Halloween Game


GM Discussion

Sczarni 2/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32

I am in need of a scenario to run on Halloween. Most of the players are newer, meaning levels 1 through 3. We have pretty much played all of the Season 3 scenarios as well.

What do you suggest?

The Exchange

Darkest Vengeance is pretty creepy, it is also set in Ustalav. Tier 1-5 and it is a Season 1 scenario.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

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I really like Black Waters from season 0. Its creepy enough on its own, but if you really try, you can make it super creepy.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

Black Waters is a good one, so is Darkest Vengeance.

Decline of Glory has a quasi-zombie-horde-like feel to it at times.

Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment can be really spooky if portrayed right.

Lots of good choices out there :)

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Delirium's tangle and Below the Silver Tarn are both freaky freaky.

There is some good advice here on making Delirium's tangle very scary - http://skjald.blogspot.com/2011/07/deliriumss-tangle-45.html

Below the Silver Tarn should be run like Stephen King's the MIst. It becomes more evident once reading the scenario.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

My suggestions for spooky, lower level play would be:

From Season 0:

Mists of Mwangi (1-5)
Black Waters (1-5)
Among the Living (1-7)

From Season 1:

Voice in the Void (1-7)
The Darkest Vengeance (1-5)
Among the Dead (1-7)

From Season 2:

The Penumbra Accords (1-5)

From Season 3:

The Midnight Mauler (3-7)

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

I might stick "Beggar's Pearl"

Spoiler:
(season 1, brain damaged dwarf, horrific experiements, and a BEG who will not die)

in there, as well as "Goblinblood Dead"
Spoiler:
(season 3, undead, mysteries, and a spooky villain who conjures Skeletal Champions from the depths of obscuring mist.
. And, come to think of it, "Dalsine Affair."

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Have everyone grab pregens and play You Only Die Twice - everybody's a zombie!

The Exchange 5/5

hands down, Black Waters (1-5)

Grand Lodge 4/5

I agree with others that Black Waters is probably the best choice for a Halloween themed event.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8

In the future, if you have time, or multiple sessions (and if those PCs gain a level or two): Carrion Hill (lvl 4-6).

It's probably my favorite module in the lower bracket. It's got tons of creepy settings, evil-dead esque themes, and one wicked end boss. Give it a read if you're inclined.

Also Goblinblood Dead (if you haven't played it yet) involves a necromancer and goblins, as well as a talking evil wolf.

Sczarni 2/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32

Isn't Black Waters retired?

I think I will do either Black Waters or Goblinblood Dead.

Thanks guys!

Grand Lodge 4/5

CalebTGordan wrote:
Isn't Black Waters retired?

Nope. It was scheduled to be retired, but there was such an outcry, that the decision was reversed, so it is still legal for play for credit.

Silver Crusade 4/5

Black Waters is a good choice. If you have time for a module, I'd say Feast of Ravenmoor is another good, creepy one.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Brendan Missio wrote:
Darkest Vengeance is pretty creepy, it is also set in Ustalav. Tier 1-5 and it is a Season 1 scenario.

Darkest Vengeance should be retired. Do not run it.

Feast of Ravenmoore is great if you have 8-10 hours to run it.

Black waters is good if you can play up the vibe.

Voice in the void is great.

5/5

sveden wrote:
Brendan Missio wrote:
Darkest Vengeance is pretty creepy, it is also set in Ustalav. Tier 1-5 and it is a Season 1 scenario.

Darkest Vengeance should be retired. Do not run it.

Why do you say that?

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Heads Up: Black Waters requires the GM to use a D&D 3.5 Monster Manual. If your players are new to PFS, that might be a strike against that scenario.

The Exchange 5/5

Chris Mortika wrote:
Heads Up: Black Waters requires the GM to use a D&D 3.5 Monster Manual. If your players are new to PFS, that might be a strike against that scenario.

If the Judge is new you mean? I'm not sure it would really bother the players unless they get real Meta-gamey on the monster stats.

Lantern Lodge 5/5 * Venture-Lieutenant, South Dakota—Rapid City

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There is the new Murder's Mark module that'll be debuting on Halloween; if you have enough time, could make for a good session with magic, mystery, and, of course, murder.

Sczarni 2/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32

I am only going to have 4-5 hours, so modules are out. I have tried to run Feast of Ravenmoor twice in under 6 hours and it was impossible.

Black waters seems to be the best choice. 3.5 bestiary isn't an issue with me, and I am sure no one will really notice if I use my iPad like I always do.

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Chris Mortika wrote:
Heads Up: Black Waters requires the GM to use a D&D 3.5 Monster Manual. If your players are new to PFS, that might be a strike against that scenario.
nosig wrote:
If the Judge is new you mean? I'm not sure it would really bother the players unless they get real Meta-gamey on the monster stats.

No so much meta-gamey as a suggestion that Pathfinder requires 3.5 game product to run. I know that if I were introduced to a Star Wars game and the GM pulled out some other company's out-of-print Traveller material to run it, my reaction would be: "What the heck is this?"

But then, there's an ancient tradition dating back to "Outdoor Survival".

As Caleb notes, he has a pdf of the 3.5 Monster Manual (I'm not asking) so it shouldn't be a problem.

* Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4

Black Powder Chocobo wrote:
There is the new Murder's Mark module that'll be debuting on Halloween; if you have enough time, could make for a good session with magic, mystery, and, of course, murder.

Absolutely!

But if you're looking for a very specific ghostly theme...
....it's haunt free.

I'm excited to see people enjoy it, but its more mystery than a spook-hunt.

Needless to say, good roleplaying fun for all!

The Exchange 5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Jim Groves wrote:
Black Powder Chocobo wrote:
There is the new Murder's Mark module that'll be debuting on Halloween; if you have enough time, could make for a good session with magic, mystery, and, of course, murder.

Absolutely!

But if you're looking for a very specific ghostly theme...
....it's haunt free.

I'm excited to see people enjoy it, but its more mystery than a spook-hunt.

Needless to say, good roleplaying fun for all!

bolding mine.

This means it very much appeals to me. (yeah, I hate haunts that much.)
On a side note, Black Waters is "Haunt Free" too, and still the best "haunted" adventure I've played in PFS.

Sczarni 2/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32

I have to note that I don't have the 3.5 monster manual in pdf form. That doesn't stop me from copying it into a file that I can refer to on my iPad. Also, while I won't link it here, it can be found online, viewable without download.

I believe in buying what I want to use. Only when I can't do that will I look into free options.

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Of course. My apologies for suggesting otherwise.

Silver Crusade 4/5

Chris Mortika wrote:
Chris Mortika wrote:
Heads Up: Black Waters requires the GM to use a D&D 3.5 Monster Manual. If your players are new to PFS, that might be a strike against that scenario.
nosig wrote:
If the Judge is new you mean? I'm not sure it would really bother the players unless they get real Meta-gamey on the monster stats.

No so much meta-gamey as a suggestion that Pathfinder requires 3.5 game product to run. I know that if I were introduced to a Star Wars game and the GM pulled out some other company's out-of-print Traveller material to run it, my reaction would be: "What the heck is this?"

But then, there's an ancient tradition dating back to "Outdoor Survival".

As Caleb notes, he has a pdf of the 3.5 Monster Manual (I'm not asking) so it shouldn't be a problem.

I don't really see that as an issue. I've only been playing Pathfinder for about a year now, having returned to RPGs after a 20+ year hiatus after playing a ton of 1st edition AD&D back in high school. I didn't even know that Black Waters used 3.5 material when I played it. Unfortunately, this will probably stop me from ever GMing it, which kinda sucks, since it's such a cool adventure.

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