Hello all. I am attempting to run these two AP's the same time. I started RotRL and the party is in the middle of the skinsaw murders. I plan on having the S.T. AP start at the end of the skinsaw murders while the party is in Magnimar so that it will be two chapters behind. This will allow for the information gained by the party about Thassilon to have been used by the pathfinders and and then seek the party out for help. I know the timing is off a bit and I am working that in a bit. I'm just curious if there is anyone with any advice on this ambitious plan of mine. I am planning on upping the encounter levels to match the party a bit so things are not all out of whack. Any advice or ideas are appreciated.
Brian.
I am running these two APs with two different groups, and they are happening at the same time within Golarion, so its not exactly what you're trying to do. But my experience with Shattered Star Chapter 1 is that its appeal is mostly its megadungeon which has several regions and groupings of creatures within it, so cutting it down shouldnt be too difficult. Strongly consider excising the first several levels which will simplify the encounter redesign problem for you.
If you plan to incorporate the bulk of both adventures, you will want to use the Slow XP track. RotRL presumes the fast XP track, while Shattered Star presumes the Medium XP track. The XP within both tracks, added together, roughly approximates the Slow XP track.
My main concern is that both campaigns then location-hop around Golarion. You will need to plan ahead possible hooks to connect the various parts of the campaign. Also, how might the two campaigns be connected? Perhaps you will want to focus on Karzoug as the "Big Bad" with the gathering of the Shattered Star as a way to prevent his rise?
Using Karzoug as the Bad Guy is what I'm going for and using the shards to stop him. Though it's and unknown thassalonian threat early on. The location hopping is just fine and the xp advancement is handled through periodic hand waving level advancement which has been working great so far. RotRL will be starting chapter 3 when SS chapter 1 is introduced. I plan on slowly evening the chapters up towards the end.
As far as the chapter 1 dungeon I'm planning to simplify it a bit and upping the threat to match RotRL chapter 3. I currently have chapter 1 of SS and will be getting the other chapters shortly. I'm curious if the later chapters of SS would work concurrently with the later chapters of RotRL.
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I do it as well.
I had Sheila and her friend Ironbriar at the Swallotail festival, visiting Brodert Quink. Sheila needed to know some things about Thassilon, and I played Ironbriar out as a good friend of her!
I cancled the whole Nataliya Vancaskerkin thing, and instead, gave the first Shard Nualia (who got a bit buffed).
Sheila was still in Sandpoint, when the PCs came back from Thistletop, at which point I started with the rest of the first installment of the Shattered Star.
So far, it works good. I just didn't decide, if I will use Karzoug or Xin as the final BBEG...
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Why not use Karzoug THEN Xin? Perhaps the fragments of the star are used in defeating Karzoug, but once he falls it is clear that a greater evil exists. When the party returns to Magnimar and assembles the star Xin rises.
I've been considering grabbing Rise of the Runelords AE and the pieces of Shattered Star as soon as I get my business license and doing a mashup campaign. The latter chapters will need to be scaled up since the party will reach level 20 using the slow XP progression. I'm trying to decide the best way to mix the stories into a single narrative. I don't think a straight up mix such as RotRL part 1, then SS part 1, RothRL part 2, SS part 2, etc. will feel right so I'm going to dissect the adventures and mix up the segments of each into a something more organic.
I've been considering grabbing Rise of the Runelords AE and the pieces of Shattered Star as soon as I get my business license and doing a mashup campaign. The latter chapters will need to be scaled up since the party will reach level 20 using the slow XP progression. I'm trying to decide the best way to mix the stories into a single narrative. I don't think a straight up mix such as RotRL part 1, then SS part 1, RothRL part 2, SS part 2, etc. will feel right so I'm going to dissect the adventures and mix up the segments of each into a something more organic.
I'm running Runelords for the second time right now with a new group, and I've already incorporated The Lady's Light into the AP, intended as a bit of Runelords foreshadowing (and the Sorshien thing has happened to one of the players). I had Shieldmarch approach the PC's after their triumph in that nasty business concerning Justice Ironbriar. Now they are a bit further along, I'm wondering if I should incorporate any other parts of SS and if so, which and when?
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I'm running Runelords for the second time right now with a new group, and I've already incorporated The Lady's Light into the AP, intended as a bit of Runelords foreshadowing (and the Sorshien thing has happened to one of the players). I had Shieldmarch approach the PC's after their triumph in that nasty business concerning Justice Ironbriar. Now they are a bit further along, I'm wondering if I should incorporate any other parts of SS and if so, which and when?
Here my suggestions.
Skip totally book three and send your players to Kaer Maga. There a new faith, the Church of Lissala (the same symbol they found on Xadesha) is taking control of the city with the help/for the "Runelords", a group of spellcaster of many skills commanded by the "Rune Emperor" (Mormukain). In this way you can introduce the "main enemy", the weapons of runes,the shards of sin and other pretty things while keeping Karzoug on the background.
Now pcs gains three possible streets: either look for the new religion of Lissala, locate the many "runelords", which may operate in different cities or march against the rune emperor. In either chases, after book 3 go to book 4 but with a difference: instead of the attack at sandpoint, do the attack at the fort of book three by a servant of the rune emperor that has turned the locale population of ogre and half-ogres in rune-slaves. After that, you can have the black maggba stuff or skip directly to book 4.
After book 4, let's have the attack at Sandpoint not by the forces of Mormukain, but of Karzoug himself (that can open portals for his cloud giants). The attacks is not only to threath the pcs, but also to find the servant of Lamashtu, a being bounded in the deep of the city that holds many secrets against Karzuog.
After that, it's up to you! I have many other ideas, but this is what i offer. don't forget to keep around npcs!
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I'm running Runelords for the second time right now with a new group, and I've already incorporated The Lady's Light into the AP, intended as a bit of Runelords foreshadowing (and the Sorshien thing has happened to one of the players). I had Shieldmarch approach the PC's after their triumph in that nasty business concerning Justice Ironbriar. Now they are a bit further along, I'm wondering if I should incorporate any other parts of SS and if so, which and when?
Here my suggestions.
** spoiler omitted **I appreciate the input. My thoughts were...
I'm thinking:
Rise book 1
Rise book 2
Star book 2
Rise book 3
Rise book 4
Rise and Star's book 5's (combined)
Rise book 6
Star book 6.
The placement of the shards will be dotted throughout the campaign and recovered by the PC's - not leading one to the other, but part of a natural progression, perhaps aided by Divination magic. I'm trying to think of the best places to have them encountered...
Shard of Envy: Noted for sale in the Feathered Serpent early on, purchased by Aldern and playing a part in his transformation. Recovered in the Misgivings, perhaps much later in the campaign once its purchase is tracked back.
Shard of Lust: In the Lady's Light
Shard of Gluttony: A trinket worn by Mammy Graul
Shard of Pride: Held by Mokmurian who is seeking the others, and it is the search for them that leads him to Sandpoint where the PC's are from.
Shard of Wrath: In the Scribbler's Lair
Shard of Sloth: Held by the dragon antagonist in the combined book 5's.
Shard of Greed: In Korzoug's prison with him
Basically the 'climax' against Korzoug will drive home the dangers the Runelords pose and drive the Ritual to reforge the Sihedron at the end of the campaign. Thoughts?
My own vrsion of this, in a crosspost in Rise of Runelords forum, goes so far like this: