Pathfinder Adventure Path #164: Hands of the Devil (Abomination Vaults 2 of 3)

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Pathfinder Adventure Path #164: Hands of the Devil (Abomination Vaults 2 of 3)
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Beware when dealing with devils! The Abomination Vaults sprawl far beneath the mysterious Gauntlight, and it's time to take weapons, torches, and wits into the deeper dungeons. Here, vile fleshcrafters labor to create armies of monsters for their long-dead leader, and a force of devils still work to maintain order among the feral and fractious monsters. An unlikely ally can reveal the secrets of the Abomination Vaults, but his price is steep and must be paid in blood.

"Hands of the Devil" is a Pathfinder adventure for four 5th-level characters. This adventure continues 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 a close look at the wicked will-o'-wisps, an examination of Golarion's fleshcrafters, and new rules and monsters!

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: 978-1-64078-307-2

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.

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5/5


Ring Side Report-RPG Review of Pathfinder Adventure Path #164: Hands of the Devi

5/5

Originally posted at www.throatpunchgames.com, a new idea every day!

Product-Pathfinder Adventure Path #164: Hands of the Devil (Abomination Vaults 2 of 3)
System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed
Producer- Paizo
Price- $24.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq027jm?Pathfinder-Adventure-Path-164-Hands-of- the-Devil
TL; DR-Another solid piece of the Abomination Vaults puzzle 100%

Basics- How deep is the place? Hands of the Devil dives deeper into the lighthouse from Ruins of Gauntlight. Players meet new people, monsters, and horrors beyond time as they delve deeper into the lighthouse's history and people. Are your players willing to sell someone else to the devils?

Mechanics or Crunch- This is a dungeon crawler. You kill monsters and find loot. Monsters are fun and new but balanced at the same time. Solid work from Paizo. There are also new items and character options, so this book might not be for everyone, but it does try to have materials that everyone can enjoy. 5/5

Theme or Fluff- The first book of the adventure path was very much find stuff, kill stuff, and that was fun. This one has multiple factions and people all trying to one up each other. It's a welcome change of pace. Your characters can still kill everyone and take their stuff, but there is MUCH more here than the first few levels for story and interaction. This book also has players do a lot more in town, further strengthening the roleplaying aspect. It’s a welcome change of pace. 5/5

Execution- Solid art, layout, text, story, hyperlinks, maps, and flow all make this a BREEZE to read. Paizo knows good books and their adventure paths are where they really shine. 5/5

Summary- There isn’t much more to say than this is well done. Solid fun fights, good story, and excellent execution all typify this one. I like what's here as the players can now decide if they want to talk to the monsters instead of just kill them. They CAN just kill them, but it is still fun to see if the monsters now want to eat them or have my players just want to kill them. This is a solid intro dungeon crawl for Pathfinder, and one I’m glad I'm running with my group. 100 %




Floor 6 is best floor

4/5

There is one key thing I think you should change about this AP: The Devil's deal should be offered much much earlier than it is as written. Then it's in the back of the players minds the whole time they're trudging through these dark cavernous sucky corridors.

Other than that, great AP.


5/5

We completed this second leg of our adventure recently.

Spoilers ahead!

The Carman Rajani storyline was very satisfying, and my players really enjoyed the variety of rooms, and how the levels all felt very different. The Shanrigol Behemoth is very fun to foreshadow and have the players think about and have so many avenues of approach.

This was another excellent adventure, and a worthy successor to Ruins of Gauntlight! Could not recommend this AP enough so far.


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Paizo Employee Webstore Coordinator

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

Dark Archive

I can't make out the name of the writer on the low resolution cover.
Is it Vanessa Hopkins?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

Yes it is.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

There goes Vanessa & Paizo putting what looks like a Hellknight on the cover of an AP I probably wasn't going to be running or playing, enticing me to at a minimum purchase it.


Harrowed Wizard wrote:
There goes Vanessa & Paizo putting what looks like a Hellknight on the cover of an AP I probably wasn't going to be running or playing, enticing me to at a minimum purchase it.

That's actually a graveknight hellknight and this is most probably a placeholder cover.

Grand Lodge Contributor

7 people marked this as a favorite.
Marco Massoudi wrote:

I can't make out the name of the writer on the low resolution cover.

