|
As the subject says, I am starting Kingmaker this weekend, and I have some questions for more experienced DMs out there (Who have run this AP or are farther ahead of me.)
Some background:
I am starting the PCs at level 3 instead of level 1. The reason being the last game I ran the characters started at level 1 but earned their way up to 3 before some unforeseen circumstances killed the game. So I agreed to let them start at 3 to make up for the other game.
1. Since there are only 3 characters, instead of 4 what events/encounters in Stolen Lands need to have their difficulty increased to make things still work out as they are intended with regard to the PCs final levels at the end of Stolen Lands and to make the scenario a challenge?
2. Since I am just starting the Kingmaker Adventure path do I need to have read more than Stolen Lands to get the game rolling? Are there any specific parts of the later modules I should be familiar with while running stolen Lands to avoid pitfalls later on?
3. Are Campaign Traits an additional free trait (For a total of 3) or are they just another option for players to take if they want to tie their characters in more closely with the plot?
|
As the subject says, I am starting Kingmaker this weekend, and I have some questions for more experienced DMs out there (Who have run this AP or are farther ahead of me.)
Some background:
I am starting the PCs at level 3 instead of level 1. The reason being the last game I ran the characters started at level 1 but earned their way up to 3 before some unforeseen circumstances killed the game. So I agreed to let them start at 3 to make up for the other game.
1. Since there are only 3 characters, instead of 4 what events/encounters in Stolen Lands need to have their difficulty increased to make things still work out as they are intended with regard to the PCs final levels at the end of Stolen Lands and to make the scenario a challenge?
2. Since I am just starting the Kingmaker Adventure path do I need to have read more than Stolen Lands to get the game rolling? Are there any specific parts of the later modules I should be familiar with while running stolen Lands to avoid pitfalls later on?
3. Are Campaign Traits an additional free trait (For a total of 3) or are they just another option for players to take if they want to tie their characters in more closely with the plot?
1) If you want to maintain the challenge, pretty much every encounter will have to be beefed up. The Stag Lord's base may be the exception. Personally, I'd really recommend starting at level 1 rather than trying to rework the module. If you want to stay at three add a monster or two to each encounter. It will help and isn't too much extra work.
2)It always helps if you've read more than the current module but I don't think anything is required. The open nature of Kingmaker means there is less metaplot to spoil as each module is largely self-contaiend until the last one.
3) Campaign traits aren't free, although there wouldn't be too much trouble if you made them so. Also given the nature of APs, it's strongly recommended that you do have each player take a campaign trait so they are more involved in the plot.
Basically, you need to read the others to get a cast list of NPCs who will show up later with quests. It feels forced if they just pop up like in a MMO, but it works great if you've previously established them.
With three PCs, they'll be a little below "level" for the AP if you run it as is. Keep a watch on it and go easy some later down the road. Or allow them to have a cohort or NPC run around with them. As for starting at third level, you can do it, but the first book will be a breeze without beefing up the encounters, even with only three of them. Perhaps compromise and start them at second level? At the beginning of the book there are remarks as to about when the PCs should reach what level, so take a look at that and get a sense of it.
While I highly recommend reading all the books ahead of time, it's not necessary. However, if they leave the area outlined in the book ("Hey, lets head into the swamps or mountains! No, let's head south!") you'll want to know what's there. The first book could likely be run without reading too much ahead. Beyond book 1, I'd start reading ahead for the NPC info, as outlined above. It's cool, for instance, for the PCs to have met someone like Varn before book 3 rolls around. :)
Good luck, and have fun! It's an entertaining AP!
|
Check the stickied thread 'community created kingmaker conversion' in the top of this forum. I'd recommend starting with the 6 player version and scaling up from there if necessary. The players will be higher level than the conversion expects but as theres only 3 of them it might balance out ok. It might serve as a good baseline and save you a lot of work at any rate.
Why not make them level 2... Explain to them that it's easier for you this way, and "agree" that level 1 sucks :P
If you want to get the most out of the kingmaker campaign, then read *all* the booklets to get a feeling who is who, and where you might foreshadow them. Like it's been said before this lessens the MMO feeling.
I don't know if I can share it, but I basically took out all the pictures of the most important personae and put them on two pages and handed it to the PC's and told them when and where they notice these guys'n'gals. Let them choose to connect with them.
This way it's them making the plot hooks, and I need only nudge ;)