One wants to get Ameiko into royalty so he can mooch off of her.
One just wants to kill as many monsters as possible so he can brag about it over ale, and figures this adventure is a good way to do that.
One wants to get connections among the Tian royalty so she can seduce a hot young royal and be set for life.
One really doesn't want to help at all but is being pressured into it by Ameiko herself, who is his older sister.
And they're all horribly ineffective and are probably going to die long before even reaching Kalsgard, let alone Tian Xia... Still, I'm looking forward to playing out Suishen's reaction to these people being Minkai's only hope. Assuming they get that far that is.
A group like this can be... Amusing. It's easier to scale back an adventure of my own design than an Adventure Path too. So it is a serious concern of mine that they're all going to die horribly. Probably in the Brinestump caves since the obituaries topic seems to indicate Tsutamu as one of the biggest causes of PC death in the AP, alongside Zaiobe (heck even Chief Gutwad looked like he was going to TPK them for a while). Needless to say the other group I'm running through Jade Regent is probably going to do a lot better.
Actually,
This is a pretty neat chance for you as a DM to really bring the NPC's into the spotlight. For the most part, they are rather caring and good natured individuals. I would try to use them as frequently as possible as a contrast to their party, Ameiko, Sandru, and Shalelu are supposed to be rather heroic individuals after all. If the party does not step it up, they certainly will and possibly even make the party jealous(It's a long shot, I know.).
Also, you could pull off the Asian cultural difference on them that throws some kinks in their respective plans once they arrive.
The one who wants to kill lots of monsters and brag may find himself challeneged to a duel by a superior opponent wishing to test this gaijin's mettle. If he wins the duel, he is shamed for using unorthdox weaponry and shameful tactics, if he loses, well he loses and that should invalidate some of his bragging rights. If not that, simply have him be noticeably 'ignored' by the major Tian NPC's after any of his improper outbursts or drunken and disorderly behavior.
The 'young hottie' who wants to get hitched to a sugar daddy? Well that is totally in the works in book 4. Offer it, see if the PC bites. Sure it would end the character as far as the campaign goes.... But they would get what they want, then you will get to see if that is 'really' what the character wants.
The 'other' Kaijitsu/Amatasu blooded PC also has some decent and possibly treacherous options once they arrive in Minkai. Have a third party approach him at some point, offering support to HIM for the throne as opposed to his sister. This is a rather common trope in any type of ruler related power struggle. It may be over used, but it seems like it could be effective.
The 'mooch' I can't really think of anything for, atleast over the course of the game. A lot of that depends on how your Ameiko would deal with it and how good he is at hiding his intentions. Honestly, if someone was willing to walk half way across the world to help me on some mythical, grand quest. I'd possibly be half tempted to let them mooch so long as he carried his weight.
It is, like you said, most likely going to be 'amusing' at the very least. I can imagine lots of options for rivalries between the players and NPC's if you guys are using the relationship system. So long as everyone out of character is having fun you guys should have a good time.
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A group like this can be... Amusing.
A group like that is good. A group like that is the R in RPG. Without that, you get a hack-and-slash game that is much less fun for everyone.
Compare to my group: a ragtag bunch of Varisians, with accent on "Varisian". Money-driven scoundrels who are used to live on the road pickpocketing everyone in their path. I'm thinking that
upon a few PCs so they can be properly railroaded into the AP. I know their characters would rather cash the treasures and spend it on alcohol and women than travel north.
the obituaries topic seems to indicate Tsutamu as one of the biggest causes of PC death
Tsutamu is only a problem if the party splits. And he's not that powerful: I buffed him up with some extra samurai levels to compensate for some 2nd level PCs, but the party barbarian finished him off in the 1st combat round due to one of those criticals that deal 30+ damage.
So are these guys just bad players or are they actually role playing a bunch of losers?
Roleplaying a bunch of losers, for the most part. One of them really couldn't build a competent character to save her life and refused to accept advice, whereas the others knew how to be strong and just chose not to be. And I worry about the odds of survival for an all casters/no healer party in a published adventure.
@Asurasan: Prince Batsaikhar in NO WAY counts as hot. I'm still going to have him propose to her though. Heh heh...\
And yes, it has been incredibly fun so far. I just suspect they're not going to live to see their next age categories.
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That artist was summarily executed with a giant sword for his crude and offensive portrayal of the most handsome and kind Prince Batsaikhar...
:P
Tsutamu is only a problem if the party splits. And he's not that powerful: I buffed him up with some extra samurai levels to compensate for some 2nd level PCs, but the party barbarian finished him off in the 1st combat round due to one of those criticals that deal 30+ damage.
Splitting seems to be a trend. The party split against Gutwad (the witch went off on her own to try to distract the rest of the goblins). The party split against the Soggy river monster (the ranger opted to stand far, FAR back in case it tried to run, which it didn't). And most recently, the party split against Skitterfoot (the alchemist spent the entire battle thoroughly searching the shed, which he was certain was trapped somehow.
Walthus on the other hand, they simply allowed to die. They're the first group I've run through Jade Regent to actually beat Volorog's ridiculously high Disguise and Sense Motive checks, and yet they opted to hurriedly excuse themselves from Walthus' house when they realized it probably wasn't a halfling they were talking to.
I've been using a "Campaign Journal" that I e-publish in serial form to the PCs that emphasizes the heroic and often humorous actions that their characters have undertaken. It seems to have worked so far, as my PCs really enjoy discussing their various roles in the party, as well as keeping the historical timeline of the campaign ever in the forefront of their gaming consciousness.
It's a little more work, but the journal effect is nice.
I often use the Sandpoint Heroes (Shalelu, Ameiko, Sandru, Koya) to act as "parent" to them, but they'll likely take a bigger role in the heroic actions once they hit long treks in the caravan stretch.
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This remind me fondly of a short campaign in Ninja&Superspies where our party has been chosen by Fate to be the champions of Good against terrible Evil.
Except that a minor functionary in the Celestial Bureaucracy had been bribed to switch some files around.
When we heard that we were the chosen champions of the forces of Good, we (CE pirate, NE martial artist, LN mage who seemed all out of place in this company) mostly burst into laughing except the NE ninja who wanted some monetary compensation for the very bad entry that would make on his professional summary.
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As one of the players in that group, I can attest to the fact that our group had been called "the worst heroes ever" on multiple occasions.
Or is your other JR group the "All caster/no healer" group you mentioned?
Really, my focus during character creation just wasn't forward-thinking: someone who would be at the right place at the right time and who would serve a solid party role. "What would happen later on" didn't enter my mind until after everyone had stumbled onto their noble titles.
But now, after three of those characters have died and the forth has become Ameiko's official Leadership cohort, we are the worst heroes no longer. Even though the new group is fully human, a mix of forward-planning and asking for help has ensured that our Thud & Blunder days are behind us.