I'm currently running a 1e campaign that's pre-Stag Lord's fort in book one. The group is having a blast, and I'm really proud of them — lots of first timers who have really leaned in. I've kept them all engaged and we did a session zero that really helped get the ball rolling.
Now the "problem":
I wrote the tatzlwyrm quest into a greater hook. Berislav Surtova (of THE Surtovas, one member took the bastard trait and I want to include their familial troubles) made his way by Oleg's. When there, he asked the group to essentially poach some tatzlwyrm to send to New Stetven so he could have them taxidermied and given to his cousin-king as a birthday gift. He's willing to pay a good chunk of gold, which the group desperately needs. They took the task and haven't quite made it to that side of the map, leaning towards mapping the East.
The groups druid pulled me aside between sessions and said she thinks her character would have a problem with this. Poaching a territorial animal that hasn't gone out of its way to hurt anyone seems against the Green Faith's notions of balance — the group took down Tuskgutter, but only after it had attacked local hunters and was leading sounders of hogs around the lower portion of the map.
How do you think I should handle this? She says she's willing to bring it up with the group, but as they're starved for cash, it's a little tough to skip over easy money. I really like that the character has gone out of her way to engage with her character and hope to provide the group with alternatives. I've mulled over the idea of allowing them to find a discarded skull and perhaps that be enough, but I want it to be a moral ambiguous decision too. I think if they don't provide the corpses, Berislav will take it as a slight, being a petty royal and all that. Perhaps leaving the tatzlwyrms alone grants them favor with another group or something, but the quest is basically free money/exp. What this means for the larger campaign, time will tell.
I received my long-awaited copies of the Kingmaker Pawns and the 1e Bestiary in the mail today. All I can say is Wow! I've only had a chance to give them a quick once over, but they look fabulous. Kudos Paizo for these amazing products.
I want to hear about it! I'm running a 1e version of Kingmaker and have been using the printed out pawns from the Paizo store. They work, but one player commented that they look like art from Codename: Kids Next Door.
Can you go through some highlights of both products? I'll likely grab them both soon, but want to hear your thoughts :)
To suggest something else, I would add an aldori swords in the options. It adds a lot of role-playing options in Rostland / Mivon.
Oh yes. The fighter was torn between Aldori and Rogarvia in terms of bloodline. This totally reminds me of last question, promise:
The campaign trait in the player handout that mentions bloodlines to noble houses (Bastard, I believe it's called), does that get wrapped up in a later book and the player is proven noble, or does it fall on the GM if that happens or not? This is mostly curiosity on my part. I think either way it's totally an interesting trait.
No doubt. Although a king with a dire flail could be fun. Half orc. Fighter.
Anyway, I guess my one last question about kingmaker, is what you guys expect at the later stages. Is there anything about it that totally surprised you? Also, one player is torn between cleric and druid. He wants to heal. Opinions on that?
Thank you, Chris and Erik. The more information I have regarding where it goes the better. I've read the outline, and it does sound exciting.
And I worried so much about choice, because if some lore related artifact came up, and no one in the group could use it (which I highly doubt), I would be upset. And then I would change it.
PS: Ranged combat is always fun. What worries me is the potential amount of mounted combat in Kingmaker. After a few sessions, I'm sure we'll have it down.
About to begin GMing a kingmaker group, and our fighter asked a great question: What kind of weapons should I focus on?
Now, I don't want to give him everything, but more than the Player handout gave me would be nice (Just says "axes, bows, and swords, which is quite broad).
I'd like to be able to give him an answer like "well, a two handed weapon path may be best" or "archery is the way to go". Do later volumes contain "epic" weapons that should be used, rather than throwing into the party loot bin?
I couldn't buy all the volumes quite yet, but can you guys give me an idea of what to expect.
@Kyren: We both took turns DMing. Never really had the situation to finish a really long campaign though. But he definitely got me into this. I've also been thinking about organizing a Society game where I live.
@Zyren: RotRL is a really cool AP. I've studied up and down, and have run the first book. I'll have to read through what your group has done so far.
@Kyren: Yeah, I noticed I had posted as Jink as well. Really felt dumb, and I think I waited a bit too long. I'll make sure to remember that... But yeah, I'm in the Northwest as well. Garabbott and I actually went to the same highschool and played D&D/Pathfinder together.
