Chief Technical Officer
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We've just officially announced the Carrion Crown Adventure Path, which will run from January through June 2011.
The Cult of the Whispering Way weaves a wide-ranging conspiracy throughout the horror-tinged lands of Ustalav aimed at freeing the Lich King Tar-Baphon, better known as the Whispering Tyrant, from his eternal prison in the dungeon of Gallowspire. Their debased rites and malicious schemes set werewolf against vampire, ghost against terror from beyond time and space in a thrilling campaign that touches upon themes of classic horror and dark swords and sorcery!
January 2011: Haunting of Harrowstone, by Michael Kortes
February 2011: Trial of the Beast, by Richard Pett
March 2011: Broken Moon, by Tim Hitchcock
April 2011: Wake of the Watcher, by Greg A. Vaughan
May 2011: Ashes at Dawn, by Neil Spicer
June 2011: Shadows of Gallowspire, by Jason Bulmahn
Product images are mockups, and will change prior to publication.
All of these will be part of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting subscription.
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At first I was going to skip this AP because I hate horror, but the adventures seem very cool. However, I'm worried that the levels are too low (although I guess you need to throw in a lower level AP every once in a while to keep everyone happy) and I will be interested to see how you connect seemingly disparate adventures containing ghosts, a mad scientist, werewolves, lovecraft stuff, vampires, and liches.
the Lich King Tar-Baphon
Count me in! Liches are among my favorite BBEG's of all time :)
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At first I was going to skip this AP because I hate horror, but the adventures seem very cool. However, I'm worried that the levels are too low (although I guess you need to throw in a lower level AP every once in a while to keep everyone happy) and I will be interested to see how you connect seemingly disparate adventures containing ghosts, a mad scientist, werewolves, lovecraft stuff, vampires, and liches.
I have to admit I'm not too pleased with the lower levels, either, but they aren't that much lower. Looks like Carrion Crown will max out at 15th level compared to Kingmaker or RotRL, CotCT, SD, and LoF's 17th level. At least it's not as bad as Council of Thieves' 13th level.
I'm definitely wondering just what horrors from beyond will show up in this AP.
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All of these will be part of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting subscription.
You mean Adventure Path subscription, correct?
At first I was going to skip this AP because I hate horror, but the adventures seem very cool. However, I'm worried that the levels are too low (although I guess you need to throw in a lower level AP every once in a while to keep everyone happy) and I will be interested to see how you connect seemingly disparate adventures containing ghosts, a mad scientist, werewolves, lovecraft stuff, vampires, and liches.
"Lower level" (a.k.a., less powerful) characters also fit the theme of horror better. If the heroes are too powerful, it becomes harder to create the sense of dread and hopelessnes.
Pretty stacked list of authors there. Cant wait to see these. :)
I just can't decide if I want to run this or Kingmaker first.
I wish this was around to have run instead of Kingmaker when I started running Kingmaker.
I love horror and miss the quality and feel of the first few Ravenloft modules. I would have rather started running an AP that I was better equipped to run than the sandboxy Kingmaker.
(Taking nothing away from Kingmaker, I liked it. But horror is better in my book.)
I hope that this AP keeps closely parred with the Feast of Goblyns that I remember fondly.
"Lower level" (a.k.a., less powerful) characters also fit the theme of horror better.
I concur. I want to see how this AP plays with the feel of horror.
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Horror isn't usually my kind of game (truly, Legacy of Fire and Kingmaker are more my speed) but I share DMing duties with a friend and will get to run this one after his Serpent's Skull campaign. I have to say it still looks very fun on an initial glance. As a player, I always feel it best to have a sense of dread or fear going into games as it makes what you accomplish all the better. Hopefully I'll be able to give that sense to my players. Also, Ustalav is definitely an area I wanted to see expanded and I'm glad that is going to happen. Any chance Lastwall, Andoren, or Mendev might get to take a major role in an AP? (I know you probably can't answer that)
As a side note, I know you guys probably hear this a lot but I am a huge fan of these adventure paths. Keep up the great work Paizo.
We've just officially announced the Carrion Crown Adventure Path, which will run from January through June 2011.
