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Pathfinder Modules

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This article covers the Pathfinder First Edition adventure product line. For the Pathfinder Second Edition equivalent, see Pathfinder Adventure.

Paizo's Pathfinder Modules product line (formerly known as GameMastery Modules) was an ongoing series of adventures that can fit well in any campaign. Pathfinder Modules were 64-page (formerly 32-page), high-quality, full-color, OGL-compatible adventures for use with the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game. All Pathfinder Modules included four pre-made characters, so players could jump right into the action, and full-color maps and handouts to enhance play. While the modules were set in the world of Golarion, the classic feel of most adventures made conversion into any published or homebrew setting easy.

History

The line launched in June 2007 with Hollow's Last Hope as a giveaway on Free RPG Day under the GameMastery product line which had previously been used for Paizo's numerous game aid products.

With Flight of the Red Raven in May 2008, the line officially transferred to the Pathfinder name to coincide with the Pathfinder Adventure Path, Pathfinder RPG, and Pathfinder Chronicles product lines. This edition also witnessed a distinct change in the standard cover design from that of the previous GameMastery modules.

In August 2008, the line switched from a monthly release schedule to a bi-monthly format to make room for the newly introduced Pathfinder Companion line.

In August 2009, Pathfinder Modules converted from using D&D 3.5 rules to the newly released Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, as did all other Paizo products from that point forward. Another cover style change occurred at this time, providing more art and less coverage by solid color bars.

In November 2012, Paizo announced that starting with the release of The Dragon's Demand, Pathfinder Modules would expand in size from 32 to 64 pages and change frequency from bi-monthly to quarterly releases.1

The final products in the Pathfinder Modules line were Cradle of Night (the last using Pathfinder First Edition rules) from December 2018, and We Be Heroes? (using the Pathfinder Playtest rules) from June 2019.

Naming

From the line's inception in 2007 through summer 2009, each module's title was had a prefix that designated the type of adventure found within as well as the adventure's number within the series. These codes were dropped from product titles due to confusion among the general population as to what they really meant. Existing adventure types are as follows:

  • D = Dungeon
  • E = Event
  • J = Journey
  • LB = Last Baron
  • S = Superstar
  • TC = Treasure Chest
  • U = Urban
  • W = Wilderness

Fan contests

GameMastery Module Open Call

In September 2007, Paizo announced that they would continue their tradition of bringing new talent to the roleplaying publishing world in their inaugural GameMastery Module Open Call contest.2 Participants were provided a brief synopsis of the desired adventure and submission guidelines. Of over 150 applicants, David Schwartz was declared the winner, wrote Flight of the Red Raven, and was added to Paizo's stable of authors for future Pathfinder products.3

RPG Superstar

RPG Superstar 2015 logo

Following shortly behind the popular GameMastery Module Open Call contest, Paizo announced that it would hold an even larger contest with six rounds of competition, and allow for fan voting—RPG Superstar.4 Specific challenges included designing a wondrous item, a country, a villain, three thematically linked monsters, an encounter, and finally an adventure synopsis.

From October 31, 2007 to February 11, 2008, judges Erik Mona, Wolfgang Baur, and Clark Peterson narrowed a field of over 850 contestants down to the top 32, 16, 8, and 4 before the final winner was announced. On February 20, 2008, Paizo announced that Christine Schneider was the winner of the contest and her adventure, Clash of the Kingslayers, was published in January 2009.5

RPG Superstar returned in 2009 with a similar competition. The winner of the second annual contest was Neil Spicer, whose Realm of the Fellnight Queen was released in February 2010.6

RPG Superstar 2010 ran from January to March of that year, and saw Matt Goodall rise to the top, winning a commission to pen his Cult of the Ebon Destroyers module for release in January 2011.7

In the contest's 4th year, Sam Zeitlin took the top spot and earned the privilege of writing The Midnight Mirror for release in January 2012.8

RPG Superstar's 2012 contest brought Mike Welham to the 1st place spot and earned him the honor of writing Doom Comes to Dustpawn for release in May 2013. 9

