I'm looking forward to that too. My take is that, given it's a mysterious bit of world lore, it can't be easy for just anyone to learn about. This AP is a bit of a slow burn, it seems to me.
I dunno, the first book already had way more Azlant then we'd gotten previously.
So, I'm happy so far. :-)
There's also that sweet painting in the forward.
Which is the first time I can remember seeing what an Azlanti cityscape might've looked like. :-)
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I was rather looking forward to an AP exploring the "ruins of Azlant" but from what I can see there is going to be minimal actual Azlant involvement for the first 4 modules then some possibly in the 5th and hopefully a decent amount in the 6th. I shall have to see how this develops.
What type of Azlant involvement were you hoping to see? I don't have a copy of Book 1 yet, but Book 3 (which I wrote) should have quite many locations where you can learn about ancient Azlanti magic, religion, technology, and culture. I'm sure the other adventures also have interesting lore about Azlant.
Well I'm sold now. That sounds sweet.
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I can shed a little light, with as few spoilers as possible.
Book 1 is scattered with a touch of Azlanti history.
Book 2 features at least 4 major sites from Azlanti history, but remember that 10,000 years have passed and they haven't sat undiscovered.
Book 3 takes you into the heart of a lost Azlanti temple to a now dead god.
Book 4 involves getting to a major Azlanti site.
Book 5 is literally stepping around in Azlanti history.
Book 6 is a lore bomb.
Although the environment and setting are heavy into Azlant/Azlanti ruins, the campaign plot-line (which is what the descriptions are summarizing) looks to be focused around the main antagonist (who is not, after all, Azlanti).
Well, no, but most certainly pivotally tied to their demise. To learn about the Azlanti requires understanding what led to their downfall.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to the "Gazetteer" in Book 2. And then all the Azlanti lore after that. This is definitely one I don't want to run until I have all 6 books in hand.
I'm in the same boat. I don't know when we'll be done with Giantslayer (just about to enter the training level of book 5), which could be as soon as December or as late as next March, depending upon my buddy's schedule. If the former, I'd have to come up with some fillers. Also, I'd want the pawns to start with, too, which probably won't be available until March. Having full knowledge of this AP, along with CoCT and Ironfang Invasion (my other possibilities) is preferred.
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I'm in the same boat.
I see what you did there...
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I was rather looking forward to an AP exploring the "ruins of Azlant" but from what I can see there is going to be minimal actual Azlant involvement for the first 4 modules then some possibly in the 5th and hopefully a decent amount in the 6th. I shall have to see how this develops.
I can confidently say that readers of this Adventure Path will learn more about Azlant than what we've published so far. It's nothing super ground-breaking every day all day, but there are tons of little details sprinkled throughout the whole AP. I'm not sure where you got the idea that there would be minimal information on Azlant, but if that was from me then I apologize.
I can't wait to get my greedy hands on this!
I was rather looking forward to an AP exploring the "ruins of Azlant" but from what I can see there is going to be minimal actual Azlant involvement for the first 4 modules then some possibly in the 5th and hopefully a decent amount in the 6th. I shall have to see how this develops.I'm not sure where you got the idea that there would be minimal information on Azlant, but if that was from me then I apologize.
I can assure that you gave no such impression, Mr. Daigle. I have been excited about this AP since its announcement, and receiving the first installment has done absolutely nothing to alter that excitement! This is the first AP I've collected since Hell's Rebels. Looking forward to the future books!
Thank you! I look forward to them getting out into the wild. It's been really fun working on this Adventure Path.
We are looking forward to them as well!
The potential PCs for the Ruins PbP I plan on running have made some pretty stellar submissions! Can't wait to see them in action.
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I was rather looking forward to an AP exploring the "ruins of Azlant" but from what I can see there is going to be minimal actual Azlant involvement for the first 4 modules then some possibly in the 5th and hopefully a decent amount in the 6th. I shall have to see how this develops.I can confidently say that readers of this Adventure Path will learn more about Azlant than what we've published so far. It's nothing super ground-breaking every day all day, but there are tons of little details sprinkled throughout the whole AP. I'm not sure where you got the idea that there would be minimal information on Azlant, but if that was from me then I apologize.
