I've been thinking about this for a long while now, watching PbP after PbP crumble to dust without getting past the first half of an AP.
All those players who played a beginning, but never an end.
How about playing the end?
Would there be interest in playing, the second part of an AP, starting the story with the fourth volume for example?
Not saying I'm going to start such a game soon, but I'm wondering if there would be interest for such a game.
I'm sure you'd have some interest for the very reasons you mention. Some players play a book or two of an AP, only to find it die under them for whatever reason and they have to look for another group running the AP which has them often starting at book 1.
Of course, you'd need to sum up a 'what has gone before' tid bit of lore. Some paths really have a lot of directions they could go (Kingmaker comes to mind)
I'm sure you'd have some interest for the very reasons you mention. Some players play a book or two of an AP, only to find it die under them for whatever reason and they have to look for another group running the AP which has them often starting at book 1.
Of course, you'd need to sum up a 'what has gone before' tid bit of lore. Some paths really have a lot of directions they could go (Kingmaker comes to mind)
That's a good point, thiugh I'm sure for some APs, you might not need to know about previous events.
I'd certainly apply to such a game, were one to appear in the Recruitment thread!
Me too! The one that seems to crumble early so often is Skull and Shackles because of the tedium of daily checks and monitoring the situation before you actually become pirates of any sort. I have been the part of three that have died before the second book.
Book 3 of Serpent Skull would be nice too, since you'd be at the place with the thing.
I have to agree most PBP's die before reaching the second half, and am interested.
For me a lot would depend on which adventure path.
Thanks for the feedback. When you say "I'd like to play volume x of AP y, do you mean starting from or only that volume?
I think we should chose one that does not have extra mechanics that get in the way so it's more seemless gameplay instead of needing to got through extra mechanics and rolls.
Quickly coming to mind are;
Rise of the Runelords
Curse of the Crimson Throne
Second Darkness (Though books 5 and 6 suck in that series by mass opinion)
Council of Thieves
Carrion Crown
Shattered Star
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Thanks for the feedback. When you say "I'd like to play volume x of AP y, do you mean starting from or only that volume?
For me I meant starting from the volume. And as new mechanics go I think the main criteria for choosing the AP should be a middle ground between what most people want to play and what the DM wants to...
People will want the APs that they have already played the first volumes but their games died. That said I have seen a lot of games wither at volume one here at the site. So any recruitment for book two of anything will probably have a lot of candidates. Books three and forward will probably have less people interested in.
I would be game for any going from Book 4 on, provided that adequate background is given.
I've been playing a RoW since it was released and we are now level 2. It would be nice to play something a little higher, for a change. Some of my character ideas kick in at 7-8th level. That looks to be three years down the line at PBP rates.
For myself, I'd welcome playing past book one with a Kingmaker, Legacy of Fire, or Skull and Shackles AP
I think we should chose one that does not have extra mechanics that get in the way so it's more seemless gameplay instead of needing to got through extra mechanics and rolls.
Quickly coming to mind are;
Rise of the Runelords
Curse of the Crimson Throne
Second Darkness (Though books 5 and 6 suck in that series by mass opinion)
Council of Thieves
Carrion Crown
Shattered Star
I agree that mechanics can get in the way, especially mid-way, but there are usually ways to avoid those for most APs, no? It's true though that it might spoil some of the fun.
Yes. I dislike (to say the least) level one characters. :)
I have a golemancer I'm dying to get into a Kingmaker at 5th level.
What's a golemancer???
I could definitely get into starting a character at a higher level. I've had the fortune of some long running games, but starting higher would be a blast.
Thanks for the feedback and thoughts so far. While you're at it, feel free to make suggestions about AP x and Volume y, that you feel makes for a good "second half".
What's a golemancer???
Any spellcasting class who makes golems. 8)
I would like to start book 2 for either RotRL or possibly Jade Regent.
I've been thinking about RotR, but am concerned that starting with volume 2 still makes igetting to the end unlikely. I was thinking more along the lines of 3 and above, though for most, things die in the first volume.
Skull & Shackles or RoTRL - 3 or above.
Honestly, all these suggestions sound fun.
It depends on how you want to handle the events of the passed-over books, but that sounds interesting.
To decide why don't we all list 3 APs that we'd like to start at high levels,
and the one with the most votes gets picked.
my 3 picks would be;
1) Rise of the Runelords
2) Curse of the Crimson Throne
3) Shattered Star
To decide why don't we all list 3 APs that we'd like to start at high levels,
and the one with the most votes gets picked.my 3 picks would be;
1) Rise of the Runelords
2) Curse of the Crimson Throne
3) Shattered Star
A little fast AZ.
