You can keep all the super-epic stuff, for me I want a rich mystery, with interesting characters, great RP opportunities, puzzles (!) and difficult decisions that impact the story.
I've read the first part of the Crimson Throne...MAKE MORE OF THAT KIND OF STUFF!
+1000 on your words
How bout a Vudra based AP and as a result, Paizo needing to release support material (as they always do) for "the land of the psychics" i.e. Psionics stuff!
Bam, AP set in an exotic land. (To most Pathfinder players, not so much for me since I'm Asian)
Bam, fill the huge gaping hole that is Psionics.
Double win!
Call me crazy but I'd like to see a high level adventure path, one that can play off of any of the existing APs but starts at 14th or 15th and takes you all the way to 20 (but not beyond). You know, an "epic" campaign.
Otherwise, +1 to a planet hoping campaign, ala Stargate.
And just my two cents, please, no psionics. I personally feel that adding psionics to a game is like taking that nice patch of lawn with nothing there, bathing it in gasoline, torching your own yard and then watching it spread to your house, destroying everything you've worked so hard for. That is what psionic does to d20 RPGs. In my opinion.
And just my two cents, please, no psionics. I personally feel that adding psionics to a game is like taking that nice patch of lawn with nothing there, bathing it in gasoline, torching your own yard and then watching it spread to your house, destroying everything you've worked so hard for. That is what psionic does to d20 RPGs. In my opinion.
I whole heartedly agree with above.
To me, guns are to combat what psionics are to magic. Both have a "modern" feel, leans towards sci-fi and have the potential to disrupt/destroy a fantasy campaign setting.
Now I do acknowledge that, mechanically, psionics is much more likely to have that effect. However, flavourwise I would rank their potential gamebreakingness as almost equal.
Maybe its my nostalgia of 2nd Ed Psionics Handbbook talking but since they included guns, I sorta hope they can integrate psionics somehow into Pathfinder. I know its a challenge but hey its Paizo so maybe they can pull it off.
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1) A solidly science-fantasy styled campaign that draws on Numeria, Distant Worlds and Alkenstar among other elements. Perhaps the Azlant legacy would have a nice place here, with the obvious Atlantis/Ancient Astronauts type of vibe. Offset that with some savage tribal foes, barbaric PC types and you've got the tasty tasty soup of Kull, Conan and John Carter to enjoy.
Obligatory "this" post. Touched upon my three favorite locations within the Golarion setting.
After a long dearth of AP volumes I haven't really had any interest in (not being interested in either horror fantasy nor pseudo-Asian fantasy) soon coming to an end after 15 months, I'm happy to see that both Skull & Shackles and Shattered Star seem to be the good stuff again.
Other things I'd like to see in APs in the future, in no particular order:
- An all-out war involving the PCs in important positions, extrapolating from the Kingmaker rules and going from there, This might be this something like the Worldwound idea posted by Jason Nelson (I think) earlier, or it might even be a civil war.
- Urban intrigue and political machinations, with the whole AP concentrating on the city (plus surroundings). Taldor might be a good setting for this. Or it might even be a dwarven succession crisis in the Five Kings. It might even work in combination with the previous item.
- More exploration, but different from Kingmaker, maybe some New-World-like setting, with an Inner Sea nation sending adventurers to Arcadia to explore, and of course meet and deal with the natives. Or perhaps, even better, to another planet!
- A planar campaign could be interesting, putting the PCs really out there in the Great Beyond.
- A "Mission to Azlant" AP could be fun! Explore the sunken ruins of a dead(?) civilization!
- An AP based on Irrisen/Baba Yaga/Russian folklore might be nice, too (but no vikings, please)
What I really wouldn't want to see is this:
- APs that go to level 20 just for the sake of it
- APs longer than 6 volumes.
- APs the do not start a level 1.
- Vudra- and/or psionics-themed AP
- Numeria-based pseudo-SF AP
- Absalom doesn't really hold any interest for me as a setting, somehow it seems bland to me.
- An AP centered on the Pathfinder Society. Theres PFS scenarions for that. It's OK, though, to have them at the fringes.
- A megadungeon as an AP. The Frog God already provides that.
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(but no vikings, please)
BLASPHEMY!!!!
Scandinavians are the bomb . . . and so are their Golarion counterparts! I'd love to see an Irrisen AP that combined it with Land of the Linnorm Kings, because vikings vs witches would be beyond awesome!
