|
Based on everything I have been able to figure out, I think she is at least part Vudran. I decided in my campaign that she was Chelaxian-Vudran mix and use this picture.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Thanks a lot, Stonk!
"Problem" with my group is, the minute I describe the scenery with too much detail to creat atmosphere: off they go... which isn't a bad thing per se, but can really derail the story.
Ruyan.
|
Thanks Stonk! That encounter table is awesome. I'll definitely be putting it into play when I run this.
Another thing I'm planning to do is add a little fiction in between encounters during the goblin attack and later, the giant attack. There are enough townsfolk with adventuring levels that they wouldn't sit idly by while goblins overrun the town. I don't have it written up yet, but a few ideas off the top of my head are:
1. Father Zantus channeling to heal some downed villagers or the party and inadvertently waking up a few unconscious goblins.
2. Belor Hemlock and the town guard working as a team to take down goblins and keep people safe behind a shield wall.
3. Das Korvut turning his Mastifs loose on the goblins
4. The alchemists taking down goblins, Pillbug with scary effectiveness and Nisk Tander with comical failure.
5. Sably fighting hand to hand
6. Cyrdak inspiring courage for everyone
7. Ameiko cutting down goblins with flare
8. Daviren Hosk bursting out of his stable on his warhorse, scattering and trampling goblins as he goes.
9. Jubrayl and some Sczarni thugs ambushing goblins from around a corner then ducking out of sight. Or possibly grabbing some unattended stuff in the chaos.
10. Gaven Devrin bulls-eyeing goblins with his crossbow from the steps of the cathedral.This will be a few sentences in between encounters while the party catches their breath to let them know that they're not holding off the raid all by themselves and to showcase some of the personalities around town
I'm just preparing to run this for the first time, and after reading the appendix in the anniversary edition about Sandpoint last week, I just started reading Burnt Offerings over the weekend. I had assumed that stuff like this would be happening around town during the goblin attack, but probably out of sight of the PCs. The exception being Father Zantus, who the adventure actually says will help to heal the PCs, and that he only has limited channels left, because he would have already used some on other townsfolk.
Other than that, just want to pipe in with a "me too" on all the "Hail Stonk!" posts. I'll definitely be borrowing your work, though I do have to talk to my players and see how much local color they really want. We'll be doing a character creation session tonight, which will include me helping them come up with back stories that explain why they're in Sandpoint. I'll talk to them about how the adventure starts off with quite a bit of local color before we get to the meat of the adventure, and we'll see how enthusiastic they are for that. It's a new group, so I don't know how much they'll want to role playing their time in Sandpoint vs diving into the plot quickly.
|
|
| 10 people marked this as a favorite. |
Time for me to make a contribution.
I'm preparing to run this campaign, and reading through the Anniversary Edition for the first time, and I realized that the appendix about Sandpoint is just too long for me to remember everything. There's 20 pages of good stuff in there, so I need an easy way to find things quickly. If my players ask where to find a store that sells particular types of items, I want to be able to find it easily, not spend 5 minutes skimming that appendix and holding up the adventure.
So I went through and made a map guide. This is just a quick guide to help me remember what's what quickly, roughly sorted according to why the PCs would care.
