Question about applying pregen credit to player created characters (SFS)


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Pathfinder Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I'm currently running my group through the shattered stars arc. We're about to tackle 1-07, and it's likely that 1-08 will be completed before 1-09 is released. Since 1-09 is more or less a sequel to the events of Claim to Salvation (1-00), I figured I'd do a "flashback" and run my players through CTS.

Now, I'm aware this scenario requires the use of the level 4 pregen characters. Easy enough to find those...but I'm a bit confused on how to apply the credit to their main characters, since I know that's what they're going to want to do.

Preface: My group are all sitting at 7 xp (CL 3), having run through scenarios 1-6, as well as the quest into the unknown.

Here's where I get confused.

On page 6 of the SFS guide, it says "Credit for playing higher-level pregenerated characters must be applied to a Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild character of a lower level than the pregenerated character or to a 1st-level character"

However, on page 7 it states "You may apply credit for an adventure once your Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild character reaches the level of the pregenerated character used to play through it"

These two seem to be in conflict with each other. After they finish 1-07, they're going to be 1xp away from hitting level 4. If we do 1-08 before 1-00, they're going to hit level 4, and by the first paragraph, be ineligible for the credit since they are no longer "lower level than the pregenerated character". And yet, by the second paragraph, the credit can't be applied until when they are level 4?

In any case. My two questions are as follows.

1. When should I have them run 1-00, so that they can apply it to their player made characters? After 1-07, so that the credit from 1-00 makes them level 4, or after 1-08, when they're already level 4?

2. When applying the 1-00 chronicle sheet, am I correct in my understanding that the name and number of the character will be that of the player made character the sheet is being applied to?

Thank you for any assistance

5/5 5/55/5

Your page 6 question is answered within the same sentence by definition if you are playing a higher level pregen your character is lower level. So it doesn't contradict anything.

You can apply a pregen level to a character of the same level. a 4th level pregen chronicle sheet can be applied to a 4th level character. Or a lower level character who receives credit when they reach 4th level. But the 4th level pregen chronicle sheet cannot be applied to a character that is level 5 or greater.

Yes to question #2

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

1-00 can be applied to 3rd or 4th level characters. Here is a link to the official post.

I would run them through after 1-07.

As to question number, yes. It is same name and number that all the other chronicles have been applied to as well I would think.

5/5 5/55/5

Gary Bush wrote:

1-00 can be applied to 3rd or 4th level characters. Here is a link to the official post.

I would run them through after 1-07.

As to question number, yes. It is same name and number that all the other chronicles have been applied to as well I would think.

Yes, and exception to the normal rule about what level a character needs to be when you can apply credit was made for this scenario. Defiantly confuses the rule.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

There are those who don't think there is any conflict in the guide. Some where in mists of old threads is a discussion I had on with others on this very topic.

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 ** Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden

It's simpler if you make a real distinction between "pregen scenarios" and "scenarios that you happened to play with a pregen". Pure pregen scenarios have a tier range on the chronicle sheet and you can apply the chronicle to any character in that tier. Other scenarios follow the rule in the Guide.

5/5 5/55/5

Lau Bannenberg wrote:
It's simpler if you make a real distinction between "pregen scenarios" and "scenarios that you happened to play with a pregen". Pure pregen scenarios have a tier range on the chronicle sheet and you can apply the chronicle to any character in that tier. Other scenarios follow the rule in the Guide.

That's an interesting distinction that no one I know has ever brought up. GM's I interact with always believe it's one way or always believe it's the other way. For as long as I have been playing PFS I have always heard gm's say once you reach the level of the pregen it can be applied. And only recently have I heard someone say when you reach the lowest level of the chronicle sheet you can apply it.

So not looking at the guide right now, but the OP quotes is only in context of one situation and not the other? Well now that's damn right confusing.

"However, on page 7 it states "You may apply credit for an adventure once your Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild character reaches the level of the pregenerated character used to play through it" "

5/5 5/55/5

Lau Bannenberg wrote:
It's simpler if you make a real distinction between "pregen scenarios" and "scenarios that you happened to play with a pregen". Pure pregen scenarios have a tier range on the chronicle sheet and you can apply the chronicle to any character in that tier. Other scenarios follow the rule in the Guide.

Hi can you please quote the reference where you are getting this information?

it does not appear to be correct when I refer to the SFS guide. Under applying credit on page 7 which the OP quotes and will quote again there is nothing that qualifies different situation of using pregen scenarios as opposed to playing a pregen in otherwise open scenario.

pg. 7 complete quote:
Applying Credit: You may apply credit for an adventure
once your Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild character
reaches the level of the pregenerated character used to
play through it. For example, if you played a 8th-level
pregenerated character, you would apply the credit once
your character reaches 8th level. To apply credit, follow
the steps below.

5/5 5/55/5

Never mind- I'm mixing up 2 things.

There are 3 possible applications of the chronicle sheets not 2.

The guide is pretty clear apply chronicle sheets when reaching the level of the pregen(lvl 4 in this case) or apply to a first level character, or apply it when played to a current character that is tier 3 or 4 character.

Nothing says assign it to a first level character and they in turn get credit when reach level 3. Only apply at pregen level of 4.

A lot of locals are getting this wrong these days.

My mix up happened when someone local refereed to the above link as an example of when to apply an assigned chronicle sheet that has not reached the level and used that quote as back up for reaching level 3. But the link does not say that. It doesn't bring up that situation.

