Pathfinder Adventure Path #36: Sound of a Thousand Screams (Kingmaker 6 of 6) (PFRPG)

I knew it would not be an easy task. That you for considering it James.

I knew it would not be an easy task. That you for considering it James.

I have discussed it with a few of my players that our RotRL group is almost perfect for 'raiding' on the higher level things, like possibly doing the City of Brass or trying to do some planar things.

I don't see a lack of talent here, I'm just surprised that there are not more high level modules written, even though there are more resources at everyone's disposal, there is plenty of great inspiration on these boards alone.

I'm still amazed that most groups cease play at 12-15. For us, a large group, that makes for a possible oddity. Then again, I don't 'like' doing the occasional TPK for or Total Party Jailed event, but I can only imagine the gnashing of teeth and irritation given to me or a DM that axes a group that has had characters go through a 365 cycle.

I don't see a lack of talent here, I'm just surprised that there are not more high level modules written...

Higher-level modules just don't sell as well as lower-level modules. And that's true whether they're part of a series or standalone.

Shem wrote:

I knew it would not be an easy task. That you for considering it James.

I have discussed it with a few of my players that our RotRL group is almost perfect for 'raiding' on the higher level things, like possibly doing the City of Brass or trying to do some planar things.

I see the City of Brass working better with Legacy of Fire. I think what I see for RotR is another Runelord raising their ugly head which could certainly go planer. Or maybe Azlant with the whole Atlantis - underwater adventuring thing and aboleths - now there is a good time.

There has been discussion of this on individual adventure paths in the different threads dedicated to those paths. There are a lot of good ideas there and I plan to expand on some for Crimson Throne.

We're not sure yet. The hope is to do an article like this for ALL of the Adventure Paths from Kingmaker on. A 6 or so page article that gives adventure seeds, plots, maybe even a few maps or stat blocks to help folks keep running the campaign after they finish the AP. Whether or not it takes you to 20th level depends on the wishes of your GM, but it should be enough to allow for that type of game if you want.

This is a great idea that makes most DMs happy, and gives them the choice if they want to extend there game past the Adventure

Lord Snow wrote:

the description text claims this is an adventure for 16th level PCs- is this true? is PF going high level?

Yes. I'm going to try my hardest to have Kingmaker go up to around 18th level or thereabouts. We did that with Rise of the Runelords, after all. And folks have been asking for higher level ones. I'll be curious to see how the sales numbers look for Kingmaker's last 3 installments, that's for sure!

Considering getting a kingdom at 4th level is a bit harsh.

At 7th barely getting a hang of it, 12th, now we start being good at this ruling stuff.. 16th-17th ow boy, now we seriously rule.. heheheh.. get out of our way, bandit warlords and trolls .. or be fried. Big time fried.

As that is the era of summon monster VII+, ie the teleporting kind. Teleport over there a few hundred miles away and ... ;) All from the safety of ones tower.
Routine re-lifing, vengeance storms to wipe out cities, simulcras... (a dozen pet dragons? no problem..), fighters ... well, now they make you blind and stunned. Routinely. Good luck surviving the next 3 rounds. And they have armies. Maybe their wizpal gave them a dragon to ride.. (strafe firebreath?)

Wow, 16th level, it's been awhile since an AP went that high. Or at least it feels that way.

Hey Vic,

Have you guys ever considered breaking the six month thing for the sake of experimentation? I.E. Two three part AP's that aren't full six month AP's but are much bigger than the adventure modules. You publish three for a high level campaign, maybe even set with threads that might lure parties in from Council of Thieves or Legacy of Fire (without being direct sequals) and then upon seeing how successful a three month AP might be push for a six month one. The other three part AP could be reserved for something else you guys might have wanted to experiment on without investing the resources of a full AP into the mix.

Just a thought, chances are it's come up and been pushed aside already :P but I figure that might prove a little more successful than say a high level 32 page adventure module or two seeing as those tend to be less in depth than the AP's.

DM Doom

Hey Vic,

Have you guys ever considered breaking the six month thing for the sake of experimentation? I.E. Two three part AP's that aren't full six month AP's but are much bigger than the adventure modules. You publish three for a high level campaign, maybe even set with threads that might lure parties in from Council of Thieves or Legacy of Fire (without being direct sequals) and then upon seeing how successful a three month AP might be push for a six month one. The other three part AP could be reserved for something else you guys might have wanted to experiment on without investing the resources of a full AP into the mix.

