Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator
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It has come to my attention that there is a growing problem of "Custom" chronicle sheets from a couple of online communities that have become problematic.
What has been happening is people are taking current season 5 chronicle sheets and blanking out the scenario name, items, boons, etc. to make a blank season 5 chronicle sheet, for example.
They are then taking older season (0-3) chronicle data and manually adding it back to the season 5 template, digitally leaving out items that are not gained or from a different/higher tier.
The problem is made worse because occasionally, people are adding wrong items, incorrect prices for items, boons that are from the wrong tier, et cetera. It is becoming quite the mess.
The problem gets worse when one group uses a season 4 template and one group uses a season 5 template, and they are using custom naming and fonts, and and look completely different from each other. So, online GMs are now seeing a single scenario with chronicle sheets that look totally different, depending on what GM issues them. This obviously makes it hard to audit sheets and becomes doubly so when there is erroneous data on the sheets. This causes conflict between the player and the GM because they think they are entitled to an item that they are not supposed to have, or an item that is cheaper than it should be, or they have no limit to that item instead of "limit of 3" for example.
Custom Chronicle sheets have never been authorized for online play. If it continues, we will hold an internal discussion about canceling online play altogether. Please do not force us to make that tough decision.
From this point forward, any form of custom Chronicle sheet is illegal. If someone shows up at a convention or other physical game day, and bring these custom chronicle sheets, they are not legal and the GM has the right to refuse them a seat. The only options remaining for that player is to use a pregen since custom chronicle sheets aren't legal and therefore their character isn't legal, or simply not play.
If you have a custom Chronicle sheet, you need to make every attempt to contact the GM or a local VO, or one of the online VOs, to have your custom Chronicle sheet replaced.
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For the GM's that are having difficulty/problems providing the actual Chronicle sheets to players who play online. Who may not have a scanner or Adobe Acrobat. Here is an option. I would suggest you do the following:
Step 1: Download: bullzip pdf printer (free program) - This program allows you to 'print' a digital pdf version of a document/picture without actually printing a physical copy.
Step 2: 'Print' the Chronicle Sheet using bullzip pdf printer - this will create a PDF of the Chronicle Sheet for the scenario.
Step 3: Save the pdf file - a good idea is to name it after the scenario (i.e 5-01 Chronicle sheet).
Step 4: Open it up on adobe reader (another free program) - bullzip pdf will ask if you want to do this step when you print.
Step 5: From adobe reader you can fill out the chronicle sheet for players using the text tool. You can also sign the chronicle digitally if you'd like.
Step 6: Save the PDF when your done adding text and signing. using the example above it will save as '5-01 Chronicle sheet-signed'
Step 7: Email to players.
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Here is how I do it:
1. Download Gimp, a free Photoshop-esque image edit program.
2. Find your PDF in My Documents or wherever you keep them. Right click the logo and select "Open With..." and then "Gimp".
3. It will open Gimp and present you with a dialogue box allowing you to select which pages you want. Select the last one with the Chronicle sheet.
4. Fill out the sheet however you see fit. (I personally use a single layer for every bit of info, flatten the image, save it as a JPG, then undo the flattening to edit it for the next player. But I've been fiddling with the program for a while)
5. Save the sheets as JPGs, keeping the image resolution and quality high enough to be legible.
6. Email to players.
This basically involves downloading one single program to extract the sheet, edit the sheet, and save the sheet.
In the end, there are multiple ways to go about doing an official sheet.
Now to go through and make sure all the Chronicles for games I've played are legal.
Venture-Lieutenant, West Virginia—Charleston
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Apparently, after doing a little bit of digging, it appears that people are doing this in order to have a form-fillable option for Chronicle sheets. While unnecessary, given the procedure that June outlines and which I use, I can understand why people would want that option. A form-fillable sheet is much, much easier to do for online play, especially as the PDF protection prevents annotating and saving the chronicle otherwise.
As indicated on the previous thread on this subject, the simplest solution would be to include the chronicle as a separate, unprotected PDF within the .zip file containing the scenario.
Please note that I am not endorsing the use of alternative chronicle sheets; I'm just saying that this is the reason for the problem.
