The Pathfinder role-playing game introduced its second edition in August 2019. The RPG was in its infancy as the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, but despite this major setback, it became one of the most popular tabletop role-playing games on the market. Pathfinder 2e is a strong game that expands on the themes introduced in the first edition and continues to help the game develop its identity.
With this background, it’s unsurprising that Pathfinder 2nd Edition repeats one of the most popular features of the first edition: the Adventure Path series. Adventure Paths, a series of related adventures forming a published campaign are a great way for a playgroup to play through an established setting. Anyone looking to run Pathfinder for the first time should definitely consider picking up an Adventure Path for their first campaign.
Updated January 19, 2023 by Declan Lowthian: Pathfinder 2e is more popular now than ever, and its library of Adventure Paths is ever-expanding. We’ve updated this list with even more great Adventure Paths for new and experienced players alike.
11 Gatewalkers Is Only Just Begining
The newest Pathfinder 2e Adventure Path, Gatewalkers, sends the heroes across planar boundaries in pursuit of answers. The debut adventure, The Seventh Arch, pits them against the denizens of a mysterious forest realm called the River Kingdom of Sevenarches.
Gatewalkers is brimming with potential, as all three of its adventures take place in unique and exciting new locales. But since this Adventure Path has just begun, it remains to be seen whether it will live up to its predecessors.
10 Age of Ashes Made An Attempt
The edition-opening Age of Ashes Adventure Path was intended to be Pathfinder 2e’s Rise of the Runelords. It was meant to set the pattern for a new generation of Pathfinder 2e Adventure Paths to follow. In terms of tone and story, Age of Ashes certainly did live up to the lofty goals it set up for itself. But there were some problems with how it played.
Age of Ashes struggled to find its footing early on. The harsh difficulty of the adventures is a throwback to the early Adventure Paths published by Paizo, especially the incrediblylethal Savage Tide. Because the Adventure Path was written before the rules were finalized, Age of Ashes had inconsistencies with the rules as written in the Pathfinder RPG. The voice is there, but the rules are not.
9 Blood Lords Has Some Fun Ideas
The appropriately named Blood Lords pits the players against a wide variety of undead foes. This Adventure Path, which ran throughout the second half of 2022, featured the undead nation of Geb and its brutal Blood Lords.
Blood Lords has the players working for the Blood Lords, even joining their ranks in the later adventures. However, despite its unique premise, many Pathfinder 2e players found this Adventure Path somewhat lacking. The horror often comes off as too silly, and new players would do well to stick to one of the much better Pathfinder 2e Adventure Paths.
8 Abomination Vaults Introduces A Shorter Adventure Path
Abomination Vaults returned to the shorter three-issue Adventure Path format introduced in Starfinder’s second Adventure Path Against the Aeon Throne. It was designed to lead players who started with the Beginner Box into the wider world of Pathfinder. Abomination Vaults also introduced a new twist for a Pathfinder product: official Dungeons & Dragons support.
Abomination Vaults is also a new direction for Pathfinder. Not only is it a shorter Adventure Path, but it’s also a traditional “dungeon crawl” type adventure, focusing on the experience of combat in a fantasy world. Because of this, the experience may be somewhat shallower than veteran Paizo players are used to. But with an experienced GM and a willingness to go off the rails, Abomination Vaults is a welcome change of pace and a great on-ramp for new players.
7 Outlaws Of Alkenstar Moves Along At A Brisk Pace
This three-part adventure takes the heroes to the steampunk city of Alkenstar. It is designed to work hand in hand with the Pathfinder Guns & Gears supplement, which provides rules for firearms, automata, and new classes like the inventor and the gunslinger.
Outlaws of Alkenstar features some explosive urban heists and espionage, but there is little breathing room between its three installments. It’s a great choice for groups that like to keep the pedal to the metal, but there is little room for downtime in between the action-packed missions.
6 Kingmaker Brings Back The Best Pathfinder Adventure Path
Released in October 2022, Kingmaker brings back one of the best Pathfinder Adventure Paths from the first edition and gives it a 2e makeover. The basis of a video game and countless actual play podcasts, Kingmaker is the definitive Pathfinder experience. Kingmaker takes after the video game of the same name, though it has some key differences and the added flexibility a pen-and-paper RPG offers.
Kingmaker is a cornerstone of the Pathfinder franchise. It has solid writing, well-realized NPCs, and a strong storyline that still gives players room to truly make the Adventure Path their own.
5 Quest For The Frozen Flame Features Plenty Of Exploration And Roleplaying Potential
In Quest for the Frozen Flame, players join the hunter-gatherer Broken Tusk following as they attempt to bolster their community and search out the legendary Primordial Flame. This Pathfinder 2e Adventure Path features a lot more wilderness exploration than some of the others, making it perfect for that style of play.
Quest for the Frozen Flame is another three-part Adventure Path, so it isn’t quite as long as some of its brethren. However, the unique setting and compelling structure make it ideal for groups that want to emphasize Pathfinder‘s exploration potential.
4 Fists Of The Ruby Phoenix Follows Up Abomination Vaults
After the three-part Abomination Vaults AP, another three-parter was needed to balance the schedule: Fists of the Ruby Phoenix. Though it connects to the preceding Adventure Path, Fists of the Ruby Phoenix is able to stand on its own, starting with characters at level 11.
Taking cues from the tournament arcs found in many shonen anime series, Fists of the Ruby Phoenix features player characters entering a martial arts tournament in the Dragon Empires, last visited in Jade Regent. A kidnapped benefactor and a sinister villain round out this fantastic Pathfinder 2e Adventure Path, making it a great entry in the series.
3 Agents of Edgewatch Adds New Excitement To An Old City
The city of Absalom is one of the signature features of the Pathfinder world. The headquarters of the setting’s eponymous Pathfinder Society, Absalom is a city where anything can be found, provided you’re willing to look hard enough. The Absalom setting is a real strength of Pathfinder, bringing urban tropes and traits into a game that otherwise emphasizes wilderness and dungeon exploration.
At its outset, Agents of Edgewatch is a police procedural. Like its sibling Adventure Paths, however, Agents quickly uncovers a world-changing plot. With an emphasis on racial justice, nonviolent resolution, and the shades of gray that exist in a complicated world, Edgewatch turns the good vs. evil construct of both fantasy role-playing and popular fiction on its head.
2 Strength Of Thousands Brings RP Cred To Pathfinder 2E
As an RP-heavy Adventure Path, Strength of Thousands is perfect for Pathfinder 2e players who prefer clever solutions and character-driven plots. Taking the role of students of an ancient and revered magical academy, players in Strength of Thousands must protect their school against those who would destroy it.
RPG adventures that emphasize role-playing have unique difficulties as opposed to adventures that play out more like board games. An RP-intensive adventure is heavily dependent on the improvisational skills of the GM, and a GM not up to the task might result in an adventure that falls flat. But if the GM has the skills to bring the NPCs to life, they can create a truly memorable experience.
1 Extinction Curse Introduces New Quirks to Pathfinder
While Age of Ashes had a rocky start, Extinction Curse hit the ground running. The second Adventure Path in the Age of Lost Omens setting proved a more than worthy successor, bringing players into the strange setting of a circus. Soon the frivolity of the circus gave way to a dark threat that has the potential to bring the whole world to the knife.
The circus setting of Extinction Curse was completely unexpected but became one of the popular delights of the second Adventure Path. Its popular NPCs made this Adventure Path an instant fan favorite. Extinction Curse gives Pathfinder 2e a feel and an identity all its own.
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