New DM running Age of Worms in Eberron - Advice? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

New DM running Age of Worms in Eberron - Advice?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
raythmolba
Jan 16, 2009 22:01:27 I am a first-time DM, preparing to run the Age of Worms adventure path for my players, 2 of which have played 3.5 before, one of which haven't played 3.5, but have played older editions, and one of which hasn't played D&D before. I have looked over the adventure path, and seem to understand it pretty well, but I was wondering if anyone here on the boards had any input to give on running the adventure path.

For classes, so far we have a Warforged Barbarian, Gnome Cleric, Gnome Sorceror, and Drow Swift Hunter. The barbarian and the swift hunter are the ones who have played before, the sorceror is the player who played older editions, and the cleric is the new player. None of them really know where they want their builds to go, but I have told them that I am willing to help them if they have any ideas on what they want to do.

Because the cleric's player is new, they have asked me for help on making their character, and because of the general theme of the Age of Worms, I was thinking of having them prestige into Radiant Servant of Pelor, to combat the undead, only altered to fit Eberron, because that is where we are playing it in. Would RSoP do well in AoW, or are there not enough undead to warrant taking the class? Also, are there any other ideas for prestige classes, feats, and the like that are recommended for the adventure path?

Thanks for any help you guys can give.
#2
fetfreakvr2
Jan 17, 2009 3:38:25 well age of worms is full of undead.. There are also prestige classes that come in the adventure path made just for the age of worms but it is in latter chapters.
#3
fetfreakvr2
Jan 17, 2009 9:21:01 also since you are new in dming be sure that two expirienced player don't steal the light of two new players, cause they are not gonna like it. Help them where ever you can. If you can put a situation only a cleric or a sorceror can solve so they would feel good about their characters. Also speak with the expirienced players and explain them that it would be good that they help their friends with builds and the game so everyone can have a good time.
As for age of worms feel free to change things so you and your player would have more fun. You'll see what your friends like and go that way, you don't have to stick to the modul all the time.
#4
raythmolba
Jan 18, 2009 0:44:20 Thanks for the advice. Does anyone else have anything to add? I would greatly appreciate any advice.

Also, on a completely unrelated note, does anyone know any good spells for clerics to prepare? I have never played one, so I don't really know what advice to give the player.
#5
runestar
Jan 18, 2009 3:50:08 No experience with that, but there is a thread which covers it. You may be able to glean some insight there.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/247295-age-worms-players.html
#6
fetfreakvr2
Jan 18, 2009 4:59:43 Well these are my favs for the cleric. We only use core so I don't know what other books can offer.
1st lvl divine favor, shielf of faith and sanctuary
2nd lvl hold person, spiritual weapon
3rd lvl bestow curse, searing light (against undeads)
4th Divine power.
well those are my favorites
#7
raythmolba
Jan 18, 2009 9:19:22 Thanks for that link, runestar, and thanks for the continued advice, FetFreak. I am going to go DM the game in about 2 hours, so thanks for all of the help! This might actually turn into a campaign diary thing, if I see interest, or need additional help. I have heard that one of the encounters in Whispering Cairn is supposed to be really hard, but without playing it I don't really have and judge on difficulty. Could I get some help identifying which one is so hard, and maybe some tips on how to make it easier, or how to help my players beat it?
#8
fetfreakvr2
Jan 18, 2009 10:10:31 not sure which encounter is that one but if your players start losing give them hints that they can always retreat and regroup, you can also give them an oportunity to retreat. Try not to fudge your rolls but you can give them "extra" help, just don't make it a habit. No one likes battles if they always win.
#9
hastur_nz
Feb 10, 2009 19:57:11 I've run it all the way through, although somewhat 'enhanced' at times.

The best source for advice is from the publisher's site (I posted a fair bit there when I was running it):
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/archives
Those two contain as much help as you have available time to sift though it all really! Some specific examples of threads for you would be:
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/forThoseWhoHaveFinishedWhatWouldYouDoDifferently
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/startingAoWCampaignAFewQuestions
http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/expandedEberronConversions
Be sure to grab the 'overload' PDF to help spice up the first couple of adventures in Diamond Lake:
http://paizo.com/download/dungeon/AgeOfWormsOverload.zip
Also, some Eberron 'conversion' tips (and pics from the mags) are in the supplements here:
http://paizo.com/dungeon/news

If you've got inexperienced players and DM, my main advice would be to be generous with them, and don't try to over-complicate things. By all means read some advice, but at the end of the day just remember to keep it simple, and that, as written, the adventure does tend to assume you've got some pretty capable players, so some bits might end up being too hard for your group unless you're all pretty good learners.

