The Future of Pathfinder Society Organized Play, Part VIII: In the Secrets of the Past Come Tomorrow's Triumphs

Monday, May 9, 2011

Osirion is among the oldest human nations of the Inner Sea region—its founding marked the end of the Age of Anguish. Over its long history, it has experienced centuries of incredible power as well as generations of subjugation under foreign rule, as its ancient might was lost to desert sands and forgotten with the passage of time. With ambitions of once again being the most influential and powerful nation in the Inner Sea region, Osirion knows that Absalom is its largest competitor for the position. So while the nations of Andoran, Cheliax, Qadira, and Taldor battle among themselves for control of the City at the Center of the World, Osirion delves deep into its history to resurrect the secrets of the past. As a sleeping giant, it amasses its power to swoop down on its unsuspecting enemies when they have weakened one another, using the strength of history to secure its future dominance.

Whether it's the faction's Egyptian inspirations or it's unassuming modus operandi, Osirion has been one of the most popular factions since the earliest days of Pathfinder Society Organized Play. In many ways, this faction's ideals fall most closely in line with the baseline mission of the Pathfinder Society, and that's not changing with Season 3.

Back in the fall, we tried something new: We started introducing faction leaders as NPCs and plot elements within scenarios beyond just signing their names at the bottoms of faction mission handouts. And we began with Amenopheus, the Sapphire Sage, head of the Osirion faction. As far back as PaizoCon 2010, there were hints that not all was as it seemed with the Sapphire Sage, and with the onset of the Shadow Lodge conflict, his part in the overall metaplot was revealed.

I know not everyone has played the scenarios in question, so I won't post any spoilers (and I ask all comments below to use spoiler tags as necessary) but I will say that observant Osirian players may have noticed their missions are coming from some lowly scribe named Otoneraphim of late. The subplot with Amenopheus will be resolved at PaizoCon in the two-part Tier 1–7 series Shadow's Last Stand, so you've got a little over a month to catch up on past installments in this story before the "season finale".

As part of the increase in metaplot within the campaign, more venture captains and faction heads will play larger roles in scenarios during the Year of the Ruby Phoenix, and many of the faction-specific metaplots will involve their respective faction heads. I'm eager to hear what people think of this, and specifically how you have or haven't liked the way we used Amenopheus as a major player this season. Stop by the Pathfinder Society section of the messageboards and make your opinions heard!

Next week we'll continue looking at some of the campaign rule changes in store for next season, specifically those dealing with prestige. The following Monday, we'll look at another of the 10 factions, but which one depends on you. We're just a few fans away from hitting 4,000 followers on Facebook; if you, the fans, can spread the word and help us add 250 new fans before the end of the week, I'll move one of the five new factions up in line and make it the following week's blog topic, revealing its symbol as an even earlier preview.

Mark Moreland
Developer

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Pathfinder Society Ryan Portillo
Dark Archive 1/5

That's actually a great pic of the Sapphire Sage.

Very Tarkinesque.

And ...

New faction ! New faction !

The Exchange 5/5 5/55/5 *

Hmmm...

I like the idea of having the major NPCs be something more than a signature at the bottom of the faction missions.

But I find myself a bit irked to discover that the 2 missions concluding the subplot with Amenopheus have shifted down in tier (to 1-7) when the original trilogy was set in the 5-9 tier. I suspect that I'm not the only player who's PC will be unable to play the wrap-up missions.

The Exchange 5/5

Heresy of Man spoiler:
I was sorely disappointed when Amenopheus failed to appear in Part 3. Battling the traitor from Part 1 would have been an epic ending, but instead we are left feeling unfulfilled, just like in The Devil We Know and Shades of Ice. Here's hoping Shadows can seal the deal...

Grand Lodge 5/5

@ Mark: You need 250 more followers for Paizo or Pathfinder or what specifically?

