo creators, it’s also Sebastian A. Jones, Darrell May, Joshua Cozine, and Amandla Stenberg of Stranger Comics. This is a great marriage of official RPG and original comic creators.
I contacted Sebastian Jones of Niobe to get his thoughts on the creative team: “Luis and the brilliant team at Paizo have translated what Darrell and I have conjured into something epic and original! It is awesome to see items of power, like the Amulet of Arnuminel, Niobe wears, which we now have in jewelry made by Badali! The new feats, races, and the Shaman-like class of Omdura will [give] fans a chance to experience something new and exciting. The book really captures the essence of Niobe, at the younger stage of her life, and the world of Asunda wonderfully.”
Art
This comic was ideal for upgrading to Pathfinder for several reasons, among them was the standout art. With art from some of comics top talents working in their fantasy styles, this series utilizes artists such as Ashley A. Woods, Hyoung Taek Name, Blond, Sheldon Mitchell, Jae Lee, and more to bring this vision to life. Their artwork is first rate (these artists are all in-demand from Marvel and DC Comics). Since many of their images are covers, those can be parsed out over the course of this sourcebook to bring life to the project. Combined with some panels from the comics to add action, this Pathfinder book has beautiful art throughout.
End of an Era?
I asked Sebastian Jones how he felt about his product being the unofficial capstone of the Pathfinder 1e era. “Honestly, just being a part of the Pathfinder and Paizo family is an honor and gamer’s dream come true! I have been live action roleplaying and tabletop gaming for more than thirty years, using my fantasy world of Asunda as the backdrop. To see it come to life within such a brilliant system is incredible. Even with PF1e shifting gears into PF2e, this is the beginning for Niobe’s world of Asunda to reach the entire RPG community, especially those who love this edition. With what we have in development at HBO will allow folks to read our comics, play the game, and watch it on the screen.”
Sebastian went further in discussing how he sees this product positioned, “This is the start, we believe, of epic roleplaying games set in the world Asunda.”
Pathfinder Comics from Stranger Comics?
As of this writing, Paizo has licensed the Pathfinder property to Dynamite Entertainment to handle their comics and graphic novels. This arrangement has existed for years. That said, for Dynamite, this is one of their properties and, while it has had writers from Paizo on the books, it has not quite caught fire. Not to belittle Dynamite’s work or ability, but Stranger Comics, home of Niobe and more fantasy comics, might be a viable home for Pathfinder comics in the future. SC makes each new project its sole focus [See their newest Kickstarter for an example] and could give a Pathfinder mini-series a level of production and attention that would result in an epic tale.
Should I Play in Asunda?
Are you a fan of Niobe? Are you a Pathfinder 1e fan? In either case, I say yes. This is a beautiful book that is official in every way: From Paizo and from Stranger Comics. It’s authentic and a great addition to your PF1e game. The art, the writing, the additions, this book is life. If you’re not already a fan, I suggest checking out the series and this sourcebook.
Where Can I Get This Book?
This sourcebook, and the comics it’s based on, are available at Stranger Comics’ website. In addition, Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Niobe will be a reward in the Kickstarter for Niobe’s new comic (launch August 28, the same day as Sebastian’s birthday). Check it out here.
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