Looks really good, and I liked the preview. However, I really don't like PDFs so unless, and until, a print version comes out I most likely won't be buying it. :/
A print version, however, definitely would buy.
Looks really good, and I liked the preview. However, I really don't like PDFs so unless, and until, a print version comes out I most likely won't be buying it. :/
A print version, however, definitely would buy.
Thanks for your interest and thanks for your kind words.
Suffice to say that for now that we are focused on PDF sales but considering print options. I will be sure to let you know when a print option becomes available.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
The only thing I can really add is : 100% do the printer friendly version. It will save ink and be easier to read from a b&w printer. Other than that..keep up the good work. I look forward to what higher level G vs E battles entail
Gary,
When can I plunk down the cash for a subscription? I purchased the first one and since the rest are coming down the pipe I don't mind paying up front for this. What do ya say?? :D
Dot
I suppose rape, prostitution and necrophilia would be more in the chaotic alley.
In this AP, if my PC dies, can he/she/it comes back as a ghost?
In this AP, if my PC dies, can he/she/it comes back as a ghost?
If you're asking if this AP is specifically designed for ghost characters, the answer is "not especially".
If you asking if in this AP it would be appropriate for your slain villain to rise as a spirit of vengeance (with your GM's approval of course), then the answer is an emphatic yes!
Hope that helps,
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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Here's a question for Gary. This is a pretty meaty adventure -- lots of stuff happens, and it's 100 pages long. But was there anything that got left on the cutting room floor?
Doug M.
Yes. The most significant cut by far was...
It was cut not only because of space but also because it makes the Fire-Axe seem like a wimp. Really, Sakkarot Fire-Axe can't deal with a few rebellious underlings? What's that axe made of hellfire for anyway?
This plot also slows down your arrival at Balentyne, the real meat of the adventure. So, it was cut to give you more time for murder.
The only surviving bit of that side quest that made it in to the book is the stat block for the Naatanuk that survives in the Talingarde Gazetteer. The awakened dire polar bears of the savage north were simply too cool to entirely ditch. One of the rebellious leaders was a naatanuk druid.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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It's amazing so far. I'm planning to run this as a one-shot very soon. Any suggestions for doing so beyond the sidebar, Gary? Any suggestions for fleshing it out and making it meatier for a limited campaign (like the spoilered bit, up above?)
Also, I noticed the file was just errata'd. What changed?
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It's amazing so far. I'm planning to run this as a one-shot very soon. Any suggestions for doing so beyond the sidebar, Gary? Any suggestions for fleshing it out and making it meatier for a limited campaign (like the spoilered bit, up above?)
Also, I noticed the file was just errata'd. What changed?
Glad you like it. Thanks for the kind words!
I'm glad to hear your thinking about running it. The errata is mostly any typos we've caught so far. There was one block copy error in Father Donnagin's stat block that has been resolved as well.
And a printer friendly version is now available.
As far as expansion goes...
The journey in Act 3 could easily have a few more events added to it. Of course, if you prematurely level up the PCs, some of the challenges in Act 4 may need to be adjusted.
And just brainstorming here...
Give the PCs a LG inquisitor of Mitra nemesis who immediately shows up after their escape. He turns up at the manor during their respite doing a house to house sweep and Thorn, to test their ability to deceive, sends the PC to the door (magically disguised of course) to lie to the inquisitor.
The inquisitor then happens to catch sight of the Frosthamar and begins to actively hunt the PC's ship. He is on their heels all the way to Fire-axe's camp.
Perhaps somewhere along the way, they can arrange an ambush to deal with their pursuer once and for all.
Hope that helps!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Just wanna say, I have been waiting for a good way to run an Evil Campaign, and this looks absolutely great. Fantastic!
Thanks! More is on the way.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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Got a quick question, Gary. As soon as I announced to my players that I was running this, two of them immediately made fire resistant characters because tieflings are usually evil. Any idea how I can get past that so they can get effectively branded while in prison?
