Introducing the Curtain Call Player’s Guide

As a lifelong theatre kid, I cannot wait for Curtain Call! <3

I'm NOT a theatre kid, and this is exciting. The pure shenanigans that people are going to come up with...

Minor typo noted in the Player Guide: on page 12 under "Suggested Character Options," the last column header says "Skills," but the previous column has the same title and the text in the last column looks more like Feats or Archetypes.

Still, I'm really interested to see how this AP turns out! Might run my Abomination Vaults group through after they finish that adventure sometime this decade, haha.

Minor typo noted in the Player Guide: on page 12 under "Suggested Character Options," the last column header says "Skills," but the previous column has the same title and the text in the last column looks more like Feats or Archetypes.

That column should be labeled Archetypes.

Ooh this looks to be fun. I already have character concepts.

I was surprised that Yelayne wasn't mentioned in faith as she seems like a shoe in for a theater game :D

Ooh this looks to be fun. I already have character concepts.

I was surprised that Yelayne wasn't mentioned in faith as she seems like a shoe in for a theater game :D

Yelayne is a good choice in this campaign, particularly if you're looking to play a PC who leans into the costuming and special effects side of producing an opera. I didn't mention her because I didn't know about her; she's a new addition to the world. I probably should have done a deeper read through of Firebrands to mention some of these newer deities, but there's a LOT of theater-adjacent faiths represented in the Player's Guide (and thus the Adventure Path) so don't worry that we go light there!

Ooh this looks to be fun. I already have character concepts.

I was surprised that Yelayne wasn't mentioned in faith as she seems like a shoe in for a theater game :D

Yeah, similarly looks like a great spot for a worshipper of Marishi, The Festival Queen. (Like I need to make *another* one of those.)

In a Song Of Silver (Hells Rebels 4), the Bleakbridge was officially renamed to the Silver Span. I see that in the players guide it is once again called the Bleakbridge? Did the heroes that liberated the city fall out of favour? Why would they reverse the name change?

In a Song Of Silver (Hells Rebels 4), the Bleakbridge was officially renamed to the Silver Span. I see that in the players guide it is once again called the Bleakbridge? Did the heroes that liberated the city fall out of favour? Why would they reverse the name change?

That's an error. It should still be called "Silver Span" but, obviously, that's a bit of lore change that we've had a hard time keeping caught up on. (Fortunately, the location doesn't really play much of a role at all in the Adventure Path so that's not a big deal overall.)

vyshan wrote:

Ooh this looks to be fun. I already have character concepts.

I was surprised that Yelayne wasn't mentioned in faith as she seems like a shoe in for a theater game :D

Yeah, similarly looks like a great spot for a worshipper of Marishi, The Festival Queen. (Like I need to make *another* one of those.)

Also a deity I didn't remember/know about.

That said, my goal for the faith sections of all Player's Guide is to provide enough guidance of the hundreds of deities I AM familiar with that folks can make informed decisions like these as to whether newer or more obscure deities might fit into the storyline.

Minor typo in the blog:

While politicians maneuver complex plots and merchants work to secure new trade, it falls to a band of famous heroes fresh of a legendary adventure to bring what might be the Next Big Thing to the stage.

Should be off.

Brenden Falke wrote:

In a Song Of Silver (Hells Rebels 4), the Bleakbridge was officially renamed to the Silver Span. I see that in the players guide it is once again called the Bleakbridge? Did the heroes that liberated the city fall out of favour? Why would they reverse the name change?

That's an error. It should still be called "Silver Span" but, obviously, that's a bit of lore change that we've had a hard time keeping caught up on. (Fortunately, the location doesn't really play much of a role at all in the Adventure Path so that's not a big deal overall.)

Realistically, in the case of "a thing changed names" it's plausible that people will sometimes refer to that same thing using the old names. Like my local airport has two terminals whose names were changed in 2009, but I still think of them with the original names and Hell's Rebels was in 2015, IIRC so the people of Kintargo have had less time to adapt..

