JCServant's page

My friends and I are putting together a Friday Night Skulls & Shackles group. This will run 9pm-1am EST each Friday and take place online. Players use Maptools b87 (A Virtual Table Top) and Skype...both free downloads. Perspective players must meet the following requirements...

* Mature, experienced players preferred. We welcome players new to the Pathfinder game system, as long as they are willing to put the time to continually learn the system on their own in between game sessions.
* Players must have a desire to put time in their character and story during the week.
* We are a more combat focused game. We prefer players who really enjoy the tactical and combat side of Pathfinder.
* With that being said, players should be able to bring decent RP to the table.
* Players must be willing to invest in a high quality headset.

We will have an online meeting tomorrow, Fri, Dec 28 at 9pm EST/6pm PST to roll up characters, talks campaign specifics, etc. If you're interested, it would be great to have you there so we can get to meet you. Add me as a friend on skype (jcservant7) to sign up for the event. If you have a quick, general question, feel free to ask here. Thanks!

Salutations. This is the discussion thread for our Rise of the Runelords campaign. Using the new rule that allows running of APs using houserules for PFS credit (assuming groups play through the entire AP and not just the sanctioned areas), I plan on running a group through the entire campaign, issuing the appropriate chronicle sheets at the end of each book. This game will use my standard Pbp houserule, and will include modification the encounters, magic items, NPCs, etc., as I see fit in order to enhance player enjoyment and immersion in the story and setting. Players may also take actions 'outside the box' that moves beyond the scope of the AP from time to time. This is a living, breathing world, and while the adventure's foundation is 'on the rails' to a degree, players are encouraged to 'color outside the lines' when it is done for great RP reasons.

This game is only open to players of my Council of Thieves Pbp game. This game will have similar expectations of players checking at at certain intervals every weekday, and occasionally on weekends. Since they are doing that for CoT anyway, checking here as well is an easy 2nd step. Players of my RotRL campaign understand that this campaign is secondary...meaning that if I'm busy, CoT will get the lion's share of my attention. Hopefully this will work out in the long run. Well see.

Let's start off with discussions about who y'all want to play (classes, races, etc). In near future posts I'll be talking about some interesting character creation options you may be interested in (as far as ability scores go). Don't worry, the standard 20 pt buy option is still available to those who want it. OH, in talking about who you are playing, you may or may not want to remind people who you play on CoT so they can make the connection. Let the meta discussions begin!

A festival is starting in Sandpoint soon. Perhaps you would like to join?

I'm starting a new Council of Thieves Adventure Path Play by Post. We have a well established group, but we’re looking to fill in a hole or two.

My play by posts are much more demanding than a typical play by post. Players are expected to post three times/ day.... 11a-2p, 3p-6p, and finally, 6p-10a (all EST). If you live in a different time zone, please adjust accordingly to figure out the required posting times. Missing a posting time may result in your character being skipped in a round of combat.

The other big difference is that we use a gridless combat by description method (Core Rulebook, Page 8) . In order to facilitate combat by description, Initiative is generally group based with players going first, and then bad guys, unless the bad guys surprise the party.

While the above guidelines seem unorthodox, in practice they really help keep our Pbp groups going full speed, allowing us to resolve most combat in 1-2 days rather than a week.

More Guideline details may be found here.

One more thing. This is a full blown Adventure path being played with Pbp. So, think long term! This could go for a couple of years. We’ll see.

Write below if you have more questions. Thanks!
Phil

Discussion for JCServant's "The Council of Thieves" takes place here.

Coming Soon!

Salutations.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on Season 0 material. What are some of the good and bad times you've had with it?

Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a small, dark-haired, and dark-eyed Taldan woman, sits behind her enormous blackwood desk in the Pathfinder lodge in Cassomir and clears her throat. “My friend, the Countess Arieta Patrizia, is dead. She escaped her capture by the fiends who operate beneath Cassomir only to succumb to disease and wounds incured in Cassomir’s disgusting sewers. Ordinarily, this would be a matter for the Taldan authorities, but Arieta came to me directly after escaping and recounted a story that leads me to the natural conclusion that only the Pathfinder Society can resolve this issue.”

