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I don't think a darker mood is necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes bad things happen that you don't manage to prevent, or can't prevent; it's reality. I think it's more interesting to grow and develop a character that's having to respond to terrible things, instead of just winning, winning, winning like some games tend to be.
But I still REALLY want to kick Moncello's ass now.
I admit this adventure is different. I think that's one reason that I have enjoyed it. The carnival games, the investigative aspect, the red herring; they're all nonstandard aspects that you just don't get to experience in most typical dungeon crawls.
It also explores several emotions from new perspectives. Helplessness, frustration, sadness; while not exactly enjoyable, can help one appreciate other avenues that can become routine. They remind us that not every story has a happy ending. Besides, it's a murder mystery, and you can't have the mystery without the murder half.
It reminds me a bit of Skulls and Shackles, where the characters start off in less than favorable conditions and have to work their way out of the hole. It all adds to the character background and helps to forge the fine details that are often just words on paper.
For one, I'm actually quite happy that we got to save some of the skulks, and in really happy that we may have convinced them to get off drugs.
For two, I really felt like we saved many members of the Carnival because of our actions, and that makes me feel heroic - even if we couldn't save everyone.
I have never played this module before, but I did read one of the reviews. The review said that this module is best played when the characters just follow the story and react, rather than try to actively solve the crime. While I do feel that some of this is true, I also felt like we made a lot of decisions ourselves about how to react and what to do next (with some help from the GM).
I feel this module is best played where some murders cannot be stopped (even if you try), while others can depending on the actions of the PCs. And I really do not think that the players should be told in advance that some murders cannot be stopped or that they should just follow the story rather than actively solve - it will change the dynamics of the game and lessen the experience overall.
The only thing that would severely dampen the entire module is if the town reacts negatively to the PC's actions (if they tried to act heroically), rather than being somberly thankful for stopping the real culprits. I've been in games where you never get a positive reaction from NPCs no matter what you do, and it really isn't fun.
Ok, game talk.
I'm not sure if I want to wait for Aliana to pick the lock, or if I want to yell, "there's no time!" And kick the door down.
Whichever you like. It's a full-round action, so hopefully with a good roll I'll have it open next round. Maybe attempting to daze one of the cronies would help? It's one less crossbow bolt poor Orlin has to take. (If you had Guidance, I would have suggested throwing that off on me. +1 on a skill check never hurt anyone.)
But of course, Elric doesn't necessarily know that Aliana's got any great skill at picking locks. She doesn't advertise it to the local police, for some reason. ;)
I was more worried that a round is a lot of time to leave a serial killer alone with the kids.
Indeed, completely understandable.
Kicking the door down could potentially be a lot harder than actually picking the lock, assuming the lock is pickable in the first place. Depending on what the door is physically made out of, it would take time to hack through it. I personally wonder how color spray might work in this situation. In theory, the colors could be seen from underneath the door, at least buying some time. It may even be worth it to grease the floor, but that may require some DM leniency as well. For example, if you were to start the 10 foot square in the square just outside of the room, the squares should reach into the room and potentially slow the villain, in theory.
The other hope is that he won't just murder the children outright, but will attempt to use them to barter his escape with. If he simply holds a knife to their throat threatening to do whatever, color spray is a great option. Maybe he's planning on jumping out of the second story window, if there is a window in that room, but otherwise he seems pretty cornered.
Tbh I think my vote's for picking the lock. I'm assuming that it's not going to be a very complex one, since it's just for an interior door. A successful Disable Device will have it down next round; it could take several Strength checks to bust through a door.
Unfortunately I think casting through the door's not really an option - I believe the rule is you have to have like a one square foot opening to have line of sight/effect for a spell. Greasing the floor would probably be a better bet - I can see it extending underneath, like Pavo said.
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Ok, a decision is to be made...
You were very... "efficient"... in capturing the bad guys, as you have Robella Moncello and Borvious Moncello captured already, and (I think) a good case against them.
There is one "encounter" left, which is their hideout.
Normally that fight has the Big Bad at the end. But you capture her already Robella Moncello.
So...
- We can "handwave" the last encounter, say that you were to their hideout, conquered, and resolved the case, finishing the adventure.
- What I had in mind... say that Robella escaped, and you need to deal with her for one last fight, in her hideout.
- Run the hideout encounter without her (I think it removes from the experience).
What do you prefer?
