DM Jeff's page

In Shattered Star we have a grand adventure set in Kaer Maga, and I hadn’t run anything there in a couple of years. While recently becoming reacquainted with this city and its sourcebook, I realized for quick lookup purposes during play I needed an index of locations. The following text places the numbered location on the map of the city in the Shattered Star Map Folio to the page numbers in the source book City of Strangers. It also has small notes to jog my memory thus possible spoilers. I thought it might help to share here.

Also, I got a huge kick out of the “seen on a street corner” sidebar in City of Strangers, but I’ve wore it out over the years and needed some more. Here are 20, does anyone have any other suggestions?

Enjoy!

Here are a bunch of freebie tables we posted on messageboards and came up with "after hours" to share with Paizo and En World: LINK

Currently mine are still empty links under "Still to Come" but I sure am looking forward to these!

I’m returning after my post above because I remembered something. Carrion Crown - and filling in the blanks between books in an otherwise really great campaign.

Between each book, which took part in vastly different locales, there were days of travel with no real support. You just "Indiana Jones’ red-lined" it across the landscape. This may have been by design, but what it made for was more GM work than I’m used to. Before the game began I needed to put a map of Ustalav in a drawing program, map out the different locales noting which book they were in, then individually research what was between them so I could run a satisfactory game (my players like to stop and smell the roses at times).

If each book in Carrion Crown had taken the map (no new cartography required), just blown up the section between that book and the next, then included some ideas for interesting encounters that were not necessarily monster or combat related, this would have saved me a ton of time. Instead between each book I combed Rule of Fear (an awesome book), but even it wasn’t able to go “close up” regarding some of the travel assumed.

Someone else on these boards kept asking about a campaign “road map” and this was the first AP where I really felt like those 6 pages per book could have been used to help a GM connect the books together a little more.

I certainly don’t expect pity, I am a hard working GM who doesn’t mind the research put into my games, it just seemed for some reason that my time should have been better spent than connecting the adventures. Certainly, even if a GM is just running the one adventure a few extra incedental encounter or bare-bones town ideas wouldn't hurt!

I haven’t chimed in on this before too much, but it seems Paizo’s stance on this has become more fluid, so I shall reiterate that I think the AP’s would be better off without the fiction.

• My wife reads the novels, but not the AP fiction. Why? She just says they’re too short for her to get fully into.

• Episodic, sometimes by different authors. I won’t even start reading them until I have all six issues in a set. And the AP’s I don’t plan to run I don’t read the fiction at all.

• Hit or Miss. A few I’ve tried starting but after the first one or two lose interest because I see I’m not getting anything out of it to help me run the AP. As GM I’m interested in them as part of the AP I’m running. If it seems to be just set ‘somewhere in the area’ or for flavor it’s not as important to me as if it was more, I don’t know, “targeted” toward the AP?

CASE IN POINT: if the fiction for Shattered Star was all set in Magnimar dealing with different locations in the city, describing them, the mannerisms of the people or giving me GM fuel to use, that’s one thing. The story starts in Riddleport, which is neat, but the AP doesn’t even go there (uh, spoiler?)!

So what’s become of it? After Kingmaker’s fiction (which had a really funny part dealing with nuns) I haven’t read any installments since, and only a handful before that. In prepping for my games it hasn’t added value to the adventure, the core reason I subscribe.

1) If the 6 pages were GM fodder I would even be more interested in “fiction”. Get this: I would be more inclined to read the fiction if in Shattered Star there was an adventure set in and around the city watch of the Arvensoar. Meeting some characters (not even in the AP!) getting the ins and outs, the architecture, splendor across to help my own descriptions. Heck, even if each chapter explored a mini transaction in 6 different Magnimar locations, like “a day in the life” would be better. And they wouldn’t have to be in the AP, just something extra for me to use.

2) A couple of more monsters that would be in the area but do not necessarily show up in the AP would be better suited to this, my tool as a GM, than the fiction.

