TheRPGSite

So a number of you expressed interest in just WHAT is Carrion Crown. It's understandable as you all think "Gee NF, why do you post so much random info instead of just summarizing it all in neat concise paragraphs."

To which I reply "I'm lazy. That and the fact the entire Adventure Path is pretty...extensive. Each "chapter" of the story is about 30+ pages long. That's a lot of material to cover, even in D&D. So I try to just toss out snippets instead."

Now I've decided to help you kind folks out, I'll post the FIRST chapter summary for Carrion Crown. (Since that's where my PCs are currently)

Each additional part of this thread will contain a summary of each chapter followed by what the PCs are doing.

I will summarize the group and update them as players come and go. (Believe me, a year long or more campaign, people don't always make, even when it's alternating groups.)

But that will be for another thread. For now here is the brief synopsis on

       The PCs come to Ravengro to attend the funeral of an old friend, Professor Petros Lorrimor, only to become embroiled in the village's problems—the ghosts of the haunted prison on the hill are spreading down into the town. After researching the pasts of the town and prison and handling several local haunts (perhaps even recovering a stash of old ghost-hunting gear from the cemetery), the PCs head up the hill to investigate Harrowstone.

         There, they find evidence that the Whispering Way has been up to something, and that the cult's tinkering has upset the balance of things. In order to prevent the souls within the prison from escaping, the PCs must ally with the ghost of the prison warden's wife to defeat the five most dangerous spirits active within and below Harrowstone's walls.

Group A (newbies)

Josh - Thorius Ironstar (dwarven fighter) (currently 4th level) (originally from the Five Kings Mountains)

Laura (Josh's girl) - Evelyn (assimar Oracle of Flame with a few touches of Life Mystery) (previously from Caliphas)

Zach - Gruskh - Half Orc Magus with the Black Blade Archetype (formerly of a splinter tribe of the Black Sun called Black Star now defunct and current chieftain.) (homeland - Hold of Belkzen)

Ben (Holliwin) - Elven Ranger (guy that likes to do ranged attacks) (homeland - Kyonin)

James (Serrusk) - Human (Taladene pureblood) Cleric of Iomedae. (He doesn't show up in the first session.) (Homeland - Lastwall)

Mike (not the same Mike as listed below) (joins us for the last session of this chapter) - Varick - human alchemist (hails from Caliphas)

When first introduced to each other, there was some obvious tension between the dwarf and the half orc. (Probably because the Half Orc tends to be a jerk.) However they do manage to band together well as they see that their friend, Professor Lorrimor, service is being disrupted by a band of rather not so nice local ruffians that are calling him a "nigromancer"
After a little hesistation, they fight. No one dies but Father Vauran Grimburrow, the local high priest of Pharasma, comes in and fixes people up. The group gets worried but Father Grimburrow berates the ruffians and tells them off royally.

The PCs then proceed to go about seeing the services. They do decently (With Evelyn giving an exceptional speak along with Thorius) The time for the will comes but before that, they are given the chance to "spend some time" before the will is read. This is when they notice (after I pull each aside) some strange happenings going on. Thorius gets attacked by a sphere of blueish light after seeing to the local forge. (1 HP of damage.)  Evelyn sees the sight of blood and the letter V painted on everywhere in the library. Which vanishes. Holliwin (who is also near by) is nearly scared out of his mind as a strange ghostly hand scratches the windowpane in the same house as the Library. (It leaves the letter V on it.)
Finally, the Half Orc dreams of fire, and imprisonment while sleeping outside.

They all gather together, talk it out. Then comes the reading of the will. It helps to show the PCs that perhaps Lorrimor's death wasn't as accidental as some might think. Even so they agree to the will's terms and also decide to start doing research. We end the session with the PCs finding out some on the Whispering Way and Harrowstone (on the following day) but not before the local monument dedicated to the victims of Harrowstone fire, is desecrated by someone writing, in blood, the Letter V. (It doesn't come off, even after the blood has clearly dried.) The locals start getting scared. They also meet with the Church and learn about how things are done with Councilman Heartmount.

Group B (The Vets plus two newbies)

Sarah - Katarina (female dhampir sorcerer (with Undead/Sanguine Bloodline) Oracle of Life (A life long resident of Caliphas and distant cousin of Mickey.) (currently 2 levels of sorcerer/two of oracle.)

Ben (Yes same Ben as above. I only had three PCs before James. He was a way to get 4. Plus he helps with stuff.) - Horgart Mickey Gossemburg, nickname Mickey male dhampir (with the young template) Bard with the Archeologist archetype. (Also from Caliphas. Looks 7 years old but is MUCH older than he appears.) (currently 4th level.)

William - Drake (Male Human Monk) (hails from the mysterious island of Herma. Devout Atheist.) (Currently 4th level.)

Mike - Vickius - male halfling alchemist. (Hails from the River Kingdoms.) (Enjoys blowing stuff up.)

Rob (recently joined the group after the third session) - Name escapes me - male human paladin of Iomedae. (Hails from Lastwall) (see a theme here with late joiners and divine spellcaster?)  

Unlike the previous group, no one here was that interested in interparty conflicts. Indeed they were more interested in seeing what was going on. They were gravely suspicious about the fact Professor Lorrimor's service having him being covered. They also had difficulty with the locals, (as described above.) but didn't kill anyone. Indeed they did a much better job of NOT killing than they did of killing. That being said, they clearly didn't like the 'in game' haunts I used along with the one "Flaming Card" trick. (A harrow deck mysteriously caught on fire, and died out after 30 seconds.) They also deduced quickly that Professor Lorrimor was murdered. They did however spend time doing the research. (Along with several encounters that the other group did, seeing the children sing a creepy song about the fire of Harrowstone and the prisoners.) They also managed (after a little help from Mickey) to give back the stuff they found at the graveyard. (Both groups did enter there WITH permission from one of the councilmen. Group A (with the great aid of Evelyn's....assests) by Hearthmount. Group B thanks to Garius.) (Both enounctered undead.) They also found the desecration at the monument. (Along with being berated by Hearthmount.)

So...how does this help for people that might want to know what's going on...

Or comparison of group styles. ?

Seriously, do I need to write more? Cause I can. I mean those are just two groups that have done one session (5+ hours) of gaming.

Don't have time to read this today, but I did bookmark it and will give it a read later. Tomorrow, probably.

Thanks for sharing.

Yes, this is good. Did you want comments on some specific feature?

How well detailed is the town, and can the PCs recruit followers or assistants from the local population to help them deal with the ghosts? Also, why can't the PCs demolish the prison from the get go if it's a source of evil shit?

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;485680Yes, this is good. Did you want comments on some specific feature?

Specific, general. Whatever.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;485680How well detailed is the town

Very well detailed. If you want me to show a picture I can upload it. So it will show up at the bottom.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;485680Can the PCs recruit followers or assistants from the local population to help them deal with the ghosts?

Well understand the local populace isn't that equipped to deal with spectral undead. Father Grimburrow is a fairly high level NPC cleric (7th level) but his concerns are generally more towards tending to the town's needs, not out hunting ghosts. Otherwise there is very little high level PCs in a thorp size town.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;485680Also, why can't the PCs demolish the prison from the get go if it's a source of evil shit?

Two reasons. One they are first level (at least when they start out.) More importantly, the prison isn't just some "random building" It's a HUGE place, with four underground prison wings. Destroying them would take considerable effort. Again I'll upload a picture for you of Harrowstone.

Here's the entirity of Harrowstone inside


As you can see it's a pretty damn big building and thus destroying it would akin to destroying a small city.

As you can see it's a pretty damn big building and thus destroying it would akin to destroying a small city.

So maybe I should continue? I would but I wanted to see more replies other than mine.

Quote from: Nightfall;485616So...how does this help for people that might want to know what's going on...

Or comparison of group styles. ?

Again, thanks.

A few questions:

How many sessions have these groups completed? It sounds like you've really just got underway. Did you have a chargen session? (If you have a thread on that, apologies for missing it, but do link me up.)

You mentioned the haunts not working with group B. Did you use the same ones as with group A? And if they worked with the latter, how so? How did they react? What reactions are you looking for?

I am somewhat skeptical of how well haunts would work with my players. Hence my curiousity.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926A few questions:

And I have a few answers! :)

Quote from: FASERIP;485926How many sessions have these groups completed?

Well let's see...I started on September 4th for Group A. (Pretty sure about that.) And Group B started the following week (I believe that's the but it might have been 17th. Not sure.) I'm reasonable sure both have either 4 or 5 sessions. I know I've ran at least 11 total.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926It sounds like you've really just got underway.

Well kind of. I mean Group B, they're just about done with the deep dungeon level. Splatter man and the Mosswater Maurader are all that are left. For Group A, I expect them to fully dispel two if not three haunts this Sunday.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926Did you have a chargen session? (If you have a thread on that, apologies for missing it, but do link me up.)

I did. But only in the sense I spent time online with them. I didn't sit down with lots of PCs. I did spend...maybe one day with a handful of PCs. The newbies had my right hand man Ben helping them along.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926You mentioned the haunts not working with group B. Did you use the same ones as with group A?

Pretty much. I basically ran Group A as a kind of "test run' for Group B in places. That being said, Group A often comes further in plot while Group B goes further along with killing stuff.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926If they worked with the latter, how so?

