Year of the Sky Key

Monday, June 16

PaizoCon 2014 is less than a month away, and traditionally that convention debuts the thrilling conclusion of one season of Pathfinder Society Organized Play and lays the groundwork for the exciting story arc that begins a month later at Gen Con . The Pathfinder Society is poised to march to Jormurdun, a lost dwarven Sky Citadel, but several of their sworn enemies have taken it upon themselves to claim the prize first. Of course, we can't let that happen, so gear up to tackle some major campaign villains at PaizoCon! On Friday evening, we're also doing a test run of "Legacy of the Stonelords," one of the upcoming season's two Special adventures.

What season is that, you ask? Well, no doubt you've seen this blog's title already. Nonetheless it's our pleasure to announce that Season 6 of Pathfinder Society Organized Play is the Year of the Sky Key, which kicks off this August at Gen Con Indy!

The Pathfinder Society team has really enjoyed reading the speculation about the upcoming season. For several years we've tied the season's theme to the Adventure Path that debuts at that year's Gen Con, as we did with "Jade Regent" and the Year of the Ruby Phoenix, "Shattered Star" and the Year of the Risen Rune, and "Wrath of the Righteous" and the Year of the Demon. To an extent this is also true for the Year of the Sky Key, which borrows from the technological theme of the "Iron Gods" Adventure Path; however, the scope is different this time around.

It's hard to deny Numeria's appeal and intrigue. For years we've received inquiries on the messageboards, questions during convention panels, and requests in person for more information about Numeria, and based on a blog post earlier this year, the organized play campaign is no exception to this phenomenon. The bounty of new books about Numeria and its technology provide some great adventure ideas that might inspire a few scenarios this year. So that's it, then—a year of robots, laser guns, and cybernetic prostheses? No, that's one of the Year of the Sky Key's many charms. Not everyone likes sci-fi peanut butter in the fantasy chocolate, and we respect that. What's more, introducing a glut of advanced technological gadgets in the campaign would impact the many adventures that precede (and likely those that follow) Season 6 in unintended ways. One can only imagine the havoc a particularly trigger-happy Pathfinder could inflict with a nuclear resonator or gravity rifle.

We have several adventures planned that deal with Numeria and its past, including the three scenarios set to debut at Gen Con. You'll find that many of these adventures don't take the PCs directly into Numeria, but they do involve the rare piece of technology smuggled out of that nation, the Technic League, and the sites influenced by Numeria's alien treasures. That said, we've made a conscious decision not to tie this season to its neighboring Adventure Path so closely for another important reason: it allows us to return to long-neglected lodges and reinforce the Pathfinder Society's founding goal—the recovery of lost knowledge and ancient treasures. During the Year of the Sky Key, Pathfinder agents will have numerous opportunities to return to places the campaign hasn't touched in years. Are you excited to see more of Qadira, Katapesh, the Mwangi Expanse, the Land of the Linnorm Kings, the Shackles, and Tian Xia—including whatever became of the thriving Lantern Lodge? Us too!

In the weeks leading up to the new season's debut, we'll be sharing more details about faction developments, the revised Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play, and a few other surprises that we're really eager to announce. In the meantime, check out the Year of the Sky Key's new logo.

Seeing the popularity of the Season 6 scenarios, as well as some of the favorites from Season 5, we've adjusted the number of tables available at Gen Con for nine of the 10 slots, and more tickets are now available for those popular events that were sold out. Finally, John will be appearing on the Know Direction podcast on this Wednesday, June 18th.

Happy gaming,

John Compton and Mike Brock
Developer and Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator

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Tags: Pathfinder Society
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The Exchange 4/5 5/5

Quote:
One can only imagine the havoc a particularly trigger-happy Pathfinder could inflict with a nuclear resonator.

I can assure you that - should it exist - such a device would not be initiated by me as long as you are all dutiful in performing your obediences to Asmodeus. I further deny that such a device was "accidentally" left in Skyreach under a permanent invisibility spell.

Now, begin the prayers!

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

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Thanks for putting the Logo in the Blog!

I requested the same in the past, but still would love to see the Logo for the current season either added to the Blog or the Community Package.

The Exchange 4/5 5/5

While I like me some spaceships, mass drivers, and open-terminus singularities in my reading material, I am glad the campaign has chosen to go this way!

Going back to some of the earlier areas will be a great blast for a lot of the long-time players. My only disappointment is that it is unlikely any of my characters who played the earlier scenarios will be able to participate (as they will have most likely leveled out of range).

