Ralphrius |
Heya!
I've started entertaining the idea of running a play-by-post for my friends who are completely new to Pathfinder (tho not new to rpgs in general). I'm considering to just jump into the deep, start an adventure path, and see where we end up. However, there's something I'm slightly worried about.
My players in general have pretty iron stomachs and such, but I like to err on the side of caution. For the PbP I've been considering Rise of the Runelords and Curse of the Crimson Throne. Then I remembered how the Hook Mountain Massacre book of RotRL is known to have like high amounts of gore and brutal scenes, courtesy of the ogres.
Which got me to thinking, how does the rest of Rise and the other paths of the series fare in that department? Aside from the last book of Hell's Rebels, I don't truly know any other extremely gory situations in APs. So I was wondering how gory people rank the different APs, and what specific segments come to mind.
Skeld |
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With regard to the gorier parts of some APs, you play that stuff up or down depending on your group comfort level. No one will criticize you for accommodating your group's taste. Well, you shouldn't be criticized at any rate.
-Skeld
justaworm |
how does the rest of Rise ...
Full disclosure, but Skeld above is my group's GM, but from my recollection the rest of Rise had nothing on the Hook Mountain Ogres, and Mammy in particular. So, I don't know what Skeld may have been downplaying, but I would imagine little. Now, the Iron Cages of Lust (?) in Runeforge has a lot of other issues that may be sensitive to a group, and I do like how Skeld completely downplayed that for us. Jorimandus' domain in Runeforge can be pretty gross as well, but still nothing like the ogres.
As for other APs, I am running Legacy of Fire, and have read through Serpent's Skull, Second Darkness, and Ruins of Azlant, and I can't think of any gory scenes that stood out in those APs.
Skeld |
Ralphrius wrote:how does the rest of Rise ...Full disclosure, but Skeld above is my group's GM, but from my recollection the rest of Rise had nothing on the Hook Mountain Ogres, and Mammy in particular. So, I don't know what Skeld may have been downplaying, but I would imagine little. Now, the Iron Cages of Lust (?) in Runeforge has a lot of other issues that may be sensitive to a group, and I do like how Skeld completely downplayed that for us. Jorimandus' domain in Runeforge can be pretty gross as well, but still nothing like the ogres.
As for other APs, I am running Legacy of Fire, and have read through Serpent's Skull, Second Darkness, and Ruins of Azlant, and I can't think of any gory scenes that stood out in those APs.
I really wanted the ogres' unrestrained brutality to stick with the heroes, so I made sure to play that up.
And, you're correct, I played down some of the kinky sex stuff in the Iron Cages because in-game sex and sexual situations are, to me, kind of waste of time an energy. I'm here for adventure, not a 15 year old's fantasy sex romp through Golarion, or a detailed analysis of succubus' sex toys.
-Skeld
Hythlodeus |
I have to admit I read "Al Gore levels" in the thread title..
that said, every AP is gory if you think about it. I mean, your hacking and slaying monsters and villains left and and right. If there's no blood and gore, then you're not hacking and slaying.
however, most groups probably ignore THAT gore
outshyn |
Giantslayer has some increasingly disturbing depictions of giants. If I remember correctly, the 3rd or 4th module has a review in which the reviewer basically says, "Some of the artwork is making me feel pukey, please stop."
Having said that, I played through it and didn't feel like I was getting gore forced at me. The GM made it clear that the giants were pretty terrible and were enslaving/eating people, but not a lot of gorey descriptions. Oh! Wait! I think I may remember one area being described as a "blood river of human body parts." I think it was in a giant's keep. But that was about the only disgusting thing I recall.
Also, yes, Carnival of Tears is a bit vomit-inducing. Here's an interesting tidbit: the guy responsible for the gross parts of Carnival of Tears is, I believe, the same guy responsible for the gross parts of Rise of the Runelords.
Taliesan |
Hells Vengeance can begin to get a bit disturbing even from the latter sections of book 1, however, seeing as it is specifically designed as an evil campaign in Cheliax, it can sort of be given a pass.
There are also several bits of CotCT that I reckon could be played up or played down, such as: