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Question: Should Nyrissa help a fledgling kingdom?

Background:

If anyone is still out there, kingdom Unrest is a death spiral for a fledgling kingdom. My players through some unlucky rolls are trapped in this spiral. RAW, not many great options to get out of it, even with housing, as we used a "Capital Venture" and promises to build certain things that are no longer affordable.

I've gone with the BBEG option similar to what the CRPG ended up with:

In doing so, it's a complex dance. Our BBEG needs the kingdoms to rise, then fall, and fall in a particular way. Thus far, she has her hands in:

* Stag Lord (KIA before his kingdom got going)
* Hargulka
* Irrovetti (who is trying to find a way to thwart her)
* Sootscales (through Tartuk, plan failed mostly because he's so crazy his revenge overwhelmed her plots)

Brainstorming:

So, in a twisted way, Nyrissa needs kingdoms to succeed (to a predetermined point), then boom. Should I introduce her in an "offer they can't refuse" scenario? I also play a fey-heavy campaign, and one big theme for my fey is that every deal has an "undeal" (a way to get out of it that may not be obviously known, think Rumplestiltskin, etc.) If so, thoughts on how this all might play out?

I've created a dropbox link for all my Kingmaker DM resources through the beginning of Rivers Run Red, for a fey-heavy, intrigue heavy campaign with a revitalized Nyrissa story. I ran this 10 years ago under Pathfinder rules and am rebooting it for a new generation, albeit under D&D rules. Still, the ideas are all there, drawn from years of masterful DM and player posts, stuff I wish I'd know about, and my own ideas from way back when and today.

The list of influences from this forum is innumerable, but includes:

Dudemeister and his monster kingdom/clockwork kingdom, Redcelt32 and his game-of-thrones-esque ideas, pennywit for lots of great posts, orthos for fleshing out Nyrissa, the artists who made up Zuddiger's Picnic, Jason Nelson who shared his full Blood for Blood with a bumbling DM years ago and then spearheaded some phenomenal product (Forest Kingdoms Campaign Compendium is a MUST BUY for Kingmaker though you can buy the individual books piecemeal), N'wah who started a fey prank post, Erik Freund who raised the idea of capital venture and where that 50 BP came from, the internet for all its great access to fairy tales, the Quest for Glory Sierra computer games for the rusalka storyline, and all the ones I missed but shameless borrowed from as every DM worth their grit does.

The dropbox link HERE includes:

* Session 0 using Wedding Knight for political intrigue beginning
* Political cheat-sheet
* Player's Guide to supplement the free original guide and DM's quick-reference (for 5E rules and a Celtic pantheon, but the ideas are what count)
* Capital Venture deals + visual (to keep track of everyone)
* Faery Tales (many my own creation, mixing in a variety of myths)
* Fey Pranks (edited the list down to 20)
* Fey City Encounters (heavy influence from Legendary's Forest Kingdoms, again, a must buy, I might add to this but for now should give you something)
* Extra Hex Encounters, heavy fey style (incorporating Forest Kingdoms, Fellknight Queen)
* Candlemere using the Haunting of Harrowstone (Carrion King) prison. With some changes and ties to a failed kingdom long ago
* Partial RRR notes for 5E (incomplete but figure it'll get you started with ideas)
* A really cool map by someone on this forum
* A fan-made kingdom building flowchart, kingdom sheets. If you use Legendary's Ultimate series for expanded kingdom rules, they do have free kingdom/army/settlement sheets that you have to get separately from the pay product
* Tartuk's journal. It may leave you disturbed
* River Freedom's Handout (more important if a certain deal is cut)
* Nyrissa backstory, timeline, and gyronna prophecy

Not included but perhaps to be added are my changes to Varnhold Vanishing. When I originally ran it, "Nomen" was a derogatory term and the centaurs were called the Simbani (QFG influence), with ancient spirits and with rituals for outsiders to prove themselves. One poster recommended Curse of the Crimson Throne, A History of Ashes (converting the Shoanti or supplanting the centaurs with them).

Like many, I had a few biggies I'd do differently the 2nd time around:

1. Nyrissa foreshadowing. She needs in earlier as something mystical but ever present as a danger.
2. More politics. Brevoy is so interesting but disappears quickly.
3. Change in Kingdom building. It breaks down when cities get too big and require a computer program to manage. After Varnhold Vanishing, I'm considering pushing the Kingdom rules to the side and using some version of Colville's Strongholds and Followers, with only major role-play events coming to light.
4. More fey. It's took good to not flesh this out. See Forest Kingdoms for many good ideas beyond what I borrowed.

I'm actually impressed that this adventure path was so good that people 10 years later are still posting about it! And, after many years, I'm rebooting Kingmaker for a new group in a new state after moving for work (albeit using 5E rules). It's a labor of love no matter the edition.

Amongst many questions I might have depending on who's still around, what did people who ran this thru completion find worked best for Kingdom management?

Years ago, I ran the path thru #6 and posted a crapload, but we never finished as we lost two gamers to real life demands. By #5, the math had gotten insane. We needed a computer program to resolve each kingdom turn. It was a blast, early on, but bogged down some time after Varnhold Vanishing. Also, the whole point of a big kingdom appeared, game-wise, to be to support a large enough army to resist attacks. Otherwise, 6 settlements or 12 settlements, it really didn't seem to matter. By #6, there was no point at all.

Did anyone turn to something simpler?

Several years ago, I posted my observations of what worked and didn't work to make Savage Tide amazing in my DM Notes. Those notes ended when we had a party wipe during the Lightless Depths, a beloved player had to leave for a new job, and it didn't feel right bringing a new player in at high levels.

