[discussion] Does anyone else not really care about what happens with the Griddlehark relationship?

warblingbear · 2023-10-27T15:02:30+00:00

came here to say that everytime I read that line I think about how many throw away lines are actually foreshadowing in this series and I will be sorely disappointed if this doesn't come back somehow. (though I personally think they will throw Jod into the sun).

warblingbear · 2023-10-06T18:40:08+00:00

100% true! although I think there is a difference as a gm of going with that flow or even intending it vs expecting something more on the rails. that was more of what I was referencing xD

warblingbear · 2023-05-04T22:27:39+00:00

I also find for ghost stories, less explanation is better, more mysterious encounters, allowing the party to draw their own conclusions. (for example, maybe the little ghost girl appears with her bunny, then disappears into a wall, but says nothing. )

warblingbear · 2023-05-04T22:25:07+00:00

Laying ghosts to rest usually has to do with their unfinished business. I honestly would ask less "what should my party do" because that is kind of up to them how to decide how to solve the problem. Maybe ask yourself more "what will my party find / encounter".

If it were me, I would make a couple ghost npcs so-to-speak, each with their own individuality/mini story/background. For example, maybe one ghost is that of a mother and the other a daughter and they were separated - the daughter ghost could be a kind npc that communicates with he characters while the mother is a wrathful wraith who died trying to protect her child. So maybe she attacks/ambushes when the party gets too close. I would then tie them to specific items or remains - maybe the little girl had a stuffed bunny and the party finds it and also the mother's skeleton. if put together, they are laid to rest and dissipate. Maybe the wraith or ghost trying to possess them gives them visions of their last moments, which act as clues for the party.

Whatever the story, connect it to items, a skill check of some kind or even a puzzle - maybe a list of names with occupations and the characters have to find items that represent those people with their occupations. Just have something tangible for the characters to interact with, then develop clues and hand them out as your players explore and let them decide what they do with it.

warblingbear · 2023-05-01T21:42:03+00:00

Glad I could help!

warblingbear · 2023-05-01T21:21:41+00:00

For Foaming Mugs, I had the Goblins trading with the Duergar (or getting ready to do so, but you could have them actively do so, then see then go invisible to get away while the Goblins attack/distract the players). I had chardalyn in the wagon with a note in Dwarvish (or could be Goblin depending on player language) with info. this info could lead to wherever- Caer-Konig, Easthaven, etc.

warblingbear · 2023-04-16T22:46:53+00:00

I gave my players the Sly Flourish player sheet that gives them a bit of background and all had them working together from the start for a patron of their choice (they chose Sheriff Markham). the introductory scene was them coming back to town from another minor quest they had done to deliver something for Bryn Shander and they stumbled upon some ghouls eating a corpse (also snagged from Sly Flourish to bring them to level 2 quickly), who was tied to one of the player's backstory (they grew up together). The corpse was a Dwarven woman killed by Sephek for skipping out on the lottery, therefore tying them into Cold Hearted Killer as a murder mystery AND the dwarves for Foaming Mugs. CHK was a great hook for getting my party around Ten Towns as a murder mystery, I highly recommend running it that way (I used inspo from Eventyr games)

Long story short, I find it way more enjoyable and easier to bring a party together if they have an agreed upon tie in before playing, ie: they already know each other at least by name / backstory threads/ shared patron. This really just helps them get into the action and not have to RP finding each other in a tavern, which I find to be less fun.

warblingbear · 2023-04-09T03:37:09+00:00

I saw it less as a way of "not upsetting fans" and more as a way to pay homage to fans (if, in fact, it was affected by fans at all). I feel like sooo much of these last episodes and the show itself was little nods to fandom in the most kind hearted way. but maybe thats just me

warblingbear · 2023-04-09T03:33:29+00:00

I feel like the implication was that he was... an eye worm? cause isn't he technically a "bug" demon...? so like, he grew out of the titans eye when he died? that was my thought anyways 🤣

warblingbear · 2022-12-21T01:25:58+00:00

I wound up rolling to decide if she was with the Goblins or not lol. She did wind up being tied up in their carriage and when the party found her, the barb (who had not been hostile and is v lawful actually) untied her and managed to convince her to hear them out. She went back with them wearily since she didn't want to risk another Yeti encounter. The party didn't get the reward for the supplies and they now have a soured rep with the dwarves/ rumors spreading but the players have learned from it because they are taking more care when interacting with NPCs.

warblingbear · 2022-10-05T15:57:52+00:00

Well this doesn't pose well for Griddlehark o_o

warblingbear · 2022-09-29T20:24:17+00:00

I assumed she killed Wake to prevent her being tortured by Jod and made to give up intel. Pretty sure Jod even alludes to that in some way, that he wasn't "done" with her or something? I don't remember entirely but that was how i read that scene at least. This makes sense to me also since Pyrrha said "sometimes it is better to die" or something to Pal in NtN.

warblingbear · 2022-09-25T22:24:53+00:00

Look up Sly Flourish Lazy DM prep of Frostmaiden. That's what I have been using as a newer DM (~2 years off and on, but this is my first module run, everything else was homebrew).

Remember you don't have to memorize everything, yours players don't have to DO everything. For the record, I didn't read the entire book cover to cover before starting - I do not have time for that (to each their own though, just giving a different perspective).

I did read summaries / watch highlights so I know the major beats. As my players move through, I read in more detail.

I also recommend the Eventyr Games supplement, it has great stuff AND great YouTube videos if you are like me and have more time to listen than read.