For starters I didn't have a monk. Also Group A is newbies and they aren't optimizing their characters like my Vets are in Group B.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926How did they react?

Group A reacted pretty much as I expected. They did a decent job in fighting off some haunts, but mostly the ones where they had to make Will saves, the DC was too low for me to do much as I wanted. (Course in doing Character Gen, the lowest scores I have for most of them are 12 I believe.)

Quote from: FASERIP;485926What reactions are you looking for?

Mostly I was looking for "Holy shit! We're screwed!" That being said, the Haunts for Father Charaltan and the Piper weren't bad. They just could have been beefed up by the fact more minions/smaller ongoing encounters could have worked.

Quote from: FASERIP;485926I am somewhat skeptical of how well haunts would work with my players. Hence my curiousity.

Haunts work fine. My only major gripe with them comes from how low the DC is for some effects. If these were actual creatures...I think the DC might have been higher. That being said, I'm still okay with most of the haunts. I just am convinced low level haunts (anything under a CR 3) are not nearly challenging to a well made out character than say, some sub-optimal PCs. Higher level haunts (I'd say in the CR range of 5 to 10) are about where they should be. CR 10+ are pretty darn powerful and fun.

Alright so here's the setup for 'day 2" for each group:

Both Group A and B have come to the conclusion they need more information on the five prisoners/evil spirits of Harrowstone. However they both also realize they need to win over the local populace to determine how much information they can receive. So after both received word of a town meeting, they attended. This is ALSO where our two new players, (James who is our Half Elf Cleric of Iomedae for Group A and Rob our Paladin of Iomeade with the Undead Hunter Archetype) join in. Both came in as "exorcists" specialists. (Not exactly a tough sell thankfully.) They both were presented as "saviors."

As the town council meeting went on, more and more people went into a panic about the strange goings on (from disappearing livestock, to some that had been killed in mysterious and unnatural ways, to household pets and crows attacking the peoples.) It was then the "tipping" point occurred. The oil lamps in the town hall exploded and proceeded to catch everything on fire. The PCs then had following options: put out the fire using non flammable material; help with the rescue of those on fire; or run away.  


Here's the major difference in the scenerio for each group: Group A had the good fortunate DM error on the fact that a decanter of endless water DOES NOT cost 2,000 gp. In fact it costs nearly all the starting gold for a 5th level PC! Yeah. I was shocked too. Don't believe me? See here:

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/decanter-of-endless-water

Anyway so Sukril (James' character) pulled it out of his backpack and managed (even with a few bad rolls to hit) to put out the fire. In the interim, four flaming belching skulls came through the windows The dwarf and the Oracle (Evelyn and Thorius) managed to direct traffic, while the ranger (Houlwin) and Gruskh dealt with the flaming skulls.


Group B on the other hand, couldn't do much even though I did mention they should have water on hand. Apparently though it wasn't enough to save the town hall. (Though the villagers did survive.)

So I'm thinking DM intervention might have been the only way to save the town hall...even though they ARE right by a river. (That or they needed a cleric to cast "create water" maybe...)

Naturally after spending three days of research, both groups felt they had all they needed to take on the five prisoners and Harrowstone. So off they went. Both groups dealt with the haunts and the rat swarms with pretty good efficiency. The warden's house didn't really injure anyone. However Group B, instead of going through the front door, went up along the side where the haunted animated scythe was and thanks to a good roll (DC 30 Disable Device check), they entered into the second floor. It was there they encountered a large host of skeletons and stirges. This occurred also while the Piper of Illmarsh haunt was active. Thanks to the paladin touching the walls, he managed to destroy the haunt. But NOT before the monk found the remains of Father Charaltan. This led him to be haunted by it. The following session, I introduced Nate's character (who's name escapes me) a changeling Ranger with THREE Archetypes: Falconer, Infiltrator and Scout. The PCs explored more of the second floor but found nothing of interest. They did however find out Drake, the monk, (William's character) was haunted by the spirit of Father Charaltan. However since the haunt wasn't active, they couldn't actually harm it.

So they went down stairs. After a few other encounters that didn't amount to much (in terms of making PCs either dead or badly wounded.) the spiders they found in the chapter managed to wound Drake enough to cause him to fall over. I told William his character was dead. I then proceeded to tell him about the fact his character awoke to a strange red-haired priest of Pharasma. He of course didn't believe it and tried to interact with it. I made him roll me three Will saves. He made two. That was enough for me to make him come back in to rejoin the group and the fight. So after they dealt with the spiders, the PCs managed to banish Father Charalton. A few strange encounters later, the PCs managed to contact Vesorianna. (Though they did pick a fight with her. I decided to not let her undead status do anything. Plus they only cast disrupt undead, not any serious spells.) They proceeded to descend down the only entrance to the dungeons/prison wings: A hole in one of the rooms. There, after a few small encounters, they found the Lopper. Let me say this: IF your PCs AREN'T prepared for spectral undead, (or in this case, the party paladin isn't there!), the Lopper can SERIOUSLY do damage. Unlike a normal wraith, his touch attack allows him to HEAL the damage he inflicts via doing negative energy AND bleed effect. In any case thanks to some good work by both Vickus (Michael's halfling alchemist) throwing holy water and disrupt undead by Katarina, (Sarah's Sorcerer2/Oracle of Life 2), the Lopper was defeated. HOWEVER I did manage to drop Nate's character to almost 0 HP. (5 hp...) It was...memorable.   Their next session comes this Sunday (October 30th) so it should be interesting!

Group A however dealt primarily with the ground floor, where the poltergeist managed to scare Gruskh and cause him to run out the door. Later on, (a following session for Group A) They managed to break the lock on door leading to the property room where they found loot and cursed items! They also managed to make peaceful contact with the spirit of Vesorianna, the wife of the Warden. She told them of Petros murder, along with the spirits. She also informed them that the cursed items belonging to the five prisoners had properties that might harm them (The ghosts) along with the wielder. After that, they broke for the next session. The following session, they came VERY well prepared along with having a new PC join them. Michael's character Varick the human alchemist. (I know. Another one! If they weren't anything alike (or at least not the same players.) I'd be convinced I was running the same game!) Anyway he hooked up with the PCs. They proceeded to decimate the second floor with ease. (Taking out the Piper's Haunt but NOT before I managed to get Gruskh caught in one of the haunt's effects. (Shaken and then Hold Person.) ) Evelyn made the error of coming into the room where Father Charalton had died. Thus she because haunted.

Fortunately they didn't have any encounters on the way down since they had already taken care of the near by haunts with some positive energy. (Mostly the cleric using a few cures.) (Everyone bought a lot of potions and had some scrolls). The fight with the Lopper went about what I expect. (Though I had hoped to kill a PC. But I did badly wound a few.) Then I ran the encounter with Father Charalton who, because Evelyn got close and was attacked by the Lopper, became the subject of the haunt. Fortunately she wasn't out long and the fight with the Lopper was pretty one sided. (Ghost touch arrows man...)

Grushk and Thorius have an ongoing rivalry (since the half orc is kind of a jerk...) and part of the fun is watching them do things to each other. (Not KILL each other, but at least pull pranks and/or do a game of one upsmanship.) This led to Thorius (who had promised earlier to toss the Half Orc down the hole) to try to do that and they all ended up falling down the hole with Howiln (who had been on a roped HELD by Grushk the half orc.) Gruskh decided to pay back Thorius for this slight and thus PUSHED him into the hole where the Lopper's body was. He fell but survived the fall. Coming back up the rope Holwin used, Gruskh then proceeded to urinate  on Thorius. Thorius took exception to that and PULL Gruskh by his unit DOWN the hole. So much fun was had falling holes!

After that they tried to open the cell block where the Splatter Man was. However that was impossible as the iron portcullis was down and locked. Plus the only winch in there was broken. Fun ensue when they tried to use the Mosswater Maurader's hammer. Hiliary ensued as first Thorius to kill Varick only to have Varick swipe the hammer and then try to kill Thorius! :) Then they went to next cellblock where they were met with strong resistance by the spirit of the Mosswater Marauder. It went good for them since they concentrated on the skulls instead of the haunt. (Though the Marauder DID get one hit in...) They found a secret stash behind the table where the Marauder had died. There thanks to using the keys, they found a grand stash of stuff.

Next came the torture room. Fortunately they managed to disable the haunted Iron Maiden and find the badge of Office from the Warden's body. Then they found a secret passage, fought a gray ooze. Then came Splatter man. Thorius was the first affected by it, and thankfully his 'rage" and attacking dealt enough damage to effectively kill the haunt. However it was late in the evening and our FLGS owner wanted to go home. So Splatter man didn't make it a round (even though the ranger only used undead bane arrows, NOT Ghost touched!) But I counted it as a win...and I can always run it again next session.

Thus for Group A, they have complete Chapter 1 and are now moving on to chapter 2! :)

look I know this might be a long shot...but how about some feed back? Seriously?

Seriously guys.... I post this hear BECAUSE I thought I'd get some feed back.

Hello?!!

It is a nice summation. Seems like everyone is enjoying themselves. You must be doing something right. I don't have time to respond at length.

Was there a particular point that you were wanting feedback on or just general?

If general, I say good job. The games seem to be going well. This does not surprise me since you are running a Piazo adventure path, which are pretty well done for the most part.

Quote from: PaladinCA;486483It is a nice summation. Seems like everyone is enjoying themselves.

