I GM'd through Kingmaker and played through the Kingmaker CRPG.
The second time I GM'd through Kingmaker I started the party in Restov, where they received their charter and met some of the other adventuring groups (such as Maegar Varn). I like the CRPG start (it served as a way to teach Pathfinder and its mechanics to new players) but I think if you leverage the CRPG, utilize more politicking than just combat. Something similar to Crownfall's politics rules in the Senate Halls in War for the Crown. Doesn't need to be as complex, but giving some details on influential nobles, up-and-comers, and other movers and shakers would be very helpful (and I think add to the game experience).
Second, I commend the CRPG for trying to tie in the BBEG early, but I would prefer the Season of Bloom content not make its way into the tabletop version.
Just finished a 2 year campaign of Rise of the Runelords where one PC's backstory was that he was an immortal (as in ageless, but can be killed) dragonborn.
Party seemed genuinely interested as he slowly revealed bits of his backstory as the game went on. By the end, the party was interested in learning his entire backstory.
Mechanically, he was always at the same level as the group, but was only "revealing more of his power as his allies grew more powerful"
I have found the NPC Codex and Villain Codex to be really useful when I don't have time to make my own villains/NPCs. NPC Codex has pre-made characters for all core classes levels 1-20. NPC classes, Prestige classes, and pre-generated PCs but the levels aren't 1-20. The Villain Codex has lots of other useful information for you to use.
Lastly, Ultimate Campaign has been really useful for me. It compiles all different types of traits, Kingdom building rules, and a system for using downtime. Great book if you plan on bringing any of that stuff into your game.
Hey thanks for the input, I really like that idea. I know one of my PC's is interested in playing the ninja/sneak type class so this could be a great opportunity to let them shine.
Perhaps this rich fellow is the leader of an undead cult as well? Maybe even has his mother as a zombie in his estate for extra creepy points!
I'm thinking that the PC's start in an undecided city, where they eventually take down this undead cult. They take out the cult, unaware that this rich lord is its real leader.
At the same time the PC's are dealing with the cult, the Hellknights are leaving Citadel Vraid, and the Pathfinder Society interested in its myth of being haunted send a group, who gets slaughtered (or something).
After the cult is dealt with, the rich lord decides to use his contact in the Pathfinder Society to convince the Society to send these PC's to investigate the disappearance of its members.This allows the rich lord to reestablish his cult in the city, and hopes that the PC's die.
There would be no Tome in Citadel Vraid, but perhaps they uncover a Catacomb similar to the Catacombs of Wrath from Rise of the Runelords.
This allows Citiadel Vraid to still be used, but also move the tome to the rich lords estate. The reason I wanna keep this dungeon is that its bio states the haunting might be related to the resurgence of Runelords, which I find ties in fantastically to the plot.
Hello everyone, as the subject line said I'm looking for some ideas to build a custom adventure in the Pathfinder setting.
I am currently GMing Rise of the Runelords, and the players have just completed the Runeforge in book 5. In the Ravenous Crypts, there is a set of books that detail how Runelord Zutha escaped Earthfall. For those who are unfamiliar, he created a three volume tome called the "Gluttonous Tome" and spread the three books across Varisia. If a person were to bring the books together, Zutha would be able to return to the world of Golarion.
Why this is important: I privately told my wizard PC that while reading this tome he discovered not only this information, but also a magical process to become a lich, which he has expressed interest in doing since it was his first ever character and wanted to do something really cool.
We agreed that his character would under-go this process AFTER our RotRL campaign finishes. For the next campaign, I want to run an adventure which involves this new Lich character travelling Varisia to find these tomes, and summon Zutha. The campaign would involve the PC's trying to stop this.
The books do not mention where the volumes are hidden, so I chose for the tomes to be located in the following locations:
Possible Locations:
Viperwall: Embossed with great stone serpents, the conical roofs of Viperwall’s many towers shine in the moonlight. Avoided by locals, the structure is often surrounded by a greenish haze of poisonous gas that leaks steadily from fanged sculptures in the castle walls. (Located North East of Sandpoint).
Citadel Vraid: is the fortress-headquarters of the Hellknight Order of the Nail constructed by the city of Korvosa in an effort to successfully entice the Order to move to Varisia. It is located about 50 miles southwest of Korvosa on a narrow plateau named after one of Korvosa's founders, Montlarion Jeggare, and sits on the edge of the southernMindspin Mountains.[1](Located South of Korvosa).
Celwynvian: Deep in the Mierani forest, the ancient elven city of Celwynvian stands haunted, its verdant palaces and delicate towers locked in a mysterious conflict. The elves have tried numerous times to reclaim the abandoned city, but they are silent as to what exactly lurks in the ruins that keeps them from success. Some whisper of a strange contagion, others of dragons or demons. A few rumors even speak of drow, legendary elves from deep underground, and suggest Celwynvian is now the site of unknown dark elf atrocities that the elves themselves are loath to acknowledge, as if they were too ashamed of what their violent kin are up to. (Located North-North West of Sandpoint, near the Mierani Forest).
What do people think of this? Do you have suggestions for different locations or anything really?
