Digging Deep, Branching Out

Monday, December 16, 2013


Illustration by Jon Hodgson

Part of what initially attracted me to Pathfinder Society Organized Play was the archaeological background, which resonated with my academic training and love of traveling abroad. Playing scenarios that explored ancient structures, visited dig sites, or required the PCs to understand a foreign culture made me really get what the Pathfinder Society was all about, so when I began writing support material as a volunteer—in particular the convention boons for Season 4—I made sure to highlight some of the archaeological feel in boons such as Expedition Manager.

Let be honest, though. Even though archaeology has an alluring mystique and can be both enjoyable and rewarding, its virtues don't always translate well in a four-hour time slot. Perhaps one day I'll develop an engaging, short challenge that features the joys of excavation and systematic discovery without boring the socks off of the players. A developer can dream!

Well, let's instead take a look at that other feature of Pathfinder Society: travel. With about 40 countries in the Inner Sea region alone, there's a lot to take in and explore—and only so many scenarios each season to see it all. Ever since Season 3, we've focused on a particular part of the world and explored it in depth. What we haven't done quite as much as a result is travel widely to less understood, less frequented locales to explore, report, and cooperate.

I'm feeling the itch to send Pathfinders to a few exciting places, and I would love to hear your feedback about what regions deserve more attention. Have you always wanted to travel to an island in the Shackles? How about a return to Jalmeray? Does Lastwall call to you? These could be places we've visited before but haven't seen for a long time, or they could be places where no PC Pathfinder has ever set foot.

John Compton
Developer

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Tags: Jon Hodgson Pathfinder Society
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4 people marked this as a favorite.

I am always willing to see more adventures set in Ustalav :DD

Sovereign Court 1/5

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Arcadia!

4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

The First World! (alternately, for somewhere "on Golarion", Nithveil in the Land of the Linnorm Kings would be intriguing)

Grand Lodge 1/5

Iblydos! ^_^ I have long wanted to submit a scenario (or 3 part series) set in Iblydos... Hmmm, have to read up on the scenario submission rules... OR I could just make it to the upper echelons of the RPG Superstar! ;p

3/5

I've always been a fan of adventures in Absalom, and of course Taldor.

-Matt

Paizo Employee 5/5 Managing Creative Director (Starfinder)

6 people marked this as a favorite.

Shadow Absalom.

Those Onyx Alliance chaps need a whoopin'.

Lantern Lodge 5/5 *

4 people marked this as a favorite.

I'll also toss in a vote for Jalmeray; Vudra also ranks up there.

Finally, something to do in Alkenstar would be an interesting touch (especially with the new module)

Grand Lodge 4/5

6 people marked this as a favorite.

The Tengu nation of Kwanlai! We need a scenario in the city of Whistling Swords!


Pathfinder Rulebook Subscriber

Southern Taldoran ruins (from one of the many invasions) or perhaps an island like Hermae (though preferably one that the dragon abandoned do to people not being up to par).

Liberty's Edge 5/5

5 people marked this as a favorite.

Numeria or sargava

4/5 5/5 Venture-Lieutenant, Finland—Tampere

Vudra, definitely.

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

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Geb, Land of the Dead. I've been there once, and although I only die twice, I'd love to visit twice as well.

Alkenstar. I think a visit to this technologically advanced place would give the Pathfinder's a run for their money. It would also be great for the NPCs to have the firearms for a change, as we have yet to see a gunslinger NPC in PFS.

Worldwound. While I think Season 5 will have this covered, a demon infested wasteland is just a glorious proposition for future Pathfinders.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I would really enjoy more details on Brevoy.

Sczarni 3/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Nidal: Most of the factions would be well served to strengthen ties with this nation or advance their agendas in a country that works hard to keep themselves seperate and seemingly uninvolved with Inner Sea politics. One of the few areas able to trace their lineage back to before Earthfall, what knowledge and treasure may be found within Nidal's borders?

Plus, Kytons!

Scarab Sages 5/5

5 people marked this as a favorite.

I always wanted to go on an expedition to Azlant. Maybe find some cool lost magic akin to a wayfinder or something, maybe even battle some fish like thing in the depths of the Ocean.

Grand Lodge 1/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Lands of the Linnorm Kings. There's got to be something the Pathfinder Society is interested in among the wood of the Grungir Forest. Maybe the Blackravens could use help or something.

