Pathfinder Bounty #1: The Whitefang Wyrm

Oh yeah almost forgot about bounties :D

What are bounties? Where are they described? How are they different from quests?

What are bounties? Where are they described? How are they different from quests?

Bounties are replacing quests.

They are "bounties" Pathfinder Agents takes between Society missions. So there's no "briefing" from a superior, and they are outside of the current metaplot. It's easier to use them to bring in new players, and they have more space for the actual adventure, with no big speech from Pathfinder big shots.
They are also all repeatable. They also don't use the sub tier system, and are only for one specific level, to again have more space for the adventure itself. The ones releasing this season will all be Lvl 1 though, as they'll be entirely focused on introducing new players.

They will also explore themes they couldn't explore with the Society focused quests.

They are "bounties" Pathfinder Agents takes between Society missions. So there's no "briefing" from a superior, and they are outside of the current metaplot. It's easier to use them to bring in new players, and they have more space for the actual adventure, with no big speech from Pathfinder big shots.

They are also all repeatable. They also don't use the sub tier system, and are only for one specific level, to again have more space for the adventure itself. The ones releasing this season will all be Lvl 1 though, as they'll be entirely focused on introducing new players.

They will also explore themes they couldn't explore with the Society focused quests.

The one thing I'll add to this is that they're not just for Pathfinder agents between missions. We tweaked the format on these a bit so that they can be great introductory adventures for anyone looking to spend an hour so playing a quick Pathfinder adventure with their friends, and the org play tools are in an appendix in the back for Society GMs.

You don't need to be a member of the Pathfinder Society to go wyrm hunting at the Crown of the World!

I will be interested in trying them out, since I am currently GMing for a 1st level group!

Hmm

Hey Michael,

I have the same question for this as I do the two new scenarios for season 2. Typically, the new season's scenarios are publically released at GenCon. I know these are all being ran at GenCon so was just curious why it had a release date of August 26.

Any insight? Is Paizo no longer going to publically release the first couple scenarios from the new season at GenCon?

Thanks.

Hey Michael,

I have the same question for this as I do the two new scenarios for season 2. Typically, the new season's scenarios are publically released at GenCon. I know these are all being ran at GenCon so was just curious why it had a release date of August 26.

Any insight? Is Paizo no longer going to publically release the first couple scenarios from the new season at GenCon?

Thanks.

So, per a conversation I had with Alex, I believe what is going to happen here is that GenCon GMs and volunteers will get an early drop of this adventure to run at GenCon, but that the broader release date will be late August. I'll send a link to this post to Alex and Tonya just to verify that my understanding is correct, and if there's any misunderstanding, I'll ask them to post again here with the clarification.

So, per a conversation I had with Alex, I believe what is going to happen here is that GenCon GMs and volunteers will get an early drop of this adventure to run at GenCon, but that the broader release date will be late August. I'll send a link to this post to Alex and Tonya just to verify that my understanding is correct, and if there's any misunderstanding, I'll ask them to post again here with the clarification.

Thanks for looking into this. As I implied, releasing the first scenarios of the new season at GenCon is how it has been done for the past at least 8 years now (going all the way back to season 4 of 1st edition, which is when I started playing PFS). Seems like a significant change in policy is all.

So, subscriptions:

Will there be a subscription for Bounties?
Will Bounties be a part of some other line?

So, subscriptions:

Will there be a subscription for Bounties?
Will Bounties be a part of some other line?

At this time there is no subscription for Bounties and no plans currently in place to add them to another subscription line. There's a lot of reasons for that, but I expect that if anything changes we'll do a blog post discussing the whys and hows in a bit more detail.

So no more Quest ? It's shame I think Quest & Bounty can coexist together. Still a have some short Quest playable in different Tier connected to the Pathfinder Society can be nice. Bounty can be fun and quick but lot of new players want also go deeper in the Society Background to see the benefit to be involve in the Society environment. No just a module where you play some kind of Mercenary with no link to the society, in this case why join the Organized Play if we have no difference with other adventure ? I think we can have the two options. Sacrifice one to have the other not sure it's a good idea.

Choice of map for a PF product is... Interesting. Not too happy about it.

Choice of map for a PF product is... Interesting. Not too happy about it.

Do you mind explaining why?

roll4initiative wrote:

Choice of map for a PF product is... Interesting. Not too happy about it.

Do you mind explaining why?

