John W Johnson's page

Pathfinders, it's time to gather for Michigan’s newest convention, Midwest Media Expo! This high-profile event will be hosted from April 25th to 27th at the GM Renaissance Center in Downtown Detroit. In addition to Pathfinder Society action, there are many different attractions to draw your interest. The Expo offers multiple media tracks, including fandom, film, cosplay, comic books, video games and of course, tabletop games like Pathfinder!

We’re going to run scenarios from across Season 5, as well as both We Be Goblins! and We Be Goblins, Too! The ever-dangerous Ruins of Bonekeep, Level One: The Silent Grave is also scheduled on Saturday.

We are looking for a few dedicated GMs to help out. This is a new convention, and their requirements for a complimentary weekend pass aren't light. In order to earn free admission, you will need to volunteer for 4 sessions. Sign-ups for both players and GMs can be found on Warhorn. We want Pathfinder Society to make a big footprint at this convention, and we hope you can be there with us.

Pre-registration for the convention is currently open. Weekend passes for Midwest Media Expo are available for $40 ($45 after March 3rd) or $50 dollars at the door (single day passes are also available). Check out all the details at http://www.midwestmediaexpo.com/registration.php.

Schedule -
Friday Session 1 (2:30pm-6:30pm):
We Be Goblins! (Tier 1)
We Be Goblins Too! (Tier 3)
PFS#5-14 Day of the Demon (Tier 3-7)

Friday Session 2 (7pm-11pm):
PFS#5-17 Fate of the Fiend (Tier 7-11)
PFS#5-08 The Confirmation (Tier 1-5)

Saturday Session 1 (9am-1pm):
PFS#5-02 The Wardstone Patrol (Tier 3-7)
PFS#5-12 Destiny of the Sands Part 1 (Tier 1-5)
PFS#5-13 Weapon in the Rift (Tier 5-9)

Saturday Session 1 (1pm-6pm)
Ruins of Bonekeep Level 1 (PFS Exclusive 12:30pm-6:30pm Tier 3-7)
PFS#5-15 Destiny of the Sands Part 2 (Tier 1-5)
PFS#5-07 Port Godless (Tier 5-9)

Saturday Session 3 (7pm-11pm)
PFS#5-04 The Stolen Heir (Tier 1-5)
PFS#5-16 Destiny of the Sands Part 3 (Tier 3-7)

Sunday Session 1 (8am-12pm)
PFS#5-01The Glass River Rescue (Tier 1-5)
PFS#5-09 The Traitor's Lodge (Tier 3-7)
PFS#5-06 You Have What You Hold (Tier 3-7)

Sunday Session 2 (1pm-5pm):
PFS#5-11 Library of the Lion (Tier 1-5)
PFS#5-03 The Hellknight's Feast (Tier 5-9)
PFS#5-10 Where Mammoths Dare Not Tread (Tier 7-11)

Hopefully we can make this convention a success and push for even more space for Pathfinder Society next year!

I would personally hate to GM a table that has someone come up with 2 Earth Breakers, unless they are using the Titan Mauler archetype, because of the arguments that are going to ensue. As a player of a Thunder and Fang Build Two-Weapon Fighter, I play it as Rule as Intended. My fighter wields a Klar as well as the Earth Breaker.

Now, if someone comes up to my table trying to pull off a Fighter Two Weapon Fighter build that is using 2 Earth Breakers, I will do one thing. Ask them for their copy of the source material that they are using to do so. If they can't provide it, then the point is moot.

If they can provide it, until an official errata comes out, as much as I will dislike the idea, since we do have to go RAW instead of RA(P)I, I'd have to begrudgingly allow it.

They are probably still working things out on it, just be patient with the Boon

What is really frustrating is that for my subscription, I did it to have my product by street date. I'm not saving that much money (less than 50 cents). Since my order is still pending, I'm almost guaranteed not to have it until sometime in November. After the street date. I don't get a benefit of a free PDF, I only get the benefit of getting a promo card that I woild get from my FLGS anyway. This might cause me to rethink keeping my subscription going, as it isn't giving me the benefit that it should have intended.

I'm a little bummed that it looks like I won't have my order until after I leave for the convention that I'm Game Mastering at...would have been nice to show off everything that's available for the Adventure Card Game.

