Publisher: Paizo
RPG System: Pathfinder Second Edition
Introduction
If you’ve read my review of the Lost Omens: Tian Xia book, you know how highly I regard it and its fantastic introduction to representation. While the continent of Africa isn’t fetishized in fantasy as much as Asia, it still isn’t treated well. Settlements in these regions are often depicted as strange or savage, with deep-rooted stereotypes and harmful clichés. Stories that involve this region are often full of outsider perspectives and heavy colonization or brutalization.
The introduction of Pathfinder Lost Omens: The Mwangi Expanse titled “Reclaiming the Expanse” and while it doesn’t emphasize the representation of people as much as Tian Xia, it still does a great job. The phrase “Exciting, Not Exotic” is highlighted, as Paizo realizes that the Mwangi Expanse, inspired by Africa, is where people have lived for ages before player characters explore it. The book recommends treating the region like someone’s home, not just a backdrop for adventure. Players are strangers and should respect the homes of others. The book also offers advice on approaching the region, especially if you create a character whose home is the Mwangi Expanse. Like Tian Xia, the writers in this book are people of color, offering a closer connection to the region and paying respect to its cultural inspirations.
What’s Inside?
The Mwangi Expanse includes over 300 pages of worldbuilding and gameplay content, providing GMs with everything needed to bring this beautiful region to life. The book covers 10,000 years of history, outlining the rise and fall of civilizations and key cultural shifts that have shaped the Mwangi Expanse. Nearly 100 pages are dedicated to the peoples of Mwangi, with six new ancestries—including the spider-like Anadi and Mbe’ke dwarves. The six groups with ancestry information are complete with their heritages, feats, and lore. For people who don’t have full ancestries in the book, there are tips on building them using resources from previous books. The religion section delves into 12 major deities and their influence on the Mwangi peoples, providing both lore and mechanical benefits, like divine spells and avatars. With over 140 pages devoted to geography, GMs can get detailed information on diverse regions like Bloodcove and Nantambu, each packed with story hooks and unique political dynamics.
Rounding out the book is a 20-page bestiary, offering new creatures native to the Mwangi Expanse. These creatures add both challenge and narrative depth to spruce up campaigns. Since many creatures from other parts of the world are also found in the Mwangi Expanse, the book includes a table that shows where to find their stats and information in other sources. With its detailed history, diverse cultures, and wealth of creatures, The Mwangi Expanse is an essential resource for crafting immersive adventures in this region while respecting its depth and complexity.
Storytelling & Worldbuilding
The socio-political relationships between the peoples of the Mwangi Expanse are richly detailed. Schisms between groups of elves, legendary tales of the dwarves, and tons of lore about the fascinating Anadi ancestry are explored in depth. Anyone who reads this book from cover to cover will feel like a genuine scholar of the region. Like the Tian Xia book, it feels nearly impossible to misrepresent the setting, people, or culture if one genuinely engages with the material and shows care in gameplay.
The book equips GMs with the tools to create deep campaigns, filled with characters, settings, and creatures that live in the Mwangi Expanse. This guide is also a great resource for campaigns outside the Mwangi Expanse and involves characters or NPCs from the region. The book reinforces the “Exciting, Not Exotic” theme by normalizing ancestries based on regional prevalence—lizardfolk are more common, while goblins are less so. It masterfully presents the Mwangi Expanse from the perspective of its inhabitants, making the region feel grounded and authentic.
Gameplay & Mechanics
Players won’t find too many new mechanics in this book, but the new ancestries offer plenty of opportunities for character creation and growth. For example, the Anadi includes many heritages, feats, and all the gameplay stats you’d expect in character creation, like hit points, speed, and abilities. In addition to the mechanics, each ancestry offers lore that naturally affects gameplay, such as their religions and societal structures. Each ancestry breakdown includes the “You Might” and “Others Probably” sections from the Player Core book, which help new players roleplay unfamiliar ancestries.
The geography section is also excellent for worldbuilding, especially the settlements that include government structures, populations, religions, threats, and more. Even details like common resources are covered, making it easy for GMs to create rich and believable settings. The book’s religious content is not just lore but offers gameplay elements like divine abilities, favored weapons, and alignments of deities that can shape character development. The bestiary is another highlight, providing GMs with new creatures to challenge players. Each creature has fully fleshed-out stats, making preparation easy for any GM.
Artwork & Presentation
Like every recent Paizo book, the art in The Mwangi Expanse is simply stunning. It’s vibrant, culturally diverse, and avoids leaning on tired stereotypes. The artwork does an excellent job of representing the Mwangi Expanse’s rich cultures and landscapes, making it visually engaging and immersive.
The text is organized into digestible sections, with charts and tables breaking up the information, making it easy to follow. This is great for quickly referencing material mid-game and keeping the flow of sessions smooth. The binding is sturdy, and the book is a massive 300+ pages, the same size as the Tian Xia book and GM Core. It’s also a beautiful addition to any RPG collection.
Is It Worth It?
As a large hardcover, this book comes with a higher price tag, but it’s worth every penny. The Lost Omens series has been a hit, and Paizo continues to create books that breathe life into their world. The sheer amount of information in The Mwangi Expanse is impressive, and what’s more important is that this information is genuinely interesting. The histories, cultures, and settings are engaging enough to be read for pleasure, not just for game prep. The book’s depth of content alone makes it an invaluable resource for GMs and players alike.
