Howdy, all. I'm about to start up a 2e conversion of CotCT and if anyone has advice about converting the AP (or just about running the AP in general!) I'd love to hear it.
For reference I am also planning to homebrew a bit to add a few levels in to the back half of the AP to make it 1 to 20 and use that as a jumping off point to try and fix some of the issues with book 5 that I've heard about.
Thank you all in advance!
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I can't tell you much about the conversion of 1e stuff to 2e, but as for the levels, I can say that if you can convert and add in the Agency of Secrets module to the party's return trip to Korvosa and the Deathhead Vault in book 4, its fairly easy to stretch the campaign's existing 17 (+1 for the module) levels to 20, though I would recommend just sticking to milestone leveling.
I usually do the level break down as follows:
Book 1:
1 - Haunted Fortunes
2 - City Gone Mad encounters through All the World's Meat
3 - Ambassador's Secret + Queen's Scapegoat
4 - The Dead Warrens and close of module
Book 2: Note that a lot of the encounters have been changed around in order here; I usually go off of original printing order but really its just about keeping the number of encounters balanced between levels
5 - opening through to half of the encounters
6 - rest of the encounters until the party decides to take on the Hospice of the Blessed Maiden
7 - Hospice of the Blessed Maiden
Book 3:
8 - Opening encounters up to finding Laori
9 - Either of the first dealing with The Arkonas or The Emperor of Old Korvosa (note approaching the Arkonas just to be told to deal with the emperor doesn't count as dealing with both)
10 - Dealing with the other one
Book 4: Like book 2, this book had massive changes, and these were probably entirely for the worse in the remaster. I would just stick with how the original printing works, so that is what I am recommending, but same rule applies of "just keep the encounter numbers balanced between events"
11 - Until the first of either finishing the Acropolis or the Clan of the Moon
12 - Until Cindermaw is completed
13 - Totem Trial and ambush by the Mantis Assassins
Return to Korvosa (book 4)/Academy of Secrets: While I did say most of the book 4 changes in the remaster were bad, that's limited to the Shoanti sections, the addition of the Deathhead Vault I think is very well done, if not kind of a nonsequetor. How I deal with that is usually by kidnapping Krojun in the ambush (sneak attack assassins beats invulnerable rager losing uncanny dodge barbarian) once it becomes obvious the party is winning, and having Cinnabar teleport away with his unconscious body (he can be found in the execution chamber with the Sakhil). You can also have the party be called back by Kroft but I find its less convincing on its own, but a good "oh we can also deal with this while we are here, and a way for them to realize "that's prob where they took Krojun anyway". Basically Kroft and the others who help with the plan to attack the Deathhead Vault also give the cover story of the party returning on diplomatic immunity (they are outlaws) to participate in the Breaching Festival which is covered by the Academy of Secrets module; you can also decide if you want Lorthact to be a major player in the crown, which can maybe fill out some level 20 fun. In either case, dealing with both of these event will take the party from level 14 into 15
Book 5:
15 - Because of the haunts in the castle, the party should only be allowed to level up once they have cleared the first chained spirit and thus can rest within the castle
16 - Defeating the rest of the chained spirits and finally the chain spirit himself will earn the next level up
17 - should cover until the end of the book
Book 6:
18: All encounters that can be done outside the castle (including potentially encountering Togomor leading the queen's forces outside Korvosa if you want to make her more proactive in being an active political/military threat)
19: Castle Korvosa itself
20: the Sunken Queen, plus any victory lap fights, like if they fail to prevent Kazavon from manifesting, maybe Lorthact if you included him, clearing out the Havero in Book 4, etc.
I can't tell you much about the conversion of 1e stuff to 2e, but as for the levels, I can say that if you can convert and add in the Agency of Secrets module to the party's return trip to Korvosa and the Deathhead Vault in book 4, its fairly easy to stretch the campaign's existing 17 (+1 for the module) levels to 20, though I would recommend just sticking to milestone leveling...
Hey! I was just looking through my notes and I realized I never said thank you, so 1) sorry for the delay and 2) thank you! This is fantastic advice and was just what I was looking for. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!
I can't tell you much about the conversion of 1e stuff to 2e, but as for the levels, I can say that if you can convert and add in the Agency of Secrets module to the party's return trip to Korvosa and the Deathhead Vault in book 4, its fairly easy to stretch the campaign's existing 17 (+1 for the module) levels to 20, though I would recommend just sticking to milestone leveling...Hey! I was just looking through my notes and I realized I never said thank you, so 1) sorry for the delay and 2) thank you! This is fantastic advice and was just what I was looking for. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply!
Glad it was helpful!