I'm a preparer. I believe in preparation. Yes, I can wing it. I'm pretty good at it. But I believe in preparation. It applies to all aspects of my life. I prepare my cases, I prepare my files, I prepare my decisions, I just work really hard and think through every possible angle I can. I did it as a trial attorney, too. I had already considered every possible thing, so when something happened I was ready for it.
I bring that same approach to gaming. I think my players deserve the time of their lives. I have yet to have a game group that didn't say "man, that was the best campaign I've ever been in." Because I think about the game, the pace of the game, keeping everyone involved, keeping the drama high, keeping the immersion high, insisting on in character actions, prepping NPC speeches, focusing on dramatic encounters and fights. I make tons of notes. I'm sure all of you do too. But for me its like a performance. When it is game night, I'm on like a performer and I want to be ready.
OCD, perhaps. :)
You have it set to members only for viewing stuff.
I can't figure out how to change that. I must be lame.
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You have it set to members only for viewing stuff.I can't figure out how to change that. I must be lame.
I have never ran a yahoo group before. But I was part of one where only part of the stuff was member only and some was open. I was able to see a lot on that group with out logging in. I have no idea how or if they even offer the feature.
We are playing again this Thursday, so I can't wait for that.
This next session will include some challenges from a session scheduling standpoint.
As you know, I like to plan sessions out a head of time. I can predict with almost 100% accuracy exactly how far PCs will get in a set amount of time. Just years and years of DMing. But there is little doubt that the PCs will finish the Tsaturo encounter and then head back to Sandpoint to meet up with Ameiko and company and give her the chest and other items (you know what I mean). Then I am going to have to deal with the caravan prep time, right smack dab in the middle of the game session. I had hoped to do that in between sessions, but one player being late last week by an hour made us not get to the end of that encounter (I had it all planned nicely to get to the end of that, talk about caravans, break, and tell the players to handle that stuff between game sessions, but it didnt work out that way).
So I've got to figure out what to do about the caravan and whether I am going to narrate it or play out certain encounters or do it in full.
I think just for purposes of time, I am going to narrate most of it.
I'll keep you posted on what I decide.
I kind of behave the same (maybe with a bit less of preparation ^^).
I have a question regarding music and sound. How do you handle them during a campaign? Do you use them at all ?And another question, how do you handle pace with mid higher level plays? ( where fights take longer and actions/spells are a lot more complicated)
You should create a topic on DMing :D
Thanks!
Music and sound, sometimes I use it but usually not. I make all the sounds :) I know some people swear by it, I consider it more of a group distraction. I would NEVER use anything other than atmospheric or orchestral type music to set the mood. I'd never use actual "songs" as I find that too distracting. In college we had music in the background, but not to enhance the game, more "just because." But of course we drank then too. (beers were called "healing potions")
Pace with higher levels is a bit more problematic but frankly I dont have any actual problem predicting how long things will take.
This is sort of a topic on DMing :)
By the way, maybe its the old school DM in me, but I love breaking the rules. I love tweaking things to add flavor even if it means not totally following the rules.
For instance, in the fight the PCs are about to have, I am going to do the classic kung fu movie trope of sending several waves of skeletons against the PCs rather than rush them all at once. (why the bad guys do this, no one knows, but they all do).
I've changed the skeletons to make them more fun and memorable, particularly since the PCs are second level.
For instance, I gave them all unarmed strike as if they were monks, and wakizashis (though corroded enough to lose their "deadly" quality and reduce their threat range to 19-20 from 18-20). So not only will they strike with cool asian weapons but they then throw in some sick kung fu attack. Note that I didnt make them exactly like monks, they dont get 1d6, but its a bit better than just the Improved Unarmed Attack feat. I also gave them a wimpy flurry of blows if they are disarmed and dont use their sword. Hilarious!
Here they are. And yes I agree I have tweaked the rules and these are not correct. But I don't care. Not for my home game anyway. For products, sure, for my game group, no chance. I always change stuff.
