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

wat?

Here I was thinking this AP would delve in to Eastern European fantasy tropes in the same way other APs have covered other cultures then I see this! I'm a little taken aback that you guys are going this route, but what the heck I'll go along for the ride!

Honestly, I'd rather have seen a more "strait" fantasy here since Slavic fantasy is a goldmine that I think could fill an AP on it's own. Still, I suppose there's plenty of that in several of the other parts. There's just also planet hopping and travel to WWI era earth as well. Weird.

Tuck in!

Although, I'm not sure which 'strait' you're talking about, the White Sea Throat? :b

I'm just wondering if there's some way we can have our adventurers kidnap/rescue Anastasia so Baba Yaga could install her as the next ruler of Irrisen.

Note: I have not been allowed to peek at the adventure notes for this path. This is pure speculation on my part.

(Also, I'd love if this were a way to import Faberge eggs into Golarion.)

Wow, I love you so much.

I think it would be cool to rescue Anastasia, wether she is Baba Yaga's daughter or not.

I just want to know how were supposed to defeat a guy who captured an epic/mythic level witch.

Forgive me if I bring about the Ire of every person who has posted here, but what's the big deal...

I for one find the premise of this entire adventure terrible, of all the places to have of all the reality bending magic at a Wizards fingertips Earth is chosen.

I mean Earth... really? The Earth, I can't even express how utterly wrong that sounds to me.

What's the big deal?

Forgive me if I bring about the Ire of every person who has posted here, but what's the big deal...

I for one find the premise of this entire adventure terrible, of all the places to have of all the reality bending magic at a Wizards fingertips Earth is chosen.

I mean Earth... really? The Earth, I can't even express how utterly wrong that sounds to me.

What's the big deal?

If the idea of an universe-hopping team of fantasy adventurers who wind up on Earth during WW1 on a mission to rescue Baba Jaga from her crazed son, Rasputin the Mad Monk in order to save their planet from an eternal winter doesn't sound fun to you, well, I hope there are things out there that do kindle your sensations of happiness and joy the way Rasputin Must Die! strokes mine.

What he said.

Sorry it's not for you.

What he said.

Sorry it's not for you.

I suppose not, just I was kind of expecting the AP based on the Winter Witches and Baba Yaga to you know be focused in Irrisen and the like. Not to you know, jump through 5 different setting in 5 books.

Just not what I was hoping in this particular adventure.

But whats everyones big hype behind Rasputin?

He's on Earth. And he must die!

He's on Earth. And he must die!

But why Earth?

and why Rasputin?

Because he is on Earth. And because he must die. Can't go around kidnapping poor old babushkas, you know.

Orthos wrote:

What he said.

Sorry it's not for you.

I suppose not, just I was kind of expecting the AP based on the Winter Witches and Baba Yaga to you know be focused in Irrisen and the like. Not to you know, jump through 5 different setting in 5 books.

Just not what I was hoping in this particular adventure.

But whats everyones big hype behind Rasputin?

Different Strokes. I personally think this AP spends *too much* time on Golarion.

I suppose not, just I was kind of expecting the AP based on the Winter Witches and Baba Yaga to you know be focused in Irrisen and the like. Not to you know, jump through 5 different setting in 5 books.

Just not what I was hoping in this particular adventure.

I believe that someone from Paizo (who I can't remember) said early on that RoW was *not* an Irrisen AP. It was a Baba Yaga AP that had important parts happen in Irrisen.

I'm with ya, though! I'm still holding out hopes for some awesome Viking vs Winter Witches Irrisen AP greatness! But this AP isn't it.

RoW does still sound amazing and can't wait for it to start. :)

A Ninja wrote:

I suppose not, just I was kind of expecting the AP based on the Winter Witches and Baba Yaga to you know be focused in Irrisen and the like. Not to you know, jump through 5 different setting in 5 books.

Just not what I was hoping in this particular adventure.

I believe that someone from Paizo (who I can't remember) said early on that RoW was *not* an Irrisen AP. It was a Baba Yaga AP that had important parts happen in Irrisen.

Yes, this.

Between the planet-hopping, the weird artifact, Rasputin in all his mad glory, Baba Yaga, a wild trip to Earth, and who knows what's gonna happen in the last chapter, it's caught my interest in a way an Irrisen-only campaign wouldn't, mostly because I don't play on Golarion, I adapt APs to my own homebrew setting.

If it were solely an Irrisen campaign, I probably would ignore it entirely; I've had a cold lands/frostfell/winter-based homebrew campaign in the works for years now (after running a basic version of it on my old NWN server), and choosing between the two I'd pick mine. This however, with all its bizarre outside-the-box events, is different enough to be worth running and not feel like it's doing something I've already planned to do.

