Best Pathfinder Adventure Paths

[Liese Hittson]

RELATED: 5 Reasons to Play 5e D&D (& 5 Why You Should Play Pathfinder 1st Edition Instead)Since Pathfinder's Adventure Paths were such a varied lot, made by dozens of writers over the twelve years that the system was in production, there was a wide range in quality. The best of these, however, were some of the best adventure writing role-playing games had to offer.

The Baba Yaga was once a relatively obscure mythological witch-queen figure from Russian folklore. Sometime around the early 2010s, she was suddenly a figure in popular culture, along with her chicken-legged hut. For a few years, the Baba Yaga was more evident in popular culture than she had ever been before.

Reign of Winter allows characters to travel not only in Irrisen, the land of Baba Yaga's daughters the Witch-Queens, but even into another dimension. The adventure sends the party to revolutionary Russia to battle one of the most infamous figures of Russian popular history: Grigori Rasputin. Combining world history with Pathfinder history creates a seldom-seen resonance in an official campaign work.

Building on the themes begun in the free Pathfinder adventure We Be Goblins!, the Jade Regent adventure path reunites players with old friend Ameiko Kaijitsu, first introduced in the very first Adventure Path module, Burnt Offerings.

Jade Regent is a globe-spanning adventure taking players from the coasts of Varisia to court intrigue in the Dragon Empire of Minkai. With a major character that most players were already familiar with as their patron, Jade Regent allowed players to explore a whole new flavor of their Pathfinder adventures.

Thassilon is one of the iconic parts of the Pathfinder setting. With four Adventure Paths directly relating to ancient Thassilon, Return of the Runelords is the last and the most ambitious. Rebuilding the old Thassilonian empire as New Thassilon, this adventure path changes the world.

Return of the Runelords presents massive challenges to the players. As the penultimate Pathfinder 1st Edition Adventure Path, it represents a synthesis of all the lessons learned in this edition. Its wide-ranging adventures have something for every player.

The peculiar lands of Numeria are a link between the Pathfinder world and the greater universe. The setting of Numeria harks back to one of the earliest Dungeons & Dragons adventures: Return to the Barrier Peaks.

From the depths of the Korvosa slums to the height of its decadent power, Curse of the Crimson Throne delivers intrigue and rebellion at every turn. With a wicked and decadent queen at the pinnacle of power, the players have a chance to truly return power to the people.

The original Adventure Path. Rise of the Runelords often tops best-campaign lists. The characters of the path are vividly-drawn and diverse. The adventures start in the remote coastal village of Sandpoint, echoing the hamlet of Hommlet, and progress into the infinity of the Planes.

Kingmaker is a modern legend in RPG design. Kingmaker is as important to the Pathfinder world as the setting-defining Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path in its own right. The inspiration for the first Pathfinder computer RPG, Kingmaker is a true classic.

Rough edges abound, and the path-defining final encounter is poorly foreshadowed at best. What Kingmaker does best is present a coherent means of giving players the power they have always dreamt of. Kingmaker is the Adventure Path that best defines what Pathfinder truly means.

The second edition of Pathfinder is among the most popular tabletop RPG systems on the market, allowing players to experience epic adventures. Set in the universe of Golarion, a vast medieval fantasy world filled with various peoples, gods, monsters, and problems to solve, there are always stories to be told.

For Game Masters who are struggling to create a story in the setting or are short on time, the game's company Paizo offers books called Adventure Paths. Each one contains a complete epic adventure ready to be played, often introducing new game mechanics that make things even more interesting. These are among the best options.

Age of Ashes is a milestone in the history of Pathfinder 2e, being the first Adventure Path released for the game. Despite telling a great story that takes players all over Golarion, it has several issues. The biggest is that many encounters are unbalanced and can easily wipe out a party.

Another factor is that many concepts that appear in Age of Ashes had already been used in Pathfinder 1e adventures. However, the material in the Age of Ashes books is not bad, and a creative GM can use it to craft an epic experience.

In creating Agents of Edgewatch, Paizo tried to bring new ideas to their Adventure Paths, deviating a bit from the norm and causing some unease among players. Here, the group is not adventurers seeking glory, but a police force that needs to protect the city of Absalom during the Radiant Festival.

