AP Author "dream team"

[Gorbacz]

So ! 2 years and 4 APs later, we've had our share of writers and adventures. Out of curiosity, I'd like to start a thread where people can list their "dream team" of authors for APs. You might also list folks for support articles.

As for me it goes like this:

1. Richard Pett
2. James Jacobs
3. Eric Monna
4. Greg A. Vaughn
5. Nicolas Logue
6. Jason Nelson

Support Writers:

1. Wolf Baur
2. Todd Stewart
3. Lou Agresta

[Jared Ouimette]

I think I'd like to see some more new blood in there, if not to just take the load off of the greats.

And who knows? Maybe one of them will be a great.

[Jason Nelson]

Gorbacz wrote:

So ! 2 years and 4 APs later, we've had our share of writers and adventures. Out of curiosity, I'd like to start a thread where people can list their "dream team" of authors for APs. You might also list folks for support articles.

As for me it goes like this:

1. Richard Pett
2. James Jacobs
3. Eric Monna
4. Greg A. Vaughn
5. Nicolas Logue
6. Jason Nelson

Support Writers:

1. Wolf Baur
2. Todd Stewart
3. Lou Agresta

Wow, I'm like the Joey Bishop of the Rat Pack!

Thanks for the thumbs-up - hopefully War of the River Kings will live up to your regard. It's coming together nicely so far! Mmm... troll thunderlancers mounted on mastodons... :)

[Brutesquad07]

Jason Nelson wrote:

Mmm... troll thunderlancers mounted on mastodons... :)

You know, I am wrapping up my CotCT game here in the next month or two and am doing RotRL after that. I was thinking the other day I wonder what my next AP/Campaign will be. Now...I think it is going to be this one just because of this.

[Russ Taylor]

I'm impressed the OP got both parts of Erik's name wrong :) Though maybe it is some sort of banquet-related joke.

[Todd Stewart]

*blush*

I'll have a support article in one of the upcoming APs :) Not sure which of the APs actually, since it could in theory fit either.

[Gorbacz]

Russ Taylor wrote:

I'm impressed the OP got both parts of Erik's name wrong :) Though maybe it is some sort of banquet-related joke.

I'm just picking up Lou Agresta's tradition of mis-spelling Eric's name. Damn why did I put a "k" there ?

[DitheringFool]

Jared Ouimette wrote:

I think I'd like to see some more new blood in there, if not to just take the load off of the greats.

And who knows? Maybe one of them will be a great.

I lean more towards no more than one new blood per AP...

[Neil Spicer]

DitheringFool wrote:

I lean more towards no more than one new blood per AP...

Dibs! :-D

[mearrin69]

I like your list pretty well. I might move Logue to the top because I like his kind of crazy. Agree with one or two new folks per AP. Gotta see what they can do. I vote for W.A.R. to always do at least the covers and main character illustrations :) but I suppose he's got a pretty full plate.
M

[Grimsh]

In the following order:

1) Erik Mona
2) Nic Logue
3) Richard Pett
4) James Jacobs
5) Greg Vaughan
6) Wolfgang Baur

[Darrin Drader]

Before you dismiss me completely from any of the upcoming lists, I'd just like to point out that the most revealing depiction of Seoni appeared in the adventure I wrote for the Legacy of Fire AP. I'm sure that if/when I end up doing another one of these, I'll be happy to rally for them to show an iconic in the buff again!

[Lord Gadigan]

Adventures (in the order that the AP progresses, not order of author preference)-
1 - Joshua J. Frost
2 - Richard Pett
3 - Nicholas Logue
4 - Jason Nelson
5 - Greg A. Vaughan
6 – F. Wesley Schneider

Articles-
2 x Sean K. Reynolds
2 x James L. Sutter
2 x Todd Stewart
James Jacobs
Wolfgang Bauer
Erik Mona
Amber Scott
Owen K.C. Stevens
Clinton Boomer

Also-
At least one monster by Darrin Drader

[baron arem heshvaun]

Tim Hitchcock will be around shortly and he will be taking all your names down.

'I pity the fools ...'

[ericthecleric]

Because the following are the best at writing old-school style adventures, I’d have this alphabetical list:

* Wolfgang Baur
* Erik Mona
* Greg Vaughan

I’d include James Jacobs in that list, as he’s written great stuff, but he should be doing the best job he can as editor instead of distracting himself by writing! :-)

However, since that list doesn’t include six people, I’ll extend it to:
* Wolfgang Baur
* Jason Bulmahn
* Nick Logue
* Erik Mona
* Richard Pett
* Greg Vaughan (for higher level rather than low-level)

There are plenty of other great writers out there, like Steve Greer, Tim Hitchcock, Tito Leati et al, but those six are my team.

