Gencon Special 2015 - Friday Night


Pathfinder Society

Scarab Sages 4/5

Hi,

Might be a bit of a long shot, but I have a ticket for PFS Gen Con Special #2 CORE 7–00: The Sky Key Solution.

Dont suppose anyone wants to swap for a NORM ticket? I have a core character that has never been played but I would much prefer to play normal PFS.

Get in touch if you'd prefer to play Core and have a Norm ticket to swap.

Thanks

A.

1/5 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Nizari wrote:

Hi,

Might be a bit of a long shot, but I have a ticket for PFS Gen Con Special #2 CORE 7–00: The Sky Key Solution.

Dont suppose anyone wants to swap for a NORM ticket? I have a core character that has never been played but I would much prefer to play normal PFS.

Get in touch if you'd prefer to play Core and have a Norm ticket to swap.

Thanks

A.

Unfortunately, I'm in much the same boat. I'm not too worried, though. I do have a CORE I can apply it to, at least.

Good hunting!

Grand Lodge 4/5 Venture-Captain, Conventions—PaizoCon

1 person marked this as a favorite.

What you could do is try to find people in the same boat, have a CORE ticket but want to play on normal, pre-muster the group, then when it comes time to play, tell your GM you're playing normal. It happened a decent amount at PaizoCon and I already put together a group doing the same thing.

1/5 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Hitokiriweasel wrote:
What you could do is try to find people in the same boat, have a CORE ticket but want to play on normal, pre-muster the group, then when it comes time to play, tell your GM you're playing normal. It happened a decent amount at PaizoCon and I already put together a group doing the same thing.

That's sort of shady, though, if the GM is ready to run CORE and you dump Normal on them?

I mean, isn't CORE for folks that want a simpler, streamlined, almost entry-level experience?

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

1 person marked this as a favorite.

It shouldn't matter to the GM whether the table goes Core or not.

Prep work is the same.

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

Wei Ji, we aren't scheduled for either core or normal. At least I haven't heard of that distinction for the specials.

Scarab Sages 4/5

Thanks, I was going to try and see if anyone wanted to swap before trying any mustering shenanigans.

Worst case I get to play CORE, after all the key is the fun in playing at the end of the day :)

Grand Lodge 4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber
Wei Ji the Learner wrote:
That's sort of shady, though, if the GM is ready to run CORE and you dump Normal on them?

This is why you let the GM know at muster that you are looking to switch from Core to Normal. It doesn't require any further prep on his part.

Silver Crusade 5/5

If you get a group of six with core tickets that want to play normal, group up and let the marshal know. Failing that, check with your table GM. There's no more or less prep involved with running in core vs. running in classic, so unless the GM really wants to apply credit to a core character I don't see any issue.

4/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

It might matter to the GM, because he would be receiving credit for a different campaign than he thought he was going to receive credit for.

Dark Archive 4/5 5/5 ****

1 person marked this as a favorite.

That's the rub, for us. We won't know if we are doing core or RPGs until our tables are sat.

Oh, well.

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

Oh, I suppose that could be a thing.

Silver Crusade 5/5

Eric Ives wrote:
It might matter to the GM, because he would be receiving credit for a different campaign than he thought he was going to receive credit for.

Yep, I mentioned that. As of now, however, none of us know whether we'll be GM'ing for core or classic. And, I suspect that we won't know whether we're GM'ing core or classic until our players get seated. Maybe I'm wrong.

1/5 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

Thank you very much for the feedback.

I don't want to be a jerk about it, our GM cadre is volunteering their time for this and I don't want to see them get hosed because of that, even if the prep time is the same.

Would there be enough demand to do something like this provided the GM isn't screwed on the deal? Should I start another thread for that?

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

I unintentionally signed up for the Core running of the 7-11 adventure (I don't have a Core character high enough) but didn't discover it until a few weeks ago. I am going to try to get the tickets exchanged for RPG ones when I get to GenCon which shouldn't be a problem since there was still 26 available slots last time I checked.

1/5 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I've ended up with Core Specials on Thursday and Friday, and round three of Scions on Friday morning also in Core. Since it apparently is campaign-neutral even with CORE tickets, folks on any of those want to drop me a PM to see if we can get that worked out somehow like indicated above?

Grand Lodge 1/5

I have 3 players with CORE tickets for Friday's special and we would all rather play NORM. We would be playing 7-8 in NORM and 1-2 in CORE. If anyone has 3 more to pre-muster shoot me a PM and we'll see if we can do a switch when seated.

1/5 5/5

Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

PM sent for 1 of the three spots to pre-muster!

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

If a GM wanting to run Core got stuck running Classic, and a GM wanting to run Classic got stuck running Core, why couldn't the two GMs just get together afterwards and scribble their #s on the others' signin sheet?

5/5

Nefreet wrote:
If a GM wanting to run Core got stuck running Classic, and a GM wanting to run Classic got stuck running Core, why couldn't the two GMs just get together afterwards and scribble their #s on the others' signin sheet?

Call me a stick in the mud, but...that's not what happened and would go against the spirit of the honor code the rules rely on IMO.