In 2013, RPG Superstar ran from January to March, allowing Steven Helt to take 1st place and earning him the privilege to write Tears at Bitter Manor, released in March 2014.10

Taking a page from 2010, RPG Superstar 2014 ran from December until March. Voters picked Victoria Jaczko for the opportunity to write Daughters of Fury, released in February 2015.11

RPG Superstar 2015 also ran from December 2014 to March 2015, with voters selecting Monica Marlowe and Down the Blighted Path, released in January 2016.12

RPG Superstar Season 9 ran from August to November 2015, with voters selecting Nicholas Wasko and Beneath the Storm-Veiled Spires, released in November of 2016 with the title "Seers of the Drowned City".13

Releases

Cover Prefix Title Release Date Author Level Location Special Designation
D0cov.jpeg D0 Hollow's Last Hope 07060June 2007 BulmahnJason Bulmahn and F. Wesley Schneider 011st-2nd Darkmoon Vale, Andoran Free RPG Day
D1cov.jpeg D1 Crown of the Kobold King 07065June 2007 LogueNicolas Logue 022nd Darkmoon Vale, Andoran
W1cov.jpeg W1 Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale 0707July 2007 BulmahnJason Bulmahn 066th-8th Bloodsworn Vale, Varisia
D2cov.jpeg D2 Seven Swords of Sin 0708August 2007 SutterJames L. Sutter and Paizo staff 077th-8th Kaer Maga, Varisia
Gallery of Evil.jpg U1 Gallery of Evil 0709September 2007 GreerStephen S. Greer 088th-10th Ivy District, Absalom
J1cov.jpeg J1 Entombed with the Pharaohs 0710October 2007 KortesMichael Kortes 066th-8th Sothis, Osirion
E1cov.jpeg E1 Carnival of Tears 07110November 2007 HitchcockTim Hitchcock and Nicolas Logue 055th-6th Darkmoon Vale, Andoran
TC1cov.jpeg TC1 Into the Haunted Forest 07115November 2007 VaughanGreg A. Vaughan 011st-2nd Darkmoon Vale, Andoran
J2cov.jpeg J2 Guardians of Dragonfall 0712December 2007 CaralyaAnson Caralya 1111th-12th Augustana, Andoran
U2cov.jpeg U2 Hangman's Noose 0801January 2008 LogueNicolas Logue 011st-3rd Precipice Quarter, Absalom
J3cov.jpeg J3 Crucible of Chaos 0802February 2008 BaurWolfgang Baur 088th-10th Ulduvai, Mwangi Expanse
W2cov.jpeg W2 River into Darkness 08045March 2008 VaughanGreg A. Vaughan 044th-6th Bloodcove, Mwangi Expanse
D3cov.jpeg D3 The Demon Within 08040April 2008 GreerStephen S. Greer and Tim Hitchcock 1111th-13th Kenabres, Mendev
W3cov.jpeg W3 Flight of the Red Raven 0805May 2008 SchwartzDavid Schwartz 044th-6th Azurestone, Galt
D1.5 Revenge of the Kobold King.jpg D1.5 Revenge of the Kobold King 08060June 2008 LogueNicolas Logue 055th-6th Darkmoon Vale, Andoran Free RPG Day
Lb1cov.jpeg LB1 Tower of the Last Baron 08065June 2008 GreerStephen S. Greer 055th-7th Piren's Bluff, Andoran
LB2cov.jpeg LB2 Treasure of Chimera Cove 08100October 2008 CaralyaAnson Caralya 077th-8th Chimera Cove, Andoran
D4cov.jpeg D4 Hungry Are the Dead 08105October 2008 HitchcockTim Hitchcock 066th-8th Darkmoon Vale, Andoran
J4cov.jpeg J4 The Pact Stone Pyramid 0812December 2008 KortesMichael Kortes 088th-10th Tumen, Osirion
