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Pathfinder Society Scenario #6–10: The Wounded Wisp (PFRPG) PDF

4.30/5 (based on 28 ratings)
Pathfinder Society Scenario #6–10: The Wounded Wisp (PFRPG) PDF

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A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 1–2.

More than 400 years have transpired since the Pathfinder Society began in a humble tavern that has quietly weathered the centuries without incident. When a routine errand there uncovers a clue left behind by one of the founding Pathfinders, it’s up to the PCs to solve a puzzle whose pieces are scattered across Absalom—and whose prize dates back to the Society’s darkest years.

"The Wounded Wisp" is an evergreen, replayable scenario designed to help introduce players to the history of the Pathfinder Society and Absalom’s greatest sites.

Written by Thurston Hillman.

This scenario is designed for play in Pathfinder Society Organized Play, but can easily be adapted for use with any world. This scenario is compliant with the Open Game License (OGL) and is suitable for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

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Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at store@paizo.com.

PZOPSS0610E

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Average product rating:

4.30/5 (based on 28 ratings)

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Possibly gives more for less experienced players

3/5 —

Reading over the scenario I was pretty excited by it and I still think it's a well written product that I really want to give five stars to it. Unfortunately seeing it in action I have to admit there are some key factors holding it back.

First the good, fun roleplay aspects, a good sense of mystery and a decent amount of information and NPC introductions that make the scenario a really solid introduction to the Pathfinder Society for players that don't really know the Society all that well.

Getting feedback from players at the table once things were said and done the opinion was expressed that there was too much story. I have to admit I think that's a pretty fair assessment. Encounters were so easy they were trivial, skill checks were quite easy to make for a well rounded party and there were only a couple situations where real problem solving was necessary.

The randomized puzzle was also a bit of a disappointment.

Spoiler:
While it did get players talking a bit it pretty much amounted to rolling dice for knowledge checks and it that had failed then it would have been going back to the Wisp to ask someone's opinion. A bit of a stumbling block the first time around but for repeated play the only thing that can slow players down on this is a refusal to metagame the puzzle.

Overall I disagree with the assessment that this scenario has more replay value than the Confirmation. You can know the Confirmation well enough to know every possibility that can come but there are still enough obstacles and tough encounters that it will be always be at least a small challenge and keep players thinking.

I really love this scenario for the story it tells but I feel like for repeated play or simply for players who feel like they don't have much else to learn about the Pathfinder Society it doesn't offer much. For something to introduce new players to the game this may quite possibly be one of the best options available. The same dry encounters that are great for training people on game mechanics that the Silverhex Chronicles has but a much more involving story in my opinion.

Very fun. Very replayable.

5/5 —

There's a healthy amount of roleplay in the beginning. There's variable foes to fight. There's bits to figure out and puzzle over. What's not to love? An excellent replayable scenario.

Average evergreen...

3/5 —

To date, I've run this for a table of avid roleplayers who also build mechanicaly solid PCs.

First comment is the concern over the handouts in the scenario - they are verbose and in a small script font. I reprinted them in a larger font and instead used an audible illusion for one message. After the scenario, I pulled out the handouts out and set them down together and a few people groaned at seeing them in original form.

The scenario starts with a list of a handful of NPCs to roleplay. I'm always a fan of scenarios where you have a handful of characters to portray. I had wished they would be more connected to the story - it will take a very creative table to get out of the usual mode of solving encounters with skill checks and attack rolls later on to think about going back to these NPCs for help (most things are easy enough these NPCs aren't really needed). One of my players reminded me about the Superstar module design and about having NPCs that aren't related to the story at all, and that these NPCs really aren't tightly connected and thus a bit of dead weight.

As events begin to unfold, there's a highly mundane trap that maybe should have been a hazard. Our table was slightly annoyed by it's inclusion.

As the adventure unfolds, one of my players was left with the question "Did Dreng know we were going to find this?" This became a bit of a concern with my group because they weren't sure if the information they found was real or not, or simply a "test" planted by an eccentic VL. It was good roleplay, but he was questioning why he'd want to work for an old man who was knowingly playing him.

This scenario allows some free form decisions on where to go next, and there's 3 destinations that are all fairly simple to process. There's some maps that you can argue you don't really need to even set down on the table (unless you as a GM are employing a "here I put miniatures on a map, who wants to use a consumable or a short-duration buff spell?" tactic to see if your players are playing that kind of game).

