Lady Ophelia |
Hi there!
So as of the current time stamp on this post, The Blackros Matrimony has not yet been made available. But since a lot of us have been chomping at the bit to find out more about this adventure, I am just starting this thread a preliminary chat about what and who we think is involved in this adventure. :D Also, if the author would love to leave some notes they are more than welcome!
This thread will eventually turn into the spoilers thread for GM's so stick around if you want to see how the reception goes. ;D
*Cue classical wedding music as Lady Ophelia goes and grabs a glass of wedding wine*
The Wedding guests are now arriving, let's chat until someone walks down the aisle! (Or doesn't!)
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Oh, goodie! Now I don't have to be the author who makes his own thread on the subject. :D
Seriously though, I can say that this adventure should be a different can of worms than most standard scenarios. That, and I'm just as eager to see all the development changes that were made.
I'll give you a clue though...
Jim Groves Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4 |
Mark Moreland Developer |
Eric Clingenpeel Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant |
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
Yes.
Mark and I discussed this scenario quite a bit at PaizoCon during the Convocation follow-up, and again at GenCon after he read the first draft(the benefit of attending both conventions). So there was certainly a fair bit of evolution in this scenario.
I would go so far as to say that the Blakros Matrimony greatly differs from 'normal' PFS scenarios, as both prep and play are going to be different than the usual prep GMs undertake. That being said, I've tried to keep things as streamlined as possible, and I know Mark has made some changes in development to accomplish this as well. (Read: Thank Mark that the PCs don't get TPK'd in the final fight).
I'm hoping people are OK with these prep/play adjustments, given that this is a truly Social/RP scenario with a little bit of combat opportunity sprinkled in.
Mark Moreland Developer |
Lady Ophelia |
But I do have a question: As it says in the adventure to "keep track of the RP, as if it were a combat" is it okay if we can treat it somewhat like that?
My idea: "RP Combat"
-Allow players to team up or work solo as they choose.
-Have them roll for initiative as if they were in combat
-Keep turns as if they were in combat.. Since a lot of the discovery and influence DC's take multiple turns, they would have three opportunities on their turn to influence them. (Just like a free, move and standard action)
-When their turn ends, I move to the next person.
-Each player would get three "RP Combat" Rounds, before I would progress the story to the next phase.
Input from Master Thurston/Master Mark/Master Brock would be welcome.
Here is the new shiny Influence Tracker! Influence Tracker
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
This was something I intentionally wanted to leave as a fluid process, for fear that players would just 'roll through it' and finish the adventure in an hour without any actual role-playing. I included the sidebar guidelines so GMs weren't suddenly overwhelmed with 4-6 PCs clamoring for attention with no real structure. I didn’t want to put firm time limits on how to handle this, since it should be up to the GM and based on time / RP comfort of group.
When I ran the play test, we basically had the GM ask each PC who their intended 'target' was. PCs broke off into appropriate groups and then the GM adjudicated each grouping as appropriate. The GM then took a total at the end of the ‘round’ and moved onto the next ‘round’. When a guest was sufficiently influenced, the GM would make strong indications the PCs did not need to further deal with that individual. This worked out very well and I tried to work that into my draft, but honestly, I think this will really come down to GM comfort when handling multiple RP scenes at once. My suggestion would be to use the method in the scenario with the basic guidelines above.
Also, I really dig the influence tracker! This was something I wanted to put into the final draft, but honestly forgot about following the play test.
Mark Moreland Developer |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
But I do have a question: As it says in the adventure to "keep track of the RP, as if it were a combat" is it okay if we can treat it somewhat like that?
That's meant more as a time management suggestion. In the same way you track how long a combat is going so you leave enough room for later encounters, GMs should feel free to speed along roleplaying encounters that have mired or draw out ones that need to fill space so the session doesn't end too early. While every GM is free to use whatever means of keeping things organized and efficient during these sessions, I don't think running them like combat rounds lends itself particularly well to getting into character and interacting with one another. I'm eager to hear what methods work for different GMs, however, as we'd certainly try to incorporate that feedback into any future scenarios with the same structure.
Lady Ophelia |
Okie dokie!
My idea, is just one of the many ways people can handle it. I am just one of those types, that gets really in to the RP, so deep that I can unintentionally miss people. So this is just something I am going to do to keep myself in check and make sure everyone gets some time.
And thank you Master Thurston! After reading this, it might be one of my "Convention Adventures" that I may run over and over. I love RP adventures, and this is one of the many things I was looking for Society to get to! HUZZAH!
Jim Groves Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4 |
I have not read the scenario yet, so I am posting somewhat blindly.. but a suggestion just occurred to me.
