To Slay A Dragon: old-style dragonslaying adventure for Pathfinder RPG, inspired by NIGHT BELOW boxset. Now with added 4E stretch goal!
SOMETIMES YOU JUST WANNA KICK A DRAGON'S ASS OLD-STYLE!
Do you remember D&D adventures which consisted solely of trekking to a dragon's lair and slaying it, old-school style? Have you fond memories of the NIGHT BELOW boxed set - in particular the first book which details the area of Haranshire and the various goings-on there?
If you love the idea of a small village setting, detailed with various plot hooks and sub-quests, followed by a good-old fashioned hex-crawl and a dragon slaying, this adventure is for you! It's NIGHT BELOW crossed with THE HOBBIT. Kinda.
SANDBOX VILLAGE --> WILDERNESS TREK --> DUNGEON CRAWL
Call it a large-adventure. Or a campaign arc. Call it what you like, but it's an awesome old-style experience which will cover several levels of game play. Right now we're aiming for 1st-6th level.
TO SLAY A DRAGON for the PATHFINDER RPG is divided into three parts:
THE ILLS OF HENGISTBURY details the village of Hengistbury and its environs. Numerous small quests and hooks bring the area alive - fey kidnapping children in the Weirwood, a werewolf roaming the moors, a hag enticing the lizardman tribes to attack fishermen, a passing adventuring group causing trouble, a ruined castle haunted by a poltergeist, and much more! This part is very sandboxy.
THE JOURNEY details the trek to Skull Mountain, the lair of the dragon. A traditional journey across a hex-map, with random encounters and notable locations along the way. The party will be harrassed by the dragon's kobold spies as they get closer to their destination.
INTO THE DRAGON'S LAIR details the lair of the dragon (a volcano, of course!) and the dragon itself, along with its kobold minions. This part is a classic dungeon crawl with a dragon at the end. Yep - a DUNGEON with a DRAGON in it.
The current (rough) table of contents is below. This is fully subject to change and - most definitely - to expansion! What is shown below is what had been written at the time of posting this Kickstarter project: mainly the first part of the adventure.
Plot Overview
Hengistbury and Environs
-Other People of Note
-Locations
-Timeline
-Character Advancement
Part I: The Ills of Hengistbury
-Quest I: Jack of the Weirwood
-Quest II: The Hound of Fogmoor
-Quest III: Troll Under the Bridge
-Quest IV: Memories of Brockendale
-Quest V: Lizard's Lament
-Quest VI: Escort Service
-Quest VII: Pandora's Box
-Quest VIII: Manhunter
-Quest IX: On Safari
-Quest X: Troublemakers
-Quest XI: Peculiar, Most Peculiar
-Quest XII: Kobolds of Thornbury
Part II: The Journey
-Random Encounters
-Lots of Stuff
Part III: Into the Dragon's Lair
-Lots of Stuff
Appendix: Bestiary
So, what's the Kickstarter for?
Art and cartography, primarily, as well as paying me (the author). The more money we raise, the prettier the whole thing will be. $1000 is an absolute minimum, but to make this truly AWESOME we need to aim higher.
Stretch Goals
Yep, we have some ideas for stretch goals!
$2000: a 32-page sourcebook detailing the county of Holdenshire, its inhabitants, locations, and dozens of plot hooks. Every backer will receive the PDF copy for free.
$3000: NPC portraits collection - each NPC of Hengistbury and Thornbury lovingly presented. Every backer will receive the portraits in digital form.
$5000: A bonus, surprise adventure! I won't spoil it yet, but it might involve a vampire!
If by some miracle we raise even more than that, then we have some great further ideas for rewards and stretch goals, including poster maps, handouts, and all sorts of cool things. We'll post about them if it looks like it'll become relevant!
Some artwork copyright Matthew Myer, 2011. Licensed by Nevermet Press, LLC. Used with permission.
