Thoughts on the 4 upcoming APs?


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TRDG wrote:


1. Strange Aeons

2. Ironfang Invasion

3. Ruins of Azlant

4. Starfinder AP ?

1. Strange Aeons: #1 for me and the AP I have most anticipated. Love mythos fiction, love horror in general, and this AP seems to combine some really nifty ideas (starting off as a patient in an asylum) with some cool expansion beyond the Inner Sea (Dreamlands, Parchlands, Carcosa). Plus plenty of special non-ogl Chaosium monsters

2. Ironfang Invasion: Tied for #2 with Ruins of Azlant. Hobgoblins are some of my favorite "monster" races, as their combination of intelligence, organization, power, and sanity gives them a threat potential not really present in most of the other traditional monster races. So an AP that fleshes them out is pretty cool.

3. Ruins of Azlant: See above for ranking. Really interested in this in the sense that it will flesh out another new region of Golarion (really hoping for an Azlant CS book from this), hopefully provide a lot more info on the Aboleth, and looks to be trying some innovative stuff.

4. Uhh? I will almost certainly buy the hardcover, but as yet there is zero info on what the first AP is even about (Science fantasy is kind of...broad topic), so I have no idea if I will subscribe or not. It's also going to be dependent on my financial situation. Two AP subscriptions adds up fast

To give some context, I will most likely keep my Pathfinder subscription for the next three APs. I however did cancel it for Mummy's Mask (seems to have too much dungeon diving), Giantslayer (theme just didn't grab me at all), and Hell's Vengeance (Not really fan of AP's with the default assumption everyone is evil...just not interested in delving into villainy and seeing what players can come up with as evil bastards).

Paizo Employee

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This is a tough one for me. I'd probably go...

4. Ironfang Invasion manages to come in last. Hobgoblins are my favorite of the humanoids, because they're so different from the others, smarter than humans and relatively civilized... more like fighting Rome than the barbarians. It coming in last says more about the coolness of the others.

3. Ruins of Azlant is something we'll probably end up playing. My spouse loves the fantasy archeology that underlies APs like Runelords and Shattered Star, so it'd be weird if I didn't GM this.

2. Starfinder, although the first AP isn't formally announced, is something I'm pretty excited to try or at least see where they're going with it. What is the baseline AP for science fantasy (like Runelords is for traditional fantasy)? I'm looking forward to finding out.

1. Strange Aeons... I already have players throwing their names in for Strange Aeons, despite the fact that I won't be starting it until the sixth book comes out. The Mythos is near and dear to my heart, so my only real concern is that the AP will be too *me*, if that makes sense.

Cheers!
Landon


Sundakan wrote:


Hobgoblins are my favorite "classic" monsters, and sadly under-utilized, so Ironfang sounds cool. Seriously why is a race that combines many of the most intimidating traits of other monsters into one (regimented discipline of devils, hordes like Orcs, tricksy like goblins) barely used?

For what it's worth, Hobgoblins are my favorite villain race too; and a legion of Hobgoblins were the antagonists of the first campaign I ran.

They were worshippers of Moloch. I figured this was appropriate since Hobgoblins and Moloch have the same portfolio (Evil, lawfulness, and warmongering). They had pact-bound devils serving in their army and lorded over goblin/bugbear mercenaries. Basically, this legion of Moloch were the enemies for the majority of the campaign.


I too really like Hobgoblins too, although I don't necessarily default them to evil, and their society is modeled after the Peacekeepers from Farscape.


(Suddenly has vision of Hobgoblins in Space.)


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Hobgoblins should be all about Pax Imperium^^


1. Ironfang Invasion. Though hobs arent my favorite humanoids to use, I'm loving the war torn backdrop and I've been dying to know more info on Molthune and Nirmathas. Also, the bestiaries should have quite a few fey in them, which is my personal favorite creature type. Im hoping that the blighted fey of Fangwood show up during the AP.

2. Ruins of Azlant. Another area I've been curious about. New underwater rules sound cool. Hoping aboleths play a major role in the AP as we have very little info on them as well.