In my home game, we sometimes do what we call a "soft initiative". We don't actually roll initiative, but basically we limit everyone to a few actions, and then proceed to another player.. until everyone has had a chance to do something, move, or otherwise interact.
We originally instituted this to keep anxious players from trying to do too much, or get ahead of the party. It also helps for players who unintentionally get carried away and don't let any one else get a word in edgewise.
If that idea appeals, you might want to consider what you consider to be a "couple actions" because its a roleplaying situation. When we thought the idea up, it was for non-combat dungeon situations, so we limited it to a move and a standard action. If the players are being encouraged to roleplay then you might want to loosen it up a little. The concept still would work the same; you get so much in the way of time to do something, and then it moves to another player.
Now I'll have to read the scenario and see if that idea even remotely applies. ;-D
Lordzum |
Quick question regarding the chronicle sheet
Does each character's chronicle sheet get filled out for who they as an individual influence, or is it filled out for who the group as a whole influences? I am assuming the GM would get all of the influence signatures due to guide 4.2 rules.
Thanks in advance
Mark Moreland Developer |
Yes, each PC's Chronicle sheet should reflect that PC's individual influence results. A GM could choose not to have the influence of a particular NPC if she chose not to (not all of them will be good to have influence with, while others will be beneficial) but she can have as many of them as she wants.
Roac |
Two things occurred to me while reading this:
1) Running Influence with soft initiative. Getting players assigned to an NPC and then run each PC/Group separately in some fashion. The Influence checks can then be made after each "statement" (be it bluff/diplomacy/intimidate) or grouped together (as in: "please roll for intimidate twice") if they make a really good speech (or the like).
Discovery checks can be made throughout the encounter.
2) The Meeting Area on the map is the Pavilion Area (B) right?
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
GM Lamplighter |
Love the great artwork in here as well. When I ran this, I made face cards for all the NPCs, using the Gamemastery sets, but now we can use the "real" art!
Highly recommend making face cards, so players have something to focus on when interacting. It's really hard to play all those NPCs as separate entities, I found. Alas, since the artwork isn't under the Open Game license, I can't share mine.
Eric Clingenpeel Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant |
Mark Moreland Developer |
Jiggy RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Indivar |
So let me see if I have this right. Say we have influence chance #1. 5 pcs. 3 of them work together, 2 go solo. The 3 man team gets 1 failed aid attempt, the other succeeds, and the main pc succeeds the dc on the nose. Who gets the credit? Also it looks like influence must be gained from 3 parties for each pc to get a non faction pp....
Mark Moreland Developer |
Mark Moreland Developer |
So let me see if I have this right. Say we have influence chance #1. 5 pcs. 3 of them work together, 2 go solo. The 3 man team gets 1 failed aid attempt, the other succeeds, and the main pc succeeds the dc on the nose. Who gets the credit? Also it looks like influence must be gained from 3 parties for each pc to get a non faction pp....
In your scenario, all 3 of the 3-person team would get an Influence Point, even the one who failed to aid another.
And yes, each PC should have gained enough influence with 3 different NPCs by the scenario's conclusion to surpass those NPCs' respective Successes Needed threshhold. A PC who has a bunch of Influence Points spread out over several NPCs but hasn't reached the target number with any of them does not earn a Prestige Point for the primary mission.
Myron Pauls |
If folks would like to see certain headshots added to the blog (and thus the Community Use Package), that's something I could maybe arrange. I have a blog coming up on Monday anyway...
I would love to see headshots of all the Venture-Captains (in–game, not the R–L ones). Also, some of the NPCs that show up in several scenarios, like Nigel Aldain, or Osprey.
Roac |
Fair enough. So I have to assume that his attacks are based off Dexterity (which makes sense, and besides the math adds up on that).
Does that mean that a lower CR Arastrax has a higher to hit than the regular Shadow Demon? Obviously his damage die decreases. But still...
Edit to add: looking closer at the tactics for the lower sub-tier reveals that Arastrax isn't supposed to engage in melee so that shouldn't be a problem (unless a GM doesn't read the tactics). Besides he teleports away quickly enough.
Jiggy RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32 |
Monster Advancement:
"Simple Templates: In some cases, a complete rebuild does unusual things to a creature. For example, the advanced creature template gives and animal too much Intelligence, and a young incorporeal creature is tougher than a normal one."
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
GM Lamplighter |
Mark - for this scenario, the bride and groom, and Olaf, are probably the ones most important... but for general usafe, it's gotta be Nigel Aldain's image. I second Myron's suggestion for the Venture-Captain portaits to go into the open... or for Paizo to include them in a face card deck. I think having that sort of visual connection with the V-C could really help in the long run.
If we can get a few of the images from this scenario in the blog, I will go through the artwork that's been used previously to find subs for the other NPcs in this, and then I could share the face cards. (I did the same thing for Alex Greenshields' "Red Harvest", another scenario where keeping the NPCs straight is critical.)
