Pathfinder Adventure Path #163: Ruins of Gauntlight (Abomination Vaults 1 of 3)

4.40/5 (based on 13 ratings)
Pathfinder Adventure Path #163: Ruins of Gauntlight (Abomination Vaults 1 of 3)
Show Description For:
Non-Mint

Print Edition Unavailable

Add PDF $19.99

Add Non-Mint $24.99 $18.74

Facebook Twitter Email

Enter the megadungeon! When the mysterious Gauntlight, an eerie landlocked lighthouse, glows with baleful light, the people of Otari know something terrible is beginning. The town's newest heroes must venture into the ruins around the lighthouse—and delve the dungeon levels far beneath it—to discover the evil the Gauntlight heralds. Hideous monsters, deadly traps, and mysterious ghosts all await the heroes who dare to enter the sprawling megadungeon called the Abomination Vaults!

"Ruins of Gauntlight" is a Pathfinder adventure for four 1st-level characters. This adventure begins the Abomination Vaults Adventure Path, a three-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes explore a sprawling megadungeon to stop an ancient evil from renewing her monstrous vengeance. This adventure also includes an extensive gazetteer of the town of Otari, the heroes' home base, as well as new monsters, new rules, and new artifacts—including the dread Gauntlight itself!

Each monthly full-color softcover Pathfinder Adventure Path volume contains an in-depth adventure scenario, stats for several new monsters, and support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Pathfinder Adventure Path volumes use the Open Game License and work with both the Pathfinder RPG and the world's oldest fantasy RPG.

ISBN-13: 978-1-64078-301-0

The Abomination Vaults Adventure Path is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure and Chronicle sheet are available as a free download (983 kb PDF).

Other Resources: This product is also available on the following platforms:

Hero Lab Online
Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Pathfinder Nexus on Demiplane
Archives of Nethys

Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscription.

Product Availability

Print Edition:

Unavailable

PDF:

Fulfilled immediately.

Non-Mint:

Available now

Ships from our warehouse in 11 to 20 business days.

This product is non-mint. Refunds are not available for non-mint products. The standard version of this product can be found here.

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

PZO90163


See Also:

1 to 5 of 13 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | next > last >>

Average product rating:

4.40/5 (based on 13 ratings)

Sign in to create or edit a product review.

4/5




5/5




Great Introductory Adventure

5/5

I was looking to give some friends of mine an introduction to PF2E without having to give up a lot of my own free time to write a campaign, and this has been a great introduction to the system. I enjoy the classic town with a nearby dungeon format, and I've had a blast running my players through the beginner's box and into Abomination Vaults. High production values, and I deeply appreciate just how little prep I have to do to get this on the table, especially with the matching Pathfinder Pawns and I can base and plunk down with no muss or fuss.

The perfect product for the busy game-master.


1 to 5 of 13 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | next > last >>
1 to 50 of 234 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | next > last >>
Paizo Employee Webstore Coordinator

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Announced for January! Product image and description are not final and may be subject to change.

Grand Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

HuzzzaH!


Wooo!!! Can't wait for this


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Interesting! A short AP focused on a megadungeon has possibilities.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Kortos, we are really sticking to the Center of the World.


As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...


5 people marked this as a favorite.
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...

I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.


Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.

I completely forgot the AP panel was up today! I got confused by the Adventures panel that's going up tomorrow...

Grand Archive

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Beginner's Box adventure: in Otari
Trouble in Otari: Follow up to Beginner's Box, in Otari
Abomination Vaults AP (lvl 1-11): Use Otari as Hub

They are setting Otari as the Starting town for new players. :O


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Otari is the new Sandpoint.


Nice!


Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.

Where might we get access to this information?


This looks good. Love me some mega-dungeons. I'll definitely be ready to get off this island when its over though.


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.
Where might we get access to this information?

The Twitch Stream. They mention the upcoming APs at the beginning of the second part.


Graeme Lewis wrote:
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.
Where might we get access to this information?
The Twitch Stream. They mention the upcoming APs at the beginning of the second part.

