Well, I wouldn't be surprised if a powerful hag witch has even more secret knowledge regarding Eccardian and Chammady. Maybe she has further information about the CoT? I think Orsin's dangerous interest in dark magic has peeked his curiosity. He might even wonder if the Mother of Flies knows how to escape an infernal bargain. Orsin's down to meet with her in the Hagwood.
That sounds good.
Hmm.. Was there a mistep with so much information being given out? Eccardian and Chammady want to kill the hag because she knows the truth of their birth, but Areal just info-dumped all of it on us. So the motivation to go rescue the hag is gone.
Edit: Since it seemed the progression would have been, learn about that the Drovanages were going after the Mother of Flies for some reason, go rescue her and then she info dumps the Drovange's secret history.
So now it seems it is..They are going to fight each other? Eh, we have the info so just let them have at it.
Not really...the book doesn't explain why the party should dump everything and run of to the swamp.
The only thing really missed in book 4 is the the group didn't clearly know there were/are three groups that were trying to free the pit fiend: 1. the vampires, 2. the Eccardian and Chammady, and 3. the loyalist for the Grandfather. The group missed out on Grandfather's loyalists role. The grandfather believes something is happening by this point.
From what I've read in the first four books the AP explains to the DM, but not to the players, the connection between Eccardian and Mammon. Nor does it in the context of the game explain why the grandkids want the grandfather dead.
There is actually a disconnect on taking the group from the urban setting to the swamp in this book, you guys get a message and are suppose to drop everything and run off.
Remember this AP has a ton of details on a pretty cool class: hellknights. Through a couple articles written for the GM, it has the class feature, provided detailed descriptions of each sects and where there home bases are found. Have you faced any Hellknights? Nope. The first scene of book 1 when they chase you into the sewers...but those weren't even full Hellknights, then there was the breakout for Areal in the third scene of book 1 but again there was not a hellknight to be found. If it wasn't for me building the tension with the Hellknights and dottari, and Truk and Orn they have been all but forgotten about by the AP, as written. Again, a giant missed opportunity to really highlight this class by the authors.
Well, I wouldn't be surprised if a powerful hag witch has even more secret knowledge regarding Eccardian and Chammady. Maybe she has further information about the CoT? I think Orsin's dangerous interest in dark magic has peeked his curiosity. He might even wonder if the Mother of Flies knows how to escape an infernal bargain. Orsin's down to meet with her in the Hagwood.
Perhaps she has an abyss escape clause.
I own the COT and Kingmaker APs the writing tends to be sold for each individual module but since, IMHO, different writers draft each module there tends to by disconnects in the story arcs.
This is the farthest I've taken a group in one AP, I actually think these APs should be should be shortened to 4 and no more than 5 books. By the time the players get to book 4, they don't really want to be directed or told to go to the next point.
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Agreed on length, but... You're the exception. From what I can gather, besides not appointing Gerald, ehem... High King immediately, this is a rather intelligent/intellectual group.
80% masses, need a nose-ring while 10% still need some nudging... Especially since the arc as you say may be fragmented.
Then the poor DM realizes he's dealing with idiots. Has to herd the party like so many cats.
I own the COT and Kingmaker APs the writing tends to be sold for each individual module but since, IMHO, different writers draft each module there tends to by disconnects in the story arcs.
This is the farthest I've taken a group in one AP, I actually think these APs should be should be shortened to 4 and no more than 5 books. By the time the players get to book 4, they don't really want to be directed or told to go to the next point.
Think about it Andrea you've wanted to kill Areal since book 2, but his whole roll was to organize the Brotherhood, recruit your group and then send you off of missions permitting you all to get the glory. By the beginning of Book 3 Areal and Janiven are not mentioned again although the PCs are suppose to use the safehouse. IMHO another disconnect.
From what I've read in the first four books the AP explains to the DM, but not to the players, the connection between Eccardian and Mammon. Nor does it in the context of the game explain why the grandkids want the grandfather dead.
'You have money, land, and stuff we want. Good enough for murder!'
No doubt crops up a lot in Cheliax(and other places.)
Do we actually need to head off into a swamp? I am so not that kind of ranger.
There's only one kind of Ranger, kick-azz!
Time for us to get closer to nature! Lucrezia would have her time to shine since she can start using her survival skills.
So what does the AP say that we are supposed to be doing next? 'Cause either I missed something or Lucrezia just doesn't see any reason why to go out visit the hag over getting rid of the shadowbeasts.
Kill things and take their stuff.
Yep
Lucrezia the next thing the AP indicates is you receive an unlikely messenger and trek out to the swamp. By the end of the book the PCs have dealt with the shadowbeast leaving the COT for the end.
Guys, I'm feeling a bit under the weather so I'm going to log off for the night.
Get better, getting chilly where I am as well.
I'm not sure how much I will be on tomorrow. I'm going to go get a root canal in the morning. :(
Both of you, get better!
As is evident, I've not ever read the AP... Makin' stuff up! Hope I'm not being too much of a pest.
All good.
Back to sleep. See you in 2 hours. 0346 here..zzzzz...
Back to sleep. See you in 2 hours. 0346 here..zzzzz...
This is gaming dedication right here. He wakes up to post then goes back to bed.
I like it... Luc might be groggy from anesthesia.
That when she should be online...making all kinds of fun, provocative and absolutely inappropriate comments!!!
Wife's on an overnight biz trip... as soon as kids are down, 8:30 EST... I'm ready for action.
@Baldwin - Would you consider dagger sheathes that hang down like hoslters with straps above the knee, two on each thigh (taking up the body slot) instead of a belt for blinkback? Even bandoliers are belt slot.