Hopefully this all gets sorted out soon, I would like the second card game add on (and promo cards) in time for the convention that I'm working at, maybe to get more players interested in the Card Game. If not, it's not that big of a deal. Glad that you're keeping everyone updated on this, Sara Marie.

I have an older Nexus 7, and use EZ File Manager's unzipping utility and they work fine for me

I agree with John about the RotR Pt 1 situation, where if you give up the loot, you should have no easy recourse to get it back. At the same time, there is always a hint of danger in a scenario, and if that danger is losing a valuable item that could have been kept thanks to something like say...a locking gauntlet or a weapon cord, then I don't think that item should be returned either. There is a risk with Pathfinder, we shouldn't minimize it.

Here's my 2cp...

As a GM, someone that is relying just on the PRD isn't as invested as they should be (usually). They are going to make a character and play them how they want, even if it goes against the rules. Someone that buys a book will usually go and read it, get comfortable with it.

To top that off, like what others have said, what if you don't have an internet connection. Now the player has to rely on the fact that a GM would know what Feat X out of UC does. That adds more to a GMs responsibility.

Grats on the star.

Ryan,

I believe that you are mistaken. Taking a look at the Guide, it states that you can spend PP on any SINGLE item. However, you can have multiple uses of the same spell on a scroll and it would count as a single item.

I could be wrong about this, but I think that Hawkwen is correct.

This should help you out...

And

So hopefully that answers your question for you.

I can only come in with my personal experiences, and how I would go about doing things. Right now, if we have a table at 3-7 where I'm coming in with a level 7, and the rest of the table is 3 or 4, I personally have no problem playing down for less gold. Sure, it sucks that I don't have the +1 Flaming Earth Breaker of Asmodeus unlocked to purchase right away, but eventually, I will be able to buy something similar when I attain the fame.

I play (and GM) for fun. My attitude for playing up, when I do play is either whatever the table decides, or whatever the lower tiered players decide. I know what my character can do in the lower tier, and I also know how to throttle back what I do to make things more fun for other players if need be.

I also know that a good number of players that play in my location play for fun, including a player that took 0 gold for completing a mission in exchange for something that is going to give the character more flavor.

There are only two things that I remember from looking at the chonicle sheets:

***spoiler omitted***

Cao, not a knock on you, but for future reference, if you are bringing up something off a chronicle sheet, please use the spoiler tag, as it can unintentionally lead to metagaming.

Netopalis wrote:

Well, if he wants to be as extreme about it as to not play modules because they give out 2 fewer PP, that's his business. I still think he'd be missing out on a lot of great times.

And if you would focus on reading comprehension instead of passing judgment, you'd see that what I'm suggesting would open the door for more people to play modules.

I seriously doubt that the rationale for modules giving 2 PP less has anything to do with how enjoyable it is. So if we give players a way to make up for the lost PP, more people will be motivated to play modules. How can this be a bad thing? I'll guarantee you I'm not the only one who either completely forgoes modules because of the PP hit, or has limited the number they'll play.

Considering how you are the only poster here whose approach is to insult my choices as a player why don't you just stay out of this discussion?

I know, from my experience, that many of the players that I deal with on a regular basis would rather play modules instead of scenarios. They don't care that they only get 4 fame from them.

As a GM, I really want to feel for you, but I can't, because as a player, I have made choices that have kept characters of mine from having a full amount of fame for their level, whether it be at character creation, or flat out not doing a faction mission, or playing in a module.

The point of the game isn't to be able to always buy that snazzy +2 Flaming Great Sword. The point is to have fun. If the fact that you aren't able to generate the maximum amount of fame per session is defeating your fun, then I don't know if there's anything that can be done to help you.

But what you're asking is for a complete rewrite of the rules so that everyone can have something that not everyone should be able to get. I can't agree with that.

As much as I would like to support this product, it's 2.99 for a box that holds 18-20 tiles. I would much rather pay a little more for something that I can use to keep more than just one set of tiles together and sorted. This is something that I will have to pass on, but I can see the use for other people. Not a bad idea for a product though.

My thoughts on this are a little different. I'll go to real world pop culture for this. In the movie RED, Helen Mirren's character was, without a shadow of a doubt, an assassin. But did the fact that she committed what we would consider an evil act make her an evil person? No, it didn't. She was compassionate, loving, almost matronly.

