paizo.com Recent Reviews by Athos710paizo.com Recent Reviews by Athos7102024-03-28T20:15:01Z2024-03-28T20:15:01ZPathfinder Society Scenario #1-19: Iolite Squad Alpha: Fun story with good NPCs (4 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btq023dd?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-119-Iolite-Squad-Alpha2020-05-12T15:25:53Z<p><b>Pathfinder Society Scenario #1-19: Iolite Squad Alpha</b></p><p>I greatly enjoyed playing through this and interacting with the NPCs. A good change up of the standard scenario offering.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p><p><b>Pathfinder Society Scenario #1-19: Iolite Squad Alpha</b></p><p>I greatly enjoyed playing through this and interacting with the NPCs. A good change up of the standard scenario offering.</p>
<p>[Spoiler omitted]</p>Athos7102020-05-12T15:25:53ZStarfinder Society Scenario #1-09: Live Exploration Extreme!: 5 stars for the scenario, losing 1 for slipshod layout issues (4 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9x0x?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-109-Live-Exploration-Extreme2018-03-29T20:55:48Z<p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-09: Live Exploration Extreme!</b></p><p>I have played this and run it now.
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I absolutely loved it on my playthrough, although some of the "reality show drama" our PCs got up to did distract a little from the details being discovered.
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[Spoiler omitted]
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When I ran this as the GM, my players mostly seemed to enjoy the extra RP elements of the scenario. That being said, this scenario could be a good learning experience on how to improve layout for maps, npc stats, and adventure details.
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[Spoiler omitted]</p><p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-09: Live Exploration Extreme!</b></p><p>I have played this and run it now.
<br />
I absolutely loved it on my playthrough, although some of the "reality show drama" our PCs got up to did distract a little from the details being discovered.
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]
<br />
When I ran this as the GM, my players mostly seemed to enjoy the extra RP elements of the scenario. That being said, this scenario could be a good learning experience on how to improve layout for maps, npc stats, and adventure details.
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>Athos7102018-03-29T20:55:48ZStarfinder Society Scenario #1-04: Cries From the Drift: Lovely creepy adventure (5 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9wes?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-104-Cries-From-the-Drift2017-11-27T19:05:27Z<p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-04: Cries From the Drift</b></p><p>Played this and GM'd it in Tier 1-2.</p>
<p>Player:
<br />
I spent the entire time expecting one thing, only to have the scenario surprise me by going against my expectations. I loved the creepy vibe of the investigation and felt the combats were well designed.</p>
<p>GM:
<br />
Please, please, please include tactics for starship combat roles like this in every scenario. As the GM having to run all of the starship roles, this little bit of guidance is hugely helpful.
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[Spoiler omitted]</p><p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-04: Cries From the Drift</b></p><p>Played this and GM'd it in Tier 1-2.</p>
<p>Player:
<br />
I spent the entire time expecting one thing, only to have the scenario surprise me by going against my expectations. I loved the creepy vibe of the investigation and felt the combats were well designed.</p>
<p>GM:
<br />
Please, please, please include tactics for starship combat roles like this in every scenario. As the GM having to run all of the starship roles, this little bit of guidance is hugely helpful.
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>Athos7102017-11-27T19:05:27ZStarfinder Society Scenario #1-03: Yesteryear's Truth: Great premise brought down by a few complications (3 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9tt0?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-103-Yesteryears-Truth2017-11-14T20:06:55Z<p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-03: Yesteryear's Truth</b></p><p>This scenario had a perfect premise for the Wayfinders, first contact with a new species. Unfortunately, it is marred by a couple plot points and combat issues.
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Played and ran this one in the 1-2 tier.</p>
<p>Combat issues:
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>Plot points
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p><p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-03: Yesteryear's Truth</b></p><p>This scenario had a perfect premise for the Wayfinders, first contact with a new species. Unfortunately, it is marred by a couple plot points and combat issues.
