Gladiator

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Use Pregens


First off, I've loved James Jacobs' work since 3.x days.
Second, I would never have suspected this was his work.

Played and ran it this weekend.
Playing it with 5 veterans, I grabbed the nearest body and ran. 3 dead, 2 escaped. (The second escapee had been forced to leave, much to his delight.)
Running it with 4 elite players, several one hit from death, barely escaping.

Advice:
1. Use the disposable pregens. (I have to wonder if this was assumed.)
2. Heed the warning it's for six 5th levels. I think a large action economy imbalance is assumed in the last battle.
3. Be ready to improv many NPCs & knowledge checks. The module gives few, though the party will be seeking out many.
4. Don't improve her tactics. (You know who I mean.)
5. If not in PFS, don't run 'as is'. It has potential.

Review (spoiler free and in order of appearance):
1. It starts out well enough with the intro, but the brief investigation is "roll", as in not fleshed out. Most RPing occurred here with NPCs not in mod. Much of the 'story' is here, but also not in mod.
2. There is a mechanic where the players can do everything right and still fail. Odds are small as they get several chances, but the 1st failure could lead them into doing new, wrong things, completing the failure.
Welcome to Pathfinder???
3. There is a fleshed out backstory full of history and intriguing events and characters. Throughout the module, the GM gets a sense of the villains' stories, preparation, and intentions.
The odds of the PCs learning more than hints of any of this is minimal.
The development of the PCs' story arc is also minimal.
(Short story premise turned into module?)
4. First conflict works well, and PCs can excel and succeed, or fail and make up the difference.
5. The one opportunity to roleplay with a villain is wasted by her silence.
6. Irrational jump from minor clue to highly specific knowledge. Such 'easy' knowledge would/should have been a natural jump from standard investigation tactics earlier.
7. Fine setup in next stage, followed by modest opening battle.
8. Great imagery for finale, but awkward map at best. (How many 1/2 squares can furniture take on a map?)
9. She is a beast.
For most parties it will come down to one roll. If prepared, they may get two or three, but the timeline allows no time to prepare specifically. Each of these rolls has a minimal chance of success. (Both times, we had four or so chances.)
Welcome to Pathfinder???
She retrieves a weapon she has several feats for, but is not in her picture, her stat block, nor is it used in her tactics. Oh, and it's inferior. What was going on with that?
If I hadn't rolled natural '3's for her several times, I would've TPKed my party. If I had confirmed my two crit threats with easy rolls, I would have TPKed or PPKed the party. A party which did everything right, and had PCs which handily fought above their level.

Please, do not use nor play this at a convention. Unless with pregens.