With bounties on their heads and evidence of a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top of the Pact Worlds government, the heroes travel to Absalom Station to clear their names and root out the duplicitous agents. But time is of the essence, as the suspects are on the verge of being elected onto the powerful Pact Council. With the operatives unmasked, the heroes have their final chance to come face-to-face with the puppet master behind all their troubles and the architect of the vast conspiracy that threatens the entire system!
“Puppets Without Strings” is a Starfinder Roleplaying Game adventure for four 11th-level characters. This adventure concludes the Threefold Conspiracy Adventure Path, a six-part, monthly campaign in which the players unravel the machinations of insidious aliens who have infiltrated galactic society. This volume also includes advice on how to keep your campaign going past the final encounter, a look at magical training academies across the galaxy, and a selection of new and inexplicable monsters.
Each monthly full-color softcover Starfinder Adventure Path volume contains a new installment of a series of interconnected science-fantasy quests that together create a fully developed plot of sweeping scale and epic challenges. Each 64-page volume of the Starfinder Adventure Path also contains in-depth articles that detail and expand the Starfinder campaign setting and provide new rules, a host of exciting new monsters and alien races, a new planet to explore and starship to pilot, and more!
ISBN-13: 978-1-64078-250-1
The Threefold Conspiracy Adventure Path is sanctioned for use in Starfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure Path and Chronicle sheet are available as a free download (6.7 MB PDF).
Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:
Maybe its because drift case files put me in investigation mood, but after rereading this years later, wow I don't think I had ever really noticed how good adventure this one actually is. The investigation section is detailed(and has lot of variances and events that all groups might not even see), all combats are unique and have interesting premises(I am bad at commenting how encounters work mechanically without running them, but its easy for me to tell when encounters are flavorful, have interesting roleplaying opportunities or goals for pcs :D Like there aren't repeat "and now players fight these mooks again", all of combat scenarios are unique situations), the finale of the ap is quite fitting and "epic"(I like how eerie and unusual it is. It manages to make our mystery bad guy who we don't know anything about fun one xD)) and even the continuing the campaign articles are great hooks.
This is also one of few aps that has been canonized by Devastation Ark confirming which members won the elections being the same ones from this book :D
But yeah, I wasn't sold on all books in this ap, but it ends on great note.
Same here.
With the Starfinder Operations Manual now out and taking into account that one year of stuff has already been developed, issue #43 should begin the high level AP.
Maybe Paizo will plan higher level content than level 13 for AP issue #50?
Anyway i'm out for 2020 and will focus on playing Pathfinder 1st edition all of next year.
My guess is that either 2020 or 2021 might feature level 12/13-20 ap or two three part aps covering same level range. I could be completely wrong about that but I think there have been enough requests for those to the point its becoming frequent criticism in aps.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
CorvusMask wrote:
My guess is that either 2020 or 2021 might feature level 12/13-20 ap or two three part aps covering same level range. I could be completely wrong about that but I think there have been enough requests for those to the point its becoming frequent criticism in aps.
well... if they kept it at the same leveling as the other 3 issue APs, it would begin at 13 (so you could pick up from the prior published APs) and then go to 18th.
Which I think would be just dandy. We are running a homebrew right now which started at level 10 and are level 12 now. It's fun.
I am a big fan of the magical academies articles AND the new player options introduced in them!
Oh thank you, Mimski! I am so glad that you enjoyed the "Magical Academies" article. It was so much fun to write. I must say that I am delighted with its art, too.
I really loved the magical academies article too! The player options therein are fun, although I feel like the Spell Sergeant - while cool - definitely gives up a lot more than I'd like for what it gives... Your mileage may vary, of course.
Spookfish Swarm: NE Tiny undead (incorporeal, swarm)
Keep away of if your character dislikes water. They might have issues even after the fight is over...
Memory Muck: CN Tiny Ooze
Turns out manipulating memories can have weird consequences.
Hungerer from the Dark: CE Large aberration
The name pretty much tells it all. There are hungry things in the dark of space.
Guardian Rhino: LN Medium monstrous humanoid (shapechanger)
A thematically very specific "monster" that can be met in Absalom Station.
Gray Shell: NE Medium humanoid (gray)
More gray types!
Elmeshra N Large animal (aquatic)
You know how hippos are very dangerous if disturbed? This one is worse.
Driftlure: CE Huge outsider (extraplanar)
Probably my favourite illustration this alien archive! It likes making itself pretty. Pretty dangerous.
Hmm wrote:
Oh thank you, Mimski! I am so glad that you enjoyed the "Magical Academies" article. It was so much fun to write. I must say that I am delighted with its art, too.
Hmm
You're welcome! Outside of the setting writing, I also enjoyed the introduction of more alternate class features as options :) I'm glad that this part of the COM is being expanded.
This AP was a hoot, but the maps are getting to be so tiny that it would be nice if subscribers could get larger versions in a separate file, a la the interactive maps included with Pathfinder's APs. (I'm not even asking for interactivity!)
Hmm yeah, in the end I'm kinda sad our buddy steward duo didn't have npc articles, but otherwise this is first ap I think works best with starfinder ap format npc wise. I mean due to the whole "you don't know true nature of your enemies" dealio, its in a way more immersive for gm to not know it either so bad guys not being fleshed out or having npc articles actually works out for "spooky mystery" angle.
But yeah, I'm probably never gonna stop declaring how great npc articles actually are xD
...Was this book always this good, or have I been replaced and brainwashed at some point? I don't remember this book being this strong finisher first time I read it
I have a question regarding the Spell Sergeant and Society play. The Spell Sergeant Archetype’s level 2 feature Military Training provides two bonus feats. Does it grant those feats even when the character doesn’t meet the prerequisites? I’m looking specially at Heavy and Power Armor Proficiency. Thanks!