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<blockquote data-quote="Ajar" data-source="post: 5639991" data-attributes="member: 85901"><p>One of my players emailed us today saying that he's already jonesing to play again and that he had a fantastic time. So you guys are definitely doing something right! Another player replied that she's "really excited by how much is out there, waiting for us." So between the Player's Guide and all of the NPCs introduced even in Act 1 of the first adventure, you've definitely done a great job of showing how big the world is, and even how big Risur is, in terms of the narrative scope and the story space. </p><p></p><p>And of course I, as the GM, know that it only gets bigger -- way bigger -- from here! I'm cackling with glee just thinking about Asrabey, let alone everything else that comes later in the campaign!</p><p></p><p>As far as the sabotage, my PCs were really on the ball, and distrusted the Duchess from the get-go. I'd given them specific caveats every time I mentioned her distaste for Risur's new technological direction, saying that it was just a philosophical disagreement, and of course she still supported the king, etc. But I think when they first talked to Harkover Lee and then the Duchess in quick succession, and their distaste for one another became clear, that combined with the Insight check detecting Sokana's nervousness shifted them into "be prepared, just in case" mode. They also correctly interpreted the debate between Rutger and the dwarf as foreshadowing. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /> "One little misunderstanding and it all falls apart..."</p><p></p><p>When they were able to convince the Duchess to nap in the sickbay, I was actually a little nervous, since the saboteurs wouldn't get to do much before they were discovered by the PCs spying on the Duchess. And sure enough, they <em>didn't</em> get to do much - no additional firegems were shoveled into the furnace, the assassin didn't make it anywhere near the munitions so the wards stayed intact -- but since the biggest factor in the countdown is Sokana throwing the rod in the furnace, it wasn't a major issue. </p><p></p><p>I wasn't sure how they would shut the engine down, since they had clearly expected the situation to be OK once they took out the saboteurs. But once I explained that the engineers had misled Fitzcairn about just how many firegems could be safely shoveled into the furnace, they took to the challenge. I gave no hints; they came up with the capacitor idea on their own, with the brilliant addition of enlisting the aid of the ship's designer. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>There was one wrinkle that I alluded to above. I have a reputation in my circle of friends and players for TPKs. The first PBeM campaign I ever ran ended in not just a TPK, but the end of the world and the death of everything but the Lovecraftian horrors that had been set free. I've had players tell me that even when I explicitly state an encounter is level-appropriate, they're still terrified because of how I frame combat. </p><p></p><p>So when Vesta teleported into the sickbay when the Duchess was still there, his player fully expected to die. And if the Duchess hadn't been finishing up her Water Breathing ritual, I would have blasted Vesta with a paragon-level Wizard encounter power. But by the time the ritual was done, Sokana had Vesta dazed and surrounded with fire sprites, so the Duchess saw no need to lend a hand. I'm a "tough, but fair" DM, I think, or at least I try to be, and if I'd had the Duchess blast Vesta in that situation I would have felt like I (as a DM) was actively trying to kill him, rather than doing what made the most sense for the character of the Duchess. So it was a bit of a near thing, but the fact that Vesta teleported in before the ritual was done made a big difference, since it took the Duchess completely out of the battle.</p><p></p><p>This is why I'm wrestling with how best to handle the Asrabey encounter. If I tell my players that this guy is a total badass way above their level, they won't expect to be able to hit him with a roll of 10 or 12. If they can, it might break their immersion a bit. But if I run him with the 20th level stats, I'm not sure how to avoid a TPK.</p><p></p><p>Edit: I'm really looking forward to seeing Vesta and Asrabey interact, though. Both because Asrabey will represent a clear connection to Vesta's heritage, and because I wonder if Vesta will develop a little crush... (as I mentioned in my other thread, Vesta is gay but not "out.")</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ajar, post: 5639991, member: 85901"] One of my players emailed us today saying that he's already jonesing to play again and that he had a fantastic time. So you guys are definitely doing something right! Another player replied that she's "really excited by how much is out there, waiting for us." So between the Player's Guide and all of the NPCs introduced even in Act 1 of the first adventure, you've definitely done a great job of showing how big the world is, and even how big Risur is, in terms of the narrative scope and the story space. And of course I, as the GM, know that it only gets bigger -- way bigger -- from here! I'm cackling with glee just thinking about Asrabey, let alone everything else that comes later in the campaign! As far as the sabotage, my PCs were really on the ball, and distrusted the Duchess from the get-go. I'd given them specific caveats every time I mentioned her distaste for Risur's new technological direction, saying that it was just a philosophical disagreement, and of course she still supported the king, etc. But I think when they first talked to Harkover Lee and then the Duchess in quick succession, and their distaste for one another became clear, that combined with the Insight check detecting Sokana's nervousness shifted them into "be prepared, just in case" mode. They also correctly interpreted the debate between Rutger and the dwarf as foreshadowing. ;) "One little misunderstanding and it all falls apart..." When they were able to convince the Duchess to nap in the sickbay, I was actually a little nervous, since the saboteurs wouldn't get to do much before they were discovered by the PCs spying on the Duchess. And sure enough, they [I]didn't[/I] get to do much - no additional firegems were shoveled into the furnace, the assassin didn't make it anywhere near the munitions so the wards stayed intact -- but since the biggest factor in the countdown is Sokana throwing the rod in the furnace, it wasn't a major issue. I wasn't sure how they would shut the engine down, since they had clearly expected the situation to be OK once they took out the saboteurs. But once I explained that the engineers had misled Fitzcairn about just how many firegems could be safely shoveled into the furnace, they took to the challenge. I gave no hints; they came up with the capacitor idea on their own, with the brilliant addition of enlisting the aid of the ship's designer. :) There was one wrinkle that I alluded to above. I have a reputation in my circle of friends and players for TPKs. The first PBeM campaign I ever ran ended in not just a TPK, but the end of the world and the death of everything but the Lovecraftian horrors that had been set free. I've had players tell me that even when I explicitly state an encounter is level-appropriate, they're still terrified because of how I frame combat. So when Vesta teleported into the sickbay when the Duchess was still there, his player fully expected to die. And if the Duchess hadn't been finishing up her Water Breathing ritual, I would have blasted Vesta with a paragon-level Wizard encounter power. But by the time the ritual was done, Sokana had Vesta dazed and surrounded with fire sprites, so the Duchess saw no need to lend a hand. I'm a "tough, but fair" DM, I think, or at least I try to be, and if I'd had the Duchess blast Vesta in that situation I would have felt like I (as a DM) was actively trying to kill him, rather than doing what made the most sense for the character of the Duchess. So it was a bit of a near thing, but the fact that Vesta teleported in before the ritual was done made a big difference, since it took the Duchess completely out of the battle. This is why I'm wrestling with how best to handle the Asrabey encounter. If I tell my players that this guy is a total badass way above their level, they won't expect to be able to hit him with a roll of 10 or 12. If they can, it might break their immersion a bit. But if I run him with the 20th level stats, I'm not sure how to avoid a TPK. Edit: I'm really looking forward to seeing Vesta and Asrabey interact, though. Both because Asrabey will represent a clear connection to Vesta's heritage, and because I wonder if Vesta will develop a little crush... (as I mentioned in my other thread, Vesta is gay but not "out.") [/QUOTE]
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