This is a solid module involving an enjoyable romp through the forest. It has the usual high production qualities of all Paizo’s products, full colour, quality editing, and good artwork. But the module underlying it all is just workmanlike. There is nothing particularly wrong with it; it just lacks the spark, the zing, the pizzazz that is the hallmark of most Paizo products. It is disappointing in this case because the module definitely has the potential to be something special.
After the obligatory introductory encounters (involving a bar fight, some missing loot, and a busted work of art), the PCs are tasked to track down the Panoply of Narven. 5 items of renown, the regalia carried into battle by the last forest king, and supposedly imbued with the elements of nature. And when they finally find them? Disappointment.
What should be 5 interesting, evocative, creative wondrous items that ooze flavour and history with a strong connection to the various elements are instead 5 bland, generic, ordinary objects. None of them are actually wondrous items, 2 of them aren’t even magical, one of them is actually a scroll, and for items representing the elements of nature, why are 3 of the 5 related to fire?
The final battle provides the party a nice climax to the adventure, as well as providing the DM with the opportunity to control the challenge of the encounter that makes perfect sense both in and out of game. I ran this with the FlipMat: Woodland, and while they worked very well together, in places the module does feel constrained aby the need to explicitly incorporate the various Gamesmaster items.
Overall, this is a solid, serviceable module that doesn’t have any glaring flaws (mechanical, plot or otherwise). However, while that may be good enough for some companies, I have come to expect more from Paizo than just competent, and there is nothing in this module that really makes it stand out. A disappointing module, but serviceably disappointing.
Posts
