Iammars |
There are a few tools and design variations that appear in this scenario that we're testing out. These won't necessarily become the norm, but Linda and I are interested in hearing whether these are easy to use, helpful, and something you might want to see more in the future. Specifically, #9-07 uses a skill DC table that has appeared in past multi-table interactive specials, which assigns an Easy, Average, and Hard DC value for each level range. This scenario also provides a few GM reference handouts that summarize who certain NPCs are and which past Chronicle sheets the players have might factor into the scenario. Although I don't plan on including these handouts in anything but very canon-heavy adventures, I would like to hear how we can make them as useful as possible for GMs.
Well, I am interested. I'll have to run that one at some point in the near future.
Nefreet |
Hmm. I signed up to play Salvation of the Sages at an upcoming Con, but since I don't have a Tier 7-11 character in that Faction I just signed up with my current favorite.
Should I wait until one of my lower level characters reaches that Tier instead? If an entire Blog is referencing how big a deal this is, it makes me want to hesitate.
But on the other hand I probably won't have a Scarab Sages character in Tier for quite some time (best bet is my 5th level CORE Cleric).
MadScientistWorking Venture-Lieutenant, Massachusetts—Boston Metro |
Hmm. I signed up to play Salvation of the Sages at an upcoming Con, but since I don't have a Tier 7-11 character in that Faction I just signed up with my current favorite.
Should I wait until one of my lower level characters reaches that Tier instead? If an entire Blog is referencing how big a deal this is, it makes me want to hesitate.
But on the other hand I probably won't have a Scarab Sages character in Tier for quite some time (best bet is my 5th level CORE Cleric).
If you have played Unseen Inclusion you can kind of tell how dire of a situation it is. Its pretty horrifying.
Also, I know what that bird is. Grandmother deity is the best deity.
Ferious Thune |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Salvation of the Sages sounds like a good scenario to take my currently Scarab Sages, formerly Lantern Lodge character to 12th level. I got to play Of Kirin and Kraken with him to revisit his Lantern Lodge days. Those two as his last two regular scenarios would fit. He also played the Destiny of the Sands series and Anchient’s Anguish. I could have sworn I played Beacon Below with him, too, but I don’t see it reported for him. I might have switched to a different character based on party need. I know I’ve played that one, at any rate.
I’m also a little bummed my now 8th level character that’s encountered Valais twice won’t be able to participate in 9-06. But she’s Exchange (former Sczarni), not Silver Crusade, and spent most of the time insulting Valais, only to feel bad about it later when Valais saved her life. But not too bad.
Zykon Gibbs |
"..."
The tengu crossbow expert and investigator squints a few times at the mission briefing, then scratches the feathers on the back of his head before turning to other jobs for the Society, hoping Valais meets a decent enough end given the situation.
This character was in both previous Valais installments, but is unable to do the next one, unfortunately.
Ferious Thune |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |
I figured it out. He wasn’t in tier when I played Beacon Below. That one is on my other former Lantern Lodge character (now retired/level 12, and Sovereign Court). Clearly the solution is to GM Beacon below and assign it to him slow track, then play Salvation of the Sages slow track for retirement.
EDIT: I could afford to burn another star, like I did with Kraken. Assuming I can find Beacon running online somewhere. Heads off to check the Aethercon schedule.
“I’m burning up a star just to say goodbye.“ (Now I’m sad)
Ascalaphus Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden |
andreww |
I figured it out. He wasn’t in tier when I played Beacon Below. That one is on my other former Lantern Lodge character (now retired/level 12, and Sovereign Court). Clearly the solution is to GM Beacon below and assign it to him slow track, then play Salvation of the Sages slow track for retirement.
EDIT: I could afford to burn another star, like I did with Kraken. Assuming I can find Beacon running online somewhere. Heads off to check the Aethercon schedule.
“I’m burning up a star just to say goodbye.“ (Now I’m sad)
I love Beacon Below and am always happy to run it if you have a group interested in playing.
It isnt on the Aethercon schedule as far as I know.
Quenly |
Ferious Thune wrote:I figured it out. He wasn’t in tier when I played Beacon Below. That one is on my other former Lantern Lodge character (now retired/level 12, and Sovereign Court). Clearly the solution is to GM Beacon below and assign it to him slow track, then play Salvation of the Sages slow track for retirement.
EDIT: I could afford to burn another star, like I did with Kraken. Assuming I can find Beacon running online somewhere. Heads off to check the Aethercon schedule.
“I’m burning up a star just to say goodbye.“ (Now I’m sad)
I love Beacon Below and am always happy to run it if you have a group interested in playing.
It isnt on the Aethercon schedule as far as I know.
You can count me in if you're running Beacon Below, Andrew :)
Tarracon, perhaps?
andreww |
andreww wrote:Ferious Thune wrote:I figured it out. He wasn’t in tier when I played Beacon Below. That one is on my other former Lantern Lodge character (now retired/level 12, and Sovereign Court). Clearly the solution is to GM Beacon below and assign it to him slow track, then play Salvation of the Sages slow track for retirement.
EDIT: I could afford to burn another star, like I did with Kraken. Assuming I can find Beacon running online somewhere. Heads off to check the Aethercon schedule.
“I’m burning up a star just to say goodbye.“ (Now I’m sad)
I love Beacon Below and am always happy to run it if you have a group interested in playing.
