Question regarding the pregens ... should we just print out the characters as they appeared earlier in this thread or will you have actual fully filled out character sheets for us?
The latter...although, I'll be using my own preferred format for the character sheets such that it a) all fits on one page, b) has room for including the PC's background motivation, and c) includes a little thumbnail portrait that will match the tokens I'm using instead of miniatures.
I'm going to be whipping up a couple of my famous apple-ham grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner Friday night and I'd be happy to make a few more. So 1) let me know if you'd like in, and 2) are you allergic to walnuts?
Answer #1) Yes. Want in.
Answer #2) Not allergic to any foods as far as I know.*Notification for the paranoid: I have a food-handlers permit and I was, in fact, a sandwich-artist-in-chief for a year. ;-)
Paranoid?! Who's paranoid? Why? Should I be?! Hmmmm.... ;-)
FRIDAY nighters -- I'm going to be whipping up a couple of my famous apple-ham grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner Friday night and I'd be happy to make a few more. So 1) let me know if you'd like in, and 2) are you allergic to walnuts?
*Notification for the paranoid: I have a food-handlers permit and I was, in fact, a sandwich-artist-in-chief for a year. ;-)
...Saturday morning loves you, Elora....should that somehow sway your sandwichy favor.
Thanks for the update, sounds like you had a good time running the adventure. If no one takes the bard by game time on saturday, I'll play him instead of my selected pre-gen (if the combats are that difficult, we'll need the healer/buffer) and I'm flexible.
I've been holding off on reading the mod until I get to play in the prequel, I don't want to ruin any surprises. If any more of the saturday morning crew reports in I'll be happy to talk tactics and whatnot here.
Thanks for the update, sounds like you had a good time running the adventure. If no one takes the bard by game time on saturday, I'll play him instead of my selected pre-gen (if the combats are that difficult, we'll need the healer/buffer) and I'm flexible.
What it really boils down to is that the players in the game at ConCarolinas started out with just 5 of the 6 available pregen PCs. No one selected Lazlo the gnome rogue/wizard. He has some gear on him that can help turn a couple of fights more quickly in the PCs' favor. In addition, Brother Wolf the barbarian/druid had an item and some spells at his disposal that the player kind of held off on using, thinking he'd save it for the big bad villain at the end. Turned out, they could have used some of that stuff a lot sooner in a couple of battles. So, there were tactical choices made that caused the combats to become a lot harder.
For the games in Seattle, you'll only be running with 5 of the 6 available pregen PCs as well. So, it'll be interesting to see which character sits things out...and how that might affect things due to their skills or equipment not being available. But don't worry overly much, I'm readdressing things as necessary from the feedback I got in the first game. It was the first playtest, after all. I don't anticipate any full-on TPKs. But an individual PC death is possible...and we'll still have the 6th pregen available for someone to re-enter the game if that happens.
I've been holding off on reading the mod until I get to play in the prequel, I don't want to ruin any surprises. If any more of the saturday morning crew reports in I'll be happy to talk tactics and whatnot here.
No worries about reading Realm of the Fellnight Queen. There's nothing in that adventure that spoils anything for the prequel. Several of the players in the first game had already read the module...and a lot of people are familiar with the premise anyway if they followed along with the RPG Superstar contest a year ago. Regardless, everyone still had a lot of fun recognizing the tie-in's and cameos of various NPCs in the prequel game. In some ways, knowledge of Realm of the Fellnight Queen might actually enhance the prequel experience. :-)
--Neil
News Flash: Looks like Marc Radle and his son are going to have to cancel their PaizoCon trip. So, two slots may re-open for the Friday night game. I'm checking with Josh on the Paizo policy for lottery cancellations.
News Flash: Looks like Marc Radle and his son are going to have to cancel their PaizoCon trip. So, two slots may re-open for the Friday night game. I'm checking with Josh on the Paizo policy for lottery cancellations.
Love to jump up and down and shriek, "pick me pick me!" But I doubt that is how it works.
Love to jump up and down and shriek, "pick me pick me!" But I doubt that is how it works.
Yeah...I think Josh probably uses a different method to resolve such things. ;-)
Huh. Well, whaddya know.
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I get to fill the vacated spots however I wish.
