For me this was a great beginning of a great Adventure Path. Me and my group just finished the adventure and we are just in the beginning of the next part. Below are my thoughts about the Brinewall Legacy.
Part 1, Fires Over Brinestump
I had mixed feelings about the beginning in Brinestump Marsh. First and foremost I loved the comeback of Sandpoint and it's citizens, it really brings back memories from Paizo's very first Adventure Path. Just seeing NPC's like Shalelu, Ameiko and the sheriff made my PC's day, which was nice to see.
One thing I thought was a bit dissapointing was the bleak start, it wasn't really bad but it could've been a more strong intro to Jade Regent.
The places in the marsh was well written, although my players weren't that interested in free- roaming at that moment, so it didn't turn out to a that great blast. There were two exceptions though: the Licktoad village and the skeleton encounters (including Tutsamu). It was almost adorable to see the player's reunion with the hilariously crazy little goblins, and they enjoyed every second of slashing oversized heads and setting huts on fire using the stolen fireworks. Also the skeletons were fun in an other kind of way, because they were really tough encounters for the PC's and provided a real challenge for the group. In their whole career they've never met skeletons (and their DR 5), and it was pure excitement for me to see their faces when they realized how dangerous DR can be at level 1.
Part 2, The Legacy's Lure
It was here the caravan rules were introduced. They gave more depth to the adventuring and both me and my players liked the amount of customization that they provided. Adding wagons, hiring people and spending caravan feats was quite a good time for them, and I think positively of that mechanic in Jade Regent.
In exception of the making of the caravan, this was the weakest part of the adventure. The part is a road trip crossing over whole Varisia, and the space given to it in the book is not even 2 pages. It feels like everything is up to the GM if part 2 will be fun or not. If well prepared, this might even turn out to the greatest part of the whole installment. If your not prepared for making a 500 miles journey interesting though (like I was), it turns out ugly. It is this that takes a star from my review, because if a that big event happens I would like the authors to write some more info and things about it. Sure, we've got the Random Caravan Encounters, but I don't think that they are enough for a that great voyage.
Part 3, Ruins of Brinewall
This was the most awesome part of the adventure. Both me and them had a great time in Brinewall, and my initial fear that the castle's enormous size would bore the PC's were gone with the wind. They learned to hate Kikonu very quickly because of his constant dimension doors, managed to get tricked into drinking poison by the quickling Buttersnips and the group's cavalier successfully charmed the hideous ogrekin Muthildah among lots of wonderful things. Unfortunately they barely touched the second floor, but that didn't really affect the fun factor of the last part. After a thrilling final boss fight (everybody had under 10 HP when they managed to kill Nindinzego) the PC's looted their own magic items (customized for them) and got the mysterious visions that marked the end of the Brinewall Legacy. Splendid!
After the adventure itself there were some other things written like an interesting article about the Oni, evil spirit demons from the other side of the world. Also there was a chapter about the Sandpoint Hinterlands and the monthly Bestiary with nice contents, nothing outstanding though. One thing I liked was the installment's Pathfinder Journal that's about Paizo's own chelaxian mascots Radovan and Count Jeggare and a mystery in the Dragon Empires. The author Dave Gross delivers a nice entry and I'm excited to read more from him.
Overall the Brinewall Legacy is a grand opening to Jade Regent, and I can't wait to see what more this Adventure Path has to offer...
