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Currently running the first part of the carrion crown adventure path: haunting of harrowstone. I have a few questions.
1. Since I have a six player party group, at the end of the first arc they are probably going to be mid 3rd to close to 4th level. Now, I was wondering in between 1st and 2nd part of the AP what are some good sidetreks that you have used or are thinking of using? I know the travel to Lepidstadt is about 100 plus mile so it gives me some options to put the group at 4th before they encounter the traveling show.
-I'm thinking of having a druid with vermin abilities harass the group on it's travel.
-Have anyone tied or foreshadows anything from the future arcs?
2. Can a potion of cure light wounds be used as a splash projectile vs. undead to inflict positive energy dmg? My group lacks a cleric or paladin.
3. If you ran the first arc, how many session did you take to complete the Haunting. We just completed two four hour sessions and the group is currently exploring the first floor of the prison. So I figure about three more sessions and they should be completed. How has your progression been?
1. Since I have a six player party group, at the end of the first arc they are probably going to be mid 3rd to close to 4th level. Now, I was wondering in between 1st and 2nd part of the AP what are some good sidetreks that you have used or are thinking of using? I know the travel to Lepidstadt is about 100 plus mile so it gives me some options to put the group at 4th before they encounter the traveling show.
-I'm thinking of having a druid with vermin abilities harass the group on it's travel.
-Have anyone tied or foreshadows anything from the future arcs?
Couple of things. Firstly, I upped the research rewards since they are intended for a 4-person party. So I multiplied the values by 1.5 for a 6-party group. It's tiny, but I felt if there are rules (which there are) for adjusting a challenge rating, I should do something similar for exp that's explicitly handed out in the module, numerically.
As for side-quests, I'd definitely check out the Rule of Fear book on Ustalav that Paizo put out last month or so. It's a great text with lots of open ended adventures. I don't recall if the path to Lepidstadt is explicitly called out in the 2nd adventure, but there's some great towns along the western side of Ustalav between Ravengro and Lepidstadt.
Could easily do the Saffron House (it's on the 2nd page of the Haunting document) and is explained in more detail, including a relatively detailed map of the place in the Rule of Fear book. It's also really close to Ravengro.
2. Can a potion of cure light wounds be used as a splash projectile vs. undead to inflict positive energy dmg? My group lacks a cleric or paladin.
Sure! I don't know where this is explicitly called out in the Pathfinder rules, but it's definitely something you can do in D&D Online. I'd certainly rule it as acceptable. Don't forget they should get spell resistance and a will save as per the CLWounds rules.
3. If you ran the first arc, how many session did you take to complete the Haunting. We just completed two four hour sessions and the group is currently exploring the first floor of the prison. So I figure about three more sessions and they should be completed. How has your progression been?
We've played 5 sessions of 3-4 hours each and my group has just gone to the crypt. :) So I'd say you milage may vary heavily. I DM a very seasoned (two of the players with 3 decades of tabletop RPG experience, others with 8+ years) group. And by that I mean to say my players get a lot of kicks out of role playing their characters, immersing themselves in the storyline, and hate to be on rails. For each their own. My players are spending a lot of their time trying to understand the mystery, getting access to the libraries, making friends of the locals, etc. They literally have almost all of the knowledge stuff (except the DC25 and a few of the DC20 stuff) and have just gone to the crypt to raid its supplies. One of my PCs went to the prison by himself but failed the Will save applied when you enter the place and left screaming and ran back home. As such, he is pretty spooked. I'm also haunting the crap out of the town. The players are just starting to connect the hauntings to the prison - before they were sort of dealing with the hauntings like "this is a haunted town, we need to save the town if we're to save Kendra". They are only now realizing saving the town means raiding Harrowstone.
Hope this helps some.
I'm not seeing the in game precedent for splash weapon potions. Granted, it's something I would likely allow, though then you're going to have people throwing cure potions on eachother during combat as a form of ranged healing. My point is, I don't think it's legal per the actual rules, as what happens or doesn't happen if a video game is not adequate justification in my eyes.
