Things you've done to keep PFS fresh for you?


Pathfinder Society

Shadow Lodge 4/5

Because my group of friends plays a lot of PFS, we try different things to mix it up (other than simply not playing PF). We play by PFS rules in a non-credit/non-sanctioned set up to try new things.

A couple of months ago, we played an "Ugly Sweaters" game. Each person made a level 5 PFS-legal one-trick pony character. The hook? We randomly drew someone else's Ugly Sweater character to play! The party featured a Stink Bomb Alchemist, a Wizard who only had various Metamagicked Magic Missiles memorized, a Bard who fought with his guitar (el Kabong) and a wizard who only used a bow to attack.

PRO: By switching characters, you're forced to play a type of PC or playstyle you normally wouldn't. CON: By playing someone else's wonky Ugly Sweater, you don't quite have your mind wrapped around how its trick(s) work.

Next month, we're trying a "kick the tires" game. Everyone creates a L5 PFS-legal character that they've considered creating. I will run them through a third-party/retired scenario so they can test drive it and see if it is actually a PC they'd actually want to play.

PRO: You can see how a build will operate once it comes online. CON: I'll let you know once we play ;)

Grand Lodge 5/5

I have a bunch of different characters, so it stays pretty fresh for me by just switching up what Im playing. Lately, I just play the one Kristen says Id probably enjoy the scenario the most with (if she has GMed it, or knows what factions its for or what tier), and I play those.

Seeing you post this reminds me, though, that I need to ask you about Bruno. Ive got an idea for a grappler, but I have no idea how to build a teutori. Mind giving me some insight, Sammy? :P

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ** Venture-Lieutenant, Florida—Melbourne

I try to play a variety of characters, trying out different classes and races. I also try to go to Cons and non-local gamedays so that I get to play with people I don't normally play with. Haven't gotten bored yet.

Grand Lodge 2/5 RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

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I just make sure to refrigerate the leftovers in a well-sealed container.

5/5 5/55/5

I personally like to create eccentric characters that have really distinct goals and/or personalities and sometimes distinct accents. I have multiple characters of this type.

5/5 RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32

I wrote a book. Sort of, anyway. The next update is going up soon at 235 pages between all of the sections, and it's spurred a surge of Mystic Theurges in our local PFS groups. This is, of course, fine by me. Mystic Theurges have always been my favorite class, and now I get to see even more of them getting playtime. This is especially useful because I tend to GM more often than I get to play, so my characters don't get much playtime.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

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I GM!!

Grand Lodge

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Febreeze

2/5

We have a list of 100 different themes that when you want to roll up a character you roll a d 100 and make one based off the list. My latest was Nintendo so I built link ( from legend of zelda). He is a fighter (for long sword armor and steel shield) alchemist ( for bombs and colored potions) witch ( for navi familiar). I personally only grunt when playing him and he is one of the most enjoyable characters I've ever played.

Grand Lodge 4/5

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

I move around a lot.

Now that I have a house, I may need to revisit that plan.

Sovereign Court 5/5

My GF and I play "paired" characters with teamwork feats and often interesting relationships.

So far we have ...

A Vudrani older brother and younger sister. The brother is a sorcerer and she's an arcanist trying to overcome the parent's belief that "studying" is an inferior way to casting.

An aasimar arcane trickster and his quasi-romantic friend the oracle (with rogue levels). They're sneaky and would be lost without each other.

The pint-sized mounted pair of doom, a halfling shining knight paladin with a riding dog and a druid with mounted combat feats on her still-medium-sized tiger. You think one small mounted character in a party is fun? Try two!

Our next pair is a butterfly's sting combo.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 *

My wife and I do a lot of fun paired characters, too:

Venture Captains Messa and "The Great Rinaldo!" Flutterfoot are cousins; he's a buff/face bard and she's a buff/knowledge/face cleric constantly rolling her eyes and correcting him. They have now founded the "Flying Flutterfoot Circus and Travelling Pathfinder Lodge".

Nilla and Lena Dardala are a married pair of Elven rogue/barbarian/fighter dual-weapon specialists. He's the mobile anvil and she's the Cuisinart hammer. We do our best to sicken the rest of the party with how in love they are as they do insane amounts of damage. They recently retired back to Kyonin after completing The Elven Entanglement.

Cap'n Aderyn Glydnwr and Shiri Whitefeather are pirates. Aderyn is the captain of the (cleaned and reoutfitted) Hydra's Fang, and Shiri is the lookout and ship's gunner. We've tried to fit every nautical and pirate themed adventure we could on them.

Elliot and Daryl Bloodtusk are half-orc bloodrager twin brothers. Their parents forced them to join the Pathfinder Society because they'd have to "cooperate" for a change...

Rowdy and Milli Flutterfoot are sisters. Rowdy is my wife's halfling tetori whose goal in life is to wrestle a dragon, I play Milli as her adoring little sister bard (who just got published and is a Pathfinder Chronicler now! Squee!)

And most recently, Hamfast Flutterfoot is my halfling mouser and Kenja is her teamwork Paladin who can share her feats with the party, enabling some great combos once I get into an opponent's square and have the party converge.

So yeah ... paired characters create their own fun! ;-) We often select characters based on the dynamic of which team would fit best with the theme of the scenario and the rest of the party.

Dark Archive 4/5 5/55/5 **** Regional Venture-Coordinator, Massachusetts—North Shore

Having been in G-Zeus's Group the chart of the hundred ideas works nicely.

But Last year I decided to run Kids Tracks Basic and Advanced then Finish it up with We Be Goblins. When you hae a group of kids expaining the details of their spells, moves in combat and even the excitement of just hitting the bad guy. You can't help but feel refreshed, the kids look at PFS/Pathfinder in a totally different way than adults.

4/5

Personally, gm every two to three games you play. In my case that was more like the other way round, but you get the drift. Travel at least once a year to a con or even another games day more than a days car drive. Gives you the opportunity to play with people, meet new friends and see new concepts.

Apart from that, play a home game occasionally, or even run one.

Liberty's Edge 2/5

Don't play PFS so often that you burn out.

We play our weekly PFS game and usually non PFS APs or Modules on other game days, this way we aren't burning through all the material or burning out on Society play.

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Maps, Rulebook, Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I make it bathe regularly and use deodorant.

Sovereign Court 5/5 Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds

I largely stopped reading the messageboards. The only things I check in on now are threads like this that look to be very general. That one thing has kept things significantly more entertaining around the tables I'm involved in.

Shadow Lodge 4/5

Yeah, but how will you hear about errata like the reach weapons and diagonals?

5/5

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Sadly, PFS is starting to become work in a way. I've played so much that I pretty much have to run games to get a character off the ground. Also, I put all my level 10+ characters on slow advancement. Lastly, I have to do a ton of juggling between what I have and haven't played.

I'd love to play in a home game. There are some going where I live but I don't seem to get invited (I did finish WoTR a few months ago).

Sovereign Court 5/5 Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds

TOZ wrote:
Yeah, but how will you hear about errata like the reach weapons and diagonals?

I'm sure someone will enlighten me when the time is appropriate. :p

Grand Lodge 3/5

Another funny way to keep PFS fresh for me is that I'll have my first true arcane caster soon, with my summoner. Tee hee.

Sovereign Court 3/5

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I take breaks.

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