Starfinder Adventure Path #7: The Reach of Empire (Against the Aeon Throne 1 of 3)

The change in frequency is welcome, and I will reserve judgement on the change in length. The opposition sounds interesting!

Only three installments?

So, you're saying we get to fight the empire!

So, you're saying we get to fight the empire!

No, we will serve the Empire!

Sounds interesting.

Please stop doing cool things! It’s taking up all of my free time and (just between us) some of my work time!

Please stop doing cool things! It’s taking up all of my free time and (just between us) some of my work time!

Bigger problem ... Rent or Paizo?

This is an interesting change, a 3-Part AP on Monthly schedule, still a 64 page-count though.

This looks exciting! I have thought that the Azlanti were the coolest sounding badguys in the setting from day one.
Super pumped about the accelerated production schedule!
Just curious, could we get a level range for each installment? Thanks in advance!

AtD

First AP was pretty dull.

This sounds more like it and the shorter duration means less filler. The Star Empire about the most exciting snippets from the core rules / archive

Now we need an AP that starts above 1st level so more than just novices can apply

Bit too early to say first AP was dull considering only half of it is released, though to be honest I have to agree it feels more like Council of Thieves in scope while I was hoping first AP of Starfinder would be like Rise of the Runelords aka starting new setting with a bang.

Hm, only 3 installments, now that's a change. So I guess this ends at, what, level 7 to 8?

Hm, only 3 installments, now that's a change. So I guess this ends at, what, level 7 to 8?

If the first AP is any indicator, at level 7 (that´s what AP #3 ends with).

Is this because there’s no modules?

Need more low-level adventures and options to play.

Is this because there’s no modules?

Need more low-level adventures and options to play.

I was really hoping that 3PP would have filled this void. :(

I was sort of hoping we could slow walk our way to the Azlanti because they seem like a massive threat.

I'm really sad these don't get into higher level stuff. I want to play some higher level Starfinder, to see what it's like, but Starfinder APs don't seem to want to support that.

I was sort of hoping we could slow walk our way to the Azlanti because they seem like a massive threat.

I’m sure there will be a bigger AP involving them some day. This is a minor peripheral system you’re saving.

Starfinder's been out for less than a year. I'm sure there will be plenty of 3PP support, just give them time. Pathfinder's had nine years to grow into it.

... And the Adventure Paths already had a multi-year lead on the Pathfinder RPG.

... And the Adventure Paths already had a multi-year lead on the Pathfinder RPG.

So, while we are all just speculating, would you tell us what is the rationale for a three part AP here?

Hmm, considering that summary mentions "old friend of the heroes" being kidnapped, I hope this AP actually has player's guide so players can be easily briefed on that :P

Adam Daigle wrote:

... And the Adventure Paths already had a multi-year lead on the Pathfinder RPG.

So, while we are all just speculating, would you tell us what is the rationale for a three part AP here?

Since Rob is the creative director for Starfinder, he'd be a better person for more details, but I can say that since we have a new line of Adventure Paths for a new game system, it seemed like a good time to experiment with how we present Adventure Paths. I'm curious to see how readers like or dislike this small change.

GeraintElberion wrote:

Adam Daigle wrote:

... And the Adventure Paths already had a multi-year lead on the Pathfinder RPG.

So, while we are all just speculating, would you tell us what is the rationale for a three part AP here?

Since Rob is the creative director for Starfinder, he'd be a better person for more details, but I can say that since we have a new line of Adventure Paths for a new game system, it seemed like a good time to experiment with how we present Adventure Paths. I'm curious to see how readers like or dislike this small change.

I'm interested to see more of this mini adventure path. Increased frequency to monthly is very welcome. If the page count is brought up to the same as their Pathfinder I'd be very interested to see something like alternating between a three part adventure path like this and then a six part adventure path. Something like that would be very nice, you don't always want to launch into a huge long adventure path but would still like a hand to get the game going.

But I do enjoy the longer adventure paths, so although a bit of variance like this is something I'm receptive to I'd be disappointed if it led to a loss of the nice long epic ones.

