Plots and Perils of the Pathfinder Society

I like this change for this season, as a coordinator it is always difficult to schedule multi-part scenarios where everyone who play one part gets to play the next.

Now let's all guess the 2 returning Villains!!!

I love multipart scenarios. Especially the look on players' faces when they see the BBEG they killed in scenario 1 is back in scenario 4.

Re: <spoiler>.

Nice blog.

Sounds great Mark. Looking forward to running and playing all of these. Guess I should brush up on the lore a bit too.

I will say I do like multipart scenarios but I think keeping them to 2 parts would really help out. This way both parts could be released at once allowing players the ability to play through them without a big gap in the middle where they may level out of the tier or forget what occurred. Also allows a dedicated group to sit down and go through both in 1 day.

Really? You are going there?....;)

I think it would be better to go the route of finding out that a couple of those NPCs that we all loved to hate that always caused us problems were actually Bad guys plotting together to destroy Absalom from Within, though they have not been linked together in the past now will be the time to bring out their devious plans!

Really? You are going there?....;)

I think it would be better to go the route of finding out that a couple of those NPCs that we all loved to hate that always caused us problems were actually Bad guys plotting together to destroy Absalom from Within, though they have not been linked together in the past now will be the time to bring out their devious plans!

** spoiler omitted **

More likely it will be the nefarious duo of

One of my guesses is

based on some clues from late in Season 3.

This move should help small convention and game day organizers. I still think there there should be one 2-part series released that are required* to be played back to back and released in the same month. Essentially a double-length scenario that can be split into multiple sessions if needed.

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

How many high tier adventures will you need to have completed to be best prepared for the final high tier adventure of this season? I ask because I have a level 10 character (with already one scenario under his belt at level 10) and before we schedule any high tier scenarios from earlier seasons I wanted to check whether we should instead schedule all of the high tier scenarios from this season if we want to have the best possible outcome from playing the final high tier scenario of this season... (I'd hate to get all of the boons but then be too high of a level to actually use them - i.e. to level up to 12 too quickly...

(I guess alternatively I could go onto the slow progression path but would like to know if that is necessary...)

All I can say is WOW! I am excited to see how this plays out!

The real question we should worry about is...

All I can say is WOW! I am excited to see how this plays out!

Same here!

Supa-psyched about this, Makes me want to read the intro and conclusion of all the scenarios to get the story. :P

I thought the Highest PFS Tier was...Tier 12? and yet we're no closer to getting a second 'retirement' arc.

I thought the Highest PFS Tier was...Tier 12? and yet we're no closer to getting a second 'retirement' arc.

When we have more tables reported, we will look at a second retirement arc. However, when reported numbers show that one or two parts of the Eyes of Ten have been reported as played less than 30 times, it just isn't going to happen at this time.

When we have more tables reported, we will look at a second retirement arc. However, when reported numbers show that one or two parts of the Eyes of Ten have been reported as played less than 30 times, it just isn't going to happen at this time.

wow, that is the first time I have seen numbers thrown around with that...

That is extremely low and surprising.

Maybe if someone besides Kyle ran it, more people would finish the arc? ;)

Mike, if we can play scantioned modules above
12th level why do we need to play in eys of the Ten retierment arc?

Would you and James consider put out one 64 page Module for PFS per year that is 12th level+. The 12th + characters could be agents of on of the members of the Decemviate. I'm sure they have things they need to have done in galorian the can't trust to run of the mill Pathfinders.

Michael Brock wrote:

When we have more tables reported, we will look at a second retirement arc. However, when reported numbers show that one or two parts of the Eyes of Ten have been reported as played less than 30 times, it just isn't going to happen at this time.

wow, that is the first time I have seen numbers thrown around with that...

That is extremely low and surprising.

Its actually rather hard to schedule this when you only have a few level 12s in your area. Need to get more players to this point then some thought can be put into another retirement arc.

I would like to see a new intro arc, or maybe even an intro module, that takes a players right to level 2 before another retirement arc.

Mike, if we can play scantioned modules above

12th level why do we need to play in eys of the Ten retierment arc?

