@munroe@dice.campI'm thinking about #Pathfinder1e adventures suitable for level one in #Ustalav. One idea is dealing with a possession by a low CR entity.
I like the idea of using Ritual Exorcism from Occult Adventures, but the failure effect (a temporary negative level for all casters+4d6 damage for primary caster) is fatal at level 1.
https://www.aonprd.com/OccultRituals.aspx?ItemName=Ritual%20Exorcism
I might make a weaker version of the #ritual (only affects low CR entities) with a less severe failure effect. Maybe "folk exorcism."
#TTRPG #P1e
@munroe nice idea, although I've always seen Ustalav as a "Land with no heart", so a lethal encounter at first level fits my personal imaginary.
Yeah, I have no objection to potentially lethal encounters at any level but I don't think the solution to the problem should be "Do the thing that will almost certainly kill us."
Ritual Exorcism has a Skill check DC of 28, and under standard Occult Ritual casting rules, requires three successes (out of four checks).
I can make a weaker version that has a longer casting time (to slightly lower the DC) and lesser effect plus lesser failure effect, to encourage re-tries.
Of course if they don't actually attempt Ritual Exorcism until level 2, then only the primary caster is at risk of death on a failure. They all get that 1 negative level, but only the primary caster takes the +4d6 damage. (1 negative level also deals 5 damage, so it's 4d6+5 damage.)
P1e occult rituals are like spells that anyone can cast if they succeed the skill checks. They take a long time to cast & have backlash and failure effects. The backlash happens even if the spell is successful.
Each ritual has a ritual level, which is never below level 4, and is equivalent to its spell level. A ritual requires a number of skill checks equal to its level. More than half must succeed for the ritual to succeed.
I don't know if P2e has anything similar.
Hey, I never finished an AP either. I never even finished a module, for that matter. The only module I've even played in is (P1e) Feast of Ravenmoor, but the GM dropped out. I've also GMed part of (P1e) Dawn of the Scarlet Sun twice and part of (P1e) Crypt of the Everflame once.
I've read most #P1e APs though, and a fair few modules. I draw inspiration from them for my own campaign, but I don't run them. (I borrow heavily from Carrion Crown.)