Core Vault and Pre-Core Adventure Paths

[Ironvein]

I wasn't sure which thread this question belonged, not exactly a rule question but not home-brew either.

So we have a conversion guide to handle how Pre-Core cards play with Core rules...

But what about building the Vault?

I would think that just throwing ALL the cards from previous sets would cause a major imbalance to the card ratios since, with the exception of blessings, there are only single copies of cards in Core.

So how should we handle creating a Core Vault for a Pre-Core Adventure Path?

Do we just use a single copy of every card from the set? Omit cards that have Core equivalents?

How many Blessing of the Gods or other unique blessings should we add?

And a little off-topic, but do we add a Danger in case one is called for and what should that Danger be?

This is more hypothetical than anything. I'm currently in the midst of two groups playing various levels of DD and COTCT, but I have all the Pre-Cores minus MM and was thinking about future plays with those rather than random generation right away.

[Jenceslav]

Hello Ironvein,
it is generally up to you what cards you include, but at least one of your questions is covered by FAQ. If the danger is not specified (old scenarios), it is a random monster.

As for building the Vault - if you want to use Core cards as a base, then definitely omit all cards that have Core equivalent and use Core cards instead (you can keep 1-2 old spells of that kind if you want - Cure, Force Missiles say hello!, but probably not weapons or items or armours). In some cases like Skull & Shackles, some cards have different functionality - e.g. Chain Shirt protects better if the check has Swashbuckling trait. In that case, both versions should probably be used.

My "hunch" for a good vault composition is to have approximately 50% Core and 50% pre-Core cards, with all "bland, generic" weapons and armours removed from the Vault (who cares about shortswords or leather armors?) and only up to 2 cards of the same type. For example many spells are doublets or even more cards of the same type. Several cards are useful in multiplets (e.g. Pistols for Gunslingers), so consider keeping them anyway. All setting-specific boons should be added to keep flavour.

I would add approximately the same amount of Blessing of the Gods as the numbers of any level 0 blessing card present in Core / Curse, i.e. 4-8, up to 2-3 Blessings of other kinds. Setting-specific deities such as Hirsuha even fully, if you want - the main pantheon is represented quite nicely in Core, but others? Not so much.

[Ironvein]

Thanks Jenceslav, I missed the danger answer in the FAQ.

We also seem to be on the same page for Core Vault Building, I was mostly unsure of Blessings.

Your advice is helpful and appreciated :)

[Vic Wertz]

Just so you know, each Adventure Path is designed to use a specific set of cards for the box/vault; we have never suggested substitutions there. Of course, you're welcome to try whatever—just realize you're in uncharted waters, so we can't vouch for the quality of your play experience. Good luck!