It isnt on the Aethercon schedule as far as I know.
You can count me in if you're running Beacon Below, Andrew :)
Tarracon, perhaps?
I am off to a con this afternoon, I will try and list something when I am back.
Ferious Thune |
Quenly wrote:I am off to a con this afternoon, I will try and list something when I am back.andreww wrote:Ferious Thune wrote:I figured it out. He wasn’t in tier when I played Beacon Below. That one is on my other former Lantern Lodge character (now retired/level 12, and Sovereign Court). Clearly the solution is to GM Beacon below and assign it to him slow track, then play Salvation of the Sages slow track for retirement.
EDIT: I could afford to burn another star, like I did with Kraken. Assuming I can find Beacon running online somewhere. Heads off to check the Aethercon schedule.
“I’m burning up a star just to say goodbye.“ (Now I’m sad)
I love Beacon Below and am always happy to run it if you have a group interested in playing.
It isnt on the Aethercon schedule as far as I know.
You can count me in if you're running Beacon Below, Andrew :)
Tarracon, perhaps?
Thanks!
Leathert |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A lot of Society Adventure players seem to be kinda miffed that "The Shores of Heaven" is Tier 1-5.
You can count me as one of those. The character I wanted to take to a gig in Heaven has just leveled to level 6. All those delicious RP opportunities gone.
On a more general level, it is a bit odd choice to continue two 3-7s with a 1-5,but knowing nothing about what's actually in the scenario, I cannot really theorize on why.
Fromper |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Berselius wrote:A lot of Society Adventure players seem to be kinda miffed that "The Shores of Heaven" is Tier 1-5.You can count me as one of those. The character I wanted to take to a gig in Heaven has just leveled to level 6. All those delicious RP opportunities gone.
Yeah, my Infiltrator Inquisitor of "Pharasma" *COUGH*Norgorber*COUGH* would have loved the challenge of trying to hide his secret in that environment. Unfortunately, he's up to level 7, so he doesn't qualify.
But I do have a level 5 Silver Crusader that I haven't played in nearly two years who could be a lot of fun for that one. He's a CG Gnome Prankster Bard. He doesn't fit in with the Crusade in the typical way. He heard they wanted to make the world a better place, so he signed up, but his idea of making the world better has more to do with spreading laughter than smiting evil.
MadScientistWorking Venture-Lieutenant, Massachusetts—Boston Metro |
Berselius wrote:A lot of Society Adventure players seem to be kinda miffed that "The Shores of Heaven" is Tier 1-5.You can count me as one of those. The character I wanted to take to a gig in Heaven has just leveled to level 6. All those delicious RP opportunities gone.
On a more general level, it is a bit odd choice to continue two 3-7s with a 1-5,but knowing nothing about what's actually in the scenario, I cannot really theorize on why.
It's actually fairly common in recent years. Season 7 had one plotline that literally said to be continued by some other character of yours. Said plot line also was related to this one making it even weirder. Eight had one that flip flopped adventure order. And nine has the record of continuing plotlines started in season 1. The only one to really progress in a timely and logical fashion were the gloomspires.
Ascalaphus Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden |
Berselius wrote:A lot of Society Adventure players seem to be kinda miffed that "The Shores of Heaven" is Tier 1-5.You can count me as one of those. The character I wanted to take to a gig in Heaven has just leveled to level 6. All those delicious RP opportunities gone.
On a more general level, it is a bit odd choice to continue two 3-7s with a 1-5,but knowing nothing about what's actually in the scenario, I cannot really theorize on why.
Actually Shores is continuing a 3-7 followed by a 5-9, not two 3-7s in a row.
Hmm Venture-Captain, Minnesota |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I Gmed it the weekend! It was a delightful sojourn in heaven for my players, with lots of yummy roleplay. I think it might have been appropriate to make this one higher tier storywise, but I got to see the joy of discovery in the eyes of two brand new players, each playing a level one character in PFS for the very first time. Watching them tackle the weirdnesses of heaven and of the ever charming Valais, and the enthusiasm that they brought to the task — so worth it.
Hmm
thistledown Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area North & East |
Hmm Venture-Captain, Minnesota |
Alexander Augunas Contributor |
I wrote a review for Shores of Heaven here. Tl;dr it's easily in my Top 10 PFS scenarios of all time, with a strong contender for the #1 spot.
Alexander Augunas Contributor |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
I Gmed it the weekend! It was a delightful sojourn in heaven for my players, with lots of yummy roleplay. I think it might have been appropriate to make this one higher tier storywise, but I got to see the joy of discovery in the eyes of two brand new players, each playing a level one character in PFS for the very first time. Watching them tackle the weirdnesses of heaven and of the ever charming Valais, and the enthusiasm that they brought to the task — so worth it.
Hmm
I think this is actually the strongest reason why Shores of Heaven works as a low-level scenario. You need to make your new players feel like they're playing an awesome fantasy RPG if you want to keep them coming back, and if all of the low tier 1–5 scenarios are, "Bring me a Bottle of Wine from my favorite tavern," you're not going to keep those people.
Unguarded but Unbroken and Shores of Heaven (with the latter strongly resembling the former in design and pacing) break that expectation and allow new players to experience the high fantasy elements of Pathfinder, and that's pretty refreshing.