However, as I'm prepping the next adventure, it seems that the Skinsaw cult's existence is much more of a secret. Did I blow it? The party is already eagerly questioning Sandpoint about the Skinsaw Men (obviously, with no success).
I wouldn't worry about it. My group is just a bit behind yours (4e version though). I don't think you have a big problem. Even if you did not tell them about the Skinsaw cult, PCs have a habit of figuring things out ahead of schedule anyway. My group figured out the whole Nualia thing right after they were told of the grave robbery of her parent Tobyn (heavy meta-gaming there). It did not derail anything and just enhanced enjoyment of the game. This is because everytime they discovered something that supported their (admittedly meta-game) hypothesis, the PC putting forth the theory would say, "see I told you". You are probably in a similar situation. Through meta-gaming your players know that the Skinsaw Cult is probably going to be important to later events BUT THEIR CHARACTERS DO NOT. Encourage your players to identify and role play this distinction. Of course they just may wish to destroy the Skinsaw Cult on their own because of the evil it represents and this is a good thing as well as it will make them feel more ownership of the events in Pathfinder 2.
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My group has just finished Burnt Offerings and is getting ready to begin Skinsaw. They were reviewing Nualia's notes (and were totally unmoved by her backstory, FWIW) - which the text says includes Nualia's story as presented on p. 9-10. I edited things out that I knew she didn't know (like the truth about what Malfeshnekor is), but older stuff was harder to discern. So I mentioned her encounter with the Skinsaw cult and called it by name. However, as I'm prepping the next adventure, it seems that the Skinsaw cult's existence is much more of a secret. Did I blow it? The party is already eagerly questioning Sandpoint about the Skinsaw Men (obviously, with no success). Thoughts? Ideas? Thanks.
I would say that not only did you NOT screw up you did an excellent job as a DM.this is just one way to progress into the next chapter of the AP. Now if I was you I would totally ambush the PC's for asking to many questions or just kick off the the murders right away, and keeping them distracted for the time being.
Creative Director
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Nope; letting the PCs know about the Skinsaw Cult early is actually a good thing. They don't know that the cult has ties to the coming murders, and when they DO start figuring things out, everything should feel a LOT more connected.
Also, as far as RPG mysteries go... it's better to give the PCs more clues than they need rather than not enough.
Sounds like you did fine to me. If it get your players interested and it makes them feel there is something much bigger going on they are moving along the path of conspiracy that can only heighten the tension. If you make everyone they ask about react as if it is an outlandish, grotesque, and a totally unbelievable group they may even get paranoid. If they do that give yourself a big pat on the back as a DM.
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