I'm putting together a new group to play an AP, and for various reasons I've narrowed the field down to five (RotRL, CotCT, CoT, JR, and ShatStar...hehehe, I said "shat"). I'd be good running any of them and I intend to put it to a group vote as to which one we pick, but I'm wondering...
Now that lots of people have had a chance to finish the AP, do you feel that a group would get substantially more out of this by playing RotRL first? Of course the main thrust of JR is the epic journey, but the origin in Sandpoint and the ongoing relationships with the four main NPCs seem to me to make it pretty important to play RotRL first to get best emotional buy-in and commitment.
I know JR can be run without playing the older AP first, but should it? How much is lost by doing so? Is anything gained?
|
Well, although I own RotR, I haven't read it, and I didn't run it before launching into Jade Regent.
We're having an absolute ball. I can't say that it wouldn't have been better if we'd played RotR first (because how would I know?), but I don't think it matters much. There are Easter eggs in JR for those familiar with RotR, but not getting them doesn't negatively impact the enjoyment.
That said, with the release of the RotR hardcover, and update to PFRPG rules, things have changed. If I were to do it today, I would start with RotR, because I'm just OCD that way.
Keep in mind, though, that it's not like the PCs can carry over from RotR to JR, except maybe as (really, really powerful) NPCs. So you're not gaining much in that respect.
I'd say run what you want.
Personally, I'd say it really doesn't matter. You're out of Sandpoint almost as quick as you can snap your fingers. The question I think is more about how deep a connection your players will form with Ameiko. Would running RotRL help with that? Maybe (I bought the hardbound re-release but haven't read it completely). But so could some good RP at the beginning of JR and perhaps a side-story with Ameiko as a centerpiece. For example, someone in another thread said he had Amieko, Sandru and the PCs go to a cave a short distance off the caravan path up north, where the two NPCs paid their respects to a fallen friend. Little touches like that could probably get you just as much of an investment as running all of RotRL in a lot less time (but RotRL would also be a ton of fun, I'm sure). In the end, I'd say focus more on the flavor of the AP -- they're all capable of being run independently.