@Zyren: Sorry I checked out so abruptly last posting session. Video card problems. All fixed :)
"Well, that is the big mystery we are on the way to find out. Something seems to be driving creatures up to the surface..."
"Your mission intrigues me. And to be honest, I've lost my way in these caves. If you haven't guessed," Salfon holds up his sunburst pendant hanging from his neck, "Sarenrae guides my hands. I've equipment and magics to deal with wounds. Tell me, do you carry any wounded?"
I'll attend to anyone injured with my healer's kit, if it's bad, I'll blow a channel energy in the morning when everyone is close together. Also, if I get a chance, I'll pull one of the party, most likely Kyren, aside. At this point I would say something like "I know Kaer Maga has many shades, by why do you travel with duergar?"
"Well you are safe for the moment. We are most sorry to hear of your ambush. But tell us, Duskwarden, what fiends of the dark ambushed you? What has happened to the others?"
"Our attackers were swift, but I'm quite sure they were troglodytes. I knew they roam these caves, but I never thought in such numbers... Her light shines on me, for my allies lay dead when I awoke. I believe many days have passed since, and I've seen no sign of those beasts; though my eyes do not well in the darkness."
Kyren wrote:
"We travel out of the dusk and into the darkness. We are the Wee Bluets... find the heart of darkness down into the caves of what my friend Alchy would call, The Bones of Mother Earth!"
Salfon throws the curious halfling a quizzical look and responds, You speak very quickly. Quicker than any other halfling I've met. What awaits at this heart of darkness? These Bones? Not knowing the duergar's, or the groups intentions, about a place named such, Salfon is cautious. But he knows survival in these caves could be limited, and this group, especially the one with the huge hammer, look quite ready.
Hey again. So, I wrapped up my character, but totally forgot how to make an alias. I'll call Garabbott tomorrow to check and see how to do it, but for now, my character is under my account. Hope the formatting is up to par. Can't wait to get started!
Wow. Happy to hear I'm in HoD. Sad to know I'll be posting my character a little later than expected. I have to make the trip back home (long day driving), so I'll be out and about most of day. I'll him up hopefully Tuesday night, but most likely Wednesday. Thanks again.
Zyren:
Before I get too heavily invested in backstory, how are you thinking of merging a cleric in with the group? Also, should I consider standard gold for a 4th level PC? What I have for the character is mostly martial upbringing, introduction to clergy, and then departure from the temple, all alone. While I'll be toughing it out on the front lines, I'm mostly going spell heavy cleric. Thanks!
Hey there. This is Garabbott's friend, and I'm finally able to post. I've read a bit about Heart of Darkness, and thinking a healing focus character. Probably a cleric of Sarenrae (I'll sure miss the sun).
I've a familiarity with Golarion and pathfinder, and have GM'd myself a few times. But I am very new to PhB, but am looking forward to picking it up. I don't move around too much, and have both a computer and internet, so I'll be able to check and post every day.
So, to start things off, I'll be making some ability score rolls here:
For quite some time now I have been letting players, when in town, just point to a magic item in either the Core or APG and judging mentally if buying it would be possible there. Long story short, it feels cheap, breaks my flow and our role-play and I want to stop.
After consulting the Core for rules on determining available magic items according to a community's base value I found this:
Core Rulebook, pg.460 wrote:
There is a 75% chance that any item of that value or lower can be found for sale with little effort in that community. In addition, the community has a number of other items for sale. These items are randomly determined and are broken down by category (minor, medium, or major). After determining the number of items available in each category, refer to Table 15–2 to determine the type of each item (potion, scroll, ring, weapon, etc.) before moving on to the individual charts to determine the exact item. Reroll any items that fall below the community’s base value.
I've decided to randomly roll for some stuff to throw into various shops around the 1000gp base value town in the campaign and after some time I've come up with a complete list of items exceeding that base value (all with there own pitches for the shop keeps to say). But even after all that prep I'm worried about something.
If the wizard decides after some adventuring to visit the local scribe and peruse the stock on scrolls to enlarge his own spellbook, what do I do? I'm not rolling a 75% chance for every scroll under 1000gp to see if they're in. Do I let the PC read off spells they're looking from the book and roll every time (not questioning if the character knows of such spells)? This goes for any shop carrying magical wares, be it potions, scrolls, wands, etc.
I'm not at full capacity right now, but I'm not sure how to handle this. Any help is most appreciated.
