lojakz's page

Allowing anonymous, overly-invested/entitled internet nerds to have their senseless opinions actually matter in an observable way (by influencing an aggregate user review score on a very visible review site) is not a good thing, no.

[...]

Rad. But there are legitimate reasons for requiring a constant connection that don't involve facilitating multiplayer. For some reason you've decided that facilitating multiplayer is a legitimate reason for requiring a connection, while ensuring that items are not duplicated in an effort to monopolize the game's totally multiplayer auction house and economy isn't legitimate.

Scott, I frankly never quite clicked with your opinions in the past, but usually you raised points I could at least respect. However, this latest pet peeve of yours smacks of some ideas I frankly find reprehensible. Following that line of logic, you could ban anyone from publishing "overly-invested/entitled <insert derogatory terms) opinions" on about any subject. After all, it is frankly obvious we need to <liberate iran / leash the maniacal banking sector / protect our citizens from secular propaganda>.

Additionally, and just for the heck of it - you put the cart before the horse here. Putting a "fully global auction house" in an essentially single player experience is a very good scapegoat for the constant internet connection - but the design choice to do that is not automatic, but had to be made at some point. The same logic as "ah, its always online so we can stop cheaters" applies here - there is no gain, its a lousy excuse tacked on to a pre-concieved choice. You want an auction house? Play online. But what if I want to cheat in my single player game? Why should I be prohibited from it?

Paul Watson wrote:

Shalafi2412 wrote:

Deadmanwalking wrote:

Shalafi2412 wrote:

Paul Watson wrote:

Shalafi,

So, are you saying condoms should be banned? Or is your desire to enforce natural law selective?

Should they be banned? That is not my call. However, would I use them? No.

If that's not your call, why is whether two men can get married?

If they want a civil union that is fine by me. Just do not call it marriage.

Why not? What does it matter if it's called marriage or not? Religions don't own the word.

Because it would be a radical redefinition of the term.

Language evolves. Deal with it. We're changing it because the current definition is inadequate for the needs of some, and because changing that definition to incorporate their desires does not harm you or anyone else in any way whatsoever.

Again, the time for debate on this is over. History has made up its mind and the wheels are rolling. You have two choices remaining: support the cause of equality, or be quiet and stay out of the way. There is no other option that allows you to keep your humanity intact.

In fact, I'm inclined to say that anything less than full-throated support for same-sex marriage rights makes you something less than human. Twenty years from now, we will look back on those who stood on the sidelines, and we will shame them for their cowardice.

Radiohead - started releasing their songs for free on the internet, or with limmitted DRM and cheap downloads. They have turned significantly more proffit from them than their other albums, despite lower sales numbers.

Studies have proven that the ease of getting past copy protection does not change the level of illegal copying. Games that have easier/no copy protection have the same number or fewer estimated downloads than those with hard copy protection/DRM when comparing comprable games (genre, sales figures).

And I will point out things like Banner Saga, being made by 3 lead developers from Bioware, being released DRM free. In fact, DRM free is one of the most requested features on indie games, and developers who have done it do it again.

I argue that placing restrictions on consumers that inhibits their fair use of a product you sell them is the unethical behavior, not actively utalizing your rights to fair use.

I'm kind of old fashioned. I like to own my property, not merely rent it.

Inspired tactical set-up. Love the encroaching water. Foes seem underwhelming.

10 points for Brike. Every time Ryan Dancey sees something other than "descriptive noun-noun" or "noun-descriptive noun" he rushes to Google it and freaks. From a safe "sales" point of view, not "weirding" out the "poor" reader probably makes sense. Mark Moreland asks if Brike is a funny name you came up with?!? Perhaps he means "did you make the (unsubjectively funny or not) word up? Lets leave the spectre of Greenwoodian naming conventions behind. They're boring, contrived and uninspired, and have done more to retard creativity and spawned more B-grade novels, games and tropes than any other part of our beloved passion. Just my 2 cents of Rantraging Pompousthought. ;p

Thanks everyone!

I started freelancing because of this community of crazy fools and I'm glad as hell to get this job.

TSR saved me from Palladium. I owe them my gaming life.

There are so many games, games with different rules, different settings, different play styles. Sometimes to get the feel of the setting / game, and for the enjoyment of the game you change rules, which is okay because rule sets for games are really more like guidelines. Sometimes they work really well without any interference, sometimes you it doesn't quite fit what you're trying to fit it into, and sometimes it just doesn't work as written.

There are many games and what may work for one game may not work for another. For example the whole caster/martial debate that goes around is the result of different playstyles under the same rules which causes certain people to desire more and want to change things so that the game fits how they imagine it should.

Sometimes you want to share your ideas or get help fitting it how you want to. I know I do. However, when doing such, there is nothing more frustrating than when I go suggesting or asking for help changing a rule and someone comes along and tell you that you're wrong, that you're somehow doing all your players a disservice because you want to change how the game works, how it's supposed to be.

Instead of helping someone tailor their games, they tell off those who want to stray from the suggested path. Like there's only one true path or something.

Argh, it's not like these people have to play in my games. It's my game, my rules. And by my game, I mean the game I run for my players not the entire freaking internet.

Here's the rules:

1. Roll a d100 five times, either with real dice or on Invisible Castle or some other dicerolling website if you wish to confirm your numbers here.

