Other terms than "Adventure Path?"

[RangerWickett]

I don't think so. It's a series of actions or adventures. It requires the word "setting" to be added to it to denote a place (and possibly a period of time). You may have seen it misused by a few people to mean setting but that doesn't change the meaning.

I will not allocate you to colostomize how I choose to defenestrate the word 'campaign.' Vis a vis, if I were, hypotonically, to speculum as to the orinthol defenestration of the word concurrently under disruption, e.g. the word 'campaign' -- which is annunciated with an inexorable 'g,' much like as unto, quid pro quo and je nai se quois 'champagne' -- I would most proletariately accept your photosynthesis, and agree that an indecipherable crucifixition of a setting is not, ergo, a 'campaign.'

 

[James Jacobs]

Thing is, 'campaign' also sort of implies a setting. The term 'campaign setting' is so broad that when I hear someone talking about their home campaign, I'm not sure if they mean the adventures they're running, or the world as a whole.

If anyone figures out how to do a 20-level adventure path without setting it in an implied setting, please let me know!

In other words... I think "campaign" is the best choice here, since any adventure path is going to have to use, at the very least, internally consistent names for locations, NPCs, deities, and other pronouns. Even if those names don't appear anywhere else but in the context of said adventure path... it's still a setting.

"Campaign setting" would be what I'd use to describe a game world as a whole. "Campaign" is a single set of adventures or a storyline in that world. According to my internal dictionary, at least...

 

[tylerthehobo]

The Adventurator (peaking eyebrow proudly like a significant politician)

 

[RangerWickett]

I'm just curious. Paizo advertises the Shackled City Adventure Path, not the Shackled City Campaign. Do you think it's merely an issue of semantics, or is 'adventure path' more interesting than 'campaign'?

Also, Mr. Jacobs, I'm sure the question has been asked before, and if you could point me in the direction of an answer I'd greatly appreciate it: Paizo employees often say they learned a lot from the first two adventure paths. What did you learn? I'm sure a lot of GMs would be interested in hearing advice on how to craft long-term campaign arcs, and adventure writers (or potential designers of a . . . "Twentieth Level Express") could benefit greatly from your wisdom.

 

[blargney the second]

Encounter Rosary

 

[Odhanan]

What are some good terms for a series of linked adventures, going from low level to high level? 'Adventure Path' is accurate, but I imagine there's gotta be something a bit more flavorful or dramatic. Any suggestions?

A campaign.

 

[Morrus]

Thing is, 'campaign' also sort of implies a setting. The term 'campaign setting' is so broad that when I hear someone talking about their home campaign, I'm not sure if they mean the adventures they're running, or the world as a whole.

In addition, and possibiliy mor eimportantly, "campaign" does stand out as a brand identity. Paizo chose "Adventure Path" deliberately. The words immediately make people think of their products. The word "campaign" would not. It's too ubiquitous.

 

[Morrus]

I'm just curious. Paizo advertises the Shackled City Adventure Path, not the Shackled City Campaign. Do you think it's merely an issue of semantics, or is 'adventure path' more interesting than 'campaign'?

See, tjhis is why I should read the entire thread before replying! As my previous post implies, the answer to your question is: "yes". "Adventure Path" stands out. "Campaign" does not, despite the snarky comments of some posters previously.

 

[Morrus]

If anyone figures out how to do a 20-level adventure path without setting it in an implied setting, please let me know!

In other words... I think "campaign" is the best choice here, since any adventure path is going to have to use, at the very least, internally consistent names for locations, NPCs, deities, and other pronouns. Even if those names don't appear anywhere else but in the context of said adventure path... it's still a setting.

"Campaign setting" would be what I'd use to describe a game world as a whole. "Campaign" is a single set of adventures or a storyline in that world. According to my internal dictionary, at least...

James - I would have emailed this question to you, but since you're here, I may as well ask now.

Is "Adventure Path" trademarked? If it is not, given my respect for Dungeon and previous APs (I'm running AoW right now), would you have an problem with someone else using the term?

 

[James Jacobs]

I'm just curious. Paizo advertises the Shackled City Adventure Path, not the Shackled City Campaign. Do you think it's merely an issue of semantics, or is 'adventure path' more interesting than 'campaign'?

Also, Mr. Jacobs, I'm sure the question has been asked before, and if you could point me in the direction of an answer I'd greatly appreciate it: Paizo employees often say they learned a lot from the first two adventure paths. What did you learn? I'm sure a lot of GMs would be interested in hearing advice on how to craft long-term campaign arcs, and adventure writers (or potential designers of a . . . "Twentieth Level Express") could benefit greatly from your wisdom.

Whew... what we've learned from doing Shackled City and Age of Worms would fill a book. I (and Erik before me) have talked about parts of what we've learned now and then in our editorials in Dungeon, and on messageboards here and there. If I had to focus in on five major learning experienes, thoguh, they'd be:

1: Make sure you have lots of recurring NPCs, both as allies and villians.
2: Build on the tradition of D&D; that is, don't be afraid to draw upon old adventrues for inspiration, locations, allies, and villians.
3: Don't put TOO many bad guys in the campaign near the end.
4: Forshadow things to come, so when the PCs reach turning points in the campaign they feel like turning points, not just harder encounters.
5: Each installment of the adventure path needs to propel the overall story forward. Side-treks aren't welcome; if a DM wants to send his PCs on a side trek, he can handle that better himself.