Starfinder Adventure: Drift Crisis Case Files

4.50/5 (based on 2 ratings)
Starfinder Adventure: Drift Crisis Case Files
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In the aftermath of the Drift Crisis, investigators working for the Eyeswide Agency scramble to take on an influx of cases to track down missing people, bring back lost property, and unravel the tangled threads of interrupted lives. The strange stories born from those strange times would later come to be known as the Drift Crisis Case Files. This all-new Starfinder adventure anthology includes:

Charmed Life: A wealthy socialite hires the investigators to search for her missing friend, influencer Kym Testa, who was among thousands to disappear during the Drift Crash. The Eyes must trace the celebrity’s digital trail, all the while avoiding a team of ruthless Hellknights hired by Testa’s desperate father to bring her home at any cost! (Level 3-4)

Family Heirloom: Edriad, a shirren refugee, hires the investigators to find a precious family heirloom stolen from her hotel room—a highly coveted cursed artifact known as The Heretic Worm. The investigators tangle with a wealthy drow arms dealer and his bodyguards, corrupt Station Security officers, and other pursuers in their race to recover the Worm before its deadly curse claims another victim! (Level 7-8)

Twisted Business: Maro, an android who returned to Absalom Station after being presumed dead in the Drift Crash, hires the investigators to recover a lost valuable that he traded under extreme duress for safe passage home. But there’s more to Maro’s case than meets the eye. After the investigators locate the missing item, Maro’s arrested for murder! To truly close the case, the investigators search for evidence of Maro’s innocence and try to discover the identity of the real murderer! (Level 10-11)

To solve each case, investigators must navigate Absalom Station’s seedy underworld of criminals, corrupt Station Security forces, and wealthy puppet masters—luckily, they have their own allies to rely on, as detailed in a Contact Codex of prominent NPC allies and new rules options perfect for psychic investigators.

Written by: Dave Nelson, Emily Parks, and Andrew White

ISBN-13: 978-1-64078-502-1

The Drift Crisis Case Files are sanctioned for use in Starfinder Society Organized Play. The rules for running this Adventure and Chronicle Sheets are available as a free download (5.4 MB PDF).

Note: This product is part of the Starfinder Adventure Subscription.

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More Adventures Like This!

5/5

I love the case files format and how they are 3 separate adventures, I would gladly buy more adventures in this format. Also, the adventures are all wonderful.

10 stars and a big round of applause for everyone involved!


More anthologies please, but first my pet elephant in the room

4/5

I was personally hoping for two more modules tho fill 13-20 gaps more(its great devastation ark is a thing, but its even better if we have two high level module series ;D I mean imagine things we don't have yet of examples in starfinder! level 20 starship combat, vehicle combat, soloboss, DA final boss fight was kinda on easier side. Or mechs! We haven't had many mech adventures, but having more of them would be good! But for real, having multiple reference points of high level content is useful for designing your own high level content) but I'm not getting more into that or my worries about future of module line here. There is however one negative I have to get out of the way first.

That being that the product seems kinda confused on its nature? I mean, it provides references to Starfinder Society Scenarios, provides level ranges for adventures as if it was SFS, but its still campaign mode only in the sanctioned chronicles. Like... I just don't like seeing the "level ranges" outside of the scenarios? Like scoured stars hardcover book is also SFS related thing, so I'm confused if this is testing grounds for future product formatting. If it is, I'd like to say that I would prefer to not mix SFS' formating style with standard adventure's leveling up systems. (I'm also hardcore exp system user x'D so paizo better not to move using milestones as standard with excuse of "that is what most people do nowadays")

One more nitpick that also isn't really related to adventure itself: it feels bit sad this is final non drift hackers drift crisis content because it really highlights how underused the drift crisis event felt. Like it ends up feeling in retrospect it was just excuse to change how drift works in setting but that paizo didn't commit to creating more drift crisis content for the year means it doesn't really "feel" like it was as important as it is in universe.

But yeah with my baggage out of the way, this book is great example of why anthology adventure books are awesome and we need more of them :P all the individual adventures are strong and none of them feel like filler to get to the cool point writers wants to write but can't yet. Heavy focus and effective presentation(such as with contact codex and it being incorporated into adventure text) on investigation theme is also appreciated as its bringing more changes for roleplaying that skill challenges you see in SFS usually don't. I feel that anthology format is also great for providing adventures where players are members of particular organization. For example, you don't need to convince players to play hellknight campaign, you can suggest them couple of longer oneshots to play as hellknights.

