Novel based adventuring [Archive] - Wizards Community

Novel based adventuring [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Paix
07-23-07, 05:05 PM Our group is considering novels as a sort of an adventuring path. Most often, due to lack of time, we prefer pre-made ones, but we thought of trying to adapt a novel or two for our game.

We are only familiar with a very small portion of what is on offer and I would appreciate the recommendations of anyone that has tried it before.

Which novels did you find most useful/easier to adapt for play by 4-6 characters?

As a clarification, I am talking about adaptation of the plot line complete with encounters, events, effects, mostly as described rather than adventuring loosely based on one.
Aaron Highcolor
07-23-07, 07:19 PM I would be tempted to say the Dragonlance novels, but this is a Forgotten Realms board.

Hmm...I'll have to think on it more. Perhaps the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy?
Lord Karsus
07-23-07, 09:34 PM -If you didn't know already, there are pre-made modules concerning the Avatar Series in 2e (Shadowdale, Tantras & Waterdeep).

-If you want to go with something more recent, that you convert yourself, I have a few suggestions. For something epic (as in scale, and not level), the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy would be fun to adapt and play. So would the War of the Spider Queen Series. If you want more complex stuff, what little that has been released in the Twilight War Trilogy seems promising. The Sembia Series also provides some of that, as well.
Asgetrion
07-25-07, 04:43 PM You could also try to convert the Last Mythal trilogy (by Rich Baker) into a campaign, but it would probably require heavy modifications for a low-level party .
Paix
07-27-07, 05:48 PM Thank you for the replies.

I am not familiar with Dragonlance beyond knowing that it was one of the settings and as we game in Forgotten Relams, I am not sure how compatible they are.

As far as the series of books, The Spider wueen series is made up of 5 books. That is a large volume of information to convert to a campaign and from the reviews I gathered it is focused on drow and on a perticular group. Is this something you have converted and run?

The Last mythal seems to be about the machinations of the Fey'ri and the reclamation of Myth Drannor. Interesting plotline but that one too is a trilogy. It may require a lot more time than we can allocate to run. I suppose all good things are supposed to worth the wait.
Aaron Highcolor
07-27-07, 08:13 PM Thank you for the replies.

I am not familiar with Dragonlance beyond knowing that it was one of the settings and as we game in Forgotten Relams, I am not sure how compatible they are.

As far as the series of books, The Spider wueen series is made up of 5 books. That is a large volume of information to convert to a campaign and from the reviews I gathered it is focused on drow and on a perticular group. Is this something you have converted and run?

The Last mythal seems to be about the machinations of the Fey'ri and the reclamation of Myth Drannor. Interesting plotline but that one too is a trilogy. It may require a lot more time than we can allocate to run. I suppose all good things are supposed to worth the wait.

Dragonlance wouldn't be compatiable, I only mentioned it because they already did the novel-module thing...:)

If you want to go back aways, there is always the Darkwalker Trilogy by Douglas Niles. Starts out as a "low level" adventure and ends up being a "high level" campaign. Also a good read!
Lord Karsus
07-28-07, 08:26 PM As far as the series of books, The Spider wueen series is made up of 5 books. That is a large volume of information to convert to a campaign and from the reviews I gathered it is focused on drow and on a perticular group. Is this something you have converted and run?

-Yes, yes it is focused on the Drow. DRAGON Magazine published the stats of the majority of the main characters of the series in the early-to-mid 300s.
Crust
07-28-07, 08:30 PM Greenwood's The City of Splendors is a single novel. It might help to spawn a city-based campaign in Waterdeep.

Greenwood and Grubb's Cormyr: A Novel might do the same with Cormyr.

Other stand-alone Greenwood novels that might do the trick include:

Stormlight: Nobles are being murdered in Cormyr! War Wizards can't figure it out. PCs must help.

Shadows of Doom (yes, book 1 of a trilogy, but still good all by itself): Help save a wizard who can't use magic and free a city from a dark ruler!

Silverfall: Hop across Faerun in a mad dash to save the Seven Sisters!

Spellfire (and perhaps Crown of Fire afterward): Join a young group of adventurers as they battle the Zhentarim, the Cult of the Dragon, and encounter a young lass who can unleash the fabled spellfire!

