Pathfinder Tales: "A Passage to Absalom" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

A Passage to Absalom is a four-part Pathfinder Tales story that can be ready for free on the Paizo website (https://paizo.com/store/pathfinder/fiction/tales/serial/aPassageToAbsalom) or as an e-book for just $ .99 (https://paizo.com/products/btpy8qg6?Pathfinder-Tales-A-Passage-to-Absalom-ePub).  It features Jeggare and Radovan (protagonists of several Pathfinder novels by Dave Gross) on a sea voyage.  This one has a "drawing room mystery" vibe, but there's some fun dialogue and action to keep the pace up.  If you like these characters, this is one worth seeking out.

SPOILERS!

I must confess: I'm writing this review too long after having read the story, I read each part of the story too far apart and got lost, and my notes are sketchy.  My general impression is that it starts off with a somewhat slow pace, but picks up in Chapter Two when a merchant gets poisoned at a fancy dinner.  Jeggare gets to play Hercules Poirot and question each witness to the death before announcing his verdict when the ship docks.  But who the killer was, and what their motivation was, I have no recollection: so this is a Spoilers section with very few actual spoilers!  If were giving stars on the quality of this review, I'm afraid it'd be a 1.  But the story itself is surely much better . . .

Starfinder Bounty # 7: "Voyage on the River Between" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

I played Voyage on the River Between via play-by-post, using the Iconic Soldier, Obazaya.  I wouldn't say this is a stand-out adventure in any way, but it's a perfectly pleasant way to spend an hour or two.  The story is a bit pedestrian, but there's plenty of opportunities for role-playing, multiple skill usages, and a combat that should be doable for Level 1 PCs.  I tend to prefer lore- and setting-heavy adventures, but if you want to introduce new players to the game, this Bounty is very accessible and they won't feel lost about what's happening or what they're supposed to be doing.

SPOILERS!

Voyage on the River Between sees the PCs hired to be bodyguards for a famed athlete (a "brutaris" player) named Visavra.  (for Starfinder Society games, the hook may need to be adjusted slightly to make sense.)  Visavra, a sarcesian, has been convinced by her friends to finally take a holiday.  Visavra has decided to go on a sort of river-cruise with a couple of her friends (a dwarf named Cyrus Skyshatter and a human named Desir Anbali).  Only, this is no ordinary river and no ordinary cruise ship: the adventure takes place in the Diaspora asteroid belt on the River Between, a magical river encased in a forcefield that connects many of the larger asteroids, and the ship (the Watani) is a special private-charter luxury liner that can adopt a submersible mode!  However, what Visavra (and the PCs) don't know is that she's about to be the target of a kidnapping & ransom attempt and one of the villains is part of her entourage!

The Bounty starts with three short events, each of which poses a simple skill-based challenge and an opportunity for the PCs (if successful in dealing with most of the problems) to impress Visavra--a factor that influences how she acts in the adventure's climax.  Event # 1 sees a drunk pilot corkscrewing the Watani through a turbulent part of the River Between, potentially injuring passengers unless the PCs can take over the helm with a Piloting check or help the NPCs keep their footing.  Event # 2 has an extravagant banquet interrupted by a pack of curious "glotters"--otther-like mammals with glowing fur--who swarm the ship searching for food.  PCs are given several skill options for shooing the glotters away before the meal is ruined.  Event # 3 has the ship running into (literally) a Diaspora wyrm, a massive serpentine creature.  PCs have to leap into action (with Computers or Engineering) to activate the ship's emergency systems to protect hull integrity.  As part of, and in between these events, there's actually a lot of opportunities for little moments for the PCs to get to know Visavra and her friends--indeed, I imagine that for some groups, this Bounty could run overlong if they really get into the RP.

When the ship docks, the PCs only need to escort Visavra safely to her hotel to finish their task. Cyrus assures Visavra she's safe and the bodyguards can be dismissed, and here's where it's important whether or not the PCs impressed her.  If they didn't, she agrees, and the PCs are figuratively flat-footed when there's an ambush!  The assailants are dwarf pirates under the banner of the Skyshatter clan.  It turns out that Cyrus had been roped into into the kidnap/ransom plot by his parents and feels tremendous guilt about his role in the matter.  Assuming the PCs save her from the kidnapping plot, Visavra rewards them with three weeks in a luxurious resort!

That's the Bounty.  Like I said, nothing astounding and a bit too Saturday morning cartoon (like most Starfinder) for my tastes, but there's nothing wrong with it.

Pathfinder Society Scenario # 5-02: "The Wardstone Patrol" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

The Wardstone Patrol is an interesting and thought-provoking scenario.  Set in Mendev, no one will be surprised that there are battles with demons--but the real story involves how those battles change who we are as people.  In other words, this is a deeper scenario than the standard set of combat encounters, and role-playing choices definitely alter how the storyline progresses.  I think in the hands of a good GM, this one can really pop and be a memorable adventure.  I'd recommend it.

SPOILERS!

