Savage Tide--At The Movies (potential spoilers)


Savage Tide Adventure Path


Since I've been DMing the STAP, I've noticed that many adventures bear a "cinematic"-adventure feel. Of note, in "The Sea Wyvern's Wake", Richard Pett suggests in his bio to "treat yourself to a viewing of...Aliens, and learn more from the classic 'against the odds' monster movie,"

Spoiler:
regarding the sargasso.
Personally, I felt "The Fog" to be more akin to the feel of the aforementioned spoiler-bound scene, but all the same, it suggests that various movies may have a particular kinship to this AP.

I'd be interested in hearing from others involved in this AP what movies have become ingrained with the feel of the game, or have influenced DMs--and players--in their games.

Paizo Employee Creative Director

"The Fog" (being one of my more favorite movies and being filmed only an hour and a half from where I grew up on the Northern California coast) was certainly a heavy influence on the outline I sent Rich for "Sea Wyvern's Wake." Another movie that played heavily into it was an old Hammer Horror movie called "The Lost Continent," which was based on a Dennis Wheatley novel, "Uncharted Seas," both of which were about an enormous sargasso that surrounded an island that was inhabited by some crazy messed-up shipwreck survivors. Plus, there were monsters (man-eating seaweed, giant scorpions, giant crabs, enormous octopuses, etc.).

Monsters always make things better.

Liberty's Edge

Not so scary now, but I remember when The Fog first came on TV back in 1982-ish. I lived in Chesapeake, VA then, on the water...fog every day and the movie scared me out of my mind. Just curious, anyone prefer the 2005 remake? Anyone particularly dislike it? To complete my comments, I'm a certified fogophile, I love both films and the modernist in me really enjoyed the remake, while the nostalgist in me equally loves the 1980 JC film. "The Mist" is one of my absolute favorite SK stories, etc., etc.

...I think I'm threadjacking again...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Andrew Turner wrote:

Not so scary now, but I remember when The Fog first came on TV back in 1982-ish. I lived in Chesapeake, VA then, on the water...fog every day and the movie scared me out of my mind. Just curious, anyone prefer the 2005 remake? Anyone particularly dislike it? To complete my comments, I'm a certified fogophile, I love both films and the modernist in me really enjoyed the remake, while the nostalgist in me equally loves the 1980 JC film. "The Mist" is one of my absolute favorite SK stories, etc., etc.

...I think I'm threadjacking again...

Eew... I hated HATED the remake. But the original gets the James Jacobs Heart-Shaped Stamp of Approval, if only because it takes its time to be creepy and has some fun little Lovecraft easter eggs in there. I'm kind of a John Carpenter flunkie too, so that helps.

The Mist is also one of my favorite King stories. Did yah hear? It's gonna be a movie this November! One directed by Frank Darrabont, the guy who did "The Green Mile" and "Shawshank Redemption" so he knows what he's doing!

Is gonna be great, I can feel it!


James Jacobs wrote:


Eew... I hated HATED the remake. But the original gets the James Jacobs Heart-Shaped Stamp of Approval, if only because it takes its time to be creepy and has some fun little Lovecraft easter eggs in there. I'm kind of a John Carpenter flunkie too, so that helps.

Carpenter. Yes.

Can Carpenter come write for Pathfinder? No, I guess not.

Liberty's Edge

Kruelaid wrote:
James Jacobs wrote:


Eew... I hated HATED the remake. But the original gets the James Jacobs Heart-Shaped Stamp of Approval, if only because it takes its time to be creepy and has some fun little Lovecraft easter eggs in there. I'm kind of a John Carpenter flunkie too, so that helps.

Carpenter. Yes.

Can Carpenter come write for Pathfinder? No, I guess not.

Great filmmaker--In the Mouth of Madness gets watched in this house a good three or more times a year!--err...uhh..really bad music, and he'd probably want to include some JC original music with the books...

EDIT:...and yet, now, I can't get the opening credits to ItMoM out of my head...

Paizo Employee Creative Director

One of the many things I love about Carpenter's movies is the music, especially the earlier movies. When I first saw "Mouth of Madness" I didn't really like the music but it's grown on me since then and now it lives (with much other Carpenter soundtracks) on my iPod!


James Jacobs wrote:
I'm kind of a John Carpenter flunkie too, so that helps.

His remake of The Thing is one of my favorite movies, and was significantly influential in my own AoW campaign (I set it in winter, along with other reasons).

Predator seems to be another notable influence

Spoiler:
for Here There Be Monsters
, and fits the bill for it eerily well.

Plus, I felt that

Spoiler:
The Bullywug Gambit's opening half in Kraken's Cove (regarding the Savage Pirates, particularly)
was akin to the Roger Corman "...Of The Dead" movies, or even 28 Days Later.

I'm fascinated in looking for more comparisons in the later adventures, as well.

Liberty's Edge

James Jacobs wrote:
One of the many things I love about Carpenter's movies is the music, especially the earlier movies. When I first saw "Mouth of Madness" I didn't really like the music but it's grown on me since...

