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Hello! I've recently offered to start GMing for two long-term PFS groups here on the forums and would like some suggestions for scenarios or modules to run each of them through, based on some of their requests and suggestions.
The first group is currently running through the Faithless & Forgotten trilogy and is nearing the end of the second scenario; the level ranges on this group when we finish the trilogy will be in the 2-5 range barring someone deciding to slow-track or switch out characters. Other than two of the characters having an IC-conversation about going to Irrisen at some point and another player suggesting that their character would do better with more urban scenarios, I have no real suggestions or requests from these players.
Group Two is a mixture of experienced players and players that are brand new to PFS, so everyone is starting at 1st and 2nd level. Right now I'm running them through Confirmation (suggested by the veteran players) but I'm not sure what might work best for their next adventure when we get to it. Should I run another evergreen like First Steps Pt. 1 or Wounded Wisp for the sake of the new players or move on to non-evergreen stuff? Players in this group have made several requests ranging from fey and nature-themed scenarios to planar scenarios to heading to the Mwangi and putzing around the Worldwound. I also had one specific request to run Shores of Heaven and the player requesting is willing to burn a GM star to replay it.
I've got maybe 45ish scenarios under my own belt as a player and around 13 to 14 games as a GM so while I know there's a lot of material out there that would probably suit one or both groups well, I've not experienced enough of it to really come up with a ton of ideas on my own. Preemptive thanks for any suggestions or help that anyone might have to offer! :)
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I think the first question to ask yourself is: What will I be excited to run?
I find as both a player and GM, if the GM is excited about running a particular scenario, there’s a good chance it will be an outstanding game – regardless of theme, location, PC mix etc.
If you’re over evergreens – don’t run one. If you like running them – do that! As a new player I had no clue what ‘evergreen’ meant – I just wanted to play!
I like scenarios with a well-written plot and interesting NPCs. I don’t like the Chase mechanic. So I run plot-driven, chase-free games, from multiple seasons, all over the Inner Sea.
Reading between the lines, I suspect your Group One would be happy with anything they can play that you want to run.
In your second group, an experienced(?) player has suggested a game. Someone willing to burn a GM ✩ suggests that scenario is worth a closer look.
If it’s any good, maybe you could run it for Group One as well ;)
Whatever you decide, Lady Ladile, please create your (outstanding) Google slides for your new game ASAP -- so that I can steal them! ;)
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Ah, well, there are some things that I would be excited to run but one or more people have already played them! But there are some things that sound like they'd be cool even though I've not played or run them and so I can always just pick what sounds cool if nothing else :)
You're probably right about my Group One being happy to play basically anything.
For Group Two, I do indeed have plans to hopefully run that particular scenario for them as well as for Group One! There will probably be some overlap in what I run for both groups but there will be some differences, too.
At any rate I can always start working my way through reading scenario descriptions and reviews and start figuring out some options from there. Not that I *have* to plan super far in advance but I'm one of those people that like to plan and have lists and stuff! Of course a more practical reason for planning ahead is that I own all of Seasons 4, 6, and 7 and a smatterings of others across the rest of the seasons so if I want to run something that I don't own, I need to plan to spare the few bucks to buy it :)
I don't know about outstanding but I think they're fairly nice! Feel free to steal whatever you can use from these, except for my players - I'm rather attached to them :)
Assault on the Kingdom of the Impossible
Faithless & Forgotten Part 1: Let Bygones Be
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I'm one of those people that like to plan and have lists and stuff!
Oh, I’m the same! ;)
Well, if you do want some suggestions about specific tier 1-5 scenarios, I can share my thoughts on what I think are the ‘best of the best’ scenarios to GM and run from the earlier seasons (I haven’t played or run anything in T 1-5 from Season 7 onwards … and not much in Season 2 or 3 either)
These are just my opinions of course,
Overflow Archives – clever, entertaining, the author and publisher took a big risk with this one – and it totally paid off.
