...I finally got my paper copy of Varnhold Vanishing. Can you tell us which monster/monsters were yours, or if they were done by committee?
I did the blodeuwedd (any surprise?) and the peluda.
I've been enjoying Kingmaker the best FtF DMing gig I've had in years. In my experience however lvls 10-12 is the place where most vcampaigns bog down si I don't eny Neil having drawn this particular straw.Still looking forward to Blood for Blood though
Originally, I was asked to write Blood for Blood to cover levels 8-9, because they weren't anticipating taking the campaign through so many levels. But somewhere in the middle, they changed horses on me and decided to push Kingmaker higher (i.e., each issue would cover 3 levels). James helped adapt and ratchet things up where necessary. In the end, I'm pretty happy with how it came out. It's my first contribution to an AP, so why wouldn't I be? Hope you enjoy it. :-)
Oh I will..can't say the same for my players...(insert evil DM laughter)
...I finally got my paper copy of Varnhold Vanishing. Can you tell us which monster/monsters were yours, or if they were done by committee?I did the blodeuwedd (any surprise?) and the peluda.
Cool! The blodeuwedd was my favorite this month. Can't get enough fey, although many are just annoying. The blodeuwedd hit the mark squarely. Good nature tie, neat mix of abilities.
The peluda was my third favorite (I really dug the styrgia too). It does a good job filling the "work-a-day" dragon role that isn't often addressed. (I once saw a 'rock dragon' or something like that which fit the bill too.) I feel like the full up chromatic dragons should be special events. The peluda is something I could trot out fairly often.
Good Lord. I just googled peluda, which I strongly recommend no one else do.
Given that. I had to google peluda. I came up with a French monster very like Neil's description.
Given that. I had to google peluda. I came up with a French monster very like Neil's description.
It's also a Spanish(?) term for "hairy"...as in excessive body hair, etc. I'm guessing that's what Bill ran into... :-D
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So,
Wicht, can you tell us anything about this Rite Publishing job? If not, I want a promise that we'll get the full story as soon as you can talk about it.
I'm writing Coliseum Morpheuon, the patronage project that Steve began with Clinton Boomer about a year ago. Its an arena adventure/campaign sourcebook set in the plane of dreams for levels 16+. Much of the campaign material was already brainstormed when I took on the project last month but it was heavily in need of editing and compilation so I've been compiling, editing and writing all three. I just finished, starting with an outline Steve had, an introductory adventure to the thing and it should be showcased at Paizocon (not by me, I won't be there - Dennis Ogre Baker I believe will be running it). I've also finished creating the monsters for the book (5 of them) and my goal is to finish the campaign material this week and then get started writing the actual adventure. Its supposed to be done this month too so if my posting is slow you can figure thats the main cause.
The Emporium was the first project I did for Steve (along with Trevor Gulliver).
Given that. I had to google peluda. I came up with a French monster very like Neil's description.It's also a Spanish(?) term for "hairy"...as in excessive body hair, etc. I'm guessing that's what Bill ran into... :-D
I can just imagine .....
Given that. I had to google peluda. I came up with a French monster very like Neil's description.It's also a Spanish(?) term for "hairy"...as in excessive body hair, etc. I'm guessing that's what Bill ran into... :-D
I can just imagine .....
I'm writing Coliseum Morpheuon, .... Its supposed to be done this month too so if my posting is slow you can figure thats the main cause.
The Emporium was the first project I did for Steve (along with Trevor Gulliver).
Set in the plane of dreams, eh? That could get pretty crazy. Best of luck finishing it up. I look forward to seeing the finished work.
The Emporium was the first project I did for Steve (along with Trevor Gulliver).
And Steve speaks quite highly of you. ;-)
I'm thrilled to see what you contribute to the project, Jonathan.
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The Emporium was the first project I did for Steve (along with Trevor Gulliver).And Steve speaks quite highly of you. ;-)
I don't know exactly what you are refering to but I was listening to Steve's recent podcast and I heard my name mentioned so my ears perked up... and then I thought, uh-uh, he didn't just say that about Trevor did he? But he went on and had some nice things to say about Trevor too so I felt better about it. :)
I don't know exactly what you are refering to....
Some Facebook notes that passed between Steve and I. He's the one who shot me a link to a free download of the Emporium and called my attention to the dedication on the credits page. :-)
Which was cool...
And, yeah, he had good things to say about you and your writing.