** spoiler omitted **

I am not the OP, but the reason seems quite obvious: Someone interested exclusively in Pathfinder is unlikely to have a Starfinder Flip-Mat. I mean...there are separate map lines (and subscriptions) for precisely this reason.

Don't get me wrong: I appreciate the explanation, and it made perfect sense. But your question? Not so much.

Michael Sayre wrote:

roll4initiative wrote:

Choice of map for a PF product is... Interesting. Not too happy about it.

Do you mind explaining why?

** spoiler omitted **

I am not the OP, but the reason seems quite obvious: Someone with no interest in Starfinder is unlikely to have a Starfinder Flip-Mat. There are even separate map lines (and subscriptions) for precisely this reason.

Don't get me wrong: I appreciate the explanation, and it made perfect sense. But your question? Not so much.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask someone why they're unhappy about a thing. I could assume the answer as you did, and odds are I'd be right, but I'd be missing an opportunity to hear potentially legitimate feedback on a product line that is my responsibility to plan and execute, especially if my explanation didn't address their concern.

And you know what they say about assuming...

And you know what they say about assuming...

Do I? How do you know?

Hm. It says "Preorder" up there, but there doesn't seem to be any way to actually do that. :-(

That "Preorder" statement does not make any sense. It has never been possible to preorder PDFs -- we go from being unable to order them at all to being able to order them and receive them immediately. Preorders should be possible only for physical products, which this obviously is not.

roll4initiative wrote:

Choice of map for a PF product is... Interesting. Not too happy about it.

Do you mind explaining why?

** spoiler omitted **

I don't play Starfinder nor purchase any SF products. I do have plenty of PF maps (I've been collecting PF & D&D maps for a few decades) and I do have the Winter Forest Pathfinder map. I think that map would have been a better map to use rather than a Starfinder map.

Michael Sayre wrote:

roll4initiative wrote:

Choice of map for a PF product is... Interesting. Not too happy about it.

Do you mind explaining why?

** spoiler omitted **

I don't play Starfinder nor purchase any SF products. I do have plenty of PF maps (I've been collecting PF & D&D maps for a few decades) and I do have the Winter Forest Pathfinder map. I think that map would have been a better map to use rather than a Starfinder map.

Winter Forest is actually out of print. We try really hard to avoid using out of print maps because people are really bothered by that (see the product thread for Unforgiving Fire for some examples). Your concern makes sense and is perfectly reasonable, but an in-print map is going to win out over an out-of-print map every time. And I did try looking at Gamemastery Map Pack: Ice Caverns and Flip-Mat: Winter Forest before going to a Starfinder map, but that would have just had more people chiming in to object to us using out of print maps in new adventures (and all of that is before getting into the fact that Winter Forest is in a forest and this adventure does not take place in a forest).

Thanks for elaborating on your concerns, though. It's helpful for making recommendations to other teams on what kind of maps we need in the new product runs and which older maps should be prioritized for the classics treatment.

I didn't know that the resentment against mixing science fiction with fantasy extended to maps, but here we are.

I didn't know that the resentment against mixing science fiction with fantasy extended to maps, but here we are.

I have no resentment mixing maps. I just don't purchase Starfinder stuff. A main reason being that I can't really afford it. I try to purchase used from ebay. I really like the Starfinder Ice World map and might get it. It could come in handy for my other games in the future but I just can't see buying it for a 1 hour one-shot I'll probably GM once.

I cancelled my Starfinder maps sub because I'm not playing SF these days, so I may or may not have that map. May or may not have the Gamemastery one either. Ah well. I'll figure something out.

And here in Brazil a lot of players play with only cheap chess or checkers boards and pieces.

I didn't start out buying flip mats. I loved hand-drawing maps on my vinyl on my Chessex vinyl mat that I used over and over again. But when I started doing conventions and multi-table specials, drawing all my own maps became impractical. So I started with flip mats that were used in repeatable scenarios and anything involving outside terrain -- forests, plains, deserts. Anything likely to get reused again. I do have a subscription to the Starfinder map line now, but that's my favorite thing to GM. I've been considering subscribing to the PFS line, but then I wouldn't have things to purchase from my favorite local game store when I go.

After purchasing a bunch of used ones, I have a really large flip mat collection now -- so large I have a document to track what I own -- but I have found that I love how light they are, and easy to use. I still happily draw custom maps, but the flip mats have been addictive. I don't mind that Starfinder and Pathfinder maps get used in each other's adventures. Some of those outdoor Starfinder maps are beautiful -- especially jungle world -- and could be used in any sort of fey / elven / gnomish setting.