2. The corresponding numbers will show you the five races on the list that will be the player races for your setting. These five races are the only "default assumption" choices for your setting's player race options.

3. Write up a setting with those five races! It can be as simple or as highly developed as you want. From a few short paragraphs to an essay. The only requirement is that all five of your races must have a place in the setting. None of them can just be a footnote compared to the rest. You might want to consider the environment, how the races relate to each other, their origins, cultures, etc.

4. Assume that all of your races are "powered down" (or in rare cases, "powered up", so that they are balanced within reason. You can assume this works any number of ways, from the Savage Species route where races start weak "level up" as their race or that they're just watered down variants of those races.

5. If you get the same number more than once, you have two(or more) very different variants of that race, like the divide between elves and drow.

6. Individuals of all five races must be able to be in a party together.

7. Have FUN. Make it a world you would enjoy playing in or running. If you get a race you really don't like, put a new spin on them. You're not bound to flavor, alignment, aesthetics, or setting expectations save for what you want in your new setting. Make these races your own.

Who knows, you might have some new ideas you want to use in your games, or some that someone else may want to use!

1. Human
2. Elf
3. Dwarf
4. Half-Orc
5. Half-Elf
6. Halfling
7. Gnome
8. Orc
9. Goblin
10. Hobgoblin

11. Drow
12. Tiefling (humanoids with fiend ancestry)
13. Aasimar (humanoids with celestial ancestry)
14. Fetchling (humanoids with shae ancestry)
15. Ifrit (humanoids with efreet ancestry)
16. Undine (humanoids with marid ancestry)
17. Sylph (humanoids with djinn ancestry)
18. Oread (humanoids with shaitan ancestry)
19. Suli (humanoids with jann ancestry)
20. Dhampir (half-humanoid/half-vampire)

21. Changeling (hag-kin) (the children of humanoid males and hags)
22. Catfolk
23. Lizardfolk
24. Ratfolk
25. Vanara (monkey-folk)
26. Vishkanya (humanoids with slight snake-like features and poisonous blood)
27. Strix (black, avian humanoids with harpy-like builds)
28. Tengu
29. Merfolk
30. Gillmen

31. Duergar
32. Derro
33. Svirfneblin
34. Kitsune (shapechanging fox-folk)
35. Nagaji (reptilian humanoids originally created by the naga as a servant race)
36. Samsaran (reincarnated blue-skinned humanoids)
37. Wayang (gnome-like beings with roots in the Shadow Plane)
38. Grippli
39. Kobold
40. Ogre

41. Dryad
42. Satyr
43. Pixie
44. Nymph
45. Sprite
46. Forlarren (bipolar fey born from the unions of nymphs and fiends)
47. Nereid (aquatic nymph-like fey)
48. Nixie
49. Treant
50. Faun

51. Centaur
52. Harpy
53. Medusa
54. Naga
55. Gargoyle
56. Minotaur
57. Troll
58. Gnoll
59. Adlet (barbaric wolf-like humanoids)
60. Vegepygmy

61. Sahuagin
62. Cecaelia (merfolk-like humanoids, with octopus tentacles instead of a fish tail)
63. Grindylow (the goblin equivalent of Cecaelia)
64. Locathah
65. Derhii (winged, intelligent gorillas)
66. Girtablilu (centauroids with a scorpion-like lower half + claws)
67. Sasquatch
68. Tanuki (short raccoon-like humanoids)
69. Thriae (all female-race of bee people)
70. Spriggan

71. Dark Folk
72. Drider
73. Mongrelman
74. Serpentfolk
75. Ettercap
76. Shae (humanoids made of solid shadow)
77. Flumph
78. Vodyanoi (salamander-like humanoids)
79. Ghoul
80. Vampire

81. Gearman/Warforged (mechanical humanoids)
82. Changeling(doppleganger-kin) (descendants of humanoids and dopplegangers)
83. Shifter (descendants of humanoids and lycanthropes)
84. Uldra (small blue-skinned fey adapted for cold environments)
85. Darfellan (powerful humanoids with orca-like skin)
86. Asherati (desert-dwelling hairless elf-like beings capable of swimming through sand)
87. Illumian (human-like beings infused with sorcery with glowing sigils floating around their heads)
88. Raptoran (winged and taloned elf-like race)
89. Goliath (tall, strong humanoids with stony appearances and tough hides)
90. Dragonborn (draconic humanoids)

91. Aberration-based Humanoid (wildcard, make your own!)
92. Construct-based Humanoid (wildcard, make your own!)
93. Dragon-based Humanoid (wildcard, make your own!)
94. Ooze-based Humanoid (wildcard, make your own!)
95. Plant-based Humanoid (wildcard, make your own!)
96. Thri-Kreen (four armed insectoid race)
97. Bariaur (centauroid with a mountain goat-like lower half)
98. Rogue Modron (free-willed box-like construct)
99. Mul (half-human/half-dwarf hybrid)
00. Pseudodragon

If you need more information on any of these races, just ask!

Credit where credit's due:

...And yet you demand attendance for XP?
It's almost as if no one ever lost their home due to a low character level.

Wow. Long, divisive thread.

I am a player who sometimes misses games (say, 25%) and I would flat out refuse being given experience for a session I missed. I would be made unhappy by being kept up with everyone else. I am fine being a bit behind, or even a lot behind.