3) GM advice. Sometimes this gets a paragraph or two in the foreword and I relish it! Anything regarding liner notes, things to watch for, alternate workarounds, etc.

4) And finally, if in general the editor’s have a conundrum where they have to cut something the author wrote for the adventure due to space, I would sure appreciate that in the AP than the fiction.

To summarize, I don’t think the fiction is not quality work, it just doesn’t suit any purpose the way every other page in the AP does (directly supporting me, the GM, to the adventure).

Thanks Paizo for listening.

The flip mats are now printed on thinner stock and I'm not sure that I like the change.

Someone gave the amazingly done flip mats for Thornkeep a lower review based on the thinner stock too but I can’t figure out what the concern is. I took out an older mat and compared them; the new ones are obviously thinner but seem just as sturdy overall, work the same and have great art. They actually lay out a little flatter on the table too. I’m not disagreeing with you per se I just wanted to know what your concern is.

DM Jeff wrote:

I’m assuming this means I am on the list of folks to receive the book?

Thanks Frogs, thanks Nic, and HUZZAH to this being made for Pathfinder!

Jeff, if you got that email, it means you should be on the list. If you want to double and triple check, you can plug in your original order email at the bottom of the page here. Also lets you update your shipping and email info.

Thanks for keeping the faith and for backing! If you jump in at the $110 level they bump you to the $150 which now includes a LOT of extras, including all the 3PP Pirate Pack of PDFs. Ah, alliteration, always acts with actinic activation and accelerates the altitude of my attitude. :)

I'm on it! AND now I've just posted my $110 pledge, the first time I ever backed a Kickstarter project; this is a recipe for amazing. Thanks again!

Golarion is the most racialy diverse campaign my players and I have ever known. For the first time in my 30+ years of playing, folks are actually putting great thought into they type of human they are, not just 'human'.

It makes for a better game, and Paizo's done it.

Here's how my DMV campaign went a couple years back:

Into the Haunted Forest
Crown of the Kobold King
Howl of the Wolf (Necromancer Games' Glades of Death)
Timber Rivalry (Necromancer Games' Glades of Death)
Revenge of the Kobold King
Hungry are the Dead
Tower of the Last Baron
Treasure of Chimera Cove
The Volcano Caves (Dungeon Crawl Classic #19)
Beyond the Vault of Souls
Winter Council
Valbryn Morlydd (WotC's Exemplars of Evil)

I also watched the first 10 episodes of the series Deadwood for town flavor and based the mayor off of Gene Hackman's character in The Quick and the Dead.

Good question! I was really thrilled by the megadungeon and flip-mat news, but no one in our house does MMO's. If I can't get it on its own, that will be a shame. We still wish Goblinworks and Paizo all the best success with it but we're just not computer gamers.

I have a great interest in tracking down a sound file of a possible song coming from Windsong Abbey to play while the players explore...

Well, look what I found! Complete with sound file and all.

I have to admit from the hints dropped regarding this I feared real interest. I'm only in the first dozen or so pages of this document and I really, really like what I see. I get it now, epic but not necessarily level 21-30. Sooper Genius.

Remember when I said "If it's the 3PP I think it is I rejoice for Nic's good fortune and can't wait to jump back on this bandwagon."?

THIS is EXACTLY the 3pp I hoped would get it. MAGNIFICENT.

BEHOLD the mighty and oft-craved for Table Of Contents!

I've been a little pain about this regarding previous products in this line and the chronicles series, but the new format has a table of contents each a I really, really appreciate.

Once again Paizo perks up and listens - three cheers to the Pit!

I'm such a curmudgeon. Star Wars Saga Edition all the way for my crew.

Part the first:

After listening to my wife rant out loud for minutes on end about the magazine cancellations I said “Well, we have about 3-4 months of our sub left, and we can convert it to their new thing Pathfinder. It’s supposed to be like both Dungeon and Dragon rolled into one. “ My wife: *sniff*”OK…”

Part the second:

In the ‘Paizo is still undecided’ thread, which I read wide-eyed and hit refresh throughout the workday to follow, I finally posted “Enough is enough. You ask our opinion? If you stick with 3.5 I will make all future gaming purchases through your store. You’ll have earned my eternal loyalty.” That has stuck to this day.

