The following is a press release from En Publishing I thought people here might find interestign...
Sean Mahoney
EN Publishing has just announced a new Campaign Saga, a 12-part series of adventures which takes charcters from 1st to 20th level. War of the Burning Sky is set to launch in January, with adventures released monthly.
Next year, war on a truly fantastic scale threatens to destroy the world.
As the new year turns, the weather across takes a sudden chill turn, and the sky darkens as the grip of winter intensifies. Worry rises as regular channels of communication between nations cease like a candle suddenly snuffed. Slowly, throughout the lands claimed by the Ragesian Empire, rumors spread between isolated villages, traveling by foot and horse and word of mouth -- rumors that Drakus Coaltongue, the immortal emperor whose armies conquered every land he set his gaze upon, has fallen in a distant land to the west. How the tyrant was defeated is unknown, but if it is true, everyone knows that a war is coming. The generals of Emperor Coaltongue will strike for control, oppressed peoples will rise up in rebellion, and dangers once held in check only by fear of the mighty warlord will bring doom to the world.
Those in power are preparing for the coming conflict, readying fervent armies and powerful weapons and subtle, deceptive plots, but two questions burn in their minds: who killed the seemingly-immortal Emperor Coaltongue; and what has become of the artifact that would let a man rule of the world? Who has the Torch of the Burning Sky?
Coming next year, E.N. Publishing presents a saga of twelve adventures where would-be conquerers bring the world to the brink of annihilation, and it is up to the heroes to decide who will rule in the aftermath of the great war – perhaps an ally, perhaps themselves, perhaps even anarchy. They can usher the world into a golden age, or let it be scorched under a rain of fire.
The War of the Burning Sky Campaign Saga takes a party of characters from 1st to 20th level, and lets the players see the mighty and terrible face of war in a world of magic. The fate of the world is theirs to decide; even who the main villain is depends on their actions. And don't worry, it's not some extraplanar demon lord.
Though designed for a generic setting, the campaign saga can easily fit in most popular game worlds, or each module can be used as a stand-alone adventure for your own campaign. The first adventure - The Scouring of Gate Pass - will be released in January, with one following each month thereafter. Keep your eye out for further announcements about the War of the Burning Sky in the coming months.
"And don't worry, it's not some extraplanar demon lord."
Ooh, burn.
Very interesting, I’m not familiar with the game setting it references? They do say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Just wanted to point out that Mongoose Publishing published a complete campaign for levels 1-30 titled “The Drow War”. It was published in three hardback source books each about 256 pages. Which in my humble opinion was very well done.
Just wanted to point out that Mongoose Publishing published a complete campaign for levels 1-30 titled “The Drow War”. It was published in three hardback source books each about 256 pages. Which in my humble opinion was very well done.
Lord Vile,
Can you tell me anything else about this adventure path from Mongoose publishing? I have always said I would buy more AP from Paizo if they made it (or more Dungeon) so if there is something out there not even quite as good I would be interested (and it wouldn't affect my Paizo purchasing).
I guess the big things I would be looking for would be the following: Is there many opportunities for Role Playing? Does this contain a lot of dungeon crawling?
I am not very familiar with Mongooses adventures (other supplements, but not adventures), maybe I need to check them out.
Sean Mahoney
The Mongoose homepage has only a few short paragraphs about it...
Stefan
I'm looking forward to the Campaign Saga. It'll be interesting to see what they do with it.
Lord Vile,Can you tell me anything else about this adventure path from Mongoose publishing? I have always said I would buy more AP from Paizo if they made it (or more Dungeon) so if there is something out there not even quite as good I would be interested (and it wouldn't affect my Paizo purchasing).
I guess the big things I would be looking for would be the following: Is there many opportunities for Role Playing? Does this contain a lot of dungeon crawling?
I am not very familiar with Mongooses adventures (other supplements, but not adventures), maybe I need to check them out.
Sean Mahoney
Without giving away too much the basic plot is the drow rise up from the underdark and make war on the surface world in the first two books (levels 1-20). In the third book when the characters are epic something is causing the planes to smash into one another threating to destroy all of creation (levels 21-30, giving them an excuse to throw every monster in the Epic Handbook into the adventure).
It's light on the Dungeon Crawl aspect but if you want to role-play out the alliance building necessary to defeat the Drow armies then this one is for you.
Light on dungeon crawls and plenty of RP chances? Sounds VERY interesting... maybe I will pick up the first book in this series (since there is 3) and check it out. I can't say I am very interested in 21-30 though, epic play isn't my thing. Am I correct in assuming that each book could finish the series? ie. an ending at level 10, 20 or 30?
I also saw another campaign on the Mongoose site, something about Dragons for lvls 1-20. Has anyone checked that one out?
Sean Mahoney
I also consider the Dragonlance three part Age of Mortals campaign to be similar to Paizo's AP.
Am I correct in assuming that each book could finish the series? ie. an ending at level 10, 20 or 30?
I also saw another campaign on the Mongoose site, something about Dragons for lvls 1-20. Has anyone checked that one out?
Sean Mahoney
Yes, you could play Book 1 The Gathering Storm and finish the campaign at level 10 or continue on to Book 2 The Dying light. Each book is self contained with a beginning...middle and ending.
I think you are referring to Ruins of the Dragon Lord and no I haven't checked that one out yet.
Necromancer Games are also talking about releasing an AP style product on their boards. Necromancer Games products have tended to come out later than originally anticipated though so you may be waiting a while.
