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Check out the last page of this thread for recent discussion about wanting a Paizo AP about this and please post your own wish to see it happen. It's been suggested all along, but there was a recent push in the last handful of posts.
The Midgard Bestiary has a stat block for Baba Yaga's Horsemen. I know, because I wrote it. :) Tales of the Old Margreve by Open Design has a fine mid level Baba Yaga adventure called Grandmother's Fire (written by Ben McFarland) that can be imported to Golarion for an Irrisen adventure. However, there is a fair chance that an adventure path on this topic will actually be the one you're describing. The campaign timeline has BY returning to Irrisen in 4713. The timeline is tied to our own calendar. The 2013 APs are going to be announced early July and mid August at PaizoCon and GenCon respectively. This topic has seen popular support from the community. It's not the most frequently suggested idea, but it's up there. It's got a chance. Not guaranteed at all, but not necessarily unlikely either. Let your feelings be known, and otherwise best wishes on doing it yourself. I'm a fan of the concept myself and I'd love to hear how it goes!
I started a new thread in this sub-forum just to hear about favorite scenarios with cool encounters specifically (as opposed to other noteworthy concerns like faction missions and treasure). I'm looking at this post right now. Feel free to visit that other thread if you're so inclined if you have any more observations. Feel free to be specific in spoiler tags. I'll examine the scenario and see what I can learn from it! I don't get to actually play much PFS, so the more specific about what, where and why, would really help!
Hey gang, After Hinojai (and starting with the Golden Serpent which comes out at PaizoCon 2012) I have been trying to up my game, writing wise. The feedback threads have been great for me in terms of understanding what makes a better faction mission, what people enjoy as treasure, the need for there not to be too many thug encounters, and all kinds of good ideas. I *think* I have a good handle on story ideas and I always throw some roleplaying in the mix no matter what... But... Now I'm curious about good and fun encounters. Cool fights, or even interesting non-combat encounters that weren't necessarily roleplaying encounters either. Yes, I could look at the reviews, and actually these days I read the reviews constantly (even the ones that aren't mine). But with 3 and soon to be 4 seasons the forum search engine is just not real fast and easy to pull out narrow data. So.. Tell me the names of those scenarios that really stand out as having cool encounters, or even one outstanding one that you always remember to this day. Can be combat or non-combat. Then I'll look at them and not copy them, BUT BE INSPIRED BY THEM! Feel free to tell me why you chose them, but I say "quick and dirty" because you don't have to do an in depth analysis if you don't want. Just the basic facts. (Can you show me where it hurts? - Sorry Roger Waters, song quotes just come to me natural!) If you think someone is crazy and wrong, respectfully disagree, but lets not fight those out here. Just state your disagreement, quick and dirty on why, and then hash out the fine details in some other thread dedicated to that scenario. WHEW! Long post. TLDR: Tell me what scenarios had cool encounters. Don't derail the thread! Thanks! Jim
Also, Lisa Stevens mentioned doing another "History of Paizo" post today. I don't know what they'll do, but I thought I would mention it to mitigate expectations.Since they've been on the last Thursday of the month, I think this is actually slated for tomorrow. Ah, that makes sense. I look forward to it. Actually I can't wait to get to 2007.
Folks, Also bear in mind that nothing that goes up on the Blog is free to Paizo. Its free to us to enjoy, but they don't just quickly throw together Blog entries on a coffee or smoke break. Someone has to stop what they're doing, spend time on it, make sure its vetted by the proper managers, is layed out, and the posted. That is productivity time. I'm not saying that you're wrong to be excited, and I don't blame anybody for being anxious. Just bear in mind these previews take a *little* effort. Its sort of like the ol' Web Supplement deal. Those are awesome and really demonstrate this company's committment to supporting their products: but web supplements are never free. Some one is paying for them, somewhere and somehow. Also, Lisa Stevens mentioned doing another "History of Paizo" post today. I don't know what they'll do, but I thought I would mention it to mitigate expectations.
Quite right! It's a practiced skill. In as much that one can be a 'natural', anybody can improve through practice. Be sure to encourage your new GMs.
We're probably in the wrong sub forum for this. I haven't read it yet, but I have the means, so I wont comment and definitely won't disparage. (I found some 4E concepts noteworthy in fact) The seldom commented on x-factor in deciding whether to try, let alone adopt, a new system is the support products. I like detailed campaign settings, not ones fleshed out in 2 or 3 slim hardbacks. More importantly, I like Adventure Paths that are as cohesive as Paizo's. I need to see evidence of that, or even a statement of intention. You see, I see core rules as an operating system, not an end to itself. I need to know wht will be done with it.