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

We want to see 4,230 followers of the Paizo Facebook page by Friday. If we do, I'll show the symbol for a new faction on Monday's blog, and then the following Monday will feature a reveal of that faction, its head, its motivations, etc. instead of a writeup of Qadira.

Shadow Lodge 5/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
We want to see 4,230 followers of the Paizo Facebook page by Friday. If we do, I'll show the symbol for a new faction on Monday's blog, and then the following Monday will feature a reveal of that faction, its head, its motivations, etc. instead of a writeup of Qadira.

Well...time to start creating a bunch of fake FB accounts. ;-)

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, California—Los Angeles (South Bay)

Ryan Bolduan wrote:
Mark Moreland wrote:
We want to see 4,230 followers of the Paizo Facebook page by Friday. If we do, I'll show the symbol for a new faction on Monday's blog, and then the following Monday will feature a reveal of that faction, its head, its motivations, etc. instead of a writeup of Qadira.
Well...time to start creating a bunch of fake FB accounts. ;-)

I am GMing the Hydra's Fang Incident this week, so I will ask players at Lightspeed Hobbies to go to Facebook and like the page. I suggest that all of us do so for our Pathfinder groups this week.

Liberty's Edge 4/5

Will do!!

The Exchange 4/5

I will push for more followers AFTER this week just so I can see my Qadira blog instead some lame new faction. :P

/I already like Paizo & Pathfinder anyway!

The Exchange 5/5

Joseph Caubo wrote:
I will push for more followers AFTER this week just so I can see my Qadira blog instead some lame new faction. :P

I'm with Joseph here... I'll go unlike my Paizo & Pathfinder so we can see an interesting faction (Qadira ftw!)... instead of one of the "others"

JP

2/5 *

Wait a second... it looks like the Andorans and Chelaxians are getting lots of new toys in the new season. Osirian's are getting nothing... but a deposed leader. That sucks! This preview isn't getting me very excited about the Osirion faction at all. All I can think about is which faction I'm going to change my guy to, if we're allowed to do that.

Maybe post something to get us excited about faction X?

The Exchange 4/5

JP Chapleau wrote:

I'm with Joseph here... I'll go unlike my Paizo & Pathfinder so we can see an interesting faction (Qadira ftw!)... instead of one of the "others"

JP

See, us Qadirans are thinking about incentives. While the new factions might be okay, you actually gave all the loyal Qadirans a reason to unlike your pages!

Failed diplomacy check is failed, Mark!

/Roll a D6!

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Jason S wrote:
Wait a second... It looked like the Andorans and Chelaxians are getting lots of new toys in the new season. Osirian's are getting nothing... but a deposed leader. That sucks!

Just wait til you see what Taldor and Qadira get!

Liberty's Edge 5/5

I didn't see any new toys. Just some fancy words. Albeit cool fancy words that made me really glad I'm Andoran. But still, I didn't see that there were any actual prizes beyond story elements.

Sovereign Court 3/5

How many Facebook friends are needed for Paizo to declare all the benefits for pledging allegiance to my faction?

Joseph: That was pretty funny, except the whole 4th-Edition part, eww.

-Matt

2/5 *

Mark Moreland wrote:
Just wait til you see what Taldor and Qadira get!

A bar of soap in a Chelaxian prison?

/cry

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, California—Los Angeles (South Bay)

Jason S wrote:
Mark Moreland wrote:
Just wait til you see what Taldor and Qadira get!

A bar of soap in a Chelaxian prison?

/cry

Well, it could be worse -- they could get cellmates who are followers of Zon-Kuthon, devotees of Hannibal Lector, and have several ranks in Profession: Cook. All the better to determine what wine to serve with liver. ;)

As of now, Pathfinder RPG has 4,021 fans on Facebook.

I imagine that the factions will see some changes. While the campaign setting is not going to undergo radical changes, we can expect to see some developments in Pathfinder Society. I actually like the fact that the collective actions of characters can have some impact on what happens, albeit in a small way, on Golarion.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

Omega Man wrote:

Hmmm...

