Adventure Optimization - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Adventure Optimization

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ymuckluck
Mar 14, 2010 21:43:03 I would like to run a campaign that takes my players from level 1 to level 20. The only published campaign I know that does this is the key of destiny in the Dragonlance campaign setting. Does anyone know of any other published adventure that does this?
#2
bruceleeroy
Mar 15, 2010 7:20:29 Only one I can think of off the top of my head is The World's Largest Dungeon. Third party, maniacal, controversial, many house-rules. But...huge.

I know there's a few others. Can't think of them, though.

I've almost always ran homebrew.
#3
Weezel
Mar 16, 2010 1:14:40 I believe the Age of Worms campaign runs through from 1st level to 20th (or maybe epic I'm not entirely sure). It is reputedly a very tough campaign to survive through.
#4
Senevri
Mar 16, 2010 18:11:30 Well, Campaign or a Campaign Skeleton?

Tome of Battle has resources from EL 4 to EL 16 or so, and Elder Evils has from 1 to 20. Heroes of Horror also has the seeds for a thematic campaign from... mm, probably from 1 to 20.

You could even start with a zombiegeddon and build to Return to the Tomb of Horrors, which is roughly a 9 to 20 campaign.

I think pathfinder's Adventure Path thingy is thematically/plot-wise linked enough to count as a campaign.

Return to Temple of Elemental Evil can run from 4 to 20, too.
#5
ymuckluck
Mar 16, 2010 23:43:32 Thanks you guys! I chose to play the Age of Worms after looking at the ones I could find. I hear it's hard, I'll probably revise some of the things in it that has problems but that's okay. Here's the characters my friends made (Gonna have to use level progression for the Sprite; anyone know where I can find one? They are easy to do yourself just wondering if their was an official one.)

Party:
Human Favored Soul
Dragon Descended Half-Elf Binder
Warforged Evoker
Sprite Factotum
#6
ikeren
Mar 17, 2010 1:13:39 WotC has free stand alone adventures from 1-20, usually 2-3 per level.

Rappan Athuk is a huge dungeon crawl from 6-18
Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is 4-15.
Worlds' Largest Dungeon is 1-20, with possibilities for an epic level or two.
#7
Weezel
Mar 17, 2010 1:21:08
(Gonna have to use level progression for the Sprite; anyone know where I can find one? They are easy to do yourself just wondering if their was an official one.)

There is a 5 level-long progression for pixie in Savage Species pg.191

To adapt it for normal play when you get to 5th level and finish the progression just swap out the racial HD for a normal character class and you have a +4LA character ;)
#8
ymuckluck
Mar 17, 2010 1:49:52
(Gonna have to use level progression for the Sprite; anyone know where I can find one? They are easy to do yourself just wondering if their was an official one.)

There is a 5 level-long progression for pixie in Savage Species pg.191

To adapt it for normal play when you get to 5th level and finish the progression just swap out the racial HD for a normal character class and you have a +4LA character ;)

Thanks! lol @ rappan athuk. We're playing that over the summer. The DM wins when the TPK occurs.
#9
Weezel
Mar 17, 2010 6:18:48 Probably worth noting the monster progression doesn't actually give you all the features of the race (I believe DR is absent). Also, untill level 4 when permanent greater invisibility is gained, it's a 1d6hd effectively classless character which will require some serious luck to survive if you are going to run age of worms ;)
#10
Senevri
Mar 17, 2010 8:46:35 it's probably more playable to start with XP debt.

Pathfinder did some interesting things, since they don't use LA:

1. XP debt as mentioned - an example of a LA +1 race starts with XP debt equal to half-way to level 2, or 500xp. That's an interesting way of handling it, but probably breaks down in the long run. maybe.

2. 'lesser' version - Resistances become a save bonus vs., spell-like abilities become less powerful spell-like abilities.

For an example, a pixie
- without SR, but with a +4 save vs. spells and spell-like abilities,
- without slas outside cantrips
- without Greater Invisibility SU
would be about LA +1.

Giving the player option to buy back these abilities when they become appropriate, say, level 7 for Greater Invisibility, using feats for an example, or taking levels in fey HD, each giving back some of these abilities.
#11
waazraath
Mar 18, 2010 12:51:50 Is age of worms already released as a book? I have it's predecessor, Shackled City, which takes characters from 1-20. It's from Paizo as well, who did dungeon and now Pathfinder.

