Hey you totally raise some good points; there's a lot of history that can complicate casting that should most definitely be considered. Thanks!
And yay! Ayo would kill it in a Seelah biopic... I'll have her people call yer people.
Speaking of inclusion (and hysterical actresses) how about Sunita Mani as Rivani? I could see her with an interesting take on the psychic's wanderlust.
Lashana Lynch as Nhalmika Ironsight. I don't know what it takes to CGI her as a dwarf, but she's such a rich performer and can bring both the grief and the cocksureness of the gunslinger... worth the budget.
Speaking of dwarves, Devery Jacobs would be awesome as the awkward Shardra Geltl.
and Q'orianka Kilcher would make for a stunning Zova, natch.
It seems to me that Hialin’s transformation in Book 5 was a way for the writers to show the Dark Fate but also have a suitable span of time for Allevrah to have built relationships, solved complex astronomical equations, etc, in aid of her master plan. The consequence, however: that two colleagues on the Council both experience the (EXCEEDINGLY rare) Dark Fate, feels a little unsatisfying for me, so as the title of the post suggests, I’m wondering if there’s some way (other than a cinematic flashback) of the players somehow witnessing Allevrah’s transformation, thus meeting our BBEG before the finale. Any ideas?
The first thing that occured to me is that one could potentially swap books 4&5. After the victory at Celwynvian, while the regular elven warriors are cheering the PCs as heroes, the sortve “Men in Black” working for the Winter Council show up and bag ‘em, because they’re outsiders who’ve seen Drow. Queen spares their life and some version of Book 5 plays out, but with Allevrah as the already corrupted Councilor. I guess Auramesties would be alive too. So bing boom, curse her sudden but inevitable treachery, and the players see Allevrah become a drow before she BAMFs the heck out. Then into Book 4, but the players are trying to… catch her in Zirnakaynin/find evidence in Zirnakaynin?
That may not be the way to go about it or y’all may find the idea in general too half-baked, but since I believe an AP’s only as good as its BBEG, I’d love to have as many opportunities as possible for them to actually see Allevrah and what she’s about ahead of time, including potentially this really life-altering moment.
Your thoughts are so so welcome. Appreciate those who read this regardless.
Curious if the church of Abadar ever partners with those who ponder the philosophy of Kalistrade. There are obvious points of overlap, so much so I could see Abadarian worship either thriving or being outright banned in communities within Druma. But why wouldn’t a savvy Kalistocrat hedge her bets for the afterlife by throwing in a few prayers to big A after a day of raking in the ducats?
Thanks to anyone who’s put thought into this, or is willing to.
Specifically I’m curious about how it relates to and has being resisted being absorbed by the Church of Abadar, which follows many of the same tenets yet promises an afterlife.
Like it says on the box, help me understand. Is it that whatever divine touch that overloads the poor oracle, giving her a debilitating curse, also marks her as holy, so people are drawn to her even if she jeebs them out?
With my historical and folkloric understanding of traditional western oracles, I’d imagine higher WIS than CHA, unless it’s the CHA that comes with intimidation (picturing the smoke and corpse filled caves of Delphi). I’d almost be inclined to swap their casting stats with clerics, who ostensibly have to preach their faith some of the time.
Hey folx, thanks in advance for your help. Are there any cool or unique weapons in Strange Aeons that I should bear in mind when I'm choosing feats like Weapon Focus?
I don't mind spoilers about the weapons themselves, naturally, though I'd prefer to avoid plot spoilers.
Hey folx, thanks in advance for your help. Are there any cool or unique weapons in Strange Aeons that I should bear in mind when I'm choosing feats like Weapon Focus?
I don't mind spoilers about the weapons themselves, naturally, though I'd prefer to avoid plot spoilers.
the stone Oracle passes out stone skins and then links to take half their damage and heal himself in the back!
I was just reading about how your stone Oracle hides the bodies to avoid Outrage at the training camp. Genius. Did the druid continue to clean up in the next books, or did being indoors present more issues?
Your choice is… quirky. Gozreh, Gorum, Torag, Iomedae all make much more sense in this AP than an evil giant god. Thremyr could work in Book 4, with some finessing, but to what end? What would it get you in book 6?
