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I started PFS a bit shy of two years ago, and while I've covered Seasons 7-9 quite well, there are a lot of early scenarios I haven't played.
What do people recommend as the must-play scenarios to get in over the next year and a half? What are the defining PFS scenarios to you?
(And while I've done the later Season stuff, feel free to include them in your answer to make this useful to brand new players too!)
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The only 5-Star review I've given was for Hall of Drunken Heroes. It's great on its own, but having players and a GM that enjoy RPing a good old fashioned bar brawl will make this an absolute must do.
EDIT: I should mark Signs in Senghor down as another 5-Star review. Probably the most entertaining variation of a chase I've ever experienced, mixed with memorable NPCs and a balance of skills, RP and combat.
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Season 0: Silent Tide and Mists of Mwangi are classics. I've actually never played either as everyone else has played them...
Season 1: I've yet to haer anyone complain about Hall of Drunken Heroes, but again I have never played it.
Season 2: Below the Silver Tarn was fantastic fun. I loved The Dalsine Affair, but I've heard complaints.
Season 3: Sewer Dragons of Absalom is the definitive Kobold Scenario (where you don't play as kobolds). Tide of Twilight is my definitive Fey scenario. Quest for Perfection Part III is awesome if you are an Akira Kurosawa fan. Haunting of Hinojai is called the best Tian-Xia adventure by many. I enjoyed The Midnight Mauler enough to use a replay on it.
Season 4: The Nightmarch of Kalkemedes is the best scenario of the season! The Waking Rune is lauded and despised as perhaps the most difficult scenario with the most "epic boss" in PFS history. Rise of the Goblin Guild is the definitive goblin scenario (where you don't play as goblins). This season has a number of "notable for its Chronicle sheets" scenarios, including Sanos Abduction, Feast of Sigils and Refuge of Time, but none of them really blew me away as a player or GM.
Season 5: Siege of the Diamond City was the multi-table that made me fall in love with PFS, and I've heard many people say it was among best multi-table scenarios. Weapon in the Rift was my favorite scenario dealing with the Worldwound and is one of the more cinematically thrilling scenarios I've played. Confirmation is a classic that you will really appreciate GMing once you understand the lore. I've heard good things about Hellknight's Feast and Destiny of the Sands. Library of the Lion is a classic. Horn of Aroden is an absolute blast, especially if you loved Night March. Scars of the Third Crusade is hit-or-miss, but is among my favorite "investigative" scenarios.
Season 6: I've heard really good things about The Overflow Archives. The Beacon Below is a must if you even remotely enjoy the Scarab Sages or anything to do with Occultism/Alistar Crowly. Everyone has a story about scions of the Sky Key Pt 2. The Multi-table from this season has one of the most "oh shit" moments (literally) in history.
Season 7: School of Spirits was utterly fantastic and showed what an occult campaign can offer. Abductd in Aether was so good I've used a replay on it. Ancients' Anguish is highly regarded, but we party-wiped early on. Deepmarket Deception has the cutest NPC in the world (fight me). Thralls of the Shattered God was really well done.
Season 8: Everyone has an amazing story about Forged in Flame Pt I: The Cindersworn Pact. Unleashing the Untouachable is among the most "epic" scenarios I've ever played in. Both in scale, impact and threat, the scenario delivers. Reaping What We Sow is the iconic "halloween scenario". Ungrounded but Unbroken requires a certain table and you have to not worry about the second prestige, but was a blast both times I played it. House of Harmonious Wisdom is in every respect the iconic Tian Xia scenario. Graves of Crystalmaw Pass is my iconic Numeria scenario.
Season 9: Unseen Inclusion really hit home the archaelogy part of being a Pathfinder, where it's spiritual sequel Salvation of the Sages was everything I could ask for and more for the faction. The Shores of Heaven handled a plane in ways I'd never imagine. The Lion's Justice is up there with Salvation of the Sages, but I'd be careful running it if you plan on playing or running the first book of "War for the Crown".
Season 10: The Many Terrasques of Grandmaster Dreng was an unexpected thrill ride from start to finish.
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Season 0: I personally enjoyed The Prince of Augustana as a player, and reading over Black Waters I find that in the right hands it can really creep you out.
Season 1: Hall of Drunken Heroes is a MUST.
Season 2: I'd say The Mantis' prey, preceeded by The Heresy of Man Series
Season 3: The Forstfur Captives is one of my favorite 1-5, followed by The Temple of Empyreal Enlightnement. Haunting of Hinjai and Ghenett Manor Gauntlet are also very interesting.
Season 4: The Disappeared and Fortress of the Nail are some of my favorites.
Season 5: Siege of the Diamond City!!! Weapon in the Rift and Library of the Lion are also awesome scenarios.
Season 6: Test of Tar-Kuata, Beacon Below, Fires of Karamoss. Halls of the Flesh Eaters as well!
Season 7:Ancient's Anguish, Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts, The Twisted Circle, Thralls of the Shattered God, Orders from the Gate.
Season 8:Torrent's Last Will (and possibly Treacherous Waves before that?), What Sleeps in Stone
Venture-Agent, Australia—QLD—Brisbane
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Murder on the Throaty Mermaid was an excellent murder mystery (which suffers a little due to factions changing).
