I've GM'd D&D 5e and Pathfinder 1e. My last campaign was in D&D 5e, but I... hope folks here know why I'm reticent to continue patronizing Hasbro. Anyway!
I wanted to get some of the core-est of the PF2e rulebooks. But... I'm confused. Looking for the PF2e "core, prime, base, main, starting" rulebook (the nearest equivalent of the PF1e "Core Rulebook" or the D&D 5e "Player's Handbook"), I've got at least the following options:
- "Core Rulebook"
- "Player Core Remastered" (which has the same cover art as the next one)
- "Player Core Pocket Edition"
- "Player Core 2"
I think I don't want the "Core Rulebook". It sounds like it's just an older, more poorly-organized version of largely the same content that's in... one of the other options. It sounds like the "Player Core 2" in fact is not a newer edition of the "Player Core", but more of an "expansion" for whatever the core rules are (a bit like the PF1e "Advanced Player's Guide" maybe?) so I probably don't want that if I'm really just looking to get familiar with the core rules first.
So assuming the previous paragraph is mostly correct that leaves the "Player Core Remastered" and the "Player Core Pocket Edition". I... think the "Player Core Remastered" is hardback and... maybe only sold as part of a bundle like this one? The "Player Core Pocket Edition" appears to be only in paperback. Is the "Pocket Edition" not as "Remastered" as the "Remastered" version? (Does "Remastered" just mean it's a newer edition than the "Core Rulebook"?) Does the "Pocket Edition" have all the same content as "Remastered" or does "Pocket Edition" mean it's missing some of the content?
All of the above isn't even to mention digital vs dead-tree versions. But I'm specifically looking for physical copies for purposes of this post.
Remaster Core
Remaster Supplemental (optional. often contains new classes, backgrounds, spells, items)