Pathfinder Chronicles (3/?)

(This is part of a series of posts reviewing the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting.)

(continued from last post)

The chapter is mostly divided up into subsections, one per nation-state or region, of two pages each (four for the major ones). The chapter title of The Inner Sea somewhat misleading, as many of the nations described do not border the Sea: it could as well be titled Avistan and Garund, for the two continents that do border it (clearly heavily based, as has been mentioned, on Europe and Africa). Six pages are also reserved for a whirlwind tour of the other four continents of Golarion.

Many of the nation-states of Avistan — notably Varisia, the River Kingdoms, and Molthune — I am hard-pressed to describe as other than "generic fantasy backdrops," and most of the rest (especially Ustalav and the Realm of the Mammoth Lords) could be fairly accurately described as "specific fantasy backdrops." Taldor barely escapes this fate by virtue of a history that embeds it firmly in the world of Golarion, rather than potentially sliding about on top of it like a penguin on a wet marble floor. (If you moved Numeria to Garund or Casmaron or an Arcadian island, who would even notice?)

Each locale also comes with at least one feat, often having "X affinity" (where X is the locale name) as a prerequisite. (The nature of "affinity" has not yet been disclosed, but I assume at present that it's roughly similar to FR's requirements for "regional feats"). Some are bland; some are flavorful; some are just asking to be exploited (especially Druma's).

Errata: Strike the place name Thuvia; replace with MacGuffinland.