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)
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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

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4.40/5 (based on 13 ratings)

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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.




Not for 5e/players-never-die types

5/5

Love this megadungeon, my people are only 3/4ths through the 2nd level and we're very excited to see what happens next, every room tells its own story.

The 1 star ratings skewing this are based on suffering from a misalignment of expectations. This is definitely a dungeon that will kill you on the 1st floor if you're not careful, and I would urge GM's to consider having Wrin Sivinxi guide the group to the mitflits and maggots/flies first to avoid a bad situation, then leave them on their own afterwards.

Also this dungeon has NO intro - just "You stand in front of the ruins of Gauntlight". No problem, I improvised my own little intro, but it would have been nice to have maybe a page or two about it.


What a great introductory AP!

5/5

James Jacobs has some beautiful adventure designs in this book and the flavor and color of the world and the creatures is all amazing. I can't wait to run this. I especially love the presentation of a mega dungeon as fitting within the larger world of Golarion, but being left incredibly open ended for me as a GM to get my PCs in the door. I feel like this really encourages me to take ownership of my campaign and make it something special. The book really focuses fast and furiously on the dungeon environs itself and spends the vast majority of its time making a lively and dynamic dungeon ecology. As a classic dungeon crawl, this book has creativity in all the right places.
I absolutely LOVE the way that the Gazetteer for this book was handled and hope to see its form cary over into future APs as well. It really presents all the information I need to integrate the more fun subsystems from the GMG and I can't wait to see how the PCs run with it.
Overall, I just wanted to say that I was really surprised at how effectively this AP shows off why PF2 is designed the way it is, even for running an adventure that would seem to otherwise be so traditional that it might feel system agnostic otherwise.
Really incredible design here, and I can't wait to run it.


Loving the new 3 book AP format

5/5

As someone new to Pathfinder but having run games for years my group has never been into playing or committing to the very long 6 book adventure path format, while I have ALWAYS dreamed of running them.

The new 3 books format is PERFECT for those that are busy with long work weeks, raising kids or simply hoping to just finish an AP.

I love the classic dungeon crawl format while the new spin on things is great.

I really hope to see more 3 part AP's in the future for the more casual gaming groups who would love to get into the famed Paizo Adventure Paths.

Give me more 3 part AP"S please!! Seriously just take my money now.

I think this could really pull in the casual gamer crowd that all flock to 5e. If Paizo could produce some more multi level Pre-Gens I would be able to lure way more people into Pathfinder 2e.

Great adventure!!


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

That's understandable. I just like the idea of adventurers are sent looking for the one responsible for kidnapping priests and clerics of Sarenrae only to discover a long forgotten insane mummy lord priest of Rovagug has been gathering victims to sacrifice so he can unleash a herald of Rovagug (aka a Thunder Behemoth) upon all of Osirion.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I have wondered and wondered if they would ever do a short AP like they did with Starfinder. I personally love the idea of every year having one 6-part AP and two 3-part AP's. It keeps things fresh. And not every story needs to be that long. I love 20 level APs. But sometimes it's cool to have one that wraps up sooner. I'm excited for it!

Dark Archive

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

Short APs? Sounds like a cool idea from time to time!

Though was looking for a break from the Absolom locale...


DeciusNero wrote:

Short APs? Sounds like a cool idea from time to time!

Though was looking for a break from the Absolom locale...

Far as I can tell, this one has nothing to do with Absalom!


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

It's the third AP in a row on the Isle of Kortos.


Fumarole wrote:
It's the third AP in a row on the Isle of Kortos.

This is true. However, the three APs don't overlap at all. And as far as I can tell, a dungeon crawl can basically be set anywhere? You aren't traveling or meeting new peoples... you're just going deeper in a hole in the ground near a small starting town.

I dunno. I don't get the complaints. I feel like they set it at Otari just so folks could launch from the Beginner's Box into a full-fledged crawl if they so wanted. Otherwise, it honestly sounds like it's got basically no Kortos influence, and definitely no Absalom influence.

Dark Archive

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I mean yeah, thing with mega dungeons is that even if it takes place in Arcadia... You wouldn't see lot of Arcadia flavor in dungeon per say :p


Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

Just out of curiosity, how big is Kortos?


Ed Reppert wrote:
Just out of curiosity, how big is Kortos?

Think it's a bit less than 200 miles east to west.


Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

Not all that big, then. :)


I absolutely LOVE the shorter APs. If the plan is to release 2 of these per year (is that the case?), I'm all for it. Not only does it mix things up and provide more variation, I imagine it will make the APs more accessible for some. By more accessible I mean it takes less of a commitment to run. Anyway, bravo!


