Finishing City of Golden Death: where next?

[Henry Lockwood]

Greetings all

My group is just coming to the end of City of Golden Death (we've probably got 2 more sessions' worth of material), and I'm wondering what to run next. They've been sufficiently converted to Pathfinder that I could sell them on the idea of an AP, but they're likely to want to keep their current characters. So here's my dilemma.

Option 1: run more modules, trying to string together some sort of reason for the PCs to get involved.
Option 2: generate new characters and start an AP.
Option 3: try to rewrite an AP such that their existing characters (level 5) can play it.

I want to run an AP, partly because they're great and partly because I've already spent the money on them and not on modules; how much work do you reckon it would be to "fix" Kingmaker or Serpent's Skull to work for a party starting at L5?

Many thanks

Henry

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Henry Lockwood wrote:

Greetings all

My group is just coming to the end of City of Golden Death (we've probably got 2 more sessions' worth of material), and I'm wondering what to run next. They've been sufficiently converted to Pathfinder that I could sell them on the idea of an AP, but they're likely to want to keep their current characters. So here's my dilemma.

Option 1: run more modules, trying to string together some sort of reason for the PCs to get involved.
Option 2: generate new characters and start an AP.
Option 3: try to rewrite an AP such that their existing characters (level 5) can play it.

I want to run an AP, partly because they're great and partly because I've already spent the money on them and not on modules; how much work do you reckon it would be to "fix" Kingmaker or Serpent's Skull to work for a party starting at L5?

Many thanks

Henry

If you started Kingmaker or Serpent's Skull from book two, not too much gets broken. Toughen up early encounters and they should be about right on the xp curve.

Kingmaker Spoilers

Spoiler:

The characters should be rewarded with taming a tract of land in The Stolen Lands, one is declared Baron (choose among your players) while the other characters take on the other roles. Then run Kingmaker more or less as is (ignore any element involving The Stag Lord and the bandits, and just declare his fort cleared). Leave all other elements as is, and allow the players to explore annex as they like.

Serpent's Skull Spoiler

Spoiler:

The characters gain knowledge of the city of Saventh Yhi at the end of City of Golden Death. Armed with this knowledge they may want to head south to Eleder. Where they are courted by the various factions. PCs then go from Race to Ruin onwards.

That said though. There's something special about starting an AP from book one, specifically for the purpose. There's nothing wrong with telling the players to keep these characters safe, and you might pick up a game where they left off later. At the very least they'll be great to have handy should players be short and you need to run a back-up game.

[GeraintElberion]

Red Hand of Doom was written by Paizo Creative Director James Jacobs, is all kinds of awesome and begins at level 5/6.

[w0nkothesane]

I heartily recommend Frog God Games' Slumbering Tsar Saga. It would require a couple of levels of filler material, but it's fairly easy to port into Golarion, it takes players from level 7 to level 20 (possibly beyond) and it's freaking awesome.

Seriously, at least check out the $2 pdf of the first chapter. It sealed the deal for me.

[Andrew Phillips]

If your players are up for the sand box style Kingmaker would be perfect. You wouldn't really need to make the encounters tougher, there is plenty to keep them occupied besides combat.

[hnlockwood]

Andrew Phillips wrote:

If your players are up for the sand box style Kingmaker would be perfect. You wouldn't really need to make the encounters tougher, there is plenty to keep them occupied besides combat.

This might be the inspiration I've been looking for! I can boost the big bads, and some of the other fights, but the exploration/wilderness/problem-solving bit could work very well indeed with just some speedbumpy combats.

I'll let you know what happens...

[Steel_Wind]

In terms of other modules Paizo produces, both Carrion Hill and From Shore to Sea are both written for 6th level players characters and are possibilities opem to you. We discuss transitioning into From Shore to Sea from City of Golden Death in Episode #009 of Chronicles: Pathfinder Podcast.

[Spahrep]

http://paizo.com/store/downloads/pathfinder/pathfinderModules/pathfinderRPG /v5748btpy8d52
Realm of the Fellnight Queen is for lv 7, thats not too far off.
I did the price of immortality trilogy and then went into sandbox, which im finding to be tons of fun even though its time intensive.

[Gentleman Alligator]

When my group ran through the Price of Immortality mini-campaign, I converted Expedition to Castle Ravenloft for them. I set the campaign in Ustalav (which is near Nirmathas), so it can work rather easily.