Pathfinder Adventure Path #6: Spires of Xin-Shalast (Rise of the Runelords 6 of 6) (OGL)

I see that by Spires of Xin-Shalast, the PC's should be around 15th level. Will chapter 2 "Curse of the Crimsom Throne" be assumed to start at the same time in the same world? Does chapter 2 assume you will create new level 1 characters? If so, how adaptable is the plot so you could continue with your characters that finished chapter 1 "Rise of the Runelords"?

Hey Bargle,
I don't think that they announced the level range of the second AP. But I'd expect it to take up 15-20 levels, which would mean this AP would start with PCs at 1st to 6th. IMHO, That would be very difficult to modify for 15th or 16th level characters.

I see that by Spires of Xin-Shalast, the PC's should be around 15th level. Will chapter 2 "Curse of the Crimsom Throne" be assumed to start at the same time in the same world? Does chapter 2 assume you will create new level 1 characters? If so, how adaptable is the plot so you could continue with your characters that finished chapter 1 "Rise of the Runelords"?

Oh, and this AP will probably cover levels 1–15. Could go higher or lower. We're still working out those gory details.

-Ungoded the Answer-Dragon

Is anyone else excessively excited for this one? An ancient city with the stylings of the Runelord of Greed, fully detailed and taking up pretty much an entire volume?

If Paizo's past efforts at this sort of thing are any indication of how cool Xin-Shalast will be, having a whole volume for them to detail ought to inspire a lot more beyond capping off the first Pathfinder AP.

Hope this one becomes a classic!

Is anyone else excessively excited for this one? An ancient city with the stylings of the Runelord of Greed, fully detailed and taking up pretty much an entire volume?

If Paizo's past efforts at this sort of thing are any indication of how cool Xin-Shalast will be, having a whole volume for them to detail ought to inspire a lot more beyond capping off the first Pathfinder AP.

Hope this one becomes a classic!

Think of all the treasure! Mountains and mounds of gold!

Now I can only wait for the stats for those giants!

OoOo! I need Karzoug's stats!

And who is that dwarven avenger?

God that's a great cover.

By the gods, I'm not usually one to complain about WAR's work, but those swords are horrid abominations imo. Can't agree with the blog's "original but authentic" description. Forget the fact they're way to wide, what's with those rings? How would one sheathe such a sword? Certainly with them weighing as much as they must, you wouldn't expect someone to just carry them around unsheathed.

I LOVE the giants, otoh. Nice work there. Gives a cultural feel different from the rest of the creatures we've encountered so far.

By the gods, I'm not usually one to complain about WAR's work, but those swords are horrid abominations imo. Can't agree with the blog's "original but authentic" description. Forget the fact they're way to wide, what's with those rings? How would one sheathe such a sword? Certainly with them weighing as much as they must, you wouldn't expect someone to just carry them around unsheathed.

4 words: Fantasy is not reality...

That's all I can say. I love the look of these beasts and I can't wait to see them in action!

I adore the cover. When I looked at the huge swords, the first thing I thought of was not about how they sheathed them. I was more interested in the overwhelming drama and allure of a great battle against a breathtaking backdrop.

As far as sheaths go, I'd assume they'd have sheaths to hold such swords, and/or there are alternate means to keeping them around without always having to hold them. Perhaps the rings are an illusion that only appear when unsheathed.

On another note, I am absolutely ecstatic to see the iconic Dwarf and to see him done well. In the background, it looks like there's another newcomer to the group as well (the one sporting the shield). I'm curious to get a closer glimpse to this new one as well.

Forget the fact they're way too wide, what's with those rings? How would one sheathe such a sword? Certainly with them weighing as much as they must, you wouldn't expect someone to just carry them around unsheathed.

I imagine WAR was basing them off of the Chinese nine rings sword (I want to say "ba gua" but I'm probably wrong), which, given the Xin-Shalast architecture in the background, is probably appropriate thematically. Any sword sheaths that they might carry would probably accommodate said rings in their design, probably leaving one side of the sheath open, with a cup or pocket for the tip of the blade and a securing strap near the hilt.

Oh. They're also giants. I don't imagine they'd have difficulty carrying a broad blade.

I imagine WAR was basing them off of the Chinese nine rings sword (I want to say "ba gua" but I'm probably wrong), which, given the Xin-Shalast architecture in the background, is probably appropriate thematically.

I'm with Lilith on this, Reckless: it's clearly based on the historical Chinese swords, which also appear in wuxia films with some frequency.

I've seen one at the Field Museum, I think. They're reasonably well known to students of Oriental weaponry.

In the background, it looks like there's another newcomer to the group as well (the one sporting the shield). I'm curious to get a closer glimpse to this new one as well.

She looks like Kyra to me, with the scimitar and blue/gold/white clothes. While her PF4 cover art shows no shield, she has one in her equipment.

Yeah; these guys (they're new giants called Rune Giants) are going to have strength scores close to 40, I'm guessing. Big weapons like that aren't going to be a problem for them.

