The Future of Pathfinder Society Organized Play, Part VII: Introducing the Year of the Ruby Phoenix

Monday, May 2, 2011

In August 2010, Pathfinder Society Organized Play entered the Year of the Shadow Lodge, and the ongoing conflict with this separatist splinter group within the Pathfinder Society has been a consistent plot element in many of the season's scenarios. We've seen prominent members of the Society and at least one faction betray the Decemvirate, and the Shadow Lodge conflict only gets more twisted as we wrap up to the dramatic conclusion at PaizoCon.

In August, with the launch of Season 3, Pathfinders the world over will embark on the most exciting Pathfinder Society adventure yet, a metaplot arc we've named the Year of the Ruby Phoenix.

Season 3: Coming Soon!

In the Year of the Ruby Phoenix, the Pathfinder Society (as well as various other factions both allied with and opposed to the Society) set their sights on the Ruby Phoenix Tournament, a world-renowned fighting competition that occurs only once a decade in distant Tian Xia, and more specifically on the incredible collection of prizes available to the tournament's victor. In order to cement the Society's victory, Pathfinder agents will be sent throughout the Inner Sea and beyond to collect allies, uncover obscure lore, and retrieve magical weapons to augment their representatives in the tournament.

The search for the perfect "ringer" will culminate in the tournament itself, which will be released as an as-yet-unannounced Pathfinder Module: The Ruby Phoenix Tournament, which will continue the pattern of being sanctioned for Pathfinder Society play. After the PCs' inevitable victory, the treasure chosen by the Decemvirate as the prize awarded to them by their representatives' win will propel the adventure into unexplored territory for the remainder of the season!

The Year of the Ruby Phoenix kicks off at Gen Con with four all-new scenarios! RPG Superstar 2010 finalist Jim Groves brings us The Frostfur Captives for levels 1–5. RPG Superstar contestants Dennis Baker and Benjamin Bruck have authored the Tier 3–7 scenario Sewer Dragons of Absalom and the Tier 7–11 scenario The Kortos Envoy, respectively. And the master of the dungeon crawl, Mike Shel, rounds out the quartet with his Tier 5–9 romp, The Ghenett Manor Gauntlet.

As if that weren't enough, Pathfinders attending Gen Con (and special conventions thereafter) will have the chance to qualify the Pathfinder Society for the Ruby Phoenix Tournament in the underground pit fights of Pathfinder Society Special: Blood Under Absalom by veteran special designer Tim Hitchcock.

As if being the first to play these incredible adventures weren't enough, for the first time ever, we'll have opportunities for Pathfinder Society players and GMs to play a role in establishing Pathfinder Society canon, win special unique prizes from the Paizo store, and even a giant grand prize that we'll be announcing in the coming weeks. The call for volunteer GMs has gone out and registration for events through Gen Con are just around the corner! Don't miss your chance to be among the first to take part in the Year of the Ruby Phoenix.

Next week we'll take a look at the Osirion faction and what might be in store for those Pathfinders loyal to the Ruby Prince and the Sapphire Sage, Amenopheus!

Mark Moreland
Developer

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Gen Con Pathfinder Society Pathfinder Society Scenarios
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I can't wait for you guys to see this blog post on Monday!

5/5

Hyrum Savage wrote:
I can't wait for you guys to see this blog post on Monday!

I really hate you right now...


Kyle Baird wrote:
I really hate you right now...

Bwahahahahahahahahaha. :)

Can you tell it's the weekend?

The Exchange 4/5

I think I'm about to Rage. Which is weird because I'm not even a barbarian.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

I never knew you were such a cruel man Hyrum... just plain cruel...

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Wait, so other people can't see this blog? Man, Hyrum, that is mean!

The Exchange 4/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
Wait, so other people can't see this blog? Man, Hyrum, that is mean!

Oh you guys...

Dark Archive 1/5

The is a place in Hell for this act.

Whoa ! I keep Dimension Dooring around after I post on this thread

Silver Crusade 5/5

you know i never did like chilled monkey brains, but in your case Hyrum i might just make an exception

Liberty's Edge 2/5

The new character I created is an Osironologist---I think this announcement will please him.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

What announcement? I don't see an announcement.

Liberty's Edge 2/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
What announcement? I don't see an announcement.

Did I say announcement?

I meant blog post. . .

blog post that doesn't exist. . .

yet . . .

or ever . . .

I mean, the good Baron is correct after all, this thread has a dimension door contained within it.

3/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
What announcement? I don't see an announcement.

What? Are you blind? It clearly states that Kyle Baird has been placed in charge of PFSOP and that Doug-Doug has been reduced to a 1-star GM for too many TPK. It's plain as day.

-Swiftbrook
Perception -15 today

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Wow, does that say what I think it says? Man you guys are mean keeping this one hidden.

Dark Archive 1/5

Soon this wretched waiting will end.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Today's blog is being pushed back due to some technical issues. Thanks for your patience everyone. I promise it'll be worth the wait when we can finally get it up.

Dark Archive 4/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
Today's blog is being pushed back due to some technical issues. Thanks for your patience everyone. I promise it'll be worth the wait when we can finally get it up.

Did gen con volunteer emails overload your email server? that is the only acceptable explanation, unless you were attacked by flumphs

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Nah, I was only kidding. Blog should be live now. ;-)

5/5

The Blog wrote:
Pathfinder Module: The Ruby Phoenix Tournament

What level module?

edit: And Hyrum, despite the excellent blog post, I still hate you for keeping this from us for 3 days.