The hardcover of Shacled City is great, few brilliant adventures, good maps, great artwork... overall very nice, though at the end, the plot isn't thought out enough and needs some work from the DM. Highly recommended!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ymuckluck Mar 14, 2010 21:43:03	I would like to run a campaign that takes my players from level 1 to level 20. The only published campaign I know that does this is the key of destiny in the Dragonlance campaign setting. Does anyone know of any other published adventure that does this?
#2 bruceleeroy Mar 15, 2010 7:20:29	Only one I can think of off the top of my head is The World's Largest Dungeon. Third party, maniacal, controversial, many house-rules. But...huge. I know there's a few others. Can't think of them, though. I've almost always ran homebrew.
#3 Weezel Mar 16, 2010 1:14:40	I believe the Age of Worms campaign runs through from 1st level to 20th (or maybe epic I'm not entirely sure). It is reputedly a very tough campaign to survive through.
#4 Senevri Mar 16, 2010 18:11:30	Well, Campaign or a Campaign Skeleton? Tome of Battle has resources from EL 4 to EL 16 or so, and Elder Evils has from 1 to 20. Heroes of Horror also has the seeds for a thematic campaign from... mm, probably from 1 to 20. You could even start with a zombiegeddon and build to Return to the Tomb of Horrors, which is roughly a 9 to 20 campaign. I think pathfinder's Adventure Path thingy is thematically/plot-wise linked enough to count as a campaign. Return to Temple of Elemental Evil can run from 4 to 20, too.
#5 ymuckluck Mar 16, 2010 23:43:32	Thanks you guys! I chose to play the Age of Worms after looking at the ones I could find. I hear it's hard, I'll probably revise some of the things in it that has problems but that's okay. Here's the characters my friends made (Gonna have to use level progression for the Sprite; anyone know where I can find one? They are easy to do yourself just wondering if their was an official one.) Party: Human Favored Soul Dragon Descended Half-Elf Binder Warforged Evoker Sprite Factotum
#6 ikeren Mar 17, 2010 1:13:39	WotC has free stand alone adventures from 1-20, usually 2-3 per level. Rappan Athuk is a huge dungeon crawl from 6-18 Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil is 4-15. Worlds' Largest Dungeon is 1-20, with possibilities for an epic level or two.
#7 Weezel Mar 17, 2010 1:21:08	(Gonna have to use level progression for the Sprite; anyone know where I can find one? They are easy to do yourself just wondering if their was an official one.) There is a 5 level-long progression for pixie in Savage Species pg.191 To adapt it for normal play when you get to 5th level and finish the progression just swap out the racial HD for a normal character class and you have a +4LA character ;)
#8 ymuckluck Mar 17, 2010 1:49:52	(Gonna have to use level progression for the Sprite; anyone know where I can find one? They are easy to do yourself just wondering if their was an official one.) There is a 5 level-long progression for pixie in Savage Species pg.191 To adapt it for normal play when you get to 5th level and finish the progression just swap out the racial HD for a normal character class and you have a +4LA character ;) Thanks! lol @ rappan athuk. We're playing that over the summer. The DM wins when the TPK occurs.
#9 Weezel Mar 17, 2010 6:18:48	Probably worth noting the monster progression doesn't actually give you all the features of the race (I believe DR is absent). Also, untill level 4 when permanent greater invisibility is gained, it's a 1d6hd effectively classless character which will require some serious luck to survive if you are going to run age of worms ;)
#10 Senevri Mar 17, 2010 8:46:35	it's probably more playable to start with XP debt. Pathfinder did some interesting things, since they don't use LA: 1. XP debt as mentioned - an example of a LA +1 race starts with XP debt equal to half-way to level 2, or 500xp. That's an interesting way of handling it, but probably breaks down in the long run. maybe. 2. 'lesser' version - Resistances become a save bonus vs., spell-like abilities become less powerful spell-like abilities. For an example, a pixie - without SR, but with a +4 save vs. spells and spell-like abilities, - without slas outside cantrips - without Greater Invisibility SU would be about LA +1. Giving the player option to buy back these abilities when they become appropriate, say, level 7 for Greater Invisibility, using feats for an example, or taking levels in fey HD, each giving back some of these abilities.
#11 waazraath Mar 18, 2010 12:51:50	Is age of worms already released as a book? I have it's predecessor, Shackled City, which takes characters from 1-20. It's from Paizo as well, who did dungeon and now Pathfinder. The hardcover of Shacled City is great, few brilliant adventures, good maps, great artwork... overall very nice, though at the end, the plot isn't thought out enough and needs some work from the DM. Highly recommended!