Pathfinder Society Scenario #3-13: The Quest for Perfection—Part III: Defenders of Nesting Swallow (PFRPG) PDF

Announced! Cover image is a mockup.

Congrats, Sean! My theory that this arc was being written up by the Superstar finalists was close (2 out 3).

Congrats, Sean! My theory that this arc was being written up by the Superstar finalists was close (2 out 3).

Eeep! Hadn't even noticed this had been announced til now. Thanks- and congratulations on your efficient theorizing.

Can't wait to run this one :)

I usually do not run seven-player tables, but for this module, I would almost have to make an exception.

Hopefully the outcome of this scenario doesn't mirror Kambei's outlook on war.

I am way excited about this scenario!

Hopefully the outcome of this scenario doesn't mirror Kambei's outlook on war.

...so an ending with all 4 PCs dead and buried and the players having learned a somber lesson about the passing age of the warrior would be suboptimal? Got it.

(Um, hey Mark, any room for some last minute plot changes?)

SPOILERS!!!!

Has release been delayed?

My guess is that it's in the pipeline but has been delayed due to the Snowpocalypse.

I am surprised as all the other Pathfinder PDFS from Paizo's range due for release today have been made available for purchase.

The 2 new scenarios will go live at 6 PM Pacific time... so 3 minutes! :)

Yes! I can put my holiday12 order in :)

Now Available!

And yes, the image on the cover is indeed a tengu riding an axe beak.

You are welcome.

Hoo-ray! Thanks Mark! Looks cool!!

I think the Chronicle sheet is interesting, but would have been happier if all 3 scenarios needed to be played in sequence to get the benefit.

Thanks, Doug!

I've started a thread requesting feedback on the multipart boon from this scenario—as well as the alternative approach (that's more like what it sounds like you are looking for) in Snakes in the Fold—here, so if you have other thoughts on the two approaches, please leave a note there.

I am definitely in favor of boons to those who play scenarios in consecutive order. It adds further continuity to the "story" of each PC.

This is something I have been trying to encourage though running through 4 Pathfinder modules in a row, linked in sequence Godsmouth> Crypt> Masks> CoGD (I changed a wee bit of the backstory to link in Godsmouth to the Price of immortality Trilogy).

So far, most of the players are interested in longer scenarios so it is working. The consecutive boon approach enforces this and encourages event organizers to offer them up as well. Good idea.

You are welcome

I'm generally not a fan of the spoiler/reveal image on the covers of most of the scenarios, but a tengu (samurai?) riding an Axe Beak is friggin' awesome! Whoever is responsible for that piece of art is a genius.

Genius we tell you!

So what with all the excitement of this years RPG Superstar starting up and trying to keep up with every single post on every single thread there I almost completely forgot this was out this week. Like, literally, I had some free time at work today, went to the Paizo main page and did a double take at seeing the blog.
The art looks GREAT. Jikon actually looks kinda... pretty, with the purple feathers. Who's the cute widdle axe beak? Whooza cute l'il... OW WITH THE BEAKING AND CLAWING!

And yes, the image on the cover is indeed a tengu riding an axe beak.

You are welcome.

Tengu riding an axebeak, are you kidding me? That is like the epitome of awesome! (You bastards all need to sit at my Nymian Beastlands table, I say!) Pure genius!

PS: don't pet or feed the axebeak without proper protective gear.
PSS: I am amused that Diatryma is named in Bestiary 3, but Phorusrhacos is a "Terror Bird." I am guessing that the standard axebeak is a variant on Fiend Folio's Terror Bird, while the same-named latter creature is actually based on the historically correct critter..... And I realize this was completely off-topic.

Spoiler, question dealing with the Braid.

Cheers!

Thank you, Mark :D

Excellent series of modules, by the way. I will be running them consecutively at a convention this weekend and I anticipate much fun!

Banner I made for a little flavor at the table

Thanks for such a fun arc! Part one was my first PFS event ever and it was a tough but fun scenario which just got more and more difficult as the arc progressed.

Best Shadow Lodge faction mission ever. :)

Best Shadow Lodge faction mission ever. :)

Huh, I have to say that I had real difficulty getting that one right today. But then again it might just be because I was playing a Society Scenario for the first time :P

But the ending was pretty kick ass though.

** spoiler omitted **

Heh. They would at my table ;-)

I posted a review with some comments and feedback.

Also, I created a few handouts before running this at Who's Yer Con that I'd like to share.

The first is a player handout detailing how the resource-management aspect of the adventure works. Some spoilers, but I find that it's better to forego obfuscating things when there's a good chance PCs will just end up being confused. Anyway, here it is.

The second is a diagram for the resource management phase showing which tasks there are to accomplish. I used dice to represent the villagers, and players could place the dice and their miniatures on the different circles to represent how many villagers were doing what each day, and which task each PC was doing. It really helped to engage players and make things more tactile.