The rest of what you say is pretty cool though, except the dislike for Absalom, but it's okay if others don't like the big city, as that's a personal taste thing. But dislike for Vikings . . . ?
BLASPHEMY!!!!
But dislike for Vikings . . . ? BLASPHEMY!!!!
Vikings are great. Witches are great.
But not together, thanks. I like my APs to be more focused.
I agree with Zaister.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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I know there are some who would like an Absalom or other city-focused AP, but count me out on that one.
On the other hand, I'd be all-in on a psionics-heavy AP, whether Vudra or otherwise; perhaps it would be a good fit with Castrovel or at least as part of a planetary AP.
Contributor
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My feeling is that Vudra's coolness (hotness?) might be overwhelmed by the psionics focus of a campaign that combined the two. I'd rather it focus on the region and its uniqueness. I think Psionics pairs better with Castrovel, which is less entangled with a RW analogue.
But that's just my two rupees. I'd take a Vudra AP with Psionics without complaint.
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Axes of the Dwarves!
I'd say planet of the week, but I think the Moonscar may suffice.
I think an adventure path that uses Dark City as an inspiration somehow would be very cool, as would a Distant Worlds-like adventure path that is recognizable as inspired by Alien and Aliens, if for no other reason than to have one of the PCs say "I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Also, some sort of conspiracy theory adventure path, if done well, could be awesome. One where the PCs can never be sure who to trust and who not to. No, I don't have any more specific idea than that :)
Let me second the planar adventure path, too. I'm not sure a full six volumes of the Abyss would work, but I'd sure like to see an attempt. Or any sort of journey across the planes :)
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I think an adventure path that uses Dark City as an inspiration somehow would be very cool, as would a Distant Worlds-like adventure path that is recognizable as inspired by Alien and Aliens, if for no other reason than to have one of the PCs say "I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Ooh, Dark City is very cool. If not an AP, a scenario in which the party has a running battle with proteans through a section of the Maelstrom that is reconfiguring itself round-by-round, with different sections changing elevation, pitch or consistency (or vanishing or being blocked off by a wall), could be fun. Every round, roll a d6 for your square, and it either rises, descends, vanishes (possibly leading to a fall!), is filled with stone (pushing you aside), becomes a square of water or becomes a square of lava!
For a planar thing, the 'Eternal City' of Axis seems like a good choice. As much as I love the City of Brass, it's been done, done and done again, and I'd prefer for Paizo to concentrate on a planar city that hasn't been touched upon, and Axis, their own creation, seems like an ideal choice.
Just went to see John Carter...add one vote for a swords and planets AP.
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Okay, I think I've come up with the absolutely perfect AP that will satisfy everyone. Behold:
A psionic-heavy AP that goes to level 20 and involves large-scale war set in Absalom and Galt and Nex and Geb with planet-hopping elements, Baba Yaga and several Worldwound demons as antagonists (also dragons), vikings who are at war with Baba Yaga, lots of political intrigue, scratch that; no psionics, Numeria!, a visit to Azlant, aspects of colonization and mercantilism, and of course somehow a mega dungeon at the same time. Vudra Darklands Evil PCs.
Now that I think about it... I kind of hope Paizo just keeps doing what they're doing.
There are plenty of fine ideas in there!
On a more serious note, I'm kind of surprised so many people want a Worldwound AP. I understand the appeal of course - classic good guys vs. the demon hordes - but haven't past APs caught a lot of flack for overusing demons/devils as antagonists? For example...
** spoiler omitted **
So based on my drastic oversimplifications, that's 5 APs where demons/devils/other evil outsiders play major roles. Again, I'm sure a Worldwound AP would be cool, but... I'm suffering from evil outsider fatigue. Thus why I'd like an aboleth AP - give some other iconic evil races a chance to shine. There are sooo many to choose from.
Concerning your spoilers:
It's definitely outsider heavy, if not demon+devil heavy.
As for what I'd like to see as an AP:
The AP I'd like to see in 2013 is a mega-dungeon of Bastardhall. The black carriage should be taking more souls to Bastardhall next year, if it's keeping with its canon schedule.
The first book can be "The Environs of Bastardhall" so it would be in the area surrounding the dungeon and leading up to the black carriage, perhaps.
