Thernal Revamp.

[Ungood]

Brought over from this Discussion. Topic.

Now, when I see a problem or an issue. The first thing that hits my mind is "How do we fix this" as just going back and forth about something having issues. will not bring us one step closer to resolving them.

So. Here is what I would like to Propose with the Thernal Series.

The first part is series need to reflect that the same cave has been gone into. If I am going back into a cave, the same ooze, mephets, etc, should not be there. It should be assumed I killed them. In the Dwarven Side, when we re-enter the mines, it should only be "new" mobs like the renders, not all the old junk too.

Same with the Human Side. I should not need to kill the same mob in the same spot, more then once. Just for the sake not feeling like it was just a rehash.

So lets get down to brass tacks: The main issue with the series is Coyle. Lets be real about this. This guy starts off giving you a head ache when you have to escort his expedition. Now that alone is not enough to want to kill him. But then you have to defend this dork in the second step. That builds a great disdain for this guy in ways many gamers might finds the words for but all of them are censored by this forum

After that, in the last part of the series you have to chase him down. After all that, I know that the developers might think us gamers might feel some iota of satisfaction that he gets his head clubbed in by a giant.

But, strangely, while I can't speak for anyone else, I don't.

There is no feeling of gratification that he got himself killed, because by this point I dearly wanted to kill him himself. And maybe it is wrong of me to want to kill him. but, that does not make the want go away.

So, what I think would spice up the series a bit is after you chased this guy into the giant's room he actually made the jump though the portal, and now the party needs to follow him.

Since it is a portal to Xoriat I feel that after the jump (we could reuse a bit of the stuff from other series to get a landscape, but have it be this just vacant area, with Coyle standing there, defeated, muttering about how there was supposed to be someone to meet him.

Then as the party approaches Coyle, he polymorphs into some twisted version of the Dragon Below, and attacks. At this point the party gets to kill him. As they strike the killing blow he turns back into a human crumpling and cursing the party with his dying breath that they ruined everything for him. At this point the party can recall/finish out or take the portal out (as it closes)

I think that might make it a much better ending then just killing some giants. But that is just me.

[mindlessdrone1991]

The first part is series need to reflect that the same cave has been gone into. If I am going back into a cave, the same ooze, mephets, etc, should not be there. It should be assumed I killed them. In the Dwarven Side, when we re-enter the mines, it should only be "new" mobs like the renders, not all the old junk too.

Same with the Human Side. I should not need to kill the same mob in the same spot, more then once. Just for the sake not feeling like it was just a rehash.

This is actually the biggest issue with this series for me. It feels so repetitive (and therefore boring). I would love the mantle of the worldshaper for many of my characters, but I just can't stomach running Threnal.

The whole Coyle thing is only a slight bother for me. Elemental resists, and then have a cleric, favored soul, bard, or even someone with a wand keep Coyle targeted, and he probably won't die. It's the quest itself, really. The "stand here, wait til this amount of time has elapsed" mechanic bothers me. The monsters don't pose much threat to at-level parties on normal and hard, but it seems to drag on. In a way, Coyle brings some fun to this quest by providing a sense of urgency.

Anyway, I've rambled a bit. TL;DR /signed