Just a thought, chances are it's come up and been pushed aside already :P but I figure that might prove a little more successful than say a high level 32 page adventure module or two seeing as those tend to be less in depth than the AP's.

DM Doom

Breaking the six month pattern would start to mess with the fact that we quite like launching APs at Gen Con. Going for LONGER than six months isn't really an option since we don't want to lock the product in to one AP for that long, and having more than three a year is too much—launching APs is tough.

We're pretty locked in at two per year at six months apiece as a result. Maybe by the time we get to AP 10 or 12 we'll be ready to start messing with the formula... but since the formula we have right now is working INCREDIBLY well, I'm hesitant to change much.

DM Doom wrote:

Hey Vic,

Have you guys ever considered breaking the six month thing for the sake of experimentation? I.E. Two three part AP's that aren't full six month AP's but are much bigger than the adventure modules. You publish three for a high level campaign, maybe even set with threads that might lure parties in from Council of Thieves or Legacy of Fire (without being direct sequals) and then upon seeing how successful a three month AP might be push for a six month one. The other three part AP could be reserved for something else you guys might have wanted to experiment on without investing the resources of a full AP into the mix.

Just a thought, chances are it's come up and been pushed aside already :P but I figure that might prove a little more successful than say a high level 32 page adventure module or two seeing as those tend to be less in depth than the AP's.

DM Doom

Breaking the six month pattern would start to mess with the fact that we quite like launching APs at Gen Con. Going for LONGER than six months isn't really an option since we don't want to lock the product in to one AP for that long, and having more than three a year is too much—launching APs is tough.

We're pretty locked in at two per year at six months apiece as a result. Maybe by the time we get to AP 10 or 12 we'll be ready to start messing with the formula... but since the formula we have right now is working INCREDIBLY well, I'm hesitant to change much.

Not that I would like to see the 6 month pattern change, but to play devils advocate. Well you still could do those things. at gencon launch a new 6 part AP, then when it is over do two 3 part mini AP's. Then by the time gencon rolls back around you are ready to start again. So it keeps the same pattern etc.

Anyways just playing devils advocate so to speak.

That was what I was kind of getting at. Nothing permanent by any means, but something experimental, two mini 3 part AP's so the pattern isn't disrupted. One experimenting with high level play and one experimenting with something else. Then, right back to six month AP's in time for Gen Con.

A lot of people seem to have expressed interest in High Level play, as that isn't a realm that Paizo has much experience in compared to the more popular low or mid levels it seems like it would be prudent to 'play around' with it before dedicating an entire 6 Month AP to such a thing. You put out a 16th level adventure mod not long before the PRPG came out but that's barely an ice-cream store sample taste. Perhaps a three part Adventure Module arc a'la Jason Bulhman's adventure modules.

The problem with that is, and I don't mean to insult any of the module writers out there, the modules tend to be of less quality and substance than AP's. That's only natural because AP's are the bread and butter and come loaded with support articles and products whereas the modules have to be contained within 32 pages. Not nearly enough for high or epic level adventures. I was just thinking a 3 part AP setup for High Level play followed by a 3 part AP set up for something else, might work to let you guys experiment a little without going 'all out' for six months. That way you can find out if those two experimental mini-AP's are a success or failure and go from there as far as a full blown AP goes.

I'm not a game designer or publisher or anything so I know it's not as simple as I wish it could be :P Who knows, maybe this will crop up again in a couple years.

Not that I would like to see the 6 month pattern change, but to play devils advocate. Well you still could do those things. at gencon launch a new 6 part AP, then when it is over do two 3 part mini AP's. Then by the time gencon rolls back around you are ready to start again. So it keeps the same pattern etc.

Adventure paths are more than the sum of their parts. AKA: It's a LOT more work to launch 2 3-part APs than 1 6 part one.

More than two APs a year would also mean more work than just diverting AP issues to a new path, but an additional player's guide and one additional map folio added to the Chronicles line that people are already complaining about. I don't see why the APs need to be changed. Modules seem a better way to tie three adventures together (as they've done with the Price of Immortality series) than doing half length APs.