And, rather than just leave it up to chance (like rolling a D20 or something and taking the highest), I think I'll borrow a page from Mr. Bulmahn who recently asked for a volunteer to assist with running his Fight Club event. His method basically boils down to..."convince me"...as in, convince me you're the one I should select for the game.
Please understand, I'm not talking about bribes. Just convince me that you really, really want the chance (and have a compatible schedule) to play in the Friday night Shadow of the Fellnight Queen game, which runs from 6PM-11PM. I'm looking for passion and dedication, people! Then, I'll select 2 players to fill the vacated spots and notify them here early next week.
Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Just convince me that you really, really want the chance (and have a compatible schedule) to play in the Friday night Shadow of the Fellnight Queen game, which runs from 6PM-11PM. I'm looking for passion and dedication, people!
I was really looking forward to playing in this, Neil. Shadow of the Fellnight Queen was a "4" on my lottery...as in, this was the ONE game that I wanted to play on Friday. The lottery is a fickle mistress, though, and I was not selected.
It seems, however, that I have yet another chance! Now, as for passion, dedication....I can get you references from my GMs, Neil. I believe you know them, too. ;-)
I'm no power gamer. I roleplay as much as possible, often adding a unique personality to the character, and baiting the other characters to join me. If you pick me, I'll do my absolute best to not only enjoy the hell out of your game, but to make sure everyone else does too.
Neil, yours was one of my top games that I wanted to get to play. I tried for all sessions except for the one in which I am running a game.
I am interested for two reasons. The first is that your Fellnight Queen is fantastic and full of evocative characters. It is perfect for my home game once we finish our current campaign. I have a real challenge as my players have all been playing a modified first edition DnD since that version came out. Yes, they have been playing for 30+ years together. I am the newcomer to the group. Evidently they like my roleplaying ability enough to entrust me with not only a new campaign but also a brand new (to them) game system. Some never played 2nd edition much less 3rd, so Pathfinder will be a huge transition. I managed to convince them to switch. :)
The second reason is that our current DM (the guy running games for those 30 years) really wants to play a gnome. His concept of his gnome is based entirely on his own ideas as he has not (and won't) read up on how Golarion gnomes are supposed to behave. By interesting coincidence his ideas match perfectly for gnomes, I think that great minds think alike. He is a very good DM and roleplayer, so I have a big set of shoes to fill.
I figure that in order to do my best with my group it would serve me well to get into a game that is the prequel to that adventure, "Fellnight Queen," run by the very guy who wrote the thing. It is icing on the cake to get into a game with other players whose Play-by-Post games I have been reading ever since I first bought the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path. You guys are all fantastic roleplayers. I hope to learn a few things from this experience.
Neil, I just noticed, none of the character have any money.
Indeed. They're all dirt poor! :-D
Oh! and if you choose me to play, Neil. I'll would be happy to take over Marc's choice of Lazlo as a character. Having a bachelor of science in geology can't hurt, I can babble quite competently about rocks.
Oh! and if you choose me to play, Neil. I'll would be happy to take over Marc's choice of Lazlo as a character. Having a bachelor of science in geology can't hurt, I can babble quite competently about rocks.
I have to say, Dark Sasha is one of the volunteers running a game (the Wheel of Time game I'm in on Sunday) AND she seems very enthusiastic...that's gotta count for something.
If we Friday night players get a vote, mine goes to Tim! How could you not give a slot to the guy who got PaizoCon going in the first place?? None of us would be playing this game without the huge amount of work he put in two years ago.
Ya, Tim is fun to play with too. We had a spare slot in one of the games I was in last year and someone grabbed Tim when he walked by and he did definitely added something to the game.
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If we Friday night players get a vote, mine goes to Tim! How could you not give a slot to the guy who got PaizoCon going in the first place?? None of us would be playing this game without the huge amount of work he put in two years ago.
Great point!
If I can't be there, giving my slot to the guy that started this whole thing seems right somehow.
Did I mention how much not going is killing me lately?
Dirty Poor??? I'm wearing over 30lbs of mithiral! I was just asking because I'm picturing my character as the knight in shining armor, and going into a smaller (poorer) town, I could see him being loose with his coin to help the ill and the down.