Minor typo in the blog:

Curtain Call blogpost wrote:

While politicians maneuver complex plots and merchants work to secure new trade, it falls to a band of famous heroes fresh of a legendary adventure to bring what might be the Next Big Thing to the stage.

Should be off.

Thanks we got that updated!

James Jacobs wrote:

Brenden Falke wrote:

In a Song Of Silver (Hells Rebels 4), the Bleakbridge was officially renamed to the Silver Span. I see that in the players guide it is once again called the Bleakbridge? Did the heroes that liberated the city fall out of favour? Why would they reverse the name change?

That's an error. It should still be called "Silver Span" but, obviously, that's a bit of lore change that we've had a hard time keeping caught up on. (Fortunately, the location doesn't really play much of a role at all in the Adventure Path so that's not a big deal overall.)

Realistically, in the case of "a thing changed names" it's plausible that people will sometimes refer to that same thing using the old names. Like my local airport has two terminals whose names were changed in 2009, but I still think of them with the original names and Hell's Rebels was in 2015, IIRC so the people of Kintargo have had less time to adapt..

Mumble mumble it's the Sears Tower mumble mumble.

PossibleCabbage wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

Brenden Falke wrote:

In a Song Of Silver (Hells Rebels 4), the Bleakbridge was officially renamed to the Silver Span. I see that in the players guide it is once again called the Bleakbridge? Did the heroes that liberated the city fall out of favour? Why would they reverse the name change?

That's an error. It should still be called "Silver Span" but, obviously, that's a bit of lore change that we've had a hard time keeping caught up on. (Fortunately, the location doesn't really play much of a role at all in the Adventure Path so that's not a big deal overall.)

Realistically, in the case of "a thing changed names" it's plausible that people will sometimes refer to that same thing using the old names. Like my local airport has two terminals whose names were changed in 2009, but I still think of them with the original names and Hell's Rebels was in 2015, IIRC so the people of Kintargo have had less time to adapt..

Mumble mumble it's the Sears Tower mumble mumble.

To say nothing of the Tappan Zee and Triboro Bridges. Which are definitely their names no matter what the signage says.

James Jacobs wrote:

Brenden Falke wrote:

In a Song Of Silver (Hells Rebels 4), the Bleakbridge was officially renamed to the Silver Span. I see that in the players guide it is once again called the Bleakbridge? Did the heroes that liberated the city fall out of favour? Why would they reverse the name change?

That's an error. It should still be called "Silver Span" but, obviously, that's a bit of lore change that we've had a hard time keeping caught up on. (Fortunately, the location doesn't really play much of a role at all in the Adventure Path so that's not a big deal overall.)

Realistically, in the case of "a thing changed names" it's plausible that people will sometimes refer to that same thing using the old names. Like my local airport has two terminals whose names were changed in 2009, but I still think of them with the original names and Hell's Rebels was in 2015, IIRC so the people of Kintargo have had less time to adapt..

While that's true... this is still a mistake that got overlooked by me during the creation of the Player's Guide. Things like this (with people having trouble with renamed locations, etc.) might bring a layer of verisimilitude to a setting, but they're confusing in the same way naming two NPCs the same name is confusing.

Glad to see Kintargo is on a definitive rise, despite the beliefs of *some* folks out there.

I see Kelimber got resurrected?

Yelayne would love her worshipers costuming an opera, and probably take care of the rest of the company, too boot!

The pantheon she's in, the Resplendent Court, would be a good fit for opera or operetta, too. (Especially if you're doing Gilbert and Sullivan.)

Some skill feats confirmed to be in Player core 2

Crafter’s Appraisal (Player Core 2 229, Crafting can be used to identify magical items! Better if identification skill feats can be applied, too.)

Dirty Trick (Player Core 2 229, not in AoN. Maybe rename of OGL skill feat?)