3. Strange Aeons. I am a Lovecraft fan and I am digging the amnesia for the characters but I'm not sure I could convince the power gaming walking genocide that is my regular group to surrender their character's origins right away.

4. I am very excited for Starfinder but until we get more info this is going to rest at the bottom.


If the Ironfang Invasion is more akin to Greyhawk (specifically Turrosh Mak and the Orcish empire of the Pomarj invading), it'll be epic.

What I mean is that I want to see ALL the goblinoid, orcish, etc., races represented as part of this massive horde, even if it's led by a super hobgoblin.
If this is indeed the case (and with the CotCT coming), I might have to look into resubbing.


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Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Ironfang Invasion is the one I look forward to the most of these. I like the classic fantasy D&D feel of this, so this is #1 for me.

Ruins of Azlant is up there too. I love reading and learning about the history of various settings, so getting to learn more about Azlant should be great.

Strange Aeons looks as interesting to me as the Cheliax APs, and by that I mean I have no interest in this at all. The whole Lovecraft crap just doesn't interest me in the least, and seeing that this has all kinds of Lovecraft influence just makes this an instant pass for me. Lovecraft, Cthulhu, and the whole "insanity" schtick is just (in my opinion only) stupid. I never understood why putting tentacles on things (aberrations seem to be the biggest one) suddenly makes my mind shatter into insanity, yet it doesn't happen when I look at octopi or squids. But hey, people seem to really like that junk, so glad they are getting something. It just isn't my cup of tea.

As for Starfinder, I have no opinion on it. I don't know anything about Starfinder, so I can't say one way or another if this is good or not to me.


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Strange Aeons doesn't use Insanity Checks. It just has the group starting off with amnesia and not knowing who they are or what much of their past is as a result of meddling from their ex-boss.

Community & Digital Content Director

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Removed a handful of derailing/personally abusive posts.


I've been lukewarm on a whole pile of Adventure Paths for a while.

Iron Gods: I don't like sci-fi in my fantasy settings in this way, but I kept the subscription because I did intend to do something like Starfinder eventually, and wanted the tech stats.

Hell's Rebellion: *yawns* Bored me, but I was mostly hoping I'd find something I could use in it. Read some of the story, and forgot it. Nearly cancelled subscription afterward.

Hell's Vengeance: An Evil adventure path and a bloody year in Cheliax, which I've never liked as a nation. I kept the subscription up until just before the final volume, hoping to at least get a good bunch of Good NPCs for various games. I found them mostly worthless, so I cancelled the subscription just in time for...

Strange Aeons: If I wanted to play with Lovecraft I'd play Call of Cthulhu. But I don't play that game. I don't hate Lovecraft's mythos, but I don't like it in fantasy, so I cancelled. Those of you who enjoy it? Good for you! Not for me.

Ironfang Invasion: I played through Red Hand of Doom and ran it once, so I don't have any interest in this at all. I honestly want a Kyonin or 5 Kings Mountain AP of some variety, not hobgoblins, so not coming back for this.

Ruins of Azlant: Don't like aboleths. They often feel to me like Lovecraft by another name. So nope, done. Paizo's probably not getting me back in the main Adventure Path line after 3 years of adventure paths that I honestly don't care about.

Starfinder: I'm very interested in this! But if it's bloody Dominion of the Black, ala what was in Valley of the Brain Collectors, I'm buying the core rulebook and dropping the subscription like a live coal.

Liberty's Edge

When I first heard about Ironfang I had no interest in it. Luckily for me a friend of mine got a little excited about it due to the promise of wilderness style adventuring and how that can open up some fun character options. Now I can't wait to play it. Only thing now is to find a GM open to eccentric character ideas.

Liberty's Edge

My Rankings are below:

1. Ruins of Azland: I am big fan of lore from lost civilizations. I also like underwater adventures as well. Aboleth are also a favorite monster type for me as well. We have not really had an underwater series yet so that will be different as well.

2. Strange Aeons: I enjoyed adventures in Ravenloft from 3.5 so this definitely has my interest. I know that the adventure path is more Lovecraft and less gothic but the style should be interesting.

3. Starfinder AP: My interest in this will depend on how much I enjoy the rules and setting.

4. Ironfang Invasion: My interest in this is limited. I have been in quite a few wilderness adventures so this needs a bit more of a hook for me.


