Tag: Paizo

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #7-02: Shipyard Sabotage

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #7-02: Shipyard Sabotage

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 8.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq0cn3c?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-702-Shipyard-Sabotage 

TL; DR-Good but skill check heavy 90%

Basics–  Let’s buy a boat!  Hellknights are raiding, so the Pathfinders need boats to fight back!  Let’s go get some from a quick-talking halfling.  What could go wrong?

Mechanics or Crunch– This is an interesting adventure, but it has a lot of skills and skill scenes. That’s not bad, but those can lose people and some unlucky rolls can just tank a day.  Not bad, but it can lead to less fun. There are fights, so the combat people will have fun.  If you keep in mind the skill check scenes and give enough ways to mitigate it, it will be a fun day.  4.5/5

Theme or Fluff– This is an interesting adventure, but one where the players don’t drive as much.  The basic flow is look at boats, an attack, a skill check to find the bad guy, fight, skill check end.  It’s not bad, but it’s very reactionary, and a bad skill check scene can tank a story.  Those hurt flow in some cases, but it works if you can tangle enough threads to make the story happen. 4.5/5

Execution– This is a good adventure, but I need a bit more to work.  As above, the combat works and the boat buying works, but the skill obstacle checks need more fluff built in to make the adventure flow.  Give the GM things to say that the characters do to help.  The rest is good, with adventure set up with pictures and maps for the combat people and to set up the major characters.  It’s good, but I need more story to help GMs who can’t work on the fly. 4.5/5

Summary– I like this one, but obstacle scenes are not my favorite.  I like them, but they need help when Paizo writes them.  Also, that’s the bulk of this adventure.  That’s not bad, but it’s something that must be built out.  The combats are fun and the players will affect the world at the end.  This is a fun adventure, but make sure you know what you are getting into. 90%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Starfinder Society Scenario #1-01: Invasion’s Edge

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Product– Starfinder Society Scenario #1-01: Invasion’s Edge

System- Starfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $5.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq0cn3f?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-101-Invasions-Edge 

TL; DR– A change I can belive in.  100%

Basics–  What did they do?  Starfinders!  The society calls, and so did those who call!  And SOMEONE answered!  Your job is to help set up the base, explore around it, and then explore an unknown starship.  Who did the crazy robots call last season?

Mechanics or Crunch– FIRST THINGS FIRST!  This is a level 1 adventure and an intro adventure for a season.  The formula is pretty simple.  You do a skill check, a second skill check that turns into combat, and then this one does a short dungeon exploration.  And that’s a lot.  It covers lots of things in three hours, and it does it well.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– This one has a lot going on, but it balances it well.  The story is fun.  I enjoyed it a bunch.  My players and I enjoyed the world building in this one. Now we can get onto the next steps of what else is happening this season with a bit more information.   5/5

Execution–   I don’t like what Paizo has done, but they have made it up in a few ways. The monsters are inline or just referred to somewhere else.  Not my favorite, but now there is only exactly one level band.  Players can elect to play up or play down for a challenge. I love that. I prefer the players saying I want more or less challenge today.  Some days I want crunchy  DnD and other days I want a story.  Paizo is now doing both in the same adventure, so I’m happy there.  Monsters have pictures I have to clean up, so I don’t love that. But, the kicker is the price. This adventure is three hours long.  That’s a change.  But the price is much lower.  I like that. You want less play time and more, shorter adventures.  Ok,  but you adjusted the price to reflect that. You are not greedy.  Good job paizo. 5/5

Summary– I wasn’t sure I would like the changes that Paizo said they would do.  But I am a bit of a believer now.  I like the choice of challenge.  I like short play times.  I’m old.  I LOVE 12 hour multitable battle interactives.  But I spend my Saturdays mowing the lawn now and working on my hunny do list (I’ve worked on it now to the point where my wife schedules dates because if it’s not on the list I forgot!).  The point is, I’m older.  And I think the target audience is too.  A solid three hours of games is a great way to spend an afternoon.  And if you get an hour every four to go to the bathroom and grab a snack at Gencon, then it’s even better.  I would prefer if pictures were provided clean, but I can work with that.  It’s a change, but not a bad one.  100%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Intro to the Year of Battle’s Spark—Enough is Enough

