Infinity Paradiso Planet Book: Is It Worth It for New Players?

Quick answer

For most new players, the Infinity Paradiso planet book is not the first purchase. Buy the core rules first, then add Paradiso when you want a ready-made campaign planet with factions, locations, and plot hooks. If you already own the corebook and your group wants a defined setting to play in, Paradiso is a strong second buy.

The Infinity Paradiso planet book answers a specific need: a detailed planet to set your games on. It does not replace the core rules, and it is not a starter set. That single fact decides most buying questions.

This guide gives you concrete rules for when Paradiso earns its place in a new player's order, when it should wait, and what to buy instead if your group is still learning the system.

What the Paradiso planet book actually is

A planet book is a setting supplement. It expands the game's universe with a defined world: its politics, factions, locations, and the kinds of stories that happen there. In Infinity, that means Paradiso gives you a place to set missions rather than a set of rules for resolving them.

That distinction matters for new players. If you do not yet know how the core rules work, a planet book gives you inspiration without a way to play. If you already run games and want to stop building a setting from scratch, it saves you hours of prep.

Because the Paradiso book is not in the supplied catalog records for this store, check the product page for its exact page count, edition, and whether it requires the corebook. Do not assume contents beyond what the listing states.

• Planet books expand the setting; they do not teach the core rules.
• Check the product listing for edition and corebook requirements before buying.

Paradiso vs the corebook: which comes first

The corebook is the engine. It contains character creation, conflict resolution, and the baseline rules everyone at the table needs. Paradiso is the destination. It tells you where to point that engine and what the stakes are.

If your budget only covers one book, buy the corebook. A planet book without core rules leaves you unable to run a session. A corebook without a planet book still lets you play, because you can set games in the default universe or invent your own corner of it.

The exception is a group that already has an experienced GM with the core rules. In that case a new player can contribute a planet book to the shared table and get immediate value from it.

• One-book budget: corebook first, planet book second.
• Shared table with an experienced GM: a planet book is a useful contribution.

What new players should buy before Paradiso

Before a setting book, prioritize the core rules and a starting scenario. A one-shot or intro adventure teaches the system faster than reading a setting chapter, because you learn by making decisions rather than memorizing lore.

If your group plays online, a virtual tabletop version of the core rules can be a better early buy than a physical setting book. It puts the rules where your players already are and reduces the amount of book-passing at the table.

Dice, tokens, or a reference deck come after that. They speed up play but do not replace rules or setting content.

• Core rules, then a starter scenario, then a setting book.
• Online groups should consider a VTT version of the core rules early.

When Paradiso is the right second purchase

Paradiso fits when your group has played a few sessions and keeps asking what the wider world looks like. If your GM is spending hours inventing factions and locations, a planet book converts that prep time into table time.

It also fits players who enjoy reading setting material for its own sake. If you like faction politics, world details, and campaign seeds, a planet book delivers that even before your next session.

The honest tradeoff: a planet book narrows your focus. You get depth in one place instead of breadth across many. If your group prefers to hop between genres and locations, that depth may sit on the shelf.

• Buy it when prep time is your bottleneck, not when rules confusion is.
• Buy it if you enjoy reading setting material between sessions.

Budget alternatives that still add table value

If Paradiso is out of reach or out of priority, cheaper supplements can still improve your first year of play. Reference decks and accessory dice sets are low-cost ways to speed up the table without buying another rulebook.

For example, Wilderfeast - The Trail - Areas Reference Deck contains 40 tarot-sized Area cards designed to be used as a reference while you play. It is a Wilderfeast accessory, not an Infinity product, but it shows the pattern: a small accessory can remove rulebook-flipping at the table.

Similarly, One More Quest - Weird Materials Dice Set adds 3 custom d6 dice in metal, wood, and foam with rules for special conditions, weapons, and monsters. Again, it is for a different game, but the principle applies when you are deciding where your next few dollars go.

• Accessories speed up play; they do not replace core rules.
• Match any accessory to the game you actually run.

How to judge the Paradiso listing before you buy

Read the product page for three things: whether the corebook is required, what edition it matches, and what the book covers. If the listing does not state a page count or edition, treat that as unknown rather than assuming.

Check whether the store offers a bundle or PDF option. Some publishers include a complimentary PDF with a physical book, which changes the value calculation for groups that play both in person and online.

Finally, confirm the format. A setting book that assumes miniatures or a specific play style may not match your table. Buy for the game you actually play, not the one you imagine playing.

• Unknown specifications are a reason to ask, not to assume.
• Bundles and PDF-inclusive offers can change which purchase is the better value.

Decision rules for buying Paradiso

• You do not own the core rules yet: Buy the corebook first. A planet book expands a game you cannot yet run. Skip Paradiso for now.
• You own the core rules and your GM keeps inventing the setting: Paradiso converts prep time into play time by giving you factions, locations, and hooks in one place. Buy Paradiso next.
• Your group plays online: Check whether a VTT or PDF option for the core rules is available before adding a physical setting book. Prioritize the format your table actually uses.
• You want breadth across many settings: A planet book trades breadth for depth. If you hop between worlds, that depth may go unused. Consider a starter scenario instead.
• The listing does not state edition or corebook requirements: Ask the store or check the publisher page before ordering. Do not assume compatibility. Confirm before you buy.

Catalog facts that inform this decision

• Fallout 2d20 Core Rulebook - Fantasy Grounds (VTT): This is the Fantasy Grounds VTT module. Upon purchase you will be emailed a product key to activate on Fantasy Grounds. If your group plays online, a VTT core rulebook puts the rules where your players already are, which can be a better early buy than a physical setting book.
• Wilderfeast - The Trail - Areas Reference Deck: This deck contains 40 tarot-sized Area cards, designed to be used as a reference while you play. It shows how a low-cost accessory can reduce rulebook-flipping at the table, which is often a better first-year purchase than a second setting book.
• One More Quest - Weird Materials Dice Set: A set of 3 additional dice for One More Quest made with alternative materials (wood, metal, foam) and rules for the special conditions, in-game weapons, and monsters that allow you to use them. Specialty dice add flavor and table speed, but they are game-specific. Match any accessory to the game you actually run before spending on it.

Who should buy it

Best for

• Groups that already own the core rules and want a defined planet to play on
• GMs who spend hours inventing factions and locations and want that work done for them
• Players who enjoy reading setting material between sessions

Not for

• New players who have not yet bought the core rules
• Groups that prefer to jump between many settings rather than deepen one
• Anyone who needs a starter scenario to learn the system

Buy the core rules first, then add the Infinity Paradiso planet book when your group wants a ready-made world to play in. If you are still learning the system, put that money into a starter scenario or a VTT core rulebook instead. Paradiso rewards tables that already know how to play and want somewhere specific to go.