[Outpost VI] PFS1e Special: Bonekeep, Level 1: The Silent Grave

Game Master roll4initiative

An enemy of the Pathfinder Society recently found a hidden dungeon in a centuries-old siege fortress, but despite his best efforts to convert it into his base of operations, he failed. When a pair of Pathfinders encounter disaster while scouting out the entrance, the party must explore the first level of the dungeon to determine not just what attacked their comrades but also what dark power their nemesis nearly acquired.

Written by Jason Bulmahn.

Greetings, Pathfinders! Welcome aboard!

Now open for early GM Signups. General signups open on Feb. 10th, 2023.

This is the recruitment thread for the PFS1e Special, The Ruins of Bonekeep Level 1: The Silent Grave. For tiers 3-5.

This is somewhat First Come, First Served, however, if there are more than 6 players, I will possibly be choosing the players/PCs from the sign up posts here to ensure a well-balanced party composition. Also, be sure to read the warning in the Campaign Info section.

Those wishing to apply, please post your character name, class, level, and significant build/role information you would like me and the other players to know. Feel free to post a character in the different subtiers if you would like.

I would love to play this since it's offered so rarely. I've only got one PC in tier though, and she's the exact opposite of an optimised combat character. On the other hand, I never stress about characters dying and she's got enough PP for a body recovery and raise dead. On the third hand though, I don't want to take up a spot that diminishes the party's chances as a whole. So in sum: if you still have an open slot after everyone else has expressed interest, please send me a PM and I'll be glad to jump in.

Drukpa Marpo will throw his hat into the ring! He's a level 4 Bloodrager - frontline martial type - he's not crazy optimized but not too shabby either. Due to low AC (17 when bloodraging) he's probably pretty likely to die but I'm ok with that (and if we can squeeze two more prestige out of the scenario he'll have enough for a Raise Dead).

Note that I've played this before (though I don't remember the details) and would be using a replay so please give my spot to someone else if you have enough players who have never played it.

Thanks!

I have a Nagaji Gray Paladin that just got to level 3. I've toyed with multiclassing her as an Oradin or staying purely Paladin, so I can do either, based on what this party needs. Currently her Character Sheet shows the multiclass, but as she hasn't played yet since leveling up I can change that. She fights with a bardiche (reach, brace) or a morningstar. Gray Paladins don't have to be LG, and don't get Channeling.

I played this in a Core game at NostalgiaCon PbP with a very un-optimized cleric of Desna. Our group did quite well. We had a nice, well-rounded group; arcane, divine, utility, & tank. Just make sure you have a suite of utility items, spells, and whatnot to overcome the usual conditions and special abilities of various creatures.

Here is a good thread to peruse.

Be sure to check if you have any useful chronicle boons or items, too.

Every character of mine is either way over leveled or just barely underleveled, with maybe 1 character not updated. so I'm singing up with the level 4 pregen gunslinger.

ok..grimdog73 here..gonna throw my hat in the ring with my healbot..decent in combat, can handle undead...healing out the wazoo....and has a trick or two up his sleeve...got PP to spend if i get killed...gotta get some utility stuff...

Every character of mine is either way over leveled or just barely underleveled, with maybe 1 character not updated. so I'm singing up with the level 4 pregen gunslinger.

Unfortunately, I am not allowing pre-gens.

I have a Nagaji Gray Paladin that just got to level 3. I've toyed with multiclassing her as an Oradin or staying purely Paladin, so I can do either, based on what this party needs. Currently her Character Sheet shows the multiclass, but as she hasn't played yet since leveling up I can change that. She fights with a bardiche (reach, brace) or a morningstar. Gray Paladins don't have to be LG, and don't get Channeling.

I could also bring a 3rd level Elf Arcanist or a 4th level Undine Elemental (water) Sorcerer, if that would help with our party's composition. I won't mind if the sorcerer dies, but I'll be bummed if the arcanist does.

I could bring my 6th level wizard with his Earth Elemental combat familiar to allow players to bring their martial characters. That would still be PFS legal (playing down) but not within the 3-5 stated range so it would be up to the GM. He has a free body recovery boon if needed and enough gear to sell should he die.

Making a list of the current options.