I like the three, but I'm exploring the idea for now. And it's not a vote, more like a consultation :)
Carrion Crown would be easily doable as the first two or three chapters are distinct stories with only tangential ties to the overarching plot.
Serpent's Skull would also work well - as you could make it solely about exploring Saventh-Yhi.
And lastly Jade Regent would be perfect - you could be Tian adventurers within Hongal who meet the caravan after it crossed the Crown of the World.
I'd like to see what Skull and Shackles is past level 6, but Kingmaker at 3rd or 4th book would be fine with me even if it meant a randomly rolled kingdom to defend ;)
I've been in three APs that died before they even got good. I'd be totally interested in starting at that place. My only suggestion though is to not force players to create crunch for submitting characters. There's nothing more sad than having to ditch the efforts of several hours in a high level pbp submission that'll never see the light of day.
I've been in three APs that died before they even got good. I'd be totally interested in starting at that place. My only suggestion though is to not force players to create crunch for submitting characters. There's nothing more sad than having to ditch the efforts of several hours in a high level pbp submission that'll never see the light of day.
Good point, yet crunch is important as well for selection. Sometimes, I ask for crunch without equipment. Once, I tried 'equipment picked from the following list'. I will ask the players how they felt about that option.
I would really like a KM bit any AP with enough down time to make golems is fine with me.
Well, I certainly think that the interest level is there. Any notion on when you will decide which route to take, Dreaming Warforged?
I am certainly enjoying playing a module at levels 14/15.
Personally, the one I'd be most interested in is Wrath of the Righteous. I believe it is supposed to go up to level 20 and mythic tier 10. Book 4 is supposed to come out at any time, and it starts at level 12, mythic tier 5. Reading its description here, it sounds like it starts with an audience with the Crusader Queen, which would seem like a natural point to bring in the PCs. Book 5 starts at level 15 tier 7 and book 6 starts at level 18 tier 9.
My second choice would probably Carrion Crown.
Well, I certainly think that the interest level is there. Any notion on when you will decide which route to take, Dreaming Warforged?
Absolutely no idea ;)
I agree that there seems to be interest. Some people would like to start where the PbP dwindle, though in most cases, that's in the middle of volume 1...
At the moment, the games I run and the games I play in are quite healthy, so I'm not sure whether it is very wise to start a new one, but things do change quite quickly.
The seed is planted in my mind though.
And thanks everyone for the thoughts and feedback. I'd be happy to hear more and will keep looking in case.
If you do start a game, please start a new thread or something indicating such so that I can pick it out. If not, please send me a PM and I'll make a submission.
I have finals all next week, a week off, and then we are moving back to the States from the Caribbean. I'd like to play at higher levels and wouldn't want to miss it.
Personally, I think the last half of Reign of Winter would be a hoot- books 4-6. Far as I can tell, an AP centered on an interdimensional wandering hut wouldn't really miss the first half. Jump on whenever and figure it out as you go along.
If you do start a game, please start a new thread or something indicating such so that I can pick it out. If not, please send me a PM and I'll make a submission.
I have finals all next week, a week off, and then we are moving back to the States from the Caribbean. I'd like to play at higher levels and wouldn't want to miss it.
No worries.
How do you generate Loot that doesn't rock like an Xmas tree? the technique I have been experimenting with is the PC gets expected WBL, but the GM sits down and dices out random items one by one until the random loot total value is at least equal to half the WBL. This gives a more organic feel and some odd items. :)
If the DM is rolling and accumulating cheap items and then *bam* a high end XYZ, rolling is done and the PC gets either the AMAZING item (Ring of Animal Friendship! woo!) or, the true difference to the WBL at that point. This is at GM's discretion. The "Overboard" item, if kept, is NOT sellable; story it into the PC's background: "This +2 Flaming Sword was Grandpa Dale's most Magnificent Yeti Cutter! He saved the whole village with it one harsh winter!"
Any other items that the PC does not want/need "Oh, yeah my rogue got full plate," can be sold at 50% market value. This may lead to some disparity in the party's wealth, but let's face it, if it aint PFS, there is *always* disparity. :)
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For my opinion on which AP... I don't care about Jade Regent, and I am not interested in Mythic so WotR is out, too. Other than that, I am game for anything :D