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I've seen the module Murder's mark mentioned as a good starter before jumping into CotCT. What's your opinion on this? And if yes, what changes did you do?
I can see the connection geographically and also how the illegal activities could be connected to Gaedran. But on the other hand it would alter the start of CotCT where the characters aren't supposed to know each other but all get separate invutations to the harrower.
How to connect the dots?
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We started our campaign with this. It worked great: I just moved the carnival to the field near Thief Camp outside the city gates. And had the Monchello's based there.
One of the party had staked out the Monchello warehouse and witnessed Gaedren talking to Robella before rowing across the river to the West Dock. The connection was that Gaedren supplied shiver to them, but it could be anything. Shiver was a major added subplot to our campaign, so it fitted for us.
Personally I don't generally like starting with the characters not knowing each other, so they were already friends (via a shared backstory creation session) at the start of the AP.
I used a stage show at the carnival to provide some backstory about the city and the king, which was a fun way to seed information. It was inspired by the theatre troop in GoT in Braavos.
We started our campaign with this. It worked great: I just moved the carnival to the field near Thief Camp outside the city gates. And had the Monchello's based there.
One of the party had staked out the Monchello warehouse and witnessed Gaedren talking to Robella before rowing across the river to the West Dock. The connection was that Gaedren supplied shiver to them, but it could be anything. Shiver was a major added subplot to our campaign, so it fitted for us.
Personally I don't generally like starting with the characters not knowing each other, so they were already friends (via a shared backstory creation session) at the start of the AP.
I used a stage show at the carnival to provide some backstory about the city and the king, which was a fun way to seed information. It was inspired by the theatre troop in GoT in Braavos.
That sounds promising. I would rather not change too much of the actual AP.
How did you use the background connections with Gaedren for each character? Did they all have a past with Gaedren and how did meeting him in Murder's mark play out?
And did you still use the harrow cards for the invitations when actually starting the AP?
I decided that I didn't want everyone focussed on Gaedren. He (probably) dies so early on it feels unecessary. In the end one PC chose a backstory with a huge reason to want revenge on Gaedren, and one other PC had a small connection. But the other two PCs had other backstories that connected to other parts of the AP, and that's worked out well.
In Murder's Mark I had the PC that wants revenge on Gaedren see him. But she saw him rowing across the river, so could not chase him. It was pure prefiguring :) But she was reminded he was around.
I did use the harrow cards. But just sent one card only to the PC that wants revenge on Gaedren. I had all the PCs start as friends at the start of the AP, so the others were happy to go with her.
I think this part of the AP is quite flexible. The really important element overall is that the PCs find the Queen's brooch and take it to her, so they can be sent to work for Kroft.
I started the AP with the PCs being kids in Lamm's service, five years prior to the actual adventure.
I used 'Murder's Mark' in these sessions, although I only used the main plot, leaving out much of the combat, because my 0th-level kids were not strong enough to fight a lot.
If you want to know more about it, you can check my journal on these boards.
I decided that I didn't want everyone focussed on Gaedren. He (probably) dies so early on it feels unecessary. In the end one PC chose a backstory with a huge reason to want revenge on Gaedren, and one other PC had a small connection. But the other two PCs had other backstories that connected to other parts of the AP, and that's worked out well.
In Murder's Mark I had the PC that wants revenge on Gaedren see him. But she saw him rowing across the river, so could not chase him. It was pure prefiguring :) But she was reminded he was around.
I did use the harrow cards. But just sent one card only to the PC that wants revenge on Gaedren. I had all the PCs start as friends at the start of the AP, so the others were happy to go with her.
I think this part of the AP is quite flexible. The really important element overall is that the PCs find the Queen's brooch and take it to her, so they can be sent to work for Kroft.
I really appreciate the shared ideas and will have use of them.
Didn't the recorded CotCT sessions have a similar connection beteween Merisiel and Gaedren? If I remember it correctly she was the only one getting a harrow card while Kyra was involved with something else. Need to listen to that again. Thanks!
Didn't the recorded CotCT sessions have a similar connection beteween Merisiel and Gaedren?
A recorded session? I saw a what appeared to be a CD somewhere that could be that. But i have no use for CDs :) If a streamed or other digital version of it exists i'd love to listen to it.
FYI I made the drug trade in shiver a bigger element of my campaign. I used it to link the Monchellos to Gaedren. Then to Devargo Bavarsi. Then added a modified version of The House on Hook Street to extend it further, working it into chapter 2 of the AP.
Didn't the recorded CotCT sessions have a similar connection beteween Merisiel and Gaedren?A recorded session? I saw a what appeared to be a CD somewhere that could be that. But i have no use for CDs :) If a streamed or other digital version of it exists i'd love to listen to it.
FYI I made the drug trade in shiver a bigger element of my campaign. I used it to link the Monchellos to Gaedren. Then to Devargo Bavarsi. Then added a modified version of The House on Hook Street to extend it further, working it into chapter 2 of the AP.
Pathfinder Legends from Big Finish. Rise of the Runelords is on Spotify and CotCT you can buy through the webpage. Also there's Mummy's mask but I haven't listened to that one.
I like it even if it could be much more. But I remembered incorrectly, no connection with Gaedren and Merisiel :(.
Pathfinder Legends from Big Finish. Rise of the Runelords is on Spotify and CotCT you can buy through the webpage. Also there's Mummy's mask but I haven't listened to that one.
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Oh very cool, thanks. I have spotify so i'll check out RotRL first.
I decided that I didn't want everyone focussed on Gaedren. He (probably) dies so early on it feels unecessary. In the end one PC chose a backstory with a huge reason to want revenge on Gaedren, and one other PC had a small connection. But the other two PCs had other backstories that connected to other parts of the AP, and that's worked out well.
In Murder's Mark I had the PC that wants revenge on Gaedren see him. But she saw him rowing across the river, so could not chase him. It was pure prefiguring :) But she was reminded he was around.
I did use the harrow cards. But just sent one card only to the PC that wants revenge on Gaedren. I had all the PCs start as friends at the start of the AP, so the others were happy to go with her.
I think this part of the AP is quite flexible. The really important element overall is that the PCs find the Queen's brooch and take it to her, so they can be sent to work for Kroft.
Hello again,
Did you change any characters from Murder's mark to any from CotCT? I was thinking about Sheriff Feldane for example or the Nisku tribe. Also, when placing the Warehouse and Manor, anything to think about? Or did you keep everyone and everything as they were?Cheers
I made Sheriff Feldane the 'Ward Captain of East Shore', reporting directly to Kroft. With secondary duties to keep an eye on Thief Camp and the area outside the city gates near the Theumanexus college.
Then when my players were sent to work for Kroft, I had Kroft be apprehensive but Feldane give a good recommendation to the Commander.
Later on, Feldane ends up being forced to join the Grey Maidens. My PCs haven't encountered her yet, but when they do it should be an interesting dilemma, since they like her.
I added a courtroom scene in the Longacre building, having the PCs give their evidence about the Montchellos. I used that to introduces Zenobia Zenderholm, as well as some of the byzantine laws of the city.
The Warehouse I put in Thief Camp, outside the city gates, opposite West Dock. The Manor I put in East Shore: I essentially kept the whole module within East Shore and outside the city gate there where the Carnival was set up.