Well not quite CA. See William, our monk is kind of miffed that because he's a monk with NO magic weapons, a number of times he can't HURT anything. (Haunts and Spectral/Incorporeal Undead for example.) So he kept saying "I want more magic items!" And I'm like "Well this is a small farming town. They don't get much call for stuff BEYOND a few scrolls, a few healing potions, AND maybe a few masterwork items." So there is that...

Quote from: PaladinCA;486483You must be doing something right. I don't have time to respond at length.

Well you responded. That's what counts.

Quote from: PaladinCA;486483Was there a particular point that you were wanting feedback on or just general?

I just wanted feedback on what you think based on the module, I did right, I might have done better, or maybe done differently.

Quote from: PaladinCA;486483If general, I say good job. The games seem to be going well. This does not surprise me since you are running a Piazo adventure path, which are pretty well done for the most part.

True. I only had a few touches here and there to test my PCs. So far, it's worked out alright.

Well, maybe the Monk could find some gloves that would allow him to attack magical beasties. Nothing too powerful mind you, but something to help him at least be able to damage something. A head sash. A robe. Something.

Quote from: PaladinCA;486515Well, maybe the Monk could find some gloves that would allow him to attack magical beasties. Nothing too powerful mind you, but something to help him at least be able to damage something. A head sash. A robe. Something.

Yeah but he's also the one that keep arguing that because he uses a kyoketsu-shoge, he should get attacks of opportunity EVEN if the person is charging him.

Dunno about you but I don't need that just yet.

Maybe when I can outmaneuver him...besides it's not like he's extremely useless. Just not good against spectral undead.

Quote from: Nightfall;486520Yeah but he's also the one that keep arguing that because he uses a kyoketsu-shoge, he should get attacks of opportunity EVEN if the person is charging him.

Well I don't like to reward players that bitch too much. So maybe he deserves nothing. Squat. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. :D

Quote from: PaladinCA;486580Well I don't like to reward players that bitch too much. So maybe he deserves nothing. Squat. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. :D

I'm of the same mind set. However I will allow them the opportunity to go other less rural towns. Tamaveria being the closest one.

So...I still need some ideas on whether I should bump up the encounter on Splatter Man or not.

Suggestions?

Quote from: Nightfall;486782So...I still need some ideas on whether I should bump up the encounter on Splatter Man or not.

Suggestions?

It is hard for me to provide constructive comments on an adventure I haven't read or written. What does your gut say? Go with the gut.

Well my gut told me to make it more difficult. Trouble was, it also kind of gave the PCs a boost XP wise.

That being said I wasn't UNhappy with giving Splatter man 2 more levels of wizard AND four variant wraiths.

For Group A(the newbies) I think I might bump him up by one level of wizard (going from 8th to 9th) but not give him more than one fifth level spell.

Quote from: Nightfall;487737Well my gut told me to make it more difficult. Trouble was, it also kind of gave the PCs a boost XP wise.

That being said I wasn't UNhappy with giving Splatter man 2 more levels of wizard AND four variant wraiths.

For Group A(the newbies) I think I might bump him up by one level of wizard (going from 8th to 9th) but not give him more than one fifth level spell.

Well, if a GM makes it more difficult, the players should reap the benefit of getting more EXP when they prevail. That's just the way that I think the cookie should crumble. :)

Quote from: PaladinCA;487911Well, if a GM makes it more difficult, the players should reap the benefit of getting more EXP when they prevail. That's just the way that I think the cookie should crumble. :)

Yeah. I just didn't think of it because I was more concerned with trying to kill off the monk. :p :)

Quote from: Nightfall;486782So...I still need some ideas on whether I should bump up the encounter on Splatter Man or not.

Suggestions?

I think PaladinCA is right.

It's been a while since I read the mod or I would try to give something more concrete.

I do have this thread bookmarked and am checking up on it. Looking forward to the APs on chapters two and three. I remember wanting to rework the Beast mod a bit (seemed like basically a good mod, however), and I wasn't even sure what to do with the third part.

Are you keeping the path as is or do you have some changes in store?

Quote from: FASERIP;487996I think PaladinCA is right.

Well he is a paladin... :p :)

Quote from: FASERIP;487996It's been a while since I read the mod or I would try to give something more concrete.

Sokay. Even little to no useful ideas are welcome.

Quote from: FASERIP;487996I do have this thread bookmarked and am checking up on it. Looking forward to the APs on chapters two and three. I remember wanting to rework the Beast mod a bit (seemed like basically a good mod, however), and I wasn't even sure what to do with the third part.

I'm glad you are keeping up with this thread. It is important to me to get feedback. (Plus it helps with my overall GMing.) Chapter Two has gotten off to rather rocky start with Group B (Experienced.) Mostly because I threw in some random encounters. I haven't totally reworked Trial, but I am thinking of possibly replacing the trolls in the castle with something else. I haven't made a firm decision on that one yet, however. The third part, Broken Moon, I am going to introduce Varisian Werewolves even more the PCs get too far into the Shudderwood.

Quote from: FASERIP;487996Are you keeping the path as is or do you have some changes in store?

I'm keeping it pretty much as it. I made some small/minor changes at times. But overall, the main thrust/plot is still there. I'm also seriously considering adding a revamped (or at least more to level 9) version of Carrion Hill to run between Broken Moon and Wake the Watcher.

Quote from: Nightfall;487999I'm also seriously considering adding a revamped (or at least more to level 9) version of Carrion Hill to run between Broken Moon and Wake the Watcher.

Now that's interesting.

I'm not a big Lovecraft fan but did like Chapter 4 a good bit. Somewhat tempted to get CH and spin that and Watcher off into its own little mini-campaign...

Quote from: FASERIP;488001Now that's interesting.

I'm not a big Lovecraft fan but did like Chapter 4 a good bit. Somewhat tempted to get CH and spin that and Watcher off into its own little mini-campaign...

Well not sure I'm going to do THAT. I did get inspired because Watcher DOES offer a little tidbit on how to link both modules together. So I figured "What the hell?!"

So I never got around to posting the adventure summary for Chapter 2.

Nor did I tell you how Group B (the experienced players) handled Splatter Man. (It went VERY well in my book!)

Overall the PCs were happy and like "So...now what?" I reminded them they had to stay for an additional week in town since it hadn't been a month yet.

So now, all spent their down time trying to get weapons and stuff, along with a few doing research. Otherwise...we move on!

So both groups had the same (almost random) encounter before coming to Leipstadt. They all met up with the Border Guards who are quite paranoid about orcs invading their land. (You would be too if you've been over run by orc hordes AND undead in the same century.) The experienced party of mostly non humans (but no orcs!) got through without too much trouble. The same couldn't be said for our group of newbies. They did kill the raiding band, but only because the dwarf decided to use lethal force.

         However the best part before all that happened (for Group A, our newbies) was the DM deciding to be a dick! Yes folks I can do that! Anyway I sent them on an errand to the holy town/city of Kavapesta. Along the way, they stopped in the rural trading town of Chastel. There, after a good check, they found, Grund, the magically magnificent Half orc magic shop owner! It was a run down building that didn't have much to it. Except for the quick thinking of the DM mentioning the 6 guys, well hidden from most, with heavy crossbows at the ready.  

        I should also mention that Grund is kind an idiot. He's smart enough to know he needs protection and how to run a business. But he's not what you'd call...personable. He loves to dress gaudily, and has both his tusks capped with gold. (Sort of mix of Italian mobster and Hip Hop gangasta wannabe.) Anyway he first tries to pawn off this rather unusual looking belt. He wants a good chunk of money for it, but the half orc doesn't bite. The dwarf comes in and Thorius is like "This is a nice looking belt. Can I have it?" He likes "Hm dwarf. Me no like much. Belt not for sale for you."

         This is when the PCs all decide to steal from him. Before that, Evelyn, our party Oracle of Flame, buys a hat of disguise from him. She then tries to get the belt from him. He tells her he will be happy to not pay for it, in exchange for certain favors. (She using the hat to be a female half orc.) She declines. He then offers his own sister. (He wants to watch.) Anyway, while that is going on, the ranger, Hollin, manages to stealth his way back in, grab a few item (including the belt!) and then runs back out. (Hollwin also finds out Grund substitutes/does a side business of supplying bodies and body parts from dead adventurers along with supplementing his stock with their stuff.)

       The dwarf then puts on the belt...which he finds out is cursed! Not overall cursed, just racially cursed. (Though it is kind of overall cursed too in a sense.) This causes him to change genders (this only affect males) and suffer 10 points of Strength drain, plus make a fort save ever day or suffer a point of Con drain. Naturally he can't take it off. The PCs are rolling off their chairs. :) (I nearly did too!) Finally he gets a priest in town to cast remove curse AFTER he pays 5,000 gp for incense needed to help with the casting. (It's a cursed minor artifact!) The half orc's sword (since he's a black blade magus) tells him to put on the belt. It basically turns him into a powerful near barbaric character. He feels awesome.

It is right then the PCs find out just how badly they got screwed. because once the Half orc takes damage, he doesn't stop until he's unconscious or dead via raging, and killing everyone he perceives as an enemy. (This meant first the humans on horse back, followed by the dwarf.) So now the PCs are like "We need to get this belt off him." Fortunately it can be removed by the half orc. But no one else can touch because of how evil it is.

Anyway they all manage to Lepidistat and there they encounter Judge Daramid and Doctor Crowl. We stopped there.