Makes sense. Well, I'm sure whatever you guys end up doing to address people aching for higher level play will kick much ass regardless.

the wait......is.....un......bearab......le.......

I think the current AP schedule is just right. Though I , too, would like to see some larger modules (preferably site based adventures with big dungeons/cave systems/castles and kickass old school maps).

Ken

the wait......is.....un......bearab......le.......

...soon, heathy...soon...

"The Kingmaker Adventure Path draws to a close as the heroes face a foe eager to bring the full fury of this strange and violent realm into the world of Golarion."
I.....don't think I could play this one. See, I'd personally want to help the guy do this.

Cover updated!

Now that's a great cover!

Cover updated!

Description updated!

Ross Byers wrote:

Cover updated!

Description updated!

Excellent ... perhaps I can time the final session to occur on Halloween this year ...

Is anyone else disappointed? I was kindof looking forward to having an attractive female final boss. Not a plant-lady. Besides,

Is anyone else disappointed? I was kindof looking forward to having an attractive female final boss. Not a plant-lady.

I can see your point to an extent. However, it's worth mentioning that beauty is highly subjective; the fey ideal of beauty clearly isn't 100% in sync with that of humans. Also, I have no idea what a creature with an insanely high Charisma score is supposed to look like, in the same way that I couldn't fathom how a creature with an Intelligence score of 40 actually thinks.

That said... lol on the alien brussels sprout comparison.

Mmm... Alien Brussel Sprouts

Erik Freund wrote:

Is anyone else disappointed? I was kindof looking forward to having an attractive female final boss. Not a plant-lady.

I can see your point to an extent. However, it's worth mentioning that beauty is highly subjective; the fey ideal of beauty clearly isn't 100% in sync with that of humans.

True! In human terms she would have a Charisma of 3 or less.

*hrumph*

True! In human terms she would have a Charisma of 3 or less.

Ah, but Charisma and appearance are two different things in D&D. Gorgeous people can still be shallow bores, and even the homeliest folks can be beloved leaders.

GV is right. Cha and looks are not the same thing.

Hitler had a high charisma and was average to plain looking.
Rasputin had an extremely high Charisma and was considered plain to downright scary looking.

I don't see what's wrong with her.

(seriously, she looks beautiful and alien, like many fey should)

I don't see what's wrong with her.

(seriously, she looks beautiful and alien, like many fey should)

Nothing´s wrong with her. I like her alien look either. A perfect-looking blonde super nymph would´ve been boring. After all she has to be the villain of the story.

My Beloved Spouse (Kobold Chorus: "We love you!") sent me a link to the cover of this fine tome. My reactions were as follows:

1) Cool. Nice green chick and menacing dragon.
2) Meep! Dragon.
3) HOLY MOTHER OF *expletive deleted* IT'S PETT!!!! RUN!!!!!!!

Needless to say, Mister Pett left an impression on me in times of yore. I feel my heart starting to race at the mere mention of his name.

I was just really starting to like those characters too....

Something I just noticed. Anyone else getting a distinct Star Wars: A New Hope homage vibe off this title? "Its as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

Something I just noticed. Anyone else getting a distinct Star Wars: A New Hope homage vibe off this title? "Its as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

I'm getting that vibe off of the whole AP ... but especially the sixth installment.

Then again, I rather enjoy the concept of a campaign concluding on the " ... something terrible has happened ... " vibe.

Hrm ... " We must be cautious " are words of wisdom in any campaign. ^_^

DMcCoy1693 wrote:

Something I just noticed. Anyone else getting a distinct Star Wars: A New Hope homage vibe off this title? "Its as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

I'm getting that vibe off of the whole AP ... but especially the sixth installment.

Then again, I rather enjoy the concept of a campaign concluding on the " ... something terrible has happened ... " vibe.

Hrm ... " We must be cautious " are words of wisdom in any campaign. ^_^

That's probably an accidental homage. I'm not a big fan of Star Wars, and I regularly don't catch Star Wars innuendos or easter eggs as a result. And since I named "Sound of a Thousand Screams" (because it's a play on the name of the forest, Thousand Voices, which plays a key role in the latter AP installments) and developed the adventure, I can confirm that any Star Wars easter eggs are more or less accidental.