So...keep it up! :-)
Sorry, guys, got socked by RL. Trying to catch up on all my games today.
Okay, all you DMs. Check this out, and let me know if you're interested. I'd love to hook up with someone I already know, so please share you're thoughts.
Oh, and yes, running a PbP has given me a whole new appreciation for the magnificent job you all do. Seriously [/ass kissing]
My posting may be erratic for the next few days. My father passed away this evening after a long fight with cancer.
Sorry to hear that, Wellard. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Guys, I'm playing in a Kingmaker PbP that's looking for 2 new players. Death-Lok posted the opening last night.
Okay, all you DMs. Check this out, and let me know if you're interested. I'd love to hook up with someone I already know, so please share you're thoughts.
Oh, and yes, running a PbP has given me a whole new appreciation for the magnificent job you all do. Seriously [/ass kissing]
Bill, I couldn't run another one. Adding my second may have been a mistake, I don't feel I do both of them justice as it is. To me it feels like I'm barely scraping by in each. I hope it works out with KARLAN.
Tonight on Korvosa Chat. Wellard. Ambitious, arrogant, or does he just have toys in the attack? We look at this iconic DM has he starts up a third PbP campaign, a feat which stymied the inimitable Aubrey. (Although Aubrey is making a second attempt at a third campaign.)
We'll be back with our guests and to take your calls after this breif word from our sponsor.
Wellard, I do apologize if the tone of my last post was annoying or offensive. I was trying to be funny; could hear Cleese doing the announcement for a faux talk show while I was writing it. I am really impressed that you're starting a third campaign. Two is my limit.
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I'm only in one of Wellard's two current games, but he seems to have a gift for staying out of the high-energy / RP-centric player's way (and we've had quite a few of those, although, like all groups, we have our lulls) and letting them RP through stuff.
The RotR game has a few really enthusiastic players who really enjoy playing around with their characters, and his GMing style really encourages that sort of thing. When NPCs appear, we get enough description and dialogue to convey what needs conveying, and to open up RP opportunities, but if the group doesn't jump on the opportunity, he shuffles them off-stage and gets them out of the player's way. I definitely feel that I'm one of the central players here, and I'm not sure how much that is the AP itself (I've been in a few where it feels like the NPCs are in charge of everything the PCs do, and it gets frustrating) and how much of that is Wellard's personal style.
It feels almost like the RP version of 'sandbox play,' in that the PCs feel more empowered and 'in control' of the environment, due to the lack of bossy NPCs.
Runelords is definitely more character driven than any of the other APs before Kingmaker.There's a distinct lack of 'bossy NPC's' telling you where to go and what to do and the story flows fairly naturally wheras I think Tim is struggling with some of the assumptions made in both CoCT and CoT
As to shuffling people off stage..the party in Runelords went to Thistletop with Shalelu in tow but were coping well enough without her input so I removed her from the scene at the first logical opportunity.
Serpents skull really grabs me..I will off course be looking to REH and ERB for inspiration.Having good players is 75 % of any PbP as I'm sure the other DMs here will agree
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Runelords is definitely more character driven than any of the other APs before Kingmaker. There's a distinct lack of 'bossy NPC's' telling you where to go and what to do and the story flows fairly naturally whereas I think Tim is struggling with some of the assumptions made in both CoCT and CoT
Those were exactly the two APs that frustrate me for that same reason. There are a few distinct points where the PCs feel like appendages, executing the will of the NPCs. Yuk.
You can't even get pissy and have a fun inter-party argument with an NPC, really, and when a party member sides with the NPCs against the rest of the party?*** Oh, that's like gaming with the GM's new girlfriend, the one with the pet unicorn.
I never got very far into Legacy of Fire, but there was a whiff of that sort of 'NPCs in charge' in the first encounters as well. Oddly, I don't mind that as much in an Arabian setting, as that sort of thing was part and parcel of a good Al-Qadim game. So I'm just a big ol' hypocrite there. :)
Kingmaker is like paradise for me. So much freedom!
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***[In a GURPS game, our party had just rescued an NPC knight from an evil wizard, and while dividing up the loot from the wizard, the knight demanded the wizard's ring as his share, due to his status. When the party mage said, 'it's a ring of spell storing, you couldn't use it anyway' and turned to walk away, the NPC knight stabbed the mage in the back. Another of the players had his character applaud the knights action, "Good shot, Sir Jenkins!" sucking up to the NPC, who then proceeded to attack the party members who had attempted to stop him from stabbing the mage in the back... The NPC knight, naturally, was tougher than the party (how the wizard caught him remains a mystery for the ages) and killed everyone but the cheerleader. Obviously, this is an egregious example, but it definitely didn't enhance my appreciation for bossy NPCs. :)]
I think LoF gets better after chapter 1 due to the fact that the party escapes from the direct influence of the NPC rulers.
