The Magic Tree of Nowhere In a mystical realm far away, there was said to be a tree so extraordinary that it was known as the Magic Tree of Nowhere. Legends whispered of its incredible powers, its ability to grant the deepest wishes of those who sought it. They said that anyone who found the tree could fulfill their wildest dreams and unlock the secrets of the universe. As the stories were passed down from generation to generation, many adventurers set out on a quest to find the fabled tree. They journeyed through treacherous forests, crossed raging rivers, and climbed towering mountains in search of this enchanted treasure. Yet, no one seemed to find it, and the tree remained elusive, hidden somewhere in the vastness of the unknown.
Yet, no one seemed to find it, and the tree remained elusive, hidden somewhere in the vastness of the unknown. The Magic Tree of Nowhere was said to only reveal itself to those with the purest of hearts and the most genuine intentions. It was not to be found through force or deceit, but rather through kindness, bravery, and love.
Extinction Curse books 1-3 review
I try to avoid spoilers, but some are inevitable in review. So read at your own risk.
General stuff
- I really liked overall plot. Villains are well-written. History ties really well with current events - and even shows them in a completely new light.
- A lot of fights are fun; almost all are well-balanced.
- Maps are well through out. Quality can be better for VTT use, perfectly fine at the table.
- Supporting material with related bits of lore is pretty lovely.
Elephant in the room: circus
Circus is an important part of adventure, but not nearly as important as part about saving the world. But circus addd one very important thing: silliness. Most player groups I had wanted the game to be silly at least sometimes. And with a dedicated place to be silly other parts of adventure feels more serious. This is a huge plus.
- Circus have A LOT of NPC. From the very beginning you have: 12 performers split unevenly into 6 tricks and 5 NPC in the sideshow. Every book adds 6+ performers to recruit. Most of them are mentioned once or twice and have next to none impact on the story. This is a lot of material, but you will have to develop them yourself if you want your players to care about them.
- Rules about running circus are on heavier side: they take over 10 pages in the first book; sheet you need to fill for one show takes whole A4 page. Rules successfully provided a framework for roleplay, so they did their job. Inventing tricks were especially fun. The rules worked well for the first couple of books, but shows were way too easy and repetitive after what. Limited payouts and gated circus progress didn't help with it. I switched to alternative light rules after book 3.
- Circus have great ark with a memorable villian in books 1-2. It still has an important role in book 3. Less important in later books, but never completely forgotten.
- Overall, I find it fits well, and transition of characters from circus performers to epic heroes goes surprisingly smooth.
Books
Each book consists of 4 chapters. One chapter takes from 2 to 3 sessions to run, with a session between 4 and 5 hours. One chapter has enough EXP for level up.
I call it a dungeon if it has lots of things on the big tactical map and players can go everywhere. It might me a camp or a building or whatever. Tell me better term if you know it.
Book 1 - Show Must Go On
First half of this book is a blend of social and combat. Circus show, small dungeons, some investigation, some memorable fights. It does a good job at connecting players with local NPC.
Second half is two big dungeons back to back. Both have very fun moments; both are combat-heavy.
I think the developers really considered this book as played by people with low experience. It is easy to run for GM and provides plenty of learning opportunities.
It also lays a solid foundation of plot for future books.
Book 2 - Legacy of the Lost God
First chapter builds on the foundation of the previous book and makes players really hate a villain. Features super fun social encounter with rules for it and small dungeon.
Second and third are huge dungeons - combat-heavy, with a surprising amount of plot.
And the last one is a big dungeon with lots of social interaction and memorable fights.
It feels a lot like the first book, but with characters doing everything at a new level.
Book 3 - Life's long Shadows
This one assumes GM and players are Pathfinder veterans now - so the whole book is open world.
Hard to prepare because players can go anywhere, but hey, you had ~4 months to adapt!
Several small dungeons, freedom to explore, cool characters, investigation and feeling of enemies around the corner. This is a book where performers finish their transformation into heroes.
Have most of the potential to be amazing of these three and also have most potential to go wrong.
TL:DR
I had fun, my players had fun. I plan to continue on this AP. Circus works and fits into world-saving, the plot is interesting and AP is generally well done. Perfect if you want your adventures sillier. Sometimes you will have several sessions in a row of dungeon-crawling with little social interactions, so make sure your group like it.
The seekers had to be patient and willing to listen to the whispers of the wind, the songs of the birds, and the rustling of the leaves. One day, a young girl named Lily embarked on her own journey to find the legendary tree. She had heard the tales of its power and believed in its existence. Lily had a pure heart and a deep longing for something greater than herself. She set out on her adventure with hope in her eyes and a determination in her heart. Throughout her travels, Lily encountered many challenges. She faced fierce storms, encountered cunning creatures, and even lost her way in the densest of forests. However, she never gave up. She believed that the Magic Tree of Nowhere was her destiny, and she was willing to face whatever obstacles came her way. After what seemed like an eternity, Lily stumbled upon a clearing in the middle of a dense forest. In the center stood a tree unlike any other she had ever seen. Its branches reached toward the heavens, its leaves glimmered with iridescent colors, and its trunk was engraved with ancient symbols of wisdom and power. She could feel an energy emanating from the tree, a powerful presence unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Trembling with excitement, Lily approached the Magic Tree of Nowhere. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and whispered her deepest desire into the wind. Instantly, the tree began to glow and pulsate with energy. It seemed to be listening, understanding, and responding to her plea. As Lily opened her eyes, she saw her wish materialize before her very eyes. It was a sight more magnificent than anything she could have ever imagined. Tears of joy streamed down her face as she realized that the Magic Tree of Nowhere had granted her heart's deepest desire. In that moment, Lily understood the true power of the magic tree. It wasn't just a source of incredible power and miracles; it was a reminder that within each of us lies the potential for greatness. It reminded her that by staying true to ourselves, following our dreams, and nurturing our purest intentions, we too could create our own magic, right here, right now..
Reviews for "The Magic Tree of Nowhere: An Oasis of Tranquility in a Busy World"
1. Samantha - 2 stars - I found "The magic tree of nowhere" to be a very confusing and disjointed story. The plot seemed to jump around without any clear direction, and the characters were underdeveloped and unrelatable. I also didn't connect with the writing style, which felt overly flowery and pretentious. Overall, I was left feeling disappointed and frustrated by this book.
2. Michael - 1 star - I really struggled to finish "The magic tree of nowhere." The pacing was incredibly slow, and I felt like nothing of substance was happening for the majority of the book. The descriptions were unnecessarily long-winded, and I found myself losing interest in the story multiple times. The lack of a cohesive narrative made it difficult for me to engage with the book, and I ultimately felt like it was a waste of my time.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The magic tree of nowhere," but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and I couldn't connect with any of them on an emotional level. The dialogue also felt forced and unrealistic, making it difficult for me to engage with the story. Additionally, I found the pacing to be inconsistent, with some sections dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and uninvested in this book.
4. Benjamin - 3 stars - While "The magic tree of nowhere" had some intriguing ideas, I ultimately found it to be a bit too complex and convoluted for my taste. The plot jumped around a lot and often left me feeling confused about what was happening. Additionally, I didn't connect with the writing style, which felt overly dense and hard to follow at times. However, I do appreciate the author's imagination and creativity in crafting a unique story, even if it didn't fully resonate with me.