It's a little unlikely that the frontier-traveling knight-in-shining-armor would also carry along a big bag or chest of coins with him for such a circumstance. But I could see him constantly writing up official "grants" from the People's Republic, which the locals are expected to somehow cash in if they can reach an official government representative to do so. Basically, he could be writing IOUs for those he deems worthy. And whether or not they can actually be cashed in is out of his hands.
Just convince me that you really, really want the chance (and have a compatible schedule) to play in the Friday night Shadow of the Fellnight Queen game, which runs from 6PM-11PM....I'll select 2 players to fill the vacated spots and notify them here early next week.
Alright, so far we've had two folks step forward to make their "appeal" to join the Friday night game. And, I'd like to fill the 2 open spots sooner rather than later so the chosen players have time to familiarize themselves with the pregens, their fellow-players, and make certain they get their schedules adjusted to include the game on Friday night. As such, I'll cut-off any further appeals after 5PM EST this afternoon...which means, I'll select and post the chosen players here sometime this evening.
Wow, you step away from the boards for a few weeks and all of a sudden, everything's all different. I suppose that is not too surprising if those weeks are between the lottery and the con.
So, first: sorry to hear that Marc and son won't make it.
Second: Elora, Scott and I would both certainly welcome a sandwich and do not have allergies/paranoia.
Finally, Scott would like to play Tess'ara and I was/am torn between Merrick and Galadon. If one of the new players picks one, then I will take the other.
Looking forward to Friday!
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I'm not too eloquent or have a dramatic flair for words, but to prove my dedication to the game I'm more than willing to arm wrestle anyone else who thinks they are more deserving for a spot. That or a good old fashioned game of playground mercy (being double jointed makes it pretty hard for me to lose.)
That being said, I'm always more of an enabler when it comes to gaming, and would be happy to play whatever character would be left over that would help[ the group (yes I will willingly play the bard if asked to :D"
And not too sound like a real fanboy or anything, but I'd be very excited to have Niel as a GM. Loved reading his comments on this years RPG superstar contest and was looking forward to playing the the Fellknight queen with my local group. Having it run by the writer would be legitimately awesome in my book.
As Jeremy's DM;
Jeremy's absolutely a fanboy of yours, Niel. He was a little heartbroken that he didn't get into one of the slots for this game originally, as it was his #1 choice for the Con as well (my entire group is travelling out from North Dakota to attend). He's a good fellow to have in the party, he's great for roleplay and he's always quick to mesh in with a new group of people. In terms of players, he's one of the better ones I've had in my 17+ years of DM'ing.
Just a little DM testimonial for my friend.
Alright...so, it's after 5PM EST, and I see we've had one more join the fray. I've got 2 slots open on Friday night and 3 potential players to choose from...and, the good news is that, instead of just selecting from those who made an appeal, I'm actually going to make room for all 3 of you. Here's how:
Tim - How could I not make room for the founder of PaizoCon...and my Seattle tour guide on Thursday? I'd be ecstatic if you'd join the Friday night game, 6PM-11PM.
Dark Sasha - Your enthusiasm has me convinced. In addition, I'm inclined to help anyone who's taking over the reins of GMing for their gaming group with the express purpose of running Fellnight Queen. I'd also like to see you in the Friday night game, 6PM-11PM.
Jeremy - Here's the deal. Since Nathan has already vouched for you and has experience roleplaying alongside you, I'd like you to join the Saturday morning game, 8AM-1PM. I've got 2 other players for that session who haven't checked in, yet. And, even if they both show up, I'll still have a 6th pregen PC you can run alongside your friends. So, hopefully, your schedule is clear for Saturday morning and you don't mind taking a late lunch after the Fellnight Queen is done with you. However, if you're going to be a proper fanboy, I find it imperative to correct you on the spelling of my name. It's "Neil"...not "Niel"... ;-)
Thanks for having such an interest in the game, everyone. I look forward to doing my best to make it a memorable and enjoyable experience.
--Neil
Jeremy - ... I find it imperative to correct you on the spelling of my name. It's "Neil"...not "Niel"... ;-)
Ooh, Jeremy got off light - except we have yet to see what happens to his character during the game.
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/shame /shame /shame
I blame my right hand, it's always been hitting the keys on it's side of the keyboard a bit too quickly. Don't worry, I'll have it removed before the game Saturday so it won't be able to bother anyone.