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Apparently, after doing a little bit of digging, it appears that people are doing this in order to have a form-fillable option for Chronicle sheets. While unnecessary, given the procedure that June outlines and which I use, I can understand why people would want that option. A form-fillable sheet is much, much easier to do for online play, especially as the PDF protection prevents annotating and saving the chronicle otherwise.
As indicated on the previous thread on this subject, the simplest solution would be to include the chronicle as a separate, unprotected PDF within the .zip file containing the scenario.
Please note that I am not endorsing the use of alternative chronicle sheets; I'm just saying that this is the reason for the problem.
I currently use the snapshot tool to copy the chronicle sheet from the PDF, paste it into Microsoft Publisher, and use Microsoft Excel and Publisher to create a mail-merge. Export to PDF, distribute to players.
Mind you, this requires owning, or having access to, Microsoft Office, but this has been the easiest solution for me.
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It is fairly easy to create a form-fillable PDF for someone who has the full version of acrobat. @ Paizo: Is this something that Paizo would be willing to do for future versions of their chronicle sheets?
I believe all the Season 5 scenarios (maybe starting earlier than that) all have form-fillable chronicles in the scenarios already. I know I prefill most of the ones I do. I dont have Acrobat, so I dont save it, but I would imagine it could be done.
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It is fairly easy to create a form-fillable PDF for someone who has the full version of acrobat. @ Paizo: Is this something that Paizo would be willing to do for future versions of their chronicle sheets?
This.
And the answer is No. There are no "form-fillable" version of the chronicles currently available. Would be nice, cause then you would have my watermark verifying legitimacy of the sheet.
But until then, sure. What the boss says goes! :)
I am still wondering what happened though to my prize from the November Game Day. :(
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Venture-Lieutenant, West Virginia—Charleston
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It is fairly easy to create a form-fillable PDF for someone who has the full version of acrobat. @ Paizo: Is this something that Paizo would be willing to do for future versions of their chronicle sheets?I believe all the Season 5 scenarios (maybe starting earlier than that) all have form-fillable chronicles in the scenarios already. I know I prefill most of the ones I do. I dont have Acrobat, so I dont save it, but I would imagine it could be done.
I just looked at Hellknight's Feast, and it's not form-fillable.
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Without any additional programs.
In the scenario, scroll to the chronicle sheet.
Go to view. Rotate clockwise. Zoom in so that the chronicle takes up as much space in the page as it can without losing anything important.
Press Print Screen. This copies the entire page.
Open paint.
Go to image, attributes. Set the height and width to something absurdly large, say 20X20.
Go to edit, Paste to put the chronicle on the page.
Use the Select tool (the square with the ----- around it) To select the chronicle sheet.
Go to file, New. Click no, you don't want to save.
Image, attributes, picking something absurdly small like 1 inch by 1 inch.
Edit paste. The page will size itself to the chronicle. You can now fill it in either with the paint brush tool, or the lettering tool. (for the lettering tool its usually easier to use the lettering tool in a big open space, then use select to drag it exactly where you want it.)
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Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator
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How prevalent is this? It must be huge if you're threatening to cancel online play. I can't imagine how it got that widespread, though--it's such an obviously inappropriate thing to do.
If it was one or two people, that would be one thing. Note the choice of words when I advised a couple of communities. We want to nip this in the bud as early as possible, not let it continue to grow. And I said if it continues, we would hold internal discussions. Thus far, we haven't had any of those. I don't want to plan any of those. I want the community to police itself.
I very highly support online play and is why we have an inline VC and 3 online VLs. It is why I had a new forum created just for online play. It is also why we offer PDFs as prize support for online conventions and game days.
You're right. It is obviously inappropriate behavior and why I made the initial post. If people do the right thing, then we don't have to discuss any further measures.
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Note the choice of words when I advised a couple of communities.
Oy. I mean, it makes sense that it would transmit that way--ideas fill up within communities then carry over via people who cross the boundaries--but it's still kind of boggling that "hey let's completely disregard the basics" got so far. D:
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If it continues, we will hold an internal discussion about canceling online play altogether. Please do not force us to make that tough decision.Yes, that would certainly be a loss for those of us whose *only* option to play the game at all is online play.
