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Pathfinder Adventure Path #79: The Half-Dead City (Mummy’s Mask 1 of 6) (PFRPG)

3.90/5 (based on 12 ratings)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #79: The Half-Dead City (Mummy’s Mask 1 of 6) (PFRPG)
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Chapter 1: "The Half-Dead City"
By Jim Groves

The Mummy's Mask Adventure Path begins with "The Half-Dead City," an exciting new adventure in the pyramid-laden realm of Osirion, Land of Pharaohs! In the city of Wati, the church of Pharasma holds a lottery allowing explorers to delve the tombs of the city's vast necropolis in search of the nation's lost glories. In the course of investigating dusty tombs and fighting their ancient guardians and devious traps, the heroes encounter a group of rival adventurers intent on keeping one tomb's treasures for themselves. At the same time, the heroes learn that a dangerous artifact has been stolen from the tomb. Can the adventurers defeat their rivals, or will they fall to the undead defenders of the city's necropolis?

This volume of the Pathfinder Adventure Path launches the Mummy's Mask Adventure Path and includes:

  • "The Half-Dead City," a Pathfinder adventure for 1st-level characters, by Jim Groves.
  • A double-sized gazetteer of Wati exploring both parts of this vibrant city dedicated to the dead, by Crystal Frasier.
  • A rough welcome to Wati in the Pathfinder Journal, by Amber E. Scott.
  • Five dangerous new monsters, by Jim Groves, Will McCardell, and Michael McCarthy.

Each monthly full-color softcover Pathfinder Adventure Path volume contains an in-depth adventure scenario, stats for several new monsters, and support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes use the Open Game License and work with both the Pathfinder RPG and the world’s oldest fantasy RPG.

Cover Art by Tyler Jacobson.

ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-588-4

The Half-Dead City is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure Path and Chronicle sheet are available as a free download (595 KB zip/PDF).

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Archives of Nethys

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscription.

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A thematic start to an Osirion AP

5/5 —

So let's start with a full disclosure - I am a massive fan of Ancient Egyptian history and also the 1999 The Mummy film (which I know are only transcendentally linked). If you asked me what I wanted to be when I was around 10 years old, I would have said an Egyptologist.

This was the first AP I bought when it first came out many years ago having only planned/run my own games in the past. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to read and run this one! Reading through it was great fun (I've read through it at least 4 times in the last 6 years). The organisation is great, the gazetteer is fun and also useful; in my opinion the best gazetteer I've seen.

The game itself starts assuming all the PCs are already in a group signed up to the lottery, so it's important to get your players talking before you start.

Now a lot of people seem to say this first book is just dungeon crawling not roleplaying and they would technically be right. BUT there are so many opportunities for roleplay as there is no time-limit on this competition per see. I've GM'd it irl and the roleplay opportunities were second to none if you try to make the most of Wati. The right role-playing group will absolutely rise to the challenge.

Some of the encounters in this can be pretty deadly for a party of 4 but managed right work well. If you have a slightly larger party, they will do well.

Overall, this is one of my favourites and I absolutely recommend if you're looking for a good atmosphere.

Part 1

5/5 —

I thoroughly enjoyed GMing this chapter of the campaign. Partly because it is set in Osirian and I am really intrigued by the fantasy Egyptian lore.

The party I am running for is (at time of completion) a human cleric of Nethys, human occulist, dhampyr sorcerer (undead bloodline), elf fighter/bard (archaeologist), dwarf unchained monk, and a human alchemist.

As for the scenario:

The good:

* The premise works. Adventuring parties come together because the tombs of Wati are being opened to explorers. It gives a decent explanation for the players to form their party. No sitting in a tavern this time.

* Three different locations each with it's own distinct feel and set of challenges. Felt very old school to me so it gets a thumbs up.

* Although I have noticed many didn't like it, I love how this has nothing to do with the actual campaign plot until the very last minute of the book. Not every campaign needs to start off face first into the plot.

The Bad:

* This book is basically three dungeon crawls. By the time my players had finished the book I was bored of describing corridors and rooms.

* There are role-play opportunities but not enough. This chapter is very heavy on the combat and the dungeon crawling.

The Ugly:

* Nothing.

Review

4/5 —

The good thing about THDC is that is set in Ossirion, the land of the exotic and the hot. The bad thing is that THDC starts slow, very slow in fact - the first third of this adventure felt more like a training session for the beginners - few monsters, few traps and some treasure. The speed began to pick up in the second third, but even then the action was uneven, and in the final third THDC did feel like a proper RPG game, but the problem was that there was little connection between the three parts. Yes, it did give us plenty of time to play-act various scenes...but this situation works only when players want to play-act; otherwise, it is just a waste of time. THDC feels more like three different adventures combined into one, and this isn't the best of feelings.

Please Paizo, improve the book binding

4/5 —

First, I need to comment on the book binding. These are very nice, magazine style paperback books. But, after paging through the first third or so several times prepping for the first session, the pages are falling out. I'm very careful with the book, nothing got pulled on, and I don't flatten the book open nor strain the binding in any way. The glue binding just starts falling apart and now a whole section of pages has fallen out completely. This is incredibly disappointing for what otherwise is a great looking book. It makes me limit how many times I dare crack open the other volumes I've received.