I would love a test of the Starstone module, that can be solved with ingenious outside of the box thinking so a lvl 1 character can become a god simply because he had the right items and a positive can do attitude.That's the problem. It needs to be so that anyone could THEORETICALLY pass the test.. Maybe. The only evidence we have to look to is Iomedae, Norgorber, and Cayden C. She was a pretty powerful and accomplished paladin. We don't know much about Norgorber or his secret origins. If SKR reads this, I'll be interested to see how he tackles the God of Secrets's secrets in his diety write-up (unless he already has and I missed it). Cayden admittedly was drunk and did it on a bet, and luck played a role. That doesn't mean he was a shoe cobbler. He was a career adventurer, though I concede there's nothing to indicate that he had a celebrated career like Iomedae clearly had. But I'd put him above first level definitely. I'm not saying the point isn't valid, it has merit. I'll agree that the Test seems to measuring something other than acquired XP. Yet all the individuals seem to possess strong personalities and personal initiative and presence that I'd associate with someone with at least a handful of class levels. YMMV.
::applauds::
Nah I missed that! That's kinda freaky cool. Thanks for the point!
I like 'em all. The wayang is much closer to what I imagined when I learned about them, versus when I actually saw them in B3. I can see the ifrit likened to a tiefling sorcerer, but that's okay. Under some circumstances I can see the confusion as entirely appropriate. I wanna see the Vishkanya!! HOT POISON GIRLS FTW!
@ Wolfrick - Thank you for a five star review! Especially from one of our esteemed 5 star GMs. That means quite a lot to me. I appreciate it. I encourage you (and everybody else) to check out The Golden Serpent coming out in July and in time for PaizoCon. The product description is nice and safe, and non-spoilery... ...as it should be... ...but it has lots of cool surprises! I promise some cool role-playing and good ol' monster bashing and a whole lot more. Its a scenario where I really tried to incorporate a lot of community feedback. I think everyone will enjoy it. Thanks again!
1. Ancient Chinese secret Awww man. I guess I wouldn't tell anybody either. Each session offers pre-gens right? Just in case I get lucky? 2. We arrived in Cesca one fine day when the Black Carriage had been seen in the area every night. It delivered a message, then sped off into the night. All of the characters were first level pre-gens, and many panties were soiled that night, let me tell ya! Yeah, I can imagine. But you know? That's a strong and exciting start. Face to face with something potent and iconic. It grabs your attention and lets you know that even though you're first level—you're doing something important and significant. And then as you build your way up in levels and overcome challenges you can look back at those early days and remember how scared dirty you were, but you weren't going to back down. You were going to put a stop to Bastardhall even if it meant standing toe to toe with the very gates of Hell. I envy you and your ancient Chinese secret. If you ever get the energy and inclination I'd love to see a Con report on this event, and previous ones.
I want to expand a little on my review. I think if there is an urge to roast this book (unfairly, I might add), there really needs to some practical thought about the role of maps in these gazetteers. And I'm loathe to APPEAR to bash one book in order to make this book look better. It might seem like I'm doing that, but believe me- that's not my intention. I just want to keep this real. I love Sutter's Distant Worlds. It took an idea I was neutral on and really got me excited, and between that and City of Strangers I keep my eye out for his work now. That being said, Distant Worlds is not chock full of maps that I can instantly make encounters out of. Not by a long shot. What it gives me is some context to get me started, and the rest is on me. A lot is still dependent on me. But that's okay, because that's oretty much what I expect from a gazetteer of a big region. Lands of the Linnorm Kings has quite a few maps. It too is a great book. I don't just write adventures, I run them. I run published adventures. Most of those city maps get used one time for about three minutes tops. I show them to the players. It fires up their imaginations and gives them some context.. and they never get used again. Now I'm not going to kid you, seeing the lay out of the city and knowing what a city quarter is like (i.e. wealthy, crime-ridden, haunted) helps me to do a better and more accurate encounter. But again, it's not like I'm home free and kick back and not prepare an adventure. No, my work has just begun. Now, seeing the Seer's Home map really helps (its an unusual location)- its just I can't use that map in my game. I have to develop and draw another based upon it. See what I mean? Its important to understand that I'm not criticizing the product line. My expectations are being met. Rather, I'm saying this book doesn't deserve the degree of criticism its receiving.
