Dealing with a TPK in Lich Queen part 1 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dealing with a TPK in Lich Queen part 1 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
pauldanielj
07-22-07, 12:05 AM So the whole party bit the dust about 1/3 of the way through part 1.

My understanding is that the players are free to continue with part 2, with the caveat that they play the same characters as they played in part 1.

A few questions, just for clarification:
1. Can PCs killed in part 1 continue on to parts 2 - 4?
2. Do they indeed have to play the same characters all the way through?
3. Is it true that no PC can participate in part 2 without having played in part 1? (and part 3 without parts 1 and 2, and so forth)
4. Beginning part 2 after having seen only a fraction of part 1 -- will the adventure be playable? Can a quick summary of part 1 suffice for having not played the whole mod? I can think of some story objects from part 1 that the lack of could impact on later parts.

Thanks in advance!
lseelba
07-22-07, 07:25 AM So the whole party bit the dust about 1/3 of the way through part 1.

My understanding is that the players are free to continue with part 2, with the caveat that they play the same characters as they played in part 1.

A few questions, just for clarification:
1. Can PCs killed in part 1 continue on to parts 2 - 4?
2. Do they indeed have to play the same characters all the way through?
3. Is it true that no PC can participate in part 2 without having played in part 1? (and part 3 without parts 1 and 2, and so forth)
4. Beginning part 2 after having seen only a fraction of part 1 -- will the adventure be playable? Can a quick summary of part 1 suffice for having not played the whole mod? I can think of some story objects from part 1 that the lack of could impact on later parts.

Thanks in advance!

Wow...what level were you all? A TPK in Part 1 is understandable...at the end of the mod maybe...with a low level party.

Part 2-4 is not playable with a PC that did not play Part 1. Also, you cannot play ANY later part with a PC that did not play the earlier parts. As far as story objects...I have not read Part 3 and 4 yet. I can say that there is some plot twists in Part 2 that you will not fully get without playing through the end of Part 1. Basically, answering your questions in order:

1) This is not answered anywhere.
2) Yes. Same character that started Part 1 has to play all future parts (it is in the mod description).
3) Yes.
4) Yes. You can play part 2 with a short description of what you missed. As far as part 3 and 4 I can't speak.
pauldanielj
07-22-07, 04:11 PM [QUOTE=lseelba;13151831]Wow...what level were you all? A TPK in Part 1 is understandable...at the end of the mod maybe...with a low level party.
QUOTE]

Thanks for the answers, Iseelba.

The party was level 4 for the most part, but it was some poor tactical decisions combined with rotten luck that really did them in.
smerwin29
07-22-07, 04:28 PM We need to talk about what to do. I am going to see if we can find a way to let people play later parts even if they didn't play the first parts, but it is not easy because of the nature of the adventure itself. Give us some time to talk to HQ and see what we can work out.

Shawn
Timlagor
07-22-07, 04:56 PM Would it be possible to post a spoiler-filled summary of parts 1&2 once they 'retire'? (I realise WotC might object but I'm pretty sure I could find spoilers somewhere online if I wanted to anyway)
dreamwolf
07-22-07, 07:19 PM We need to talk about what to do. I am going to wee if we can find a way to let people play later parts even if they didn't play the first parts, but it is not easy because of the nature of the adventure itself. Give us some time to talk to HQ and see what we can work out.

Shawn

I would say that the very nature of Xen'Drik Expeditions makes this easier to handle than it might otherwise be. The party (as an elite cooperative group from the four factions) could easily be assembled for the third mission in the overall endeavour, being better suited to the specific challenges than the group that handled the first ones, or could even be going in after the earlier group "disappeared", etc.
This would allow for a pretty detailed update from the different factions based on previous reports. In all, if I read the adventure correctly, this seems a bit less time and continuity dependant than some other mods (Red Hand of Doom comes to mind).
JJeff
07-22-07, 08:53 PM Ok, I'm running EotLQ and have read through the whole adventure from start to end. I would feel that you may need at least one character in the party that has COMPLETED Part 1 to carry on through parts 2,3 and 4. There is something you need at the end of Part 1 to continue unless the whole plot and premise of the adventure is changed to suit the party.

I don't know what the compromise might be, if any, but I am rather sure you need at least 1 character that has complete Part 1 all the way to the end.
pauldanielj
07-22-07, 10:19 PM I would feel that you may need at least one character in the party that has COMPLETED Part 1 to carry on through parts 2,3 and 4. There is something you need at the end of Part 1 to continue unless the whole plot and premise of the adventure is changed to suit the party.