There are some limitations that can be difficult for players, such as the fact that non-violent encounters are prioritized in this adventure. Additionally, the early chapters of the journey are quite challenging, requiring Dungeon Masters to make some minor adjustments to the encounters. Nevertheless, it still has good potential.

Typically, tabletop RPG groups tend to include good-aligned characters who seek to be heroes to the people. However, Blood Lords subverts this expectation. It is a good option for players who want to be villains or otherwise less-than-savory characters.

The setting of this Adventure Path is unique. Players take on the roles of adventurers who work for the Blood Lords, rulers who govern the undead nation of Geb. Races like Skeletons are a good choice, especially for players who want to try something new in their RPG experience.

The Pathfinder 2e Beginner's Box comes with the adventure Menace Under Otari, a simple adventure that's perfect for introducing new players. When finished, GMs who want to continue the story of these characters can opt to run Abomination Vaults, which has a simple yet classic premise.

This Adventure Path is a return to the origins of classic tabletop RPGs. Players explore a massive dungeon, return to the city to talk with NPCs, and prepare for another incursion into the place. There are many interesting characters for players to encounter, making it a good starting point for beginner groups.

Tournament arcs are a hallmark of anime, as they are the perfect time to pit powerful characters against each other. So, like a good shonen, Paizo decided to bring this concept to Golarion. With multiple battles, rival competitors, complex combat arenas, and even secret plots, Fist of the Ruby Phoenix is a very fun Adventure Path.

However, despite all its qualities and being a good way to attract anime fans' attention, it is important to note that this adventure is not recommended for beginners. Starting at higher levels, the Adventure Path requires players to have a more advanced knowledge of the Pathfinder 2e system to build their characters for this journey.

In a remote logging village, the ancient peace with ghosts, gremlins, and Oni is broken on the first day of summer. The player characters must protect their village from the dark and frightening inhabitants of the forest while investigating the sudden change in their neighbors' behavior. Most of this adventure unfolds in Willowshire, with themes of mystery and horror permeating the plot.

Season of Ghosts stands out for its smaller scale compared to other Pathfinder 2e Adventure Paths. It focuses exclusively on the terrifying events around the village over the course of a year, providing a more intimate and immersive experience.

Players venturing into Quest for the Frozen Flame can forget about stories of armored knights, school-trained wizards, or other adventurers trying to save the world from destruction. Here, the narrative is more primitive and personal.

During this Adventure Path, players are part of a tribal civilization seeking to survive in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, north of Golarion. They need to explore the area in search of resources while preventing dangers or rival tribes from harming their settlement. Because of its more personal tone, Quest for the Frozen Flame is one of Paizo's most memorable creations.

Exploring the life of students in tabletop RPGs is not uncommon. Even Dungeons & Dragons has done something similar with Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos. However, Paizo's approach is slightly different. Players in Strength of Thousands start as students and evolve to become teachers.

Thi Adventure Path still offers plenty of room for players who want to engage in a lot of roleplay while balancing these moments with interesting combat encounters and adventures. Additionally, despite the story being centered around a school of magic, the school is willing to teach anyone with an optimistic worldview.

Kingmaker is an Adventure Path synonymous with Pathfinder, being one of the most famous campaigns produced by Paizo in its history. Originally released for the first edition, players start as adventurers seeking to rid the Stolen Lands of the influence of the Stag Lord, and later become nobles of the region.

The campaign even received a game by Owlcat Games, who also made Pathfinder: Wrath of The Righteous. For the second edition update, much additional content from the video game was used to enhance the story and fix some plot holes.Kingmaker also features interesting characters and formidable challenges. Even though managing the kingdom can be a tedious task for some players, it is an Adventure Path that should be experienced at least once.

Extinction Curse was the second Adventure Path released for Pathfinder 2e by Paizo and, unlike Age of Ashes, featured better balance and a more original story. Here, players are part of the Circus of Wayward Wonders. They must balance their time between making the circus profitable, while investigating a greater danger that could threaten the entire world.

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