
Fire Mountain Games |

EZ,
Wow. Really. I don't know what else to say. I am so glad you enjoyed "Call Forth Darkness" and humbled by all the nice things you had to say about it. Oh, and yes, we can get you a map of Farholde without numbers on it.
Thanks for taking the time to review my book.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to run off and try and convince the entire internet to read your review.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

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What book would be more appropriate to be my 666th review here on Paizo?
Reviewed here, on DTRPG, posted about it on Lou Agresta's RPGaggression and sent it to GMS magazine.
Respect and reverence - this one was simply awesome!
EZ, if this was so good it can't be bested, brace for impact when Tears of the Blessed comes knocking at your door.
It's all kinds of awesome.

Endzeitgeist |

EZ, if this was so good it can't be bested, brace for impact when Tears of the Blessed comes knocking at your door.
It's all kinds of awesome.
As soon as the print copy is at my door, I'll gibber with glee. And I think it can be bested - there are some typos and a key-less map as well as a printer-friendly version would be nice. What made me enjoy this one so much was the fact that it does something NEW. I read so many adventures, it's hard to get excited anymore and this did the trick. I really hope "Tears of the Blessed" can stand up to it!
Wow. Really. I don't know what else to say. I am so glad you enjoyed "Call Forth Darkness" and humbled by all the nice things you had to say about it. Oh, and yes, we can get you a map of Farholde without numbers on it.
No pressure, though. ;) I'd really appreciate a key-less map - numbers, secret doors etc. detract from player-immersion and I try to avoid them as much as possible.
Thanks for taking the time to review my book.
Thank you for being as innovative as you've been with this one. I wasn't kidding when I wrote that this module brought so much joy to me.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to run off and try and convince the entire internet to read your review.
I already posted it where I usually do - feel free to link etc. to it. :)

Fire Mountain Games |
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Luca,
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for continuing to support our books.
Today, I statted up Chargammon the Black. My advice ... when you meet him, be polite.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

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Luca,
Thanks for the kind words and thanks for continuing to support our books.
Today, I statted up Chargammon the Black. My advice ... when you meet him, be polite.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
So basically don't have Grumblejack or the barbarian be the diplomacers with this guy. Gotcha.

Fire Mountain Games |

I would recommend against Grumblejack being your parties "face", yes.
But then, you already knew that didn't you?
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

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1 person marked this as a favorite. |

I would recommend against Grumblejack being your parties "face", yes.
But then, you already knew that didn't you?
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
Considering there was the potential of never getting him, or him never joining your party, yes. However, considering what PCs I have in my group, Grumblejack might actually qualify. He does have a 10 Int afterall.

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Don't know if this was brought up yet and already hit the errata (in which case I need to download a newer version) but it's about Grumblejack's option scenario.
DEFENSE
AC 24, touch 9, flat-footed 24 (+9 armor, +6 natural, –1 size)
hp 48 (4d8+d10+25)
Should be 4d8+1d10+20+5+1
Or did you give him a favored class bonus in skill points?
Also, why are his combat stats automatically with Power Attack? I actually prefer to add it in later. Since he's 5 HD, I'm guessing it's -2 for +4 damage?
Finally, if he's using his greatsword, can't he also still use his bite for -5 attack?

Fire Mountain Games |

Kevin,
Oops. I missed your two last posts from last week.
First, thanks for the errata. Just use the normal hawk familiar stats.
Second, for creatures whose power attack is clearly their optimal choice, we tend to figure the power attack as their primary attack. Of course, you can always take away the modifiers. I don't remember Grumblejack's hit point totals off the top of my head, but I've noted your errata and will add it to the queue for the big errata update that's coming later this month.
And thanks for supporting "Way of the Wicked"!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

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Kevin,
Oops. I missed your two last posts from last week.
First, thanks for the errata. Just use the normal hawk familiar stats.
Second, for creatures whose power attack is clearly their optimal choice, we tend to figure the power attack as their primary attack. Of course, you can always take away the modifiers. I don't remember Grumblejack's hit point totals off the top of my head, but I've noted your errata and will add it to the queue for the big errata update that's coming later this month.
And thanks for supporting "Way of the Wicked"!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
No problem. Loving the campaign, and am really hyped to run this at the convention on the 1st.
As for the hawk, I won't be able to just use the normal stats. If the hawk is a familiar, then it's the standard build plus natural armor bonus, higher Int (meaning possibly more skill ranks), and special abilities.