S1cov.jpeg S1 Clash of the Kingslayers 0901January 2009 SchneiderChristine Schneider 1010th Glimmerhold, Varisia RPG Superstar winner
E2cov.jpeg E2 Blood of Dragonscar 0903March 2009 BakerKeith Baker 1515th Dalaston, Taldor
J5 cover.jpg J5 Beyond the Vault of Souls 0907July 2009 MccombColin McComb 099th Westcrown, Cheliax;
Axis; Outer Rifts; Abaddon
B1 cover.jpg Crypt of the Everflame 0908August 2009 BulmahnJason Bulmahn 011st Kassen, Nirmathas
Carrion Hill cover.jpg Carrion Hill 0911November 2009 PettRichard Pett 055th Carrion Hill, Ustalav
Masks of the Living God cover.jpg Masks of the Living God 0912December 2009 BulmahnJason Bulmahn 033rd Tamran, Nirmathas
Realm of the Fellnight Queen.jpg Realm of the Fellnight Queen 1002February 2010 SpicerNeil Spicer 077th Bellis, Andoran RPG Superstar winner
City of Golden Death.jpg City of Golden Death 1004April 2010 FrostJoshua J. Frost 055th Xin-Grafar, The Isle of Terror
From Shore to Sea.jpg From Shore to Sea 1006June 2010 HodgeBrandon Hodge 066th Blackcove, Cheliax
Master of the Fallen Fortress.jpg Master of the Fallen Fortress 1006June 2010 McCrearyRob McCreary 011st Cairnlands, Absalom Free RPG Day
Curse of the Riven Sky.jpg Curse of the Riven Sky 1007July 2010 CookMonte Cook 1010th Jol, Lands of the Linnorm Kings
Witchwar Legacy.jpg The Witchwar Legacy 1009September 2010 VaughanGreg A. Vaughan 1717th The Veil of Frozen Tears, Irrisen
Godsmouth Heresy.jpg The Godsmouth Heresy 1012December 2010 McCrearyRob McCreary 011st Kaer Maga, Varisia
Cult of the Ebon Destroyers.jpg Cult of the Ebon Destroyers 1102February 2011 GoodallMatt Goodall 088th Niswan, Jalmeray RPG Superstar winner
Tomb of the Iron Medusa.jpg Tomb of the Iron Medusa 1104April 2011 ShelMike Shel 1414th Zimar, Taldor
Academy of Secrets.jpeg Academy of Secrets 1106June 2011 CortijoBrian Cortijo 1313th Korvosa, Varisia
We Be Goblins!.jpg We Be Goblins! 1106June 2011 PettRichard Pett 011st Brinestump Marsh, Varisia Free RPG Day
The Harrowing.jpg The Harrowing 1107July 2011 FraiserCrystal Frasier 099th Harrowed Realm
Feast of Ravenmoor.jpg Feast of Ravenmoor 1109September 2011 HodgeBrandon Hodge 033rd Ravenmoor, Varisia
The Ruby Phoenix Tournament.jpg The Ruby Phoenix Tournament 1111January 2012 HitchcockTim Hitchcock 1111th Goka, Tian Xia
The Midnight Mirror.jpg The Midnight Mirror 1201April 2012 ZeitlinSam Zeitlin 044th Karpad, Nidal RPG Superstar winner
No Response from Deepmar.jpg No Response from Deepmar 1205May 2012 GreerStephen S. Greer 088th Deepmar, Cheliax
Dawn of the Scarlet Sun.jpg Dawn of the Scarlet Sun 1206June 2012 JacobsJames Jacobs 055th Magnimar, Varisia Free RPG Day
The Moonscar.jpg The Moonscar 1206June 2012 PettRichard Pett 1616th Nirmathas; The Moon
Murder's Mark.jpg Murder's Mark 1207July 2012 GrovesJim Groves 011st Ilsurian, Varisia
Thornkeep cover.jpg Thornkeep 1211October 2012 BakerRichard Baker, Jason Bulmahn, Ed Greenwood, et al. 011st Thornkeep, River Kingdoms Pathfinder Online
Broken Chains.jpg Broken Chains 1303March 2013 HitchcockTim Hitchcock 066th Katapesh, Katapesh