In the section “Feuding Factions,” the book explicitly suggests options for how to Yojimbo the uneasy alliance of orcs, ogres, and giants at Redlake Fort and turn some or all of them against each other. At the end of this section, it says that should all-out hostilities break out, the PCs might find themselves targeted by both sides “unless the PC’s have already formed an alliance with one of the factions.”
The book lays out pretty clearly the way the PCs might ally themselves with the Twisted Nails, at least for the short term, but am I missing an opportunity to align oneself with the Gorb family? As written, you interrupt the ritual and Gutterunch & Co attack.
TL;DR: anyone else got a creep-o party that would prefer to work with the ogres against the orcs? How did you manage it, and with what did the PCs entice their putative comrades?
Would love to see your breakdown of the “declaration of war” section of the AP... would that mean another of these for book 4? ;)
Really though, thanks for this.
Super, incredibly late - I'm not on the Paizo forums much anymore.
But thanks, you're very kind!
I actually only rewrote book 5, but if I ran the whole AP I'd write a schedule for what the Giant War looked like, and what the actions of the PCs would do in slowing it. I have thoughts on how I'd run the entire AP, but I've only written out Book 5 (which needs the most) and a little of Book 6 (which doesn't need a lot).
I've been listening for almost four years now; hard to believe it's over. Thank you all so much: my favorite podcast, in any genre, ever. Well done, and happy trails.
It occurs to me I still have a few more months while the best actors I know are unemployed: has anyone ever tried mounting a fully-realized production of “The Six Trials of Lazarod?” It’s certainly a silly thing to consider doing, but that’s a feature not a bug for some… what, apart from the fight choreo, atypical length, and references to Golarion an audience might not understand. would you think might make it difficult to pull off as a piece of theatre?
For those of you who have taken a whack even at acting it wholeheartedly, does it work as a play? Is it moving? Scary? Is Tybain funny?
Just rereading the back of Council of Thieves #1, where the iconics are Lem, Seltyiel as a Level 1 Fighter, Seelah, and Seoni, and it got me thinking what an odd combo Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Sorcerer would seem to me as a GM about to run the AP.
Has anyone still on the forums run or played any of the APs with the “recommended” 4 iconics? Did it feel balanced?
Hi y’all! Thinking about playing a melee combatant, likely a Warpriest or Fighter, and I’m wondering (assuming a GM running the AP loot as is, what weapons (only if you can try to tell me without spoiling the plot) might I wanna look at? Don’t wanna Favored Weapon Bardiche, por ejemplo, to discover they don’t make them in Ustalav.
Well thanks to Adventure Lookup, I've found ogres able to be run in their full squickiness in both Wardens of the Reborn Forge and We Be Goblins Too!... haven't stumbled across any in PFS scenarios yet...
If you're interested in Aroden as a mortal, you'd probably be best served by Ruins of Azlant (for a bit of history and culture) > Tyrant's Grasp (To find out Aroden is a bit of a jerk) > Extinction Curse (No, he's actually a big jerk).
Ok, I roffled, thanks. I actually love this trilogy idea, and I just got Azlant, so thanks for that also!
While part of the genius of the writing and design of these APs is that they are meta-plot light so you can pick up any AP and enjoy it fully without having to buy others, I personally LOVE those meta callbacks, or those moments of frustration when a PC from CoT, say, finishes HV and shakes her fists at the uncaring heavens... it’s such a nice payoff for seasoned campaigners.
So my question to the seasoned members of this forum, what are the metaplots you have found?
That’s right, Hook Mountain Massacre wasn’t enough, and the time of year is fast approaching where I need my most gruesome, terrifying, and maybe just terrifyingly funny horror adventures.
One shot preferred, but any creepy or gruesome adventure starring ogres, that could be done between 1-4 sessions, would be very appreciated.
I'd strongly argue that, for WotR, Iomedae should be the #1 deity, followed by Desna. Sarenrae's focus on redemption is certainly appropriate, but Iomedae is by far the most relevant deity followed very closely by Desna. Not in theme, but both for extremely specific reasons that would be spoilers to reveal. But seriously, it's Iomedae and Desna.
This is EXACTLY the kinda insight I’m paying the big bucks to post in this forum for. Gives me what I need to know without going over the edge. My sheet has been updated. Thank you.