John Malueg |
Greetings to the Book 2 forums. Finished book 1 just recently with my group, it was a resounding success. On to Call Forth the Darkness:
Session two consisted of exploring the lower caves, managing to sneak around the boggard camp until finding Dagon's temple. Enlisting the aid of the oracle, they proceded to the boggard village, where the half-orc fighter challenged the boggard chieftan for leadership of the tribe. It was a brutal fight, and if not for the half-orc's feats and magic armor, he would not have made it. Securing the boggard village, the PC's set about thoroughly searching the caves, eventually finding the Horseman's Last Redoubt (and getting the items in it drug out by the witch's fiendish raven) and finding the spiral staircase. Ascending it (and ignoring helpful hints that there may be other ways up), they came face to face with Hexor and Vexor, and managed to talk their way past, ascending to the Sanctum. Which is where they faced off against the lightning elemental, which had them panicking a bit, but a lucky spell (Ear Piercing Scream) by the witch saved the day (ie - dazed the elemental). Will keep you posted on how the clearing and holding of the Horn goes.

Eric Hinkle |

Mister McBride, I've just thought of this question. Now, in the Horn (and outside it to some extent), there are several encounters which can be settled by recruiting some monstrosity or tricking it. The suggestion you gave is that they should get the XP reward they would have gotten if they'd killed it if they recruit or outwit them.
If you later end up fighting these monsters

Fire Mountain Games |
4 people marked this as a favorite. |

Eric,
I agree the text of the adventure is not particularly clear about how to handle this. Here's how I would do this...
Any creature you know is going to betray the PCs, award only half their XP when they are converted. Award the other half when the PCs defeat them. Any NPC who is converted and intends to remain loyal, the PCs get full XP. If the PCs ever attack that NPC, they get no XP. The battle was completely unnecessary and thus merits no reward.
You might want to keep this information concealed from the PCs so that they don't start to use this as meta-game information.
IF the PCs fight a particularly hard-fought battle and maybe they're a little short of XP (that you would otherwise have to make up with random encounters) then you might award full XP.
Honestly, for myself, the way I handle this is to award levels based on milestones instead of running XP totals.
They become level 2 when the PCs make it to the manor house (Book One)
They become level 3 when they complete Thorn's training
They become level 4 when they arrive safely in Aldencross
They become level 5 when they're about half way through infiltrating Balentyne (perhaps upon killing some major NPC)
They become level 6 when Balentyne burns
They become level 7 when they take control of the Horn (Book Two)
They become level 8 when they complete the second sacrifice (half way!)
They become level 9 when they complete the thirty one weeks
They become level 10 when they claim the daemon's gift
They become level 11 when they win the battle of Saintsbridge (Book Three)
They become level 12 when they extinguish the second fire
They become level 13 when Ara Mathra is slain and the third fire extinquished
It's a lot simpler to keep track of. But I realize this is unsatisfying for some.
Hope that helps,
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The Horn is secure(ish)!

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Thanks for the insight Gary. I was using a different method (bonus goal accomplishing XP) for each point that you brought up. This was mostly because my PCs took a couple of level adjustments to make themselves a bit better than the average PC and I didn't want them to be too far behind what the modules actually wanted them to be. I made to make note of what was written though. It'll make giving the XP away easier if I know the precise moment they should get it.

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
I love the using the oozes not just as a foe but as part of the security system of the Horn. Go PCs!
Tell me, have they figured out Halthus' ahem...role in the ritual yet?
Anyways, keep up the reports. Sounds awesome!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
Very cool. Halthus the Flayer sounds like a natural candidate for a cohort in your campaign.
Anyways, as always, I appreciate all the updates.
Game on!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

Lomky |

So we're revving up to begin Book 2. Stupid real life looks like it's delaying us until mid-June. Boo!
Thank you for making the Evil Organization mechanics section player-friendly! At least two of my party love pouring over and tweaking rule sets. This will make them really happy! Now to figure out how to edit the PDF and remove the GM-only paragraph.
Also: Hurray more Grumblejack! My party adores him. He was their first minion, after all. What's that phrase about never forgetting your first... ?
Oh right: You never forget your first Doctor.

