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I am considering startng my new group out with this adventure/module. I hav no problems with starting ne characters of at higher levels than first. However, I am still trying to figure out how to get the PCs together for this adventure. They may not all know one another, and may not all be from the same area, or hold the same allegiance. Any ideas on how to bring the group together, and get into the adventure?
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Make sure when they all make their characters they have a reason for being in or working for the Andoran military, perhaps as Eagle Knights, or mercenaries. This adventure is one of my favorites and really plays out well as a James Bond, Young Indiana Jones (later War Years episodes) or Tom Clancy-esque game.
Our group was an elite cadre of Eagle Knights, but it could easily be a more ragtag group of the 'best of the best' brought together for this mission.
When I started the module I used the idea that they were all part of the Andoran Army that was headed to Piren’s Bluff to remove the Baron. Basically, the General called various members of different scout units together to ask for volunteers to enter and try to sabotage the Baron’s plans. Our group ended up consisting of a Monk 4/Fighter1, Rogue 5, Fighter 4/Rogue 1, and a Wizard 5. They didn’t exactly follow the way the module was laid out but they did manage to take out the Baron. I could have been a little more aggressive with the guards. A suggestion is that if they get into the keep have the guards gather around to protect the Baron. Don’t leave them in their assigned rooms.
You should have fun with this module.
Just my 2 cp.
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I went with the "known by the Andoran military" angle.
* One was a prior field soldier framed for a crime he didn't commit now working as a mercenary.
* One was a spy working for the General, having delivered the intelligence that prompted the mission in the first place (although he had not yet set foot in the town).
* Another was a jailed crime lord's thug given leniency for providing information about his boss.
* The last was someone picked up for odd behavior (a binder that takes on the personalities of the spirits he binds) whose talents the general recognized.
I allowed the players to either come up with these backgrounds, or formulated one based on the kind of PC they wanted to play.
The town portion has taken a lot longer than I expected (I had them arrive at around 2pm on a Tuesday, with the siege beginning an hour later. The event of the next day occurred at around 2pm. We are currently almost at midnight on the second day - the capture portion of the second town event occurred as a couple PCs returned from a late night strike).
I preferred to roleplay the town as much as possible (I didn't want to just hand the information to them, and I added a number of little things, like the hunters in line in front of the PCs waiting to get into town, the population's initial reaction to the siege, making contact with uh, contacts, etc.), but after 5 sessions, the players are really itching to get the meat of the mission underway now.
My crew started out at the Dead Well, talking to Lucky Ben. The Rogue played as an ex-prostitute, (a Lady Gamer, the girlfriend of the host). She went to the guards and tried to entice them. They didn't rise so she took one's longsword and ran out back where the rest of the party was waiting.
I played the entrance at late one afternoon then the Army arrived the next day. They went so fast through the town we didn't have time to do more than run the traitor's hanging.
You can get another bit of information under Product thread "Treasure of Chimera Cove". We'll start that tomorrow. If interested I'll post what happens.
Just my 2 cp.
You could go with the A Team approach, except the Andoran military are the ones who contacted them...