Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Adventure Paths

Someone at the gaming table said something last weekend which echoed in my head. "I have this great idea for a character..." I have this problem all of the time. Pathfinder has so many options, many of them sound cool and there are tons that I'd like to try out. The problem is that we tend to play Adventure Paths. They take 6 months to a year to finish and we usually play one character for the duration. Kingmaker was close to a year and near the middle many of us introduced a second character to act as the "B" team when our original PCs were busy running the kingdom. Mainly this developed because we wanted to try other classes.

As we are currently just starting Book 2 of Carrion Crown, I expect us to be playing this campaign for at least another 2-3 months even though I intend to end things at Book 3. I've noticed the last couple adventure paths, the PCs have either been largely unaware of the meta plot or just haven't cared. If this is the case, why not just run Modules or the more self contained AP parts? We could play more characters, and let our ADD shine through. Derobane can play even more crazy characters.

Just tossing that out there.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I've come to the same conclusion. I like adventure paths, but unless we win the lotto and never have to work again they pretty much keep us from exploring the game system. I also find that they don't save a lot of prep time, unfortunately. I find it easier to convert old material or string adventures together as I see fit between ad libs.

Rognar said...

Maybe what's needed are more APs like Age of Worms. I recall many of the players got ample opportunities to try out new characters in that one.

Obiri said...

I find the prep times ok. I can get ready for a 5 hour session if I have an hour or two to jot down some notes.

I find it too hard to convert on the fly - 3.5 isn't so bad but anything earlier would make my brain explode.

Maybe I should try to be a little more killer GM. I've had a few unconscious characters so far but no fatalities.

Derobane-bane said...

Crazy characters? Wait till you see my halfling dragon disciple of Zon Kuthon. He has an 18 inch scar on his face, a stolen set of gem encrusted boots and herpes.