Is it Vanessa Hopkins?

It me!

Hoskins, with an S!


Are the Abomination Vaults kind of like the Emerald Spire?

Grand Lodge Contributor

6 people marked this as a favorite.
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Are the Abomination Vaults kind of like the Emerald Spire?

In that it's a dungeon crawl based adventure with a dedicated "adventuring town" nearby? Yes.

The themes and story are certainly different. I'd say that Abomination Vaults probably has a tighter story and theme than Emerald Spire as they're designed as an AP, so the narrative is more cohesive with a distinctive through-line. From my experience with Emerald Spire, each floor of the mega-dungeon felt like it's own theme-park.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Vanessa Hoskins wrote:
Terevalis Unctio of House Mysti wrote:
Are the Abomination Vaults kind of like the Emerald Spire?

In that it's a dungeon crawl based adventure with a dedicated "adventuring town" nearby? Yes.

The themes and story are certainly different. I'd say that Abomination Vaults probably has a tighter story and theme than Emerald Spire as they're designed as an AP, so the narrative is more cohesive with a distinctive through-line. From my experience with Emerald Spire, each floor of the mega-dungeon felt like it's own theme-park.

That it does!

Customer Service Representative

9 people marked this as a favorite.

Removed posts and their replies.

The satire about important social movements is not appropriate. Thank you to folks who flagged the content.

Scarab Sages

Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Very excited for this adventure path!


Hey, I was looking forward for updated cover and here it is!

Silver Crusade

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Phistophilus yessssss

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Welp title seems appropriate :D


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories, Starfinder Society Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Well I'll be...that is an unusually short contract for a contract devil! :)

Grand Lodge Contributor

8 people marked this as a favorite.
Feros wrote:
Well I'll be...that is an unusually short contract for a contract devil! :)

I believe this adventure will show:

It's not the size that matters as much as how you use it.


Gauntlight's got me pumped. Really excited to see how this dungeon evolves! Bring it on, Vanessa.

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Given how good the introductory volume to Abomination Vaults is, I'd really hate to be Vanessa tasked with following that one up.

Though I am really chuffed to see it, all the same! This AP has me as excited to read the next release since, well, since Age of Worms was being published in Dungeon Magazine back-in-the-day.

No pressure! :P


When will these start shipping out for subsribers? I got an email Thurseday that mine was preparing ship. Eager to start to downloading the pdf.


1 person marked this as a favorite.
trevco613 wrote:
When will these start shipping out for subsribers? I got an email Thurseday that mine was preparing ship. Eager to start to downloading the pdf.

Today is the start date of shipping. They are gonna be shipping this month's sub orders for next two weeks.

Grand Lodge Contributor

5 people marked this as a favorite.
Steel_Wind wrote:

Given how good the introductory volume to Abomination Vaults is, I'd really hate to be Vanessa tasked with following that one up.

Though I am really chuffed to see it, all the same! This AP has me as excited to read the next release since, well, since Age of Worms was being published in Dungeon Magazine back-in-the-day.

No pressure! :P

Steel Wind: I hope your volume is as good as James Jacob's volume!

Me: <horror intensifies>

James is very good at what he does and has been doing it far longer. If mine is half as good as his, I'll consider that a success.

That said... I think I was able to intertwine a good amount of horror and humor. There's also one piece of art that is my favorite for all time.

You'll know it when you see it.

Scarab Sages

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Battles Case Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Nice. I enjoyed the art in the first volume, so I'm looking forward to that.
But my primary focus is on the encounter with that fine gentleman on the cover. I have a feeling it is going to be real good. (or bad),depending on your perspective. :)


Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber

So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.

Grand Lodge

Zaister wrote:
So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.

Ooh, what's in the (tool)box, jack?

Marketing & Media Manager

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Zaister wrote:
So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.

It's because it was exported as RGB instead of CMYK. Correction is in process.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Maps, Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Sasha Laranoa Harving wrote:
Zaister wrote:
So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.
Ooh, what's in the (tool)box, jack?

Here you are:

several magic items, including the Icons of the Roseguard and Seugathi alchemical items
2 new spells, daydreamer's curse and savant's curse
2 new weapons, the battle lute and the Tamchal chakram
rules for Infernal contracts
a new archetype, the eldritch researcher
new monsters: fleshwarp, gibtas, seugathi, shanrigol.

