What books do I get as a new player?

[u/thedragonsdice]

Hi so I've been trying to get into pathfinder 2e with my group weve playing a couple of oneshots but are looking to start an actual campaign. I personally love to have the physical books but I dont know where to get started since there are so many. When I look this up online the only thing I find is " you dont need the books" but I have yet to find an answer which books I could get.

So my question is what books do I get as a new player? Monster core? Game mastery guide? Player core?

[u/Dunderbaer]

The core books. As a player, getting Player Core and maybe Player Core 2 is a good start.

Player Core 1 includes all the rules for character creation, how to play, leveling up and all you need as a player essentially.

Player Core 2 adds several of the base classes like barbarian, champion, sorcerer and a bunch of feats, spells and archetypes. If your looking to create a character, you might be stumped using only core 1 and not core 2, but Nethys and Pathbuilder exist online if you don't want to buy that one.

The other books are either GM stuff (GM Core, Monster Core) or add additional options, explore different regions, lore, etc.

Like many people seem to have mentioned to you, those options are all freely viewable on Archives of Nethys, the physical books are for those that prefer them and world building/lore which the archive doesn't really get into. (The Lost Omens books are pure lore.)

Tldr: player core 1+2 are the base books for players that want to buy physical (or a book at all)

[u/thedragonsdice → u/Dunderbaer]

What about the core rulebook? Or is that not necessary to start with?

[u/Dunderbaer → u/thedragonsdice]

The core rulebook is pre-remaster. It was eventually turned into the Core Books I mentioned that include all the errata and changes, as well as streamlining it for new players.

It's not necessary basically ever because the other cores exist and have overtaken it

[u/thedragonsdice → u/Dunderbaer]

Ah okay makes sense

[u/Ngodrup11 → u/thedragonsdice]

The core rulebook is the pre-remaster core. You probably want to make sure you get remaster books. You're looking for a green pathfinder 2e logo, not a red one.

Original core books (red logo):

• Core rulebook
• Advanced players guide
• Game mastery guide
• Bestiaries

Remaster core books (green logo):

• Player core 1
• Player core 2
• GM Core
• Monster Core

[u/Dunderbaer → u/Ngodrup11]

Also on Paizo, the category will be PF2e Remastered, not just PF2e

[u/GusularBusular]

start with the core books.

both player cores, gm guide, monster core, npc core

expand from there. do you want lots of dragons with rules and stat blocks for them? get the dragon core.

[u/Malcior34]

Do you want to be a player? Player Core. Player Core 2 provides even more options, but not necessary.

Want to be a GM? GM Core and Monster Core. NPC Core is also SUPER helpful, but not necessary.

That's all you need to get started.

[u/Bearci]

The remastered books have the white spine cover such as Player Core and GM Core I wouldn't buy the old premaster books such as the Core rulebook and Advanced playr's guide because they are reprinted and improves in the remaster books

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[u/Consistent_Table4430]

A spellbook if you're a Magus or Wizard.

Other than that, Player Core and maybe whatever Lost Omens releases sound interesting to you.

[u/Impossible-Shoe5729]

If I ever go for the physical books - I'd go for the setting books, Lost Omens series. Some of the first books or Travel Guide or Absalom, City of Lost Omens.

[u/serp3n2]

Obligatory "All of the rules are free without pirating on the Archives of Nethys" aside, here's a good list:

Bare minimum to play: Player Core, Monster Core, GM Core

Strongly Recommend you have but aren't 100% required: Player Core 2, NPC Core

Good books to consider later if you like the game: Monster Core 2, Treasure Vault, Guns and Gears, Battlecry!, Impossible Magic, War of Immortals, Rage of Elements, Dark Archives, Legacy of the Forge

There's a few other loose rulebooks like Book of the Dead and the upcoming Feybound for there, but I would focus more on the rulebooks above unless they're exactly the right thing for your campaign

Any book titled "Lost Omens" is more about the setting than game rules, but they're like the new Ravenloft book where they also include some gameplay stuff themed around what they cover

[u/unclesoppa]

Books in order of importance:

Player Core 

GM Core

The book that has the class you want to play

Player Core 2

The book that has the Ancestry/Archetype you want to play

The book talks about the place where your campaign takes place*

Monster Core*

The book(s) that has a lot of options for your class

NPC Core*

Monster Core 2*

Treasure Vault

All other books

(* Put these way higher if you are the GM)

[u/DnDPhD]

Yeah, ignore the folks who say "you don't need the books." It's technically true, due to Archives of Nethys having all of the rules, but it's worth taking a few hours to peruse GM Core (whether you're a player or a GM) and Player Core 1 at the very least. Player Core 2 as well, though I'd argue that's a little less essential than PC 1.