Anyhow, years later, I moved to a new community, found a great gaming community, and we're venturing into this one again! So a few things:

1) If anyone is still active here, I'll post my notes and hope if we can to share notes. This is a classically fun campaign path, wish I could've finished it. My other posts give credit to the DM who inspired me quite a bit. I aim to follow his intent and expand Vanthus's role (his group never finished as well, alas!)

2) If you've run it into the City of Broken Idols and beyond, I want to know what worked and didn't work! I don't have DM notes generated yet, and given we're just getting started, plenty of time.

3) If you've got notes for 5E, great! If you have little things that worked, lemme know! (e.g. art for Lavinia, Vanthus, Avner, tips on running them). I've scoured this directory but might have missed something. I remember my first group absolutely hating (and thereby fondly remembering our campaign) Vanthus and Avner...

Drawing from what others have done and my own touch, laying out what seems to be working and not working as far as style and personal touches for future DMs. As we're just getting started (using 5E rules if it matters), a work in progress.

A Matter of Honor

- Largely running as-is, with a prologue that I call Session 0 to allow players to create a story to unify them without any dice rolling. Ours dealt with surviving the events of Kyuss that gave rise to the Wormfall festival. During that event, they saved Vanthus, who was a jerk making inappropriate comments about paying them with his sister since he thought they were "mercs."

- Lavinia, using the princess from Braveheart, thick French accent. Having her cover up her loss of wealth, a fancy dinner to start but then when the party visits next, Kora is making stew. It's so important to get the party to like her, to play her not as a damsel in distress but a person whose life has imploded as her parents have recently died, her brother struck her, and now she's head of a declining household. Played up her memories of Vanthus (a laugh describing the good old days of the elixir of love and then a somber description of him hitting her).

- Playing Kora as the matron (she knows one PC already), concerned about their weight and health. The sole servant / messenger / seneschal, she's also a great cook who likes to have some blueberry scones handy for her favorite visitors.

- Changed Soller Vark to being in the act of getting it on (we're all adults and things like this are a lot more interesting than monsters just waiting in a room to be killed) as the party navigated a boat rented from a jilted noble whose girlfriend never showed up. Since it was his stepdaddy's boat, he didn't care. Later, the party lamented they didn't keep his fishing poles on board to make it look more authentic as they snuck up on the Blue Nixie.

- Burning monkeys curling up into little balls as they died really, really got the party fired up and angry at the smugglers on the Blue Nixie.

- The vault below Teraknian Castle has a unique puzzle lock; DMs should carefully read it to understand the sequence. If your PCs are really having a difficult time, maybe allow them to hear a "click" if they've gotten a tumbler in sequence.

- Sasserine is such a troublesome setting. Love making it come alive, but 90% of the path takes place somewhere else. Wouldn't overplay the city.

- Factions (affiliations) didn't grab everyone's attention as I thought they might. Different strokes for different folks.

We will pick up after clearing the vault. The party talked Lavinia into taking her last chest of coin in case Vanthus (whom they suspect) comes back to clean her out. Party is invested in her cause, and since she's a big part of the story line, this is important.

In two weeks we're beginning our foray into the Savage Tide adventure path, using 5E rules (though I'm more concerned about the story than the rule set). I'm big on prologues and feel the setup (you've done something to gain fame in town, so Lavinia seeks you out) is too generic for my purposes. I like to use pure roleplay for each campaign start (e.g. in Kingmaker, it was "you received a charter to scout the Stolen Lands, so how did it happen?" We started at a wedding 6 months prior and everyone invented why they were there until we had intervened in an politically motivated assassination attempt).

Has anyone worked something like this for ST?

Having read the whole thing and scoured the forums, I'm very aware having the party like Lavinia is probably key. Tips or special encounters to make this happen?

I've read, but obviously not played, that after the battle of Farshore, the quality of the adventures (routine dungeon crawls) wanes. True? If so, fixes? The story seems strong.

I'm always on the lookout for home-brewed handouts, enhancements, etc., if you have a recommended resource. I've taken a lot of inspiration from Vermilleo's campaign journal and google site, though unfortunately his group fell apart.

Need help on a ruling. Would the Talisman of Ultimate Evil work on a Paladin who took the archetype "warrior of the holy light" which sacrifices spellcasting for enhanced uses of lay on hands? For reference the Talisman instantly kills a "good divine spellcaster." The user saw his holy symbol and made an educated guess.

I've made a preliminary ruling of "yes" because the Paladin still has other divine spellcasting abilities such as detect evil and divine bond. However, the archetype notes the paladin has no caster levels, gains no spellcasting abilities, and cannot use spell-trigger items. Note that I've already checked and Paladin is listed as a "spellcasting" class.

Thoughts? Given there's a PC on the line, insight appreciated.

Can a player "drag" (let's say with a lasso) someone in an Antilife Shell so as to force its collapse by pulling them within 10', or will the shell prevent any further "dragging" under the premise the caster is not the one being aggressive in forcing the barrier?

Also, I saw an inconclusive post on Antilife shell and people teleporting into it. The consensus seemed to be that since it's an "emanation" teleportation would not work as intended; the emanation effect would serve to push the offender outside the shell. Any additional insight?

Antilife Shell
Area 10-ft.-radius emanation, centered on you

This spell may be used only defensively, not aggressively. Forcing an abjuration barrier against creatures that the spell keeps at bay collapses the barrier.

