Age of Worms vs. Shackled City

[Mercule]

Okay, it looks like I'm going to start running a second game. The goal is to alternate an extremely low-maintenance "campaign in a box" with my homebrew-mega-arc-campaign to give me a bit more prep time. So, I'm thinking that one of the Adventure paths would be an excellent choice. The question is: Which one is better?

Just to be clear, this'll be a beer & pretzels game that we're going to use to relax and blow off steam. Beyond reading the module and minimal prep, I don't plan on putting any real work into the thing. If there is some predone conversion to Eberron, I'd love to run it in that setting. Otherwise, we'll just use Greyhawk.

So, for those who have run parts of both, which Dungeon path seems better? I realize AoW isn't completely in print, yet, but two installments should be enough for people to have an idea.

 

[Baragos]

I'd start with Cauldron as it introduces some things that the players would then recognise in AoW. It's nothing very important (so far), but it helps creating a feeling of continuity when the players in AoW hear tales of what their characters did in the previous campaign...

 

[GlassJaw]

I'd start with Cauldron as it introduces some things that the players would then recognise in AoW

From what I understand, Cauldron will factor very little, if at all, in AoW. I'm also under the impression that AoW takes places some time after the SC. I could be wrong on that though.

this'll be a beer & pretzels game that we're going to use to relax and blow off steam

I haven't read the AoW modules because I'm going to be a player but I'm currently running the SC AP (we are in 3rd module). And yes, my group will be playing through both AP's at the same time! (alternating between modules)

My advice would be to wait for the SC hardcover to come out and then go to town. The SC AP is very "standard" D&D. The modules require minimal setup and get the players to the action in short order. There are also some really cool dungeons in the first few modules as well.

And while the story and campaign arc are very cool, it's a full-on, kill stuff and take its treasure campaign. It's also pretty tough too.

It also works well if you are sticking to the core books only or allowing any character build under the sun.

 

[Mercule]

My advice would be to wait for the SC hardcover to come out and then go to town. The SC AP is very "standard" D&D. The modules require minimal setup and get the players to the action in short order. There are also some really cool dungeons in the first few modules as well.

And while the story and campaign arc are very cool, it's a full-on, kill stuff and take its treasure campaign. It's also pretty tough too.

It also works well if you are sticking to the core books only or allowing any character build under the sun.

That definitely sounds like what I'm interested in. Very good sales job on SC.

What I like about AoW is that it's supposed to have some support for Eberron from the beginning, and I know exactly where to drop it and what plot bits to change. That's something that SC apparently won't have, even in the hardbound.

Now, if I knew exactly how much support AoW would get for Eberron, that'd be great. If they don't have the occasional "change NPC X to be a shifter" or something of that nature, I'm not sure I consider putting it in Eberron to be of real interest.

 

[GlassJaw]

if I knew exactly how much support AoW would get for Eberron, that'd be great

Check out the Paizo website. They have a lot of free downloads, some of which really expands on the magazines themselves. Paizo has done a great job with providing free stuff.

Check out the message boards too. They are extremely helpful. I post there a lot so if you have any specific questions, I can address them there for you.

 

[Jarrod]

I've been impressed with the level of conversions available for Eberron. Keith posted several notes (and I'm waiting for his notes on the second adventure), and there are a lot of people on the Paizo boards who have been doing an in-depth analysis and conversion.

I've been more impressed with the AoW so far. SC is a fun game, but it exists in a vacuum and you can really tell. The city is not very detailed, and you hit ~50% of the way through the game without really knowing what's going on. There's not a lot of cohesion in the early modules... it's like a TV show without a season arc.

 

[Mercule]

Check out the Paizo website. They have a lot of free downloads, some of which really expands on the magazines themselves. Paizo has done a great job with providing free stuff.

Check out the message boards too. They are extremely helpful. I post there a lot so if you have any specific questions, I can address them there for you.

Been there. Grabbed the downloads for the appropriate issues. The DL for #124 was nice for set-up -- really nice. The DL for #125 was wholly disposable (I was only looking at AoW stuff), though.

I'd still like to see some Eberron elements (NPC/treasure/feat changes) provided as plug-ins. Not full conversions of things to include the Lord of Blades, etc. Just enough so the adventures feel like they are in Eberron rather than just tacked on. I could do it, myself but, like I said, I'm looking for pretty minimal work on this. So, I want to have my cake and eat it, too.

 

[Mercule]

I've been impressed with the level of conversions available for Eberron. Keith posted several notes (and I'm waiting for his notes on the second adventure), and there are a lot of people on the Paizo boards who have been doing an in-depth analysis and conversion.

Is there something besides the web enhancement? Like I said, that was nice, but if there's more, I'll definitely take it.

I've been more impressed with the AoW so far. SC is a fun game, but it exists in a vacuum and you can really tell.

Yeah, that vacuum kinda worries me. If AoW really doesn't have more Eberron support coming (in which case, I'd run it on Greyhawk), I'd probably prefer to have the whole SC book at once. But, if I can kill two birds with one stone -- low maintenance campaign and give Eberron a whirl -- that'd be the best of all possible outcomes.

 

[IronWolf]

I don't think you can go too wrong with either. Having the hardcover SC book at your hand would probably help with some of the complaints about SC as it was released originally - not quite knowing in the earlier adventures where they were headed.

But with AoW it looks like they are giving us lots of background information and really helping build a solid foundation to the campaign in the long run. I have really liked what I have read so far.

Not much of an answer, I know. But I think going with the one you feel most enthused to run will go the furthest and make either a great, easy campaign to run. Have fun!

 

[GlassJaw]

I don't think you can go too wrong with either. Having the hardcover SC book at your hand would probably help with some of the complaints about SC as it was released originally - not quite knowing in the earlier adventures where they were headed.

Well remember, when the modules were originally written, they had no idea what the actual story arc was going to be. AFAIK, it didn't really get solidified until about halfway through.

The first few modules are a bit more "free-standing" than the later ones but they do contain elements that will certainly have an impact later on. The SC AP keeps a lot more info from the players early on until about halfway through the campaign when they start finding out what's been happening.

But with AoW it looks like they are giving us lots of background information and really helping build a solid foundation to the campaign in the long run. I have really liked what I have read so far.

Right, they did just the opposite with the AoW. You sort of had to piece things together from all the SC modules to get info on the campaign arc or details on Cauldron itself. They are providing a lot more background info on AoW up front. The SC hardcover should remedy that.