Of course, I came up in a game where all new characters are level 1, regardless. So maybe I am used to games where being 1 to 10 levels behind happens routinely. But oir group finds that kind of thing fun (being the apprentice, trainee, underdog, lackey).

mdt wrote:

To Scott, yes, the GM was part of the problem. So was his policy, and so was the player. You talk about punishing people by not giving xp, I say it is not punishment. I say that if you give the same XP to everyone, you are instead rewarding those who do not put forth a reasonable effort to fulfill their half of the social contract we entered into.

Right, and I'm saying that if a player is failing to fulfill their part of the social contract surrounding the game, what are they doing in your group? Address the player's lack of participation directly, rather than with this sort of passive-aggressive "Oh, you didn't show up. No big deal. We're just gonna put you a level behind everyone else. But hey, it's cool," sort of nonsense.

We are not talking about putting them anywhere, it isn't a punishment in the "take that" sense.

They are at the level which they have been playing, and that they have earned. If they are a level 7, and haven't played any more games, haven't earned the xp to get to level 8, they are still at level 7.

They are not being put into a lower level than what they have, you see it as a punishment for them to be at their level, when others have moved up and on. To the victors (and the players) go the spoils.

To this:
"I mean, really. That's the support? "Being two levels behind isn't bad! Sure, you might end up doing nothing but giving the fighter little bonuses to attack now and then, but hey, at least you're rolling a die!""

Sigh, as if that is all a lower pc can do. If you are a wizard, everyone is level 7, and you are at level 5, you can still throw fireballs, and all other spells in your spellcasting repertoire. If you are a rogue you can always use your skills no matter your level, you will have a lot of them, and an easy mark isn't too hard to find. Keep back and remember the stealth rules if you need to do scouting, don't try to creep under their nose. If a melee, pick up some reach martial weapons and don't face your foes face to face, but attack from flanks, reach charging can be effective, break out the spiked chain, attack and withdraw behind allies and then move around to flank again. Just because you aren't the highest level, doesn't mean you can't fight hard and build your reputation and your character's xp.

Or if you are a bard, play that song, pull out some ranged and shoot the enemies in the face.

Gah, the position of being against being a support character, it is against the very idea of team-play, of working with others. There is no I in team, but there is an I in whine.

mdt wrote:

I believe the appropriate quote is, remove the plank from thine own eye, before thou condemn the splinter in thy brother's eye.

You should know by now that Scott is who he is and won't compromise that for anyone. :)

Actually, I don't think I've encountered him on the boards prior to this thread, or I've never noticed him. I just get PO'd when someone starts posting as if they were Moses on high passing judgement on all the BadWrongFun sinners.

You can argue rules interpretations until you're blue in the face, perfectly fine with people disagreeing over rules. And I'm more than willing to admit that I get PO'd sometimes at people and make over sweeping statements. I'm human. But I also see no reason not to call people on it. People call me on it when I do it.

However, in this thread we're not arguing rules, we're arguing philosophy on how to play the game, and the argument even is over house rules (not using XP or giving it out to someone who wasn't there is a house rule), and someone pontificating and making sweeping insults that everyone who doesn't do exactly what they say is a power tripping DM, or is playing the game wrong, or is just trying to punish players, is wrong wrong wrong wrong. Not wrong for arguing what they believe, but for denigrating someone else's playstyle! I'm not really into monty haul games, but if groups enjoy that, then more power to them. It's not WRONG to play that way, it's just wrong for me.

Scott is spouting out that anyone that doesn't play the way he says is playing the game wrong, and nobody has that right. I don't give a flip who they are, or how self righteous they think they are.

Scott,
People might pay more attention to your views, or at least respect them more, if you didn't marginalize everyone who doesn't agree with you with every single post you make. You insult everyone who doesn't agree with you with every post, yet you take the moral high ground of saying you don't like to marginalize people in your games. Apparently marginalizing them in every single post you make is ok though.

I believe the appropriate quote is, remove the plank from thine own eye, before thou condemn the splinter in thy brother's eye.

The players you're marginalizing will feel like it's punishment, no matter what you think it is.

It's clear that from your experience, the majority of the players that you've met feel like you do...

Conversely, believe it or not, the majority of players that I've met do not share your sentiments on the matter...

It is not a universal feeling that players feel marginalized, and I think it would be extremely arrogant of somebody to claim that the majority of gamers (in general) feel that way on the matter. I know that am not going to be so arrogant as to believe that the gamers that I've met that feel the same way I do represent the majority of gamers in general (and I've met a heck of a lot of gamers in the last 30 years)...

Hi,

As I mentioned in another thread, I created a rumor chart for my CotCT campaign. I choose and/or randomly roll from among the following list to inform my players of rumors they've heard recently. Note that the second columns (T/F) shows whether the rumor is true or false. A skill check (type and DC at the DM's discretion) can tell the player that a false rumor is indeed probably false.

Some of these rumors are just reference to entries in the Guide to Korvosa or some of the modules, but can serve to help the PC's discover Korvosa a little more piece by piece.

