Pathfinder Society Special: Ruins of Bonekeep—Level 2: Maze to the Mind Slave (PFRPG) PDF

2.90/5 (based on 9 ratings)

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A Pathfinder Society Special designed for levels 3-7.

A group of Pathfinders recently delved into the ruins of Bonekeep, a siege fortress destroyed centuries ago. There they discovered not only terrifying threats but also extraordinary treasures. Warded by the magic of a senior Pathfinder, the party must explore as much of Bonekeep as they can before the spell dissipates, lest they too are enslaved by the enchanted maze that looks hauntingly more familiar with each discovery.

Written by Jason Bulmahn.

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PZOPSS0500-1E


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2.90/5 (based on 9 ratings)

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The Worst PFS Scenario I've ever played

1/5

Sadly I can't give this zero stars. The whole scenario seemed designed to be more annoying than dangerous. Small rooms with hard corners to prevent most of the party from effecting the combat. High defenses for little reason. Traps that were no real threat, just consumed time and out of combat healing.
The only thing really challenging in this scenario was the 5 hour real world time limit, which is very tight, and the scenario appears to be deliberately using up. It actively punishes any enjoyment of the game, and leads to a totally unsatisfying ending - randomly stopping a combat and denying any scenario resolution.
I cannot stress enough how bad a design decision this was. If a scenario absolutely needs to be done in 5 hours, write a scenario that plays in under 5 hours. I cannot fathom how anyone could think this was a good idea.


Expect Death & Enjoy Knowing It Waits For You

3/5

A scenario that rewards very effective, and narrow, combat character builds, but not many skills or roleplay. Big muscles, good saves and a little healing is all that need apply. I would have liked to have seen deadly mechanics that were handled with more variety of character options. An experienced GM can take the tools and wield them to devastating effect. Especially after luring players onward with their successes to hit an inevitable wall. Wiping 3 of the 5 characters out in Round 1 with a single action didn't make me (the GM) or any of my players feel good.


5/5


Hard, but fun.

5/5

I've played through this twice now (used a star replay) and had interesting experieces both times. The first time was online with my, and while the party was filled with strong PC's only had an okay time because people couldn't work together. The second time was at a local con with people that worked well together and had a blast, even though we weren't as optimized. We did fine both times.

I like how the first two Bonekeeps felt like completely different challenges to me. One was trickier and made me think more, while Two was a much more visceral fight for survival. Two was a much swingier experience, with things feeling like our survival was balanced on a razor's edge the entire time, with a slight nudge either keeping us alive for another room or ending our run right then and there.


What else to expect from Bonekeep?


I refuse to give a star rating to Bonekeep, since my personal scenario design philosophy is in conflict with Bonekeep's design philosophy.

That said, I ran this scenario at a convention on higher tier and miraculously the team survived with only three deaths and completed the whole thing just under five hours, which is the artificial limit in Bonekeep. This limit, however, has an ingame explanation, so it's not all that arbitrary.

So what of it? It's a dungeon crawl with no roleplaying opportunities, so in case you dislike it, don't even try. The design philosophy strongly gears towards challenging the characters to their limits, handing out tougher and tougher encounters. To my surprise there were a few combats which were ridiculously easy to the group, and managed to wipe their foes away in 3 rounds' time.

To those with patience, ability to construct powerful characters, and don't get emotional when something bad happens to your character, this just might be your cup of tea.


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Dark Archive

When will this be available for purchase?

Grand Lodge

Chris Ballard wrote:
When will this be available for purchase?

I too would like to know this!! When is this going to be available along with part 1?

Grand Lodge

Any news???


It just came out a little over 2 months ago as a special... Even if it was available as soon as the annual GenCon specials it would be next August at the earliest.

They still haven't released a release date for level 1 and that came out in January...

Paizo Employee Developer

The release of The Ruins of Bonekeep, Part 2 will likely coincide with the release of The Ruins of Bonekeep, Part 1. As noted in the latter's product thread, the exact date for this has not yet been disclosed.

Scarab Sages

I played the first one at the last PaizoCon with a character who is now 7th level.

Do these two need to be played together, for a boon or something, or can they be played with different characters?

