Pathfinder has always embraced a world of high adventure, and most wouldn’t think that Guns and mechanic beings would fit in Golarian. Guns & Gears was released during the first edition of Pathfinder and led to many rethinking whether guns and things that go boom can coexist with magic. Paizo has gotten many things right in the Second Edition, so it isn’t surprising that such a polarizing book would also be significantly improved in this edition.
The Remastered edition of Guns & Gears is more than just a collection of new ancestries, classes, and equipment. While it’s full of updated versions of the original books to suit the Second Edition, it also features new worldbuilding bits, such as where the resources and materials for these weapons exist in Golorian. This book explores technology’s place in Pathfinder and tells readers why this fits in their game.
So, what’s inside?
What’s Inside?
Guns & Gears (Remaster) is a modular expansion to Pathfinder Second Edition that brings firearms, gadgetry, and a few character creation options into Golarion. The book is divided into three sections:
- Gears: Focuses on technology-based characters and equipment. This section introduces the Inventor class, the Automaton ancestry, six technology-themed archetypes, and six new backgrounds. The Gears Characters chapter details these options alongside class and ancestry feats, while the Gears Equipment chapter provides 39 pages of gadgets, mechanical gear, vehicles, and rule clarifications.
- Guns: Expands on firearms and gunslinging combat. This section features the Gunslinger class, along with new backgrounds and archetypes. The Guns Characters chapter presents the class and customization options, while the Guns Equipment chapter includes an extensive arsenal of weapons, attachments, and modifications.
- The Rotating Gear: A 40-page gazetteer exploring how firearms, black powder, and clockwork technology fit into Golarion. It examines the technological development of different regions, including Alkenstar, Arcadia, Casmaron, and Tian Xia.
Storytelling & Worldbuilding
Guns & Gears isn’t heavy on worldbuilding, but is full of little tidbits throughout that offer great opportunities to inject lore into games. Even all the pages and pages of gears and feats have breaks with quotes and explanations that can be helpful. As usual, the new ancestries and classes come with small passages that can help players get started on their character’s upbringings, tendencies in combat and social encounters, and how others will react to them. It’s not as deep as what you would find in books like the Lost Omens lore books and regional guides, but it’s more than what Paizo needed to include in a book full of mechanics.
The Rotating Gear chapter explores how different cultures across Golarion have adopted firearms and technology, and this is where those who love Pathfinder’s lore will get the most out of this book. In addition to this chapter indicating where specific resources can be found, some maps indicate trade routes of technology, history, and even cultural notes. There’s even a fun little box that covers the idioms of the Dwarves in Dungan Hold. By reading this book, players will know what it means to be between blobs and zombies, or what a dwarf means when they say they need to ‘powder their nose.’
Gameplay & Mechanics
New gameplay and mechanical opportunities are the obvious highlights of Guns & Gears. This book is dense, with every new archetype and class fully fleshed out to provide players with the best opportunities not only to fit into the world but also to have a great time. The balance of these additions remains to be seen, but the sheer amount of experimentation required due to the book’s depth is a high compliment.
The content is almost evenly split between character creation/progression and equipment. The book offers a wide variety of gear, much of which isn’t limited to a futuristic or steampunk setting. Its modular presentation will likely encourage GMs and players to seamlessly integrate firearms and mechanical constructs into their worlds. Let’s face it—these guns and robots are cool, and it’s nice that they can coexist with magic in a balanced way.
Artwork & Presentation
The presentation in these books never misses. The artwork in Guns & Gears introduces fresh designs for characters, attire, and equipment. Fans of this aesthetic will be in heaven—the artwork is excellent, and there’s something new to admire every few pages. It’s as much a pleasure to look at as it is to read.
The book’s organization is solid but could be improved for quick mid-game reference. It would be more convenient if all equipment and gear were grouped together rather than split between the Gears and Guns chapters. That said, the classes and ancestries are incredibly easy to look up, which is a plus. An index listing every piece of gear by name would have been useful, but instead, the glossary and index remain broad.
Is It Worth It?
For players who want to bring firearms and cool advanced machinery into their campaigns, Guns & Gears (Remaster) is the book to get this year.
Thanks to its modular design, the book accommodates both high-fantasy and historical settings, making it a flexible addition to any GM’s toolkit. It’s worth noting that the $70 price tag is incredibly steep since there are plenty of Pathfinder books with many more pages for less, but this book is so dense that it is easier to stomach. It’s well put together, has binding that feels like it will last, and just looks good.
It’s worth it.
