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Hey guys,
I've been inactive in the forums lately due to work but both of my groups are still making their way through to the final book of the AP and really enjoying themselves in the process.
As for one of my groups, it is comprised of quite a few new players who really have impressed with their desire to contribute to the story as well as their efforts both in-character and out of character to keep the gaming moving. It's been a real joy to see a lot of the first timers really experience some of the joys that our hobby can bring.
As a gift to commemorate the soon to be completion of their first ever 'adventure'. I commissioned some art that I thought I would share with you guys.
This is my 'Group Two' for Jade Regent. Enjoy!
Hey, wow. :) Did I spot Mikaze's character there?
Great quality on the art, if I may say. I guess the four main NPC's aren't in it due to copyright issues? Or was it because you wanted the art to solely focus on the four PC's?
And the campaign is about to wrap up? I'd be very interested to hear how it has been going for the last two modules. :)
Hey, wow. :) Did I spot Mikaze's character there?
Great quality on the art, if I may say. I guess the four main NPC's aren't in it due to copyright issues? Or was it because you wanted the art to solely focus on the four PC's?
And the campaign is about to wrap up? I'd be very interested to hear how it has been going for the last two modules. :)
Actually, this if for my 2nd group. Mikaze's group is a bit behind them and due to some work + group member with pregnant wife + holidays they are a little bit behind this group. I'd guess about 4-5 sessions behind the group in picture.
As for this book, this group is just about to have it's last session of book 5, then will probably have a session or two of build up for book 6. After reading some of your concerns about the timetable in book 6, I've been spending lots of time in book 5 having lots of roleplay encounters(My groups both enjoy these a good bit) as well as coming to understand the strain Minkai is under. The goal being to really let the players invest in this new part of the game/meet new NPC's and generally 'buy in' to Minkai, I want them to want to save it. So far it has been working I think.
My plan is to have a 'wrap up' thread similar to yours as soon as we finish early next year hopefully, so keep your eyes peeled.
As for the Art, I really happy with it and glad you guys liked it. I kept it limited to just the 'group' to make it a bit more personal for them. Now I'm just hoping to get my prints in with enough time to give them out at our next session. :)
Well, I'm definitely looking forward to your wrap-up post. But please wait until group one is also done, so that you add your perspective of both campaigns. :)
As far as the pacing in book six goes, I finally adopted the fast pace proscribed by the book, in the sense that things were coming to a head and the group had to try to depose the Jade Regent before the rebel army could clash with the loyalist army, so as to avoid destroying a great part of Minkai's military strength (after all, many of those loyalist Samurai would be simply warriors loyal to the throne, not the ruler). My group passed with flying colors, even freeing the captured noble daughters in a daring commando strike on the second night of being in Minkai.
Yeah, the idea is to wait until both groups are finished. At the moment, the two separate groups have been planning a communal 'we are finished with Jade Regent' party, where they all get together and share war stories, ect. I imagine you will see Mikaze peek his head onto the forums particularly soon after their group is done and chime in.
At the moment my plans are to ask everyone about their various high and low points in the game, half because I want to do what I can to improve my own GM-craft and half because I want to be able to share the problem points on the forums as well as some ideas of how to get around them.
As for timing, I plan to escalate things to a full on civil war status between books 5 and 6 to keep the pressure on the Rebels as well as allow the PC's some heroic 'wartime' feats possibly on or off-screen. Like you said, a lot of the people who would be fighting aren't terrible folks, just dutiful samurai. This will give the proverbial 'pinch' to deal with the Jade Regent and his retainers and cease the bloodshed in as quick of a manner as possible in Kasai while the rebels do what they can to stay alive and kicking without tearing the country apart.
That all sounds excellent. I hope everything works out and I'll be looking forward to your big wrap-up post. :)