Deadmanwalking wrote:
I'd also argue that, while Abadar certainly features prominently in CotCT, and later books are debatably about preserving the rule of law, the initial incident that the PCs get together during probably actively violates his anathema, and so do a lot of their actions during the first few books. I'd argue he's an actively bad deity for a PC to worship in that AP for that very reason.
Would you put Shelyn up-front then, Deadman, or Iomedae, as the most tolerated in the city? Or Milani, as our antennaed friend suggests, but others have explicitly warned against? Or Zon-Kuthon...?
Hell's Vengeance - Asmodeus is clearly #1. But you do some real awful stuff in HV, and for no profit. I would swap out Abadar for Zon Kuthon.
Tyrant's Grasp: swap out Saranrae for Iomedae. Iomedae is the state religion of Lastwall.
Though I don’t agree with all your reasoning (though I appreciate it all), these two are PARTICULARLY helpful fixes that I’m making to my list toot sweets.
James, your work is so consistently impressive... thanks for all the hard work.
Soul’s for Smuggler’s Shiv is easily my favorite low-level sandbox of all time. I’m in pre-production with some friends of mine on an actual-play podcast. Rule system is TBD at this point, as I’m home brewing much of the world and I want to work with the system that best allows us to realize this world, and for the most part, I will be generating my own adventures. But I wonder, good sir, would it be possible for me to use the framework of your astonishingly good AP chapter, bent and renamed a hair to fit my overarching themes... I promise I won’t do you a disservice: we’re a good group of performers.
I’m coming in early on: they've only just completed Chapter 1 of Book 1, but it’s clear to the GM the tone is broadly comic evil, not gross or nasty. So far they are:
What do y’all think? Some kind’ve evil Druid, to help tank and heal? A rogue to get that sweet sneak? Curious both for optimizing the team as well as for a class you know is fun, or relevant, in this AP.
Giantslayer - it is almost certainly not at all appropriate to worship Thremyr, the evil god of evil frost giants in this AP. Gorum or Erastil are far better fits for a frontier community under constant guard against attack.
Ha, yeah this was the one almost deliberately chosen to ruffle some feathers, as Giantslayer is almost perversely non-religious as an AP. And of course Gorum has the magic weapon and Erastil fits the theme, as you say above, but human tribesmen from the Realm of the Mammoth Lords (quite close to Belkzen) worship Thremyr as Chaotic Neutral clerics. So this savage strength-worshipping cleric is in Trunau and it’s attacked. Of course he fights back.
Then you have the amazing opportunities with the wolves and the statue in book 4, and all kinds of diplomatic options in 6... I’m sticking with Thremyr.
And Gozreh, well, he doesn’t fit at all thematically, but story wise he’s all over, especially if you add the extra encounter in... book 2? 3?
Ok, y’all. With some STRONG help here and on the individual AP forums, in addition to a few other sites, I feel confident I have a strong first and second choice for each of the APs I plan to play in (and thus won’t read). And since my last two spaghetti-against-the-wall attempts, I’ve now actually READ all the APs I plan to run someday. Helpful, go figure. So here’s my third and probably last attempt at this... I hope some would-be-cleric gets some help from this one day:
Rise of the Runelords: Desna (or Erastil)
Curse of the Crimson Throne: Abadar (or Shelyn)
Second Darkness: Calistria (or Iomedae)
Legacy of Fire: Sarenrae (or Abadar)
Council of Thieves: Shelyn (or Iomedae)
Kingmaker: Erastil (or Gorum)
Serpent’s Skull: Shelyn (or Shimye-Magalla)
Carrion Crown: Pharasma (or Desna)
Jade Regent: Shelyn (or Desna)
Skull & Shackles: Besmara (or Norgorber)
Shattered Star: Torag (or Desna)
Reign of Winter: Gozreh (or Alseta)
Wrath of the Righteous: Iomedae (or Sarenrae)
Mummy’s Mask: Nethys (or Sekhmet)
Iron Gods: Brigh (or Gorum)
Giantslayer: Thremyr (or Gozreh)
Hell’s Rebels: Milani (or Calistria)
Hell’s Vengeance: Asmodeus (or Abadar)
Strange Aeons: Desna (or Groetus)
Ironfang Invasion: Erastil (or Torag)
Ruins of Azlant: Abadar (or Shelyn)
War for the Crown: Sarenrae (or Eritrice)
Return of the Runelords: Tawil at’Umr (or Pharasma)
Tyrant’s Grasp: Sarenrae (or Pharasma)
Age of Ashes: Apsu (or Caiden Cailean)
Extinction Curse: Gozreh (or the Lantern King)
Thanks to everyone who let me pick your brains: really appreciate it.