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

What is "dishonorable" about that?

It impacts nobody, the games get reported the same, and the GMs get the credit they want.

I see no problem with this. Can you elaborate?

Horizon Hunters 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis

Nefreet wrote:

What is "dishonorable" about that?

It impacts nobody, the games get reported the same, and the GMs get the credit they want.

I see no problem with this. Can you elaborate?

Because the CORE GM didn't run standard PFS, and the standard PFS didn't run CORE.

Really, if that's the case, the two should just swap beforehand, so the GM who runs CORE gets CORE credit, etc.

I mean, it's not the worst thing in the world, Nefreet, true, but the rules on credit for running those tables is quite clear.

Silver Crusade 5/5

Mark Stratton wrote:
Nefreet wrote:

What is "dishonorable" about that?

It impacts nobody, the games get reported the same, and the GMs get the credit they want.

I see no problem with this. Can you elaborate?

Because the CORE GM didn't run standard PFS, and the standard PFS didn't run CORE.

Really, if that's the case, the two should just swap beforehand, so the GM who runs CORE gets CORE credit, etc.

I mean, it's not the worst thing in the world, Nefreet, true, but the rules on credit for running those tables is quite clear.

Swapping beforehand is going to be impractical, since we aren't going to know whether we're running core or standard until the players show up to our table, and at that point we'll have more important things to do than trying to find someone else trying to run the other campaign that would rather have credit for campaign X.

Nefreet, I don't see anything terrible about your idea. I would offer some words of caution. Be careful, as trading would leave you on the hook for someone else's table. Any issues the other GM's table might have will come back to you, since you'll be the GM reported for the table.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

I am aware of a few other people who have the same issue as the OP - inadvertently acquired Core tickets but thought they were getting Normal. Pre-mustering and telling the Marshal and GM up-front is almost certainly your best bet.

Scarab Sages 4/5

Thanks all,

I'll see what I can get sorted prior to the slot.

3/5

I think the Norm/Core issue is going to come up all weekend, not just for the Specials.

1) I don't think which ticket type you have will matter. If you have 'real' tickets for the event, not generic, I'm guessing they will all be good at the table. In the past (not talking specials here), if you had a real ticket for an adventure during that time slot, and there was room at the table, you were fine, even if the ticket was for a different PFS scenario.

Just found this in my email from Mike B. in May.

Mike B. GenCon GM Instructions wrote:
• CORE vs. NORM. Each event was scheduled and sold as either a CORE or NORM game and is intended to be run as such. However, it is entirely possible the players will want to play in the other mode. This should not pose a problem for you as the GM, since it does not affect how the game is run. ALL players must agree if the event is to be run in a different mode than what was scheduled; otherwise it must be run as scheduled. If you encounter any problems with this, consult HQ. Be sure to note on the chronicle and reporting sheets if the event was run in CORE mode.

2) IIRC, we did not volunteer to GM for either Core or Norm, we volunteered to GM.

3) Core vs. Norm might end up being a bigger issue for the Serpents Rise and True Dragons specials. 2 players may wish to give credit to their Norm PCs and 4 to their Core PC. The GM is planning to give the credit to the Norm PC. Now what do you do?

Silver Crusade 5/5

Swiftbrook wrote:

I think the Norm/Core issue is going to come up all weekend, not just for the Specials.

1) I don't think which ticket type you have will matter. If you have 'real' tickets for the event, not generic, I'm guessing they will all be good at the table. In the past (not talking specials here), if you had a real ticket for an adventure during that time slot, and there was room at the table, you were fine, even if the ticket was for a different PFS scenario.

Just found this in my email from Mike B. in May.

Mike B. GenCon GM Instructions wrote:
• CORE vs. NORM. Each event was scheduled and sold as either a CORE or NORM game and is intended to be run as such. However, it is entirely possible the players will want to play in the other mode. This should not pose a problem for you as the GM, since it does not affect how the game is run. ALL players must agree if the event is to be run in a different mode than what was scheduled; otherwise it must be run as scheduled. If you encounter any problems with this, consult HQ. Be sure to note on the chronicle and reporting sheets if the event was run in CORE mode.

2) IIRC, we did not volunteer to GM for either Core or Norm, we volunteered to GM.

3) Core vs. Norm might end up being a bigger issue for the Serpents Rise and True Dragons specials. 2 players may wish to give credit to their Norm PCs and 4 to their Core PC. The GM is planning to give the credit to the Norm PC. Now what do you do?

3) I would say that if the players can't agree on core vs. classic, then the GM should default to whatever campaign the tables' tickets are for.

5/5

UndeadMitch wrote:
Mark Stratton wrote:
Nefreet wrote:

What is "dishonorable" about that?

It impacts nobody, the games get reported the same, and the GMs get the credit they want.

I see no problem with this. Can you elaborate?

Because the CORE GM didn't run standard PFS, and the standard PFS didn't run CORE.

Really, if that's the case, the two should just swap beforehand, so the GM who runs CORE gets CORE credit, etc.

