Pathfinder Adventure Path #127: Crownfall (War for the Crown 1 of 6)

Announced for February! Image and description are provisional and subject to change prior to release.

Yes! ^_^

Wait, the first issue of this AP is DIE HARD?

Yassss!

SWEET!

The adventure kicks off the War for the Crown Adventure Path, as players drag a once-grand nation kicking and screaming into the modern day,

Oh f#!* yeah.

I hope the AP logo is subject to change prior to release, too. It really looks a bit pedestrian like this.

This sounds really cool!

I like it!

Yay! Thursty!

...wait: TWO Adventure Path adventures in a row? Dude, when do you sleep?

:)

"...the players drag a once grand nation..." For a minute there I thought it said something about the players going drag:)

Players can become politicians, spymasters, and nobles? Yes pls!

Yay! Thursty!

...wait: TWO Adventure Path adventures in a row? Dude, when do you sleep?

:)

Greg A. Vaughn has an adventure in every adventure path up until Mummy's Mask. :-)

Trapped inside layers upon layers of magical security sounds intrigueing.

This also sounds like certain classes are more suited than others.

High Charisma seems to be a desireable ability for once in this AP...

Yay! Thursty!

...wait: TWO Adventure Path adventures in a row? Dude, when do you sleep?

:)

Whenever Crystal or John instructs me that it's OK to sleep... >_>

Feros wrote:

Yay! Thursty!

...wait: TWO Adventure Path adventures in a row? Dude, when do you sleep?

:)

Whenever Crystal or John instructs me that it's OK to sleep... >_>

Oh shoot, I knew I was forgetting to tell you something for the past couple of nights!

Eh...let's put in a couple more hours of writing first.

Coooooooooool

Feros wrote:

Yay! Thursty!

...wait: TWO Adventure Path adventures in a row? Dude, when do you sleep?

:)

Greg A. Vaughn has an adventure in every adventure path up until Mummy's Mask. :-)

True! But not once did Greg write two adventures in consecutive months! (I just checked)

I just wonder if it's Die Hard or Die Hard with a Vengeance...

Is this adventure path going to heavily use the verbal duels from Ultimate Intrigue.

I'd rather not get it if it does.

It sounds cool.

-Skeld

I just wonder if it's Die Hard or Die Hard with a Vengeance...

Surely it's Die Hard. What I wouldn't give to have a proper Pathfinder version of Hans Gruber...

Interesting! Rockin' modernist cabals.

Is this adventure path going to heavily use the verbal duels from Ultimate Intrigue.

I'd rather not get it if it does.

I don't know the specifics but "verbal duels" sounds awful.....

For Taldor!

I don't know the specifics but "verbal duels" sounds awful.....

They show up in Ultimate Intrigue.

The idea is to model verbal conflicts more like physical conflicts. By default we have 1,000+ pages of physical combat rules with different attacks, maneuvers, feats, special abilities, modifiers and so on. A negotiation, by contrast, is just "roll diplomacy".

Verbal duels introduce 'determination' which are basically hit points, each 'round' of the verbal duel has a winner and a loser who loses determination until they are forced to concede. Different tactics are available for each round, use of allegory for example uses a different skill than baiting the opponent and there are rock-paper-scissors style interactions between the techniques. Logic for example has a penalty when used to counter red herrings.

I'm not a fan, it adds a lot of mechanics, calculations, and general bookkeeping to social scenes and can obscure role playing behind a thick wall of abstract math problems.

Took long enough. Now lets see how this thing goes.

Nut bunnies, I was hoping for Holomog and Geb. :(

Oh wells, I hope this'll be good.

Also, with a face like that, did anyone really expect Stavian to be a good king? :D

I mean, to me he was the perfect set up for the Vigilante class concept. Seemingly powerless ruler by day, hitting the streets and getting s%!! done without regards for red tape by night.

Berselius,

I expect we'll get some Geb down the road. Maybe.

Berselius,

I expect we'll get some Geb down the road. Maybe.

