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Pathfinder role-playing game: Non-player characters
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The Pathfinder NPC Codex offers statistics for more than 300 characters, including at least one for every level of every class in the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook. It makes creating an NPC a piece of cake. - photo by Ryan Morgenegg
Sure, monsters are an important part of any fantasy roleplaying game. But what about non-player characters that can match players blade for blade and spell for spell?

The Pathfinder role-playing game provides a variety of supplements that help bring NPCs to life such as the NPC Codex and Inner Sea Codex.

The NPC Codex is a 318-page hardbound book containing detailed description of hundreds of NPCs from the Pathfinder universe. Each page of the book depicts the accompanying NPC with full-color artwork showing players exactly what a fury of flame druid or saintly knight looks like.

Game statistics are present for helping game masters get right to the point by adding NPCs quickly into their games.

The book divides the different NPCs into several sections for making the work of finding the right characters easy. The sections in the book are core classes, prestige classes, NPC classes and iconic characters.

Yes, all of the heroes from the Pathfinder world are there such as Amiri, Lem, Kyra, Lini, Valeros, Sajan, Seelah, Harsk, Merisiel, Seoni and Ezren complete with game statistics. Is it any wonder that Harsk the ranger wears +2 studded leather and carries a +1 battleaxe? Thats what the book states.

The unique thing about the book is that in addition to art and game statistics for each NPC, the game includes tactical information about how to play the NPC. For example the background and playing tips for NPC Rindra Thunderpath, a Halfling bard, druid and mystic Theurge, help breathe life into the game. She is described as a lover of loud sound and explosions. She prefers to live in the wild and learned magic to create loud explosions. She protects mountain passes and canyons using her thunder spells because the noise is loud and intimidating. She is known to speak loud and forceful at times or to let out a huge belly laugh.

A small appendix in the book gives details on animal companions for characters such as rangers and druids who can acquire them. A small dinosaur, badger, wolf, shark or bear make great companions. Stats are given for different levels of the critters.

The Inner Sea is a part of the Pathfinder world. It is a giant body of water that is heavily populated and well-traveled with six of the most powerful nations along its shores. It is the cradle of the human race and the focus of the Pathfinder supplement Inner Sea Codex from Paizo Publishing.

The thin soft cover book contains 56 non-player characters from the Inner Sea region of Golarion. Each page has full-color fantasy art of the character, stats on how to play the NPC and background information about the part of the world they inhabit. The NPCs are ready to be dropped into any game.

Some highlights from the book are stats for the Red Mantis group, the Hell-knights, Gray Maidens, Knights of Ozem and the prophets of Kalistrade. The red mantis order contains members who wear red and black armor that looks like an insect. These assassins focus on stealth and when they come after a person, they dont stop for almost anything.

These two books for the Pathfinder roleplaying game add flavor and options for game masters. NPCs are a staple part of the game but the work of creating them has been done with the NPC Codex and Inner Sea Codex.

Be aware that the Pathfinder role-playing game books contain fantasy artwork of magic, monsters, combat and heroic characters that may be of concern to some individuals.