Fangwood Keep.jpg Fangwood Keep 1304April 2013 GreenshieldsAlex Greenshields 044th Fangwood, Nirmathas
Doom Comes to Dustpawn.jpg Doom Comes to Dustpawn 1305May 2013 WelhamMike Welham 099th Dustpawn, Isger RPG Superstar winner
We Be Goblins Too.jpg We Be Goblins Too! 1306June 2013 PettRichard Pett 033rd Brinestump Marsh, Varisia Free RPG Day
Dragon's Demand.jpg The Dragon's Demand 1307July 2013 ShelMike Shel 011st-7th Belhaim, Taldor
Wardens of the Reborn Forge.jpg Wardens of the Reborn Forge 1312December 2013 ReniePatrick Renie 1212th-15th Alkenstar City, Alkenstar
Tears at Bitter Manor.jpg Tears at Bitter Manor 1403March 2014 HeltSteven Helt 055th-8th Cassomir, Taldor RPG Superstar winner
Risen From the Sands.jpg Risen from the Sands 1406June 2014 McCrearyRob McCreary 033rd Osirion Free RPG Day
The Emerald Spire.jpg The Emerald Spire Superdungeon 1406June 2014 BakerKeith Baker, Richard Baker,
Wolfgang Baur et al.
011st-13th Echo Wood, River Kingdoms
Plunder & Peril.jpg Plunder & Peril 1411November 2014 GoodallMatt Goodall, Alex Greenshields,
Steven Helt, and Ben McFarland
044th-7th Lilywhite, The Shackles
Daughters of Fury.jpg Daughters of Fury 1502February 25, 2015 JaczkoVictoria Jaczko 033rd-6th Arwyll Stead, Lastwall RPG Superstar winner
We Be Goblins Free.jpg We Be Goblins Free! 1506June 20, 2015 PettRichard Pett 044th Devil's Platter, Varisia Free RPG Day
Feast of Dust.jpg Feast of Dust 1510October 2015 LogueNicolas Logue 1111th-14th Dimayen, Qadira
The House on Hook Street The House on Hook Street 1511November 2015 HodgeBrandon Hodge 066th Korvosa, Varisia
Down the Blighted Path Down the Blighted Path 1602February 2016 MarloweMonica Marlowe 055th-7th Davarn, Five Kings Mountains;
Oremont, Nar-Voth
RPG Superstar winner
Ire of the Storm Ire of the Storm 1604 April 2016 Hillman Thurston Hillman 011st-6th Pridon's Hearth, Sargava
We Be Goblins!.jpg We B4 Goblins! 1606 June 2016 Frasier Crystal Frasier 011st Brinestump Marsh, Varisia Free RPG Day
Gallows of Madness.jpg Gallows of Madness 1607 July 2016 Kallio Mikko Kallio, Mike Kimmel,
and Benjamin Bruck
011st-3rd Saringallow, Isger
Seers of the Drowned City.jpg Seers of the Drowned City 1611November 2016 Wasko, Nick Nick Wasko 066th-8th Hyrantam, Sodden Lands RPG Superstar winner
Heroes for Highdelve.jpg Heroes for Highdelve 1708 August 17, 2017 Kunz Amanda Hamon Kunz 011st Highdelve, Brevoy
The Gauntlet.jpg The Gauntlet 180504May 4, 2018 BulmahnJason Bulmahn,
Erik Mona, Jessica Price, and
Stephen Radney-MacFarland
088th Cairnlands, Absalom
We Be 5uper Goblins!.jpg We Be 5uper Goblins! 180618June 18, 2018 FraiserCrystal Frasier 066th Baglands, Varisia Free RPG Day
Cradle of Night.jpg Cradle of Night 181212December 12, 2018 JacobsJames Jacobs, F. Wesley Schneider,
Neil Spicer, and Greg A. Vaughan
088th-10th Nidal; Darklands
We Be Heroes.jpg We Be Heroes? 190615June 15, 2019 DuckwitzBrian Duckwitz 011st Fangwood Free RPG Day

References

External links