Messantia Box Set Received

[Raven Blackwell]

I'd give Messantia a good 'B' [with Shadizar a 'F', Pirate Isles a 'B+', Scrolls of Skeleos a 'A-' and the rest yet unreviewed] Book One is solid- I can use this a a base to build on. Book Two- eh. My party isn't much for debate, though intregue is their thing lately. Someone might want the Agent of the Crown prestige class. Book Three- some solid RP seeds there. I started making my own spin on it- er SPOILER [Highlight the spoiler below if you want to read it]

Since the PCs are working with a group of thieves and smugglers associated with the temple of Bel their investigation into the Golden Skull starts with the PCs being sent to investigate what they think is a rival gang. Turns out that the Golden Skull is running a few rackets to raise capital for thier 'nefarious plans'(tm). So they meet with the information broker and enounter one happens with some adlibbed (sp?) dialogue but not many other changes. However they were apprehended by the Guard and managed to impress them with their professionalism, so the Guard is using them as temporary agents of the crown in this matter. Although it is not a first, my group is wokring for both sides of the law on this.....

It's my intention to run it to halves and pad out the first half with a bit of leg work and investigations. The second half.....well I know my players know of this site, so I'm not spoiling anything.

Raven, plotting.....

 

[Decurio]

After reading over the thread thus far on Messantia, I don't quite understand its lackluster reception; thus far the Conan line has been exceptional, and Messantia was no exception.

-hardly ever use maps when in a city, so the maps were no biggie.

-Book One was an absolute gem; I found it far more evocative than
Shadizar, and adventure ideas was popping into my head as I read
through the book; imagine, if you will, the chaos that would ensue if
a bunch of "unsophisticated" barbarians get involved in House politics? (Houses could hire them as muscle/thieves/scapegoats and under/overestimate their capabilities) I ran my group through just such a
scenario recently and we had a blast!

I dug Messantia, and am looking forward to future releases. Bring on the Brythunian dancing girls, baby!

 

[GregLynch]

Thanks, Decurio. Glad to hear you're enjoying it.

 

[Sir Hackalot]

Do you think someone could give me a write up of Argentio because I wanted to have him appear in an earlier adventure so as to have the characters meet him first and become friends. I imagine he would be a commoner with some charisma related skills so I could probably make him up myself but a write-up would help.

 

[Raven Blackwell]

Since he's not much more than a 'here I am, watch me die' NPC, he's got no official stats I noticed. My guess is that you could rule he's a Thief with a lot of ranks in social skills like Bluff, Sense Motive, and obviously Gather Information as opposed to more combat orientated ones like Hide and Move Silently.

Raven