So far my group has finished books 1-4 and will finish book 5 this sunday. The AP is exploration heavy, and the PCs receive XP for exploration. I have not had to add any encounters for them just to "top them off". But I have added encounters for backstory. You can always just tell them to level
I've encountered this problem as well before. It depends on your players really...
If my players don't mind/ don't care:
My usual solution is to have an experienced player play their character and the missing players. Most players are understanding and know how important it is to have a cleric/healer in the group, and usually I'll have at least one experienced player who would enjoy playing the extra character.
If your players do mind:
I've never had my players argue with me about it (Its suppose to be all fun anyway right?) BUT if they were to argue, I would just tone down the encounters until such a time you can add potions or some healing method.
I am deff interested. I have Kingmaker, but i haven't had a chance to run it yet, i'm currently Gming Rise of the Runelords for a party of 6 in RL. Here is my submission of an Urban Ranger.
Cassius stands at 5'11 with light brown hair and blue eyes. He has a decent frame, but relies more on his reflexes to help him out. He has a scar close to his left lower ribcage from where he was shot with an arrow
Backround:
Cassius was born Reynard Carter of his mother Nora Carter and Edmund Surtova, a noble from the house of Surtova. Nora worked as a server in the Iron Maiden Tavern. As a child Cassius did not know who his father was, and was mocked by other children. When he turned 8 his mother had his sister Amelia. From then on, Cassius was never alone, he finally had someone. He helped raise his sister when his mother was busy with work. They lived from gold piece to gold piece, which made it difficult for Cassius to eat well. Most of the time, he would make sure his sister ate well before he did.
At 16 he learned the truth from his mother about his father. Cassius wanted to meet this man, and finally have a father. Cassius spent his days shadowing and gathering information on his birthfather. Finally one day he confronted him on the streets, and was greeted with a kick to the gut by one of Edmund's personal guards. Cassius stood up and shouted, "I AM YOUR SON". Edmund walked over to the child, but just whispered, "I know who you are, but you are no son of mine...bastard. You will never be more then a street urchin". Cassius was once again hit by one of the personal guards, but the blow was enough to knock the child out.
Cassius awoke, but in an unfamiliar place. This is where he would meet Randal Blackmore. Randal represented a group of mercenaries called the Crimson Brotherhood. After a brief conversation Cassius joined the Brotherhood in the hopes to make money for his family. He now understood his "father" would never be anything more then a sperm donor.
At first he took contacts that involved shadowing certain persons and report their habits to other members in the Brotherhood. Slowly they began training him with the use of the bow and sword, and he soon picked up some important skills. Soon he began taking jobs that involved bringing people in for interrogations, which he also sometimes got to perform.
He also began seeing Olivia Tyndal, a cook at the Iron Maiden tavern. She was of the same age as him and they got along quite well. Things were serious, and could see himself being with this woman.
But his last contract was calling for something more then just shadowing and bounty hunting. This called for the assassination of Edmund Carter. Randal explained that he was giving the contract to Cassius as a "birthday present". While he hated the man, Cassius would never kill a man, unless there was ample reason. Randal did not like this answer, and while Cassius slept, he called the town guard on him that he planned to kill Edmund.
Cassius dodged the guards and escaped into the street. He waited out a few days, and made the decision that he could not stay in town or he would risk the life of his family. Before leaving town he saw his mother, Olivia and sister, and told them that once he gets settled some where, he would send word and they could come live with him. Whether Olivia would come, he was not sure.
Cassius escaped the town, but not before being shot with an arrow in the lower ribcage. For weeks he dodged Brotherhood members in the forests until he was able to heal from his wounds and join the expedition.
This is when he changed him name to Cassius Blackmore. He joined the expedition to get away from Brevoy, but hopes to get his family to move down with him.
Relationships:
Close Friend: Amelia Carter, his half sister. Growing up she was the only one there for him and he has grown a close bond to her. He hopes that she and their mother will come and stay with him once he gets settled with a new life.
Friend: Olivia Tyndal, a tavern cook where his mother worked. They were seeing eachother for over a year before the incident. Cassius and her write as much as he can, but its difficult for him to get her letters since he is always on the run. Her latest letter he got was a week ago and she still expressed feelings, which was a good sign.
Rival: Adrian Sunderfell, a brotherhood member. He was recruited shortly before Cassius, but they were very competitive. Adrian is a dangerous man who will not hesitate to kill anyone or anything that gets in his way.
Enemy: Randal Eyre, his former mentor and boss. He betrayed Cassius to the guard when he refused to take a contract to kill Edmond Carter. This forced him to completely uproot his life and leave his family. Randal will likely send Brotherhood members after him, he doesn't like having loose ends.
If you have any questions let me know, i may have left out some details cause i was rushing to get my submission in.
Draven came home after finishing up a protection contract for Stephen and the Crimson Brotherhood. All in all, it was an easy day and thankfully there was no bloodshed. He took off his armor and put away his gear in a chest in the small 2 roomed home. Amelia sat at the table smirking.
"What are you grinning about, sis?"
She didn't say anything, all she did was point to a book on the table. Draven walked over to pick it up. He knew this book.
