I'm going to start running Carrion Crown as a solo campaign for my wife in the next few days and was working on putting together the starting NPCs she'll have to work with while knocking around Ravengro. I don't want to overload her with too many potential party member NPCs, but I also don't want her finding her group completely overwhelmed.
She's planning on playing a Magus, so this is what I have so far as NPC's:
- Alexi Bervein, a Lawful Good male human Order of the Shield Cavalier from Lastwall.
- Stutters, a Neutral Good female Changeling Dual-cursed Dark Tapestry Oracle with the Tongues and Haunted curses, from Carrion Hill, Ustalav.
- Jonathan Cornell, a Neutral half-elf Chirurgeon Re-Animator Alchemist from Absolom.
- Erlin Welt, a Lawful Neutral female kyton heritage tiefling Infiltrator Preacher Inquistor of Zon-Kuthon from Cheliax (using the Conversion Inquisition).
I might make another character available to her. Each character has reasons not to go into Harrowstone after all, or to leave the group soon after.
Should I make one more Pall Bearer for the group, and if so what should I consider adding to round the group out?
Should I make one more Pall Bearer for the group, and if so what should I consider adding to round the group out?
The adventure is designed for 4 PCs, so I would just send her in with 3 others. Playing 3 party NPCs is tough enough. No need to add anymore.
Make her +1 (or even +2) level, and make her permanently Hasted as per the 3.0 rules (to account for action-economy). It's more fun to do a horror game when you're on your own, or only have 1 NPC following you around, than it is a whole host of troopers.
I GM for a group of 2 (my wife, and a friend) and usually run 2 NPC's to balance out the party.
I find that it is best to limit how many casters I have to manage, so I try to run 1 caster and 1 non-caster. You may find that with an Oracle, Alchemist, and Inquisitor - that you're taking a whole lot of time figuring out what to cast, etc. so that it takes the focus away from your player.
I would suggest 2 GM NPCs along with her character. You can always scale back some of the encounters to compensate. You may consider gestalt rules as well. Either way, I would keep the NPCs focused (fight, heal, blast, etc) - that doesn't mean that they have to be one-dimensional when it comes to personality or back story - just have a good handle on their party roles. "Hybrid" classes can make that difficult.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The current plan is to start her off at level 3. Out of the four available NPCs that I've stated, only one will go with her at a time (maybe two if she can talk them into it) since each of them has a separate reason to stick around the town rather than explore Harrowstone. Sort of like the first Neverwinter Nights game.
I don't know if I'll go as far as giving her 3.0 haste extra actions, since Spellstrike already give her full attack and spell casting in the same round, but we'll see.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The current plan is to start her off at level 3. Out of the four available NPCs that I've stated, only one will go with her at a time (maybe two if she can talk them into it) since each of them has a separate reason to stick around the town rather than explore Harrowstone. Sort of like the first Neverwinter Nights game.
I don't know if I'll go as far as giving her 3.0 haste extra actions, since Spellstrike already give her full attack and spell casting in the same round, but we'll see.
I mean Spell Combat, not Spellstrike.
Thanks for the suggestions.
The current plan is to start her off at level 3. Out of the four available NPCs that I've stated, only one will go with her at a time (maybe two if she can talk them into it) since each of them has a separate reason to stick around the town rather than explore Harrowstone. Sort of like the first Neverwinter Nights game.
I don't know if I'll go as far as giving her 3.0 haste extra actions, since Spellstrike already give her full attack and spell casting in the same round, but we'll see.
It's more like for things like... taking out an item.
Taking out an item is worth it if 5 other guys distract the bad guy. Imagine her character is about to go down and she has a potion of cure serious wounds. With 3.0 haste, she can draw, drink it, and then move away/continue attacking. Without, it's either hope she hits a lot and it dies, or potion in its face and hope it misses or doesn't do as much damage as the potion.
It's more for that. And, well, for when she's going to be outnumbered by large creatures.
I've run a solo campaign with my S.O. for 5 years. My advice is to have 1-2 NPCs, as the PC needs someone to talk to. Be willing to kill one of them early to signal to your willingness to kill the PC.
Make the NPCs very, very generic with everything under the hood rather than tons of options. You want the PC to have the spotlight all the time. So you want Iron Will rather than Improved Trip, Weapon Focus not Bull Rush, etc. Casters should be buffers/debuffers, with a side of battlefield control to make larger combats manageable, allowing the PC to solo against the BBEG.