Sadly, the stream isn't up in their channel yet... I can't believe I lost it. I was so excited with the 2021 ap reveal.

Dark Archive

The Gold Sovereign wrote:
Graeme Lewis wrote:
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.
Where might we get access to this information?
The Twitch Stream. They mention the upcoming APs at the beginning of the second part.
Sadly, the stream isn't up in their channel yet... I can't believe I lost it. I was so excited with the 2021 ap reveal.

January through march will be this three-part mega-dungeon ap.

April through june will be another three-part AP called "Fist of the Phoenix".

Was there anything else announced?

Personally i was expecting some Darklands adventure path, as the next Pathfinder Battles set (scheduled for december/january) is called "Darklands Rising"!

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Usually, Paizo announced 1 AP at PaizoCon and another at GenCon.

This time, they've announced 2 half-APs at PaizoCon ... but there's no physical GenCon this year ... so perhaps there will be one more AP announced at GenCon Online, which is scheduled to take place in July in lieu of the normal one.


Graeme Lewis wrote:
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.
Where might we get access to this information?

The Twitch Stream. They mention the upcoming APs at the beginning of the second part. [/QUOTE

Gracias


5 people marked this as a favorite.

I’ve been asking for a megadungeon AP for ages. Thank you so much for making it happen, Paizo-powers-that-be.

Awesome! :)

I would personally love to see a full AP,but given the community’s appetite for megadungeons, I think a short and sharp 3-parter makes sense. I’ll hope it’s phenomenally successful and that we might see a “delving deeper” sequel in the adventures line, sometime down the track.

Really, really glad to read about this.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
Graeme Lewis wrote:
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.
Where might we get access to this information?
The Twitch Stream. They mention the upcoming APs at the beginning of the second part.
Sadly, the stream isn't up in their channel yet... I can't believe I lost it. I was so excited with the 2021 ap reveal.

Correcting myself here,

The stream is up under the name "Organized Play Marquee Event", and they start to cover the AP line at 01:55.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
Graeme Lewis wrote:
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Heine Stick wrote:
The Gold Sovereign wrote:
As a three-part AP, I suppose this doesn't take the PC to 20 level. Yet, we are talking about a megadungeon...
I'm fairly certain the developers said levels 1-11 in the adventure path panel at PaizoCon Online., with Fist of the Phoenix being 11-20.
Where might we get access to this information?
The Twitch Stream. They mention the upcoming APs at the beginning of the second part.
Sadly, the stream isn't up in their channel yet... I can't believe I lost it. I was so excited with the 2021 ap reveal.

Correcting myself here,

The stream is up under the name "Organized Play Marquee Event", and they start to cover the AP line at 01:55.

Yep unfortunately all the streams for the day end up in one Twitch video after. They usually break them up for YouTube, i do believe.

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Huh so were getting a megadungeon Ap set in Absalolm roughly at the same time we would be getting a module megadungeon ap also set in Absalolm that not a bit of oversaturating? (Especially since I assume the Ap one will be bigger and with way more support material)

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Kevin Mack wrote:
Huh so were getting a megadungeon Ap set in Absalolm roughly at the same time we would be getting a module megadungeon ap also set in Absalolm that not a bit of oversaturating? (Especially since I assume the Ap one will be bigger and with way more support material)

? We don't have megadungeon ap in Absalom, unless you mean one of those "single book megadungeons"

But seriously though, with megadungeons its kinda irrelevant what country they are set in, they almost always have monsters from all over the world anyway


CorvusMask wrote:
Kevin Mack wrote:
Huh so were getting a megadungeon Ap set in Absalolm roughly at the same time we would be getting a module megadungeon ap also set in Absalolm that not a bit of oversaturating? (Especially since I assume the Ap one will be bigger and with way more support material)

? We don't have megadungeon ap in Absalom, unless you mean one of those "single book megadungeons"

But seriously though, with megadungeons its kinda irrelevant what country they are set in, they almost always have monsters from all over the world anyway

Erik Mona's standalone adventure module, "The Dead God's Hand" is set in Absalom and was described as as megadungeon. So they're probably describing that product.