I hope it can be of help to those of you out there running this great campaign! :)

# T/F Rumor
1 T The region around Hook Mountain was attacked by ogres.
2 F The towns around Hook Mountain were all overrun by trolls. Everybody's dead.
3 T A fortress next to Turtleback Ferry near Hook Mountain to the Northwest was invaded by ogres, but some adventurers reclaimed it
4 T A cult of murderers worshipping Norgorber who had been rampaging in Magnimar for some time were destroyed by some heroes.
5 T There are wererats in the Vaults below Korvosa.
6 T There are wererats in the Vaults below Korvosa. They are only vulnerable to silver weapons.
7 T There are wererats in the Vaults below Korvosa. They are only vunerable to silver or mithral weapons.
8 T There are wererats in the Vaults below Korvosa. They are not all evil. Some are like normal people most of the time.
9 F Most members of the thieves guild are really wererats. That's why they're so hard to kill
10 F A Sea Dragon lives in Conqueror's Bay, west of Korvosa.
11 F A Sea Dragon lives in Conqueror's Bay, west of Korvosa. It's controlled by the mages of the Acadamae to help the city's defenses.
12 T An evil sea witch lives around the waters in Korvosa.
13 T An evil sea witch lives around the waters in Korvosa. She can use magic and control fish.
14 T There are big monsters called otyughs in the Vaults of the city. They have tentacles.
15 T There are big monsters called otyughs in the Vaults of the city. They have tentacles. The city keeps them there to clean the Vaults.
16 T Watch out for the chokers, don't stand too close to windows on upper floors
17 F Blackjack is the master of the thieves guild
18 F Blackjack was an evil assassin, redeemed by a priest of Iomedae and given a magical quest to help the downtrodden to atone for his evil ways
19 T Blackjack is either an elf or has been several humans over the past decades/centuries. See GTK p58.
20 T The Queen and her bodyguard Sabina are lovers
21 T The King had a harem, but god rid of it when he married his young wife
22 F The King has come back as a ghost and is the true ruler of Korvosa, Ileosa is only the public face
23 F The King was killed by the Curse of the Crimson Throne. It's only a matter of time before his pretty wife shares his fate.
24 F The King died while making love to his beautiful young wife
25 T Many people disappear in Korvosa… It's a dangerous city
26 T Many people disappear in Korvosa… there must be some hidden monsters lurking that nobody has found and killed yet.
27 F The recent riots were made worse by disruptive agents sent by the rival city of Magnimar to sow dissent in Korvosa
28 F The Undead in Gray District are all the restless spirits of the Shoanti warriors killed centuries ago
29 F There is something odd going on in the church of Pharasma: why are there so many undead in the Gray District? Are they building an undead army?
30 F The Church of Asmodeus has plans to overthrow the Church of Abadar and become the most powerful church in Korvosa
31 T Queen Domina had a bastard child; Eodred's half-brother
32 T Queen Domina had a bastard child; Eodred's half-brother; he is a tiefling
33 T Queen Domina had a bastard child; Eodred's half-brother; he is a tiefling who always remains in a secret place in the castle
34 F Queen Domina had a bastard child; Eodred's half-brother; he is a tiefling who always remains in a secret place in the castle; he is in fact the mastermind manipulating Eodred all along, and now manipulating Ileosa
35 F House Ornelos is trying to depose Ileosa to take control of Korvosa
36 F House Jeggare is trying working with Magnimar to undermine Korvosa authority to weaken it for an invasion
37 F Mister Pestico makes living dolls, but one went insane and killed people. She has never been found
38 F The wizards of the Acadamae often use Invisible Stalkers to get rid of people who are too nosy about their affairs
39 T There are strange little creatures with white eyes living below Korvosa; they are cruel and kidnap people; my cousin was kidnapped by them but doesn't remember what they did exactly
40 T Vencarlo Orisini is one of the finest blades in Korvosa - he often teaches young noblemen
41 T Vencarlo Orisini is one of the finest blades in Korvosa - he is often vocally opposed to the Korvosan rulers
42 T Vencarlo Orisini is one of the finest blades in Korvosa - he even taught Sabina Merrin, the queen's bodyguard
43 T House Arkona does a lot of trading with distant Vudra
44 T House Arkona does a lot of trading with distant Vudra - their mansion is decorated with themes from that country and there are wild and fantastic beast that roam in their gardens.
45 T Info on House Arkona (GTK p40)
46 T The enemies of House Arkona have a tendency to disappear under mysterious circumstances
47 T If you want to see some sick plays, go to Exemplary Execrables in Old Korvosa
48 T If you want to see some sick plays, go to Exemplary Execrables in Old Korvosa. Sometimes the bad actors there die for real
49 T Pilts Swastel is the demented owner of Exemplary Execrables. He keeps a crazy gnome as his pet.
50 F The high-ranking priests of Asmodeus are all vampires
51 T There are some red-clad assassins working around Korvosa
52 T Queen Ileosa is young and arrogant. She only married King Eodred for his power
53 T Queen Ileosa comes from Cheliax. She has made clear that she finds Korvosa to be a backwater place
54 F Queen Ileosa was married against her will to King Eodred. She is a sweet, innocent and misunderstood woman
55 F Queen Ileosa is being courted by lord Calerdo of house Jeggare and we can expect a marriage soon
56 F Queen Ileosa's beauty has something magical because she has some nymph blood
57 F Bogus rumors like Lady Marguerite of House Jeggare has a torid love affair with the hero Blackjack.
58 F Bogus rumors like Lady Calaria of House Leroung has an affair with the Mieraeni Ambassador and gave birth to a half-elf bastard.
59 F There is an evil old Varisian Witch living in Thief Camp who puts curses on Chelaxians who go there
60 F FM Kroft is getting annoyed with those damn Varisian thieves. It's only a matter of town before the guard raids Thief Camp and arrests them all!
