Only 2 pcs

[dubj1979]

A couple friends and I have decide to give Pathfinder a try. As of now there is only the three of us and we want to run Rise of the Runelords. I have done some research and have found that a lot of people recommend not letting players roll 2 pcs.

So what I've decided is that they show up to start an "adventures guild". As part of the festival I am running the "Cross City Race" from Dungeon mag #174 (with adjustments of course). The winner will receive the deed to any empy guild hall. The mayor has agreed to this only if the holder allows it as a place of rest for traveling adventurers. This is because I'm using the building that is directly connected to the cathedral.

Each "outing" I am going to have a couple traveling adventurers want to tag along to help the party. I will be using the npc codex to choose 3-5 npcs that I know will help them on the upcoming encounters.They can only take 2 of course. If it is a longer outing then these npcs will lvl up with them. They will be payed a percentage of the loot and possibly an up front payment.

I will also not tell the pcs if these adventurers are good evil or neutral. This I plan to rp. Maybe the group needs a heal and they brought a ce cleric. The cleric might demand some gold and if they decline the cleric walks away. Maybe a rogue is not happy a loot dagger was not given to her and while they slep in the woods she robs them and leves. You get the point.

So what do you guys think?

[RuyanVe]

Greetings, fellow traveller.

While I like the idea of gaining the guildhall I am somewhat reluctant to the idea of changing NPCs accompanying the PCs on their different outings.

To me this would rather become tedious after, say, 3-4 times.
Why not give the PCs two NPCs which attach themselves permanently to your PCs?

I'd skip the race and award the PCs the guildhall after they expel the initial attack. Then, have two citizens from/visitors to Sandpoint approach the PCs and have them tell them their desire to join them.

With some effort from your side the NPCs can be given a rather complex backstory which will provide the RP you want.

Seems more organic to me and should attach the PCs to Sandpoint (even more than they might become anyway).

Ruyan.

[dubj1979]

Sounds good. My only concern is if they could survive the initial attack with the two of them. I could let Hemlock and Father Zantus help. I think this would give Hemlock a little more credibility too.

[RuyanVe]

Looking at my game, giving Hemlock more spotlight is definitely something I should have done--my PCs are questioning his aptitude since session 1 after having either arrived too late at the scene, done too little too late to really count etc.

Anyways. Having only 2 PCs you might want to consider giving them 20 or even 25 point-buy to increase survivability. Father Zantus can definitly step in to do some (emergency) healing and Hemlock is a capable fighter. If you're still worried you can throw in Ilsoari Gandethus (headmaster of Turandarok Academy) for arcane support.

Ruyan.

[dubj1979]

We were supposed to start today but one of the players got called in to work. Lame. At least this gives me some time to create a couple permanent NPCs.

Here's what I'm thinking.

A ranger/cleric. I will have her be an older sibling of the Barrett family, from the monster in the closet hook. During the festival I will give her some credibility by having an archery competition. She will have a decent "family" bow and push whoever enters to the finals. After her dad gets his face eaten off she will insist revenge. She is only 17 and wanted to join the town guard so has been training for when she is of age.

A monk that has taken a vow of silence (maybe easier to rp a non talker). He is here for the festival for obvious reasons. The monk will join the pc's during the initial attack. Maybe out of nowhere he jumps over a vender's stand with a flying kick.

So, for the initial attack I will have my pc's, the monk, and Hemlock, with Zantus there for an emergency heal.