Publisher: Paizo Inc
Author: Sen H.H.S.
Artists: Miguel Regodon Harkness, Mylene Bertrand, Wilmar Ballespí Escarp, Gunship Revolution (Mico Dimagiba and Adelijah Ocampo), Chris L. Kimball, Robert Lazzaretti, Justine Nortjé, and Daniele Sorrentino
Year: 2024
Genre: The third and final chapter of the Pathfinder Curtain Call adventure path
Pages: 94 pages
MSRP: Softcover $29.99 or $19.99 in PDF
Curtain Call is, of course, the first Adventure Path to reckon with Godsrain and the events of Prey For Death. That comes to bear in the final act when the death of Gorum and its fallout interrupts the opera’s grand debut.
Structurally, this is a bit of a mixed-bag as written. While the confrontation with Norgorber is ultimately the bulk of this final outing, it feels a bit strange to wrap the opera in the first act, especially when its creation has driven so many of the path’s narrative beats to this point; many of the most memorable moments for players will likely have taken place in the context of trying to wrangle theatrical chaos. While Norgorber and the Prince are certainly the greater concern and the Prince the true threat, the narrative arc of the opera itself feels oddly unsatisfying as the first act’s climax. With its importance reduced to a set piece for the Godsrain to disrupt, the sense of accomplishment feels somewhat dimmed. Thankfully, Sen H. H. S has offered alternative pacing options in a handy sidebar that are both easy to implement and relatively unobtrusive to the GM and player experience.
While the rest of the adventure benefits from strong design and will certainly hold any table’s attention, it’s the opera itself that is the standout star – as it, perhaps, should be. It’s flavor rich and offers fun and unexpected obstacles for the party to work around with some appropriately dramatic fail states; it’s not everyday that a twenty-five 
Mechanically, the split point payoff system works well. While the success of the opera performance depends on the party’s success in overcoming the obstacles, the results are bolstered by the Production Points accumulated throughout the previous installments. A party who diligently prepared can have a terrible performance and still manage to succeed reasonably well; likewise, a party who manages to combine a half-decent go at averting operatic catastrophe and still invested in their preparation will reap far greater rewards for it. It’s the final sense of party choice payoff that makes the opera feel like a better fit as Curtain Call’s curtain call, rather than a backdrop for cataclysm and chaos.
With the adventure wrapping with the party at level 20, the hooks for what adventures might come next are a helpful add-on for newer GMs who might need some ideas for where to take things for players who wish to keep their characters.
Bring Down The House offers an exciting conclusion to the Curtain Call Adventure Path that sees hard work handsomely rewarded and appropriately heroic characters sway a god from his worst impulses. Smart and actionable suggestions allow GMs to tinker with narrative flow as necessary, allowing for a more tailored experience.
SUMMARY
Summary