I like the Pathfinder system, but I hold a fear it's drifting from what made AD&D special. I've puzzled out what attracted me to AD&D in the first place (it wasn't the "to hit" system). It was the creative spirit of the game that I fear is being buried under the crush of rule after rule, and added power after power. While more rules have pros and cons (e.g. Pathfinder item creation, a pro compared to hazy AD&D rules), I want to capture the creative social spirit rather than creative mechanical effort.

I compare the RPG creative spirit to the "lunar crash exercise" many did as a kid.

You work as a team, you get creative. Here's the key: There was less emphasis on the mechanics and more emphasis on the creative aspect. I saw a lot of creative attempts in AD&D, not all successful, but attempted because there wasn't a rule saying you can or cannot succeed. For example

The AD&D player had a very limited set of abilities and unlike Pathfinder, there wasn't always a rule of A trumps B, B trumps C (e.g. spells that would bypass spell immunity). Like the lunar exercise, sometimes you had to take an unconventional, creative approach. Now I'm not saying players can't or won't today, but a continued slew of rules may be a disincentive to pure creativity. In the above spoiler, there's a preset "trump" mechanically in place. One doesn't have to get creative, one just has to know which rule to apply. Note, I'm not talking about pure combat mechanics. The game isn't all about combat, and I grasp combat is about mechanics and math, always has been, not where I'm headed.

A system composed of too many rules stifles the need for creativity. You simply apply X ability to Y situation. Problem solved. And that's my personal observation. In AD&D, I saw players try all sorts of imaginative, crazy things, like leaping off a 20' ledge onto a dragon's back hoping it would count as a backstab since they couldn't get behind the dragon. I see far far less in Pathfinder, with some of the exact same players.

So, what to do about it? I'm certainly not going back to AD&D; I like the Pathfinder core classes, the fixes. Nor am I buying the beginner box. My thoughts: simplify the game again as much as possible.

For those who have converted it (I plan on remaining fairly true to the 1st edition roots, the 3.5 conversion is weak, the treasure is lame), have you treated the final "boss" as a creature or more like a trap? The 1st edition creature resembles a trap that requires a specific way to defeat it with a built in timer.

If a trap, given the lethality, was considering a save (although this could lessen the encounter to negligible if the party figures out the above way to bypass the trap), and/or a "clue" by someone (e.g. through much sacrifice we have taken to the chamber the tools to destroy the horror once and for all, but for me, there will be no escape from his hell...)

If a creature, have considered a construct (3.5 conversion used this) and the converted demi-lich (CR 14 encounter), which seems pretty succeptible to a paladin but is nasty otherwise. As a creature, there is pretty much a guaranteed fight. As a trap, the encounter is much more subtle.

Can this be done and if so, how? Let's assume a bear "grabs" a weaker player and decides to make a snack. Can a stronger player intervene to free him? Only focusing on using grapple to break another's grapple.

Magus player wants to use the Feat to create a tattoo that stores Magus Arcana points (3 + Int modifier) and allows him to use points as follows:
* 1 point as swift action +10 land speed for 1 minute;
* 2 points as immediate action the ability Evasion for 1 round;
* 2 points as move action gain benefit of 1 magus arcana for 1 minute that he meets criteria for.

No clue where to begin calculating costs. Help? Is this even feasible? I've seen the costs (10,000gp) for storing a 3rd level personal spell. Seems this does so much more.

I've merged the two as I've been wanting to run my group through RHoD and AoW but didn't want two campaigns just to give them a whirl. Largely AoW can live without Blackwall Keep and Hall of Reflections with a little nudge.

First, borrowing from forums, heavier foreshadowing with use of Faceless One letters so the party knows by the end of the Ebon Triad encounter that they've routed a cult that seeks the creation of an Overgod if they can make the Age of Worms come to pass (and they're apparently close).

Next, to skip Blackwall Keep and incorporate RHoD, had Allustan contact Marzena from the swamp during "down time" to share notes. She enters town with a representative of the lizard folk. The lizard folk were betrayed by a black dragon named Ilthane that sought to make them stronger by combining eggs but instead unleashed worms into their clutch. They lost over half their tribe, and a captive taken by the garrison was infected and killed most of the soldiers there before being hacked to pieces.

The swamp is too infested to continue to be a home for the lizard folk, and the source of the worms has yet to be ascertained. Allustan proposes the following: the party goes to Elsir Vale where Eligos (I changed it to Seriteren the Wise but kept the Eligos description) now lives. Eligos is a font of arcane knowledge but was banned from the City for liberating some tomes from the royal library. [Given that my party killed Filge, Allustan will mention Eligos may be the only person still alive who would know more about these worms].

As another hook, I have Allustan's estranged daughter as Captain Soranna, who should be able to help them find Eligos. Allustan also proposes they try to negotiate compromise for the lizard folk to relocate to the swamps of Elsir Vale.

From there, it is a simple matter to run RHoD. If Eligos dies, there is Immerstal the Red in Bristol that he may have given his notes to. Once Elsir Vale is safe, Eligos can divulge what he knows.

To hook Loris Raknian, Eligos may hint (if the party doesn't think of it) to look for anyone trying to obtain one of the scrolls/books he mentions. Given the notes they have, there is a rich patron in the City who was funding the cult. Some basic hunting turns up Loris Raknian and the hook develops to enter the party into the games to get some concrete evidence and find out what else the Ebon Triad is up to. Buff that adventure up a level (given the party should be 10th level after RHod) and we're back on track.

Player is running a dhampir magus with a background that tampering with magic beyond his control as an apprentice opened a portal to the shadow plane, forever changing him (into dhampir). He's now seeing if his exposure might have done more and is asking about the lich template. While the full template is insanely powerful for a PC and I can't let that in, looking for thoughts on other options and game balance.

