
Sean Mahoney |

I am about to start a online version of the Shackled City AP using OpenRPG. I have, or will, convert the whole thing to take place in the North in the Forgotten Realms. Specifically I will be using the city of Sundabar as Cauldron. In fact, I have Cauldron as the nickname of the city used by the locals.
The main changes I have made to the city are to move the Ruling Master's government buildings just to the north side of the central area and added a central lake that drains down into the underdark below. There is a volcanic vent under the city that was once used by the dwarves that will serve as a way to erupt the city later and even explain the reason for the Cage Wrights lair there.
The ground below the walls of the city was raised prior to building the walls to create higher walls on the city and as a result gave it a bowl-like shape inside and has lead to flooding during the rainy season.
Anyway... any other converters out there see any issues that are going to cause a problem in FR or more specifically the North? I have read the other threads on FR conversion and have taken to heart the lessons there.
Anyone interested in the background info I have posted for the players and reading use discussing house rules and PC ideas can find all our communications at http://forum.vallusgames.com/index.php?c=13&sid=486d8ce7f0830ae68aff00b de1363f72
We will also be posting the record of each game session there once it completes for anyone interested in following along.
Currently there are going to be six players
Teifling Rogue
Human Diviner
Dwarven Cleric
Goliath Fighter
Human Bard
Elan Psion (Telepath)
I haven't used Goliaths or Elans before and am just starting to read through the Expanded Psionics Handbook. Goliaths don't look like they will be a problem to fit in, they will work nicely in the North. (although using large size weapons is a pretty big perk)
Elans on the other hand I just don't get. I can see the draw as a player... the ability to sack pp for damage taken is pretty dang powerful. But am I missing the point of the race from an RP point of view? They have a group of other Elans who decide who qualifies for conversion, but the only requirements seem to be if they find you physically attractive (sleep with judges?). It seems more like a good background for a race of Miss Faerun contestants than a secret society of psionicists. Is there somewhere their motivations as a society are documented that I missed? Has anyone used these in the realms or in general? Do you find them overpowered ("that didn't hurt me!")?
Anyway... Feedback on either my questions above, general advice for those starting the adventure path (I read the boards pretty regularly so no need to repeat yourself), or comments on the background info I provided my players with would be appreciated.
Sean Mahoney

Sean Mahoney |

I have some ideas for introducing the group to one another and tie them more to the story. Some of the players indicated one of their favorite parts of the game was the intro of new characters and RPing it and others seem to find it annoying.
I have made it pretty clear I expect them to want to work as a group. If someone wants to play a loner they will quickly find that I tell them their player went off and did their own thing like they wanted but since their story is no longer a part of this one they will want to roll up a new character to join the group.
Anyway... the rogue will be replacing the half-orc Patch at the Lantern Street Orphanage. I figure being worried about the Last Laugh thinking you failed your task is a pretty good motivation to work with the people who have the best ideas for finding the kids.
Fighter will be serving his last day with the watch and will be assigned to follow a suspected member of one of the local thieves guilds (I am laying rumors of a guild war as the Last Laugh begins to drive others out of town or assimilate them). Of course, that person will be the rogue who will notice being followed.
During the pursuit that hopefully occurs they will run smack dab into the beginning of the encounter with Jil and the last laugh thugs as they trash Ruphus. I may work out the dwarven cleric replacing ruphus as well...
If I can, I will subtly try and move the chase onto the rooftops (I remember some rules in an old dragon for a rooftop chase in an adventure called something about the seventh arm) so I can even have the rogue bump directly into Jil and make sure she makes an appearance.
If the players resist the joining of the party at this point then they will miss on the RP at the church, but will get a second chance to join up when the PCs make it to the Orphanage. If it still doesn't work, I guess I will need to the player to tell me how this PC is going to join a group.
I am thinking of perhaps making the wizard an apprentice to one of the nobles in town, but haven't done the research for it yet... this would fit nicely with the PCs background he wrote up and would introduce a few more NPCs.
There is at least one PC coming from out of town (from Waterdeep) and so I will include him running into Alek Tercival and the high priest of St. Cuthbert (Helm in my game) at the lucky monkey. Still deciding if this should happen just in back ground material I send or gameplay... probably background since it doesn't involve the other players.
Sean Mahoney