Some points to consider:

There is somewhat a tradition of Baba Yaga being an extra-dimensional figure running throughout the history of D&D. Dating back to it's first write up by Dragon Magazine editor Roger E. Moore (Dragon Magazine #83). She's an Earth based folklore figure that has consistently been depicted as a traveler to many worlds. I'm not speaking directly for Paizo, but in one respect they're really honoring that tradition by incorporating her in their own setting. She and the Hut really do hearken back to "Old School AD&D", especially with the extra-dimensional and plane/planet hopping weirdness.

Strictly my opinion here, not speaking for Paizo:

I love Irrisen. I really do. That being said, in its current form I think its one of the more complicated nations to work with in the Inner Sea for an entire Adventure Path. I prefer not to get into the specifics. Nevertheless, when I compare it to Cheliax it can be a hard setting on low level PCs. It can be a hard setting on middle and high level PCs! Rebellion and revolution in Irrisen is a long, complicated, deadly, and I hate to say it—thoughtfully slow and careful process. There's not a lot of margin for error. Everything about the environment is pitted against you. I'm NOT saying it couldn't, can't, wouldn't, or shouldn't be done. But it doesn't strike me as being very easy without some changes to the nation. (Of course, I don't have the decades of James's experience either!)

Compare that Wrath of the Righteous. I'm not privy/knowledgeable enough to discuss that AP, but what James has said publicly on the message boards about Wrath of the Righteous does suggest that the nation may be significantly altered by events of the AP. One has to ask yourself, if you have a full AP in Irrisen, what do you want it to look like afterwards? Do you want a full AP in Irrisen and not feel like you accomplished anything in the end? Or make it completely unrecognizable? James, Rob, and Adam make some very complicated and important decisions when they put an outline together.

I have some thoughts about Irrisen AFTER this AP is concluded, but quite sincerely I don't know much about the follow-up. Above my pay grade. :) I'll be as interested as everybody else. That's not smoke, I mean that quite sincerely.

It's an AP focused on Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga is FROM Earth. QED.

Pretty much what everyone else is saying, but I'll repeat it here again, officially:

Reign of Winter is not the "Irrisen AP." It is much more the "Baba Yaga AP." Although the AP does spend some time in Irrisen, since that nation represents Baba Yaga's closest ties to Golarion, it quickly moves beyond just one country, because Baba Yaga is much more than just "the witch who founded Irrisen."

As others have stated, Baba Yaga has a history in both mythology and in previous editions of the game (something I briefly delve into in the foreword to Pathfinder #68. That mythology ties Baba Yaga to Earth (of course, all of our mythology is tied to Earth, because it's where we live), so it's not much of a stretch to go to Earth in search of Baba Yaga.

This AP is probably not for everybody. But you could probably say that about most, if not all, of our APs. Not every adventure ticks off all the boxes for everyone. And that's okay. But I am pleased to see that most of the responses so far have been positive.

But for everything else, you'll just have to wait for the AP!

I wasn't too much interested in running this AP myself, until this arrived! Now, I can't wait to see it and determine the feasability of inserting this concept into a current campaign of mine. I want to see the faces of my players when they discover their characters are actually in WWI Earth. That mental image alone is priceless. Someone above posted their potential player reactions to modern (relatively speaking) warfare artillery exploading around them. I laughed so hard, I about spilled my coffee.

Now I see how persons who were not expecting this elbow turn might be disgruntled. However, this is your AP if you choose to run it, not Paizo's. Change this part to some other adventure you belive fits better. It really isn't that hard to do, (IMO). Consider it a challenge to design your own!

Cheapy wrote:

He's on Earth. And he must die!

But why Earth?

and why Rasputin?

Ninjaed by Rob!

One thing to add though...

I'll echo Rob though.

This AP isn't for everybody. But that's no different than normal. Sorry for all the people who are turned off by us going to historical Earth (even though it is an alternate history), but to them I can only ask "Please check out the volume anyway—I like to think we're pretty good at taking unusual and/or risky choices and making them fun."

And if that doesn't work... there's a whole realm of demons needing a fight coming next!

I think it would be cool to rescue Anastasia, wether she is Baba Yaga's daughter or not.

Maybe granddaughter? If Rasputin is her son, and he did spend a lot of time around the Tsarina...

The only thing that I'm really worried about with this adventure path is that I'm finally going to have to figure out what my gun houserules are. Then again, part of the assumption of this book might be that low level guys with guns (as opposed to ones near level 13) will be able to actually hit the heroes because of the touch attack rules.... which would make implementing game balancing houserules more difficult.

And another echo (echoing James' echo of Rob?)

I approached this task with great care and respect for not only those who would LOVE this concept, but also those that I knew might instantly reject it. I've seen the word "gonzo" tossed around a little bit regarding the concept, and anyone who knows me and my writing knows that I'm far too serious to take this subject matter lightly. This is a grand adventure that stays as firmly bedded in reality and history as a story about adventurers from another world crossing over into ours to rescue an immortal personification of Mother Russia can be. So I hope that those wincing at the concept will at least crack its covers and give it a chance, because I really do think it will surprise you.