61 T Zenobia Zenderholm is tough as nails - merciless with criminals
62 F Zenobia Zenderholm is tough as nails - merciless, devout follower of Asmodeus
63 T Zenobia Zenderholm is tough as nails - merciless with criminals but with a kind heart
64 F The pseudodragons in Korvosa are all the offspring/servants of a huge gold dragon living in a secret cave near Korvosa
65 T The imps in Korvosa come from inept Acadamae students who summoned them as part of their studies
66 F There is a portal to Hell deep below the Acadamae. Students who fail to become wizards are sent there as gifts for devils who aid the master wizards.
67 T Sabina Merrin is as deadly as she is beautiful
68 ? Sabina Merrin is the most powerful warrior in Korvosa
69 F Sabina Merrin wields a magical sword that makes her invincible
70 F Commandant Endrin and FM Kroft rarely see eye to eye and often enter in conflict
71 T Command Endrin hates the Hellknights
72 F The Hellknights serve the church of Asmodeus
73 F The Hellknights are evil and are a danger to Korvosa
74 T Rumor describing the Hellknight leaders (Severs and Maydraine Vox)
75 T Rumor describing the relationship between the Hellknights and Queen Domina
76 T Rumor describing the other Hellknight orders (see Council of Thieves books 3 and 4)
77 F The Hellknights are here under orders from Cheliax to prepare for an invasion of all Varisia
78 F The Hellknights are far more powerful than those Shoanti barbarians
79 F Blackjack hasn't been seen in a while because he's been captured by the Hellknights. He probably met a very unpleasant end at their hands
80 T The power over Korvosa is actually split between the King/Queen and the Seneschal
81 F Some people suspect that the seneschal had a hand into Eodred's death. Ileosa is surely easier to manipulate than the wise old king.
82 T Some customers of the "Upslope House" inn in the Heights (H2, GtKp16) have disappeared during the night.
83 T Some customers of the "Upslope House" inn in the Heights (H2, GtKp16) have disappeared during the night. The inn stands atop an opening into a natural-cave Vault under the hill. Servants of some dark power use the Vault for some nefarious plots.
84 T Some customers of the "Upslope House" inn in the Heights (H2, GtKp16) have disappeared during the night. The inn stands atop an opening into a natural-cave Vault under the hill. Servants of some dark power use the Vault for some nefarious plots. There are nocturnal creatures called Derros who kidnap humans. At least, that's what I heard from a wizard. I don't know what a Derro actually is. Maybe some kind of demon?
85 T One of the noble houses is the true power behind the Cerullean Society, the thieves' guild.
86 F One of the noble houses is the true power behind the Cerullean Society, the thieves' guild. It is House Bromathan.
87 T One of the noble houses is the true power behind the Cerullean Society, the thieves' guild. It is House Arkona.
88 T I'm glad we have a strong queen in charge now! All those damned arbiters and magistrates just waste our time and our taxes. Who knows what the hell they're doing anyway!
89 T The Seneshal, Neolandus Kalepopolis, is a wise and reasonable man. He'd make a much better ruler than that young spoiled queen Ileosa! They should put him in charge, I say!
90 T When she was young, my aunt Lirbella was saved from a pack of stinking Varisian thugs and rapists by none other than Blackjack himself! He beat the crap out of them and walked her home safely. Now, that's a gentleman! Now, that's a hero! I wish he would return to Korvosa and help us out, we could sure use his help in these troubled times.
91 T One of the leaders of the Order of the Nail Hellknights, Paravicar Acillmar, wields incredibly powerful magic, being able to call upon the power of Asmodeus but also to cast spells as a Wizard (he's a MT)
92 T Discussion among workers, some bitter because they can’t form unions (except thieves!), others saying they’re fine, have plenty of laws protecting them, then start calling the other a Solly, and a bar brawl starts.
93 T Some people look down on adventurers, citing that all groups hired in 4661 by King Chadris to kill the red dragon Glarataxus who was terrorizing the villages of Palin’s Cove and Baslwief failed. The last time the dragon attacked was in 4674.
94 T Info about Kaer Maga (guide to Korvosa p7)
95 T Info about Abken (guide to Korvosa p7)
96 T Info about Biston (guide to Korvosa p7)
97 T Info about Baslwief (guide to Korvosa p7)
98 T Info about Harse (guide to Korvosa p7)
99 T Info about Melfesh (guide to Korvosa p7)
100 T Info about Palin's Cove (guide to Korvosa p7)
101 T Info about Sirathu (guide to Korvosa p7)
102 T Info about Veldraine (guide to Korvosa p7)
103 F Few people are allowed inside the Acadamae besides teachers and students of the arcane. They focus on conjuration. Students who fail are recycled as fodder for necromantic studies…
104 F Few people are allowed inside the Acadamae besides teachers and students of the arcane. The necromancers are building an army of undead to overthrow the dominant conjurers and take control of the Acadamae.
105 T There is some rivalry between the schools of conjuration and neceromancy at the Acadamae. The young students from those departments sometimes duel each other.
106 T Information about the building of the Great Tower (H1, GtK p16)
107 T Description of the construction and consecration of the Temple of Asmodeus (H4, GtK p17) It was a priestess of Shelyn, now dead, who performed the resurrections of the virgins.
108 T The temple of Asmodeus promotes slave trade (H4, GtK p17) even though the guard found nothing.
109 T Strange noises can be heard from the top floor of the university after sunset, as if people were walking on the rooftop. But the Korvosan Guard didn't find anything strange when they investigated. They think maybe it's a rumor started by someone trying to cause problems for the university. (H8b, GTK p18)
110 T The Marbledome (H11, GTK p19) isn't profitable, and badly managed by Touran Palastus. The artists are treated like crap. Some defect to Magnimar as a result.