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Adjule wrote:

Strange Aeons looks as interesting to me as the Cheliax APs, and by that I mean I have no interest in this at all. The whole Lovecraft crap just doesn't interest me in the least, and seeing that this has all kinds of Lovecraft influence just makes this an instant pass for me. Lovecraft, Cthulhu, and the whole "insanity" schtick is just (in my opinion only) stupid. I never understood why putting tentacles on things (aberrations seem to be the biggest one) suddenly makes my mind shatter into insanity, yet it doesn't happen when I look at octopi or squids. But hey, people seem to really like that junk, so glad they are getting something. It just isn't my cup of tea.

As for Starfinder, I have no opinion on it. I don't know anything about Starfinder, so I can't say one way or another if this is good or not to me.

I think it more like an 'aura' the various creatures have. Perhaps like radiation or a psychic attack that bends the area around it and a human mind can't withstand what it is experiencing.

The alien magic is actually science and trying to comprehend means going from a-b-c-d to a-qe-supercalfragalicous

Shadow Lodge

Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder PF Special Edition Subscriber

Strange aeons and ruins of azlant first
Ironfang next, but I'm playing in giantslayer at the moment though.
Starfinder I'll decide on once I see the rules and flavour.

I love aeons because I'm a huge lovecraft fan and so far it hasn't disappointed. Looking forward to running this one!

As for azlant, the idea appeals to me because I'm a long time fan of the Aboleth, as has been stated before they are also very lovecraftian. Plus some time ago in 2013 I gave some thought to an AP involving
azlant and under water goodness


Adjule wrote:
Strange Aeons looks as interesting to me as the Cheliax APs, and by that I mean I have no interest in this at all. The whole Lovecraft crap just doesn't interest me in the least, and seeing that this has all kinds of Lovecraft influence just makes this an instant pass for me. Lovecraft, Cthulhu, and the whole "insanity" schtick is just (in my opinion only) stupid. I never understood why putting tentacles on things (aberrations seem to be the biggest one) suddenly makes my mind shatter into insanity, yet it doesn't happen when I look at octopi or squids. But hey, people seem to really like that junk, so glad they are getting something. It just isn't my cup of tea.

Sounds to me like you're running into the biggest problem a lot of people have with regards to adapting Lovecraftian mythos to the game world - the horror is not that you have aberrations with tentacles - the horror comes from the idea that there is something beyond the human capacity for understanding, that breaks our conceptions of how reality works, and recontextualizes us into a space in which our individual purpose is meaningless compared to these other begins.

...which to be honest, really tends not to work well in an RPG context.

That being said!

Strange Aeons: I have been following this as a subscriber as each one came out. The first and third modules have been amazing, while the second and fourth modules feel like padding to me. Not bad padding, but padding. It really needs to sell me on the endgame still.

Ironfang Invasion: Not... super excited about to be honest. It sounds like generic fantasy fare after having 4 APs that deviated pretty heavily from that. I will look it over, but it will probably be on my backburner over running CotCT.

Ruins of Azlant: So, I think they have said it will be extensively underwater (something like 2/3rds?), so I am really looking for something that will make being underwater not be a giant pain in the butt to run. The concept is interesting enough, but it could also go very, very wrong. We will see!

Starfinder: I'll be honest. I see the appeal to adapting Pathfinder to a space fantasy setting, but I think it is tough to convince me that I should not just run another game over it. If I want fantasy in space, Star Wars has a long history and a certain fan appeal. If I want to run hard science, I have Eclipse Phase. I will probably look at this, but I do not see me running it.


Ruins of Azlant sounds like it's right up my alley. Lost civilizations! Exploration! History!

Ironfang Invasion sounds pretty typical high fantasy fare, but that's ok because I like that sort of thing.

Strange Aeons: Horror is not really my thing, but it looks to have an interesting story. I'd like to play it eventually.

Starfinder we do not have enough details on for me to have an opinion. It also depends on how the game mechanics work out.


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Loving Strange Aeons.

I hope The Ironfang Invasion isn't more of Giantslayer.