We've played 5 sessions of 3-4 hours each and my group has just gone to the crypt. :) So I'd say you milage may vary heavily. I DM a very seasoned (two of the players with 3 decades of tabletop RPG experience, others with 8+ years) group. And by that I mean to say my players get a lot of kicks out of role playing their characters, immersing themselves in the storyline, and hate to be on rails. For each their own. My players are spending a lot of their time trying to understand the mystery, getting access to the libraries, making friends of the locals, etc. They literally have almost all of the knowledge stuff (except the DC25 and a few of the DC20 stuff) and have just gone to the crypt to raid its supplies. One of my PCs went to the prison by himself but failed the Will save applied when you enter the place and left screaming and ran back home. As such, he is pretty spooked. I'm also haunting the crap out of the town. The players are just starting to connect the hauntings to the prison - before they were sort of dealing with the hauntings like "this is a haunted town, we need to save the town if we're to save Kendra". They are only now realizing saving the town means raiding Harrowstone.
I'm amazed they aren't more focused on Harrowstone, since the module is called "The Haunting of Harrowstone." Maybe it would be better if Paizo chose a name that didn't reveal so much...
I'm curious what sort of combat encounters your PCs have had in town, over so many sessions. My party will want to do a lot of roleplaying, but I know they are looking forward to the combat too (we've been playing some other very non-combat oriented games lately).
I'm curious what sort of combat encounters your PCs have had in town, over so many sessions. My party will want to do a lot of roleplaying, but I know they are looking forward to the combat too (we've been playing some other very non-combat oriented games lately).
Well I guess we had the fight in the graveyard and the fight (last session) in the crypt. Both small, easy fights. Then we had a zombie attack one night where I had the professor show back up at the house looking for BRAIIIIIIINS and there were others outside attacking the village. I used this as a way to gain some Trust points for the PCs. I think that's it. We've also had several haunting events which were sort of combat-like that got them engaged. In fact, I think I used one of your ideas from another thread.
I'm amazed they aren't more focused on Harrowstone, since the module is called "The Haunting of Harrowstone." Maybe it would be better if Paizo chose a name that didn't reveal so much...
Someone else who thinks the same...
Get it all set up for a mystery game and then "The haunting of Harrowstone"....geezAnd "Broken Moon"... I don't even have to know that is going to be werewolves and some sort of divide...
It really bugs the hell out of me...
(rant over)
Currently running the first part of the carrion crown adventure path: haunting of harrowstone. I have a few questions.
1. Since I have a six player party group, at the end of the first arc they are probably going to be mid 3rd to close to 4th level. Now, I was wondering in between 1st and 2nd part of the AP what are some good sidetreks that you have used or are thinking of using? I know the travel to Lepidstadt is about 100 plus mile so it gives me some options to put the group at 4th before they encounter the traveling show.
-I'm thinking of having a druid with vermin abilities harass the group on it's travel.
-Have anyone tied or foreshadows anything from the future arcs?2. Can a potion of cure light wounds be used as a splash projectile vs. undead to inflict positive energy dmg? My group lacks a cleric or paladin.
3. If you ran the first arc, how many session did you take to complete the Haunting. We just completed two four hour sessions and the group is currently exploring the first floor of the prison. So I figure about three more sessions and they should be completed. How has your progression been?
I'm going to run a old Dungeon mag side trek set in an roadside tavern where the walls are plastered with garlic, crosses everywhere and corpses drained of blood...of course the PCs have to stay there over night better in doors than out....right?
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I'm looking at Rules of Fear to see what's in between Ravengro and Lepidstadt. Although I think I'm liking the idea of a Mind Flayer encounter during their trek. The group approaches a camp fire site and notices that it's lone resident is sitting nearby. Closer examination of the scene and he's dead.....brain missing.....that's the hook, now I have to figure the line and sinker...
I'm going to run a old Dungeon mag side trek set in an roadside tavern where the walls are plastered with garlic, crosses everywhere and corpses drained of blood...of course the PCs have to stay there over night better in doors than out....right?Awesome. Which Dungeon Mag is that one in?
Side Treks
Ghost of Mistmoor #35Inn of The Smiling Spirit #29
Unhallowed Ground #54
Two for the road #49
All of these are really simple to convert and can be leveled up or down easy....
