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Pathfinder RPG Reviews

These Pathfinder RPG reviews are part of my “Best Tabletop RPGs of All Time” article. If you want to check out more TTRPGs and see how other top-tier tabletop RPGs are ranked, visit that page.

My Review – 90 / 100

I’m just going to save some time here, and provide you a much less detailed summary of Pathfinder and Starfinder than you’ll find for any other game on the “Best Tabletop RPGs of All Time” article (above).

This is the only game on this list where I haven’t listed a ton of information for you. The reason is that Pathfinder is built on virtually the same exact game systems as Dungeons and Dragons. If you want to see some of the differences, check out the DnD 5th edition reviews article.

Note that Pathfinder is a standalone game. Meaning that it is not the exact same game as DnD. Pathfinder is produced and published by an entirely different company, has its own design team, and functions differently than DnD in some important ways.

However, I will say that it is accurate to say that Pathfinder is a spinoff of DnD.

Origins of Pathfinder RPG

There is a whole history of what happened for Pathfinder to come into publication. But to shorten it, basically, when DnD 4th edition came out, it was a massive departure from what people had come to expect from Dungeons and Dragons. 3.5th edition of DnD, for example, was vastly different from 4th edition. In my opinion, 4th edition DnD wasn’t a bad game. It was just the wrong game for the DnD crowd, at-large.

Thus, Pathfinder was born. Paizo was, at the time of DnD 3.5th edition (I know… 3.5th edition) a large supplemental material/ adventure production company. Paizo made their money and existed as a company because they sold gaming adventures and DnD quest ideas to Dungeons and Dragons 3.5th edition enthusiasts.

To simplify things, when DnD 4th edition came out, all of Paizo’s gaming supplements became out-of-date. As with all other companies at the time who sold DnD adventures, they had to decide if they wanted to update their work to DnD 4th edition.

However, since the reception for DnD 4th edition was less than stellar, Paizo saw an opporunity.

Paizo still needed a way to still sell their publications and continue to profit as a company, of course, but rather than go along with Dungeons and Dragons, Paizo decided to release their own TTRPG, which could target all the people who loved DnD 3.5th edition, and who were unhappy with the major switch to DnD 4th edition.

Pathfinder RPG Game System

So, now you understand why Pathfinder RPG reviews aren’t really all that necessary when you can read the gaming review that I created on Dungeons and Dragons.

The 1st edition of Pathfinder was basically an updated version of Dungeons and Dragons’ 3.5th edition. DnD 5th edition (the current version of Dungeons and Dragons, as of the time of this article), is a return to DnD 3.5th edition, which is why it’s been so well-received by the gaming community.

Now, ironically, Pathfinder has a 2nd edition, which is a little more like DnD 4th edition – the one people didn’t like all that much.

Bottom line is that everything I wrote about Dungeons and Dragons, as far as an overall game review, applies to Pathfinder RPG. Because DnD’s been around so much longer, has a larger budget, and is more popular, it gets a larger score than Pathfinder. However, Pathfinder is still much DnD-like, so it gets great marks.

Many of the same game designers and adventure-writers for Dungeons and Dragons now work or create adventures for Paizo’s Pathfinder RPG. So, you even have a lot of the same crowd of creators.

For those of you who are interested, Starfinder is basically Pathfinder in space. It’s also a great game. I just also don’t have a lot more to say about it since it uses the same game system as both Pathfinder RPG and DnD.

Pathfinder and Starfinder are Produced By:

Paizo

Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed my article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.

I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.

If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Jacob Tegtman

D&D characters read a glowing book, split scene, half lush daytime, half purple night.