Dark Archive 4/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
Nah, I was only kidding. Blog should be live now. ;-)

Tricksy little hobbitses

Sczarni 4/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
The call for volunteer GMs has gone out and registration for events through Gen Con are just around the corner!

event reg might have been right around the corner when you wrote the blog, but with over 75% of the event tickets already sold before the blog goes up.... I think this sentence was a bit out of date :)


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Wow! This sounds ultra-cool!

5/5

Cpt_kirstov wrote:
Mark Moreland wrote:
The call for volunteer GMs has gone out and registration for events through Gen Con are just around the corner!
event reg might have been right around the corner when you wrote the blog, but with over 75% of the event tickets already sold before the blog goes up.... I think this sentence was a bit out of date :)

Get your facts straight! Only 73% of tickets have been sold*

*as of 12:16 p.m. EDT

Liberty's Edge 5/5 **

As cool as this stuff sounds it doesn't seem very 'Pathfindery'.

It'll be interesting to see how they spin it.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Gallard Stormeye wrote:
As cool as this stuff sounds it doesn't seem very 'Pathfindery'.

That was my first thought.

Dark Archive 4/5

I don't know about that. I mean, this tournament would provide an 'in' to that part of the world, which is pathfinder-less and a full of new and wondrous items and treasure.

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Gallard Stormeye wrote:
As cool as this stuff sounds it doesn't seem very 'Pathfindery'.

I concur. The idea of searching for ancient treasures and then using them strikes me as consonant with the Shadow Lodge position.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

You folks are in for a HUGE surprise when you find out what prize the Decemvirate has their eyes on. There's a whole world of possibilities that I'd wager aren't on anyone's radar.

2/5 *

Mark Moreland wrote:
You folks are in for a HUGE surprise when you find out what prize the Decemvirate has their eyes on. There's a whole world of possibilities that I'd wager aren't on anyone's radar.

The cobra weather dominator?

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

nope. better.

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
You folks are in for a HUGE surprise when you find out what prize the Decemvirate has their eyes on. There's a whole world of possibilities that I'd wager aren't on anyone's radar.

Oh that was just mean Mark.

Dark Archive 1/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
nope. better.

The Death Star {Mark III}, made of black cloaking obsidian (basically just a moon sized Sphere of Annihilation) ?

I want one more!

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Better.

Grand Lodge 3/5 5/55/55/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

A live dragon! Two live dragons! One live but two-headed dragon!


Unrestricted access to the Plane of Prestige Points? 8-P

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Mark Moreland wrote:
Better.

Better then me as their personnel GM? ;)

5/5

Tier 3-7 -- AWESOME. I've been meaning to suggest this for a while - glad someone else thought of it.

The rest... honestly, only the most up to date, mad-dash to the bank PFS GMs seem to be fully up to date on the current season plot. To me (despite having played/run perhaps 7-8 of the current season), it's half gibberish, and half spoilers.

But yay for more interactive *effect* of the missions.

Dark Archive

Whoa.

Dark Archive 1/5

Quandary wrote:
Unrestricted access to the Plane of Prestige Points? 8-P

I share your keen viewpoints in regards to this agenda sir, and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.

Grand Lodge 3/5

Jelloarm wrote:
A live dragon! Two live dragons! One live but two-headed dragon!

Dragons with lasers??

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Dangit, Neil! You weren't supposed to tell anyone!

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
K Neil Shackleton wrote:
Jelloarm wrote:
A live dragon! Two live dragons! One live but two-headed dragon!
Dragons with lasers??

How about a Dragnmoon with a Laser?

Grand Lodge 2/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
Dangit, Neil! You weren't supposed to tell anyone!

Unleash the Numerian Dragons!

Dark Archive

Mark Moreland wrote:
You folks are in for a HUGE surprise when you find out what prize the Decemvirate has their eyes on. There's a whole world of possibilities that I'd wager aren't on anyone's radar.

Wow, Mark. That's really mean. I'm so dense that I usually don't see overarching themes until they are looming over me.

Scarab Sages 1/5

K Neil Shackleton wrote:
Jelloarm wrote:
A live dragon! Two live dragons! One live but two-headed dragon!
Dragons with lasers??

I thought we already go that with the Jabberwock?

Wait, we get our own Jabberwocks to go 'a whiffling with!?!

Grand Lodge 3/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
Dangit, Neil! You weren't supposed to tell anyone!

oops

Ummm.... something that isn't dragons that don't have lasers?

That should throw em off.

Liberty's Edge Contributor

K Neil Shackleton wrote:
Jelloarm wrote:
A live dragon! Two live dragons! One live but two-headed dragon!
Dragons with lasers??

Do you REALLY want dragon's with lasers Neil?

....

Liberty's Edge 5/5

Tim Hitchcock wrote:
K Neil Shackleton wrote:
Jelloarm wrote:
A live dragon! Two live dragons! One live but two-headed dragon!
Dragons with lasers??

Do you REALLY want dragon's with lasers Neil?

....

... one million of them...

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Tim Hitchcock wrote:

Do you REALLY want dragon's with lasers Neil?

....

Only if they're attached to their heads.

Liberty's Edge Contributor

Ryan Bolduan wrote:
Tim Hitchcock wrote:

Do you REALLY want dragon's with lasers Neil?

....
Only if they're attached to their heads.

Be careful what you wish for... Be very careful...

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