Hmm though I really hope to see some expanded adventure paths that go up to if not close to 20. More is more. Curious why its only three installments. I can see my players not really wanting to start over so soon with their characters only 12-13ish level at the end of the first path but I do love that we are getting some info on the Azlanti Empire!

one rationale could be that part 6 of an AP never sells as well as a Part 1. They certainly get played a lot less. It will be cool to get the story completed with less padding needed. For myself I have completed 3 AP and partially 6 more.
This AP also appeals as it seems to have nothing to do with any soiety connection.

I actually like the concept of a 3 part adventure path. Maybe not always, but I could see value in having a variety of 3 part paths at various starting levels so you can chain them together as appropriate for your group.

I will have to look at stealing the plot of this adventure path and scaling it up for this fall. A mini-campaign against the Azlanti Star Empire would fit into my campaign well by that point.

I will have to look at stealing the plot of this adventure path and scaling it up for this fall. A mini-campaign against the Azlanti Star Empire would fit into my campaign well by that point.

I've considered putting together some charts for adjusting CR on the fly. Seems like this would be a good place to potentially test it as a theory

I agree that I like the idea of a 3-part adventure path, but they took out the wrong part. They left in the frustrating low levels, and took out the levels where it starts to get fun. Although, I will admit I don't know where that line is in Starfinder yet. In Pathfinder, I tend to think the fun begins about level 5 (third level spells for casters, first iterative for full BAB characters). Things get really fun about level 11, and I have yet to play enough in the 16-20 range to have an opinion.

Well...

If the lower tier sells well enough, then there will be a huge demand for higher tier APs.

Which means they might be able to build APs that take characters to 20 without exceeding the 6 chapter AP concept?

Well...

If the lower tier sells well enough, then there will be a huge demand for higher tier APs.

Which means they might be able to build APs that take characters to 20 without exceeding the 6 chapter AP concept?

Return of the Runelords goes 1-20. All you need to fit 20 levels into 6 adventures is use the fast XP progression instead of the default medium.

However, that requires quite a bit more work by the GM.

Having it a 'solid' path to 20 versus a 'GM needs to make a lot of work to keep it challenging' could be a good selling point.

How does it require more work by GM? It's exactly the same AP, you just need less XP to level.

...The encounters are aimed and tuned at a L15-17 party in most cases in the Part 6. ((At least in PFS, not sure how SFS APs have been looking))

If L18-19 powers/items/wealth/equipment is allowed, then the GM needs to modify the scenario to compensate for the additional power increase.

...otherwise there's no challenge to the party.

...The encounters are aimed and tuned at a L15-17 party in most cases in the Part 6. ((At least in PFS, not sure how SFS APs have been looking))

If L18-19 powers/items/wealth/equipment is allowed, then the GM needs to modify the scenario to compensate for the additional power increase.

...otherwise there's no challenge to the party.

I am talking about the upcoming Return of the Runelords, which is 1-20. As written. You won't have to modify it.

That's an outlier, I think?

Most APs end around the 15-17 range, if memory serves?

There was a post somewhere where the developers and/or design team were talking about the amount of work involved with a 1-20 vs. a 1-16/17 and why the 1-20s were rare, but I can't remember where it is.

That's an outlier, I think?

Most APs end around the 15-17 range, if memory serves?

There was a post somewhere where the developers and/or design team were talking about the amount of work involved with a 1-20 vs. a 1-16/17 and why the 1-20s were rare, but I can't remember where it is.

The reason 1-20s are rare is because, according to various posts made over the years:

a) high level statblocks take obscene amount of space. It's likely only now with enough high level foes in Bestiaries/Codexes that Paizo can cut the space by simply referencing other books and fit all the required statblocks into the final book;

b) later volumes of APs don't sell as well as lower level ones, which kind of discourages investing in high level stuff if your lower level stuff simply outsells it;

c) level 20 requires CR 20+ foes, which again, is only recently that Paizo has ample amount of in existing print.