111 T Story of how Kendall amphitheater was created (H12, GTK p19)
112 T Basha (M4 GtK p22, 2nd one) sells fake treasure maps he draws himself.
113 T Gemshare Jewelers (M4.5, GTK p22) is a good place to buy and sell gems.
114 T Phaeton Skoda, the owner of Hedge Wizardry (M4.6, GTK p22) stole magical items from Theumanexus College before she left it, and now she's in trouble with the other wizards.
115 T Kep, the owner of Kep's fishery, sells all kinds of exotic fish caught by his brother's wide nets. (M4.8, GTK p22).
116 T Kep, the owner of Kep's fishery, sells all kinds of exotic fish caught by his brother's wide nets. (M4.8, GTK p22). He has a stuffed sahuagin in his shop, that draws a lot of people. Some have claimed to see it move.
117 F Kep, the owner of Kep's fishery, sells all kinds of exotic fish. (M4.8, GTK p22). Rumors say that he keeps some undead animated sea creatures to protect his shop; perhaps he and his brother found an underwater treasure and they're trying to keep it secure?
118 T Rumors about "Tracey", the owner of Fair-Fished Baitshop (M4.9, GTK p23)
119 T (Coming from a very well-groomed person): the best barber in town is Hooktooth, the half-orc owner of Pinking Shears (M4.10, GTK p23). He can introduce the PC to him.
120 T Slicing Dicers (M4.11, GTK p23) is a great place to sell previously owned weapons.
121 T The food shop Smoked Foods (M4.12, GTK p23) just received a Bulette killed by Shoanti hunters in the Cinderlands! The owner is going to cut it in the street in front of everyone! You gotta see this!
122 T The owner of the clock shop "Time Stop" is also the one who made and adjusts the clock on the high tower of Castle Korvosa. He's a crazy gnome who named his daughters Min and Sec.
123 T Info about Trapper's Hole (M4.14, GTK p23).
124 T Info about Citadel Volshyenek (M5, GTK p23).
125 T Info about Pestico's Dolls and Figurines (M8, GTK p24).
126 T The ghost of a Shoanti princess appears three nights each year at the Laughing Wave Inn (N1, GTKp24)
127 T The old inn "Whitecaps" in North Point used to be very secure, but burglars have broken into it twice in recent months (N3, GTK p25)
128 T Info about Longacre building (N4, GTK p25): how prisoners are executed + mysterious disappearances.
129 T Info about City Hall (N5, GTK p25): nicer old style architecture + most famous painting.
130 T Info about Montlarion Jeggare (GTK p 12)
131 T Info about Saint Allika the Martyr (GTK p19)
132 T Info about Keyra Palin (GTK p23)
133 T Info about FM Korvosa (GTK p27)
134 T Info about the temple of Abadar (N6, GTK p26)
135 T Info about the Three Rings Tavern (N7, GTK p26)
136 T Description of the avenue of arms (N9, GTK p26)
137 T Info about Posh and Turtle (N10, GTK p26), its appearance and how it's the nicest restaurant in town.
138 T Info about Posh and Turtle (N10, GTK p26), about the Druids causing trouble and being hired by a Magnimar competitor.
139 T Info about Palace Arkona (black marbe, trade with Vudra, exotic animals and statues) (O1, GTK p28)
140 T Info about Old City Hall (O2, GTK p28).
141 T Info about Vencarlo Orisini's academy (O3, GTK p28). Vencarlo is getting old and will soon retire.
142 T Info about Endrin Military Academy (O4, GTK p28)
143 T Info about Reefclaw Run Market (O5, GTK p29)
144 T Info about the Sticky Mermaid (O6, GTK p29)
145 T Info about the Jeggare's Jug (O7, GTK p29)
146 T Info about Eel's End/Devargo Barvasi (O9, GTK p29)
147 T Info about Exemplary Execrables/Pilts Swastel (O10, GTK p29)
148 T Info about the temple of Aroden (O11, GTK p30)
149 T Info about the Travelling Man Tavern (O12, GTK p30) with the otyugh feeding every oathday.
150 T Info about Hessim, Newby and Sage (O13, GTK p30) the paint makers.
151 T Info about the Ironworks (O14, GTK p30)
152 T Info about Orkatto's Feathers and Fur (S1, GTK p30)
153 T Info about the Green Market (S2, GTK p30).
154 T Info about Bard's End (S3, GTK p31)
155 T Info on the Shingles (GTK p32)
156 T Info on Twitcher's (GTK p33) the tavern up in the Shingles of North Point, with suspiciously strong drink.
157 T Info on the Vaults (GTK p33)
158 T Info on "The Commandant of the Sable Company" (GTK p35)
159 T Info on "Field Marshal of the Korvosan Guard" (GTK p35)
160 T B+%%%ing about how FM Kroft hires adventurers to do guards' jobs.
161 T Chatting about the next upcoming holiday and its meaning (GTK p36).
162 T Chatting about the other holidays
163 T Info about the Magistrates (GTK p35-36)
164 T Info about the Monarch (GTK p36)
165 T Info about the Seneschal (GTK p37)
166 T Info about Peerage review (GTK p37)
167 T Info on the Korvosan Guard (GTK p37)
168 T Info on the Order of the Nail Hellknights (GTK p37)
169 T Info about The Sable Company (GTK p38)
170 T Info about King Eodred 2 (GTK p38)
171 T Info about Zenobia Zenderholm (GTK p39)
172 T General info about nobles (GTK p39)
173 T Info about House Arabasti (GTK p39)
174 T Info on House Arkona (GTK p40)
175 T Info on House Bromathan (GTK p41)
176 T Info on House Endrin (GTK p41)
177 T Info on House Jeggare (GTK p41)
178 T Info on House Leroung (GTK p42)
179 T Info on House Ornelos (GTK p42)
180 T Info on House Porphyria (GTK p42)
181 T Info on House Zenderholm (GTK p43)
182 T Info on the "Dock Families" (GTK p44 sidebar)
183 T Info on Queen Ileosa (GTK p45)
184 T Rumors wondering why King Eodred didn't father any heir with the many harem girls or Ileosa
185 T Info about Waydon Endrin (GTK p47)
186 T Info about the Cerulean Society (GTK p46)
187 T Info about the Catsdew Lofties (GTK p47)
188 T Info about the Dusters (GTK p47)
189 T Info about the Sczarni (GTK p47)
190 T Info about Toff Ornelos (GTK p52). He hoards his power as a Headmaster. To become a headmaster, one had to bind a powerful devil. It is rumored that Toff summoned a Pit Fiend: he is very powerful.
191 T Info about Volshyenek Ornelos (GTK p57)
192 T The grandson of a priest of Asmodeus has mysteriously disappeared a few months ago (see temple of Sarenrae)
193 F Devargo Barvasi, the master of Eel's End, has some fiendish blood and can control spiders.
194 F "Facts" about devilfish (A1 p81)
195 T The legend of "Meatclaw" the giant reefclaw (A1 p89)
196 T History of Varisians (A1 p63-64)

