LoF - Any Good?

[stuart haffenden]

So this is an ask targetting any DM's out there running this AP.

Is it any good?

Are there any "issues" to know about?

How does it compare to RotRL and CotCT?

[Evil Lincoln]

I've run the first chapter, and read the whole thing in depth.

I wish I had chosen this for my regular campaign instead of Runelords. Runelords is great, mind you, but LoF is just more polished. Paizo has really applied their knowledge from the previous APs in the design of this one.

That said it is a bit rail-roady in places — nothing I can't work with as an experienced GM. There are multiple "add on" plots you can find in this forum, some of them by the original writers (director's cuts!) and some by highly creative GMs.

If you combine this with Dark Markets, the Katapesh chronicles book (which is REALLY good) you should have enough creative ammunition to divert from the railroady bits, since they mostly occur in Katapesh.

Another flaw, I think, is the "Set Piece" adventures. They were removed from the Pathfinder format after LoF and you can see why... at the higher levels they had a lot of trouble making the encounters seem modular. They still fit well in the ongoing AP, but it's really not worth the extra space they eat up. They should just go in the Adventure Path proper from now on (and they do!)

Even though the spread of levels is the same as some earlier APs, this one "feels" shorter. The levels come from fewer salient events, I suppose... although that could be the Setpiece thing.

I'm really focusing on the flaws so far, but this is my favorite AP that I've seen. The adventure sites are second to none, and the art is great!

[Evil Lincoln]

Also, I'm happy to answer your specific questions about the AP. I really like it.

[delabarre]

Spoiler:

The biggest railroad problem with the AP is that it requires, halfway through, that the PCs do something fairly counterproductive -- activate the scroll of Kakishon, sucking them into the extradimensional space and freeing the Big Bad from imprisonment.
For my campaign, I'm going to be giving the PCs a pressing need to enter Kakishon to retrieve something that Nex hid there (I haven't worked out the details yet).

[Abraham spalding]

Spoiler:

Our group hasn't activated the scroll yet... but we actually want to in character. According to what we have heard there is a load of good loot in there and we are fairly mercenary when it comes to our gaining of loot. Part of this is our desire to use the money from such on improving katamarine (however it is spelled) and part of it is for our own personal benefit of course. I hadn't even thought that there might be a reason people wouldn't want to open the scroll honestly, and I thought the idea that a party would want to sell such a valuable item was a bit silly.

[delabarre]

Abraham spalding wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

It's not canon, but my intention is that hidden on the islands is one of Nex's "emergency bunkers" containing a cache of backup wiz-weapons, including (I think) a staff of power and robes of the archmagi. If my PCs choose to explore the islands (beyond the core storyline) they will be amply rewarded for their efforts.

(Of course, after that Ima drop the big hammer on them in the City of Brass...)

[stuart haffenden]

Thanks for the insight.

I guess you've answered my main question, "Where is the plot hole". There seems to be one in every AP, although the RotRL one is small in comparison.

Why do you think there's always a "dodgy" part? They're all good writers after all.

[Gorbacz]

It's not a "plot hole". It's more "a place where some gaming groups might not go in the way AP dictates as written". Or, it's a spot where DM must have a "plan B".

Except the Second Darkness plot holes, those are ugly.

[delabarre]

Gorbacz wrote:

It's not a "plot hole". It's more "a place where some gaming groups might not go in the way AP dictates as written". Or, it's a spot where DM must have a "plan B".

Except the Second Darkness plot holes, those are ugly.

And dark...very dark.

[Mr Baron]

Overall it is very solid. I am running LoF which will roll into Necromancer's Necropolis. I have added a number of additional areas to make the AP feel more open ended. Thus far, we have completed the first book and they are working through the old fort which I have added considable content. I suspect that in another session or two, they will be on their way to the House of the Beast. I do want to add more content to the City of Brass, but I have not made it that far in my planning.

[deinol]

Mr Baron wrote:

I do want to add more content to the City of Brass, but I have not made it that far in my planning.

if you can get a copy (I think it is available via PDF) Necromancer's City of Brass box is excellent. I plan to use that to fill out my LoF game if it makes it that far.

[Mr Baron]

deinol wrote:

Mr Baron wrote:

I do want to add more content to the City of Brass, but I have not made it that far in my planning.

if you can get a copy (I think it is available via PDF) Necromancer's City of Brass box is excellent. I plan to use that to fill out my LoF game if it makes it that far.

The City of Brass box set is awesome, especially since it is sitting on my shelf. :)

I have not fully read through all the material, but as they get closer, I will start working out a number of additional encounters. My goal is to make the time spent in the city feel epic, as is has been around since the publish of the 1st ed DMG. When the players finish and go back to Golarion, I want them to say, "WOW! That was really cool!"

[Evil Lincoln]

Mr Baron wrote:

I have not fully read through all the material, but as they get closer, I will start working out a number of additional encounters. My goal is to make the time spent in the city feel epic, as is has been around since the publish of the 1st ed DMG. When the players finish and go back to Golarion, I want them to say, "WOW! That was really cool!"

I am going to look into finding this box.

Would you mind terribly posting any supplemental encounters you invent here in the forums? LoF is still a very young AP in terms of community support, and I would love it if I had even half as much material as I have from the Runelords forum by the time I get around to LoF.

[Mr Baron]

Evil Lincoln wrote:

Mr Baron wrote:

I have not fully read through all the material, but as they get closer, I will start working out a number of additional encounters. My goal is to make the time spent in the city feel epic, as is has been around since the publish of the 1st ed DMG. When the players finish and go back to Golarion, I want them to say, "WOW! That was really cool!"

I am going to look into finding this box.

Would you mind terribly posting any supplemental encounters you invent here in the forums? LoF is still a very young AP in terms of community support, and I would love it if I had even half as much material as I have from the Runelords forum by the time I get around to LoF.

Thus far I have not done much to develop CoB. I have done quite a bit with the old fort that is mentioned in the first book HotCK. My characters should be completing the old fort this weekend, and then will move on to The House of the Beast.