For those of you who have played Jade Regent to its end, how many people besides the four main NPCs were in your caravan? Even a rough estimate would be useful.
I'm running the AP with only two players and I'm thinking of replacing the typical caravan rules with a heavily modified Leadership as a bonus feat they receive at 2nd level (instead of the usual 7th). And then running combat as a normal encounter with a CR appropriate to the party's level.
In short, each player can take two cohorts (from among Ameiko, et al) but must always leave at least one with the caravan. Additionally, they hire (not attract) followers which must stay with the caravan. I want to give them a leadership score bonus that is appropriate to the AP.
So, how many people were in your caravan? And how did that number swell or fluctuate throughout the course of the AP?
Here's the new feat I concocted, based on the Leadership feat in the CRB.
You may hire followers to your caravan and have up to two loyal companions to join you on adventures.
Prerequisite: Character level 2nd.
Benefits: This feat enables your caravan to attract two loyal companions and hire a number of subordinates who assist you. An ally is generally an NPC with PC class levels, while followers are typically NPCs with only NPC class levels.
Allies: Two allies are loyal to your cause and may follow you in any adventure, but never more than one of them at a time. While at least one must stay to defend the caravan, you can choose which one stays and which accompanies you. Furthermore, you may choose to pursue a relationship of friendship or enmity with your allies or any allies of your fellow player characters.
Your two allies must be at least one level lower than yourself. The allies should be equipped with gear appropriate for their level. Initial allies must be chosen from the following list: Ameiko, Koya, Sandru, and Shalelu.
Allies do not count as a party member when determining the party's XP. Instead, divide the ally’s level by your level. Multiply this result by the total XP awarded to you, then add that number of experience points to the ally’s total.
If an ally gains enough XP to bring it to your level, the ally does not gain the new level—its new XP total is 1 less than the amount needed to attain the next level.
Followers: As long as you have an functioning caravan, you can hire up to as many followers as the caravan capacity allows. Followers are similar to allies, except they're generally low-level NPCs. Because they're significantly weaker than you, they're rarely effective away from the caravan.
Followers don't earn experience and thus don't gain levels. For every five 1st-level followers there is one second level follower. And for every two 2nd-level followers, there is one 3rd-level follower. And for every two 3rd-level followers, there is a 4th-level follower and so on up.
In addition to the PCs and main NPCs, I generally had about five named characters and three or four 'caravan driver 2' type characters.
I did replace caravan battles with regular battles but generally with only one ally per battle. I'd suggest being flexible with regards to how many people join the PCs in combat. If the PCs are able to win a battle on their own, allies just slow things down, and the players may not be interested in controlling a second character.
At it's peak, while crossing the Crown of the World, we had fourteen people in the caravan.
- Five PCs
- Four main NPCs
- The two brother drivers barely mentioned anywhere, but had their moment once in Hongal when they cooked for the festival.
- One guide (Ulf)
- Two tien passengers the group picked up in Kalsgard.
But it doesn't really matter because we soon dropped all caravan rules and went with "they somehow managed!". Though they did have their own "secret" adventures when the PCs were away, and it gave them a reason to slowly level up (1 level per book).
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Right now our caravan has:
6 PCs
1 reincarnated former PC
Ameiko
Sandru
Koya
Shalelu
Bevelek and Vankor Dalmuvian
2 new Sandpoint NPCs
Kelda
Spivey
Zaiobe
1 new Land of the Linnorm Kings NPC
Helgarval
Ulf
Arya (modified female Skygni)
1 new Crown of the World NPC
Miriya (from Legendary Games's Under Frozen Stars)
1 new Tian Xia NPC
1 new Uqtaal Necropolis NPC (Nork-Yutt, the yeti who watches the spirit tree and wanted to see more trees and spirits)
14x featureless NPC rabble mostly picked up in Kalsgard
We've got the 4 PCs (and the summoner's Eidolon most days)
Ameiko, Sandru, Koya and Shayle
Ulf the guide (not happy he got kicked out of Ordu-Aganhei with the group)
Strauss, Bevelek, Vankor, Ramona, and Johann the drivers
Ludis the Entertainer
Daria the engineer
and Miyaro just the last game session. We are about 1/3 through book 4. Most NPCs have been around since Sandpoint honestly, makes everyone feel more attached and together. The group had a nice moment of "We're all in this together!" before crossing the crown.
There were also Kelda, Yuki, Ren and Shayliss Vinder previously. Kelda got offed in Kalsgard, Yuki and Ren paid a grisly price for tattling on the caravan when they got to Ordu-Aganhei (thanks to an oni with a nasty itch for murder), and Shayliss got teleported back to sandpoint by Uldar, who brought her along originally and didn't want her getting killed. The caravan has fluctuated quite a bit.
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Nearing the end of Book 2:
Right now the Caravan of Courage consists of:
PCs
Cale (Tiefling Oni-Blooded Paladin of Sarenrae)
Darktread (Human Ninja)
Mordred and Albion (Half-Elf Druid and Tiger Companion)
Kiyoko (Samsaran Samurai)
Brando "Little Cat" (Human Ranger)
Major NPCs
Amatatsu Ameiko Kaijutsu (Human Swashbuckler)
Sandru Vhisky (Human Rogue)
Khoya Mvashti (Human Cleric/Witch)
Shalelu Andosana (Elf Ranger)
Rorrin Kaijutsu (Half-Elf Magus) (Former PC, relegated to NPC, younger brother of Ameiko. Back up heir.)
Zaiobe (Harpy Oracle) (Still Chaotic Evil, moving towards Chaotic Neutral)
Minor NPCs
Garfaz Starclaw (Tengu Ronin) Recruited: Sandpoint (Caravan Guard) former PC.
Bevelek and Venkor (Human Experts) Recruited: Sandpoint
Jenny Lightfoot (Human Child Rogue) Recruited: Sandpoint
Mogo (Goblin Firestarter) Recruited: Near Sandpoint (Currently Neutral)
Cassandra? (Elf Enchanter) Recruited: Varisa (Back-up PC)
Spivey (Lyrakien Cleric of Desna) Recruited: Brinewall
Kelda Oxgutter (Human Barbarian) Recruited: Brinewall (Loyalty Quest Complete)
Sir Buzzbee (Atomie Bee-Riding Cavalier) Recruited: Grungnir Forest
Intelligent Magic Items:
Helgarval (Casissian Angel)
Suishen (Revered Uncle, First Emperor and cool katana)
...
Soon to be recruited:
Ulf Gormundr (Human Guide (Ranger))