Emerald Spire and PFS


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Shadow Lodge

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Jonenee Merriex wrote:
Needless to say, for once I didn't ruin my pants with happiness when I saw what you did.

You may wish to consult a physician about that problem...

1/5

John Compton wrote:

I've posted this in a few other threads, but I'll update this one, too.

Pathfinder Module: The Emerald Spire Superdungeon is now sanctioned in its entirety for Pathfinder Society Organized Play. You can find the download either on the product page or in the right-hand banner on the Additional Resources page.

Perfect timing! Thanks very much!

3/5

Does a happy dance.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West

We've had the first two levels of Emerald Spire run at Pacificon this weekend (well, the second level isn't quite complete yet, but they're well on the way). I expect to see this appearing at conventions quite a bit in the next few years.

Grand Archive 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West

John Francis wrote:


We've had the first two levels of Emerald Spire run at Pacificon this weekend (well, the second level isn't quite complete yet, but they're well on the way). I expect to see this appearing at conventions quite a bit in the next few years.

He is out of date, they are into the 3rd level at this point.

4/5

Does the first level of Emerald Spire count as a Tier 1-2 module? I guess what I'm asking is: can you play it or GM it multiple times for credit with a first-level character?

Shadow Lodge

runslikeawelshman wrote:
Does the first level of Emerald Spire count as a Tier 1-2 module? I guess what I'm asking is: can you play it or GM it multiple times for credit with a first-level character?

Yes, as that is what it is.

Dark Archive 3/5

Now we're just waiting for it to get added to the scheduling list so we can report the levels we've run.
This has been a very entertaining module to run even if my party wiped on the 2nd level.

4/5

Dylos wrote:
runslikeawelshman wrote:
Does the first level of Emerald Spire count as a Tier 1-2 module? I guess what I'm asking is: can you play it or GM it multiple times for credit with a first-level character?
Yes, as that is what it is.

While I appreciate the confirmation, I think an argument could be made that that is NOT, in fact, "what it is" since The Emerald Spire Superdungeon is a 1-13 module. Even though the different levels have been sanctioned separately, it is not technically a "Tier 1-2 module" as stipulated on page 30 of the guide. It seems to me like you should be able to replay it as a Tier 1-2 Module but it's not exactly a crystal-clear issue.

Shadow Lodge

runslikeawelshman wrote:
Dylos wrote:
runslikeawelshman wrote:
Does the first level of Emerald Spire count as a Tier 1-2 module? I guess what I'm asking is: can you play it or GM it multiple times for credit with a first-level character?
Yes, as that is what it is.
While I appreciate the confirmation, I think an argument could be made that that is NOT, in fact, "what it is" since The Emerald Spire Superdungeon is a 1-13 module. Even though the different levels have been sanctioned separately, it is not technically a "Tier 1-2 module" as stipulated on page 30 of the guide. It seems to me like you should be able to replay it as a Tier 1-2 Module but it's not exactly a crystal-clear issue.

For PFS, each level is treated as a module on its own, and the first floor is tier 1-2, additionally, even tier 1-2 APs are available for replay, as is the only tier 1-2 scenario.

Shadow Lodge

Dylos wrote:
For PFS, each level is treated as a module on its own, and the first floor is tier 1-2, additionally, even tier 1-2 APs are available for replay, as is the only tier 1-2 scenario.

This is correct, and is also true for the first floor of Thornkeep (if someone wants precedent).

3/5

My goal is to play one character through every adventure in it.

2/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

That's how I'm going to try to run it, including the recommendations in the chronicles for going to Slow advancement. (I would have liked a campaign mode so I could use more of the Fort Inevitable material, but c'est la vie.)

The Exchange 5/5

Finlanderboy wrote:
My goal is to play one character through every adventure in it.

I did that for Thornkeep - and was very un-happy with the results.

For E.S. I hope to do each level with a different PC! (yeah, I have that many - with a good enough level spread to do it get it to work...)