The party balance doesn't look too off the mark, although from around 5th level I think a wizard starts to become harder and harder to live without if only for their utility spells that allow things no other class can do - a sorcerer might be able to do this but would likely want to stock up on additional scrolls and wands to round out their spell selection; be sure to add some more arcane scrolls for them to find, as the adventure assumes wizards/sorcerers spend plenty of money scribing / buying more, or the wizard just lives with a skinny spell-book in which case they may as well have chosen sorcerer). Oh, and discourage multiclassing unless it's into a PrC that builds on their core strength and doesn't dilute it - in particular spell casters can't afford to lose even one level of spell casting, unless you want to adjust the adventures / allow the PC's to be above the recommended levels.

Good luck, it's a great adventure path if you can find the time to run through it all...
#10
thrillba
May 03, 2010 11:58:11 How are things going rayth, I started this campaign a while back and because of time and everything like that we are on the 5th installment. I started it on 4th edition so I had some number crunching I had to do and we figured out we don't like 4th that much so we went back to 3.5.

I have all the pdf's if you need anything just send an email to darkoverlordtanthalas@gmail.com.

The main thing to remember is that the characters are theirs, let them go the way they want to. The only battle that was really hard was the fight against the undead creature under the water. The water elemental was easy because it came to the players as soon as they stepped foot into the water but the other they had to swim and fight and hold their breath and all that jazz.

The main piece of advice I can give, and I got it off of these forums somewhere, is do not worry about XP. Just tell them when they level. This way you can stay in the story line and not have to worry so much about setting up extra fights.

When my pc's were on their way to the free city they were going to have to fight a bunch of fights - 9 to be exact - in order to get to level 7. Thats when I read the strategy that you just tell them when they level. My players seem to like it because they don't have to have a couple of sessions of nonsense fighting inbetween story sessions. It is easier to keep the story going in their heads. Your guys may be different.

