Cottonseed PFS PbP (2E)

Game Master Redelia

As a note we do know there's at least one 9-12 planned this season.

I think the demand is there, but it's a lot of work to write - and run - the higher level stuff on the supply side. Even the 7-10s were logistically challenging; tons of conditions getting thrown around, and there's lower GM (and probably author) familiarity with the ins and outs of higher level play.

They're charging more for the 7-10 level scenarios already because they're eating up more editor time than the 3-6 and 5-8, and they're cutting back the publication schedule overall so it's not like they have extra capacity.

Even 1 tier per season (Season 3 = 9-12s, Season 4 = 11-14s, etc.) seems optimistic.

You would do better to compare it to Starfinder.

Starfinder in Season 3 has an 11-14 adventure and I expect there will be more in Season 4.

As noted above, there is already a 9-12 planned for the current season of Pathfinder.

They did a lot in Starfinder and even more in Pathfinder 2e to make it easier to write for higher level content. It is very different than the situation in 1e.

Hot Take: I predict PFS2 will never go to Level 20.

I'm not sure people really want to get to level 20 as much as they want to play their characters above level 10 (at least it's my case).

Also, even if the adventure level spread is pyramidal right now, I don't think it's important to keep this pyramidal structure above level 6. Above level 6 you are dealing with experienced PFS players who want to level their characters. In my opinion, having a lot of 1-4 and 3-6 adventures is important for new players. But for experienced players, you can have a more linear structure so they can level their characters as much as they want.

I also think there's no real reason in PF2 to have a 4-level spread for high level adventures. PF2 doesn't have the crazy high levels of PF1, so you can keep similar adventures during a bigger spread as characters won't come up with a new magic item or a new spell that completely trivializes the story at some point. I really think Paizo should consider increasing the level spread for level 8+ adventures.

I have a mechanics question:

Let's say I take an Ancestry feat that gives me a spell and that spell has some aspect that is dependent on the caster's spellcasting ability modifier. If I'm not a spell caster otherwise, what do I use for my spellcasting ability modifier? Is it my key ability modifier, instead?

Quick answer: Unless otherwise stated by the feat that gives you the innate spell, you’ll use your Charisma modifier.

You're always trained in spell attack rolls and spell DCs for your innate spells, even if you aren't otherwise trained in spell attack rolls or spell DCs. If your proficiency in spell attack rolls or spell DCs is expert or better, apply that proficiency to your innate spells, too. You use your Charisma modifier as your spellcasting ability modifier for innate spells unless otherwise specified.

Innate Spells

Hot Take: I predict PFS2 will never go to Level 20.

I think the demand is there, but it's a lot of work to write - and run - the higher level stuff on the supply side. Even the 7-10s were logistically challenging; tons of conditions getting thrown around, and there's lower GM (and probably author) familiarity with the ins and outs of higher level play.

They're charging more for the 7-10 level scenarios already because they're eating up more editor time than the 3-6 and 5-8, and they're cutting back the publication schedule overall so it's not like they have extra capacity.

Even 1 tier per season (Season 3 = 9-12s, Season 4 = 11-14s, etc.) seems optimistic.

As others have said, they are already increasing the upper cap. Whether that will go all the way to 20 is a good question. However, having run a couple APs all the way to level 20, I found it to be less of a giant hurdle to maintain than expected. It's true, that I went all the way up with a single group, so there was less variation than would be experienced across society play. However, it is not nearly as bad as 1e was. Not yet anyway.

Will open recruitment for B04 - Cat's Cradle, and maybe B09 - Fishing in Anthusis next week (maybe sooner if some of my tables start finishing.

Tyranius wrote:

Opening Recruitment for Scenario #1-22 Doom of Cassomir (Tier 1-4). Please sign up below.

Doom of Cassomir sign-up sheet.

Well that got full, fast, glad I squeaked in.

Yeah, I think a lot of Gameday (or whichever one it's called; I can never remember) games are winding down. That makes for a lot of players ready for more action, while some GMs might be looking for a breather. And of course, many GMs would prefer to minimize their games over the holidays, so few games start in December. Grab 'em while you can, folks!

Is there a community site that has maps already prepared in Google slide format?

I tend to prepare my own slides, but the site pfsprep.com (which, I believe, is run by either Pirate Rob or Doug H, both of whom are active posters here) has a lot of material. I'm not sure they have exact replicas of the maps - the maps are likely copyrighted and they have some legal agreement with Paizo that limits what they can share - but that's probably the closest to a repository.

In my experience, the maps don't need to be prepped very much. I just select it from the PDF, and paste it into Google Slides. Sometimes I crop it to just the active area if the squares are small.

