Pathfinder Adventure Path #71: Rasputin Must Die! (Reign of Winter 5 of 6) (PFRPG)

Yeah, & thanks to a billing error due to my move I'm not sure when I'm going to get either my PDF or my physical copy...

Sad Face :C

I just finished reading this adventure and I have to say it's very good. I was leery about the Pathfinder on Earth concept, but it's handled very well, in my somewhat less then humble opinion.

A very big kudos to Mr. Hodge!

I think my favorite parts were...

-Kcinlive

Good people of the internet!

I suggest we all sit down and give this a careful and thorough read, and not react in haste upon what I am about to suggest.

I think we can agree this book is shockingly creative and bold in terms of scope and design. As Gorbacz says in his review, it is NOT like anything we have seen before or at least in a very long, long time.

If, after careful reading and review and some actual play, maybe we should consider putting our support behind....

Some might be prepared to go there right now. I only suggest deliberation, as this sort of public campaign is not to be done capriciously.

Yet, I do dare to whisper it.

We're not the ones to actually do it, but we can make our feelings known.

I agree with Jim Groves' suggestion and wish to be notified ASAFP when the *spoiler* comes 'round for this one.

As somebody that admittedly doesn't like the idea of having modern elements in their games let alone something as out there as going to Earth, and has players that probably won't like it, how easy would it be to alter what's in this to get rid of those elements? I ask for those that have already read it. (I'm still waiting on my copy.)

Would I just have to slightly refluff a couple of things and get by with describing something differently here and there? Would I have to rewrite large sections of the AP volume and stat up a bunch of different things than what's in it to keep those elements from being obvious? Or would I have to discard this one and pretty much redo most of what's in it with something else and create a replacement for this volume?

Haven't read it all, but I love the Little Otik reference.

You might be able to change the Russians to be a technologically advanced group of orcs. (They both WAAAAGH,right?) But one of the central themes in here is the intersection of magic and technology, and if you dislike that concept, you might have to completely redo this one.

You should check out Kobold Press' modules though. Their world had baba yaga too, and you might be able to convert one of those modules to fit this story.

The nice thing is that this starts with an abrupt jump to a new location, and ends with that too.

As somebody that admittedly doesn't like the idea of having modern elements in their games let alone something as out there as going to Earth, and has players that probably won't like it, how easy would it be to alter what's in this to get rid of those elements? I ask for those that have already read it. (I'm still waiting on my copy.)

Would I just have to slightly refluff a couple of things and get by with describing something differently here and there? Would I have to rewrite large sections of the AP volume and stat up a bunch of different things than what's in it to keep those elements from being obvious? Or would I have to discard this one and pretty much redo most of what's in it with something else and create a replacement for this volume?

Refluffing / "filing off the serial numbers" should do just fine.

Maybe you should just read it for yourself then, if we're going to give conflicting messages :)

Although, this is a good idea.

A number of people won't like this volume for any number of valid reasons. So why don't we help them out? What are some good modules that could fit in this slot, that could be added with minimal modifications?

I'm mostly thinking of 3rd party modules here, but if any Paizo ones fit, all the better.

Good people of the internet!

I suggest we all sit down and give this a careful and thorough read, and not react in haste upon what I am about to suggest.

I think we can agree this book is shockingly creative and bold in terms of scope and design. As Gorbacz says in his review, it is NOT like anything we have seen before or at least in a very long, long time.

If, after careful reading and review and some actual play, maybe we should consider putting our support behind....
** spoiler omitted **

Some might be prepared to go there right now. I only suggest deliberation, as this sort of public campaign is not to be done capriciously.

Yet, I do dare to whisper it.

We're not the ones to actually do it, but we can make our feelings known.

He should have got one for From Shore to Sea, so I am happy to push this forward in any way possible.

As somebody that admittedly doesn't like the idea of having modern elements in their games let alone something as out there as going to Earth, and has players that probably won't like it, how easy would it be to alter what's in this to get rid of those elements? I ask for those that have already read it. (I'm still waiting on my copy.)

Would I just have to slightly refluff a couple of things and get by with describing something differently here and there? Would I have to rewrite large sections of the AP volume and stat up a bunch of different things than what's in it to keep those elements from being obvious? Or would I have to discard this one and pretty much redo most of what's in it with something else and create a replacement for this volume?

Change the names and reskin, call the planet they are visiting Vulgagrad Prinipate, the guns become special "wands of magic missile". Discribe the tanks as iron golems... You don't have to change any stats, just fit the mechanics to a fantasy description.

For me though doing the above is like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa, you still have a masterpiece under the mustache but it's not as wonderful anymore.

Enjoy it, embrace the madness, live outside the norm for one adventure and if it doesn't work for you, it's only one adventure.

Or, perhaps less mustache-like, but might still handle some of the objections: It's still Rasputin, he's still from Earth and he's still got soldiers with the WWI tech and all, but he's withdrawn to a Demi-plane or some such place to pull off the coup against his mother.

