I haven’t yet started Savage Tide, mainly due to everyone’s schedule being crazy and the group not having time for D&D (What with things like: births, marriages, holidays, moving homes, changing jobs etc). After months of hovering around this forum and getting some great tips for when we finally do play the ST –we are ready to embark on this exciting new campaign! I’m so nervous and just hope I can do the adventure path justice!
----ANSWERS BELOW!!!!!!!
So what I wanted to ask was:
Where in the path are you up to now?
-----We are currently playing "Into the Maw" the first magazine where the party enters the Abyss, and they are sure surprised at what happens right off the bat... (me too)
How’s it all been going (story/combats) etc any pitfalls to avoid? Anything you’d change or urge a rusty DM (such as myself) to watch out for?
------You will def want to make sure Lavina (the party benifactor) has a strong tie to at least one (preferablly more) members of the party. I have found her to be one of the few things that kept motivation/interest with the storyline until they find out about the shadow pearl threat (but that happens much later).
Also, creatures with DR were pretty prevalent in the lower levels and this was a big challenge for the players.
There is a huge issue with my group about not being able to find much in the way of loot and worse no where to buy magic items,scrolls, arommr, etc. If your group doesnt have a cleric in it i really feel sorry for them. I was like "well you are out at open sea and stopping at islands and isolated areas. Yeah...they are not going to have the magic wal mart to run off to". But it is pretty bad after 5 sessions with no way to obtain any new equipment etc. Hope you have a wiz or cleric w/some item creation feats.
Have the alignment/class and race choices made by the players during character generation affected the campaign a lot IYO?
-----Alignemnt only in regards to them wanting to see things are done for the right reason. There was a couple times the group were like "You know we could be off near waterdeep adventuring and it would be a lot easier/safer than out here near chult!" (we play FR) but basically i had to provide a reason for them to be out on jurrasic park isle and not leave when they had the chance or at least somewhat answer the big ? "why are we doing this for 1000 gp per mo?... We can't even spend it!" LOL motivation is a big one. As far as class the party would have been dead 10 times over if they didnt have a cleric!!! I attirubte this to the lack of opportunity to buy potions and having one to cure disease, poison, etc. The healer was MVP many times over. As far as race, never an issue at all
How much time (in real life) has it taken you to get to where you are now?
----------We started the game 9/10/06 and we are current with the most recent magazine (I believe there are 3 left) We play 1 time per week. Every week. I have kept a log of the adventure up to now, and going back and reading it is pretty funny. As a dm i always post pics in the log we keep on line of the NPC they meet like the guy from Sasserine was the dwarf shop keep character from the movie U-turn billy bob thorton as a greese monkey, he ran the shop "it still floats" I remember that from even back then cause it was so funny. : ) And Nick Nolte was this guy Pinkus that will harass your party there also, lol... you have some good times to look forward too
What do you think of the advancement rate of the player characters?
-----I think its right on par. In fact, i was calculating xps several times and found i was not giving them enough.
I have picked up three new players and have three old experienced gamers –what’s your view on new/inexperienced players and Savage Tide? (Death trap/tons of fun/both?)
----------I would say both. Although to me (id played every version of D/D and it was kind of a throw back to the old school hard knocks style take what you have and make do with it Vs a montey hall magic shop around every corner type scenario
My players all have a back-up character (or four in one paranoid players case) and I have informed them it’s going to be a toughy. Good idea?
-----I think we have had 3 party deaths and numerous "near death" scenario. I hope someone is playing a cleric in your party! Did i mention that?
How do you feel mixed alignment parties will fare in the ST?
-I think it will make for high moral dillemas. My groups were all good save one guy who was neutral and they still had "debates"... good luck
Do you use miniatures in the path? What is you're opinion of them? Do they add or take away from the game/roleplaying?
--------We sure do! As a dm in some encouters they were very helpful. The facing, ambushes, direction, etc. Very helpful esp when terrain becomes an issue and people want specefic on reach or spell ranges on targets etc. Def use them! we use them for combat only so has not much to do with "role playing" as we are more a role playing group vs roll playing group. But they are a great tool to use for combat
That’s all folks. :)
--------Hope it helps out