Two of the battles (potentially three) are randomly selected opponents, which is always interesting and is what helps enable the replay. There were some other random elements, like what is on the epitaths of some tombstones, but it's still unclear to me today what randomizing those does for the scenario. I can imagine some GMs getting tripped up by these as they really don't matter to the adventure at all. Our table had a little fun as I completely made up extra details about these names, but I can see some GMs not being fans of this puzzle-red-herring.

The second fight at our table was a snoozer at the 1st level subtier, with no danger risk and it was resolved by the midpoint of the 2nd round without any real injuries.

The final fight is a great one in terms of challenge for almost any party. I had already identified it as one that could clobber some 1st level parties and decided that if the party was defeated, I would likely have them simply be robbed and left unconscious (no need to TPK here). Oddly, you randomly roll the purpose of this final encounter. I can see some GMs completely ignoring the flavor here and their players walking away from the table and not realizing why they engaged in this fight. A little more information, perhaps something for the "leader" of this final group to shout out based on their 4 possible variants, would've helped novice GMs add a little more to this fight.

Overall, it's both a fairly simple scenario with some sanbox elements while at the same time having some things that are a bit complicated (and these are mostly things that don't support the main "mission" but are complications in the "set piece" that is the backdrop of wherever people are). It's not a introductary perfect scenario (thus meriting a 5-star rating), and it's not what I consider a "second tier" 1st level scenario (meriting a 4-star rating), so it lands squarley in my "average scenario" camp because it allows for some ad-hoc roleplay, some PC-directed goals if used as more of a sandbox, and it has a single good fight to make your PCs work for their win. I feel like another polishing/editing pass could've easily lifted this into 4-star status.

Great scnario

5/5 —

Played last night and have to say we had lots of fun; mind you my group was an odd ball of miss fits making the necromancer the normal one of the group, lots of chance for RP at the beginning with a nice variety of NPC. The fights are a bit on the easy side, except for one in which been creative is better, in my opinion, would be safes. Since this one is re-playable I got to say that I would like to play it again.

Great fun for everyone at the table!

5/5 —

This scenario really exceeded my expectations, but lost me on a few small things.

The variability of the scenario makes running it many times for the same people little challenge, as they could easily have a very different experience every time. Monsters, villains, negotiations, and traps can work a bit differently for each group, making the experience unique for everyone's run of the adventure. This will keep the scenario fresh for a good long while.

The difficulty of the scenario is also quite variable. You can make the adventure easier for newer players or make things more challenging for skilled players. Not only combats, but a social encounter can become more difficult and harrowing if the group looks good for it.

The story is plenty of fun as well. Regardless of the PC's skill level, they will feel like they are doing something important for this adventure. Not to mention they will make some excellent friends along the way, as the NPCs (including Drandle Dreng, naturally) are a blast to roleplay with. They not only are fun and interesting, they also can give newer players some decent advice for adventuring, and make the advice in-universe so it doesn't feel like they had info dumped on them by someone around the table.

A great adventure for beginners and veterans alike!

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Webstore Gninja Minion

Announced for December!
Grand Lodge

FINALLY.
Scarab Sages

I know that as always the cover is subject to change, but ...

Iron Gods Book 1 minor spoiler:
That's the art used for the named gargoyle in the boss encounter of Fires of Creation. Is there an Iron Gods connection in the scenario?
Webstore Gninja Minion

The cover art is not final, and the mockup we have for this season's scenarios is the junkyard stylin' gargoyle that you see there—doesn't necessarily mean there's an Iron Gods connection.
Scarab Sages
Liz Courts wrote:
The cover art is not final, and the mockup we have for this season's scenarios is the junkyard stylin' gargoyle that you see there—doesn't necessarily mean there's an Iron Gods connection.

Heh, sorry. I guess I just didn't notice it before and my group just fought him last week so it stuck out. Thanks for the quick reply Liz!

Paizo Employee Contributor
4 people marked this as a favorite.

MUAH HA! Ha... ha ha ha ha... ha... ha!

Alrighty, now that I've got that out of my system. I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to play this. I'm hoping it fills a niche similar to the Confirmation, but is different enough to let them compliment one another.
Dark Archive
1 person marked this as a favorite.

So, looks like my favorite PFS author is writing the new evergreen. I guess It's time for me to have a billion level one characters! :P

Dresden, I think you stole the very ideas I was thinking!
Grand Lodge

Alright, Thursty! I look forward to running and playing this adventure.