Good people of the internet!

I suggest we all sit down and give this a careful and thorough read, and not react in haste upon what I am about to suggest.

Why would we break tradition now?

I thought the whole point of message boarding was we do react in haste to everything someone suggests?

Or, perhaps less mustache-like, but might still handle some of the objections: It's still Rasputin, he's still from Earth and he's still got soldiers with the WWI tech and all, but he's withdrawn to a Demi-plane or some such place to pull off the coup against his mother.

Hey, that's ringing a bell. Where did I see that?

I thought the whole point of message boarding was we do react in haste to everything someone suggests?

I take your point, but such a nomination means a great deal to the nominee AND to those are not nominated. Now add that to the fact that the adventure has been circulating for 2 days.

I think the adventure is that good, but I would also want it to be meaningful for all involved. Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything about awards, but at the same time I want to make it very clear I think we got something special here.

Like the first time you see a colt possibly break a speed record dashing across a meadow, or a freshman throw a football down the entire length of a football field on the first day of tryouts.

This looks like a contender.

Edit: And sometimes you can just see a home run by just lookin' at it.

Honestly, if modern warfare isn't your thing, I'd just skip this adventure. I feel like you'd lose a lot of the charm and flavor if you file off the serial numbers. Feels like too much effort to make a great adventure mediocre.

Or, perhaps less mustache-like, but might still handle some of the objections: It's still Rasputin, he's still from Earth and he's still got soldiers with the WWI tech and all, but he's withdrawn to a Demi-plane or some such place to pull off the coup against his mother.

<Bender>I'm gonna start my own Russia! With blackjack! And hookers!</Bender>

So how many groups that play this will try to get a tank into the dancing hut so they can take it with them? LOL

So how many groups that play this will try to get a tank into the dancing hut so they can take it with them? LOL

If they have stats for a Renault, the damn thing wouldn't be that difficult. Those things were tiny.

They only have the Tsar Tank, which is huge and gets stuck easily in mud.

They only have the Tsar Tank, which is huge and gets stuck easily in mud.

Not once they hook it up with my patent-pending wheels of the mire.

CapeCodRPGer wrote:

So how many groups that play this will try to get a tank into the dancing hut so they can take it with them? LOL

If they have stats for a Renault, the damn thing wouldn't be that difficult. Those things were tiny.

The Dancing Hut has had tanks in it since Dragon #83 (1984).

In fact, this adventure is a great call-back to that old Roger E. Moore (not the 007) write-up.

I for one like that and it's the kind of thing (the connectedness to past versions) I was looking for when I first heard they were doing this AP.

I'LL HAVE MIKAZE SORT IT OUT THEN (that is, once he gets over his Laori Vaus/Bear Hunter thing).

OhmygodimagesofLaori/BHnonononoMikazewhathaveyoudone?

Sorry, I'm busy being insufferably smug about the reveal of

:D

I am seriously really eager to see where that goes in Book 6!

What is the tesla deal?

What is the tesla deal?

** spoiler omitted **

Honestly, that approach just makes him seem that much more awesome. Dude scribbles some notes on a napkin? Bam! It's as sought after and as potentially powerful as an artifact. :)

My sanity is a little better. Just a little. But it's fragile, and I'm not touching the PDF for a few days so I can recover.

Now, there's only one possible way in which Paizo can top this. The one and only. You know what I mean. The Numeria/Distant Worlds AP. It's the only thing that can push the limits further, because... oh noes ... it's kicking back in ....

MOSKAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!

NANANANANANANANANANA!!!

VODKA TRINKT MAN PUR UND KALT!!!

*trips over a mountain of empty vodka bottles*

Sobriety, will we ever reconcile?

Embrace the vodka!

I read this cover to cover.

The entire thing is awesome. From the WW I stats to the article on the Horseman of War to the Bestiary to part five of the fiction showing how utterly frakked up Irrisen is. (Thank you KAM for showing my 'says horrible things because she doesn't know any better' Jadwiga Witch is horribly normal for Irrisen) This is one of the best, if not best AP volumes I've seen from Paizo.

CapeCodRPGer wrote:

So how many groups that play this will try to get a tank into the dancing hut so they can take it with them? LOL

If they have stats for a Renault, the damn thing wouldn't be that difficult. Those things were tiny.

A serious answer to this, now: WWI tanks broke down like crazy. Keeping those things operational for any length of time was a total pain in the hoop. They aint constructs and they don't run on batteries, so even if they take it with them it will, sooner rather than later, be nothing but an exotic curio.

Irnk, Dead-Eye's Prodigal wrote:

CapeCodRPGer wrote:

So how many groups that play this will try to get a tank into the dancing hut so they can take it with them? LOL

If they have stats for a Renault, the damn thing wouldn't be that difficult. Those things were tiny.

