Arcforge Universe: Sci-fi adventure for Pathfinder RPG

Player's Companion layout nearly complete, and the Universe Cyclopedia manuscript is finished!
about 1 year ago – Sat, Feb 15, 2025 at 06:23:45 PM

HI all,

It's been a long road since last March when we began our Arcforge odyssey, but we are nearly to the finish line. I've been following up with our layout artist and they are scheduled to have the full Player's Companion ready for final review, including all art placement, this coming week! I'll be delighted to post up screenshots as soon as I get them. The estimate is for delivery on Tuesday, so hopefully I'll have another update for you then! 

That timing is excellent, because Matt has just completed his meticulous editing and proofing on the Arcforge Universe Cyclopedia!!! I'll let Matt give you his thoughts below!

The clock is ticking down to zero and delivery is imminent! Thanks so much for helping make Arcforge a reality! More to come SOON!

Player's Compendium PDF Proof In Review! And Universe Cyclopedia manuscript proofing complete!
about 1 year ago – Wed, Jan 29, 2025 at 05:18:23 PM

Hi all and Happy New Year! 

Thanks for your patience with this product. It has grown as we've gone along but we are finally rounding the turn and heading for home! 

1. Text layout is complete on the Arcforge Player's Compendium, which clocks in at 310 pages without artwork. I'll be giving this a final proofing pass this week and sending it back to layout for any needed corrections or format fixes and then art will be added and one final check to button it up and call it good! This PDF will be ready for you shortly, including all of the incredible elements in the table of contents! 

• The Word doc of the Arcforge Universe Cyclopedia is likewise complete! This massive manuscript is at 192,045 words (357 pages in Word) and it's looking fantastic. Development and editing are complete, as well as two proofing passes, and I've now sent it back over to Matt for the final stage: art placement. He'll be sorting all of the existing Arcforge art plus some new pieces and getting them all sorted throughout the book. Meanwhile, layout will start onboarding the text into InDesign so we can keep on rolling forward. 

We're excited to finally have the finish line in view and we hope you are too! Here's a quick digest of the Table of Contents for this book! We'll be sending out previews soon once we get the page galleys with art! 

Chapter 1: Vandara, the Sealed World

• A History of Vandara
• Magic on Vandara
• Other Features of Vandara
• Vandaran Society
• Races
• Monsters on Vandara
• Gods of Vandara
• Major Locations

Chapter 2: Aurin, the Star of Ruin

• A History of Aurin
• Magic of Aurin
• Races of Aurin
• Monsters of Aurin
• Planets of Aurin
• Playing in Other Eras of Vandara/Aurin

Chapter 3: What Lies Beyond

• The Birth of the Universe
• Playing in the Reborn Universe
• The Multiverse and the Planes
• The Seven Logi

Chapter 4: Starship Rules

• Aethership Rules
• Gravity and Vacuum Rules
• Narrative Starship Combat

Chapter 5: Other Systems

• Corruptions
• Omphaloi

Chapter 6: Monster Templates

Chapter 7: Robots

• Modular Robot Upgrades
• Sample Robots

End of Year Update: Layout at Last!
over 1 year ago – Tue, Dec 31, 2024 at 06:41:39 PM

Hi all,

Thanks so much for your patience on this project. It's taken Matt and Johannes a lot longer than expected but we are finally in the home stretch. I did the final proofing pass on the 446-page, 212,565-word Word doc of the Arcforge Players Compendium this past weekend and sent it off to layout, and we should have our first InDesign draft of the full text ready next week. Matt is going through with art placement for every section and will be sending that to layout on Monday, so they can get started with placing all the artwork and fitting it in and around the text! 

Once the Players Compendium is complete, we'll be ready to move the Arcforge Universe Cyclopedia into the final stage. It's significantly smaller less humongous than the massive player's book, which contains a metric crapton of technological, sci-fi, and psi-fi options for psionics, spheres, akasha, and more on top of classic Pathfinder RPG classes, races, feats, spells, powers, and more! It made me a little dizzy doing three proofing and format passes on it because there is just so much stuff. I know it's been a longer wait than expected, but we are excited to get this into your hands. 

I'll post up screenshots of page samples next week when I get those from layout and we'll keep you up to date as we round the final turn and head for home to get these books to you. PDFs will be uploaded to Backerkit for download once they are ready, and we'll move on to print shortly thereafter! 

