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I finished running my group through Strength of Thousands, and boy were there issues. It left me with the distinct impression that the "magical school AP" would have massively benefited from being a 3 book, levels 1-10 AP with graduation at the end.
So, if we took a trip to an alternate world where that was the case, what do you think the adventure would look like? What would be kept? What's the first to cut?
I'd like to imagine it would be much more tightly based in and around Nantambu, with more consistent NPC interactions. The first two books could almost stand as is with a significant amount of filler trimming, then the whole Red Planet and books 6 plot could be remixed and served up at a lower level.
Teachers would stay higher level than you, a graduation scene could be a climactic ending, and your fellow students scaling with you or not wouldn't be such a big question mark. It would then set you up to go off on a big 10-20 adventure as graduates, with all the bonus feats and skills showing off your alma mater.
I have been changing the pacing of the beginning of Strength of Thousands, but I am still at the beginning, so I don't know how the later modules fit in. Rather than trimming, I have been adding material, such as River into Darkness Revisited.
Kindled Magic was the first semester of the PCs, taking place during Spring Season. The PFS module Student Exchange is the second semester, Summer Season, in which the PCs supervise the exchange students, who happen to be their former PCs from A Fistful of Flowers.
Spoken on the Song Wind will be their 3rd semester, Fall Season, in which the PCs will be promoted to conversant and asked to each teach a class. I will probably homebrew some material for Winter Season.
Though the PCs are supposed to be promoted to learned ones before Hurricane's Howl, I was thinking of leaving them conversants and presenting the adventure as their 2nd year that begins with field work in the Sodden Lands. Then they get promoted to learned ones for diplomatic work in Secrets of the Temple-City.
I was considering a time jump between Secrets of the Temple-City and Doorway to the Red Star. The graduates have gone off independently but happened to gather back at the Magaambya in order to venture through the doorway. I have no plans for Shadows of the Ancients yet.
The Life in the Academy system in Kindled Magic is designed to give the impression that the PCs are attending classes and studying lore while experiencing the adventures in the modules. But my players wanted some actual classes. Twenty-five years ago I was university professor, so I have the academic experience to invent classes and the GM experience to represent the classes with amusing field trips. Thus, the PCs are feeling like students and I should be able to keep this up until the end of Spoken on the Song Wind.
Then the tone will change. I am currently viewing Hurricane's Howl and Secrets of the Temple-City as graduate school. The PCs will gain field experience necessary to confidently present themselves as wise Magaambya mages to the outside world. Then they graduate completely; hence, I am considering a time skip to represent that they left the Magaambya.
I guess I envision a four-book adventure path as Magaambya students and a two-book sequel as high-level Magambya mages.
For a 3 book adventure, I think book 1 can remain largely the same. Book 2 you cut out either the Serpentfolk or Froglegs, and focus on one big bad while trimming half of the book. Then the second half could be some kind of exploration through the Mwangi jungle, possibly with the knights of Abendego still, ending with a dungeon and boss (prison of the Vacant Eye maybe).
Then for book 3 you could do a quick diplomatic mission at Mzali, followed by Dajermube, which somehow connects the adventure to the King of Biting Ants (maybe showing where Old Mage Jatembe is as thanks for birthing a new god). Then end the book with an expedition to the red planet to defeat the King of Biting Ants (skipping the Iobane and Cathedral) and bringing back Old Mage Jatembe.
I think this keeps the best parts of the AP but it will definitely feel rushed. Just staying endlessly on campus with all kinds of magical shenanigans happening there might be a better experience, depending on the group.
