I always like to hear James Jacobs and Wes's responses to this sort of thing, but as always, all comments are welcome.
Assuming they live, my players are going to have access to Mokmurian's Library soon..
Which is one helluva an archeological discovery.
I'm just curious what level of a 'find' is that for a Pathfinder? I'm trying to gauge the potential response to a player transporting the library back to Magnimar (Clockwork Librarian and all).
Obviously Pathfinders might try to buy the player out, or steal the books..
Would just requesting access to the Library also be a potential response? How desperate would the desire to transport some of those works back to Absalom?
Obviously there are no right and wrong answers.. I'm just exploring different angles that I might bring the larger world of Golarion into focus within the scope of Rise of the Runelords.
Creative Director
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The library is a HUUUUGE find, and one that the Pathfinders would LOVE to control. Same goes for Runeforge and Xin-Shalast, in fact. All three of these sites would cause an incredible influx of interest into Varisia, and not just from the Pathfinders. Also the Aspis Consortium, several nations, and even some religions. And at the same time, Korvosa and Magnimar and Riddleport will want to profit from the fact that these finds are in their backyard. And further complicating the fact is that these three sites are still in VERY hostile territory; none of them are places you can safely send large groups of scholars.
As a result, these three sites make excellent goals for ongoing adventures in the Varisia region. I'm going to be starting a campaign in the office here set in the area that'll explore some of these themes, in fact.
But in published works, we'll be ignoring it. The default assumption remains that until your group PLAYS "Rise of the Runelords" the events therein don't happen. Someday, if we do an official timeline update to the campaign world, we'll tackle the implications of these discoveries (along with the implications set up by other Adventure Paths), but for now... it's open territory.
Ummm, with regard to transporting the library: ** spoiler omitted **
Is that the case?
Hmmm...
Well, they're players.
By that I mean, if they want it badly enough, they'll figure out a way. That is how GM. I avoid "no" but instead ask "how much does it mean to you and what lengths are you willing to go to?"
Its a good technique.
The library is a HUUUUGE find, and one that the Pathfinders would LOVE to control. Same goes for Runeforge and Xin-Shalast, in fact. All three of these sites would cause an incredible influx of interest into Varisia, and not just from the Pathfinders. Also the Aspis Consortium, several nations, and even some religions. And at the same time, Korvosa and Magnimar and Riddleport will want to profit from the fact that these finds are in their backyard. And further complicating the fact is that these three sites are still in VERY hostile territory; none of them are places you can safely send large groups of scholars.
As a result, these three sites make excellent goals for ongoing adventures in the Varisia region. I'm going to be starting a campaign in the office here set in the area that'll explore some of these themes, in fact.
But in published works, we'll be ignoring it. The default assumption remains that until your group PLAYS "Rise of the Runelords" the events therein don't happen. Someday, if we do an official timeline update to the campaign world, we'll tackle the implications of these discoveries (along with the implications set up by other Adventure Paths), but for now... it's open territory.
Thanks James! That's the sort of feedback I was looking for.
I know better than to put the cart before the horse with you, but a campaign timeline update is something I would love to see when there enough Adventure Paths out in publication to justify it.
So when time comes, I'll be an interested subscriber.
Smurf. Double post.
I edited my previous post to add an extra thought or two. And as you say, it invites players to be creative.
Now you're cooking! That's a great way to extend the campaign!
They're already moaning that their characters will have nothing to do after Chapter Six, and they'll have to make new ones.. That is a good way to have their characters continue on as interesting NPCs after the Path is over.
(Because I'm not making my own 16 to 17th level adventures. Hell, I'm paying James and Wes to make my lower level adventures now!)
In my game, one of the PCs was a Pathfinder, so when the Therassic Monastery was cleared of giants, he invited the Pathfinders to move in! The Librarian remained there in order to help the Pathfinder Society with their research into Thassilonian lore, and the gratitude of the Pathfinders was such that they funded the PCs' expeditions to Runeforge and to Xin-Shalast, providing them with rapid transport items, protection from environmental cold, that sort of thing... in exchange for detailed accounts of the secrets and treasures there, of course.
Due to this Pathfinder activity and my PCs popularizing their findings in other ways, in my version of Golarion knowledge about the basics of Thassilon is fairly widespread. Unlike at the beginning of Rise of the Runelords, most competent historians recognize the importance of the Sihedron, know the correspondence between each sin and each school of magic, and have a vague idea of the names of the Runelords and the territories they once controlled. Other than that, though... still a lot of mysteries left unsolved.
I'm going to be starting a campaign in the office here set in the area that'll explore some of these themes, in fact.
How much money do we have to pledge before you'll make your notes available, perhaps as some sort of Open Design-style supplement?
My first thought was the aftermath of the death of Smog.
Since it is land pretty much unclaimed by Korvosa or Magnimar it would be up for grabs. Between them and the Varisians and Shonti I could see the clash of armies in the valley of the black tower. This library represents possible technology leap forward for any civilization. With my characters having connections to many different groups they will be at the center of this upcoming storm.
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But in published works, we'll be ignoring it. The default assumption remains that until your group PLAYS "Rise of the Runelords" the events therein don't happen. Someday, if we do an official timeline update to the campaign world, we'll tackle the implications of these discoveries (along with the implications set up by other Adventure Paths), but for now... it's open territory.
I'm looking forward to 'world updates' they won't have a big impact on people's home games of course, but for Org Play they should have an effect. That was one of the coolest things about the Camarilla Society.
I'm really hoping that in two or three years maybe we can have a big 'world event' that lasts a whole season of Pathfinder Society, shapes the APs of that year (year being Gencon-to-gencon, not Jan-Dec), and the modules as well. My suggestion would be a Keleshite invasion of the Inner Sea region. With one AP exploring Keleshite, and the other all about fighting against them as part of a multinational army. Would be a great year to release a book exploring the Keleshite Empire and maybe a companion on fighting big battles.
As a result, these three sites make excellent goals for ongoing adventures in the Varisia region. I'm going to be starting a campaign in the office here set in the area that'll explore some of these themes, in fact.
As others mentioned, I'd love to see those notes. I can see the Jorgenfist becoming the PCs new base of operations once the AP is over. From there they go on that high level AP to stop the rest of the Runelords from rising. "Return of the Runelords" is in the works right?
Setting previous AP events in stone with a "timeline update" would be best achieved in a high-level (17+) AP that could accept a mix of PCs from any previous AP. That's a product that people are already clamoring for. The act of summarizing the events of previous APs would allow players to make new high-level PCs from those adventure backgrounds.
Let's say you have a group that has played Runelords and Legacy of Fire, and the players want to revisit their favorite character from one AP or the other in a mixed party. Then a new player comes along... because of the summary of AP events, that new player can read about Curse of the Crimson Throne and use it as his/her PC's background for the first 17 levels.
Now you can have that necessary moment at the beginning of a high-level mixed campaign party: "So... what are you famous for?"
I'm torn between wanting and not wanting a timeline update.
Anyone here remember the Poor Wizard's Almanack for Mystara? A year's worth of world events, published annualy. I loved that, sad it only lasted three volumes. (Any talk about a fourth is treason, punishable by summary execution. :) )
But on the other hand, there are the huge Crisis Crossover events that radically reshape the setting... even when rules changes aren't involved, that can be extremely annoying. (I'm looking at you, Cerulean Storm and Faction War!)