For group B, the encounter that did them in was encountering the phase spider. It managed to kill our beloved PC, Mickey, the damphir bard with the archeologist archetype. So then they spent the following day using Katarina's knowledge of Vieland. (She's apparently a descendent (or in this case ancestor) of the former counts and countesses of Vieland.) They found a local tribe of remote Kellids called "The Thousand Eye Star Tribe."

          It was obvious to most they hadn't left the swamp lands in around there for some time. It was also obvious something was wrong with their shaman, as he kept his hands covered in skins of various creatures (including human.) As they offered their payment, he removed his gloves. Instead of fingers, he had something akin to tentacles. He then shoved those into parts of Mickey's face and called on "Opener of the Way, the Key and the Gate, The Thousand Eyed Stars." Mickey felt this as his soul was RIPPED back from the Boneyard (the Underworld place) and there saw something no mortal was meant to know... He came back no long a dhampir, but mostly human.

       They then proceeded to meet with Montagnie Crowl, who showed them around the place. It had obviously been ransack, and was quite the mess. He informed the PCs of what occurred with the Beast of Lepidstat being caught. They did a thorough job looking at stuff. They reasonable concluded that the Beast had taken something but no clear idea why or who else was involved in the robbery.

       Judge Daramid's house was their next stop. She informed them of her belief in the possible innocence of the Beast's crimes. She told them to meet with his defense attorney, Barrister Gustav Kaple. She also promised them double what they just earned if they did their jobs adequate. (Finding evidence and helping with Beast's defense.) (They had gotten from Professor Lorrimor's will, a stipend of 100 platinum pieces.) She informed them they had one full day before the trial started.

So the PCs decided to first do a meet and greet with both the attorney and the accused. Gustav informed them of the crimes the Beast was being charged with (all murder in some form.) The Beast was kind but not necessarily helpful. So the PCs decided since the first day of the trial was the swamp town of Morast (which they had passed by on their way to reincarnate Mickey), that is where they would go. Then the three PCs with the highest/best Diplomacy scores would help with the defense, while the other three would spend most of the day trying to find out more about Herstag, the second town involved in the Beast's trial.

Morast wasn't too helpful in determining much, if any, of the Beast's innocence. Other than he had no gator bite. So at least that proved he hadn't been there.

Naturally the PCs did very well and the ones in court got nearly as much XP as the ones that fought wraiths and wraith spawn in Herstag. They also recovered all the bodies of the dead children from the lair of Brother Swarm, (their wraith master.)

We ended there.

So...anything?

Bueller?! Come on guys! input!!!

So...how about now?

Thanks for sharing.

I didn't really like the cursed item that much. The NPC merchant seems interesting though.

Other than that, it sounds like your having fun. Ultimately, that's the bottom line for me.

Quote from: PaladinCA;492900Thanks for sharing.

I try. I do appreciate it when I get feed back about stuff like this.

Quote from: PaladinCA;492900I didn't really like the cursed item that much.

That was kind of the point. :) I mean artifact items should be wielded with care. Plus I was getting tired of the endless whines about 'We don't have enough stuff!!"

Quote from: PaladinCA;492900The NPC merchant seems interesting though.

To be fair I made up Grund on the fly based on a friend's character with the same name but obviously not a merchant. Grund the magic half orc. I just basically did the rest on the fly.

Quote from: PaladinCA;492900Other than that, it sounds like your having fun. Ultimately, that's the bottom line for me.

Tons. I'm enjoying group B now because they're splitting up more AND this means I can focus my energies more on what goes on there. Group A is still the best RP group however.

I'd probably go batshit if I tried running a game for two separate groups. I find one group to be challenging enough as it is. While fun to see the contrast and comparisons I'm not sure I could pull it off simultaneously.

I did get to see how two separate groups handled a Spirit of the Century adventure I came up with. But it was at two different planned events. One group decided to work with a tribal mystic to recover a dangerous relic stolen from her people. The first group decided the tribal mystic was up to no good and treated her with distrust, which made their task of stopping the holder of the relic much more difficult. Both PC groups won out in the end, but each game flowed differently - both were good games.

Quote from: PaladinCA;492909I'd probably go batshit if I tried running a game for two separate groups.

Well it's not always easy to remember which group got to which point sometimes. But I at least remember major plot points. At least, most of the time I do.

Quote from: PaladinCA;492909I find one group to be challenging enough as it is. While fun to see the contrast and comparisons I'm not sure I could pull it off simultaneously.

Well it's not necessarily simultaneously. It's more like concurrently. I get Group A one week. Group B the following week. The breaks we have for holidays DO help with me keeping track. However, it helps to have a great assistant DM/GM who is also playing in the campaign.

Quote from: PaladinCA;492909I did get to see how two separate groups handled a Spirit of the Century adventure I came up with. But it was at two different planned events. One group decided to work with a tribal mystic to recover a dangerous relic stolen from her people. The first group decided the tribal mystic was up to no good and treated her with distrust, which made their task of stopping the holder of the relic much more difficult. Both PC groups won out in the end, but each game flowed differently - both were good games.

Yeah I'll see how this goes before I declare an ultimate success. That being said, I'm at least considering this a moderate success. At least with Group A. Group B is trudging but at least it's getting there.

Let it be known I want input!! Well more than Paladin at least.

How about now?

What about now?

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

Quote from: Planet Algol;493526What is the sound of one hand clapping?

The same sound a lich makes when he breathes.

Did no one find that post funny?

Well it's a switch for me to praise Group B instead of Group A. But the fact is Group B's session was far more profitable for them than it was for A.

We'll start with Group A(the newbies). To help give this story some context, the day before, Saturday December 3rd, our local hangout/Favorite Local Gaming Store: Four Horsemen Gaming and Comics had a lock-in. Now understand that a lock in is just the store's way of having stuff going on from the time they close (which was 10 pm) until they opened again at 10 am. Naturally there were prizes and games galore.

I myself attended for a goodly part of it with the intention of getting a short nap before our scheduled gaming session at 11 am. The first 3-4 hours were fine, as we started Serpent's Skull being run by one of my players from Group B. (Sarah whose character Katerina, the female dhampir sorcerer/oracle has become a bit of mainstay.) Now as the time got closer to say, 3/4 am, I got rather tired. So I tried to find a nice spot in the store. Unfortunately the most comfortable spot I could find (after retiring around 2/3 am) was near the front of the store. As I tried to get comfortable, the other participants (not in Serpent's Skull but the other games going on) decided to switch things up. They started up Rock Band. On the overhead projector with the rather large speakers. Naturally I tried to sleep but I stopped after they started on Freebird.

So back home I went, into my own bed. I woke up around 9:30/10am. I fully expected the group to make it before 11 am. 11 rolls around. Other than Ben (my assistant DM who also is a player in my Carrion Crown AND had stayed up ALL that time.) no one showed up. So I wait. Then James (who is often late) shows up. But again, no one else. So finally I get a little annoyed, and have Ben call the rest of Group A. (They hang out together and I don't have their cell phone numbers.)

They finally rolled in around, 11:35/11:45 am. By this time Ben is pretty much out of it. He's still awake, but consciousness, isn't something that's with him. I point this out BECAUSE when they start the trial, the other remaining members (the ones NOT involved in doing the trial) decided to not split up the party. (Even though it was pretty obvious thing to do so as they'd have stuff to do while the trial was going on.) So instead they all traveled to Hestag, near dusk. Instead of surprising Brother Swarm, they nearly ended up on his dinner menu. (Well they might have IF I had the baby wraiths/wraith spawn attack too but the module didn't allow for that...and I didn't feel like making THAT difficult.)

In any case Ben's ranger put down the wraiths and they proceeded to the next day without rest. Over all I wasn't nearly as happy as I was with Group A's effort BECAUSE they didn't utilize their strengths as best they could. We'll just see how it goes after that.

Group B, on the other hand, did exceptionally well. By that I mean they RPed and combat/ed the hell out the module. While we did lose our paladin player Rob due to work issues, (He had to pick up another job.), the party oracle/sorcerer was able to cover for him to assist the ranger to do recon while the Alchemist filled in for her along with having the Monk and the Bard take care of court stuff.

The courtroom stuff was pretty good, as the RPing from that was pretty sweet. The combat for the exploration of Sanctuary (a mental hospital) went well too. Because of the clues they gathered, the PCs there got permission from the local judge to act as deputies to carry out a search warrant as well as act as officials of the law. This meant they could enter into Grine and Vorkstag's works to find evidence of their wrong doings at Morast and Sanctuary. Naturally the fight there was epic, the PCs managed to incapacitate both owners. Now it looks like they'll get a chance to have extra evidence to PROVE their case even more effectively.

Overall I'm happy with Group B's performance BECAUSE they followed procedure. I just wish Group A had done that. Oh well.

*sighs* How about a little commentary folks? Really?

Okay how about now?

Ah Janurary! The month I most wonder about but don't actually despite. (Tie between February and August. One is too damn long...and one is just too...damn ....long!)

Anyway before we broke for holidays in 2011, Group B was willing to run ONE more session on the 18th of December. Fortunately I had no plans and my only family in town had a birthday the previously day. (My youngest brother is now 30. Wow... I'm old. :p :) ) Anyway while we didn't have a FULL party compliment of 5 people, we did have 4 and honestly that covered it. The PCs all made PASSIONATE pleas in the courthouse, especially when it came time to present the evidence they found in Vorstag and Grine's place. That plus the fact they saved them to be held over as witnesses, helped tremendously with their case. Between that, the mob handling by the PCs (The bard just blew up crossbows like it was nothing.), and the fact they made all their Diplomacy checks, helped proved the Beast innocent.

