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I have to alter the module to keep it entertaining for some players who have played through it once before. I was thinking that Justice Ironbriar has a big problem -- he isn't well-known to the players, and the GMs here in the forums have struggled with ways to introduce him -- and that problem is my savior. Because he isn't well-introduced, he's essentially expendable or replaceable.
So, I've decided that the real villains behind the murders will be the Scarnetti family. The module sets it up, anyway -- Banny stole from them, the villain's business in Magnimar is another saw mill, etc. It's easy to pop in the Scarnettis and have it make sense.
I will keep the cult and keep Foxglove, it's just that Titus Scarnetti is pulling the strings instead of Ironbriar. When the PCs are supposed to fight Ironbriar, they'll instead fight the Scarnetti family's "enforcer," Jubrayl. I might keep the Ironbriar stat block and rename it, or I might come up with a more rogue/thug Jubrayl stat block.
When they get to the end, they'll either fight Titus in snake form (using the normal monster stat block that the module provides) or if that throws off too many things (like I'd have to rewrite the letter from the sister) I'll keep the original monster and just have her casting Charm Monster on Titus instead of Ironbriar.
So basically, small easy changes and not much to alter in the handouts or stat blocks, and yet it makes sense. It might even make more sense than Ironbriar, who the players don't even know.
My question for you guys: how badly am I screwing up the module or later modules? What does this change ruin? What am I unaware of for the long term? Any tips of things I might need to change or watch out for?
The Lamia boss at the end was personally sent by the BBEG of the whole campaign. I'd want to keep that connection intact in whatever changes you make.
As Java Man said, plus - the boss of Book 2 is a direct family relation of a significant villain in Book 3. It's not exactly a healthy family relationship but it's there. Indeed communication between the two is part of the connection between Book 2 and 3.
This thread could probably have benefited from a spoiler warning.
It's not a bad idea to replace Ironbriar with Titus Scarnetti, given the pc's have a much higher chance of knowing who he is and perhaps even already have a negative attitude toward him. I might suggest making the Brotherhood of the Seven a more conventional thieve's guild instead of a Skinsaw Cult. Of course that would invalidate Book 2's title...