The only real issue for me is that the maps are large PNG files, so if file size is an issue, I save it as a JPG before pasting it into Slides. That being said, I don't have a problem in a Scenario-sized adventure (I usually end up with Slide decks 5-10 MB, which is about what my 8-year-old mobile phone can handle). For longer campaigns like Adventures, I split the Slide deck into 5-10 MB chunks.

For me, making the maps is the mist tedious part, especially when you have to put them together like a puzzle.

Ah, crap, yes, I forgot about those. Those flip-mat maps are absurdly annoying.

I align the flip mats in Powerpoint (you only need to manually align the first three, and then you can use the Align function to snap the others into place), and then group them to save as a JPG.

I am willing to post them on pfsprep if someone from pfsprep or Paizo clarifies the legality of doing so. I'd make the lay argument that I'm modifying the copyrighted material significantly enough for it to count as a derivative work, but, frankly, unless it's unambiguously acceptable, I don't really feel like rocking the boat for pfsprep or being a test case for the courts on this one.

The maps are copyrighted. I am not a lawyer but I don’t see anything that gives the purchaser any redistribution rights. Without such permission, I would recommend against distribution.

If a community site started redistributing the artwork, it would likely force Paizo to close that down and attempt to more closely monitor redistribution.

I usually just ask another GM if I can duplicate their slides. Although I end up doing some of it over to fit my preferences anyway.

What does get posted on pfsprep for some maps (like MotFF) is "homemade" VTT maps that are usually better digital quality than the Paizo maps.

While I am not a lawyer and can't give legal advice, I can quote the Community Use Policy which is one of the various agreements that governs pfsprep.com

You may not use artwork, including maps, that have not been published in the blog, although you may create your own interpretations of material presented in our artwork and maps, provided that your interpretations don't look substantially similar to our materials.

I can also tell you that as the owner of pfsprep.com I delete any artwork that I'm aware of that violates that policy.

Thank you all for this information!

I don't know if people are confusing 1-05 and 1-10 (because of the names), but there is frequent confusion about 1-05 in isolation because Paizo put "Repeatable" in the PDF.

And also it's exacerbated by the website telling game reporters that every scenario is repeatable - every game reported gives a message "This scenario is repeatable" so everyone is desensitized to the message.

In the product page in the store, someone from Paizo mentioned that 01-05 is not repeatable.

01-05 Not Repeatable

A friendly reminder that Gameday X is scheduled to end 15 November. All games, even those still in progress, should be reported by the end date. Games that are not reported on time will not be included in the gift voucher lottery.

Any Lvl 3-6 out there who hasn't played Q07 - A Curious Claim? I've got a legal table but I thought I'd fill it.

Signup Link

I see that Champions and Clerics must worship a legal deity, but are you allowed to continue playing with a fallen Champion? You lose Divine Ally and your Focus Pool, but not much else.

I don't see anything written down that prevents this, but any information would be helpful.

Did the character fall during a game by breaking anathema? If so, did the GM warn them in advance of the consequences of their actions? Remember: all PFS characters have access to atonement spell. If the problem is that they chose a deity with which they are no longer comfortable, they may retrain and select another deity.

If this is a purely roleplaying decision, I am uncomfortable with allowing a fallen champion because they would not then be subject to their god's anathema. If they want to play someone who was thrown out of a faith, in my opinion they should play a fighter with the acolyte background.

Hmm

If this is a purely roleplaying decision, I am uncomfortable with allowing a fallen champion because they would not then be subject to their god's anathema. If they want to play someone who was thrown out of a faith, in my opinion they should play a fighter with the acolyte background.

Hmm

They wouldn't be subject to their deity's anathema, but they lose two of their class features in exchange. Really, the only thing they keep at that point is their reaction.

They wouldn't be subject to their deity's anathema, but they lose two of their class features in exchange. Really, the only thing they keep at that point is their reaction.

And the hp and proficiency progressions... putting them at fastest armor progression in heavy armor. Not to mention the save progressions.. and feats... really, as mentioned. I can easily see an argument for the loss to be an "only" instead of a "ton"... thus, I must agree with Hmm, and prefer this not be done purely for roleplay

Guns & Gears and Lost Omens: Grand Bazaar have now been sanctioned!

NovelEnigma wrote:

They wouldn't be subject to their deity's anathema, but they lose two of their class features in exchange. Really, the only thing they keep at that point is their reaction.

And the hp and proficiency progressions... putting them at fastest armor progression in heavy armor. Not to mention the save progressions.. and feats... really, as mentioned. I can easily see an argument for the loss to be an "only" instead of a "ton"... thus, I must agree with Hmm, and prefer this not be done purely for roleplay

I believe it's just focus pool and divine ally.

