Good afternoon Paizo community,
It is indeed a fine day. I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day (or a great Thursday depending on your relationship status).
It's fairly cold up here in Montreal but that didn't stop our group from getting together for some great gaming sessions and it was during one of these sessions that this fabulous idea came to us.
"What Idea?" you scream, blood pounding through your veins as you draw your +2 slow-typerbane greatsword.
Well, don't go all Play-by-Post chat on me, I'm getting to it.
You see, I love good games. I love them almost as much as I love designing adventures for my gaming group.
And I thought, what a shame eh? (Yes, I say "eh?") Why should only me friends get to play?
But then it hit me. Hard. Like a Shoanti barbarian hits you with an Earth Breaker.
What if I did give them out? For free.
I've had a talk with some people, and the usual response is, "Why not sell them? Make some cash?"
Well I could, but I think I want to just write without having to worry about monetary issues.
So I decided to set myself down and start to write.
Then a problem arose... what I write?
Well, rather than spew out some adventure no one will want, I'm launching a small question to the forum, and here it is:
#1: Clockspinnings: Science fiction adventure set on a society that has just discovered the technology required to reach space. However, what will the horrors of worlds beyond their own bring?
#2: Underheln: A massive mega-dungeon, Underheln is the remnant of a world torn apart by an ancient entity of raw chaos. The survivors live in a post-apocalyptic underground where survival is primordial and the world itself is your enemy.
#3: Caelidh, Realms of Rebirth: A high fantasy campaign in which the twenty-two provinces wage a traditional war known as the Landspiel. Meanwhile, portals to the otherworldly realm of Aornach slowly erode the world and bring monsters once more into the world. The players will have to take control of their provinces and muster armies large enough to stem this otherwordly horde.
#4: Uncharted Edge: The hunt for a pirate's lost treasure horde brings the players to the Uncharted Edge, an unexplored continent where colonials fight against the imperialistic Southsea Trading Company, temples to ancient aztec-like deities rise from exotic jungles and pirates rule the azure seas.
#5: Gravewalker: After daemons ravage the players homelands, they find themselves returned as undead. From the search for a new home to the fight against both the daemons responsible and old allies turned enemies will force the players to become champions of the dead and embrace their new forms.
#6: Caravan's Trail: A more story-like campaign, the players embark on a trip around the world aboard the Dragonheart Caravan and with a crew of unique travelers all searching for the world's rarest treasures.
#7: More ideas? Let me know below!
Again, I repeat, this will be a free to download and play adventure. No payments. None.
Thanks for placing a vote the black raven. Underheln is definitely one of the darker, grittier adventures, especially as a mega-dungeon. We have a ton of great ideas for an otherworldly environment to challenge players.
On the other hand, Gravewalker is definitely a very political campaign, with the majority of sentient races seeking the undead player's destruction no matter their alignment. Zealous undead hunters, Churches of the Light and heroes will oppose the players as much as Daemon soul gatherers.
Hey there Stargysyd, thanks for the vote. Clockspinnings is indeed a full blown space adventure, and yes, besides Paizo's Distant Worlds and a few scenarios I don't believe this has been addressed much. However, some players want a distinct cut between science fiction and fantasy and we want to make sure it appeals to the general public as well.
#8: Azure Abyss: After a shipwreck strands the players on the bottom of the ocean floor, the players become involved in an underwater campaign where the fate of the world lies in their ability to quell the wrath of a slumbering monstrosity before it drowns the world beneath the waves. This is an underwater campaign.
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#8 if you use Alluria Publishing's Cerulean Seas rules. #6 Caravan if you use official caravan rules. #2 also sounds nice.
BUT. They all aren't adventures, they're settings. Detailing setting-specifics alone in sufficient detail will gobble up your page-count like a starved tarrasque. Plus, I don't know whether you have any experience regarding professional writing, so additional complications (layout, artwork, cartography, editing) await.
I don't want to be the boogeyman/nitpicker, but be careful to not try to reinvent the wheel when it already exists. I think a free teaser is great, short products to show us what you can do would be even better.
Just saying since some new companies get it right from the start while others struggle VERY hard. Oh, and by the way: Not all 3pps actually make money with their products. I know that a couple do and use it as their day-job, but there are also quite a few that make a loss with products and do it because they enjoy what they're doing.
Hope that helps!
I have read through Cerulean Seas, so I may elect to use those rules. As for the official caravan rules, I've heard a lot of negative opinions on them and after playing with them myself, found that they weren't nearly as efficient as they could be. Caravan combat were a very awkward time and we elected to simply skip them.
As for "reinventing the wheel", there's no reason we can't give out both adventures and sufficient information so as to create a fun and new setting.
Many adventures provide background information or gazetteers to complement the actual story and I've never had any problem with this.
This will be my first foray into actually publishing adventures but what say we produce a Short Scenario to showcase in what direction we are going? In your opinion, would this help?
Yes, definitely! A short scenario as a taste-wetter is neat.