Part the third:

My players: “So you don’t want to even try 4th edition?” Me: “Not at all. Now, you all have your characters ready? Good. Let me tell you about your home town of Sandpoint…”

No matter how that 1075 number may dip over the years for whatever reason, I’ll gladly remain one, because while I’m aware of my loyalty to Paizo…my players and I directly benefit from their loyalty to us and the game we love.

Another vote for this needed flip-mat.

Fairly sure there is one in the war room of House Thrune.

Reaver-like barbarians called the kuru are in the Isles of the Shackles sourcebook.

Here's a level-up cheat sheet I created for my more "casual" players: LEVEL UP

While clearing out some old files I came across something I intended to send in to Dragon Magazine back in 2000 but never did. It floated around a few web sites over the years.

It's the chart for players to roll on when they get to a city. While the wizard studies and the cleric pays homage, here's what the others can do to keep busy and entertained.

1-2: Collector. Increase your collection or work with merchants to help appraise others collections. Your interest could be anything from ancient weapons, to gem-encrusted jewelry or old outdated game pieces. Collect a unique item as a souvenir.
3-4: Citizen. Check local laws to be sure the party’s interests or habits are within the legal limits.
5-6: Rumor mill. Collect information regarding the city. Learn news from the roads leading to the city or neighboring lands or the current Lords and Ladies gossip.
7-8: Fellowship. Win friends and influence people. Buy the house a round of drinks, help a young person with their chores. Make a friend who you can visit or call upon in need at a later date.
9-10: Merchant. Once you discover the cities imports and exports, determine the party’s direction and purchase accordingly to sell a few items at your next stop.
11-12: Alchemist. Research spells, and magic item creation formulas and procedures and search out components. With luck you could even get down to actually working on the item.
13-14: Brawler. Pick a fight in a tavern or inn to test your mettle and gain a few new scars.
15-16: Actor. Present yourself as a different person to everyone you meet during your stay in the city and watch the fun! Using a different name, title and accent can lead to many unexpected adventures.
17-18: Vanity. Update your PC’s looks with grooming or an upgrade in clothing and equipment for visual, not functional reasons. Pamper yourself with baths and massages.
19-20: Student. Search out a local teacher or trainer to help you hone or learn a skill or talent.
21-22: Palate. Sample the best of the local cuisine and drink.
23-24: Paladin. Upgrade your armor and /or weapons with better materials to enhance their aesthetic and functional capabilities.
25-26: Pen-pal. If the campaign allows it, write letters or otherwise correspond with someone in another city with whom you keep in touch.
27-28: Moneychanger. Cash in the party’s art objects, gems and jewelry or vice-versa to aid everyone.
29-30: Bard. Set up a place or seek out a business where you can ply your skills for pay or respect.
31-32: Artisan. Set up a place or seek out a business to ply your trade for pay.
33-34: Boy Scout. Prepare for the trip ahead by getting supplies, survival gear, maps, food and drink, etc.
35-36: Cartographer. Update and compare you recent maps with local copies or knowledge to ensure accuracy or to add new discoveries.
37-38: Piety. Check in with the local church of your deity to pay homage and make offerings.
39-40: Romantic. Sneak into high society parties and charm the lords and ladies with your dance, wit and wily ways.
41-42: Ranger. Travel the lands just outside the city to ply your forester skills or stay in tune with nature.
43-44: Amorous. You go looking for love in all the wrong places. A visit to the brothel or seducing the local lord is not out of the question.
45-46: Gambler. Get involved in local games of chance or skill for a wager.
47-48: Journal. Update the party journal (in the game, in real life at the game, or both).
49-50: Politician. Check on local rulers and law enforcement and the cogs of the government’s wheels. Aggressively research the true movers and shakers of the city and arrange a meeting and chances to further the party’s goals.
51-52: Gamer. Enter local contest or competition for reward and respect.
53-54: Party. Check on upcoming local festivals and holiday celebrations to attend or large parties to crash.
55-56: Animal Friend. Stable and care for the party’s mounts and beasts of burden. Collect feed for mounts, animal companions and familiars if any.
57-58: Injured. Seek healing, rest and rejuvenation.
59-60: Guard. Find other travelers going your way next so you can arrange to travel together, perhaps even offer the party’s services as guards.
61-62: Spy. Seek out information on local secret societies and power party’s and what they are up to.
63-64: Race Seeker. Look for others of your race not otherwise well represented to visit with and exchange information and lore.
65-66: Family Tree. Research local bloodlines and genealogy to map your characters background and history.
67-68: Employer. Hire and/or fire henchmen and hirelings for the party’s next adventure.
69-70: Sightseer. Look for local famous landmarks and sights just to say you saw them. Perhaps even keep a sketchbook of your views.
71-72: Innkeeper. Secure lodgings to match the party’s needs and affordability.
73-74: Moderator. Research foes and friends of the city to aid with future encounters and dealings with them.
75-76: Hobbyist. Find supplies for your hobby and secure a place to work at it (coat of arms, art, music, etc.)
77-78: Saint. Seek out worthy causes and donate your time or money (orphanage, under-funded city watch, recently damaged church).
79-80: Troublemaker. Crash parties in an overwhelming way, pick pockets, play practical jokes.
81-82: Librarian. Search out local library and read for knowledge and fun.
83-84: Respectful. Visit the tomb or grave of a local hero or ruler or family member or friend.
85-86: Bounty Hunter. Check for rewards posted for the capture or killing of criminals or monsters.
87-88: Streetwise. Learn the local layout of alleys, streets and sewers around the party’s dwellings to aid in quick escape or chases.
89-90: Passport. Register name(s) with local rulers/guilds/law enforcement as the customs apply.
91-92: Entrepreneur. Start a business. Purchase a cart, building, or land, hire folks to run the business, and see how it develops over time.
93-94: Culture. Take in a show at the theatre, or a gladiatorial fight at the local arena.
95-96: Slumming. Visit the seedy, law-skirting section of town.
97-98: Braggart. Tell tales of all the parties deeds for respect or free drinks.
99-100: Dependents. Send some of your extra loot to family or friends. Perhaps your parents, the old master who raised you, or the orphanage or church where you grew up.

