Suggested Adventure Path

My group is new and has been through the beginner box stuff and some extra content that I created to extend it. As such, we are just about ready (we need 1 more session to knock out the rest of my homemade stuff) to switch to the core rules and begin some of the other material around here. That said, I'd like to use one of the published adventure paths for our first major foray into the full ruleset world - but I really want to limit to just stuff in the core rule book for this first epic. With all that, I was looking at Wrath of the Righteous, which from its description looks perfect for my players. But as I start to read it, I see mention of it being a mythic adventure and that going through it with only core rules requires lots of adjustments.

The question then is this, considering that I will only allow the core rules (that's non-negotiable at this time), would the changes mess up the feel of it? Also, are the changes substantial?

Finally, if this isn't a good one to start with, what would be? Again, bear in mind core rules only, with very little to no modifications.

Thanks

I would veer away from Wrath of the Righteous then. The Mythic rules are integral to the story, and it will take a lot of work to remove those rules. Suggestions are made at the beginning of each volume on how to do this very thing, but it would be rather difficult.

As for which to start with, what drew you to Wrath in the first place? What style would fit your group? None of us out here want to suggest something that clashes with what your group wants to play.

Rise of the RuneLords Anniversary Edition is your best bet if you want to limit to Core Rules, next one is Kingmaker, which is rare to find in book form (unless you have Bill Gates esque finances, then check amazon) however when kingmaker came out it was just Core Rulebook and Bestiary 1 (ther are bestiary 2 monsters in it but they are fully stated in the books)
the thing with Kingmaker is, its a Sandbox adventure path (I.e. more free form, a beginning and end to each adventure but how the PCs go about it is entirely up to them)
the best bet with that is to not plan too much ahead and kind of react to the players instead of the players reacting to the story

after those two look into Serpent's Skull (also mostly core) Carrion Crown (a best of horror roadshow), Shattered Star (sequel to Rise of the RuneLords) or Skull & Shackles (who doesnt want to be a pirate king or queen?) Reign of Winter and Wrath of the Righteous are both spectacular adventure paths (wrath is mythic, reign not) and you really wont be disappointed with either however they do have some more advanced rules like firearms for Reign or Mythic Adventures in Wrath

I'd second Feros' cautions about Wrath. It would take a good amount of work to modify the AP for non-mythic. For a group just starting to wade into PF I'd recommend the module trilogy starting with Crypt of the Everflame, Masks of the Living God and the City of Golden Death. While not an AP they're interconnected and the first module in particular is designed to introduce new players to the PF rules.

Otherwise I'm sure Rise of the Runelords is sort of the default recommendation for groups.

also the only reason i did not lis Kingmaker first was the availability issue regarding the books, otherwise in my opinion it is the best adventure path (if you like sand boxes that is:)

Thank you, I suspected I'd be tabling this one because of that, maybe I'll do it after (by then my group should be ready to add the mythic rules).

It's hard to say what drew me to it, I read the synopsis on the site and a couple reviews that said it was great (in fact this is the only path that I didn't find any bad reviews of), but mostly it was just a gut feeling. I think part of it though is that when you read through, it really feels like one epic tale rather than a bunch of loosely connected adventures. I had originally thought of Carrion Crown, in that case because of the horror element (and a player who's a big fan of the Cthulhu mythos), but after looking through some reviews, didn't think it was really right for us after all. I guess most of all, we'd want one where there's some mystery, some problems to solve (I mean like solving a theft or murder or some thing like that, not figuring out how to disarm a complex trap), and maybe some horror aspects as well.

I haven't ready these ones yet either, but my gut feelings from reading the synpsises had me ranking them in this order: Wrath (now not on the list), Reign of Winter, Shattered Star (I have initial reservations on this based on a review that said it was heavily eastern flavored, which I don't mind, but also don't want to do for a really long time)

Thanks again for any help

captain yesterday and Wyrd_Wik,

Thanks for your input, I didn't see it till after my previous post. My only concern with Rise of the Rune Lords is that it seems to have a multitude of changes required to play it (if I recall correctly, it was originally for D&D and not PF?). What I recall of the story itself seemed to be pretty decently inline with my group though.

Are the changes for it massive and/or difficult?

It's Jade Regent that is eastern-flavored, Shattered Star aside from being a sequel to Rise of the Runelords, Curse of the Crimson Throne, and Second Darkness, is pretty vanilla with lots of dungeon crawls.

captain yesterday and Wyrd_Wik,

Thanks for your input, I didn't see it till after my previous post. My only concern with Rise of the Rune Lords is that it seems to have a multitude of changes required to play it (if I recall correctly, it was originally for D&D and not PF?). What I recall of the story itself seemed to be pretty decently inline with my group though.

