I'm thinking of running the Carrion Crown adventure path in the future, and considering several ways of running it. Here they are:
1. E8, combined with Mythic Adventures. Carrion Crown goes to 15th level, and E8+20 with five Epic Tiers roughly translates to level 15. I would simply award one mythic tier for every book of the AP that was completed, which might skew things in favor of the PCs in the early books (2nd to 4th). In this scenario I would allow the PCs to use 3.5 sourcebooks such as the Magic Item Compendium. Of course I would also allow Paizo material other than the core.
2. Normal Pathfinder (or "E20"), allowing 3.5 material as well as all Paizo sourcebooks.
3. Straight up Pathfinder, allowing every Paizo sourcebook there is (but no 3.5 material).
4. Pathfinder, but core only -- and I mean just the original Pathfinder. I've seen so many arguments about (and seen first hand examples of) the three "new" core classes in the APG (alchemist, gunslinger, magus) that I wonder if they would muck with the AP. Thanks, but no thanks to touch-attacking, nova-ing wunderkinds that laugh at traditional encounters.
5. Pathfinder, allowing APG etc. but with some modifications to (for example) the APG classes. Maybe allow gunslingers but get rid of the joke "drawback" problems with firearms in exchange for removing the uber touch attack at range ability (for example).
???
Well the first adventures all ghosts and haunts so a paladin immune to fear is going to be more of a direct counter to that then a gunslinger or magus would
Running an AP in E8 will likely end in tears unless you revamp literally everything level 8+. At which point...why are you even using the AP?
I'd say just go for playing Pathfinder. No 3.5 junk, but not Core only.
MAYBE ban Gunslinger if you don't know how (or don't want to try to) counter them. Alchemist and Magus won't have any problems.
Hell, Alchemist is one of the most thematically appropriate classes in the game for this AP, while simultaneously being one of the best designed in the game.
No amount of Bomb nova will save them from, say,
For instance.
Hell, Alchemist is one of the most thematically appropriate classes in the game for this AP, while simultaneously being one of the best designed in the game.
From what I know of the AP, I agree. I actually think the gunslinger fits well thematically as well (at least some of the AP approaches a "London by Gaslight" feel) -- just not keen on the min/maxing madness I've seen with it.
Running an AP in E8 will likely end in tears unless you revamp literally everything level 8+.
Out of curiosity -- do you have any experience in doing so?
I can see a few issues like high SR, but the players will see these too and plan accordingly (assuming they aren't fools).
Been running this for awhile, just started Ashes at Dawn.
-Unless you're wanting to do signficant tweaks to the campaign I wouldn't recommend E8.
-I've been running the campaign with allowing any paizo published material though banning the synthesist and master summoner archetypes.
-The party includes an alchemist and gunslinger (pistolero) along with cleric, barbarian, bard and Inquisitor.
-Gunslinger isn't really an issue. He isn't doing the type of damage the barbarian is reliably and remember the touch attack only applies in the first range increment (20'). He often gets pulled into melee as a result (wake of the watcher has lots of tentacles!). I don't feel the gunslinger is anymore of a concern. The class does fit well into this campaign I would add.
Also this thread should be moved to the Carrion Crown forum.
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I had an alchemist in my game and it kind of turned me off to the class. I know im going to catch hell for this but it was real annoying the alchemist never missing and being able to change damage type on a whim.
It wasnt bad until higher level. I dislike high level PF/3.5 and was ready to be done with the AP when we hit level 14. I fully understand your thinking above. I think going E8 will be a crap ton of work but could possibly provide a great game.
I cant say anything about mythic, I havent even read the rules to be honest. I think Core + APG with limits or bans on troubling things is probably the best way to go.
I dislike high level PF/3.5 and was ready to be done with the AP when we hit level 14.
This. I DMed a 3.5 game and around about level 10 or so I hit the point where I was done with the game (but we went until level 16 or so to finish the story). For the amount of work put in, I really don't want to be counting the sessions until it's all over for a third of the campaign.
I like the APs though. When you say "a crap ton of work" would be required to run CC in E8, what do you mean exactly? I assume you know enough about E8 to know.
Gunslinger isn't really an issue. He isn't doing the type of damage the barbarian is reliably and remember the touch attack only applies in the first range increment (20').
If the gunslinger IYC isn't using Distance weapons, then I suspect he isn't even remotely optimized.
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I dislike high level PF/3.5 and was ready to be done with the AP when we hit level 14.This. I DMed a 3.5 game and around about level 10 or so I hit the point where I was done with the game (but we went until level 16 or so to finish the story). For the amount of work put in, I really don't want to be counting the sessions until it's all over for a third of the campaign.
I like the APs though. When you say "a crap ton of work" would be required to run CC in E8, what do you mean exactly? I assume you know enough about E8 to know.
Re-working the encounters in later books to be a better match for E8 play.
If the gunslinger IYC isn't using Distance weapons, then I suspect he isn't even remotely optimized.Gunslinger isn't really an issue. He isn't doing the type of damage the barbarian is reliably and remember the touch attack only applies in the first range increment (20').
Quite possibly while I know the class I can't necessarily say I know all the tricks to optimize it and the player isn't inclined to powergame. I wasn't aware of the distance magical property until I just looked up at the pfsrd. That certainly is a game changer for the gunslinger.
what is E8? i've heard this term before:)