"Painful attempt after painful with the branding iron failed to mark their hell-tainted skin. Finally the inquisitor arose impatiently. 'I have seen this sort of corruption before. Bring ink and needle.' It took the rough-handed guards almost an hour to make your mark. By the time they were done, the brand seemed almost a kindness."
Hope that helps.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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One quick question. I was planning on running this in Golarian, and I was planning on replacing Mitra with another god from that pantheon, possibly Sarenrae.
Will changing the god Mitra mess up the story horribly, or be a smooth transition. And what would you suggest from the Golarian pantheon, if you have a preference.
Replacing Mitra will not mess up the story at all.
I would recommend Iomedea or Sarenrae. All the clerics/paladins/oracles/etc... you get to fight throughout the course of the campaign (and there are a lot of them) would work fine as devotees of either of those gods.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
I've skimmed the preview, and I'm thinking this looks like a very cool adventure (ah, but if only I had the time to add it to my current gaming schedule). If I do get to run it at some point, I'd probably reskin Talingarde slightly (to strengthen ties to Golarion) as either an island colony of Cheliax that broke off when House Thrune took over and has held out (until now...) or a Taldan colony someplace. And, of course, swap out Mitra for Sarenrae.
Reaper Miniatures
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Got a quick question, Gary. As soon as I announced to my players that I was running this, two of them immediately made fire resistant characters because tieflings are usually evil. Any idea how I can get past that so they can get effectively branded while in prison?"Painful attempt after painful with the branding iron failed to mark their hell-tainted skin. Finally the inquisitor arose impatiently. 'I have seen this sort of corruption before. Bring ink and needle.' It took the rough-handed guards almost an hour to make your mark. By the time they were done, the brand seemed almost a kindness."
Hope that helps.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
My immediate first thought was that for fire resistant races, such as Tieflings, they'd burn the flesh with acid. Acid drizzled over their forearms via glass tube, carefully tracing the lines while guards help the helpless man down, in a ritual far longer and more painful than the branding - although, yes, tattooing would be even longer.
Heck, you could even have the tieflings suffer temporary CON damage as a result of the ordeal, since it would be a lengthy, brutal experience.
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Mythic Fox,
If I was going to run this campaign in Golarion I would put it just off the western edge of the big map that came with the Campaign Setting hardcover in the Steaming Sea. That helps to explain why the Frosthamar and its captain are so obviously from the Land of the Linnorm Kings.
The Talireans themselves are a long forgotten and largely isolated colony from Cheliax who have managed to thrown off the worship of Asmodeus in the last eighty years and reverted entire to the worship of Sarenrae (or perhaps Iomedae).
One of the PCs might be the last member of a recently exterminated chapter of the Hellknights who clung to revering Asmodeus.
The Yutak are of course just a tribe of the Varki.
Other than that, you are set. The entire adventure path takes place on isle of Talingarde so you can include further Golarion "color" as you will or not at all.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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Got a quick question, Gary. As soon as I announced to my players that I was running this, two of them immediately made fire resistant characters because tieflings are usually evil. Any idea how I can get past that so they can get effectively branded while in prison?"Painful attempt after painful with the branding iron failed to mark their hell-tainted skin. Finally the inquisitor arose impatiently. 'I have seen this sort of corruption before. Bring ink and needle.' It took the rough-handed guards almost an hour to make your mark. By the time they were done, the brand seemed almost a kindness."
Hope that helps.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain GamesMy immediate first thought was that for fire resistant races, such as Tieflings, they'd burn the flesh with acid. Acid drizzled over their forearms via glass tube, carefully tracing the lines while guards help the helpless man down, in a ritual far longer and more painful than the branding - although, yes, tattooing would be even longer.
Heck, you could even have the tieflings suffer temporary CON damage as a result of the ordeal, since it would be a lengthy, brutal experience.
I'm sure I saw something somewhere regarding torture and how much damage it does to you that was Pathfinder related.