I like the idea of having the major NPCs be something more than a signature at the bottom of the faction missions.

But I find myself a bit irked to discover that the 2 missions concluding the subplot with Amenopheus have shifted down in tier (to 1-7) when the original trilogy was set in the 5-9 tier. I suspect that I'm not the only player who's PC will be unable to play the wrap-up missions.

That's what makes it a meta plot. ;-)

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, California—Los Angeles (South Bay)

Mark Moreland wrote:
Omega Man wrote:

Hmmm...

I like the idea of having the major NPCs be something more than a signature at the bottom of the faction missions.

But I find myself a bit irked to discover that the 2 missions concluding the subplot with Amenopheus have shifted down in tier (to 1-7) when the original trilogy was set in the 5-9 tier. I suspect that I'm not the only player who's PC will be unable to play the wrap-up missions.

That's what makes it a meta plot. ;-)

The high level PCs can perhaps react in game to the news of what happened with Amenopheus. I guess it is up to the GM.

(I would let a few PCs express frustration that they did not meet up with Amenopheus and perhaps have a few pointed words with him.)

Dark Archive

Jason S wrote:
Wait a second... it looks like the Andorans and Chelaxians are getting lots of new toys in the new season. Osirian's are getting nothing... but a deposed leader.

Toys are for the younger factions, and not needed by the heirs to the old ways.

The Exchange 1/5

Mark Moreland wrote:
Jason S wrote:
Wait a second... It looked like the Andorans and Chelaxians are getting lots of new toys in the new season. Osirian's are getting nothing... but a deposed leader. That sucks!
Just wait til you see what Taldor and Qadira get!

Shafted, apparently. I'd much rather see the write ups on the remaining season 0-2 factions before we get stuff for the new ones.

5/5

Heresy comments

Spoiler:
I've only played parts 1 and 2 of Heresy, but the *shocker* that came with Part 1 was incredible. Can't wait for the ending.

JP Chapleau wrote:
Joseph Caubo wrote:
I will push for more followers AFTER this week just so I can see my Qadira blog instead some lame new faction. :P

I'm with Joseph here... I'll go unlike my Paizo & Pathfinder so we can see an interesting faction (Qadira ftw!)... instead of one of the "others"

I'm anti-facebook *and* pro-old factions, so I heartily approve!

Scarab Sages

I'd rather finish out the original five's results of the last three years before detailing the next five. Although, I am anxious to know WHAT the new five are. Beyond that, I can wait.

Sovereign Court 4/5

Hmmm

¿Could somebody tell me the scenarios in that the shadow lodge metaplot appears?

I think I´m going to buy all of them and make a little campaing

Thanks

Grand Lodge 2/5

Kanebaenre wrote:

Hmmm

¿Could somebody tell me the scenarios in that the shadow lodge metaplot appears?

I think I´m going to buy all of them and make a little campaing

Thanks

Try this thread.

Sovereign Court 4/5

Thank you Mark :)

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ***

I admit that I'm a bit disappointed that my PC will not be able to finally confront Amenopheus (level 11 now). He's had a bone to pick ever since he was sent on that damn Devil We Know mission. It nearly killed him.

But I'm glad to see that PFS is embracing much larger meta-plots. The first two seasons felt a bit stale, IMO. Looking forward to an even greater meta-plot for season three.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, California—Los Angeles (South Bay)

Bob Jonquet wrote:

I admit that I'm a bit disappointed that my PC will not be able to finally confront Amenopheus (level 11 now). He's had a bone to pick ever since he was sent on that damn Devil We Know mission. It nearly killed him.

But I'm glad to see that PFS is embracing much larger meta-plots. The first two seasons felt a bit stale, IMO. Looking forward to an even greater meta-plot for season three.

I think that it helps to have characters work towards goals.

Let's take one of my favorite television series, Babylon 5. Over several seasons, we could see metaplots for each season and development in the series. There was a sense of a greater purpose and we got to see characters confront ongoing challenges.

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