Are the changes for it massive and/or difficult?

If you get The updated Anniversary Edition as opposed to the original 3.5 individual volumes then you don't need to worry about converting it to Pathfinder. Paizo have taken care of that and tweaked the story a little to make it flow more smoothly. You won't need to make any changes.

Golux - thanks for the clarification, after reading all the synopses pretty quickly, I started getting them confused.

Steve - thanks also, good to know there is no conversion needed.

Two more questions:
1) I was just looking at the Runelords book, and one of the reviewers mentioned that you need bestiary 1, 2, & 3 for it. Is there actually a lot of content from 2 & 3 (I haven't purchased any of them yet), or should I just get the first one and make a couple tweaks to the monsters that come in books 2 and 3.

2) Regarding the pathfinder pawns, there is a set that is Runelords specific, is that something that is actually useful or would the pawns from Bestiary Box 1 cover it?

Thanks again

For Bestiary 2 & 3 use the online PRD Bestiary entries for free.

And yes, the Rise of the Runelords pawn set contains many of the NPCs you'll be using so it is of some value.

OK, having read on the description of the Runelords story, it seems ok. Presuming I still like it after having read through some of the actual book, it will become the winner.

Having said that, I want to make sure I'm clear. First, as long as I use the anniversary edition, I will not need to make any changes to the path and the path also has everything I need from a story perspective in the book. Second, the materials I will want (including some which are helpful, but not necessarily needed) are:

Pathfinder Core Rulebook
Beastiary 1
Beastiary Box 1
Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Adventure Path
Rise of the Runelords Pawn Collection

I will then get the Beastiary 2 & 3 monsters from the online reference, and use whatever pawns that are closest to represent them.

Correct? Am I missing anything? Am I wasting money on anything (I'm not really worried about the cost, but I'll be really annoyed if I get something that is either unusable or totally pointless)?

Looks good here...go flight! :)

OK, having read on the description of the Runelords story, it seems ok. Presuming I still like it after having read through some of the actual book, it will become the winner.

Having said that, I want to make sure I'm clear. First, as long as I use the anniversary edition, I will not need to make any changes to the path and the path also has everything I need from a story perspective in the book. Second, the materials I will want (including some which are helpful, but not necessarily needed) are:

Pathfinder Core Rulebook
Beastiary 1
Beastiary Box 1
Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition Adventure Path
Rise of the Runelords Pawn Collection

I will then get the Beastiary 2 & 3 monsters from the online reference, and use whatever pawns that are closest to represent them.

Correct? Am I missing anything? Am I wasting money on anything (I'm not really worried about the cost, but I'll be really annoyed if I get something that is either unusable or totally pointless)?

Well if you're going to use the online resources for B2 and B3 perhaps you don't really need B1 either?

there are enough bestiary 2 monsters involved you might want to consider that too. However they dont come up to much until part 2 and 3 so you have time. Bestiary 2 has tons of classic monsters and is well worth it (same for bestiary 3, but not as much as 2)

I'm not too worried about time and would just as soon get everything all at once and be done with purchases. As for Beastiary 2 & 3, I guess it comes down to how much they are used. If there is one or two fights each, then I'd say no, but if there are a dozen or so, then it would be yes, its all a question of degree. Of course, as I write this, there is another option, which is I could get the pawns for all 3, and use the online stuff for the books (I would get beastiary 1 anyway, gotta have at least one of the books, lol.

the bestiaries (as are all PFRPG rule books) are only 9.99 as PDFs i know they do use bestiary 2 monsters quite often, especially in parts 2, 3, 5 and 6 not as much in parts 2 and 4

ok, so based on that I'll add beastiary 2 to the list, but it still sounds like 3 isn't used enough to bother

that is correct, you will need b3 for maybe 3-5 monsters in the entire adventure path, maybe less. Give me 5 minutes i can give you how many b2 monsters there are:)

thanks

there are 27 from bestiary 2 used in the entire path, 6 from bestiary 3

ok, well 27 is definitely worth getting the toys. Then I think I'll just go ahead with the online resource and using whatever pawn is handy for the best3 stuff.

Thanks so much everyone, this has been extremely helpful.

All that's left now is to read the story to confirm its the one before buying anything.

And thanks again.

Also some of the NPC's in the anniversary edition do use some classes and abilities from outside the core-rule book, but again, all of those are available to look up on the PRD so you can just print out the few pieces you need during your prep.

As for whether or not to buy Bestiary 2 and 3, you can always but the module first, have a read through, and then decide what books you want to buy.

yes there is a couple Oracles and a Witch (both from Advanced Player's Guide, also only 9.99 as PDF) i would still get bestiary 2 tho it is worth it, not just for these adventures but beyond as well.