Not you no just a general impression from the blurbs that the focus would be elsewhere until the 5th module i.e. on the main villain and his forces.
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Hey all,
I think Adam Daigle and Robert Brookes already gave excellent answers, but as the author of Book One, may I add a few thoughts?
Book One is about the fledgling colony and is meant to set the scene. That was my job, but I say that without being defensive. You have to understand, I always had a rough idea of what is to follow my adventure. We authors receive each others outlines and we know what the other folks are working on. Additionally, I'm proud to say, with Adam's help and leadership, the authors actually talked to each other a lot more than usual—and we influenced each other's ideas. We strived for continuity. I made every effort to foreshadow.
But.. perhaps this says it all. In another thread someone remarked that there are no sub-rules for colony management and administration. That was by design, because that is not the destiny and fate of the PCs (again, unless the GM wants to provide for it). They have bigger and more fantastic things ahead of them.
That said of course, there's nothing wrong with settlement building. Ultimate Campaign is there just for that reason. What we're providing with these chapters is an adventure to shake the foundations of the earth and provide details and insights the likes of which have never appeared elsewhere.
With thanks to Adam, his bosses like Erik and James, and to my fellow authors.
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Hey all,
I think Adam Daigle and Robert Brookes already gave excellent answers, but as the author of Book One, may I add a few thoughts?
Book One is about the fledgling colony and is meant to set the scene. That was my job, but I say that without being defensive. You have to understand, I always had a rough idea of what is to follow my adventure. We authors receive each others outlines and we know what the other folks are working on. Additionally, I'm proud to say, with Adam's help and leadership, the authors actually talked to each other a lot more than usual—and we influenced each other's ideas. We strived for continuity. I made every effort to foreshadow.
But.. perhaps this says it all. In another thread someone remarked that there are no sub-rules for colony management and administration. That was by design, because that is not the destiny and fate of the PCs (again, unless the GM wants to provide for it). They have bigger and more fantastic things ahead of them.
That said of course, there's nothing wrong with settlement building. Ultimate Campaign is there just for that reason. What we're providing with these chapters is an adventure to shake the foundations of the earth and provide details and insights the likes of which have never appeared elsewhere.
With thanks to Adam, his bosses like Erik and James, and to my fellow authors.
Also, having discussed this a friend, it's my belief that Book 1 plays better than it reads. That sounds like damnation with faint praise, so let me qualify that!
Book 1 is all about solving a mystery that is presented to the players very shortly after they arrive at the colony - namely, "where are all the colonists?" It's a compelling question, and one that will drive the players to make decisions based upon what they learn and what they believe is going on. That's good adventure design.
However, as the Judge, who knows what happened to all of the colonists, there's not a mystery for us to solve. The investigation is free-form, which means there's not a narrative thread for us to follow - that narrative is constructed during play by the players. It therefore defies conventional narrative structure, having a beginning and end point but very little requiring any point in the middle happening before or after any other. Finally, the reward that lore monkeys are looking for - the nuggets of what Azlanti culture was like - are necessarily light in this book. We'll get more, as stated above, but it just isn't there yet.
I'm looking forward to reading where the AP goes, and what secrets we can learn about Azlant, but I also understand why some people haven't been wowed by the opening. I would encourage people to give the book a chance, though. It does as good a job of encouraging player agency in a published format as I've ever seen.
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Hey all,
Also, having discussed this a friend, it's my belief that Book 1 plays better than it reads. That sounds like damnation with faint praise, so let me qualify that!
Actually, as phrases go, I really really like that! Not offended in the slightest.
Book 1 is all about solving a mystery that is presented to the players very shortly after they arrive at the colony - namely, "where are all the colonists?" It's a compelling question, and one that will drive the players to make decisions based upon what they learn and what they believe is going on. That's good adventure design.
Thanks!
However, as the Judge, who knows what happened to all of the colonists, there's not a mystery for us to solve. The investigation is free-form, which means there's not a narrative thread for us to follow - that narrative is constructed during play by the players. It therefore defies conventional narrative structure, having a beginning and end point but very little requiring any point in the middle happening before or after any other. Finally, the reward that lore monkeys are looking for - the nuggets of what Azlanti culture was like - are necessarily light in this book. We'll get more, as stated above, but it just isn't there yet.