Dark Archive 2/5

6 people marked this as a favorite.

I'll second Alkenstar. As a place of weird magic and dead magic, but advanced tech, it seems like the Pathfinder society has been loathe to head out there to explore it. Plus, I know some GMs would like to get guns in the hands of their NPCs to give players a taste of their own medicine.

Numeria, though I hear rumors that's going to be next season anyway.

More adventures through Irrisen would be cool too.

Oh, and Hermea. The pathfinder society might be vey interested in this little dragon run country and what secrets it might be hiding.

Scarab Sages 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I know it was the purpose of Season 3, but I always felt that Tian Xia has only had the tip of the iceburg touched upon.

I also would like to see some more of the 'rumored' places like Azlant and Arcadia dealt with in more depth.

Liberty's Edge 1/5

Galt!


4 people marked this as a favorite.
DonKeebals wrote:
Arcadia!

100% behind Arcadia. IT's a whole other friggin' continent!


Some more Society scenarios in Ustalav or Katapesh would be great.

Sovereign Court 3/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Tirisfal wrote:
I am always willing to see more adventures set in Ustalav :DD

This a thousand times

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Time travel into the past. If you can't find the evidence you're looking for in the ruins of a city, travel back to a time when that city was still flourishing. What could be simpler?

--

I'll go on the record that, if we go to Arcadia, I want it to be a big deal. Give us enough background and information that we really feel like we've arrived in something special.

--

Allow me to generalize. I would vote for "almost anywhere, so long as we get to spend some time there and experience what makes it rock." Let's compare "Pallid Plague" with "Stolen Heir". The newer adventure really gets at the heart of Andoran in a way that fighting cultists of Urgathoa doesn't. (Many of the later Season 0 scenarios suffered from this: cool settings, not exploited.)

I mean, it would be a shame to go into Alkenstar and do some normal Pathfinder things, in a normal Pathfinder way, except that some of the bad guys have rifles.

Now, some scenarios aren't going to be about the wider locale, and that's fine. But to answer the question, what places would I like to see: it doesn't matter so much as that I get to see it!


Sarusan! But we'll forget everything on the way back...

4/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

This past month the Grand Lodge was abuzz as Venture-Captain Eliza Petulengro came to Skyreach with a red-skinned regal looking woman who wore strange clothing and carried a red-tinged sword. Rumors say that the pair came to the Decemvirate with news of grim events and a request for assistance.

Teron Markosa, a merchant of Korvosa has been posting requests for help in finding his son who went on an expedition into the Mobhad Leigh and has not returned or contacted him. He fears that he may not have made it due to the Shoanti tribes in the area or perhaps something worse has befallen him.

A Keleshite man calling himself Azzan, High Daivrat of the Five Winds has claimed that a being of great terror is rising from the Pale Mountain. He has come to Absalom to see if the society will help him in ensuring this being stays in its prison.

2/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Tian Xia!

Silver Crusade 3/5

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Raptor Island in the Shackles.

5/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

+1 to John's idea of going to the shackles, though with there already an Adventure Path about Pirates, 1 or 2 scenarios would suffice for me.

Mwangi Expanse: This place is a treasure trove of artifacts, ancient ruins, and unique indigenous creatures. Hell, the Pathfinders already have a lodge there! With a gauntlet maze! ;-) Would love to see some gorilla warfare-esque scenarios with the aspis (who have a base nearby), the pathfinders and the creatures of the expanse!

Brevoy: This area is CRAWLING with political intrigue and problems. There are so many different areas the Pathfinders could explore and relationships the society could use to bolster their pocketbooks.

Crown of the World: Because...The North Pole!

1/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Numeria, to coincide with the upcoming adventure path. And maybe a boon to be able to play an android.

Or how about deep into the unexplored regions of the Mwangi Expanse that leads to a final showdown with Ruthazek, the Gorilla King of Usaro.

Grand Lodge

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I'll jump on the band wagon for Arcadia. I mean come on, its the great unknown. That would be some real pathfinding. If we do go to Arcadia, I would like to do it before they release a splat book on it. That way there is some real surprise to it. Each place will be a true adventure, not us predicting what will come next because we've read up on locations and NPCs.

Liberty's Edge

Anywhere with unique environments. I went through all the scenarios hunting for adventures set in swamps for my Swamp Druid, and I found maybe three? There are tonnes and tonnes of Urban and Underground mods - I want to see more in the other biomes!