Acrobatic Performer (Player Core
2 226, Acrobatics in place of performance! Better if it can charge swash's panacea things.)

On page 18 the Hellknight Order of the Torrent is described as "a mercenary group". Even with the ensuing explanation that "rumors abound that they’re considering abandoning their affiliation with the decidedly Chelaxian order to embrace an entirely new set of virtues", that doesn't seem like an accurate description of them to me?

On page 18 the Hellknight Order of the Torrent is described as "a mercenary group". Even with the ensuing explanation that "rumors abound that they’re considering abandoning their affiliation with the decidedly Chelaxian order to embrace an entirely new set of virtues", that doesn't seem like an accurate description of them to me?

To a certain extent, Hellknights are all mercenaries. They're not an official part of any government.

Worship of Gorum is not recommended because his focus on est isn't appropriate for this campaign.

Oh, I'm sure that's the only reason. I see what you did there. wink

I'm honestly surprised all the theorist are not here making guesses about Gorum's death based on the player advice here.

In particular, the Lore sections and the deity suggestions seem like good areas to build predictions on. Looking at you Norgy, Zon.

SatiricalBard wrote:

On page 18 the Hellknight Order of the Torrent is described as "a mercenary group". Even with the ensuing explanation that "rumors abound that they’re considering abandoning their affiliation with the decidedly Chelaxian order to embrace an entirely new set of virtues", that doesn't seem like an accurate description of them to me?

To a certain extent, Hellknights are all mercenaries. They're not an official part of any government.

I suspect Lictor Sabinus would have a few stern words for you about such a sledge! :-)

With respect that is a very strange use of the word 'mercenary', defined in the dictionary as "one that serves merely for wages" or "hired for service in the army of a foreign country". I would have said that orders of knights bound by sacred oaths are the very opposite of mercenaries.

I suspect Lictor Sabinus would have a few stern words for you about such a sledge! :-)

With respect that is a very strange use of the word 'mercenary', defined in the dictionary as "one that serves merely for wages" or "hired for service in the army of a foreign country". I would have said that orders of knights bound by sacred oaths are the very opposite of mercenaries.

Hellknight Orders have been described as mercenary with respect to their employing states from word one of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting circa 2007 - 08, and this characterization was maintained in the Lost Omens Campaign Setting. How strongly affiliated with their orders individual Hellknights feel is somewhat beside the point. Any number of the White Company's employees felt quite strongly affiliated to it.

That said, it's news to me that the Order of the Torrent is "distinctly Chelaxian" when it has always been headquartered in Kintargo, when most of its (few) members are Ravounel citizens, and when its primary employer is the Ravounel state. The only sensical meaning appears to be "diabolically inspired" which is true of all Hellknights, and which makes the whole affair a mere branding exercise.

James, you knocked it out of the park with this players guide. Excellent stuff!

On a more serious note, I really really like those paragraphs on Lore skills, detailing which will come up a lot, which will come up a handful of times and which once or twice. I hope that stays in the Players' Guides in some form or other for future instalments

I'd like to second the appreciation on Lore Skills section. I also, would love to have this become a staple section going forward.

Tripling.

Did not read yet, but yes.

One less GM chore.

Quadroupling, I guess.
It's such a good idea i'm adding that into any player guides I make for my homebrew games in the future.

pH unbalanced wrote:

vyshan wrote:

Ooh this looks to be fun. I already have character concepts.

I was surprised that Yelayne wasn't mentioned in faith as she seems like a shoe in for a theater game :D

Yeah, similarly looks like a great spot for a worshipper of Marishi, The Festival Queen. (Like I need to make *another* one of those.)

Also a deity I didn't remember/know about.

That said, my goal for the faith sections of all Player's Guide is to provide enough guidance of the hundreds of deities I AM familiar with that folks can make informed decisions like these as to whether newer or more obscure deities might fit into the storyline.

