The Pod of Many Worlds

Helsa from Pathfinder Society and the Nodocite Guardian from Starfinder Society float over a blurred background of the First Seeker Sarmak shooting a laser at enemies. Above Helsa is the "Pathfinder Society" logo, and below the Nodocite Guardian is the "Starfinder Society" Second Edition logo.

Take part in the climactic conclusion to Pathfinder's Year of Immortal Influence and the epic emergence of Starfinder Society Second Edition's Invasion's Edge in next week's scenario releases!

I let this read-through fall by the wayside over the last couple weeks, but picking it back up this morning has been great! Loved reading the end of the Fantasy, War-Torn, and Into the Unknown chapters.

It would be a *really* great way to do an X-Com style campaign, though, with the PCs shuttling in as defense squads taking on Swarm infiltrators into Szandite space, since they’re all relatively pacifistic.

Next up is the Swarm, and who doesn’t love stomping bugs! Well, these bugs, anyway. I think the Szandite Collective setting is a good one to explore this aspect of storytelling, & I’m wondering how many adventures we will get set against the swarm when we already have the “Attack of the Swarm” AP.

There’s a comment that one of the leaders in the Gideron Authority, Coordinator Tegren Metrid, might be able to cut off support for the MR from the Pact Worlds, and I’m *extra* curious to hear how that McGuffin might work!

It provides a more palatable (for most players) host organization in the Marixah Republic, but I could see someone taking the chance in the new edition to poke holes in that perception.

The next section is about the Marixah Republic and the Gideron Authority. I do appreciate that this is a relatively limited-scale interstellar war, compared to the fight between the Veskarium and the Azlanti Star Empire.

…spaces against overwhelming brute force from either of the main parties. Got a lot of ideas percolating there, not sure how to pull it off well, though 😅

I’m really curious how we’ll see this play out in adventures. Most players, I would assume, are not interested in fighting on behalf of either the Veskarium or the Azlanti, so I’m guessing worlds that get caught in the middle, and having to make hard choices about how to effect a defense of those…

I am curious about this note on page 49 about her reign not lasting “nearly as long as her ambitions demand” - after she’s done all this work, are we going to see the Empress deposed? Are we going to see an unholy war between Damoritosh and Lissala? Time will tell!

…flooded with Vesk starships and mechs, both used by the Veskarium and cobbled together from busted up remnants for piracy and other smaller-scale warmongers.

The change in leadership in the Veskarium doesn’t sound a lot better, either, although the art for Empress Vindaskayo is amazing. As the first imperial ruler in 30 years, she’s turning the entire Veskarium into even more of a war machine, so I can picture a future of the setting that is…

At least Ishmerai Ophir, the newly self-appointed regent of the Star Empire, is pretty obviously a fascist asshole. That’ll let me keep painting with my broad brush strokes.

But maybe I’ve missed storylines in recent years that highlight their actions in a more positive light, every Azlanti I’ve seen published has been a fascist asshole 😆

…experiencing *huge* changes in power dynamics for who is in charge.

The one thing I wasn’t expecting was feeling … a little sad (?) For the Ixomander twins. I’ve been painting all Azlanti with a broad brush in my games, and they are depicted here as being (for Azlanti) somewhat progressive.

After the Fantasy adventure we have the EXCELLENT (having just come off of watching Andor S2) chapter on War-Torn Adventures. I am excited to see how the Azlanti Star Empire and the Veskarium are pitted against each other in the coming adventures we play, especially as both are suddenly…

- Vesk-8 is an interesting setting, and I’m not sure yet where the change to Shimmerstone is going to go, long term. “Everyone hates being there but it someone is making money off of the prison labor there” sure sucks but could turn into a good prison break story.

- This write up about how Dragonborn came to be on Triaxus is quite lovely in its way, just hoping it’s accurate and not draconic propaganda

- Tabrid Minor’s ecological collapse storylines hit close to home, that’ll be interesting to explore as our biosphere gets ready to overheat us all.

Ok some rapid fire takes as I catch up on my read through:

- CityMcCityface on Triaxus is a solid gold idea and I look forward to adventuring there in at least 5 Starfinder society scenarios

- I really want to run a Skyfire legion squad module sometime

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From the continued pursuit for warshards to the final Scenario for Starfinder Society First Edition, check out today's blog and clear off your table for all things new with Organized Play!

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Just in time for Paizo Con! Users can sign in with any Hero Lab Online account (free or paid) from May 22nd through the 26th and test drive the full HLO experience with free-to-play content for Pathfinder 2nd Edition Remastered and Starfinder 2nd Edition preview content!

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With Father's Day just around the corner, check out today's blog to see the perfect panoply of presents for every gamer dad out there!

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Ugh, I’m so far behind on continuing my read-through 😆

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From around the clock Society games to Hellfire Crisis and Starfinder Second Edition previews, share the joys of gaming with friends and Paizo staff at PaizoCon Online next week!

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We'd like to recognize the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander voices that make our games great! Check out today's blog to read about some of their experiences and contributions to our community!

The book for "Pathfinder Lost Omens: Shining Kingdoms" floats in front of a blurred background of Yivali, the nosoi psychopomp and apprentice researcher for the deity Pharasma, meeting Chaldira Zuzaristan, a goddess of luck and mischief, in a clearing in a forest. On the cover of the book is a group of knights made up of several humans, elves, and dwarves fighting against a cinder dragon outside a castle and the text, "Pathfinder, Second Edition, Lost Omens, Shining Kingdoms."

Embark on exhilarating adventures in Kyonin, Andoran, Taldor, the Five Kings Mountains, Druma, and Galt in Pathfinder Lost Omens: Shining Kingdoms, the comprehensive guide to the nations of the inner sea, coming next month!

The First Seeker Sarmak from Starfinder Society brandishes a weapon in one hand, a gem dripping ooze in another hand, and gripping a cut off stalagmite full of ooze with one of it's four legs while a lashunta protects themselves from green bolts in the background, both figures on an alien planet covered in green ooze and skeletons. In the bottom left corner of the image is the "Gen Con" logo, and in the bottom right corner of the image is the "Starfinder" Second Edition logo.

Gen Con event registration is upon us! Sign up today starting at Noon Eastern Time to take part in the launch of Starfinder Society Second Edition, Pathfinder Society Year 7, Starfinder Infinity Deck, and more!

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From romancing chromatic ooze to mythic adventures in Iblydos, catch up on the latest with all things Paizo, now on Youtube!

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The Starfinder Tech Class playtest is halfway through! Check out the technomancer and mechanic classes, and don't forget to share your thoughts in our survey!

What a great encounter. And yes, I do wanna punch em all!