And even though Bastardhall has one ruler (a an oracle, as I recall), various sections of the castle could be controled by different factions.
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On a more serious note, I'm kind of surprised so many people want a Worldwound AP. I understand the appeal of course - classic good guys vs. the demon hordes - but haven't past APs caught a lot of flack for overusing demons/devils as antagonists? For example...
** spoiler omitted **
So based on my drastic oversimplifications, that's 5 APs where demons/devils/other evil outsiders play major roles. Again, I'm sure a Worldwound AP would be cool, but... I'm suffering from evil outsider fatigue. Thus why I'd like an aboleth AP - give some other iconic evil races a chance to shine. There are sooo many to choose from.
Paizo does really good Demon stuff, especially since in 3.5 it was the Paizo crew that fleshed most of that stuff out. I personally want worldwound since Demons are the major antagonist in my homebrew world.
Ultimately Paizo has done such an amazing job of building a world rich with possibilities and options that they will likely never run short on kick-ass ideas for modules and APs.
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While it's certainly true that a Mendev/Worldwound adventure path will include plenty of demons, my personal fondness of the concept is as much about all the other elements that region has to offer. An examination of the giant machine that is the Mendevian Crusades, a nation oppressed in the name of Good, witch hunts/trials, the social clash between righteous zealots (in the form of clerics, paladins, and other holy folk), profiteering mercenaries, and oppressed locals, details on the celestial forces backing the crusade (for surely the heavens have taken note of the Worldwound's threat to Golarion), mortal minions of the demonic hordes, and the list goes on.
Ideally, I'd like to see an adventure path that's part about Mendev and its current situation and part about the actual Worldwound without feeling like it's two different adventure paths. I want a Mendev/Worldwound adventure path that's about political and religious intrigue, gritty warfare, daring and desperate missions against an extraplanar horror, and plenty of celestial influence.
Plus, I really really like demons. :D
A sword and planet one would be cool, maybe each AP focuses on a different planet/world.
But if focuses on one Castrovel is my first choice, Triaxus durring spring or summer time frame, Akiton would be ok, Verces might be cast system oriented for my liking but if it is done well. Also some of the moons of the two gas giants would be cool.
On a more serious note, I'm kind of surprised so many people want a Worldwound AP. I understand the appeal of course - classic good guys vs. the demon hordes - but haven't past APs caught a lot of flack for overusing demons/devils as antagonists? For example...
** spoiler omitted **
So based on my drastic oversimplifications, that's 5 APs where demons/devils/other evil outsiders play major roles. Again, I'm sure a Worldwound AP would be cool, but... I'm suffering from evil outsider fatigue. Thus why I'd like an aboleth AP - give some other iconic evil races a chance to shine. There are sooo many to choose from.
Umm no you are wrong about Curse of the Crimson Throne there were barely any evil outsiders in that at all. Have you even read it?
Give me a dragon or two and I'd be happy.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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As a big dragon fan, I've always tried to include a dragon of some sort in the AP issues I've written.
War of the River Kings had a dragon in the original pre-finished stage of the mass combat writeup but it didn't end up in the final version.
The Hungry Storm had Vegsundvaag the white dragon.
From Hell's Heart? Well, you'll just have to wait and see.
To play off of this "too many evil outsiders" theme, what about a dragon hunting campaign? Kobolds and Trogs as your low level baddies, graduating into half-dragon this and half-dragon that, with one true dragon villain per adventure.
Of course I'm not saying every enemy is of the dragon type but dragons are a core element to most fantasy RPGs and I feel that there hasn't been that much focus on them in the APs. Dragons are as intelligent, imposing in combatand have as many spells and spell-like abilities as outsiders, if not more so.
Whatever happened to the classic dragon antagonist anyway?
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Dragons are as intelligent, imposing in combatand have as many spells and spell-like abilities as outsiders, if not more so.
On that tangent, more AP 'big bads' that *aren't* spellcasters (or soaking in SLAs) would be neat. I'm sure it's possible to whip up some sort of awakened iron golem with monk levels, or advanced fiendish troll magic-hating barbarian, or dread wraith ninja, or something similarly badass, that isn't one of the primary spellcaster classes.
