Quick question, for anyone who may know the answer, or who can direct me to the proper resource.

According to the updated Organized Play rules, GMs who "eat" a scenario will receive 1/2 max gold, 1 PA, and 1 XP to be added to a character of their choice, starting with Season 1.

Starting with Season 1 (and not retroactive to any previous scenarios that were run) any Game Master “eating” a scenario gets partial credit for that scenario applied to their own character one time. For example, if you run Scenario 40 three times, your character gets credit for it once. If you have multiple characters, you must choose which character gets the credit. You may only assign credit for a single scenario to a single character.
Partial credit means the GM gets the following:
• +1 XP for the scenario
• 50% of the max gold for the tier appropriate to the GM’s character; for example, a level 1 GM character gets 50% of the Tier 1–2 gold (yes,
this means a GM who runs a scenario at higher level that his current character receives no extra credit for his character)
• Half credit (meaning 1) Prestige Award

I ask because I ran my first scenario (#1 Silent Tide) this past weekend, and I'm not sure if I need to fill out a Chronicle for my character or not. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

I am interested in the answer too. I just ran Silent Tide yesterday. It was a fun adventure, but I was thinking I may get half credit for eating it.

Yes, you get the GM credit the first time you run any scenario in season 1+.
If you ran ST (for example) in season 0, you don't get retroactive credit for it but you do get credit after you run it in season 1.

Yes, you get the GM credit the first time you run any scenario in season 1+.
If you ran ST (for example) in season 0, you don't get retroactive credit for it but you do get credit after you run it in season 1.

I hope I wasn't supposed to enter info for myself during the reporting process...'cause I didn't.

You fill out a chronicle sheet for your character (1xp, 1/2 gold & 1 PA) then add your character as an extra character to the session report.

You fill out a chronicle sheet for your character (1xp, 1/2 gold & 1 PA) then add your character as an extra character to the session report.

You fill out a chronicle sheet for your character (1xp, 1/2 gold & 1 PA) then add your character as an extra character to the session report.

Thanks!

You may purchase items from the chronicle sheet.

Does that only apply to Season 1+ scenarios, or does it mean anyone who GMs ANY scenario in season 1+ will receive that award?

This does bring up an issue, though. There really isn't much incentive or reward for me to GM in the Pathfinder Society. As a GM, I only get the 1XP/1Prestige/1/2gold for running a scenario that I "eat." Okay, I'll do that once in a while. But most of the time I'm GMing scenarios I have already played. And for doing that, I get nothing. Okay, I get 4 hours of fun, but playing is fun too, and a lot less work, and I advance in the Society when I play. So why should I volunteer to GM?

It would be nice if there were some reward for GMs who run scenarios that they've already played, and even if they run those scenarios multiple times. Maybe not something as large as the reward for those who "eat" scenarios, but something. 1 Prestige point?

It would be nice if there were some reward for GMs who run scenarios that they've already played, and even if they run those scenarios multiple times. Maybe not something as large as the reward for those who "eat" scenarios, but something. 1 Prestige point?

Personally, and speaking as someone who's put quite a few hours into setting up a mod to be able to be run online, then went and ran for far more than 4 hours because everyone was enjoying themselves so I didn't feel the need to cut things down to an arbitrary 'convention' timeslot.....I don't want to see any DM benefit that would grant anything over the maximum a player can get. The main reason being that while yes, a DM does a lot of work to provide for the game....there's the 'hidden' benefits of having an automatically successful mod, that uses up 0 resources.

That being said, I could definitely see a few things to encourage DMs to run the same mod more than once. First idea: 2nd time "eating" a mod (Or 3rd or 4th if you want to make it take longer, which honestly I'm okay with for the proposed benefit), gain the remaining benefits from having played in the mod that eating it didn't give you. (the remaining 50% gold, 1 more PA _if_ the mod had 2 available...and possibly temporary benefits from the mod, though bleh). That'd reward DMs without actually putting them _over_ players....and still give that 'hidden' benefit of 0 risk, 0 temporary resources used.