While they didn't get to head out to Schloss Caramaoc just yet, they did get paid AND got recognition for their excellence.

Group A...on the other hand, continues to surprise, vex, and yet over all prove the most interesting group I've had the pleasure of GMing/Dming.

First to recap: they hadn't gone to Sanctuary while the trial was on going. However, they did prove a tad more resourceful! By that I allowed them time via Judge Embrath Daramid to contact a friend of hers in Caliphas to help with "teleporting" issues. So while one half the party was having "an adventure" (mostly the half orc and the dwarf since they wanted something to do other than 'trial work", so I made up a little side adventure of them being pick pocketed, a chase, and then a setup/trap.) the remainder of the party decided to try to investigate Sanctuary. They did so relatively quickly. They still don't know the full details but they do believe they have evidence that points to Vorstag and Grine. Meanwhile the dwarf, the half orc and the alchemist all ended up in prison. (Though the dwarf made a convincing argument about him not being involved.) It's a long reason why that happened, but at least now, day three of the trial will continue with them presenting evidence AND having successfully defended the courthouse (only killing the 4 mob agitators. )

Boy I guess 5th edition trumps an ACTUAL D&D/Pathfinder Game on this board...

You had been found amusing.

You may continue inform me of your proceedings, hobbit. But remember.


You cannot hide. I see you. There is no life in the void. Only death.

Well I'm grateful for the cryptic if slightly threatening nature...

Anyway I'm glad to discuss this further if you wish.

I hosted Carrion Crown twice.  

Very fun adventure and one of the better ones yet.  I am looking ever so farward to the "pirate" themed one after The Jade Regent.

Good job on your progress and versatility with your groups.

Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;503320I hosted Carrion Crown twice.  

Very fun adventure and one of the better ones yet.  I am looking ever so farward to the "pirate" themed one after The Jade Regent.

Good job on your progress and versatility with your groups.

Yeah I'm only in chapter 2 (Trial of the beast) but I'm seriously looking forward to chapters 3,4,5 and of course 6. The pirate themed one, Skull and Shackles, does seem to be more 'high seas' adventure. What I'm liking though, as a player in Jade Regent, is the chance to become a Linnorm King! (Well eventually!)

It's been an interesting ride, hosting two groups that alternate. On the one hand, I think I'd be further along with just one group. On the other hand...I don't think I'd have NEARLY as much fun as I am with two different groups. It just...something about Group A and then Group B that makes it more interesting.

Quote from: Nightfall;503325Yeah I'm only in chapter 2 (Trial of the beast) but I'm seriously looking forward to chapters 3,4,5 and of course 6. The pirate themed one, Skull and Shackles, does seem to be more 'high seas' adventure. What I'm liking though, as a player in Jade Regent, is the chance to become a Linnorm King! (Well eventually!)

It's been an interesting ride, hosting two groups that alternate. On the one hand, I think I'd be further along with just one group. On the other hand...I don't think I'd have NEARLY as much fun as I am with two different groups. It just...something about Group A and then Group B that makes it more interesting.

Yeah, I am competing with another GM to run Skulls & Shackles when it is released.

I have 3 PF games a week (my 4th game is a CoC game) that I run with 3 different groups.  As of now, none of them have done any of the PF adventure paths except one of which I completed RotR up to Carrior Crown.  I do not run a new AP until I get all 6 of them.

Well I'm the same way, at least waiting for Carrion Crown to come out. I was in the middle of Second Darkness when I read Carrion Crown.  I waited until we were well done before I announced I wanted to run Carrion Crown.

So over all I do get what you're saying. I just am feeling different about the fact I'm not used to running a different group every other Sunday instead of the same people every Sunday.

Well Group B continues to impress. That said, Group B can thank Group A for this week's encounter. As I mentioned last time, both the dwarven fighter and the half orc Magus got themselves involved in a "James Bond/Stop! Thief!/Ambush!!" type chase deal.

This meant I had to prep slightly ahead of time for it. This meant writing up the chase cards, setting DCs for skill checks to ensure the PCs didn't have TOO high but not too low DCs in a chase through the city of Lepidstadt; ensuring said pickpocket was more than just "human child'(halfling rogue/pickpocket specialist), fight scene at the end (with 2 clerics, 6 thugs (which I forgot to actually make INTO thugs!), a high level cleric (since the other clerics were only 3rd. She was 6th.), and add in a monster they have never seen before; (THANK YOU Bestiary 3 and Graven Guardian!)

So while it did go off, the fight itself wasn't quite what I had planned since I LOST the sheet with the cleric, didn't do the thugs as actual thugs, and honestly I felt the Graven Guardian wasn't as tough against two of the best fighter types/melee types.

This led me to think "Well the PCs in Group B ARE slightly further along...maybe if I run something like this for them, but not a chase, it might work out better." So naturally I took the time to redo the thugs (which I'm pretty proud of now that I decided to make them fighter/rogues with the cad and thug archetypes respectively), changed the Graven Guardian into a Deathweb instead and instead the Ambush happened on their way to Schloss Caromac.

Before that happened, I had to introduce the PCs to their newest party member; Nate's wife Amanda, (Nate being the ranger with like 3 archetypes in one character. All legal I must say!) decided to try out a Suli Sorcerer with the Draconic bloodline. I was, I must say, taken aback by her interest and determination to be from Tian Xia. For those of you that don't know Golorian, as well, Tian Xia is pretty much mainland Asia with some smattering of various Southwestern Asia and the Gobi Desert.

This of course presents a bigger problem than just introducing her, since the fact is there's a large chunk of ice between Tian Xia and land of Ustalav, which is where Carrion Crown takes place. Still it wasn't insurmountable. Just...very odd.

In any case she joined up, the PCs got on the road, and then...AMBUSH!!

The thugs were probably my favorite out of all the home made creations. They did a great job swarming the PCs, sneak attacking and using the Dirty Trick combat maneuvers on them. That coupled with the fact they kept the combat going BEFORE the main cleric died. (Unfortunately...) was a goodly reason this combat ran for more than 3 hours. Still I was happy because a) the clerics killed two horses and the main cleric cast animate undead on the horses. It was fun. That plus knocking a few PCs into negative HP was good.

Then came Schloss Caromac. There they fought (with little trouble) two troll hounds. This fight alerted the trolls inside the Gatehouse to the PCs presence. The trolls proceeded to toss rocks and keep the PCs at bay. In fact, thanks to the Troll Leader's large-sized heavy cross bow, I had a great RP going! :) Whereas before, Ben, who plays the now human bard (with the archeologist archetype) had been a dhampir, I already 'implanted' in him a parasitic creature from "Beyond the Stars" that helped to keep him alive. When he failed his mass damage save, I had it, 'save him' by regenerating him to -1 and also do a few other things.

This seriously made the rest of the party nervous AND I felt helped to add to the tension that "This isn't just a fantasy game..." :)

So overall that's how this week's Carrion Crown went. We'll see come January 29th how Group B does in the rest of Schloss Caromac.

Moved to Design, Dev and Gameplay per request from the OP.

Thank You Ben! :)

Well these past two sessions didn't QUITE go the way expected. But I can say, Group B dynamic has significantly changed thanks to me deciding to spice things up a bit.

Group A failed in the sense I only had three players and two agreed they felt they couldn't continue onward without either the half elf cleric, the half orc magus, or the human alchemist. So that day was kind of waste and I'm miffed by the fact that ONE of those guys missed it to get nookie. (Note I'm not against nookie. I'm not against spending time with your girl. I am against lying to your DM by saying your sick, but telling the same people in the group you're not going and then they telling me the truth.)

Anyway so nothing interesting or exciting happened with Group A. (Who will be short a player as Ben/the elven ranger is dating an optometrist and thus is spending the weekend with her. Like I said, I'm not mad, I accept it and I'm cool with him doing it. Since I knew he wasn't lying to me.) We'll see how it goes come Feburary 5th.

Conversely, this past Sunday with Group B...I can honestly say I kind of had it in for them. Mostly because I kept reading about the unsteady bridges and/or chance of them falling 200ft to their deaths. (More on that in a second.) Naturally while I was looking stuff over, I was like "I'm not sure just a huge Air Elemental will be a challenge enough for them, even if it only lasts 11 rounds...cause I doubt it will make it to round 5 given some of the damage output of the PCs." So I changed to it a Great Air Elemental. More HP, better Whirlwind SA (meaning it could pick up PCs AND effectively toss them over the bridge!)

Then there was the trapped bridge. Now this trap, unlike the summon huge air elemental trap, was set up by someone OTHER than the owner. It was made by the cultists of the Whispering Way. All you need to know is they're death obsessed undead lovers that enjoy a strong following in and around Ustalav. They also enjoy some support from Ugathoa, the goddess of undeath, disease, and gluttony. Now what had me irked was the fact the trap would have summoned...a single Erinyes. That's not the kind of fiend she's associated with. That and the fact I just felt a single Erinyes wasn't good enough to justify a waste of a spell that a death cultist would use, made me go with something else.

