Here is the plan so far. Next month, after a bit more preperation and familiarization with Diamond Lake and the first two adventures I'm going to be DMing Age of Worms. I prefer a slower progression than what's average in 3rd edition, so I'm going to half experience and treasure awards throughout the campaign. Being that I don't want characters going up against creatures twice as high I need to fill things out a bit though. Lower levels wont be much of a problem, but I was wondering about mixing in Banewarrens when the characters get about sixth. Now comes the questions.
1. About what level is the party in Age of Worms when they start adventuring in Free City?
2. Would Ptolus work as Free City without too much hassle?
3. Will Banewarrens even mix with Age of Worms at all?
4. If it will, any advice on how to go about mixing?
5. I'm also realy interested in weasling the Styes in there somehow too. Thoughts on that mesh?
I think that the Banewarrens is an excellent choice as a blend into many campaigns. It isn't exceedingly long, so it fits easily as an adveture arc, and as it runs in parts (instead of linear progression), you should be able to space out the encounters over a reasonable length of game time, or even in between adventures.
Ptolus should be excellent as the Free City. Reading about the gritty conditions of Diamond Lake, and how thoroughly explored its area has been, it seems to fit into the idea of how well travelled the areas around Ptolus are.
As to ideas how to incorporate it...
1. The Banewarrens hold an evil relic from the time of the war between the Queen of Chaos and the Wind Dukes. Maybe not something critical to begin the Age of Worms, but maybe something that would be advantageous (to the BBEG) in another war against the Wind Dukes (if they pop-up again).
2. One of the adventuring parties interested in the Banewarrens could be the "Rival Adventurers" (do they have a party name?) from the Diamond Lake backdrop. Khellek would definately be interested in evil artifacts, whether they have anything to do with the Age of Worms or not. You could either add them to the mix, or use them replace an existing group from the Banewarrens.
3. The Banwarrens already provides some adventure hooks that would work on their own merits, as the party members will most likely be new to the city.
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As a side note, I tried to incorporate the Banewarrens into the SCAP, but my players went in a different direction for the "side adventures." In the end, I used the Banewarrens as "this is what the Stormblades have been up to." And at the end of the SCAP, when they sat down with the Stormblades, I told them the story of the Banewarrens, they all said, "wow... that sounds really cool." The Stormblades agreed, although their actions didn't garner as much attention and fame as the party did, I tried to make it seem that without the Stormblades doing what they did, they might not have been able to defeat Adimarchus.
I know next to nothing about the first adventure path, but with things I've read on the boards and what you just wrote, I assume the Stormblades are another group of NPC adventurers, if so are they allies or enemies of the player characters? From what you posted it sounds like allies.
I was thinking about making the weirdo masochistict priest of St. Cuthburt into a weirdo masochistic priest of Lothian. Not sure exactly what I want to do with the Inverted Pyramid...I'm tossing arround the idea of using them as the Wejas cult, but I get this fealing that's the wrong answer. I'll probably use the IP as the mysterious arcanist guild no one knows squat about, just like the are in the book. The Pact Lords can stay as printed, with a few vague hints here and there for the PCs to find and puzzle over. Comments/advice?
If your familiar with the Banewarrens, any chance your familiar with Arcana Evolved? If I ever decide to get all cracked out I might try and convert Age of Worms to an AE campaign. Being that so many of the basic concepts are so different I'm not sure how well it would work out, but it would definetly be something to keep the brain busy for a while...
Banewarrens is a great mega adventure. I'd be careful about using it as a source for side treks, though. BW has many chapters that are really time sensitive, there are other factions actively persuing their goals with or without the PC's presence. Ultimately you are in control but some bits with a sense of urgency will have to be reworked.
I am running a group of Arcana Evolved characters (Giant Warmain, Human Ritual Warior, Human Mageblade, Human Magister, Dracha Champion of Freedom, Litorian Unfettered, Human Greenbond, Verrik Iron Witch).
What issues did you encounter with the conversion or did you do it?
I am running a group of Arcana Evolved characters (Giant Warmain, Human Ritual Warior, Human Mageblade, Human Magister, Dracha Champion of Freedom, Litorian Unfettered, Human Greenbond, Verrik Iron Witch).
What issues did you encounter with the conversion or did you do it?
Hey Rick,
I'm also running a group of Arcana Evolved thru Age Of Worms. Characters include Human Ritual Warrior, Sibeccai Mageblade, loresong Magister, Human Greenbond.
I'm a big fan of old school Greyhawk so I've kept the centeral characters and core story intact i.e Kyuss and Dragotha. Most of the work I have run into is the "minor" boss conversions and name swaping i.e. Diamond Lake for Ghanis.
I bought Banewarrens last month...and it's awesome. Reading the adventure was like reading a novel -- I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Hope to run it one day soon.