For an interesting setup, Champions of the Chalice part 1 was cool, but breaks some characters.
I echo Night March of Kalkimedes - has both some of the best and worst of PFS in it, but well worth playing.
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Venture-Agent, Netherlands—Utrecht
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Season 0: Black Waters is amazing if your GM can play up the atmosphere. King Xeros of Old Azlant isn't that amazing overall, but it's great out of sheer weirdness. Our Lady of Silver is probably my favourite scenario ever. So much happens in such a small scenario. I had to stop my players from roleplaying because I had a scenario to finish.
Season 1:No Plunder, No Pay gets high marks for me. It isn't a must-play, but it's really fun if you play along.
Season 2: Below the Silver Tarn is a fantastic horror scenario. It manages to get the mood just right. Forbidden Furnace of Forgotten Koor is also fantastic in theme. Someone's been watching Aladdin a lot before writing that scenario.
Season 3: Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment. I have no words to describe it. It's just a masterpiece. Haunting of Hinojai and Ghenett Manor Gauntlet are great, and the opening act of The Golden Serpent is just fantastic.
Season 4: In Wrath's Shadow is amazingly twisted, in a good way. Golemworks Incident has the best villain ever. Period.
Season 5: The Traitor's Lodge is pure nightmare fuel for people with a vivid imagination.
Season 6: I hate to say it, but Overflow Archives was pretty great. It's so incredibly weird.
Season 7: School of Spirits is an amazing followup of Black Waters. Blakros Connection has some issues, I must admit, but it does storytelling so, so right. Thralls of the Shattered God is an example of a very well-designed dungeon. The author knew what players are capable of, and isn't afraid to pull punches. Sun Orchid Scheme is a great showcase of the heist mechanic, and is done really well.
Season 8: Portent's Peril isn't amazing by all means, but I've never seen a scenario that just clicks together so smoothly. It isn't difficult to run, doesn't have weird rules, but it just simply works.
Season 9: Cost of Enlightenment can be hit or miss, but if you're into it, you're going to dig it.
Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden
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I was looking through the catalog to see which scenarios I thought were pretty good and eventually stopped because the list was getting unreasonably long. Let me instead posit another important rule for enjoying the best of PFS:
1) Play each scenario with the number of players it was designed for. Play season 0-3 scenarios with 4 players, the ones after that can also be played with more. But the older scenarios are either frustrating (no room) or just lame (overwhelming action economy) for larger groups of players. Quite a few of them felt very crisp and exciting even five or more years after printing when played with a party of 4. I think oversized groups account for much more steamrolling than power creep through new books.
2) Try to play with a team that's all in the appropriate tier, or if you want a challenge, slightly below it. Taking on a 4-5 tier with a mixed bag of L3/L4 characters can be much more exciting. Doing almost any adventure with someone playing down takes out a lot of the risk.
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Great thread!
I've been playing since season 5, and still have loads of old scenarios to play. Here's a few that I have played that I think are stand-out:
Mists of Mwangi is hilarious, and a great intro to the Blakros museum.
Sewer Dragons of Absalom
Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment is superb - investigation, interesting NPCs and enemies, challenging
Blakros Matrimony - big on roleplay, challenging combat
Overflow Archives - great NPCs
School of Spirits and its "prequel" Black Waters
House of Harmonious Wisdom - the quest series plays like a Wuxia movie
Wrath of the Fleshwarped Queen
There are many more.
Contributor
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I need to add more to my list of favorites...the last time I did a list was very early in Season 6!
So, I guess, consider this simultaneously "dotting" so I can remember to add Seasons 6-9 here, and also a link to my (and other peoples') lists as well! :)
I like to see fear in the eyes of my fellow players so how about starting it off with Bonekeep 1-3, Waking Rune, Thralls of the Shattered God and Wrath's Shadow. Other great dungeon delves include The Emerald Spire and From the Tome of Righeteous Repose.
For flavor purposes you can round off the list with True Dragons of Absalom and The Harrowing.
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Venture-Captain, Germany—Bavaria
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I was looking through the catalog to see which scenarios I thought were pretty good and eventually stopped because the list was getting unreasonably long. Let me instead posit another important rule for enjoying the best of PFS:
1) Play each scenario with the number of players it was designed for. Play season 0-3 scenarios with 4 players, the ones after that can also be played with more. But the older scenarios are either frustrating (no room) or just lame (overwhelming action economy) for larger groups of players. Quite a few of them felt very crisp and exciting even five or more years after printing when played with a party of 4. I think oversized groups account for much more steamrolling than power creep through new books.
2) Try to play with a team that's all in the appropriate tier, or if you want a challenge, slightly below it. Taking on a 4-5 tier with a mixed bag of L3/L4 characters can be much more exciting. Doing almost any adventure with someone playing down takes out a lot of the risk.
Same here, try to play scenarios with the right kind of group, some groups can make a bad scenario memorable and others can suck the fun out of something amazing.
