Meghan Schmidt 86's page

In one of the recent times when I actually played (instead of GMed) a scenario, I was given a mission that my character, flat out, would not do. The (un)fortunate part was that the other player in the same faction (both of us Shadow Lodge playing as Chelaxians) also would not do once I explained the mission fully. Although we probably could have convinced one of the other party members to do the mission, we just took the loss of the point since both of our characters were opposed to the very idea of the mission.

However, I do have another item to bring in relation to the line of questioning. Do you do anything to inform the player if the secrecy/lack thereof is in disagreement between the player handout and the GM notes. I saw this in several scenarios where the GM notes specified that the mission must be performed secretly, while the player handout made no such mention of that requirement. I've taken to the habit of reading over the handout before I give it to the players just so I know what info they have versus what I have.

-Michael

I remember that game. and much respect for not taking the point.

-Meghan

A lot of different resposes to hang with me

I guess I'm just a different player then some of the players that complain about not getting prestige. I know from the gate depending on the character I'm running if I'm going to succeed my faction mission and I'm ok with that "It's the breaks" as someone says. My chelish barbarian is never going to succeed at a mission if it need diplomacy or bluff…and that’s ok it’s her flavor.

I favor creativity when it come to completing your faction missions brute force would just not be accepted. I agree with Andrew is defeats the purpose.

But I also agree with Fromper I think sometimes the Players can be more creative then the scenario gives them creative for, coming up with out of the box ideas that are really great, but still can get the prestige because they failed the X check that was required.

Though If someone comes to my table at high level and say they have never failed at getting prestige part of me would question that. They must be beyond lucky!

I guess the follow up would be in this question is the GM the last call on this in PFS?

I usually remind the players that they're helping a rival faction and add emphasis if it's a rival faction.

Shadow Lodge vs. Grand Lodge.

Andoran vs. Cheliax

Qadira vs. Taldor.

and so on, and so on.

I would agree with this, it makes total sense, as long and the other play "knows" what faction you are...if they don't then they are sure of the rivalry.

I have seen a lot of different ways GM interpret how faction should be run an interact. How does everyone handle them.
Different things that i have seen include but not limited to.

-No one knows each others factions unless you have previous knowledge of the other character or you freely give the information to the party(usually what i do)

-everyone know everything

-Not letting others help each other/assist with faction mission EVEN when the faction mission says nothing about keeping it a secret.

-Letting people help each other out if they role-play it out(usually what i do) or course as long and the mission doesn't state that it has to be kept secret.

-Everyone can just help anyone as long as it's not a secret mission...
"anyone have knowledge nature can you role me a check for my faction mission. other player roles....." no explanation just everyone rolling to see if they can get what ever it is.

Would like to here you all's thought on the subject?

-Meghan

what so what about the pregens work differently when playng a mod?

but if i had a level 2 i could apply it to that once if was ready?

Thanks for all the advice everyone...so have any played a charater with a new GM...have and pet peeves you wish they had taken care of before running the game besides reading over the mod?
-M

so can I play a 4th level pre-gen and then apply the credits and stuff to a current character? I have friends that want to play a 3-5 game and i don't have a character low enough so they suggested I play a pre-gen
-Meghan

Along the same vein as Painlord, the Pathfinder Condition Cards are a great resource for a GM to have.

Blinded? Here's a card that shows exactly what the effect is.

Covers lots of effects.

even as a player i love having these cards!...I'm also a fan of the Buff deck.

also any suggestion on what scenarios might be a good idea to try and run first i can tell as a player that some are def. harder to run then others(like don't think id wanna do midnight mauler for my first GM try)
And if i GM before i play it i can still play it latter just have to not say anything really during play correct?
-M

thanks for the advice everyone. I was thinking finding a mod that my friends have ran through and GMing it (for no credit of course) just as a test to get a feel for it in a safe setting.
My worry is as a player I've seen some characters come in that totally seem illegal how often to players get checked if at all? (i know mine have never been)

I have very many questions on this but I'll start with just a few. I figure I'm going to have to work up on GM skills for PFS b/c at some point I'm just going to either get very low on what i can play or run out.
What are things you love/hate about GMs?
Common Mistakes new GM's make?
Do you have to know every rule in all sub books like blood of fiends or ones like that that i can't think of at the moment....?
Any other best practices/lessons learned?
Thanks ahead of time to everyone:)
-M

It's been my experience that most players have a certain stereotype that they gravitate towards. For some, it's the ability to sling spells. Others enjoy the hot stink of an opponents breath in their face as they wade into melee. Still others prefer to stand at the back and rain death upon their foes with bows and guns. There's no right or wrong choice so longs as you're enjoying yourself.....

Jonathan's got a good suggestion of running mock combats. If you've played some higher level scenarios, you might try replaying them without credit to get a more complete experience as well.