A quick look at the promo chapter and Table of Contents for this book is below:

What You Will Find Inside Arcforge Players Compendium

The Arcforge Players Compendium collects twelve books’ worth of detailed player mechanics for countless varieties of future fantasy adventure, all painstakingly revised and rebalanced for a smoother gameplay. Master a combination of advanced technology and Akashic essence using the mech-piloting Helmsman or nanite-commanding Hivemind classes, or guide minds to new purposes using prestige classes like the Ascendant Vanguard or Psijacker! Experiment with new archetypes and options for over 50 classes, from the Draconic Channeler Cleric to Futurist Spiritualist to the Chainmaster Soulknife to the Biohacker Alchemist! Design your own unique Custom Mech to pilot into battle, kit yourself out with Psibertech, or assert your will over the artificial using the Technomancy Sphere. Harness over 80 new spells, powers, and veils, including Voidsong, Gravitic Charge, Stormwarden’s Coat, or the city-destroying Armageddon. Finally, fill your arsenal with a copious variety of high-tech and high-magic equipment, letting loose with your Exploding Heavy Bolters or Monofilament Stiletto while loaded up on the Supercharger stimulant. The Arcforge Players Compendium offers countless options for combining the wildest elements of magic, technology, and alien power in one place, providing you every tool you need and more to Make Your Game Legendary!

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: New Classes and Prestige Classes

Helmsman

Hivemind

Helmsman/Hivemind Veil List

Anaphexian Silencer

Ascendant Vanguard

Cosmic Forger (Cerebremancer Archetype)

