OK this is simple, just tell us who are your 3 favorite Pathfinder adventure/module writers and why. The reason why only have to be valid to you.
1) Mike Shel. No explanation needed.
2) Richard Pett. Understands what HORROR actual is and how use it.
3) Brandon Hodge. From Shore to Sea.
In no particular order:
Greg Vaughn - everything I've ever read or run by him has been brilliant. Nearing up on Varnhold Vanishing now!
Richard Pett - indeed, horrific genius.
Nick Logue - Razor Freakin' Coast. (Hat tip to Lou Agresta as well.) Also has an amazing sense for atmosphere... even if it is usually to gross you the hell out.
Sadly I have yet to read, run, or play through a Hodge adventure, as neither Carrion Crown, Shattered Star, nor Reign of Winter are owned by anyone in our group and we typically don't purchase individual modules.
1) Greg A. Vaughan: 'Kings of the Rift', 'Spires of Xin Shalast', 'Skeletons of Scarwall' and 'Prince of Demons' are some of the most memorable modules I've seen in a while.
2)Richard Pett Everyime something creepy or disturbing happens during a module I run, its usually Richard Pett's fault. Also, he writes some of the best social encounters out of any modules ('Prince of Redhand', 'Serpents of Scuttlecove', Skinsaw Murders, Sixfold Trial, Trial of the Beast)
3)Branadon Hodge Obviously I'm partial to climatic mega modules, and besides Vaughan, no one does them like Hodge. 'Shadows at Gallowspire' and 'The Dead Heart of Xin' are prime examples of this.
1st) Richard Pett <-- kills more PCs in interesting ways than anyone else.
2nd) Brandon Hodge <-- 'cause ... it's Hodge!
five-way tie for 3rd - in no specific order) Michael Kortes, Greg Vaughn, Neil Spicer, Tito Leati, Mike Shel <-- reason? Um, you've read what they write, right?
I would buy from the following authors based on name-recognition alone:
1) Richard Pett
2) Wolfgang Baur
3) tie between Brandon Hodge and Michael Kortes
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I wish the reasons being given for why certain authors are the best were more considered and articulate. That could be useful to everybody else, both fans and writers. I'm not sure the intent behind this thread, but that is a way to get some good out of it.
"Read their stuff" is okay, but that is close to expecting someone to read your mind.
It looks like folks are also, with the exception of Wolfgang Baur and Monte Cook (although I know Wolfgang has written for them, I'm not sure about Monte) mentioning *just* Paizo authors.
Not fishing, but I'm trying to make sure I have the scope of the question right.
Was that intentional?
-Ben.
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Having sufficient time to elaborate on the answers as to why we like a particular author can be tricky.
These eight authors will generally get me to look at an item purely on name recognition alone.
Richard Pett: Pett's writing is very atmospheric and always something unique and often more than a little twisted - which is right up my alley. Pett seems to like his easter eggs. Pett's horror scenes are often more atmospheric, less splatterific (horror rather than scare/shock), which is much more difficult to pull off with the written word. Pett is the only author to date that has inspired me to stat up a CR ~50 monster based on his writing - and to have actually used it at the table (once).
Brandon Hodge: He is an excellent writer who has written for 'other systems' (i.e., Call of Cthulhu) and is notorious for integrating historical goodies into game scenarios. What I've seen of his Pathfinder work is excellent. That Hodge has the breadth of experience writing for other game systems, especially BRP, lends itself well to 'thinking outside the box' that d20-exclusive authors often fall into.
Kortes, Tito, Leati, Vaughn and Spicer cover the gamut of 'what makes a good adventure writer'. Each brings their own special spin on the adventure outline. Each brings a serious case of the nasty for any chapter they are tasked with writing. Each, to me, is roughly on par with the other.
Better? ;)
Jacobs for his stories.
Mona for his settings.
Pett for his writing.
Better? ;)
Much.
Don't get me wrong, all the people suggested have done great work. I'm not calling anybody's taste into question. But I like to get past the hype, and when someone can explain their reasons, it is much more meaningful.
Hodge
Vaughan
Atleast half of the above list others mentioned.
#1 Richard Pett - Not only did he write my favourite published adventure to this day, but every single adventure he writes is amazing. He's unconventional, brilliant and always has surprises up his sleeve. I also think I appreciate his writing because there's a great deal of roleplaying opportunities in his adventures.
Favourite adventures from Rich Pett: "The Sixfold Trial", "Carrion Hill", "The Skinsaw Murders"
#2 Michael Kortes - His writing is excellent, but what really does it for me is this man's innovative ideas.
Favourite adventures from Michael Kortes: "What Lies in Dust", "The Haunting of Harrowstone"
#3 James L. Sutter - His "Asylum Stone" was an excellent adventure, expanding on what he had written before - his amazing "City of Strangers". Granted, I'm twisting the question a little here, because James is not primarily an adventure author, but the combination of both books results in an unforgettable roleplaying experience.
Favourite adventure from James L. Sutter: "Asylum Stone"
The following 3pp-authors have made me buy adventures solely based on their names:
Neil Spicer
Jason Nelson
Kenneth Spencer
Morten Braten
Jonathan McAnulty
Ben McFarland
Wolfgang Baur
Dan Voyce
Christina Stiles
Greg A. Vaughan
Nick Logue
Richard Pett
Brandon Hodge
Tim Hitchcok
Lou Agresta (& Rone Barton)
Bill Webb
Steven D. Russell
I can't for the life of me rank them, though.
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VorPaL.
Vaughan. Pett. Logue.
And yes, when those three write a Paizo AP together (just the three of them), they can go ahead and use the acronym free of charge. I'd love to see an AP where they round-robin the books, each one out-creepy-ing the previous book's author. By number six I'm sure we'd all be insane.
It looks like folks are also, with the exception of Wolfgang Baur and Monte Cook (although I know Wolfgang has written for them, I'm not sure about Monte) mentioning *just* Paizo authors.
Not fishing, but I'm trying to make sure I have the scope of the question right.
Was that intentional?
-Ben.
It wasn't for me, but it does make an interesting point.
@Terraleon: For me it's because really the only authors I'm familiar with are Paizo authors. I got my start on adventures with Savage Tide, then backtracked to AoW and SC before moving forward to the APs.
VorPaL.
Vaughan. Pett. Logue.
And yes, when those three write a Paizo AP together (just the three of them), they can go ahead and use the acronym free of charge. I'd love to see an AP where they round-robin the books, each one out-creepy-ing the previous book's author. By number six I'm sure we'd all be insane.
I'd buy it!!!!
@Turin: I believe Nick Logue is back to writing. Razor Coast obviously but also a Kobold Press or Frog God project I believe...
@Turin: I believe Nick Logue is back to writing.
I don't know who he's writing for, but I *do* know he's writing. :)
And I'm glad to see him back at it.
-Ben.
I assumed the thread was for authors of Pathfinder modules published by Paizo. So that what I'm going to go with and I'm going to go with the ones that were the most fun for my players.
In no particular order:
- Richard Pett for: We Be Goblins
- Michael Kortes for: The Haunting of Harrowstone
- Tim Hitchcock for: Stolen Land