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Gatewalkers involves a prolonged escort mission as the PC's guide Sakuachi so she can progress the plot. The story here kinda stops being about the PC's and instead focuses on this NPC (who I do honestly like).
However, many players find escort missions un-fun and making an adventure about an NPC is often disappointing and frustrating for players. There is a sidebar that tries to address this, but I don't think that'll work for every table.
So let's brainstorm alternatives. What can be changed in Gatewalkers in books 2-3 to refocus the adventure on the PC's as opposed to Sakuachi?
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I agree that this is a the biggest frustration with what would otherwise be a very cool AP.
The quickest fix is probably to kill off Sakuachi fairly early on and have the the god-spirit transfer to one of the PCs.
A more satisfying fix would probably be to have the PCs learn about how to do some god-calling and have them quest to Sarkoris themselves for it, but that would pretty much mean a full rewrite of book two.
The easiest change to make is for Sakuachi's mission be 'follow assist those with the mark' She is following the party; not the other way around.
As far as getting the party to the other chapters. Dr. Rittalson has sent reports from other teams. (I introduced the other teams at the beginning of the adventure, mostly so I had a character replacement ready in the case of a death.) These reports could lead to a gatekey, a new gate, or the obnubilate curse.
For example, I am considering putting an aiudara worth investigating in Domora (Egede?).
Another option would be for Domora to have reported cases of the Obnubilate curse.
I feel like Skywatch was rather done dirty so skipping that section entirely to just not be disappointing. They mention the portal network under the ice so might have them come back from castrovel that way and then the dreams urge them to the spirits.
I like the idea that the party emerges from the gate rather than the telescope (It's not called Telescopewalkers!). Or maybe the Erutaki stargazers that built the observatory used the gate to power it. In its description the observatory's massive lens is big enough to be a gate. A magic gate/lens is easier for my brain to comprehend than what must amount to thousands of pounds of glass being manufactured clear enough for a telescope....
Also I will add deviant abilities to the Obsidian Oath and maybe the Smiling Wolves. It gives Gatewalkers a reason to be present.I would like to have the option for a PC or PCs to take up the god-calling - has anyone pursued this further?
I have not, but a test that required the symbol would be reason for the PCs to attempt it. The backlash from their deviant abilities would be reason enough that Sakuachi has to step in if you didn't want them to have it. (personally I like the idea of Herbet take up the god-calling. :)
God Calling is a shorthand for Summoner abilities. Sakuachi is essentially a Melded Eidolon. As is standard for NPCs she doesn't obey the rules, but that seems to be the closest analogue (despite her being a prepared occult caster ala witch) with Rhuun being an owl-themed ice creature, or a beast eidolon with Energy Heart (Ice).
Sakuachi's abilities make her bad even at support, so she's great for GMs to have escorting, and later on her energy resistance and omen abilities actually do something semi-useful as she can have 'start of the day prep' using a 4th level slot to tell the PCs "Dude, prepare fire spells today." I like to use her to throw soothes at downed PCs from the fringes of combat, trying hard to stay away from enemies and letting PCs handle problems. The Champion frequently calls her to stand behind him and he feels Champion-y.
Before book 3, Sakuachi's friends do 90% of he escorting, and between great-axes and spears and harpoons (they need a little tweaking) and using their trade-off hunter abilities they actually do some heavy lifting against fiery cats, thieves, and hobgoblins.
For my 2cp, to make things feel like not an escort mission, have it feel more like she's joining the party. Don't forget to make her happy and starstruck, give her no damage abilities as is written, but give her something better than bless. Spirit Link is a great spell, and so is Soothe, and so is resist energy. She can drop single spells per encounter and have a soothe to knock on allies who fall down, or the first time they hit 'bloodied' (50% hp) during an encounter. Even a 1st level soothe is a nice little bump for having her carted around.
And make sure she uses some stargazing stuff for PCs between daily preps. Let them feel like she contributes in other ways. She'll feel less like an escort, and when she sacrifices everything including her name the PCs will be emotionally invested.