A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for levels 3–6 (subtiers 3–4 and 5–6).
The newly formed hobgoblin nation of Oprak has reached out to the Pathfinder Society in the name of diplomacy. Mindful of the aid Oprak could provide against the threat of the Whispering Tyrant, the Society has dispatched the PCs to escort a trial squad of hobgoblin recruits and run them through some in-the-field Pathfinder training. Will the Iolite Squad be the first in a new wave of Pathfinders, or are Oprak’s attempts at diplomacy doomed to go up in smoke?
Written by: Mike Kimmel
Scenario tags: None
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
Training montage is fun and hobgoblin metaplot is neat.
Encounters feel meaningful. A victory point system for the final exploration may have worked better for not having players feel cheated out of their treasure for not critically succeeding at a seemingly random check.
In general I enjoyed this scenario a lot. I actually wish it was replayable (switch out the squad members and skill challenges maybe?).
My only complaints come in the final section.
Spoiler:
As has been noted, the one treasure bundle is perhaps a bit too hard.
My bigger concern is the DC on the spider venom. I think I ended up needing a 14-15 on the die for a success and I was playing a barbarian. I am very glad nobody else got poisoned by them and that poisons have a max duration. Because that DC is definitely too much, especially when it ends at paralysis.
I have run and played this. I ennjoyed it a lot, there are plenty of interesting NPCs to get to know, some nice montage like scenes and some challenging combats. I got to swallow a couple of PCs whole! When I played this we had no-one with in combat healing making the final fight especially brutal and a close run thing.
Overll I really recommend this one, it was a lot of fun and wit Hobgoblins now an accessible race in PFS it provis a nice opener.
This was fun cuase we get to help introduce new groups to the Pathfinders and being hobgoblin, that's just another check for fun for me.
Combats felt solid and fun with decent skill checks that actually felt like they mattered in the scope of the adventure. Something I actually wish I so more often.
The NPCs were enjoyable and were written with a clear sense of purpose in their intents. That is nice world building there for me.
The only negative I would have to strike against it is that it's not an Envoys Alliance tag. Which makes no sense to me as you are bringing in new people and establishing new connections.
Overall, it's solid, fun, interesting to see Pathfinder training, and strong lore sense.
(based on 8 ratings)