I have a bad feeling about this.

"That's no Moon, that's a owlbear."
"But it's to big to be a owlbear."

I have a bad feeling about this.

You always have a bad feeling about this stuff, Spanky. We ain't died yet...

Turin the Mad wrote:

DMcCoy1693 wrote:

Something I just noticed. Anyone else getting a distinct Star Wars: A New Hope homage vibe off this title? "Its as if millions of voices cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened."

I'm getting that vibe off of the whole AP ... but especially the sixth installment.

Then again, I rather enjoy the concept of a campaign concluding on the " ... something terrible has happened ... " vibe.

Hrm ... " We must be cautious " are words of wisdom in any campaign. ^_^

That's probably an accidental homage. I'm not a big fan of Star Wars, and I regularly don't catch Star Wars innuendos or easter eggs as a result. And since I named "Sound of a Thousand Screams" (because it's a play on the name of the forest, Thousand Voices, which plays a key role in the latter AP installments) and developed the adventure, I can confirm that any Star Wars easter eggs are more or less accidental.

In this case, any "Easter eggs" are not a source of concern. Getting the sense of dread implied by the dialog from the merest mention of an adventure and that adventure's author is a Very Good Thing.

....help me Logueywan Nikobi.....you're my only hope...

....help me Logueywan Nikobi.....you're my only hope...

Hey, handmaidens aren't supposed to send holograms!

Get back on the ship!

So we'll finally get the straight dope on the Golarion fey in this book? 'Bout time, given all the horrid and stomach-churning hints we've been getting ever since 'Bloodsworn Vale' and 'Carnival of Fear'. Yay for Paizo, for finally giving RPG fantasy fey the brutally evil nature they so long deserved!

So we'll finally get the straight dope on the Golarion fey in this book? 'Bout time, given all the horrid and stomach-churning hints we've been getting ever since 'Bloodsworn Vale' and 'Carnival of Fear'. Yay for Paizo, for finally giving RPG fantasy fey the brutally evil nature they so long deserved!

Calling all fey "Brutally evil" is like calling all humans "warmongering savages." There are certainly SOME fey that are evil, but not all of them. Not even all of the First World fey are evil; there's some that are good, and most of them are neutral.

Eric Hinkle wrote:

So we'll finally get the straight dope on the Golarion fey in this book? 'Bout time, given all the horrid and stomach-churning hints we've been getting ever since 'Bloodsworn Vale' and 'Carnival of Fear'. Yay for Paizo, for finally giving RPG fantasy fey the brutally evil nature they so long deserved!

Calling all fey "Brutally evil" is like calling all humans "warmongering savages." There are certainly SOME fey that are evil, but not all of them. Not even all of the First World fey are evil; there's some that are good, and most of them are neutral.

Yes ... but players want to kick the boo-tocks of those critters that are brutally evil in nature. And of course, take their stuff and make trophies out of the corpses and ... :)

I´m looking forward to see what the First World is all about. The only things we know about it are: a) that´s where the Gnomes come from and b) good, bad and neutral fey live there - and at least another BIG bad creature I won´t name here.

It was hard to foreshadow events involving Nyrissa when you know as much about the First World and the fey in Golarion as your players. ;) But that´ll be over soon.

Got my "next week" mail today. Hooray!

:)

Spanky the Leprechaun wrote:

I have a bad feeling about this.

You always have a bad feeling about this stuff, Spanky. We ain't died yet...

Well, Jim did, but he got better...

Well, I got billed for this AND the next AP book after it yesterday... when will I see both/get my PDFs? (I'm a new subscriber... don't know how it works yet!) ;)

ABCoLD wrote:
"Well, I got billed for this AND the next AP book after it yesterday... when will I see both/get my PDFs? (I'm a new subscriber... don't know how it works yet!) ;)"

Welcome to the Club!!
I also had this happen to me. This is unusual, as I have only been billed for one at a time before and as soon as Paizo takes the money the PDFs are usually available- Anyone else have a similar issue this time?

It's a pre-authorization - it doesn't actually bill your account, it just pops up to let you know that this and that amount of $ is going to vanish next week when Paizo ships the stuff.