Instead, I had it summon two Leukodaemons. (Leukodaemon Entry (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/daemons/leukodaemon)) This to me, made more sense.

So now I was prepared for Group B.

First up was crossing the bridge connecting the gatehouse to the main house/manse. They had no trouble (or very little) with the Troll hound and its Troll handler. Then came guardian of the bridge, a dog shaped flesh golem. Since I had a PC with a strong connection to the owner (Katarina/Sarah's dhampir sorcerer/oracle being his aunt or great aunt due to her damphir lack of aging.) I had her roll me some Charisma checks to get it to believe it was its creator along with allowing the PCs to pass. Then came the locked and magically trapped iron door into the house. Naturally they set it off AND in pops the Greater Air Elemental. It did manage to throw Sari (Amanda's Suli-Jann dragon blooded sorcerer), Vickus (Michael rage chemist) and Videl (our Changeling ranger with three archetypes.) All survived. (Damn..) The monk Drake (William) ran into the house, followed by Katarina, then ended up fighting the a large animated object/construct. Meanwhile Vidal and the rest hung on for dear life while a few tried to hurt the elemental until it vanished from being summoned.

After a few minor encounters in the manse, the PCs moved to the Alchemist wing, which had been blown up in a previous explosion. There they fought three rust monsters (not much of a fight for 6 6th level characters, even in metal armor.) Then came...the bridge. :) Unlike the other two bridges (both of which had been built of stone and while having no railings, still were pretty darn sturdy.) this was a simple rope bridge with a few sodden planks to keep it together. It required a DC 15 Acrobatics to cross safely. The Monk...went first. And immediately was set upon by the summoned Leukodemons. They managed to kill him in 5 rounds though not with the contagion effects. Katarina died shortly before that due to their breath weapon effect AND her using her life link too much. Videl died semi-valiantly after attempting a jump/acrobatics check to try to grapple the Leukodaemon that was flying in the air on the bridge that connected the Alchemy wing with the Manse. She failed to grapple, fell onto the bridge, lost her grip and fell to her death via the falls below. 150 feet as opposed to 200 feet...

Anyway, the others managed to survive thanks to my good graces (plus the fact Mickey's parasite keeps him alive until JUST the right moment. :) ) and the Leukodaemons vanished in 11 rounds. The remaining three managed to get across the wooden bridge/rope bridge to the Library/Museum wing, had a few fights, but ultimately survived.

Now I have to settle back, enjoy the fact I have only THREE surviving PCs to fight a horde of many more monsters AND see how it goes. :)

Yeah getting mad about the whole dating thing is pointless. It would juts make the problem worse. The player lied about it probably because he feared your reaction about it. If you act all offended about it, it'll just be a confirmation to him that indeed, it was best to lie about it. So keep cool, keep gaming, and all's good.

Quote from: Benoist;510491Yeah getting mad about the whole dating thing is pointless. It would juts make the problem worse. The player lied about it probably because he feared your reaction about it. If you act all offended about it, it'll just be a confirmation to him that indeed, it was best to lie about it. So keep cool, keep gaming, and all's good.

Yeah I'm not mad. Especially now that I will concoct my revenge via the fact I'm introducing a devil possessed bastard sword made of gold with some nice gems on it to make it more appealing.

Quote from: Nightfall;510495Yeah I'm not mad. Especially now that I will concoct my revenge via the fact I'm introducing a devil possessed bastard sword made of gold with some nice gems on it to make it more appealing.

"Getting your revenge" in-game for something the guy did out of the game? That's lame, dude.

Don't do that. It's terrible DMing.

Quote from: Benoist;510496"Getting your revenge" in-game for something the guy did out of the game? That's lame, dude.

Don't do that. It's terrible DMing.

I was mostly being sarcastic. And besides the half orc magus already has a semi-cursed sword being a black blade. :) Anyway I'm not going to actively punish him, no. I just want to toss in that because I feel like "Eh. I've not been a real rat bastard DM in a while..."

Moving on...

I'm seriously looking forward to introducing the newbies to a devil possessed bastard sword BECAUSE I think it would be fun.

I don't do a lot, but I do try to have fun with the PCs. That's the goal.

Also I've decided that the rope bridge encounter for Group A will not include TWO Leuko-demons. One maybe, or else two Erinyes. But one just doesn't seem to cut it.

Well it's with a heavy heart I must fold my favorite Group, Group A.

Due to the fact that Zach, (who missed last session because of his desire to hang out with his girl) [AGAIN! Not against that. Just wish he had been up front about it], kind of didn't inform me that he was moving his WH40k campaigns to Sundays, meant that he had to drop out.

This led immediately to Josh and Laura dropping out as well. (Though the only reason even knew about Zach's move was monitoring Facebook for postings for our FLGS.)

So now while I did get one new player, it wouldn't be enough to keep Group B from wanting to play all the time. Nor did I particular want to go shopping for new players. (At least 2-3 more since our other Mike has become a no-show.)

So I ran the last session with our new player, Scott, and with James. It wasn't memorable. It was just me rushing things through with two players and two NPCs (a Hound Archon 5th level Paladin and his Lantern Archon associate) up to the point the rest of the PCs in Group B were at.

Now I just dunno what to do. I mean I'll still run Group B, and it will probably run alright. But I was REALLY enjoying testing stuff out on both groups, and thus getting the right kind of feel for DMing. Now I just have to wing it.

Oh well.

Quote from: Nightfall;512572Well it's with a heavy heart I must fold my favorite Group, Group A.

Due to the fact that Zach, (who missed last session because of his desire to hang out with his girl) [AGAIN! Not against that. Just wish he had been up front about it], kind of didn't inform me that he was moving his WH40k campaigns to Sundays, meant that he had to drop out.

This led immediately to Josh and Laura dropping out as well. (Though the only reason even knew about Zach's move was monitoring Facebook for postings for our FLGS.)

So now while I did get one new player, it wouldn't be enough to keep Group B from wanting to play all the time. Nor did I particular want to go shopping for new players. (At least 2-3 more since our other Mike has become a no-show.)

So I ran the last session with our new player, Scott, and with James. It wasn't memorable. It was just me rushing things through with two players and two NPCs (a Hound Archon 5th level Paladin and his Lantern Archon associate) up to the point the rest of the PCs in Group B were at.

Now I just dunno what to do. I mean I'll still run Group B, and it will probably run alright. But I was REALLY enjoying testing stuff out on both groups, and thus getting the right kind of feel for DMing. Now I just have to wing it.

Oh well.

That really sucks especially if you want things to go further.  I wanted to hear how they dealt with certain boss monsters...

Ancient,

Well I still might get to dealing with boss monsters sure. But not with Group A any more. Group A is gone. Group B is now and forever, all that is. It really bites and I'll admit to be VERY annoyed and frustrated.

But it is what it is. I can't make people play and I certainly can't force them (as much as I want to) to not do things they choose to do. That's life. Pathfinder RPG/D&D is a game. (Even if I do put in more than a few hours of prep some times.)

Also yeah I did. I had plans for a couple of the characters to tie them closer to the wider story. But unfortunately, it's never going to happen now.

Quote from: Nightfall;512599Ancient,

Well I still might get to dealing with boss monsters sure. But not with Group A any more. Group A is gone. Group B is now and forever, all that is. It really bites and I'll admit to be VERY annoyed and frustrated.

But it is what it is. I can't make people play and I certainly can't force them (as much as I want to) to not do things they choose to do. That's life. Pathfinder RPG/D&D is a game. (Even if I do put in more than a few hours of prep some times.)

Also yeah I did. I had plans for a couple of the characters to tie them closer to the wider story. But unfortunately, it's never going to happen now.

Too bad you do not live over here in the Seattle/Tacoma area...   I current have 2 PF groups and 1 CoC group and we play once a week.  I have another pF group but we took a break after finishing Second Darkness and waiting for Skulls and Shackles to come out...

Quote from: Ancientgamer1970;512604Too bad you do not live over here in the Seattle/Tacoma area...   I current have 2 PF groups and 1 CoC group and we play once a week.  I have another pF group but we took a break after finishing Second Darkness and waiting for Skulls and Shackles to come out...

yeah I wouldn't mind having them try their hand at Carrion Crown while waiting for Skull and Shackles. I think they'd enjoy it. Still, Morgantown does have SOME gamers.

So here we are! One big group instead of two different groups. I'll admit to missing some of the characters from Group A but at least Group B is starting off semi-fresh.

Due to inclement weather conditions, Amanda (whose character is Sari, the draconic sorcerer) was unable to attend. Also due to work and homework, Ben (who plays Mickey who is afflicted by a parasite from beyond the stars!), didn't attend.

So we started off with just Mike (as I call him Crazy Mike) portraying the ONLY currently surviving member of the original group, Vikicus, the halfling alchemist (who also is going Master Chymist), William's new character, a human female druid (Menhir Druid) by the name of Calvina (yes William's character does a have Tiger name Hobbs), and a female human summoner (Sarah's) by the name of Tora. Her Eidolon is Tatania who looks like a Harpy.

So we start out with Vickus trying to get the bodies of Drake (William's dead character) and Katarina (Sarah's dead character) back to give them a proper burial. It is at that point that our newest addition, Scott, comes in with his drow Hellknight. (I hadn't expected him to show up that early because much like James, he attends church services at 10:30 like most good Christians.)

