djbbmike's page

I'm not "that guy". You know that guy who just bashes others for not thinking the same way he does. However, I just don't understand why there are so many posts trashing this adventure. If my understanding is correct, this is a low level adventure. This aventure is written specifically to take advantage of Korvosa's size and depth. What I mean by that is sure, you "could" just run the adventure straight through exactly how the book was written OR you could take advantage of the Guide to Korvosa (If it costs too much money there's always you imagination's guide to Korvosa) and all the other web enhancements and ideas to bring the game together.

If you don't like something...change it! When I see people talking about say "why are there so many imps in this city it's crazy!!!" I say it's color. And why is it that every person assumes that an encounter table is a combat table? For example if you roll for a party encounter and you get imps, try something else, for example, a student of the acadamaie is in a heated debate with a street merchant over the price of some item or whatnot and a party member notices an imp sneaking over to filch something from the vendor's cart while the student is keeping him occupied. Yes, there could be a combat scene here. Or the party could call the guard and have the student arrrested creating a potential minor enemy for later. Or the party could follow the young student and threaten to go to the headmasters and have them expelled if they don't someday return the favor/offer bribe/give info/ect. There are obviously other options.

Also, in regards to the low level (to some) of various npc's it occurs to me that if you have the time to write numerous posts on the numerical issuses of a char or two you probably have time to modify their stats too. Oh, and for those of you out there who say that that will effect the challenge level I have two responses. One, fudge the EL. Or two, the alpha ruleset includes multiple advancement charts. Chars advancing too quickly? Use a slower one. Me, I ensure that story takes the place of number crunching so that the story is what is remembered. When my friends and I are talking about old games or adventures we talk about the great stories and characters and adventures - whether or not a particular scene made perfect sense (because real life ALWAYS does) just never seems to come up. Funny that.

Oh and before I jump off my soapbox one last thing, why even post that you dislike an adventure or a game? Especially on a site where you know the arthur is going to read it? If you don't like it, ok, well maybe it will give you an idea for your next game, or maybe an NPC you can use or something. Sorry again, to each their own.

I just want to say that my group is enjoying Korvosa and all that it has to offer. Yes I have made a few changes to the quest so far but they are ones tailored to my group and I have even added a few plot hooks that go to a couple side adventures as well. IMHO this is a well thought out opening quest to to introduce the characters to Korvosa (in 50 pages with artwork no less!)and I can't wait to run our group's next game tonight! Keep up the good work!

Mike

My group is on it's third game of this adventure path. However, we have only actually played the quest as it was laid out one night. This is because the first game was a getting to know Korvosa night where I ran three mini adventures with premade npcs in various areas of Korvosa to better give the PC's a feel for the city and it's inhabitants. It also has the bonus of introducing certain NPC's and giving the players additional reasons to like/dislike them.
Here's an idea of how my three mini games went. I was able to introduce/forshadow a number of charaters, events, and locales which in turn will help my PC's when they are trying to decide how to spend their time in Korvosa.
The second game night was all back story. I usually take one entire evening with my group developing thier storylines and tying them to the game and area. This makes their characters really come to life and also adds a level of depth to them. Not to mention the PC's tend to be much more cautious with their characters lives as they have invested so much time in them.
Finally, On our third night we actually start game. What's great is that since the characters have so much to work with, last weeks game was awesome! The first three hours were spent in solid rolepaly just getting to know one another/feeling each other out. I love being able to just sit back and watch my PC's interact with one another without any DM intercession.

*****spoiler*****

I also wanted to share a quick highlight from that game. After recieving the message from Zellara to meet at her home at sunset I asked each player to write on a piece of paper Exactly what time they would arrive, (I said sunset was at 8 pm). Each player gave me their time and I then had them all leave the room. I put each enterace time in order and had the players come to the table in the order that they had wrote down. The first character to arrive, (the party's rogue), came in, looked around and since he was dirt poor (lived in the Bridgeport Shingles) saw that there was food and wine in the basket so he put it in his bag. He then tore the note on the table to take the line out about the food even being offered. However, since there is one word (The) on the note that was on the same line as the end of the previous sentence, he smudged it off with some water and tried to make it look like a smudge. However, at this point my second PC was brought into the room. So as not to get caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the rogue PC decided to pretend (without actually ever coming out and sayin it) that he was in fact the one that had invited everyone! When the other PC entered, the rogue PC looked up and said, "Oh I guess I won't need this then.", and put the note aside. When the other PC asked as to whether or not the rogue PC was responsible for the invitation he replied, "let's just wait until everyone gets here to discuss this." He then preceeded to greet everyone as they arrived and when Zallara finally showed up he even tryed to play off that he was her assistant! Again, it was great being able to just sit back and watch the show.

So I guess that's another way you could do it.

In following with Delvesdeep's observation that there are just too many baddies in the SCAP - (I love and am using your alternate 13) - I decided to change another "ho hum" encounter into something that helps shape the campaign.

The Lich that is encountered in the Test of the Smoking Eye is both random and boring. I adjusted him to be a major villian in my campaign that both hounds the PCs as well as works against the Cagewrights.

I don't have the other two adventure paths so I am using the Spire of Long Shadows and the Haunted Villiage as areas where the PCs will travel to deal with this new threat.

Also having the Lich be a "man behind the curtain" for the Necronauts adds another level of depth to the evil adventuring group - (ESPEACIALLY considering how Khyron Bonesworn would then have TWO allegiences if using Delvesdeep's alt 13!)

My group loves to watch my jaw drop and do the famous DM "You wanna WHAT?!"

