Each Pathfinder Society scenario is designed to be run as a separate event. Each season share a metaplot and some themes, but not all scenarioes will follow that theme.
Each scenario starts with a briefing from a Venture Captain. Some times he might reference an earlier scenario: "A. Team of agents figured out that (something). Now we need you to follow up and do (this)."
A player who played the referenced scenario might recognize it, but not playing the scenarios in succession would not change the enjoyment.
In season 4 there are two story arcs - one for low level players and one for high level, so you could run one of the arcs as some sort of campaign.
I'm making a kyton-spawn tiefling Paladin of Sarenrae. he'll be heavily tattoed and pierced. A childhood bully who went through some event that made him redeem himself. Now using his wicked looks to intimidate sinners into redemption or having evildoers identify with him and convince them to redemption.
It could be interesting to see a Shelyn-paladin with lots of colourfull tattoos - maybe a gnome?
I agree that among the clergy of gods like Abadar and Erastil, you might only find a "The Code 4ever" on the forearm or something like that.
I'd love to see a print of the inner sea map on some kind of fabric. I use my copy of the map from the ISWG at the beginning of every PFS session as part of the intro and briefing ,so it's kinda worn now.
Buff the characters and suggest pet classes. If done right, they can feel the disadvantage of being two, but have the means to overcome them.
I have a party of 3 and face the same challenges ,but to a lesser degree. I did the following:
- Increased starting wealth.
- Gave them 25- point buy for attributes.
- Worked with the players in character creation to ensure they had all bases covered (or at least knew where their weaknesses were)
- Gave max HP at first and second level.
- Made sure they were half a level ahead of the AP
We're also talking about implementing Mythic Rules - just the ones from the playtest to begin with.
So far this means I've had to buff the encounters of the third book one of Reign of Winter o.O
Oh boy! I love paperwork and can't imagine a better way of comming in contact with all my players than correcting their chronicle sheets.
Luckily we were warned in due time, so I've gathered a fine collection of red pens for hand-correcting the sheets.
I don't think Animal Archive belongs in the core assumption - a lot of players won't need it for anything, while the rest of the core assumption is relevant for every player.
I estimate somewhere between 20 and 30 % of my players have an animal companion. For the rest of them, Animal Companion in the core assumption would just be an unnessesary expense that they could have used on another book relevant for their characters.
Is it possible it could be added to the PRD? The book is great and it would be very nice if GMs had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the rules.
If given the option, I'd make a Barbarian/Witch (Scarred Witch Doctor). The witch archetype is only legal for orcs, but that could easily be houseruled in a game that allows gestalt, and makes CON the Witch's casting stat.
What I really love about the scenario is that you get to show the players a bit of the end boss before they fight him. You get to know him and gain some indsight in him before facing.
Normally PFS doesn't have time for that, so it was nice to see.
The only problem I have with givin Mythic Tiers this early is that I can't seem to find any good candidates for mythinc tiers in the antaginists in book one.
Spoiler:
I mean: the end boss is an apprentice. A cool fight but not a guy that story-wise is mythic.
But it might be a good thing to wait with the mythic enemies untill a bit later and just beef up encounters, if they get too powerfull.
Or I might make them meet a mythic hexcrow as a "welcome to irrisen" fight.
Neil, I really like that you came up with your own moment of ascention, complete with a flaw and all, before the Mythic rules were made public :D
I know the flaws are removed/made optional, but I really like them and think they can be a nice way to add flavour and side-stories in a small group.
My first idea was vulnerality to cold iron, but I'd like to add something for each character in the group. Any ideas anyone?
Master Summonner: A chance of summoning random (hostile?) Fey when using his summon SLA.
Cavalier (homebrew archetype removing horse, giving him better banner): I'd like to tie him to the rider or knights of myth in genereal, but the only thing I can come up with is something about keeping his word or defending allies. Bus he's LG, so that wouldn't affect him much.
Ranger: No idea yet. I'm watching his moves carefully, seeing if I figure something out from his actions.
What I was thinking of doing was granting 3 mythic tiers to Malfeshankor, and having the PC's absorb them, Highlander-style, but that they sort of remain dormant until they encounter something that "triggers" their ascension - read: when the as-written encounters surpass their APL...
I have a 3 man group that started Rise of the Runelords, where I wanted to add mythis tiers. Now we switched to Reign of Winter, so I haven't thought the stuff all the way through, but here's what I had planned on doing:
Because some of my players are more rules-savvy than others, I'd introduce the moments of ascention individually through book 1 and 2. I'd keep the flaws-system and pick one related to the ascention-event, but not tell the players.