Hope so, I'd also love to see another Megadungeon. Maybe something similar to Gygax's Necropolis? Only maybe the final boss can be an insane Mummy Lord cleric of Rovagug hoping to summon a brand new spawn of the rough beast. Then when the PC's finally beat him, BANG, the mummy lord's helmet pops open and he's revealed as a demilich! ^_^

Hope so, I'd also love to see another Megadungeon. Maybe something similar to Gygax's Necropolis? Only maybe the final boss can be an insane Mummy Lord cleric of Rovagug hoping to summon a brand new spawn of the rough beast. Then when the PC's finally beat him, BANG, the mummy lord's helmet pops open and he's revealed as a demilich! ^_^

We had a dungeon Crawl adventure Path with Shattered Star. that was pretty much all dungeons all the time. Alternatively, have you grabbed Emerald Spire? That's a megadungeon.

Are there any special rules being used in this AP such as mass combat or the verbal dueling?

Thurston Hillman wrote:

Feros wrote:

Yay! Thursty!

...wait: TWO Adventure Path adventures in a row? Dude, when do you sleep?

:)

Whenever Crystal or John instructs me that it's OK to sleep... >_>

Oh shoot, I knew I was forgetting to tell you something for the past couple of nights!

Eh...let's put in a couple more hours of writing first.

That is one long ass chain to Canada.

Princess Eutropia: Wisdom is what makes a good ruler.

My Cavalier: Yes. But what is wisdom? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which is not? Have you any experience of treasuries and granaries? Or shipyards and soldiers?

Princess Eutropia: No.

My Cavalier: Of course not. A wise ruler knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young ruler listens to his councilors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest rulers continue to listen to them long afterwards. Your father was not a wise king. Your father was not a good king. If he had been, he'd probably still be alive.

Princess Eutropia: Wisdom is what makes a good ruler.

My Cavalier: Yes. But what is wisdom? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which is not? Have you any experience of treasuries and granaries? Or shipyards and soldiers?

Princess Eutropia: No.

My Cavalier: Of course not. A wise ruler knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young ruler listens to his councilors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest rulers continue to listen to them long afterwards. Your father was not a wise king. Your father was not a good king. If he had been, he'd probably still be alive.

And then you end up with your own son killing you by means of a crossbow bolt through your guts while you take a poo. So much for wisdom ;-)

Berselius wrote:

Princess Eutropia: Wisdom is what makes a good ruler.

My Cavalier: Yes. But what is wisdom? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which is not? Have you any experience of treasuries and granaries? Or shipyards and soldiers?

Princess Eutropia: No.

My Cavalier: Of course not. A wise ruler knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young ruler listens to his councilors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest rulers continue to listen to them long afterwards. Your father was not a wise king. Your father was not a good king. If he had been, he'd probably still be alive.

And then you end up with your own son killing you by means of a crossbow bolt through your guts while you take a poo. So much for wisdom ;-)

Had it coming.

And then you end up with your own son killing you by means of a crossbow bolt through your guts while you take a poo. So much for wisdom ;-)

(shrugs) No one said being an advisor to the king is an easy job. :P

Had it coming.

Yup. Also, one could say Tywin was UNWISE to not realize that Tyrion still had worth and could still be of great use to House Lannister.

Gorbacz wrote:

And then you end up with your own son killing you by means of a crossbow bolt through your guts while you take a poo. So much for wisdom ;-)

(shrugs) No one said being an advisor to the king is an easy job. :P

Rysky wrote:

Had it coming.

Yup. Also, one could say Tywin was UNWISE to not realize that Tyrion still had worth and could still be of great use to House Lannister.

... there was probably a lot more for that playing out than just for being an Advisor >_>

Well I suppose it's a good thing Frodo threw the one ring into Mount Doom then, isn't it.

This is why having a half demon/half fiend wizard advisor works better. At least for Arthur.

Princess Eutropia: Wisdom is what makes a good ruler.

My Cavalier: Yes. But what is wisdom? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which is not? Have you any experience of treasuries and granaries? Or shipyards and soldiers?

Princess Eutropia: No.

My Cavalier: Of course not. A wise ruler knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young ruler listens to his councilors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest rulers continue to listen to them long afterwards. Your father was not a wise king. Your father was not a good king. If he had been, he'd probably still be alive.

Can't you just use a enhancement spell and control her that way? Feels more honest and to the point than pulling a mind game and infantilizing her.

Are there any special rules being used in this AP such as mass combat or the verbal dueling?

Or Mass Verbal Dueling.

"Go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!"

"Run Away!!!!"

Berselius wrote:

Princess Eutropia: Wisdom is what makes a good ruler.

My Cavalier: Yes. But what is wisdom? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which is not? Have you any experience of treasuries and granaries? Or shipyards and soldiers?

Princess Eutropia: No.