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Product– Pathfinder Society Intro to the Year of Battle’s Spark—Enough is Enough

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $8.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq0cn39?Pathfinder-Society-Intro-to-the-Year-of-Battle-s-Spark-Enough-is-Enough 

TL; DR– A time of change. 97%

Basics–  WAR!  Breachill is under attack.  Your job is to save who you can.  Search the no man’s land to save civilians and maybe even learn secrets of more attacks!

Mechanics or Crunch–  Paizo knows the math of their system.  This adventure has a strong mix of social and combat.  There isn’t much exploration, but that’s not the goal of the adventure.  The math that’s on display is solid and makes this a pretty balanced adventure.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  This is a fun story.  The adventure starts with the players choosing three of five different locations and finding people there to save.  After enough saving people, the adventure switches to running from the ravages of war.  Finally, some the people you save tell the players about goblins being sacrificed and the players are off to save them. It’s a solid story that is fun to run and play.  5/5

Execution–  This adventure worries me.  We are seeing more of the mix of the old and new styles of book.  Some of the monsters were given pictures, but not all.  Some of the stat blocks are in the adventure, but not all.  I don’t like the reliance on external resources.  I know this is more of an indication of what is to come.  4.5/5

Summary– The adventure is solid, but Paizo adventures are at a time of change.  The story and crunch is fun.  The execution is changing, and it’s into something I don’t love.  The price is not changing, but there will be less in the book.  However, if you want to jump into the fray and save who you can, this is a fun adventure! 97%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder One-Shot #2: Dinner at Lionlodge

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Product– Pathfinder One-Shot #2: Dinner at Lionlodge

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $9.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq029vx?Pathfinder-OneShot-2-Dinner-at-Lionlodge 

TL; DR– Not the high point of dinner.  77%

Basics–  Dinner time!  Dinner at Lionlodge is a stand alone adventure where the players are invited to meet with a mysterious benefactor.  Does he only want to give us money?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure has a few too many things that confound the player.  There are lots of enemies that either can shake off damage or might be a bit too high a level for it to be fun.  It works, but players may not want the hard entry of crunch into this one.  4/5

Theme or Fluff– This adventure works, but it feels a bit too random.  The random invitation is too good to be true, but why the heroes?  That seems off.  Also, there is background in the adventure that is surprising and kind of comes out of left field.  It’s not bad, but there is too much randomness that doesn’t involve the player.  3/5

Execution– This book has lots of extras that help, but is missing one key piece.  There are maps, pictures, and even character sheets.  What it’s missing is ties between the characters and the adventure.  Others of these have nice pieces that indicate relationships and messages to tie them to the story.  That’s not in here.  It’s an absence that is felt.  4.5/5

Summary– I didn’t have as much fun with this one.  It’s not bad.  But I was hoping for a quick one shot to get some crazy story.  That said, it did play, but my players didn’t enjoy it as much, as bad rolls combined with rough resistances led to a bad day.  The story was a bit fragmented, and the usual Paizo polish missed a bit here.  I don’t hate it, but it’s not the best of the one shots.  77%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Bounty #15: Treasure off the Coast

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Product– Pathfinder Bounty #15: Treasure off the Coast

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $24.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02akz?Pathfinder-Bounty-15-Treasure-off-the-Coast 

TL; DR– A solid intro. 100%

Basics– Why not make money!  It’s time to speed run an adventure!  You meet a quest giver in a bar, and she offers you money to get some treasure.  How could this go wrong?  

