Announced! Cover image is a mockup, and will change prior to publication.

Varisia!

Yay! More 1st level mods!

Does this take place in a an established place in Varisia (Sandpoint, Magnimar, etc...), or is this a newly detailed location for the region?

Sounds very cool.

It's like Paizo is trying to make go broke ;)

WANT

Glad to see an another introductory module using an urban setting. Not so thrilled about Varisia again, but that's the great thing about modules: effortlessly portable.

Nice, congratulations Jim!

What!? Watcher got a module!? Way to frickin' go Jim! I'm so jealous but I offer the most sincere congrats.

Does this take place in a an established place in Varisia (Sandpoint, Magnimar, etc...), or is this a newly detailed location for the region?

As a less experienced freelancer I want to be sensitive to how much I say prematurely (because things can change in development), but I will venture to say that the town is established in Varisia- but has not seen extensive treatment prior to this. Nevertheless, you can find it in the gazetteer of Varisia originanally published in Rise of the Runelords, Chapter Three. I'll let Mark decide if anything more should be said at this time. :)

What!? Watcher got a module!? Way to frickin' go Jim! I'm so jealous but I offer the most sincere congrats.

** spoiler omitted **

Thanks Matt and Adam!

Wow, Jim, very awesome. Congrats!

This module sounds sweet.

Well pff, the title gives away the murderer right there.

*calls cops on Mark*

By the way, the title should actually be "Murderer's Mark", otherwise my conclusion makes no sense.

congrats Jim, well deserved!

Yay Jim!

Congrats! Just another reason I am glad I renewed my Module subscription. Now hopefully with this freelance project (soon to be) under your belt, you'll be selected to write a part in the Irrisen/ Linnorm Kings (a.k.a. Witches vs. Vikings) AP in 2013 (or is that 2014)?***

***(The above comment is PURE guesswork on my part, based on a "throw-away" comment that Jim Sutter made some time ago

Don't ask for a link... I am awful at linking stuff. :P

Sorry for the threadjack Jim... hardy and heartfelt congratulations!!

~Dean

I don't usually buy modules - but after the absolute riot that was Frostfur Captives, I'm prepared to splurge on what I'm sure will be another awesome adventure.

THANK YOU EVERYBODY!

I read these kind words this weekend, and didn't know what to say for a day or two.

I sincerely hope you enjoy it. We got some investigation, some good role-playing, ol' fashioned fightin' and design that you can play straight through, or that you can easily augment with your own encounters and idea. I'm not calling it a sandbox- but I think people who want the latitude to add their own "touches" and role-playing situations will find the adventure accommodates that nicely.

And, I think it could serve as a nice start of an individualized campaign.

Yay Jim!

Congrats! Just another reason I am glad I renewed my Module subscription. Now hopefully with this freelance project (soon to be) under your belt, you'll be selected to write a part in the Irrisen/ Linnorm Kings (a.k.a. Witches vs. Vikings) AP in 2013 (or is that 2014)?***

***(The above comment is PURE guesswork on my part, based on a "throw-away" comment that Jim Sutter made some time ago

Don't ask for a link... I am awful at linking stuff. :P

Sorry for the threadjack Jim... hardy and heartfelt congratulations!!

~Dean

Wow Dean, you made my heart skip there.

I'd be a liar, if I didn't say that makes me have a Galadriel moment. "You offer it to me freely? I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired this." ::trembles and starts to turn dark::

But that's not my call. That requires a lot of trust, and its a big responsibility. I can only continue to learn and develop under the tutelage of my developers- and if the time is right, then we'll see.

Paizo has protect themselves by using known quantities, especially with that product line. And really when you think about it, they're doing the freelancer a favor by making sure they're ready.

But yeah, that's a goal to aspire to! :D

Go Watcher! Looking forward to seeing this. I love urban modules, so double plus good.

Congrats, Jim! Way to represent the class of 2010! ;-)

Don't forget the apostrophe in the title anywhere this could lead to some bad typos.

Thanks Jesse and Tom! Please enjoy!

@Doc,

You remain my favorite all time Steely Dan song! KATY LIED!

This one went a long way to my resubscribing this morning. :) The final nail thing...

This one went a long way to my resubscribing this morning. :) The final nail thing...

Awesome Sunderstone, I can't think of a nicer compliment! Bless you!

I think people will find it a nice compliment to many of the Varisian based campaign products coming out this summer.. Be it PFS related, or the Shattered Star series, or the Runelords Anniversary.

Murder's Mark is not directly related to those other products, but its definitely 1st level, situated close to the heart of the region, and depending on how you juggle adjudicate experience in your game, I think it could be an awesome side-trek to something else.. or even the kick off for a campaign in Varisia and beyond.

I hope you enjoy it!

