At the present time I don't play frequently enough to utilize the APs in a serial format.
That said, I LOVE them. They give me the nostalgic feeling of reading an adventure from the days of AD&D 1e, when modules were the #1 source of expansion material. They also give me insight on how to better prepare my own adventures. Finally, they're a damn good read as I envision how the iconics might approach it as well as how my players might approach certain areas.
But I love the support articles just as much. The early articles on Sandpoint, Magnimar, and Varisia hooked me. Plagues in a fantasy world? Pure gold. They are, hands down, the best vehicle for niche expansion material I've ever seen -- far superior to the magazine format where I might find a single article that was useful to me.
Unfortunately, a while back I had to cut my AP subscription as part of household belt tightening. I'm looking to re-up my subscription soon and have been working to backfill my collection. In order to prioritize accordingly, though, I'm looking for input on the best support articles out there.
For my own selfish reasons, I have the complete RotRL & CotCT runs. I have the first part of Second Darkness and parts 1-3 of CoT if anyone cares to suggest their "greatest hits" from the issues I'm missing.
Selfish reasons aside, please post the names/issues of your favorite support articles. The AP adventure segments get all the attention, now it's time to give the support articles some lovin'!
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The Sandpoint article in #1 is still one of my all-time favorite town write-ups. The Varisian Gazeteer in the same volume still makes me happy inside.
#7's article on Varisians and #10's articles on the Shoanti and the Cinderlands also added to my love of the region.
#18's article on demon lords is abyssaltastic.
All of the god articles in general, with particular favorites right now at this moment being Sarenrae from #20 and Zon-Kuthon from #11.
D'oh, re-read the thread. The ones that you don't have...
I'd hunt down some Legacy of Fire issues, especially #21 with its coverage of genies.
#28 with rules on possession.
To be fair whilst we play and plan to play in all the adventure paths, our GM for the APs (group with everyone being a GM :| so multiple settings/campaigns) absolutely loves just reading them let alone running.
Even information we as players will most likely never know, I am sure he would read them if we all ran off and left the country!
Drac.
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Try using the Pathfinder Wiki. You can hunt down material you find interesting and then check the source, which is always right there with the article.
Also the wiki has a categorized Index of Articles you might find useful
The Demon and Drow articles in #15-#18 were quite good, if you like those things. Particularly #16's Abominations of the Drow. Solar system in #15.
#1's Sandpoint of course (as you said). #32's Kingdom building/maintaining system article is fantastic as well.
My top 5 favorite support articles:
1) Of Cities & Kings (PF32)
2) Harrow (PF7)
3) Sandpoint (PF1)
4) Catastrophe! (PF30)
5) The Six Trials of Larazod (PF26)
Honorable Mention:
Plague & Pestilence (PF8)
Thanks, folks!
The AP with the fiendish possession article should reach my doorstep tomorrow.
I've got my eye on the Kingdom & Catastrophe issues as well and they're probably next on my list.
The religion articles are probably the #1 reason I'm looking to complete my missed issues backlog. I'm a sucker for fantasy RPG religions and Gods & Magic, while good, lacks the cleric-focus that the articles provide.
Of the religion articles, what are your favorites and why? I was pretty taken with the Abadar article. He went from a "meh" deity to one I could see having as a patron for a cleric PC.
As for Genies vs. Drow, neither are primary focus areas in my campaigns so they're a bit of a toss-up. Any preferences of one vs. the other?
Erastil in the last AP of River kingdom. For me he went from a meh god to, hey thats kinda cool and wanting to figure out a way to use him in the next game I run in some of the villages. But all of them are well done.
The Erastil article had the same effect on me. :)