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Starfinder Superscriber
Sporkedup wrote:
Fumarole wrote:
It's the third AP in a row on the Isle of Kortos.

This is true. However, the three APs don't overlap at all. And as far as I can tell, a dungeon crawl can basically be set anywhere? You aren't traveling or meeting new peoples... you're just going deeper in a hole in the ground near a small starting town.

I dunno. I don't get the complaints. I feel like they set it at Otari just so folks could launch from the Beginner's Box into a full-fledged crawl if they so wanted. Otherwise, it honestly sounds like it's got basically no Kortos influence, and definitely no Absalom influence.

This is the part that confused me. The beginners box is like "hey do the stuff and then include Troubles in otari, them move on to Abomination Vaults! If that was the design idea, shouldn't this start at the level that trouble in Otari ends?


I love this cover!!!

Silver Crusade

Ooooooo


2 people marked this as a favorite.

Kyra must have the precious!

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Kyra continues the trend of her always holding up the holy symbol in her action pictures xD

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Liking the tentacle filigree for these ones!

Silver Crusade

Oh neat, I missed that.


I love the Tiefling Seoni on the cover..wonder who she actually is!


Tiefling Elf priestess of Desna says what?


Could they perhaps be Wrin Sivinxi?
(From a mention in the statblock of Otari on p.135 of the Gamemastery Guide.)


Xenocrat wrote:
Tiefling Elf priestess of Desna says what?

Ooh yes I didn't notice the starknife the first time!


The Painted Oryx wrote:
Xenocrat wrote:
Tiefling Elf priestess of Desna says what?
Ooh yes I didn't notice the starknife the first time!

And holding a scroll of constellations.

Grand Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

It's a James Jacobs character, an Elf tiefling. I don't remember if he said the class. :thinking:

Liberty's Edge

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Maps, Rulebook, Starfinder Maps Subscriber

I'm wondering if there will be a matching flip mat pack like we got for Emerald Spire. Or if maybe it would make use of established maps like the Haunted Dungeons Multi-pack. When I opened that set, it looked like it could easily be a few adventures worth of exploration, recovery, and return for more delving.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook Subscriber; Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber

Looking forward to a full flip mat pack, and hoping that this gets into the Darklands and lets us use the newest Mini's being released in January :D

Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Does anyone have any details about the "extensive gazetteer of the town of Otari" that will be a part of "Ruins of Gauntlight"? Of course, I would not expect it to be anywhere near the size as the Sandpoint Campaign Setting but curious as to how much information that might be packed into it. I've got the Beginner Box (although I can't open it until 12/25 for some reason) and "Troubles" and the Flip-Map are on their way.

Marketing & Media Manager

7 people marked this as a favorite.
Phalimar wrote:
Does anyone have any details about the "extensive gazetteer of the town of Otari" that will be a part of "Ruins of Gauntlight"? Of course, I would not expect it to be anywhere near the size as the Sandpoint Campaign Setting but curious as to how much information that might be packed into it. I've got the Beginner Box (although I can't open it until 12/25 for some reason) and "Troubles" and the Flip-Map are on their way.

Mark Moreland is scheduled to blog about it in late January. I see 8 pages of text, 1 full page art, and 1 map page.

Verdant Wheel

Is there will be a players guide to this AP? I will GM a week after release and want to give something to my players.

Silver Crusade

There should be yeah.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder LO Special Edition, Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, PF Special Edition Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Superscriber

I like these short APs. I would be in favor of alternating - a three part, then a six part, then a three part, then a six part, and so on. Except that would result in a three year cycle, and would mean GenCon is not always a place to debut a six part. I don't know if Paizo would be willing to go that route. <shrug>


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens Subscriber
Steve Geddes wrote:

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.

Me too! However, I feel like stopping halfway through as a bit of a let down (with only 3 parts). Knowing Paizo though, they won't disappoint.


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

The description sounds cool. But really all they needed to say was it was by James Jacobs.

Marketing & Media Manager

4 people marked this as a favorite.
kayman wrote:
Is there will be a players guide to this AP? I will GM a week after release and want to give something to my players.

Yes. Generally, we want to get you the Player's Guides about 30 days before launch, but with the holidays I think this one will about 2 weeks before. I'm excited to promote a mega-dungeon with a plot!

Marketing & Media Manager

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Dextro Highland wrote:
Steve Geddes wrote:

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.