Liberty's Edge 5/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Return to Tian Xia! Bring it on!

3/5

I have this strange image of a successful UMD or Disable Device check ending in a message spell to the activator saying "Sky Key validation successful. Sky Net activated and now online. Anti-Connor protocols initiated."

... on a more serious note, looking forward to seeing what's been going on in Tian Xia with the Lantern Lodge.

-TimD

Grand Lodge 4/5

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

Awwwwwwww yeaaaaaaaaaaah!

Silver Crusade 4/5

4 people marked this as a favorite.

My sylph sky druid should be very happy with the Year of the Sky. What's the word "key" doing there?

So am I the only one who saw that logo and thought we needed to hire Daniel Jackson to figure out how to activate it?

Grand Lodge 5/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

So this logo. I like it. Much better than the season 5 one. No offense meant, but I hated it.

This one is pretty cool though.

So...

Red Ring of Death jokes. And....GO!

3/5

Sounds good!

Little disappointed there won't be lightsabers and space ships though.

Liberty's Edge 4/5

It will be good to sssee noble Venture Captain Amara Li again. It hasss been too long sssincse I have been back to my native continent, Tian Xia. Not sssincse I helped her broker that deal with the Way of the Kirin.

5/5

5 people marked this as a favorite.

I'm hoping my suggestion at last year's GenCon VC dinner of a certain buried dig site in the Mwangi Expanse will materialize into something.

"We can't stop here. It's giant demon ape country."

4/5

Yeah, the name of this thing being the "Sky Key" is interesting. It raises the question of what unlocks. Maybe the Elves are not the only race with a bunch of magical teleportation devices around.

Sczarni 4/5 RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

1 person marked this as a favorite.

The logo for the new season looks great! Much nicer than the ugly Year of the Demon logo. (I mean, I get that it's a demon, so it's *supposed* to be ugly, but the new one is much easier on the eyes.)

Methinks I will have to pick up a new PFS T-Shirt :-)

Scarab Sages 4/5 RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Yay! You linked my Year of the Robot? thread! I feel special!

Season 6 sounds pretty exciting. Thanks for sharing this info Mike & John.

Shadow Lodge

Wait, so we have a stargate now?

Liberty's Edge 5/5

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Starfinder Superscriber

Whelp, so much for Season 7 being "Year of the Murderhobos with Gatling Lasers"

Shadow Lodge 2/5

Damn I didn't realize gencon events were on sale already! Does anyone know if more tables are going to be added to the season finale special? It's still showing them as sold out and I really want to get in some games in between actually running them.

Scarab Sages 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Washington—Spokane

Looking forward to the new season.

3/5 RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16

doc the grey wrote:
Damn I didn't realize gencon events were on sale already! Does anyone know if more tables are going to be added to the season finale special? It's still showing them as sold out and I really want to get in some games in between actually running them.

They've maxed out the physical space already.

Scarab Sages 4/5 RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I would guess that Sky Key may refer to the Sky Citadel of Jormurdun in some way.

Grand Lodge 4/5

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

That was what I took from it. Hopefully my bonuses to rolls in Sky Citidels will come in handy!

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *

This is truly exciting. I am really looking forward to Season 6!

Silver Crusade 5/5

This is good news. The logo is strong, with bountiful green encircling the uncaring steel. The green will contrast well with the pink sheen of the robots I will be battling. It shall symbolize taking the fight to the robots, in their fortified lands or abroad, wherever they may roam.

I look forward to exploring the lands my father knew as a child under the direction of Amara Li. I have heard much of her victories, and it will be good to serve such a strong leader from such a wondrous city.

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

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Dylos wrote:
Wait, so we have a stargate now?

Pssh, we already have a stargate.

Silver Crusade 2/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Well, the Necrons will be happy.

Liberty's Edge 5/5

Will be interesting what the metaplot looks like with such wide ranging missions. Similar to season 2?

5/5 5/55/5 *

Dylos wrote:
Wait, so we have a stargate now?

Actually we got one in season 3.

5/5 5/55/5 *

XperimentalDM wrote:
Dylos wrote:
Wait, so we have a stargate now?
Actually we got one in season 3.

Damn, ninja'd.


I understand and support the decision not to Iron Godsify Season Six Year of the Sky Key. And this from a diehard Numeria fan. But also a non PFS-conversant customer. I was looking forward to, for the first time getting PFS Scenarios, and getting them all at that. I still might. ;)

But did it have to be dwarves? :(

Grand Lodge 5/5

We've had a stargate since Riddleport was introduced...

