Pathfinder Bounty #2: Blood of the Beautiful designed for 1st-level characters.
A Druman farmer posts a request for adventurers to begin an immediate investigation into the murder of his prized alpacas! Farmer Harjack's land is located just north of the town known as Petitioner's Point, and all he knows for certain is that a creature comes in the night and drains alpacas of their blood before disappearing into the dark. As the PCs investigations lead them into the nearby wilderness, they'll need to be ready to bring all their skills to bear if they hope to track the creature down to its lair and put it down before it can harm any more defenseless animals.
Written by: Thurston Hillman
Content sanctioned for use in the Pathfinder Society (second edition) organized play program.
Scenario tags: Repeatable
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
Summary: Would not run for more than 4 players, anything to keep the elite adjustment off this creature.
Long winded version:
I like that bounties provide a more difficult fight, since it expects PC's to unload everything they have on the creature. However, I found this bounty unreasonable hard and that the stats are more inline with a tier 2-3 boss fight. The creature has a reasonably lucky chance at scoring a critical and dealing enough damage that massive damage rules kick in for low HD PCs (which should have happen at my table if not for a thankful error).
I will note we had to fight it with the elite adjustment which made it's stats just outrageous to try and defend against or get through. The non-elite version is likely more reasonable and I'd perhaps give this bounty another go at 4 players, but the +2 to everything is too much for level 1.
Party Comp: Wizard, Ranger, Oracle, Monk, Fighter
Needed more healing (just had two Heal spells), attack spells were worthless since they missed too often, iterative attack (positive modifier) nat 20's and didn't crit. Afterwards, GM told us the fight could have been harder, it could have been pre-buffed and we didn't even trigger any of the environmental effects.
EDIT: Post getting to play it with only 4 players (Kyra, Valeros, Lini, and a swashbuckler), it went much - much - smoother, but was still a fun challenge.
Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
What are the odds that an adventurer will see such a posting? I'd expect pretty slim.
Part of the premise of a bounty is that you begin play in a location where you can see the posted notice for it -- and you are inclined to accept and pursue said bounty.
Wow.
I ran this bounty yesterday in a full group, and I really have to say: This villain was really crunchy for my PC's.
DMs should play this villain with care, if they don't want to risk a tpk.
Nevertheless: The story is great, the fight has dynamics in it and is well presented. This bounty leaves your surviving pc's with a good story to be told and the feeling, to have accomplished something.