As for the adventure itself:
The other reviews here are right on, the adventure/encounters are good, and if you do some flavor work-up around the theme of tomb-raiding, it can be interesting - but yeah, the whole first couple adventures into the Necropolis just seem to be completely disconnected to the actual story.

I would have liked to see one or two encounters based on exploring outside in the necropolis on the way to something, running into more unexpected troubles (other than the ambush already there, I mean). It does provide some good suggestion-type details on the necropolis to make this on your own. I would suggest cutting the second adventure site in half (both the layout and number of encounters) and having the party deal with two other encounters out in the necropolis based on where they say they go.

It does, however, lend itself well to a group that isn't very experienced in a table-top rpg, and maybe that's what Paizo had in mind here. The distinct chunks of tomb exploration are a great "intro to dungeon delving", if you will. The dungeons, traps, treasure, and random encounters are all there without the risk of being away from town. That can really help a new group. And if you're a GM that makes traps more interesting than default, those fit in pretty well.

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Silver Crusade

Back to the book itself:

Actually digging the AP not starting off in "crisis mode". And also that when the crisis starts, the players can look at each other and say, "Yay, it's not our fault this time!" ;)

Despite what was said about this going back to older styles of play, as someone that tends to veer more towards the Crimson Throne model I'm still finding myself liking it. The adventure itself and the Wati article seem like two halves of a whole to me, and I can see how I'd probably run this to build up investment in the setting/area before Empty Graves starts.

Sure, the big PC/NPC interaction drama elements aren't heavily plotted out, but it offers a LOT to work with in a sort of toolbox approach to build to group taste. It's not the approach I'd want for every AP volume, but right now I'm thinking it works here.

Spoiler:
The fact that the fate of the major NPCs in the first book are completely up in the air probably adds to the need not to script things out too heavily. I am sad that future volumes probably won't be able to have any material for them excepting the Big Bad.

Honestly, how things go with the Scorched Hand is probably going to depend heavily on how they're used at the big adventerur party party. Man, I could spend multiple sessions at that get-together as a player.
Mikaze wrote:

Back to the book itself:

Actually digging the AP not starting off in "crisis mode". And also that when the crisis starts, the players can look at each other and say, "Yay, it's not our fault this time!" ;)

Despite what was said about this going back to older styles of play, as someone that tends to veer more towards the Crimson Throne model I'm still finding myself liking it. The adventure itself and the Wati article seem like two halves of a whole to me, and I can see how I'd probably run this to build up investment in the setting/area before Empty Graves starts.

Sure, the big PC/NPC interaction drama elements aren't heavily plotted out, but it offers a LOT to work with in a sort of toolbox approach to build to group taste. It's not the approach I'd want for every AP volume, but right now I'm thinking it works here.

** spoiler omitted **

I want to re-read the AP more now that I'm not on a pain-medication induced high. But from what I've scanned, I've enjoyed the classic tomb raiding. I'd really love to play this.

Silver Crusade
7 people marked this as a favorite.

Don't get mad.

Spoiler:
Roll up a male PC to romance Azaz Arafe and post campaign journals instead!

Steamy campaign journals.
Silver Crusade
2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I'm too busy coming up with an idea how to romance my soon-to-be-wife in Reign of Winter!

Wait...

Shackled Hut ... winter wolves ... Greta ... Jim Groves, you magnificent bastard! A same-sex interracial romance :D
Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

Is now where I pipe up that the word 'Sinister' is biased and offensive?

Amusingly... Genderwise, is the narrator of the fiction male or female? I 'read' it as female, but I don'tk now if that's author bias or not.
Contributor
5 people marked this as a favorite.

Female. I think she's actually the first female protagonist I've written in. Pathfinder fiction. :)
2 people marked this as a favorite.
Amber Scott wrote:
Female. I think she's actually the first female protagonist I've written in. Pathfinder fiction. :)

It was very well done. I greatly enjoyed the fiction in this book. I am looking forward to seeing what secrets the amulet may hold.

Contributor

Thank you!
Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
Amber Scott wrote:
Female. I think she's actually the first female protagonist I've written in. Pathfinder fiction. :)

Cool. I was 'reading' er as female, but didn't know if that's because she was, or if it was bias of a female author writing her. :-)

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Man, I am giggling like a little school girl over the possibilities of the magic guardian scrolls.

Could also be used as a solid basis for magical origami :)

Or magic toilet paper. That would be a devious trap indeed. :s
Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
Will McCardell wrote:

Man, I am giggling like a little school girl over the possibilities of the magic guardian scrolls.

Could also be used as a solid basis for magical origami :)

it reminded me of a certain book swarm in a certain library. Parallel development?

Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
Matthew Morris wrote:
it reminded me of a certain book swarm in a certain library. Parallel development?