Then again, it's been delayed indefinitely while Mr. Mona works on the hardcover for the Lost Omens Absalom book... which is also indefinitely delayed. So I don't think we need to worry about over-saturation on that front, unless they re-announce the release date for DGH at the Adventure panel today.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Kevin Mack wrote:
Huh so were getting a megadungeon Ap set in Absalolm roughly at the same time we would be getting a module megadungeon ap also set in Absalolm that not a bit of oversaturating? (Especially since I assume the Ap one will be bigger and with way more support material)

Yep this mega-dungeon is over 50 miles from Absalom. Not exactly far, but also not really close.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Three APs in a row on/around the Isle of Kortos. That's... interesting.


9 people marked this as a favorite.

Hey, after 10 years of absolutely nothing on Kortos, it's fine. Just... this is probably enough for now.


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Fumarole wrote:
Three APs in a row on/around the Isle of Kortos. That's... interesting.

To be fair, none of the three really run into each other. Nor does this particular one actually seem to have much connection to Kortos beyond "this is where the new village is set"

But yeah. They're really doubling down on releasing Absalom or Kortos-centric stuff right now (adding in the someday-to-be-released Dead God's Hand and Lost Omens book, along with Trouble in Otari this fall). Doesn't bug me. I think it will be good to have a central basis of PF2, and as they branch out over its lifetime, we won't feel nearly so saturated.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Grankless wrote:
Hey, after 10 years of absolutely nothing on Kortos, it's fine. Just... this is probably enough for now.

Absolutely nothing except for Gallery of Evil and numerous Pathfinder Society scenarios.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Zaister wrote:
Grankless wrote:
Hey, after 10 years of absolutely nothing on Kortos, it's fine. Just... this is probably enough for now.
Absolutely nothing except for Gallery of Evil and numerous Pathfinder Society scenarios.

Isn't gallery of evil over ten years ago? ;D

Silver Crusade

7 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
CorvusMask wrote:
Zaister wrote:
Grankless wrote:
Hey, after 10 years of absolutely nothing on Kortos, it's fine. Just... this is probably enough for now.
Absolutely nothing except for Gallery of Evil and numerous Pathfinder Society scenarios.
Isn't gallery of evil over ten years ago? ;D

TTRPG fans are known to twist the passage of time, that 1988 game where Joey played an annoying kender was yesterday and that first-ever game in 1978 was just two days ago.


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Zaister wrote:
Grankless wrote:
Hey, after 10 years of absolutely nothing on Kortos, it's fine. Just... this is probably enough for now.
Absolutely nothing except for Gallery of Evil and numerous Pathfinder Society scenarios.

Point of fact: I have every AP book from Council of Thieves onward, plus nearly every campaign book and 25 or so player companions.

I don't have any of these you speak of.

So, Pathfinder 2nd edition is pretty much my only foray onto the Starstone Isles since the Guide to Absalom.


4 people marked this as a favorite.

Personally, a megadungeon isn't that exciting.

But, I said the same thing about Iron Gods and that became my favorite AP, so I will give Paizo the benefit of the doubt and I can't wait to see what kind of twists they bring.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
captain yesterday wrote:

Personally, a megadungeon isn't that exciting.

But, I said the same thing about Iron Gods and that became my favorite AP, so I will give Paizo the benefit of the doubt and I can't wait to see what kind of twists they bring.

Some of my favourite APs have been the ones I was initially cool on. Even when there’s a miss, I’m still glad they try a broad array of themes/settings

Dark Archive

5 people marked this as a favorite.
Fumarole wrote:
Three APs in a row on/around the Isle of Kortos. That's... interesting.

It's definitely not encouraging for GMs insufficiently enticed to run Kortos as an adventure site, portability of mega-dungeons aside.

On the other hand, between Extinction Curse, Beginner's Box, the Vault mini-AP, and Erik Mona's mega-dungeon, you have a TON of site-based adventure material, all focused on a 50-200 mile perimeter that could take up a campaign for 2-5 years.