No, there isn't as much direct lore. I really had to save for the other folks. That said...
You just made me look at the chapter differently, even though I wrote it. (I'd love to say it was my master plan, but I'll be honest!)
The PCs are coming across a mystery, but you can almost think of it as an interruption of a story already in progress. The story of the first colonists. A story which thus far is not coming to a happy end. The two main adversaries are not expecting the Peregrine or the PCs. Nothing has been planned for their arrival. They're stumbling across an old crime scene and monsters have moved in the neighborhood. When they first walk on the beach, there's little that is conspiring against them. (That changes of course)
Oops, better watch the spoilers in this thread. You get the drift.
The PCs are introducing a change in a narrative already in progress.
I'm looking forward to reading where the AP goes, and what secrets we can learn about Azlant, but I also understand why some people haven't been wowed by the opening. I would encourage people to give the book a chance, though. It does as good a job of encouraging player agency in a published format as I've ever seen.
Well thank you, one of the nicest compliments I have gotten. I hope they give it a chance too, just so they can experience the cool stuff the other authors prepared.
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Mr Groves, I like the opening chapter enough to adapt/convert the whole kit and kaboodle to Starfinder, if that is any consolation or praise. :)
I find it unfortunate that I will be starting my next AP in september or October and so won't have all of this AP. Otherwise based on the first module it would be a strong candidate however I don't run an AP until I have read all the books so I can change and improvise without risking making a mess of something I like in a later book
Based on the first-time-this-has-been-done approach taken by developer and authors for this AP I suspect you have less risk to worry about.
If not ... What Would Dr Jones Do? ("Make it up as I go along.")
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I will add since the author of book one is actually looking at this (and the managing director) as an adventure book 1 is what I was expecting i.e. you arrive at a colony and find the expected colonists missing. There's no evil plot moving against you (yet) just an abandoned colony with some critters moved in. I have no problems with that at all, my issue wasn't even entirely that the ruins of Azlant lore was light in this. We did get some very nice nuggets it was as I said with the way the blurbs are written it seemed like Ruins of Azlant (the campaign) was going to be equally light until at least the last two modules.
I'd be quite happy to play/run this module as a module and like I said I was still on the fence about the campaign as a whole. Just a few too many bad experiences with books/games/shows where the blurb/summary/plot hook sounded interesting and then the meat just didn't actually have much involvement at all till "Towers of the drowned dead" instead focusing on undersea cultures and the big bads people. I can admit I was wrong about that and I'll be interested in seeing where you go with the campaign.
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The PCs are coming across a mystery, but you can almost think of it as an interruption of a story already in progress. The story of the first colonists. A story which thus far is not coming to a happy end. The two main adversaries are not expecting the Peregrine or the PCs. Nothing has been planned for their arrival. They're stumbling across an old crime scene and monsters have moved in the neighborhood. When they first walk on the beach, there's little that is conspiring against...I'm excited about this AP, but I'm mildly curious about this bit. How is it that the adversaries aren't expecting the Peregrine? The colonists in the first batch know that the second batch is coming, so
** spoiler omitted **
i don't think they really care. and if you, the dm, really care, just handwave it and say that the Peregrine was delayed by several months.
Just had a thought: I wonder if this AP will have any foreshadowing of
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Just had a thought: I wonder if this AP will have any foreshadowing of ** spoiler omitted **
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Managing Developer
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** spoiler omitted **Just had a thought: I wonder if this AP will have any foreshadowing of ** spoiler omitted **
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** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **Just had a thought: I wonder if this AP will have any foreshadowing of ** spoiler omitted **
there IS!? :O
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Also, barring EXTREME DEVELOPMENT CHANGES, I know that my adventure (the big finale) includes some pretty nifty revelation of certain things. I don't want to go into too much detail, but during our "scheming" phase, I pitched some pretty radical stuff that Adam (and a few other important Paizo stakeholders outside of the AP team) were totally on-board with. I can't wait for them to be seem.
Admittedly, Pathfinder #121 (Jim's opener) includes a very important visual clue, that we worked together to foreshadow some revelations! *TEAMWORK* :D
I am increasingly excited that I'm running this.