Jhaeman (maybe?): Brawler/Monk 3
Drukpa: Bloodrager 3
Warah: Paladin 3 or Arcanist 3
Grimdog73: Cleric 5
MotW: Wizard 6

That's a nice group so far. However, APL is exactly 5.

Scenarios in Seasons 0 through 3 were designed for four characters. For these scenarios, if the APL is between subtiers, a party of six or seven characters must play the higher subtier. Parties with four or five characters must play the lower subtier.

Bonekeep was a Season 3 scenario.

Gonna give it a couple more days to see who else tosses their hat into the ring.

DoubleGold wrote:

Every character of mine is either way over leveled or just barely underleveled, with maybe 1 character not updated. so I'm singing up with the level 4 pregen gunslinger.

Unfortunately, I am not allowing pre-gens.

This post is one of many giving a reason why other GMs in the past didn't allow pre-gens.

Okay, understood. Thanks for letting me know in a timely manner.

@GM Roll4initiative - I think we have a little boo boo with the math there. 20 divided by 5 should be APL 4 which is very comfortably in the low tier range.

I think Drukpa is actually level 4 but that will not change anything at all. There is a lot of leeway here to remain low tier. :)

Yep, Drukpa is level 4. I just haven't updated his profile since leveling up.

@GM Roll4initiative - I think we have a little boo boo with the math there. 20 divided by 5 should be APL 4 which is very comfortably in the low tier range.

I think Drukpa is actually level 4 but that will not change anything at all. There is a lot of leeway here to remain low tier. :)

Oh, jeez. *Facepalm*

If Jhaeman wants in, I'm going to close recruitment at five players. If he doesn't want in, I'm going to do a call out for a rogue, bard, skill-monkey type to round out the group.

If any of you have a suggestion for a different class to join us, please post.

@GM Roll4initiative - Are we close enough to town to make use of spell casting services for multi-hour spells? The description in the module is too vague to know. :)

If Jhaeman does not decide to play then someone that can handle traps and fight would be ideal. I think that the party would be better served with an alchemist, a bard or an investigator than a rogue. It is build dependent of course but most rogues do not pull their weight. :)

Count me in. I can’t say no to instant obliteration :)

@GM Roll4initiative - Are we close enough to town to make use of spell casting services for multi-hour spells? The description in the module is too vague to know. :)

I'm gonna have to say no on that. It's roughly a 7-8 hour journey to the ruins anyway.

If Jhaeman does not decide to play then someone that can handle traps and fight would be ideal. I think that the party would be better served with an alchemist, a bard or an investigator than a rogue. It is build dependent of course but most rogues do not pull their weight. :)

Jhaeman is in!

Recruitment is closed!

I'll get gameplay & discussion set up so you all can do some PC intros and roleplay until we start on March 6th.

Making a list of the current options.

Jhaeman (maybe?): Brawler/Monk 3
Drukpa: Bloodrager 3
Warah: Paladin 3 or Arcanist 3
Grimdog73: Cleric 5
MotW: Wizard 6

Since we have a 6th level wizard, I'm going to bring my Paladin, Eka.

I have a Nagaji Gray Paladin that just got to level 3. I've toyed with multiclassing her as an Oradin or staying purely Paladin, so I can do either, based on what this party needs. Currently her Character Sheet shows the multiclass, but as she hasn't played yet since leveling up I can change that. She fights with a bardiche (reach, brace) or a morningstar. Gray Paladins don't have to be LG, and don't get Channeling.

By the way, I was leaning towards going pure Gray Paladin for Eka's 3rd level, rather than multiclassing into oracle, since we have Therin to be our heal bot.

Do we have anyone trained in Disable Device? If not, I could put a skill point there. The moral ambiguity of knowing such skills wouldn't bother her. Eka's Dex is only 14, but that might be better than nothing.

Thoughts?

@Eka - Sure go for it. Your character is low enough level to get good use out of the point spent in Disable Device.

I did a quick look for spells or items to help with disable device and came across Aram Zey's Focus, which is pretty cool.

It a 2nd level spell with the range of personal. So it is very useful for an alchemist or bard to buff themselves to be able to disable magical traps but cannot be cast as a buff to aid other characters. :)

In a pinch a character can try to UMD a scroll of this spell if they are so inclined.