That is Carpenter in a nutshell, he grows on you...very Lovecraftian, I suppose.

The first DVD I ever bought: The Thing


I've been running my PCs through some side quests in Sasserine, each inspired by individual movies.

1. An investigation into the bloody murder of a expelled dancer from the Telvanta Academy leads the PCs to discover the headmistress' (Alma Telvanta, battle dancer 5/shadowcaster 3) secret connection to the Scarlet Brotherhood and Whaler's Guild (whom have assumed the role of the importing/exporting mafia of Sasserine). Other encounters included Pavlo, the half-giant psychic warrior, and a troupe of "dragon dancers"--battle dancers with paper machier dragon motifs and an elixir of fire. (Inspired by Suspiria, an Italian horror film by director Dario Argento.)

2. Following some disturbing dreams and a tense contact with the sinister Errix Vorn on the part of one of the PCs, Kera Gosalar of the Dawnhouse goes missing. She has left a note for said PC, a crusader of Pelor, to seek her out if she vanishes. After pursuing a trail into the Ameido Jungle--namely to a temple to Vecna called the Gray Lodge--the PCs rescue Kera, and eventually confront the "tall man" (elite dread necromancer 8), Errix Vorn. His stranglehold over the secrets of the citizens of Sasserine, namely one pertaining to a fellow member of the Dawnhouse, a Father Gelben, ends his manipulative grasp. Other encounters included Errix's "Shrouded Children", half-fiend hooded pupil (Libris Mortis) halfling barbarians, an "eye of Vecna" golem (Variant flesh golem from Dragon #348?), and his familiar, a substituted vargouille, disguised to look like the death orb from the movie that influenced this side quest--namely Phantasm, starring Angus Scrimm.

3. Following the efforts on the part of the PCs to put a dent in the crime flow, reinforced by the uncovering of Alma Telvanta's ledger of a connection between her own illegal activities, and those of the Scarlet Brotherhood and the Whaler's Guild, Captain Shadwick finally deploys his trump card. Since before the time that one of the PCs had joined the Azure District garrison as an informer/undercover spy, his superior officer, Sergeant Berrigan, had been on the payroll of Shadwick. Berrigan used the PC to keep up appearances that the Azure district was doing what they could to stem the flow of illegal activity in Sasserine's ports. Furthermore, he's fed the PC false leads to sway him into losing focus of Shadwick being perhaps the greatest threat to Sasserine, via the Scarlet Brotherhood.
Shadwick has Berrigan inform the PC--and through him, his allies--that the time has come with Telvanta's ledger, to set up a sting. The PCs will be able to sneak into the cargo hold of the largest ship in Sasserine--The Green Harpoon--and await instructions from an informant on the inside as to when to spring the trap and make the bust. In reality, this is all a set up. When the heroes snuck into the crate, and awaited the cue to make the arrest--just before an expected off-shore trade for guns/drugs/slaves/etc with the Scarlet Brotherhood, the crate was ripped open, and surrounded by Whaler's Guildmembers armed with pistols pointed at the PCs. Berrigan (fighter 2/rogue 4) mocked the PCs for their ineptitude, and Shadwick (fighter 4/rogue 4) ordered their execution. In the gunfire that ensued, the PCs eventually managed to put down the Whaler's Guild, and was aided by the Dawn Council--namely Aniphastus Knowlern, their primary patron--in bringing the ship home. (This side quest was inspired to some degree by the movie, The Departed.)

More to come...

The PCs are en route to a party at the manor of Zebula Meravanchi, honoring the upcoming departure of his son, Avner, for the Isle of Dread. Aniphastus Knowlern has implored the PCs to investigate the decadent gathering to learn whether the rumors of Zebula keeping a captive nymph in his home are true. Wacky party hijinks, sex, drugs, and rock and roll to follow...inspired by the outrageous movie Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.


(Feel a little guilty bumping my own thread, but...)

The heroes finally went to the Meravanchi Manor for the party, and expected a night of debauchery and decadence. What they got was snubbed by many guests, including a cameo of Khellek (previously mentioned in the AoW AP), a phone vampire by the name of "Baron d'Cuspidinni", and an overzealous party-going Ibixian--wearing only a bow tie and leather thong--named Izzy Grazzer, dancing wildly. Vanara bards performed on stage, gnomes cast dancing lights frequently to give the place the look of a disco, and beautiful barely-dressed half-elven women served drinks and fruit. Avner entered through the garden on Thunderstrike, in a suit of armor made of pure gold, announcing "this is my happening, and it freaks me out!" The heroes flattering of Avner warranted a slip of Avner's tongue, detailing the location of his father, Zebula's, secret harem below the manor. The aventi druidess attempted to lure Zasker Grankus (of Zelkarune's Horns) out of the trophy hall with the aforementioned secret switch, as the others tried to convince the conversational Anteki Alresian that people in the dining hall had some questions pertaining to the Scarlet Brotherhood for him.

