I'll be starting the SCAP sometime in February and what I am planning to do is replace the first four adventures of the SCAP with other adventures, either modified ones from Dungeon or of my own design.
I want to incorporate the info given in the STAP into these adventures. I also want to give these adventures a real "adventure" rather than "action" feel. Rather than endless monsters I am going for exciting rooftop battles, chases through the Cauldron streets, etc. To facilitate this type of adventure I am currently building a mini's reproduction of a fair chunk of Cauldron - buldings, streets, trees, parks, etc. and a 3D replica of the Lucky Monkey.
I am also looking for my players to get involved with the various organizations to be found in the area, and I would like them to have conflicting goals that involve the characters, and for them to have to make difficult choices as to who to ally themselves with.
I'd like a strong plot and storyline that hooks up nicely with the rest of the published SCAP.
I'm making all the characters strangers to Cauldron and we'll start with the journey there. I would like them to get involved with Lavinia and her brother when they pulled the Love potion trick (mentioned in the STAP info).
Another thing I've toyed with is having Jenya be the real villian (taking Emril's place). The Wee Jas followers are trying to stop Jenya, but she keeps framing them and making the Wee Jas followers look like the bad guys.
Any ideas from you all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Another thing I've toyed with is having Jenya be the real villian (taking Emril's place). The Wee Jas followers are trying to stop Jenya, but she keeps framing them and making the Wee Jas followers look like the bad guys.
Jenya the bad guy (or girl)? Sacrilege! Blasphemy! Vade retro Satan! Lol.
No, in my campaign the PCs are devout followers of Ilmater, Jenya's deity, and the priestess is a trustworthy ally of them. The religious background serves as the main motivator in our game, so no bad guy Jenya for me. Not even a bad girl ...
I'm curious about the type of adventures you plan on replacing the first 4 offical adventures with.
Just a few words of advice though before you begin your changes -
In Life's Bazaar the party first meet Jenya (the biggest patron of the party during the SCAP, at least offically), Orbius(Vhalantru - Cauldron's biggest villian unless you plan on making him a good guy ;)), the Striders and the Last Laugh (Jil in particular). These are important for later in the Path. Terrem (the kidnapped orphan) is an important step link to the Cagewrights ultimate plot.
In Drakthar's Way the half-orc incursion into the city guard is forshadowed as is the corruption in the government. The Captain of the guard - Teresong (sp?), is also first meet by the party.
Flood Season is probably the most important foreshadowing tool in the whole Path. The festival itself introduces the parties greatest rivals called the Stormblades and Skies Treasury (Cauldrons Magic Shop - see RPGenius.com for a write up on this place and the Demonskar Ball :)).
During Zenith's Tajectory the party are first introduced to the Smoking Eye or Adimarchus - the ultimate villian/focal point of the whole path.
As long as you keep these things in mind and include such organisations as the Last Laugh, the Striders, the Chisel and the Cagewrights (and even some other option organisations people have written up in RPGenius.com such as the Acquirers ;)) you should be fine.
Your idea of creating roof-top chases etc sounds good. You could possibly use the Last Laugh, the Alleybashers, Striders or other kidnappers to create this.
Good Luck with your idea and make sure you post up what you have created when you can. We would love to see it.
Delvesdeep
|
I want to incorporate the info given in the STAP into these adventures. I also want to give these adventures a real "adventure" rather than "action" feel. Rather than endless monsters I am going for exciting rooftop battles, chases through the Cauldron streets, etc. To facilitate this type of adventure I am currently building a mini's reproduction of a fair chunk of Cauldron - buldings, streets, trees, parks, etc. and a 3D replica of the Lucky Monkey.
That sounds awesome! I'd be interested in hearing more on this as to how certain "Indiana Jones-esque" type action is resolved in the game and such.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Robert
|
One plot could be a war of thieves' guilds in Cauldron between the Last Laugh and the Alleybashers.
One of the main plot hooks of Life's Bazaar is the appearance of the beholder. You should orchestratze a similar encounter, where one of the main villains of the campaign appears right into a fight between the Last Laugh and the alleybashers (for example). The thing with Oraks Bathhouse can be used similarly, only with a hideout beneath the building and not a whole dungeon complex. Use this as the abandoned laboratory for the creation of the Soulcages from Flood Festival.
Another idea would be a chase for the minting machine of the Last Laugh...
Use robberies of the caravans to and from Cauldron to thin the town guard to the point that they have to include the half-orc mercenaries.
Thanks for the suggestions all. I was up late last night working on my model of the Lucky Monkey and doing some more thinking about possible adventures.
I should also say that I'm not replacing the first four because I don't like them. I actually ran my current group through those adventures when I taught them how to play D & D a little over a year ago. We did that "training session" and then ran the AOW campaign.
One thing I'm leaning towards is having the PC's bust up a slavery operation run by the Scarlet Brotherhood. They could be preying on Cauldron's citizens, raiding small caravans travelling to and from Sasserine, as well as capturing members of a human tribe native to the area. This would give me a chance to break out the classic A series modules of yesteryear. I'd love to introduce my players to some of the classics. I could replace some of the locations in those modules with Jzadirune, the Malachite Fortress, and the Kopru ruins. I'm sure I could work in all the neccessary elements from the published adventures - foreshadowing, NPC's, etc.
I know that I'm going to start the campaign with the journey to Cauldron itself. Starting on a boat waiting to dock at Sasserine's harbor, then through town, on the road (with a stop at the Lucky Monkey), and finally arriving in Cauldron.
Ike Iverson is going to be a passenger in the caravan the PC's are in on the journey to Cauldron. I'll let them get to know him casually.
The background info from the STAP is defenitely giving me some stuff I'd like to introduce as well, since we'll be running that campaign after the Shackled City.
Maybe they'll be in Sasserine as the pirate from the recent STAP adventure is about to be hung, and they could witness his rescue (and possibly try to catch him again).
Again thanks for your input all!
|
|
I want to incorporate the info given in the STAP into these adventures. I also want to give these adventures a real "adventure" rather than "action" feel. Rather than endless monsters I am going for exciting rooftop battles, chases through the Cauldron streets, etc. To facilitate this type of adventure I am currently building a mini's reproduction of a fair chunk of Cauldron - buldings, streets, trees, parks, etc. and a 3D replica of the Lucky Monkey.
That sounds awesome! I'd be interested in hearing more on this as to how certain "Indiana Jones-esque" type action is resolved in the game and such.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Robert
Hey the recent Dungeon Mag has an article at the end of the issue that talks about including "chase" scenes in your adventures. I think that would help facilitate your ideas for your campaign.
Robert