Me too! However, I feel like stopping halfway through as a bit of a let down (with only 3 parts). Knowing Paizo though, they won't disappoint.

The characters from this AP can go straight into the next 3 volume AP, I believe.

Verdant Wheel

Aaron Shanks wrote:
kayman wrote:
Is there will be a players guide to this AP? I will GM a week after release and want to give something to my players.
Yes. Generally, we want to get you the Player's Guides about 30 days before launch, but with the holidays I think this one will about 2 weeks before. I'm excited to promote a mega-dungeon with a plot!

Thanks for the reply ...


3 people marked this as a favorite.
Xenocrat wrote:
Tiefling Elf priestess of Desna says what?

“Keep me away from bogs, marshes and sewers - it takes a lot of prestidigitation to keep these long flowing robes clean!

Developer

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Seventh Seal wrote:

Could they perhaps be Wrin Sivinxi?

(From a mention in the statblock of Otari on p.135 of the Gamemastery Guide.)

That is absolutely Wrin Sivinxi!

Grand Lodge

I cannot wait to add this to the game I am starting with my kids!

Verdant Wheel

Hi , sorry to ask this again , but do you have a specific date for the release of the Players Guide? The expectation is killing me... I just finish reading The Shroud of Four Silences and i think this AP has the potencial to be one of the best. Sorry for my bad english.


kayman wrote:
Hi , sorry to ask this again , but do you have a specific date for the release of the Players Guide? The expectation is killing me... I just finish reading The Shroud of Four Silences and i think this AP has the potencial to be one of the best. Sorry for my bad english.

Paizo are coming off vacation just about now, so I'd expect a major flurry of stuff this week. I'm pretty sure the player's guide will be released very soon.

Marketing & Media Manager

4 people marked this as a favorite.
Sporkedup wrote:
kayman wrote:
Hi , sorry to ask this again , but do you have a specific date for the release of the Players Guide? The expectation is killing me... I just finish reading The Shroud of Four Silences and i think this AP has the potencial to be one of the best. Sorry for my bad english.
Paizo are coming off vacation just about now, so I'd expect a major flurry of stuff this week. I'm pretty sure the player's guide will be released very soon.

As I said above, I think it will be ready about two weeks before volume one launches at the end of January, so I am targeting mid-January. I do not have a specific release date because I need everyone to come back into the office. Thanks for your enthusiasm!

Verdant Wheel

Thank you , and sorry to ask this again... as said before i am super exited , i already made a prelude(for level 0 pcs) and will begin January 12 ... I am using a lot of Lovecraftian themes and i hope i will be able to make a bridge between absalon and Otari.

OBS> I hope i am on the right path using lovecraft as the main theme for my prelude.

Marketing & Media Manager

2 people marked this as a favorite.
kayman wrote:

Thank you , and sorry to ask this again... as said before i am super exited , i already made a prelude(for level 0 pcs) and will begin January 12 ... I am using a lot of Lovecraftian themes and i hope i will be able to make a bridge between absalon and Otari.

OBS> I hope i am on the right path using lovecraft as the main theme for my prelude.

There is a spooky Otari nursery rhyme that goes with the start of this AP and I can't wait to share it! I'm targeting January 12 for the Player's Guide, but I need to make sure the team can have it ready by then. ~AA!


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber; Pathfinder Adventure, Lost Omens Subscriber

It will be certainly interesting to see what makes this a mega dungeon.

If it is six levels that all fit on a battle map, I say "meh." If it's three levels of a Maure Castle style dungeon, then I say "bring it on!"

Verdant Wheel

Two more days for the players guide?

Marketing & Media Manager

2 people marked this as a favorite.
kayman wrote:
Two more days for the players guide?

It won't be finalized until the 12th. We may need a few days to prep the blog, but it should be this week.


When did APs move to 3 adventures? I knew they had done it in Starfinder had not heard for Pathfinder.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Joey Virtue wrote:
When did APs move to 3 adventures? I knew they had done it in Starfinder had not heard for Pathfinder.

This is an experiment, with this AP covering levels 1-10 and the next AP covering levels 11-20.

They will resume their normal 6 part 1-20 nature with the AP after that.

Marketing & Media Manager

Feros wrote:
Joey Virtue wrote:
When did APs move to 3 adventures? I knew they had done it in Starfinder had not heard for Pathfinder.

This is an experiment, with this AP covering levels 1-10 and the next AP covering levels 11-20.

They will resume their normal 6 part 1-20 nature with the AP after that.

Correct.

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