Finally, there is a handout showing how PCs can use Defense Points. I put a couple of them in the center of the table and passed out poker chips to the players to represent their pool of Defense Points. This helped a lot with making sure that the PCs remembered that they had the points available and how they could be used -- by the end of the battle, five of the six players had used up all of their DPs!

I hope these help other GMs!

Tamago- I tell you what, I've added your files to my own Nesting Swallow folder and fully intend to make use of them next time I run this. (Which, seeing as I used up my local group of players while writing this, might not be for a while, but who knows...) They're just way cool and useful. Thanks for going the extra mile and creating visual aids. And likewise, thanks for the review & feedback- much appreciated.

I played at Tamagos table. It all really clicked with this layout. Our table was laughing, rooting each other on, and worked as a team. It made the encounter very enjoyable and fun!

Those are some great handouts, Tamago! :)

Aw, shucks! Thanks, everyone! I just hope that these will allow other people to enjoy the scenario as much as my group did. :-)

Just finished this as a player and it kicked booty. I really liked the mechanics regarding protecting the village. The end battle was truly epic. By its end most of our resources were spent and several players down or heavily damaged. We had a 6 man party ran of T4-5 so many more Tengus to kill.

Since there are so many mini’s needed for this I made a very quick set and am sharing.

nesting swallow minis

Since there are so many mini’s needed for this I made a very quick set and am sharing.

nesting swallow minis

NEAT! Another file for my future use folder.

The PDF of this scenario has been updated (emails informing those who have already purchased it should be going out soon) to correct a balance issue in the scenario's new magic item. Both the stats presented in the adventure and on the scenario's Chronicle sheet have been updated. If you're running this in the future, please make sure you provide the most up-to-date Chronicle sheet.

How does the first item on the cronicle sheet

The PDF of this scenario has been updated (emails informing those who have already purchased it should be going out soon) to correct a balance issue in the scenario's new magic item. Both the stats presented in the adventure and on the scenario's Chronicle sheet have been updated. If you're running this in the future, please make sure you provide the most up-to-date Chronicle sheet.

I think I already know the answer, but as someone who GMed this a couple of weeks ago and is in contact with all the players who took part, can I give my players (and myself) the corrected chronicle sheet?

Yes. Or they can simply print out the revised Chronicle themselves and attach it to the one you filled out and signed.

Also, people who bought the old version of the magic item can keep it and grandfather that version into the game. PCs do not get to automatically upgrade to the more expensive version, however they can pay the difference to upgrade from the previous version to the current.

How does the first item on the cronicle sheet** spoiler omitted ** work for GMs? What about if a person played in some scenerios and GMed others?

I had this question as well, and tried to find a definitive answer. Usually GMs dont get the boons listed on the chronicle sheets.

But that said, this boon is worded differently than all the others. One, it is not earned by doing something within the scenario. Second, it states "If you have chronicle sheets for all three parts", which tells me, RAW, that you would.

If you dont get the boon, then my question is:
1. What if you GM parts 1 and 2 and play part 3?
2. What if you GM part 3, but played part 1 and 2?

I'd love to see an answer from Mark or mike because I might end up running this next week.

Lord Twitchiopolis wrote:

How does the first item on the cronicle sheet** spoiler omitted ** work for GMs? What about if a person played in some scenerios and GMed others?

I had this question as well, and tried to find a definitive answer. Usually GMs dont get the boons listed on the chronicle sheets.

But that said, this boon is worded differently than all the others. One, it is not earned by doing something within the scenario. Second, it states "If you have chronicle sheets for all three parts", which tells me, RAW, that you would.

If you dont get the boon, then my question is:
1. What if you GM parts 1 and 2 and play part 3?
2. What if you GM part 3, but played part 1 and 2?

I'd love to see an answer from Mark or mike because I might end up running this next week.

Ditto. I've GM'd 2/3 and am curious if I'd get the super secret awesome prize if I played part 1.

I'm sending Mike a message to make sure he sees this when he gets back from Origins early next week. Until then, consider applying the credit for any GMed sessions to one PC and any played sessions to a different PC so at least the player PC gets access to all three boons. Mike may have a different take on how to handle it, especially as we start to do more and more of these multipart boons.

I'm sending Mike a message to make sure he sees this when he gets back from Origins early next week. Until then, consider applying the credit for any GMed sessions to one PC and any played sessions to a different PC so at least the player PC gets access to all three boons. Mike may have a different take on how to handle it, especially as we start to do more and more of these multipart boons.

FWIW, I love multipart boons, especially when they are "non consecutive". I really like the "if you have the sheets for all X parts" wording.

As someone who simply played the session (as opposed to being a module owner), what was the change to the item?

Just staying informed...

As someone who simply played the session (as opposed to being a module owner), what was the change to the item?

Just staying informed...

Thanks Mark! :)