My Cavalier: Of course not. A wise ruler knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young ruler listens to his councilors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest rulers continue to listen to them long afterwards. Your father was not a wise king. Your father was not a good king. If he had been, he'd probably still be alive.

Can't you just use a enhancement spell and control her that way? Feels more honest and to the point than pulling a mind game and infantilizing her.

Berselius is modifying and truncating dialog from Game of Thrones.

A reply I can see happening:

Princess Eutropia:

"Sir Knight, in matters of lance and steed you know more than I. In matters of Taldan succession law and the steps necessary to my rightful crown, I know far more than you. Wise councilors give their advice when necessary, then perform what their liege orders after she has considered their sage advice. Or am I asking too much of my lord?"

Point to princess Eutropia.

Delightful wrote:

Berselius wrote:

Princess Eutropia: Wisdom is what makes a good ruler.

My Cavalier: Yes. But what is wisdom? A house with great wealth and fertile lands asks you for your protection against another house with a strong navy that could one day oppose you. How do you know which choice is wise and which is not? Have you any experience of treasuries and granaries? Or shipyards and soldiers?

Princess Eutropia: No.

My Cavalier: Of course not. A wise ruler knows what he knows and what he doesn't. You're young. A wise young ruler listens to his councilors and heeds their advice until he comes of age. And the wisest rulers continue to listen to them long afterwards. Your father was not a wise king. Your father was not a good king. If he had been, he'd probably still be alive.

Can't you just use a enhancement spell and control her that way? Feels more honest and to the point than pulling a mind game and infantilizing her.

Berselius is modifying and truncating dialog from Game of Thrones.

A reply I can see happening:

Princess Eutropia:

"Sir Knight, in matters of lance and steed you know more than I. In matters of Taldan succession law and the steps necessary to my rightful crown, I know far more than you. Wise councilors give their advice when necessary, then perform what their liege orders after she has considered their sage advice. Or am I asking too much of my lord?"

I know. Which is why I think not bothering with the obvious manipulation and going straight for a magical solution is best when it comes to secretly controlling a monarch, especially one that's not going to fall for your condescending BS like Tommen the Inbred would. Tywin didn't have the ability to literally brainwash his rulers, players on the are hand do.

I think of it as a smart-mouth chauvinist getting put in his place by his social better without resorting to something as gauche as kicking his butt. ;)

If anyone thinks that the princess is going to be some mush-minded weak Willed pretty thing susceptible to Jedi mind tricks and petty charm or dominate spells ... well, IMO the savvy GM will take care of that if the authors don't.

Besides, I love making stat blocks. It'll be pretty easy to come up with one to file the flavor text off of and swap in. *grin*

Edit: few cavaliers have the ability to use enchantments, so the reasonable supposition is that words will suffice to establish Princess Eutropia's status and attitude. One imagines that Her Highness will be quite capable in the new 'social combat' mechanics, especially when dealing with entry-level characters.

The Mad Comrade, I was trying to make people amused by quoting game of thrones. Please chill kay?

Chauvinism and infantilizing of women leaders is rarely amusing.

I did not see it as infantalizing (q.v. feeblemind to reduce a target to babbling non-functionality). I did see it as both (a) character advising his liege; and (b) chauvinistic.

Having said that, I thought the quoting of Game of Thrones was appropriate, thus Her Highness' response to a mouthy subordinate. *grin*

I think of it as a smart-mouth chauvinist getting put in his place by his social better without resorting to something as gauche as kicking his butt. ;)

If anyone thinks that the princess is going to be some mush-minded weak Willed pretty thing susceptible to Jedi mind tricks and petty charm or dominate spells ... well, IMO the savvy GM will take care of that if the authors don't.

Besides, I love making stat blocks. It'll be pretty easy to come up with one to file the flavor text off of and swap in. *grin*

Edit: few cavaliers have the ability to use enchantments, so the reasonable supposition is that words will suffice to establish Princess Eutropia's status and attitude. One imagines that Her Highness will be quite capable in the new 'social combat' mechanics, especially when dealing with entry-level characters.

Yeah, your probably right that a I well stated Eutropia will be pretty resilient to jedi mind trick shenanigans. Still though, players might as well try to be the power behind the throne, or else what's the point of trying to save a kingdom from another group of a*++#&$s if you don't get to secretly rule it through a figurehead?

Pretty sure that's on the Evil Overlord list.