As such, the rule on Evil Acts are plain as day. I would allow someone to have that profession, but before they did their day job, I would remind them that fact and let them know that by performing that particular day job would move them one step closer to evil and that if they do become evil aligned, that they will need to pay for atonement or else have the character reported as dead.

There have been other posts that have dealt with that, most recently to my memory was when Synthesist Summoner and Vivisectionist Alchemist were banned. With the Bracers, yes, you get all of the GP back, just note it on your next chronicle, and if you GM questions why you are getting full gold back, point him to the Additional Resources document as well as the Guide to Organized Play to show him the applicable rulings.

I also have a one sheet that I did up for my local shop that is good if you have people that like to write bigger and also at the bottom has the different factions grouped by which one is used for the earlier season missions.

Thursday, August 15
Slot 1 (0800-1300): #4-17: Tower of the Ironwood Watch
Slot 2 (1300-1800): #4-19: The Night March of Kalkamedes
Slot 3 (1900-2400): Bonekeep Level 1

Friday, August 16
Slot 4 (0800-1300): #4-17: Tower of the Ironwood Watch
Slot 5 (1300-1800): OFF
Slot 6 (1900-2400): Gen Con Season 5 Special: Siege of Diamond City 1-5

Saturday, August 17
Slot 7 (0800-1300): #4-19: The Night March of Kalkamedes
Slot 8 (1300-1800): OFF
Slot 9 (1900-2400): Bonekeep Level 2

Sunday, August 18
Slot 10 (0900-1400): #4-17: Tower of the Ironwood Watch

EDDLAP is banned for taking my Lucky Charms out of the Pantry

Spanky the Leprechaun is banned because he stole my Lucky Charms.

Granted...unfortunately Other's status is always dead.

I wish everything tasted like bacon.

Well, I did appear on an unaired pilot for ...Married With Children.

The next poster is a former porn star.

EDDLAP is banned for being Skeletor's Half-Brother's Roommate's Best Friend's Next Door Neighbor's Uncle's Sister's Cousin....Twice Removed.

Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)

Pink Floyd

Getting tied of me ascent? What does that mean, man?

The next person knows mimes 1-7's real name.

lucky7 is banned for offending nuns, orphans and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Granted, you are a member of Smurfs Hiding Illegal Electronic Language Dictations.

I wish my lucky7's Avatar was a Smurf.

8' Teen

? & The Mysterians

lucky7 is banned because I just felt like banning him.

Granted. Unfortunately it became free to play within a week of it's release, and the servers shut down in 2010.

I wish Free To Play MMOs were the bees knees.

Here a crap, there a crap, everywhere a crap crap.

The next poster will be covered in my crap.

Lucky7 is banned for putting a period after the W in my name.

Granted...but it won't happen for another 300 years.

I wish I would be around in 300 years to see what is posted in World of Farael.

Gran rey de los bleeding eye gollums is banned for being Lucky7

Shame on you Mimes...but yes, thanks for letting out my dirty secret.

The next poster knows every word in the English Language, and their latin translation.

Granted...but instead of cutting them down, the move all of the houses in your neighborhood to the desert.

I wish I would have taken the blue pill

Lucky7 smurfing has blue paint up his smurfing smurf.

Granted...unfortunately it's filled with Barney...and you forgot how to delete it.

I wish my DVR would have unlimited HD capacity.

My precious. - Lucky7

Granted...unfortunately your rigged dice are discovered and you are banned by Mike Brock himself.

I wish I people would craft songs celebrating my badassness.

Bah weep granah weep ninni bong.

Nation Prophetic is banned for Sparkling when he goes outside.

Granted...except the answer is always lucky7 has a banana.

I wish that Star is a redhead.

I'm done referencing Pathfinder, Temple Run, Pitfall, Donkey Kong, Dragon Quest and the Legend of Zelda in my posts.

The next poster is really Mime #8 in disguise.

Lucky7's real name...Kyle Baird. Was accosted by Al Pacino for not being a Baird Man, so he changed it.

Charles Scholz is banned for not expecting the Spanish Inquisition

I would tell you how badass I am, but I would prefer for the legends to speak for themselves.

The next poster knows all the lyrics to the theme song of "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" in Navi.

"I think it was Socrates that said...I drank what?" - FuelDrop...or maybe it was Chris Knight.