Starfinder Adventure: To Defy the Dragon

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

DRAGONS

MECHS

DRAGON MECHS

"Each of you gets a mech" is a better pitch than most APs get. Wow.

Delighted to finally see mech content, and a dragon villain is a classic for a reason. And mid-high level content is also very nice.

Very stoked for this one!

EDIT: Very curious about those starmetal mech options too - love the sound of an adamantine or siccatite-plated battle mech.

Nice to see a mid/high-level adventure.

First time I've been hyped enough to do an immediate preorder...

Fingers crossed for this one.

GO GO STARFINDER RANGERS

Wasn't expecting mechs versus dragon adventure but I like this :O

This also follows up the "maybe we will get module for each ap level range" since this one seems to fill the level 10-12 one, so now to see whether we get these up to level 20 to be able to have "pseudo ap of standalone modules" :3

AS WAS FORTOLD BY PROPHECY. I MEAN BY ME.

And the Mechs come out, can't wait to see how they set this all up in the adventure!!

Boy, sure would be nice to have this in Roll20, or most any of the AP's still not there now would'nt it.........

SIGH

Tom :)

Does this come with pregens, or can our tenth level characters play it? I think that both Dragonbot and Charli want to know...

Adventures don't have pre-gens, that's One-Shots.

Ah, wonderful! Does anyone know approximately how many hours of play this will cover?

Or more generally what level PCs should expect to reach? (I would assume 13th, but don't want to assume, if you follow.)

They're usually 3-4.

Junkers Delight was 1-4 (hitting level 4 at the very tail end)

Liberation of Locus-1 was 4-7

So logically this one should be 10-13.

They're usually 3-4.

Junkers Delight was 1-4 (hitting level 4 at the very tail end)

Liberation of Locus-1 was 4-7

So logically this one should be 10-13.

This adventure is still being created, but the plan is for levels 10-12, ending at 13.

GO GO STARFINDER RANGERS

I mean, the moment I read 'four one of a kind mechs', the theme song started playing in my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwbHW8MeHDU

Fingers crossed that the mechs have a combination option.

Oh hey new cover is awesome :O

Slightly confused btw: Is there no december or january starfinder ap or adventure release?

We were told that this adventure would be "four PCs in mechs fight a dragon" but that cover is telling me "four PCs in mechs fight a dragon in a mech."

Slightly confused btw: Is there no december or january starfinder ap or adventure release?

Book 1 of Drift Hackers is the December release, pushed forward toward the start of the month/end of November for the holiday rush.

We were told that this adventure would be "four PCs in mechs fight a dragon" but that cover is telling me "four PCs in mechs fight a dragon in a mech."

Could be a robot dragon from Alien Archive 4.

AP starts at 10, goes to 12. Robot Dragons start at CR 12.

I mean it does say "adamantine claw" so I would assume its adamantine skymetal dragon?

(could be robot dragon MADE of adamantine though)

I think that's a play on an English-language idiom, like if a tyrant rules a country with an iron fist.

Yeah, but pun is funnier if it does have adamantine claws :D

By all means please do not misinterpret my comment of "dragon in a mech" as a complaint.

Preview blog soon.

Back Cover Text:

Long ago, four tyrants conquered Genrovis with their starmetal mechs, until the adamantine dragon Ayleth freed the world. But she wasn’t the savior the planet needed. Centuries later, her rule is rife with corruption and cruelty. After a group of rebels runs afoul of Ayleth, they must unearth the legendary mechs of old— along with other secrets of the past— and use the ancient tech to defy the dragon!

‘To Defy the Dragon’ makes a perfect stand-alone adventure, or an ideal next step for players and GMs who’ve completed other Starfinder adventures. It includes:
• “To Defy the Dragon,” a complete adventure for 10th-level characters, leading them to 13th-level.
• All the details on Genrovis, a planet powered by magical wellsprings and concealing a secret history of battle and betrayal.
• An Adventure Toolbox featuring new mechs based on ancient Genrovian technology and the dangerous creatures born of the world’s wellsprings.

Now to figure out how to fit in with surviving the drift crash and fixing it!

Excited! PLEASE more high-level play in Starfinder!

Excited! PLEASE more high-level play in Starfinder!

Yes, high level as in Above level 15.

Excited! PLEASE more high-level play in Starfinder!

I'll be looking doing this as well, nice call!!

Tom :)

About the stat blocks in the book. There are A LOT of references to stat blocks in APs without a reprint (or corresponding Alien Archive entry) in the Adventure Toolbox for the book.

References (without potential spoilers) include:

AP #3
AP #10
AP #24
AP #32
AP #39

While its not a huge problem for me (and there's always the Archives of Nethys) this isn't an issue with any of the other Adventures. I'm not certain on if all of the APs have this but as standalone, and if you only had your "GM" books with you, you'd likely not be able to run those encounters.

A bit late for the first print run now but is it possible these would get a reprint in the text or Adventure Toolbox in a future print? Or perhaps a future Alien Archive and an update to that as reference?

About the stat blocks in the book. There are A LOT of references to stat blocks in APs without a reprint (or corresponding Alien Archive entry) in the Adventure Toolbox for the book.

References (without potential spoilers) include:

AP #3
AP #10
AP #24
AP #32
AP #39

While its not a huge problem for me (and there's always the Archives of Nethys) this isn't an issue with any of the other Adventures. I'm not certain on if all of the APs have this but as standalone, and if you only had your "GM" books with you, you'd likely not be able to run those encounters.