We're engaged in the death-friendly adventure path "Age of Worms" and the 3rd level party has charged into a dungeon, guns-a-blazin', and ran out of spells and daily abilities. It's a reactive dungeon, and the bad guys are on notice there's invaders. As a GM, I'm inclined to not let them sit idly by and let the party "rest up." (they tried, and the bad guys tried smoking them out with fire).

The bad guys don't know the party's low on fuel. The party knows it can't leave the "dungeon" (a mine with cultists) lest the cultists scatter to the winds or get reinforcements.

As a GM, I know the bad guys have more than enough firepower to mop the floor with the PCs, but I'd like a realistic option to give the party a fighting chance to "rest" safely. Just can't figure out a reason the bad guys would sit idly by for 8 hours in their own compound, much less not seek reinforcements or set more things on fire.

Purely a praise post, but Ultimate Campaign is one of the best supplements I've invested in for quite a while. Has added a fresh dynamic to the gaming table.

After many months, finally beginning this (classic?) campaign in the setting of Taladas (Dragonlance), League of Minotaurs, 352 AC (Age of Despair).

The Cast

Marcus (magus) - son of Dietrik Cicaeda (cartographer) and garrison soldier who secretly learns magic from Allustan

Duncan (monk) - monk of the Twilight Monastery who upon adulthood has cut loose from his peers with only a handful of coins in his pockets to expand his pursuit of drunken master techniques

Blue Sky (barbarian) - an exotic tamire elf from the north, last fighting member of the Wolf Clan, who makes ends meet by feats of strength at local bars. She seeks more from life than a day-to-day existence.

Garook (wizard) - goblin tribe outcast who earns his keep in Chaum's mines. His blood burns for the study of magic rather than the poisoned air of the iron mines.

Ten years ago a group of Diamond Lake children got lost following one of their peers to spy on an old cairn rumored to be an unexplored sorcerer's tomb full of magic and treasure. The other children became lost and tired, and their peer laughed at them. These children taunted her back that if she were so brave, she should spend the night at the tomb. They would spend the night in the girl's "secret base," an abandoned mining base.

The next morning, the peer did not return, and the children became lost trying to find her and the hidden cairn. Adults from Diamond Lake would eventually find them but not the girl who took the dare. To this day, no one has run across or found an overgrown tomb with a particular sigil on it that seemed to breathe air out of its entrance.

Modern day, these children and the adults have stayed in touch, some becoming good friends. All seem destined for life in the mines or drudgery in the garrison. The thought of the cairn has bothered Blue Sky, who helped find the children a decade ago. She is certain the tomb still exists. After hearing an offhand story retold by Duncan about an explorer from the metropolis of Kristophan named Uluvant who, 60 years ago, bragged he'd found a cairn and would be rich (the story being told to discourage foolish errands since Uluvant never came back), she told her idea to her friend Marcus. Marcus snuck into his father's maps and after many days found a map with a notation "for Uluvant" and a cairn location. They recruited Garook on his day off and presented the idea: this cairn may be unexplored and contain riches that could allow them to leave this life, find a better one.

Further, they discussed that the expedition needed to leave earlier than later. A trio of adventurers from Kristophan, who by rumor were skilled and had won the Champion's tournament last year, were in town bragging they'd be clearing out some of the deadly tombs. Blue Sky heard the first they'd try was the Stirgenest, which she knew had been looted years ago. But, every possibility existed that they waited, the more likely this trio would come across some map leading to their tomb!

So it began. Four intrepid adventurers visited Taggin's General Store and invested in gear. Taggin, twirling his moustache ends, applauded their vigor and zest for what appeared to be a great expedition, though as everyone knew the local cairns were probably all empty.

Looking for people to provide features they would prohibit from play (or significantly alter) and a short snippet as to why so that I may see if I'm missing anything.

Before our next campaign I'm drafting a character creation guide that lists prohibited/altered material (generally things that have been identified as unwieldly in play or creating substantial problems). Some of my thoughts are taken from Society play, others from tabletop experience, and others from these forums.

My Proposed Lists-

Race and Classes

Played through much of Jason Nelson's original draft material (all except the final battle with Irovetti) and here's what we experienced:

Based on inspiration from Kolokotroni, the Christmas Tree effect, I have converted Pathfinder's WBL system to a version akin to the 4E fixed enhancement bonus system.

Finding magic items should be interesting and exciting, make people sit up and take notice. However, the Pathfinder system is geared around scaling one’s abilities with magic items, and inevitably players will be using 75% of the same style slot equipment as last campaign. Cool items, such as a +1 flaming sword that hurls fiery hay bales on a critical hit are eventually thrown aside in favor of the +3 sword with no special abilities. Players shrug when another band of bad guys are all geared with routine Rings of Protection +1 and carrying a dozen +1 short swords, all churned out at the magic-mart mill of bland items. Players should not have to chart a proscribed arsenal of "must-have" equipment in order to have success with the game. Neither should they be disinterested when magic items are found.
So, the question becomes: can we adjust a system dependent on magic item upgrades to make magic special while preserving player power against escalating challenges?

(The answer, by the way, is yes).

As Kolokotroni said, it's not a bash against handing out magic items. Rather, it puts the focus back on player abilities, solves the Christmas Tree effect, and opens doors to more creative magical items.

Fixed Enhancement Bonuses Rules for Pathfinder, using WBL mechanics

Because (from my experience) scry n' fry can be abusive in a campaign, when the party can repeatedly scry until the save is failed at some random odd hour, proposing a variant: each use of the Scry on a target reduces the DC check by 1 permanently for that target.