Interesting that we have avoided any mention of SD so far..that for me was a great concept ruined by poor execution. There really is no motivation for any Riddleport resident to want to run off and help the elves.
Now give Paizo their due they take on board what is being said here on the boards and the APs are getting stronger because off it..added to which we have the fresh blood coming in from things like RPG Superstar..(Yes Neil I do mean you..amongst others)...which gives a fresh perspective from the guys who have been writing adventures for 10-12 years
Perhaps Neil would like to comment from the writers POV? How much leeway do you get in writing something like Blood for Blood? Do you get an outline and told to fill in the blanks or is it much more tightly controlled than that?
I should add that I really enjoyed BfB..I can't wait to inflict some of those NPCs on my players especially a certain young lady of the Bardic persuasion.
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Interesting that we have avoided any mention of SD so far.. that for me was a great concept ruined by poor execution. There really is no motivation for any Riddleport resident to want to run off and help the elves.
With my first SD PBP, playing evil characters, we were *stoked* to be working in the Golden Goblin, and looking forward to developing the business (the first rule of Gobblin Fite Klub, is you don't talk about Gobblin Fite Klub...), and I'm pretty sure the whole 'go help the elves' thing would have been a bit of a sticking point for us (we might have had to select one or two characters to buy Leadership, and have followers handle the Goblin, since it seemed very unlikely that we would have spent *months* building that place up to profitability and then just go haring off on some wild goose chase).
Oddly, with a good character, the second try, I found myself much less motivated to work in the Goblin at all. The elf thing probably would have been more welcome as a chance to get the hell out of Riddleport for a good character, and just writing off those months in the Goblin as a necessary evil or something...
Either way, it ends up feeling like two incompatible story arcs.
Perhaps Neil would like to comment from the writers POV? How much leeway do you get in writing something like Blood for Blood? Do you get an outline and told to fill in the blanks or is it much more tightly controlled than that?
Lengthy Explanation:
Each writer receives an outline of the overall campaign's plot (broken into each of the six chapters) and only slightly more in-depth than what you see in the "Coming Next" section of the last issue for any of the other Pathfinder APs. That insight helps you understand the frame of reference where the main story will take the PCs and what kind of villains and minions they'll face. For Kingmaker, my section didn't yet have a title. They already had the art order for the cover, though...so I knew there would be a big bad villainous barbarian warlord as the prime move-and-shaker. But we also knew Kingmaker would be sandbox-y enough that we'd have to include an exploration element with lots of little side encounters. Each author had the leeway to fill that in as he wanted, but clearly, you also wanted to make sure everything fit according to the overland map Paizo provided. Thus, I knew I had a major swamp to detail. I also knew the adventure would contain plenty of boggards.
And that's it...
The rest is pretty much guided by your individual creativity. I mean, we all knew that different factions were sent from Brevoy to colonize parts of the Stolen Lands. But we got to determine the personalities of those groups and how they settled each region. In my case, the outline for Pathfinder #34 also indicated the ruler of my region would turn traitorous after being surrounded and threatened by superior forces coming down from the next region over. So I had that built-in motivation for creating Baron Drelev and the Drelev Demesne. I had full rein to create virtually all of the NPCs. But, even then, Jacobs makes a few changes here and there in the final turnover. I also received Tim Hitchcock and Rob McCreary's early turnovers so I could mine them for additional plot hooks to pick up certain threads in "Blood for Blood"...and, in at least one instance, Jacobs used something I came up with and ported it back into the first Kingmaker adventure to set up something I'd be doing. I'm talking about the town of Tatzlford and Loy Rezbin asking for permission to found a new settlement within their growing kingdom. So, that was pretty cool.
All in all, though, I think writing for Kingmaker is just as sandbox-y as playing in Kingmaker. The authors had plenty of leeway to exercise their creativity. And I did my best to reach out to the other authors (Rob and Jason, anyway) to discuss where I'd be taking "Blood for Blood" and how that might rely on something they'd written or setup something they might need or want to use. I think that kind of collaboration helps with the cohesion of writing such a campaign...and, hopefully, it makes the developer's job a bit easier to link each installment, too.