5/5 5/55/55/5

Blech. Olives in the chocholate...

Silver Crusade 5/5

3 people marked this as a favorite.

I'm one of those people who doesn't like sci-fi peanut butter in my fantasy chocolate. I would be quite unhappy if players showed up with nuclear resonators and gravity rifles. I don't even like gunslingers. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with playing with gravity riffles, in a fantasy setting it just isn't my cup of tea. There is plenty of room for everyone.

I understand that there will be a few scenarios that touch on Numeria which I am not so excited about. However I am excited about the society returning to its roots of recovering lost knowledge and magic. It will be nice to return to Qadira, Katapesh, the Mwangi Expanse, the Land of the Linnorm Kings, the Shackles, and Tian Xia— to see what is going on there.

I really liked the year of the shadow lodge, the Year of the Ruby Pheonix, and the Year of the Demon. I really like wrath of the righteous and I have enjoyed those scenarios dealing with the world wound the crusaders, and the war to contain the Demons.

So If there is a theme I am not overly thrilled with that's ok. While admittedly, I was more excited about Mummy's Mask then the Iron Gods, I still plan to buy and read the Iron Gods adventure path and the books that go with it. Who knows I might even like it. The writers at Paizo more often then not have pleasantly surprised me.

Silver Crusade 4/5 5/5

So does this mean that gravity rifles are a thing now?

The Exchange 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

This is the first bit of good news I've seen about season six! Thanks for assuaging my fears of sci-fi overrun.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

1 person marked this as a favorite.
XperimentalDM wrote:
Dylos wrote:
Wait, so we have a stargate now?
Actually we got one in season 3.

If you're talking about traveling to other planets, look one season earlier.

Paizo Employee Developer

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Roga wrote:
So does this mean that gravity rifles are a thing now?

Is it August yet?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
BigNorseWolf wrote:
Blech. Olives in the chocolate...

I know. I just can't stand dwarves in my fantasy either. ;)

"Seriously" though, It's just a little numeria, BNW. Take your fantascite daily and get plenty of rest, PFS will soon be back to normal...


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Roga wrote:
So does this mean that gravity rifles are a thing now?

We have Gravity Bow, and Rifles, it's only a matter of time.


When can I get my season Six T-shirt? Will it be some color other than black?

Any Chance all this hullabaloo will get us a completely separate Sci-fi rules set?

Maybe a largish module that narrowly skates around properties owned by the Buroughs' Estate?

A Goat can dream, can't he?

Grand Lodge 4/5

Another voice here cheering for Pathfinders warping back to Tian Xia. That place is awesome.

Sczarni 2/5 RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16

OK, so now I just need to study up on Numeria so that the first scenario I GM can be as immersive as the first time Alex Greenshields told us about Kaer Maga...

5/5 5/55/55/5

6 people marked this as a favorite.

We get six clones for these scenarios right?

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Just like in every other scenario, BNW. Her name is "Kyra".

Scarab Sages 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Netherlands

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Aw yiss! Tian Xia!

3/5 Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I want a shirt with a big copy of that symbol on it!

5/5 5/55/55/5

Oceanshieldwolf wrote:
BigNorseWolf wrote:
Blech. Olives in the chocolate...
I know. I just can't stand dwarves in my fantasy either. ;)

*backfoot headscratch* How are dwarves not fantasy? They've been a staple of fantasy since the vikings.

Quote:
"Seriously" though, It's just a little numeria, BNW. Take your fantascite daily and get plenty of rest, PFS will soon be back to normal...

Sure, you say that now. Wait till the kensai Luke is using a "psionic spear blade" (light saber would be copy-write infringement) because of his "its in the trunk" chronicle sheet boon...

Scarab Sages

This all sounds really awesome!! Cant wait.


Well, at least we don't have the Red Ring of Death yet.

Sovereign Court 4/5

I'm psyched about this, and to be honest I think having this season be Numeria themed-adjacent is the best way to go with this season and please both sides of the fence. I'm interesting to see a return to roots too.

The Exchange 5/5 5/5

Taco looks forward to seeing Honorable Amara Li once again. Taco also looks forward to not hearing awful barbarous western tongue grate upon his delicate ears. Taco have plenty of opportunity to impress upon barbarous westerners the importance of Swan Boat on long journey to civilized lands. Taco is doubtful Taco's fellow Pathfinders will learn anything while exposed to glorious sights, sounds, and history of Tian Xia. Taco can dream though. sigh...

Also, Taco must neeeds talk to Amara Li about adopted Qadiran Lodge. Ugh, not go well.

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