Niklas Solo-Kingmaker


Campaign Journals


Foreword:

First of all, let me start by saying that this will be my first attempt at a solo campaign and I'm not sure how it will play out or if it's going to be any good. By solo campaign I mean that I'm going to be the sole player undertaking the Kingmaker Adventure Path with no GM and no party while writing my progress of the playthrough for you to read in novel format (to the best of my abilities). I've never read/played the AP and I'm going to read it as I play, trying to omit passages that my PC couldn't know, didn't spot or failed to identify. Safe to say that my recaps will be full of spoilers for those that didn't play the AP so be warned.

Solo-gaming isn't the same thing as playing a ''full-game'' with a GM and a party and I wanted to adapt the Adventure Path as little as possible for ease of play and reference so I had to find other ways to make the game solo-playable. My first idea was to that start the AP with a 3rd character instead of 1st with max hp. While giving me some extra HP and better bonuses on checks I didn't think it would be too much of a stretch. Continuing in the same vein, the character will advance in level as if he was 2 level lower, in fact staying always 2 levels in front of the expected level for the AP.
Also, in the adventure, I will be able to take NPCs to tag along with my PC (I feel a maximum of 2 NPCs should be enough). The possible NPCs must be present in the AP, must be rendered at least Friendly to ever consider following my PC and to determine their interactions I will be using the Mythic GM Emulator by Word Mill Publishing. Lastly, I permit myself 2 Action Points per hour of play/writing and those points can be traded for an extra full turn in combat to somewhat account for the action economy or to reroll a save (because in a solo-playthrough things like the Stunned condition are almost automatic defeats).

At the start of each instalment I'll insert the condensed version of my character and NPCs' sheet for you to follow their growth and after each of my recap I'll try to write a small OOC conclusion about what happened, describing problems I encountered, explaining technical information or rule clarifications.



Book One - Stolen Lands
Chapter One

Kedgnar Oathbreaker:

Kedgnar Oathbreaker
Human (Kellid) Ranger 2/Urban Barbarian 1
CN Medium humanoid
Init +2; Senses Perception +6
Defense
AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15 (+5 armor, +2 Dex)
hp 35 (2d10+1d12+5)
Fort +7, Ref +6, Will +4
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee Mwk Greatsword +6 (2d6+3/19–20))
Ranged Mwk Composite Longbow +6 (1d8+2)
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk +3; CMB +5; CMD 17
Feats Furious Focus, Improved Unarmed Strike, Iron Will, (Combat Style) Power Attack
Skills Acrobatics +4, Climb +6, Diplomacy +3, Disable Device +3, Handle Animal +3, Heal +3, Initimate +4, Knowledge (arcana) +1, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +5, Knowledge (geography) +5, Knowldege (local) +4, Knowledge (nature) +5, Knowledge (relion) +1, Perception +6, Stealth +7, Survival +5, Swim +6
Languages Common
SQ Combat Style (two-handed), Crowd Control, Favored Enemy (humanoid: human), Rage (5rounds/day), Track, Wild Empathy
Campaign Trait Brigand
Combat Gear potion of Bull's Strength, potion of Invisibility, charm of Detect Magic (25charges, works as a wand), charm of Cure Light Wounds (25charges, works as a wand), Other Gear +1 chain shirt, belt of tumbling, cloak of resistance +1, Mwk greatsword, Mwk composite longbow

I was traveling along the Narlmarches, a few miles from my destination. While I was watering Igdanar, my new stead, my thoughts went to what I was leaving behind me. A fortnight ago, I was in a tavern in Brevoy, drinking myself to nothingness, a purse full of coins but an empty hearth that even wine couldn't fill. For some years I had been a brigand in Rostland, going from one town to the next trying to be hired as a thug or a mercenary by other low-life. When Freska, my favorite companion, told me that rumors were on the streets that someone had put a price on my head for a botched job and that I should ride south in the Stolen Lands to avoid my fate I didn't take her seriously. That was my first mistake as the day after I was captured and sold to slavers going north. By the gods or another powerful entity's doing I was able to escape and steal a horse to travel south after all.

I arrived around noon at the trading post that Freska talked about. The sight of the small post was depressing: broken palisade, a deserted stable, a small house, a storage unit and a nearly destroyed main hall. I passed the collapsed doors of the palisade and dismounted in the yard noticing that an old man was trying to fix the roof of the big house. A fire was burning in the center of the open space and I approached it to warm-up a little when an older woman came to greet me. She presented herself as Svetlana, Oleg's wife, and told me they were expecting me as they received words by travelers and trappers that an heavily armed Kellid was riding south. She seemed happy to see me and her gentle words and smile warmed me more than the fire did. She sat me at one of the outside table in front of the hall with a hearty stew, warm bread and a bottle of wine but I couldn't shake the feeling that Oleg was looking at me trying to decide if was the kind of man who would kill them in their sleep. He finally came down to greet me coldly. Svetlana explained to me that they had requested Brevoy's help to deal with brigands in the region. I took more wine and ate furiously admitting that I wasn't sent to help them and that I was only here to escape my old life. Oleg trough his hands in the air cursing loudly and Svetlana humbly apologized for her husband's behavior. Oleg told me that he understood my desire to flee the burden of civilization as he did the same in bringing his life here. The place was a sanctuary for adventurers, trappers and hunters of the south where they could come sell their hides and resupply. He continued and explained that of late, a gang of bandits organised, started to raid his fort once a month, they even stole Svetlana's wedding ring and threatened to capture her for their own amusements back at their camp.

