Pathfinder Adventure Path #109: In Search of Sanity (Strange Aeons 1 of 6) (PFRPG)

magnuskn wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

magnuskn wrote:

Looking forward this. I hope that later in the AP any sanity mechanic will have Will saves appropiate to the level of the characters. That was kind of a problem in Wake of the Watcher, where the Will saves seemed way to low for the character level and I had to raise them substantially to even threaten the player characters with some sanity issues.

A "Sanity mechanic" is not really appropriate to Pathfinder and won't be part of the Adventure Path. Insanity will be handled as part of the story and as GameMastery Guide's rules as afflictions.

Or that. Although apparently it was appropiate to Wake of the Watcher, as layed out in the side bar of that volume of Carrion Crown on page 29.

In fact, feed back and how it worked out in Wake of the Watcher is what helped me decide it wasn't appropriate. AKA: Think of the inclusion of a sanity mechanic in that volume as an experiment, and the results of that experiment are that sanity mechanics don't work well for Pathfinder/fantasy games.

Thanks for the info. It was a bit wonky and also difficult to explain why just seeing certain monsters was a sanity crushing experience while others are the usual "Oh, look, the next XP piñata". ;)

Liz Courts wrote:

“That is not dead which can eternal lie,

And with strange aeons even death may die.”

Announced for August—do you know where your Sanity score is at? Product image and description are not final.

That guy with his hooked serrated sickle thing reminds me of someone... Hmmmmmm.... Looks almost like a question mark. And his robes are yellow! HMMMMMM! Who could that be?

Grandpa?!

James Jacobs wrote:

magnuskn wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

magnuskn wrote:

Looking forward this. I hope that later in the AP any sanity mechanic will have Will saves appropiate to the level of the characters. That was kind of a problem in Wake of the Watcher, where the Will saves seemed way to low for the character level and I had to raise them substantially to even threaten the player characters with some sanity issues.

A "Sanity mechanic" is not really appropriate to Pathfinder and won't be part of the Adventure Path. Insanity will be handled as part of the story and as GameMastery Guide's rules as afflictions.

Or that. Although apparently it was appropiate to Wake of the Watcher, as layed out in the side bar of that volume of Carrion Crown on page 29.

In fact, feed back and how it worked out in Wake of the Watcher is what helped me decide it wasn't appropriate. AKA: Think of the inclusion of a sanity mechanic in that volume as an experiment, and the results of that experiment are that sanity mechanics don't work well for Pathfinder/fantasy games.

Thanks for the info. It was a bit wonky and also difficult to explain why just seeing certain monsters was a sanity crushing experience while others are the usual "Oh, look, the next XP piñata". ;)

Great! Now all I want in Bestiary 6 is a Experience Pinata monster. Well guess it's been awhile since Sincubus chewed me out in the Bestiary request thread. :-)

Now I want a piñata based monster;)

A robot Pinata :-D

Grandpa?!

Or, perhaps, you mean "Gramma"?

Yeah, don't get me started on Grandma...

Now I want a piñata based monster;)

Mimic Pinata would work. Just flavor it to explode and leave behind whatever stuff you wanted to be in a pinata. Just imagine the terrified look on the childrens' faces as it comes to life and tries to eat the kid that is hitting it with a stick.

I see that the campaign speaks of the Yellow Sign and insinuating Hastur as our main enemy. Good. Perhaps it is time to dethrone the King in Yellow once and for all.

Can't wait to read about the lore and making my friends and their characters suffer for this! XD

Being a Mythos AP I am definitely looking forward to being able to customize some encounters here and there with the extended lore that is out there. I always wanted to hit my players with a NPC like the Harlot from Fall of Cthulhu and Hexed.

*wants to hit players with a Cthulhu shaped stick some times...*

Probably goes without saying, but hope there's a few outer creatures in the bestiaries.

I'm pretty sure we'll see more than a few Bholes in this adventure path, Decius.

And Aholes.

This is going to be a great AP for me. My wife LOVES CoC stuff, and she has a huge fan girl thing for Hastur. Since she's so excited to run this adventure, I get to be a player for an entire AP, so that'll be fun. (I'm usually DM)

*is ready to run to the mountains*

Removed some posts and their responses. Please don't discuss rape in such an off-handed and casual manner.

I wonder if this madness overtaking Ustalav has something to do with the awakening of a slumbering Starspawn in the northern isles of the Land of the Linnorm Kings?

Just noticed this. I can honestly say I've been waiting for this adventure path since I first started playing dungeons and dragons in the late 70s (I was reading lovecraft at the time...)

Just noticed this. I can honestly say I've been waiting for this adventure path since I first started playing dungeons and dragons in the late 70s (I was reading lovecraft at the time...)

I can relate. I have never been so desperately excited for anything ever. Hurry up, August!

I'm really looking forward to this AP! :)

Brief aside with regard to piñata monsters: in my Arkham Horror board game group we refer to mi-go as flying piñatas. They explode when you kill them (the monster token has to be returned to the box and therefore cannot be kept as a monster trophy), and leave behind gifts (one random unique item).

Will psychic classes handle this adventure path better than other classes?

Will psychic classes handle this adventure path better than other classes?