I mean, it's not the worst thing in the world, Nefreet, true, but the rules on credit for running those tables is quite clear.

Swapping beforehand is going to be impractical, since we aren't going to know whether we're running core or standard until the players show up to our table, and at that point we'll have more important things to do than trying to find someone else trying to run the other campaign that would rather have credit for campaign X.

Nefreet, I don't see anything terrible about your idea. I would offer some words of caution. Be careful, as trading would leave you on the hook for someone else's table. Any issues the other GM's table might have will come back to you, since you'll be the GM reported for the table.

As Mark stated, the rules, and intent, on how to fill out a tracking are fairly clear IMO. You have places for the GM at the table and the players at the table to enter their information as to who is receiving credit at that table. We've been asked to notate CORE on the top of reporting sheets and chronicles for tables that run in CORE mode. CORE has been stated to be an all or nothing thing at the table.

GM's can get a chronicle for the table they run (provided they haven't taken one before for the scenario), but they, unlike the player's, do not have to take it. It may seem like a nitpick rule, or inconsequential at the time, but as UM mentioned there are reasons why it might end up making a difference in the long run.

Also, I'll just leave this post from a couple of years back about the campaign's view on ignoring other rules which cause "no problem".

HERE

As Swiftbrook mentioned, we volunteered to GM. We did not volunteer to GM standard or CORE, as that decision does not rest with us at conventions. The players get to make that choice. Smaller local games, sure GM's can have a bigger say in what campaign gets run at their table. At something like GenCon, it's going to be luck of the draw as I'm assuming the marshal's won't even know which tables are going to be STD or CORE until players come up with tickets in a group.

3/5

UndeadMitch wrote:
Swiftbrook wrote:

I think the Norm/Core issue is going to come up all weekend, not just for the Specials.

1) I don't think which ticket type you have will matter. If you have 'real' tickets for the event, not generic, I'm guessing they will all be good at the table. In the past (not talking specials here), if you had a real ticket for an adventure during that time slot, and there was room at the table, you were fine, even if the ticket was for a different PFS scenario.

Just found this in my email from Mike B. in May.

Mike B. GenCon GM Instructions wrote:
• CORE vs. NORM. Each event was scheduled and sold as either a CORE or NORM game and is intended to be run as such. However, it is entirely possible the players will want to play in the other mode. This should not pose a problem for you as the GM, since it does not affect how the game is run. ALL players must agree if the event is to be run in a different mode than what was scheduled; otherwise it must be run as scheduled. If you encounter any problems with this, consult HQ. Be sure to note on the chronicle and reporting sheets if the event was run in CORE mode.

2) IIRC, we did not volunteer to GM for either Core or Norm, we volunteered to GM.

3) Core vs. Norm might end up being a bigger issue for the Serpents Rise and True Dragons specials. 2 players may wish to give credit to their Norm PCs and 4 to their Core PC. The GM is planning to give the credit to the Norm PC. Now what do you do?

3) I would say that if the players can't agree on core vs. classic, then the GM should default to whatever campaign the tables' tickets are for.

Tickets for True Dragons and Serpents Rise do not designate Core vs. Standard. So, I believe, the table defaults to standard, unless everyone agrees to play core.

Liberty's Edge 4/5 5/55/5 **

Pathfinder Rulebook, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

To be perfectly honest, I believe that most tables will be NORM at GenCon.

Lantern Lodge 1/5

From the GM's perspective, I'm failing to see the requirement in the Guide where it says that if you GM a table playing CORE mode, that your own GM chronicle sheet must also be for a CORE mode character. Can someone point me to the relevant page/paragraph? I currently don't have a CORE character, so would like to know for sure if I end up with a CORE chronicle from the weekend.

Grand Lodge 4/5

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

It's due to the incompatibility of the reporting system. Players and GM must be reported in the same campaign mode, otherwise any Core characters will become Normal characters.

5/5

LoboStele wrote:
From the GM's perspective, I'm failing to see the requirement in the Guide where it says that if you GM a table playing CORE mode, that your own GM chronicle sheet must also be for a CORE mode character. Can someone point me to the relevant page/paragraph? I currently don't have a CORE character, so would like to know for sure if I end up with a CORE chronicle from the weekend.

And Guide pg 39:

Quote:

A GM may assign credit for running an adventure in any

of the same ways a player can, and must follow the same
rules as a player when applying credit to a character.

The players at the table can assign a chronicle from a CORE table to a CORE character, so that is what is open to the GM too.

This was clarified by campaign staff in the original blog and discussion that followed when CORE was introduced.

Lantern Lodge 1/5

Ahh...thanks! Doesn't CLEARLY say it, but I'm connecting the dots now. Thanks!

Guess I should have a CORE character in my back pocket just in case. ;)

2/5

On a related note, I have tickets to, I think, 6 events. They are not for the Thursday or Friday evening specials, but I think a few of them were events that were selling out. Anyway, an emergency came up and I can't make it to GenCon. Is there a way to give those tickets away? I also have a badge for the weekend just sitting there waiting to be picked up. Can that be given away/transferred to someone else's name?

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