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Considering the incredibly high production values Paizo has been putting into the Pathfinder series, this doesn't even come close. WotC is supposed to be the industry leader right? Right?!
And that treasure system is incredibly lame.
I'd argue that Paizo is the industry leader for adventures for many years now (starting with Dungeon, continued into Pathfinder and the Gamemastery adventures). The production values Paizo puts into their stuff makes everyone else pale in comparison. Sure the hardcover 3.5 adventures from WoTC were nice, but bang for buck, dollar for dollar Paizo does a way better job. Now, if I can just get them to switch to 4E
I'd argue that Paizo is the industry leader for adventures for many years now (starting with Dungeon, continued into Pathfinder and the Gamemastery adventures). The production values Paizo puts into their stuff makes everyone else pale in comparison. Sure the hardcover 3.5 adventures from WoTC were nice, but bang for buck, dollar for dollar Paizo does a way better job. Now, if I can just get them to switch to 4E
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Oh dear, the more I read this adventure the more disappointed I become.
It's not even clear how many raids on Brindol there have been, before the players encounter.
Spoiler:
The fact the Adventure Synopsis says the prisoners have been moved around within Rivenroar for four days implies they were taken in an earlier raid.
This also seems to be confirmed by the fact the characters have no chance of catching up with captives or the stolen goods, before they get to Rivenroar.
Yet on page six it says that the stolen goods and missing captives only comes to light after the ogre attack.
But then the letter in the players handout appears to have been written at a time when they had the captives, but before they stole the items.
So how many raids were there and what got stolen when?
Also how the heck did a force of hobgoblins get so far into a walled city with an ogre pulling cart without raising an alarm? Especially since they would surely have been on high alert after the earlier attack(s)?
Oh dear, the more I read this adventure the more disappointed I become.
It's not even clear how many raids on Brindol there have been, before the players encounter.
Spoiler:
The fact the Adventure Synopsis says the prisoners have been moved around within Rivenroar for four days implies they were taken in an earlier raid.
This also seems to be confirmed by the fact the characters have no chance of catching up with captives or the stolen goods, before they get to Rivenroar.
Yet on page six it says that the stolen goods and missing captives only comes to light after the ogre attack.
But then the letter in the players handout appears to have been written at a time when they had the captives, but before they stole the items.
So how many raids were there and what got stolen when?
Also how the heck did a force of hobgoblins get so far into a walled city with an ogre pulling cart without raising an alarm? Especially since they would surely have been on high alert after the earlier attack(s)?
Yeah, seriously...I have that same sinking feeling everytime I look at the thing and find something new that makes me go "what the...?".
The thing that I find the most jarring is just how 1st and 2nd level encounters consist of high level monsters like the Cave bear (6th level) and such. Oh, I know that the scale of what you can fight goes higher, I just didn't expect the math to work out for it to be so constant - two fang guards and a webspinner at first works out.
I haven't started playing 4E yet, but I'm putting together my first 4E adventure now, and I'm curious about this. How well do 1st level 4E PC's hold up against threats above their level? Has anybody played through Rivenroar yet to tell? Does anybody have any other experience that might shed light on the subject?
Well, the cartographer just put the Map Key up on the WoTC Forums.
Quote:
1. City Gates
2. The Stone Wyvern (Tavern)
3. Axenhaft Security (Guard Service)
4. Shank's Shivs (Weapon Shop)
5. Brindol Market
6. Thirsty Zombie (Tavern)
7. Red Magic and Sundries (Magic Shop)
8. Shrine of Yondalla
9. The Craven Raven (Tavern)
10. Velorian's Playhouse
11. Brindol Academy
12. The Laughing Manticore (Tavern)
13. Kaal Manor (Noble Estate)
14. Teskerwill Manor (Noble Estate)
16. The Hall of Great Valor
17. Cathedral of Pelor
18. Brindol Keep
19. Haskin Mansion (Noble Estate)
20. Brindol Cemetery
21. Temple of Wee Jas
Two temples for Gods who don't exist anymore. Interesting.
And while I thought the module itself was fairly pedestrian (with the exception of the barfight and street battle of course), I have *never* been more excitied with D&D's handling of treasure than I am right now.
The parcel system is easily my favorite part of DMing 4th edition, and I fully expect continued supporting in all future modules. Thunderspire, I'm looking at you.
Unfortunately, Thunderspire does not use the open-ended parcel system.
Did I miss a an overview or summary of the entire AP, or has WotC simply not supplied one (yet?)