The Wardstone Patrol centers around an NPC named Ilivan.  Ilivan is a half-elven crusader who has lived a turbulent life.  He grew up in Erages, the town set aside for half-elves in the elven nation of Kyonin, and like all half-elves there, faced discrimination and treatment as a second-class citizen.  He joined the elven military, where the discrimination continued, before drifting into life as a smuggler in the shores of Lake Encarthan.  Finally, he found a purpose in life as part of the Mendevian Crusade and was even knighted for his bravery in battle.  But now, after nearly twenty years of constant fighting, Ilivan has seen so much carnage and depravity that he has become cold and cynical.  The PCs spend the entire scenario in the company of Ilivan, and the story revolves around whether or not they're able to reach him emotionally to put him on a better path forward.  If they can't, another brave knight effectively falls prey to the endless onslaught of the Worldwound.  The scenario contains several paragraphs of text detailing Ilivan's background, how to role-play him, and how to track (through "Empathy Points") whether the PCs are getting through to him.

The scenario starts at the Pathfinder Lodge in Nerosyan (Mendev's capital city) with a briefing from Venture-Captain Jorsal.  He explains that he wants the PCs to take part in a patrol along the border of the Worldwound under the command of Ilivan.  It seems there have been a series of attacks on the wardstones that have weakened the nation's containment of the demonic armies.  I would normally remark that this doesn't really sound like a job for Pathfinders, but the scenario smartly anticipates this objection by having Jorsal explain that in Mendev, the Society is tolerated only because of an agreement with the Queen that all Pathfinders will volunteer some of their time to take part in the defense of the realm.  It makes sense.

The patrol takes the PCs along the River Road, following the bank of the West Sellen River (a natural border).  Soon, Ilivan and the PCs come to an abandoned village, but out in the middle of some fields they see a heap of bodies and a group of commoners struggling with one another.  Ilivan adamantly refuses to intervene, assuming the villagers are cultists and outside the scope of his mission.  If the PCs follow orders, they might bypass this encounter entirely.  What's really happening, however, is that body-possessing demons called vermleks have taken over some of the villagers and are planning to torture and kill the others.  This is the first situation where the PCs might be able to gain an Empathy Point through their interactions with Ilivan.

Whether the PCs intervened or not, their patrol next takes them to Fort Portolmaeus.  The fort has recently come under heavy attack, and a cavalry sortie fell into a trap and several soldiers were taken captive.  This is explained to them by the fort's commander, and short-handed, she requests Ilivan and the PCs mount a rescue expedition.  Ilivan accepts the task in her presence, but once outside dismisses the notion as foolish--the prisoners are as good as dead, in his mind, and going after them is naïve.  I'm not sure how much it intends to, but the scenario raises some really interesting moral and practical issues.  I think we're supposed to see Ilivan as being unduly cold and callous, and the PCs are expected to try to persuade him to come along on the rescue out of compassion for his fellow soldiers.  But one could also reasonably take the perspective that the PCs are outsiders, dropped into a complex situation that the battle-hardened and experienced Ilivan is an expert in, and that following his orders is not only the lawful thing to do, but the most pragmatic thing to do.  In a way, it encapsulates the difference between Lawful Good and Lawful Neutral alignments.  PCs have a tendency to think they automatically know better than everyone else, but what if they're wrong?

Whether the PCs decide to mount a rescue or not, they'll face some additional challenges, including demonic wasp swarms and mind-altering rageweed spores.  If the PCs do go after the captives, there's a battle against an intimidating brimorak demon and his dretch minions.  The scenario certainly "gets" the depravity of demons, as the dretches use coup de graces on the prisoners every round unless and until the PCs stop them!  If the PCs have gained enough Empathy Points with Ilivan that he accompanies them on the rescue, he actually heroically sacrifices himself to stop demonic reinforcements from arriving.  However, on the branching path where the PCs decide not to mount a rescue, Ilivan feels mounting shame (and rage) and decides to slay those who witnessed his inaction by attacking the PCs!  Definitely a twist, and potentially an interesting fight versus a mounted lance-expert if the GM knows how to run one.  The epilogue to the scenario of course depends on which choice the PCs (and Ilivan) made).

I'm not sure I like "Empathy Points" per se, as it seems a bit too "gamey", but the general idea of focusing the adventure on how the PCs are influenced by, and influence in turn, Ilivan was really good.  His background and personality show a more realistic side of soldiering than we usually see in Pathfinder.  If anything, the story concept might have been better in a module or AP chapter, where the PCs get more time with Ilivan.  The other elements of the scenario were strong, so I'd definitely recommend it.  The Worldwound: Hard Choices in a Hard Land!

Pathfinder Society Scenario # 1-03 (# 31): "Sniper in the Deep" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

I ran Sniper in the Deep at high sub-tier via play-by-post last year.  It's a scenario that takes some preparation by the GM to run well, and some patience by the players for complex combat wrinkles.  The storyline is a bit pedestrian, but some attempt is made to tie it into and build upon setting lore.  There's little-to-no role-playing opportunities, however.  This isn't a scenario to run on the fly, but nor is it a scenario for deep RP enthusiasts.  All of that being said, it's okay, and even somewhat memorable.  So I wouldn't put it high on my "to play" list, but not at the bottom, either.