Out of Anarchy – This one is tough to read. I suspect it was the last product on the list to be developed before GenCon that year and got neglected as a result.
However, I had a ball filling in plot holes and fleshing out the city and the NPCs. I got to make Pezzack mine!
Best sandbox PFS scenario I’ve seen. I had a tonne of fun running it, but it took a massive amount of prep.
Rise of the Goblin Guild – At its heart this is (just) an above-average dungeon crawl.
What can lift it to elite status is the addition of the goblin protagonist. If you can get her to join the party and have the party embrace her as a smart-mouthed, opinion-on-everything ‘mascot’ this is an absolute blast to run.
Night March of Kalkamedes – Players actually have to think their way through the problems being set *GASP*
Tough fights – but fair. And top it off with, “What do you mean that’s the correct mini?”
Severing Ties – Kinda reluctant to mention this one because two of the combat encounters are overpowered. There was one roll of the dice between success and a TPK when I ran this for 4 experienced players at low tier, APL 2.4 (They made it!)
But it is very well written and the premise is so much fun to run and play.
Voice in the Void – Reads like it was thrown together in an hour. But once you GM it, the love and craftsmanship that went into this becomes apparent.
It’s a dungeon crawl. But what a dungeon crawl! I had players on edge from the start, and it only got worse once they finally encountered the BBEG.
They all thought they were going to die – but I was pretty sure they’d be fine. And they were!
On top of all that, it’s soooo easy to map and prep! A one-shot classic.
Silent Tide – has a little of everything: interesting setups, NPCs, puzzles and fights. Takes a little bit of effort to make it all flow, but it’s well worth it.
Also makes low level PCs feel like epic heroes, which is such a good introduction to PFS.
Black Waters – The premise is creepy and that atmosphere is heightened as you enter the dungeon.
Interesting NPCs and the story, which is driven by the PCs flows so well.
Prince of Augustana – I love the premise, the surprise hazard in the dungeon and the creative challenge handed to (new) players half way through.
Easy to run.
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I ran a number of the Hao Jin Tapestry scenarios as a "campaign." It started with #3-12: Wonders in the Weave 1, and all the PCs were either 6th or 7th level with between 15 and 19 xp at start. They then played through the following sequence of scenarios:
3-12: Wonders in the Weave 1 (5-9) - Low Tier
3-14: Wonders in the Weave 2 (5-9) - Low Tier
3-25: Storming the Diamond Gate (3-7) - High Tier
3-26: Portal of the Sacred Run (7-11) - Low Tier
4-16: The Fabric of Reality (5-9) - High Tier
6-21: Tapestry’s Toil (5-9) - High Tier
We did these as normal PFS games with folks signing up on Warhorn, so most people only played a few of the scenarios with the same character. However, two players did play the entire sequence with the same PCs.
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I have a campaign planned that goes:
Mummy's Mask Part 1 (1-2)
Jade Regent Part 1 (2-4)
Rise of the Runelords Part 1 (3-5)
Mummy's Mask Part 2 (4-6)
Rise of the Runelords Part 2 (4-6)
Jade Regent Part 2 (5-7)
Mummy's Mask Part 3 (7-9)
Jade Regent Part 3 (8-10)
Rise of the Runelords Part 3 (8-10)
Mummy's Mask Part 4 (10-12)
Jade Regent Part 4 (10-12)
Jade Regent Part 5 (11-13)
Mummy's Mask Part 5 (12-14)
Rise of the Runelords Part 4 (12-14)
Jade Regent Part 6 (14-15)
Rise of the Runelords Part 5 (14-16)
Mummy's Mask Part 6 (15-17)
Rise of the Runelords Part 6 (16-18)
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All - thank you so much for your suggestions and tips on some of these scenarios. I really appreciate the input! I'll have to of course check PFS Tracker and see who can play what but I feel like I've got enough ideas to run on for awhile (though I'll always be happy to hear more suggestions just the same) :)