Some artwork copyright Claudio Pozas, used with permission
Some artwork copyright Lightworker. Used with permission.
FAQ
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Although we won't know exactly how big this will be until we finish writing it, it will certainly be over 100 pages (plus another 32 or so if the stretch goal is met). If you imagine three typical adventures from the likes of Paizo or WotC, that's what we're roughly looking at in terms of size. As work continues, we'll keep posting updates as the final size becomes clear.
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Actually, yes. In PDF form, at least. They are being designed so that each can be used independently. So if you need a wilderness journey adventure, or just want to detail your PCs journey to whatever location in your own game, you can simply use The Journey, the second part. Similarly, if you just want a sandboxy village or you are in dire need of a cool dragon lair, you can use the appropriate adventures wholesale just as they are. Because the "plot" is so simple, the three elements - sandboxy village with quests, wilderness journey, dragon's lair - are very "plug 'n' play".
247
Backers
$7,538
pledged of $1,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jul 10, 2012 -
Aug 9, 2012
(30 days)
- 5 created · 5 backed
- Russ Morrissey 410 friends
- Website: enworld.org
Pledge $5 or more
1 backer
For this minor dragon's tribute, you may name one resident of Hengistbury or Thornbury. Name him/her after yourself, a friend, your character, your GM. We reserve the right to work with you to make sure the name isn't too silly, though!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $10 or more
127 backers
A full-color PDF copy of the adventure! All backers of higher pledges will also receive the PDF version of the adventure in addition to the listed reward.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $18 or more
22 backers
Receive the PDF version of the adventure, plus you may name (and describe) one permanent resident of Hengistbury.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $30 or more
28 backers
Just the book please! You simply get a black-and-white softcover book (the cover's color, though). No frills, naming rights, credits, or other stuff. Just the book. Oh, OK, you can have the PDF for free as well.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $50 or more
35 backers
Just the book please - in color! Same as the $30 pledge, except your book will be prettier and more colorful.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $60 or more
16 backers
You get the full-color softcover and PDF versions of the adventure, plus you may name (and describe) one permanent resident of Hengistbury. International (non-US) backers, please add $5 for shipping.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $100 or more
7 backers
DRAGON'S POWER! This is the ultimate combination of loot and influence - a real way to creatively influence the adventure, just like a real, devious dragon would do. You get the full-color softback and the PDF, of course. If we make it to the Hengistbury sourcebook stretch goal, you'll get a softcover version of that, too. PLUS - pick something you'd like to see in the book, that's on-theme and will fit into a page or two, and we'll put it in. Random weather tables and rules for the journey? A guide to dragon treasure hoards? Your very own elite kobold unit? Whatever you want, we'll work with you to get it in there.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $100 or more
9 backers
DRAGON'S HOARD! This one's just about the loot; no naming rights or anything like that. Just loot. In addition to the PDF and softcover version of the adventure, you will also receive an exclusive full-color print of either the Hengistbury area or Skull Mountain. If you want BOTH, simply add $30 to your pledge (so pledge $130). International (non-US) backers, please add $10 for shipping. PLUS, if we make it to the Hengistbury sourcebook stretch goal, you'll get a softcover version of that, too.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $500 or more
1 backer All gone!
I AM THE DRAGON! Only one person can claim this reward. Yes, the titular dragon will be yours. Of course, you get a softcover and PDF copy of the adventure, and ALL rewards above plus a print of your dragon. And, to top it all off, your name will be on the FRONT COVER along with the author's, which should make some of your fellow gamers raise their eyebrows!
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
Hey, we know nobody's gonna claim this reward. But if you do then we'll write a roughly 32 page book about whatever you want (as long as it's on topic - we don't know much about the mating habits of penguins, for example). We'll work with you to get it right, so you will be fully involved - although we do the hard lifting. And, because it's your book, you'll have your name on the front along with the author, and you'll have five full-color copies to give to friends and family.
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012
