Pathfinder Adventure Path #74: Sword of Valor (Wrath of the Righteous 2 of 6) (PFRPG)

I don't think there's any specific order it's done in based on when you subscribed etc., I think it more depends on the order the sales software spits out the orders in (I could be wrong, but I thought I'd seen posts from some of the staff to this effect). I know that normally I tend to get my PDFs around 7 days after receiving my first notification email, but in this case I got them on the following business day.

I know that if you add additional stuff to your order during finalisation it can cause delays, though I'm not sure by how much.

How many HD does Shax have and what are its ability scores?

How many HD does Shax have and what are its ability scores?

33d10. Ability scores are Str 33, Dex 39, Con 40, Int 30, Wis 31, Cha 31.

Here's my semi-loaded question for the AP devs. Is Queen Galfrey a romance possibility for a PC? I know that technically anything is possible but how much of an impact would it have on the story and would it derail it at all?

Here's my semi-loaded question for the AP devs. Is Queen Galfrey a romance possibility for a PC? I know that technically anything is possible but how much of an impact would it have on the story and would it derail it at all?

She's not set up as a romance possibility, but that could certainly work. In fact, romances with ANY of the allied NPCs wouldn't derail the AP, although they might derail some NPC relationships...

Answers for Lawful GM:

** spoiler omitted **

If he is

If he is ** spoiler omitted **

Mythic Tiers are tied to trials rather than to level. Although they are capped at 1 per 2 levels, you can have fewer than half your level in tiers without breaking any core assumptions.

Exactly.

So with that in mind, is he really all that much of a threat?

So with that in mind, is he really all that much of a threat?

Yes... because there's more tools to make a creature a threat than mythic tiers. He's already pretty high level. In the end, it's not mythic tiers that we go on to decide if a creature's a good threat for an encounter—it's the creature's CR that we use. And mythic tiers are a subset of LOTS of things that help to define the final CR.

I can see that. He's probably got some excellent gear and a demon posse to back him up.

I can see that. He's probably got some excellent gear and a demon posse to back him up.

Yes he had PC gear and 25 point buy.

Also I haven't yet gotten to his encounter, but I'm sure the circumstances are tilted in his favor as well.

I wonder why Shax can't fly given a pair of nice-feathered wings.

I wonder why Shax can't fly given a pair of nice-feathered wings.

Ugh. Frustrating typo, that's why.

He should have a fly speed. He did, at least, in my original turnover: fly 50 ft. (perfect).

I think I know where in the development>layout>edit cycle he lost it, and will make sure that isn't repeated in the future if I can.

(Note his fly skill remains intact.)

What are the CRs of the non-Shax monsters? What's the CR-adjustment on the template?

Also, question for James... will there be any monsters in the bestiaries for this AP besides Bamophet that have names starting in A, B or C, which would mean they may actually get featured on my Planescape blog sometime this year?

Argg... Hurry up Wednesday, get here faster!

Demon, thoxel - CR 5
Man-eating animal - CR +1 (1-4 HD), CR +2 (5-10 HD), CR +3 (11+ HD)
Vescavor queen - CR 9

Oops, I see. BTW, The bonus to AC and Saves from Unholy Aura seem to be missing on the stat block.

What are the CRs of the non-Shax monsters? What's the CR-adjustment on the template?

Also, question for James... will there be any monsters in the bestiaries for this AP besides Bamophet that have names starting in A, B or C, which would mean they may actually get featured on my Planescape blog sometime this year?

Argg... Hurry up Wednesday, get here faster!

Not sure. That's more of an Adam question... although I do know we'll be doing cambions in #76.

Axial wrote:

I can see that. He's probably got some excellent gear and a demon posse to back him up.

Yes he had PC gear and 25 point buy.

Also I haven't yet gotten to his encounter, but I'm sure the circumstances are tilted in his favor as well.

That would make him CR 10 altogether am I right?

j b 200 wrote:

Axial wrote:

I can see that. He's probably got some excellent gear and a demon posse to back him up.

Yes he had PC gear and 25 point buy.

Also I haven't yet gotten to his encounter, but I'm sure the circumstances are tilted in his favor as well.

That would make him CR 10 altogether am I right?

Minimum CR 10. They might've also given him some special abilities a la Baba Yaga to boost his CR.

I must be fair, i'm not a huge fan of this one.

I don't like it that most encounters are from bestiary 1, I hate tieflings (always have) and the artstyle is good but very annoying to work with as the artwork is missing part of their wings and when you work with them in Paint Shop the artwork has white dots around it very annoying and time consuming to remove those, mostly those dots are from the same artists, they do that to copyprotect I guess but I only use the art for myself...

I really really like Shax the demon lord tho, the man-eating animal art is cool and the wasp monster is awesome, but the wings are missing for a bit...

I hope next part has less bestiary 1 encounters and more bestiary 2,3, and other book encounters.

I have read this one a few times now and every time I come away liking the story more and more. There is really a lot of potential in this AP so far in terms of background, plot and motivations.