And yes... the concept of rings in swords is indeed based on real life. There are swords like that in real life and from real world history. It's certainly tied in with the flavor and themes of Xin-Shalast, which has a heavy dose of Asia in its makeup (but also India and Europe and lots of other places... it doesn't really have an exact real world historical analoge).

Very cool giant designs. I've heard talk about Pathfinder miniatures and you know what ... if Paizo made a couple of Rune Giants (male and female) armed and armored just like that cover ... well, damn.

I'd buy it.

Gary

By the Gods how does one fight such beasts!!! Those giants are Gargantuan! A longsword wound would be like a pin prick on these bruisers. Love the underbite though... I immediately thought Ogre Magi crossed with Fire Giant samurai.

A dwarf and his Crossbow... ah the iconicness of it. Swoon.

A dwarf and his Crossbow... ah the iconicness of it. Swoon.

It looks like a heavy crossbow, too. Sweet. I've been playing around with the thought of developing either a Combat Style (Crossbow) for the ranger and/or Dwarf Ranger substitution levels to make it easier for dwarf rangers to concentrate on "traditional" dwarven weapon choices (axes, crossbows, hammers, picks).

Combat Style (Crossbow) would probably consist of Rapid Reload at 2nd, Crossbow Sniper at 6th, and Penetrating Shot at 11th. I'm still deciding what changes to make for the substitution levels. Racial Favored enemy at 1st and Toughness instead of Endurance at 3rd are easy choices (as well as upping HD to d10 for the substitution levels), but I'm still figuring out what other one ore two levels I want to change.

EDIT: Funny typo above...

Kewl enough. I'm by no means an expert on swords at all... just struck me as weird an unwieldy...

But then, later on, I came up with my own reasons for the rings... keeping track of kills...

Gotta say I love the cover, and now I've learned something too. Thanks guys. (Goes off to search the internet to learn more about these swords...)

heh.. found this out there:
"This is a classic and truly awe inspiring sword. The 9 rings were meant to disorientate and confuse the enemy. Imagine the sound of 1000 of these swords pounding on the warriors shields - amazing."

now imagine the thunderous sound of 1000 giants clanging these rings... brrrrr...

Reminds me of the Mongolians with their whistling arrows, etc. I would imagine the rings would have some merit as mentioned.

Any news on when this will ship? Will January be the double Pathfinder month?

Any news on when this will ship? Will January be the double Pathfinder month?

That is a great question...

I suspect this will ship so late in January that it will probably arrive in mailboxes in February. The first supplement in Curse of the Crimson Throne is scheduled for March, so it would be odd of Paizo to leave a hole in their schedule for February.

I suspect this will ship so late in January that it will probably arrive in mailboxes in February. The first supplement in Curse of the Crimson Throne is scheduled for March, so it would be odd of Paizo to leave a hole in their schedule for February.

I had not noticed that PF7 had slipped... Bummer.

Tzzarg wrote:

I suspect this will ship so late in January that it will probably arrive in mailboxes in February. The first supplement in Curse of the Crimson Throne is scheduled for March, so it would be odd of Paizo to leave a hole in their schedule for February.

I had not noticed that PF7 had slipped... Bummer.

We expect PF6 to arrive in the last days of January, and PF7 to arrive at the end of February.

Ah Vic, Music to my ears.

We expect PF6 to arrive in the last days of January, and PF7 to arrive at the end of February.

Excellent!!! After flying through #5 I'm ready to see #6.

So, is Greg Vaughan now the go-to-guy for climactic high level modules?

Shem wrote:

Tzzarg wrote:

I suspect this will ship so late in January that it will probably arrive in mailboxes in February. The first supplement in Curse of the Crimson Throne is scheduled for March, so it would be odd of Paizo to leave a hole in their schedule for February.

I had not noticed that PF7 had slipped... Bummer.

We expect PF6 to arrive in the last days of January, and PF7 to arrive at the end of February.

Any idea why my PF5 hasn't even shipped yet?

Is there a reason why this issue of Pathfinder costs more then the other 4 issues for Charter Subscribers? I'm showing being billed 20 dollars before shipping and handling, when I normally am only paying 18 and that's after shipping and handling. This seems strange to me.

I have no info about billing issues. I also cannot give specific arrival data for various zip codes and various foreign countries, because all the mail carriers have time windows as opposed to exact dates. So why is the warehouse monkey posting you ask? Well to let you know that I am safely tucking all your Pathfinder 6s into those adorable little envelopes. It appears that the great majority of them will be out the door by Friday.* ... and now back to the warehouse.

*By great majority I mean those individuals who are not involved in monthly shipments or who have orders waiting on other items.

Woo Hoo!!!

I do have information about billing/shipping issues!

Keoki,

Your Pathfinder #5 is currently waiting in your account sidecart for your monthly shipment. It should ship a little later this month.

Kevin,

Your Pathfinder is being billed to you at the same subscriber rate, but you shipping does look like it's set at Priority Mail. If this isn't correct, please shoot us a quick email at customer.service@paizo.com.