Also, being the only player can be hard for problem-solving and decision-making, ironically. Players regularly brainstorm solutions and plans before acting, but your wife won't be able to do that. Think of a couple of ways to solve narrative problems. It's okay to be a little more directive than you're used to as a DM too.
Finally, the NPCs can give advice, but it should always be clear that it's not YOUR advice, as DM or husband. To do that, make the core NPCs fairly stereotypical. My fiance's main NPCs are basically a frat boy and Hermione. Their reactions are clearly based on their perspective and not mine.
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I can't help but thinking that the best thing about a 2player RPG between man and wife would be emphasis on the R and P. Kendra certainly is a grieving 20 something in need of comfort. Then there's the lady who runs the apothecary and the sheriff. Queue 70s music! Might finally have an idea how to get MY wife into RPGs!
.... Might finally have an idea how to get MY wife into RPGs!
Your dreaming mate....
But I do understand. Every Thursday I have to catch s#*~ cause my "mutant dork" friends are coming....that comes from marrying a high-heel-girl ...lol
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Your dreaming mate....
But I do understand. Every Thursday I have to catch s#~@ cause my "mutant dork" friends are coming....that comes from marrying a high-heel-girl ...lol
Who cares? Ya bagged a 'High-Heel-Girl' :)
My wife gives me a lot of **** on gaming too. I moved a lot of my gaming activities to Sat Day when she wasnt around and for a while it worked... then came kiddie sports :(
You guys have it lucky with the wives who simply don't 'get' gaming. Then its just accepted as something weird you do rather than a class of philosophies. My girl is a 4e player(the horror!) and thus time is actively spent trying to induct one-another into the opposing fold.
You two have the cliche of the sports fan who gets asked why he watches football all the time, type of setup. I'm dealing with differing religions.(You hear that? You are a heretic! Blasphemer!)
. . . I'm dealing with differing religions.(You hear that? You are a heretic! Blasphemer!)
While I came to Pathfinder (like many) when 3.5 turned into 4th I can't say I feel the same animosity and elitism I used to feel towards 4th (when compared with Pathfinder). I've decided that it's the company, and in turn the licence that makes me love Pathfinder and distaste 4th.
I had some friends who were recently trying to get me to test out 4th again. It's funny how quickly the argument stops when you tell them it's not that you (necessarily) think 4th is bad, but that the license, the toy-car making Hasbro corporate folks, and years of screwing over the role players has turned you off. There's really no way to convince me of otherwise in that regard.
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Ullapool,
To be honest the above comments were mostly in jest. While its true the woman is a 4e player that is based on the fact she had read the 3.5 books way back when and watched a few sessions but never actually table-topped, so when she found out I was into it she went out and picked up the 4e books so she could learn more about the hobby and decided she really enjoys it. Its not quite the edition crusade I may have implied above.
Truthfully, a lot of the problems I have with 4e are things that I do think make it a good introduction to the hobby, especially for those who have experience with things like magic or MMOs or wargaming can quickly become comfortable with things like refreshing powers and tactics and thus can have a less overwhelming experience as the more unique aspects of RP and tabletop are introduced to them.
With all that said, she will be brought into the fold. Oh yes. Though I will say that even across editions there is a certain pride the first time your SO wanting an opinion on animal companions or feats, or excitedly describing how her glass canon wizard blasted a group of enemies with a 'pow pow' noise(When asked, apparently chain lightning 'pew pew's while volcanic eruption 'pow pow's.). There are definitely advantages to being able to share your war stories and interests with your partner.
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Also, being the only player can be hard for problem-solving and decision-making, ironically. Players regularly brainstorm solutions and plans before acting, but your wife won't be able to do that. Think of a couple of ways to solve narrative problems. It's okay to be a little more directive than you're used to as a DM too.
Finally, the NPCs can give advice, but it should always be clear that it's not YOUR advice, as DM or husband. To do that, make the core NPCs fairly stereotypical. My fiance's main NPCs are basically a frat boy and Hermione. Their reactions are clearly based on their perspective and not mine.
Great advice! I, too, am introducing my wife to Pathfinder by running this AP. Its nice to find a lot of useful suggestions and tips here.