Last year, I started a Pathfinder campaign with some friends of mine. Most had never done role-playing before so I eased them into it the first session and it went over pretty well. Soon, the story picked up and my players started to really enjoy the campaign. Pathfinder became the word on everyone's lips and everyone wanted to know what was going to happen next session: would the group find another key to the Vault of Ages? Would the half-orc fighter finally succumb to the possession of the God? What dastardly scheme would the Midnight Alliance concoct to trouble Varisia and our heroes? The 'Vault of Ages arc' went over really well with the group. It was a standard fetch quest and everyone enjoyed the twists and turns it took. The finale was well received and even brought out about a huge feels-fest when the long time antagonist was defeated along with two player characters and one noteworthy legendary NPC. The party escaped from the Vault, weakened by their experiences but still mostly alive...only to discover that they had been warped forward in time and the group fighting against them, The Midnight Alliance, had taken control of Varisia. At this dramatic conclusion, our heroes stood together and announced that with their new party members, they would destroy the Alliance and return to freedom and peace back to Varisia. The players were really enjoying it and I was glad because I was too. They were so hooked they demanded I follow up the arc with a 'Season Two' immediately. That was when the trouble started.
Fast-forwarding to three sessions later, my players are still really enjoying the sessions but personally, I keep feeling terrible. The story is not what it used to be and something is missing from the overall experience. The players have sensed the dip as well and whilst we're all still playing together, I can't help but feel that I've messed up somehow. In the past sessions, the party have gone through a huge rotor and now, it is comprised of completely new players: one neutral good cavalier fighting for the love of her sister, a chaotic neutral bard and a chaotic neutral ranger who are only working together with the group because they want a personal shot at the leader and have hardly any concern for the group of evil bads as a whole and one lawful good monk solely tagging along because he's a really nice person and he wants to help the group. I feel like I'm at the end of my rope with the party, not because of their characters but because I am suddenly unaware how to handle them/how to make them invested.
Thinking about it, I've realised that the two major changes between the 'seasons' has been the lack of a personal connection to the quest to defeat the Midnight Alliance (the party just aren't invested in anything and are just following the plot because...because plot) and a lack of direction (the Alliance are the big bad...but they're EVERYWHERE so though the party are doing and accomplishing things, there's no feeling of victory.)
So...basically, what I'm asking is, does anyone have an idea of how to invest the group in the story and find a way of funnelling them towards a final showdown vs. each of the evil generals of the Alliance? Help would be appreciated please. Thanks :)
