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We recently completed this AP. We started about the time it came out, but it is one of 3 being run in the group. Even so you can tell we are not quick.
Since I wrote the following in the “Who are your Castaways” a few things changed.
“We have reach 12th level now.
Tian (Monk) Has become the skill monkey/2nd rank combat person
Valden (Druid) Has 2 modes a) Buff his dinosaur animal companion into a killing machine or b) Wild shape and cast spells or buff himself into a slightly less dangerous killing machine
Toomba the sorcerer has the aberrant bloodline so has just gained long limbs/fortification/SR. His mage armour has been very useful. He does not cast it on himself often, monks wildshaped druids and Animal Companions like it a lot.
Gardura, inquisitor A bit of a glass cannon. Devastating when not fallen over. Main Healer”
Tian died a couple of times. On each occasion only a reincarnate was available. So Tian went from Human to Elf to Halfling. From a mechanical point of view the character was fine in each new form. Towards the end Valden lost his T Rex animal companion (hit with a prismatic spray and ended on a random plane) He was replaced by a velociraptor who was not quite so scary. Valden also started summoning a lot more towards the end.
Toomba just got more powerful without changing much.Gardura multiclassed into fighter. She was finding that without extensive preparation she was missing too much with ¾ BAB.
So how did we find it?
Book 1 is widely regarded as a great module and I would agree.
Book 2 is on tight railroads, but enjoyable enough.
Book 3 we really enjoyed the sandbox of a city to explore.
Book 4 This became a drag, particularly with the titled madness
Book 5 and 6 were ok without being great.
The final fight we had some sensible tactics. The Druid pin the Big Bad Guy (BBG) in place with summons creatures. Even the BBG finds a purple worm a distraction. However the normally effective Toomba’s sole contribution was communal Prot Energy. Everything else bounced off SR or was saved.
On the who we enjoyed our time in the jungle and thanks to everyone who helped produce the AP.
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Now that you've finished, I would ask a couple of questions.
* - There is talk that this AP really should have ended with the City of Seven Spears adventure. What is your opinion on this?
* - Do you feel that is AP would be a good candidate for conversion to Pathfinder 2nd Edition?
Always like these threads.
I'm a fan of Serpent Skull even though I haven't run it. I have prepared it in a huge outline on the off chance I do decide to run with it.
My biggest changes were going to be...
Book 4) Overall, I'd shorten this book by only using 3 of the Vaults (C, D, H iirc). I'd also be changing the frequency of madness checks to once every few hours unless the PCs were doing things without a care for exposure. To me this book reads like a last minute expansion (DLC) to book 3.
Books 5 and 6) I'm not a fan of the Urdefhan in general, I replaced them all with Drow for a more D1-D3 feel. In a nutshell, Drow House Rasivrein is nearly destroyed imc, survivors are refugees fleeing through the underdark and their house matron is well versed in ancient lore. She's looking for powerful magic (to destroy Zirnakaynen), as well as a new settlement (Ilmurea) to call home. I have all the conversions in a text file, the Monster Codex was a huge help here.
Books 5 and 6 feel like one larger book similarly to the above example of Book 4 feeling more like DLC to book 3. IMHO, Book 5 of Serpent Skull breaks the cycle for most AP chapter 5s being just okay or just bad. Book 6 is a great ending, potentially even better in my spoilered scenario due to ramifications afterward.
Sounds like you guys had a good time, I'm envious. So what's next for your group?
Lord Fyre
Thinking about it the AP could end after any book
Book 1- instead of following up on what you found, sell it for a pay day
Book 2 Get paid for guiding people to the city (a bit weak)
Book 3- Definitely Find and explore the city
Book 4 Thinking about it this does not work. You are too invested to stop here.
Book 5 Defeat the Serpent folk save the day (This would need sme work but could be done.
While we did the play test we are not looking at 2nd Edition. I have 3 APs to run in 1st Ed and loads of options I want to play. 2nd edition had to be a big improvement to get us to give up on 100s of £ of stuff we have invested in. So I have no idea about conversion
Sunderstone
Shortening Book 4 and reducing "the Madness" sound like a good idea.
I agree book 3 & 4 and Book 5 & 6 are really two long books.
This is not that unusual. Iron Gods is really a trilogy each made of 2 books.
I like your changes. We negotiated with those inhabitants so the alteration would have been mainly flavour to us.
Definitely enjoyed it. We have 3 GM running APs, we alternate between the 3. That GM is running Giantslayer or Hells Vengeance next. Currently we are starting Book 5 of Kingmaker, Then I will run Book 4 of Jade Regent
We finished this AP not long ago after four years of playing and we really enjoyed the ride, though those that played murder hobos had a better time because of the sheer challenge of the baddies.
I think character motivation can greatly help with the weaker points of the AP up to Saventh Yhi. Unfortunately, what motivates a character to gain riches from a lost city doesn't transfer well to fighting underground to save humanity...so I let my first character go after vaults of madness and had a new character come in who had a great interest in the serpent folk.