My least favorite part of running fights against 'big bads' is having to calculate how many of the half-dozen to dozen buff spells they are supposed to have cast before combat are in effect. (Some of whom may not have been cast, situationally, or may already be expiring by the time the party bumbles into the room, if they get delayed a few minutes longer than the AP expected getting to where the big fight is supposed to happen.)
Gimme more bad guys who have CR appropriate defenses, AC, etc. all day long, and not once per day for a golden window of 15 rounds or so, after 10 rounds of prep-time, with different levels of defense / ability every so many rounds or minutes thereafter, as buffs start blinking off.
Pretty much want ravenmantle says above
Mendev/world wound....but the chaos being much more subtle
Id also like something where it is quite icey throughout the AP...not really a hot steamy jungle fan
nothing to wacky so no overuse of machines, black powder, psionics, planets or sci-fantasy.
some good old, good v evil, or law v chaos
no goblins
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Umm no you are wrong about Curse of the Crimson Throne there were barely any evil outsiders in that at all. Have you even read it?Why yes I have!
** spoiler omitted **
Glad to clear that up for you.
You can make the same argument for undead. Or reakky any type uf you are just gonna go by encounters, but you should really go by the driving force of the story. That means two demon APs both of which are dungeon era, one genie and one devil. Demons especially have taken a backseat since STAP. That was like six years ago now.
i like demons
starting my home written AP based next week on the subtle demon incursion at the start of the 4th crusade.
thought it paizo wouldnt write it, i should!!
I've already said my peace on a Pathfinder lodge in the Darklands, but let me cast another vote with many others:
Dragons
To my knowledge, there hasn't been an abundance of dragons in the APs; heck, one of them doesn't have a single dragon in it-
Ruinlords: 4 encounters/ 5 dragons (aside from random)
Crimson Throne: 2
Second Darkness: 1
Legacy: 1
Council: 0
Kingmaker: Several (Playing in, no spoilers please)
Serpent: ? (If someone could fill in)
Carrion Crown: 2
Jade Regent: ?
Other than Ruinlords and Kingmaker, there is a notable abscence of these creatures.
I would love to see an ambitious dragon following in the footsteps of Kazavon and bringing armies to his call, perhaps becoming the major villian of the campaign. I would also love to see another scenario with flights of dragons attacking a city (This has been done once in "Kings of the Rift" in Age of Worms, but I'd love to see it done on a more "human" scale).
Whatever Paizo decides in the end is fine, since even if I don't like one niche (like Pirates or a Worldwound AP... already played Savage Tide, thanks.), another one will come along that I do like. Just bring more dragons into the paths!!!
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To paraphrase, Jade Regent was a very experimental AP, and the initial plan was to do a classic/normal AP afterwards. They ultimately scratched it because no one at the office could get excited about it, though not because of the dragon. It was just too bland. So yeah, there's hope. Also - and this is pure speculation:
** spoiler omitted **
Apparently, Shattered Star won't have a BBEG per se, being six separate, individual, dungeons. That said, I seem to recall mention of a Dragon as one of the major antagonists.
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John Carter is old, so we gotta save Barsoom for his granddaughter, Dejah Carter.
Most of the ideas on here are great, but I clearly would not buy or play a mega-dungeon, no way, no how. It has been done so many times in 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 & 3.5 and I have just never really enjoyed them.
Swords and planets I would take a wait and see approach, it doesn't excite me but with the creative team of Paizo I may become interested with good reviews.
Actually, published mega-dungeons are extremely rare. Most of the ones that have been released have only been so in the last few years (Stonehell, the upcoming Dwimmermount). Beside that you have The Ruins of Undermountain, Greyhawk Ruins and very few others. WG7 Castle Greyhawk... doesn't count. Furthermore while Temple of Elemental Evil is a big dungeon, it's still only about 1/3 the size of the smallest of true megadungeons.
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Ive been reading through this as I am want to do..lurking and such.
and I thought Id throw my 2 cents in.
1. Rather than a 'Pirate' centered AP, Id like to see an 'Ocean' Centered AP..with Pirates figuring in it majorly. Perhaps something along the lines of trying Module 1- The players get 'press ganged' and gradually become members of the crew...and get information of a sunken treasure ship. Module 2. Take over the Pirate ship, and travel to the site of the sunken vessel. fighting off both government warships and other pirates. Module 3 explore the depths recovering said treasure and running afoul of a creature from the depths (Can you say Sea Serpent? I knew you could) Module 4. discover the treasure is linked to an undersea civilization (Gillmen? Azlant?) and head there to find out what is so special...Module 5. Gillmen Allies. Aboleth Villains. and ancient evils reawakened. Module 6- The final throwdown in an undersea Azlant ruins.