Fire Mountain Games |

Lomky,
Glad you're enjoying "Way of the Wicked" and the evil organization mechanics.
And there will definitely be more Grumblejack. If you're going to be at PaizoCon be sure to check out MinionQuest. Grumblejack features prominently in that game.
Anyways, game on!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |
Gameplay update:
First order of business was to deal with Jurak the Elder, whom they had bamboozled on their first couple of encounters into believing they were servants of Mitra come to inspect the Seal. Using this lie to allow them to get close to Jurak, they quite literally burned Jurak to ash in about 3 rounds, counting the surprise round. Then it was back to Farholde gather some supplies and make contact with the Baron. During this time, they took great pains to keep their trip secret, except for the bit where the half-orc fighter and half-elf rogue stayed the night at a brothel on the bad part of town, where they bumped into Trik, who was surprised to see them there, as they were clearly not following through on their mission. Of course, later in the night, none of the PC's noticed any clues as to what activities Trik would have been up to at a brothel.
Returning back to the Horn, they came across the lillend and her consorts. The lillen was subdued during most of the fight (ear-splitting scream spell, again), which allowed the flame oracle and witch to blast away with lightning bolts and fire balls (those familiar with the stats on the lillend will have a good idea how effective that was). After 6 rounds of combat, the PC's managed to slay all of the consorts, with two still alive for questioning. The lillend managed to get away at the last second. And finally they started the ritual (they let the monk do it, since he braved the meditation chamber and is obsessed with killing people). They also collectively shat themselves when the Horn lit up, it was great. Looking forward to starting week one and the evil council!

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
Another very cool update.
And by the way the phrase "collectively shat themselves when the Horn lit up" gave me a good long diabolical laugh this morning.
Thanks for the updates and keep 'em coming!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

Douglas Muir 406 |
Apropos of one thing from your report...
The lillend managed to get away at the last second.
boom - recurring enemy.
Gary provides for it in the module, and IMO quite rightly so. That should be one big difference playing the evil side -- good guys, being good, keep coming back and trying to foil your evil plans. And because they're good, they work together better than you do. The lillend should not only show up, but should get a shot at becoming a recurring PITA if the PCs don't go after her with extreme prejudice next time she shows.
cheers,
Doug M.

Fire Mountain Games |

And remember one thing...
Thanks to her working with the Prince of the Moon, this Calliaste Shanda is a shapechanger. She can take on an elven form and visit Farholde and find allies.
She really is a perfect recurring "good guy".
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |
First, in reply to the other posts:
And now a play update:

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
Another very cool play report! Thanks for posting, John.
Artephius is online! That's great to hear. Hopefully, he'll get to rip apart at least one minion.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