As far as I'm concerned, crossing the streams can make sense, especially since OPF allows for map substitution in case you don't own / can't afford the right flip mat.

I also would rather have flip mats from another system than flip tiles. Yes, I own flip tiles, but they drive me crazy. I find myself searching for substitutions from my flip mat collection even when I own the correct flip tiles. Maybe it is just me, but I'm a bit of a klutz and I keep find myself jostling the tiles constantly. I have gotten a clear vinyl sheet to lay over the tiles and that helps, but I still avoid them where I can.

Hmm

A question: can the credits for the Bounties be applied to any character (even a non-level 1 character)?

For the moment, they are only level 1. This bounty can only be applied to a level 1 character.

Hmm

I have no resentment mixing maps. I just don't purchase Starfinder stuff. A main reason being that I can't really afford it. I try to purchase used from ebay. I really like the Starfinder Ice World map and might get it. It could come in handy for my other games in the future but I just can't see buying it for a 1 hour one-shot I'll probably GM once.

I was just catching up on this thread and found this comment to be really odd. Essentially you are saying that you focus on buying from the 2ns-hand market which generates zero revenue for Paizo and you want them to know you are unhappy with their choice of map?!? I'm sorry because I know this is going to sound rude, but what makes you think Paizo would care? Let's be fair, they are in the business of making money so if you are not doing that for them, then technically you aren't their customer.

I do have to say that I am a little disappointing with the change from Quests to Bounties. First of all, the change from a level range to a one level only limits rather than expands usefulness, even with respect to new players. By limiting them to one level, it significantly restricts the audience thereby making it harder on organizers to use them.

Somehow making them not PFS specific is supposed to be better though I don't see the equity in it. The Org Play team is supposed to be over-worked, yet now they are producing a product that is not focused on PFS, but for a wider audience. So, why not hand off production of these to the general development team? They are still listed under the PFS product line so it would seem we are the target audience. Is there really that much to gain by eliminating the campaign tie-in and the intro? Its not like they are really any different than scenarios. If non-PFS players want to use them, they can adapt the narrative to fit their own campaign, just like we have to do the same with respect to modules and APs.

If the amount of content contained in a Bounty is equivalent to a Quest, I guess I just don't see the value in stripping away their relevance to the campaign and restricting their application. They are now significantly less effective tools for Org Play, IMHO.

I look forward to playing the first one next week (or so) to see if the experience is the same as a Quest. I hope that at least that was preserved.

I do have to say that I am a little disappointing with the change from Quests to Bounties. First of all, the change from a level range to a one level only limits rather than expands usefulness, even with respect to new players. By limiting them to one level, it significantly restricts the audience thereby making it harder on organizers to use them.

Part of the aim with these is to help out FLGSs, who have long noted that they struggle to host our games with all of the org play specific adjustments and rules references that a normal scenario or quest entails. Areas with strong organizers don't have these problems, but the number of locations looking to host PF2 grows faster than our pool of trained and proficient organizers. We've got some further GM-specific program updates that should also enhance the usefulness of these adventure for organizers.

Somehow making them not PFS specific is supposed to be better though I don't see the equity in it. The Org Play team is supposed to be over-worked, yet now they are producing a product that is not focused on PFS, but for a wider audience. So, why not hand off production of these to the general development team? They are still listed under the PFS product line so it would seem we are the target audience. Is there really that much to gain by eliminating the campaign tie-in and the intro? Its not like they are really any different than scenarios. If non-PFS players want to use them, they can adapt the narrative to fit their own campaign, just like we have to do the same with respect to modules and APs.

The other teams have no more bandwidth than we do.

If the amount of content contained in a Bounty is equivalent to a Quest, I guess I just don't see the value in stripping away their relevance to the campaign and restricting their application. They are now significantly less effective tools for Org Play, IMHO.

A bounty takes fully half or less the amount of time to develop as a normal quest and can be sourced through a wider pool of freelancers since the author doesn't need to be as versed in org play specific encounter scaling requirements.

One FLGS here doesn't host Pathfinder games because back when they first tried it, the guy who was supposed to be running the games rarely if ever showed up. So they understandably decided not to keep disappointing their customers by advertising something that wasn't going to happen. I got the impression talking to them (this was a few years ago) that it would take some serious convincing to get them to change their minds.

