Comments on: Pathfinder #7 Preview: Curse of the Crimson Throne #1

By: greywulf

greywulf — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:25:36 +0000

I’m a great fan of the Random Encounter, especially during prep-time when I can pull the required stats together in advance. It keeps the players guessing if they don’t know which encounters are planned, and which are just dungeon dressing. Random encounters help to break down even the most linear of plotline, and can take the game in wonderfully unexpected directions. That’s cool, provided they don’t derail the game too much - I remember one session where I had the players spot a (random) young black dragon passing high overhead. It took a LOT of persuasion to stop the players head off on a dragonhunt there and then! In the end they agreed to continue their designated quest, and follow the dragonflight another time. That gave me time to plan, and it became another session later in the campaign.

Give me the Mother of All Encounter Tables (http://www.trolllord.com/newsite/d20/ngu1.html) and I’m a happy bunny. I’ve used that book to pre-populate entire regions, and it’s fun explaining why a small Cloud Giant tribe is settling right next to a zombi infested swamp……..

During a game, I’ll roll for random encounters during breaks in play where possible and fold them into the game. Sometimes it’s just a case of grabbing a handful of stats from another encounter (all goblins look the same, right?) and tossing ‘em at the players once more. Hey, anything to keep the action going

By: ChattyDM

ChattyDM — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:46:12 +0000

In that case I can totally see the utility of Published adventures providing random encounter tables adjusted to the local setting and stories.

I never use them because I like a tighter control on the story… While my players love fighting a lot, they prefer that fights ‘unlock’ the next cut-scene so to speak…

By: Alex Schröder

Alex Schröder — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:41:59 +0000

My players love random encounters. They like some plot exposition, a bit of NPC talk, and soon enough a player will say: “Hey, how about a random encounter!! Haven’t we been down here long enough!? I hope I didn’t bring my dice in vain… Hey! Roll for initiative already!!”

Anyway, at least that’s what they do in my weekly game.

By: ChattyDM

ChattyDM — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:13:41 +0000

Thanks oh Grey one.

It does have a Dumasesque feel to it…

When the king dies, the streets of Korsova ring with fighting cries of ‘long live the Queen’ and ‘Death to the Whore!’

So expect beaucoup de twists in the plot department of that series.

By: greywulf

greywulf — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:33:19 +0000

Good review, and that sounds like a 100% freakin’ rockin’ hella cool adventure. Paizo do D&D better than WoTC right now; it’s official. Wizards are turning into the Microsoft by-the-numbers-and-marketing dark side, with Paizo the imaginitive rough and tumble look-ma-free-rulez Linux crowd. Gotta love it.

Yes, Harrow and Tarot rhyme with sparrow and marrow. Make up your own poem. Go wild.

Me, I’d run this adventure like a tale straight from the Three Musketeers. A dying king, a queen in mourning, a nemesis and the City Guards. Pure rapiers at dawn, fluffy cuffs and all

And that, my friend, is my kinda D&D.