If so, I can take the belt of con +2.
Or an alt config, could be one each thigh and a wide strip across the small of the back with one dagger accessible from each side.
Getting some quickdraw imagery going.
I think there are non-standard magical items that can be made at a mark-up.
Sure, double for slotless. But, I already have it. :(
We cross posted in the game thread. Sorry.
Wife's on an overnight biz trip... as soon as kids are down, 8:30 EST... I'm ready for action.
@Baldwin - Would you consider dagger sheathes that hang down like hoslters with straps above the knee, two on each thigh (taking up the body slot) instead of a belt for blinkback? Even bandoliers are belt slot.
If so, I can take the belt of con +2.
Or an alt config, could be one each thigh and a wide strip across the small of the back with one dagger accessible from each side.
Getting some quickdraw imagery going.
My wife is out of town till Sunday, so I understand your position Gerard. I'm, also, helping my daughter get ready for exams that begin next Tuesday.
As far as the sheaths that's fine, I'm not a real stickler on body slot items, I figure if the magic exists to cret the item they caa pretty much put that power into most items/slots.
Off to dinner.
Is Azreal gonna come back or be handwaived?
At crossfit now. Back in 1 hr.
Oops forgot about Azreal...the lady is protected as some guards have been posted from your family's estate. Sascar insisted.
orsin I understand you are stretched for time, will you be on tomorrow much to make sure we can conclude this?
I'm on Hydrocodone right now. Wheeee!
Sweet. Class is finished. I hurt!
Gerard made Jarvis a job offer of sorts...
The site has crashed on me three times in the last 30 minutes or so, that is tell me it is time to log off for the night. Chat tomorrow...good RP there.
Andrea is being paranoid again. Hopefully there won't be a betrayal or Gerard might come out worse for it.
MUAHAHAHHAHAHA!
In other topics, Faelyn no doubt has left and will be taking care of Khazrae? Any feedback from John since he has been very quiet, even more so than usual.
Yes, tomorrow is my last big day of free time this week, so we should definitely try to tie up this loose end. I should be on by 11 am PST, but I'll try to make it on earlier!
If the Mother of Flies doesn't know anything about getting out of infernal bargains, Orsin will likely have to return to that blatantly-human-clearly-NOT-a-devil lawyer and see if she knows anything.
Paranoid is good, saves Gerard the trouble!
"Darling I just adore contracts."
Andrea I've sent John a couple PM's over the last month and have not heard back from him, which is unusual. It looks like the party is:
Andrea
Lucrezia
Orsin
Daniel
Gerard
Four of you are online daily and are pretty hardcore posters, so I'm ok running the game with the current group make-up, it shouldn't bog down in spots. It will, also, provide a bit more focus on each of current players. I'd like to run through the upcoming part of the book to see how it goes.
Ummm... what magic items, armor, weapons would the ladies be going without... after the make-overs? Hee hee.
Gerard travels light and has a snazzy/spiffy/swanky cloak. Voila!
We're still early evening-ish? Do we need to wait until morning... I mean, I'd hate to see Ole One-Ear lose his other ear.
Yeh, waiting is better so there are no unexpected sidetracks or delays.
Thought you were hinting thru the NPC. And, I didn't mean before or instead of the play...
But, after... once we collect Orsin.
Totally off topic here but I've gotten fed up with the shaving cartridges and the expense along with the electric shave, so I invested in an old fashioned safety razor (it's the latest rage) and I just received it today, WOW! The closest shave I've ever done and better than all but one barber shop shave I've had (and that's saying a lot). Definitely a wife pleaser.
Hmm, yeah... I was an Excel man. But, they are crazy costly!
If you ever go back, I've found the Bic Twilight or Soliel disposable 3-blade shavers the best (for me). They come in 4-packs and can be found on sale for about $5. Good for 2-3 shaves.
They are marketed towards women, so you have to get over that if it's an issue.
Shaving cream (foam): NIVEA for MEN, sensitive skin works nicely.
My own odyssey with Razors has ended.
I was following every new incantation to Gillette's new razors.
Currently we are up to the Gillette 5 blade power nuclear model (sarcasm)
, The bloody blades are $30 for a pack of 4. Screw that.
Went to the plain old Mach3 blades and Woolworths brand shave gel. Just as good. A third of the price.
BTW, It's not gaming dedication that has me posting at 0232 today. Our 3rd child is 2 and sleeps in the bed with us. She kicks me around this time for her night bottle. ....
Back to bed.
5 players will put more focus on us.
Be interested to see how it goes.
No wizard means obstacles will be more difficult.
Easier to DM though.
Puts extra load on The party buffers.
The pally list is not exactly full of utility spells so unsure how much help I can be.
If we are gonna be up against the shadowbeasts a wand of Lesser Restoration would be good (a pally crafted one is only 750gp, but plenty of GM's rule cleric level costs, realizing there is unlikely Pally wand crafters out there)
Sleep.
When I shaved with razor I like Kiehl's shaving cream. You know something is wrong when disposable blades are kept behind locked glass at the store.
You can get 100 Wilkinson Sword blades for the SR for like less than 20 bucks....20 cents apiece. The higher end Feather are .35 cents.
Ummm... what magic items, armor, weapons would the ladies be going without... after the make-overs? Hee hee.
Gerard travels light and has a snazzy/spiffy/swanky cloak. Voila!
Andrea will have that entire Victorian angle going on with her outfit.*waves fan*
Will probably keep a summoning spell handy for extra flanking.