Mechanics or Crunch– This is a basic paint by number adventure, and that’s not a bad thing.  You have some social interaction, then some skill challenges, and lastly some fighting.  It’s not the deepest interaction, but if you want a quick con demo, this is my go-to.   5/5

Theme or Fluff–  We got devil worshipers, boats, and water goblins.  There is enough story and fluff here to draw you in for the hour.  Again, don’t expect crazy levels of detail, but there is enough to have fun for an hour-long game.  5/5

Execution– It’s a Paizo one-hour, one-shot.  Decent story, decent pictures, and a simple map.  I get out of this exactly what I expected.  5/5

Summary– I do a lot of evangelizing for PFS, and when I’m at cons where people just don’t know what RPGs are, this is the adventure I’ve landed on bringing with me.  Bar, quest giver, boat, skill test, fight, wrap up.  This is exactly what I expect from a bounty, and I love this one.  100%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-17: Stranded on Yesterday’s Tide

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Originally posted at www.throatpunchgames.com, a new idea every day! 

Product- Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-17: Stranded on Yesterday’s Tide

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer- Paizo

Price- $8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq03tyu?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-517-Stranded-on-Yesterdays-Tide 

TL; DR- Solid story with a divisive 1st act.  93%

Basics-  TIME LOOP!  When the god died, time ran in a circle.  What happens to those stuck in it?  Can you get them out?

Mechanics or Crunch- The adventure is a good one, but influence is a dividing factor.  Influence encounters are something that divides players.  It’s a mechanical way to make social encounters work, but some players absolutely hate them.  This starts with one.  That will either make you love this adventure or start off weak.  From there it gets better and enters surprising levels of Cthulhu mythos.  And that’s always fun. 4/5

Theme or Fluff-  Mystery, into combat, and then Cthulhu.  That’s the ingredients of a solid four hours of fun. I love the story and enjoy everything it has to offer.5/5

Execution-  It’s Paizo.  They know this.  they know how to lay out an adventure.  5/5

Summary-  I enjoyed this one but not everyone will.  The influence-focused encounters will make some players mad, but others will find their stride. Then it’s combat and skills to win the day.  Those are always fun, so all players will enjoy everything after the first act.  Fun, but something to keep in mind.  93%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-23: An Agent’s Obligation

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Product-Pathfinder Society Scenario #2-23: An Agent’s Obligation

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq027rn?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-223-An-Agents-Obligation  

TL; DR– Short but fun! 98%

Basics– Where are the agents?  Cheliax is not a welcoming place, but when you find friends, you take them!  But what happens when agents go missing?  Who’s killing Pathfinders?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure is fun, but we are starting to get up there in power!  There are some harder fights here, so Pathfinders need to be prepared.  There are also changes where combat is not the only way forward.  What the players decide to do is all up to them, and that also allows for interesting flexibility in the adventure. 5/5

Theme or Fluff–  The story to this one is good, but failure can break the immersion.  This is a “follow the trail” adventure.  That’s good, but the issue is if the players fail.  If they fail, they can talk to the host who invited the Pathfiners and she will save them.  That’s ok, but it breaks the immersion a bit.  Also, this adventure is good, but a little short depending on the players’ actions.  Make sure they know that if they play smart, then they play quick!  4.75/5

Execution–  This is classic Paizo.  Solid execution, easy to read, fast to set up, and good to run.  5/5

Summary–  This advances the Pathfinder Story, allows for player choice, and if things go well, the players feel smart.  But, if it’s a bad day, then it will be a lot of asking.  I like the choice.  The combats can be hard, but not too bad if the players prepare.  If not, it will be a hard day!  98%  

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-07: A God Falls Where Magic Fails 

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Product-Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-07: A God Falls Where Magic Fails

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq0d5n0?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-607-A-God-Falls-Where-Magic-Fails 

TL; DR– Good, but needs more.  82% 

Basics– Oozes with godlike powers?  The Godsrain has caused unexpected things like an ooze with a chunk of the god of war.  Are you strong enough to fight a god?  Can you prove it?.