Grand Lodge

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Zaister wrote:
Sasha Laranoa Harving wrote:
Zaister wrote:
So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.
Ooh, what's in the (tool)box, jack?

Here you are:

several magic items, including the Icons of the Roseguard and Seugathi alchemical items
2 new spells, daydreamer's curse and savant's curse
2 new weapons, the battle lute and the Tamchal chakram
rules for Infernal contracts
a new archetype, the eldritch researcher
new monsters: fleshwarp, gibtas, seugathi, shanrigol.

Me, reading this post: Ooh, sounds like a fun set of items! It even...

...
Me, throwing my roommate's bedroom door open with a wild grin: BATTLE LUTE BATTLE LUTE BATTLE LUTE BATTLE LUTE


Zaister wrote:
Sasha Laranoa Harving wrote:
Zaister wrote:
So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.
Ooh, what's in the (tool)box, jack?

Here you are:

several magic items, including the Icons of the Roseguard and Seugathi alchemical items
2 new spells, daydreamer's curse and savant's curse
2 new weapons, the battle lute and the Tamchal chakram
rules for Infernal contracts
a new archetype, the eldritch researcher
new monsters: fleshwarp, gibtas, seugathi, shanrigol.

Wait, did I read correctly, rules for infernal contracts? Damn this is better than what I was expecting, hoping the shipping starts soon so I can get my pdf

Grand Lodge Contributor

5 people marked this as a favorite.
LuisESR021199 wrote:
Zaister wrote:
Sasha Laranoa Harving wrote:
Zaister wrote:
So, this PDF also has the weird light green color scheme error. Hm.
Ooh, what's in the (tool)box, jack?

Here you are:

several magic items, including the Icons of the Roseguard and Seugathi alchemical items
2 new spells, daydreamer's curse and savant's curse
2 new weapons, the battle lute and the Tamchal chakram
rules for Infernal contracts
a new archetype, the eldritch researcher
new monsters: fleshwarp, gibtas, seugathi, shanrigol.

Wait, did I read correctly, rules for infernal contracts? Damn this is better than what I was expecting, hoping the shipping starts soon so I can get my pdf

I might be able to get you the PDF if you sign this contract... in blood.

Don't worry about the fine print, standard legal stuff. Just... sign.

SIGN


Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

I noticed an interesting glitch in the interactive maps. The bottom of the first page says "INTERACTIVE MAPS PART 2 OF 6" even though this adventure path has only three parts. I assume that Paizo doesn't plan to put out three more interactive maps after the adventure path is done?

Liberty's Edge

David knott 242 wrote:


I noticed an interesting glitch in the interactive maps. The bottom of the first page says "INTERACTIVE MAPS PART 2 OF 6" even though this adventure path has only three parts. I assume that Paizo doesn't plan to put out three more interactive maps after the adventure path is done?

I'm guessing that's just part of the footer template that has been in place for this product line for the past 14 years. They might be forgiven for overlooking that under the circumstances!

Liberty's Edge

Vanessa Hoskins wrote:


That said... I think I was able to intertwine a good amount of horror and humor. There's also one piece of art that is my favorite for all time.

You'll know it when you see it.

If horror+humor is your thing, I'm guessing you like the band!

Honestly, I preferred the circular stair down, with the Devil vs. Dawnflower as a really close runner up; it's a great action piece for an illustration featuring the "iconics". Has a Duel of the Fates vibe to it.


Adventure Path Charter Subscriber

Shadow Malice is fantastic; the only disappointing thing about them is there's no illustrations of morlocks wearing tunics with their name.

Marketing & Media Manager

Steel_Wind wrote:
David knott 242 wrote:


I noticed an interesting glitch in the interactive maps. The bottom of the first page says "INTERACTIVE MAPS PART 2 OF 6" even though this adventure path has only three parts. I assume that Paizo doesn't plan to put out three more interactive maps after the adventure path is done?
I'm guessing that's just part of the footer template that has been in place for this product line for the past 14 years. They might be forgiven for overlooking that under the circumstances!

Indeed, just an oversight.


Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

And I am guessing that I probably missed a similar oversight in part 1.