XP 135 each
NE Medium undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +0
DEFENSE
AC 16, touch 12, flat-footed 14 (+2 armor, +2 Dex, +2 natural)
hp 5 each (1d8)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +2
DR 5/bludgeoning; Immune cold, undead traits
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee wakizashi +2 (1d6+2; 19-20/x2), unarmed strike –3 (1d4+2) or flurry of blows +2 (1d4+2)
Special Attacks unarmed strike
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 14, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +0; CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats Improved InitiativeB
Gear chain shirt (broken), wakizashi (not broken but corroded enough to lose the “deadly” quality and have their threat range reduced to 19-20; proper cleaning by a weaponsmith [5g each] could restore their former condition)
Treasure: the primary treasure of these skeletons is that each wields a corroded but not broken wakizashi.
By the way, at least one of the skeletons won't use his sword and will attack all flurry of blows style. I can't wait to get all Jason-and-the-Argonauts-meets-the-Matrix on my PCs. :) Ray Harryhausen, come on!
I think my players are all worried they are going to die. But I dont think they will. In fact, I think it will be an awesome and epic fight. I see wave 1 (maybe more) of the skeletons being taken down mostly by some channeled energy (one disadvantage to the group attack plan) from the cleric. Yes, the DR 5/bludgeoning will be a pain for the PCs, its shouldnt stop them. And I wont use my big red 6-sider for damage (that always rolls 5s and 6s), so that will make it more fair. :)
I think this is going to be epic. We'll see if I'm right.
I'm pulling out all the stops, its going to be dramatic. They are getting my "DM A game" tomorrow night. :)
As expected, they survived the fight. It was totally epic. In the end a big battle with Tsutamu after waves of skeletons. I think I sent 16 total skeletons at them. It was my kind of fight, multiple players went down, much healing expended, fighting right down to the bitter end, near to death. Then finally defeating the bad guy. Amazing stuff. Fun session.
As expected, they survived the fight. It was totally epic. In the end a big battle with Tsutamu after waves of skeletons. I think I sent 16 total skeletons at them. It was my kind of fight, multiple players went down, much healing expended, fighting right down to the bitter end, near to death. Then finally defeating the bad guy. Amazing stuff. Fun session.
Sounds Like my kind of encounter I love it when the players survive but barely
Looks like my players have located this thread... :)
Clark
As expected, they survived the fight. It was totally epic. In the end a big battle with Tsutamu after waves of skeletons. I think I sent 16 total skeletons at them. It was my kind of fight, multiple players went down, much healing expended, fighting right down to the bitter end, near to death. Then finally defeating the bad guy. Amazing stuff. Fun session.
My players had a similar experience with Tsutamu that left smiles on most everyone's faces.
My crew walked past the skeletal remains and directly into Tsutamu's chamber. When he arose, he offered a challenge to any who had enough honor to face him directly.
Up steps our Monk and squares off with him, manages to snag him in a grapple and almost manages to successfully pin him but Tsutamu managed to put Wispering Shrike right in his guts and dropped him. Everyone got nervous at this point and Tsutamu looked at the others and the Barbarian stepped forward and declared a challenge of his own and Tsutamu accepted and the two traded blows, but as the fight started to turn against the Barbarian as well after two rounds and our Earthblooded Sorcerer stepped in and did a ranged trip against him, knocking the Tsutamu down.
Tsutamu screamed out at the treachery and his skeletal hordes rose and began to plow into the back of the party. Our Magus taking a 'hold the line' position to hold off the tides of skeletons while Tsutamu managed to gut the barbarian and send him to the ground as well. The bard rushes in and tries to get the Monk on his feet but dosn't manage to heal enough and the sorcerer flings a magic missile that seals the deal on Tsutamu.
Considering my party size is 5, I tend to adjust the encounters a bit, so Tsutamu's death did not destroy the skeletal horde. By the time it was all said and done, everyone but the Bard ended up face down and bleeding at some point during the encounter. It was a serious knock-down drag out. The players fortunately purchased a used Wand of Cure Light that really pulled them through this fight. It was a real slog fest for my guys.