Well, that's certainly a disappointment. I'd hoped you'd focus on other things after that, but I guess it's not to be. Gregg, Why not suggest an AP you would like to see? There is a thread for that, I know that it does get looked at and considered. Even if there is going to be more Varisia content, my hunch is that there will be some other area explored immediately after Shattered Star and Anniversery ROTRL. If you would like to make a suggestion, may I recommend Irrisen? 4713 is coming, and I bet we could have one helluva an awesome adventure.
Quick poll: How many posters were previously aware that there's a clause in the haunt mechanics stating that the effects of haunts, even physical effects, also count as mind-affecting fear effects, and are therefor unable to affect creatures with immunity to mind-affecting fear effects? (I didn't realize that until I reread haunts just now.) I was aware, but I've ran Runelords, Carrion Crown Chapter One, and I recently studied up on them carefully recently (not suggesting I am the haunt guru or am infallible).
As to the rule discussion above, is it weird to anyone else that, while sleeping,you are considered "willing" to spells that are easily resisted, but get a save against spells that are difficult to resist? I suppose most spells that require willing subjects are not harmful, I just think that's interesting. It is interesting. Regardless of anything, I'm with you. It is an intersting nuance. My best guess for the reasoning is that they don't want to put the unconcious or sleeping character in this logic trap where they're being made to make saving throws against beneficial spells that would help them. So by default they're considered willing to spells like stabilize and cure light wounds- instead of making saves against everything because they're sleeping or unconcious. ******** I want to support the folks who want to see half-orcs, orcs, or kobolds next! Kobolds would be cool, because I got some Open Design heretige in me. :) Alternately a <ahem> rootin' tootin' ratfolk archetype would be cool too (if such a thing exists).
Ice, I can't tell you the number of times I get my teeth knocked out in rules fight! I was terrified to reply! No need to be embarrassed, I could have been wrong, and I'm glad to know you just the same. I never want fans to feel afraid to speak their mind.
Hi there Ice Titan. This is a happy friendly reply. I just quadruple checked the Pathfinder PRD Glossery definition of the helpless condition and I'm not seeing that you automatically become the willing target to all spells. So I tripled checked the Core Rules, Chapter 9, on the section specifically on Saving Throws. Just to be safe, I double checked the Combat Chapter section on Saving Throws. I'm not seeing that the helpless condition makes you the automatic willing target of all spells. There is a certain common sense factor, especialy in the case of a Reflex save- but we're talking Will saves here, right? I'm not being cocky or unfriendly, but I think I did my due dillegence here. Please, let me know otherwise. Imagine the movie or the story where the villain is trying to control the hero through their subconcious and they resist.. while in their sleep they twist and moan and have beads of perspiration on their brow as their unconcious tries to shrug the intruding influence off. Kinda like succubi of old were depicted before they were remade by role-playing games. I hope this makes you like the ability more?
Thanks, Jim, and keep up the good work!... Glad you liked it Jack. Spoiler:
I really hadn't considered economy of action as much until very recently. Its interesting that Dagagal consistently seems to pose a strong challenge. Often much more so than his Boss Lady.
I don't always play with metamagic, but he seemed to do well with them. The reason I didn't use any shadow spells is that I just think shadow conjuration and shadow evocation makes for fractious math and muddled calculations when you're GMing on the fly. I appreciate the feedback!
1) Would I wish that some of them were non-damaging and just there for storytelling? Yes. (Ghost stories are creepy for a reason, and if the cleric wants to blow their resources on cosmetics only... go ahead. Adds to the creep factor). I have been thinking about this Jason. And as a side note, I've been sparing in my comments because I don't want to argue with anybody. I can be passionate, but I want to be professional. But I think I'm ready to say something and you just sort of made the ol' lightbulb above the head switch on. You got me looking for a way to improve the mechanic that is already there. And I got an idea. So thank you, Jason! *************
The dang haunt mechanic is tied to CR, which prompts them to get really deadly at higher levels. A less deadly and more creepy effect might have the PCs do something strange / terrible / tragic with just a suggestion spell, or major image over a hazard, or just a major image that is ol' fashioned misleading and tricksy. But haunts are built with higher level spell effects because of the CR. That's why you're saving against freezing sphere instead of hideous laughter. When you assemble a haunt you're trying to get to a certain CR level which factors in the level of the spell. Does that make sense? Am I talkin' English? :D The CR of the haunt is in proportion to the devastating spell level. Also, lower level haunts use spell effects that also have lower DCs. Since the DC is figured in a similar manner as you would with a magic item that does a spell effect (like a wand). **************
What if we could increase the CR of the haunt by an additional +1, +2, or +3 by just increasing the Save DC of the spell effect? Because if the haunt is based on hideous laughter than a 7th to 9th level party is going to have a pretty easy saving throw anyway, right? And increasing the CL of the spell isn't going to change anything because saving throws aren't determined using them as a factor. But if you raise the Save DC you make it a level appropriate challenge to the party you designed it to go up against, but you're not limited to selecting high damaging 5th through 7th level spell effects? You could use the lower level spells that often do less damage, and sometimes evoke more of a creepy role-playing vibe. Look this over people and tell me what you think! I don't pretend to know everything and you might spot the flaws I can't, but on the surface this looks like it might alleviate some of the problems with the mechanic. I value your input!