Mechanics or Crunch–  This is a short adventure with a bit of randomness built in.  The basics are a skill challenge fest, then a fight, a possible fight, and lastly the main, big event fight.  It’s not bad, but it’s maybe a little simple.  4/5

Theme or Fluff–  There is solid stuff here, but the missing parts are a bit noticeable.  The adventure has an awesome picture of an ooze city which is cool, but there are four separate test rooms and the adventure doesn’t give descriptions or pictures of those rooms.  That would REALLY help.  The story is good, but help me help the players understand the room more.  The adventure also has a filler section which is ok, but it’s kind of strange to add filler.  I get if you want to build out parts of the story, but the parts here just for time.  That’s not as much fun as you might want.  It’s good, but focus would help this adventure  3.75/5

Execution–  Paizo does good books.  This reads fast, has nice layout, and has most of the pieces I need for the game.  I’d like more art as some of the random encounters are things I have to hunt down.  Paizo puts the stats in the adventure, but not the art?  Throw those in as well as this effectively has infinite pages.  Also, give me more art for the adventure as above.  The book is still $8.99, so I expect a bit more now.  The execution is good, but needs a bit more to be great.  4.5/5

Summary–  This is a good adventure, but is missing pieces to really help me make a great presentation. The skill rooms are fine, but no art and descriptions make life harder.  The encounters are fine, but some filler encounters that don’t build the world don’t help.  The execution is good, but I need more to run this effectively.  The price doesn’t quite justify all the parts here.  82%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Starfinder Tech Class Playtest

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Product– Starfinder Tech Class Playtest

System- Starginder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– FREE here  https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6zwqx&page=1?Starfinder-Tech-Class-Playtest

TL; DR– Good, but a loss of flavor.  93% 

Basics– Why not tech wizards!  The tech playtest focuses on the technomancer and the mechanic.  The mechanic is the pet class with rogue elements of being skill based and the technomancer is the wizard.

Mechanics or Crunch– The classes work.  They both operate well within the realms of the base Pathfinder 2e mechanics.  The mechanic is a pet class and it follows the basic pet class idea, and the Technomancer feels like a sorcerer bloodline on a wizard.  Those are good pieces making a great whole.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  I like what’s here, but I also feel like we may have lost things in edition change.  The mechanic lost the ability to just put a computer in their head and do awesome stuff.  What’s here is good, but it’s also a bit less than what it could have been.  The technomancer doesn’t feel like its own thing.  It’s a wizard with a bloodline.  That’s not bad, but I wanted more.  I wanted maybe even a whole new school of spells here.  It’s still just arcane spells.  Again, not bad by any stretch, but I wanted tech spells.  These two things don’t feel distinct.  4/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  Solid layout, production, art, and even text makes this something to be studied.  Yes, I keep saying the exact same things, but it’s for the exact same reason.   For a free product, this is amazingly well done.  5/5

Summary– I like the options, but I want more distinct things in the future.  Overall, these will play amazingly well with the rest of the classes out there.  I just want new ground to be broken with Starfinder.  Right now Starfinder 2nd ed feels more like a setting change and less like it’s own edition.  Thats good for some respects, but bad for others.  Then again, I’m gonna play the hell out of this system.  So I may not be getting exactly what I want, but I am getting Pathfinder in Space, which I want!  93%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-08: Upon Wheels and Rime

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-08: Upon Wheels and Rime

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq07fl9?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-608-Upon-Wheels-and-Rime 

TL; DR– Solid short fun.  99% 

Basics– You’re building a what?  The Winter Queen is homesick and trying to revolutionize her country at the same time.  Bids are being taken to build a train, but what is a train?  And who wants to stop it?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure isnt so much crunch, but world building.  There is a social interaction, then a chase, then combat! It’s short, but its fun.  The encounters are balanced for everyone.  It’s just a bit short.  4.75/5

Theme or Fluff–  This is a callback. If you played First Ed Pathfinder and killed Rasputin in an adventure path, then you will recognize all the key players here.  Those who didn’t, won’t miss anything, but it’s a call back.  The story is interesting, and it builds out some of the world of Pathfinder in fun ways that everyone will enjoy.  5/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  Solid layout, production, art, and even text makes this something to be studied.  5/5

Summary– This is a solid, if short, adventure.  The short issue depends on roleplaying.  The combats are fun, and the story offers the players a chance to change the Society and the World via their choices.  I loved this one.  99%