Some ideas formoments:
Spoiler:
Dying. If a PC died, one could bring him back the old "this is not your time yet"-style. Maybe a short message from Desna or Shelyn - the gods I think know most of the runelord thread.
The flaw would be weakness to the type of weapon killing him.
Defeating Nualia or The Barghest I Can't Spell. The flaw should be related to the enemy's theme. Wrath for Nualia, for example.
Pucking up and wearing the Sihedron Medallion. This one already has a flaw: keep the medallion and all your cool, new powers, but let the runelord know your every move.
In Reign of Winter, I plan on giving then the ascention at the same time, since there's a built-in moment that would fit perfectly:
I have a group of 3 players and we are considering using the mythic rules. Part to compensate for having only 3 players and i part just to try them out.
I'm thinking of using the black rider's mantle as the moment of ascention in stead of giving a +2 stat bonus.
I like the idea of flaws, and am thinking of giving them a weakness to cold iron to symbolize the connection to fey. I might give each of them a different fey themed flaw taken from folklore.
1: I steal a lot. There's almost always some amazing GM who has played the scenario before and has posted stat blocks, notes or other documents that helps me prepare and run the scenario. Some day I hope I'll be the one that does that.
PFS isn't just a community of players, but also of GMs, and we can really use that to help each other.
2: I read about the background and history of the scenario and the area it happens. I normally use 5-10 minutes extra to describe the background when briefing the players.
My favourite tool is the poster map from ISWG. I use it when briefing (in character as the captain) the players about the travel and mission.
When I started PFS in my local area a year ago none of us knew anything about Golarion or Pathfinder, so I bought ISWG and started feeding the others information.
3: When I, once in a while, plays instead og GMing, I try to play with a different GM each time. In that ways I hope to learn from a lot of different styles. This is especially interessting when I've GM'd the scenario.
4: I translate/rewrite the intro and the rest of the boxed text. I do that to remember the text better, so I don't have to read it aloud but can act it instead, and to insert extra knowledge about Golarion.
One thing that helps me is preparing to be unprepared. What is hardest for you to improvise? Prepare that part and let the rest happen from there.
When I prepared scenarios for my home group, I had one page with a flow chart of the plot - I like to improvise and add details and twists, but if I'm stuck it's nice to have a fallback. On another page I had a list of persons, keywords on they look and behaviour and a sentence or two about their involvmnt in the plot - I prepared those just to have finished people I could throw at the players. Their position in the plot could change, but I liked haviing "finished" poeple to interact with my players.
In stead of preparing a lot, I also spent some time chronicling after each game - what new characters had the players met and what twists did I come up with?
Try it, just as a one-adventure experiment and tell your players about it before you start ;) They might like it and can give you advice onhow to improve it.
I read an inspiring article (ten years ago and in Danish, so I can't find the link) about how to improvise murder plots. The essense was that you didn't have to know the murderer before the game started, and you were fed plot ideas from your players when they start discussing the case. And if the game stalls, send someone to kick in the door and start shooting (or wanding or whatever). Let the players figure out where he came from and follow your interpretation of their ideas from there ;)
Probably not something you should do every session, but it might be a fun idea to try.
I'm a backer and can see the book placed in my pending orders. Can I somehow get the flipmats added to the same shipment? I really don't want to pay the 30$ import tax twice ;)
I'll look into that. Do you have an event ID on one of your chronicle sheets I can use for tracking the event and the organizer?
I'll probably also need the name of the scenario that wasn't registered.
Thank you for all the suggestions :D I went with Golemworks Incident and Voice in the Void.
I really like the idea that all scenarios have the potential for horror. I probably overplayes Frostfur Captives to the point where it wasn't horror but just bizarre.
I really love the community use packages and have started using them for posters and brochures promoting PFS. But when making large quantities it would be nice to have some black and white graphics to use.
I could just print in greyscale, but the result isn't as nice as when you use graphics made for greyscale.
The only thing I've found is a line art of the glyph of the open road in the Organizations package. I really miss something like that for the Pathfinder logo and the Society logo.
I could do it myself, but the community use policy states that we're not allowed to alter the images in any way, and I totally understand that. So in stead I ask the mighty golen:
Is it possible to create a community use package - just a small one with the pathfinder and PFS logo - in greyscale and as black and white line art?