Liberty's Edge

4 people marked this as a favorite.

Speaking of file differences, in this particular version of the Interactive Map pack, the file has been stored in such a way that it is not possible to extract the ungridded version of the map from the PDF, only the gridded version extracts using the ordinary image tools for that purpose.

While I know these sorts of tech variables is not something that perhaps Paizo digital support pays much attention to, the value in use to the end user for VTT play is wholly dependent on our being able to access both of these images (gridded and plain) in GIMP or Photoshop. Throwing roadblocks in our path to prevent this, whether intentional or not, degrades the value in use of these products GREATLY for VTT play.

Not cool guys.

The Interactive Map pack for AV1 allowed for both versions of the maps to be extracted (which is what we need); this volume? Nope. Whatever it is you changed? Don't. Go BACK to how you had it please.


4 people marked this as a favorite.

An even better idea would be to instead give users access to the high res images of the maps. I don't want to have use multiple programs just to make the low res maps from the pdf look better.

RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32

The art on page 2 is amazing! Can't wait to dig into this one.


Can this be played without using the first part?

Grand Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber
Steel_Wind wrote:

Speaking of file differences, in this particular version of the Interactive Map pack, the file has been stored in such a way that it is not possible to extract the ungridded version of the map from the PDF, only the gridded version extracts using the ordinary image tools for that purpose.

While I know these sorts of tech variables is not something that perhaps Paizo digital support pays much attention to, the value in use to the end user for VTT play is wholly dependent on our being able to access both of these images (gridded and plain) in GIMP or Photoshop. Throwing roadblocks in our path to prevent this, whether intentional or not, degrades the value in use of these products GREATLY for VTT play.

Not cool guys.

The Interactive Map pack for AV1 allowed for both versions of the maps to be extracted (which is what we need); this volume? Nope. Whatever it is you changed? Don't. Go BACK to how you had it please.

Yeah, the grid is baked in the images used in the PDFs. The PDF of the first one had two images for each map, with only the non-grided one used for the actual PDF to add the "removable" grid on top of it. I guess they were "displayed" on top of each other? *shrug* I know I was surprised, and just deleted the non-grided version. xd

(I usually prefer the grided version to align it to the map with better guidelines and deactivates the grid in the VTT.)

Liberty's Edge

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Elfteiroh wrote:


Yeah, the grid is baked in the images used in the PDFs. The PDF of the first one had two images for each map, with only the non-grided one used for the actual PDF to add the "removable" grid on top of it. I guess they were "displayed" on top of each other? *shrug* I know I was surprised, and just deleted the non-grided version. xd
(I usually prefer the grided version to align it to the map with better guidelines and deactivates the grid in the VTT.)

They are separate layers in a multi-layer PDF.

Ideally, you strip both images from the PDF. You should be using the gridded version as a layer to help you align any cropping required and to help you rescale the image in a program like Photoshop. After you do that, then you hide the gridded version and just export the cropped/resized version without the grid to use in a VTT so it perfectly aligns as intended.

That way, you never have a grid getting in the way of the grid within the VTT software itself. Every VTT has its own grid you don't want another one on your map image.

End users *need* both images in the same size. One (gridded) as a technical guide, the other to modify and then actually use within the VTT (ungridded).


Steel_Wind wrote:
End users *need* both images in the same size. One (gridded) as a technical guide, the other to modify and then actually use within the VTT (ungridded).

Only if that's the desired workflow. As you can see, there are other ways that work for other people.

I too use the gridded maps in VTT, turning off the grid overlay from the VTT itself, after having it aligned close to the map provided.

It's like back when we were playing on the table. The map I drew didn't always conform to the grid of the battlemat. And the minis weren't always 100% within the grid, but everyone knew where everything was.

It works just fine if it's not precise to the pixel.

Grand Archive

Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber

Yeah, I like the "grid only on the walkable places of the image", so I prefer them to the "grid over everything" of the VTT, so I deactivate the visual VTT grid (I keep the actual grid, but with invisible lines). If there's no grid in the original image, I often add one myself.
Also, my program extracts all images, no matter how they are layered, so I don't know the structure in the actual PDF. I only know that they have interesting "rotation masks" for some pictures and that all "transparent pictures" have "transparency masks" that I'm happy that my program applies itself.

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