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So, after giving this some thought I finally went ahead and adapted and reworked a module to fit this concept for a campaign. Basically I reworked the version of Rappan Ahtuk Pathfinder as the test.
They are approached by a secretive agent of the dead god Aroden. They have sought out the PC’s to help in their goal and have been divinely directed by a series of dreams to find the PC and give them a small stone (small replica of starstone) which will help them to cross the pit by creating a onetime use d-door. This device can only be used at a certain time (the anniversary of the death of Ardon) This way all the PC’s have to try on the same day (by fate) and since the Test changes per person that enters the PC’s entering as a ‘team’ the test will force them to work together…enter Rappan Ahtuk. I worked in the Shrine of the Failed and other story points for flavor.
I changed a lot of its signature text to fit the Test storyline and its outcome instead of facing Orcus – they face the Avatar of Achaekek.
Not sure if this interests anyone?
What if-instead of having the PCs go through the Cathedral, they made a one-player module where they WERE Cayden? Like, the player really experiences what Caydn did? Just to enhance the story, and satisfy our bloodlust for more details on the famed Starstone Cathedral.
Just an idea.
I know for me, I would not want to see the test of the Starstone as a playable module. I think it would take away from the mystery and what it creates.
I see two possible paths for this module; private and public.
A private module would be an adaptable GM tool for running the test of the Startstone in their game to have player characters assend to demi-godhood within that contained campaign setting.
A public module could be done through Pathfinder Society as a limited invite scenerio for an individual player run by a Piazo official. As mentioned in this thread, many of the individuals who succeed at the test of the Starstone seem to conveniantly fulfill a niche in the world. If each player had to create a "portfolio" for their character prior to taking the test in the off chance they survive to assend to demi-godhood, that would give the Piazo people a way to "sift through the sands" to find candidates that would fit nicely into the mythos.
Characters should probably be at least 12th level (Society epic), have accumulated a set amount of Fame in order to qualify, and know that whether they succeed or fail in the test of the Starstone, their character is going away (either forever dead or ascended into godhood). If they fail the test, they might gain a special boon anyway for future characters because they took the test. If they succeed, they gain a special boon for future characters and perhaps Piazo officially adds the character to the deity list of future publications.
I see a lot of potential in Pathfinder Society running the test of the Starstone.
I'm actually working on writing up a campaign for this myself. Basically, my idea so far is the players at level 1 decide to try the test. While they of course fail cause they are level 1 nobodies, whatever mysterious divine forces that guides the Starstone sees potential in them... so they don't emerge gods, but they do emerge changed. Mythic tier 1.
Not sure yet if I will, but thinking a crazy twist would be at the "end" of the campaign when they are level 20 and mythic tier 10 they actually emerge from the Starstone and realize that once the entered the Starstone, the rest of the campaign never actually happened, it was just part of their test... and they are gods.
I'd love that...
I want to know what Cayden went through.
You wouldn't find out that way... The Test is different for everyone who tries. It's also something that should be done solo, not as a typical dungeon run for a party of four.
Oh yeah that's what I did, each of them had their own test in the actual starstone.
RPG Superstar candidates... take note!
I wouldn't want to know what Cayden went through. That's part of the fun to me is just the story that he got drunk and woke up a god. Sometimes knowing the whole story takes away the fun.
There are a few contenders in here to become the god of thread necromancy.
That's okay. As long as Paizo still hasn't printed this thing that a decent number of people would like to see, it's a topic that will come back up from time to time. Reminding them that there's still interest is a Good Thing.
The Starstone has the power to create a God...What if the Aboleth's want it back?
The Starstone has the power to create a God...What if the Aboleth's want it back?
It's been said on these forums concerning the Starstone's origins...
In a game now where one or more of the PCs may try the test.
GAME HERE
Them getting ready for the test would be great fun, seeking to become mythic so they could have a chance to pass it.
In a game now where one or more of the PCs may try the test.
GAME HEREThem getting ready for the test would be great fun, seeking to become mythic so they could have a chance to pass it.
That's kind of the issue though, isn't it? They shouldn't need to be mythic to pass the Test of the Starstone. It should be just as feasible for a player who is level 20/tier 10 to pass or fail as it is for a character who is level 1 with no mythic tiers. This Test should blow all other tests out of the water in scale and scope, yet be different for every person who takes it.
Oh, and the chances of passing it should probably be exceptionally low, too!
In a campaign to "kill the gods" you'd all be dead already. The gods aren't going to sit back and wait for you to come after them. Snap. Dead. Gone. Level 20 and all.
In a campaign to "kill the gods" you'd all be dead already. The gods aren't going to sit back and wait for you to come after them. Snap. Dead. Gone. Level 20 and all.
Not true. In an evil campaign there arethose who would see the downfall of the gods as a good thing. The Four Horsemen would be all over that in a heart beat. Not to mention, most gods wouldn't take the adventuers seriously until they themselves stared taking damage.
Aside from that and speaking of evil. I have a player in an evil campaign hellbent on godhood, and the rest hellbent on Golorian domination. So how would we do that?
Aside from that and speaking of evil. I have a player in an evil campaign hellbent on godhood, and the rest hellbent on Golorian domination. So how would we do that?
Well, if I were your GM I would tell you out of character that it's simply not possible to achieve godhood, though it could be a desire for your character. Such a character could attempt the test of the starstone. (Which will never be stated out because giving it stats means someone will find a character that can pass the challenge, just like the reason that Paizo doesn't stat up the gods because if you give it stats a player will find a way to kill it.) However, I would let you know in advance that the character will not succeed.
Just because you as a player want something doesn't mean you get it.
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Personally I find the test of the star stone much more interesting if left undefined.
This way it leaves details to ones imagination. It also lets a gm in a home game come up with their own "test of the starstone" for their own players.
So in short I hope it is left undefined and left to our imaginations.
But that is just my opinion.
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I'd argue this would be a terrible time to revisit the idea. The Paizo staff is already busy making a new edition. Do you honestly think they've got time to turn this into a module?
On the other hand, I do recall that the powers that be want to foreshadow some changes in the last 1e adventurepath and in the playtest module. I just don't think it's: "Here are 4 new deities". It could be, but probably not.
I'll be running this as a homemade adventure to playtest PF2, though to be honest, the fact that the tests will be primarily non-mechanical in nature is the biggest thing that'll allow it to work in my opinion.
Nope. Not for first edition, so may as well be never.
"YOU GET NOTHING!!!"