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That's pretty cool. An Andoran setting should be pretty easy to alter into a Varisian setting. Both the CL and general setting seem very appropriate, thanks for the idea.
Hi there,
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and recommendations.
How about PDF only? I can't see much production cost in that. Paizo fans would be the most likely to purchase online, anyway so why not PDF only? We could purchase them and print them as we need them (like we're able to print the Sandpoint Cathedral Square).
Why make a flip-map then? Why not one of the map packs? We could just put the cards together to form the large map. That doesn't seem terribly difficult or expensive. You could even sell them as a series.
I'd like to second this comment. I love Pathfinder adventure paths and the Golarion setting. I'm constantly frustrated that Paizo has so many map-packs and flip-mats yet none which correspond with their adventure paths (Sandpoint Cathedral square being the only exception I know of). I'm constantly having to use color-copiers at work and deleting room numbers and GM information on those mats. If the APs are selling well wouldn't it only make sense that supplemental map-packs would sell well, also? Believe me, I'd be buying them. I'm honstly surprised that this isn't being done.
This is exactly my situation. I do enjoy creating but I'm 39, work full-time and starting a family. I just don't have the spare time to craft things from scratch. Having prepackaged material that's ready to go (and good quality on top of that) makes being a GM at my age a much easier and rewarding experience. I personally like 3PP modules and adventure paths. But good rulebooks are helpful too (i.e. "Ultimate Psionics"). I'm partial to the Golarion setting and many 3PP settings can actually be shoehorned there if I want (there's a few continents which have no information so they're wide open for plug and play). The setting of FrogGod games I like quite a bit. I plan on sticking that on one of those other continents.
Wow! Not only tons of responses from the Pathfinder community, but several from the actual authors and publishers as well. I'm very happy to have discovered this little community and the wonderful realm that is known as 3pp. The endzeitgeist reviews are a big help (how do you find time to read all these and run them while still living a real life?) and the links provided are helpful, as well. I need a clone to help sort and run these all.
a while back, I was recommended The Slumbering Tsar. It was actually your review that prompted me to check it out. Needless to say, I'll be reading more of your reviews. Thanks to veryone for their suggestions. I've plenty of material to sort through, now. My only problem now is that I need more personal time and an extended life-span to read and run all these! Better get started!
Slumbering Tsar was the main catalyst which turned me into a 3pp seeker. That adventure, it's depth, atmosphere, complexity, and old-school feel just blew my mind. I can't wait to run it as my next campaign. I haven't read Rappan Athuk yet. Has anyone here attempted that? How does it compare to Slumbering Tsar?
I have a confession to make. I'm a recovering 3pp snob. I grew up ignoring 3pp publications at best and disdaining them at worst. If it wasn't officially published and part of an official campaign setting, I thumbed my nose at it and moved on. I was stupid. Frog God Games and Dreamscarred Press really opened my eyes to the quality and potential that is 3pp. I thoroughly enjoy the Pathfinder system and I am a huge fan of the Golarion setting, but I enjoy a departure to other realms and atmospheres to keep variety and unexpected flavors present. Since the Pathfinder community is full of helpful and friendly people, I was wondering what other quality third-party Pathfinder compatible modules, adventures, and settings would you recommend and why. I enjoy the Ultimate Psionics book by Dreamscarred and I am a huge fan of both the setting and old-school feel that Frog God Games/ Necromancer brings to the table. I'm intrigued by the upcoming Dragon Kings products that are forth coming. Apart from these, my knowledge is limited. What else (that's good) is out there and why do you recommend it? Thanks in advance to all the great suggestions and recommendations that'll come forth. I look forward to expanding my horizons and discussing your thoughts.
I agree 100%. I love what Paizo's done with this area, We've just got enough info now. It's time to flesh out the other areas. If Paizo hadn't done such an excellent job with their campaign settings thus far, I wouldn't be so desirous for more. We've got more than enough traits, feats, prestige classes, etc. We're in danger of 3.5 bloat. There's no need for that with such a large amount of material that's yet to be explored.
I'd like to learn more about the regions that have yet to receive detailed splatbooks or adventures. I'd like to learn what's going on on the other hemisphere of Golarion. I only know of Miang and not much else besides it's Asian feel. I'd also like to learn about the other planets. This is where some really diverse and different settings could be explored. One of those planets could even be used to serve a "Dark Sun" setting for those of us still waiting for something like that. I had hoped Akiton would serve that purpose (it seems interesting enough) but there are still several others that can, as well. We don't need anymore supplements for Varisia when other lesser-known regions could use some attention. Only a fraction of this world and universe have been explored. I want to know more!I don't know what Miang is but if you're talking about Tian Xia then look no further than Dragon Empires Gazetteer and Dragon Empires Primer That's what I meant. Between the language being called Minkai and a good old-fashioned brain fart on my end, I somehow came up with Miang. Doh!