<br />
Played and ran this one in the 1-2 tier.</p>
<p>Combat issues:
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>
<p>Plot points
<br />
[Spoiler omitted]</p>Athos7102017-11-14T20:06:55ZStarfinder Alien Archive: A truly treat addition to the Starfinder rules (4 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9ujg?Starfinder-Alien-Archive2017-10-25T16:56:36Z<p><b>Starfinder Alien Archive</b></p><p>If you buy the Alien Archive expecting it to be just like the Bestiary 1 was for Pathfinder, you're going to disappoint yourself.</p>
<p>The AA has monsters to fight, yes. But, also new races to play. New equipment is here for PCs and NPCs alike. The monster building rules are stream-lined and easy to grasp. I'm a huge fan of the way the Monster Summoning rules are future proofed to allow expansion in later releases without making the spells over-powered. I love the expanded monster entries and really enjoyed the artwork.</p>
<p>With AA, Paizo has been true to their word about wanting to give players the option to play as most of the aliens they would normally fight.</p>
<p>Do I want this book to be longer? Of course! But, I see this as a great first step in expanding the Starfinder universe and eagerly look forward to the Pact Worlds book.</p><p><b>Starfinder Alien Archive</b></p><p>If you buy the Alien Archive expecting it to be just like the Bestiary 1 was for Pathfinder, you're going to disappoint yourself.</p>
<p>The AA has monsters to fight, yes. But, also new races to play. New equipment is here for PCs and NPCs alike. The monster building rules are stream-lined and easy to grasp. I'm a huge fan of the way the Monster Summoning rules are future proofed to allow expansion in later releases without making the spells over-powered. I love the expanded monster entries and really enjoyed the artwork.</p>
<p>With AA, Paizo has been true to their word about wanting to give players the option to play as most of the aliens they would normally fight.</p>
<p>Do I want this book to be longer? Of course! But, I see this as a great first step in expanding the Starfinder universe and eagerly look forward to the Pact Worlds book.</p>Athos7102017-10-25T16:56:36ZStarfinder Society Scenario #1-01: The Commencement: Great scenario with minor issues (5 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9tsw?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-101-The-Commencement2017-10-16T10:56:29Z<p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-01: The Commencement</b></p><p>I've played this twice and GM'd it 3 times.</p>
<p>The bad:
<br />
The Acquisitives task WILL run long if you're not proactive as the GM.
<br />
The Wayfinders task is easy to end up being just a few skill checks and done in 5 minutes (especially if it's done last and the above ran long).</p>
<p>The not so good:
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Overall, this scenario tends to run long. Partly it's one of the tasks, and partly it's getting players accustomed to new rules. I would not recommend it for a 4 hour slot without an experienced GM.
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The Dataphiles mission leaves the PCs with a lot of agency on "how" to resolve it, without giving the players much info on how they might go about it. It can end up with the GM reading a list of options and the skill checks involved to the players. That's not bad, but it's not ideal.</p>
<p>The good:
<br />
Ziggy!
<br />
Fitch is not quite as awesome as Ziggy, but is a close second.
<br />
Each of the tasks has a unique mission and feel. It doesn't feel like "generic fetch quests #1-4".</p><p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-01: The Commencement</b></p><p>I've played this twice and GM'd it 3 times.</p>
<p>The bad:
<br />
The Acquisitives task WILL run long if you're not proactive as the GM.
<br />
The Wayfinders task is easy to end up being just a few skill checks and done in 5 minutes (especially if it's done last and the above ran long).</p>
<p>The not so good:
<br />
Overall, this scenario tends to run long. Partly it's one of the tasks, and partly it's getting players accustomed to new rules. I would not recommend it for a 4 hour slot without an experienced GM.
<br />
The Dataphiles mission leaves the PCs with a lot of agency on "how" to resolve it, without giving the players much info on how they might go about it. It can end up with the GM reading a list of options and the skill checks involved to the players. That's not bad, but it's not ideal.</p>
<p>The good:
<br />
Ziggy!