D&D Heads to Magic: The Gathering's Lorwyn-Shadowmoor

By Jacob Tegtman • October 7, 2025

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE2fUonKzl8 Transcription Dungeons & Dragons is officially crossing over with Magic: The Gathering’s Lorwyn-Shadowmoor! This fairytale world of eternal sunlight and creeping twilight is joining the Forgotten Realms through a brand-new digital-exclusive expansion. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your go-to source for all things Dungeons & Dragons! So, what’s this mysterious realm and why is it part of the new 5.5 Edition rollout? And—should you actually spend fifteen bucks on it? Let’s dive in. Wizards of the Coast is making a bold move with Lorwyn: First Light—a brand-new digital-only supplement coming to D&D Beyond on November 18th . According to both Bell of Lost Souls and D&D Beyond’s official announcement, it’s part of the new Forgotten Realms bundle—which includes The Player’s Guide, Adventures in Faerûn, and three exclusive add-ons: Astarion’s Book of Hungers Netheril’s Fall and today’s star—Lorwyn: First Light. So, what is Lorwyn-Shadowmoor? If you’ve played Magic: The Gathering back in the late 2000s, you might remember these twin worlds—one a radiant fairytale land of endless summer, the other a dark, dreamlike reflection of it. In D&D terms, it’s being reimagined as a Domain of Delight in the Feywild—those whimsical, dangerous realms ruled by Archfey. But here’s the twist: Lorwyn and Shadowmoor used to shift every few centuries—light giving way to night. Now, both have begun bleeding together in unpredictable ways. Imagine meadows of sunlight interrupted by patches of midnight, separated by shimmering auroras. It’s a stunning concept—and one that promises both beauty and peril in equal measure. The big question is what do you actually get with Lorwyn: First Light? According to Wizards’ release info, you’ll get: 2 new feats 2 new backgrounds (likely tied to those feats) 2 new magic items 8 monsters drawn from the Feywild’s weirdest corners 2 playable species , plus advice for adapting 8 more to the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor setting Two mini-adventures —each with maps ready to drop into your campaign And yes, all of this can be used in the Forgotten Realms or as standalone Feywild content. Characters might cross over via fey crossings, or your adventurers might stumble through a glowing portal in the Moonshae Isles straight into a land where “dreams have claws.” The price tag is $14.99 for the standalone version—or as part of the Forgotten Realms Ultimate Bundle, which includes digital dice, and both digital and physical book copies. That’s stirred some debate online. Some fans love the idea of expanding the Feywild with official crossover content, while others worry it’s another micro-expansion cash grab. But the excitement is real—this marks the first time a Magic: The Gathering setting has officially joined D&D 5.5E. If this goes well, you should probably expect Wizards to do more of this kind of thing. In any case whether you’re a Lorwyn nostalgia fan or just want more Feywild flavor in your campaigns, this expansion could scratch both your card game and tabletop itches. Do you think that Lorwyn: First Light will be a delightful addition to your Feywild campaigns—or is this just another shiny portal to your wallet? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring that bell for more weekly D&D news and updates.

Gygax Memorial Fund Kickstarter to Commemorate Gary and D&D

By Jacob Tegtman • October 3, 2025

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfmCpJPQM7o Transcription The Gygax Memorial Fund is working to build a D&D memorial for the late Gary Gygax. The memorial will (hopefully) be placed in Library Park , in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin —the birthplace of Dungeons & Dragons. This is the park that Gary himself loved and even chose as the spot for a memorial before he passed. In 2024, during D&D’s 50th anniversary, the city officially granted land for the project. This memorial will be a life-sized stone gaming table, with a dungeon map designed by Gary Gygax himself. But the question is, will this Kickstarter finally succeed where past efforts failed? Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your weekly quest hub for all things Dungeons & Dragons. Today, we’re talking about a very feel-good story for your Friday – a legendary project years in the making: the Gary Gygax Memorial Game Table. Gary, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, passed away in 2008. Since then, his widow Gail Gygax has championed the idea of a permanent memorial in their hometown of Lake Geneva. Now, the Gygax Memorial Fund has revealed their project: a stone game table in Library Park, complete with benches and, eventually, a bronze statue of Gary himself. The table will feature a bronze map of Gygax’s very first dungeon. The Kickstarter launched October 1st, 2025, marking the anniversary of TSR, the company Gary founded to publish D&D. Backers for this project get everything from digital scrolls to engraved pavers around the monument. Of course, fans are excited—but also cautious. The Gygax Memorial Fund has been planning memorials since at least 2012, and past efforts fizzled after raising over $100K. This has left some fans asking wondering about this attempt. On EN World, one user wrote: ‘The fund has talked about this for a decade—none of it has come to fruition. What makes this attempt special?’ But others point out that since Paul Stormberg took over as chair in 2020, the fund has started producing real results—like memorial benches and library exhibits. And with Lake Geneva officially granting land for the project, this campaign has a stronger foundation than ever. For some D&D fans, this may not just be a statue, but a chance to gather in the very town where roleplaying was – more or less – born. It is pretty amazing to think that you could sit at Gary’s table and roll dice on his original dungeon. This is both a tribute to the past and a playable monument for future generations of adventurers. If you’re interested in helping fund the project, I’ll leave a link the video description, and comments. And lastly, what do you think? Will the Gary Gygax Memorial Game Table finally become a reality—or is this another critical fumble? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring that bell so you don’t miss next week’s D&D news.