I like the idea of quests, and look forward to what Paizo comes up with. I do hope they are eventually offered for all levels for which there are pregens.

Where can we find the general rules for running Bounties?

Are Boons allowed? Can you play a character who needed a Boon to access their Ancestry? And I have heard there is no Downtime.

Where can we find the general rules for running Bounties?

Are Boons allowed? Can you play a character who needed a Boon to access their Ancestry? And I have heard there is no Downtime.

Rules for running a Bounty are within the product itself, but the short version is: there is no boon slotting or school training, yes you may play a Level 1 character with an unlockable Ancestry, no Downtime is granted to Society characters.

You don't need to be a member of the Pathfinder Society to go wyrm hunting at the Crown of the World!

Does this mean that technically Bounties are run in Campaign mode?

No.

Note that as of the new PFS2 2.0 guide these are now run in campaign mode as a sanctioned adventure.

[...Quests and Scenarios are written for PFS campaign...]

In addition to these, several of the other adventures Paizo produces have been sanctioned for society play. All of these are published for a wider audience than the Pathfinder Society campaign, so such adventures often include a short, downloadable sanctioning document that details any special considerations for running the adventure for organized play, as well as Chronicles for the individual volumes.

[...AP's and Adventures...]

Bounties: Short one-hour adventures aimed at introducing new players to the game or representing what characters do in between Pathfinder missions. Bounties are sanctioned for use in the Pathfinder Society campaign. As a sanctioned adventure, bounties do not give down time.

Sanctioned adventures operate in Campaign Mode, which does not use Pathfinder Society rules. GMs set the rules on character creation and may freely modify the encounters and story. Sanctioned adventures award a Chronicle which may be applied to Pathfinder Society characters as outlined in the sanctioning documents. Sanctioning documents reside on a product’s description page at paizo.com.

Note that as of the new PFS2 2.0 guide these are now run in campaign mode as a sanctioned adventure.

PFS2 guide 2.0: Player Basics -> Adventures wrote:

Sanctioning documents reside on a product’s description page at paizo.com.

Who do we poke to make this a true statement?

For the bounties it looks like the sanctioning information is included in the PDF. It gives instructions on how to handle rewards for society and includes a event reporting form/ chronicle sheets.

For the bounties it looks like the sanctioning information is included in the PDF.

Thanks, that's the info I was looking for.

The sanctioning instructions do not specify a level limit to the character for which the chronicle is applied.

Common sense says 1st level, to me, but what is intended?

roll4initiative wrote:

I have no resentment mixing maps. I just don't purchase Starfinder stuff. A main reason being that I can't really afford it. I try to purchase used from ebay. I really like the Starfinder Ice World map and might get it. It could come in handy for my other games in the future but I just can't see buying it for a 1 hour one-shot I'll probably GM once.

I was just catching up on this thread and found this comment to be really odd. Essentially you are saying that you focus on buying from the 2ns-hand market which generates zero revenue for Paizo and you want them to know you are unhappy with their choice of map?!? I'm sorry because I know this is going to sound rude, but what makes you think Paizo would care? Let's be fair, they are in the business of making money so if you are not doing that for them, then technically you aren't their customer.

I didn't say that at all. ”I try to buy used" is what I said. But, I have only purchased from online markets a couple times. I mostly buy them from my FLGS's where I earn GM credit. And, the stores I GM at have sales on PF products once in awhile.

I was simply voicing my opinion.

I have also been a Venture Agent for 6 years now and a player since 2010. I am their customer & loyal volunteer.

To correct myself...In the latest blog it was clarified that the 2.0 guide language was misleading and bounties are NOT run in campaign mode when playing for society credit

Bounties - These adventures are not part of the Pathfinder Society line of scenarios/quests, but they are produced by the Organized Play team. Thus we are able to auto-sanction them at time of production instead of issuing sanctioning documents. It is our intention that Bounties run at Society events are for PFS legal characters. GMs running Bounties outside of Society credit can choose to run in PFS mode or Campaign mode. We’ll get this language updated in the Guide shortly.

Hello Paizo forums!

I'm very new to playing Pathfinder, and need some help with an encounter in this scenario.

In case of the last option, what would be the best way to go about this when running the bounty? Ignore the ability, or change the required check?

If I purchased the Foundry VTT version of this - is there any way to obtain the free pdf?