Thoughts?

I'm planning ahead to the next campaign, and in it I hope to bring the spirit of the game closer to its roots using "the most important rule": THIS IS YOUR GAME. My singular criticism of Pathfinder is not novel: system mastery is superior. Players who master the system have a superior advantage for in-game contribution (combat, skills, solving problems using abilities) over those who do not OR choose to build characters based on concept.

Given that 1/2 my players can recall 1st/2nd edition, and 1/2 have no clue, I'm looking for those magic words to convey (remind?) my players that it's the teamwork, the player ingenuity, and the story that matters, not how mechanically well-built a character can be. I'm tired of seeing everyone have the Trait "reactionary," the feat "improved initiative," and no one ever dreaming of taking an archetype or style that doesn't have a distinct combat benefit. I feel my game has lost its flavor, that we don't have characters in a great story contributing to a fantastic fictional experience but rather walking stat blocks.

I don't feel "burned out," but I want to "cure" where I think we've strayed from what could be an amazing experience. What do I say?

How have GMs run with Pitax's armies and strategies in Book V?

If all the armies of Pitax (except the reserve) invade at the same time, it's unlikely the players could raise enough armies either of quantity or quality to challenge their foes in time to avoid losing most of the kingdom cities.

Has anyone worked with their players to encourage them to not over-optimize?

To clarify, I'm not looking to apply the "advanced template" to every encounter to provide a challenge. Rather, it's my observation that optimized characters are...dull. Optimized characters tend to be mechanical, so much so that there are "guides" to creating the superior combat engine whose sole goal is to ensure the enemy is not just beaten but shellacked.

Anyone have gentle ideas to nudge characters away from the notion that they must optimize to survive, that they must take the Reactionary trait, that certain spells should never be learned because they are 24% less effective than another, that if you don't take Pounce as a barbarian you're a fool? I'll never impose straight-jackets (play how I want you to play), but I'd like to encourage players that it's ok if they take an archetype or make a build that is only 82% as effective as another.

Just sharing an odd deja vu moment.

Months ago I posted our group's 40-round combat with Vordakai, and our last session the players returned there - now at 12th level - to face down a former PC who turned bad.

We stopped last session mid-battle, with another battle that is already past 25 rounds. No other place in the entire campaign has any battle ever lasted this long, and now we're twice in.

To find this comrade after scrying, and after puzzling out there is a Teleport Trap in place, they chose, in an insane move, to intentionally fail the Teleport Trap save and try to break the trap, having buffed and prepared for this. Otherwise, they might never find their comrade's lair (see spoiler as to why time was of the essence) and they didn't want to be split up.

Teleport Trap deposited them individually into sealed stone sarcophagi (W22), with the entire area flooded and a Wall of Stone over the only door in and out. Miraculously, the players escaped (I should never underestimate them!)

Had the makings of a TPK, but the ally bound by the Oculus was dismissed on a fluke roll making the BBEG battle a little more fair. Still, conjurers make great enemies. With dimension hopping, illusions, and pit creation to compliment a slew of nasty monsters, this one has survived and now both sides are down to their final spells. One player has "died" twice (Breath of Life saves), and the players have itchy trigger fingers to get ahold of this guy once and for all. They've taken down his grunts, his shadow demons, and his illusions. They've withstood blasts of his ally Ngara's fireballs raining down on them. They've played the "dispel" game on various nasty enchantments.

But alas, time got away from us, and the battle will wait one more week, wherein my players are likely to surprise me yet again.

My players have discovered the fun of "scry & fry" and are in pursuit of a foe who is a 13th level wizard (they are 12th), a former PC consumed by an evil artifact. He's tired of hiding from their scry and fry, and has the resources for Teleport Trap. Am I right in thinking this is a very lethal spell if someone fails a will save?

For example, BBEG designates a trapped, sealed, lightless coffin (may be a Rules Question as to how this works if multiple people are teleporting and they all can't fit in the coffin, are they shunted to the next open surface, and a Rules Question that if the caster saves but someone else doesn't, does that other person teleport or is the spell thwarted completely?)

Even if a character can find a way out before suffocating, the BBEG can have this coffin in a room filled with water, lava, etc. (a room he seals and fills after permanizing the spell).

This is what BBEGs do, but on the other hand (if part of the group can be trapped that fails saves) not sure I should go so hardcore. Thoughts?

I love my gamers (this is part rant and seeking the best way to address a problem that has compounded), but we've hit a few snags that slow gameplay. The campaign is 30 sessions in and is hitting higher (12th) level, where the issues have become noticeable due to increased options.

1. IPad/Tablet use. One player, whose first foray into PF is this campaign, uses a tablet for his character. He has no clue what his character's stats because the tablet is powered down and displays only one limited page at a time. He relies on the machine to do the math for combat adjustments, leading to everyone sitting as he hits different tabs, misses keys, and so on. He constantly forgets useful abilities such as Improved Iron Will's reroll and Deadly Aim (though an archer-spec'd fighter hardly needs more damage...). It takes 30 seconds sometimes to get a reply on a Perception check because he has to find the right tab and scroll down.

2. Access to the PRD. We don't own all the books but I said pre-campaign anything new would be ok. Mistake. Players have added abilities, items, and spells that they don't know how to use when I ask about them, and I don't always have my tablet to reference the PRD app. Given a redo, I'd limit things from books we don't own. Assuming the players are not keen on change and lose notecards, how to address it mid-campaign (30+ sessions)?