Venture-Captain Themis rises and paces back and forth behind her desk. “Arieta told me of an artifact she saw while in captivity below Cassomir. This artifact, called the jet rat, is known to us, but we must confirm that what she saw is indeed true. She claims to have seen it transform normal rats into something bigger, more vile and mean. If that’s true, the artifact she saw down there is old, evil, and should be stored safely in the vaults beneath the Grand Lodge in Absalom where we can study, catalog, and examine it. Worse, she claims to have seen this object in the hands of the derros, vile Darklands creatures that we have long suspected are responsible for the Cassomir kidnappings. I have a map here that shows the location of the sewer grate Arieta was dropped through when she was kidnapped. She could not, due to her illness, recall much about how she got to the location where they kept her in captivity, but she knows where they dropped her into the sewers and you’ll find that location on this map.”

Venture-Captain Themis stops pacing and eyes you across her desk. “Bring me back this artifact—if you happen to free a few captured Taldans along the way, that’s good news, but the artifact is your mission. Any questions?”

Salutations.

As most of you know, I'm the new VC of the Salt Lake area, and I'm working hard to get off to a strong start in helping to get PFS really going in this area. As far as organized P&P play goes, this area is very dominated by 4e Encounters. (There are also some good PF AP groups going, woot!). Anyway, I would love to be able to (in a positive way) provide comparison and contrasting points with the current player base. However, I have no experience at all with 4e Encounters, and I'm having a wee bit of a difficult time finding something that can explain to me how it works.

Would one of you that have experience in both be able to highlight the key differences of the organizational part of Encounters versus PFS? I don't really care to know how the games are different, but, rather, how the organized play guidelines, meta game, etc work out, and how PFS compares and contrasts.

I'm just looking for facts, not opinions. We all *know* PFS is better! :D However, when I approach people playing 4e, I don't want to get into an edition wars conversation. I'm not going to present this as they have to do one or the other. For all I know, they may want to do both.

Salutations.

I'm working hard to get some major PFS action going here in the Utah area, and I need some GM/Organizing type of advice. In talking with store owners and trying to get PFS up and running, a number try to get me to run my sessions on Wednesday. As most of you know, that's D&D organized game night.

On one hand, it's good to have a PFS presence where a lot of RPGamers can see it and find out more. On the other hand, some players may want to join my PFS sessions, but are already committed to their D&D Wednesday nights. (Which I've already have had come up)

What is your experience? If you're getting trying to get a new, regular PFS going at a store where it has not had a precense, is it best to do Wednesdays where other RP'er might see and get curious about what you're doing, or another day of the week where it wouldn't clash? As a side note, I would be doing weeks, if not a month, of advertising on the web and in the store before the event, as well.

Major OOC Discussion will take place here for "The Devil We Know" Part II

I've been running a PFS Pbp for a while now, without using a battlemat. In running any normal PF game, that's OK, as GMs often play using different methods and house rules. However, in PFS, RAW is law, so a question was raised about whether or not we could continue to play the way I created.

First, here's the core book rule that allows "combat by description" as a valid way to do combat.

"Combat in the Pathfinder RPG can be resolved in one of two ways: you can describe the situation to the characters and allow them to interact based on the description you provide, or you can draw the situation on a piece of paper or a specially made battle mat and allow the characters to move their miniatures around to more accurately represent their position during the battle."

Obviously, as implied, this type of play doesn't allow for the exact positioning of a battle mat, but it is allowed by RAW. Now, we all know that much of the combat game depends on exact positioning. Despite the fact that one of the opening pages allows one to play combat without a mat, there's nearly no support for details on how to go about doing that aside from the GM doing a very good job describing the environments.

I think this opens up a new line of thinking in PFS, specifically Pbp. Without the requirement to somehow represent and maintain battle grids and call out precise movements, running a Pbp because easier and smoother. Obviously, certain aspects of the game such as flanking, AoE attacks and the such have to be addressed. I created some guidelines to handle this (and other guidelines to facilitate the play by post play...which probably need to be changed, but that's neither here nor there). But what do you think? If you were going to play PFS without a battlemat, how would you go about handling some of the more tactical feats, spells, etc of the game?

A reviewer wrote...

