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Shadram; Bravo. your maps help me understand the maze that is Scarwell so much better.
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Name of PC: Thanatos Race: Elf Class/Level:Rogue 8 Adventure: History of Ashes (Mantis and Maiden) Location: Deathhead Vault Catalyst: Acrobatics check Thanatos was new a PC to the group on this session (player a regular); a thief in the employment of Boule lent out to the party as a guide to the secret entrance into the Longacre building. The group provoked battle with Koriantu, she splits the party trapping 4 out of 7 inside her blade barrier... she is outside of the spell. The Monk using ki jumps off a table over the 20ft high wall of whirling blades. Thanatos attempts the same but does not manage to clear the wall... inflicting 10d6 of damage on himself (37) and killing him outright. Thanatos we hardly knew ye.
Name of PC: Lestrad Race: Human Class/Level: Investigator 5 Adventure: Escape Location: Pilts Palace Catalyst: Trying to intimidate/reason with the 'Emperor'. With one of his party members in the Guillotine and the rest unarmed and surrounded by the Emperor's thugs; Lestrad the Investigator decided to take matters into his own hands. Invisible from an extract; he reappears behind the Emperor hand crossbow aimed at his head demanding the release of his friends. The Emperor smiles and begins to sing a song directing his thugs to dispatch of the intruder; crossbow bolt hits / bardic performance ceases / raging gnome barbarian critical hits with his great axe for 40 DMG. The party managed to convince the Emperor with a high bluff that they have nothing to do with the failed assassin and a massacre is narrowly avoided
It's 100% worth investing some time into the Sable company; as rescuing Marcus increases the hook to root out the grey maidens/red mantis in book 4.
1. I cut out any revealing parts of the players guide before I gave it to my PC's. Also do not let them see the guide to Korvosa unless you edit also -if i remember correctly there is a secrets section! regarding Lamm, depending on what happens to him in your game; I added him as a Zombie in Rolf's lair... And I have really focused on Rolf as the main antagonist in the first 2 books. Keeping the players interested by having Rolf as the real source of their coming together. 2. Edge is one big foundation laying introduction and foreshadowing exercise; use it as time for your party to get to know the city.
3. I too found it hard make Book 2 a mystery to solve. My party are currently half way through it. I have planned it as the Manor encounter is the direct clue to the Doctors - not just with the crazy half elf leaking Rolf's location at the blessed maiden. But by also having the manor's owner being the man in charge of the new mint of coins for the Queen's reign. ( I have had Amin invite the party to the manor for a VIP party (x amount of days away) at the start of the book as an insurance policy that they will go there.) I have leaked in clues towards the coins being the source of the plague throughout the book. Rackers alley I had dead plague bodies - untouched by the ghouls- all having purses with newly minted coins in. When the party visited the bank of Abadar, Darb Tuttle mentioned in conversation that they were busy with the new mint. Giving the party opportunities to focus their investigation on the coins and possibly go to the manor earlier - rewarding them in the process by not wasting time with the boat,rats,perfume. The party has of course focused all of their efforts on the boat and rats! I think the important thing for book 2 is to give your group options - and leads - let them decide where they go. Just don't make it too obvious that the doctors are the cause - as they are expected to experience most of the encounters in the book first.
Excellent idea. I too am going with plague zombies (my party is 6-7 players currently at level 3 - slow progression and I have to balance the encounters accordingly)
I'm going to try and play it so it his hard to tell at the start if they are zombies or guests. maybe throw in some survivors in some rooms. As for Ruan - I agree no need - plenty of stuff to keep your party busy in the temple of Urgathoa then searching for him. ie ROLF!
One of my Players created an investigator - and the back story created was that he was an ex-guard turned Private eye. He left the guard in disgrace as he was charge of solving the Key-Lock killer case (Rolf years previous) and failed - disobeying orders in the process. It has made great roleplaying and I have increased Rolf's presence and influence in EOA to encourage the PC in solving the case. It is a bit more work for the GM, as you have to modify interactions with the guard as members will recognise him for the good and bad. Also - elements of the criminal world may know him either from his guard day's or as a P.I. With this back story - you do not have to extend Gaedren's story too much - as his role is like a foundation for the greater evil - Rolf.
I would like to see the characters heal skill points added into a healing spell - so 1d8 + caster level + heal skill points. a reward for putting ranks into it. The idea that all your heal spells really increase in potency as you level up.
About to run the Shingles chase and I have previously purchased the paizo gamemastery rooftop tiles. After reading mixed reviews of various shingle runs with the chase mechanics - I'm thinking of running it as normal comabat/movement. I will still add in skill checks to progress past certain obstacles but figure it will be quicker then explaining the chase rules to my group of 6-7 (I know too many) and more enjoyable for a group with low skill points (they love armour) Anyone see any problems with this or any advice?
Excellent idea as Dervargo is a great NPC.
I am also running CotCT and my group is midway through eel's end - I am hoping Dervargo survives - as I think he offers an excellent NPC to the group to be the opposite side of the coin to Vencarlo. My idea for book 3 is when the party first arrives - to stumble in the middle of a gang war - Emperor's Thugs / Arkona Men / possibly Dervargo's men and/or the thieves Guild opportunistically sensing a change in power in Old Korvosa. With Arkona struggling to hold on to the Island.
Hi, I am a relatively new GM about to start running COCT. My party is 6-7 members depending on availability. I have printed off the maps from the folio pdf by enlarging the map and sticking on to card, then cutting out rooms to lay down as the party moves through the fog of war. It works quite well (resolution not great) and I've managed to get the grid squares to approx an inch by inch size. The problem I have is that the maps provided by Paizo seem quite small for a large party. I can see a lot of combat becoming crowded and cramped. Are there any home made maps or online maps available which tackle this and which I could repeat my process of printing off and cutting on to card? Thanks |