Additional 'Pirates of Drinax' Related Publications? Worth It?

[wintertraveller]

The PoD campaign is such fun. Don't fear running it if your players are willing and able to cooperate driving the story. It is a campaign that can inspire new players and that inspiration and desire to play will overcome any game or campaign mechanics learning. If players love what they are playing, they'll pull information instead of the referee having to push. Try this campaign for a bit and then restart and try it again. It will be a whole new experience each play through. It is the best campaign setting. It has some opportunities for further improvement, but the wrinkles are minor in contrast to the genius open world benefits. This is worth reading. Few of the campaign blogs seem to end up focusing on piracy.

 

[Endie]

Dranax has a start. And a lead into piracy. Its slows down getting into PoD and its a hat and on hat.
And my gosh Ilelish is like over 2 year journey to Drinax. This isnt a complaint or a challenge. Just a super far away.

I did wonder if perhaps you didn’t know about Reft or the Rift Adventures that @mavikfelna and I were talking about.

And most people I’ve read about and spoken to about successfully running PoD (and that’s now a lot!) run one or more adventures beforehand. It works far better with a less abrupt intro that gives a more natural reason for Oleb gambling on the party. If the Travellers have achieved absolutely nothing then the suspension of disbelief is trickier as to why the fat lad in the crown is handing them the most valuable asset in his dying kingdom.

 

[wintertraveller]

Just get the Drinaxian Companion, which is well worth it and contains those extra adventures (and more).

I agree with this advice but it is not required. The "First Prize" introductory PoD adventure in this book is well worth the cost of the whole supplement. It's like adding a chapter to the whole campaign.

 

[wintertraveller]

PoD is heavy with side systems that are only found in PoD.

This is true.

I've used the side systems as guides, cherry picked the best bits that seemed interesting, and ignored some with no harm to the campaign. I like the rules for looting ships of everything not nailed down. For the most part, I've ignored the faction standing as a mechanic but kept the concept for flavor as broad reputation. The need to fence loot keeps PC wealth from being destabilizing.

 

[wintertraveller]

Oleb/Rhoa plan is stupid.

Yes, they are ridiculous. That's been fun. So many choices...