The swamp part:
The first part of this details mechanics for the party going through a mucky swamp with diseased water and fog. Fair enough. However, as scripted, the party each have to do over a half dozen acrobatic checks and fort saves. I could be mis-interpreting what I read, so I've posted on another board to see if there's a clarification. I hope I'm wrong, because when I was done, EVERYONE had swamp disease. Scary stuff.

I've run this myself. I ran into this same issue. How are y'all handing it?

Am I the only one running into an issue with players being KO'd a lot in that final encounter?

The sorceress has color spray, and these are tight quarters. My last session, it KO'd 3 out 5 players (and that's with her staying 5' back to avoid AoO). 4 baddies against 2 remaining players can be scary.

In both instances, I had to really come up with convincing ways to 'hold back' without breaking rules or making NPCs look totally stupid.

Am I just a vicious GM, or are others having issues?

Salutations.

I'm trying to clarify my understanding of how purchases of magic artifacts, weapons, etc, work in PFSociety. I totally get the part about being able to buy items your character has come across in their adventuring history. But what about getting my sword upgraded to a +3...or buying a bag of holding?

A character’s Fame score determines the maximum gp value of any items she can purchase from her faction, as detailed in Table 5–3 below. The character must still actually spend the gold to receive the desired item.

Does that mean they can buy anything from the core rulebook (and legal additional resources) as long as it is equal to or less than the value found on table 5-3: Fame and Item Purchases? Does this include all artifacts and relics?

I believe it does, but I wanted to make sure. In a way, it seems to cheapen those relics and such that would supposedly be unique or harder to find. Then again, your fame in the organization probably means you snap your fingers and someone finds it for you. I dunno. What do you all think?

I've had a player drop, and have several open seats for a Pathfinder Society Intro session today. It's at 1pm PST/4pm EST using maptools and skype. Pathfinder Society is a GREAT way to play a character in Pathfinder without having to commit to a weekly, ongoing campaign. Your character goes where you go!

Find out more about my session at http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/events/v5748mkg0a69r

Find out more about Pathfinder Society at http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety

Hurry...time is running out!

Wow! Glad to hear it. I've been running a few tables online myself. I have to say, I do like the feel of it as well as some of the changes since I first read about a year and a half ago. Great job!!

Venture-Captain Hestia Themis, a small, unassuming woman of Taldan heritage with dark hair and eyes, holds a large sheaf of papers in her small hands and clears her throat. Her booming voice, the antithesis of her stature, fills the main hall of the small Pathfinder Lodge in the Taldan city of Cassomir.

“One of our own has been kidnapped. Pathfinder Cestis was taken just days ago from a relics auction in the Imperial Naval Shipyards, and we believe his dissapearance to be related to the six dozen or so kidnappings of the last several months. Now that one of our own is missing, this has become a Society matter—something we’ll get to the bottom of.”

Themis gestures to a teenage boy standing beside her, who nervously regards his surroundings and sweats profusely, his thick brown hair matted and wet against his head.

“This is Nefti, the assistant to the biggest thorn in my side in Cassomir—an agent of the Aspis Consortium named Kafar. Kafar is also missing, taken from the same relics auction along with Pathfinder Cestis and a dozen other citizens of Cassomir. Nefti was at the auction, saw where a small group of the kidnapped victims were taken, and his handlers in Cassomir have give us access to him so that he might guide us to our missing Pathfinder. If you happen to find Kafar...” Themis grinds her teeth. “Let him go, per the agreement I’ve just made with his superiors. Your priority is Cestis, and I think Nefti can lead you to him. Any questions?”

Looking for something to do while all of your friends are at GenCon? I'm hosting a couple of Skype w/Maptool RP sessions this weekend. Join one or both!

PFS First Steps, Part II: To Delve The Dungeon Deep

PFS: First Steps, Part III: A Vision of Betrayal

Salutations.

I was writing a campaign description for my campaign at http://paizo.com/campaigns/TheDevilWeKnowPart1 . After typing for 1/2 hour, I hit "preview" at the bottom. I was sent to http://paizo.com/campaigns which is pretty blank. I hit back, and my work was gone. While I learned an important lesson of doing stuff in MS Word first, I think it will benefit everyone if this issue is addressed. Thanks you!

Salutations!

