Way of the Kirin

[TimrehIX]

I am going to run way of the Kirin this weekend. I am doing prep this week. Does anyone have tips to offer?

4 player group. Level 3s

[Harley Quinn X]

You may want to check out the whole thread on this already in the PFS GM section:

LINK HERE

[TimrehIX]

I have looked at that thread but it only occasionaly touches on the subject. Mostly that thread is about the boon or the perceived problems with scenario design.

[Master of Rhetoric]

If the information that is already available does not suit your needs, perhaps you should try asking some specific questions.

[graywulfe]

Use the Shared PFS prep drive stuff for organizing what the PCs spend their time doing in this scenario. It is very helpful.

[TriOmegaZero]

Remember to take advantage of the saboteur alchemists spider climb to make them elusive targets.

The scenario does not outline the height of the ceilings, but the lighthouse is said to rise to 30 feet. You can extrapolate this to mean that the two-stories are either 10 or 15 feet tall each. If you go with vaulted ceilings at 15, that means the saboteurs can be out of melee reach unless the party has polearms or size increasing magic. Go with 10 if your party doesn't seem able to handle such a fight.

The bay windows in the rear are the only ones not devoid of windows. This allows the party to be cinematically alerted to the surprise assault when the saboteurs smash through them. They are only five feet high however, as the number of squares needed to block them with barricades show.

Be aware the party may ask why they need to defend the house rather than traveling with Amara Li and Ito. Point out (possibly in character) that it is Ito's childhood home, (or more simply that it was the place chosen for the meeting) and allowing it to be burned would be a great dishonor to the society. It may also show weakness and unsuitability as an ally.

Possibly look up information on Japanese tea ceremony procedures and work that into your description of the formal part of the meeting.

If you have any other specific questions, please do ask.

[graywulfe]

minor spoilers:

Ooh also brush up on poison rules. It was the one area that I had an issue remembering the details on. Specifically I had on PC get hit with a second dose of poison after they failed their save against the first dose.

Also come to game with an open mind. I found there were some opportunities for the PCs to be creative.

[TriOmegaZero]

Also, do you have Shadow Lodge characters? Because their faction mission is chock full of roleplay.

Playing up the tattooed patron who gets kicked out as the PCs arrive is fun. Even more fun is if only one or two PCs speak her language.

Playing her up as a cantankerous old woman who doesn't take guff from anyone is great fun, and talking down her 'worthless granddaughter' as the girl tries to translate for non-fluent PCs can leave an impression.

I had a family at one table, the daughter of which had the only fluent PC. By the time they finished, she was leaning over to the girl and offering her condolences in Common, much to the grandmothers disapproval.

[Vanessa Hoskins]

The setup and tea ceremony can suck up a lot of time, then the two waves of combat can also take a while. Do whatever you can to keep things moving in the beginning and keep combat efficient.

The BBEG tends to go down very quickly, so play him as aggressive and dangerous as possible. Remember that on the high tier he rolls for initiative twice and takes the higher result (which is needed considering his +0 mod).

If the players try to avoid the combat and hide in the tunnel, let them be assaulted there. It not, make a huge epic fight at the ritual site. They're supposed to fight through the first 2 waves and if the PCs don't provide the distraction, then all the army's forces will hit the ritual cave.