Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-04: Equal Exchanges – Necessary Introductions

3.40/5 (based on 18 ratings)
Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-04: Equal Exchanges – Necessary Introductions

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A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st- through 4th-level characters.

Since the defeat of Aslynn, the Waterfall has become more of a staple around the Grand Lodge, starting to hold strange, isolated meetings with leadership and seemingly putting together some plan. Her most recent request is that a team of Pathfinder agents journey to Hwanggot and meet with the underworld dragon, Valashinaz as a introductory team. Venture-Captain Yi Da Som arranged the meeting through Valashinaz's kobold assistant, Purepurin. Unfortunately, between then and the PCs arriving, Purepurin forgot about them in the midst of pickling recipes from goblins and creepy crawlies invading the vaults! It's up to the PCs to help Purepurin bring Valashinaz's vaults under control while she summons the dragon to ensure these introductions go off without a hitch!

This adventure is the first part of the four-part Equal Exchanges metaplot arc in the Year of Unfettered Exploration. This arc will be continued in PFS2 #5-09: Equal Exchanges – Skymetal Hoard, PFS2 #5-11: Equal Exchanges – The Hidden Current, and PFS2 #5-18: Equal Exchanges – Tapestry of the Mind.

Written by Michelle Y. Kim

Scenario tags: Metaplot (Equal Exchanges)

[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]

The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:

  • Pathfinder Flip-Mat Classics: Ancient Dungeon
  • Note: This product is part of the Pathfinder Society Scenario Subscription.

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    Average product rating:

    3.40/5 (based on 18 ratings)

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    Great Concept Doesn't Deliver

    2/5

    It's scenarios like these that make me not like Pathfinder society play. There are several reasons; but there is a fine line between a "fun" and "annoying" when it comes to tone; especially the NPCs. The combats are also laughably easy which made it feel like what's the point when all were so easy.

    The overall concept is great which is flipping "Dungeon exploration" on it's head. However going into the dungeons the characters would know not to take anything in the vaults; however some of the treasure bundles are blocked behind taking "items" in the vault. I get that not every Treasure Bundle should be achievable; and I know there are debates on this topic in general. But it feels weird to encourage PCs to take something in the name of a TB.

    I was excited for the chase, but one of the worst bits was the Babies in need obstacle. Every combat encounter till now AND the tone of the main NPC was to kill Rats. Then there is an obstacle "A panicked kobold approaches with a large treasure chest containing a large number of baby rats. The kobold demands help with reuniting them with their parents as the babies mewl helplessly." Sorry ladies; their parents are dead as the combat.

    The spircy death chicken challenge seems out of place. With that said if you could run this encounter modified for friends it's got a lot of great bones there; but the overall tone; inconsistencies makes it hard to run as is.


    Nothing too bad

    4/5

    The combat is fun. Though there are plenty of encounters, they are short enough that finishing on time is not a tall order.

    I don't understand the spicy food challenge, though. It's so out of place in the story that I thought the GM put it in as a joke.


    The Year of the Unfettered Chase System

    3/5

    This adventure is a lighthearted little jaunt that, for the most part, is decent fun. I loved the colorful characters in this scenario, and the "flavor" of the setting (literally, it turns out). Goblins, kobolds, chicken, what's not to love?

    The Chase subsystem, actually. Don't love it. For me it pretty much just turns into rolling until we get enough chase points. Occasionally something interesting pops up but that's the exception rather than the rule. I would love some more dynamic, less monotonous chases. There have been a couple of decent chases in season 5, but the one in this scenario was probably my least favorite. Colorful, just not my cup of tea.

    Other than that, a solid scenario and I hope we see more of the characters.


    4/5

    Excellent scenario in flavor and execution with one exception: the combats are pretty boring (the rats rolling around get old very quickly) and on the easy side. The chase was fun, as was the RP sections with the involved parties.


    A Spicy and Fun Adventure!

    5/5

    I was grinning while I read this adventure, and I will remember this one for a while.

