Prepping Thornkeep

[Bigdaddyjug]

So I will soon be running a group of PFS players through all 5 levels of Thornkeep. What type of stuff do you guys do with them before they go into the dungeon itself?

The book doesn't seem to offer a whole lot of RP suggestions that can be done in the town, so I'm at a loss as to what to do. Do they just barge on into the first level and figure things out on their own? Am I missing something in the book where it gives some of the RP/info gathering that can be done in the town itself?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[Pirate Rob]

Here is the thread from the Accursed Halls PbP I ran recently.

If I had it to do over again I would still skip the town but provide the following 2 pieces of information:

Accursed Halls:

The scrap from the wizard's tower with the door with the ruby in the top spot and that there's a Goblin named Murgmo looking for the legendary goblin sword: The Sword of Zog.

If you don't care about time let them explore town to their heart's content filling in whatever details you see fit, just be warned it's not a nice safe town, it's a dangerous place.

[Patrick Harris @ SD]

If you want to be quick about it, Aram Zey teleports them all to the dungeon entrance, tells the to go to town, then has to get back to foundling his tapestry.

[Bigdaddyjug]

Pirate Rob wrote:

Here is the thread from the Accursed Halls PbP I ran recently.

If I had it to do over again I would still skip the town but provide the following 2 pieces of information:

** spoiler omitted **

If you don't care about time let them explore town to their heart's content filling in whatever details you see fit, just be warned it's not a nice safe town, it's a dangerous place.

I don't mind doing some RP in the town, since once you get into the dungeon it's just a slugfest, at least for the first level. I just didn't see anything in the book about what I should or could tell them while they were exploring the town.

I'm also a bit miffed that I'm going to have to draw out the map for the first level. I was hoping the flipmats would cover the first level and be missing one of the later levels. At least I have friends with blank maps.

[Rycaut]

Be sure to make sure that the maps you draw of the first level are to the right scale - it is truly HUGE level (actually two levels) - the elevations and the scale of many of the rooms are really important to the overall effect of the scenario.

I've run three of the five levels so far - and am running the fifth level this weekend at Kublacon and the fourth level next month in SF at my weekly game night. They are all challenging (extremely so in a few cases) and really will test players. That said each time I've run them the players have taken different routes and have had very different experiences - which I think makes them some of the most fun PFS sanctioned scenarios I've run yet.

[Matthew Pittard]

We had a totally awesome run of the Accursed Halls. One of our GM's is rock solid on the terrain/visual side of things and made out of styrofoam the complete Accursed Halls experience. Right down to the fountains/ pools. Im not sure if we are allowed to post images in here but ill try later on.

[Bigdaddyjug]

Matthew Pittard wrote:

We had a totally awesome run of the Accursed Halls. One of our GM's is rock solid on the terrain/visual side of things and made out of styrofoam the complete Accursed Halls experience. Right down to the fountains/ pools. Im not sure if we are allowed to post images in here but ill try later on.

OMG this is such an awesome idea. I see a weekend trip to Michael's (craft store chain for those who don't know) in my future!!!

But yeah, drawing out the first level was the other thing I was most worried about. I bought the flipmats, so level 2-5 will not be a problem, but level 1 had me worried.

[Rusty Ironpants]

Bigdaddyjug wrote:

Matthew Pittard wrote:

We had a totally awesome run of the Accursed Halls. One of our GM's is rock solid on the terrain/visual side of things and made out of styrofoam the complete Accursed Halls experience. Right down to the fountains/ pools. Im not sure if we are allowed to post images in here but ill try later on.

OMG this is such an awesome idea. I see a weekend trip to Michael's (craft store chain for those who don't know) in my future!!!

But yeah, drawing out the first level was the other thing I was most worried about. I bought the flipmats, so level 2-5 will not be a problem, but level 1 had me worried.

I also made a 3D version of the Accursed Halls out of foam-core and gaming paper. I am running it again tomorrow, I will take some pictures and post them this weekend.

[Rusty Ironpants]

Here is a link to photos of my Accursed Halls terrain.

3D Dungeon Map

[Bigdaddyjug]

Rusty Ironpants wrote:

Here is a link to photos of my Accursed Halls terrain.

3D Dungeon Map

Now all I need is for you to ship that to me to use and I'll send it back when I'm done. Lol

[Matthew Pittard]

Its a shame we cant graphically scale it for use in a 3D printer.. if they can do semi auto weapons and handguns then this should be possible dammit!

In fact, does anyone have access to a 3D printer and has tried to do terrain?

[Gwen Smith]

Has anyone ever posted their plans/instructions for these 3D terrains?

If someone has the art files they used and a brief outline of the steps, I'd be willing to try to create a usable kit out of it for you. (Artist retains all rights, &etc. I'm just a tech writer with a lot of instructional illustration experience.)

[Rusty Ironpants]

Dorothy Lindman wrote:

Has anyone ever posted their plans/instructions for these 3D terrains?

If someone has the art files they used and a brief outline of the steps, I'd be willing to try to create a usable kit out of it for you. (Artist retains all rights, &etc. I'm just a tech writer with a lot of instructional illustration experience.)

My technique was not as high-tech as all that. I just looked at the map in the Thornkeep book, cut pieces of foam-core board to the appropriate sizes with a metal ruler and hobby knife, then covered them with gaming paper using a kid's glue stick and clear packing tape. I added legs for the upper story rooms. Gaming paper is pre-printed to have 1 inch grids. I simplified the map in a few places by shortening or extending hallways or turning several rooms from a diagonal orientation to square orientation.

[Bigdaddyjug]

Well I didn't get to the craft store this weekend, but I'm off still today so maybe I can go over there and see if I think it's worth doing.

[Rusty Ironpants]

Remember - the map for the Accursed Halls is 1 square = 10 feet rather than the customary 1 square = 5 feet. It makes a big difference.

Also if your local game store doesn't carry gaming paper you can usually find easel pads with a 1 inch grid at office supply stores or some types of wrapping paper have a 1 inch grid on the back side.

[Bigdaddyjug]

Rusty are you absolutely certain the scale is different? The map in the book doesn't say anything about that.

[RtFM]

Bigdaddyjug wrote:

Rusty are you absolutely certain the scale is different? The map in the book doesn't say anything about that.

Look at the lower left corner of the map.

[Rusty Ironpants]

Bigdaddyjug wrote:

Rusty are you absolutely certain the scale is different? The map in the book doesn't say anything about that.

I am. The key on the maps for The Accursed Halls on pgs 32 & 33 of both the print and pdf version clearly state 1 square = 10 feet.

Note this is only true for the Accursed Halls. All other levels are 1 square = 5 feet.

[Expax]

I know this is a long shot, but does anyone have any maps they are willing to share for the Accursed Halls? I am having trouble drawing this section. I purchased the map folio but it only contained the next part onward. So if anyone is willing to share their work for the Accursed Hall parts, I would be greatly appreciative.

[Expax]

Disregard. Though I do own Thornkeep, I see how this might be a copyright violation. Even if it would really help out. So don't worry about this request.

[kinevon]

Expax: The main thing to remember about Accursed Halls' map is that it is one square = 10', not 5', so it is much bigger than it looks, and it already looks huge.

I used up a lot of paper drawing it out for my local group when I ran it. It was much easier to set it up in Rioll20, even if I did wind up drawing it rather than copying and pasting the map from the book.

[Bigdaddyjug]

When I ran this a couple weekends ago, I needed 2 of the big rubbery rollout mats and 3 sides of the normal Paizo flip mats to draw it in advance. The map is freaking huge.