Yeah i've seen this too the friends that made me want to try out spell casting tend to always play spell casters and since i'm relatively new at PFS thought i was just missing something that they saw.

i do like the idea of running a mock combat and trying some guys out. Figure in PFS at some point I'm going to have to work on my GMing skills too b/c I'm gonna run out of mods to play:P

I mean how many lvls does take to get a real feel for a character.
I mean I'm noticing but I have more fun getting in the middle and hitting stuff then i do throwing spells...but don't know if i've given spell users a good shot
I've played a ranger(home game) but very rarely used my spells, we we're also in a group with a wizard and cleric and their spells we're always just more usually to the team. also played a witch for a min.
Wizard(PFS) one mod. and just didn't have fun felt bored for most of the mod. don't remember that feeling when my barbarian was lvl 1 in PFS.
Just don't know if I'm just not giving them a fair shot since so many people i know like spell casters.
And I've been warned the in high lvl PFS being skill deficient can HURT BAD which most fighting classes are.(especially since i tend to play chelish and other party members usually don't want to help u unless they are chelish too...people are kinda haters on chelish)
Advice and best practices would be most awesome of everyone.

to cross class or no? I can't decide if it's better to stat out a straight oracle for pfs or to cross class it to improve it?

first thanks to everyone for all the help!(these message boards rock for help!) and a special shout out to Secane for breaking everything down so awesomely. At first glance I'm leaning toward oracle, I'll have to take some serious time reviewing this more tonight.:)
-M:)

Opinions and best practices help would be greatly appreciated.(I'm newer at PFS so trying to get my bearings)
Here's what i see:Amount of spells per-day seems about even they both us the same spells list. Cleric gets the whole like where oracle has a spells known# oracle doesn't seem to be restricted on what type of spells she casts based off her alignment unlike the cleric.....spell wise they seem really about even to me, saves like fort and will seem a little better on the cleric...is it just a little flavor difference that makes them different or would one be a way better option keeping in mind you retire at when u reach lvl 12....I don't really see a lot of either played in my area. or is there a cross class combo that i could do with one of them that I'm not thinking of.
-M

it has to be locale her in Missouri I mostly see wizard or types like a bloat mage.....fighters,rogue, barbarians(only b/c me and a friend play them), and only 1 druid 1 monk 1 bard...feel like maybe I've seen a cleric but not sure.
manly the first two type with different arca-types or prestige classes for them.

I don't usually see any of these when i play PFS? reasons? do ppl not like these classes?
-M

I am a HUGE fan of playing chelish!
LN is prob my best bet b/c i still don't think he's bad enough to actually be considered Evil.

I have a boon i could do tiefling but thought that might be bad b/c of the hit to CHA...figure he needs a decent CHA.

o and i did put him down for profession salesman for my day job already just forgot to include it in the beginning:)
ranks in fight also a good idea maybe just a few you never get to really see if he was a really good solider since he ditched.

And as for the alignment I can see lawful in some way he does follow his own set of personal laws. but I don't see him and evil(he does bad things but he's also doing things that would counter act them as in taking care of the wife of the man who identity he stole). maybe LN or CN because some things he does especially when drunk I can't always see any reason for.

I was thinking a bigger focus in Diplomacy I think he doesn't always straight lie, He's more of a it's all in how you sell it kind of man. I'll tell you the truth even if you don't like and make it sound amazing so that you'll change your mind.

Faction- thinking about Taldor maybe qadira but leaning more taldor

I know he's not a fantasy character but i like to take guys like this and see what they might be like if they were luck enough to be born into a cooler world:P

yeah....going change that back to human

Looking for a little advice I've build a character for pathfinder society.I've based him on Don Draper from Mad Men.Take a look let me know what you guys think:He's a halfing Bard,silver crusade, and thinking NG or CG. he's def. going to be the talking in the group.

Stats:Str-8 Dex-16 Con-10 Int-14 Wis-10 Cha-18

traits-child of the temple and mathematical prodigy

perform-oratory

he'll be using a whip;)

feat-weapon finesse
that's all I have so far.any advice would be welcomed:)

sweet!!

first thanks for everyone's help...just wanna make sure I'm getting this right.....so i could still being doing my bardic performance say inspire courage or countersong and the next round continue it as a free action giving my group the bonus' or what have u and cast say hold person? correct?
-M

thanks to you both:)!

random questions so a bard who sings to boost the party and want to continue to perform, which is a free action,....so on their next turn could they also cast a spell that doesn't require them to talk at all while still singing to boost the party at the same time?
-M

I'm think about making a bard(buffer), human, trip monkey, who assist other party members with their attacks. this is my first time playing a bard or really even a magic user...any best practices advice would be appreciated?
Thanks
-M