PFS #10-13 Fragments of Antiquity (spoiler)

[Silbeg]

I have just started reading through this one, and it should be another interesting one from Sam Polak. I’ve always enjoyed his work, hope to keep seeing more of it!

So, the point of my post is about encounter A1.

hazard p5 wrote:

The kobolds have turned the riverbanks into a treacherous mud pit within 10 feet of the bridge.

I am assuming this is down in the ravine, not with the approach to the bridge? This would seem more logical.

For this encounter, I like the idea of modifying the map! This is something that isn’t done enough... which leads to e counters being sometimes “Hill Country, again?”, or “Which dragon are we facing in Twisted Caverns”, or “Darklands? Is it a bridge or tunnel today?”

I am planning on making a prop for this, which will likely not be much more than a picture of a wooden bridge that I add a grid to... but seems appropriate... and fun.

I also love the idea that the PCs have to deal with kobolds and their traps without having to kill them. Maybe I will get an idea for my kobold PC from this?

For the map in A2, do we know what he Tien word for ant looks like?

I do also like how there is a solution if the PCs decide to murder hobo the kobolds. I assume at that point the adventure should be pretty much over since they killed the guides? I mean, it might make a difference how much info they learned prior. But...

(This is a spot that makes me wish that PFS had infamy)

I am sure there will be more later!

[Silbeg]

Ok, found a little bit of a mistake that probably needs errata

On page 11, the 5-6 cephalophore shows 115 hp, though the stat block in bestiary 4 and page 22 of the scenario show 96. This is even more than the 8-9 version!

[Black Powder Chocobo]

Not necessarily. Sometimes, HPs are amended to throw in a bit of extra challenge or to represent damage already done. May have been a buff intended for APL.

[TriOmegaZero]

That definitely looks like a typo.

[andreww]

So, where exactly are Hao Jins notes in the final room. They are said to be next to the scrying mirror however no scrying mirror is noted in either the boxed text or the room description. There is reference to an orb which might be it and a couple of mirrors marked on the map but it is entirely unclear. Given that they are the primary success condition and are unattended objects made of paper any sort of stray aoe could cause a group serious issues. the first time I ran this my group were going to fireball the slivers until I reminded them the place was still filled with books they might be interested in but I can certainly imagine less restrained groups having an issue.

Given the slivers also explode when they die this could also cause a real issue with actually completing the primary success.

I also think something got cut in development about the group laying traps and earning their own names from the kobolds. There are some vague references to this at the outset but no mechanics for it anywhere and no mention of it as part of the conclusion.

[Michael Sayre]

andreww wrote:

So, where exactly are Hao Jins notes in the final room. They are said to be next to the scrying mirror however no scrying mirror is noted in either the boxed text or the room description. There is reference to an orb which might be it and a couple of mirrors marked on the map but it is entirely unclear. Given that they are the primary success condition and are unattended objects made of paper any sort of stray aoe could cause a group serious issues. the first time I ran this my group were going to fireball the slivers until I reminded them the place was still filled with books they might be interested in but I can certainly imagine less restrained groups having an issue.

The large circular mirror in the floor is the scrying mirror.

Quote:

Given the slivers also explode when they die this could also cause a real issue with actually completing the primary success.

The soulsliver's death throes only affects creatures and would not harm the book.

Quote:

I also think something got cut in development about the group laying traps and earning their own names from the kobolds. There are some vague references to this at the outset but no mechanics for it anywhere and no mention of it as part of the conclusion.

Nothing got cut here, it's just some flavor and roleplaying opportunity for the players. As mentioned in the conclusion:

Quote from Conclusion and summation:

"PCs who have set their own trap within the library have one final opportunity to interact with the Scalebreakers, perhaps even gaining their own adult name, along with the tribe’s respect."

Given when this scenario was released, where it falls in the program schedule, and the fact that we knew kobolds were getting some updates for 2E but not what they were (mainly art it turns out), we didn't want to tag in a Scalebreaker legacy boon when we didn't know what the landscape might look like in the future or when we could capitalize on such a thing. Note that that doesn't preclude us from having something in the future where we can call back to a player possessing the Chronicle sheet as a way to tie this back in.