But you've got a while to wait, yet. =-)

Dragon78 wrote:

I think it would be cool to rescue Anastasia, wether she is Baba Yaga's daughter or not.

Maybe granddaughter? If Rasputin is her son, and he did spend a lot of time around the Tsarina...

Entirely possible, and Baba Yaga's rule that the new queen of Irrisen must be her daughter is Baba Yaga's to break. If she wants the new queen to be her granddaughter, who's going to tell her no?

Plus an eight-year-old Queen Anastasia would mean that Irrisen would have ten years of a regency period, and those are always fun.

Man, if that isn't the ending I'd be heavily tempted to run it that way anyway.

Man, if that isn't the ending I'd be heavily tempted to run it that way anyway.

And as a bonus it feels like a fairy tale. Which totally fits the feel of Irrisen. :)

Elvanna is going to have an absolutely frigid response to that.

She'll be giving her successor the cold shoulder treatment for sure.

Hopefully she'll just chill out and listen to her mother.

Cheapy wrote:

He's on Earth. And he must die!

and why Rasputin?

Because he is Russia's greatest love machine!

These puns are leaving me cold.

These puns are leaving me cold.

Funny. For me they were the icing on the cake.

Snow more, please.

Dark_Mistress wrote:

These puns are leaving me cold.

Funny. For me they were the icing on the cake.

Don't you mean frosting on the cake?

Feros wrote:

Dark_Mistress wrote:

These puns are leaving me cold.

Funny. For me they were the icing on the cake.

Don't you mean frosting on the cake?

Frosting; icing. Either is cool.

Baba Yaga is remarkably cool about puns. Except ones about hoarfrost. You're skating on thin ice there.

...

...

Was that avalanche of puns a bit much?

From a creative point of view -- in terms of Paizo continuing to push the envelope on writing, storytelling, and tabletop gaming -- this feels fun and risky.

It feels like a kind of Mike Mignola moment. It bends the genre, forces everybody to blink once, and that's really really good.

Also, the fact that Paizo is still comfortable saying "this isn't for everyone" but it's going to be incredibly cool for the right set of players with the right DM?

Priceless.

--Marsh

I am totally on board with this adventure. Great idea.

Cheapy wrote:

...

Was that avalanche of puns a bit much?

It was ice to see all these great puns, it would be a shame to put them all in the coolah.

Mikaze wrote:

Cheapy wrote:

...

Was that avalanche of puns a bit much?

It was ice to see all these great puns, it would be a shame to put them all in the coolah.

I think this post just pushed us past the event horizon.

A Ninja wrote:

Cheapy wrote:

He's on Earth. And he must die!

and why Rasputin?

Because he is Russia's greatest love machine!

He's a cat who really is gone.

Ho...ly...SHIT! Planet Earth...in Pathfinder RPG? This...this is gonna be interested. A tip of the hat to you guys at Paizo. I did NOT EXPECT THIS.

What does the Ghost Whale on the cover has to do with real-life weapons and humans?

This part of the AP doesn't sound that interesting to me, its probably devoid of monsters except for baba yaga, and i'm personally not really interested in my own kind. :p

Hoping to see the next chapter to be in the non-real world again.

What does the Ghost Whale on the cover has to do with real-life weapons and humans?

It's a placeholder. The final cover has yet to be revealed.

The description says it has new monsters, and I would guess either they are things with really close ties to Earth or stuff from Slavic/Yakut folklore

What does the Ghost Whale on the cover has to do with real-life weapons and humans?

This part of the AP doesn't sound that interesting to me, its probably devoid of monsters except for baba yaga, and i'm personally not really interested in my own kind. :p

Hoping to see the next chapter to be in the non-real world again.

What does the Ghost Whale on the cover has to do with real-life weapons and humans?

This part of the AP doesn't sound that interesting to me, its probably devoid of monsters except for baba yaga, and i'm personally not really interested in my own kind. :p

Hoping to see the next chapter to be in the non-real world again.

Golarion is real to me! >:|

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Hodge has a menagerie of slavic monsters in and about this ancient temple. I mean, Rasputin has magic. Anything is possible.

Super Wooly Mammoths, animated skeletons of creatures long lost to the permafrost of Siberia ,streltsky (come onnnn axe-muskets, ahistoricality be damned!...

If I was a magical man in a world with (presumably) little other magic, and I was keeping one of the most powerful non-deities in the universe captive, by Desna's Read End, I am not going to rely on some flimys bullets and people prone to vodka to defend the prisoner.

The bestiary is hopefully made up out of Slavic mythology, worst case scenario it is filled with tanks, titanic and human soldiers. ;)

But then it shouldn't be called BEASTairy.

No monster section in any adventure path installment has ever been called beastairy. And besides, the Inner Sea Bestiary contains robots.

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