Welcome to my debut PbP game. Hope you would have a blast!
Before we start, I thought to share some of my preferences for PbP. (In spoiler tags to not take up space.)
PbP Matters
1. This discussion thread is open for all OOC matters, so no ooc tag needed. For OOC matters in the gameplay thread, please use the [ ooc ] tag.
2. Please post at least once a day on weekdays, and once over the weekends. I do tend to check quite frequently so more frequent postings is welcomed, but that should be the minimum. If there're no posts from you for a while, I would NPC your character to keep the game going if necessary. If you need to be away for some time, please try to let me know early and we'll work out something.
3. If you have played and/or GMed this scenario before, please do not metagame or spoil the plot.
Rolls and Skill Checks
4. On rolls, I would do your initiative rolls, as well as perception rolls for the purpose of determining surprise (if relevant).
5. On knowledge checks for general information, I would put them in spoilers with the necessary DCs. Just go ahead to roll, and I'll trust you to resist reading them if the roll fails (or least not to metagame). There might be exceptions for plot-critical information though, where I would explicitly ask for knowledge checks. On knowledge checks for monster lore, please state what kind of information you want in order of preference together with your rolls, and I'll reveal accordingly.
6. On team effort skill checks, e.g. finding a hidden trail with survival, influencing attitude of NPCs with diplomacy, please be explicit when making the rolls whether you are attempting the check on your own, or whether you are assisting.
7. On skill checks in general, if I feel you have role-played well, e.g. gave a good description of what your character does to search for a trail, came up with creative ways to befriend a hostile NPC, I would give bonuses, or even waive the DC altogether. :)
Roleplaying Matters
8. The maps and handouts page would display all the maps, handouts, pictures, etc as the scenario progresses. The most current page would be right on top, while previous ones would be left there for your reference. (Incidentally, Android and IOS has the Google Slides app in case you work off mobile devices.)
9. Please have your full character information up on your character's profile page (to save time in case I need to check something), and have your stat block updated with the key information. Minimally please have up your current hp vs max hp, AC (normal, touch and flat-footed) and saves. Feel free to include others.
10. Finally, whilst I do enjoy roleplaying more than rollplaying, I've accepted that PFS games do skew towards the latter. That being said, it would be good if posts are more than simply dice rolls. :)
Getting Started
Ok with that out of the way, a few tasks before Gameday V kicks off.
A. Go to the Gameplay page and dot.
B. Go to the maps and handouts page and fill out the table there.
C. In this Discussion thread, do your day job roll (if any), and share whatever OOC information you wish about your character with the rest of the party, e.g. class, level, special abilities. No need for descriptions and intros yet - we'll leave that for the gameplay thread when we start. Also, just for this scenario, please post whether (i) you have played The Confirmation (#5-08) before, and (ii) if you have a wayfinder.
Fantastic! Looking forward to getting this started on 27 Aug!
Hello! Glad to be here. I have purchased the scenario, but I have not yet downloaded it and will hold off peeking so as to get the most out of my first play-through. Can I get some clarification on the replay ability? If I run my level 2 Sorc, does that burn the ability to ever run it again with another level 2, but I can still play it with new level 1's? What about what characters I can apply it to as a GM credit?
If I run Selima, she has a Confirmation GM credit and a wayfinder. No day job. She also has a Tiger animal companion, Thirsty.
Yes, you can play this with a level 2 character only once, but you can play it an infinite number of times with level 1 characters. In addition, as a GM, you can apply the chronicle to a different level 2 character only once, and an infinite number of level 1 characters. Of course, no character can have the same chronicle sheet twice.
I have a sylvan sorcerer character as well, with a roc animal companion. Unfortunately, it died in its latest scenario. :(
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Yes, you can play this with a level 2 character only once, but you can play it an infinite number of times with level 1 characters. In addition, as a GM, you can apply the chronicle to a different level 2 character only once, and an infinite number of level 1 characters. Of course, no character can have the same chronicle sheet twice.
I have a sylvan sorcerer character as well, with a roc animal companion. Unfortunately, it died in its latest scenario. :(
Aw... my condolences. I've been really enjoying this character so far. Thanks much for the info, being able to apply the GM credits should have me covered for my future needs. Selima it is!
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I have only been playing PbP for a couple months now, what is the significance of this event? Where can you learn more about 'boons'? And how do people level up characters to 12+ without it taking 4-5 years... if not more?
I do really enjoy the format though. You can generate well thought out responses and really put more into RP for your character than you may have time for in a real time game. You also get to put more focus into the technical aspects of the game with battle grids and movement things. Anyhow, just some thoughts before we kick off things this weekend.
I have only been playing PbP for a couple months now, what is the significance of this event? Where can you learn more about 'boons'? And how do people level up characters to 12+ without it taking 4-5 years... if not more?
I do really enjoy the format though. You can generate well thought out responses and really put more into RP for your character than you may have time for in a real time game. You also get to put more focus into the technical aspects of the game with battle grids and movement things. Anyhow, just some thoughts before we kick off things this weekend.