If you stray from your alignment or violate your code of conduct, you lose your focus pool and divine ally until you demonstrate your repentance by conducting an atone ritual, but you keep any other champion abilities that don’t require those class features.

I personally would be fine with that (it seems pretty clearly in line with both RAW and RAI) as a PFS GM so without an OPF ruling I would expect table variation and thus recommend against it. Table variation is the devil IMO.

I have 2 seats available for Q07 - A Curious Claim. Table is legal but I thought I'd try to fill it.

Signup Link

Looking to start this on Monday.

Here is the announcement for the upcoming One-Shot!

Blog for Head-Shot the Rot One-Shot

My party is just about done with this.

I am a bit confused what exactly you are asking. Since you are using Pregens or other non-Society characters you can then apply credit (The Chronicle) to any one of their Society Characters.

As for Character Sheets the pregens are in the One-Shot and the BB code is found in the GM PbP Kit.

I was more asking if I needed to make chronicle sheets for the PCs who are receiving credit, but it sounds like a no.

You always need to make chronicle sheets for players receiving credit.

Find the chronicles for Head Shot to the Rot here

Correct, you would indeed make chronicle sheets for them. You can also use RPG Chronicles to assist building the chronicles for you.

Imperial dragons are legal for PFS and Dragon Disciples correct now with the Mwangi Book, correct?

Imperial dragons are legal for PFS and Dragon Disciples correct now with the Mwangi Book, correct?

If done as a sorcerer with the wyrmblessed bloodline, yes.

It isn’t clear to me that a Kobold or Barbarian could choose the new types.

Imperial dragons are legal for PFS and Dragon Disciples correct now with the Mwangi Book, correct?

Note that Dragon Disciple itself is still Uncommon and thus still requires a boon.

It has built in access.

There's a charity boon that gets around it but as long as you meet the access requirements there's no boon needed.

He is a dragon blooded sorcerer, right now gold but I an looking to go imperial sibce he is Tian.

GM Farol wrote:

Looking for 6 brave and imaginative individuals to help a team of Hobgoblins from Iolite Squad Alpha: Recruitment thread for 1-19 Iolite Squad Alpha

It is a 3-6 non-repeatable scenario. This is not a first-come-first-served recruitment, I will keep it open for at least 24 h from now.

I was actually wondering what happened to you... haven't seen any recruitment from you after GDX. I'm going to pass on this (since I don't have a lvl 3... yet... :) )

Well, my GDX game took longer than I expected, and then Head-shot the Rot happened. Couple of weeks ago I offered a game but it was closed recruitment and now I am here. I try to stick GM'ing 1-2 tables at a time ;) So what is happening now is out of the ordinary for me...

Can anyone tell me where I'm supposed to report my now-finished Head-Shot the Rot game?

Can anyone tell me where I'm supposed to report my now-finished Head-Shot the Rot game?

If you ran this as part of double AcP weekend, you can use

Thanks Chadius!

I did. And I already reported it the usual way, so I'll go er, "unreport" that and then use this.

Hey there 2e players.

The Humble Bundle is back!

Lots of resources at a reduced cost to help a good cause. What could be better?

I bought it. Already had a couple of the bits but it was still good value. I'll now be running the beginner box in the near future.

I saw a post or thread or link somewhere that seemed to be already made assets for GMs for various quests and such, but now I can not find it. Was I imagining it before or just failing at searching now?

I saw a post or thread or link somewhere that seemed to be already made assets for GMs for various quests and such, but now I can not find it. Was I imagining it before or just failing at searching now?

Is this what you were referring to?

GM Shared Prep

I'm not sure if that's it but this link looks like a lot of good info.

Thanks!

I saw a post or thread or link somewhere that seemed to be already made assets for GMs for various quests and such, but now I can not find it. Was I imagining it before or just failing at searching now?

I am not aware of a sharing list, however, sometimes if a request is made a GM is willing to share their slides for PbP games.

Is there something in particular you are looking for?

Looking to run#5 Archaeology in Aspenthar. I can get the images and such extracted, but just looking to save some set up time if there is already stuff available. (For this and future scenarios I decide to run)

One thing that I do to save time is that I create a template that I can just copy and edit for each scenario.

So here is a PF2 Template. Some of the design I stole from GM Poblano, and some I stole from the amazing Doug Hahn, and some I sort of put together myself.

And here is what this template turned into when I did 2-18 Fanciful March of Urwal. Once you have a template, building the slideshow becomes a lot easier, and that makes it easier for me to get artistic with what I do, since the hard stuff is already done.

Hmm