Inns:
3. The White Deer
37. The Rusty Dragon
Taverns:
13. Risa's Place
18. Cracktooth's Tavern - has stage
33. Hagfish - gambling
42. Fatman's Feedbag - Sczarni owned, notorious for bar fights
Stores (goods):
4. The Way North - Maps
5. Jeweler
9. Locksmith
12. Savah's Armory - weapon's and armor
14. Rovanky Tannery - leather and fur goods
15. Red Dog Smithy
16. Pillbug's Pantry - medicine, potions, poisons (secret)
17. Bottled Solutions - achemical items
22. The Curious Goblin - books
26. General Store - Ven Vinder, daughter Shayliss from Local Heroes
30. Vernah's Fine Clothing
31. Wheen's Wagons
35. Sandpoint Market - farmer's market once per week, merchants once per week
41. Sandpoint Boutique - clothing, weapons, toys, artwork, books, and tools
44. The Feathered Serpent - part museum, sells magic items
Stores (food):
21. Sandpoint Savories - bakery
29. Grocer's Hall
34. Valdemar Fishmarket
36. Sandpoint Meat Market
39. Two Knight Brewery
Services:
38. Goblin Squash Stables
43. The Pixie's Kitten - brothel
45. Hannah's - cleric of Gozreh, minor doctor, midwife
Notable Locations:
0. The Old Light
1. Sandpoint Cathedral
2. Sandpoint Boneyard
6. Junker's Edge
10. Sandpoint Garrison
11. Sandpoint Town Hall
23. Sandpoint Theater
40. Sandpoint Mercantile League
Information (see also 4 and 22 in stores (goods), above):
8. Sage - Brodert Quink, Thasilon expert
19. House of Blue Stones - Monk of Irori, has library on history and planes
27. Turandarok Academy - school, orphanage - Ilsoari Gandethus, wizard
28. Madame Mvashti's House - Seer
Industry:
7. Gorvi's Shack - garbage man
20. Sandpoint Glassworks
24. Carpenter's Guild
25. Sandpoint Lumber Mill
32. Scarnetti Mill
46. Sandpoint Shipyard
Founding Family Homes:
47. Valdemar Manor
48. Scarnetti Manor
49. Kaijitsu Manor
50. Deverin Manor
Oh and just in case your players eventually want to purchase property, I usually went 1 gp per square foot, I think its standard.
Investigating Turandarok is one of my favorite red herrings. The rumors from the original player's guide is a huge help.
Good luck, let us know how it goes!
|
And if you have Ultimate Campaign, then of course it has exact rules for property pricings per room. We started using the UC rules last session and the sorcerer bought an apartment, the ranger started constructing a cottage in the woods and the barbarian started managing the building of a spa. :D :D :D
| 5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Here is something you all might like! After the battle was over, I mentioned to the PCs that they have a brief moment to catch their breath and look around, and that the following was what they saw... this gave me a chance to set up a few of the NPCs in town, and to give the party a few red herrings to follow as they get to know the town in the days that followed. Here was what I described:
1. Ameiko - Mithril Rapier in hand, rushes over to fallen townsfolk and casts cure light wounds, pulls out a wand (hints of bard class).
2. Abstalar Zantus (high priest) - directs people to check wounded, bring them closer to him for healing
3. Ranger (human male) rides a strong horse around town, bow knocked, a look of hatred on his face
4. A man in armor (Know Relig to ID symbol of Abadar) w/ bloody blade in hand rush in from the center of town, looking around hurredly. He sees an unconsious form lying against a building and rushes over, a look of worry on his face. He pulls out ornate key, uses his Lay on Hands ability, and the figure begins to move. The PCs recognize him as Cyrdak Drokkus (bard from the speeches). They share a grateful smile, and the knight (paladin) helps him to his feet. They embrace in a strong hug, relief evident on their faces.
5. Belor Hemlock - commands various city guards to begin searching alleyways for stray goblins; he calls over Garridan Viskalai (recognize from White Deer tent) - Perc 10 to notice family resemblance, asks him to organizes water crews to put out the various fires. Garridan criticizes Belor for his lack of vigilance, says it's a sign of "his weakness"
6. Garridan ushers Lars Rovanky, Ven Vinder (show picture), Jargie Quinn (hagfish), and a few other robust fishermen to assist in the water crews.
7. An elven woman (Hannah Velerin) assists the clerics in healing the wounded. Once Belor has a moment, she goes over and discusses something rather heatedly, often gesturing toward the Northwest end of town. Belor calmly argues with her, often pointing to the NE and S end of town. (introduces her hatred of the junker's beach)
This helped introduce some of the relationships and NPCs without giving too much info. I think I also had the Mayor walking around, giving water to the wounded, and introduced her as a kind and strong presence in the town.