I am familiar with Shadowrun, it was not a game that was my taste. I am more the Star Wars, Star Trek, Eureka, Fringe, Doctor Who type of guy. With a wit like Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy at times. I'm an all-encompassing guy. With the exception of Eureka, I'm into all of those, as well. Of course Douglas Adams actually scripted some Doctor Who so I'm not surprised you like both.
I don't know your age, but the premise of magic in a high-tech society reminds me of the RPG "Shadowrun" (I think) which was in the 90's. It was set in a futuristic, somewhat cyber-tech society where magic and magical creatures, which had been non-existent for millenia, return to the world. It was a pretty cool setting.Was? I've been out of RPGs for almost twenty years and only recently returned to the fold. I hadn't seen anything about Shadowrun in the stores so I assumed it was gone. Apparently it ain't!
I actually purchased a couple Pathfinder comics because they come with the extra encounters and fold-out maps for use in the game. The first issue had an encounter with goblins on Junker's Beach with a battle-map. That was quite useful during our first session not to mention fun. It made the comic worth it's value just for that alone since the story in the comic itself... meh...
Also there's Dragon Empires Gazetteer and it's companion Dragon Empires Primer for all your Tian Xia needs. That's a good start. Lol, even the Jade Regent starts in Sandpoint, though. Pretty funny. But, you're right. It does move on from there. So that's one setting that's been explored a bit. How about the rest of that hemisphere?
Thanks for the suggestions. These may work quite well. I'll play loose with the plot and location given in the modules, but the actual dungeon-crawls and side-mysteries will help to fill out the world. Much appreciation.
That's why I chose Varisia. For one, it's the most fleshed out due to it's being the first region detailed by Paizo. I knew I'd be able to easily find supplemental material for it. Also, it also holds closest to the classic traditional fantasy world setting, i.e Middle-Earth or Forgotten Realms. I'm fairly new GM'ing and everyone in my group, save one, is a complete noob. Varisia seemed like the best setting due to it's accessibility and adherence to classic high-fantasy. I knew the people in my group would easily adapt to it, especially the one experienced member since he used to play Forgotten Realms back in the 2nd edition days. As far as borrowing from the other AP's, I'm planning on eventually running those down the line so I'd prefer to leave them be for now.
What level is the party now? They're at level 2. They just did the Glassworks but haven't headed toward Thistletop yet. But I'm also planning ahead so it can be for a couple levels higher. If they go straight to Thistletop, I'll be good but they might wander a bit. Again, I don't want to herd them there. They're still sniffing for clues and could possibly wander on a rabbit-trail or two. I'm more expecting some plug-and-play between Thistletop and the eventual journey to Magnimar and definately some before the journey to Fort Rannick.
I don't know your age, but the premise of magic in a high-tech society reminds me of the RPG "Shadowrun" (I think) which was in the 90's. It was set in a futuristic, somewhat cyber-tech society where magic and magical creatures, which had been non-existent for millenia, return to the world. It was a pretty cool setting.
Perhaps, even though the geek in me actually enjoys the bookkeeping of XP. I'm just interested in modules or dungeons I can plug-and-play into the campaign so I don't have to herd them from one event to the next (i.e. Glassworks, Foxglove Manor, etc.)
Evidently San Diego is in Arcadia. Paizo doesn't seem to be able to get their collective head out of the Inner Sea Region. :) It's funny you wrote this as it touches on another post I recently put up regarding my desire for Paizo to give us more info and stats on OTHER regions of Golarion and the other planets. http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r1lm?Curious-to-learn-more-about-the-OTHER-reg ions#1
I have in the past, but I've found the prevalent attitude in there is very snobby and elitist. There didn't seem to be much interest in an amateur or a non-regular joining them. Admittedly, it's been a little while, but I tried posting on their message board a couple times and received no responses. One reason I feel RPGing is so niche is that many of those who do play (at least here in San Diego) are very aloof and have no interest in newer players. My experience on the Paizo boards has been contrary to this so that's why I decided to try here.
Hi there, I'm a fairly new GM and I'm running the classic Rise of the Runelords campaign for my group of friends. The AP is designed for the fast-track experience but I set ours for the medium so that the PC's could explore the world a bit in a sandbox fashion and earn story rewards rather than just going from one event in the AP to the next. It makes the game feel less linear and forced. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for some decent plug-and-play modules or dungeons that would be suitable for low level characters in the environment Varisia. By the way, I used to be athird-party snob and would only consider Paizo published materials. However, after seeing Dreamscarred Press' "Ultimate Psionics" and Frog God Games' "Slumbering Tsar" I've repented and am now open to third party suggestions... as long as the quality is decent. Paizo's still my first choice, but not my only consideration. Can anyone help?