Super appreciate the necro, actually. Another AP is still wrapping up, so I've not begun the build.
Certainly love Shelyn as a deity, although I'm puzzled (and excited to find out) how her faith will manifest in a jungle romp... perhaps the Azlant connect?
Shimye-Magalla and Achaekek are INSPIRED ideas, DM- and group-dependent. Thank you.
Are they planning on doing the 2e APs in hardcover? I know I've got to print my 1e hardbacks myself (although interesting so many more are available in France... anyone know why that is?), sadly, but I sure do love the ease of use of a hardcover and it'd be great to see those happen for 2e at some point, now that they're pot committed to the new system.
He celebrates alcohol, not alcoholism. From Gods and Magic: "While the consumption of alcohol is central to most of Cayden's worship, drinking to excess and dependency on drink are seen as misuse of the Accidental God's gifts. Clergy who develop such an addiction are encouraged to take a large role in the faith's other works, such as maintaining orphanages or supporting rebel efforts, and those who recover often work to assist others with their own recovery from alcoholism." Frankly, a god of freedom wouldn't be very fond of putting chains on oneself in such a fashion.
Totally, Shisumo, I was being hyperbolic. Based on my own idiosyncratic experiences, I’m uncomfortable with someone who gets blackout drunk being a good god of freedom. Seems like he’s plenty shackled.
But nice that he’s got some clergy doing addiction recovery treatment.
I get why he was created; most of us have booze at the table. Just not a fan of the concept myself... though again, I’ll keep him in mind.
Looking for story and/or thematic connections to the AP, without too many spoilers. For instance, I understand worshipping Nocuticula might have a payoff somewhere in the campaign, but not how why nor when.
Which faith do you wish you had played/your players had chosen?
That’s Nocticula, when spelled correctly.
The Player’s Guide also mentions that deities focused on Time might be of interest here... whaddaya think?
Fantastic, zimmerwald, much appreciated as always. Have a tough time with a good god who celebrates alcoholism, but I’ll definitely consider he and Sarenrae in addition to Apsu.
Looking for story and/or thematic connections to the AP, without too many spoilers. For instance, I understand worshipping Nocuticula might have a payoff somewhere in the campaign, but not how why nor when.
Which faith do you wish you had played/your players had chosen?
necroing to ask how your run went... did cayden cailean fit the AP? were there any plot hooks that tied your priest's faith to the story?
also, for everyone who's tried (or DMed the AP): how does an evil-aligned norgorber cleric fit the plot? are there conflicts with norgorberites that would make this choice challenging?
Bing, bang, boom! Thank you so much. While I’d hoped for someone to do the work for me of creating a level and plot appropriate campaign path for me (through respectively Garund and the Planes), it’s a super-selfish ask, and the information you’ve provided will allow me to put in the work (guhhhh!) of doing it myself. Appreciate the info and the response time.
I dunno Z, this feels like the PERFECT adventure path for the boys to get their mustaches waxed, their butt-flap onesies on, and head down to the “Dark Continent” to strip an ancient people of their goodies, what?
This one is interesting. Mostly religion-free, although you’d have the most connections (of the standard 20) with Gozreh, and there’s a weapon for Gorum. A good argument could be made to go deity-free in Giantslayer and choose to be a Shoanti shaman or the like instead. Or join the ranks of the 999 oracles in this AP.
HOWEVER. If you can square it with your backstory (Kellid nomad from the Realm of the Mammoth Lords with a trade mission to Trunau?), the deity you’ll get the most mileage of is...
Thremyr.
Playing as a non-giant, CN worshipper of Thremyr would put you in the most number of interesting positions regarding your faith and its virtues than any other deity of the game.