I don't know what the compromise might be, if any, but I am rather sure you need at least 1 character that has complete Part 1 all the way to the end.

I tend to agree with your assessment, but the plot could continue with relatively minor adjustments. Players, I find, are extremely forgiving with plot holes. In any event, it will be enlightening to hear the official word.
dreamwolf
07-24-07, 09:07 AM I would feel that you may need at least one character in the party that has COMPLETED Part 1 to carry on through parts 2,3 and 4. There is something you need at the end of Part 1 to continue unless the whole plot and premise of the adventure is changed to suit the party.

You're right. I had temporarily forgotten that bit. I don't see why everyone would have to be involved from the beginning, however.
And an NPC could potentially solve it, although it's always a bit tricky when you need an NPC to finish an adventure.
Timlagor
07-28-07, 11:12 PM Are you referring to the (awesome for some) non-faction story object that you pick up well before the end of part 1?

[if not what?]
I really enjoyed part 2 (and don't care about the EV&xp proportions) and it seemed to me that the reason for it was relatively unimportant.
WolfStar76
07-30-07, 11:08 AM The story object "__________ of the ______ ______ Alter" is what's driving the story for the involved PCs.

With the . . . . secondary effected mentioned by the sponsor of the original mission at the end of the module.

(And you don't receive that item until near the very end of the module, unless your party somehow did things quite out-of-order, or the GM decided to step things up a bit).

It would be less of a personal investment for PCs to continue the storyline without that Story Object, though again, faction leaders may well order PCs to tag along just because they want you to do so.

The storyline's benefactor may be a bit less trusting of new "strangers" coming along for the ride, however - and that's where the major hitch would come from, IMHO.
Timlagor
07-30-07, 09:53 PM That's what I meant, our running was a bit odd anyway ..but I thought everyone had at elast two 'encounters' after getting that ..though probably not the ones you'd get any TPK in.
WolfStar76
07-31-07, 08:48 AM If I recall correctly there should only have been one more encounter after that object revealed itself. A "sizeable" encounter.