During those events there usually are some special boons available. This can be a discount on items bought, the permission to play a special race or a special class and more.
To level a character it depends if you just play play-by-post or attend weekly tables. The secenarios are intended to be played in 4 - 6 hours at the table. Some, like myself play those tables also via Skype or Roll20. To level a char to level 12 you need 33xp. If you are nuts that takes 33 days ;-)
I hope this helps.
I have only been playing PbP for a couple months now, what is the significance of this event? Where can you learn more about 'boons'? And how do people level up characters to 12+ without it taking 4-5 years... if not more?
I do really enjoy the format though. You can generate well thought out responses and really put more into RP for your character than you may have time for in a real time game. You also get to put more focus into the technical aspects of the game with battle grids and movement things. Anyhow, just some thoughts before we kick off things this weekend.
Yes, I know what you mean. I play both on roll20 and PbP, and I definitely enjoy having the time and space to flesh my characters out. I very often find that when I bring a character into a PbP game, I discover new things about him I didn't know before. One of my level 1 character with only 1 scenarios under his belt has a much richer back story and personality than my level 6 character. :)
But yes, it's slow. So a combination of real-time and PbP is necessary to have reasonable rate of levelling up. With a typical PbP scenario taking 1-2 months, that would be at least 3 years to get to level 12!
You can also apply credit for APs but those take even LONGER!
Feel free to keep adjusting your level 1s until the gameday itself. If you have not done so, please go to the handouts page to fill in your character information. 2 more days!
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Filled in my info and added tokens! I wasn't sure if you'd want Thirsty to act on his own initiative or Selima's, so I didn't fill in an initiative dice block for him, but the info is in the box.
@Luurg, I began PFS in 2013 and play almost exclusively PbP on the Paizo boards. My first character is level 6 now, but I also have a level 5, 3, two 2's and a 1. So I could have, in theory, focused on one character and reached level 12 in less than 3 years. Personally, I like having them around for a while. But if you're looking for some speedy games, Feral's PbPs have a quick pace. IIRC, he once ran a scenario on the boards in less than 24 hours once. On average, I think his games tend to run 2-3 weeks if everyone is posting regularly. HTH! ^_^
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Thanks. Ya I guess I'm hoping to get some what of a range of character levels to try out new scenarios. It can be hard to wait on developing some character concepts when they aren't able to do what needs to be done until 5/6th level. I guess I'm just impatient sometimes :) I keep flipping back and forth on if I want to have Luurg start out with a bit more effectiveness or more RP flavor. Such dilemmas!
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Filled in my info and added tokens! I wasn't sure if you'd want Thirsty to act on his own initiative or Selima's, so I didn't fill in an initiative dice block for him, but the info is in the box.
For the purpose of PbP to speed things up, Thirsty would act on your initiative. And I would be fine for each round, you switch between who goes first.
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Just so you know, I will be at Strategicon all weekend (Friday-Monday evening). Probably won't be home til late Monday. I will try to keep up with posts via phone and computer at the hotel, but I will be mega-busy at the con, so no guarantees. Please bot my character as necessary to keep the game flowing... Thanks, and sorry in advance for my absence.
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Impressive you can do that - granted, those traits won't be good for much in a few levels (at which point he can retrain his Additional Traits feat, at least). That's always been my qualm with most CL-boosts: Most spells that really benefit from them have caps. What do you do when you've reached them?
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So used on burning hands in this case, would intensified spell double the amount of damage dice used? That would be pretty nice for a level 2 spell slot. But what about the text that says "You must actually have sufficient caster levels to surpass the maximum in order to benefit from this feat." I've never really been clear on what that means.
Selima's build is focused on making Burning Arc her blast of choice. ^_^
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I believe what it means is that while you have to use a 2nd level slot for an intensified burning hands, the actual damage is still your caster level x d4, but now capped at 10d4. So for example, if you were level 5 (without any other bonuses to caster level), whether you cast burning hands with intensified spell or not, you would still just do 5d4 damage. But if you were, say, level 8, a normal burning hands (using a level 1 slot) would only do 5d4 damage, but an intensified burning hands (using a level 2 slot) would now do 8d4 damage.
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[gm rant] Just to share, that combat was pretty much done deal before it began. 4 level 1 vs 7 of you, 3 at level 2 (including Thirsty). And really sad stats! A barbarian with only 15 Str and 13 Con? Come on... Hope I gave you a good scare with the ambush though. :) [/gm rant]
Also, as you can tell, the game is pretty much ending. Just one or two more posts from me.
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Alright, that pretty much brings us to the end of the scenario. Please feel free to continue RPing in the gameplay thread. I'll be putting up the link for chronicles and reporting the game in a day or two.
And as part of Gameday V, you stand a chance to win a boon! Each of you gets to roll a d20. On a 20 or a 16, you have won one of the amazing boons! Roll on a d6 to determine which boon you get and pm me your email address so that I can send to you when I receive it.
A big thanks to all of you for making my first experience DMing PbP PFS such a blast. Please feel free to pm me any feedback you have. Thanks!