2. Id like to see an 'Agents of the Realms' adventure..kind of like James Bond meets Golarion. Characters are 'agents for Taldor. (or Absalom..or Andor...) and are sent on spy missions that gradually unravel the plans and threats of a secret bad guy consortium...Asp maybe? or a new one.with the villain and mooks are layered and fantastical. with nothing short of economic control of all of the world at stake.
3. Id like to see an Exploration of a a lost city adventure path. The party is part of a team of explorers with indepth supply rules and every member of the team documented..maybe some 30-40 people including porters, guides, medical, secret bad guy, and 'spared no expense' clueless backer. (one of my all-time favorite adventures 'caverns of thracia' has some insight into what would be cool)
4. I agree on Numeria, with it starting as innocently as the party coming into possession of a minor 'artifact' (said loosely) from the grounded starship...and ending in the defeating of some 'aliens' come to retrieve their items...complete with AI computer ally, laser wielding Hobgoblins, Lightsabers, and chariots of the gods...includied at the 5th module an expedition to the barrier peaks like module.
5. A Module centered around the group being hired to escort a woman across the deserts of Katapesh or Osirian to a neighboring country. Yes it turns out shes royalty fleeing an arranged marriage with all that it entails. Included would be her being kidnapped by an evil sorcerer/wizard/cleric type...them forced to rescue her or be beheaded by pops. and finding layers and layers of deception...finally bringing her home to where she can become the ruler when her father is slain.
I think that'll do for now, though I do have more
2. Id like to see an 'Agents of the Realms' adventure..kind of like James Bond meets Golarion. Characters are 'agents for Taldor. (or Absalom..or Andor...) and are sent on spy missions that gradually unravel the plans and threats of a secret bad guy consortium...
That'd be pretty cool.
3. Id like to see an Exploration of a a lost city adventure path.
They did this already (SS). Yes, it weirdly diverged and yes, it was a relative failure, but I can't imagine them trying this anytime soon (i.e. within many of our gaming lives...).
5. A Module centered around the group being hired to escort a woman
Did this, too (JR). (Not the same as the rest of the suggestion, but another "escort mission" probably isn't in the cards.)
...and the initial plan was to do a classic/normal AP afterwards. They ultimately scratched it because no one at the office could get excited about it, though not because of the dragon. It was just too bland.
Which is really weird, because then we get Shattered Star, including 6 disconnected dungeons. How bland is that?
...and the initial plan was to do a classic/normal AP afterwards. They ultimately scratched it because no one at the office could get excited about it, though not because of the dragon. It was just too bland.Which is really weird, because then we get Shattered Star, including 6 disconnected dungeons. How bland is that?
Not very.
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Jade Regent broke the formula because they were tying it in with the launch ofntheir other asian stuff, notably Ultimate Combat and Dragon Empires and such a big thing meant gencon. Now we are going back to the feb-jul is the experimental ap while aug-jan is the "standard". I use quotes because even the standards are usually a bit experimental.
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2. Id like to see an 'Agents of the Realms' adventure..kind of like James Bond meets Golarion. Characters are 'agents for Taldor. (or Absalom..or Andor...) and are sent on spy missions that gradually unravel the plans and threats of a secret bad guy consortium...That'd be pretty cool.
3. Id like to see an Exploration of a a lost city adventure path.They did this already (SS). Yes, it weirdly diverged and yes, it was a relative failure, but I can't imagine them trying this anytime soon (i.e. within many of our gaming lives...).
5. A Module centered around the group being hired to escort a womanDid this, too (JR). (Not the same as the rest of the suggestion, but another "escort mission" probably isn't in the cards.)
Yeah I know they touched on a part of the themes i suggested. But its the meat Im looking at not just the first line. For Exploration I mean way indepth look at Exploring, (kinda like the caravan rules and kingdom running rules but for exploration)..
and for the 'escort mission' as you call it. I dont see it as an escort mission but rather a Princess in trouble path...with the escort part being the first stage. More of what happens when adventurers have to choose sides in a civil war and the court intrigue that follows.