PACG

PACG stands for Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, a cooperative card-based board game published by Paizo Publishing beginning in 2013. It is set in the Pathfinder fantasy universe and centers on players taking on the roles of adventurers who develop their abilities and equipment over the course of a campaign.

Gameplay revolves around modular decks and scenario-based play. Each player uses a hero deck that represents a character’s class abilities, starting gear, and growth options. The game uses separate decks for monsters, allies, spells, and equipment, along with a scenario deck that provides the objective and narrative progression. On a turn, players use cards from their hero decks to perform actions such as moving, fighting, or using a special ability. Combat and challenges are resolved through card play rather than dice, with success often dependent on coordinating actions and leveraging items and allies obtained during play. The game emphasizes cooperation, exploring locations, and managing resources across a sequence of encounters.

Campaign structure and components are a key feature. PACG is designed for ongoing play across multiple scenarios and adventures, with progress persisting through earned items, equipment, and character development. The core sets and expansions are modular, enabling players to mix and match content to create varied campaigns. Notable Adventure Path expansions include Rise of the Runelords, Skull & Shackles, Curse of the Crimson Throne, and Kingmaker, among others.

Reception to PACG has been characterized by praise for its solid integration of RPG-inspired storytelling with strategic card play, while critiques often point to its complexity and longer play sessions.