;)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Paix 07-23-07, 05:05 PM	Our group is considering novels as a sort of an adventuring path. Most often, due to lack of time, we prefer pre-made ones, but we thought of trying to adapt a novel or two for our game. We are only familiar with a very small portion of what is on offer and I would appreciate the recommendations of anyone that has tried it before. Which novels did you find most useful/easier to adapt for play by 4-6 characters? As a clarification, I am talking about adaptation of the plot line complete with encounters, events, effects, mostly as described rather than adventuring loosely based on one.
Aaron Highcolor 07-23-07, 07:19 PM	I would be tempted to say the Dragonlance novels, but this is a Forgotten Realms board. Hmm...I'll have to think on it more. Perhaps the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy?
Lord Karsus 07-23-07, 09:34 PM	-If you didn't know already, there are pre-made modules concerning the Avatar Series in 2e (Shadowdale, Tantras & Waterdeep). -If you want to go with something more recent, that you convert yourself, I have a few suggestions. For something epic (as in scale, and not level), the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy would be fun to adapt and play. So would the War of the Spider Queen Series. If you want more complex stuff, what little that has been released in the Twilight War Trilogy seems promising. The Sembia Series also provides some of that, as well.
Asgetrion 07-25-07, 04:43 PM	You could also try to convert the Last Mythal trilogy (by Rich Baker) into a campaign, but it would probably require heavy modifications for a low-level party .
Paix 07-27-07, 05:48 PM	Thank you for the replies. I am not familiar with Dragonlance beyond knowing that it was one of the settings and as we game in Forgotten Relams, I am not sure how compatible they are. As far as the series of books, The Spider wueen series is made up of 5 books. That is a large volume of information to convert to a campaign and from the reviews I gathered it is focused on drow and on a perticular group. Is this something you have converted and run? The Last mythal seems to be about the machinations of the Fey'ri and the reclamation of Myth Drannor. Interesting plotline but that one too is a trilogy. It may require a lot more time than we can allocate to run. I suppose all good things are supposed to worth the wait.
Aaron Highcolor 07-27-07, 08:13 PM	Thank you for the replies. I am not familiar with Dragonlance beyond knowing that it was one of the settings and as we game in Forgotten Relams, I am not sure how compatible they are. As far as the series of books, The Spider wueen series is made up of 5 books. That is a large volume of information to convert to a campaign and from the reviews I gathered it is focused on drow and on a perticular group. Is this something you have converted and run? The Last mythal seems to be about the machinations of the Fey'ri and the reclamation of Myth Drannor. Interesting plotline but that one too is a trilogy. It may require a lot more time than we can allocate to run. I suppose all good things are supposed to worth the wait. Dragonlance wouldn't be compatiable, I only mentioned it because they already did the novel-module thing...:) If you want to go back aways, there is always the Darkwalker Trilogy by Douglas Niles. Starts out as a "low level" adventure and ends up being a "high level" campaign. Also a good read!
Lord Karsus 07-28-07, 08:26 PM	As far as the series of books, The Spider wueen series is made up of 5 books. That is a large volume of information to convert to a campaign and from the reviews I gathered it is focused on drow and on a perticular group. Is this something you have converted and run? -Yes, yes it is focused on the Drow. DRAGON Magazine published the stats of the majority of the main characters of the series in the early-to-mid 300s.
Crust 07-28-07, 08:30 PM	Greenwood's The City of Splendors is a single novel. It might help to spawn a city-based campaign in Waterdeep. Greenwood and Grubb's Cormyr: A Novel might do the same with Cormyr. Other stand-alone Greenwood novels that might do the trick include: Stormlight: Nobles are being murdered in Cormyr! War Wizards can't figure it out. PCs must help. Shadows of Doom (yes, book 1 of a trilogy, but still good all by itself): Help save a wizard who can't use magic and free a city from a dark ruler! Silverfall: Hop across Faerun in a mad dash to save the Seven Sisters! Spellfire (and perhaps Crown of Fire afterward): Join a young group of adventurers as they battle the Zhentarim, the Cult of the Dragon, and encounter a young lass who can unleash the fabled spellfire! ;)