I can largely ignore the whole campaign setting problem (meaning the lack of info and background on Brindol and Elsir Vale) because I will be setting this in Karameikos anyway. And, to be honest, I take the "points of light" thing to be a campaign approach and not a full-blown setting. I actually applaud the adventure being background-light, as it allows for any DM to adapt it more easily. Just take a look at most non-setting-specific Dungeon adventures of the past 20 years and they will usually have about the same amount of info, and the words "but can be adapted to any suitable fantasy world with a large forested area" or similar.
I can also largely ignore the editing issues. I do think they are worrying, though - evidence of slipshod writing, editing and publishing which really should not be there. This is not the first product WotC has released. But, there are workarounds and the whole is not unintelligible for it.
What I find inexcusable though is the omission of a campaign overview. How is any DM going to know whether or not the SoW AP is going to be worth the investments of time and money based on just a few lines of empty rhetoric - "most ambitious Adventure Path ... 30 levels through 18 adventures ... shaping the history of the world for centuries to come"? That tells us nothing of what we want to know. No, not want, need.
We have read on this forum and elsewhere how the omission is evidence of WotC not actually possessing a campaign overview. I cannot believe that is true (... though there is a niggling doubt there). Surely no-one would set out on such an undertaking without having a detailed plan of what the over-arching story is. Surely no-one would expect the adventure authors to write the various instalments without knowing what was happening before and what was to happen afterwards. All we have so far is that which is in Rescue at Rivenroar, and the title of the next adventure - Siege of Bordrin's Watch. That and the 'Scales of War' campaign title. That all sounds very interesting, and conjures up a fair amount of ideas, but it's just two 18ths of the overall campaign.
Come on Wizards, we need more. Show us what you have in store. Tell us your plans. Give us an overview. It might just convince some to subscribe to DDI and go all-out 4e.
Honestly, I am planning on rewriting the adventure beyond the first two encounters. Those are fun, but the rest is kind of a mess. That kind of defeats the point oh having an adventure path, but maybe the next one will be better...
__________________ Jesse Dean
-----------------------------------------------
Human Male Smart Hero 3
Str: 10 Dex: 9 Con: 12 Int: 14 Wis: 13 Cha: 11
We have read on this forum and elsewhere how the omission is evidence of WotC not actually possessing a campaign overview. I cannot believe that is true (... though there is a niggling doubt there). Surely no-one would set out on such an undertaking without having a detailed plan of what the over-arching story is. Surely no-one would expect the adventure authors to write the various instalments without knowing what was happening before and what was to happen afterwards. All we have so far is that which is in Rescue at Rivenroar, and the title of the next adventure - Siege of Bordrin's Watch. That and the 'Scales of War' campaign title. That all sounds very interesting, and conjures up a fair amount of ideas, but it's just two 18ths of the overall campaign.
I have a hard time believing that there's a solid plan in all this. They obviously rushed the first adventure and that shows they've not exactly had this in the stewpot very long aside from "Hey, we need to do an adventure path because they were popular when Paizo was doing them." I'm sure they have vague ideas, but I'm betting that they haven't hammered it all down yet and that's why there's no kind of overview.
I hope they put some background info on what happened to the Elsir Vale and Brindol after 10 years in next month's Dragon (and also the missing pieces of the 1st adventure).
I hope they put some background info on what happened to the Elsir Vale and Brindol after 10 years in next month's Dragon (and also the missing pieces of the 1st adventure).
This would be nice. I have RHoD and knowing what went on in the past 10 years would be nice support information.
Oh, yea... and fixing/errata the 1st adventure's problem-bits would be nice too.
__________________ Game on, gang! Ptolus #16 (with customized, personalized sig from Monte. Awesomesauce.), Rappan Athuk Reloaded #37 (Another Awesomesauce, the Necromancer way.)
Try to not let failure to use technical language properly get in the way of getting to the real point under discussion. - Umbran
Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Lost Mines of Karak -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 6; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 6; Karithul, Gnome Bard 6; Marshaun, Elf Druid 6
Honestly, I am planning on rewriting the adventure beyond the first two encounters.
Ditto.
Moreover, what happens if the PCs capture Sinruth?
Has Sinruth met with this "Emissary"?
Who brought the letter to the hobgoblin leader?
Is the adventure suggesting that Sinruth has risked his life for a bunch of commoners and some useless items because someone has sent him a letter?
__________________ “Something as useless as emotions, I never had them to begin with.” –
Kuchiki Byakuya
Moreover, what happens if the PCs capture Sinruth?
Has Sinruth met with this "Emissary"?
Who brought the letter to the hobgoblin leader?
Is the adventure suggesting that Sinruth has risked his life for a bunch of commoners and some useless items because someone has sent him a letter?
I'm suspecting that these questions would be answered in future adventures as the adventure path comes along (noticing a similar trend in Shackled City which I hope is not ).
).
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