| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Gosh, I got a reply lightning fast from customer support!
Thank you very much ❤️
Search Posts
I bought NPC Codex on Dec 1st, and tried to get the discount on my FGU account to use it in game.
Now states that the authorization token is invalid so I cannot sync them at all! (I have logged in and out of FG, logged in and out of Paizo, deauthorized and reauthorised link with Smiteworks on the Paizo site) I understand there may be issues, but it has been two weeks and I am still unable to use it :-(
Just to say, this is awesome, mate!
OK, I'm sold, if a bit late. Hopefully I'll get in earlier next time....
Seems pragmatic and sensible response re Greyhawk. OK, here come some numbers which may or may not appal you with the sheer gaminess. If you are looking for 2.5 levels and you use quests/higher level encounters/something else to reduce to 20 encounters it's still not that easy. Stewart Perkins’ excellent overview ended up with not enough “heroic” encounters, and he only had 14 encounters for the first section. Some of the stuff in the other “conversion of STAP to 4E” thread is really helpful. Spoiler: Now, as I see it you have six major encounter seams in the first "episode" (sorry I don't have it in front of me and the details may be a bit wrong...) 1) Taking the boat back: Maybe two encounters? Initial fight with the thugs then the rhagidessa(sp?) escapes - maybe add in a few other exotic monsters. Would still count as a single encounter in terms of no time for short rest, but sequential nature may stop players being overwhelmed. Also easy to have monsters attack each other rather than PCs if it ends up a bit much. 2) The Vanderboren Vault: Maybe two encounters? One fight, one skill challenge =/- traps? 3) Looking for Vanthus: Maybe two encounters? Skill challenge, obviously; a run in with some villainous groups you like in your campaign at some point? (maybe tougher opposition if doing badly in challenge? Maybe the Scarlet Brotherhood were a little unhappy about their monsters getting barbecued?) 4) Parrot Island: I’d like to get four encounters here, might take a bit of padding. Four encounters feels like a good long session, and would ensure the players feel a bit pushed in terms of dailys/healing surges etc. The final fight being a bunch of crabs is a bit anticlimactic...? mix and match? 5) Looking for the Lotus Dragons: Again two encounters? Skill challenge and ambush, make sure feels different from “3”. 6) The Lotus Dragons: Well, we’d be left with eight encounters worth here – not a problem to fit in but difficult to avoid either the players needing to retreat and return (pretty difficult if they haven’t found an alternative entrance) or worse ending up with a coordinated response from the Dragons that overwhelms the players. As noted before, the size of the maps needs tweaking for 4th eds more mobile/cinematic style. SP’s previous summary broke it down into 8-9 encounters, I don’t know if anyone has tried playing it and how this worked out. Some sympathetic DM-ing to allow an extended rest on at least one occasion would be helpful.
Well then, I'm happy to share my initial thoughts as long as you are absolutely clear that they are only my thoughts, that I would be personally insulted if you didn't throw at least 90% aside as not being suitable for your campaign/players, and with an apology before I even start for being a bit left brained and obsessed with numbers... Hokay, first off, the choice of campaign setting and the decision to convert Greyhawk to 4th ed AT THE SAME TIME as the adventure path. You are clearly a dedicated purist, and if you will actually have enough time to do this than massive respect to you. I don't think it's completely necessary (unless you want to do it for your campaign, obviously). I worked on the first four scenarios to 3.5 Iron Kingdoms with little difficulty and that's a quite different setting. Sticking with Forgotten Realms is easy and (virtually) the generic option - most DMs are used to converting away from this. I do understand your anxieties about the big changes in FR, but given the new magic system/character classes/races etc, etc you would have to come up with some pretty big changes to Greyhawk to explain them. Now, what has been done with FR is (understandably) stressful to us fanboys, if you don't like it and would like to come up with some more personal changes to Greyhawk, that's AOK. Or you can just let Wizards take the heat for RUNING TEH FORGTTEN REALMS WAT WERE TEHY THINKING ILL NEVER PLAY D&D AGAIN!!!!?!, and use what they have already done:-)
Hey Savage Screen Monkey! Hugely interested in this, having been sitting in front of my Dungeon 139 thinking about converting "There Is No Honour". I lacked the ambition to convert the whole campaign though... Not sure whether you prefer discussion here or via your blog - here is probably easier unless it's getting crowded. Like you I have been inspired by Scott's extraordinary dedication (lots of people start these things, far too few can keep it going) and I have pinched several of his ideas when attempting to convert scenarios. You're right about the XP issue - most scenarios seem to need to have more combat in 4th ed. You can mitigate this a little with Quest awards (DMG122). I actually like these quite a lot, often giving short details of the Quest and XP as handouts to the players. I think it is pretty easy to put 10% of the XP into Quests (say 1 major and 4 minor over two levels?). Minor quests in particular can be a bit quirky and encourage exploration and roleplaying, while the major quest helps keep a clear goal for that part of the campaign. Again, I suspect you won't need the full 25 encounters. I routinely use encounters one or two levels above the player level, which will also shrink the total, so I reckon that could drop it by another 10%. So, I reckon 20-odd quality encounters would cover it easily, and might help you packing in "and then another group of zombies attack you" that might be misconstrued as filler:-)
Sigh,
Anyway, I've seen a lot of magazines die, but this hurts the most. I will certainly buy anything Paizo puts out given their level of quality. If you need quick cash sort out a decent subscription service for Pathfinder and the modules to the UK, and I'll sign up now for two years.
Keen to see combined subscription.
|