After many lengthy forum discussions on Raise Dead mechanics and how it affects gameplay and storytelling, finally found a fine article in Dungeon #342 by Rodney Thompson. Gives 6 alternative ways to Raise the Dead for those who feel that game systems cheapen what should be a dramatic event in storytelling and make it more a nuisance that transforms tragedy into economics. It also provides more game-friendly options that incorporate the below so a player doesn't have to sit out indefinitely while a hard-to-find Raise Dead is obtained.

#1. Keepers of the Dead.

#2. Eve of the Dead.

#3. Land of the Dead.

#4. Mark of Passing.

#5. Familiar Soul.

#6. Resuscitate.

Optional: To avoid impossible measures, a character gains one of the below conditions until the full requirements of the Raise Dead variant are met. For example, if using Keeper of the Dead, other clerics could cast the spell, but only a cleric whose diety oversees death (or healing) could complete the ritual so that there is no "penalty."

Foot in the Grave. The soul is partially here and in the afterlife. The character seems listless, is always fatigued and upon negative HP begins to bleed out at 2hp a round.

Stagnant. The soul is locked into a limbo, repetitive state in which no XP is gained.

My take after some brainstorming, based on what little there is known of the Boneyard and how it all works.

It needs to be tested but takes the AD&D Battlesystem basic combat rules and blends Kingmaker's system to building armies. The conversion mainly turns on building and maintaining armies (which was not really a part of Battlesystem) and a cost for such. I also attempted to add a handful of resources that seem to work. Siege combat was troublesome as I don't want advanced rules that will take hours for players to understand.

In any case, after taking so many hours to build up a kingdom and carefully choose buildings and locations, my players deserve an epic feel to their battles where movement and morale really matter.

Anyways, here's the link to our google library, which is also our Kingmaker campaign site, and the file can be viewed without download here.

Criticism is appreciated! I have no skill at graphics, so the word doc is about as good as it gets for me.

*Note: I have left all Battlesystem combat rules alone except for an attempt at a super-basic siege system.

I'm not knowledgeable on how the Boneyard works, but I am getting queries from my players on how to deal with it.

Because Pharasma is a goddess of fate, does she already have gravestones for those entering the Boneyard, or just for those souls who are unlucky enough to be buried there?

Can outside entities "enter" the Boneyard while still alive, or is it reserved for souls only? I would assume Pharasma would have the power to allow or deny access to mortals entering her realm. In short, can physical items enter the realm?

What is the significance, if any, of the gravestones being struck? Are they subject to damage, and if so what happens to the soul if its gravestone is damaged?

Scenario: Gyronnan cultists replaced several babies in the community with changelings, which will mature into hags, developing traits of cruelty over time. The players uncovered the plot, gathered these changelings and sent them to a monastery to be raised.

Thoughts: given that the changelings will become hags, will they grow up evil no matter how they are raised (is it in their blood), is there a spell that can modify any corruption in their souls, or something else? One of the players, a cleric, is hoping to avert the changeling's normally inevitable course.

Has anyone worked out a good way to do kingdom building while away from the gaming table (by email or online posts)? I'd prefer a way that does not require dice rolling to speed things up. The kingdom needs to be over double in size ideally before we resume play, and ideally taking years of game time.

Probably starting War of the River Kings after the Christmas holiday, and think this one is going to be a winner (well, they're all good).

In retrospect, what advice do people have after running it through? Ways to connect it better to players and/or the final module? Any encounters that need modifying, or ways you would have handled things differently?

I've already perused the sticky forum and adding Jason's challenges that didn't make the module as well as using his archetype stats for Irovetti to make a better challenge. We'll be kingdom building for 2-3 game years after having slacked off.

I'm choosing which Pathfinder classes to be allowed in an Age of Despair setting (War of the Lance era). Because the setting is Taladas, we won't have Knights of Solamnia, and I'm not keen on the Dragonlance core classes as they seem more suited for NPCs. My greatest struggle is whether to allow sorcerers ("primal magic") as I hate to deprive a popular option. However, to keep flavor, they just don't fit in this time period. Proposing:

Banned Classes
*Samurai, Ninja (flavor)
*Sorcerer (primal, just don't see a way to work it into the era)
*Summoner (primal, still broken)

Limited Play Only Classes
*Gunslinger, gnome experimental archetype (gnomoi only)
*Alchemist, gnome archetype saboteur (gnomoi only)

Allowed with Note
*Bard (must worship Branchala and receives power from this deity to explain allowance of spontaneous casting as heralds of the arts, cannot multi-class into any other class that gains divine power)
*Oracle (must choose appropriate deity)
*Witch (must directly worship a god of magic, closest thing to clerics these deities have and no one is quite sure why)

Everything else seems to work. Thoughts?

Has anyone run a scenario for if the characters manage to get an invitation? My players plan on dressing up with forged invitations and keeping a low profile to scout out the Baron and his fort before they try anything as major as liberating the town or freeing Lord Numesti.

The next campaign I run is going to be Age of Worms, which had we not been sidetracked by an excellent Kingmaker campaign, would have already begun. Still, gives me time now to read through the adventures, forums, and try to iron out what I like and don't like. Really looking for (1)feedback on what did or didn't work, and (2) feedback on my adjustments, some taken from these forums. Also, if anyone's substituted an adventure or slipped some appropriate side adventures in, ideas on those.

Setting: Taladas (Dragonlance).

Changes- Campaign Hook:

Allustan:

Kyuss History Changes

Removing Wind Dukes:

Three Faces of Evil:

Blackwall Keep:

Looking to Replace:

Pretty pleased with the rest of the modules as written, just a few minor changes. On a side note, has anyone run into a party that recalled that blocked passage in Whispering Cairn and tried to clear it out on their own?

