[X] My Assistant

[Cain]

I probably won't use any stats at all for her when I finally run this, but other than that I'm in agreement with you that she doesn't really detract from the enjoyment of the adventures.

Different strokes for different folks. I know many players for whom the mere scent of a Mary-Sue GMPC will ruin their day.

[EuroShadow]

I probably won't use any stats at all for her when I finally run this, but other than that I'm in agreement with you that she doesn't really detract from the enjoyment of the adventures.

I just started running the Dusk (got till asante), and currently my players seem pretty excited - after many small missions (the Missions incorporated in my europe setting) which were in essence local jobs, they are going international together with big guns. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
I think it will be great and only thing to change, I will have to improve her 'grounds' of staying of the out of the action.

[Semerkhet]

I hate Mary Sue GMPCs as much as the next guy, but I actually don't have a problem with Frosty at all in the Dawn of the Artifacts adventures. As GMPCs go, she's definitely no Elminster, or Harlequin for that matter. Despite the overly-dramatic "she's a mage!" revelation, the plot of Dusk and Midnight sort of put her at a similar power level to that of the characters - who should be pretty powerful themselves, as these are not milk runs. Frosty is clearly unable to survive there on her own, as there's at least two points in Dusk where the scene's goal is keeping her alive despite herself. And when she's not in need of rescue, she's kept out of the way, taking care of boring tasks while your PCs get into the action. The "odd magical tradition" is just a quirk, really, and I don't see knowledge of a couple of plot-device rituals as game-breaking.

Just finished Dusk with my group yesterday. Frosty was not a problem at all. I just ignored 80% of the corny "Tell it to them Straight" dialogue and kept Jane out of the way doing legwork and such.

[ Spoiler ]

I also disliked the deus ex moment where Jane saves the team, and I had modified it to my taste. However, my team figured out they were headed for an ambush and avoided the encounter all together.

If I have a major complaint about the adventure, as written, it's that the authors rely on way too many assumptions in order for the climatic chase scene to happen anything like the way they seem to want it to. They don't give Medjay a good chance to get very far. Medjay is a badass, but he's a lone badass and his plan to escape with the map via scooter and on foot while the competition has aircraft and boats is audacious, if stupid. Seriously, this guy is bankrolled by a Great Dragon and they can't afford a helicopter. Better yet, an Air Spirit on Remote Service to whisk him away with the map. In hindsight, I should have either beefed up his resources or let the Azzies win the auction. The players had fun, but it was the type of fun based on "Holy crap, we pulled that off with serious style" rather than fun based on "Holy crap, we barely got out of there alive."

Anyway my point is that, as written, any team with moderate resources, skills, and smarts will be able to slow the competition and get to Medjay before he even gets across the bridge to Lagos Mainland; which is exactly what my group did. The chase is predicated on the idea that the team will not have planned any transportation, or even expected that they might be getting into a chase with other competitors. My group sabotaged the Aztechnology copter and had their own rented Hughes Stallion helicopter to intercept Medjay on the bridge. A Levitate spell to lift the map case while the team sniper shot through the strap on the case. They machine-gunned Medjay down while a drone pumped pepper-punch grenades into the crowd on the bridge to discourage pursuit. Map in hand, they used a conjured Force 8 Air spirit to use Movement (Body 16 helicopter, so x4 increase instead of x8) to get the copter out of the area at Mach 1. Done and done. The idea that the group would leave the auction site and need to hail a cab or follow Medjay on foot is just insulting.

Despite these issues, I didn't have to mod the adventure any more than I usually do and the players had fun with it. Keep Jane in the background and let the characters shine and all will be well.