#30 Battle Standards
#30 Battle Standards is an epic fantasy supplement from the #30 Series of supplements for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game written by Thomas LeBlanc and published by Rite Publishing.
By Jan Sebestyen
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Rite Publishing’s 30 Battle Standards by Steven Russell’s crew for use in the Pathfinder system brings to the table a slew of different types of battle standards. There are the general banners, cavalry guidons, garrison flags, infantry guidons, pennons, sashimono, and vexillium in addition to new equipment related to the battle standards, a new feat, and an NPC. This is a product designed for paladins and cavaliers in Western settings and Samurais and ronin in Eastern settings.
This is a great product. The artwork is spectacular and the descriptions of the different types of standards give the player and GM alike fantastic information on how to use them in the game. Additionally, the game mechanic used is an aura enchantment giving the legendary “magical” feel that warriors felt in days gone by when they saw the standard for their units in the vanguard.
CONTENT
Within the product you will find: 30 magical battle standards, 10 new pieces of adventuring gear, the new Flagbearer feat, and the NPC Grivt Lungpiercer.
The standards range from the big banners of the generals to the cavalry pennons that are attached to the lances of the cavalry soldier, and every other kind of battle standard in between. One of the pennons is the Valkyrie’s Pennon which surrounds the lancer with a “visible golden glowing field of force that provides a +6 armor bonus to AC.”
There are standards for cavalry and infantry units as well as the garrisons they serve. One such garrison flag is the Viscous Flag which causes “a black acidic goo to cover the outer wall of the structure.”
The most interesting section is the one on sashimono. So often products forget the Eastern standards but this one does not. It does a wonderful job of describing the traditional Samurais’ standard including how it was worn.
The new feat Flagbearer gives the character with it a special place in the company as the one who gives a bonus while in battle to the others who serve under it. However, it also places a responsibility on that character because losing the standard causes a severe penalty to fall upon the company.
The NPC Grivt Lungpiercer is a former cavalier and master craftsman who owns a standard making shop. He is a great resource for any campaign.
OVERALL
Wonderful product for both players and GMs. It will enhance those moments when the PCs get themselves in a situation where having their own standard will be a benefit, where they are serving under a standard, or where they encounter large scale fighting where the GM can use the standards against the PCs.
RATINGS
Publication Quality: 10 out of 10
Great descriptions and the artwork just makes it even better. It is 13 pages of fabulous material. There are a few minor typos – a word or two was omitted or misspelled – but that does not take away from this product in any way.
Mechanics: 10 out of 10
Each standard has a descriptive text and some of them have a table where all of the different effects are listed for the standard that has levels to it. Each of the magical auras associated with the standards are easy to use with very typical effects from the Pathfinder system of magic.
Value Add: 10 out of 10
Absolutely great value-add to the game with #30 Battle Standards. Players and GMs alike are going to want it. The original design is for paladins, cavaliers, samurais, and ronins, but I can see its application to other character classes as well if the GM is planning on a large scale war for his/her players to encounter.
Overall: 10 out of 10
Wonderful product. Gamers of all types will want this product, especially those that like the extra effects the standards bring. The production quality, game mechanics, and value added to the game in general are superb.