I assume Mike also has stats on how many tables of 'the Ruby Phoenix Tournament' and 'Academy of Secrets' have been run too, so has a good idea of how many PFS PCs there are above 12th level.

Would you and James consider put out one 64 page Module for PFS per year that is 12th level+. The 12th + characters could be agents of on of the members of the Decemviate. I'm sure they have things they need to have done in galorian the can't trust to run of the mill Pathfinders.

I think the point is that with the numbers seen from the reporting, it doesn't look like the demand for such a thing is there.

I started playing PFS towards the end of last season. I'm excited to now be able to play (er...GM, most likely) through a whole season as it happens. Season 4 looks like its shaping up to be lots of fun. Wish Ekkie could make another appearance. :-)

Mike, if we can play scantioned modules above

12th level why do we need to play in eys of the Ten retierment arc?

You don't need to. But when a scenario has been around for 2-3 years, and at least a year before any of those high level modules were opened, and still have in the 20s or 30s reported, it is hard to justify the time and effort to produce a high level scenario when it will only get the play of 10-15 tables in one full calendar year.

We are about to add 2 more to that number in GA. We are trying our best :(

We are about to add 2 more to that number in GA. We are trying our best :(

Tell Kyle and Nani to stop killing everyone!

I know who the two bad guys coming back are!

And, FWIW, I really like that there is an overarching story this season without smaller arcs. This should be really easy and fun to run.

As one of those people that have played the retirement arc recently, it is well worth making an effort to get people to the point where you can run it.

How does one tell which of the Year 4 modules are the Low Level and which are the High Level arc? I cannot see it in the descriptions.

Many thanks

J

Fleanetha, that's a great question.

The descriptions of each scenario tell you what tier it's intended for. For example, the description for "4-14: My Enemy's Enemy" begins "A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 3–7". So that would be low-level.

Many thanks Chris for the prompt response. Not quite there yet though - I'll explain a bit more. My understanding from this blog post is that Year 4 mods from #4-07 onwards are in 3 groups:

1. a High Level Lissala arc

2. a Low Level Aspis Consortium arc

3. Other mods not associated with either arc

Allocating the mods to these three groups is baffling me currently, for instance, not all Tier 7-11 mods seem to be Lissala associated (#4-12). Not all 1-5 / 3-7 seem to be Aspis connected (#4-09, #4-11, #4-14, #4-15). I cannot find a categoric list of which mod falls into which group.

Hope that explains my conundrum more clearly.

J

Check the symbol in the upper-left corner of the front cover. Red "Gylph of the Open Road" is the low-level arc; Sihedron rune is the Lissala high-level arc; no symbol is no arc.

Thank you Scott, but that cannot be right I'm afraid; though it begs the very interesting question of what those symbols mean and why they are placed on the mods they are. Those symbols all appear on mods earlier than the start of the 2 arcs. It looks like a design change was effected for #4-05 onwards and those symbols were dropped along with a red stripe down the left hand side.

Still baffled then.

I did look more closely at the mod covers though based on Scott's idea and on #4-08, #4-10 and #4-12 (all tier 7-11) there is a banner over the title labelled 'Year of the Risen Rune' - is that to indicate High Tier arc, though the summary of 4-12 does not mention Lissala at all?

J

I did look more closely at the mod covers though based on Scott's idea and on #4-08, #4-10 and #4-12 (all tier 7-11) there is a banner over the title labelled 'Year of the Risen Rune' - is that to indicate High Tier arc, though the summary of 4-12 does not mention Lissala at all?

The seven blade "sihedron" rune next to the Year of the Risen Rune is Lissala's symbol. Those three are all Lissala scenarios.

EDIT: and I am pretty sure the Risen Rune arc is larger than just Lissala. Wrath's Shadow is related.

Many thanks Chris for the prompt response. Not quite there yet though - I'll explain a bit more. My understanding from this blog post is that Year 4 mods from #4-07 onwards are in 3 groups:

1. a High Level Lissala arc

2. a Low Level Aspis Consortium arc

3. Other mods not associated with either arc

The scenarios that fall into each category are:

1. Race for the Runecarved Key*, 4–02*, 4–08, 4–10, 4–12, 4–20, 4–26

2. 4–03*, 4–06*, 4–07, 4–14, 4–17*, 4–23

3. All the rest.

* indicates scenarios that can be used in the given arc but aren't directly tied to the ongoing metaplot.