Oh, no worries. There are a couple of Empyreal Lords that I have made it my solemn duty to bring up whenever they are appropriate, because *no one* remembers them. Marishi is one of those. (Although she got a writeup in Firebrands so now there is hope!)

I had a 1e PFS character whose entire shtick was using Perform (Comedy) untrained to tell jokes about Marishi.

Glad to see Kintargo is on a definitive rise, despite the beliefs of *some* folks out there.

Well I wasn't going to say anything, but having been called out. . .

To be sure, the population of Kintargo increased by twenty-eight percent, from 12,500 in 4719 to 16,000 in 4724. That is out of all proportion with the only known previous population increase, six percent from 11,800 in 4718-4715 to 12,500 in 4719. It is also now a level 12 settlement rather than the level 7 settlement it was in 4719 indicating improved productivity (never mind that it shouldn't, because small and poorly-developed economies doing free trade the way Ravounel has don't grow or develop, they are exploited by big economies and remain stagnant or shrink, but this is a fantasy world and the Manchesterists deserve some wish-fulfillment too).

This has, however, not been accompanied by a notable movement in the direction of democratic or popular government, rather the reverse. The Silver Council remains unaccountable to the people (the mayor is finally definitively confirmed to be an elected position, but this was already implied by In Hell's Bright Shadow), and if Xerysis is any indication one can simply buy a position, meaning co-optation is no longer even a matter of adherence to the revolution (sic.). The gazetteer stubbornly insists that not only has there been no redistribution of property (except that the Opera House has passed from the management of the Victocora family to that of Songbird Hall, which is probably a matter of private transaction rather than public policy), to the point that even House Sarini which isn't protected by being necessary to the Board of Governors the way its fellow traitor houses Tanessen and Delronge are, is permitted to survive and thrive. If anything the rich have gotten richer as property concentrates in their hands. Revitalization of the Arcadian trade (read: colonialism by another name) has allowed Sedranni Vashnarstill to rebuild Sunset Imports and her own personal fortune, for instance. Vespam Artisans has transformed from a cooperative as of 4715 to Vespasio's private property. New (or perhaps just newly-detailed) enterprises like Bernai Silver Company and Silver Suppers are exclusively private property. This is a notable contrast from the situation in 4719, where at least Cypress Point had made it a point to municipalize parts of its industry so that it could be controlled by and benefit the people.

Finally, it is worth noting that not only are the PCs are framed as management -- producers, financiers, and creative consultants -- rather than labor, but also that there is no reference to the possibility of the PCs, as management, having to bargain with their hired hands collectively. Nor is this the only evidence of weaker labor: Kohl Drakistus has gone from having to placate her workers with high wages and plentiful amenities to being able to do so through magic.

All of which is to say, the fundamental conservatism of Ravounel's presentation is anywhere from unaltered to reinforced in this Player's Guide and presumably in Curtain Call as a whole.

James Jacobs wrote:

SatiricalBard wrote:

On page 18 the Hellknight Order of the Torrent is described as "a mercenary group". Even with the ensuing explanation that "rumors abound that they’re considering abandoning their affiliation with the decidedly Chelaxian order to embrace an entirely new set of virtues", that doesn't seem like an accurate description of them to me?

To a certain extent, Hellknights are all mercenaries. They're not an official part of any government.

I suspect Lictor Sabinus would have a few stern words for you about such a sledge! :-)

With respect that is a very strange use of the word 'mercenary', defined in the dictionary as "one that serves merely for wages" or "hired for service in the army of a foreign country". I would have said that orders of knights bound by sacred oaths are the very opposite of mercenaries.

Fair enough. The Order of the Torrent has no real role in Curtain Call, in any event, so it's not that important in the context of this adventure path.

On a more serious note, I really really like those paragraphs on Lore skills, detailing which will come up a lot, which will come up a handful of times and which once or twice. I hope that stays in the Players' Guides in some form or other for future instalments

This is something I've been doing for all the Player's Guides I write. I'll see if I can get that method spread to other Player's Guides. Thanks for the feedback!

