Dumb question that I need to ask...

[TheMonkeyFish]

Do I have to own the hard copy of the books in order to use archetypes and items from them in PFS? Or can I use printed sheets from my computer? I dont think I can carry my desktop to and from a PFS event...

[Gleaming Terrier]

Printed sheets as long as they have your watermark are fine.

[Tempest_Knight]

Or the Paizo Watermarked PDFs on a digital device (tablet/phone/etc)

Remember, the PDFs have to have the Paizo Watermarking...

[TheMonkeyFish]

Isthere an online PFS character builder I can go to and build these characters? Preferably one that lets me select and remove books that I dont own when buildinv the character?

I have the humble bundle purchases plua 2 other books, but not all of them. And I dont think I can select the traits I like anymore.

Does that mean I cant have any traits at all if I dont have the book that introduces them?

[BigNorseWolf]

hero lab but it costs money and doesn't count as owning the product

[zefig]

You can always use the traits in the Traits Web Enhancement (free Traits document found here, subject to a few exceptions) as well as the faction traits in the current Guide to PFS.

[TheMonkeyFish]

@BigNorseWolf - Any free devices that I can turn off/turn on certain search engines? So I can easily look at available to me without having to shuffle between each of my PDFs open? lol. I wouldn't mind, if the books were more organized.

@Zefig - I'll link my friends that, thanks. They had been bugging me and when we found the rule, they were thinking of not going.

Can I share products with party members? Like, if me and a friend go somewhere as a duo, can they use my items and I use theirs? (Moreso asking them to share my PDFs because their still new, and we plan on sharing costs in the future).

[BigNorseWolf]

TheMonkeyFish wrote:

@BigNorseWolf - Any free devices that I can turn off/turn on certain search engines? So I can easily look at available to me without having to shuffle between each of my PDFs open? lol. I wouldn't mind, if the books were more organized.

No, but the easiest way to check the source and pfs legality is http://archivesofnethys.com/ , which also has a list of whats in what book.

[Fromper]

TheMonkeyFish wrote:

Can I share products with party members? Like, if me and a friend go somewhere as a duo, can they use my items and I use theirs? (Moreso asking them to share my PDFs because their still new, and we plan on sharing costs in the future).

Characters can share items all they want when playing together.

Players are each supposed to own their own copy of any book they use for their PC. But there are exceptions for family members, and possibly for members of the same household, even if they're not family. I'm not sure exactly.

For the most part, nobody polices this stuff, and everyone lets newbies get away with stuff, just to encourage them to join in without too many restrictions. So I wouldn't worry too much about it at first, though you'll eventually each need your own copies of whatever books you're using for your characters.

[Tempest_Knight]

Mike Brock, back when he was Campaign Coordinator, made some rulings about this...

...If a family member, significant other, or other members of the same household living together (such as college room mates) are playing at the same table, they may share the same resources instead of having duplicates of the same resource at the same table. If it is a group of friends that always plays together at the same table, as long as there is at least one sourcebook that covers each rule for every character at the table, it fulfills the requirement. For example, if they all play Chelaxian characters and utilize rules from the Cheliax book, and they are all playing at the same table, then they only need one Cheliax book at the table, and that book can be either physical or an electronic, watermarked copy. However, if they are playing at different tables, each person at a different table will need a physical copy, a PDF copy, or a printed watermarked copy of the relevant pages with them, that covers anything they choose to utilize in the build of their charactert. And if it needs to be clarified, watermarked PDFs may not be distributed electronically by anyone. If two members of the same household wish to share a PDF, and find themselves playing at separate tables, one can utilize an electronic version on an iPad or similar item, while the other utilizes a printed watermarked copy.

Also;
This from a different thread

[TheMonkeyFish]

I keep hearing "Watermarked" for the download. Which download file do I need to download from to get the Watermarked PDF? Sorry, I'm still very much a noob at downloading this stuff, I don't think I've ever needed watermarked versions before. (then again, this is the first time I'm searching for a PFS...).

So TL:DR - As long as both players play at the same table or have separate pages of source material they can reference, its okay?

[Tempest_Knight]

PDFs purchased through the Paizo web store are Watermarked as part of the Download system.

It is the Paizo Watermark that is needed.

[TheMonkeyFish]

Hm.... I can only assume it means "(Name) (Email Address)" stuff at the top and bottom of the page?

[Tempest_Knight]

Yep;

"Paizo.com (name) <email address> (download date)"

[Woran]

I often use PCGen as a character creator (as my writing sucks and I sometimes cant ready my own handwriting. So nice PDFs that I can print for the win).

You can select the sources the program uses so you only add the books you own.
Its not an online tool, but you download it on your computer. You can then later print your charactersheet or just use it as a PDF.

[TheMonkeyFish]

Thanks Tineke for the link. I will probably be using that for now. I hope humble bundle releases the blood of book series... Lol

Thanks for the help all, this helped btoh me and my friend not look like dummies on our firat day. Lol

[BigNorseWolf]

TheMonkeyFish wrote:

Thanks for the help all, this helped btoh me and my friend not look like dummies on our firat day. Lol

rather than hope for the impossible, just embrace it. Everyone looks like a dummy on their first day of anything.

[terry_t_uk]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

TheMonkeyFish wrote:

Thanks for the help all, this helped btoh me and my friend not look like dummies on our firat day. Lol

rather than hope for the impossible, just embrace it. Everyone looks like a dummy on their first day of anything.

I look like a dummy all the time

[Gisher]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

TheMonkeyFish wrote:

Thanks for the help all, this helped btoh me and my friend not look like dummies on our firat day. Lol

rather than hope for the impossible, just embrace it. Everyone looks like a dummy on their first day of anything.

Which is really good if it's your first day trying to look like a dummy.