SPOILERS

The backstory to Sniper in the Deep is relatively straightforward.  About a century ago, a group of young Taldan nobles foolishly talked themselves into launching a nautical invasion of Absalom.  They were (predictably) utterly crushed by Absalom's navy, which sent the invasion fleet to join thousands of other shipwrecks in the so-called Flotsam Graveyard.  One of those ships was Vaydren's Might, captained by a young noble named Vaydren of House Lasar.  He had stolen a family heirloom--an idol to Erastil known as The Sniper--and brought it aboard, so when the ship sank, so did the precious gold artifact.  Two weeks ago, a pair of Pathfinders gathered clues to the location of the shipwreck.  The youngest of the pair, a secret cleric of Norgorber named Dargo Mar, hired killers to off the other Pathfinder (his mentor, Airk Jarigan) and just hours ago set off to get The Sniper for himself.

The scenario begins with the PCs receiving a briefing from Venture-Captain Hestram.  Hestram says Airk Jarigan hasn't reported in for a couple of weeks, and he wants the PCs to find him and this artifact he's seeking.  He directs the PCs to Jarigan's last known location, a seaside tavern/inn called the Lusty Mermaid.  I liked (and surprised the players with) the fact that Hestram has absolutely no time for questions or conversations, and loudly berates the PCs for asking or dithering.  This is a "you've got your orders, now go!" briefing, a fun twist compared to others I've seen.

Act 1 starts with the PCs' arrival at the Lusty Mermaid just after dawn.  The establishment is a disreputable, rough-and-tumble place, currently occupied by normal fishermen catching breakfast before a long day at sea.  In addition, the proprietor, a shady guy named Larro, and some of his thugs are present.  It was Larro and his cronies who were hired by Dargo Mar to kill Airk Jarigan.  There's almost certainly going to be a fight here, and I liked that there were some innocent bystanders who could inadvertently get in the way.  I had to roll my eyes at the classic D&D cliche of (at high sub-tier) the innkeeper being a Level 10 Fighter with a +4 greatsword!  Smart PCs will keep some of the foes alive for questioning (mine didn't), but additional information can be gleaned by tossing Dargo's room upstairs.  The PCs should obtain clues indicating both where Dargo went (to a shipwreck in the Flotsam Graveyard) and to the location of Airk Jarigan's body.

Act 2 relates only to the secondary success condition, as it involves trying to retrieve Airk Jarigan's body from a submerged coastal cave near Absalom.  As canny Pathfinders know, Venture-Captain Hestram would rather have a precious artifact than the corpse of a dead agent; so not every group will pursue the lead--mine didn't, for example.  Groups that do will need to overcome some swimming obstacles or be bashed against the rocks and then fight off some giant crabs and crab swarms in order to retrieve the body.  As a side note, I'll mention the module makes excellent use of Pathfinder flip-mats, and that the original cartography for the next act is also really well-done (especially presenting a side view of the shipwrecks).

Act 3 takes place in the Flotsam Graveyard and is the longest part of the adventure.  The PCs will need to hire a boat to get out to a shipwreck named the Iron Tide.  But wait, what about Vaydren's Might?  Well, it turns out that some time in the last century, the Iron Tide sunk on top of Vaydren's Might!  It's kind of a cool idea, and actually makes sense considering how cluttered the Flotsam Graveyard is supposed to be.  The Iron Tide sunk at an angle and its prow remains above the waterline, but is currently occupied by some of Dargo Mar's henchmen.  If the PCs are able to approach quietly, they may get a jump on them--otherwise, they may have to board under fire.  The rest of this act involves descending decks and crossing over from one wreck to another.  Most of the compartments are partially or wholly underwater, so as the PCs fight undead (lacedons or spectres, depending on sub-tier), sea creatures (sharks or giant eels), skum, and eventually Dargo Mar himself (controlling the ghost of Vaydren Lasar), the underwater combat rules will have to be deployed.  This is where it's important for a GM to prepare themselves for the complicated ruleset, and to prep some handouts for the players (especially because their PCs may have a mixture of primitive and advanced ways to breathe and maneuver underwater).  I know some GMs are tempted to just handwave this sort of thing, but I always hate to see that because it really undermines players who just so happen to have a good character for the situation (like an undine, or a druid with wildshape, etc.).  This doesn't mean there won't still be challenges, as 3D combat in Pathfinder is always hard to track on a flat surface like a Google Slide, but it's worth it.  As another aside, I was puzzled by whether incorporeal creatures that only have fly speeds (like spectres and ghosts) count as "swimming", have restrictions for moving through solid objects (does water count?), or completely ignore any movement restrictions--I went with the last interpretation.

And that's pretty much that for Sniper in the Deep.  The morale of the story: don't team-up with secret evil clerics while pursuing ancient relics!