Scenarios to fit the character?


Pathfinder Society

Liberty's Edge

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Subject brought up at the end of another thread. What about letting people know which scenarios would really apply to their character?

ok, people are against picking scenarios for the reward:

I kinda understand the complaint about cherry-picking rewards, if it was hurting the other players. I do sorta understand how that bothers some people.
But only sorta. How does it really hurt Jim if Bob plays through scenario X only because it has Y? He obviously intends to succeed or he wouldn't get Y. So why does it bother you if he is playing for a different reason?

It does get kinda deflating when there are all these wonderful rewards, boons, story lines, people to interact with, situations, etc... that you never have the right character to use with them.

examples of what I mean:

I have a nagaji druid up to 5th level. He has yet to encounter a serpent or reptile of any kind. The most recent scenario is the only one with anything even slightly nature-ish. It was great. I had a bunch of fun with him doing his nature thing. Every other scenario he has been in was cities, towers, court, libraries, etc...
There are a bunch of scenarios that are nature-ish, but they were the ones where I happened to bring some other character.

A friend has an undead blasting life oracle at I think 6th level. He has encountered undead exactly once. In the confirmation. There were several that sounded like they would have undead. They may have had a couple of necromancers or outsiders, but no undead. Undead are actually fairly common in scenarios, but not the ones where he has been at the table.

I have a disarming/tripping build. Most of the scenarios he has been in, have been very few opponents to trip or disarm. Several times the description sounded like we would be up against humanoids with weapons. Nope, mostly snake bodies or flying with claws and spells, an ooze, traps, things like that.

I know another guy that was trying to make a long range crossbow sniper. There aren't a lot of them, but there are some scenarios that potentially have encounters at long distances. He hasn't made it into one of those yet with this character. The PC isn't useless, but I think he's going to drop it because he hasn't been able to do his specialty. Ever.

I have 7 characters of various levels. The only character who has been able to make use of his 'thing' on a regular basis is a magus that learned a bunch of weird languages just for the heck of it. Oddly enough he has just happened to sit at tables to make use of every wierd language more than once.

Don't get me wrong, we have had fun with every character in almost every scenario and all of them are well enough constructed and played that they always contribute. But almost every time, by about halfway through the scenario I find myself saying, "dang this would have been perfect for that other character instead of this one."

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Like I said, I sorta see why you don't like someone picking a scenario for the chronicle sheet. But how about some other ways that it might be memorable to a character. Maybe you would be willing to give advice on picking a scenario for the challenge, story, or opponents?

Are you willing to say "Hey, this would be great for a worshiper of Desna. That really needs a diplomancer. Those 2 really make use of knowledge skills. The other really is great for those that hate Aspis. There are some great RP opportunities in that one for a Kitsune. Etc..." instead of who will like what rewards?

Sometimes you can get some of that from the name plus general product text. It should be pretty obvious to anyone that thinks about it that Library of the Lion will really make use of a bookish sort of character. But often you can not get any of that.

I will get into a very specific example with one that the title and description DO give you some info so I won't spoil anything for anyone.

Legacy of the Stonelords #6-00.
Very applicable for anyone that has a character that likes (or is against) dwarves and fiends.
That is enough to tell someone that it might be even more fun run with their Dwarf, Elf(old school prejudice against dwarves), anti-fiend paladin, or devil summoning Chelaxian characters. Yet, even if you hadn't read the description, I didn't give any information that would spoil the adventure or make you not want to run some other character.

Would you folks have severe heartburn if this sort of advice was provided to players?

Silver Crusade 1/5

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I suppose that would ease the problem of the Completly Random Venture Captains. "Okay, so I need to infiltrate an embassy...I think I'll send the heavily armored dwarf, two druids (one with a tiger), the conjurer and the witch..."
Would've been even worse if the witch chose to play barbarian instead.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

For my local groups, I know most of their characters and if there's a scenario where I know someone's character would really fit the theme I'll let them know about it. I won't tell them why, just that "Dave" would have a really fun time playing "The Orc and Pie" or whatever.

4/5

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Have you tried reading the blurbs for the scenarios? Often they will give you clues along the lines you're thinking of.

Things I've seen mentioned/asked with no one getting annoyed:
- Location of the scenario ("Are there any scenarios in Tien?")
- Recommendations of scenarios for a particular character ("I have a paladin of {X} who does {Y}: can anyone recommend scenarios he would enjoy?")
- Particular factions that come into play ("This one features the Exchange")
- Scenarios that feature specific NPCs ("Which ones have the Blakros's in them?") or specific venture captains
- Scenarios that are primarily investigations/spy missions

I think what you're asking is for is fine as long as you don't ask for specifics on the foes, spoilers on the plot, and/or details about the rewards.

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