We'll have a lot more information about The Shattered Star AP in a few months. We wanted to announce it as part of our celebration of our 10th year anniversary (and our 5th year of Pathfinder); that's also why we're going back to Varisia with this AP, incidentally.

But I can tell you this bit of extra info about what "The Shattered Star" actually is. The PCs will learn this relatively early in the first adventure, but I'll spoiler it anyway...

Today is August 1st. There are ~18 weeks between now and December. If I save $14/week, I can buy a case (shipping included).

-Skeld

My opinion on cheating is if you have to cheat to have fun go play your video games by yourself. if your killing the rest of the parties fun then you need to go period. Though most cheating on the player end stems IMHO from the player vs the GM mentality which i have never understood. (though i had a very wonderful gm who taught me.)

slightly divergent, but bear with me...

assume for a moment that the starstone was a source of immense (if unfocused) power. the aboleth decide that, for whatever reason, humanity needs a beat down. So here's this immense source of extra-terrestrial power already floating around up there in the dark tapestry...the aboleth, being efficient little slime beasts, decide to kill two birds with one stone (so to speak) - they call down the hell rock to smash their former servants AND leave open the possibility of getting their tentacles on a source of incredible power.

But they bite off more than they can chew. the starstone is power unrestrained - it does what the aboleth want...but it does it to a degree that also hurts the aboleth. which when you think about it is basically the starstone's schtick - it responds to...well, lets call it 'purity of purpose'. Or at least for the time being. Power unrestrained, power needed (or wanting) a focus. power without morality too for that matter. Aroden pulled the hell rock out of the sea and it made him a god. But why? Because he was true to himself and THAT sort of focus - inhuman focus and willpower - is what the starstone best responds too. And the other humans that rock elevated to gods - they were also inhumanly focused on their innermost desires. Sometimes that turned out well and sometimes it turned people into evil gods...but in any case it was power unrestrained until focused by human will sharpened to an almost insane degree. how you get there isn't important, it's the will and focus that matters.

so where's the lovecraftian angle? well think about it - Nylarthotep has always destroyed humans by basically giving them what they want, in most cases pure power. By giving humans access to an artifact of unspeakable power and allowing them to ascend to (literally!) god like power, he somehow advances the goals of the Great Old Ones. So from a certain perspective the starstone could be an insidious long term plot by the crawling chaos to encourage humanity to become gods and/or create massive chaos and unrest among human societies.

I apologize for the convoluted reasoning. it's hot as hell today and I think my brain is sweating.