Doubt it, though spells with thought/emotion components are can be cast while wearing straitjackets ;)

I'm really looking forward to this AP! :)

Brief aside with regard to piñata monsters: in my Arkham Horror board game group we refer to mi-go as flying piñatas. They explode when you kill them (the monster token has to be returned to the box and therefore cannot be kept as a monster trophy), and leave behind gifts (one random unique item).

Funny, we called them the same thing. The phrase "Get the Candy" was heard quite often.

Might have to wait till Paizo Con to fine out more about this one.

Will psychic classes handle this adventure path better than other classes?

No better or worse than other classes.

Could Ultron solo this AP?

Since this book and Hell's Vengeance part 6 come out the same month does that mean I can't get this item as a subscriber without getting hell's vengeance as well?

But... Hell's Vengeance Part 6 is out in July, and Strange Aeons Part 1 is out in August.

Since this book and Hell's Vengeance part 6 come out the same month does that mean I can't get this item as a subscriber without getting hell's vengeance as well?

From what I understand, not at all. You may just need to check the page more frequently to spot when this one becomes available.

On that topic, since I've never ordered a subscription before...

If I wanted to start an AP Subscription beginning with this, when would be the most appropriate time to sign up?

When you sign up for a subscription, you have the option of going with the current entry or the next one. So the earliest you could do it would be after Hell's Vengeance 6 hits stores, at which point you'd subscribe and have it start you with the next installment.

Ah, much appreciated. ^^

Could Ultron solo this AP?

Probably since he can make like more than one copy of himself.

Will there be a great old one in each of the bestiaries?

Will there be a great old one in each of the bestiaries?

Yes, this has been told so at Paizocon.

Nick O'Connell wrote:

Will there be a great old one in each of the bestiaries?

Yes, this has been told so at Paizocon.

F$$+ YEAH!

I remember reading somewhere that each book will have the obedience/PrC info for the respective Outer God/Great Old One ?

I remember reading somewhere that each book will have the obedience/PrC info for the respective Outer God/Great Old One ?

This is true only in the cases of a full-sized deity article, not in the bestiary entries for a Great Old One.

Oooh..

Is it going to feature the deep seeded racism of lovecraft?

Or have we forgotten how basically everything in lovecraftian themes is soaked in the terrible trembling fear of people who have slightly darkened skinned tones?

Oooh..

Is it going to feature the deep seeded racism of lovecraft?

Or have we forgotten how basically everything in lovecraftian themes is soaked in the terrible trembling fear of people who have slightly darkened skinned tones?

I really don't think this is the place to dig into a discussion like that.

If you would like to read James Jacob's opinion on that point, you might start here

But - again - I don't think this is the place to continue a discussion on this topic.

Have you seen this:

http://paizo.com/products/btpy9n14?Pathfinder-FlipMat-Asylum

I hope this is "the eerie Briarstone Asylum" - that would be awesome!

Have you seen this:

http://paizo.com/products/btpy9n14?Pathfinder-FlipMat-Asylum

I hope this is "the eerie Briarstone Asylum" - that would be awesome!

In order to manage expectations, I have to let you know that the Flip-Mat is not a direct copy of the map for Briarstone Asylum that appears in this adventure. It's just way to big to be represented on even two sides of a Flip-Mat. I did, however, give a copy of the map to Stephen (who designs the initial maps that we give to the cartographer) so that he could use it as reference to make the Flip-Mat at least similar.

Marco Massoudi wrote:

Have you seen this:

http://paizo.com/products/btpy9n14?Pathfinder-FlipMat-Asylum

I hope this is "the eerie Briarstone Asylum" - that would be awesome!

In order to manage expectations, I have to let you know that the Flip-Mat is not a direct copy of the map for Briarstone Asylum that appears in this adventure. It's just way to big to be represented on even two sides of a Flip-Mat. I did, however, give a copy of the map to Stephen (who designs the initial maps that we give to the cartographer) so that he could use it as reference to make the Flip-Mat at least similar.

I think most people realize that any solid location is too large for a flip-mat.

That said, i applaud you for this early planning, Adam.

If we get a map that is usable for a key part of the adventure - even if only a small part (like "Town Square for RotR AE) - it will make the AP much more memorable.
:-)

I wish every AP had one Flip-Mat for a key battle of it's first book.

This is true only in the cases of a full-sized deity article, not in the bestiary entries for a Great Old One.

OK cool.... I do love Paizo deity articles! :)))

Any chance of more coming out in the near future for Great Old Ones/Outer Gods? I gather the only ones in Strange Aeons are for Hastur and Xhamen-Dor.

Oooh..

Is it going to feature the deep seeded racism of lovecraft?

Or have we forgotten how basically everything in lovecraftian themes is soaked in the terrible trembling fear of people who have slightly darkened skinned tones?

I did find that very annoying when I read some of his works, but I'm sure that the only racism in Pathfinder is against Gnomes (which is totally justifiable and acceptable).

Hey folks, probably too early to tell but if I were looking to add a bestiary to go along with this AP, which would like be the best value for usage here? I have Bestiary one but am not too familiar with the mix of Lovecraft monsters in 2,3,4 or 5. Bestiary 4 looks like an obvious one but just because of the cover which I realize doesn't necessarily reflect the rest of the options inside the other books. Just curious on anyone's thoughts/opinions thanks! Looking forward to re-subscribing for this one as well!

Any word as to when the cover art will be updated?