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 ** Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden

@roysier: I don't remember a nice clean quote for you. This is an issue that cropped up repeatedly as Paizo released pregen-only scenarios (Serpents Rise, Serpents Ire, Through Maelstrom Rift) - the chronicle sheet gave a range of levels like 7-9 or 5-7. And each time there was a dustup because people couldn't find a reference in the Guide on what to do. And each time it was eventually confirmed: yes, those level ranges are there on purpose, you apply the chronicle to a character of that level.

5/5 5/55/5

Lau Bannenberg wrote:
@roysier: I don't remember a nice clean quote for you. This is an issue that cropped up repeatedly as Paizo released pregen-only scenarios (Serpents Rise, Serpents Ire, Through Maelstrom Rift) - the chronicle sheet gave a range of levels like 7-9 or 5-7. And each time there was a dustup because people couldn't find a reference in the Guide on what to do. And each time it was eventually confirmed: yes, those level ranges are there on purpose, you apply the chronicle to a character of that level.

Yes, i get it. For 1-00 If applying it to a tier 3 or 4 character apply it immediately.

As opposed to applying to a lower level character then the chronicle sheet range. In that case it is either applied at level 1 or when the character reaches the level of the pregen used.

So in the case of 1-00 when applied to a lower level character under the chronicle sheet tiers <3, the application happens at level 1 or 4. If you assign the chronicle sheet to a level 2 character they don't get the credit until reaching level 4.

For 1-00 applying the credit at level 3 instead of level 4 to a under level 3 assigned character has recently been incorrectly applied multiple times in my area. Whenever I heard it I corrected the error. But it happened so many times that I wondered it the guide itself changed.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

Yes this is confusing because of the pregen only nature of 1-00.

Hopefully the VOs who are helping will see this and propose a wording change.

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 ** Venture-Lieutenant, Netherlands—Leiden

roysier wrote:
Lau Bannenberg wrote:
@roysier: I don't remember a nice clean quote for you. This is an issue that cropped up repeatedly as Paizo released pregen-only scenarios (Serpents Rise, Serpents Ire, Through Maelstrom Rift) - the chronicle sheet gave a range of levels like 7-9 or 5-7. And each time there was a dustup because people couldn't find a reference in the Guide on what to do. And each time it was eventually confirmed: yes, those level ranges are there on purpose, you apply the chronicle to a character of that level.

Yes, i get it. For 1-00 If applying it to a tier 3 or 4 character apply it immediately.

As opposed to applying to a lower level character then the chronicle sheet range. In that case it is either applied at level 1 or when the character reaches the level of the pregen used.

So in the case of 1-00 when applied to a lower level character under the chronicle sheet tiers <3, the application happens at level 1 or 4. If you assign the chronicle sheet to a level 2 character they don't get the credit until reaching level 4.

For 1-00 applying the credit at level 3 instead of level 4 to a under level 3 assigned character has recently been incorrectly applied multiple times in my area. Whenever I heard it I corrected the error. But it happened so many times that I wondered it the guide itself changed.

I think actually, if you're assigning it to a level 2 character applying it at level 3 is in fact the correct action - that was how it went with the Pathfinder pregen-only scenarios.

But 1-00 is a weird one because it's the only such pregen-only scenario that happens to use iconic pregens.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

I agree with Lau on when a chronicle for 1-00 should be applied if not applied to a 1st level character.

I know the Guide conflicts with itself. And initially, I was in the "Apply at 4th level" camp. However, after thinking about it for a while, allowing the chronicle to be applied at 3rd is the fairest method for the players.

5/5 5/55/5

OK, well i give up. players can apply it as they wish. 3rd or 4th. There is no correct answer.

Can you quote where the conflicting information in the guide or by a developer on the forum. It seems quite clear based on this quote from the guide that it should be applied when the character reaches the pregen level played.

Yes it seems punitive that you have to wait one extra level when playing a pregen only scenario.

But, I've seen this also applied in non-pregen PFS scenarios. In other words a tier 5-9 being played by a 7th level pregen. Should wait until level 7 to apply it to a lower level character. But many players apply it as soon as the character moves up to level 5.

pg. 7 complete quote:
Applying Credit: You may apply credit for an adventure
once your Starfinder Society Roleplaying Guild character
reaches the level of the pregenerated character used to
play through it. For example, if you played a 8th-level
pregenerated character, you would apply the credit once
your character reaches 8th level. To apply credit, follow
the steps below.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

Roysier, I share your frustration. For clarity, the tiers for Starfinder adventures are different. Also, pregen levels are different. But those are just numbers and don't change what you are saying.

The challenge with this specific adventure is the fact that it REQUIRES the use of pregens. This has caused a problem on the PFS side of the house as well.

But Thurston clearly stated that players can apply the chronicle to a 3rd level characters. This appears to contradict the "Apply at level of pregen" rule in the guide as it can be read to allow a player to apply the chronicle at a lower level than the pregen.

This is the same process used on the PFS side of the house for those adventures the require pregens. Players can apply the chronicle when they reach the lowest level of the range for the adventure.

I am hopeful that Guide 2.0 will clarify the difference between adventures that require pregens vs when a player makes the choice to use a pregen.

This is the link to Thurston's ruling.

5/5 5/55/5

We are reading the same thing differently. I read it as it can be applied to a third level character right now. As opposed to a character who advances to level 3. The problem with Thursty's post is he is only addressing 2 of 3 possible applications. Which leaves it open for interruption. Is the third application addressed and rolled into the quote or it not-addressed and the rule in the guide applies.

Thursty's Post

Starfinder Society #01–00: Claim to Salvation *Clarifications*

-The Chronicle sheet can be applied to a 1st level character with the 720 credits.

-Because the Subtier is 3–4, it can be applied to a 3rd level character.

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

I think we are on the same page here but I am not completely sure. In any case, it will addressed.

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