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We're trying to start back up our Society Event (wish us luck!) and, in thinking on how to show new Players the Society, I thought of a way to use parts of our Retired Scenarios and figured I'd share.
When a new Player gets ready to join and has to select a Faction, I plan on, in addition to going over the Faction details in the Guide to the Society, show them the Faction missions from the retired Scenarios. This way they can see a few examples and be a bit more comfortable choosing.
It can never hurt them to see those -- they're no longer available for play. But it can certainly help them choose which Faction to join.
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We're trying to start back up our Society Event (wish us luck!) and, in thinking on how to show new Players the Society, I thought of a way to use parts of our Retired Scenarios and figured I'd share.
When a new Player gets ready to join and has to select a Faction, I plan on, in addition to going over the Faction details in the Guide to the Society, show them the Faction missions from the retired Scenarios. This way they can see a few examples and be a bit more comfortable choosing.
It can never hurt them to see those -- they're no longer available for play. But it can certainly help them choose which Faction to join.
Interesting idea. I think a good idea, as well. It would certainly prevent situations like folks unhappy with Andoran assassination missions, or, as I think of them: Andoran Sentience Slaughter (ASS) missions.
I think another use could be unofficial replay, trying out character ideas, playing one off games at higher level, etc.
Good thread.
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While I don't see the harm in that, I don't really see any gain in it really. The Faction section of the Guide is very good and gives you a good idea of what they will ask of you.
The unofficial replay is a... GNAH... idea. The problem with that is while you are playing through old retired adventures (with a reason), you could be playing some of the newest stuff and actually get something out of it.
Plus, the newer modules are generally more challenging and more interesting.
JP
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While I don't see the harm in that, I don't really see any gain in it really. The Faction section of the Guide is very good and gives you a good idea of what they will ask of you.
The unofficial replay is a... GNAH... idea. The problem with that is while you are playing through old retired adventures (with a reason), you could be playing some of the newest stuff and actually get something out of it.
Plus, the newer modules are generally more challenging and more interesting.JP
There are lots of reasons for unoffical replay, regardless if it doesn't meet your fancy, JP.
As mentioned...trying out a new idea. Doing this with with newer stuff may result in using up a limited resource on a character you don't want to continue with or want to modify. The limited resource: available mods to play for stuff.
There has been a lot of feedback that there are players who would like to play more than available.
So, sorry it doesn't meet your needs. And frankly, it doesn't meet mine. But, it does serve the needs and/or desires of others.
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I think given a choice, there are many reasons to offer currently active scenarios before retired ones:
- participating in organised play campaign;
- receiving chronicle sheets and credit;
- Pathfinder rules vs 3.5;
- new or inexperienced players who encounter a TPK in a retired scenario may unfairly be discouraged from playing Pathfinder Society scenarios;
- customer feedback was taken into account when choosing which scenarios to convert vs which to retire.
However, retired scenarios are still available for purchase and (non-organised) play. Some valid reasons for doing so:
- still playing by 3.5 rules;
- integrating into a home campaign;
- already played all of the currently released scenarios;
- not encumbered by official organised play rules, Painlord can give his warforged revenant spellscarred paladin of the sun god a run.
To give one example: I personally think Blood at Dralkard Manor is a really fun sandboxy scenario - players approach this one differently every time, which gives it great replay value for the GM, never the same game twice. Unfortunately Dralkard Manor suffered from TPK encounters, most likely the reason it was chosen for retirement.
However, a GM forewarned with these issues (read the Product Reviews and Product Discussion boards) could modify the scenario to fix obvious balance problems and run this scenario for his home group.
Note: it's generally not recommended for GMs to modify scenarios officially run in the organsied play campaign, but you could do so with these retired scenarios if you wish.
Cheers,
DarkWhite
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We're trying to start back up our Society Event (wish us luck!) and, in thinking on how to show new Players the Society, I thought of a way to use parts of our Retired Scenarios and figured I'd share.
When a new Player gets ready to join and has to select a Faction, I plan on, in addition to going over the Faction details in the Guide to the Society, show them the Faction missions from the retired Scenarios. This way they can see a few examples and be a bit more comfortable choosing.
It can never hurt them to see those -- they're no longer available for play. But it can certainly help them choose which Faction to join.
I guess I'm taking what the original poster said as he has the faction missions there for the new player to read over to get a gist of what the faction expects of the character; not necessarily that he is running new players thru retired mods (thought I've noticed people take any opportunity to complain about a large issue if there is even the slightest silver that i could be come part of the conversation)
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- not encumbered by official organised play rules, Painlord can give his warforged revenant spellscarred paladin of the sun god a run.
Well played, sir.
Remind me to kick you in the shins when we meet.
-Pain
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I guess I'm taking what the original poster said as he has the faction missions there for the new player to read over to get a gist of what the faction expects of the character; not necessarily that he is running new players thru retired mods (thought I've noticed people take any opportunity to complain about a large issue if there is even the slightest silver that i could be come part of the conversation)
As the person who added the opportunity to run through retired mods, I wasn't complaining, and have no idea who this was directed toward. *shrug*
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- not encumbered by official organised play rules, Painlord can give his warforged revenant spellscarred paladin of the sun god a run.Well played, sir.