I should add that I really enjoyed BfB..I can't wait to inflict some of those NPCs on my players especially a certain young lady of the Bardic persuasion.
Yeah. That's an NPC with the potential to keep on giving. She should give the GM plenty to play with over the course of the campaign. And she's not even an integral character to the main plot. ;-)
Glad you liked it,
--Neil
Thanks Neil
We just finished Stolen Lands last night..
I have to say I'm not enthused over the Carrion Crown AP..Gothic Horror isn't my thing..but it looks like in a years time we'll be talking about Jade Emperor and that is one I'm really looking forward too ..I was a big fan of Lo5R before they adopted the 'universe shaking event every year'model..so I have high hopes for this one.
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Random additional thought on Second Darkness that came to me at lunch;
The surest way to motivate characters who had 'invested' emotionally or developmentally into establishing and building up the Golden Goblin would probably have been for the bad-guys to have torched it to eliminate all evidence of their existence in town.
Alternately, to get all 'Vorlon vs. Shadow' on the plot, perhaps the 'good guy' elves torched it, and killed the various humans who had connections to the bad-guys, seeking not just to eliminate the bad-guys themselves, but any resource they may have used (and be able to use again), any person they may have contacted (and possibly tainted with their demonolatrous practices), etc. Total scorched earth policy, with the PCs not necessarily knowing that it wasn't the bad-guys covering their tracks (because knowing the truth would *un* motivate them to helping the elves, obviously).
Such a policy, not just being a Babylon 5 shout-out, would serve four purposes from the elven PoV;
1) Resources used by the enemy, denied now forever to the enemy.
2) Spread of enemy philosophy contained.
3) Elimination of any lingering taint from enemy contact (spread of poisons, risk of disease, fungal infections, spiritual contamination, demonic possession, whatever).
4) Sinister implication to any surviving humans that anyone who has *any* contact with these dark folk ends up dead, dead, dead, making any who do escape the purge both unlikely to ever work with them again, believing them treacherous, and likely to whisper rumors to their shady friends that the 'reward' for working with these guys is a fiery death when they are done with you.
The 'out of game' use of the policy would be that the players who got attached to the Goblin now have ashes instead of a home, no built-in reason to stay in Riddleport, and a taste for vengeance against those who burned down their livlihood.
On the other hand, it's a flat-out mean way to railroad the players into the next part of the AP, by burning bridges behind them.
If they are *really* digging the Goblin, and not just sitting there out of inertia, a better solution would be to find a way to keep it relevant (or never introduce it at all).
Wellard, I do apologize if the tone of my last post was annoying or offensive. I was trying to be funny; could hear Cleese doing the announcement for a faux talk show while I was writing it. I am really impressed that you're starting a third campaign. Two is my limit.
I actually heard Monty Python, but it was more Eric Idle for me. As for taking on running three games, I seriously don't know how you guys do it. I've been trying to run one, as I posted, and find that crazy enough.
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Runelords is definitely more character driven than any of the other APs before Kingmaker.There's a distinct lack of 'bossy NPC's' telling you where to .......
....e be looking to REH and ERB for inspiration.Having good players is 75 % of any PbP as I'm sure the other DMs here will agree
At least 75%, because they are what keeps you coming back to post more and more. Serpents Skulls sounds great to run and play.
Are you and Dabbler coming to PaizoconUK again?
Cheers
I'll be there but Dabbler can't afford it this year. I'll be hoping to link up with you for a chinwag at some point.
I am but an unemployed student once again ... seriously short of cash and with a lot on my plate right now. But you guys have a good time and I'll try and make it there next year!
Never mind mate Britcon is just down the road from you and I'm sure you'll get your PFS fix there
So it is - and I can catch the train there so I don't have to drive! That means I can drink beer ...
You never I've never been to merry ol' England, but PaizoCon UK might eventually make for a good reason to go. You know...if I were rich enough to afford a transcontinental flight and expensive hotel room. :-)
The hotel rooms they have aren't too bad, actually, but I can't answer for the Transcontinental flight. If you do come over, you may as well make a big trip of it and see the sights. After all, there are plenty of real dungeons over here for you to look around, and castles, mythic sights, standing stones and a lot of weird people (but you don't have to spend it in the company of Wellard and I, so those are avoidable).
