RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4; Contributor; Publisher, Legendary Games
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We at Legendary Games are proud to release the latest product in our Mythic Paths line, Path of Villains! We've done a lot of work on mythic products over the last year or so, and while that's cool and all, not everyone is keen on running a mythic campaign. If you've ever wondered why you should even look twice on a mythic product, consider the words of my coauthor on this product, Clinton J. Boomer, as he has summed up the matter in his own sublime style.
We get it.
You might not be using the Mythic rules yet; you may have no desire to ever use them. They’re complex, certainly, with no shortage of moving parts. They represent a whole other new-fangled bolt-on set of optional rules that take time and energy to learn; they’re new and unfamiliar content that change-up the action-economy, the base character-design schema and the core assumptions of a game that’s already plenty complex as-is.
We here at Legendary feel that you shouldn’t be forced to include anything in your game that you don’t want, and for that reason this book doesn’t include any Mythic content. Not one iota.
But ... it’s possible that you occasionally find yourself looking for a way to beef-up a particularly important encounter. Sometimes, making one villain scary enough to go toe-to-toe with the entire party is a headache. No great GM wants her players to steamroll a final boss and wonder why the BBEG was such a pushover; you might be looking for a fresh way to “pull out all the stops” and “crank it to 11” that doesn’t just mean more spell-casting, another template or the mathematics of higher Hit Dice and attendant attributes.
If you haven’t before, take a moment to look at the mythic gargoyle.
It’s not just a bigger, tougher and harder-hitting specimen than an average member of its species. It has a smattering of abilities that make it different, the centerpiece of a conclusive, climactic, winnable-but-memorable boss-fight even if the PCs have already fought a half-dozen encounters with gargoyles in a statue-strewn, half-sunken haunted garden and across the rooftops of an evil mansion.
And the PCs don’t have to be Mythic to beat it.
The Mythic rules are pretty cool, and they’re available right now for free, and the PLAYERS aren't the ones who should necessarily get to try them out first. In fact, the PCs don’t even have to know that the Mythic rules are in play. The players don't even have to know that it's "mythic" that you're using; all they know is that those monsters have a lot of dirty tricks up their sleeves. However, it also gives you a system for making the adversaries in your campaign more memorable, instead of just winging it.
If you’re looking for a way to make your iconic boss-monster just a tad bit more memorable -- a creature more akin to Jörmungandr, Zmey Gorynych or Dracula than the base stats can represent -- then the Path of Dragons and Path of Villains and the Mythic Monsters series from Legendary Games offer a robust assortment of options.
Try giving just one Mythic Rank or Tier to a particularly beastly foe, and see what a difference it can make.
What do you think; would YOU use a mythic villain in a non-mythic campaign? Why or why not?
Wait a minute...Clinton J. Boomer? Why is that name so familiar to me...
*edit*
Oh man, he's HENNET. That explains it. I loved that series so much.
Also will definitely be picking these up. Sounds very useful!
Why are mythic creatures great for DMs in non-mythic campaigns? Because they're any easy way to make challenging bosses for players bored by default difficulty (like mine - they consider most parts of Rappan Athuk none too hard...); Because they allow you to create easy distinctions between a regular being of a species and a mook - and because they allow you to set up bosses with elaborate back stories, whose legends the PCs can unearth to stand a fighting chance.
I'm honestly surprised not more modules have been using them - so far, only 4 Dollar Dungeon's superb Journey to Cathreay is the only one I could mention from the top of my head....
(And if anyone want my advice for Mythic bosses in non-mythic campaigns, feel free to drop me a line via my site.)
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4; Contributor; Publisher, Legendary Games
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I could also point you in the direction of Islands of Plunder: Spices and Flesh as an adventure that utilizes a mythic creature in an otherwise non-mythic adventure, and it really adds a neat element to the story.
I don't have these yet, so apologies for not being able to reference it!
I'm planning on picking up a few of the Mythic Monsters books to spice up my Kingmaker campaign. Fey and Fairytale Creatures seem far too appropriate... >:D
I'm planning on picking up a few of the Mythic Monsters books to spice up my Kingmaker campaign. Fey and Fairytale Creatures seem far too appropriate... >:D
You might also be interested in the entire line of AP plug-in's we did for that adventure path.
I'm planning on picking up a few of the Mythic Monsters books to spice up my Kingmaker campaign. Fey and Fairytale Creatures seem far too appropriate... >:DYou might also be interested in the entire line of AP plug-in's we did for that adventure path.
Oh, I'm very interested. I bought Faerie Mysteries a while back because it seemed like something I could start plugging in right away, and I love it! Having them function similar to haunts was a real stroke of genius!
Oh, I'm very interested. I bought Faerie Mysteries a while back because it seemed like something I could start plugging in right away, and I love it! Having them function similar to haunts was a real stroke of genius!I'm planning on picking up a few of the Mythic Monsters books to spice up my Kingmaker campaign. Fey and Fairytale Creatures seem far too appropriate... >:DYou might also be interested in the entire line of AP plug-in's we did for that adventure path.
If you're interested at all in the Kingdom Building and Mass Combat aspects of that AP, I'd also recommend their three 'ULtimate' books, Rulership, Battle and War. Magnificent source material for would-be kingdom makers!
The Coldwood Codex and Boreal Bestiary are also great sources for new monsters. They're good enough that I wish we could see a Mythic Monsters just to cover them.
And thanks for the reminder on getting their Mythic Monsters covering Fey creatures and Fairy Tale creatures. I so need that for Kingmaker.
Oh, I'm very interested. I bought Faerie Mysteries a while back because it seemed like something I could start plugging in right away, and I love it! Having them function similar to haunts was a real stroke of genius!I'm planning on picking up a few of the Mythic Monsters books to spice up my Kingmaker campaign. Fey and Fairytale Creatures seem far too appropriate... >:DYou might also be interested in the entire line of AP plug-in's we did for that adventure path.If you're interested at all in the Kingdom Building and Mass Combat aspects of that AP, I'd also recommend their three 'ULtimate' books, Rulership, Battle and War. Magnificent source material for would-be kingdom makers!
The Coldwood Codex and Boreal Bestiary are also great sources for new monsters. They're good enough that I wish we could see a Mythic Monsters just to cover them.
And thanks for the reminder on getting their Mythic Monsters covering Fey creatures and Fairy Tale creatures. I so need that for Kingmaker.
Been aware of all these, too! I've been trying to save up money, but awesome Kickstarters keep happening. (Also, no job. Kinda sucks.) Maybe come Christmas, I'll have all the Legendary goodness I need. And if it's all as good as Faerie Mysteries was, it'll be money well-spent!
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4; Contributor; Publisher, Legendary Games
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Thanks for your interest and I hope you really enjoy using our products. I know very well about money being tight and trying to support a gaming habit. Email me at makeyourgamelegendary@gmail.com. I might know a guy who could help you out with something. :)