Glad to see others have had such a good time with this encounter as well! :)
Clark, just wanted to say thanks for the inspiration! I've kicked off my Jade Regent campaign over the last couple weeks pretty much just how you've set things up here. We did We Be Goblins the first week, along with the narration of the subsequent events. I utilized your Sandpoint Chronicle idea (though created my own version), which was really well received. Then tonight we kicked off the actual campaign with the Scribbleface encounter. So far, the PCs have found a few pieces of creepy evidence of the Soggy River Monster, have fought a constrictor snake, had a really memorable encounter at Walthus' shack, and have procured the fan map from Licktoad Village.
This is my first time running an AP, and we are all just having a ton of fun so far. This thread really helped rev my engines for the kick off. So once again, thanks! :-)
Hello,
I am going to start Jade Regent tonight and I am going to use a lot of your wonderful ideas in the game. I have a few questions though.
Concerning Matsuro. Doesn't his presense kind of complicate things some what since he is also a possible future emperor of Minkai?
Why does the group go and see the Walthus instead of directly heading towards the Licktoad camp? With Scribbleface to lead them they could go directly there.
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Hello,
Concerning Matsuro. Doesn't his presense kind of complicate things some what since he is also a possible future emperor of Minkai?Why does the group go and see the Walthus instead of directly heading towards the Licktoad camp? With Scribbleface to lead them they could go directly there.
Can't answer for Clark, but I can tell you what I'm doing, since I borrowed liberally, as well.
I used Slorb instead of Scribbleface, but my players skipped Walthus completely. I had Amiko, Sandru and Shalelu go to Walthus to ask after the missing adventurers from town, which will give me a chance to write up a story about what happens there. This way, my players can see Amiko being a competant adventuer without having her take up combat time. Solves two problems.
Matsuro will be competition, especially since he will be the eldest male heir, but he can also be corrupted by the oni, or try to kill Amiko, since she is a threat. I like having a human face for the antagonists and there are many interesting ways it could play out. In the meantime, though, it will be fun to have an adveturing party who are competing for the same resources and information as my PCs. If the PCs get bogged down in minutia, in the second module, Matsuro will be my countdown clock; do X before he does, or your lives get much harder...
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Concerning Matsuro. Doesn't his presense kind of complicate things some what since he is also a possible future emperor of Minkai?
I am also using Matsuro but I have him as a slightly younger sibling who is was an illegitimate son from Ameiko's mother and therefore, not a true heir of the line.
The party have a had a couple of run-ins with him already and he is very entitled and believes he should have had more inheritance as he was stuck with his step-father when Ameiko ran away.
I will have it that has followed the party and goes into the castle behind the party and is close enough when the "special something" happens to make him a chosen heir. The party then have true competition.
Not flaming out. Had a couple players with conflicts (new job for one with new schedule, travel to Hawaii for the other). Now its December and the holidays are looming. This is a notorious slow period. We'll resume after Jan 1. Plus, there is this Paizo thing I might be involved with (not to mention playing Star Wars The Old Republic).
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Seriously? So if your group wants to get together to play a session you say you can't because you're playing Star Wars The Old Republic?? As GM?? My players would be quite upset if I (the GM) did that. Not that I would. Professional and personal conflicts sure, but not GMing for a group because you'd rather play an MMO? That seems like a recipe for a flame out to me. Good luck, hope the campaign picks up again in the new year!
That's a whole wall of assumptions you've build up there, out of one off-handed comment.
So what happened did real life end this game or just have not been posting
Or that little thing called RPG Superstar taking all your free time
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I'm going to start a group in Jade Regent next month, playing what will likely be 6 hour sessions once or twice a month depending on availability.
I'm pretty much using your entire introduction, but with such a small window to run a game I realize that I'm going to have to make some pretty significant cuts in order to run the AP at a reasonable clip. I was wondering what you would recommend?
(I might start a new thread to get more answers from the community).