That's something that could be done purely within PFS guidelines. A non PFS related benefit that'd be nice, but would have to be run by the Evil Moneygrubbing Finance people (TM!), would be some sort of credit for new mods for people who run a large amount of their existing mods. I'd propose it for something to be decently high so it only rewards people who really are putting a lot into providing tables for people, and only for running mods in which they weren't also getting DM credit for. The exact number could be anything, but I'd propose somewhere between 4 and 12 off the top of my head.

This does bring up an issue, though. There really isn't much incentive or reward for me to GM in the Pathfinder Society. As a GM, I only get the 1XP/1Prestige/1/2gold for running a scenario that I "eat." Okay, I'll do that once in a while. But most of the time I'm GMing scenarios I have already played. And for doing that, I get nothing. Okay, I get 4 hours of fun, but playing is fun too, and a lot less work, and I advance in the Society when I play. So why should I volunteer to GM?

It would be nice if there were some reward for GMs who run scenarios that they've already played, and even if they run those scenarios multiple times. Maybe not something as large as the reward for those who "eat" scenarios, but something. 1 Prestige point?

I was against GM Rewards back when Josh suggested it in Season 0. I'll take what Josh has given us because it's not overpowering, but I really think GMs should do their job out of a passion for the game and an honest desire to give players the best PFRPG experience possible. If players knew they could get rewards better than what they were currently getting it would increase the number of willing GMs, but their motivation might be tainted.

BTW, last count I have GMed PFS scenarios over 100 times. There might be a New York GM who has done more than that but we're close. I'd be sporting about 70 PA points above the average player in this game if I got a point every time I ran a scenario past the original.

GM Rewards touches on a much broader subject of Quality and Quantity vs. Compensation. Be it Doctors, Teachers, or Pathfinder GMs. There needs to be a balance. Do you want a doctor that's in it for the money or one that wants to help people? Do you want a teacher who teaches for the (perceived!) benefits and pay or do you want a teacher who loves to teach? Same with a GM.

We need a reward system in place to attract new GMs. If you enjoy GMing you're going to do it regardless of reward. But what about those that could be good, but haven't tried (for a lot of reasons)? How do we attract those people w/o getting people who do it only for the rewards?

Personally, with what credit is offered for eating a scenario, I'd rather NOT take it. What's the point? My character's personality and, well, character, are determined by his experiences.

I do have a character concept for a character who could be made using only GM credit. He'll be Taldan of course, who's gotten his "prestige" and "experience" in life virtually (or literally) handed to him. Too bad we can't take the aristocrat as a PC class in PFS. Stupid nobles... Oddly though, he'll be less wealthy than those dirty "hands-on" type. Pfft.

Doug,

I hear what you're saying, and on some points I agree, but for your consideration...

If there weren't GM rewards I have to say that I would be reluctant to buy and run any scenario I hadn't played in, thus retarding the proliferation of games for others to play in, in my area (in which, as you know, I am the only PFS DM apart from you coming to town for Marmalade Dog.) I don't mind DM'ing, but I do mind that I would be penalized (by blowing the opportunity for character advancement) by eating the scenario. I love DM'ing, but I don't want to sit at your next table with a 2nd level character while all the people I've been DM'ing for all this time are sitting there with 6th level characters. After all the games you've run do _you_ really want to be sitting at a table of newbies at Gen Con when you could be playing the upper-most tier with all of PFS's most active GM's? If so, you really are a saint; I sure would prefer the latter.

So, rewards takes care of that. Now, though, it promotes a DM like me running scenarios regardless of whether or not I've been able to play it first, but now I favor playing scenarios for which I get rewards. That's good for the 4-6 players who regularly sit at my table -- they get to play more scenarios and take their characters to higher levels -- but what about the 4-6 players that are on the waiting list? If there were rewards for re-running an already played scenario, then I would be encouraged to divide my time between running for each set. They all advance more slowly, but there's twice as many players.

I agree that ideally DM's should be in it for nothing but love of the game. I am, but when I am, I'm running something other than PFS, something where I have more of a connection to the story because I can change things and make it my own. With PFS you're constrained to coloring within the lines. I think there should be a reward for that, a trade-off. Character advancement seems like a suitable reward. Schwag or perks of a less virtual nature are probably ill advised.

