PFS Scenario Arcs

[Doug Hahn]

Scenario arcs — trying to compile a list of scenarios by theme, location, or metaplot.

Anything I'm missing?

Potential spoilers, so if you avoid even knowing metaplot / geolocation of scenarios don't click

[Dancing Wind]

I asked for a list of scenarios that was a good introduction to the Pathfinder Society storyline for new players.

The suggestions were:

Blake's Tiger wrote:

Scenarios in this order:

2-11
1-01
Intro 1
Intro 2

Then, if you're bold... 3-18

and

Pirate Rob wrote:

1-10 Tarnbreaker's Trail.

1-05 Trailblazer's Bounty

Both do a really good job of having the Pathfinders go do wilderness things with competitors rather than evil evil of eviles.

[Doug Hahn]

A new players' intro list is a great idea!

I wonder if we can update it for 2023.

[Doug Hahn]

I also find it crazy only two scenario 4 years take place in Tian Xia.

[Pirate Rob]

This is pretty cool, and a useful resource when planning back content to offer so that thematic matches can be made.

[Hilary Moon Murphy]

Doug Hahn wrote:

I also find it crazy only two scenario 4 years take place in Tian Xia.

I agree. Lost on the Spirit Road is my favorite repeatable, and I keep waiting for a return to Minkai -- or to any location in Tian Xia. I suppose the new book will help with that.

[Doug Hahn]

Same here. I’m hoping for more Tian adventures too!

[Kate Baker]

Thanks for putting this together, Doug!

[Blake's Tiger]

Thanks for all these, Doug!

[Doug Hahn]

OK. List of best-of-the-best new player scenarios in my opinion, with some general reasoning. Thoughts?

⠀➤ Trailblazer's (exploring + making friends)
⠀➤ Mosquito Witch (mystery, flavor options the GM can tailor, helping a small town)
⠀➤ Flooded King's Court (goblin THEATER)
⠀➤ Daciline Academy 1 (trans NPC, things the Society does that isn’t just going on adventures)
⠀➤ Blooming Catastrophe (Tim Burton flavor, possibly solving combat thru nonviolence)
⠀➤ Burden of Envy (intrigue… freedom… runelord)
⠀➤ Arclord who never was (bad puns; lovable unique NPC, more positive representation woven meaningfully into the narrative, and Quantium is such an awesome location)

[Blake's Tiger]

I would include Pathfinder Trials (2-11). The rationale is a huge spoiler, though:

Spoiler:

There's no actual risk of permanent harm to the characters, so it's a safe place for someone new to the system to make mistakes and not risk needing to create a new character to continue.

It also includes practice with combat, skill challenges, and freeform problem solving.

[Doug Hahn]

I'd note while there are intro scenarios I'm not quite as sure they're as strong as some of those above. That is one person's subjective opinion.

Another list could include them… Pathfinder trials, Confirmations 1 & 2.

[Silbeg]

Pathfinder Trials still has a lot that could feel like bullying to a player with triggers. I would avoid that.

[Blake's Tiger]

It's been a while since I've run it it, so I could stand to be educated on that issue.

[Pirate Rob]

The encounters towards the end are set up as a hazing. You are treated nicely to get your guard down and then dunked.

[Doug Hahn]

Yep. Trying to think of scenarios intentionally written to describe what the Society is about.

Replace Trials with Absalon Initiation.

I always forget that one exists (and is repeatable!)

[Blake's Tiger]

Hmm. Having never been forced to suffer that specific manner of hazing, I had not seen it from that perspective. Thank you.

I like Absalom Initiation, personally, but players have expressed to me fear of that scenario. It is easy to TPK with the wrong set up, I acknowledge. With a gentle GM hand guiding character selection, it is probably fine. If new players are left to their own devices, you could randomly end up with a team set up to fail. So the caveat there is that the GM may need to be more involved in character selection for new players.

[Doug Hahn]

Please let me know if you got any other ideas too! I am interested in suggestions! I am surely forgetting great scenarios.

[andreww]

Doug Hahn wrote:

OK. List of best-of-the-best new player scenarios in my opinion, with some general reasoning. Thoughts?

⠀➤ Trailblazer's (exploring + making friends)

Personally I would avoid Trailblazer's. It is an excellent PFS style scenario until the end encounter which is just brutal.

[Doug Hahn]

I don’t remember that combat being difficult. I haven’t run it since it was new, though!

[Blake's Tiger]

It can be. It's one of those where all the XP is piled into that one encounter and the Challenge Point effects can turn it brutal. However, there is also some GM control in how brutal it is.

[Grandmaster TOZ]

Good to know.

[Pirate Rob]

Are you talking about 1-10 Tarnbreaker's Trail instead of 1-05 Trailblazer's Bounty?

[Doug Hahn]

I do love Tarnbreakers but excluded it from the list because it's wonky and needs a good GM to fix up.

[Blake's Tiger]

I was thinking Tarnbreaker but the same could be said of the final battle of Trailblazer (except slightly less of the XP budget went into the last fight). The path you take (clockwise vs counterclockwise) in the caves can also have an effect on how tough it is.

[andreww]

Aah, confusing names, I was talking about the thing with the ridiculous bear at the end.

[Doug Hahn]

Updated the list with our new player arc.