Below Meravanchi Manor, an incense-heavy labyrinth unfolded, as the occasional room with beaded curtains was filled with a variety of bedroom ornamentation. A room with a thick purple haze had the captivating figure of a nymph within, albeit partially obscured by the mist. Several vials of drugs and needles lay strewn about, and the nymph--whom had introduced herself coyly as Fiona--implored the PCs to approach her. Though the heroes tried to con her into being caught, they were forced to subdue her after she proved to difficult to convince. Her screams attracted a couple of dense guards, who were convinced that the heroes "merely went the wrong way," and escorted the majority out. While a couple snuck back down below, and lit a fire to burn the manor down, escaping with the now addiction-free Fiona (courtesy of the spell remove addiction, in the BoVD), the other two had significantly enraged Avner Meravanchi, courtesy of a comment he had made before; Avner attempted to have them thrown out, and the two heroes decided to make such a fuss as to embarrass the pompous noble. The two who were upstairs as the fire began to consume the manor were forced to act as firemen, saving the party-going occupants from the conflagration. Zebula, who had escaped below prior for a tryst with a party-goer, was "rescued" by the arsonists, who convinced him that the fire was one they saved him from.

Their rescue of the nymph allowed for their patron, Aniphastus Knowlern to develop a case against Zebula Meravanchi--following his financing of the expedition to Farshore--and induct the heroes as a trial-version of a "city wide watch" program, whom could act as they saw fit to finally eliminate the massive drug problem Sasserine was beginning to fall prey to. With some research, and notable leads, they began a plan to make a search-and-seizure of the Alchemist's Guildhall, hopefully finding evidence that would allow the Dawn Council to try Blisker Tittertop for drug trafficking. Just prior, a pair of gnome buddies of Blisker came to offer a "tribute" to the heroes, who refused the bribe, and arrested the gnomes. As night falls, the heroes make their way to the Alchemist's Guildhall, only to find it burning and in chaos. Their actions below to apprehend the infamous craftsman (male gnome artificer 11) will be loosely modeled after the movie The Untouchables.


Wow! great story.

"this is my happening, and it freaks me out!"

LOL. Are you quoting Zaphod Beeblebrox? I know I've heard this quote before.


Vicious One wrote:

Wow! great story.

"this is my happening, and it freaks me out!"

LOL. Are you quoting Zaphod Beeblebrox? I know I've heard this quote before.

Thanks! The quote comes from John LaZar as the notorious Ronnie "Z-Man" Barzell--a great model for some of my favorite, eccentric villains.


Right -Beyond the Valley of the Dolls-

campy,baby!


"Don't Diladally in the fog!"


So James, since you're such a big Carpenter fan, should I hold out hope for a Big Trouble in Little China inspired Pathfinder adventure? Just think! The three storms could be unique outsiders from Limbo. As a ghost, Lo-Pan would be difficult for even the most innovative (re: campaign trashing) players to overcome too early or easily. The best part would be rolling around in a giant, ham laden cart (complete with mudflaps).

Think of it as a personal favor to me. Although, now that I think of it, you don't owe me any favors... Do me a favor and think of something I can do for you so that you would owe me a personal favor, k thx bye!

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Big Trouble in Little China would make an EXCELLENT adventure. HOWEVER: I'm already organizing one of the adventures in the second Pathfinder Adventure Path to be a sort of homage to another Carpenter movie. Can't say what one yet, but it's a good one. Which in my opinion, of course, means only that it's not based on "Ghosts of Mars" but one of his other movies...

Dark Archive

James Jacobs wrote:
Big Trouble in Little China would make an EXCELLENT adventure. HOWEVER: I'm already organizing one of the adventures in the second Pathfinder Adventure Path to be a sort of homage to another Carpenter movie. Can't say what one yet, but it's a good one. Which in my opinion, of course, means only that it's not based on "Ghosts of Mars" but one of his other movies...

You've already started working on the second adventure path?! Nice! Is this one also in Varisia?

The Exchange RPG Superstar 2010 Top 32

First guess:

Spoiler:
The Thing! It's be a good excuse for me to buy Frostburn too


carborundum wrote:

First guess:

** spoiler omitted **

Heh...

Spoiler:
One of my favorite movies. Somehow, I envision neogi in this capacity, but would welcome original monsters more accurate to the monsters in the movie. Here's hoping...

On another note, I'm curious to see what movies bear similarities to the last portion of the adventure path. I'm trying to figure out how to make Serpents of Scuttlecove to bear more resemblance to one of my favorite bloodspray movies, Ichi the Killer. The town certainly has enough disreputable types that it doesn't need my help to give it that extra bit of filthiness. (I love this town! Gotta pick up Porphyry House Horror, or whatever the title is.)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Heh... Ichi the Killer...

The shaved harpies can certainly stand to have Ichi-style mouths.

ANYway... yeah. We're already working on the next adventure path. It is indeed set in Varisia, and does indeed have the word "of" in its title. Beyond that... I've no further spoilers to reveal.

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