Grand Lodge 4/5

nosig wrote:
Finlanderboy wrote:
My goal is to play one character through every adventure in it.

I did that for Thornkeep - and was very un-happy with the results.

For E.S. I hope to do each level with a different PC! (yeah, I have that many - with a good enough level spread to do it get it to work...)

Thornkeep didn't have a stacking benefit based on how many chronicles are assigned to the same character, though.

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber

Asked in another thread, but this one seems more active. How long on average do the floors take to run. For conventions/stores can I schedule them in a 4-5 hour slot, or do they need multiple slots to complete?

5/5 *

As with Thornkeep, the higher the APL the more time it takes to play. I would not schedule the floors for levels 7+ for a con slot!

(this is from a readthrough of the material, we hope to start these next week, will report back then)


Wendy-Ann Francis wrote:
John Francis wrote:


We've had the first two levels of Emerald Spire run at Pacificon this weekend (well, the second level isn't quite complete yet, but they're well on the way). I expect to see this appearing at conventions quite a bit in the next few years.
He is out of date, they are into the 3rd level at this point.

I was part of that group! I teach an afterschool Pathfinder RPG program at a middle school in Berkeley CA, and 3 of my students joined in that adventure! We had a blast! My kids learned a lot about thinking smart and tactically and enjoyed the difficulty of the dungeon. They'd love to continue this in the East Bay, if anyone were to run it.

4/5 ****

max sklar wrote:
Wendy-Ann Francis wrote:
John Francis wrote:


We've had the first two levels of Emerald Spire run at Pacificon this weekend (well, the second level isn't quite complete yet, but they're well on the way). I expect to see this appearing at conventions quite a bit in the next few years.
He is out of date, they are into the 3rd level at this point.
I was part of that group! I teach an afterschool Pathfinder RPG program at a middle school in Berkeley CA, and 3 of my students joined in that adventure! We had a blast! My kids learned a lot about thinking smart and tactically and enjoyed the difficulty of the dungeon. They'd love to continue this in the East Bay, if anyone were to run it.

Send me a PM with your email and I'll see what I can do for you.

Dark Archive 4/5 5/55/5 ****

Uploaded a file with a brief PFS-based intro for the 1-2 repeatable portion of the dungeon to the PFS Prep site. Feel free to use/modify if interested.

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber
DrParty06 wrote:
Uploaded a file with a brief PFS-based intro for the 1-2 repeatable portion of the dungeon to the PFS Prep site. Feel free to use/modify if interested.

PFS Prep site? My GM ears are tingling

Grand Lodge 4/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Galnörag wrote:
DrParty06 wrote:
Uploaded a file with a brief PFS-based intro for the 1-2 repeatable portion of the dungeon to the PFS Prep site. Feel free to use/modify if interested.
PFS Prep site? My GM ears are tingling

Here. It's a wonderful resource.

Grand Lodge 5/5

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook Subscriber
Jeff Merola wrote:
Galnörag wrote:
DrParty06 wrote:
Uploaded a file with a brief PFS-based intro for the 1-2 repeatable portion of the dungeon to the PFS Prep site. Feel free to use/modify if interested.
PFS Prep site? My GM ears are tingling
Here. It's a wonderful resource.

Where has this been all my life :)

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

So there's no campaign mode for this?

Just strictly run and grind PFS per level play?

I'm not chasing extra sheets or anything, just the ability to play the whole environment and not just level-by-level chunks.

Paizo Employee 4/5 Developer

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Barker wrote:

So there's no campaign mode for this?

Just strictly run and grind PFS per level play?

I'm not chasing extra sheets or anything, just the ability to play the whole environment and not just level-by-level chunks.

There's no campaign mode, but there's nothing stopping you from incorporating the Fort Inevitable (or even Thornkeep) experience into the adventure. The group I'm playing through it with (for Pathfinder Society credit) has explored some of the fort, uses the campaign cards, and has received missions from local townspeople.