Mech Master

Psiborg Adept

Psijacker

Chapter 2: Archetypes and Class Options

Aegis

Alchemist

Antipaladin

Avowed

Armiger

Armorist

Agent

Bloodrager

Cavalier

Cleric

Commander

Conscript

Cryptic

Daevic

Dissident

Dread

Druid

Eclipse

Eliciter

Fey Adept

Fighter

Hedgewitch

Helmsman

Highlord

Hivemind

Incanter

Investigator

Magus

Malefex

Marksman

Medium

Mystic

Occultist

Oracle

Paladin

Prodigy

Psion

Psychic Warrior

Ranger

Reaper

Sentinel

Slayer

Sorcerer

Soulknife

Spiritualist

Striker

Summoner/Unchained Summoner

Symbiat

Tactician

Technician

Vigilante

Vitalist

Vizier

Voyager

Wilder

Witch

Wraith

Zealot

Class Templates

Companion Archetypes

Variant Rules

Enhanced Talent Progression

Psionic Options in Spheres of Power

Chapter 3: New Systems

Mechs

Psibertech

Chapter 4: Player Options

Feats

New Races

Cephalume

Kalo

Shimreen

Shirren

Vesk

Racial Traits

Aasimar

Android

Blue

Cephalume

Dromite

Drow

Duergar

Dwarf

Elan

Elf

Faunic

Forgeborn

Gillmen

Gnome

Goblin

Halfling

Half-elf

Half-orc

Hobgoblin

Judow

Kalo

Kobold

Lashunta

Maenad

Nagaji

Noral

Ophiduan

Orc

Shimreen

Shirren

Svirfneblin

Tiefling

Trox

Vesk

Wayang

Wheeltouched

Wulfkin

Enhanced Racial Traits

Divine Fighting Techniques

Paths of Ascension

Chapter 5: Spheres and Talents

Technomancy Sphere

Technomancy Sphere Tables

Magic Talents

Combat Talents

Skill Talents

Origin Talents and Variations

Sphere-Specific Drawbacks

General Drawbacks

Traditions

Incantations

Chapter 6: Spells, Powers, and Veils

Class Spell Lists

Spells

Class Power Lists

Powers

Power/Spell Mythic Augmentations

Akashic Veils

Variant Rules

Akasha as Cybertech

Psionics as Advanced Technology

Psychic Dueling with Psionics and Magic Spheres

Chapter 7: Equipment

Technological Weapons

Weapon Modifications

Magic Weapon Special Qualities

Magic Armor Special Qualities

Equipment Modifications

Technological Items

Cybertech

Stimulants

Fleshwarps

Artifacts

Technological Artifacts

Power Armor and Augmented Skeletons

Crafting High-Tech Items

Variant Rules

Aethertech-Technology Integration

Armor Penetration

Plentiful Charges

Item Creation Feat Easy Access

Table of Tables

Table 1-1: Helmsman Class Features

Table 1-2: Hivemind Class Features

Table 1-3: Anaphexian Silencer Class Features

Table 1-4: Ascendant Vanguard Class Features

Table 1-5: Mech Master Class Features

Table 1-6: Psiborg Adept Class Features

Table 1-7: Psijacker Class Features

Table 2-1: Mekanikos Customization Progression

Table 2-2: Occultist Magic and Psionics

Table 2-3: Miracle Soldier Specialization

Table 2-4: Soulknife Emulate Technological Weapon values

Table 2-5: Psionic Formulist Power Points per Day

Table 3-1: Mech Advancement

Table 4-1: Feats

Table 4-2: Elemental Conjurer

Table 4-3: Irradiating Power/Spell Values

Table 5-1: Armor Glitches

Table 5-2: Construct Glitches

Table 5-3: General Glitches

Table 5-4: Pharmaceutical Glitches

Table 5-5: Weapon Glitches

Table 5-6: Technomancy Wild Magic Table

Table 6-1: Psychoport Mishaps

Table 6-2: Veil List

Table 6-3: Psionic Science Equivalents

Table 6-4: Techno-Psionic Item Creation Feats

Table 7-1: Technological Magic Equipment Requirements

Table 7-2: Fleshwarp Requirements

Table 7-3: Commonplace Technological Artifacts

Table 7-4: Existing Weapon AP

Arcforge Player's Companion Chapter 5 Complete
over 1 year ago – Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 12:06:13 PM

Hi all,

I've checked in with Matt on his progress and he's just finished the next chapter for this massive book with Chapter 5: Spheres and Talents, with Johannes Luber proofing and editing! This includes the Technomancy sphere, with Technomancy advanced talents, Technomancy wild magic, technomagical glitches, and so much more! 

As we wait for completion, I wanted to pass along a much bigger chunk of rules text for you to preview, so if you hit the link below you can download a hefty 4000-word preview of the complete Helmsman class, which allows you to pilot your own personal battlemech! I'll be keeping you up to date as I get updates from Matt and we bring these two big books into the barn. 

Check out the Helmsman preview here!

Layout approaching!
over 1 year ago – Thu, Oct 17, 2024 at 06:55:27 PM

Hi all,

Editing is nearly done on the Arcforge Player's Compendium and once our layout artist for Arcforge finishes his current assignment he should be ready to dive in on assembling the book starting next week! 

One of the fun things in this book is a robust system of Mech-based characters and their mech companions, and I thought for a quick preview I'd include just a few of the options you've got for making your mech buddy truly legendary! We'll send out some page samples from the book as layout gets underway to get a good look at all the goodies within! 

Thanks for your patience with the project. It's taken longer than Matt originally planned to get these massive books together but we trust you'll truly enjoy them once they're ready to rock and roll! 

Many-Legged

STARTING STATISTICS

Size Large (-1 penalty to AC and attack rolls, +1 to CMB/CMD, -4 Stealth); Speed +10 ft.; AC +8 armor; ACP -5; Required Armor Proficiency Medium; Attack Slam (primary) (1d8); Melee Reach 5 ft.; Ability Scores Str +2; Bonus HP 15 hp; Weapon Slots 2

Stability: A stable mech’s pilot receives a +4 racial bonus to their Combat Maneuver Defense when resisting a bull rush or trip attempt

4TH LEVEL ADVANCEMENT

Heavy Weapons Array: Starting at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter (8th, 12th, 16th, 20th), the many-legged mech gains an additional weapon slot at no additional cost.

Speedster

STARTING STATISTICS

Size Large (-1 penalty to AC and attack rolls, +1 to CMB/CMD, -4 Stealth); Speed +30 ft.; AC +6 armor; ACP -3; Required Armor Proficiency Medium; Attack Slam (primary) (1d8); Melee Reach 5 ft.; Ability Scores Str +2 or Dex +2; Bonus HP 10 hp; Weapon Slots 2

Two-Seater: Speedster mechs start play with the Extra Seating enhancement.

4TH LEVEL ADVANCEMENT

Nitroboost: At 4th level, speedster mechs gain the Nitroboost enhancement

Built for Speed: At 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter, the mech’s base speed increases by 10 feet.

Tank

STARTING STATISTICS

Size Huge (-2 penalty to AC and attack rolls, +2 to CMB/CMD, -8 Stealth); Speed +10 ft.; AC +10 armor; ACP -3; Required Armor Proficiency Heavy; Attack Slam (primary) (2d6); Melee Reach 5 ft.; Ability Scores Str +4, Dex -2; Bonus HP 20 hp; Weapon Slots 2

Cumbersome Weaponry: The tank mech’s ranged weaponry is seated behind the pilot’s seat, and as such cannot be operated by the driver at the same time the pilot moves or uses melee attacks. A passenger besides the pilot can operate these weapons. If the mech is remotely piloted, the remote pilot can either pilot the mech or operate the passenger weapons.

Naval Adaptation: When a character creates or modifies a tank mech, they can choose to modify it to have a naval adaptation. A naval tank mech has no land speed but has a base speed of 60 feet over water.

Team Transport: Tank mechs start play with two instances of the Extra Seating enhancement.

4TH LEVEL ADVANCEMENT

Special: Starting at 4th level and every 4 levels thereafter (8th, 12th, 16th, 20th), the tank mech gains an additional weapon slot at no additional cost.