The Cult of the Whispering Way weaves a wide-ranging conspiracy throughout the horror-tinged lands of Ustalav aimed at freeing the Lich King Tar-Baphon, better known as the Whispering Tyrant, from his eternal prison in the dungeon of Gallowspire. Their debased rites and malicious schemes set werewolf against vampire, ghost against terror from beyond time and space in a thrilling campaign that touches upon themes of classic horror and dark swords and sorcery!
January 2011: Haunting of Harrowstone, by Michael Kortes
February 2011: Trial of the Beast, by Richard Pett
March 2011: Broken Moon, by Tim Hitchcock
April 2011: Wake of the Watcher, by Greg A. Vaughan
May 2011: Ashes at Dawn, by Neil Spicer
June 2011: Shadows of Gallowspire, by Jason BulmahnProduct images are mockups, and will change prior to publication.
All of these will be part of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting subscription.
I don't know if I'm misremembering your past announcements, but I seem to recall previous APs only being half-announced initially. I'm really appreciative of the fact you've provided info on all six at once, this time around*. Every single one of the recent spate of announcements across all product lines has me eager to receive them. In my opinion, Paizo has got even better during the last twelve months. 'Small' things like this are a big part of what make you outstanding. Thanks. :)
*If I am delusional and you've always fully announced APs, I promise I'll remember in the future.
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Creative Director
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At first I was going to skip this AP because I hate horror, but the adventures seem very cool. However, I'm worried that the levels are too low (although I guess you need to throw in a lower level AP every once in a while to keep everyone happy) and I will be interested to see how you connect seemingly disparate adventures containing ghosts, a mad scientist, werewolves, lovecraft stuff, vampires, and liches.I have to admit I'm not too pleased with the lower levels, either, but they aren't that much lower. Looks like Carrion Crown will max out at 15th level compared to Kingmaker or RotRL, CotCT, SD, and LoF's 17th level. At least it's not as bad as Council of Thieves' 13th level.
I'm definitely wondering just what horrors from beyond will show up in this AP.
As I pointed out on the other thread... don't get too worked up about level ranges.
I'm still dedicated to trying to get all of our APs ending at around 16th or 17th level, which apart from Council of Thieves, has been pretty much ALL of them. Council of Thieves was an aberration.
Although there IS a chance it'll end up being fewer levels.
Honestly... we generally let the adventures run however long they need to. Forcing them to fit a specific level range every time is not good for organic creation and all that.
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Creative Director
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I don't know if I'm misremembering your past announcements, but I seem to recall previous APs only being half-announced initially. I'm really appreciative of the fact you've provided info on all six at once, this time around*. Every single one of the recent spate of announcements across all product lines has me eager to receive them. In my opinion, Paizo has got even better during the last twelve months. 'Small' things like this are a big part of what make you outstanding. Thanks. :)
*If I am delusional and you've always fully announced APs, I promise I'll remember in the future.
We ALWAYS know the full arc of a six-part AP, even when we only announce the first in a series. I believe that this time around, since all of the APs appear in our catalog, we just decided to anounce them all.
We ALWAYS know the full arc of a six-part AP, even when we only announce the first in a series. I believe that this time around, since all of the APs appear in our catalog, we just decided to anounce them all.I don't know if I'm misremembering your past announcements, but I seem to recall previous APs only being half-announced initially. I'm really appreciative of the fact you've provided info on all six at once, this time around*. Every single one of the recent spate of announcements across all product lines has me eager to receive them. In my opinion, Paizo has got even better during the last twelve months. 'Small' things like this are a big part of what make you outstanding. Thanks. :)
*If I am delusional and you've always fully announced APs, I promise I'll remember in the future.
