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Soooo....in the last year...we've played TWO...that's TWO APs.
We played Council of Theives and Curse of the Crimson Throne.
Technically another group I was in played WotR, but that ended before finishing the entire AP.
APs are coming out at the rate of two a year. We played remarkably fast on some parts of the game.
That said, I am beginning to realize at our current rate of play we'll NEVER get through all the APs I've gotten (most of them, and am a current subscriber), much less the modules and other things I've also gotten (emerald spire, dragon's demand...etc).
Now, part of it is we don't play every day (of course, that could also be impractical) so I'm looking at options since I actually want to use and play through some of the APs and modules that I have.
Which leaves two options. I can recruit the kids to play (which could make a group of two or three)...but some of the material is a little too adult for them...and I still have to work around schedules...
OR I can attempt to try solo-play. I'm thinking it could seem a little odd, but similar to if you were a player with two or three characters, but in this instance you are the GM and player too?
However, it probably would be a lot more like a choose your path type adventure...without strong roleplaying (because it's a little weird and hard doing it on your own that way) where you'd read the module/AP and at certain points choose what you'd be doing.
Combat would probably be center stage in these...as that's the biggest part where you could make choices and have to rely on the luck of the dice I'd imagine. I'm pretty certain I could make wise choices for the villains and enemies that combat the characters (sort of like playing chess with yourself, which IS something I do in addition to playing it online). It would mean combat would be a MUCH bigger part of the playing and adventuring as in some ways it would be the heart of interaction with the game itself.
Anyone else tried this, or are there rules out there anywhere (hey, if PFS has rules for this, I actually might join PFS for once!).
If so, what AP or modules would be best for this type of play...and how many characters should I go with. A full complement of 4, or should it be less as I am controlling all of them?
I want to do more than just read through all the PF material I have in the APs and modules...and at the current rate my group is going through them, right now I'm pretty certain we'll never get through them all...which is why I want to do something like this.
Wow. It took my last group two years to make it to nearly 11th level in kingmaker. Part of me says you're rushing through some things and missing out on great game experiences. Another part is a bit jealous.
Wow. It took my last group two years to make it to nearly 11th level in kingmaker. Part of me says you're rushing through some things and missing out on great game experiences. Another part is a bit jealous.
We did rush through some things, particularly with Curse of the Crimson Throne. It is my fault, but I really want to use all this stuff I've bought. We probably did miss out on some things, and the next one we run (leaning towards Legacy of Fire, though a part of me has been wanting to run Kingmaker for a while or Jade Regent)I am thinking I will run at a less rapid pace.
Another reason why I'm looking at alternatives on playing the APs I already have so I might get to play them some time sooner than later.
The stuff Paizo has put out just all looks so great...and I want to be able to play all of it! A weakness on my part I suppose.
Maybe I'm being impatient...
But...is there ANY advice or anything in regards to solo play?
Or is this actually the first attempt at it (in which case maybe I should make a conversion type item and when I use it, post it in the conversion or other forums?)
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The only thing I could see is just reading the books and assume you did all the RP correctly. Only combat would be random, based on dice. But tactics will always be in your favor.
Advantage: actually playing the AP.
Disadvantage: missing out on the social interaction with other characters, losing the randomness of play, losing the ingenuity of solving problems.
To me, the latter parts are what truly make up the gaming experience, regardless of the AP.
I will try to address the solo play question. I have been playing for over 35 years. The best games I ever had were solo, me GMing. Mechanically, balancing the game is easy for a single player (because you will know the characters limits in a single session) but the real boon is role playing. As a GM you can spend a lot more time in NPC interactions and details that makes the setting rich and relevant to the character. Also, there's not much debate and decision wrangling in a party of one. Another nice thing is that you can phase in and out companion NPCs, bolstering the solo PC where he is explicitly weak (rather than mashing up a party of whatever your buddies wanted to play), or even breaking the usual missing relationship elements of a full party by making NPCs family, wives, turned enemies, etc. Soloing also open up the GM's field for creating custom items as you are free from party balancing concerns, and don't have to spend much time on the items (there's only one PC). For that matter, giving a solo character something "too powerful" is almost a non-issue as nothing you give him will unbalance the obvious lack of a party. As I think has been stated, however, you do miss out on group thinking problems, which puts more tailoring responsibility on the GM to provide outs he thinks his one player will consider. Anyway, as long as your are fluid, it works, it's fun and it opens a door to a completely different kind of play and enjoyment. Hope that helps.
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Solo playing any game tabletop game is iffy at best. Technically some board games can be played solo. (Archam Horror for one.) And a couple others which are players vs game. But even then, it doesn't really appeal to me.
On the other hand - in your case you'd be playing against yourself. I mean, I know Bobby Fischer played chess against himself. But even back when I was into chess, I thought that was weird. (And considering some of the things he's said, I don't think that anyone would dispute that Bobby Fischer is odd.) It'd be worse in Pathfinder, because some of the combats is surprising your opponent etc.
Thanks for the suggestions thus far guys.
storyengine, thanks for the encouragement in that part.
CLH, I to play chess against myself. No problems with it, and overall because you practice more, I find it makes you a better player. I also play online, but many times the best matches have been against myself (probably because against yourself, you are so evenly matched).
I think much of the combat would be a little like chess, but with a lot of randomness tossed in due to dice rolls and such. This is one reason I think PF could be one of the best RPGs for it. There's not as much stuff to keep track of as in 4e, but in many ways, there are some boardgame qualities (well, if you choose to play it that way) that integrate very well into PF combat.
The same could be said of dungeons (with Traps and the rest) as in a way, it would become more boardgame like as you travel through the dungeon and plan the best way through.
The dice rolls would truly make it more random.
Dungeons would be the easy part of the AP (so maybe something like Shattered Star?), travel would be slightly harder, but the actual parts where it's not so defined and your basically wandering a city I think would be the hardest parts.
Does that sound about right?
Aim for APs which are more linear; that will help with your concern. Sandbox APs will be the worst - such as skulls and shackles or kingmaker.
Rise of the Runelords, carrion crown, mummy's mask, iron gods, reign of winter, or jade reagent might be better suited to the style you're looking for.
Aim for APs which are more linear; that will help with your concern. Sandbox APs will be the worst - such as skulls and shackles or kingmaker.
Rise of the Runelords, carrion crown, mummy's mask, iron gods, reign of winter, or jade reagent might be better suited to the style you're looking for.
That's what it's looking like. Thinking of trying Mummy's Mask or Shattered Star or Jade Regent currently. Also thinking maybe doing Emerald Spire.