A bit late for the first print run now but is it possible these would get a reprint in the text or Adventure Toolbox in a future print? Or perhaps a future Alien Archive and an update to that as reference?

The year is 2022, if you don't have a phone that can access Archives of Nethys, your problem is much bigger than "won't be able to see statblocks for some monsters in a TTRPG adventure".

About the stat blocks in the book. There are A LOT of references to stat blocks in APs without a reprint (or corresponding Alien Archive entry) in the Adventure Toolbox for the book.

References (without potential spoilers) include:

AP #3
AP #10
AP #24
AP #32
AP #39

While its not a huge problem for me (and there's always the Archives of Nethys) this isn't an issue with any of the other Adventures. I'm not certain on if all of the APs have this but as standalone, and if you only had your "GM" books with you, you'd likely not be able to run those encounters.

A bit late for the first print run now but is it possible these would get a reprint in the text or Adventure Toolbox in a future print? Or perhaps a future Alien Archive and an update to that as reference?

They likely designed this adventure with archive of nethys in mind, but did they remember to tell reader about archive of nethys?

Peff wrote:

About the stat blocks in the book. There are A LOT of references to stat blocks in APs without a reprint (or corresponding Alien Archive entry) in the Adventure Toolbox for the book.

References (without potential spoilers) include:

AP #3
AP #10
AP #24
AP #32
AP #39

While its not a huge problem for me (and there's always the Archives of Nethys) this isn't an issue with any of the other Adventures. I'm not certain on if all of the APs have this but as standalone, and if you only had your "GM" books with you, you'd likely not be able to run those encounters.

A bit late for the first print run now but is it possible these would get a reprint in the text or Adventure Toolbox in a future print? Or perhaps a future Alien Archive and an update to that as reference?

They likely designed this adventure with archive of nethys in mind, but did they remember to tell reader about archive of nethys?

I guess the biggest thing is the text at the beginning "This book refers to other Starfinder products using the following abbreviations, but these additional supplements are not required to make use of this book. Readers interested in references to Starfinder hardcovers and Adventure Paths can find the complete rules available online for free at paizo.com/sfrd."

So it says that the other books aren't required but they are. Nethys is given but, yes, even in 2022, there are still people who don't have access to an online device all the time.

Not personally an issue but I found it odd to have so many AP only references when none of the other Standalones do.

I mean its pretty clear why though: Because they wanted to use those monsters, but reprinting them would have come at cost of Paizo's strict word limits meaning less adventure content. (like pretty much all of new paragraphs in Dead Suns Hardcover are result of extra word space from entries being shortened because they refer to alien archive instead of having full statblock in adventure text)

We put this sort of statement in the Table of Contents in our adventures:

"This book refers to other Starfinder products using the following abbreviations, but these additional supplements are not required to make use of this book. Readers interested in references to Starfinder hardcovers and Adventure Paths can find the complete rules available online for free at paizo.com/sfrd."

So, yes, we direct GMs to the System Reference Document (SRD). This link curerrenly redirects to our friends at Archives of Nethys.

Could a Web Enhancement be published that gathers all of these stat blocks on one printable page or PDF?

Wouldn't that just add extra work to staff? And its honestly not that many steps simpler than just searching monsters from SRD and taking notes from there if you don't have access to online during game.

So how's the story , pretty cool?

Thanks

Tom

Pretty cool yeah. It has very classic feeling to it, but I'm not sure if I'm thinking of specific story or anime

Y'all are too young if you hear "mechs" and think Power Rangers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rPSLQxMT8w

Jason Tondro was very big on making sure that any statblock was repped in the AP's he wrote (and edited). I don't know if I necessarily agree with that choice as I've commented on some frustrating layout issues with statblocks that run on too long, and I think the page count for stand-alones just won't allow it.

Speaking of statblocks, I noticed there's only 2-3 new things in the bestiary.

The material qualities for mechs is a nice addition.

Y'all are too young if you hear "mechs" and think Power Rangers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rPSLQxMT8w

I thought it would be gundam or something x'D

Jason Tondro was very big on making sure that any statblock was repped in the AP's he wrote (and edited). I don't know if I necessarily agree with that choice as I've commented on some frustrating layout issues with statblocks that run on too long, and I think the page count for stand-alones just won't allow it.

Speaking of statblocks, I noticed there's only 2-3 new things in the bestiary.

The material qualities for mechs is a nice addition.

Note: Junker's Delight is a great entry level standalone adventure because one only needs the Starfinder Core Rulebook to play it.

Y'all are too young if you hear "mechs" and think Power Rangers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rPSLQxMT8w

Power Rangers predates that show by a good five years.... Hell it weirdly even predates Gundam.

Though I don't think the the Rangers started getting robots (in 1980) until after Gundam (1979) you're right that they did have them before GoLion (1981). The game changer was a series that came out in 1978 about some guy in a spider-costume. You've probably never heard of him.

Though I don't think the the Rangers started getting robots (in 1980) until after Gundam (1979) you're right that they did have them before GoLion (1981). The game changer was a series that came out in 1978 about some guy in a spider-costume. You've probably never heard of him.

You are right. I forgot the first few series didn't have them.

So, Smiad soon? Be fortuitous to have the Empyreal Lord of Dragon slaying around, especially if Triaxus-y AP happened to happen eventually.

Smiad is not mentioned in this adventure.