Very kind of you to offer to make room on the Saturday game even if your normally selected folks show up, thanks for the opportunity.
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Excellent! Thanks, Neil! And thank you, Elora and Eric, for the ringing endorsements!
I am really looking forward to this one!
Dark Sasha, are you playing Lazlo (it sounds perfect for you, you rock hound!)?
Hmmm. That leaves Galadan and Brother Wolf.
Neil, as an ex-cleric, are the cleric spells and abilities "no workie" at the start of the session? Or does he retain them?
Taldoran womanizer...yet "repenting" cleric. This seems...full of RP possibilities.
Or gruff druid guy, who only seems to be able to relate to his wolf. (Who's a good girl? Yes! Yes! Good girl!...looks up...What?!? What're you lookin' at? Grrrrrrr.)
;-)
Excellent! Thanks, Neil! And thank you, Elora and Eric, for the ringing endorsements!
I am really looking forward to this one!
Dark Sasha, are you playing Lazlo (it sounds perfect for you, you rock hound!)?
Thanks so much Neil and to Eric for the endorsement!
If no one else minds, I'd love to play the gnome rock hound. I bet you can guess what his idea of the perfect silent image illusion might be.
Neil, as an ex-cleric, are the cleric spells and abilities "no workie" at the start of the session? Or does he retain them? Taldoran womanizer...yet "repenting" cleric. This seems...full of RP possibilities.
The cleric spells and abilities are indeed "no workie" at the start of the session, but there's a definite point at which they become available again. All in all, he's probably one of the most conflicted and harder PCs to roleplay. In the session I ran at the local convention here in NC, he developed a bit of an eye for the female elf PC.
Or gruff druid guy, who only seems to be able to relate to his wolf. (Who's a good girl? Yes! Yes! Good girl!...looks up...What?!? What're you lookin' at? Grrrrrrr.)
Interesting note about the druid...he's actually the highest level spellcaster of the entire party. And, when and if he powers up his attacks with a shillelagh, he's one of the heaviest hitters, too. His background kind of paints him as the wistful sort. Of all the PCs, he's kind of the "loner" type who's agreed to aid this band of "city-dwellers" in braving the dangers of the forest to find their mutual friend. I think of him kind of like a forest-bound Native American Indian with a wolf totem thing going and a major affinity for wild animals a la Grizzly Adams style.
Hope that helps inspire,
--Neil
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Sheesh, now I want to play the druid! I literally grew up in the woods, hunting bear with a pack of hounds. It would be fun to reprise my youth in fantasy hero form...lol. (Despite the inspiration, still looking forward to giving Sir Navarrus Winnt a go).
Welcome to Dark Sasha and Tim! It's going to be a great game! :)
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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I am leaning toward the disfavored bard. I likes me a challenge, I guess.
Actually.....
Into the woods
Without delay,
But careful not
To lose the way.
Into the woods,
Who knows what may
Be lurking on the journey?
Into the woods
To get the thing
That makes it worth
The journeying.
Into the woods!
Into the woods,
Then out of the woods,
And home before dark!
I am leaning toward the disfavored bard. I likes me a challenge, I guess.
Actually.....
** spoiler omitted **
Isn't one of the lines something like, "... To find some money"?
Fitting for an adventuring party. see you Friday night.
Malcolm
Okay, so to recap everything folks have chosen so far, here's how both games are shaping up:
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Friday Night:
- Sir Navarrus Winnt, human fighter 4 / sorcerer 1
- Galadon Albercroft, human bard 3 / ex-cleric of Shelyn 2
- Lazlo Briarbrimmon, gnome rogue 2 / illusionist 3
- Merrick Iolandi, half-elf monk 2 / ranger 3
- Tess'ara Iolandi, elf fighter 3 / ranger 2
Unclaimed pregen PC:
Brother Wolf, human barbarian 1 / druid 4
Saturday Morning:
- Sir Navarrus Winnt, human fighter 4 / sorcerer 1
- Galadon Albercroft (if no one else takes him), human bard 3 / ex-cleric of Shelyn 2
- Tess'ara Iolandi, elf fighter 3 / ranger 2
- no selection
- no selection
Unclaimed pregen PCs:
Brother Wolf, human barbarian 1 / druid 4
Merrick Iolandi, half-elf monk 2 / ranger 3
Lazlo Briarbrimmon, gnome rogue 2 / illusionist 3
Okay, so to recap everything folks have chosen so far, here's how both games are shaping up:
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.