I feel like contact codex in general is step to right direction as it feels like we are almost having npc articles in adventures once again :D (though most of investigation adventures don't need them as much because as part of investigation you will learn lot about the characters, which is why it was smart move to make it about your informants and contacts) they aren't as detailed, but having full page of influence info for sidecast of your investigation is great and its great that they are actually incorporated into adventures even if some of them are optional sources of information.

Other thing that I love about these three adventures is that most of the characters aren't evil, even if they are creeps or doing bad things. It gives characters nuance that most of them aren't treated as pure evil so pcs are able to come to their own conclusions.

There is some shifting of art styles, but I like that they mostly stick to same art style in a particular adventure. Also use of flip mats, but the new maps are great looking as in most starfinder maps I've seen. Now onto adventures themselves:

Charmed Life: Fun family drama, I kinda like the L vs C thing going on here. I do feel adventure is more sympathetic to pirate side of things(they might be doing somewhat of robin hood thing, but I kinda associate space pirates with armed assault and robbery) and I do think one of the hellknights needed cooler more edgier armor. Still its great and fun family drama.

Family Heirloom: I love twists and turns with this one. I was initially wondering about ending and whether it feels like some sort of sequel hook, but I ended up liking that adventure doesn't do "btw its impossible for party to figure this out" and instead it made pretty good case of "even if party figure it out, how do they prove it or what would they do about it?" Either way a great story about multiple different people's priorities clashing together.

Twisted Business: Without spoiling much about this, it feels like it could be season finale of detective shows. As said good stuff, all three adventures are great and provide good variety.

EDIT: Oh right forgot I had one more comment:

I do think there are examples in the adventure that show there needs to be more oversight to keep lore consistent. Like second adventure seems to assume that Hylax the Forever Queen is physically present on Nchak when that is more of in universe belief philosopher worms have and its unconfirmed whether Forever Queen of Nchak (pictured in 1e distant worlds iirc) is physical avatar of Hylax or not.

Other thing is that third adventure has one encounter that seems to assume that fiends return to their plane upon defeat when fiends do in fact die in pathfinder/starfinder.


Paizo Employee Sales & eCommerce Assistant

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

Dark Archive

3 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Well this isn't "fourth standalone adventure that continues with even higher level tier" book I kinda hoped for, but this one is also great idea :O

I'm curious though, is this three small adventures or is this REALLY big book?


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I'm assuming three short adventures.


Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Can't be too short if they're at least a full level a piece. This is looking quite interesting.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Oh realized just now that since this is march release, there is still space left for possible level 13-20 modules before that :O Assuming starfinder continues having bi monthly adventures without break


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Starfinder Superscriber

I wouldn't expect another SF Adventure this calendar year (other than To Defy the Dragon in October)


Post Drift Crisis I can sprinkle into my games, sign me up!!

Tom


It would be really cool if this could be sanctioned in such a way that are SFS characters have more content to play.

Paizo Employee Starfinder Developer

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Correction: Family Heirloom was written by Andrew White. The adventure was incorrectly credited in the table of contents. This error has also been corrected in the most recent PDF version.


Nice to see ya posting now and again Jenny :)

Can't wait to see what this one is all about and look forward to some "secret Mech AP" info at PAIZO and GEN CON live twitch stream panels :)

Maybe you will even have a new plushy pet make a cameo??

Tom


So any thoughts for those who might have got this early yet?

Quite curious on this!!

Tom


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Still reading through it, but the first thing folks might want to know is that each adventure is designed to be equivalent to a Starfinder Society scenario in terms of content and rewards. So, if you're a GM running a scenario-built home game like myself, you can drop each of these adventures into your "road map" 1-to-1 to fill a scenario's slot. And presumably once this gets sanctioned for Society use it'll work the other way as well.

On that point, the adventures focus on Absalom Station (radiating out to some other locations as well). While we don't get a true "vertical" map of Absalom Station, we do get a full-page map/illo of AS that presents the station's usual top-down view as a map, plus a view more-or-less from the side, with location tags. So, for example, now we have a source indicating that Downlow is near the top of the Spike.

A recurring Starfinder Society NPC also turns up as a contact. If you're familiar with Society play and think about it I bet you can guess who it is.

Spoiler:
Julzakama

Artwork is generally quite good; we get an elf with facial hair, but by now it's pretty well established that any "off-model" hair we see on NPCs is the result of cosmetic augmentations. Maps are a combo of existing flip-mats and new locales.