The Carrion Crown adventure, Wake of the Watcher, has tons of info about Lovecraftian elements in Golarion. Just a head's up: you have to be pretty familiar with the Pathfinder Campaign Setting, as well as HP Lovecraft's work, for this post to have much meaning for you.

Here are some conclusions I've drawn...

First, it's outright stated that Nyarlathotep, in his incarnation as the Black Pharaoh, had a hand in developing Ancient Osirion. This has some interesting implications regarding the "countdown clocks" found in the Pact Stone Pyramid module. Maybe those clocks are counting down to when the Black Pharaoh returns? That would certainly be an epic event.

Also, it's strongly implied that the Elder Things had a hand in developing life on Golarion (just as was the case with Lovecraft's epic, "At the Mountains of Madness"). They were also at war with the aboleths. This leads me to a few guesses: first, the ancient city located at the top of the Crown of the World is actually an Elder Thing city. Also, the Vault Builders of Orv may have been Elder Things.

I imagine there are other implications hidden in this adventure as well.

Five Books everyone not just gamers should read?

you can do less books if you can't think of any, I am sure you are busy.

also this thread is still fun

I would say:

"The Stand" (Stephen King)
"Imagica" (Clive Barker)
"Nightworld" (F. Paul Wilson)
"A Song of Fire and Ice" (George R. R. Martin)
The biggest and most complete H. P. Lovecraft collection you can find

I'm starting curse this week. I've been perusing the boards and what not but I'd figure I'd ask for any special advice or ideas that people used to enhance their games. Stuff like introduce x npc in the pcs backstory and have them make an appearance early, or so and so is a good reoccurring villain kinds of things. Thanks!

Good luck, it's a great AP. Some tips from my experience (currently on book 5):

Big spoilers ahead...
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A list of ten things just so I set a limit for myself:

1. Don't overly stress Gaedren as a motivation for the PCs. They get him pretty quickly and many groups go into the AP thinking he is a major villain and are shocked (and disappointed) when they get him so quickly. Gaedren is just an excuse to get the PCs together, he has no AP impact beyond this.

2. Early in the PCs days in Korvosa (the first 2 books mainly) make sure they encounter and establish some kind of relationship with Cressida, Thousand Bones, and Vencarlo. All these NPCs will play roles throughout the AP. There are others as well but these three are particularly important.

3. For some great foreshadowing the PCs should also interact with Queen Ileosa, Marcus of the Sable company, and Bishop Keppira d’Bear. All of these NPCs will have impact later on (obviously) so if the PCs interact with them now it will have greater meaning in the future. You might want to also foreshadow the eventual appearance of Torgomor the bloatmage, should the PCs start sniffing around the Acadamae. The PCs interacting face to face with Queen Ileosa at some point before 3rd level I think is a must.

4. Weave in the history between Korvosa and the Shoan-Ti in the early parts of the AP. Part 4 has the PCs spend a lot of time with the Shoan-Ti and if they don't know anything about them or their history with Korvosa, or their impending aggression against Korvosa, it can seem out of place.

5. Make sure the PCs understand the hierarchy of Korvosa. Specifically what the royalty controls, what the seneschal controls, and the Korvosa guard duties and Sable company duties. If the PCs understand the politics of Korvosa it will have more meaning once the Grey Maidens show up and the senechal disappears and so on.

6. If you plan to do the AP as written keep travel outside of Korvosa to a bare minimum in the beginning, if you have any at all. As the AP progresses the city should become more and more hostile toward the PCs and starting at book 3 seem almost claustrophobic. Like they are constantly being watched and very often harassed. This way when the PCs are removed from the city (as the AP expects) it will be a kind of relief with an increasing feeling of guilt to return and not a jarring railroad as some groups have complained about.

7. If you plan to run the AP as written have the PCs spend very little time in dungeons. Scarwall (part 5) is a pretty massive dungeon that ideally should be the first time this group of PCs enters one. If you inundate the party with dungeon crawls before this, Scarwall will seem like a slog.

8. One of the overriding themes of the AP seems to be women as adversaries. Many of the major (and most minor) villains and adversaries in the AP are female. So, as DM, if you want to stress this and make something of it at least you know it now.

9. The Arkonas play an important role in part 3. Ideally the players should know about the family and have heard plenty of rumors about them before part 3. They need not (and perhaps should not) interact with them before part 3 but they certainly should have had reason to be close to them or their business interests. After part 3 they drop off the stage but I think they make a nice interim villain for mid-level PCs.

10. The whole "Blackjack" plot is a bit corny and transparently Batman inspired but it does have a decent payoff in Part 6 for a PC that actually takes up the "mantle" of Blackjack. None of this is integral to the story but it can serve a greater purpose of "inspiration to the masses" at the end game if you choose to make it part of your game. For my group we just couldn't get past the Batman jokes. You might want to consider having Vencarlo explain the whole bit to the PCs early on to try to take some of the corniness out of it rather than bother with the "mystery".

a bonus tip:

11. Go ahead and have the PCs present at the Queens revelation. You won't regret it. There is some discussion about this cut scene on the boards but I think the PCs need to be there.

Kill the paladin in his sleep then animate his as a zombie while no one is looking. They wont notice he's dead until he starts to smell.

"thank gods the paladin finally shut up" etc

Oooh shiny.