Coraith Venture-Lieutenant, Washington—Pullman |
Mark - for this scenario, the bride and groom, and Olaf, are probably the ones most important... but for general usafe, it's gotta be Nigel Aldain's image. I second Myron's suggestion for the Venture-Captain portaits to go into the open... or for Paizo to include them in a face card deck. I think having that sort of visual connection with the V-C could really help in the long run.
If we can get a few of the images from this scenario in the blog, I will go through the artwork that's been used previously to find subs for the other NPcs in this, and then I could share the face cards. (I did the same thing for Alex Greenshields' "Red Harvest", another scenario where keeping the NPCs straight is critical.)
I wouldn't be for a Face Card deck, but I would be all over a campaign setting book that gives half a page or so on a goodly number of people.
Sabre |
Played this last night (3-5 tier). intentionally didn't look @ this thread (or anything but a short description about it) before playing.
We had an excellent GM.
The short version: love/hate. Interesting, different. Requires different approach than most (all?) others, so potentially incredibly frustrating (need a good GM). Probably interested in more like it, but it's going to be rough going until people build skills (role-playing, not #s on paper).
The long version:
Our game turned into a 6 hour marathon. We were probably at 3+ hours before initiative was ever rolled.
group make-up: cleric with +7 diplomacy, a monk with +2 or +3 diplomacy, and 2 fighters, 1 wizard, and 1 ranger with no such skills.
We kept talking and trying and talking and trying, so it dragged on and on.... At one point, I exposed my faction mission and all those except shadow lodge did the same. Ultimately, only 1 faction mission was failed (mine) by putting aside differences and helping each other out. Without helping each other, more would have failed. Invisibility and a distraction helped out our Scarzni guy, and the cross-knowledge helped a with another, but Nigel's never going to hold back his agents. Never.
Table dynamics were... odd. Of the 6, two were most chatty, & two more were fairly involved in roleplaying, but for one of the fighters and the ranger, the vibe was "i can't do anything but stand here and... stand here." Frankly, those two players looked disengaged and bored; they didn't feel they could contribute, and the GM's attempts to involve them didn't seem to take. The other fighter was also largely silent but he was intentionally role-playing that aspect of his character and helping his faction-mate as much as he could.
One of those who was involved wasn't at the start; hes' new to Pathfinder (and role playing), and it was only the GM and his "silent" faction mate who successfully got him to engage, ultimately very successfully. Without an excellent GM, his experience would have been ugly; you could hear the frustration early on.
Personally, the roleplay was intensely frustrating as well. It did require that people "role-play" their characters which is typically something I enjoy, but I'm used to that actually having an impact and it didn't matter that I could tell, at least in part because the dice just plain sucked and that's ultimately what drove sucess/failure (and there was a LOT of failure).
The combat of the scenario was interesting and something of a relief after the frustrations of failing diplomacy check after diplomacy check. Not easy, mind you. No. Downright nervous-making. But the setup was interesting.
One of the fighters had a lvl 3 bard, and during the game he mentioned "I wish I'd brought my bard. We'd be rocking this thing." I agree entirely. Some group makeups (read: have several solid face-types) are going to rock this, while others are going to feel completely inadequate and worthless for the first half of this adventure. GM'ing is the only thing that can possibly save the 1st half for these latter groups. Prepare yourself for it and folks will enjoy; don't and it's goign to be ugly.
I have a fairly static group for which I run PFS scenarios (homegame). I'm contemplating running this because the group does have a decent # of face characters and the entire group will enjoy the role-playing aspects. However, having not yet read it, i'm a bit nervous. I have 3 completely-new-to-roleplaying folks in the group, and if a scenario where roleplay is so integral isn't affected by that roleplaying aside from a time-sink (and it might have, i don't know. we rolled TERRIBLY), it's not going to be pretty.
I'll be interested in seing more scenarios like this, but it feels VERY different at the table than anything I've played before (disclaimer: only really been playing Pathfinder since August). Players aren't used to it, and it's change -- so the challenges are more than they might appear just on paper. Some of the player-base is going to learn how to role-play better; it's a skill which is obviously rusty (or very minimal) for some of us.
Christopher Rowe Contributor |
Eric Clingenpeel Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Thursty, I gotta say, this is an amazing scenario. Just finished reading it and it is now all pretty from the many highlighters I used to keep everything organized. :)
I have been running all the Blakros scenarios to lead up to this one, and I was planning on running this last Thursday, but decided against it (and good thing, since it didn't get in my downloads until after noon Thursday). Instead I ran Storming the Diamond Gate... I was thrilled when I saw Desimere's brother show up as one of the guests. I can't wait to see what my players think of meeting him. :D
Well done again, and I'm really looking forward to running it.
