A Pathfinder Society Scenario designed for 1st- through 4th-level characters.
Within Irrisen, Queen Anastasia has spent the better part of a decade testing the boundaries of her rulership and seeing where she can and cannot make change. After enough research and discussion with fellow leaders, she's finally decided full steam ahead on the first of many plans she has to help bring her new home to the forefront of Avistani politics. As an international organization of travelers, she's called upon the Pathfinder Society for their opinions on the platform of her new venture, looking for insights from those who have to cross over wide landscapes, however her meeting with agents and contractors goes off the rails when a group of frost goblins looking to let off some steam launch an attack conducted by a disappointed fey. The Pathfinders will need to catch those goblins and defeat the fey in order ensure that Queen Anastasia's plan doesn't get derailed into the ground!
Written by Dave Nelson
Scenario tags: None
[Scenario Maps spoiler - click to reveal]
The following maps used in this scenario are also available for purchase here on paizo.com:
Basics- You’re building a what? The Winter Queen is homesick and trying to revolutionize her country at the same time. Bids are being taken to build a train, but what is a train? And who wants to stop it?
Mechanics or Crunch- This adventure isnt so much crunch, but world building. There is a social interaction, then a chase, then combat! It’s short, but its fun. The encounters are balanced for everyone. It’s just a bit short. 4.75/5
Theme or Fluff- This is a callback. If you played First Ed Pathfinder and killed Rasputin in an adventure path, then you will recognize all the key players here. Those who didn’t, won’t miss anything, but it's a call back. The story is interesting, and it builds out some of the world of Pathfinder in fun ways that everyone will enjoy. 5/5
Execution- It’s Paizo. Solid layout, production, art, and even text makes this something to be studied. 5/5
Summary- This is a solid, if short, adventure. The short issue depends on roleplaying. The combats are fun, and the story offers the players a chance to change the Society and the World via their choices. I loved this one. 99%
Fun concept, learning about the trains is neat but then there's a chase that doesn't matter that includes instructions that are impossible to follow.
The bit at the beginning with trains is really cool thematically but misuses the research subsystem and has some bonus checks needed before researching some individuals with no real instructions on repeating those checks and the like.
If I was solely reviewing from the player perspective it would be a solid 4 but too many issues drop it down to a 3.
What this scenario is trying to do is great, but it's spoiled by poor editing and data. It will be a fun experience for players, but it will be frustrating for GMs.
It's especially disappointing that they used an illustration of a woman who has nothing to do with the queen. They should have used the one in the world guide!
*Hmm* Think there are a few society adventures that I am going to have to get my hands on just so I can read the over all consequences of their actions.
Considering the devastating effects that the railroad industry has had in the real world, introducing trains to Golarion makes me nervous. But I definitely want to play this adventure.
Considering the devastating effects that the railroad industry has had in the real world, introducing trains to Golarion makes me nervous. But I definitely want to play this adventure.
It could have some interesting bits of tension with the neighbors' populace, though, or it could be magical and not have as much of a detriment to the environment.
I'm enjoying this so far, but I have a question about the encounter after talking to all the contractors.
Spoiler:
The scenario says to start the goblins at the Conservatory, but no such obstacle is listed (and none of those in the module fit the definition of 'conservatory'). I started them in the Main Hallway, which meant they moved to the Sitting Room on their first turn, but clarification for the future would be nice.
The Pathfinder wiki says this scenario is “All Ages”, but that tag/type isn’t show here. And I know that wiki isn’t The Offical Source. So, two questions:
Is this scenario part of the “All Ages” group?
Are the any “All Ages” scenarios or is that only for Quests?
The Pathfinder wiki says this scenario is “All Ages”, but that tag/type isn’t show here. And I know that wiki isn’t The Offical Source. So, two questions:
Is this scenario part of the “All Ages” group?
Are the any “All Ages” scenarios or is that only for Quests?
The wiki typically goes by what's actually shown in the product as opposed to what's on the store page, and the PDF includes the All Ages tag, even though it's absent here. So yes, this scenario is part of the All Ages group.