Had to share, longest combat I've ever run in Pathfinder.

Caution: spoilers for players ahead

Party was 8th level - inquisitor, cleric, archer fighter, wizard - when they met Vordakai. Spells and abilities were half gone. This one took 40 rounds and over 3 hours of real-time, and it came down to a tense back-and-forth, resulting in the inquistor, last person standing, beating in the skull of Vordakai with a bone club from his own throne.

Early going: The plan was simple, figuring Vordakai was a caster thanks to catching him scrying, the party would use Silence on an arrow and take away his spells. However, the silence arrow was botched when Vordakai dominated the archer fighter, who shot his ally and spent most of the battle fighting for the enemy with 3 arrows a turn. Seemed destined for a wipe, but I can be surprised.

The wizard shut down the fighter with "mad monkeys" (a swarm), as the fighter couldn't make a save to save his life this day. A few clerical searing lights and magic missiles (once the shield was dispelled) and things looked good early on, but Vordakai had some nasty attacks. When Vordakai managed to close ranks and paralyze 3/4 of the players, leaving only the archer (who finally, finally rolled a natural 20 to break the domination), things looked dire.

At this point, I figured the party needed a desperate break, and a reward for having brought Xamanthe, the chief's daughter, this far. She had been digging in Vordakai's treasure pile after finding her flail (which could be used to overcome Vordakai's DR), and since the party missed (in the adventure as written) a really-essential Ring of Freedom of Movement, I ruled she spent 5 rounds finding it as part of the equipment she originally came in with. Vordakai's DC on the paralysis was just insanely high to not have this item in play.

Xamanthe put the ring on the paralyzed inquisitor, who used the last of her "bane" to unleash some lucky, well-timed, and high damage hits, enough to convince Vordakai to flee and heal himself. The ring unparalyzed everyone, and the party healed itself as Vordakai did the same. By this time, we were nearing the 22 round mark, and all 120 damage done by the players was about to be erased.

When he returned around 8 rounds later, the party was all over him, flanking and fighting on and around his bone throne. The inquisitor player asked if she could make improvised weapons from his throne, and I agreed. She then used a "judgment" to make her bone club magical to overcome his blunt DR while another player used Xamanthe's flail. I ruled on max damage or a crit, the bone would shatter (and it did, twice, resulting in her taking an attack of opportunity to break off a new one).

Still, Vordakai's paralysis is nasty. By round 33, he had used up all his spells of consequence, and he proceeded to paralyze the cleric, wizard, and then fighter. This left the inquisitor one-on-one, with no healing, nothing but her judgments, faith, and a lot of luck. Fighting on the throne bench, she swung bones from Vordakai's own throne at him. If he weren't so irritated with her, he declared earlier upon seeing it, he would be amused.

The last few rounds were telling. [note: I roll above table, so no GM fudging dice on this one...there were intakes of breath on each roll]. The inquisitor player had used up her "bane" ability, so it was purely a desperate beatdown with an improvised weapon. The club broke on a hit; she retrieved a new one. Round 38, she had 9 hit points left and no healing; Vordakai had 4 hit points but wouldn't risk a full-round action to heal himself. Whoever hit next wins. At this point, he hit on a 9 or better, she hit on a 12 or better. Round 38 comes and goes, no one connects. Round 39, a very tense exchange, but the battle would not end.

Round 40, I (the GM) roll an 8, just barely missing, as if somehow Vordakai saw his doom coming. Round 40, she swings twice, and with one lucky strike...the bone hits for maximum damage, breaks atop his skull, and the lich wizard falls, beaten into dust by his own macabre throne.

Irony, for sure, and helluva a battle.

After some character deaths, my players' 7th level party is pretty one-dimensional:

- melee paladin, non-casting archetype
- melee cavalier (since 1st level)
- melee inquisitor (since 1st level)
- archery fighter

They're now competing for much of the same loot, have only one character who can use a wand (aka one healer), no arcane ability, no ability to "restore" or revive the dead, and cross-over skill sets. The inquisitor player is beginning to resent having to be the only "healer" as she chose this class to not have to do so.

I've always been a "let the dice fall as they may" GM and I hate the idea of telling players what to play, but this seems a formula for disaster down the road. The inquisitor player is unhappy.

Should I take my own advice and let the dice (and players) land as they will, or has anyone ever had to step in and make some suggestions?

We just hit the 2-year anniversary of the founding of the PC's kingdom, and I'm not sure what we should be at for growth. I know by VV it should be @50 hexes, curious how others went.

Note: we're taking a role-play approach to building, so players know the cost but not necessarily the mechanical benefit to each building. E.g. they don't know in advance a castle halves the cost of a town hall, so they built the town hall first because that made sense to have a seat of government in a Lawful kingdom. The players wanted it this way to keep some mystery to building. The NPC councilors offer their input from time to time as do locals.

After two years, kingdom is 7 hexes, 1 city with almost every square full in one district, no unrest or consumption costs, and bringing in on average @6-7 BP a month. Moving too slow, just right?

Anyone had the party attack the Old Beldame and she escaped? Looking for ideas on how others have had her react later when met with violence initially.

Details of the encounter:

I've poked through old posts to see what the community thinks about the Leadership feat, as I'm considering banning it from my game. What I won't use is the feat as written.

In the past: RAW. Everyone taking the feat chose a buff caster or healbot. Gee, big surprise. Multiple problems, least of which was that for 1 miserly Feat, players can get access to all cleric spells levels 1-4, all missing skills they didn't take, etc.