Let me say this, I didn't QUITE expect to get such a strong reaction from the rest of the party. But hey, what's wrong with a little character conflicts! :) So since he was there, I introduced him AND Sukril (James') character. They managed to do alright, and we moved towards introducing the other new characters AFTER I had erhm...disposed of Mickey and Sari. (Mickey via the parasite. Sari by passing out because of going into shock.)

So then along comes Tora and Calvina who are with a traveling band of Scarni who I not so subtly hint MIGHT be werewolves! (Which will tie in well with Chapter 3!) They stop by Schloss Caromac, find the dead trolls and the other PCs. We spend some time with that and getting to know each character. Then in comes James with his character. (Since I was playing Sukril for him.) We get started on the climb UP to the the four towers. Thanks to some clever maneuvers on the part of the new PCs (first with the wild shaping by the druid to find out the door was flooded; which was quickly followed by the Summoner having her Eidolon fly everyone up to the bridge that connected to another tower. They then proceeded to the tower where... They fought the guardian!

Now in the book I admit, they didn't have it at CR 9. But honestly? A flesh golem girallon with the advanced template only once...didn't seem like that much of a challenge, even for a CR 8. So I added the template again. (You CAN do that folks!) I also increased the DR once. (From 5/admantine to 10/admantine) This made it seem more powerful than it was. However thanks to Hobbs and some well placed fire spells (which even though they don't affect the actual creature, they do SLOW it!) ended up with it being grappled AND only doing one attack a round. So...yeah. There went my hopes.

That being said, I honestly didn't think it would kill a PC...except for maybe the Alchemist! But eh. (I might go easy on him since he did buy me lunch!)

Anyway, so they defeated the Girallon Flesh Golem. They move up and find Count Alpon Caramoc's Homunculus. Unfortunately it has no mouth, so verbal communication was out. However it did try to mime it's way to them. Finally the alchemist pulled out some paper and pen. This allowed to tell it that it's Master was trapped, that the Aberrant Promethean was upstairs, and the best way to defeat was to summon the Beast of Lepidstadt (CR 11 < CR 13 folks!) via the Bondslave Thrall which was atop the tower.

Naturally they learned all about the Aberrant Promethean, along with how to work the Bondslave Thrall. They managed to get the alchemist to activate it and then summoned the best.

Unfortunately we didn't get to the fight BECAUSE my mom had me come home so I could help her with a dinner party. So we didn't get there.

HOWEVER, in hindsight, it's probably for the best since it would allow the two that missed the entire adventure to POSSIBLY make it next Sunday.

So with all that, I feel we've gotten our new group off to a good start. We'll see how it goes from there.

It's that time again folks!

So as you can see from the last post, we were pretty much going to be one fight away from finishing the chapter and moving on to chapter 3, Broken Moon.

Of course the best laid plans of DMs, mice and other things go awry. Especially when the PCs get it into their heads to do something you don't expect.

But more on that later!

Now came the battle to end all battles! The fight between the PCs and the Aberrant Promethean! (with a little help from the Beast of Lepidstadt!)

Unfortunately once again outside events called real life interfered with my ability to run this game. Not only did Ben once again due to the work get called away, Amanda didn't make it (though to be fair to her, she does have a kid whom she shares custody with), and the biggest (and kind of the most disappointing) surprise, JAMES didn't make it.

So there I was, almost playing for time, while we got stuff ready. Fortunately, due to a rather large Magic the Gathering Tournament, we spent most of the hour cleaning up the store and then getting ready.

So that killed off a hour. We started off with the PCs devising a plan. They managed to get Tora to stay with the machine to call the Beast. (Though in hindsight, I wish Ben had been there since he knew how to run a Barbarian slightly better than Sarah.) (Especially one with rage powers and Vital Strike.)

Anyway it wasn't a particular brutal fight for the creature at first. The PCs were only doing slight to moderate damage at the time, while he kept hurting or nearly dropping them with his 4d6+11 slam attacks (2) (Being huge helps folks!)

It wasn't until the Alchemist realized "Hey he's got a low TOUCH ac!!" that things went in their favor. Some bombs, and down went Frasier!

(I was kind of sad but at least he almost took out half the party!)

Anyway they then managed to release (with the aid of the Beast) Count Alphon Caromac who informed them of what occurred in his castle.

It was then the druid, who after talking to the drow about being a drow, decided to take some initiative. (Being raised by elves who know what drow are and being in a world were drows are more myths and legends than facts helped that.)

After a heated argument between them, which followed an argument between the cleric/Sukril (played by me in place of James), the druidess asked the count if he could arrange some oils to use in a ritual. She decided she was going to reincarnate him.

Of course in the back of my mind, I had been worried they might do something rash with Mickey...but I didn't think they'd go out and KILL him to do it.

Of course I was wrong. So after a little hemming and hawing on my part (and of course I had little recourse since I didn't want to be the dick DM that said no just to say no for plot reasons.) (Even if it wasn't an actual PART of the plot!), I decided to let this play out.

With a little creative use the rules, I had them cure the toenails and other clippings to allow the PCs to do the reincarnate spell. Before they could cast the spell, they had destroy Mickey's original body.

This led me to have what I had planned to be a fully grown Spawn of Yog Sothoth to appear at a later time (to coincide with their encounter with another Spawn) to be a less mature spawn to call for its "father".

Father answered with a vengeance, and inflicted 4d6 Wisdom damage AND thus rendered most of the party comatose. Yog basically picked up his kid and left this plane. Sukril had stayed away (I decided.) but the druid and the Hellknight all managed to only sustain...16 points of Wisdom damage. This meant Tora the Summoner, Vickius the alchemist and Count Alphon Caromac to suffer an insanity effect. Alphon suffered from agoraphobia (mostly as it relates to the open sky.) Tora became an amnesiac. Vickius suffered from a split personality disorder that caused him to become a female NG personality named Cynthis.

Anyway they spend the rest of the 4/5 days treating them and basically we ended there.

So while not much got done, Mickey is now parasite free (they think!) (muhhhaaaa!!) and now a half elf. The rest of the party is slowly healing up. So now we'll see how it goes come next sunday.

By Crom, I hope Ben can make it THIS time!

Well again, my best laid plans don't go exactly the way I expect. (I keep wondering about players, especially ones that keep missing games, as well.) (more on that later.)

Before end of last week, I was contacted by a former player, Rob, who had played in our game previously. However due to work commitments he had to drop out. Now thankfully, he's back. Unfortunately, I didn't have room, especially now that I was running basically 7 players in a game.

So what does that mean? It means I'm back to running TWO groups! :) I'm kind of happy with that, since it will basically help with a 'reboot' for me. Plus it gives me a chance to see what I did wrong with Group B, if anything.

Speaking of group B, I had quite the packed house as I had 6 players, (Scott's Drow Hellknight still ranks as my favorite, even if the other PCs want him dead.) We had our other Mike (human Alchemist) show up. So naturally that gave me time to set things up.

I had them go into the Shudderwood where I took the advice from Paizo's messageboard. There instead of randomly meeting Rhazio (head of the Prince's Wolves, a clan/tribe of werewolves) being assaulted and nearly eaten by Ettercaps, be saved by the PCs. The PCs got to know him slightly along with finding the source of the Ettercap's strange behavoir, a creature called...a  Weaverworm!

The Weaverworm encounter I might want to work on again slightly, but otherwise I was fairly happy with its ability to captivate and then attack the fascinated PCs. It was also awesome watching William's Druidess try to get her tiger to follow her commands. (Handle Animal checks help but it still a charm effect!) Anyway the fight wasn't that memorable until Scott's drow Hellknight got infected by the Weaverworm's paralytic nails. This meant he had to start making saves every round or be paralyzed for that round. This also lead the druidess almost killing him.

In any case, they then found a dead body up a tree. The druidess (since she didn't bother roll for Perception checks OR wonder about draps), set off a tripwire trap and got hit with all 5 of the cross bow bolts (not seriously enough to kill her though) They then ran into the other NPC, Duristin, who I play up as being kind of snobbish but at the same time, a guy that likes to think he's a hunter.

In any case, they get to the lodge, have some time to kill. It's about this time that Mike, (I guess in a fit of boredom), runs off into the woods and gets himself killed by a Quickwood. This is also when I find out he didn't level up his character to 7th. Sheesh. Anyway long story short, he leveled to 7th, but took the negative levels associated with reincarnate. (They really like using that spell...) They also start arguing about whether they should hunt the Devil in Grey, or just find the cultists.

In any case we pretty much stopped there (other than me filling in their knowledge about the werewolves, their tribes and such via Delgros, the Huntsman of the Lodge.)

I am hoping/thinking maybe I might need to introduce the Vickrius sooner rather than later... That or just have the former Lord of Sturndiae come up and talk with them. We'll see.

That's pretty much it for now! Next week, my new Group A! :)

Well Group A got off to a REALLY smashing start. Well sort of. I mean honestly it ended well and it certainly (I felt) brought me a new respect to how much a good group can and does improve the overall play.

Group A (or A2 if you want) consisted of the following: Rob B. playing a TN male human Spellbreaker archetype Inquisitor of Pharasma by the name of Locke; Matt (a new player in town but old school gamer), playing his first Pathfinder RPG game as a TN male human fighter in full plate doing sword and board with a bastard sword by the name of Drek (or Dren I forget exactly); Rob's friend and fellow from his home town Patrick (who I started calling Scott for some reason) (they both live 15 minutes from me in Morgantown in Fairmont WV), playing a LE human male aberrant blooded sorcerer by the name Ben Adaephon Delat. (Yes I know where he got the name from. I still like it!); and my friend and fellow DM at times, Adam who joined in because he had time, playing a LE human Tielfling (Oni-Blooded) Sword Saint archetype Samurai.