So there we are in the final portion of "Test of the Smoking Eye", my group having just saved the day by defeating Kaurophon and then having some Incredible RP over one character's decision to sacrifice himself for the greater good. I'm happy everything has gone so smoothly (usually about this time of night is when PC shananagans might occur).

And then it happened.

My rogue asks how tall the Mummy Lord is.

"Umm...5'6" I say looking a wee bit aprehensive.

My rogue presses "so the Mummy's shoulders aren't really that wide then right? Say like 2 feet or so?"

I blame myself. I should have known better then to fall in my (how ironic) rogue's trap. "yea sure, that's sounds about right"

My rogue then decides to sneak up on the Mummy Lord who is overseeing the final test and snap a pair of magebae manacles on him. Then the fighter bull rushes him and attemps to PUT THE MUMMY IN A BAG OF HOLDING.

I pause, stare dumbfounded as my grinning PCs show me the entry for the bag of holding in the DMG. Ok it's a 2 ft by 4 ft bag and assuming the worst the opening is two feet across and guess who's shoulders I just ruled were under that?!

Ok, fine. We all have a laugh. Mummy in a bag. Couple cracks about how they just created a cursed item that would identify as a non cursed item. Ha ha, fun.

But they're not done.

Opening of Chapter 7 the party is attacked by assassins. After reading quite a few posts about parties that were done in by this encounter I was a little nervous running it. So my players are lounging around, none of them in armour or carrying anything other then light weapons, when the assassins burst in to the Tipped Tankard catching the PC by surprise. My rogue, the only character able to act in the surprise round, without setting down his drink, throws open the bag and shouts "Mummy Lord I choose you!" (sigh)

You know what's great about Mummy Lords? Their Despair Aura. Fail that DC 17 save, like the assassins did, and your suddenly paralyzed 1d4rds. Now the best part is that the Mummy Lord simply turns to the players, (as they finish coup de gracing the assassins),asks them to remove the manacles and teleports away. (This is the book's fault. It says that the Mummy Lords won't attack the players except to defend themselves and keep them "honest" in the tests. Also according to the book this ONE mummy has the travel domain instead of the protection one.) Now while I would consider being put into a bag of holding an attack of sorts, my players pointed out that for undead it's really just "inconvienent".

So yea while usually our game is pretty serious, (as you can see here), every once in a while my players do something that reminds me why I love this game so much

My group of 9ish,(I have 7 to 8 players and an Assistant DM), have been playing the Shackled City once a week now for quite some time. (Wow, I just realized we've been playing since I picked up the HC at Gen-Con Indy!) We just started chapter 7 and so far it has been a blast. My group calls themselves "The Cresent Edge" - they are:

Edmund Vanderboren - Knight - Wealthy scion of a family just recently granted it's patents of nobility. Is currently serving as lieutenant of the town guard. Has been accused of using family political favors to move upward in the ranks so quickly. Is considered the protege of Capt. Terseon Skellerang. Younger half brother Todd a member of the famed Storm Blades.

Eppig - War Mage - Apprentice to the noted merchant Maavu Arlintal. Handles much of Maavu's day to day affairs acting as his major domo in both Cauldron and in the neighboring Red Gorge. Also served a brief stint in the town guard, only to be fired by Lieutenant Skylar Krewis and then ironicly be rehired and promoted by a different Lieutenant to the newly formed MTA (Magical Treats Agency).

Ivan - Cleric - A ranking member of the Temple of Lordly Might (church of Kord). Involved in a fierce rivalry with fellow priest and noted adventurer, Zachary Aslaxin for the recently vacated position of high priest. Has also recently gained some noteriety for tying in the "Drink Down the Flood" contest with 15 year undisputed champion Lord Vhalantru and are now seen regularly together sharing a pint at various taverns and inns around town.

Alton Tosscobble - thief - Former member of the AllyBashers, and a kidnapping victim rescued from a now defunct slaving ring that was opperating seemingly right under the cities nose. Owns and operates a fish monger shop on the southern shore of Crater Lake.

Bazil - Dragon Shaman - A wanderer from far off Salt Marsh, (DMG2), claims to be a decendant of a Copper Dragon killed by the "famed" Hookface. Recently opened an Adventurer's Guild with the long term goal of ridding the area of this beast.

Dorin Starchild - Bard - Was a noted performer at the Coy Nixie. Has renently joined the famed Storm Blades. Can also now be seen at the Cusp of Sunrise, that is, if you can get in!
(now an NPC)

Jonah - Warlock - Jonah has made quite a name for himself in Cauldron recently. After arriving into the city with a wagon filled with valueables (some judged as near priceless by local antiquitor Tygot)the man known only as Jonah proceeded to give it all away, divided between each of the churches, the Lantern Street Orphanage, and the needy. Now he's seen around town, in (clean) rags, doing any and all odd jobs all free of charge. When asked why, his reply is always the same: "Redemption is not cheap, and I have much to pay for"

Ashley - Urban Druid - A member of the secret society "the Seekers", the sole survivor of an attack on the Lucky Monkey Inn by a band of raiders. Is working with a cell of Seekers looking into recent Ebon Triad activity in the Cauldron region.
(This character replaced Shensen - she joined the week before chapter three was to start and her character concept was so Shensen-esk I said "You'll be my Shensen!" I love it when things work out like that!)

Desdel "Deadeye" Lyrith - Fighter - Heir to the throne of the city-state of Sasserine. Is currently seeking Kyan Winterstrike, his betrothed who vanished on their wedding day. Has recently found evidence that she may be being held against her will somewhere in Cauldron.

Well that's my group and a wee bit of info about them. I also want to say that my campaign could not have been half of what it is with out this forum and websites like rpgenius so thankyou! Some of your ideas have really helped flesh out my game.