I'd like to learn more about the regions that have yet to receive detailed splatbooks or adventures. I'd like to learn what's going on on the other hemisphere of Golarion. I only know of Miang and not much else besides it's Asian feel. I'd also like to learn about the other planets. This is where some really diverse and different settings could be explored. One of those planets could even be used to serve a "Dark Sun" setting for those of us still waiting for something like that. I had hoped Akiton would serve that purpose (it seems interesting enough) but there are still several others that can, as well. We don't need anymore supplements for Varisia when other lesser-known regions could use some attention. Only a fraction of this world and universe have been explored. I want to know more!
I originally posted this as a reply to another post that suggested Paizo was nearing the end of it's RPG life having grown stale. I can understand the sentiment but feel otherwise... if Paizo will focus more on the obscure settings that have only been hinted at in blurbs. I feel there are numerous regions and even planets that Paizo has yet to exploit. These are my two-cents but I'm curious to read what others may have to share. Perusing through the Inner-Sea Guide and various other supplements, I read about many settings that sound very fascinating but have little to no material beyond their mention in the books. As a 39 year-old, full-time worker and part-time student, I really heavily on setting material since I lack the spare time to create my own. Golarion's diverse settings provide me with almost everything I need depending on what mood I'm in. As much as I enjoy places like Varisia with it's Middle-earth/ Forgotten Realms feel or Absalom as the world-capital and Pathfinder Grand Lodge, there is plenty of material by now to play those regions. Rather than continually adding more splatbooks for familiar regions, we should get some more Companion and Campaign Settings in the unfamiliar areas. The appeal of Golarion and the Pathfinder Universe to me is that it tends to encompass a variety of genres by giving each region it's own flavor. So, it seems there's much room for originality and creativity. Just give us more on that. Enough of Sandpoint already! Let's see more of the other hemisphere of Golarion, including Miang. Let's explore other worlds like Akiton. There's possibilities for Dark Dun style settings if Paizo would use the other planets. In short, Paizo has a wealth of source material to give us, they just need to venture out more and stop fleshing out the same regions we're used to.
Maybe... The Slumbering Tsar Saga? Wow! Thanks for this link! After reading the reviews, I just picked our groups next campaign. This looks absolutely bad-ass in an old school way!
I'm looking for a group in San Diego near or in Poway that's playing Pathfinder. I see lots of activity on these message boards in other areas of the country but San Diego seems to be a deadland for such things. Nonetheless, I'm a 39 year-old who enjoyed playing D&D back in the day and would like to pick up the hobby with some like-minded people again. I own a Core Rulebook and am familiar with the general mechanics and the world of Golarion so I'm not a complete noob, but still an amateur. Most people I personally know aren't interested in playing this so I'm trying my luck on here. Anyone got a campaign or group that's got room for one more?
I understand your point and can agree with it. But, I also feel there are numerous regions and even planets that Paizo has yet to exploit. Perusing through their Inner-Sea Guide, I read about many settings that sound very fascinating but have little to no material beyond their mention in the book. As a 39 year-old, full-time worker and part-time student, I really heavily on setting material since I lack the spare time to create my own. Golarion's diverse settings provide me with almost everything I need depending on what mood I'm in. As much as I enjoy places like Varisia with it's Middle-earth/ Forgotten Realms feel or Absalom as the world-capital, there is plenty of material by now to play those regions. Rather than continually adding more splatbooks for familiar regions, we should get some more Companion and Campaign Settings in the unfamiliar areas. The appeal of Golarion and the Pathfinder Universe to me is that it tends to encompass a variety of genres by giving each region it's own flavor. So, it seems there's much room for originality and creativity. Just give us more on that. Enough of Sandpoint already! Let's see more of the other hemisphere of Golarion, including Miang. Let's explore other worlds like Akiton. There's possibilities for Dark Dun style settings if Paizo would use the other planets. In short, Paizo has a wealth of source material to give us, they just need to venture out more and stop fleshing out the same regions we're used to.
I'm looking for a group in San Diego near or in Poway that's playing Pathfinder. I'm a 39 year-old who enjoyed playing D&D back in the day and would like to pick up the hobby with some like-minded people again. I own a Core Rulebook and am familiar with the general mechanics and the world of Golarion so I'm not a complete noob, but still an amateur. Most people I personally know aren't interested in playing this so I'm trying my luck on here. Anyone got a campaign or group that's got room for one more? |