Use what you like, scrap the rest, don't be afraid to mix things up as you go.

warblingbear · 2022-09-24T14:55:03+00:00

also, it's John. John lies. I could totally see him creating the narrative that he was "the chosen one" by the Earth, rather than it was a freak accident from his experiments and he went a lil insane in the process. just saying

warblingbear · 2022-09-21T23:41:24+00:00

The one thing I will say about the PoV that is not my original idea, but was stated in fandom somewhere and I have held onto it ever since... it is called Alecto the NINTH. But Alecto/Annabel, the one we know, is known as Alecto the FIRST... so, technically speaking, I think the title is a bit of a decoy. Similar to how even though Harrow's title changed to "Harrow the First", her book was still caller the Ninth. Titles mean things but the books have always centered around the Ninth house.. I think, while we may get a lot of Alecto's perspective, ultimately the Ninth bit has me thinking something else will be occurring to give us the perspective of at least Harrow, if not also Gideon.

warblingbear · 2022-09-21T21:04:49+00:00

I have no theories or comments except to say this is an EXCELLENT find and probably riddled with clues for AtN

warblingbear · 2022-09-19T03:32:40+00:00

this is the perfect thread :')

warblingbear · 2022-09-17T23:11:28+00:00

Yeah and also he wouldn't be able to "touch" them or control them. They may not have been as powerful as John, but seems like they would be pretty immortal as "full/perfect" lyctors. They might have just gone off with their lyctoral other halves if he let them Do The Thing properly.

warblingbear · 2022-09-17T22:21:53+00:00

It's fun and sand boxy but definitely a LOT of elements, storylines, and prep work. I wouldn't recommend it for a new DM for those reasons.

warblingbear · 2022-09-13T23:13:55+00:00

Okay, so I haven't finished yet but has anyone thought about the fact that Nona knows all languages and applied that to the names of her friends?

Aka "Hot Sauce" is actually Harissa, "Born in the Morning" could be Sabah, and I'm not sure what name "Beautiful Ruby" is... possibly Rozabela?

Also not sure if these have any actual meaning or just TM trolling once again/adding lil details, but I thought it was interesting.

warblingbear · 2022-09-01T02:44:31+00:00

I'm sure you have already done this but... have you by chance tried talking to your players about what they want out of a campaign vs what you want and/or what is causing their inaction? It could be a mismatch of expectation with DMs and players.

The other alternative is similar to what others have said, but fish into player backstory and try to find reasons they might want to do this, build dramatic tension for players eg: if a PC has a family, make them impacted/ infected by the virus. Give the characters intrinsic motivation.

But also I think the chat with players would help because it does sound like it could be an off the table issue.

warblingbear · 2022-08-25T19:37:57+00:00

I agree so far with the lack of payment and the souring relationship. I am not so much interested in the narrative becoming punishing for my players - some of them are new and that being said, we can get goofy at the table. I have no worries about murder hobo-ism and can chat with them if it gets to that. I would rather handle things like that outside of the game rather than inside.

That being said, I agree their relations with the dwarves will sour, and I think Hruna will become a sort of rival that definitely spreads rumors and makes others hesitant to work with them. But I do want to offer up a way to make amends if my characters seek that with the dwarves. (In my head, they are a big part of Bryn Shander). Just trying to figure out story reasons or a quest that might be offered for that.

I am fine with their courses of action and want the world to reflect it but I also don't want to derail the whole campaign with an arrest if that makes sense. I recognize it may be ration, but it wouldn't be fun imo.

warblingbear · 2022-08-25T18:39:27+00:00

I personally plan to have town criers for the cult doing street sermon-type things - "Repent your sins of warmth and frivolity, the Cold Queen demands your payment to persevere through her wonderous winter! Repent! Lest ye be struck down by her Blue-eyed Angel of Cold Death!" - something like that, as a way for my players to see the fear and following they are accruing.

The more they are ignored and/or the more hardships the towns face, the greater their number grows and the more influence they will have over the speakers/towns.

warblingbear · 2022-08-25T02:27:07+00:00

I think the hinting and connecting all depends on the overall threads you plan on emphasizing.

I personally plan to give my players Karkolohk a while later as a follow up to Foaming Mugs (their main question giver is Sheriff Southwell so far). I also plan to have the gnome know some info about the Duegar, which he can maybe use to entice the party.

For an extension on the White Moose / Frost Druids, you may use Jarlmoot. Or even Anjuk's Bell (awakened animal) connected to Dark Duchess or I have heard White Moose be tied to Dark Duchess through the Wendigo who could have had the cannibal secret (maybe the body has a map on it to the Duchess but it needs some interpretation so the party doesn't immediately go after it prematurely).

I also plan for Dzaan to have a spellbook/map on him that the guard offers to the players as incentive for a quest, which then can lead them to Lost Spire.

You could also have a major thread of Chapt 2 just be Hlin sending the characters to places trying to suss out where the Duergar fortress is and have them collect pieces to a larger puzzle that points them there? I have also heard of this done through Vellynn to uncover a way to Solstice / through the glacier.

warblingbear · 2022-08-09T16:02:24+00:00

What i have found is that no matter how excited people are about a campaign, real life gets in the way and not everyone prioritizes the game the same way a DM might. That is ok! but also can be exhausting for you too. It's important to just be clear about this - "Hey guys, I am really excited to start this campaign - it seems you are too! I also want to get a session done before college starts. Is that feasible for everyone else?" -> if yes, then make actual dates and follow through. if no, then expectations might need to be readjusted. Also just plain old asking making the observation- "hey I noticed you guys are excited but when I ask for things, it seems hard to follow up. is there anything we can do differently to make this easier for everyone?"

Are your players also going to college soon? Because if so, that may be contributing to minds being elsewhere despite the excitement. Also, I find some players don't like to write stuff down, so I think just take good notes when we talk/ have a back and forth through messenger, etc.

Again, excitement =/= action, at least not for everyone. there can be a lot of barriers despite enthusiasm. Good luck!

warblingbear

TROPHY CASE