As for articles, I’ll include Darrin & Wesley here so they don’t feel left out! ;-) And all the others who didn’t make my list of six.

[W E Ray]

Don't forget,
a Dream Team has 12 players.

1st String:

1) Carl Sargent
2) Chris Perkins
3) Monte Cook
4) Wolfgang Baur
5) Richard Pett

Backups:

1) James Jacobs
2) Nic Logue
3) Greg Vaughan

Alternates:

Bruce Cordell
Chris Pramas
Steve Greer
Tim Hitchcock

[prashant panavalli]

Man any AP needs to have James Jacobs leading off. Take ANY adventure path, narrow it down to which are the best introductory adventures,and you'll find that JJ has authored almost all of them.

[WormysQueue]

My dream team would be Tito Leati and Christine Schneider. I'd absolutely love to see an adventure co-written by those two as Tito has written some of the best adventures ever published and Christine's stuff seems to strike a chord with me everytime I read it.

But as this isn't exactly what this thread's all about my dream team would probably be:

Adventures:
1. Wolfgang Baur
2. James Jacobs
3. Greg A. Vaughan
4. Richard Pett
5. Nicholas Logue

Honorary Mention: Steve Greer

Articles:
1. Ed Greenwood
2. Wolfgang Baur
3. Sean K. Reynolds
4. Todd Stewart
5. Darren Drader

Honorary Mention: Hal McLean and Amber E. Scott

and please let Boomer write a Nidal Companion ASAP! ;)

[Erik Mona]

prashant panavalli wrote:

Man any AP needs to have James Jacobs leading off. Take ANY adventure path, narrow it down to which are the best introductory adventures,and you'll find that JJ has authored almost all of them.

Thanks for using the word "almost". :)

[W E Ray]

Mona,

Who would you put on your "old school" Dream Team list?

We understand you can't really say who your contemporary favorites are, but, how 'bout back in the day?

(I remember how much you respect Dale "Slade" Henson's work)

[Asgetrion]

Erik Mona wrote:

prashant panavalli wrote:

Man any AP needs to have James Jacobs leading off. Take ANY adventure path, narrow it down to which are the best introductory adventures,and you'll find that JJ has authored almost all of them.

Thanks for using the word "almost". :)

I just want to say three words: 'The Whispering Cairn'! :)

(and, 'Howl of the Carrion King' is pretty awesome, too)

[Erik Mona]

My modern "dream team" looks a lot like the ones posted above. Oh, hell, here it is:

James Jacobs
Jason Bulmahn
Richard Pett
Nick Logue
Greg A. Vaughan
Me (because I can't let these guys have all the fun)

If I'm not allowed, swap me out for Monte Cook.

As for a classic 1e Adventure Path, I'd say (in order of preference):

Robert J. Kuntz
Gary Gygax
Tracy Hickman
Paul Jaquays
David "Zeb" Cook
Harold Johnson

As long as James Jacobs or I get to do the editing.

And I'm not 100% sure on Harold Johnson, but he did some of the Slavers stuff and Tamoachan, both of which are excellent. I could be convinced to swap him out for Tom Moldvay.

[Whimsy Chris]

Erik Mona wrote:

As long as James Jacobs or I get to do the editing.

lol

My dream team (in no particular order):

James Jacobs
Erik Mona
Richard Pett
Nicholas Logue
Christopher Perkins
Tracy Hickman

[W E Ray]

I readily admit that I have a near man-crush on Mona. He is the second best editor (after Perkins) that the mags ever had and he is the best publisher in D&D (edging out Baur & Pramas).

But Mr. Mona, you only have one adventure.

I can't put you on the Dream Team -- except as it's Coach (editor).

Now, I'd put "The Whispering Cairn" on a top 25 list and Balabar Smenk is the greatest NPC ever designed but it is, afterall, only 1 adventure.

Of course, this gets tricky, too. How much did Mona do "Maure Castle" Redo with Gygax & Kuntz? Because that is the #1 adventure Dungeon ever published (just ahead of "The Harrowing", "Kingdom of the Ghouls", "The Styes" and "Umbra."

And then there's Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk, which is the best D20 campaign (edging out SCAP, AoW, STAP and The Freeport Trilogy). And he was one of the designers.

But ultimatley I don't think he has enough individual credits on "The Greatest" adventures to make the Dream Team.

He's still god, though.

[Gorbacz]

W E Ray wrote:

But Mr. Mona, you only have one adventure.

*cough* two, Whispering Cairn and Howl of the Carrion King.

[W E Ray]

Gorbacz wrote:

*cough* two... "Howl of the Carrion King".

Sure, solid adventure, but is it good enough for "The Greatest" list compared to "The Greatest" from Perkins, Logue, Vaughan, etc.?

