New Adventure Path

[Kalendraf]

I like the concept behind adventure path modules. Having them gives a DM confidence that he will get a lot of lifespan out of it. Hopefully the next one will be consecutive months. The gaps kind of hurt the last one, IMHO. Although I didn't run it, I found them interesting to read, but would have been very frustrated had I started running them and not had the next one available in time.

 

[Big Jake]

I noticed the implication of another adventure path as well, and I'm excited about it. I've run two groups through the Cauldron adventures, although the first group disbanded after completing Test of the Smoking Eye... everyone moved!

I saw some good hints that Dungeon will take heed to the feedback they got from all of us DMs for the past year and some... including up-front information on long-term NPCs and campaign seeds.

As for what I would like, I hope they stick to a similar pattern that they established for this adventure path. Since this one dealt with an invasion of evil outsiders, I would expect to see a different set of baddies. Maybe an undead theme (which this adventure path pretty much lacked), or maybe a theme based on a powerful group of kobolds (anyone remember Dragon Mountain?).

I think it would be interesting to run up against a certain race over and over again, especially a race like kobolds or goblins (ecl +0) that can be given levels just like the standard races (hence being able to constantly be a challange to an adventuring party). Sure, many adventurers have run into an Eye of Gruumsh and have spread tales of thier villany. But what about the fabled Kindred of Kurtulmak? Clerics of such ability that even the avarage kobold commoner will follow the banner of Kurtulmak even unto certain death and never flee!

Okay, I'm going out on a limb, but there's a lot that can be done with the simple bad guys that the average party meets at 1st level then never fights again.

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As for the published adventures being an easy way to start a campaign... I agree that its an easy way to start, but once I got going, I think I have spent more time going over these adventures than I usually spend on making my own.

 

[JoeGKushner]

How about updating an older module via the Dungeon Magazine? Night Below for example, would make a fantastic Adventure Path series, especially the first parts.

 

[MDSnowman]

How about updating an older module via the Dungeon Magazine? Night Below for example, would make a fantastic Adventure Path series, especially the first parts.

I recall hearing somewhere that the new Adventure path was going to focus less on Dungeon crawls than the current one. Which is good because there can only be so many lost civilizations under one city. I also heard the term wilderness encounters bandied about, so that puts me in the mind of some kind of protracted and travel heavy quest.

 

[Erik Mona]

We are indeed working on a second Adventure Path. I'm currently in the process of writing the outline, which we will supply to our authors. Things are still relatively fluid at this stage, and feedback from fans of the first series is enormously helpful.

Here are a few of our current working assumptions:

1) The Adventure Path will offer a "core" D&D experience. We've got lots of exciting plans for Eberron adventures in the future, but the Adventure Path will offer a "prototypical" D&D experience.

2) The Adventure Path will take a character from 1st to 20th level, probably over the course of 20 adventures published as close to consecutively as we can possibly manage. The magazine's format makes it almost impossible to publish the 30+ page behemoths that made up the first Adventure Path, so we'll probably slow down the pace a little bit. That means fewer meatgrinder dungeons that grant enough experience to jump two levels.

3) The first issue to include an adventure will probably also include an overview of the projected plot, suggesting which NPCs will play a critical role in the developing story. Because certain elements of that story might shift over the course of 20 adventures, we'll probably publish periodic plot updates and previews of the next five adventures or so, just to keep everyone up to speed.

4) We'll also publish "Backdrops," plug-and-play campaign locales for key locations. If we'd taken this tactic for the Shackled City Adventure Path, we might have provided Backdrops for Cauldron itself, the local region, Occipitus, and perhaps organizations like the Striders or the Chisel.

5) This time around, it'll be more like a traditional quest, with action spanning a larger area and more overland travel.

6) There will be undead. Oh, will there be undead.

--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dungeon

 

[MDSnowman]

6) There will be undead. Oh, will there be undead.

I'm sure I speak for everyone when I scream like a little girl in excitement.

 

[Arnwyn]

Would you like to see a new adventure path series? How soon would you like to see on published in Dungeon? Any expectations, or wants or don't wants in the next adventure path.

Erik seems to be going for exactly what I was hoping for. Good stuff! The overview of the plot and updates are also very much appreciated. (I'd also like a good idea right at the very beginning how many adventures will comprise the adventure path and which issues they'll be in.) I also definitely agree with the others - no Eberron!

How about updating an older module via the Dungeon Magazine?

A terrible idea, IMO. A suggestion for regurgitation? I think not. Maure Castle was pretty good, but any regurgitation should be done sparingly (once every 5 years, for example) and only be done on adventures that are smaller and didn't get very wide circulation (and should include all new areas, as well). A tall order.

...it'd mean specific GH cities, people, events, etc which can alienate some people...

W3rd. I'd think there would be absolutely no difference between the "specific" GH names and the "specific" Dungeon magazine names for cities, people, deities, etc.

 

[Longbow]

@Eric: This sounds great, especially the slower pace the PCs gain levels. Good luck with the new path.

 

[Destil]

Eric,

Is there any possibility that you'll be publishing a compilation of either adventure path into one book / mag? I wasn't even aware of it until recently (usualy do mostly my own adventures, don't keep up on Dungeon much) and now I'm quite interested, getting a lot of back issues would be a pain... though this next one may make me a subscriber, too

 

[morbiczer]

I'm buying Dragon now regulary for more than two years but have so far resisted buying Dungeons too, simply because I knew that if I would buy one or two I surely would become a regular customer, and I feared the costs. But when I first heard that there would be a new Adventure Path I gave in and decided to begin purchasing Dungeons when it starts. I really like that it is planned to be less "Dungeon-heavy" (At least this is something I think I have read in some other thread here.)