Had to be. The reference you're making means nothing to me. The creature is not a swarm.

Liberty's Edge Digital Products Assistant
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Jim Groves wrote:
Odraude wrote:
This AP is off to a great start. Groves knocked it out of the park. He's a great designer and a mad handsome man, ladies ;)

Thank you so much for those kind words. :D

And this is just the beginning. To follow on that baseball metaphor, Crystal has delivered another home run—and folks we've got an All-Star line-up on every level in this series. Everybody has delivered. The cartography is magnificent. The art is stunning, evocative and compelling. Every part of this AP is solid. Right down to the awesome new bestiary entries.

I'm honored to have started the show but the Golem is just getting started! This is definitely a great AP to subscribe to!

Part 2 wouldn't be half as awesome without that solid foundation to build on. The first book is the make-or-break for any AP, and I think you knocked this one out of the park (I can do baseball metaphors, too!).

Lantern Lodge Customer Service Dire Care Bear Manager
18 people marked this as a favorite.

Removed some posts and replies and references to posts. In general, if you're saying to yourself "I bet this comment or conversation is gonna get removed," please rethink posting what you are about to hit submit on. Also, do not advocate for slaughtering characters based on their status as a specific minority.

This AP better have some nice demons...like Aldinach and her cult....
Silver Crusade
Abyssal Lord wrote:
This AP better have some nice demons...like Aldinach and her cult....

I think Aldinach has been confirmed to not show up. I was hoping to see her too, but then again this is coming right after Wrath of the Righteous. :)

Good bit of divs showing up though. Good to see them getting some love again!

Yeah, I'll be honest, I'm weary of demons. Especially after Wrath of the Righteous. While good, I'd like to see a break from our denizens from the Abyss, at least for a couple of month. But I'm sure there will be some demonic sprinkling here and there.

Lemony-flavored Demonic Sprinkles.
The Exchange
Crystal Frasier wrote:
Jim Groves wrote:
Odraude wrote:
This AP is off to a great start. Groves knocked it out of the park. He's a great designer and a mad handsome man, ladies ;)

Thank you so much for those kind words. :D

And this is just the beginning. To follow on that baseball metaphor, Crystal has delivered another home run—and folks we've got an All-Star line-up on every level in this series. Everybody has delivered. The cartography is magnificent. The art is stunning, evocative and compelling. Every part of this AP is solid. Right down to the awesome new bestiary entries.

I'm honored to have started the show but the Golem is just getting started! This is definitely a great AP to subscribe to!

Part 2 wouldn't be half as awesome without that solid foundation to build on.

Well, this one IS called the "the half awesome city" (or something), so that shouldn't be a surprise.

Silver Crusade
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Is anyone else tempted to change to the slow experience track and add some more dungeons, so the PCs have an opportunity to really dig into Wati, and maybe befriend/be-enemy/befrenemy some of the other adventuring parties?

I mean as written:

Spoiler:
There isn't much opportunity to try to drive the Scorched Hand apart, despite a large amount of space being provided to letting the PCs accomplish exactly that.
Silver Crusade
2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Oh, and while I don't have a lot of time for a full review, I do want to say this:

I wanted to save the experience of reading this for when I got my physical copy, and just wanted to read the first "chapter" of the adventure, the way I'd read the first chapter of any other book to see if it was my kind of thing.

I READ THE WHOLE THING!

This adventure takes the best parts of old school dungeoneering, and combines it with the best of new school design. This adventure has hooked me to this AP, and I am already jonesing for chapter two.

Well done Mr Groves.
Mikaze wrote:
Abyssal Lord wrote:
This AP better have some nice demons...like Aldinach and her cult....

I think Aldinach has been confirmed to not show up. I was hoping to see her too, but then again this is coming right after Wrath of the Righteous. :)

Good bit of divs showing up though. Good to see them getting some love again!

Divs....meh!

Honestly I think some of the other outsider races are a bit redundant...like the DIVS, asuras and kytons...

But I can see plenty o' undead and constructs showing up....

Uhm demanding more demons after a whole demon ap is insane! If I see ANY demon from bestiary 1 during this ap i wont buy any more parts :-p
Scarab Sages

My favorite part of the AP so far? The use of NPC Codex for some of the other NPCS.

That and the Divs.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
archmagi1 wrote:

My favorite part of the AP so far? The use of NPC Codex for some of the other NPCS.

That and the Divs.

Thanks!

One of the great things about designing now is that Pathfinder has a really robust tool-set to draw from. I'm not saying this as a counter to Abyssal Lord, I'm fine with individual likes and dislikes, but we have a lot of resources to draw upon now. Its wonderful to take some of them and out them into play.
Contributor
1 person marked this as a favorite.

I'm slowly making my way through the adventure.

Spoiler:
My favorite part, so far, is in the first tomb with the water trap. It's just missing an inscription somewhere. "He who disturbs this [tomb] shall drink from the [Sphinx]."

Having rewatched The Mummy and its sequel recently, this trap gave me a good laugh. The trap reminds me of this scene in particular.
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