Man, that's a tough question. If we were to start a different adventure or something, I wouldn't be opposed to hand waving the end, given the circumstances of our "efficiency". I kinda don't want this to end though. I've enjoyed playing with all of you, and Corsario, you've just been great. If we're more or less disbanding after the conclusion of the adventure, than I think I'd like to continue to the BBEG fight and see how we do. I say that though knowing that Pavo has expended only good die rolls and no real resources, so it's really up to the rest of you. Being a fighter, I still have hit points so I'm ready to push on if the rest of you want to.
Having Robella escape to continue to the final encounter is fine by me. I'm ok resource-wise - I can re-brew a mutagen if we have some time to stop, and I've still got all my bombs. Aliana was exercising caution in not using any of them so far, but if we're in the Moncellos' place, she may use them slightly more recklessly. She's got some frustration and anger to let out that a few Molotov cocktails may go a long way with. >:)
I echo Pavo's sentiments - it's a great group, and I've been having a fantastic time. I'd love to keep going into the adventure path if everyone else is up for it. Plus, Pavo did promise he'd pay Gaedren Lamm a visit. ;)
As long as it doesn't precipitate yet another murder or dead NPC. Finish the job killing the kids, etc...
Finale is fine.
And it's clearly other people's fault she escaped, not Elric and The Posse
Well, obviously. We sent her to the prison with the Sheriff and her crew. If something's gone wrong it's their fault. :P
I'm a touch low on resources, but I've been really careful as well, and somehow STILL have half my first level spells, and meta's. Translation: I'm good either way.
If we are NOT transitioning to CotCT, I'd much prefer the climactic fight, but if we ARE, I'm ok with just transitioning, finding the evidence we need to pursue elsewhere.
If CofCT is not dissimilar, then I'll bow out. I prefer to play a hero than play a barely-surviving catching-up can't-save-the-day kind of game where half the NPC's blame you for what someone else did.
As a module, it's great - it's also temporary. I couldn't do several years of it through an entire AP. Now, if we did something like Rise of the Runelords or Jade Regent, I'd be game.
I'd even be up for Mummy's Mask, Wrath of the Righteous, or Giantslayer - but not with this character.
As for our ending, I'm ok with either way, so I'll let the group decide. Looks like we have three votes for yes and two votes for "Either way." No votes for no. :)
I'm literally within a week from running a RL Mummy's Mask game, I'm in a Rotrl, and slightly concerned about spoilers from a Jade Regent game, but other than that I'm open.
My understanding is that bad things™ happen in CotCT, and that occasionally the PC's ARE bad things™ that happen to bad people™, that have perfectly earned the PC's attention... but that's all I know.
I prefer to play a hero than play a barely-surviving catching-up can't-save-the-day kind of game where half the NPC's blame you for what someone else did.
As a module, it's great - it's also temporary. I couldn't do several years of it through an entire AP.
I think this expresses what I'm feeling. I'm open to just about anything, otherwise. I like the current characters. Maybe a string of modules?
I've played part of the first book of Jade Regent (right up until or TPK), and I really think the love interest aspect of the AP would work really well for this group.
I've played part of the first book of Rise of the Runelords, until our GM decided she didn't want to GM anymore. And I've played all of the first book of Wrath of the Righteous, right up until our GM read online that the AP "goes downhill" (aka PC's get too powerful) after the first book and decided he didn't want to run it anymore.
I GM'd the first three books of Carrion Crown; I stopped it because book 3 really get like a closing scene for the campaign, and there was a flimsy-at-best connection between each book. Like a string of horror motifs that are only connected by the fact that they're all the same genre, by nothing outside of that. And it wasn't even scary. Just horror-themed.
I'm about to finish up GMing book 2 o Iron Gods, and it's going great so far. I'm really liking it as a GM. I *think* my players are liking it as well, but I also just lost/removed half my group and got some new players to pick up where they left off. Seems to transitioning smoothly so far.
I'm in Rise of the Runelords right now - we just had two weeks off and a laid back intermission-type session yesterday, but we're starting book two next week. That's the extent of my AP experience, so I'm really up for just about anything, except I don't really care to do Rise of the Runelords twice simultaneously.
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Ok, I will take us into the last encounter, into the lair of the Moncellos, with Robella free. I think is going to be fun.
Two good news:
1) You have stopped the murders. No one else gets murdered.
2) Except for the bad guys! Gloves off! You can go into the Gilded Hands lair without having to get the bad guys alive. Extra bonuses if you manage to, but it is not "expected" from you anymore.
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Next decision...
I think this module was made with Curse of the Crimson Throne in mind... you are geographically close, has several "ready-made" plot points on hand, and several of the themes are similar.