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
Sabre - Glad to hear you got a chance to play it! Yes, it certainly was an experiment, and was meant to emphasize the characters that could RP, instead of the solid combat builds we're seeing a lot of out there. The goal was to promote use of different skills, such as being able to use Bluff, Diplomacy, or Intimidate to gain influence. I'm not sure based on your description, but you could use any of the above skills to gain Influence, and if the GM deemed the role-playing suitable, he could also apply the standard +2/-2 bonus to the checks.
The key with the role-playing in the Matrimony, is that it IS key to the scenario. The PCs completing their primary mission is actually based on gaining sufficient influence, and has nothing to do with surviving the two (yes, only two) combats. Heck, the combat with Olaf is entirely optional if the PCs decide to let him get away with the kidnapping!
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
I'm reading this thread with great interest and some trepidation. My debut as both a Pathfinder system and Society campaign GM will be Tuesday night and this is the scenario I'm running.
Nothing wrong with that! I would suggest taking some time to sit down and make sure you're familiar with each of the guest bios, and the unique rules for Influencing guests. These are the most 'different' parts of the scenario by far.
There's some posts above by Scott and myself, that give some better hints on how to prep/handle the guests and the running of each Influence attempt.
Luckily, the combats should be fairly easy for a newer GM, as we're not using a lot of weird environmental effects or other oddities.
Thurston Hillman Managing Creative Director (Starfinder) |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Thursty, I gotta say, this is an amazing scenario. Just finished reading it and it is now all pretty from the many highlighters I used to keep everything organized. :)
I have been running all the Blakros scenarios to lead up to this one, and I was planning on running this last Thursday, but decided against it (and good thing, since it didn't get in my downloads until after noon Thursday). Instead I ran Storming the Diamond Gate... I was thrilled when I saw Desimere's brother show up as one of the guests. I can't wait to see what my players think of meeting him. :D
Well done again, and I'm really looking forward to running it.
First off, thanks!
This scenario was a real delight to write, and despite the headache I'm sure I gave Mark in development, I'm glad to see that the initial reaction seems so positive!
Honestly, the inclusion of Desimere in the scenario was at Mark's request, though we worked together to have him more than just a random NPC. Really, a lot of the scenario concept credit goes to Mark and Jim Groves for being great sounding boards.
For those who are interested in a brief history lesson...
The Blakros Matrimony was concepted out the night after the Grand Convocation at PaizoCon US. Mark, Jim, and myself were sitting down, drinking some 'tasty beverages', secretly talking about the current results. We bounced a lot of ideas back and forth, going from a 'wedding on a boat' to a 'very Cthulhu wedding', to all sorts of other ideas. Eventually I looked up and asked Mark, "Can we just do a scenario where it's all about the RP, with just a few sprinkled combats to keep people happy?" Jim chimed in that he thought it was a great idea, and that was that.
In the end, the results of PaizoCon UK did change the final suitor to be selected! So, I like to think it all worked out for the best...
Jim Groves Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4 |
Bamf!
And the devil appears...
I think Thursty is generous, but we did have a good chat about it. Mark was quite firm that a few combats were essential for a good balance of action and to have something for everyone to do and enjoy.. and we both agreed.
I really wanted Thursty to have the Foxglove sisters as wedding guests somehow, but we concluded that they'd had enough screen time this season. That is not to say that they could not return in Season Five (especially if people would like them to, hint, hint, even with a different author).
Roac |
I GMd this yesterday for a table of three (two scheduled players failed to show up :/ ) with Kyra as the GM pregen.
I loved it! It's different and rewards players that think outside the box (I had a gnome summoner charm Commander Rubaani with some bubbly and a promise of a midnight stroll on the beach). One player attended PaizoCon UK and was part of the GrandConvocation so this scenario was a special delight for him.
The only thing that slightly raised eyebrows was how easy the fights were (the party included a monk/gunslinger, summoner and monk with Kyra as backup). However, I don't consider that something that detracts from the experience. To be honest I would've been happy with no combat (shows how good the Influence mechanic is).
My hat off to you Thurston!
Eric Clingenpeel Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant |
Just a couple of questions:
The Proper Wedding Attire sidebar says they get penalties if they're in medium or heavy armor, while the Boat Ride says "The two boats have several guards who check over equipment, ensuring that weapons are properly peace-bonded and that no armor above light armor is brought unless the PC has an appropriate title."
So, is the only way for them to have medium/heavy armor is if they have their own boat or will the guards still allow them to have their heavier armor?
Nitpick: Subtier 3-4: Alistair, Halberds aren't reach weapons... I thought they were too until one of my players or a forum poster pointed it out to me.