Paizo Employee Developer

Deidre Tiriel wrote:

I played the first one at the last PaizoCon with a character who is now 7th level.

Do these two need to be played together, for a boon or something, or can they be played with different characters?

Several rewards on the Chronicle sheets are thematically related, but there's nothing on the Chronicle sheet for Part 2 that requires one to have played Part 1 to earn it.

Sovereign Court

John Compton wrote:
Deidre Tiriel wrote:

I played the first one at the last PaizoCon with a character who is now 7th level.

Do these two need to be played together, for a boon or something, or can they be played with different characters?

Several rewards on the Chronicle sheets are thematically related, but there's nothing on the Chronicle sheet for Part 2 that requires one to have played Part 1 to earn it.

That's good, as the character who played Part I has long since leveled out of tier.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 4

Is is Maze of or Maze to?

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

'Maze of' judging by the product image. Looking forward to getting access to this.

Dark Archive

any updates on when we can run this at our local FLGS ? or home games ?

Grand Lodge

This scenario continues to be a convention exclusive requiring 50+ tables for the event to qualify and probably will stay that way for the time being.

If Bonekeep I is the template, then BKII will become the annual exclusive scenario in February of 2015, after which it can be run at any event (no table minimum), but would require a 4/5-star GM or VO to run it.

This is, of course, speculation, YMMV

Shadow Lodge

I have a question about Room 2

I have asked in the GM Forums as well but thus far no real answer either way

spoiler:
was in a discussion the other day that brought me back to this encounter with a couple questions about it Specifically regarding Resist energy or Evasion

if that thing goes off

do the PC's make 7 saves ... or 1 I can see evidence for both sides of it

I looked at the text in the Scenario and it reads like its 1 save since only 1 damage value listed (1 for each tier)

when it comes to resist energy that could be a big deal (10 or 20 off each explosion)

or evasion ... failing against 2 but saving the other 5

TBH without resist energy or evasion it wont matter ... even 1/2 damage is enough to kill almost any PC there is at that level

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

any news on if/when this drops to four stars? Just did my first bonekeep GMing Monday, 4 rooms, 1 fatality.


"Soon.™"

As per Mr. Brock on 3/17, IT is working on the necessary database update for this to become an exclusive.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

bugleyman wrote:

"Soon.™"

As per Mr. Brock on 3/17, IT is working on the necessary database update for this to become an exclusive.

Ah, I missed that, Thank you.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Any news?
How soon is now?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber

I have a question about the statblocks in Room 2:

Spoiler:
In the 6-7 subtier, the Ratfolk are listed to have a +4 shield bonus to AC. What gives them that? They're fighting with two weapons or spellcasting, with the only defensive spell being Mage Armor

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

@The Seldon Plan:
It looks like the stat blocks assume that they cast the shield that they have prepped.

Sovereign Court

Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Is this one ever going public?

Dark Archive

Mosaic wrote:
Is this one ever going public?

Unlikely to ever go public. The idea of these are for 4+star GM or VO exclusives. I assume that if your account is registered as 4+star GM or VO, then it will be available to you. Another option would be that if you are eligible and cannot access it, contact your VC and I am sure he or she will fix things up.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Hope not... I'm getting to run this for the first time tomorrow. Justy hoping to run high tier


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Part 1 has been publicly available for two years, will this ever become available?


Diego Valdez wrote:

Hello Fedor,

We run that report once a week, so you will likely see

them sometime next week.

Two weeks passed (three and a half months since 4th star) - still can not purchase Bonekeep 1, 2, 3,

6-98, 7-98, 7-99
http://paizo.com/products/btpy8wrx
http://paizo.com/products/btpy8xkj?Pathfinder-Society-

Special-Ruins-of-Bonekeep-Level-2-Maze-to-the-Mind-Slave
http://paizo.com/products/btpy97st?Pathfinder-Society-

Special-Ruins-of-Bonekeep-Level-3-The-Wakening-Tomb
http://paizo.com/products/btpy9cu0?Pathfinder-Society-

Scenario-6-98-Serpents-Rise
http://paizo.com/products/btpy9lzy
http://paizo.com/products/btpy9mbd
all this links show "unavailable" text under price, not

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