Open Call: Pathfinder Society Scenarios 19 & 20

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Rules for submitting Pathfinder Society scenario outlines are as follows:

1. Based on a summary (or summaries) posted here on the Paizo daily blog as well as on the Pathfinder Society Write For Us page, write a 750-word outline that includes the following (read published scenarios for samples of how these are done, keeping your word count in mind):

a. An introduction

b. A summary of the complete story

c. Five unique or dynamic encounters tied to the overall plot

d. A conclusion

e. Five short suggestions for possible faction missions

2. By the due date, email your outline to josh@paizo.com with the subject line [SCENARIO NAME] [YOUR LAST NAME]. Your summary must be in a MS Word document, Notepad, or Rich Text format—these are files ending in .doc, .txt, or .rtf. Your file must be titled [SCENARIO NAME]_[LAST NAME], i.e., PerilsofthePiratePact_Dayon. Failure to submit your entry in one of the requested formats (i.e., just pasting it into your email) and failure to properly name your file may disqualify your entry.

3. Include your full legal name, email address, physical mailing address, and a contact phone number at the top of your submission—this text does not count toward your word count. Failure to include this information will disqualify your entry and you won't receive feedback at the end of the process.

4. Once all submissions are in, the Pathfinder Society coordinator will take two weeks to review submissions and select an author for each open scenario. You will receive an email confirming receipt—please allow 72 hours for a response before resending your submission. The coordinator will attempt to respond to all submitters with feedback, but this may not always be possible.

5. If you are selected to write a scenario, you will be emailed instructions that include your word count, due date, and contract.

The current open call is for Pathfinder Society scenarios #19 and #20—the April releases. The full schedule for this submission period is as follows:

• 11/13—Open call begins with summaries posted here on the Paizo daily blog and on the Pathfinder Society Write For Us page

• 11/21—Submissions due by 11:59 P.M. Pacific Time

• 12/12—Submissions review completed—selected authors notified

• 12/15—Decision announced on messageboards and on the Pathfinder Society home page

Summaries

**SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ THE SUMMARIES BELOW IF YOU WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS FOR UPCOMING PATHFINDER SOCIETY SCENARIOS**

Pathfinder Society Scenario #19: Skeleton Moon
This scenario must contain the following:

1. Takes place on the Isle of Kortos outside the walls of Absalom in a ruined siege castle.

2. Since all of the siege castles around the City at the Center of the World are pretty well picked over, your outline should contain a good reason why this one or part of this one isn't.

3. The "boss" monster for this scenario must be an assassin vine—feel free to play around with the stats—templates, advanced, etc, but no half-dragon vines.

4. No undead. No cults. Something creepy is going on there.

5. This is a three-tiered scenario intended for 1st to 7th level characters (Tier 1–7; Tiers 1–2, 3–4, and 6–7).

6. Keep in mind that you only get 1/2 of a page of maps—don't suggest a scenario that exceeds this restriction.

Pathfinder Society Scenario #20: Demon Haunts the Devil's Hall
This scenario must contain the following:

1. Takes place in the summer estate of a low-ranking member of House Thrune of Cheliax.

2. The estate is infested with nabasu (from the Tome of Horrors) (but why?).

3. No undead. No cults. Expound on why the nabasu are in this devil-worshippers summer estate.

4. This is a two-tiered scenario intended for 7th to 11th level characters (Tier 7–11; Tiers 7–8 and 10–11).

5. Keep in mind that you only get 1/2 of a page of maps—don't suggest a scenario that exceeds this restriction.

Basic Outline:

Please keep the following basic scenario outline in mind when writing your 750-word summary:

Intro (1,000)
Encounter #1 (750)
Encounter #2 (750)
Encounter #3 (750)
Encounter #4 (750)
Encounter #5 (750)
Conclusion (500)
Faction Missions + Summary (1,900)
Extra words (345)

TOTAL WORD COUNT: 7,000

PLEASE NOTE: Pathfinder Society Scenarios are written with a 4-hour time limit in mind. Your outline should reflect this limitation.

Good luck and may the wisdom of Irori guide your keyboard.

Joshua J. Frost
Events Manager