This is my first time GMing more than a one shot, I found that the best way to bring the town to life was to find a voice and gesture or mannerism for each NPC they interact with. For Brodert Quink, I have like "Oo, Oh" sound me makes a lot and tents his fingers excitedly and Daviren Hosk is real gruff, and only smiles when the PCs have goblin ears.
The NPCs they revisit are ones there is a value in it for them, like gold for ears and Brodert is their knowledge expert since the party Witch hasn't invested many points in them yet.
The market is a good place for accents since I could introduce traveling merchants who they won't nessecarily see again.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Dot. I feel my players aren't entirely attached to Sandpoint yet (and I wasn't as prepared as I could have been, this being my first outing as a GM). I'll be using this to bring Sandpoint to life before we start the Skinsaw Murders.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The Community Created thread has a TON of great stuff in it.
My recommendation for getting the pc's involved is to randomly roll on the buildings table 1-50 and have that npc cross the players path. Roll this alot, have them say hey, and smalltalk a bit. Second, have the pc's get involved by having the npcs bring them gifts, flirt, and visit with the pcs every time they come through or stop in the tavern. My players never once paid for a meal in the Rusty Dragon.
Time for me to make a contribution.
I'm preparing to run this campaign, and reading through the Anniversary Edition for the first time, and I realized that the appendix about Sandpoint is just too long for me to remember everything. There's 20 pages of good stuff in there, so I need an easy way to find things quickly. If my players ask where to find a store that sells particular types of items, I want to be able to find it easily, not spend 5 minutes skimming that appendix and holding up the adventure.
So I went through and made a map guide. This is just a quick guide to help me remember what's what quickly, roughly sorted according to why the PCs would care.
Inns:
3. The White Deer
37. The Rusty DragonTaverns:
13. Risa's Place
18. Cracktooth's Tavern - has stage
33. Hagfish - gambling
42. Fatman's Feedbag - Sczarni owned, notorious for bar fightsStores (goods):
4. The Way North - Maps
5. Jeweler
9. Locksmith
12. Savah's Armory - weapon's and armor
14. Rovanky Tannery - leather and fur goods
15. Red Dog Smithy
16. Pillbug's Pantry - medicine, potions, poisons (secret)
17. Bottled Solutions - achemical items
22. The Curious Goblin - books
26. General Store - Ven Vinder, daughter Shayliss from Local Heroes
30. Vernah's Fine Clothing
31. Wheen's Wagons
35. Sandpoint Market - farmer's market once per week, merchants once per week
41. Sandpoint Boutique - clothing, weapons, toys, artwork, books, and tools
44. The Feathered Serpent - part museum, sells magic itemsStores (food):
21. Sandpoint Savories - bakery
29. Grocer's Hall
34. Valdemar Fishmarket
36. Sandpoint Meat Market
39. Two Knight BreweryServices:
38. Goblin Squash Stables
43. The Pixie's Kitten - brothel
45. Hannah's - cleric of Gozreh, minor doctor, midwifeNotable Locations:
0. The Old Light
1. Sandpoint Cathedral
2. Sandpoint Boneyard
6. Junker's Edge
10. Sandpoint Garrison
11. Sandpoint Town Hall
23. Sandpoint Theater
40. Sandpoint Mercantile LeagueInformation (see also 4 and 22 in...
I made one of these, and then gave it to the players, so they could see what was available in town, and find it on the map. It saved a lot of questions about what businesses were in town, and where they were. It also helped the players learn the town.
Since it just told what the businesses were, they still didn't get the details until I gave it to them, it didn't give too much info to them too quickly. But saved a lot of time being spent on real low level questions and answers.
The Community Created thread has a TON of great stuff in it.