Email me if you have any other problems.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 raythmolba Jan 16, 2009 22:01:27	I am a first-time DM, preparing to run the Age of Worms adventure path for my players, 2 of which have played 3.5 before, one of which haven't played 3.5, but have played older editions, and one of which hasn't played D&D before. I have looked over the adventure path, and seem to understand it pretty well, but I was wondering if anyone here on the boards had any input to give on running the adventure path. For classes, so far we have a Warforged Barbarian, Gnome Cleric, Gnome Sorceror, and Drow Swift Hunter. The barbarian and the swift hunter are the ones who have played before, the sorceror is the player who played older editions, and the cleric is the new player. None of them really know where they want their builds to go, but I have told them that I am willing to help them if they have any ideas on what they want to do. Because the cleric's player is new, they have asked me for help on making their character, and because of the general theme of the Age of Worms, I was thinking of having them prestige into Radiant Servant of Pelor, to combat the undead, only altered to fit Eberron, because that is where we are playing it in. Would RSoP do well in AoW, or are there not enough undead to warrant taking the class? Also, are there any other ideas for prestige classes, feats, and the like that are recommended for the adventure path? Thanks for any help you guys can give.
#2 fetfreakvr2 Jan 17, 2009 3:38:25	well age of worms is full of undead.. There are also prestige classes that come in the adventure path made just for the age of worms but it is in latter chapters.
#3 fetfreakvr2 Jan 17, 2009 9:21:01	also since you are new in dming be sure that two expirienced player don't steal the light of two new players, cause they are not gonna like it. Help them where ever you can. If you can put a situation only a cleric or a sorceror can solve so they would feel good about their characters. Also speak with the expirienced players and explain them that it would be good that they help their friends with builds and the game so everyone can have a good time. As for age of worms feel free to change things so you and your player would have more fun. You'll see what your friends like and go that way, you don't have to stick to the modul all the time.
#4 raythmolba Jan 18, 2009 0:44:20	Thanks for the advice. Does anyone else have anything to add? I would greatly appreciate any advice. Also, on a completely unrelated note, does anyone know any good spells for clerics to prepare? I have never played one, so I don't really know what advice to give the player.
#5 runestar Jan 18, 2009 3:50:08	No experience with that, but there is a thread which covers it. You may be able to glean some insight there. http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-discussion/247295-age-worms-players.html
#6 fetfreakvr2 Jan 18, 2009 4:59:43	Well these are my favs for the cleric. We only use core so I don't know what other books can offer. 1st lvl divine favor, shielf of faith and sanctuary 2nd lvl hold person, spiritual weapon 3rd lvl bestow curse, searing light (against undeads) 4th Divine power. well those are my favorites
#7 raythmolba Jan 18, 2009 9:19:22	Thanks for that link, runestar, and thanks for the continued advice, FetFreak. I am going to go DM the game in about 2 hours, so thanks for all of the help! This might actually turn into a campaign diary thing, if I see interest, or need additional help. I have heard that one of the encounters in Whispering Cairn is supposed to be really hard, but without playing it I don't really have and judge on difficulty. Could I get some help identifying which one is so hard, and maybe some tips on how to make it easier, or how to help my players beat it?
#8 fetfreakvr2 Jan 18, 2009 10:10:31	not sure which encounter is that one but if your players start losing give them hints that they can always retreat and regroup, you can also give them an oportunity to retreat. Try not to fudge your rolls but you can give them "extra" help, just don't make it a habit. No one likes battles if they always win.
#9 hastur_nz Feb 10, 2009 19:57:11	I've run it all the way through, although somewhat 'enhanced' at times. The best source for advice is from the publisher's site (I posted a fair bit there when I was running it): http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/archives Those two contain as much help as you have available time to sift though it all really! Some specific examples of threads for you would be: http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/forThoseWhoHaveFinishedWhatWouldYouDoDifferently http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/startingAoWCampaignAFewQuestions http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/olderProducts/dungeon/ageOfWorms/expandedEberronConversions Be sure to grab the 'overload' PDF to help spice up the first couple of adventures in Diamond Lake: http://paizo.com/download/dungeon/AgeOfWormsOverload.zip Also, some Eberron 'conversion' tips (and pics from the mags) are in the supplements here: http://paizo.com/dungeon/news If you've got inexperienced players and DM, my main advice would be to be generous with them, and don't try to over-complicate things. By all means read some advice, but at the end of the day just remember to keep it simple, and that, as written, the adventure does tend to assume you've got some pretty capable players, so some bits might end up being too hard for your group unless you're all pretty good learners. The party balance doesn't look too off the mark, although from around 5th level I think a wizard starts to become harder and harder to live without if only for their utility spells that allow things no other class can do - a sorcerer might be able to do this but would likely want to stock up on additional scrolls and wands to round out their spell selection; be sure to add some more arcane scrolls for them to find, as the adventure assumes wizards/sorcerers spend plenty of money scribing / buying more, or the wizard just lives with a skinny spell-book in which case they may as well have chosen sorcerer). Oh, and discourage multiclassing unless it's into a PrC that builds on their core strength and doesn't dilute it - in particular spell casters can't afford to lose even one level of spell casting, unless you want to adjust the adventures / allow the PC's to be above the recommended levels. Good luck, it's a great adventure path if you can find the time to run through it all...
#10 thrillba May 03, 2010 11:58:11	How are things going rayth, I started this campaign a while back and because of time and everything like that we are on the 5th installment. I started it on 4th edition so I had some number crunching I had to do and we figured out we don't like 4th that much so we went back to 3.5. I have all the pdf's if you need anything just send an email to darkoverlordtanthalas@gmail.com. The main thing to remember is that the characters are theirs, let them go the way they want to. The only battle that was really hard was the fight against the undead creature under the water. The water elemental was easy because it came to the players as soon as they stepped foot into the water but the other they had to swim and fight and hold their breath and all that jazz. The main piece of advice I can give, and I got it off of these forums somewhere, is do not worry about XP. Just tell them when they level. This way you can stay in the story line and not have to worry so much about setting up extra fights. When my pc's were on their way to the free city they were going to have to fight a bunch of fights - 9 to be exact - in order to get to level 7. Thats when I read the strategy that you just tell them when they level. My players seem to like it because they don't have to have a couple of sessions of nonsense fighting inbetween story sessions. It is easier to keep the story going in their heads. Your guys may be different. Email me if you have any other problems.