Perkins has a lot of solid adventures like "Howl" and probably a dozen FREAKING AMAZING, easily "Greatest List" adventures. Vaughan has fewer but still enough "Greatest List" adventures to be there. Logue: nuff said, second in proliferation of greatness to Perkins.

Pett, very few adventures, equitable to Hickman. Hickman only did a few but they were all SUPERSTAR adventures. Both could be on a top 5 list of adventure writers.

[Charles Evans 25]

This isn't quite a 'dream team', but trying to be realistic my proposed authors for Jade Regent:

JR #1 James Jacobs & Erik Mona
These two have experience of writing *good* opening adventures, and between them I hope (touch wood) that they would have the time to write one adventure, in between normal office duties.

JR #2 Michael Kortes
I assume this will be some sort of expedition across wilderness phase of the adventure, and Michael Kortes wrote 'History of Ashes'.

JR #3 Wolfgang Baur & James MacKenzie (The latter ‘Sir_Wulf’ of the Paizo boards)
Obligatory fun in a ruined city of a lost civilisation.

JR #4 Nicholas Logue
Intrigue and ninjas in the imperial capital.

JR #5 Richard Pett
Politics and doing favours with oriental dragons. Mr. Pett has written two adventures which feature intense RP activity of which I am aware: 'Prince of Red Hand' and 'The Six Trials of Larazod'.

JR #6 Clinton Boomer & Christine Schneider
Clinton Boomer handles the big action side of a palace coup, whilst Christine Schneider deals with the intrigues and despicable villainous mastermind.

Now I know Greg Vaughan is missing from this list, but surely the poor guy deserves a break? However given that it may be unlikely that Nicholas Logue would have the time to write a full module, Nicholas Logue could be bumped down to collaborate with Pett on JR #5 (although god forgive me for the horror that that might unleash if The Sixfold Trial is any indication) and Greg Vaughan could write JR #4...
As to supporting articles, I would recommend a number of the werecabbages (including first and foremost Lilith) for these, and for fiction maybe Elaine Cunningham taking Channa Ti waaaaaay out of her normal stamping ground on some sort of mission to the east, for a very much 'crocodile out of water' experience.
Oh, and naturally an article/bestiaries by James Jacobs on the demons of the east. :)

Edit:
I suspect a certain amount of email correspondence might be necessary for some of the collaborative modules, so better get them writing now, James & Erik, and launch it at GenCon 2011... ;)

[Hank Woon]

W E Ray wrote:

Sure, solid adventure, but is it good enough for "The Greatest" list compared to "The Greatest" from Perkins, Logue, Vaughan, etc.?

Well, it did take Gold at the Ennie's this year...

[Dryder]

Erik Mona wrote:

(...)

If I'm not allowed, swap me out for Monte Cook. (...)

There it is! Not that I want you to get swapped out, but havin Monte Cook as an author for an issue of an AP - man, that would be awesome!!!

[Zairos]

Dryder wrote:

Erik Mona wrote:

(...)

If I'm not allowed, swap me out for Monte Cook. (...)

There it is! Not that I want you to get swapped out, but havin Monte Cook as an author for an issue of an AP - man, that would be awesome!!!

Just take a look at the PF module that is going to be released July 2010: "Curse of the Riven Sky". Not quite an AP issue, but I think it's gonna be all kinds of awesome!

[EATERoftheDEAD]

All of the above mentioned authors would round out my dream team, but I would love to see Gwen Kesstrel (sp?) thrown in the mix.

[Todd Stewart]

EATERoftheDEAD wrote:

All of the above mentioned authors would round out my dream team, but I would love to see Gwen Kesstrel (sp?) thrown in the mix.

Does she still work for WotC? If so I don't think they allow their folks to freelance.

[Hank Woon]

Todd Stewart wrote:

Does she still work for WotC? If so I don't think they allow their folks to freelance.

No, she works at Microsoft. But she doesn't play Pathfinder (I was in Greg Bilsland's 4E campaign for several months up until recently, and her and I were playing the two dragonborn in the group).

[Byron Zibeck]

In no particular order:

Erik Mona/James Jacobs
Richard Pett
Nicolous Logue
Steven S. Greer
Jason Bulmahn
F. Wesley Schneider

Support:
Wolfgang Baur
Sean K. Reynolds

[Joshua J. Frost]

Lord Gadigan wrote:

Adventures (in the order that the AP progresses, not order of author preference)-

1 - Joshua J. Frost

Success!

[EATERoftheDEAD]

Hank Woon wrote:

... But she doesn't play Pathfinder. ...

Aw, that's too bad, I enjoyed everything I ran of hers.