In another thread you suggested that players who have received custom sheets to contact the issuing GM. How would a player, especially one who has a limited experience, identity a custom sheet?
What I would do is to download one the free guide -- in the back is a blank voided chronicle. If your chronicle looks in anyway different that that (season variation not withstanding) then I would ask the VOs to take a look at it.
So I've played online through three separate communities. I have chronicle sheets from all of them, and don't own the scenarios to compare sheets. How would I know if my chronicles are good or bad? In my case ~1/2 of the gaming was done with VO involvement, so at least I've got that going for me. But as a relatively new player who also plays offline I don't feel like I really understand what exposure I have to this issue. Any chance you can give more info? Should I just be looking for incorrect season format (is there a reference for that, as I haven't played scenarios from every season yet)?
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If it continues, we will hold an internal discussion about canceling online play altogether. Please do not force us to make that tough decision.Yes, that would certainly be a loss for those of us whose *only* option to play the game at all is online play.
In another thread you suggested that players who have received custom sheets to contact the issuing GM. How would a player, especially one who has a limited experience, identity a custom sheet?
What I would do is to download one the free guide -- in the back is a blank voided chronicle. If your chronicle looks in anyway different that that (season variation not withstanding) then I would ask the VOs to take a look at it.
Actually, since season variation was apparently the thing people were working around, I think it's just the opposite--if your chronicles from seasons 0-4 look like the one in the new Guide, they're wrong.
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I'm not an online VO, but I am a VO and I'm willing to assist. If someone has chronicles they are unsure of, feel free to PM me and I can compare your chronicles to originals for you.
(Obviously, if I get slammed with requests, it may take time to work through them, but I will respond to anyone who contacts me.)
+1
Feel free to PM me on here or email me at southernillinois.pfs@gmail.com.
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We are taking a look at options for fillable sheets and will have a better idea on how this will work and what scenarios would have them after the Christmas holiday.
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I am really kind of curious to how prevalent this is. I know of only one gm who did this, and she has since corrected it immediately after finding out it is not kosher. Do we have any idea to how many are actually doing this? I have been a part of the online community now for a bit, and know of only one instance. That has been since resolved and was treated by the community rather quickly.
The communities I primarily participate in are the:
1) Google Group
2) Ironhelixx Group
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Wow, is this really a problem? When you guys give us a chronicle sheet for everything PFS legal I don't see why any of this redubbing stuff is done. Old chronicle sheets are still easy to display modern concepts (out-of-tier pay, day job rolls, etc), so redubbing modern sheet templates to older scenarios shouldn't even be a thing. Folks are just creating work for themselves that ultimately creates more work for everyone else. It's dumb.
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That being said, would this chronicle sheet, after being signed, be considered 'illegal'?
I don't get it. Is the joke that you snuck "buying slaves" into the purchase category in small font, so that people will glance at the Chronicle, tell you there's no problem, and then you can be like "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SLAVES?!"
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That being said, would this chronicle sheet, after being signed, be considered 'illegal'?
The chronicle sheet you linked has been altered from its original form by someone, so it would not be legal based on Mike's post .
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The original had an incorrect title: it said " Scenario #2–02: Before the Dawn, Part I: Rescue at Azlant Ridge"
It was also missing the "TIER" markings for tier 3-4 and 6-7.
See, I could tell from the way you asked that you were playing some form of "gotcha" here. I admit to being sad that I didn't see it, though.
The followup question is: Would you seriously disallow a player from playing at your table as a result?
Personally, no, because I'd never notice. But if I did, I'd tell the player they should probably get a new one, because there are insane people who would disallow it. And if I received it as a player--and noticed, which as we have established, is pretty unlikely--I would ask for a new one, again, in preemptive defense against insane people.
Edit: Just in case this is actually somehow confusing, I'm not calling "declaring do-it-yourself Chronicle sheets invalid" insane, I'm calling "refusing to seat a player because one of their GMs once fixed a typo in a scenario title" insane.
Edit edit: To put it another way, "The leadership of this organized play community assumes that you will use common sense in your interpretation of the rules."