Yeah I figured you'd probably have the whole thing planned before you write the first one. I just really appreciate us punters seeing a rough outline of where it's all heading, right from the start. Personally, I find that much more satisfying than seeing half the planned arc and waiting a few months to see how it's going to finish. I didnt think you'd be able to produce a story arc to catch my imagination the way Kingmaker did, but somehow you managed. :)
I hope it will have the feeling and the atmosphere of the old Hammer Movies :-)
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Horror isn't usually my kind of game (truly, Legacy of Fire and Kingmaker are more my speed) but I share DMing duties with a friend and will get to run this one after his Serpent's Skull campaign. I have to say it still looks very fun on an initial glance. As a player, I always feel it best to have a sense of dread or fear going into games as it makes what you accomplish all the better. Hopefully I'll be able to give that sense to my players. Also, Ustalav is definitely an area I wanted to see expanded and I'm glad that is going to happen. Any chance Lastwall, Andoren, or Mendev might get to take a major role in an AP? (I know you probably can't answer that)
As a side note, I know you guys probably hear this a lot but I am a huge fan of these adventure paths. Keep up the great work Paizo.
I think elsewhere they've said that this will be locked into Ustalav from start to finish
Hm, this kind of ravenlofty fantasy horror leaves me cold, as has Ustalav right from the beginning, and I can't really see me running or wanting to play (or even read) a line of adventures full of B-movie horror clichés like these. But well, after the awesome Kingmaker and Serpent's Skull which looks like it could be even more awesome, I can't really complain if once in a while an AP comes along that doesn't has me gripped like the others. Too bad it also brings a long a mostly unintersting (to me) half Campaign Setting line year with the Ustalav book and another horror monsters revisited. Well...
"Carrion Crown"? We've done both of those already. Stop bad guy from being released from prison? Done that a couple times. Werewolves Vs. Vampires? You guys haven't done that but, dang, seems like it's been pretty well covered lately in some other format.
Underwhelmed so far.
"Carrion Crown"? We've done both of those already. Stop bad guy from being released from prison? Done that a couple times. Werewolves Vs. Vampires? You guys haven't done that but, dang, seems like it's been pretty well covered lately in some other format.
Underwhelmed so far.
Dude, there are a limited number of plots in the world.
"Carrion Crown"? We've done both of those already. Stop bad guy from being released from prison? Done that a couple times. Werewolves Vs. Vampires? You guys haven't done that but, dang, seems like it's been pretty well covered lately in some other format.
Underwhelmed so far.
I too am extremely disappointed... the fact that I cannot buy these books and begin to run them right now is making me very upset.
It looks awesome and it reminds me of WFRP material set to a D&D backdrop, though the thought of the PCs having to team up with vampires and flesh golems throughout the AP makes me leery of the concept meshing poorly with some of my players, whose previous quotes include "There are no prisons for outsiders" and "I don't care if he's a lawful good vampire, he's only alive right now because we need him; after that, it's still undecided if he gets to survive."
I've been seriously considering running a Pathfinder campaign to replace my Call of Cthulhu one. Now I know for sure that's exactly what I'm going to be doing.
It's going to be a long wait until Februrary, but maybe by then I'll either be magically gifted with teleportation or finally figure out how those online gaming table thingamabobs work.
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Creative Director
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Hm, this kind of ravenlofty fantasy horror leaves me cold, as has Ustalav right from the beginning, and I can't really see me running or wanting to play (or even read) a line of adventures full of B-movie horror clichés like these. But well, after the awesome Kingmaker and Serpent's Skull which looks like it could be even more awesome, I can't really complain if once in a while an AP comes along that doesn't has me gripped like the others. Too bad it also brings a long a mostly unintersting (to me) half Campaign Setting line year with the Ustalav book and another horror monsters revisited. Well...
If a lot of the stuff we've produced before leaves you cold because we wallowed in cliches too much without invigorating stuff with new material... you might have a point. But part of what we're going to do with this AP is, as with all our APs, to try to "do it right" so that it embraces the familiar and introduces new elements to make things fresh and exciting again.
That said... not everything is for everyone. As I've often said before—the main reason we do 2 APs a year is so that if one doesn't appeal to someone, we get a second chance in the same year to make it up to them.
This AP sounds like it could be a good one for players who like playing on the neutral/evil side of the alignment scale.
Heck, even a party of undead PCs could be interesting with this one.
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This looks awesome! I am, as a few others have mentioned, not generally fond of horror, but this delves into enough of the world history of Golarion that has been intriguing me so I think it'll be worth it.
All of these will be part of the Pathfinder Campaign Setting subscription.
