Search Posts
Hi folks, I recently started Hell's Vengeance with my group. As a DM I've found it fun and helpful to read through other people's experiences about adventure paths. This gives a lot of ideas and is a great primer to avoid TPK's etc. However, despite Google searches I haven't found solid session by session adventure logs from teams. There's a few in Obsidian Portal, but these have 6 month gaps in the logs. Anyone seen good logs of the AP? Any other tips for a GM?
Hi folks, I've been quite inspired by NobodysHome's, UseplanB's and others campaign logs. As a prep I've read most of them and really enjoyed this. I had half a year or so to prep for our RotRL campaign and once I'd read the adventure path in full I started reading the logs. Boy what a treasure trove of information! It's the first time ever that I've really extensively read how other groups have treat with different situations (Tsuto Silver Awards, anyone?) and that has been super useful. A big thanks to everyone who's written about their adventures into the forums! So far we've got only 4 sessions under our belt and our players just dealt with the situation at Glassworks, but there's already quite a bit of materials for the logs. Taking a page from NobodysHome's book we created backgrounds well in advance before the first session and in general the AP has started really well. For your convenience here's the list of PC's:
Notes on format: The first couple of posts deal with backgrounds of the characters. Player journals (when they happen) are included in the middle of the log. The stuff which happens outside the scope of PC's is labeled as Handouts and tell what's going on with the NPC's. Right now my PC's are not reading this so I'm not using spoilers. Should things change I'll let you know, but please use spoilers in the comments where appropriate.
Hey folks, I'm starting Rise of Runelords with our team in the next few weeks. As forums are such an amazing resource I wanted to ask for advice, thoughts, and ideas for the campaign? What were your highlights and memorable moments? We've got four players (fortysomethings that have played for +25 years). I've read through the full campaign and done research on the forums. My key concern is that the beginning seems very well crafted from story/NPC point of view. However the second half of the adventure seems like a more regular dungeon crawl. How was this for your group? How did you manage time per encounter in higher levels (they can easily take 1-2 hours at the higher levels and that doesn't leave a lot of room for storytelling)? Also in recent years our games have drifted towards optimization and hack & slash. Now most of the players want to get back into the "old school" RPG:ing where combats aren't the key focus. Any ideas on how to max out feeling/emotion/engagement in the campaign? Thanks in advance!
Hi folks, I'm working on a background story and character concept for a new campaign; Council of Thieves. Given the setting I'm tempted to go with a paladin. However I'd like to give this character a different spin and go for older (51) and more cynic paladin who is likely to spend a lot of money in Atonement scrolls as time goes by. Below is my intro for other players. Haven't played Pathfinder before so if you've got any ideas, thoughts or suggestions what would be cool to throw in the mix, I'd love to hear 'em. --- Council of Thieves, Prologue – The Paladin
--- The torch drops down and goes out with a quiet sizzle. An old warrior starts to climb up rusted metal ladder, leaving the sewers below him. It’s almost pitch black, just a glimmer of night sky is visible from above. “Damn. Is it night already?” he swears silently when he makes it to the street level. The streets of Westcrown are lethal during night. Shadow beasts roam the city and only a few of the main roads are lit. They are patrolled by Hellknights, which right now could prove to be as fatal as the beasts. Taking care not to make a sound the warrior climbs up and hides in the shadows. Concentrating for a moment he can sense the patrols moving nearby. A sound of footsteps alerts him and then quickly he vanishes to the small alleys. As he’s walking closer to the inn he pulls off his cloak and wraps a great sword he’s been carrying into a bundle. Then he notices another figure walking brisk walk of the drunk. Closer to the door the figure turns out to be a young man mid twenties with pitch-black hair. At the door the two collide and the young man snaps angrily “Watch it, old man.” Only then he notices the scale mail, which the old warrior wears and takes a step back. He grins with mockery in his smile “Well, I’ll let that slide. Age before beauty and all that, you know?” opening the door to the older warrior. Grunting Sir Gregor of Baradin walks by and heads toward his favorite spot next to the fireplace in an inn he’s started to think as his home. The young man follows, joining his friends and making a joke, which is too loud to be polite. The tired paladin sit by the fire in his scale mail, a worn dented armor that has served him