Ruins Of Azlant is very intriguing.

I cannot wait for Starfinder, everything I've heard or seen about it only causes my yearning to grow and fester... Or is that Strange Aeons again...


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Zip it and hand over the keys to the starship!

Liberty's Edge

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Ready to strap the caster to the helm and get my spelljammin' on!


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I was looking forward to running Strange Aeons, but a couple of my players are vehemently against it. Ironfang sounds cool, though I'm not sure about the Azlant one underwater stuff. I suppose it could be OK, as my Sunday crew did enjoy the underwater temple in Giantslayer book 3.

We will instead be doing Hell's Rebels on Saturdays and Curse of the Crimson Throne on Sundays, but both are a ways off pending completion of Mummy's Mask (just finishing book 4, Saturdays) and Giantslayer (just finished book 3).


I suppose they didn't like Iron Gods either. :-)

Acquisitives

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
taks wrote:

I was looking forward to running Strange Aeons, but a couple of my players are vehemently against it. Ironfang sounds cool, though I'm not sure about the Azlant one underwater stuff. I suppose it could be OK, as my Sunday crew did enjoy the underwater temple in Giantslayer book 3.

We will instead be doing Hell's Rebels on Saturdays and Curse of the Crimson Throne on Sundays, but both are a ways off pending completion of Mummy's Mask (just finishing book 4, Saturdays) and Giantslayer (just finished book 3).

Hell's Rebels has its share of underwater stuff as well.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Yeah, but not 2/3 of the entire AP. New rules could change my mind, however.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Hey, I'm open to the idea of underwater, just not convinced. I was never really a fan of heavy outdoor stuff, either, which would likely push Iron Fang down the list, but we had a lot of fun with the boat ride and Minderhal's Valley in GS, and I'm looking forward to Skirgaard beginning this Sunday.

I read the first book of Strange Aeons and loved it, which is why I put it first, I just don't have any support.

Starfinder... just not my thing.


copies and pastes Benjamin Medrano's post

Just remove the "nearly" from "nearly cancelled subscription after" Hell's Rebels. With the glut of Cheliax, evil/villain, and Mythos content spilling over into the other lines, I also wound up cancelling the rest of my subs. Coincidentally, I didn't play much Pathfinder this year.

I want to love Ironfang, but that's because I really just want a module or AP set in a nasty war between relatively mundane forces, with sticky ethical problems and consequential decisions that aren't easily solved through combat, or really any game mechanics. Like a story where the PCs' victories are the reason why good people die, and they have to carry those consequences to the bitter end.

Kingmaker can eventually get there, but it rides hard on the kingdom building aspect (which doesn't appeal to everyone), then veers into the First World. Hell's Rebels gets there quickly, then veers into Hell. Jade Regent flirts with it toward the end, and Skull & Shackles kind of goes there but in a much smaller and more mercenary way, but neither really goes all-in.

Nirmathas and Molthune are ideal for a brutal war story—an unstoppable expansionist, an immovable resistance, lots of innocent and unprepared people in the muck, less arbitrary chaos than Galt, less Cheliax than a Cheliax-Andoran war, and enough surrounding instability for things to get very bad, very quickly—but

Spoiler:
even in the store previews, and even ignoring the hobgoblins taking over the war, the best existing dynamics in the Nirmathas-Molthune conflict are all but nuked by the end of the second or third issue, right before the war angle turns into a superweapon race that pulls the PCs away from the front.

It sounds like even if a meaty war story is part of the AP, it'll take a back seat to mowing down goblins/hobgoblins/morlocks/duergar/Darklands critters/fey/awakened plants/obligatory Mythos foes awkwardly wedged into the fourth chapter "horrors from deep below".

Very little interest in playing or running Ruins of Azlant due to the inevitable Mythos angle, but the related lore stuff will hopefully be cool to read.

I'm cautiously interested in Starfinder. I'm iffy on the setting but excited to see the game design.

Dark Archive

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Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Ya know, I've just realized that quite many D&D/Pathfinder seem to like low fantasy quite a lot ._.