Sean Mahoney |

Had my first session tonight. I think it went very well.
The play started out with a groupd of three players (the diviner, monk and bard) outside of the local office that hands out government contracts to adventurers. The had finally had their application accepted and were told they had a contract waiting for them.
The players were surprisingly into this and seem genuinly excited. This was great because as they were about to go in to speak with Lord Valhantru (oh yes, he hands out the contracts as a way to keep his eye on adventurers and worm his way into politics) out stepped the Stormblades with particularly smug looks on their faces.
The Diviner had decided he wanted to be born of a noble family so I had them recognize him and vice versa. They mocked him a bit and then left. (They took an instant dislike to them which is perfect).
Once inside they met with Valhantru who graciously thanked them for their interest in the public good but let them know for the first time that he didn't have anything to give a new party.
As they left the clerk seemd shocked at the news and left them with the impression that the Stormblades had pulled political favors to pull the contract out from under them. They also felt that Valhantru was a overly friendly beauricrate... which will work out beautifully as well.
They left off dejectidly walking back to the bar they all hung out in.
I then switched to the rogue who replaced Patch from the Lantern Street Orphanage as she met with her last laugh contact. He told her very coldly that she had to fix the situation with Terrem right NOW or they were both dead and to drop a message for him once she knew what had happened to it and had fixed it.
Just about that time they saw the fighter (a member of the watch) taking note of them and realized they were being watched. The watch is keeping tabs on all suspected guild members in case they have a connection with the disappearances.
A chase soon took place with some quickly made up rules. I had encouraged the rogue to take to the roof so I could literally have her run into Jil, but no dice. Instead she threw up a darkness spell (tiefling) and lost him. In attempt to find her again HE took to the roofs. So the game is still afoot.
Finally the cleric had been sent to the Orphanage to promise the support of Helm (this is an FR game) and was on his way back when he was accosted by the last laugh goons hired by Jil.
The first round of combat ended with one of them tripping him and him letting out a large grunt as the punk leaned over him and said, "Stay away from the orphanage"
So the large noise made by the dwarf along with the scuffle (and any cries he elicites from the thugs as we start next time on his init) will be heard by pretty much all parties... those on their way to the bar, the rogue running down alleys and even the fighter on the rooftop who will literally run into Jil.
They were all pretty excited about the session and had a lot of fun (or so they say). I was happy that timing worked out well so I could leave on a cliff-hanger. They met rivals, the BBEG (even though they have no clue) and those who wanted to RP their intros (some did, some didn't) are well setup with a chance.
I am pretty pleased overall...
I will keep posting more as we play... the link above will soon have a log of the game session.
Sean Mahoney

Chef's Slaad |

Man, that sounds like a great intro adventure.
I love how you wove some of the written encounters into the characters intro. Replacing Patch with your party rogue is also a stroke of genius. Especially when the time comes for the Last Laugh to collect Terrem and put him in the soulcage. What a roleplaying op that must be!

Sean Mahoney |

Both Revus, who was charged with finding somone to protect Terrem and keep him safe and Kalishan, the PC rogue, will be marked for death by the Last Laugh for failing.
Yes, they know now where Terrem went, but they are having to clean up a mess that should have never happened had they done their job in the first place.
Revus will be found killed, but once Terrem is returned it will be made known that Kalishan is no longer being actively hunted but also has no chance of making it into the guild. They will be watching her.
Depending on how the encounter goes with Jil she may be the vehicle for this info or may be someone who is even pushing to get Kalishan entry into the guild after all of this.
At this point the guild may not even know what has happened only that people snooping into the orphanage may be able to link them to Terrem... and that they would like to avoid.
Sean Mahoney

Sean Mahoney |

Just posted the second session...
http://forum.vallusgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=327
This one had some great moments. The PCs met Jil and she escaped. They captured one of the thugs and got some info out of him and are now on their way to the church of Helm (St. Cuthbert).
My favorite quote...
After learning that the thug was actually a member of the gaurd...
Borzak: "I have a feeling we're getting ourselves into something much deeper than we anticipate"
Marilon: "Indeed. So you're loving it as much as I am, then?"
Sean Mahoney