Additionally, folks will find that scenarios 4–09, 4–11, 4–13, and 4–EX are related to one another, as are 4–22, 4-24, and 4–25 (which are the mid/low-level season end series leading right into Season 5.)

Now that all scenarios for the rest of the season have been announced and have product pages, it should be possible to plan when to run these to maximize continuity for your player base.

Now that all scenarios for the rest of the season have been announced and have product pages, it should be possible to plan when to run these to maximize continuity for your player base.

Assuming release dates don't change. Can we count on them remaining as-is for the rest of the year (the final Wednesday of any given month)?

As far as I know, but Jessica is a better person to ask. I'll point her this way.

(The only exception to that statement is that I am fairly sure we'll be holding the June scenarios to release at PaizoCon instead of a week earlier. But the July and June scenarios should all be available at the same time that first weekend in July.)

As far as I know, but Jessica is a better person to ask. I'll point her this way.

(The only exception to that statement is that I am fairly sure we'll be holding the June scenarios to release at PaizoCon instead of a week earlier. But the July and June scenarios should all be available at the same time that first weekend in July.)

So by your statement here, the July AND June scenarios will be available by the time PaizoCon opens it's doors?

Assuming everything is handled the way it was last year, yes, we will put the scenarios up for sale on paizo.com at the same time as attendees at PaizoCon can first play them. There may be some delay in that in terms of time of day, but that's a question for the web store team (Liz).

Thanks Mark for the clarification - very useful

J

Assuming everything is handled the way it was last year, yes, we will put the scenarios up for sale on paizo.com at the same time as attendees at PaizoCon can first play them. There may be some delay in that in terms of time of day, but that's a question for the web store team (Liz).

WOOT! Awesome to hear! You guys ROCK! Especially since I will be there at PaizoCon to play them! :D

Mark Moreland wrote:

Now that all scenarios for the rest of the season have been announced and have product pages, it should be possible to plan when to run these to maximize continuity for your player base.

Assuming release dates don't change. Can we count on them remaining as-is for the rest of the year (the final Wednesday of any given month)?

Generally speaking, yes. For the foreseeable future, the release dates will be the final Wednesday of the month.

The ones for this month are likely to be a few days late -- we've had several large, high-priority projects hit simultaneously that are using 100% (actually, more like 125%) of our edit capacity, so everything else is waiting for the editors to become available again.

Assuming everything is handled the way it was last year, yes, we will put the scenarios up for sale on paizo.com at the same time as attendees at PaizoCon can first play them. There may be some delay in that in terms of time of day, but that's a question for the web store team (Liz).

Ohai! Just give us the time and day, and it will be done. :D

Drogon wrote:

Mark Moreland wrote:

Now that all scenarios for the rest of the season have been announced and have product pages, it should be possible to plan when to run these to maximize continuity for your player base.

Assuming release dates don't change. Can we count on them remaining as-is for the rest of the year (the final Wednesday of any given month)?

Generally speaking, yes. For the foreseeable future, the release dates will be the final Wednesday of the month.

The ones for this month are likely to be a few days late -- we've had several large, high-priority projects hit simultaneously that are using 100% (actually, more like 125%) of our edit capacity, so everything else is waiting for the editors to become available again.

No offense, guys, but this is what I'm talking about. I've been nailed twice in the last six months with late releases due to higher priority stuff taking up your time. Once I was given a single day to prep a scenario that should have been released two weeks prior (Golemworks). The other was when we scheduled a scenario for a convention in February based on a date listed by you guys in October (Day of the Demon - apparently the January release date listed was for 2014, which seems odd). We put it on the schedule for Genghis Con based on that January date, but then got the rug yanked out from under us because the scenario won't release for another 10 days after the convention. Sadly, we have no ability to change our event listing (the book was published in November), so we simply have to disappoint a legion of PFS players come Feb 14-17.

This month, I'm assuming, is due to the Kickstarter being funded and you all having to shoulder that work. C'est la'vie.

I will continue to be careful with my scheduling. Thanks for the warning.