I mean, like, I don't think D&D based stuff has ever been very gritty or less fantastic, so I'm bit confused where all those low fantasy fans come out of


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CorvusMask wrote:

Ya know, I've just realized that quite many D&D/Pathfinder seem to like low fantasy quite a lot ._.

I mean, like, I don't think D&D based stuff has ever been very gritty or less fantastic, so I'm bit confused where all those low fantasy fans come out of

For me it's been there since first edition. The books gave the impression magic should be super rare (even if the modules were laughably generous) so that's the way we played.

We haven't really changed our style since then, even when playing systems with a much greater expectation of magic-item-as-commodity.

Silver Crusade

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
CorvusMask wrote:

Ya know, I've just realized that quite many D&D/Pathfinder seem to like low fantasy quite a lot ._.

I mean, like, I don't think D&D based stuff has ever been very gritty or less fantastic, so I'm bit confused where all those low fantasy fans come out of

Looking at official D&D settings, Greyhawk is one that's significantly less power-infused than Forgotten Realms.

So is Lankhmar. And if we're invoking the word "gritty", there's Dark Sun.

Besides, D&D started off as gritty, deadly (Wizards with 1 hp) sword and sorcery system about morally dubious tomb raiders. It only became high fantasy elves vs. orcs affair when Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance took off. Pathfinder aims its nostalgia more at Greyhawk and early D&D days, less at the R.A. Salvatore/Hickman'n'Weiss era.

Dark Archive

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Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Gorbacz wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:

Ya know, I've just realized that quite many D&D/Pathfinder seem to like low fantasy quite a lot ._.

I mean, like, I don't think D&D based stuff has ever been very gritty or less fantastic, so I'm bit confused where all those low fantasy fans come out of

Looking at official D&D settings, Greyhawk is one that's significantly less power-infused than Forgotten Realms.

So is Lankhmar. And if we're invoking the word "gritty", there's Dark Sun.

Besides, D&D started off as gritty, deadly (Wizards with 1 hp) sword and sorcery system about morally dubious tomb raiders. It only became high fantasy elves vs. orcs affair when Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance took off. Pathfinder aims its nostalgia more at Greyhawk and early D&D days, less at the R.A. Salvatore/Hickman'n'Weiss era.

Pathfinder is pulp fantasy though, isn't Greyhawk more classic?

Anyway, I wouldn't say D&D started off as gritty though, from stories it sounds more like it started out as hilariously frustrating(make a character, it takes a long time, start playing, die in first encounter). Like I think Runequest is more gritty sort of thing, whats with health model being based on "Well if you get hit in head, you are pretty much dead" instead of just points.

Silver Crusade

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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
CorvusMask wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:

Ya know, I've just realized that quite many D&D/Pathfinder seem to like low fantasy quite a lot ._.

I mean, like, I don't think D&D based stuff has ever been very gritty or less fantastic, so I'm bit confused where all those low fantasy fans come out of

Looking at official D&D settings, Greyhawk is one that's significantly less power-infused than Forgotten Realms.

So is Lankhmar. And if we're invoking the word "gritty", there's Dark Sun.

Besides, D&D started off as gritty, deadly (Wizards with 1 hp) sword and sorcery system about morally dubious tomb raiders. It only became high fantasy elves vs. orcs affair when Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance took off. Pathfinder aims its nostalgia more at Greyhawk and early D&D days, less at the R.A. Salvatore/Hickman'n'Weiss era.

Pathfinder is pulp fantasy though, isn't Greyhawk more classic?

Anyway, I wouldn't say D&D started off as gritty though, from stories it sounds more like it started out as hilariously frustrating(make a character, it takes a long time, start playing, die in first encounter). Like I think Runequest is more gritty sort of thing, whats with health model being based on "Well if you get hit in head, you are pretty much dead" instead of just points.

What's "classic" when it comes to fantasy? Is it Tolkien, or Howard?

And as much as I respect Glorantha, a campaign setting with Howard the Duck race can be anything but not gritty.


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Yes the ducks sort of did it in for me also and was one of the first cases of me banning a core idea from my home game.
MDC

Dark Archive

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Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Gorbacz wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:
Gorbacz wrote:
CorvusMask wrote:

Ya know, I've just realized that quite many D&D/Pathfinder seem to like low fantasy quite a lot ._.