Remind me to kick you in the shins when we meet.
-Pain
Hi Painlord. I wasn't having a go, I know it wasn't your character described. I was just being cheeky while agreeing with others up-thread that retired scenarios could offer some players a chance to try some new ideas. Last weekend I introduced my own non-standard character to a Serpent's Skull campaign run by a friend, precisely because I have no opportunity to do so in the many organised play sessions I'm involved with. So I can relate ;-)
Cheers,
Darkwhite
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I wasn't having a go, I know it wasn't your character described. I was just being cheeky while agreeing with others up-thread that retired scenarios could offer some players a chance to try some new ideas. Last weekend I introduced my own non-standard character to a Serpent's Skull campaign run by a friend, precisely because I have no opportunity to do so in the many organised play sessions I'm involved with. So I can relate ;-)
Cheers,
Darkwhite
Oh, by all means, have a go if it makes you happy.
I'm generally of good cheer and often appreciate a good jest.
-Pain
When a new Player gets ready to join and has to select a Faction, I plan on, in addition to going over the Faction details in the Guide to the Society, show them the Faction missions from the retired Scenarios. This way they can see a few examples and be a bit more comfortable choosing.
I think that's a fine idea!
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I guess I'm taking what the OP said as he has the faction missions there for the new player to read over to get a gist of what the faction expects of the character; not necessarily that he is running new players thru retired mods.
Yeah, I'm not sure how anyone got the idea that I was planning on running these retired Scenarios. Just showing the Faction missions so newer Players can make a more informed decision on which Faction to join.
I remember really loving the idea of the Cheliax Faction but choosing Andoran because I thought the Cheliax stuff would be considerably less fun (for me).
Oops.
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Yeah, I'm not sure how anyone got the idea that I was planning on running these retired Scenarios.I haven't seen anyone say that you were. So, how'd you get the idea that anyone had the idea that you were running these retired Scenarios? :)
this right here .. look above...
While I don't see the harm in that, I don't really see any gain in it really. The Faction section of the Guide is very good and gives you a good idea of what they will ask of you.
The unofficial replay is a... GNAH... idea. The problem with that is while you are playing through old retired adventures (with a reason), you could be playing some of the newest stuff and actually get something out of it.
Plus, the newer modules are generally more challenging and more interesting.JP
or this...
I think given a choice, there are many reasons to offer currently active scenarios before retired ones:
- participating in organised play campaign;
- receiving chronicle sheets and credit;
- Pathfinder rules vs 3.5;
- new or inexperienced players who encounter a TPK in a retired scenario may unfairly be discouraged from playing Pathfinder Society scenarios;
- customer feedback was taken into account when choosing which scenarios to convert vs which to retire.However, retired scenarios are still available for purchase and (non-organised) play. Some valid reasons for doing so:
- still playing by 3.5 rules;
- integrating into a home campaign;
- already played all of the currently released scenarios;
- not encumbered by official organised play rules, Painlord can give his warforged revenant spellscarred paladin of the sun god a run.To give one example: I personally think Blood at Dralkard Manor is a really fun sandboxy scenario - players approach this one differently every time, which gives it great replay value for the GM, never the same game twice. Unfortunately Dralkard Manor suffered from TPK encounters, most likely the reason it was chosen for retirement.
However, a GM forewarned with these issues (read the Product Reviews and Product Discussion boards) could modify the scenario to fix obvious balance problems and run this scenario for his home group.
Note: it's generally not recommended for GMs to modify scenarios officially run in the organsied play campaign, but you could do so with these retired scenarios if you wish.
Cheers,
DarkWhite
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Come on guys -- it's no biggie.
I wanted to share the idea of showing Faction Missions of retired Scenarios to new Players so they can get a better idea of what Faction they want to join.
Others added that it may or may not be cool to play retired Scenarios for fun.
Others screamed HASTUR!, HASTUR!, HASTUR! to the heavens because their girlfriend dumped them for a recycled vibrator and a tub of cottage cheese.
It's all good.
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Stuff
I think it's a good idea. I'm going to steal it. I think I'll list the mission as it appears on the handout, followed by the text in the conclusion section that shows what was expected to complete the mission. This could (1) provide insight into the types of missions each faction usually prefers and (2) how the player need to interpret the mission so they can complete them correctly.
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I think this is agreat idea. Ran into some high schol kids a couple weeks ago playing PFRPG with 3.5 and some sort of 'Irish' influence home game. Attempting to assimilate them into the society isn't difficult, but getting them to understand "evil" as Taldan or "devilry" as Chelexian and how neither is really wrong but both can do good and it depends on a style is important. When Mark was Yoda8MyHead he wrote up a nice faction description [separate from PFS OP] that really helps, but seeing how a character is intended to interac with the story and the faction by seeing older missions is a great idea. I will be reopening several of those retired mods to get some clear examples.
Thocrat Issak
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I work in a high school. If there is any student interest, I plan to start an RPG club next year. The use of retired scenarios would allow both exposure to this game for students and GM practice for me. In the long run, my plan is to make the games PFS. The modular, independent nature of PFS scenarios makes them ideal for a high school club, where attendance is likely to vary often.