.Friday Night:
** spoiler omitted **Saturday Morning:
** spoiler omitted **
For the sake of completeness, my first name is Dawn. Sasha is the name of my very first Ad&d character from back when I was in high school, and I am not going to tell you how long ago that was. ;)
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Just a couple more days now! :)
Friday nighters -- I'm planning on bringing 6 hot-off-the-grill sandwiches. Sir Navarrus likes to make sure his adventuring companions are well-nourished :).
Bless you. I was planning on either sprinting to BK, or gnawing on Clif Bars all night.
I'm just impressed that the good Eagle Knight has taken it upon himself to rescue the Gamemaster as well! Talk about above and beyond the call of duty!
I've just returned from a successful running of "Shadow of the Fellnight Queen" and about to turn in for the night before running it a second time at 8AM tomorrow. Lots of fun had by all, I believe. Some really great roleplaying (as expected) and some very appropos problem-solving and tactical battle plans against some pretty vicious enemies. Thanks to Malcolm, Scott, Dawn, Megan, and Tim for participating.
I've just returned from a successful running of "Shadow of the Fellnight Queen" and about to turn in for the night before running it a second time at 8AM tomorrow. Lots of fun had by all, I believe. Some really great roleplaying (as expected) and some very appropos problem-solving and tactical battle plans against some pretty vicious enemies. Thanks to Malcolm, Scott, Dawn, Megan, and Tim for participating.
Thanks so much Neil! I had a lot of fun. It is a sign of well designed encounters that none of our characters actually dropped, but I felt like it could easily have gone the other way had any of us made poor choices; also, very clever use of terrain. Thanks Megan for the sandwiches, they were excellent. Thanks Tim for the show tunes, you had me giggling enough to make it difficult to stay in character. To Malcolm and Scott, you guys were great and kept our characters alive.
Thanks, again, Neil. We had a blast!
Thanks, guys!
Also, I'd like to give a shout out to another really exceptional group that played "Shadow of the Fellnight Queen" on Saturday. Matthew Stinson, Nathan, Amanda, Jeremy, Bill, and Tom (the guy who put together the stage production of Burnt Offerings). This really was a fun crew. And so was the first group of players on Friday night.
Also, apologies once again to Jeremy for wiping out his druid's animal companion (wolf) in the very first encounter. And, it's too bad the Fellnight Queen's shadow nailed Bill's gnome (who had just cast expeditious retreat) with a fear spell that almost completely eliminated his participation in the final battle. Lots of memorable stuff (and really great roleplaying) all around.
Thanks again, guys. You certainly made this year's PaizoCon memorable for me. And I'm really flattered and happy with all the positive comments I've received about the prequel, as well as the Realm of the Fellnight Queen module itself. Thank you for playing, enjoying -- and in some cases, buying -- something I wrote.
Sincerely,
--Neil
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 4
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It was great Neil. I had a really fun time. I'm sorry we took so long with that first fight and you couldn't really showcase half your adventure. Then agian, if this was a home game, it would have been great to have your party fall right into that trap like that. I had a great time and would love to run this myself. If this came out as a module, it would be a blast to run it back-to-back with Realm of the Fellnight Queen.
It was great Neil. I had a really fun time. I'm sorry we took so long with that first fight and you couldn't really showcase half your adventure. Then again, if this was a home game, it would have been great to have your party fall right into that trap like that.
I didn't mind the length of that first battle. It's a very dramatic encounter. And we did it justice. Besides, I could probably run a Mona-esque 11-hour marathon game if it involved the Fellnight Queen. This storyline of adventuring material is just that much fun to run (for me, at least).
I had a great time and would love to run this myself. If this came out as a module, it would be a blast to run it back-to-back with Realm of the Fellnight Queen.
That's the idea. And when I run this for my children someday, I'll include both adventures in true storybook fashion. I'll also have a sequel to Realm of the Fellnight Queen in mind by then as well. So it'll be a trilogy at the very least.
Glad you had fun,
--Neil