A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 5th- through 8th-level characters.
The PCs are tasked with escorting a valuable item slated to be gifted to a powerful potential ally of the Pathfinder Society, but as they are being briefed on their mission, an unknown thief is pulling off a heist within Heidmarch manor, and the item the PCs were to escort has been stolen just as Venture-Captain Shiela Heidmarch goes to show them the item. The PCs much pick up the thief's trail in a race across Magnimar to recover the treasure they haven't even had the opportunity to see, much less guard.
Written by Hilary Moon Murphy
Scenario tags: None
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
There have been a lot of changes very rapidly to the setting this game takes place in and these changes have been underexplored in favor of simply presenting what the changes are.
Here instead we see what a society that does suddenly embrace that which was previously monstrous might look like.
This scenario is primarily an investigation and as a whodunnit it is very successful. The clues are evocative and interesting without resorting to the old subtlety hammer. Its a fine line to walk but they walked it here.
The combats and environmental challenges were fun and level appropriate. Tonewise this does feel a bit like an adventure for junior pathfinders but it all works out in the end.
The thing I compliment the most is the serious tone. So much of pfs lately is dripping in irony or humor and runs away from the gravity the setting could have if you let it.
Great investigation, interesting fights, Good all-round
Perspective: Ran this high tier for 6 players (20CP).
Mechanics
I thought the investigation part was well-written: It included a good amount and variation of skill challenges (not all of which need to be succeeded at). The players caught on rather quickly on what was going on, but they had to make sure that they were correct. The chase was fun, again with a good variation of skills: It felt like running through the Magnimar version of Lonely Planet, which was pretty cool.
Combats
The combats were surprisingly resilient and fun: The enemies packed quite a punch, and the positioning game felt different than many combat encounters I've experienced so far. Slight caveat: When I looked at the low-tier version of the first combat I though "ouch", though players should be able to have a solution for that at this tier.
Lore
Apart from what you get to see of Magnimar, the lore doesn't stand out (and it doesn't need to), yet there are a few nods towards old PF1 scenarios, which I liked. It does help to show a picture of Magnimar to put the scale on which the city is built into perspective: New players just don't know about it, and experienced players can use the reminder.
Ran it twice, one low tier and one high tier.
Investigation. a bit too obvious but then it is well structured and laid out in the scenario.
Chase: easily dealt with, efficient enough. I was concerned but it went ok.
combat: low tier was really easy. high tier was tougher, but not really that challenging.
if the GM does not prepare enough supporting material, might lead to losing player's attention, given the proportion of investigation and chase.
the reason for the adventure is somewhat dumb. Totally agreed with another comment that it feels like a low tier scenario.
Unimpressed
There are very limited high-level scenarios, so it's unfortunate that this scenario, meant for levels 5-8, feels like a level 1-4 scenario. It does not feel epic at all. I could literally change the stats in the combats to level 1-4 in 5 minutes, and it would feel like your average level 1-4 scenario. So that in itself is disappointing.
Gone are the days of Sheila Heidmarsh being competent and ruthless. Instead of locking artifacts inside vaults, she chooses to use unlocked desk drawers in rooms with regular windows located beside easy-to-climb nearby trees. I'm surprised it wasn't left beside her toothbrush in the washroom.
The investigation in this scenario starts very slow and contains several red herrings and time wasters. In addition, a lot of time was spent discussing an adventure that would never happen.
The entire premise of the scenario is illogical, the thief doesn’t even need a distraction, he is long gone, without a trace, before the distraction occurs. The culprits are very obvious but you are of course forced to go through due process to get enough "points".
Boss combat lacked creativity and belonged in a level 1-4 scenario.
This scenario can run long (5 hours) potentially. We didn't have time for the chase. Played at subtier 7-8.
Overall: A slow non-interesting investigation that should have been designed for levels 1-4. (5/10)
Thanks to my amazing developer, Josh Foster, this mystery adventure turned out so well. I GMed three author tables of it at SkalCon last weekend, and it was so much fun watching my players try to figure out what was going on.
Speaking of useful handouts, I wondered if there was a map of Magnimar available online for a scene in the adventure, and I found this map here. It dates back to the 2nd Pathfinder adventure ever, so it might be a little out of date, though.
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