I may have a new favorite AP.

Holy crap. I'm loving the 10 acts of Iomedae listed in her book.

Just now going over this, and have just started part 3, but I have to say I absolutely love the way the Mass combat rules were interwoven into this chapter.

I'm also enjoying the different tactics and ways to use the NPCs in part 3; it keeps them pertinent without overwhelming the PCs roles, gives bonuses to PCs for smart tactical use, and just generally enhances the game all around. I love this! Kudos to Neil Spicer and/or James Jacobs for the idea.

Cool; glad you're enjoying the NPC boons and the like. That's something that was a kind of a late addition to the AP and is something I've been working to weave into each adventure during development, so it's good to see it's working out! :-)

I am really a fan of having where you choose to allocate NPC's having an impact (sometimes fairly significantly) on encounters.

There are consequences to how you treat NPC's, which is awesome.

I had a real chuckle reading this adventure knowing that the author had to account for the possibility that some parties might take Horgus with them into Drezen keep itself..

That fact that Neil did shows real thinking going into this path. It's early days still but this path is quickly lining up to take pole position over CoTCT as my favorite if the quality stays this good.

I had a real chuckle reading this adventure knowing that the author had to account for the possibility that some parties might take Horgus with them into Drezen keep itself..

Yes- This was a laugh out loud moment for me, as well. I could just envision the rp scenario around this. "Ummm... maybe I should just stay outside...?"

The fact that it is (rightfully so) more beneficial to have that occur only adds to the innovation.

I also like that they are not unlimited boons, but have a quantifiable limit. That helps to impel a sense of urgency to the PCs, plus keeps things more realistic and less ripe for abuse.

Did anyone else think that Arles Jhestander (pg.16) look alot like Sylvester Stallone?

Shax is just ... awesome...

I found myself in love with the Vescavor Queen.

Which is kinda strange since i'm gay, have a phobia for wasps and she would probably kill me twice and eat my bones. :-)

I have a question regarding Mythic Trials and Mythic Tier progression.

Thanks.

In the mythic adventures book you have a table that shows how many trials you need to complete in order to get the next tier.

Thanks, I am still debating whether to run a mythic campaign or not. Was still mostly looking at it from a beta rules perspective.

I finally got through a backlog of books to finish reading most of this today. I like the book and how the AP is going so far.

I do have a minor problem with it though. It's not a big deal as they can easily be eliminated without too much disruption. I don't like the concept of the medals that the characters can earn. At best they need many more ways each one can be earned or to just be given out by GM fiat based on what seems sensible. Otherwise they are just too metagamey a concept in my opinion and encourage people to artificially try and do things in the game they might not otherwise do based on quirks of game mechanics just for the sake of earning one.

When I first heard this adventure path was coming out, I had to buy it, I have a friend who's first pick is always paladin, so I knew he would fall in love with this right away.
I did something a little different. I was only going to have 3 people play so I let them become gestalt characters, it's giving the adventures an even more epic feel to them.

The only question I have, is about when you are presented the army, and the PC's are given the option of leading it. It's stated that they do not get any starting boons. Well considering they most likely grew up in Kenebres, I would think leading armies would be in their everyday experiance. I'm thinking of just letting them get their boons.

I haven't had an adventure where I as a gm have looked forward to running an adventure as the players had playing in it.

Jason

The only question I have, is about when you are presented the army, and the PC's are given the option of leading it. It's stated that they do not get any starting boons. Well considering they most likely grew up in Kenebres, I would think leading armies would be in their everyday experiance. I'm thinking of just letting them get their boons.

I haven't read the adventure yet, but here's my take on your musings. Living in a city like Kenabres does NOT automatically mean you experience what it means to lead an army. You get exposed to a military-minded mindset, sure, and the probably of you joining an army in some fashion is very likely. However, being a part of an army and leading it are two VERY different beasts, I think. Leadership is certainly not an "everyday experience," that the average Kenabres citizen can expect to experience.

Even among those souls destined to rise to glory, such as the characters, leadership is not necessarily something they've experienced prior to their adventures in Wrath of the Righteous. Being a part of a military endeavor, very likely. Leading that military endeavor, not as likely.

Leading men into war is not for everyone. It takes talent, charisma, influence, or zeal (or all four).

Yep I understand that, but he has taken points in profession (military), he's a pally, and He may have taken the leadership feat, he's kind of "built" his character for this moment.

He's even tried to be the leader for the party as well. I could understand if one of the other players wanted to just jump in and lead the army, who didn't spend the skill points or feats for leadership, why they wouldn't get the extra boons.

It's going to be a game master exception.

I'm a lil confused. How do my players learn new army tactics when they have no kingdom control DC?

jimibones83, check out page 236 of Ultimate Campaign, the sidebar there will help out a lot!! I just found it yesterday, and I have been searching for a solution for a week, my players will make it to the second book here soon and I wanted to be prepared.