Sczarni

I don't get the chance to play many scenarios, but have we explored the realm of the mammoth lords yet? I also feel experiencing the area is greater than basic pathfinder exploration. And can we get away from the b.s. tie in to the adventure paths? If I wanted to explore those areas I would play the AP.

5/5

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Let's go back to Kaer Maga!

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

18 people marked this as a favorite.

How about any of the dozen or so places we all got boons for and then never saw again? ;)

Grand Lodge 4/5

5 people marked this as a favorite.
FallofCamelot wrote:
Raptor Island in the Shackles.

YES! We MUST have our 'Jurassic Park' scenario.


Exploration and/or survival horror on Eox?

Silver Crusade 5/5

I would kill for a chance to adventure in numeria, galt, geb, and nex. Mainly numeria. Also wouldn't mind an adventure in nidal.

Dark Archive 3/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I would like to see an elf gate story...dealing with their reactivation, or perhaps even their deactivation...or further understanding them, and this arc taking you to various locations, some ruined, some vibrant...like the Mordant Spire, or the forgotten reaches of some nameless forest where elves no longer tread.

Also, an adventure dealing with a caravan traveling through the Osirion lands...perhaps during the migration of the great caravans when the Sun Orchid Elixir is transported...maybe even being the ones to transport it, once.

3/5 RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16

3 people marked this as a favorite.

The Mana Wastes - I'd love to pit my cleric against the crazy magic stuff going on there.

Alkenstar - Another vote for NPCs with guns.

The Sodden Lands - You know, there are all kinds of rules for weather effects; I'd like to see them used once in a while, instead of all the scenarios happening in perfectly clear weather.

Numeria - Mmm, spaceships.

Realm of the Mammoth Lords - I need a good roleplay reason for my future Mammoth Lord PC to get a huge celestial elk.

Crown of the World - Yeah, a habitable North Pole is just cool.

Hermea - Just so I can cast detect evil on Mengkare and finally prove James Sutter wrong.

4/5 ****

I love playing in adventures in exotic locations when the GM goes through the extra effort of familiarizing themselves with the local flavor and have figured out good ways to impart said flavor.

Prepping most adventures already takes me about 8 hours and I'm loathe to spend more to have to learn about exotic civilizations and such.

That said there's plenty of adventures to GM that I don't have to do that work for or in areas that I've already done the work for.

4/5

Brevoy.

The ruins of Kho.

3/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Akiton would be nifty.

5/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.

I'd love to see the following:

Alkenstar
Brevoy
Hermea
Sovyrian
The Mordant Spire

Silver Crusade 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Alkenstar is at THE TOP of my list personally. I want gunslinging baddies that shoot on touch AC. Scare all those power-gaming AC munchkins. More Azlanti stuff would be sweet too.

But, I would like to go back to locations we jave been like Tian Xia and Varisia. To see how Society events affect our established outposts. Also keeps our regional location boons useful instead of gathering dust.

Also, more Mendev and Razmirian. Been having fun there.

Grand Lodge 4/5 *

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, LO Special Edition, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition, Starfinder Accessories, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Mana wastes, Numeria and Jalmeray for starters.....

The Exchange

Rahadoum, Thuvia, Geb, Vudra, and Virlych appeal to me

5/5

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

First. I have to say "Assault on the Kingdom of the Impossible" is the worst named scenario of all time, it just doesn't live up to it.

That being said:

-Brevoy- Frankly, with the proximity to Mendev and the Kingmaker adventure path we haven't seen much. There needs to be some more support including a Campaign Setting book.

-Riddleport- I know that there are a couple of scenario's there but this place is a goldmine. Also needs a Campaign setting book.

-Alkenstar- With the new firearms rules I'm surprised this hasn't happened sooner. Wardens of the Reborn Forge should be a good first step.

-Ustalav- It's what Ravenloft should have been. Instead Ravenloft was more of a place to punish players no matter what they did. They got a good Campaign Setting book (although very little crunch).

-Kyonin- Needs a Campaign Setting book as Elves of Golarion is 3.5. Also, only one scenario there as well.

Dark Archive 5/5 * Regional Venture-Coordinator, Gulf

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Numeria and Galt appeal to me

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

Let's do a planar scavenger hunt!

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