Two questions here. First, I want to make sure I am selling this correctly to my players. For those less familiar with Golarion, but veteran D&D players, I billed Carrion Crown as "Cthulhu invades Ravenloft, and players are caught in the middle." For those who aren't even veteran D&D players, I describe it as, "Lord of the Rings meets Bram Stoker meets H.P. Lovecraft." Am I giving the right impression to my victi-- er, players?
Second, one of my players has already expressed interest in playing a natural born lycanthrope - specifically, a werewolf. I'll be creating another thread elsewhere to deal with the balance issues, but I am also concerned about plotline ones. Will having a natural werewolf in the party conflict with anything in the AP?
Two questions here. First, I want to make sure I am selling this correctly to my players. For those less familiar with Golarion, but veteran D&D players, I billed Carrion Crown as "Cthulhu invades Ravenloft, and players are caught in the middle." For those who aren't even veteran D&D players, I describe it as, "Lord of the Rings meets Bram Stoker meets H.P. Lovecraft." Am I giving the right impression to my victi-- er, players?
Second, one of my players has already expressed interest in playing a natural born lycanthrope - specifically, a werewolf. I'll be creating another thread elsewhere to deal with the balance issues, but I am also concerned about plotline ones. Will having a natural werewolf in the party conflict with anything in the AP?
Well, I think the "Cthulhu invades Ravenloft" is pretty far off actually, since only one of the adventures is actually Lovecraftian. So if they come in expecting lots of aberrations and madness, they're in for disappointment. If anything, Lord of the Rings invades Ravenloft (or Ravenloft invades Lord of the Rings) would be a better description.
The second description is closer, but again may be confused by making Lovecraft prominent.
I would suggest describing it more as "Lords of the Rings meets Hammer Horror (or even classic Universal Horror) Films", or possibly "Lord of the Rings meets Castlevania".
As for the werewolf, it depends. It could make for major problems if the PC decides that he's a candidate for leadership and follows through in that chapter. You'd have to give reason why he could travel and encounter different packs unless you want the party getting attacked because he's invading the wrong territory. You might be able to get away with it if he isn't from Ustalav, and is utterly inelligble for leadership of the packs, AND has some form of diplomatic immunity to explain why he isn't automatically attacked on sight for invading their territory (unless you want all werewolf encounters to automatically be combat).
Ah. I appreciate that. I didn't want to buy the AP until I was sure I was going to run it, I guess I misunderstood the importance of one part.
As for the werewolf, after I told him he had to be a nongood, nonlawful, Varisian from Ustalav who had some way of traveling without causing territory disputes everywhere he went, he dropped the idea. :)
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I would describe the AP more of a "Tour de Horror". Ghosts, golems, vamps, aliens oh my......
I dont think your description would be false advertising though you can always flavor it heavily the way you want. I am starting the AP on Saturday afternoon. We shall see how my vic... er players turn out.
Ah. I appreciate that. I didn't want to buy the AP until I was sure I was going to run it, I guess I misunderstood the importance of one part.
Not a problem. Wake of the Watcher is one of my favourite adventures Paizo has ever put out, and if you decide to toss Carrion Hill in you can expand the Lovecraft nature in it. But the breakdown of monster focus in the campaign is:
Trial of the Beast: Flesh Golems (though undead do show up)
Broken Moon: Werewolves and zombies (later in it)
Wake of the Watcher: Lovecraftian Creatures up the wazoo
Ashes at Dawn: Vampires
Shadows of Gallowspire: Undead... dear God, the undead! (and a few outsiders)
It's a really fun AP, especially if you enjoy things like Ravenloft, Castlevania, Lovecraft and the Hammer/Universal movies. Lots of chances for good RP, lots of variety in monsters, and a good overarching plot. The biggest weakness is that the villain doesn't really show until the very end, but the editorial intro to Shadows of Gallowspire discuss how to fix that.
As for the werewolf, after I told him he had to be a nongood, nonlawful, Varisian from Ustalav who had some way of traveling without causing territory disputes everywhere he went, he dropped the idea. :)
Well, that solved itself. Hooray for reasonable players who don't demand extremely difficult character concepts be shoehorned in because they won't "have fun" if it isn't!