I drowned the last cup of wine and tried to clean-up a little before saying that I would take care of it. The couple looked at me with awe, not knowing what a sole man could do against a group of bandits. They told me that the first time there were a dozen of men accompanied by a cloaked man armed with a bow and a woman who carried two small hatchets. The woman seemed to be the leader being sharp and observant, whereas the man seemed to be a bit more crude and foolish. The next times, only the crude man came back with six others and then only four armed men. Oleg spitted out that their next visit was schedule to be tomorrow an hour after sunrise. I repeated that I would take care of it before standing-up and going to relieve myself in the bushes. I don't think I made a great impression because during the night I heard Svetlana ask Oleg to flee and leave everything behind before the morning to avoid being killed alongside me. That distrust in me reminded me that I was nobody and that I couldn't even save myself. Of course I was an able sword, strong and quick death-dealer, but that's all I had to my name, Kedgar Oathbreaker they called me. I had to open one of the bottle of wine I stole with the horse from the slavers and drink myself to sleep to silence my depressing thoughts.

It was still early when I came back to my senses, the wine I drank the night before was making a thundering sound in my ears and I still couldn't see strait but that had to do. As Oleg said, a group of five men came into the post an hour after sunrise. The crude man seemed surprised to see me nonchalantly eating breakfast by the fire. He announced himself as Happs Bydon, the leader of this traveling band and told me they came seeking a quick breakfast and a few hours of rest. I wasn't fouled as I saw one of his man put a hand on the hilt of his sword and I swore to him that if he was foolish enough to draw it I would cut his hand. Happs didn't take the threat lightly and immediately ordered his minions to attack me.

One of the man was quicker than me and stroke my left arm with his short sword. I reciprocated by grabbing his head and crushed it on the table in front of me. The next two men circled me to strike me in the back but I blocked their blows with my bare hands leaving enough time for Happs to unleash an arrow that lodged into my shoulder. The last man clumsily let his sword drop to the ground, the poor lad. My first attacker withdrawn with his nose bloodied leaving me with now only three foes and I tried to punch one in the face but he was able to avoid me. Two men tried to slash me with their blade but I was too quick for them and Happs sent another arrow that scratched my leg, I was becoming more and more annoyed by the situation. I let my rage flow and I tried to break one of the thug's arm but he escaped my grip twice. One of my foe stroke me in the belly with his blade and the crude man tried to fire at me but his shot didn't find flesh. I took my blade out and one of my assailant took the opportunity to wound my already bleeding arm but then I severed his in retaliation. The man collapsed in convulsion trying to stop the blood from dripping. The remaining men looked at each other and ran the other way around afraid of what I could do to them. Happs screamed to them to come back and tried to shoot me another arrow that hit the roof of the building next to me but now I was before him and cleaved the brigand in a single mighty blow.
When the adrenaline worn off I let myself fall sitting on the ground my bloodied blade next to me. I took out a bottle of wine and drank a good sip while Svetlana and Oleg were running to me. I was badly wounded so Svetlnana took care of my injuries while Oleg was rejoicing and kicking the unconscious Happs in the stomach. I would have time late to interrogate Happs and loot the dead thug but for now, wine and rest were on my mind.
End of Chapter 1
First solo fight and it was brutal, Kedgnar was brought to 11HP, I had the two men escape because I stroke their friend for 17damage and the other one almost died of an unarmed attack. Happs was brought from 11hp to 0 with one blow which I found amusing. It is really frustrating when you are the sole fighter on your side and you miss 2 rounds in a row, I'm not sure how it will play out in the future but this fight was ok. Please let me know what you think of my journal and feel free to comment! Next part, Kedgnar will start exploring the Stolen Lands searching for the bandits'camp.


I've run solo games for my own enjoyment before and I look forward to following this thread. It might be an idea to give yourself some stalwart NPC sidekicks for when the going gets tough. Maybe Jhod or Captain Gaskell (did I get those names right?).


mikeawmids wrote:
I've run solo games for my own enjoyment before and I look forward to following this thread. It might be an idea to give yourself some stalwart NPC sidekicks for when the going gets tough. Maybe Jhod or Captain Gaskell (did I get those names right?).

Thanks! Yes I'm going to try to get some NPCs to follow but I must keep in mind my rule about their attitude toward Kedgnar and I'll try to not meta-game it, if someone's personality isn't compatible with Kedgnar's he's not gonna ask him to follow.

Honestly, I feel that playing a solo-campaign pushes me to think differently about how I construct my pc, somewhat similar to the feeling of playing Diablo II in hardcore, it's not the same game. I enjoy it just for the exercise.

How did you address the combat part of your solo-game?


Niklas_DL wrote:
How did you address the combat part of your solo-game?

When I tried, I was converting the Pathfinder AP to another system (Savage Worlds), so it was a lot easier to adjust battles on the fly to make them appropriately scaled for a single PC (+ some NPC sidekicks). I imagine it'll be nowhere near so simple to find that sweet spot using the Pathfinder rules. :p

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