Needless to say it was...interesting getting them together.   Patrick's character was the only one that was ready to go, as Matt just joined us along with Adam. Rob's character was ready but I wanted to save up getting him together with Patrick's and the rest.

Fortunately with Adam joining us, I found the perfect way to get both him and Matt to join in after they finished their characters.

Originally I had slated the PCs to be a kind of 'replacement' unit for the other PCs (They've gone missing after success at Schloss Caromac.) That still applied but then I used the Judge from the previous book (Judge Embreth Daramid) to 'free' the Oni and the human sellsword from prison. (The tielfling having killed a guard in a dispute that began over his looks. Thus he was awaiting murder charges; the sellsword committing a drunk and disorderly.)

I also had some pre-made PCs of sort. (mostly NPCs to assist what I thought would just be a two man game until Matt showed up followed by Adam.) I quickly ditched them by having the paladin I made punch the sorcerer in the nose and leave. (Yes he lost his paladin hood. But he'll get back if I need him!) Then I had the party cleric leave because I had 4 PCs...and I figured if they needed healing, they could afford to buy their own potions.

Anyway the Judge informed them of what was going on, that she was willing to hire them for this job to follow up on the PCs lead on the Whispering Way. So she offered them 300 pp for the initial run with an additional 300 for their success. (Though she had to pay 305 for the sellsword who was uncertain about the Oni/Tielfling.)

Naturally they were willing thanks to the cash and also because, hey Death Cult! I also managed while Patrick was the only PC there to get him a tad more integrated by mentioning the previous event/trial of the Beast. It was pretty nice to explain stuff to him and maybe give him a great detail of the campaign world.

Anyway I basically followed the same script I used on Group B with only slightly different results. The PCs were more suspicious of Vharkis and his crony (I made up a name folks! I just kept going back to Silver eyes!) But they at least were willing to check out the tower. The fight with the Weaverworm was made more awesome by the simple fact NO ONE could make the required knowledge checks. :) Still it did slow down Rob's character when she hit him with her claws. So again, a good monster for the PCs to face off against.

I threw in Duristin before I threw in the trap, which in the whole balanced out. I kind of wished I had done the trap...but eh.

Then of course I had the PCs meet Rhakis again (after they had discussed with Duristin some facts about werewolves). Thanks to that, they figured out Silver eyes is a were-creature. Rhakis gave up the ghost/goods after being caught (He's not a stupid man.) He then told them about the worm and its abilities. He also explained the local tribal system amongst the werewolves. The mention of the anti-paladin of Jezalda(sp) made Rob's character Locke perk up a bit. (Not sure why but eh.) After that we broke for the evening.

I must say it's been REALLY fun having a group that's committed to the process. Group A has strong personalities but it also has a strong commitment towards group oriented goals. It doesn't however sacrifice them at the expense of others. We'll just have to see how much longer this goes. (I hope for a while!)

Mean time, Group B awaits! :)

Some times it is just best to take whats given to, roll with, and some times it works.

Such was the instance this week with Group B's session of Carrion Crown.

I had worried they might run off BEFORE they found out about the goings on in the Shudderwood, not to mention not bother finding the packlord's heart.

Fortunately good planning (and the simple fact I had them at 8th level when they still should be only 7th) made this setup more workable.

To explain: in the module there's a lot of event based stuff the PCs get involved in. I stuck with that but only to extent I felt it allowed me to get the PCs to figure out something might be amiss.

One part of that is, instead of having the werewolves/Primals be a chance encounter of sorts, I made it so they instead showed up at the lodge gatehouse. I had already told the PCs that we were going from medium XP advancement to slow, so the fact I had two different groups of Werewolves...made the encounter a tad more memorable.

I've decided if I run this for Group A (though I might skip it since they'll be more interested in whats going on at the lodge than Group B), I'll make it so that it occurs in such a way to allow them time to reach the gatehouse.

Mostly because when I ran this, it was in a haze thanks to Daylight savings time, and the fact I was still kind of trippy from some cough syrup (over the counter folks!) So I don't believe/feel it went nearly as a seamless as I'd hoped. Still killing off 6 NPCs made me feel alright. (Hey 5 Dire Werewolf 5th level and 7th level barbarians with greatswords against 6 regular human 4th level fighter guards? You do the math.) Still I wouldn't have minded knocking down a few PCs into the negatives...but that didn't happen. What I did get was a pretty memorable encounter for the sheer fact the PCs were like "What the hell is going on?!"

It was a good fight, (especially thanks to the Diehard feat). I fully expect the PCs to, if not win, chase off the werewolves. They did run, but having a tiger and a guy that can keep up with them didn't allow them much time.

Anyway the suspicious nature of the fact Estovion (the lodge warden) didn't show up to see what was going on kind of tipped off people, though not much.

The PCs got some rest and I also allowed them to meet with the Margrave, Cilas. I had hoped to run the Vilkas but I knew I had to run the giant tarantula spider first.  So I did, and the guards captured Pauchy the groundskeeper, who was evidently the only suspect...at first.

The PCs were VERY skeptical about his guilt, especially since he's kind of dimwitted (though evil!) They also were intrigued by Delgros' collection of animals. William's character, the druidess Calvina, was taken a back by the fact a nature lover like Delgros kept such a collection. However he quickly explained that most of the animals he found had been raised by him, or in the case of the spider, just kept to hold away from harming others. In any case they immediately went up to see Estovion. (Though the halfling porter tried VERY hard to stop them.) There they questioned him along with revealing the fact he had hid the journal about the Stairs of the Moon.

That's when he knew the jig was up, and I tried to get him to use his dimensional steps ability to get away. Unfortunately being surrounded in his study...didn't help much.

It was a quick fight and the PCs learned pretty much all they needed to convince them to go to the Stairs of the Moon and seek out Mathas.

It was a good session, though I think the missteps I made...I'll try to learn from when I run this part with Group A next Sunday.

Overall I'm pretty proud of myself. :)

Well weeks come and go, but gaming is still forever. :)

I'll start with Group A first since I didn't post about them previously.

I can honestly say, THIS was how enjoyable I wanted it to be. By that I mean a player of mine (Ben) finally had time to show up and game with us. His Ranger Howllin made a HUGE come back which helped with him getting me to introduce Mike's character, a cleric of Pharasma.

Anyway I started with Ben/Howllin, while I waited for Matt (our atheist fighter) to show up. It basically consisted of both us remembering just what it was he was doing. Fortunately he managed to sneak way, gather the local Lepistadt patrol and get re-outfitted in new gear via Judge Embreth Daramid.

It was a short enough affair as wasn't planning for Hollwin to show up.  That being said, it went well and got the story back on track for everyone.

The other PCs quickly ran into Hollwin, who, thanks to his half elven awesomeness, ran into them JUST before the reached the lodge.

That's kind of where the whole entrance to the lodge thing got a little...muddled. I was hoping they'd managed to make their Diplomacy rolls, (or at least Patrick's character, Ben Adelpha Delat, make his Bluff check) but that failed. Instead I had to run the werewolf encounter with Duristan.

It was pretty much a low keyed affair, PCs get attacked by dire boars, followed by setting up camp for the night, and then the two dire werewolves (I didn't set up the Primals as 7th level like I did for the other group; just 5th level). It went well enough and the PCs got a good laugh at Duristin's expense as he ran away.

Basically they came back, had the talk with the porter, and then met with Estovion. I think I should I have read that part more carefully because when they went down to the library, they found (unsurprisingly) the journal and the notation.

If I had truly thought it through, I'd have had Evositon try to bluff them but it didn't work out. Instead I kind of stupidly allowed them to find it...and that's when the trouble began. Estovion though DID manage to get away. Now I just have to run the whole "ghost werewolf" thing.

I was hoping to actually do that at the Lodge...but guess that means I'll run it that way with the ghost possessing probably the atheist fighter. It should be interesting. :)

That pretty much covers Group A. I'm hoping for a return engagement from my favorite player Ben. We'll see how it goes come April 1st.

Quote from: Nightfall;486520Yeah but he's also the one that keep arguing that because he uses a kyoketsu-shoge, he should get attacks of opportunity EVEN if the person is charging him.

Charging into melee (5') range against a target with reach provokes an AoO when the charger leaves the first threatend (10') square to get into range to resolve the attack; so the monk with a kyoketsu-shoge should technically be getting AoOs unless he's being charged by something that also has reach or a reach weapon.  The charge attack resolves regardless of the results of the AoO though (unless the AoO killed the charger).

Charging itself doesn't provoke AoO but any movement during the charge provokes as normal.

Quote from: Wolf, Richard;585044Charging into melee (5') range against a target with reach provokes an AoO when the charger leaves the first threatend (10') square to get into range to resolve the attack; so the monk with a kyoketsu-shoge should technically be getting AoOs unless he's being charged by something that also has reach or a reach weapon.  The charge attack resolves regardless of the results of the AoO though (unless the AoO killed the charger).

Charging itself doesn't provoke AoO but any movement during the charge provokes as normal.

It's kind of a moot point since I've already killed the Monk...