How nice of you to ask, I was seeking a good segue to lead into this!

I am running the same set of adventures, and realized the same thing. I am filling the 'in between times' with adventures and leads from the Necromancer Games book "Glades of Death". Print copies might be hard to come by but the PDF is for sale.

There are 3 or 4 adventures in there that just reek of locations directly in Darkmoon Vale, like the Wolfrun Hills and Darkmoon Wood. Just a little name changing and they're good to go.

It's written for 3.5 and so there is minimal work to adapt them.

My main gripe with the Grey Maidens is where the heck do they all come from - apparently there's enough of them to replace the Sable Company and threaten the Guard itself. How many hot swordswomen willing to get roped into such a scheme can there be anyway?

OK, my group is halfway through Scarwall, and up till now I've been able to explain just enough of it away to avoid this very question from the players.

We're all pretty sure Ileosa didn't get them from a modeling agency. So...assuming the Queen isn't just so charismatic to have a few hundred good-looking swordswomen surrender their life and features to this cause, here's what I assumed.

* All the former concubines of the king were recruited first.
* Then she had them quietly 'turn' a bunch of common guards and Sable company folks to their thought off-screen.
* She has family connections back in Cheliax and had powerful folks there recuit a ton for her and ship them up.
* By the end, I even had a dozen or so female Hellknights 'jump ship' when their boss withdrew, to continue the fight for the queen.

So, now we have some #'s to think on. Now, how were all these savvy women pressed into this?

My only pondering these days is what happens to them after Pathfinder 12 if the Queen is tossed out. Interesting times ahead.

-DM Jeff