It's also good to hear that you are aware of what other 3pps offer in order to minimize overlap etc. I don't think e.g. Alluria would object to adventures. IF you can make GOOD caravan-rules (even better when they can use the standard statblocks), then I'M all for it!
Gazetteer-section for modules are okay, but you can't cram a whole setting in there (like post-apocalypse etc.). Even FMG's WotW somewhat suffered from Talingarde being not detailed before the AP kicked of. But that's just my opinion.
:)
I have read through all of Way of the Wicked and have loved every part of it. I did realize that Talingarde was not completely detailed but there's plenty room for GM creativity to work with which I much appreciated.
Underheln's post apocalyptic setting takes place entirely in an underground mega dungeon world, and besides the settlements of Dredgesea and Last Chance the entire adventure delves deep beneath the world and is detailed as the adventures descend.
And actually, we have followed your reviews of 3PP before and have used them to find which products were worth it, and what problems others have had.
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No need to tell me!
I'd vote for choice number 5. It's a nifty concept.
#5 looks a lot like Dark Souls. :)
I'll throw in my vote for #8, because that one would fit in best to the Galorian world.
Or #4. Gah! I can't decide!
Well, Azure Abyss is definitely the one that requires the least amount of changing to fit into Golarion.
Clockspinnings takes place in space, but not within the Golarion system.
Gravewalker, Caelidh and Caravan Trails are in specific worlds, but the others could be worked into Golarion I imagine.
Are you only planning on making one, or are you planning on making all of them and only giving one away for free?
I ask because those look like some great adventure paths, and I'd be willing to pay.
Aside from the fact I'm in your Clockspinnings game and have a vested, powergamey interest in knowing how everything ends, it legtimately seems pretty cool. Otherwise, Gravewalker is pretty neat.
Are you only planning on making one, or are you planning on making all of them and only giving one away for free?
I ask because those look like some great adventure paths, and I'd be willing to pay.
The first one will be for free. If I see people enjoy my work, I may open up room for donations but I currently have no plans to sell anything.
As for the other adventures, they have all been worked on to some degree and if I see an active interest in the other adventures I am perfectly fine to keep on writing them.
Number 4!!! Sounds Like A Great Game
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if I had to vote for one of them it would be #1
however I like the idea of combining 1, 2, and 6. Starting with 6 they discover the dungeon, explore, find a rare item/map which brings them to #1. I have been planning something akin to this for about two years just don;t have the home group to play it out.
if I had to vote for one of them it would be #1
however I like the idea of combining 1, 2, and 6. Starting with 6 they discover the dungeon, explore, find a rare item/map which brings them to #1. I have been planning something akin to this for about two years just don;t have the home group to play it out.
I don't currently plan to combine the Adventure ideas, but as they are now, ideas may be pulled from one to compliment the other. For example, we have a few neat aquatic encounter ideas for Azure Abyss which would still fit in Uncharted Edge perfectly.
Whatever it will be in the end - I look forward to reading your endeavors!
(and reviewing them, if you want me to)
All the best!
Thanks again for the votes! It looks like some of these ideas are more popular with others.
We're planning on showcasing a part of Underheln soon, as an example of what direction we're heading to.
My vote is for Underheln; I am a complete sucker for mega-dungeons, especially when they come with their own ecosystem.
I'm really interested in 5, 1, and 2. If I have to pick just one, I'd have to go with 1.
Also: You say Adventures in the OP, but these all sound more like Adventure PATHS to me. I won't complain regardless, but it would be nice to know what you're planning on. :)
A choice of free stuff? Sounds great- can't think of a choice so I'll go with the handy-dandy messageboard dice roller mechanism (going with a 1-8 with 7 being a reroll)...
Got a roll: ...
and a 7? that means a reroll is in order...
2nd roll: ...
and eight it is, Azure Abyss ftw on my end :)
Well, I am probably in the minority but, I would be most interested in #4 Uncharted Edge. I think there is a lack of good pirate adventures.
I'm really interested in 5, 1, and 2. If I have to pick just one, I'd have to go with 1.
Also: You say Adventures in the OP, but these all sound more like Adventure PATHS to me. I won't complain regardless, but it would be nice to know what you're planning on. :)
We're still debating on which method of release we'll use. Between getting one long complete adventure, or multiple adventures a la Pathfinder Adventure Paths, what would you prefer?
Thanks again to everyone who votes!
#6, Caravan, sounds appealing to me. And useful to a lot of campaigns...
Caravan Trails, as a world spanning journey, probably would provide GMs with a lot of material for a wide variety of environments. We'd be taking an "Around the World in 80 Days" style approach if we were to make it.
All of these appeal to me on some level, but #1 is the most appealing, and then #2 and number #5. Also, maybe an Urban Arcana-like adventure.
All of these appeal to me on some level, but #1 is the most appealing, and then #2 and number #5. Also, maybe an Urban Arcana-like adventure.