But again, your DM, and therefore your mileage, may vary. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
pauldanielj 07-22-07, 12:05 AM	So the whole party bit the dust about 1/3 of the way through part 1. My understanding is that the players are free to continue with part 2, with the caveat that they play the same characters as they played in part 1. A few questions, just for clarification: 1. Can PCs killed in part 1 continue on to parts 2 - 4? 2. Do they indeed have to play the same characters all the way through? 3. Is it true that no PC can participate in part 2 without having played in part 1? (and part 3 without parts 1 and 2, and so forth) 4. Beginning part 2 after having seen only a fraction of part 1 -- will the adventure be playable? Can a quick summary of part 1 suffice for having not played the whole mod? I can think of some story objects from part 1 that the lack of could impact on later parts. Thanks in advance!
lseelba 07-22-07, 07:25 AM	So the whole party bit the dust about 1/3 of the way through part 1. My understanding is that the players are free to continue with part 2, with the caveat that they play the same characters as they played in part 1. A few questions, just for clarification: 1. Can PCs killed in part 1 continue on to parts 2 - 4? 2. Do they indeed have to play the same characters all the way through? 3. Is it true that no PC can participate in part 2 without having played in part 1? (and part 3 without parts 1 and 2, and so forth) 4. Beginning part 2 after having seen only a fraction of part 1 -- will the adventure be playable? Can a quick summary of part 1 suffice for having not played the whole mod? I can think of some story objects from part 1 that the lack of could impact on later parts. Thanks in advance! Wow...what level were you all? A TPK in Part 1 is understandable...at the end of the mod maybe...with a low level party. Part 2-4 is not playable with a PC that did not play Part 1. Also, you cannot play ANY later part with a PC that did not play the earlier parts. As far as story objects...I have not read Part 3 and 4 yet. I can say that there is some plot twists in Part 2 that you will not fully get without playing through the end of Part 1. Basically, answering your questions in order: 1) This is not answered anywhere. 2) Yes. Same character that started Part 1 has to play all future parts (it is in the mod description). 3) Yes. 4) Yes. You can play part 2 with a short description of what you missed. As far as part 3 and 4 I can't speak.
pauldanielj 07-22-07, 04:11 PM	[QUOTE=lseelba;13151831]Wow...what level were you all? A TPK in Part 1 is understandable...at the end of the mod maybe...with a low level party. QUOTE] Thanks for the answers, Iseelba. The party was level 4 for the most part, but it was some poor tactical decisions combined with rotten luck that really did them in.
smerwin29 07-22-07, 04:28 PM	We need to talk about what to do. I am going to see if we can find a way to let people play later parts even if they didn't play the first parts, but it is not easy because of the nature of the adventure itself. Give us some time to talk to HQ and see what we can work out. Shawn
Timlagor 07-22-07, 04:56 PM	Would it be possible to post a spoiler-filled summary of parts 1&2 once they 'retire'? (I realise WotC might object but I'm pretty sure I could find spoilers somewhere online if I wanted to anyway)
dreamwolf 07-22-07, 07:19 PM	We need to talk about what to do. I am going to wee if we can find a way to let people play later parts even if they didn't play the first parts, but it is not easy because of the nature of the adventure itself. Give us some time to talk to HQ and see what we can work out. Shawn I would say that the very nature of Xen'Drik Expeditions makes this easier to handle than it might otherwise be. The party (as an elite cooperative group from the four factions) could easily be assembled for the third mission in the overall endeavour, being better suited to the specific challenges than the group that handled the first ones, or could even be going in after the earlier group "disappeared", etc. This would allow for a pretty detailed update from the different factions based on previous reports. In all, if I read the adventure correctly, this seems a bit less time and continuity dependant than some other mods (Red Hand of Doom comes to mind).
JJeff 07-22-07, 08:53 PM	Ok, I'm running EotLQ and have read through the whole adventure from start to end. I would feel that you may need at least one character in the party that has COMPLETED Part 1 to carry on through parts 2,3 and 4. There is something you need at the end of Part 1 to continue unless the whole plot and premise of the adventure is changed to suit the party. I don't know what the compromise might be, if any, but I am rather sure you need at least 1 character that has complete Part 1 all the way to the end.
pauldanielj 07-22-07, 10:19 PM	I would feel that you may need at least one character in the party that has COMPLETED Part 1 to carry on through parts 2,3 and 4. There is something you need at the end of Part 1 to continue unless the whole plot and premise of the adventure is changed to suit the party. I don't know what the compromise might be, if any, but I am rather sure you need at least 1 character that has complete Part 1 all the way to the end. I tend to agree with your assessment, but the plot could continue with relatively minor adjustments. Players, I find, are extremely forgiving with plot holes. In any event, it will be enlightening to hear the official word.
dreamwolf 07-24-07, 09:07 AM	I would feel that you may need at least one character in the party that has COMPLETED Part 1 to carry on through parts 2,3 and 4. There is something you need at the end of Part 1 to continue unless the whole plot and premise of the adventure is changed to suit the party. You're right. I had temporarily forgotten that bit. I don't see why everyone would have to be involved from the beginning, however. And an NPC could potentially solve it, although it's always a bit tricky when you need an NPC to finish an adventure.
Timlagor 07-28-07, 11:12 PM	Are you referring to the (awesome for some) non-faction story object that you pick up well before the end of part 1? [if not what?] I really enjoyed part 2 (and don't care about the EV&xp proportions) and it seemed to me that the reason for it was relatively unimportant.
WolfStar76 07-30-07, 11:08 AM	The story object "__________ of the ______ ______ Alter" is what's driving the story for the involved PCs. With the . . . . secondary effected mentioned by the sponsor of the original mission at the end of the module. (And you don't receive that item until near the very end of the module, unless your party somehow did things quite out-of-order, or the GM decided to step things up a bit). It would be less of a personal investment for PCs to continue the storyline without that Story Object, though again, faction leaders may well order PCs to tag along just because they want you to do so. The storyline's benefactor may be a bit less trusting of new "strangers" coming along for the ride, however - and that's where the major hitch would come from, IMHO.
Timlagor 07-30-07, 09:53 PM	That's what I meant, our running was a bit odd anyway ..but I thought everyone had at elast two 'encounters' after getting that ..though probably not the ones you'd get any TPK in.
WolfStar76 07-31-07, 08:48 AM	If I recall correctly there should only have been one more encounter after that object revealed itself. A "sizeable" encounter. But again, your DM, and therefore your mileage, may vary. :)