My goal is to collect and index it all and put it all on one huge.... hex-map for Kortos.

Something similar happened last decade with Rappan Athuk, which began with a mega-dungeon. Then other books came out, adding nearby overland adventures above the dungeon, and Matt Finch added 2 books of underdark advenures below the mega-dungeon. You had several books of adventuring material, all working extremely well with each other. Most significantly, the sheer volume gave players a level of freedom (of movement, picking patrons, missions, factions, alignments) that they don't usually enjoy if you run a single module, let alone an adventure path. Heck, I think this is more freedom than Kingmaker offers, because it's only horizontal freedom across a static plane. This, on the other hand, is freedom of travel in three dimensions.

Personally, I think it's brilliant.


3 people marked this as a favorite.

Very cool to see Paizo try out the 3-part AP format for PF! Definitely picking this one up.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

I like that this kind of thing facilitates the other half- an 11-20 AP. The first two levels of PF2 have been voted as "never again" by my players, so having some good options to just jump on in higher up is nice.

Wayfinders

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I am looking forward to this bigtime.


We're getting two really intriguing and tantalizing megadungeons coming to Pathfinder this winter... I wonder if I can find players who want that, haha. I would absolutely love to run a very combat-heavy campaign. And this one especially looks so steeped in a weird lore, which is totally my jam.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, LO Special Edition, PF Special Edition, Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I have always loved a good dungeon crawl myself. My players get board easily with mostly social encounters. The tend to start fights rather than talk their way out of them. I think a good dungeon crawl will be good for them. I'm hoping for a full adventure path mega dungeon in the future.

Horizon Hunters

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Released in January?

Happy birthday to me!

Dark Archive

6 people marked this as a favorite.

While i and all people i play with hate to play in a dungeon for more than two sessions in a row, i will get this, because:
A) It's from James Jacobs.
B) I love the idea of three-part campaigns and liked the ones i got in Starfinder and want to support them for Pathfinder.
C) I have bought every adventure path volume that Paizo published so far and will probably continue to do that for a long time.

I also loved "The Ruby Phoenix Tournament" and hope that the AP after this one will go full Grand Tournament in the style of Dragonball, Street Fighter, Tekken and countless eastern martial arts movies!

The Exchange

Katina Davis wrote:
Announced for January! Product image and description are not final and may be subject to change.

Very nice! I am excited! Any sneak previews as to what comes after the megadungeon?


Fumarole wrote:


On the other hand, between Extinction Curse, Beginner's Box, the Vault mini-AP, and Erik Mona's mega-dungeon, you have a TON of site-based adventure material, all focused on a 50-200 mile perimeter that could take up a campaign for 2-5 years.

Would someone be so kind as to point me towards Eric Mona's super dungeon?


Generic Villain wrote:
Would someone be so kind as to point me towards Eric Mona's super dungeon?

Probably talking about this

The Dead God's Hand

And this
Dead God's Hand Multi Pack


Isn't a three-part AP awfully small/short for a "megadungeon"?

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Twilight2k wrote:
Isn't a three-part AP awfully small/short for a "megadungeon"?

Nope. Megadungeon isn't "dungeon that takes you from level 1 to level 20", its just a really long multiple floor sized dungeon. Like plenty of 1e aps have single book megadungeons if you ask me. That said I guess proper definition is "dungeon so large you could have entire campaign in same dungeon" which would still count for 3 book campaign :p


1 person marked this as a favorite.

It'll be a bit larger than the Emerald Spire dungeon, for comparison.


As cool as this is, I'm still hoping for a Osirion-based Megadungeon one day! You know, something similar to Gary Gygax's Necropolis. ;)

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

That probably won't be touched for awhile since we already had Mummy's Mask.

1 to 50 of 234 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Paizo / Product Discussion / Pathfinder Adventure Path #163: Ruins of Gauntlight (Abomination Vaults 1 of 3) All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.