SO much catching up to do. ---
I'm only in one of Wellard's two current games, but he seems to have a gift for staying out of the high-energy / RP-centric player's way (and we've had quite a few of those, although, like all groups, we have our lulls) and letting them RP through stuff.
The RotR game has a few really enthusiastic players who really enjoy playing around with their characters, and his GMing style really encourages that sort of thing. When NPCs appear, we get enough description and dialogue to convey what needs conveying, and to open up RP opportunities, but if the group doesn't jump on the opportunity, he shuffles them off-stage and gets them out of the player's way. I definitely feel that I'm one of the central players here, and I'm not sure how much that is the AP itself (I've been in a few where it feels like the NPCs are in charge of everything the PCs do, and it gets frustrating) and how much of that is Wellard's personal style.
It feels almost like the RP version of 'sandbox play,' in that the PCs feel more empowered and 'in control' of the environment, due to the lack of bossy NPCs.
Agreed. Wellard moves things when they need to move and lets us goof off when we want to. That has been a great game.
Echoing Set again. I like a more sandbox feel. Trying to give people options might be why I'm a sucker for the idea of urban adventures. On the other hand, I'd never run a AP before trying on these boards. Perhaps I feel a little rail-roaded by the script too.
Runelords is definitely more character driven than any of the other APs before Kingmaker.There's a distinct lack of 'bossy NPC's' telling you where to go and what to do and the story flows fairly naturally wheras I think Tim is struggling with some of the assumptions made in both CoCT and CoT
As to shuffling people off stage..the party in Runelords went to Thistletop with Shalelu in tow but were coping well enough without her input so I removed her from the scene at the first logical opportunity.
Serpents skull really grabs me..I will off course be looking to REH and ERB for inspiration.Having good players is 75 % of any PbP as I'm sure the other DMs here will agree
Perceptive, Wellard. I do struggle with some things in the story-line. In CoCT, Cressida Croft, much as I like her, can be a very bossy NPC. That's why I've tried to mix up where the missions come from and route them through one or another of the PCs.
Serpent's Skull could be huge fun. I wish you the best with that game.
Interesting that we have avoided any mention of SD so far.. that for me was a great concept ruined by poor execution. There really is no motivation for any Riddleport resident to want to run off and help the elves.With my first SD PBP, playing evil characters, we were *stoked* to be working in the Golden Goblin, and looking forward to developing the business (the first rule of Gobblin Fite Klub, is you don't talk about Gobblin Fite Klub...), and I'm pretty sure the whole 'go help the elves' thing would have been a bit of a sticking point for us (we might have had to select one or two characters to buy Leadership, and have followers handle the Goblin, since it seemed very unlikely that we would have spent *months* building that place up to profitability and then just go haring off on some wild goose chase).
Oddly, with a good character, the second try, I found myself much less motivated to work in the Goblin at all. The elf thing probably would have been more welcome as a chance to get the hell out of Riddleport for a good character, and just writing off those months in the Goblin as a necessary evil or something...
Either way, it ends up feeling like two incompatible story arcs.
For me SD is the weakest Pathfinder AP. You're right about the two incompatible arcs. I give them points for the idea of running the Goblin. PCs in business is a fun wrinkle once in a great while.
The whole second arc had great encounters and a decent background -- but I never warmed up to the elves and don't see why anyone would want to help them. And I didn't dig the whole disguise the party as Drow shtick.
At least 75%, because they are what keeps you coming back to post more and more. Serpents Skulls sounds great to run and play.
Are you and Dabbler coming to PaizoconUK again?
Cheers
Ditto on the players. The best times for me are when the players are interacting among themselves and I can just watch.
~jealous grumblings about getting to cons. ~ realization I've only myself to blame ~
Psssssttt . . .
With a complete lack of squeamishness typical of a Shoanti, she removes the arrow (and the man's ruined eye).
The on again, off again Kingmaker game that FW and I are hopefully still in is recruiting one more spot. IF you fancy pitching your hat in the ring.
Done. Again.
Spectre avatar
BTW, I'll be away for the Independence Day weekend. Posting resumes Tuesday.
Have a good time at the con, FW and Wellard.
Wish-list items for Emerion ...
Mithral and /or +1 chain shirt, if possible.
Any generally protective items, really.
Otherwise, saving up for improvements to my sword ...
Heathers wish list.
Cloak of resistance +1 1000GP
Enchant crossbow to +1 2000 GP
Bracer of armour +1 1000GP