I have no trouble with you having 70 PA more than average -- for all you do to promote the game I think that's the least you deserve (that's only, what, 2 raise deads?) Besides, as you yourself said, you're a special case, an outlier. Were the 1 PA award in effect I would have just 4 more PA than I do now after having run 1/mo. for the past 5 months, one being a scenario for which I got the aforementioned GM award for eating a scenario. It's not enough that it makes the difference between deciding to be a DM or not, but it's enough of a perk that I'd feel appreciated, a nice "thank you" from PFS.

We need a reward system in place to attract new GMs. If you enjoy GMing you're going to do it regardless of reward. But what about those that could be good, but haven't tried (for a lot of reasons)? How do we attract those people w/o getting people who do it only for the rewards?

EDIT: I know this doesn't exactly fit the "no rewards" model, but see it for the fact that with more new DM's, players will gravitate to the DM's who are good at it, rather than just the only DM in their area running modules.

I love GMing and GM 95% of the time. I would like to see an awards system that would make it less expensive for us Full Time GMs to get PFS adventures at a lower cost, then Those that play/GM equally.

Charles

Just as a comment on this.....if you play with a regular group of people...$4.00 is a lot less if you divide it amongst 5 people :). No reason why the DM should be footing the entire bill.

I agree with Farabor. :-)

I'm a little bit suprised here that the $4.00 comes up. As farabor mentioned - this could be shared - actually - players should contemplate to buy it for a GM (and maybe some tiny bits here and there as well) in case the GM hasn't the means.

In my view as a GM you have often to invest a lot more than just the adventure. Lets start with a home game. Drinks and snacks too often are responsibility of the host - likely to be the GM.

The Bestiary - well - this is a must for a GM. This is worth 10 PFS on it's own. And if you go down the route to add props as GM - then you truly lost it.

Lets see - I'm going down to Dragonmeet in 2 weeks time. I just ordered a GameMaster Pad to keep track of initiative yesterday. I also just ordered a miniature monster for one of the encounters today. Lets add a train ticket, entrance fee (not sure I get in for free) and it keeps adding up.

I also tried on the weekend to lay out the whole adventure using one each and a little of Dwarvenforge Realm of the Ancients and Realm of the Ancient 2 sets. Doing this I realized it will be the first time I ever use it as a GM. Now we talk really crazy money.

Yes - I'm an outlier as well - most GM's won't be able to affort all the above. For me time is more an issue (Full time job, two children).

But what is the point I want to make?

a) No matter what - Paizo will never be able to re-imburse GM's for time, effort, etc. spend as a GM. Up to some degree you have to GM because it is something you like to do and props you use only make sense because you like to buy them as collector / for yourself.

b) It would help if player sometimes would be more aware that a GM is doing a job for them. When was the last time you thanked a GM for a game (hardly ever happens in my home game), the last time you brought food/snacks/etc. to a game or bought a pint for the GM at a CON. When was the last time you bought a miniature, a prop, something else useful for your home GM for his Birthday / Christmas. After all - you will benefit from it. Your GM will use it in games YOU play.

c) In regard to Pathfinder Society - I see the point that a GM should not be penalized for running a game. The current reward system is a compromise. I think a relative good one - as it is simple. But it is a compromise after all. I won't be able to cover all situations. Not being able to run a scenario yourself because you first did it as a GM is one. Getting less reward as possible for a player is another. Running it multiple times is a third. But you also have to keep in mind - the reward is safe - you always will get it (first time for a scenario this is). You have no risk. As a character you could get killed. You don't use up any charges / scrolls / etc.

No - the current system isn't perfect. Ideally you would chat with Josh after each game - he would take all the issues into account - and instead of a simple rule based reward he would be able to give a little bit extra here and there - be it swag, free scenarios for future games, or whatever else.

But this is just utopian - so we have a compromise that is a shlightly below average reward (compared to gaming) with no risk attached (better as gaming). Is it fair? Off course not - a fair reward would need to be based on the individual cirsumstances. But averaged over a lot of games it is doing a fine job in my eyes.

Thod

Btw - ever thought that a GM gets the same reward for a TPK as for any other game. Just think about it.