Have you heard of the Pathfinder Society? Maybe you wanted to try it, but were just to afraid to ask! Perhaps you've a PFS expert, but you've got a new level 1 character you're just DYING to break in. Well, you're in luck... at least if you meet a few criteria. I'm running a one shot, the intro PFS module, First Steps, Part I: In Service to Lore online.

Before deciding to throw your hat in the ring, you'll need a few things.

1. Check your availability! We'll start Sunday, Aug 12th at 6pm EST/3pm PST. You wlil need to be on time or you may not be eligable to play. A session generally lasts about 4 hours.

2. If you are unfamiliar with Pathfinder Society Organized play, head over to http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/about . Download and Read the Guide to Pathfinder Society after reviewing that page. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. A lot will be explained on the way.

3. You'll need to create a level 1 character (This was is a bit optional. You can always run a pre-generated character if you are very new to Pathfinder or don't have the time to whip up a character. Don't worry, XP and rewards may be applied to your new character)

4. You'll need the latest version of Skype. Add me as a friend (JCServant7) .

5. You'll need to download maptools v.b87 from http://www.rptools.net/download/zip/maptool-1.3.b87.zip . Unzip it in an easy to find folder.

6. Shoot me off an email - jcservant at cyberlightcomics dot com . As quickly as I can, I will confirm that I still have an open slot and get you in! I will run this with six players.

To clarify, chances are this is just a one shot, though I may continue with others in later weeks.

If you have any quick questions, email me or get them up here. :) See you in the game!

Salutations!

Have you heard of the Pathfinder Society? Maybe you wanted to try it, but were just to afraid to ask! Perhaps you've a PFS expert, but you've got a new level 1 character you're just DYING to break in. Well, you're in luck... at least if you meet a few criteria. I'm running the intro PFS module, First Steps, Part I: In Service to Lore online.

Before deciding to throw your hat in the ring, you'll need a few things.

1. Check your availability! We'll start Sunday, Aug 12th at 6pm EST/3pm PST. You wlil need to be on time or you may not be eligable to play. A session generally lasts about 4 hours.

2. If you are unfamiliar with Pathfinder Society Organized play, head over to http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/about . Download and Read the Guide to Pathfinder Society after reviewing that page. Don't worry if you don't understand everything. A lot will be explained on the way.

3. You'll need to create a level 1 character (This was is a bit optional. You can always run a pre-generated character if you are very new to Pathfinder or don't have the time to whip up a character. Don't worry, XP and rewards may be applied to your new character)

4. You'll need the latest version of Skype. Add me as a friend (JCServant7) .

5. You'll need to download maptools v.b87 from http://www.rptools.net/download/zip/maptool-1.3.b87.zip . Unzip it in an easy to find folder.

6. Shoot me off an email - jcservant at cyberlightcomics dot com . As quickly as I can, I will confirm that I still have an open slot and get you in! I will run this with six players.

If you have any quick questions, email me or get them up here. :) See you in the game!

Please post OOC discussion, rule questions, etc, right here. Thank you!!

Salutations.

I'm looking to start a play by post Pathfinder Society Scenario, "The Devil We Know Part 1" If this goes well, I may continue it into the other parts. This is for a level 1-2 group. This is an official PFS adventure.

I have plenty of experience running homebrew and AP's ..however, this will be my first PFS *and* my first play by post... so, please, only apply if you have patience as I'm learning this as I go along (as many people are). I am open to suggestions by players/GMs who have done offical PFS scenarios via Pbp in the past.

I recommend http://paizo.com/forums/dmtz5dpx?DHs-Guide-to-Play-By-Post-gaming for newer Pbp gamers.

Perspective players need to be able to post in the early morning, mid day and early evening on a regular basis during the weekdays. Weekends are expected to be slower, but some participation then will also be required. Do not apply if you cannot regular meet these requirements. I also imagine that players must be able to scan PDF sheets so I can review characters sheets, sign off on scenarios, etc. (If there's a better way to handle that, feel free to let me know)

Perspective players feel free to post below. If there are more than four or five players, I will choose based on history, and party need.

Recruitment will be open through Friday 12 MST. I will announce the party shortly after that. I will also add more details to the thread as needed.

More information at : http://paizo.com/products/btpy89kb?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-29-The-Devil -We-Know-Part-I-Shipyard-Rats