Thanks, Gary. The tattooing would work for the succubus, and the tiefling can have acid, thanks to Bryan Stiltz's idea.
Yeah, that's about where I was thinking I'd put Talingarde if I got the chance to run this.
Yeah, that's about where I was thinking I'd put Talingarde if I got the chance to run this.
Glad to be of service. If you do run this, be sure to let us know how it goes!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Doug,
I like the bit about the Cardinal...
It would start foreshadowing early that there is something very wrong with the Cardinal and he is not what he seems.
If the PCs are clever, they can learn at the end of Book One that Cardinal Thorn is Samuel Havelyn (via the family bible).
More information will be appearing throughout the path.
And of course by the fifth book, we will get Thorn's full statblock and the PCs will learn his full story.
Then they kill him and take his stuff.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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I've just got the first adventure, and read over what wasn't in the original preview, and I've got a couple of questions that I know someone else asked, but I can't seem to find in the first module. All of them having to do with Mitra. I know he's a sun god, but what are his domains (obviously Sun's one of them), and favored weapon? Does he have a particular portfolio? Are all holy symbols that large star style that the PCs see in the adventure, or only the highest ranking ones?
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kevin_video,
First and foremost, thanks for buying the adventure.
Now to your questions. Mitra is not given a full writeup in Book One; there will be a 2-4 page article on him in Book Three: Tears of the Blessed.
But as an interim measure...
Yes, Mitra's holy symbol is a golden sunburst If you look on page 78 of Knot of Thorns, the Heraldry of Talingarde -- that sunburst is the symbol of Mitra.
King Markadian I's original heraldry had a blue sunburst (the blue remains on the background) and so blue has become the national color of Talingarde. That is why so many silver holy symbols have sapphires mounted within them. Of course more common devotees of the Shining Lord often have less ostentatious symbols, and plain silver and even wood are not uncommon.
Mitra the Shining Lord LG
Portfolios: the Sun, Justice, Honor, Charity, Valor
Domains: Glory, Good, Law, Sun, Nobility
Preferred Weapon: Longsword
In short, Mitra is as tooth-achingly benevolent deity as you are likely to meet. He has to go. Asmodeus commands it.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to post them here.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Our fourth 5-star review is available on DrivethruRPG.net. Check it out!
Also, our website is updated with additional preview art from Book Two: Call Forth Darkness.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Alzrius,
Thanks for the heads up.
I actually have not forgotten the sub-domains. Like I said, there will be a full article in Book Three: Tears of the Blessed (due out in April!). Above was just an interim, quickly posted stop gap.
Right now, I'm thinking: Archon, Day, Heroism, Honor, Leadership, Light
There are a couple on that list that I'm not entirely satisfied with. Maybe the article will introduce a new subdomain or two?
Hmmm...we'll see.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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Gary, this is a minor issue, but I wanted to bring it up.
Typically (for gods posted by Paizo), a full god (as opposed to a demon lord or demigod) has six domains, and five sub-domains (from the APG; please don't forget the sub-domains!).
Actually, you've got those numbers crossed - five domains, six subdomains.
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Go there right now to see new preview art from the talent Michael Clarke including the terrifying greater guardian daemon.
Guardian daemons will be appearing in Book Two of "Way of the Wicked: Call Forth Darkness" available in february.
Sure, you can just kill them. But it wouldn't it be more fun to become their master?
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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Like us on Facebook!
Go there right now to see new preview art from the talent Michael Clarke including the terrifying greater guardian daemon.
Guardian daemons will be appearing in Book Two of "Way of the Wicked: Call Forth Darkness" available in february.
Sure, you can just kill them. But it wouldn't it be more fun to become their master?
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
That has to be one of the craziest things I've ever seen. I totally want one. You guys need to either make a mini, or a printable paper mini for that because I don't think I have a mini that does that thing justice.