I'm probably going to drop in an encounter with some orcs, since I think my PCs have fought them once and they weren't evil enough in my opinion. Abandoned farmstead late at night on the moors, they come up and find that it's disheveled and empty, but very recently lived in. The entire family is hanging in the barn, pieces chopped off and salted. Before anything else can happen, the PCs can see a march of fire on the horizon beyond the mists. The raiding party is coming back.
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I'm probably going to drop in an encounter with some orcs, since I think my PCs have fought them once and they weren't evil enough in my opinion. Abandoned farmstead late at night on the moors, they come up and find that it's disheveled and empty, but very recently lived in. The entire family is hanging in the barn, pieces chopped off and salted. Before anything else can happen, the PCs can see a march of fire on the horizon beyond the mists. The raiding party is coming back.
I like that idea. Probably replace the orcs for something else but very cool.
I like that idea. Probably replace the orcs for something else but very cool.
Orcs fit very well into the western Ustalav landscape, however. I don't have my Rule of Fear book here (at work!) but the land to the west is orc-inhabited. The town north of Ravengro/Canterwall on the western border of Ustalav is some defense town which defends against orc incursions.
So. Would fit great. All that stuff is explained in Rule of Fear.
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the land to the west is orc-inhabited.
Hold of Belkzen - the orc lands filled with several tribes of orcs is just west of Ustalav, if want to travel to Ravengro, there is 3 ways
1. you travel over the lake or through Lastwall first to get to Caliphas (Ustalavs capital) and then by foot through the Hungry mountains to Ravengro
2. If you don't like to travel through the mountains and close to Gallowspire, you can travel on the western side of Ustalav from Lastwall's capital into Hold of Belkzen and very close to its capital, then into Ustalav.
3. if you choose to come from the eastern side you travel through Razmiran and have to cross most of Ustalav.
Then further if you like to travel from Ravengro to Lepidstadt its just a trip north through some rough terran, the 2 cities can can stop by on the way is: Tamrivena and Courtaud. On the whole trip you will have on your west side the Tusk mountains, properly filled with orcs, trolls and the like.
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the land to the west is orc-inhabited.Hold of Belkzen - the orc lands filled with several tribes of orcs is just west of Ustalav, if want to travel to Ravengro, there is 3 ways
1. you travel over the lake or through Lastwall first to get to Caliphas (Ustalavs capital) and then by foot through the Hungry mountains to Ravengro
2. If you don't like to travel through the mountains and close to Gallowspire, you can travel on the western side of Ustalav from Lastwall's capital into Hold of Belkzen and very close to its capital, then into Ustalav.
3. if you choose to come from the eastern side you travel through Razmiran and have to cross most of Ustalav.
Then further if you like to travel from Ravengro to Lepidstadt its just a trip north through some rough terran, the 2 cities can can stop by on the way is: Tamrivena and Courtaud. On the whole trip you will have on your west side the Tusk mountains, properly filled with orcs, trolls and the like.
Might have to take a look at an orc encounter between Adventure Paths. Depending on the gap between 3rd and 4th level will sway me in the direction of a side trek. Having just read Lords of Madness and the cool Mind Flayer section I'm itching for eerie encounter with some thralls and brain eater....
lastgrasp
http://exoknight.livejournal.com/
That's my Carrion Crown Campaign Site. If anyone wants to see what's going on. For the most part I've done the AP according to plan, but had to improvise on some things.
Might have to take a look at an orc encounter between Adventure Paths. Depending on the gap between 3rd and 4th level will sway me in the direction of a side trek. Having just read Lords of Madness and the cool Mind Flayer section I'm itching for eerie encounter with some thralls and brain eater....
lastgrasp
http://exoknight.livejournal.com/
That's my Carrion Crown Campaign Site. If anyone wants to see what's going on. For the most part I've done the AP according to plan, but had to improvise on some things.
Lastgrasp, you should take a look at the Community Use Policy to see what is and isn't allowed on fan sites, and under what terms.
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So I ran my side trek from Ravengro to Lepidstadt. Encounters on the way was a group of border guards, an orc attack, and an inn from out of time and space. ;-) The last one the group got a kick out of. The Inn's name was Jacob's Crossing and to say the least it had a strange presence. Inspirations from a number of sources for the inn.
The sidetrek session log is on my livejournal if anyone wants to read:
http://exoknight.livejournal.com/2011/06/06/