Fill my ear with tales of the A series!

[DarthSunshine]

Hello Ladies and Trolls!

I am a rather fortunate nerd, I have a few friends and a beautiful girlfriend that love to play games. My group, most of which are a fair bit younger than I, prefer games like Savage Worlds, Vampire, and FATE. They are also fans of Wil Wheaton's Table Top web show and play many board games. I am nearly exclusively the Game Master/Chronicler for them and I love that role.

Despite their more modern game experience, both myself and the other elder member of the group are having a serious old school Jones. Our troup would never go for an actual edition of D&D due to its perceived complexity. However, they seem pretty open to trying C&C as it is simpler and reasonably unified. This is a compromise that I readily excepted, even prefered.

My experience with C&C is limited but extensive enough for me to understand the rules and the rather flavorful style of the game. However, I always created my own adventures up until now. As I happen to be working extra the next few months I started looking into the possibility of using printed modules to take a load off my back at the start. I bought electronic copies of the newest rules as well as A0 and A1. I must say they seem expertly done! I was entertained just from reading them let alone the nearly assured run they will have in a month or two.

Armed with a tax return and some overtime cash, I went hog wild and purchased the entire A series in print from A0 to A12. My main reason for posting is that I would like an overview of the general feel and plot of the series. What is in store for my players the rest of this year? What plots both local and epic will the bards sing of? Also any tips, tricks, and recommendations would be welcome as I don't typically use printed modules. Spoilers are fine as I will be the only GM/CK for this.

Get me excited about this!

[tylermo]

I've been running the A-series off and on since late 2011. We're nearing the end of A3. I'd bone up on the material, maybe pick up Monsters and Treasure of Aihrde, and you're good to go. A13 Aufstrag (the finale) will hopefully see the light of day in a year? It's not for me to say. Enjoy the A-series. Don't worry about those youngsters with their Savage Worlds. I'm an oldster, and I like it.

[alcyone]

Once again I lament the lack of spoiler tags on this board!

[Buttmonkey]

I ran A0 for my group. You can read about it in my thread (Buttmonkey's Home Game) in the Crusades forum.

[Tadhg]

The A series is fabulous IMO ~ A1 Assault is a top notch module!

My players really enjoyed A0 The Rising Knight and A1.

We finished The Slag Heap (A3, I think) and then my group retired.

Here is our list of games played:

A0
A1
Shadows of Halfling Hall
Dark Chateau
Return to the Blacktooth Ridge
Lion in the Ropes
The Slag Heap

[DarthSunshine]

Thank you for the replies! I'm pretty excited about running them. The last printed module that I used came with an AD&D second edition boxed set. I have very fond memories about the experience and people seem to regard the C&C modules even more highly than those.

One thing that I recently discovered is that these adventures are set in Erde/Ahirde. I have the d20 codex and I must be honest and say I wasn't fond of it. However, the local settings in the modules appeal to me well enough. They seem to present it in much friendlier and more fun way. Am I unique in this or has the setting evolved a bit?

[tylermo]

I think I picked up the codex in 2009. I've only skimmed it to be honest. It will be re-released and expanded in the future. Until then, I do suggest picking up the Monsters and Treasure of Aihrde. The full stats and info for Ungern, Red Caps, etc. Can be found in that tome. Should come in useful for the A-series. On a secondary note, there is also the After Winter's Dark folio and the Aihrde maps (9 sections). Enjoy!

[Zudrak]

Greetings!

I have been running the A series (A0 - A1 so far) since last August, off and on. I just posted my first entry of the party's exploits the other night in the Crusades section of these boards:
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=14116

[alcyone]

My main reason for posting is that I would like an overview of the general feel and plot of the series. What is in store for my players the rest of this year? What plots both local and epic will the bards sing of? Also any tips, tricks, and recommendations would be welcome as I don't typically use printed modules. Spoilers are fine as I will be the only GM/CK for this.

The first few modules take place in the same general area of the Blacktooth Ridge. Some useful prep would be to note the people in charge of those areas and if the subsequent modules change their fate.

The middle modules are less sensitive to what's going on locally, and include dimensional travel, so they are fairly flexible. There are still a few plot threads to keep together, but they are fairly well spelled out and if missed won't derail you.

The final modules lead up to the confrontation with Coburg. Since the last one isn't done yet, we aren't sure what's after that, but possibly Unklar enters the picture.

SPOILER
Make sure your party hangs on to useless looking doodads that belong to musical instruments.