Last Game: Banned cohorts as combats took too long with one player adjudicating two characters. Indicated for this campaign I'd allow a non-adventuring cohort. Problem? Immediate proposal of magic-item factory cohorts. Rather than spend several feats to get crafting, player can spend 1 feat and gain access to 4+ crafting feats from the NPC, just funneling $$$ when needed.

Concern: Balancing my players who like the idea of having a "sidekick" (like an animal companion) with the possibility of abuse. I have considered: outright ban, monstrous cohorts only who advance with fighter levels, NPC class cohorts only (limiting crafting options). I could "hijack" the process but I really don't want to take over control of the Cohort and say they won't make items, etc.

Thoughts?

To increase the "fey" feel to the lands and foreshadow some legendary things the party may encounter some day, I've been working in some dark faerie #"fey"# tales and poems, inspired by medieval style tales, whether it be told over a meal at Oleg's by a superstitious hunter, or heard by children playing in the streets of one of the newly founded towns, and so on. I plan to scatter these throughout the first couple of modules for flavor, and I'm not so concerned whether the tale or poems are the same as the real event as many such tales are mixed with legend and a sprinkling of truth. Here's my start, and hoping to build on it:

The Knurly Witch

The Misbegotten Troll

The Wriggling Man

Kargstaad the Giant

The Nightmare Rook

I've also taken inspiration from slavic mythology #the leshy, the house domovoi, the week in the year no one bathes in a river or lake because that's when rusalkas are most active# and interperse those into the game. Feel it gives it more of a "living world." Curious as to other ideas people have implemented!

If any of my players at Valhalla's are reading, I'll see you all next session, but hit the 'back' button! Other players should probably not read past the 1st spoiler if they're just starting out. I'm covering events at the Thorn River camp.

First off, love the Adventure Path already. Things could have played out any dozen different ways with just one event (rather than a typical "I kick in the door, fight something interesting, and move on"), leading me to admire the quality of the project. Anyhoo...

Looking for some brainstorming ideas about the bandits. Here's the background to our current campaign:

And here's what happened with the bandits:

I'm plotting what Kressle would do. Eventually, word will get out that Oleg hung some bandit bodies from his walls, and Happs's body will be found, without head, following his execution by the party for banditry.
Wouldn't mind getting more use out of the Flipmat for Oleg's, was thinking she might rebuild strength, get the lowdown on these new guys, and invade the fort. Thoughts on this, other thoughts??

Working on converting this from 3rd edition, but looking at the original design and small town and wondering if anyone, for flavor or otherwise, would prohibit or has prohibited any APG or Ultimate Magus classes?

Even if you haven't played, the premise is being a resident of a seedy mining town of 1,000 people, and being presented with the opportunity to have a better life in the form of an adventure. While the original adventure path provided reasons for each core class and race to be in town, I am still working on justifying the APG classes. Some are easier than others (like an alchemist, who surely would have a place in a mining town).

Ice Tomb was used against a vampire for the first time in our campaign.

(1) If Cold Resistance negates all damage but the victim fails the save, can it be entombed? @HappyDaze: that's my understanding as well. In our instance, the vampire failed the save and took 3 damage after cold resistance applied.

(2) Can a vampire be subject to the paralyzation and unconscious effect? Could a creature that is immune to paralysis and/or unconscious effects be subject? Is it a sleep or stasis?

(3) Even if not subject to being knocked out, is the undead still trapped in the ice and immobilized, or can it take actions to break free? Does the ice last indefinitely as suggested?

Ice Tomb (Su): A storm of ice and freezing wind envelops the target, which takes 3d8 points of cold damage (Fortitude half). If the target fails its save, it is paralyzed and unconscious but does not need to eat or breathe while the ice lasts. The ice has 20 hit points; destroying the ice frees the creature, which is staggered for 1d4 rounds after being released. Whether or not the target’s saving throw is successful, it cannot be the target of this hex again for 1 day.

My ruling on the fly:

Example, Ring of Blinking. On command, wearer "blinks" per the spell. Does he blink until he commands the ring to stop, or does he blink for a set # of rounds based on the caster level of the item (in this case 7th level, so 7 rounds)?

My question specifically touches on the "Misfortune" hex but could apply to others as well.

Party was up against "Helmed Horrors" (constructs with an Intelligence score). Normally constructs are immune to "mind" effects. Our Witch casts a "Misfortune" hex on one to subject it to a 50% failure on most actions. The Hex gives a Will save to avoid the effect.

Would you rule that Misfortune "bends" reality around the target so that it is not a "mind" effect despite the Will save? Or, would you rule the misfortune is all in the mind and therefore could not affect constructs? If you would rule that since the constructs had an INT score they could be affected, how would you rule on non-intelligent constructs?

My ruling on the fly:

Party:
Level 8 Witch
Level 8 Paladin
Level 5/3 Cleric, Bard
Level 4/4 Ranger, Rogue
Level 9 Monk

Setting is a massive city-state of LN tendencies in a state of panic with apocalyptic signs in the sky.

I haven't run Pathfinder up to level 20 (or 3.5 adventures) because combats seem to be getting longer and longer as the levels get higher, generally as I've noticed with melee PCs who may be rolling a boatload of dice for attacks and damage. As an example, a spellcaster might declare they're using a Haste spell. Their turn just took 6 seconds, literally. Then the melee player goes with 4+ attacks and a ton of extra dice for miscellaneous damage modifiers. Their turn runs 60 seconds to figure out all the hits and damage.

Anyone have advice for speeding up higher level combats when everyone's rolling a ton of dice? Our battles are taking twice as long as they used to, and I don't want folks sitting bored waiting for their turn.