Looking for adventures starting in medias res. Now, obviously the first book of Serpent’s Skull starts
Serpent’s Skull Spoiler:
mid-toe-eating
, which is close to perfect, but I’d love something that wraps up in a single session, not the start of a major AP. Anything in PFS that would work? Anything else written at Paizo?
Welcome to the end of the world.
Restwell Keep is far from any Civilized center of population.
Long ago, a dark power traveled through the space between worlds, intent on finding world upon which to wreak havoc. After seeding countless wars on many worlds, it found a new world to ruin. There it crash-landed, embedding itself deep in the ground and carving a valley-sized furrow in its wake. Patient beyond mortal comprehension, it began to sow the seeds of evil and reach out to those of a perverse and corruptible bent.
The Chaos Scar is a long, wide valley carved long ago by the fall of a massive meteor. As the giant rock passed overhead, milk curdled, livestock fell over dead, and ill fortune befell all. The meteor crashed into the earth with deafening force, and red radiance lit the sky for a week. Then it vanished.
The meteor had carved its massive gash in a dark and wild place between points of civilization. Where once had stood a wild forest and swamp between a line of small hills was this new valley—the Chaos Scar.
Over a mile long and several hundred feet deep, the Chaos Scar is a testament to the vast power of the meteor’s impact. As it carved its path through the earth, shards and fragments of the meteor tore away until only its heart remained, embedded in an escarpment at the far end of its new home. There, it sent out its call. Over the centuries, creatures of evil spirit have been drawn to this beacon. The meteor's dark sentience spurred competition among them so that they fought with one another. The weak were killed or pushed to the edges of the meteor’s influence, while the strong and cruel rose to the top of the pecking order.
Following years of conflict, a group has emerged to rule the valley. It calls itself the Brotherhood of the Scar. Some nearby cities and nation states believe them to be worshipers of Bane. Others think them servitors of Zehir, or possibly a demon prince. The order seems to have reached some sort of understanding with the meteor, because while the conflicts between the monsters of the Chaos Scar continue, the Brotherhood is left to its own devices. The Brotherhood built a keep around the meteor, and the other denizens of the Scar have carved out their own dominions within the valley’s many caves. The weakest settle near the mouth of the valley and the plain beyond, while the strongest lair closer to the valley’s terminus and in the fortress that now encloses the valley’s upper wall.
Some cities have tried to hem in the threat of the Chaos Scar, with little to no success. A long-forgotten ruler who fancied himself a king erected a wall across the valley’s mouth long ago. It still stands, partly in ruins, its gates open and unguarded. Towers that once ringed the valley have fallen to ruin as well. Some are inhabited by monsters; others are simply empty.
The Chaos Scar itself is death to most who wander in. It is filled with evil and riddled with caves both natural and tunneled by generations of monstrous denizens. The deeper one travels into the valley, the deadlier the foes lurking in its caves and hollows. Strange features have been raised, or have simply appeared, within the Scar—circles of standing stones, bizarre towers, grotesque cottages, and other more otherworldly features. Capping off the valley is the fortress of Hallowgaunt, home to the mysterious Brotherhood of the Scar, crowned by a perpetual storm of black clouds and crackling lightning.
Many adventurers have entered the Chaos Scar. Few have returned. Those that do weave dark stories of monsters working in concert as never before. Others tell of monstrous creatures working against one another.
building a level 5 master summoner for a new campaign, assistance and input please
Level 5
Saurian
STR 12 0 12 +1
DEX 14 0 14 +2
CON 12 +2 14 +2
INT 12 -2 10 0
WIS 10 0 10 0
CHA 17 +2 19 +4
4th level bonus into CHR i think
Traits
finding Haleen
gifted adept
friend in every town (diplomacy)
drawback - attached
feats
flaw - paranoid
augment summoning (free 2nd level bonus feat from master summoner)
summoner's call
superior summoning
evolved summon monster
(from flaw) expanded arcana (2x 1st level spells - enlarge person and mage armor)
ac 18
fort 3
ref 3
will 4
bab 3
cmd 16
cmb 4
hp 41
would like input on feats (possibly if something better makes sense please let me know)
spells
0
detect magic, light, read magic, mending, acid splach, message
1
summon minor monster, grease, infernal healing, protection from evil, summon monster I, mage armor, enlarge person
2
haste, glitterdust, invisibility, summon monster II
3
summon monster III