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Thought I'd share my table-top groups exploits in book two. Just the highlights.
So they managed to get in, and when they met with Zikomo, our inquisitor's first action, surprise round and everything, shoots him and crits. Zikomo's lying there, bleeding to death. It comes down to a misunderstanding, and we work it out that he's stabilized and revived, with a few diplomacy checks and whatnot. Plus the vision juice as part of the 'hallucination'.
Later on they meet Halthus. I gave him some good personality, focusing on the sadist aspect with a touch of masochist. They ended up torturing him abit, where I just had him give them pointers on how to do the job, including when they broke his legs and he explained how to do it better. They kinda don't want to kill him, but they don't trust him. Especially since they easily made the check to know he's kind of lying to them about being faithful.
Hexor and Vexor. O-M-G! Only three of our five party members were there (the other two had other obligations), so they were abit short. Our party was an Inquisitor, Anti-Paladin, and Bone Oracle. First off, the personality I gave them was based on the Looney Tunes Goofy Gophers, only a touch more sadistic. They loved every minute of it. I had them playing chess when they came in, and making the perception roll, worked into it how best to "Deal with the pawns climbing the stairs". So combat started, and it was one-sided from the beginning. The PCs failed their Knowledge (Planes) roll, had no idea what to do to hurt them. Then the Bone Oracle fails his save on Hold Monster, and the next two rounds as well (shouldn't dump stat wisdom, lol). In the end Hexor was down to half when they ran. To avoid a TPK, I added in to their personality a tad more sadism, the two Daemons letting them run because they wanted a rematch.
So they ended up going back to town, researching them, purchased a Resist Energy wand, and buffed for round 2. That fight was a tad more in their side of the ballpark. The best part was when the PCs told me they didnt' really want to kill them, they liked the two. I can't wait for them to come back, since now they actually have the control amulets.
Oh, the Verderous oozes. PCs get ready for a great combat. All five were there for it. Door's opened, party's ready, they lure the oozes to them. Sleep aura, four of the five PCs fail their saves. Door is immediately shut on that one.
Just a few highlights. Gotta say they love it! Awesome AP, can't wait to see more.

Fire Mountain Games |

Xzaral,
Very cool. I love what you did with the daemons Hexor and Vexor in particular.
Thanks for the highlights and I'm glad you and your players are enjoying "Way of the Wicked"
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |
Update

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
Your updates continue to be excellent.
Bethaniel, Darus Dandra and Calliaste all united, eh? That's a hell of a raiding party. Wow, are your villains in for some trouble. Be sure to keep us updated!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |
Another update

Fire Mountain Games |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

John,
Another cool update. And Grumblejack racks up a fairly impressive kill!
Grollub,
Once MinionQuest is finished and playtested (i.e. its been run at a con or two), yes, we will release it. Somehow. Someway.
It is going to be a humorous, one-session interlude you can run in Farholde while running "Way of the Wicked". Its includes a chance to gain your PCs' evil organization a minor boon.
More details will be provided as they become available.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

Grollub |

John,
Another cool update. And Grumblejack racks up a fairly impressive kill!
Grollub,
Once MinionQuest is finished and playtested (i.e. its been run at a con or two), yes, we will release it. Somehow. Someway.
It is going to be a humorous, one-session interlude you can run in Farholde while running "Way of the Wicked". Its includes a chance to gain your PCs' evil organization a minor boon.
More details will be provided as they become available.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games
'
awesome... thank you sir... I'd hate to miss out on the fun ))

John Malueg |
Been a while since a play update!

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
Another great update! Thomas the Penitent on the loose. Hah! Sounds like you have a recurrent "villain" in the making.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
Wow. Thanks for keeping up with the updates.
Joint lillend/moon dog strike. Ouch! I hope your PCs have created a truly deadly dungeon to greet them.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

Fire Mountain Games |

Eleclipse,
"Call Forth Darkness" works fine as a stand alone adventure, however, there are references to Book One that you will not understand without the first book.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

eleclipse |

Thanks for the answer!
I'm not (yet) interested in the adventure, i'm actually running an evil campaign and i wanted the party to start running a dungeon and i'm looking for a system that could work "stand alone" so i was wondering if all the "dungeon system" was in this book or it evolved in the other with the increase of level of the AP
I was worried about also becouse my party is already 12 lvl

Fire Mountain Games |

Eleclipse,
The minion management subsystem is designed for 1-20 level play. The design of the dungeon and the seven months of events are easily convertible to 12th level play by only buffing up the monsters and NPCs ("Call Forth Darkness" is a 6th-10th level adventure).
Regardless, thanks for your interest in "Way of the Wicked". If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them.
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games

John Malueg |
John Malueg wrote:Been a while since a play update!
** spoiler omitted **Question
** spoiler omitted **

Fire Mountain Games |

John,
That your PCs are kidnapping villagers to sate the bloodlust of their out-of-control murderous alchemical golem rather than trying to fix the automaton tells me your players have fully embraced their villainous role. They truly follow the Way of the Wicked.
It also almost made me spit tea out my nose.
Great stuff!
Gary McBride
Fire Mountain Games