...mentioned Ravounel...

We obviously have different ideas on how to present Ravounel-based content. That's fine, but since I'm the creative director and developer of this Adventure Path, that does mean that if you choose to play Curtain Call you'll have more work to do to adjust my vision to match yours for the nation. Which is also fine... part of the reason we switched to doing 4 Adventure Paths a year is so that if one comes out that someone doesn't like or feels like it'd be too much work to run for their table, they won't have to wait long for the next one to come along.

Glad to see Kintargo is on a definitive rise, despite the beliefs of *some* folks out there.

Please don't bait folks like this. It derails threads and is just generally uncool to do.

VerBeeker wrote:

Glad to see Kintargo is on a definitive rise, despite the beliefs of *some* folks out there.

Please don't bait folks like this. It derails threads and is just generally uncool to do.

Of course, apologies.

Honestly, the big "where are they now" of NPCs is a better aide to me as someone who ran Hell's Rebels than any sort of campaign-specific advice. Thanks for that section! Thrilled to see that Nurla Botve is running around still, and has somehow gotten worse.

Honestly, the big "where are they now" of NPCs is a better aide to me as someone who ran Hell's Rebels than any sort of campaign-specific advice. Thanks for that section! Thrilled to see that Nurla Botve is running around still, and has somehow gotten worse.

Yes, that is helpful. One could, of course, also use the new NPCs in a Hell's Rebels campaign, whether to encounter or to flesh out supporters or teams.

My feather boa draped female half-elf wizard shall ENCHANT the audience with her MAGICAL singing voice! Eh? EH? Get it? YOU MAY LAUGH NOW! :D

This looks exciting. Could be a lot of fun.

Minor typo:
"The Silver Council is a lose association of Ravounel’s" should be "The Silver Council is a loose association of Ravounel’s"

In the section about "fleshing out what your adventure and nemesis had been like", is it just me or did the first option listed for most of them feel a LOT like Abomination Vaults? That's the only AP which I've actually read, so I don't know if the others are references to other APs.

In the section about "fleshing out what your adventure and nemesis had been like", is it just me or did the first option listed for most of them feel a LOT like Abomination Vaults? That's the only AP which I've actually read, so I don't know if the others are references to other APs.

They are actually written vague enough that it fit more than that one AP. xD But yeah.

Out of curiosity, where did the jump in Kintargo's population come from? Immigration from abroad? Immigration from other towns and cities in Ravounel? Immigration from the Ravounel countryside? A spike in the birth rate? A trough in the death rate? A combination (and if so, in what proportion did the factors contribute)?

After reading Curtain Call player's guide I was so excited, I convinced some of my writer friends to help me... Play Around! In this title we create new class options tuned for the Curtain Call adventure path. Sign up to be the first to hear all about it in early August.

Heck, we've only written for a quarter of them, so if anyone has any requests I'm open to a little audience participation.

Missed possibility: annexation of the city's outskirts (e.g., those shantytowns outside Rust and Nightways Gates).

Out of curiosity, where did the jump in Kintargo's population come from? Immigration from abroad? Immigration from other towns and cities in Ravounel? Immigration from the Ravounel countryside? A spike in the birth rate? A trough in the death rate? A combination (and if so, in what proportion did the factors contribute)?

Mostly immigration from folks who have escaped Cheliax. There's growth throughout Ravounel as a result of that.

There's still no explanation of Dirty Trick (Player Core 2 229)

What it does?

There's still no explanation of Dirty Trick (Player Core 2 229)

What it does?

I would check page 229 of Player Core 2 for that. Can't get it yet? Well, you can't get Stage Fright either, since it releases on the same day as Player Core 2.

We also don't know what the Champion causes of liberation, grandeur, or redemption are or do, so generally I would recommend reading Player Core 2 before finalizing characters for Curtain Call.