(Italics mine.) Vic, I'm assuming this was an error, and you meant to type Adventure Path? (The link points to the AP page correctly.)
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This AP sounds like it could be a good one for players who like playing on the neutral/evil side of the alignment scale.
Heck, even a party of undead PCs could be interesting with this one.
/SARCASM MODE ON
Last time we had an AP with "ooh, look, good one for N/E type folks" vibe we ended up altruistically saving realms of elves while getting royally screwed over by said elves.
/SARCASM MODE OFF
Yeah, I really don't like SD.
Maybe Vic needs a vacation. :)
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Well I discussed it with my fellow gamers, and this is definitely coming before Kingmaker. Although it feels bittersweet (I REALLY was kind of looking forward to seeing some run a kingdom in their own unique style), I think it works out for the best. Especially since we'll be starting Second Darkness (I'm not running it. Just playing it.) So we'll see how it goes.
I like the sound of this one, and appreciate an AP that sticks with a location and/or theme throughout. More and more of them are doing that successfully.
Congratulations Paizo, every time I even consider ending my Pathfinder adventure path subscription you announce yet another awesome premise. I didn't think you could do any better than the Serpent's Skull adventure path. The Carrion Crown adventure path has me equally excited. Well played Paizo, well played.
If a lot of the stuff we've produced before leaves you cold because we wallowed in cliches too much without invigorating stuff with new material... you might have a point. But part of what we're going to do with this AP is, as with all our APs, to try to "do it right" so that it embraces the familiar and introduces new elements to make things fresh and exciting again.
That said... not everything is for everyone. As I've often said before—the main reason we do 2 APs a year is so that if one doesn't appeal to someone, we get a second chance in the same year to make it up to them.
No, you certainly haven't left me cold before, and I'm optimistic that Paizo can make these things more interesting than it sounds at first glance. I don't mind clichés if they are well done, as long as they are clichés from a genre I enjoy. This kind of B-movie horror, however, is just not my type of fiction. But we'll see, I'm certainly giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Let me second (or third) what the earlier poster stated about listing details on all six APs at once. This is of immense use to me. I typically don't like to run an AP until it is completely finished as I like to plan way ahead. This allows me to fully plan and get a better idea of where things are going - so that if I want to begin foreshadowing NOW - I can.
Thanks again!
As long as the plot isn't too similar to Shackled City, Age of Worms, or Rise of the Runelords (other "wake up the bad guy" adventure paths), it might be interesting. The Whispering Tyrant is pretty cool.
Still doesn't sound as interesting as Kingmaker, though.
This AP sounds like it could be a good one for players who like playing on the neutral/evil side of the alignment scale.
Heck, even a party of undead PCs could be interesting with this one.
That might be a bit of a trick. Just because the villains in this series will have a more horrific theme shouldn't imply that the PCs will have an easier time by adopting the same. As in many horror tales, the threat and fearfulness of the antagonist is cast into stark relief by the innocence, heroism, or incorruptibility of the protagonists.
That being said, it'd be an interesting experiment and I'd love to hear more if you decide to go that direction once you've got the first adventure in hand!
No, you certainly haven't left me cold before, and I'm optimistic that Paizo can make these things more interesting than it sounds at first glance. I don't mind clichés if they are well done, as long as they are clichés from a genre I enjoy. This kind of B-movie horror, however, is just not my type of fiction. But we'll see, I'm certainly giving you the benefit of the doubt.
To be clear, the inspiration for this series comes more from the greats of gothic literature (Walpole, Stoker, Poe), weird fiction (Lovecraft, Long, Howard), and the modern ghost story (James, Suzuki, Le Fanu) than from Mystery Science Theater or B monster movies. Pick nits or argue semantics, but there's a lot more going on in this AP then rehashing Christopher Lee's greatest hits. Understandably, horror doesn't float everyone's boat and that's just fine, but as far as "cliches" go, we've got a fantastic team of veteran adventure writers crewing this AP and drawing off a tradition of literature and storytelling just as rich (if not more so) than any previous series. Personally, I haven't been this excited for an Adventure Path in a long time - but then again, horror fantasy is DEFINITELY my thing.