Soon? :)

(BTW, which map packs/flip maps are used in this?)

What time will this be released "today" ??? I've been waiting all day to read it so I can judge it on Friday.
Sovereign Court
1 person marked this as a favorite.

So did you all forget you were releasing this today and just went home early for New Years? I mean I like the bar as much as the next guy but come on now. :-(

@Duncan don't worry it will use at least 2-3 out of print flip mats
Liberty's Edge

I've found that new scenarios drop around (or after) close of business. Scenarios have been released as later than 9 PM EST in the past.
Sovereign Court

@slothsy Thanks haven't ever actually been waiting for a scenario before. Usually other PDF stuff I have looked for on day one (Ex: player companions) releases early to mid day (thus would be out by now). So it is good to know this "delay" on scenarios is normal.

That said my original comment was mostly tongue in cheek
Grand Lodge

Yeah, it's still only 2:38PM there right now if my timezones are correct.

Still it is a little disappointing. It's getting late over in my timezone and being New Year's Eve I have to be heading out soon. Not sure why but I really was looking forward to giving this scenario a glance today.
Liberty's Edge

I remember that feeling while waiting for Destiny of the Sands Part III to come out!
Grand Lodge

I have to prep Slave Master's Mirror for Saturday, so I know the feeling.
Paizo Employee Developer
1 person marked this as a favorite.
Duncan7291 wrote:

Soon? :)

(BTW, which map packs/flip maps are used in this?)

Answers!:
Flip-Mat: Necropolis and Map Pack: Wizard's Tower
Paizo Employee Developer
3 people marked this as a favorite.

Regarding the scenarios' time of release, scenarios typically release around the close of Paizo's business day, which ends up being somewhere in the 5–8 pm range, local time (Pacific Standard Time). This is how things have gone for virtually every release since I have worked here—and possibly before.

This month's scenarios are finished and should be showing up on the website shortly.
Grand Lodge

thanks for the update John, I am also excited to pick this one up as soon as it releases!

John,

Thank you for all of your hard work. I plan on using this for my first GMing attempt.

“I’m sure you all know that in time travel, we work with the past, present and future. But you may not know that there are different verb tenses that can be used with each of these. Before we can tell a story about the past, we need to master the verbs in the present. And there are four different types of present tense verbs. How many types are there, recruits?”

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book series)
Douglas Adams
Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

F5... F5... F5... F5...
Matthew Morris wrote:
F5... F5... F5... F5...

Doing the same here.

John Compton wrote:

Regarding the scenarios' time of release, scenarios typically release around the close of Paizo's business day, which ends up being somewhere in the 5–8 pm range, local time (Pacific Standard Time). This is how things have gone for virtually every release since I have worked here—and possibly before.

This month's scenarios are finished and should be showing up on the website shortly.

GOT IT AND THE MAPS. YOU ROCK.

John Compton wrote:

Regarding the scenarios' time of release, scenarios typically release around the close of Paizo's business day, which ends up being somewhere in the 5–8 pm range, local time (Pacific Standard Time). This is how things have gone for virtually every release since I have worked here—and possibly before.

This month's scenarios are finished and should be showing up on the website shortly.

Re: Page 26 top left

A sincere thank you so very much for doing this. This should keep the evergreen fresh.
John Compton wrote:

Regarding the scenarios' time of release, scenarios typically release around the close of Paizo's business day, which ends up being somewhere in the 5–8 pm range, local time (Pacific Standard Time). This is how things have gone for virtually every release since I have worked here—and possibly before.

This month's scenarios are finished and should be showing up on the website shortly.

Re: Top-most magic item on chronicle sheet

Thank you for taking the time to think this through. This particular aspect of the game can be a huge nuisance and this should help clear things up.
Thurston Hillman wrote:

MUAH HA! Ha... ha ha ha ha... ha... ha!

Alrighty, now that I've got that out of my system. I can't wait for everyone to get a chance to play this. I'm hoping it fills a niche similar to the Confirmation, but is different enough to let them compliment one another.

Thank you. From what I have read so far you have done an excellent job.

Liberty's Edge

The maps in this scenario only copy as black so I cannot import them into Roll20... Please help!
Liberty's Edge
Cronge wrote:
The maps in this scenario only copy as black so I cannot import them into Roll20... Please help!

Fixed... had to use a pdf to jpeg extractor to get the map images out of the scenario.

