Reading through "The Half-dead City", a probably issue leapt to mind:
The locales for investigation are assigned by lottery, but there's no indication that teams can't arrange a swap. Meanwhile, the Scorched Hand really want to investigate the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye, while there's no real reason the PCs should particularly care one way or the other.
So... what's to stop the PCs for arranging with the SH to sell them their claim - say as a trade for their own claim plus a suitable sum of money?
Any suggestions on how to handle this - other than "no, you can't do that."?
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I'd run it as the Scorched Hand head straight to the Sanctum once they find out that it's not the one they were assigned. I wouldn't stop the PCs from making peace with the Scorched Hand, but they're going to have to find them in the Sanctum or wait until the site's already looted.
There's a possibility of tragic misunderstanding as well when the Scorched Hand discover the place is already partially looted. They have no reason to assume that wasn't the party.
Lastly, I'd be careful that
Cheers!
Landon
The way I would play it, is the PCs are assigned something like "lot 37" and have no idea it's the sanctum that they're after.
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The PCs get the cash and swap sites. They explore their "new" site and discover a secret passage. They arrive inside the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye in time to find the chamber missing the item the scorched hand is after. Moments later the scorched hand arrives and accuses the PCs of backstabbing them by taking the items after taking their gold and a fight ensues.
If the PC's have no worshipers of Pharasma & if the Scorched Hand bothers to contact them to attempt such a transaction, sure.
If the PC's have no worshipers of Pharasma & if the Scorched Hand bothers to contact them to attempt such a transaction, sure.
** spoiler omitted **
I was thinking it more likely that the PCs, on finding they've drawn the Sanctum, would seek out the SH to arrange the trade, rather than the other way around.
There's no real reason the PCs would even know the SH leader is evil, and no real reason they'd particularly care, either - this AP seems ideally suited to a pretty mercenary bunch.
So, yeah, I'm figuring it would be about a 50/50 chance my group would at least consider making that trade.
The PCs get the cash and swap sites. They explore their "new" site and discover a secret passage. They arrive inside the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye in time to find the chamber missing the item the scorched hand is after. Moments later the scorched hand arrives and accuses the PCs of backstabbing them by taking the items after taking their gold and a fight ensues.
Excellent idea. Thanks!
The showdown with the Scorched Hands is only really necessary at all because the book indicates it should occur. Does it really matter who loots the temple as long as the third party necromancer guy gets the relic? It will have zero impact on the rest of the AP, with the possible exception of who does/does not come back to attack the party as an undead.
I'm waiting for book 2 to become available, but it does seem that you could probably start the AP there and miss book 1 out entirely, if you were so inclined.
The showdown with the Scorched Hands is only really necessary at all because the book indicates it should occur. Does it really matter who loots the temple as long as the third party necromancer guy gets the relic? It will have zero impact on the rest of the AP, with the possible exception of who does/does not come back to attack the party as an undead.
I'm waiting for book 2 to become available, but it does seem that you could probably start the AP there and miss book 1 out entirely, if you were so inclined.
You know I think that is my biggest issue with the book, unless there is something I'm missing it feels like it's just themed filler before the story starts.
There's not even much in the written module to make the PCs care about the town for the second book. I need to create that all based on the Gazetter.
The showdown with the Scorched Hands is only really necessary at all because the book indicates it should occur. Does it really matter who loots the temple as long as the third party necromancer guy gets the relic? It will have zero impact on the rest of the AP, with the possible exception of who does/does not come back to attack the party as an undead.
I'm waiting for book 2 to become available, but it does seem that you could probably start the AP there and miss book 1 out entirely, if you were so inclined.
You know I think that is my biggest issue with the book, unless there is something I'm missing it feels like it's just themed filler before the story starts.
There's not even much in the written module to make the PCs care about the town for the second book. I need to create that all based on the Gazetter.
I completely agree! I wouldn't mind so much, but it generally takes my GM between 6-10 sessions to complete a single module in an AP (it just took us 11x 3/4 hour sessions to get through Broken Moon) and that's too much time to spend on something that feels like filler. :s
The gazetter mentions two noble families (Mahfre and Okhenti), maybe the PCs could be hired by one and the Scorched Hand by the other to plunder the necropolis for relics to bring honour to their respective employers? Not much of a hook admittedly, but it generates clear rivalry from the very beginning of the adventure. It also gives the PCs a reason to be in Wati and working together.
Depending on the content of book 2, it may even be possible to bring forward an encounter with the mysterious necromancer Nebta Khufre to occur during the exploration of the Temple of the Erudite Eye, forcing the two rival groups to work together to survive. Of course, the necromancer would have to get away to do whatever it is he has to do in book 2.
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The showdown with the Scorched Hands is only really necessary at all because the book indicates it should occur. Does it really matter who loots the temple as long as the third party necromancer guy gets the relic? It will have zero impact on the rest of the AP, with the possible exception of who does/does not come back to attack the party as an undead.
I'm waiting for book 2 to become available, but it does seem that you could probably start the AP there and miss book 1 out entirely, if you were so inclined.
You know I think that is my biggest issue with the book, unless there is something I'm missing it feels like it's just themed filler before the story starts.
There's not even much in the written module to make the PCs care about the town for the second book. I need to create that all based on the Gazetter.I completely agree! I wouldn't mind so much, but it generally takes my GM between 6-10 sessions to complete a single module in an AP (it just took us 11x 3/4 hour sessions to get through Broken Moon) and that's too much time to spend on something that feels like filler. :s
The gazetter mentions two noble families (Mahfre and Okhenti), maybe the PCs could be hired by one and the Scorched Hand by the other to plunder the necropolis for relics to bring honour to their respective employers? Not much of a hook admittedly, but it generates clear rivalry from the very beginning of the adventure. It also gives the PCs a reason to be in Wati and working together.
Depending on the content of book 2, it may even be possible to bring forward an encounter with the mysterious necromancer Nebta Khufre to occur during the exploration of the Temple of the Erudite Eye, forcing the two rival groups to work together to survive. Of course, the necromancer would have to get away to do whatever it is he has to do in book 2.
You know as long as everyone is having fun I dont care how many sessions it takes to complete a module. If people are bored they need to let the GM know so they can adjust.
One idea for the necro is to give him an accomplice for the PCs to fight. Nebta shouts kill them while escaping and the accomplice distracts the PCs while the necro flees with the loot.
In all probability, he will have named minions in book 2, one of those could be bought forward to the end of book 1.