well. His clothes are stained with dust from the road. On a small table besides him lies a great sword which is every bit as old and dented as his armor. A single word “Eálion” is inscribed into the blade. “Old, useless, and worn. Just like its wielder.” Gregor glances at the sword. His hair is brown like the road, but now white mars his sides; A big and bulky, weary looking man, trying to avoid attention. The paladin leans toward the fire, flames almost licking his fingers and shudders. Inside him is a chill that never ceases. It’s been two years since the campaign to White Throne. Two years since he made his way back through the mountains. Six days and nights he had camped in the snow, plagued by the winds and merciless cold. Whether it is fear of failure or something caused by those endless nights he does not know. But inside him is a coldness, which seems ever present. Door of the inn opens with a thud. This late in the evening there are few customers in the main hall of the inn. The Hellknights walk in and all eyes turn toward them. Clad in black plate mail seven knights enter the inn. As they enter the paladin leans back in his chair fading to the background. “We’re looking for a criminal!” the Paralictor proclaims to the innkeeper. “A man little over six feet was seen coming from the caves.” According to the law anyone exploring the caves must be punished. ‘As above, so below’- the estates belong to the nobles as does air above and the ground below. Anyone exploring is trespassing on private property and we all know how the nobles of Chelix guard their privacy - with vigor. The trespasser will be found and punished. “Who is the last one to enter your premises, innkeeper?” The sullen innkeeper simply points a finger. One of the patrons, the young man with dark hair, turns to look at the knights and quickly averts his eyes. Smiling the first knight approaches him. “Well, boys. It looks like we have our man. Stand up, you filth, and I wager you’re a little over six feet tall!” There’s panic in the young mans voice as he obeys and begs “I’ve done nothing wrong, sir! Absolutely nothing! I was with me friends, all night and that’s the truth of it.” The knight glances at the innkeeper who barely shakes his head. “Well lad. That’s mighty unfortunate with you being seen to exit the sewers leading to the caverns and just coming to this very inn.” The knight turns toward others. “Tell me, Armiger, what’s the punishment for breaking into the caves that are on noble’s land?” “The law is clear. And death is the only punishment that is acceptable.” younger Hellknight answers. The accused man is now breaking down in tears. “But that’s a lie! I’ve been no-where close to the caves or sewers! Please! I beg you. I’ve been here all night, I promise you!” An older hell knight, wearing the stripes of a Vicarius, joins the discussion. “The law is clear, but we have no proof. You need to let this man go.” The Paralictor stops, surprised that one of his own would stand up against him. Then he continues nodding towards the Vicarius “Very well. You’re right of course. We need more evidence to command a death sentence. Men! Take him to citadel Rivat for further questioning.” Two of the hell knights grab the unfortunate young man, but the Paralictor is not done yet. “But this rabble often mistakes our kindness for softness. That we cannot have. For that would lead to chaos!” he almost spats the last words “And it is our duty to protect the good citizens of Westcrown from such a fate. You all heard his words! For lying to a Hellknight I want his tongue cut to avoid repeating such a disgrace!” "..to be commuted until the end of his stay at castle Rivat, sir?' asks the older hell knight dryly. "Why yes - of course! Good thinking there. I know the Questors can squeeze blood out of stone, but no need to make the work more difficult." The Vicarius looks at the other hell knights who nod in approval. The screams of the young man fade slowly away as the knights leave the inn. Sitting in the corner of the inn the old paladin looks at his hands. They’re shaking. Old mans hands. “Iomedae protect them.” he whispers. There was a time he would have grabbed his great sword without thinking. There was a time when even behind the enemy lines he would have stood up against overwhelming odds. But that time is past; his mission too important. Now he must survive and live to complete his mission. On his back of his right hand is a faded a tattoo of a long sword before the sun. Swearing under his breath the paladin takes a worn leather ribbon with faded intricate symbols and wraps it around his hand to hide the tattoo… --- As part of the background setting for the character I told our DM that Gregan's lost wife & son to slavers two years back. He's been searching them ever since and in the campaign start he's recently arrived to Westcrown and looking for clues in the caverns below the city. Our DM's initial reaction was "I can work with that" so I guess that's a go. Any ideas welcome! Ps. This may be obvious, but please don't post spoilers about CoT! :) |