A serious answer to this, now: WWI tanks broke down like crazy. Keeping those things operational for any length of time was a total pain in the hoop. They aint constructs and they don't run on batteries, so even if they take it with them it will, sooner rather than later, be nothing but an exotic curio.

When has that ever been a consideration for murd...adventurer-heroes? If it's not nailed down it's loot.

Or even if it is. There's always something that can be used as a crowbar.

When has that ever been a consideration for murd...adventurer-heroes? If it's not nailed down it's loot.

Or even if it is. There's always something that can be used as a crowbar.

Oh, I agree they'll take one with them if they possibly can and have an exotic curio.

Finished skimming my PDF. This has me seriously excited. Why must it be a book 5 and why must I already be running two adventure paths!? Argh!

Great work Hodge!

I only skimmed the PDF. I did not know about the Tesla thing, very cool.

If I ever run this I may have to have to PCs run into Edision just so they can take Him out for screwing Tesla over.

I don't think anyone else has mentioned it, but the "troops" creature type is a pretty cool feature to this AP. Hopefully it will show up for Orc hordes and other normally lower CR threats in future products

Odraude wrote:

They only have the Tsar Tank, which is huge and gets stuck easily in mud.

Not once they hook it up with my patent-pending wheels of the mire.

Better give it an adamantine driveshaft too. The poor engineering of this thing makes my brain hurt...

If indeed ...

then I too am feeling unspeakably smug for calling it back in post # 28. :)

I only skimmed the PDF. I did not know about the Tesla thing, very cool.

If I ever run this I may have to have to PCs run into Edision just so they can take Him out for screwing Tesla over.

*slight nod and small smile of affirmation*

Just because I can World War 1 Tanks:

Tsar Tank.

It differed from modern tanks in that it did not use caterpillar tracks—rather, it used a tricycle design. The two front spoked wheels were nearly 9 metres (27 feet) in diameter; the back wheel was smaller, only 1.5 metres (5 feet) high, triple wheel, to ensure maneuverability. The upper cannon turret reached nearly 8 metres high. The hull was 12 metres wide with two more cannons in the sponsons. Additional weapons were also planned under the belly. Each wheel was powered by a 250 hp (190 kW) Sunbeam engine.

I forsee many PCs acquiring Craft Construct in many campaigns' futures...

;)

Hey look what showed up in Cracked.com's Flashback picks for today! :D

This looks awesomesauce to the max. I just love how Brandon is getting better and better with his modules, The Dead Heart of Xin already was just excellent. Only thing to have made this better would have been to have Nikolai Tesla show up in person. And maybe Theodore Roosevelt. :p It's too bad I won't be able to GM it for the foreseeable future, as my group has decided to rather run Wrath of the Righteous.

Some minor concern:

I have a sneaking suspicion that there was a fair bit left on the cutting room floor for this adventure. ;)

Hmm, just had an amusing thought, since the MacGuffin is based on Tesla-tech.

I just had the image of inspire courage effects a mile wide.

This looks awesomesauce to the max. I just love how Brandon is getting better and better with his modules, The Dead Heart of Xin already was just excellent. Only thing to have made this better would have been to have Nikolai Tesla show up in person. And maybe Theodore Roosevelt. :p It's too bad I won't be able to GM it for the foreseeable future, as my group has decided to rather run Wrath of the Righteous.

Some minor concern:

** spoiler omitted **

Some minor concern:

** spoiler omitted **

This is actually a great conversation for the RMD GM Reference Thread but one of the immediate solutions to this issue was the

One other tool

I don't think anyone else has mentioned it, but the "troops" creature type is a pretty cool feature to this AP. Hopefully it will show up for Orc hordes and other normally lower CR threats in future products

That was one of the first things that struck me, and I really liked it, too. I've always wanted a "swarm"-like subtype for larger creatures (mainly because I always liked the Horde from the old D&D Companion Set/Rules Cyclopedia; as well as the Sabreclaws), and this gets me one step closer to tackling conversions of those creatures. :)

The troop subtype was my home mechanic for mass combat, and I am THRILLED to see it get printed and getting some love. I have a whole self-reference pdf of various troop types and basic squads like these (basic spearmen, cavalry, zombie hordes, etc) that I can customize and build out in a animated object-like point system--very modular. I always wanted a mechanic that could zoom out to a battlefield scale, and zoom in for PC-level encounters in the same combat, and it works really well for that. I mean, your raging barbarian can literally wade into a regiment of troops on the battlefield and come out on the other side without shifting rules systems. I never did like having two different systems for mass combat and individual battles, and I think this one works really well not only for our purposes in RMD, but in future adventures where the accumulation of low-level mooks into a higher-CR threat makes more sense! I'm quite proud of the design on this one, and looking forward to talking more about the merits of this subtype as people get the adventure in their hands. =-)

Aside on anti-air...

What's Russian for "PULL!"

Just park this on the spot and stay frosty.