<br />
Fitch is not quite as awesome as Ziggy, but is a close second.
<br />
Each of the tasks has a unique mission and feel. It doesn't feel like "generic fetch quests #1-4".</p>Athos7102017-10-16T10:56:29ZStarfinder Society Scenario #1-02: Fugitive on the Red Planet: A rollicking Western in space (4 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9tsy?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-102-Fugitive-on-the-Red-Planet2017-10-16T10:40:55Z<p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-02: Fugitive on the Red Planet</b></p><p>There's a lot to love in this scenario. I've played it (6 players) and GM'd it (4 players) in Tier 1-2. </p>
<p>The premise is straightforward: go catch the thief. I greatly enjoyed the setting and the background of the NPC motivations, but as others have said it all felt a little under-utilized.</p>
<p>It was a little railroady and runs short, but it was enjoyable. The final combat was challenging when I was a player, but was over in 2 rounds as the GM. I dropped an unlucky Technomancer with the confrontation with the "fan club" in town. It was my first time as a SFS GM that a PC hit 0 hp.</p><p><b>Starfinder Society Scenario #1-02: Fugitive on the Red Planet</b></p><p>There's a lot to love in this scenario. I've played it (6 players) and GM'd it (4 players) in Tier 1-2. </p>
<p>The premise is straightforward: go catch the thief. I greatly enjoyed the setting and the background of the NPC motivations, but as others have said it all felt a little under-utilized.</p>
<p>It was a little railroady and runs short, but it was enjoyable. The final combat was challenging when I was a player, but was over in 2 rounds as the GM. I dropped an unlucky Technomancer with the confrontation with the "fan club" in town. It was my first time as a SFS GM that a PC hit 0 hp.</p>Athos7102017-10-16T10:40:55ZPathfinder Society Scenario #8-25: Unleashing the Untouchable (PFRPG) PDF: High level beat down (4 stars)Athos710https://paizo.com/products/btpy9tl9?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-825-Unleashing-the-Untouchable2017-08-24T03:24:38Z<p><b>Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-25: Unleashing the Untouchable (PFRPG) PDF</b></p><p>I got the chance to play this at GenCon on the lower tier, where the GM had run it 2-3 times previously. We were tested at keeping to time, partly due to high level play and partly due to most of us not playing those characters for the better part of a year or 2.
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I was slightly annoyed that several in game bonuses were based off of Season 8 scenario benefits. If your Seeker played a lot of Season 8, this will be icing on the cake that was this scenario. If you last played PFS scenarios during Season 6, less so.
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I found the combats to be challenging, without being brutal. My character had 2 out of her 4 closest brushes with death during this scenario. She had a bad day, but I had a blast playing it.
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There was virtually no chance for roleplaying in this scenario, which is a bit of a let down as well.
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And yeah, that final boss is no pushover. I can't wait to see the fallout from this in future scenarios.
<br />
Overall, I'd give it 4.5/5 stars.</p><p><b>Pathfinder Society Scenario #8-25: Unleashing the Untouchable (PFRPG) PDF</b></p><p>I got the chance to play this at GenCon on the lower tier, where the GM had run it 2-3 times previously. We were tested at keeping to time, partly due to high level play and partly due to most of us not playing those characters for the better part of a year or 2.
<br />
I was slightly annoyed that several in game bonuses were based off of Season 8 scenario benefits. If your Seeker played a lot of Season 8, this will be icing on the cake that was this scenario. If you last played PFS scenarios during Season 6, less so.
<br />
I found the combats to be challenging, without being brutal. My character had 2 out of her 4 closest brushes with death during this scenario. She had a bad day, but I had a blast playing it.
<br />
There was virtually no chance for roleplaying in this scenario, which is a bit of a let down as well.
<br />
And yeah, that final boss is no pushover. I can't wait to see the fallout from this in future scenarios.
<br />
Overall, I'd give it 4.5/5 stars.</p>Athos7102017-08-24T03:24:38Z