I mean, like, I don't think D&D based stuff has ever been very gritty or less fantastic, so I'm bit confused where all those low fantasy fans come out of

Looking at official D&D settings, Greyhawk is one that's significantly less power-infused than Forgotten Realms.

So is Lankhmar. And if we're invoking the word "gritty", there's Dark Sun.

Besides, D&D started off as gritty, deadly (Wizards with 1 hp) sword and sorcery system about morally dubious tomb raiders. It only became high fantasy elves vs. orcs affair when Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance took off. Pathfinder aims its nostalgia more at Greyhawk and early D&D days, less at the R.A. Salvatore/Hickman'n'Weiss era.

Pathfinder is pulp fantasy though, isn't Greyhawk more classic?

Anyway, I wouldn't say D&D started off as gritty though, from stories it sounds more like it started out as hilariously frustrating(make a character, it takes a long time, start playing, die in first encounter). Like I think Runequest is more gritty sort of thing, whats with health model being based on "Well if you get hit in head, you are pretty much dead" instead of just points.

What's "classic" when it comes to fantasy? Is it Tolkien, or Howard?

And as much as I respect Glorantha, a campaign setting with Howard the Duck race can be anything but not gritty.

What is this heresy, duck race is the best race :D


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Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Well i´m a big fan of Dark Sun and a more gritty and low magic approach here and there would be something i appreciate. That doesn´t have to mean that PCs are stripped of agenda or can´t do awesome stuff anymore, only defeating physics and logic as well as daily needs becomes a lot more harder and the respective ingame resources more valuable.
Everyone and their adamantine this and that standard with their mithril underwear carrying around the tome of all spells ever heard of with no concern about what consequences their actions have on the world is slowly becoming too comic like for me.

I certainly hope for Ironfang Invasion having you make some tough decisions about the fate of people there etc.


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Since I have moved to Oregon, I think I would have a hard time banning the duck's in a game here.
MDC


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

I think you guys have strayed.


Strange Aeons- Sounds Great.

Ironfang Invasion - No interest, cancelling subscription

Starfinder - no interest

Azlanti - no interest

It seems after Paizo kept me interested in their products and AP's since 2009 the magic has worn off.

I love real world history and AP's that had real world themes are always interesting to me. None of the above products have those themes. I do like horror so Strange Aeons sounds great, but the rest are 'blah' for me.

Liberty's Edge

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At least Azlanti brings us kind of close to Arcadia where the next ones SHOULD BE GOING!!!!!

Acquisitives

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
J-Bone wrote:

At least Azlanti brings us kind of close to Arcadia where the next ones SHOULD BE GOING!!!!!

please, Paizo, never, ever, ever, take an AP beyond the shores of Arcadia.

Silver Crusade

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Yakman wrote:
J-Bone wrote:

At least Azlanti brings us kind of close to Arcadia where the next ones SHOULD BE GOING!!!!!

please, Paizo, never, ever, ever, take an AP beyond the shores of Arcadia.

Wouldn't that loop back into Tian-Xia?


I'd rather see what's going on with Vudra or Kalesh (sp?)


Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

One of the next AP´s should be an awesome Tian Xia only AP. PFS scenarios are setting a good example there and showing how awesome locations and background for Tian Xia are.

Perhaps it might even be a supreme idea after the launch of Starfinder to do something similar with Tian Xia, even if it´s only quarterly or every half year. As long as it´s meaty enough story and fluff-wise to give enough roleplaying potential, there´s a sure customer here.


J-Bone wrote:

At least Azlanti brings us kind of close to Arcadia where the next ones SHOULD BE GOING!!!!!

I seriously don't understand the appeal of Arcadia. What is so exciting about it? What do we know so far about it?

There are enough places left to explore in the Inner Sea Guide, so you don't need to purchase another campaign book, which probably wouldn't do justice to a whole continent. Arcadia also doesn't tie in to any of the big storylines, which have been setup so far (which isn't necessary, but I prefer those).