Doug,
That is all awesome stuff. I especially like the bit about foreshadowing the wyrm Chargammon. He gets some foreshadowing in book two, but setting it up even earlier is alway great.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
That has to be one of the craziest things I've ever seen. I totally want one. You guys need to either make a mini, or a printable paper mini for that because I don't think I have a mini that does that thing justice.
We are not actually in the mini-making business. I'll note we took the description for the greater ceustodaemon straight out of Paizo's Bestiary 2. However to the best of my knowledge this is the first time anyone actually illustrated one. Maybe if your lucky someday Reaper will make one.
Paper minis...hmmm...we might actually do that. Is a paper mini pdf for the NPCs and unusual monsters something you would be willing to pay for?
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
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Paper minis...hmmm...we might actually do that. Is a paper mini pdf for the NPCs and unusual monsters something you would be willing to pay for?
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Possibly. I was thinking more that with each module you might have one or two paper minis with the printable version of it. And by that, I mean like the BBEG ones, or the super rare monster ones. There's lots of paper minis out there, and Paizo usually releases a few here and there for books, but I thought ones more specific to you guys.
Possibly. I was thinking more that with each module you might have one or two paper minis with the printable version of it. And by that, I mean like the BBEG ones, or the super rare monster ones. There's lots of paper minis out there, and Paizo usually releases a few here and there for books, but I thought ones more specific to you guys.
Right now, let me just say we are considering it.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Game
Gary, as you're aware I'm running this as a PbP with a group of six here on this very site. As someone who DM's both Society games and now this, I use a program called Bluebeam in order to move images of avatars around.
Would there be a chance of either a 'map pack' release on 5' by 5' grid or something similar?
Thanks in advance,
John.
Nostrus,
First, thanks for running an online game using "Way of the Wicked". I've been reading and it is very exciting to see the adventure play out in the hands of someone else.
Second, yes a map pack is likely. But I'm not yet prepared to say when or to definitely confirm it. We are a small company and right now all our resources are focused to finishing the "Way of the Wicked" adventure path and making it the best product it can be.
On a side note, isn't the cartography wonderful? Those are all the work of our artist/layout guru/cartographer Michael Clarke.
If you think the watch tower of Balentyne is a great map, wait till you see the two-page spread that is the Horn of Abaddon.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Yes, the cartography is awesome. Just the 10' grid throwing me ;)
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1) I'd give him some staff -- if nothing else, at least a clerk who handles money and administrative details. The clerk may just be an Expert with max ranks in Profession (Accountant) or some such; he's a fussy, meticulous little man with a pencil-thin mustache. He may not even be evil -- more like an obsessive LN. Perhaps he lost his job (in the Church, at the royal court) for being excessively rigid, and Cardinal Thorn picked him up as an incredibly useful assistant.
He's basically wallpaper, there to (a) convey that the Cardinal Has People For That, and (b) to provide the occasional bit of annoyance/comic relief. "You broke /down/ the secret door in Room Five? Do you have any idea how much those cost to replace?"
Absolutely. And his name should be Jarvis. I think him being a half-goblin would make it more fun. Or better yet, a swift as shadow gnome. Be like that butler from Mr. Deeds. Just appears out of nowhere to scare the crap out of you before he rants.
Just want to say: I've read the preview, and I am incredibly interested in this.
I have "played" in an evil party; it lasted one session, ending with everyone agitated at each other. I have seen evil party members in good/neutral groups - usually the evil guy slips up once (once, it was literally because he pocketed a "side-info" letter off a dead guy) and everyone uses that as an excuse to outcast the character.
I've always known it was a common goal that would be the key in fixing this, and the concept here seems to have handled that quite nicely.
That being said... I have been trying to get my group to pick this up, but it's unlikely for a while. We have a main campaign that we are probably around 3/5ths or 3/4ths the way through, and we've been at it for over a year. We're probably looking at another few months, so it won't be at least until then that we start something else.
Vendis,
Thanks for reading the preview! And I'm glad you are interested.
If you decide to run a "Way of the Wicked" campaign, please post about it here or at least post a link. I for one would love to hear how your campaign is going.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games