The two things that come to mind that the format does not allow are changing encounters (adding creatures to reflect more than four characters, for example) and limiting gear access.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

John Compton wrote:
Barker wrote:

So there's no campaign mode for this?

Just strictly run and grind PFS per level play?

I'm not chasing extra sheets or anything, just the ability to play the whole environment and not just level-by-level chunks.

There's no campaign mode, but there's nothing stopping you from incorporating the Fort Inevitable (or even Thornkeep) experience into the adventure. The group I'm playing through it with (for Pathfinder Society credit) has explored some of the fort, uses the campaign cards, and has received missions from local townspeople.

The two things that come to mind that the format does not allow are changing encounters (adding creatures to reflect more than four characters, for example) and limiting gear access.

So just straight up PFS character builds and run it per the book and give out sheets as they finish the levels?

Silver Crusade 4/5

Are the Quests required for PFS or just there to add to the flavor?

Dark Archive 4/5 5/55/5 ****

Hima Flametinker III wrote:
Are the Quests required for PFS or just there to add to the flavor?

The quests just add to the flavor, and they are a nice way to keep people interested from week to week running it through for PFS the entire way.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

DrParty06 wrote:
Hima Flametinker III wrote:
Are the Quests required for PFS or just there to add to the flavor?
The quests just add to the flavor, and they are a nice way to keep people interested from week to week running it through for PFS the entire way.

It makes it a little more than just a level grind - you get out of the dungeon a little and get to enjoy some of the other scenery provided by the nice people who write these modules.

Paizo Employee 4/5 Developer

DrParty06 wrote:
Hima Flametinker III wrote:
Are the Quests required for PFS or just there to add to the flavor?
The quests just add to the flavor, and they are a nice way to keep people interested from week to week running it through for PFS the entire way.

The quests are also a nice way to show how the many levels are connected from a narrative standpoint. I have played through the first four levels now, and using the quest cards has helped us understand how various levels' denizens interact and trace the path of another set of adventurers. It adds up to tell a neat story that we see a little more of with each level.

The Exchange 4/5 5/5

DrParty06 wrote:
Hima Flametinker III wrote:
Are the Quests required for PFS or just there to add to the flavor?
The quests just add to the flavor, and they are a nice way to keep people interested from week to week running it through for PFS the entire way.

I (and at least one other local GM) have been using the quests to get the players interested in discovering how all the levels tie together.

For example; after the party returned to Fort Inevitable celebrating their triumph over the goblinoid forces on the ground floor, a wizard visited them and asked for help in locating missing comrades who had also been exploring the Spire. Since then the parties have been searching for signs and asking anyone willing to talk for news of the two missing wizards. As of the 5th level, they have gotten confirmation that a pair matching that description was seen by at least one of the Spire's denizens and they are eagerly looking for more information.

Silver Crusade 4/5 Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Thread necromancy!

Was there any particular reason campaign mode wasn't made an option for this? My wife has decided she wants to run this for some members of our PFS group for credit, but she's nervous about what happens if characters start dying and we start losing people halfway through. Campaign mode would solve this, but doesn't seem to be an option for some reason?

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/5

Terminalmancer wrote:
Was there any particular reason campaign mode wasn't made an option for this?

Yes; see HERE.

Quote:
she's nervous about what happens if characters start dying and we start losing people halfway through.

You save up prestige and/or have an agreement (in or out of character) to always pool gold to bring people back from the dead.

Silver Crusade 4/5 Venture-Captain, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh

Matt Lewis wrote:
Terminalmancer wrote:
Was there any particular reason campaign mode wasn't made an option for this?

Yes; see HERE.

Quote:
she's nervous about what happens if characters start dying and we start losing people halfway through.
You save up prestige and/or have an agreement (in or out of character) to always pool gold to bring people back from the dead.

That's... disappointing. Oh well. Thanks.

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