Nope. The vault of souls still exists... although if I were developing it today (I didn't develop it back in the day) I'd be more clear on the fact that not EVERY atheist ends up in that particular graveyard. That's good on both counts, I think. That it's still true, and your clarification.
By the by, kikai13 here has played in every session of Bastardhall so far, so if anyone has any questions about the game, he has a unique perspective on the series thus far.Sweeeeet! ::cough:: While I think of a question about the series, how about you tell us how you rig the lottery!? Seriously, have any of the 'episodes' had you face down the Black Carriage? or encounter it? It sounds crazy, but I thought that might be a way get on the grounds. Jump aboard and fight to stay on, or try to follow in its wake before the Estate tries to cut you off from pursuing. BASTARDHALL MUST BE PUBLISHED IN SOME FORM! Megadungeon or mini-arc, what have you.
Hi Dennis. :D All I'm gonna say is that haunts are a spice that can be overused. Too much of anything is not good. I do think one has to be thoughtful in their application. HoH probably overdid it. I developed an internal logic for haunts (after the fact) that frankly wasn't adhered to closely when I wrote the scenario. Chris Mortika really demonstrated that to me well. That's because the rhythm and the sequence came to me after I'd finished writing and I was sitting back thinking about it. That's the god's truth, I'm not looking for cover or an excuse. I'd definitely tweak some of those if I had a time machine. Its a learning experience.
Yay!!! I had not realized the author had been announced on this one so long ago. I loved Frostfur Captives and Haunting of Hinojai for different reasons, and the same is true for this one. The Golden Serpent was written recently enough that it came about AFTER I had started to become much more active on the PFS comnmunity boards, As a result I feel it benefits from a much clearer understanding of the community likes and dislikes (as opposed to HoH and Frostfur, which were written as is). I can't be specific, because we need to preserve spoilers, and of course Mark has the final say on everything and stuff may change. But needless to say, when i was putting it together I was mindful about things people were asking for, what they liked, and what they expressed that they found really frustrating. I couldn't accomodate all the feedback all in one shot, but I certainly bore it in mind. Especially the big stuff. (I.e. some plain ol' fashioned treasure variety is a safe hint, but there is so much more besides that) I consider this scenario as a definite part of my writing evolution and frankly there's always a chance it might suck despite my hopes and hype- but I hope not! I really tried hard! As always I hope the community has a lot fun with this, and I look forward to finding out what works and what doesn't. Barring an emergency I'll be at PaizoCon that weekend and VC's, GMs, and Players can tell me all about it.