I am, as I said, about to finish the Crimson Throne adventure path as a player. So far I have enjoyed it very much. I would very much like to DM it.
But, as in all RPG adventures, the bad guys do bad things that the heroes can't stop. There are people (many of them innocent) that die (in fact, a lot of them) and many victories for the bad guys before you manage to stop them.
But I could say that for any adventure path.
I like you guys as players. If I didn't, I would be saying "thanks for everything" and closing up the game. I think we can be a good group to follow on an adventure path.
You know my DMing style now. You know what things I do, what "buttons" I like to push, rate of game, all of it (including my English as a second language "limitation" - my daughter just got her English certificate and his excellent proficiency in English has made feel more and more "inadequate").
So...
1) Want to continue with "Crimson Throne"?
2) Want to continue with something else? (can be done... modules, another AP, we can decide later)
3) We retire while we are ahead?
Yes! I saved all my bombs for this! >:)
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I'll keep playing as long as anyone else wants, as I said above. I'd be fine with Crimson Throne as far as I'm concerned, but I'm perfectly willing to play whatever people want to play. I just want to keep this group going - it's a lot of fun. Definitely a serendipitous choice for my first game. :)
My preference would be the same order you have listed; 1, 2, 3. Then again, I'm pretty flexible. As long as I'm rolling dice and playing with good players, I'm good with pretty much anything. Present company included.
What's the first language?
I had no idea about the whole English thing. Couldn't tell. Well done.
Yeah, great job!
I did notice a tiny bit here or there, but most of them looked like typos.
That said, I enjoy writing and reading and I am more aware or sensitive than most people to language.
Amazing job!
The only obvious tell to me that Spanish is your first language is that when you type out laughing, you type it as "ja ja ja" instead of "ha ha ha". About half my coworkers speak Spanish as a first language, and I've had plenty of other casual experience with Spanish, so I'm used to seeing it that way, but the "j" in English doesn't have the right sound for laughter.
(Plus I read your profile when you were recruiting. Because I'm a super spy like that.)
But from 99.9% of your text, I'd never be able to tell. You really do write quite well in English. :)
That said, I enjoy writing and reading and I am more aware or sensitive than most people to language.
Same here. My mum and sister studied Spanish, I've studied Japanese and Chinese formally, the advisers of the club I was in in high school were the Spanish and German teachers, and I've been known to watch familiar movies with the alternate language tracks and subtitles just for kicks.
I don't have enough skill in any language besides English to be able to really converse, but I actually have a fair level of comprehension for as little actual study as I've done. Especially in writing, I'm decent at several of the languages that use Roman letters, and I still recognize a fair number of Japanese and Chinese symbols.
Hooray, boards are back!
Refreshed, too... I have to pick spells.
Refreshed, which really isn't that difficult for me. If it wasn't clear, my preferences are 1 > 2 >>>>>> 3.
I'm not considering 3 as a desirable option.
2, 3, 1 are my order of choices. If everyone else really wants to play Crimson throne, please do not abandon that path on account of me.
I'm in SoCal this weekend at a wedding, so posting will be slow if at all. Normal life will resume on Monday.
So... If we avoid Crimson Throne, we can try to keep the group together and intact.
If we further avoid what folks have played/DM'd... What does that leave us with?
Wasn't there a whole Hollow's Last Hope, Goblin King thing.
I vaguely remember a lumber town.
Unfortunately my knowledge of Paizo APs and modules isn't terribly vast. I'm not 100% sure what all takes place where.
Allow me to help with that, to an extent.
I'm in a KM recruitment ... where the GM may have vanished, and another GM may pull from that recruitment.
I guess the Most important question, is what AP's are you willing to RUN Corsario?
Kingmaker is exhausting, too sandbox. I think that's why it hardly ever works PbP. My 2 cents.
Fish might like killing Gnolls... What's that one? Legacy of Fire?
I'm in a Legacy of Fire right now, but if we duplicate I don't mind. (Side note: pugwampis suck.) I don't know that it would lead naturally from Murder Mark, though.
Have we considered keeping the same people playing, but rolling new characters, if we want to do something that doesn't lead naturally from Ilsurian? I'd be cool with that - I'm mildly addicted to rolling up characters, so I've got a few options on hand and could make more easily.
The Skulks are aliens, abduct us and drop us anywhere.
The depression emotion, is too much. I agree with him. I'd like to be heroic, not invincible. Just the good guy.
Moral ambiguities are more realistic but, they just don't scratch that heroic RP itch.
Anti-hero is fine. I enjoy it.