I really enjoyed this game and the group, though I only joined recently. Thanks for running it.
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Heh. I'm running a Strange Aeons game, so hopefully it goes better than you think, Katya. That said, PF doesn't lend itself well to terrorizing the PCs- if you've got a wizard who regularly deals with demons and daemons, why would he be scared of aberrations?- but I'm going to give it a good try. I like Iron Gods, but it looks a lot more Thundarr the Barbarian than Shadowrun to me. I'd be glad to give it another try; we only got a bit into the first mod before the DM ghosted on us. Of Giantslayer, MM, and RotR, Giantslayer is the only I'm not currently playing in. So of those 3 I'd vote for Giantslayer. I think the reason it doesn't get a lot of love is that it's just as you said- it's the generic idea of an AP. Which is the point, since it's basically a reboot of the very first AP, Against the Giants. Everybody loves Against the Giants, but it's pretty old fashioned by now. The only thing I have against Giantslayer is from reading Giants Revisited a long time ago- hill giants as The Hills Have Eyes mutant cannibals is really weird. But that might not even be canon anymore. I don't think the Mythic rules hold together at all, but then again I also think the encounter rules fall apart at high levels. My sweet spot is mid-level, when PCs start getting the feats they've been building toward but before casters start getting 7th level spells. Anyway, I'd vote against Wrath. So that's 2 votes for Giantslayer?
Honestly, I'd skip the centaurs altogether and just let the PCs go from Varnhold to, um, the place with the guy. They're interesting to meet and gaining their trust is kind of cool at a table, but they would take forever to do in PbP. I'd say the leaders of the kingdom had a scheduled meeting with Varn to talk about a treaty or public works project or something and then found what they found and tracked clues to the place at the end. That gives the PC leaders a reason to be away from the kingdom- treaty negotiations with a neighboring Duke.
Hi, guys. I've just been asked to cover for someone who's scheduled to teach a seminar next week, so I'm going to be out until Monday the 8th. Sorry for the short notice. Thanks.
If we're thinking about jettisoning the free roam part of Kingmaker I'd recommend against Skull & Shackles. I just wrapped up a S&S game where the PCs were having trouble maintaining interest once they got their own ship and could go anywhere and do anything. On the plus side we're going to transition to Strange Aeons, which I'm very excited to be running.
At the point the PCs are, they could send out NPC teams like the Narthropples to do the surveying and just deal with whatever comes up that's too big for NPCs to take care of (i.e., skip over any random encounters or minor wilderness locations and just give the PCs the set pieces and most interesting locations). It doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the Duchess spends most of her time riding around making maps when there are presumably lots of things that need her attention back at the city and hundreds of people who want to do what Bea tells them to do. You might have to change from encounter XP to story-point XP, but it would get the story moving faster.
I'd prefer to keep playing, but I'm the FNG. I've been enjoying the game; I don't really have a problem with a slow pace. That said, since Vasily is the Enforcer he could just be sent out doing Enforcer type stuff (i.e., the set pieces in the AP). Part of the problem is that the exploration part of Kingmaker is XP filler to make up for a lack of dungeoneering and that turns into a really long slog in the PbP format. But if you're done with the AP, DM, closing up shop is always an option. I've ended games where I was the DM because I and the players have lost interest. No hard feelings on my part. I'd be glad to play with you in another game if you'd be willing to have me.
Vasily nodded in Bea's direction. "There are some in the eastern Kamelands. The Council has cordial relations with them, so your instinct to avoid them is for the best."
Vasily nods. "We'll send word if we hear anything. I wouldn't go chasing trolls if I were you, though."
Vasily nodded. "Tell us where we can send word and it's a deal."
Vasily shakes his head. "Not that I've heard. Why the interest in trolls?"
Vasily nods. "Not to mention that we've been through much of this countryside ourselves. Perhaps we could simply trade maps, an even swap."
"What regions do they cover? We wouldn't want to buy a map to territory we already know."
Vasily grimaces. "We have. I would not recommend trying to land on the island. We were attacked by will o' wisps as we tried to explore."
Vasily gives the gnome directions to the tendriculos's mud pit and the place where they were attacked by the wyvern.
"There's a tendriculos guarding a patch of rare mushrooms by a hot spring, if that's the kind of interesting you're talking about. An unfriendly wyvern flying around these parts, too."
Vasily nods at the Fitcher, agreeing with his question. He looks curiously in the direction of the wagon and the other gnomes. "Your assistants? This is an organized expedition, then. Where are you from?"
Vasily clucks at the horses and pulls out his secret weapon- a couple of dried apples- as he tries to convince the horses to pull harder.
Vasily slides down off Sev and jogs down to the water to the horses. He keeps his hands low, trying not to look too threatening, and reaches out to try to calm the beasts down.
Sorry, guys, but work has gotten ridiculous in the past couple of months. I'm reducing my number of games on the boards and am going to try to catch back up here.
Out in front as usual, Vasily urges Sev forward and whistles for Strelka to stay close by and hidden.
Maybe explore directly west of the stag lord's fort? Works for me.
I haven't had time to think about it yet but I'll look at the city sheet and see what we have enough BP to build.
2 kingdom turns sounds good to me. Which hex is the giant spider hex?
Vasily nods at the boy. "I know your Pa, Tig. We'll get you home safe."
Vasily looks in the direction of the gate. "We should go before they change their minds. We should warn our people to avoid this area, as well, to give the lizardfolk their space."
Awesome. What was it?
Vasily looks around for a clear line of retreat or, barring that, a direction that holds the fewest armed warriors.
Vasily held his bow ready but unraised. He muttered quietly to the others "If it comes to it, taking out the chief first might keep everyone else from piling on."
Vasily takes another arrow out of his quiver and puts it to the string, watching the lizardfolk warily but not aiming at any one just yet. "We don't want to fight this entire village," he says again. "I hope you can talk us out of this."
Vasily edges away from the unnatural creature, looking to put his back against something solid so the lizardfolk can't swarm him, hand blurring as he fills the air with arrow after arrow. "I don't want to fight this whole village. Anyone see a way out?" Strelka tries again to bite into the insubstantial wisp.
Vasily pulls an arrow from his quiver and takes careful aim. "Get it, girl!" Strelka launches herself at the ghostly creature like a furry missile, fangs at the ready.
Vasily and Strelka follow Bea, wary and watchful for an ambush.
Vasily, seeing Bea has the lizardfolk guards well in hand, checks the top of the palisade and the gate to count how many other guards might be in yelling distance if this turned into a fight.
Vasily nods at the Fitcher, glad to let the other man take the lead. Instead of speaking, he looks around to get the lay of the land.
Vasily glances back at Bea, sees that she isn't ready to start something here on the raft, then goes back to watching the rapidly approaching village palisade.
Vasily nods at Bea and heads onto the boat, Strelka at his heels.
Vasily frowns and edges over to Bea. He whispers to her "There's a small child screaming inside the palisade."
Vasily is glad to let the Fitcher take the lead, but digs into his pack to pull out the cougar teeth and claws in case the lizardfolk are interested.
"I have a cougar pelt, claws, and teeth, if you're interested. We also know where you can find the shell and carcass of a giant snapping turtle."
Vasily shakes his head. "If they trade, they must speak some of the trade tongue."
Vasily peers warily at the encampment.
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