Olaf the Stout
I believe I saw a post mentioning they had authors for only the first couple and anyone who was interested in writing a later module should send in a writing sample.
I'm not expecting their quality (not to mention price) to be anywhere near Paizo.
Here is a released list of authors... they weren't names I recognized.
The authors for the 12-part War of the Burning Sky campaign saga from EN Publishing have been mostly finalised. Here is the list of authors:
The Scouring of Gate Pass, by Ryan Nock.
Level 1. Release January 07.
The Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar, by Jacob Driscoll.
Level 3. Release February 07.
Shelter From the Storm, by Ryan Nock.
Level 5. Release March 07.
The Mad King’s Banquet, by Hamid Raoof.
Level 6. Release April 07.
Mission to the Monastery of Two Winds, by Andrew Kenrick.
Level 7-8. Release May 07.
Tears of the Burning Sky, by Ken Marable.
Level 9-10. Release June 07.
The Trial of Echoed Souls, by Neil D’Cruze.
Level 11-12. Release July 07.
O, Wintry Song of Agony, Felipe Correa.
Level 13-14. Release August 07.
The Festival of Dreams, by Ryan Nock.
Level 15-16. Release September 07.
Sleep, Ye Cursed Child., author TBA..
Level 17+. Release October 07.
Under the Eye of the Tempest, by Shane O’Connor.
Level 17+. Release November 07.
The Beating of the Aquiline Heart, by Ryan Nock.
Sean Mahoney
Here is a released list of authors... they weren't names I recognized.
The authors for the 12-part War of the Burning Sky campaign saga from EN Publishing have been mostly finalised. Here is the list of authors:
The Scouring of Gate Pass, by Ryan Nock.
Level 1. Release January 07.The Indomitable Fire Forest of Innenotdar, by Jacob Driscoll.
Level 3. Release February 07.Shelter From the Storm, by Ryan Nock.
Level 5. Release March 07.The Mad King’s Banquet, by Hamid Raoof.
Level 6. Release April 07.Mission to the Monastery of Two Winds, by Andrew Kenrick.
Level 7-8. Release May 07.Tears of the Burning Sky, by Ken Marable.
Level 9-10. Release June 07.The Trial of Echoed Souls, by Neil D’Cruze.
Level 11-12. Release July 07.O, Wintry Song of Agony, Felipe Correa.
Level 13-14. Release August 07.The Festival of Dreams, by Ryan Nock.
Level 15-16. Release September 07.Sleep, Ye Cursed Child., author TBA..
Level 17+. Release October 07.Under the Eye of the Tempest, by Shane O’Connor.
Level 17+. Release November 07.The Beating of the Aquiline Heart, by Ryan Nock.
Sean Mahoney
What magazine would I find these adventures in?
Are you putting your hand up for writing an adventure Sean?
Delvesdeep
What magazine would I find these adventures in?
Are you putting your hand up for writing an adventure Sean?
Delvesdeep
Don't want to be accused of pimping a "competitor" here at Paizo, but to quickly answer these questions:
They aren't in a magazine. Starting in late January, they will be sold as PDFs at least from the RPGNow/DriveThruRPG combo site (not sure if Paizo carries EN Publishing PDFs here, but that's certainly a good place to check as well).
And I think that adventure will be covered. Ryan Nock mentioned to us that someone expressed interest, and if that doesn't pan out I know more than one author is willing to write a second adventure.
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As a side note, going back to the mention of the drow war, the books are quite amazing. I just finished running Shackled City and my players loved it, and as we are currently moving into drow war(3 sessions in but I've read all the books) it is looking like my players will love it for different reasons.
Shackled city was very well constructed, very tactical keeping the players on their toes, and was very polished. It was great for letting the players build in their ties to the region and taught them to work as a team and come up with tricks they might not have thought of in a less intensive campaign.
In a lot of ways Drow War is quite the opposite. It is missing a lot of the polish of shackled city, but if you aren't afraid to have to mentally note where a door should be because it is missing from a map from time to time then you are in for an amazing story.
Combat is less intensive in DW(though the further along you go the more intense it becomes), but it seems more like this is to encourage players to develop more skilled characters. Roleplay as well is encouraged with things like story awards and more importantly potential alliances. The alliances show themselves in both lending aid and troops in mass battles(the series has mass combat rules that are similar to those in heroes of battle) as well as direct aid. There are enemies that the players would be unwise to take on without friends at their side.
For a thirty level campaign the designers did a good job of keeping things from becoming monotonous, adding additional goals and factors to the game at various points. Things like the mass battle system are fun diversions from normal play for a session, and things like victory points(also used in red hand of doom) which are attained at certain points of the game by characters who use effective tactics or stall the enemy in some way add additional advantages.
All in all I think it was a great game with a story and setting that is very easy for a DM to make his own. While I'm sure that if the AoWAP ever comes out in hardcover form I'm going to be running two games a week, this one looks like its going to be a great deal of fun all the way into epic levels.
I don't like the idea that the players actions determine who the BBEG is. I mean, why? does the artifact corrupt whoever touches it?
Perhaps this will be a fatal flaw.
Has anyone realized that "Sleep, ye cursed child" is going to be written by Wolfgang Baur?
Jumping on the AP bandwagon was inevitable seeing that it might be Dungeons single biggest success since the inception of the magazine.
If they want to stay ahead of the curve, they need to continue to innovate and feature the best authors available. In short, keep the short list of authors they have such as Logue, Pett and Vaughn. Do not settle for complacency.