I finally did it - finally ran my first Pathfinder Beginner Box game yesterday! It went very well, the system is smooth, fast and deadly to PCs and monsters alike. We played through Black Fang's dungeon from the GM's book with 4 PCs, and all appeared to go well, the PCs faced and drove off Black Fang, reducing him to 17 hp and seizing his treasure, then rested before clearing the rest of the dungeon. By the time that was done they were wealthy men (and elf girl).
However, the PCs then decided to track him down and finish him off...
Two days later they tracked the dragon (now at 29 hp) down to a cave on an icy riverbank. Unfortunately the dragon detected their approach, and as they turned the corner it took down the Fighter & wounded the Alchemist with one breath attack, then moved in for the kill, felling the wounded Alchemist with one bite. The Cleric tried to revive the Fighter with clw but rolled too low; Black Fang full-attacked and tore him apart. The Elf Rogue ran for it then hid and managed to escape, while the dragon consumed her comrades.
Bit brutal, but I think a great time was had by all! :D
Congrats! And sorry for the dead PCs.
*salute*
Don't worry about the dead PCs Sean, I'm a killer DM. >:)
Funnily enough the 3 dead PCs belonged to the experienced players; the PC of the lone newbie was the one who survived. They were determined to track down the dragon because I had the 1,000gp reward be for its head, even though they had garnered well over 1,000gp in the dungeon.
Next up: Crypt of the Everflame! :)
I just ran CotE for the first time to get back into DM'ing... VERY well done and am having a great time... My group is about half way through it and really enjoying it as well... Good choice!
Sounds like fun. :)
-Ed
Sure was! :) Your Alchemist BB conversion worked well, Ed (sadly the Alchemist PC got ganked by the dragon). Only small issue was you gave the Alchemist Sleight of Hand, a non-BB skill, so we substituted a Knowledge skill AIR.
Next time, a player wants to play your Oracle conversion! :)
I should mention that after the game, one of my players who has played a lot of 4e D&D was full of praise for how fast and furious the PF BB game ran compared to 4e - the ability to complete a decent-sized adventure in one 4-hour session is a huge plus for me, enabling the old-school "Castle Greyhawk Delve" feeling I wanted, with a disparate group of PCs getting together, setting off on a quest, and completing their mission (or dying) all within the one session. For playing at a club with a variable player base this is a huge advantage.
Log of my Campaign so far, using Paizo adventures in Gary Gygax's 'Yggsburgh' campaign setting. The second session 'Crypt of the Everflame' went a lot better than the first, though the orc ambush did threaten a TPK right at the start! Luckily one player had chosen a pregen Elf Fighter with an awesome AC, enough to keep him alive through many dire straits.
Adventure One: Black Fang's Lair
On the 12th M2 in the Yggs Year 96, as old snow lies hard on the frosted ground, Alicia Hawkes hires four adventurers at the Swordsmen's Brotherhood to deal with a 'large lizard', nicknamed Black Fang, that has been stealing livestock from the frightened peasants of the Hawkes estates south of Serpent Ridge. Next day (13/2) the four track the beast down to a dungeon complex just south of the ridgeline; drive it from its lair, and seize its treasure. But the beast, a black dragon, escapes. The group finish clearing the dungeon (14/2), then rest in a nearby hamlet. The following day (15/2) the group track down the monster to a cold cave on the icy southern banks of Cold Springs Run...
Only one adventurer, the Elfin maid Alikara, returns to Yggsburgh, with news that her three comrades have fallen in battle against the beast.
Adventure Two: Crypt of the Everflame
11/3/96: Early Spring in the Eastmark. A time for celebration, for the wakening of new life and the festival of Son's Rebirth. But some dark power has seized the Crypt of the Everflame, sacred to the memory of the hero Ekat Kassen who two centuries before had saved the young town of Yggsburgh from his former comrade, the warlord Asar Vergas, at cost of his own life. Both men were interred in an ancient crypt that dated back to the time of the Cnobrii savages; an ever-burning flame placed above Kassen's tomb, so that all who visited might find warmth in the wilderness. For decades the dungeon-chambers of the Crypt have been used to train novitiate Clerics of the Great Church in battle and spellcraft.
But now something is wrong - since the turn of the new year, pilgrims and travellers have fled in fear, reporting that terror lurks in the tomb, or have not returned at all. And now the two Temple priests Gerol and Vark sent to conduct an exorcism there have not returned - neither have their four companions - two lay brethren torchbearers (Roldare & Dimira) and two temple guards. So the priests of the Great Church turn to the unorthodox personnel of the Swordsmen's Brotherhood...
Kyra of Neria, a crusading Cleric of St Saranrae, was sent by the Venerable Reginald Viner of the Outland Temple. At the Swordsmen's Brotherhood she recruited the Elf adventurers Cam the Fighter & Alikara the Rogue; together they left Yggsburgh riding on their asses, and travelled east along the River High Road to the Two Pikes Tavern (prop. Kevin Glenward) - on approach at dusk they were ambushed by 3 orcs; but Cam held them off until travellers from the Tavern intervened; the last orc fled into the night.
Alikara and Kyra were badly wounded, it took 3 days' rest (12-14/3/96) before they were restored to health. On 15/3/96 the trio took the ferry over South Eel River and headed east 2 miles or so to where a track led south into the rough wooded hills. Two miles or so on, the group descended a scree slope into a ravine, and reached the Crypt of the Everflame, finding the horses of the prior expedition slaughtered. They entered the crypt, battled undead guardians and rescued Roldare, a Lay Brother of the Great Church who said his sister had also been with the prior expedition and might still live. After facing traps and crypt guardians, including a terrible wood golem, the group retreated to rest in the wooded ravine, but were attacked that night by wolves, a bloody fight ensued.
On morning of 16/3/96, the group entered the Crypt once more, facing more challenges. After a battle with Bloody Bones undead, they stood victorious, and before them lay steps down to the second level of the Crypt, where Kassen's bones were said to be interred...