Clockspinnings is definitely the closest you'll get to Urban Arcana. It's the least "fantastical" in a sense, while still keeping touches of the supernatural and bizarre within a science fiction context. If space horror and creepy adventures is your thing, then Clockspinnings will suit you just fine.
As the tally now stands:
1 *****
2 ******
3
4 ***
5 ******
6 **
8 ****
It seems that #3, as I thought, has garnered the least support. Thanks again to everyone who votes!
Regarding AP vs. Mega-module: It depends on the module. E.g. WotW works awesome as an AP, whereas for example one of the issues of Serpent Skull was that the last couple of modules essentially should have been one mega-module/sandbox. From your teasers, I think #1,3,4 and 6 would work better as APs, #2 and #5 sound like mega-modules to me. #8 could work as either.
Just my 2 cents. ^^ Also: Pirates have been done quite a bit with Skull & Shackles, Freeport and to a lesser degree Journeys to the West (though that is more about weird islands.) Razor Coast is also looming around the corner and I wouldn't want to go up against that monster when it hits shelves. Especially when all the other pitches you have are more unique and far-out. Regarding Underheln, there you'll have Throne of Night and Rappan Athuk to potentially contend with - depending on how the survival-aspect is used, it could still stand out distinctly, though.
Oh, and as #7: War-AP/mega-module/sandbox. WotBS uses war as a great backdrop (and not much more until the final module), but I'd LOVE to see an AP that has the PCs as elite-strike squad: Think Gundamn or Code Geass sans Mechas. (Or with steampunk-mechas...) And yes, I'd buy that.
Cheers!
Regarding AP vs. Mega-module: It depends on the module. E.g. WotW works awesome as an AP, whereas for example one of the issues of Serpent Skull was that the last couple of modules essentially should have been one mega-module/sandbox. From your teasers, I think #1,3,4 and 6 would work better as APs, #2 and #5 sound like mega-modules to me. #8 could work as either.
Just my 2 cents. ^^ Also: Pirates have been done quite a bit with Skull & Shackles, Freeport and to a lesser degree Journeys to the West (though that is more about weird islands.) Razor Coast is also looming around the corner and I wouldn't want to go up against that monster when it hits shelves. Especially when all the other pitches you have are more unique and far-out. Regarding Underheln, there you'll have Throne of Night and Rappan Athuk to potentially contend with - depending on how the survival-aspect is used, it could still stand out distinctly, though.
Oh, and as #7: War-AP/mega-module/sandbox. WotBS uses war as a great backdrop (and not much more until the final module), but I'd LOVE to see an AP that has the PCs as elite-strike squad: Think Gundamn or Code Geass sans Mechas. (Or with steampunk-mechas...) And yes, I'd buy that.
Cheers!
Thanks again for the great advice Endzeitgeist!
I had completely missed the Razor Coast kickstarter and it does indeed sound like one great adventure!
Rappan Athuk is much more classical in its dungeon approach from what I've read of it, though I must admit, its voluminous size does it justice. Throne of Night is also very "Underdark" theme from what I've gathered (wars between dwarves and drow).
I've only read the first module of WotBS, it being another great adventure besides Zeitgeist and WotW that has inspired me, and I don't believe a full blown War AP has been done before. I don't know much of Gundam/Code Geass however, but nothing beats good old anime research I'd imagine.
And yes, some of the ideas proposed are less unique for sure. I'd say Clockspinnings, Gravewalker and Azure Abyss are the three that have the most potential in terms of unexplored terrain.
Thanks for voting!
As mentioned, we have created a very short, single page PDF, to showcase what you can currently expect from me.
As a freelancer, I currently have no artwork done nor any maps done. Maps will definitely be included, while artwork may be more scarce.
The link is provided right here: The Lightning Shaft
The Lightning Shaft is a single chamber within the post-apocalyptic mega-dungeon of Underheln. It should present an interesting challenge for 3rd level characters.
EDIT: Link changed. PDF now includes missing OGL.
I've reuploaded the PDF here after having re-revised it. You'll find the chamber much more complete than before.
Thanks for the vote LazarX!
Here is the link to our choice for the first adventure. Head on over to the post to submit some cool ideas!
Uncharted Edge appeals as I can slot it into Golarion somewhere (perhaps to expand on Skulls and Shackles). The rest seem to be completely stand alone and not friendly to my campaign in anyway. Plus they blend other elements (Sci-Fi, post-apocalyptic, etc).
I am sure that puts me in the minority...
=Dan
Uncharted Edge is definitely one we want to explore. However, as a large sandbox style adventure, we realize it may not be the best choice for a first take at this.
But yes, it is definitely the easiest to fit in to Golarion (just make it a new continent).
However, as we mention on our other page, Clockspinnings is the adventure which hits the most unexplored terrain, so we think this might be the best place to start without stepping on anyone's toes.
As well, Uncharted Edge would have to compete with the Razor Coast... an unlikely feat.
