I just starting running CotCT, and like some others on these boards, I ran into trouble almost immediately. I'd be happy for advice.
Because the characters' traits were so focused upon Gaedren Lamm, they expected him to be a fearsome opponent, and although they did take some serious knocks (especially the fighter who fell into the croc pit), they seemed surprised that Lamm went down so easily.
I stopped the session just after they defeated Lamm and discovered Zellara's secret, but I already get the impression that the PCs lack the motivation to stay together. The paladin will probably want to protect the orphans, but the other characters don't care -- they feel their job here is done.
Accustomed as I am to taking adventure paths off the rails, I immediately began dreaming up ways of turning the Lamm chapter into a hook for later encounters. I think I'd like to re-envision Lamm as a genuine crimelord (more like what the character traits describe him as), and reveal the man they killed as an imposter. I have an image of the corpse turning into a wax construct and melting away (inspired by the Waxworks card in the Harrow deck).
I haven't had a chance to read all the way through the adventure path, so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions about (a) who could be responsible for creating a Lamm simulacrum, and (b) where/when Lamm might turn up later in the game.
Alternatively, if anyone has tried a different approach to keeping Lamm alive, or having him come back from the dead, please let me know. Thanks!
Cpt_kirstov(Pathfinder Charter Superscriber; GameMastery Maps Subscriber)
Gonturan wrote:
I haven't had a chance to read all the way through the adventure path, so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions about (a) who could be responsible for creating a Lamm simulacrum, and (b) where/when Lamm might turn up later in the game.
Well the easiest answer would be
Spoiler:
The queen herself - the broach might just be a way to keep an inventory of goody-goodies who may oppose her plans, thus why she keeps them in the employ of the guard
also if anyone too the addict trait
Spoiler:
They have at least til Eel's end if not later to find their final answers
It is simple Lamm has been on the run for so long he has several contingencies set into place. Years ago what was once a simple hedge mage is now a powerful Wizard. He owes Lamm a favor and so Clones him. While in another part of Varisia a Cleric who once did several deeds that should not be said comes and claims Lamm's remains for a one tiem only True resurrection. Or better yet, Turns him into an Undead, when he was to have resurrected him. Now instead of one person that they owe revenge they have two, One an undead and another a younger more capable Clone.
There is an earlier post in the "Edge of Anarchy DM guide" that notes a DM's idea to forshadow scarwall by having Lamm been a survivor of a past adventure party that visited there.
Lamm could be a reacurring foil for the party if he survives, like Jester mentions he is a survivalist. He could become an agent for Ileosa using his surviving contacts to monitor/harass the PC's movement. He could lay low until the end game and with Ileosa's demise become a crime boss / antagonist to the PC's if u continue the AP into a reconstruction era.
One element brought them together and can still bind them together afterwards: Zellara. If my players start to lose purpose and lack a reason to remain cohesive after bringing down Lamm, she'll be the one who portends a greater destiny for them, not alone, but as a group.
In my first CotCT campaign, they captured Lamm and all his lackeys, along with all the Cow Hammer Boys save Verik (who they set free after some tense discussion). I'd planned to have them all present in the Citadel later, with that site being truly an "inmates running the asylum" situation. I'd found some nice rules for a mob to simulate the (still low for mid-/high-level characters) threat of an angry group of past foes some back to haunt them.
Lamm as a Scarwall survivor sounds cool. Might add a map or journal detailing part of the place to his stash!
Demiurge 1138(Pathfinder Adventure Path Charter Subscriber)
In my game, the PCs turned Gaedren Lamm over to the Church of Abadar as a prisoner, because although Lamm had committed many crimes, he had yet to be properly tried for those which the sentence would be death (this coming from the crazily LN Abadar-worshiping character who'd been one of his Little Lambs for years). As such, I was able to bring him back a couple of times.
Spoiler:
When the PCs learned that the plague was spread by tainted coins, they suggested a scheme to the church to literally launder money. Convicts under close watch by the priests were put to aid the task, and Lamm was one of them. He tried to convince the PCs that he'd turned over a new leaf, but nobody was much convinced.
The PCs also negotiated with the sea hag for access to the sunken ship--they promised her that they'd send down a man for her to "play with"--the plan was to make it sort of community service for the worst offenders, and Gaedren Lamm was on the top of their list. Unfortunately for them, he escaped when all hell broke loose following the murder of the captain of the Sable Company and escaped to Old Korvosa in a rowboat. Unfortunately for him, he shacked up with an old protege--Pilts Swastel, the newly self-crowned Emperor of Old Korvosa. So when the PCs took him out, they retook Gaedren as prisoner. They were planning on turning him over to lawful authorities at the soonest possible opportunity, but he went missing when the Arkonas volunteered to take him into temporary custody. And turned up later, as part of a complete rakshasa breakfast. Kind of stringy.
In my game, the PCs turned Gaedren Lamm over to the Church of Abadar as a prisoner, because although Lamm had committed many crimes, he had yet to be properly tried for those which the sentence would be death (this coming from the crazily LN Abadar-worshiping character who'd been one of his Little Lambs for years). As such, I was able to bring him back a couple of times.
** spoiler omitted **
I like the connection between Lamm and pilts, I think I may use that.
There is an earlier post in the "Edge of Anarchy DM guide" that notes a DM's idea to forshadow scarwall by having Lamm been a survivor of a past adventure party that visited there.
Can anyone tell me where I can find this DM Guide? I searched the message boards but I did not get any matches.
Lamm went down even easier than what you described in my game. It confused the party and they quickly began to wonder why they'd still hang out together. Enter: Queen's necklace. They were at least going to stick together long enough to sell it and get the cash, and on being told that it belonged to the Queen, etc, etc, etc. Upon getting their job offer, they didn't think about Lamm at all. Not once.
They did think about that gnome, though, when he came back because he'd escaped them. Set fire to one character's boat, broke into a character's apartment and ransacked the place and attacked his maid. Good times.
Can anyone tell me where I can find this DM Guide? I searched the message boards but I did not get any matches.
The reason you didn't find them is two fold. They aren't DM guides they are GM Reference's. Edge of Anarchy [GM Reference]. Also, they have all fallen into the Archive for this AP. I tracked the Edge of Anarchy one down for you.
One element brought them together and can still bind them together afterwards: Zellara. If my players start to lose purpose and lack a reason to remain cohesive after bringing down Lamm, she'll be the one who portends a greater destiny for them, not alone, but as a group.
In my first CotCT campaign, they captured Lamm and all his lackeys, along with all the Cow Hammer Boys save Verik (who they set free after some tense discussion). I'd planned to have them all present in the Citadel later, with that site being truly an "inmates running the asylum" situation. I'd found some nice rules for a mob to simulate the (still low for mid-/high-level characters) threat of an angry group of past foes some back to haunt them.
Lamm as a Scarwall survivor sounds cool. Might add a map or journal detailing part of the place to his stash!
Heh heh, eeeeevil GM. I wish I'd been able to continue that game, I liked my paladin bard. :)