Okay Alice, I see where you're coming from. Its cool. I don't want to dogpile on ya with any other posters, so I'll leave it there. AS for the monk question? I can't speak for Leo, but I wrote the catfolk. Love me, hate me, blame me, whatever the crowd desires. So I get whatever insight I 'might have' from the DEPARTMENT OF SPOILERS. And I say no more, lest I be stabbed in the eye with a salad fork. Besides, I am frequently wrong because stuff gets changed. (But if you want to praise me, truthfully, my version was rough and my ideas (and some material I never thought of) were professionally developed and improved by professional people a lot smarter than me.) I submitted art notes, but at that time B3 wasn't in publication so I never saw the B3 illustration. I really don't know if anybody had seen it yet. The final artwork for this book, and indeed the gender of this character was determined by wise people who make decisions in the best interest of the needs of the project. I do know that all gender decisions are made thoughtfully, and are carefully considered. The gender even influences the pronouns used in subsequent text. Peace Alice! :)
But ultimately, I'm not trying to say that "Catfolk must be like Charr!", hell no! The charr play a specific role in the GW2 lore and look the way they do because of the circumstances of that game. What I'm trying to say is that "there are more options than slutty catgirls". And that more monstrous races deserve more depth in their conceptualisation than "guys are big and scary monsters and girls are basically big breasted chicks with animal heads and tails". Alice, I completely respect how you feel. I'm not posting to disagree with your point. I feel it is entirely well taken and well stated. And I definitely don't want to fight the Internet, because I'll get my ass kicked. (Heck, I lose a tooth each and every single time I go near a Rules Question thread) I hear your concern, but I don't see it in the art being depicted. She doesn't look particularly large breasted to me. In my eyes, she looks lean, mean, and athletic. She has a female top, sure, but it doesn't look bulging or unwieldy to me, or large in proportion to her head like in some comic books. Of course, that's my subjective opinion. She's dressed like a monk, which to me accounts for her top. In fact, nunchucks notwithstanding- I got a real strong hunch she IS a monk. ;-) You may disagree with me about her proportions and that's fine. I respect you might see the art differently. I just don't think this character artwork, specifically, is the beginning of a pattern of female objectification. She looks slender to me. PS: I might reply, but I might not. Freelancers have to be careful speaking for the company. I believe in what I'm saying here, but I have to respect Art Department, the Developers, and EVERYBODY ELSE. If this discussion gets heavy, I'll have to quietly disappear and not stir the pot. But I do like the art, and I think the folks responsible did a great job.
I once congratulated Adam Daigle about his possession article in an AP chapter, and he said to me, "Don't thank me, thank Paizo." Implying that he didn't get there alone. So thanks to SKR, Stephen, Jason, and everybody else on the development side. They're the awesome. These catfolk are terrific. I'm proud of the final product. This is going to be a really great book- not just for players but for GMs who want to spice up their campaigns with some really cool options.
Lol I wish I could favorite a post with an alias. Hail Grog!
I'm going to be brief, just to be mindful of my place in things. There's a lot to be said about learning by doing, and sometimes we don't get a really good idea 100% perfect the first time- because we're learning. It's hard to see the end result till we try to implement it. But out of these experiments we get some cool things, as well as the opportunity of doing it better the next time. I'd ask that you give Mark and Mike some grace to try some innovation (and by proxy the writers, who get to implement these ideas and learn and develop too. Its hard to spontaneously generate perfection. Please consider giving them a chance.
This just sounds dull. Three books of keeping crime down and Pathfinders in check? Are they cleaning off graffiti by book 4? I don't want to disrespect the other poster, but I agree. But!! If this was an Irrisen AP we could be in Whitethrone disrupting the peace, and smuggling Pathfinders in an underground resistance movement to end the spell of Eternal Winter! While winterwolves and ice trolls are part of the secret police. Ice goblins make poor subjugated humans paint over our graffiti with white paint made from the ground bones of little children! Courage, impossible odds, hope in the face of despair, fantastic foes, bizarre societies.. Now that doesn't sound boring.
Balanced for 4 players was the largest issue, and Paizo has addressed that. Now we'll see if the public will think it's too hard. I'm really worried that the team will just use more single boss type of monsters that's even higher CR. That's the wrong way to do it, because after all of these years in the d20 system, they should know that action economy is huge, and the side with action economy has an advantage. That's really a great point, Bruce. I recently had a conversation with a 3PP author who made the same remark. I have done some single Boss with higher CR encounters in Season Three. Please don't worry, I think I have done things to mitigate what you're saying, but your logic is spot on. I totally agree. And word count has been part of that as you're trying to squeeze all that you can in there. Which means either repeating creatures from earlier in the scenario, using unmodified stock creatures, or just having one tougher Boss. Small disclosure though (may Mark forgive me) is that in Season 4 we're not automatically saying you have to have two to three puzzles/traps/haunts to equal to one combat encounter. We're looking at them in terms of minor and major encounters and saying that we should have so many of each, and a minor encounter can be just a single simple puzzle/trap/haunt. That gives us some wordcount back, and that can be re-invested into the combat / role-playing encounters where they are sorely needed. So it becomes easier to give that Boss some back-up, and not make that fight a study in action economy. Yeah, technically some of my Season Three scenarios (one of which is still in development) has too many encounters by the new Season 4 standard. I think it rocks anyway, but two traps, their descriptions, in two different tiers would have saved me some words-allowing for hot boss minion action. May my masters forgive my brief parting of the curtain! Things improve all the time! Anyway, I appreciate your comments Bruce, and your feedback.
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