My recommendation for getting the pc's involved is to randomly roll on the buildings table 1-50 and have that npc cross the players path. Roll this alot, have them say hey, and smalltalk a bit. Second, have the pc's get involved by having the npcs bring them gifts, flirt, and visit with the pcs every time they come through or stop in the tavern. My players never once paid for a meal in the Rusty Dragon.
Thanks for the tips. I have done some of this for my players already but often they begin to think there's a reason they're getting so much attention other than the fact they're the local heroes and essentially celebrities. One of my players actually asked me the other day, "What's with all the attention my guy gets?"
They're having a hard time seeing Sandpoint as anything more than a 2D backdrop at points, even when I'm throwing all sorts of characterization and NPC interaction at them.
Well sometimes you just have to cater to the pc's, they might not be as interested in the RP. Goblin slaying is all kinds of fun!
How did they react to the Shayliss encounter? That ought to tell you alot about what they are interested in.
Well sometimes you just have to cater to the pc's, they might not be as interested in the RP. Goblin slaying is all kinds of fun!
How did they react to the Shayliss encounter? That ought to tell you alot about what they are interested in.
Hah, the cleric loved it, being Shayliss' "target," and he was the one asking why he gets so much attention [from the ladies], mentioned in my previous post. My answer? "Because you're playing a lady's man." (He is). To put this in context, he was asking from the standpoint of not realizing that the NPCs could have their own feelings and interactions.
He is new to tabletop gaming, and his experience with d20 systems is mostly Baldur's Gate/BG II for the PC, so the whole in-character concept is still a little foreign to him (as is the 3.5/OGL system). I started another free form campaign with him and a new character, also based in Sandpoint, to help him get accustomed to acting in character and avoid saying very (setting) inappropriate things. He's already improved some.
So, anyway, they (the PCs) are not opposed to role-playing, really, just having a hard time getting into it, I suppose. I have a few other tricks and ideas for our next session (hopefully this Saturday) to get them into things. Like I said, I want to build up Sandpoint and it's characters for a few days before I start with the murdering. Now's a good time, too, since they just finished Thistletop and are quite wounded and will need some R&R. The problem will be convincing the players that their characters are not killing machines and even these epic goblin-slaying heroes need some down time to eat and bathe before venturing out again.
I got my start into D&D from Baldur's Gate as well, just let him know that just like in that game he can have a love interest, and just like in that game if you treat them badly there are consequences and vice versa perks. Honestly RotRL is a great introduction into roleplaying, its got tons of flavorful npcs. My group was particularly fond of Ameiko, a garbage man named Jimbo (custom), Madam Niska, Das Korvut, and Alma Alvertin.
Just to plug my own sidequest, you could have a drunk farmer chime in that they should make a plaque for the party, get that woodcarver to make it. Have the room go silent, just to play up the tension about Jervas Stoot. See Wayfinder #7 for the Chopper's Isle sidequest, its free to download.
I think its Shayliss' sister that gets axed I'd definitely increase her screen time, so when it happens you can have a dramatic scene where she gets all bent out of shape.
My players enjoyed the Shoanti/Magnimar tensions that I played up.
It's also a good time to have some emotionally callous Black Arrow rangers show up, particularly some of the named characters from book 3. Just don't let the pc's get in a fight with them, they'll go down hard. One of my players tried cheating at dice with them, they beat him up, and he had a grudging respect for them for not turning him over to Belor. I think they were all ex-cons and things of that nature, before being sent to the fort.
One way that might help them get into the RP more is to ask them to try to stay in character as much as possible, especially when only talking to themselves. It's easy to speak above the table once you start thinking stragety or talking about the plot, but there's no reason that they can't do that in character! In fact, it may help them see how much they are meta-gaming when they reeeealy want to say something strategy wise, but realize that their character would in no way say or think of that.
I've also found that if you make a little sign that says "In Character", and hold it up at moments when you notice them heading into their own voices, it helps them realize they are doing it...
That list is awesome Fromper, definitely exactly the kind of thing that will make this relatively new GM easier manage the goings-on in Sandpoint! Appreciate the post!!