
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Character Mats
- 1–4 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2013

2013
Rules assistance for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is a board game released in 2013 for 1–4 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 13 and up. It was designed by Paul Peterson, Mike Selinker, Chad Brown, Tanis O'Connor, and Gaby Weidling and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Dice Rolling.
A forgotten evil stirs in the ancient land of Varisia. Dark magic once more thrums amid crumbling ruins, giants gather in titanic armies, cultists murder in the name of foul deities, and maniacal goblins plot a fiery end for the peaceful town of Sandpoint. Launch a campaign to strike back against the evils plaguing Varisia with the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords - Base Set. This complete cooperative strategy card game pits 1 to 4 heroes against the traps, monsters, deadly magic, and despicable foes of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game's award-winning Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path. In this game players take the part of a fantasy character such as a rogue or wizard, each with varying skills and proficiencies that are represented by the cards in their deck. The classic ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, etc.) are assigned with different sized dice. Players can acquire allies, spells, weapons, and other items. The goal is to find and defeat a villain before a certain number of turns pass, with the villain being represented by its own deck of cards complete with challenges and foes that must be overcome. Characters grow stronger after each game, adding unique gear and awesome magic to their decks, and gaining incredible powers, all of which they'll need to challenge greater threats in a complete Pathfinder Adventure Card Game Adventure Path. The Pathfinder Adventure Card Game is an expandable game, with the first set containing nearly 500 cards. The Rise of the Runelords - Base Set supports 1 to 4 players; a 110-card Character Add-On Deck expands the possible number of players to 5 or 6 and adds more character options for any number of players. The game will be expanded with bimonthly 110-card adventure decks. Errata: Early printings had the Loot card "Sihedron Medallion" listed as belonging to "B" (for Base Set). It is instead supposed to read "1" (for Burnt Offerings ). (It is unknown if this has been fixed in later printings)
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set is 90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set for ages 13 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set has a complexity rating of 2.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Dice Rolling. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set are: Paul Peterson, Mike Selinker, Chad Brown, Tanis O'Connor, and Gaby Weidling. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Pathfinder Adventure Card Game: Rise of the Runelords – Base Set as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.