EDIT: So if you want to make sure to have a good time, consider what your fellow players as GMs like, some like to RP a lot, while others only communicate with attack rolls. Sometimes mixing these groups works well, and sometimes everyone feels like they didn't get what they wanted.
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32
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So, I dashed off a quick list of my favorites. If anybody would be interested in me expanding on why I picked these or anything, I'd be more than happy to do so.
Edit: I just realized my list was rather long. I've put together a shortened version for anybody who wants only the absolute must-plays.
Season 0:
Black Waters
Among the Living
Prince of Augustana
Our Lady of Silver
Season 1:
Hall of Drunken Heroes
The Citadel of Flame
The Pallid Plague
Eyes of the Ten (all four parts)
The City of Strangers (both parts)
Season 2:
Before the Dawn (Both parts)
Below the Silver Tarn
Murder on the Throaty Mermaid
The Flesh Collector
You Only Die Twice
Season 3:
Sewer Dragons of Absalom
The Ghennet Manor Gauntlet
The Quest for Perfection (all three parts)
The Haunting of Hinojai
The Gods' Market Gamble (Possibly my favorite scenario)
The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment
The Golden Serpent
Season 4:
Rise of the Goblin Guild
The Golemworks Incident
King of the Storval Stairs
Severing Ties
The Green Market
Severing Ties
(The Lissalan arc is quite good, but lengthy)
Night March of Kalkamedes
Season 5:
The Hellknight's Feast
The Elven Entanglement
The Traitor's Lodge
Library of the Lion
Season 6:
Hall of the Flesh Eaters
The Segang Expedition
By Way of Bloodcove
The Wounded Wisp
Out of Anarchy
The Darkest Abduction
Serpents Rise
True Dragons of Absalom
Season 7:
School of Spirits
The Blakros Connection
The Deepmarket Deception
Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts
Bid for Alabastrine
Abducted in Aether
Dead Man's Debt
Beyond Azlant Ridge
Season 8:
Reaping What We Sow
What Sleeps in Stone
House of Harmonious Wisdom
Torrent's Last Will
Unleashing the Untouchable
Season 9 (So far):
The Cost of Enlightenment
A Case of Missing Persons
On the Border of War
Salvation of the Sages
Birthright Betrayed
The Jarlsblood Witch Saga
The Lion's Justice
The Bloodcove Blockade
Season 0:
Black Waters
Our Lady of Silver
Season 1:
Hall of Drunken Heroes
Eyes of the Ten (all four parts)
The City of Strangers (both parts)
Season 2:
Before the Dawn (Both parts)
Below the Silver Tarn
Murder on the Throaty Mermaid
Season 3:
Sewer Dragons of Absalom
The Quest for Perfection (all three parts)
The Haunting of Hinojai
The Gods' Market Gamble (Possibly my favorite scenario)
The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment
Season 4:
The Golemworks Incident
King of the Storval Stairs
The Green Market
Severing Ties
Season 5:
The Hellknight's Feast
The Elven Entanglement
The Traitor's Lodge
Season 6:
The Wounded Wisp
Out of Anarchy
The Darkest Abduction
Season 7:
School of Spirits
Bid for Alabastrine
Abducted in Aether
Dead Man's Debt
Beyond Azlant Ridge
Season 8:
House of Harmonious Wisdom
Unleashing the Untouchable
Season 9 (So far):
A Case of Missing Persons
On the Border of War
Salvation of the Sages
The Jarlsblood Witch Saga
The Lion's Justice
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I'm definitely dotting this thread, as I've finally started to GM some scenarios myself, and my wife and I recently started a home game to give some friends of ours (who have a toddler, and thus can't usually play with us at the store) more opportunities for pickup games.
I'll worry about changes to PF and PFS when we're a lot close to the release of 2E. Meanwhile, we have *at least* a year of play to enjoy, and I've been told that 1E PFS won't be going away with the new edition.
The only 5-Star review I've given was for Hall of Drunken Heroes. It's great on its own, but having players and a GM that enjoy RPing a good old fashioned bar brawl will make this an absolute must do.
My dash-1 is a rogue with a dip into Cayden cleric, so the blurb alone sold me on playing this one now that Ansari is high-tier. Our local VO (& store owner) has promised to do so soon; he's run it many times, and it's still one of his favorites.
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These have been my favorites
Season 0: Mists of Mwangi, Among the Living
Season 1: Eyes of the Ten Part 1
Season 2: Murder on the Throaty Mermaid, Before the Dawn part 1 & 2, Shades of Ice part 1,2,3, Eyes of the Ten - part 4
Season 3; Defenders of Nesting Swallow, The Frostfur Captives, Temple of Imperial enlightenment, The Golden Serpent, Storming the Diamond Gate
Season 4: Night march of Kalkemdias, The Green Market, King of the Storval Stairs, Way of the Kirin, Feast of Sigils
Season 5: The Wardstone Patrol, Where the Mammoths Dare not Tread, Day of the Demon, Library of the Lion
Season 6: Trial by Machine, Fires of Karamoss, From Under the Ice, Siege of Serpents, To Judge a Soul Part 1
Season 7: Bid for Alabastrine, All for Immortality Part 1,2,3