    I ran this adventure for the high tier and I had so much fun running it! I rarely see an adventure with so much little guy energy and was delighted by my players' reactions.

    This adventure works very well if your GM is willing to commit to the bits that the adventure is putting out for you, and is an excellent easy adventure to get newer folks started with some flavor, some excitement, and a little bit of wonder.

    Hands down the best giant rat I have ever run in a scenario! Can't wait to see what happens next!


    1 to 5 of 18 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | next > last >>
    Paizo Employee Organized Play Coordinator

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Announced for September! Cover and product description are not final and are subject to change.


    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Purepurin! <3

    Wayfinders Contributor

    This one looks like a lot of fun!


    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Valashinaz! Purepurin! Hwanggot!

    I wonder if this whole arc is in Tian Xia.

    Paizo Employee Organized Play Coordinator

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Map list updated.

    Dark Archive

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

    Looks interesting. I look forward to PFS venturing into Tian Xia again.

    However, this blurb is seriously not good. 1-4 scenarios should sell to the first-timer crowd, but this is a pile of proper nouns that say nothing to anyone who hasn't been playing the campaign for a while. If you're not an old hand at Pathfinder Society, this is word salad. I cannot use this. I have to rewrite it before I can offer the scenario as a public game, and because I don't run in a primarily English-speaking environment, I have to do it twice.


    NiTessine wrote:

    Looks interesting. I look forward to PFS venturing into Tian Xia again.

    However, this blurb is seriously not good. 1-4 scenarios should sell to the first-timer crowd, but this is a pile of proper nouns that say nothing to anyone who hasn't been playing the campaign for a while. If you're not an old hand at Pathfinder Society, this is word salad. I cannot use this. I have to rewrite it before I can offer the scenario as a public game, and because I don't run in a primarily English-speaking environment, I have to do it twice.

    “Go to a distant land for a diplomatic meeting with a dragon, aiding their kobold helper” is the gist of it.

    Dark Archive

    2 people marked this as a favorite.
    Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path Subscriber
    keftiu wrote:


    “Go to a distant land for a diplomatic meeting with a dragon, aiding their kobold helper” is the gist of it.

    Yeah, but the blurb is like the trailer for a movie. It tells the players why they want to play this and not the other fantasy game for the inexplicably more popular game system in the same time slot. It has to sell the adventure. That takes more than just the facts. Writing that takes effort.


    Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook Subscriber
    NiTessine wrote:
    keftiu wrote:


    “Go to a distant land for a diplomatic meeting with a dragon, aiding their kobold helper” is the gist of it.
    Yeah, but the blurb is like the trailer for a movie. It tells the players why they want to play this and not the other fantasy game for the inexplicably more popular game system in the same time slot. It has to sell the adventure. That takes more than just the facts. Writing that takes effort.

    Do your players need to see the blurb though? They just need to see the aforementioned, "diplomatic meeting with dragon and kobold assistant."

    Dark Archive

    1 person marked this as a favorite.
    Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path Subscriber
    Indielink wrote:

    Do your players need to see the blurb though? They just need to see the aforementioned, "diplomatic meeting with dragon and kobold assistant."

    Yes, yes they do. In convention use, it is, in fact, required that a scenario has an interesting description.

    Wayfinders Contributor

    1 person marked this as a favorite.

    Here's a song for the Jiang-Jang goblins in this scenario:

    ♫ We're the Jiiang-Jang
    Purveyers of the spiciest fowl
    We're the Jiang-Jang
    Taste our spices, then you'll howl
    Jiang-Jang! Bang, Bang!
    Spicy Death, Garlic Breath!
    Happy Chicken Time! ♫

    Silver Crusade

    I kind of had a question on the final encounter

    Spoiler:
    the goldmonger low tier only does +1 damage with its 3 Str on unarmed (adding no Str to damage on the pick). The experienced goldmonger adds only +2 damage on for its 4 Str on pick. Also, neither of them have the fatal d10 trait. Are these accurate numbers?

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