Thanks for the warm welcome. Even though it is a daunting task following in the footsteps of Diego, I've really enjoyed the last month and a half working on the Society in Denmark.
It looks like you had a really nice strategy for this. You could easily have drowned in success if you hadn't gathered a nice GM force before launching. Really well done!
I can see your points about the faction missions, but I'm still in doubt. I think it depends on how experienced the new GMs are as PFS players.
One of my concerns about running First Steps is that I need to get enough players to play at the new GMs' tables. I don't know how willing people are to replay First Steps. What are yoour experiences about people being willing to replay First Steps?
I will, of course, ask the players attending the con when I start taking signups, but I like to be prepared.
I have a test subject running Silent Tide this sunday. I'll evaluate with him and hear if he would have avoided the Faction Missions.
They will be new to GMing completely, but will have experience playing PFS. It is at a local con, so I am sure I can build a mood of "let's welcome the new GMs and give them a good time."
We won't have any time constraints and there will be people to help them.
The reason I dislike First steps and We Be Goblins is because they don't have faction missions. I'd rather have my new GMs try handling faction missions in a relatively safe environment than not knowing what they get next.
(Hmm, everything in Denmark is probably considered "local" in comparison to other countries.)
What scenarios would you choose for a new GM and why?
First steps are not an option.
I think I'm looking for at scenario that:
- Has faction missions with low chance of derailing the scenario.
- Is not relying too much on GM interpretation (like frostfur captives).
- Is subtier 1-2.
- Doesn't have too many tactics or stange rules to remember.
At a local con I plan to do a small GM intro course, where I start by running the new GMs through the scenario, then have a talk about being GM. After that they're handed out the scenario and are given time to read it. This is followed by a new talk about running this particular scenario. The day after, they're are running a table each.
Wow, that is an amazing growth over such short time! Did you have to train and recruit new game masters or did you have enough experienced GMs available?
I'd ask my GM to allow me to play orc or to take the Scarred Witch Doctor Witch archetype without being orc. (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/races/other-races/featured-races/arg-orc/scarred-w itch-doctor-witch-orc)
Then you have a full caster with hexes based on constitution. I Think it fits the barbarian nicely, thematicly.
Your spells would, of course, suffer from spell faliure from armour, but your hexes won't.
Fascinating read! I have an idea for a variation of the merged vs separated pantheon ideas.
I'll use the norse pantheon as example, as I'm not that familiar with the other.
The pantheons are separate but know each other distantly. Loke, for example could be the trickster god of more than one pantheon. Yes, hes parentage is different in the egyptian pantheon, but if you're a good enough trickster, it shouldn't be a problem convincing someone that you're their child.
Actually the norse gods believe him to be chained up omewhere below I can't remember, but he might actually be tricking the gods to beleive so, and in stead he's enjoying himself as a god of wine and parties infiltrating another pantheon. (EDIT: Like Dionysus, who was a foreigner.)
Another way for the gods to intersect could be that Zeus is Thor's father. Unless he have some divine way of telling they boy's father, Odin would have to believe the mother who just couldn't resist a handsome dark-skinned god from the south.
Odin himself has a log history of seducing women on his travels and could easily have children in all pantheons.
Thank you for all the ideas :D I'll Print this thread and take a look at it with the players.
I think we'll end up using 25-point buy and look at the suggested combos (but let the players choose whatever they want, ofc).
I'm new to Pathfinder, so playing a follower npc and keeping track of rules is probably a bit too much for me.
Gestalt Characters are a really fun idea, but since 2 of the players and myself are new to Pathfinder, it's probably too complicated for us, but we'll see what the players say.
If we go gestalt, it will probably be 15- og 20- point buy to balance it out a bit ;)
I can see your point about dedicated arcane caster - on top of save-or-die and aoe, the life just gets easier with spells like fly and wish. And thay also need someone to craft magic items i guess.
One player would like to play ranger. I have a hard time seeing him as anything else than damage-dealer. I guess you could dip into fighter and get some better armour, so you can tank.
I'm starting Rise of the Runelords this weekend with 3 of my friends and myself as GM.
I would like to avoid nerfing the adventure path. In stead I'd like the players to fight tactically use creative solutions and maybe buff them a bit by giving full hitpoints each level or something.
Du you have any suggestions for us to create a well-rounded party with only 3 players? Any ideas to how one player can fill multiple roles (like making a cleric take a level of fighter, give him heavy armour and make tank and healer)?