Reading through this it almost feels like First Steps and the Confirmation had a baby that inherited the best traits of both its parents. I'm really loving the potential for roleplay that this scenario seems to offer. I just hope I can do it justice when I run it next week.
Liberty's Edge
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Looks like a small but meaningful typo on page 11:

Quote:
Rewards: If the PCs to defeat the creatures in area A13, (with or without help), reduce each PC’s gold earned by 50 gp.

Think we're missing the word "fail" in there.

Liberty's Edge
Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

I'm not sure I am as pleased with this as I was the Confirmation - some parts of this are just needlessly complicated and could have been drastically simplified and still be as re-playable. Especially part B - that's a lot of resource for very little table play time.
Silver Crusade
1 person marked this as a favorite.

Is Onyeka Chaotic Good or True Neutral? Her stat block says one and her description says the other. Either one is legal (wouldn't have been in 3.5, which almost threw me for a second) but they're radically different in how they behave beyond the narrow confines of her description.

Edit: Also, I believe from context that Fimbrik has a cane in his hand, not a can. ;)
Paizo Employee Developer
Renegade Paladin wrote:

Is Onyeka Chaotic Good or True Neutral? Her stat block says one and her description says the other. Either one is legal (wouldn't have been in 3.5, which almost threw me for a second) but they're radically different in how they behave beyond the narrow confines of her description.

Edit: Also, I believe from context that Fimbrik has a cane in his hand, not a can. ;)

In Response:
Onyeka should be neutral--largely tied into her present low-pity/patience style of Sarenrae worship and past events.
Silver Crusade

I see the term "Evergreen" mention what does this pertain too?

thanks!
RM
Pathfinder Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

It can be replayed for PFS credit with a different first level character over and over.

Same as First Steps I and The Confirmation.
Silver Crusade

Ok, thanks for the clarification!

I'm thinkin of running this one at ReaperCon this year.

RM
Grand Lodge

Yeah, this needed a more thorough edit before getting put up. Hopefully that happens relatively soon. Otherwise our VC will have to add a few sticky notes to the pages as to what's what.
Silver Crusade

By the by, the cover page with all the layered images is such a huge file that the game shop's printer can't handle it; it's an older one that wants to cache the page before printing it and it's too big for its memory. XD Actually the file in general could be optimized to be a lot smaller than it is, I think; I'd try running it through Acrobat to shrink it down but I don't know if the security features would allow it.
Grand Lodge

Is there a reason why the taven that the Pathfinder Society was started in, in PFS 5-08 The Confirmation, is named The Pigs Paunch and not The Wounded Whisp as it is in this scenario?
Paizo Employee Contributor
balakus01 wrote:
Is there a reason why the taven that the Pathfinder Society was started in, in PFS 5-08 The Confirmation, is named The Pigs Paunch and not The Wounded Whisp as it is in this scenario?

Continuity error. Addressed by John HERE.

Grand Lodge

I got a very Da Vinci Code vibe playing this. Looking forward to running this myself down the line.
Lantern Lodge
1 person marked this as a favorite.

My team also picked up on the pubs name change.

A few other things that would be helpful. Only one is really an error though.

Error: Tomb moving?:

The map and Section C have the tomb of Arkath the Stonemason in the Eastgate, but the note the players find says Ivy district. It would be nice to get that fixed.

Where is Dreg?:

It would also be helpful to know where Dreng is (players ask this sort of thing). I stuck him in the Docks 'a street corner far from the Grand Lodge'. I guess he can move around and keep the ever green feel going.

Timing:

Is it anticipated that the whole adventure takes one day? Or that the team rests in the middle. It would be kind of nice to set expectations here. It first comes up in the Wisp when folk overhear about Sir Reinhart's intentions - I guess this is kept loose so the team can stop and heal if necessary? I just had the patrons reply with different times, as nobody is too sure about exactly when he's going to try. As this is a module that new GMs might want to run, extra guidance on this would be helpful.
Grand Lodge
Shisumo wrote:

Looks like a small but meaningful typo on page 11:

Quote:
Rewards: If the PCs to defeat the creatures in area A13, (with or without help), reduce each PC’s gold earned by 50 gp.
Think we're missing the word "fail" in there.

Glad I remembered to come here. Have to run the game tomorrow, and that bit confused me.

Community & Digital Content Director

Updated to include updated Season 7 and 8 versions of one of the Player Handouts.

Dotted
Grand Lodge

Got my copy. Will be running it near the end of the month.
Grand Lodge

Is this getting a Season 9 update, or is it just going to have 6-8?
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