I am distinctly less likely to buy this AP as for me a campaign needs to get to higher levels to be interesting for me to run. This is both because I enjoy high level play and because for this sort of game I want to have an epic conclusion and to me world changing events are not casued by 8th level characters. This means that this AP would not be worth me running and so I am less likely to buy it
I am sure others will be happy with it , but the trend for low level starfinder is disappointing for me.

The shorter length, and lower ending level, makes sense if this AP is but the first part of a two or three part campaign.

While I'm excited that the adventure involves Azlanti Star Empire--one of the cooler potential enemies from the Core book--they seem like a more epic-tier threat than levels 1-(7?) implies.

I'm okay with giving a 3-book campaign a shot as well. My groups typically meet weekly for 3-5 hours a pop and it can still take us months to get through an AP book (admittedly that's at Paizo's medium track) and life always seems to get in the way of completing a path. Maybe a smaller, more focused adventure path makes more sense.

Do we know for sure all 3 part aps will be starting at level 1 though? I mean, 3 part ap could serve as "hey, you want to run something after ap that ends on level 12? Well good news!"

Do we know for sure all 3 part aps will be starting at level 1 though? I mean, 3 part ap could serve as "hey, you want to run something after ap that ends on level 12? Well good news!"

I don't think we know anything for certain about the planned level ranges of any of these adventure paths. I would imagine that they will stick with low level adventure paths until the game system matures a bit, but later on, who knows?

We know the first three-part AP starts at level 1, but nothing beyond that.

It's funny how these things go, I'm so used to hearing people talk about how much they don't enjoy high level play when it comes later modules of an AP, or goodness forbid going from level 1-20. This is really refreshing. I'm just enjoying the opportunity to have both.

While I'm excited that the adventure involves Azlanti Star Empire--one of the cooler potential enemies from the Core book--they seem like a more epic-tier threat than levels 1-(7?) implies.

That would probably be the case if this adventure path were "Destroy the Aeon Throne." But it's about working against its machinations. That can start small, but blossom into much bigger things. Here, it starts with liberating a colony in the Vast from the oppressive control of the Azlanti Star Empire--you get to be the rebels, and that's really fun and totally appropriate for low-level heroes. But why have the Azlanti reached out so far into the Vast? Finding that answer is what unfolds into the bigger things.

As an aside, now that I'm a developer here and privy to super-secret secrets, I'm excited for the next 2 adventures in this AP to be announced--because they really ramp up the awesome from the already-awesome "rebels against tyranny" beginning!

But why have the Azlanti reached out so far into the Vast?

Because the Azlanti empire is entirely in the Vast, and their peer competitors are not, so it makes sense for them to pick off systems out there rather than push towards the Pact Worlds and risk fights they can't easily win for the questionable prize of still having a really long trip to get back to their homeworld?

It's funny how these things go, I'm so used to hearing people talk about how much they don't enjoy high level play when it comes later modules of an AP, or goodness forbid going from level 1-20. This is really refreshing. I'm just enjoying the opportunity to have both.

People always get louder when they want to comment on what they don't like rather than on what they like

Personally I'm very interested in single adventures and shorter adventure paths that can highlight different areas and aspects of the setting (need some adventures that revolve fully around the Pact Worlds).

The gaming groups I game with only play campaigns lasting up to a dozen sessions and up to around 11th level so Dead Suns suits the group much better than Pathfinder adventure paths. We also tend to some of these books more for inspiration, using maps and characters/setting areas but not the adventure itself. This is where the Golarion setting books for different countries are excellent and I really hope there will be equivalent books for areas of the Pact Worlds.

If enough people are interested that I'm certainly fine with Paizo putting out some longer adventure paths going up to higher levels (even though I wouldn't buy or play them) - diversity to cater for different customers is welcome. But I hope the shorter AP is popular enough that we see more of that format!

I'm fine with a shorter AP. Variety is the spice of life.

My question is, will this be Starfinder AP #7, or will the numbering start over for each Starfinder AP?