Murder's Mark is not directly related to those other products, but its definitely 1st level, situated close to the heart of the region, and depending on how you juggle adjudicate experience in your game, I think it could be an awesome side-trek to something else.. or even the kick off for a campaign in Varisia and beyond.

I hope you enjoy it!

1st level murder mystery in Varisia, whats not to like? :) Most likely I'll use it as a side trek to Runelords, especially if the anniversary Runelords HC is still Fast Track xp (never liked how fast 3.5 leveled, always felt you didnt have much time to enjoy the lower levels).

@ Sunderstone: Murder's Mark is a very heavy role-playing adventure, so depending on group size it might not propel your group too far ahead. There's a lot of social themes running through it that I can't disclose, lest I ruin the surprises. Don't worry! We got some fightin' too.

I think its fair to say that every freelancer has some elements of their own style. I think based upon my PFS work and personal inclinations that I'm somewhat role-playing and story oriented. I like to think I can present a snazzy fight too, but I think I know which way I lean.

Anyway, there's a lot of role-playing and investigation, and less of a dungeon crawl, so the XP gain is going to vary some I think.

Of course the able and intelligent Mr. Moreland is developing, and he might adjust it of course. We'll see!

More RP and investigation is what I was hoping to see in this one. Looking forward to it that much more now. :)
Paizo's summer stuff is looking reeaal good this year.

I've updated the image and description to match the finished product.

Awesome!

Yes, cool expanded product description too.

OK let's get Jim on that sure to be announced Irrisen/ Linnorm Kings AP.

I've updated the image and description to match the finished product.

Yay, I'm on a cover again!

Congratulations Jim - your PFS Frostfur Captives scenario was AWESOME!!
It had absolutely everything - tie-ins to previous scenarios, really great premise why the adventure happens, awesome roleplaying opportunities, and so full of flavour!
Really looking forward to seeing what you do with a full module.

Halloween PDF availability? Sounds like I have my party going!

News if this will be Sanctioned for PFS play?

All Pathfinder Modules designed for the Pathfinder RPG have been sanctioned for Pathfinder Society play, and we don't plan to alter that pattern in the immediate future.

*casts Irresitable Dance on myself*

Hey, have a good time at that Halloween game, and let us know how it went!

I'm jealous!

Just ordered this and it will be my prequel to Runelords for my group.

Just ordered this and it will be my prequel to Runelords for my group.

I am ever so pleased!

There is no connection in terms of story, but there are references to locations that later become important in Runelords. So there's a sense of shared space and geography. Also there's nothing that works *against* using it as a prequel either, other than perhaps a bump in player experience.. which you're free to mitigate as you see fit.

I know I probably come across as a shill, but I'm always excited to see people looking forward to my stuff. I can't help it, it makes me happy. I hope your group has a great time!

This looks great, but between my home game and Shattered Star, I'm reaching Varisia Overload. How easily can this module be moved to another locale, like Ustalav?

James,

I am going to answer behind a spoiler tag.

I hope that helps!

I am looking forward details of Ilsurian and npcs. Might make it a players hometown as a option if they pick human. In the end I plan that the circus reward the players a free ride to Sandpoint.

James,

I am going to answer behind a spoiler tag.

** spoiler omitted **

I hope that helps!

Thanks, Jim! Very helpful info.

Hey folks!

Because I subscribe, I just got my PDF copy.

(And I know I talk a lot for a freelancer)

*MY* tradition has always been to thank the Developers, the cartographer, and the artists for their work.

It looks beautiful. Blando did a top notch job as always. I couldn't be more pleased. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope the community enjoys it.

Looking forward to seeing reviews as ppl get their PDFs

Thinking about running this soon for PFS. When do you think the chronicle sheet & additional rules will be available?

I have to defer to Mark Moreland on that, but I know there was a definite intention to release a chronicle.

Chronicle sheets are released on the streetdate for Pathfinder Modules and Pathfinder Tales novels. So the Chronicle sheet for this one should go up tomorrow, 10/31.

Thanks y'all

Jim,

Holy crap.

In my opinion this easily in the top five or so modules Paizo has put out during their entire run. It's tight, fast paced, and fully focuses the attention on the PCs. I have no idea how you fit so much into a simple 32-page module, I really don't.

Outstanding, sir.

And by the way, material like this is why I voted for you to go all the way in Superstar, and it's also how I know I wasn't wrong :)

I am so pleased! I hate to be a pimp, but could you please review? As my esteemed colleague Mike Shel recently said, it helps visibility.

I just fell in love with Crystal Frazier's creation, and I wanted to do it justice. Also, Varisia is a beautiful and rich place that you can fit such amazing stories.

I really hope others feel like you do, because The Shackled Hut not only has a huge big important story, it also has a lot of little ones contained within it as well. I hope I pull it off twice! ::fingers crossed::