I have heard quite a bit about Pathfinder, but I am not sure what it is. It is a generic gaming system like GURPS or specific to one type of game system like AD&D?
Ok, you remember how 3rd edition D&D became 3.5, virtually identical rulebooks except for some fixes here and there, kinda like a game patch? Well, Pathfinder is effectively 3.75 if we go progressively along that route. It's an update to all the problems 3rd edition and 3.5 had, and is by far the best of the rulebooks IMO. Like 3.5, there are tons of supplements and stuff like that which unfortunately cost money, but the core rulebook of Pathfinder is 100% free on PDF.
It can be found for free and legal, here. It fixes some flaws of 3.5, and it introduces some new bad things, but overall, they put in a valiant effort. Espcially the updated classes are worth it.
Pathdfinder is D&D in my opinion. If people ask me about 4th edition I just insist it never happened. SHUDDER at warcraft-y combats