[Sunderstone]

Erik Mona wrote:

My modern "dream team" looks a lot like the ones posted above. Oh, hell, here it is:

James Jacobs
Jason Bulmahn
Richard Pett
Nick Logue
Greg A. Vaughan
Me (because I can't let these guys have all the fun)

Pretty much my list too. Sean K Reynolds for something high level, his Lost Temple of Demogorgon (Dungeon #120) was awesome.

Also add Bruce Cordell, Monte Cook, Carl Sargent, Skip Williams and Browne & Turnbull (Saltmarsh series)to a classic style AP.

[Dryder]

Zairos wrote:

Dryder wrote:

Erik Mona wrote:

(...)

If I'm not allowed, swap me out for Monte Cook. (...)

There it is! Not that I want you to get swapped out, but havin Monte Cook as an author for an issue of an AP - man, that would be awesome!!!

Just take a look at the PF module that is going to be released July 2010: "Curse of the Riven Sky". Not quite an AP issue, but I think it's gonna be all kinds of awesome!

Yes, I've seen this! Can't wait to have it!!! :) Thanx for the info!

[Jared Ouimette]

I think we should start a new thread dedicated to the best writers of fluff and mechanics, they help shape the world the adventures take place in, and are possibly more important because they allow DMs to create their own adventures.

[Beercifer]

Darrin Drader wrote:

Before you dismiss me completely from any of the upcoming lists, I'd just like to point out that the most revealing depiction of Seoni appeared in the adventure I wrote for the Legacy of Fire AP. I'm sure that if/when I end up doing another one of these, I'll be happy to rally for them to show an iconic in the buff again!

Damn you Darrin, I just got over my Seoni fetish after having to laminate "the Skinsaw Murders" for its lovely depiction of Seoni checking out the falling bells and debris.

[Absinth]

I'd love to see an AP written by the following guys: Nic Logue, Greg A. Vaughn, James MacKenzie, Mike Mearls (just re-read his awesome adventure "Root of Evil" in Dungeon #122. Boy, that was a fine game to run), Michael Kortez and Richard Pett.
I'd give them free hand on who gets to write which part, as long as Richard Pett gets to do the final one. I'd love to see his version of a high-level adventure.

[Charles Evans 25]

Absinth wrote:

...I'd give them free hand on who gets to write which part, as long as Richard Pett gets to do the final one. I'd love to see his version of a high-level adventure.

Funny you should mention that: *Link*

One for 16th level characters high enough? ;)

[Absinth]

Charles Evans 25 wrote:

Funny you should mention that: *Link*

One for 16th level characters high enough? ;)

*drools*

Wow, I haven't taken a look at the last Kingmaker-books yet. And now this and in all its glory! Paizo takes awesomeness to frightening new heights.

[Darrin Drader]

Beercifer wrote:

Damn you Darrin, I just got over my Seoni fetish after having to laminate "the Skinsaw Murders" for its lovely depiction of Seoni checking out the falling bells and debris.

Oh, I didn't say that it would be Seoni again. Personally, I don't think Lem has had enough naked time in the Pathfinder APs.

[Tim Hitchcock]

How does a thread like this exist without Tito Leati's name on it?

[Tito Leati]

He he, sorry for being in demi-shadow mode, guys, but I'm busy learning my third foreign language (German) and settling down in my third foreign country (Deutschland). As soon as I have some time available I'll be happy to resume RPG writing. The problem is coming up with something interesting... which is not so easy.

[Turin the Mad]

Tito Leati wrote:

He he, sorry for being in demi-shadow mode, guys, but I'm busy learning my third foreign language (German) and settling down in my third foreign country (Deutschland). As soon as I have some time available I'll be happy to resume RPG writing. The problem is coming up with something interesting... which is not so easy.

I would think perhaps your fell voice will be heard on the winds of character death some time in the next two years. ^_^

[Turin the Mad]

Absinth wrote:

Charles Evans 25 wrote:

Funny you should mention that: *Link*

One for 16th level characters high enough? ;)

*drools*

Wow, I haven't taken a look at the last Kingmaker-books yet. And now this and in all its glory! Paizo takes awesomeness to frightening new heights.

\o/ Pett finally gets a crack at a high-level AP Chapter - AWESOME!!

[hazel monday]

Here's my dream team.

1. Eric Mona
2. Mike Kortes
3. Richard Pett
4. Mike Kortes
5. Tim & Eileen Connors
6. Mike Kortes.

Support Articles:
F. Wesley Schneider
Nick Logue
Mike Kortes

I'd also want to see a lot of Peter Bergting & Kevin Crossley art up in there. Bergting's art would be a great match for a Kortes adventure. And Crossley would be the perfect match for one of Pett's horror adventures.