Lastly, nice thing about centering these adventures on Absalom Station is that you get a smattering of new locations and recurring NPCs you can pepper into the setting's main hub.

P.S.: The Adventure Toolbox in the back includes a bunch of new options for psychic PCs.

New Equipment: oblivion serum, psychodissonance capacitor, and telesthetic beacon
New Feats: Most of these key off the Psychic Power feat chain. Fracture Will, Phrenic Reservoir, Premonition, Psychic Overload, Psychic Persuasion, Psychometry, Read the Room, and Retrospective Savant.
New Archetypes: Psychic charlatan (you're a fake psychic) and psychic detective (you use your psychic powers to investigate crimes)


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

Are you planning on sanctionning those for Pathfinder society play ?

Director of Marketing

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Mr. Fred wrote:
Are you planning on sanctionning those for Pathfinder society play ?

Most of our rulebooks and adventures are considered for sanctioning or use in Organized Play and we aim to do so by the released date. If we elect not to sanction a product for use, we announce that in advance in our Organized Play monthly update blogs.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Starfinder Superscriber
John Mangrum wrote:


Artwork is generally quite good; we get an elf with facial hair, but by now it's pretty well established that any "off-model" hair we see on NPCs is the result of cosmetic augmentations. Maps are a combo of existing flip-mats and new locales.

I really disliked the Hellknights designs. Bucket helmets and cosplay armor basically. Nothing like the corebook design.


Thanks JM, I'll have this Wednesday, was thinking of maybe trying to slot one of the stories in for one of my Drift groups to shake things up a bit. ALA they hit an alternate Ab station, thinking they made it home kinda thing but nope, think again by the end of it :)

Tom


1 person marked this as a favorite.
Leon Aquilla wrote:
John Mangrum wrote:


Artwork is generally quite good; we get an elf with facial hair, but by now it's pretty well established that any "off-model" hair we see on NPCs is the result of cosmetic augmentations. Maps are a combo of existing flip-mats and new locales.
I really disliked the Hellknights designs. Bucket helmets and cosplay armor basically. Nothing like the corebook design.

Agree, they look like middle school kids made up cosplay designs from random stuff in their garage.


2 people marked this as a favorite.
Starfinder Superscriber

I've been so dissatisfied with a lot of the Hellknight art that's come out of SF I commissioned one of the SF freelancers to do a Signifer. Here, if anyone wants to make a token for use in their own games.

Grand Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

I absolutely LOVE this product. This is such a fun and dynamic experience and while the GM really needs to prep to be able to adapt to the different directions the PCs can choose to go, the really open ended possibilities really open up the role playing opportunities and challenge the players to think.
The scenarios are very well balanced with multiple routes of investigation and combat to keep things challenging and exciting.

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Took while to review :'D Power of procrastination and anxiety combined

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Ah yeah forgot to mention spotting example of book assuming fiends don't die upon defeat when they aren't summoned, was there starfinder lore inconsistency thread?

Dark Archive

Anybody have any playtime data yet for the different sections of this?


1 person marked this as a favorite.
CorvusMask wrote:
Ah yeah forgot to mention spotting example of book assuming fiends don't die upon defeat when they aren't summoned, was there starfinder lore inconsistency thread?

I don't think so. The author just got this one wrong and doesn't understand how death effects outsiders in PF1, SF, and PF2.

The error:

Quote:

Morale Perfectly willing to risk being sent back to Abaddon in defeat for a chance to end a mortal life, XXX fights until destroyed.[/quote

Dark Archive

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Yeah its not big dealio in good adventure, but it reminded me that I've seen similar sentences in other works lately as well since I feel like its common misunderstanding due to thats how it works in D&D ^^;


Quite the interesting adventure, I just popped this onto one of my Drift Crisis Drift Crashers group when we had some Mod 2 downtime and I was getting that group vibe they were getting a bit to comfortable so time to shake em up with a who done it!!

Ye old/new Drift crisis landed them into the station in the future, drift crisis solved by them though they hav'nt a clue how they did it and being in a private eye firm is one of their potential futures......

Tom


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

I've been looking within the book for a long time nad haven't been able to find wether each story was built for 4 players or 6 players; Usually most Starfinder modules considers 6 players if i am not mistaken


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

I can't offer you a clear answer, but typically Starfinder Society scenarios assume 6 PCs, while adventures (and adventure paths) assume 4. Since this is an adventure that is also presented for potential use as scenarios, it's hard to say. I'd have to add up the loot values and do some math to reach a conclusion.

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