Draven looked at his sister, "How did you get this?"
"Well i've been trying to save some money to get it for your birthday. I know its a little late..." she explained.
His mother use to read this story to him. The Hero of Kvatch, they called the legendary warrior. The story followed the hero through a crisis that saw him close the gates of Oblivion. He remembered his mother telling him this story as he lay sick with fever. Her reading this book was his last memory of his mother, before she died of the very fever she helped cure her son of.
"I love it" He said as he tried to hide the one tear that went down his face.
He sat with his cherished sister and read the fabled story, never for a second forgetting his mother.
I dont find anyone class to be overpowered, but as people have been saying some classes could be better. For me i think monks need it the most, more so than rogues. Why be a monk if you can just be an unarmed fighter? (thats a debate for another time) What im saying is, i dont feel any need or what to play that class when i can just be an unarmed fighter.
"Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air" - Shakespeare (Macbeth)
You can find a lot of good quotes in almost any Shakespeare sonnet or dramatic play. King Lear specifically might be of use to you. If you have time to read his sonnets too, they are usually pretty gloomy.
Just like Alexander the Great, the best armies would be the ones that don't rely on any one thing or tactic. First send a couple fireballs into the enemy position (or even imagine the fireballs to be a decoy/smoke tactic to mask an army of warriors charging straight in). After the fireballs have a volley of arrows to hit the dispersed and smoked out troops. The chaos would be then good to send a charge of knights, while the main force gets buffed by cleric and spell casters. Then magic missile.
1) Amelia would be still living in her brothers home in the slum (Rotgut District). She would be 16. Draven does not want her to work, but rather focus on studies.
2) The Crimson Brotherhood is a mercenary company, led by Stephen Lenman. The jobs taken by the mercenary company range from: hunting down dangerous criminals/monsters or animals; protection of person; protection of property; collection for businesses etc.
3) Instead of a tavern i'll change it to be the Gold Goblin Gambling Hall where Draven worked as a bouncer and met Lialda. She is still working there as a server (i'm assuming these gambling halls try to get their clients drunk like modern casinos today). Lialda is still working at the Gambling Hall in Riddleport.
It is while bouncing at the gambling hall that he caught the attention of Stephen Lenman and offered him a job with the brotherhood. While Draven was at first going to turn down the offer, what changed his mind was wanting to provide for him and his sister. He wasn't making enough money at the Gambling Hall, and the work as a mercenary would be able to feed them properly and well.
I have no experience in online play, but have quite a bit of experience in RL. I am currently running Rise of the Runelords for a party of 6. I would like to try this out because i'm the only person who knows how to GM (within my group), and I never get the chance to RP or be a PC anymore. I own Second Darkness, but i've never had the chance to run it yet, or even open the book.
During Combat: Draven will canvass the battle for the strongest looking opponent and try to take that threat out first. However if the target is more then 40ft away, he will run up to the closest target that is 20ft away and attack.
Background:
Draven was born in the slums of Riddleport. His father was a sailor, and his mother was a tavern wench.
At the age of seven Draven's father, Nathaniel (or as many knew him as "One-Eyed Nick"), left on a sea voyage and never returned. This left Draven's mother (Nora) alone with the burden of raising Draven.
When he turned eight, Nora had a baby girl with another man. Who the man was, no one was quite sure, but Draven cared for his sister Amelia, none the less. There never seemed to be enough food or clean water, but he always made sure that his sister ate well before he did. As the years passed, Draven always looked out for his little sister.
At 16 Draven began working in the docks to help earn some extra money. He became very strong over the course of the time he worked there, and the money wasn't bad either. Only a year after getting the job, Draven caught a bad fever. It took many weeks for him to beat the virus, but eventually he did. His body was strong and despite living off grim, he was healthy. However, while taking care of her son, Nora contracted the virus and soon died.
For the next 3 years Draven began working at the docks during the day, and at a local tavern during the night as a bouncer. All of this was to provide for himself and his sister. As a man he was slightly average in height at 5'11, but his muscular build was quite impressive. While he was only of average looks and smarts, many ladies took to his brute nature. Draven was not interested in these women, he longed for Lialda, a half elf beauty who worked as a server in the tavern. He however was too shy and thought himself not charming enough to be with her.
When Draven became twenty, he began working for a mercenary company, The Crimson Brotherhood. Over the course of the past couple years, he made decent money to buy himself and his sister a home in the slums, rather then live on the streets. He also tried to visit the tavern as often as he could to see Lialda.
Draven has now decided to leave the Brotherhood in search of work as an adventurer to make more money. He still loves Lialda and hopes maybe an adventure will help his chances with her.
Draven is 5'11 with a large muscular frame. He has short brown hair and blue eyes, with an average appearance in terms of facial looks. However many woman seem to be attracted to his body.
Im not as old as any of you, im 19. However im not anything like other people my age. I should of been born in the 80's. Im looking for a good group to play 3.5 or pathfinder with. Ive done a few pathfinder modules already and a Call of Cthulu mod.
Anyway if your still looking for players/ dm and dont mind the age send me an email.
justin_brammall@hotmail.com
