Master of the Fallen Fortress, for a new DM.

[blackbloodtroll]

So, I am planning on running Master of the Fallen Fortress as my first game run by me, ever.

I was hoping to see if anyone has any advice for a smooth gameplay.

I have every Pathfinder book ever available to me, and Herolab.

Any advice to make this a good first go is appreciated.

[Joshua Goudreau]

There is only one thing that I missed both times I ran this.

Spoiler:

There is a description of the door for the stairwell being blocked on the first level, forcing characters to climb. The line saying the door can't be opened is kind of buried in the text and easy to miss. When i ran this last for an open PFS event the table next to me had a couple of PC deaths when they tried to climb to the second level. Climb checks are deceptive in that they seem easy but can actually be quite daunting at first level and once characters fall the damage they receive can be pretty severe for a first level party.

Other than that, first level characters without a cleric in the party will be pretty hurt by the time they reach the upper levels where they finally get access to some minor healing in the form of a trapped NPC.

If you keep that in mind when you prepare to run the game than you should be all right. It's a fun little module.

[blackbloodtroll]

I will remember that.

Is there anything about the enemy abilities/powers/tactics I should be aware of.

I know that sometimes, when I was in a game, the DM would try to use a monster ability/tactic, and have to spend a long time reading up on it.

Really ruined suspense, and I don't want to do that.

[Joshua Goudreau]

Spoiler:

The only thing as far as monster special abilities is concerned is the troglodyte stench ability. Also make sure you understand how the week floor on the top level works. In bot my running neither party ever got near it but it's worth knowing what will happen if they do.

Other than that the whole module is pretty straightforward.

[liondriel]

If you have access to the Bestiary PDFs I'd recommend printing the relevant pages beforehand. I usually do that and it saves a load of time. You can put the printouts in the book at the spot where you need them, write notes on them...

[Joshua Goudreau]

liondriel wrote:

If you have access to the Bestiary PDFs I'd recommend printing the relevant pages beforehand. I usually do that and it saves a load of time. You can put the printouts in the book at the spot where you need them, write notes on them...

I do something similar except I transcribe the stats into a word document and display it on one half of my laptop screen while the module is on the other half. I have to zoom a little but for the most part it works out great and prevents me from page flipping or program hopping mid-game. The act of transcribing also sets the monster abilities and tactics in my head.

[Joshua Goudreau]

You can also get any relevant character or monster stat or ability or whatever here for free:

www.d20pfsrd.com

I have a friend who uses that site on his tablet while he runs the adventure from a printout in a binder. It's not a setup that would work for me, but to each their own.

[liondriel]

I personally have banned all electronics from my gaming, with the exception of "Masterwork Tools: Pathfinder" as an android app on my phone to quickly look up anything that comes up from far-left-field.
Oh, and every once in a while I test a set of scripts I use for background music / ambience sounds.
Other than that, I find everything electronics to be very distracting.

To each their own, as you said. :)

[blackbloodtroll]

I too, have a bit of hatred towards electronics at the table.

Having the guy next to me dicking around on his phone while a deep RP session, and story progression, is going on next to him, only to have a "huh, what's going on" be his next response has happened one too many times.

I will likely prohibit their usage at the table.

I don't have a tablet, or smartphone. Just a laptop, that's a bit too big.

[Joshua Goudreau]

blackbloodtroll wrote:

Having the guy next to me dicking around on his phone while a deep RP session, and story progression, is going on next to him, only to have a "huh, what's going on" be his next response has happened one too many times.

I ban technology at the table aside from my own because of the above scenario. I had a guy for a little while who would put his laptop on the chair next to him and play WoW while we were trying to game. He still interacted with the table but it was severely distracting.

The space where we game on Thursdays is a little cramped around the table so I've been considering going back to paper but so far I haven't.

[chopsy the overlord]

Hey not to steal your thunder but I'm curious as to what your thoughts on the third floor is like. If they can't pick the lock or climb from the second does that mean they miss out entirely?

[Joshua Goudreau]

The last time I ran it the party was 2 paladins, a fighter, and a gunslinger so they just smashed their way through. Bashing on the door until it opens is always an option. If they can't get the door open than yeah, they miss out. Unless they come up with some other method of bypassing the door. I don't recall there being a key hidden anywhere in the dungeon.