Running Age of Worms

[JoeGKushner]

And check out the last 12 issues of Dragon for some interesting bits of Worm Food that include material to help run/augment the Age of Worms.

 

[Ruined]

Yeah, I just started last week as well, all characters 1st level. The players did me a favor and wanted to have a unifying theme behind the party, so they revolved it around the church. One cleric, one paladin both of Lathander (using FR as backdrop). The gnome bard has been scribing for the church in his spare time, trying to pull himself out of the Emporium's seedy environs. And the scout is a local, spending much time with the church due to incurable headaches (plans to eventually multiclass into Psion).

To motivate them towards the Cairn, it's believed now that one of the former acolytes delved into the cairn a few years back, taking important temple items with him. They had previously believe him to have fled his duties, heading to Waterdeep, but new info has come to light and the elder priestess feels particularly guilty. So off they go.

 

[EricJones]

I just startedup a AOW campaign on RPOL (which will hopefully come back online someday). Most of my players were in kindergarden when I last DMed, so it should be interesting! Since they are all about graduate from college, I feel very old. We're sticking to PHB for character creation (although I own most WoTC sourcebooks, I'm trying to keep myself sane). Yes, I know that may seems limiting, but if you really feel the need to pester me about it, go ahead. The campaign will be set in Greyhawk.

Anyway, I asked my players to come up with characters whose primary background revolves around Diamond Lake. I haven't gotten background from everyone, but I already have a Gnome Bard and a Halfling Druid. The Bard is originally from Grossetgrottel, which despite what the Dungeon says doesn't seem any more "nearby" than Greyhawk. He is just starting out his career, and (for wont of other job opportunities) is working at The Feral Dog. My plan is for the bard to overhear interesting rumors at the Dog, including speculation that there is probably lots of interesting stuff in "that other cairn that the kids used to explore". He'll probably also hear how the Bronzewood Lodge is investigating rumors of odd green worms, and anyone who needs "one of them rangers or duids" to help him out just has to pretend to know something about such things.

The druid is an interesting study. We rolled ability scores, and the Druid got some really high scores and some ugly scores (7, 8 & 9). He plans play the druid as a sort of ecoterrorist - someone who has lived almost all of his life alone in the wilderness and just doesn't get along with civilization and its treatment of nature (hence low charisma). He even came up with the idea that he "liberated" his riding dog companion from the Feral Dog (which fits in great for me)! Anyway, the druid will be a member of the Bronzewood Lodge, and he will soon be assigned the task of investigated rumors of worms that create undead.

One of the other players plans to play a ranger, so I think it makes sense for Bronzewood to assign him the job of keeping the druid safe (and out of trouble). Someone else wants to be a paladin, so my thought was that he would be a local working at the Chapel of Heironeous when he receives a vision that he should help the druid in his quest. I've got a fifth, and I heard a rumor he plans to be a monk; I have no idea how to handle that yet.

Anyway, short answer is that I followed the magazine's advice and tried to make everyone start in Diamond Lake. Despite what was written in Dungeon, however, I thought it took some work to come up with reasons why some kinds of characters would be from the Diamond Lake area, especially non-humans. I also think that finding a reason for a diverse lot of characters to get together in the first place wasn't a simple thing (but then it never is).

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

And check out the last 12 issues of Dragon for some interesting bits of Worm Food that include material to help run/augment the Age of Worms.

Hey Joe-

I loaned you one of my Dragon Magazines, any chance you can return it?


Scott

 

[JoeGKushner]

Hey Joe-

I loaned you one of my Dragon Magazines, any chance you can return it?


Scott

Actually I brought it to the game two weeks ago and asked Brandon to hand it off to you since you guys live close. I'll give him a ring and see what the hold up is.

 

[amazingshafeman]

I've only got two players, and they've just decided to run through AOW. I had them start at level 3, as gestalt characters. In a surprise out-of-character twist, they both made paladins, one a paly/monk, the other a paly/ranger. Unfortunately, they both put Int as their dump stat, and 8 is now the highest Intelligence between the two of them. Needless to say, they're having some trouble in the Whispering Cairn. I really don't think they're going to figure out the lantern room, despite having expored both of the lower lairs and seeing the fresco. It's gonna be a loooooong adventure path....

 

[Nightfall]

I prefer the idea they know each other and have been friends since childhood. You can work out if you want to use "Sanctuary" or not.

 

[The_Gunslinger658]

I prefer the idea they know each other and have been friends since childhood. You can work out if you want to use "Sanctuary" or not.

Hi-

Before d20, AD&D 2E, I used to put Sanctuary in all my old Greyhawk campaigns, Greyhawk I think is the perfect place for Thieves World and adventures related to Thieves world.

Anyway, I view this adventure as a guide, not set in stone IE I plan to give the players solid good reasons to do what they are doing. Thats one thing I disliked about Shackled City, you felt that you were just going from one melee encounter to another as well as lets save this guy, and lets save that guy adnausium. Joe did a good job running the adventure for the amount of time he had and the material he had to work with.


Scott

 

[Nightfall]

Doomed,

Well that's certainly your opinion but I also think the PCs need a base of operations. Which is why I liked Shackled City/Cauldron since that was essentailly the PCs home town. At least I keep trying to make it...