Most importantly for me though (which certainly doesn't apply to everyone) is that it's great to have big blank slate, which is (mostly) untouched so far, to run from time to time my own ideas, without having to go a different world. Sometimes I just don't find the right spots in the Inner Sea Guide to run certain ideas, so I can always just move them to Arcadia.

Silver Crusade

Gratz wrote:
J-Bone wrote:

At least Azlanti brings us kind of close to Arcadia where the next ones SHOULD BE GOING!!!!!

I seriously don't understand the appeal of Arcadia. What is so exciting about it? What do we know so far about it?

Next to nothing. Which is why it's so appealing. Also fantasy Americas analogue.


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Hyato Ken wrote:

One of the next AP´s should be an awesome Tian Xia only AP. PFS scenarios are setting a good example there and showing how awesome locations and background for Tian Xia are.

Perhaps it might even be a supreme idea after the launch of Starfinder to do something similar with Tian Xia, even if it´s only quarterly or every half year. As long as it´s meaty enough story and fluff-wise to give enough roleplaying potential, there´s a sure customer here.

I am pretty sure that despite the loud cries from some forum members, the Asian-themed products Paizo has published so far have tended not to sell all that well.

For example, I'm not all that interested in Tian Xia, and waited until Jade Regent was over before I started my AP subscription. (I have since picked it up in the aftermarket, mainly for the sake of completing my AP collection.) Honestly, I prefer keeping Ameiko in Sandpoint, so the events of Jade Regent have never occurred in my version of Golarion.

I think that a problem with developing Tian Xia specific material is that it puts Paizo in a position of effectively supporting two campaign worlds. The Tian Xia fans would snap up that material while eschewing the materials focusing on the Inner Sea, while the Inner Sea fans would mostly aviod the Tian Xia stuff. That splits your customer base, effectively making your company its own competitor! According to Lisa Stevens, that's what killed TSR: People who played in Greyhawk pretty much never bought Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, or Eberron products. I know I didn't!

I had been worrying about exactly that with Starfinder, but I have a theory about that: Paizo is losing market-share in the heroic fantasy market to WotC with the runaway success of D&D 5e. It's good business strategy to be an early strong entrant in a new market area. Science-fantasy gaming has little competition in its space right now, and the current buzz in the space are from products already supporting Pathfinder. (Specifically, Robert Brookes' Aethera Campaing Setting and Legendary Games' Legendary Planet Adventure Path, both for Pathfinder.) You have to go back to TSR's Spelljammer for D&D 2e for a major game set in that area!


Haladir wrote:


I had been worrying about exactly that with Starfinder, but I have a theory about that: Paizo is losing market-share in the heroic fantasy market to WotC with the runaway success of D&D 5e. It's good business strategy to be an early strong entrant in a new market area. Science-fantasy gaming has little competition in its space right now, and the current buzz in the space are from products already supporting Pathfinder. (Specifically, Robert Brookes'...

Odd - I've always found that there are plenty of options for that kind of gaming. GURPS, RIFT, Star Wars, Warhammer 40k, Shadowrun, Space: 1889, Torg, Numenara...

There are plenty of options in that space and the people in my gaming group that love them... man they love them - and they plan to buy starfinder - but ... we'll see. The adventures are what would sell me on that system - and as of yet I've not seen good ones published.

Paizo has a good track record in that regard - if they manage to launch a new system because of the AP line (which is frankly what would happen) I will be impressed. So in a way I do agree with you - there is room in that space for something that has great adventures - but a rules system isn't what's missing, it's just the glue needed to hold the adventures together.

That last part is what we need to remember for Pathfinder - and I'm hopeful we see that considering the last couple of hardcover books seem to be less rules crunch and more interesting stuff - although I wonder if there is a 'need' to have two hardcovers a year at this point - on that point I'm unconvinced.


I have to agree with the previous poster. The Star Wars role playing game is #1 in the science fiction market and Paizo is very unlikely to over take them. But I think what Paizo is doing is taking advantage of their popular game mechanics to get the hard core supporters to purchase more books and possibly get people to reverse into the fantasy game. They are a business and they need revenue streams to keep afloat.


We still know more about Arcadia then we do about Sarusan.


If Acadia is native american themed I would be interested in a AP that goes there.

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