Critical Role's Campaign 4 Trailer Looks to be Heralding a Great Story

By Jacob Tegtman • September 30, 2025

Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv9HBlNaSMY Transcription Critical Role just dropped the story trailer for Campaign 4. It is looking like a bold campaign. We’re talking a brand-new world, an incredible 13 player characters, and a plot that kicks off with the execution of a revolutionary firebrand named Thiatzi Fang (we’ll see if I got that pronunciation right). Oh—and if you didn’t see my last video on the topic or you haven’t heard, Brennan Lee Mulligan is DMing this campaign while Matt Mercer will be a player. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your portal of divination into all things Dungeons & Dragons. First up with campaign 4—the setting. Unlike every previous Critical Role story, Campaign 4 leaves Exandria behind entirely. Instead, we’re venturing into Araman, a godless realm still haunted by the echoes of dead deities and a rebellion that shook the land 80 years ago. This isn’t just new lore, but a blank canvas, making it perfect if you’ve never watched Critical Role. There’s no prior knowledge required, which is perfect for new fans, but also a fresh start for longtime Critters. The trailer centers on Thiatzi Fang, a revolutionary who led something called the Falcon’s Rebellion twelve years back. Now, he’s been captured, condemned, and set to be executed by the mysterious Sundered Houses. Fang himself calls the Revolutionary Council a shadow of its former glory, while hinting at the unfinished war against the gods of Araman. So already, we’re looking at political intrigue, rebellion, and a potential spark for civil war. This time, Critical Role also isn’t just one party. That is to say, because there’s 13-players, they’re actually split into three connected, but altogether different parties. Each of these parties also has a name, describing their main focus in the campaign: The Seekers, the Soldiers, and the Schemers. This setup is packed with themes that Critical Role’s new DM, Brennan Lee Mulligan thrives on—iconoclasm, unity, and tension between hope and despair. The godless world of Araman asks: Without the Gods, who will seize the crown? Fans are buzzing that this campaign might explore things akin to segments from Game of Thrones, but with more dice rolls and way more crying. If you want to check it out, Campaign 4 launches October 2nd at 7 PM PT , streaming on Twitch, YouTube, and Critical Role’s Beacon service. Like I mentioned in my last video on Critical Role, they’ll be using the 2024 D&D 5e rules , with some special homebrew added by none other than Jeremy Crawford and Chris Perkins. And yes, you can jump in totally fresh if you want to see what Critical Role’s all about—no prior Exandria knowledge required. So—what do you think? Is Thiatzi Fang a hero, a villain, or something much more complicated? And which of the three parties are you most hyped to see—the Seekers, Soldiers, or Schemers? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s get the speculation for this season’s campaign rolling. And lastly, if you liked this quick update, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring that bell so you don’t miss our usually bi-weekly dives into the biggest stories in the D&D universe. Until next time—may your rolls be high, and your executions be… postponed.