Cottonseed PFS PbP (2E)

Game Master Redelia

I'd be interested in playing those if someone ran them? Are those considered adventure mode?

They are considered adventure mode and covers a wide varying level range across the case files.

Announcement

The Skeleton Ancestry is now available for purchase on the AcP Page. This boon costs 206 Achievement Points* and can only be purchased once per player. Please read the blog post below.

Skeleton Blog Post

Is Garmon posting in any games?

I finished building a cleric and took the destruction domain, but just now noticed that the spells it gives are uncommon. But I noticed that most if not all of the domain spells are uncommon. Is it legal for me to use them? What are the rules around using uncommon spells?

You can use Uncommon anything if you have a feature (or boon) that grants you access*. Being a cleric with a deity that grants the Destruction domain grants you access to the Uncommon Focus Spells of the Destruction Domain.

So, yes, it is legal for you to use the focus spells granted by your domain with the appropriate deity choice and the appropriate feat for granting domain spells.

* And is not expressly "Limited" (without the appropriate boon) or "Restricted" (illegal) by PFS.

Thanks.

Long-time GM (almost 4 star) for PBP and live PFS returning after a long hiatus to see about PF2e. Running a two APs now, and familiarizing myself with system.

I was thinking about running a PFS table at entry level and going from there. Is there a better first time scenario to run -- similar to the The Confirmation from 1st Ed? Any suggestions?

I'd kind of like to get a sense of the story of the PF2 seasons, so should I think about running some Season 1 stuff, or does it really matter?

Any feedback is welcome.

Hey, welcome back Dr. Evil :) Long time!

Long-time GM (almost 4 star) for PBP and live PFS returning after a long hiatus to see about PF2e. Running a two APs now, and familiarizing myself with system.

I was thinking about running a PFS table at entry level and going from there. Is there a better first time scenario to run -- similar to the The Confirmation from 1st Ed? Any suggestions?

I'd kind of like to get a sense of the story of the PF2 seasons, so should I think about running some Season 1 stuff, or does it really matter?

Any feedback is welcome.

The early bounties are short, and some are repeatable, plus generally have a variety of types of scenarios.

The scenarios most like The Confirmation would probably be either 1-01 The Absalom Initiation or 99-01 Intro 1 The Second Confirmation.

The Year of scenarios (3-01 Year of Shattered Sanctuaries, 4-01 Year of Boundless Wonder) give the introduction to those season’s plots.

Although there is always some crossover and wrapping up of old plot threads, I don’t think you will need to know about past seasons to run the low level adventures of Season 4. It tends to be the higher level scenarios that are more dependent on past plots.

The scenarios most like The Confirmation would probably be either 1-01 The Absalom Initiation or 99-01 Intro 1 The Second Confirmation.

The Year of scenarios (3-01 Year of Shattered Sanctuaries, 4-01 Year of Boundless Wonder) give the introduction to those season’s plots.

Although there is always some crossover and wrapping up of old plot threads, I don’t think you will need to know about past seasons to run the low level adventures of Season 4. It tends to be the higher level scenarios that are more dependent on past plots.

Very helpful thanks!

For a non-repeatable 03-06 seems to be quite popular... I opened recruitment 3 hours ago and it's almost full. I can probably open a 4th table if there's enough interest... To be fair, it's a fairly straightforward scenario that's quite fun to run... :)

Yeah, both of the recruitments that I've seen from you have filled up in just a few hours.

If you do open another table, you've got at least one person interested, but, frankly, I know my limit for running something is in the 2-3x range so I always warn others not to burn out.

Gameday GMs, please make sure to read carefully this important announcement and reminder.

Is there a GM to run 3-03 please?

Is there a GM to run 3-03 please?

I will post a recruiting thread shortly. I was just asking myself what I wanted to run next.

I'll save J.G a seat

same here. save me a seat please.

It's the last day of the Pathfinder / Starfinder Humble Bundle.

You might find some materials you don't have, and for cheap! Or you can do holiday gifts for friends!

Hmm

If you have not done so already please have your games reported in by the 20th for Gameday XI so we can close out this Convention and begin prepping and working on the next. :)

Event Name: Gameday XI
Event Code: 2708830

Reporting Links

-- Pathfinder Society (first edition)

-- Pathfinder Society (second edition)

-- Starfinder Society

-- Pathfinder Society -- Core (first edition)

Don't characters become level 2 at 10 XP. How is it your characters are level 1 with 11 xp? Or is it 11 xp split between the two of them?

It is 12 XP to level up, and note that you do not reset XP to zero when you level up (link to guide). So there is nothing wrong with anyone having 11 XP or even 73 XP.

discussion from recruitment thread

That does make sense with most scenarios granting 4 xp.

Scenarios grant 4 XP

Generally though you don't need to think about this too much. Just follow what is on your chronicle sheets and level up every 12 XP-- remembering not to reset XP to 0.

If all you do is scenarios, it comes out to the same as the other campaigns. Three scenarios gives you one level.

What happened is they scaled it so that a bounty didn’t force fractional XP.

If you want the most gold for your level, you want to stay at 11 XP and then play scenarios for 4 xp each, so 23 xp at level 2. Think about it, you are playing a scenario meant for levels 3-5, but maybe you want to keep the challenge rating low, so if your character just recently went from 20 xp level 2 to 24 xp just barely reaching level 3 from the last scenario, vs somebody else who went from 23 xp level 2 to 27 from the last scenario, the person with 27 xp would have that much more gold than 24 xp before purchases and taking into account day jobs. Also the 4 gold from bounties is on average more gold than 3.5 gold from quests and a day job of 3 days taking into account fielded agent, or 4 bounties of 16 gold will net you on average more gold than one scenario netting you 14 gold Plus up to 12 days of downtime, you'd have to crit succeed to bypass it. So your best bet is to play 11 bounties then play all scenarios from that point on.

That doesn't actually work the way you think.

11 bounties = 11 xp, 44 gp (vs. 3 scenarios 42 gp, a gain of 2 gp)
Play a scenario = 15 xp + 14 gp = 58 gp (vs. 4 scenarios 64 gp, a loss of 6 gp)
Play 2 more scenarios = 23 xp +44 gp = 102 gp (vs. 6 scenarios 108 gp, a loss of 6 pg)
Play a scenario = 27 xp +22 gp = 124 gp (vs. 7 scenarios 146 gp, a loss of 22 gp)

So riding on 3 XP is actually a detriment.
Better to do 12 bounties and get 48 gp (gain of 6 gp).

That doesn't actually work the way you think.

11 bounties = 11 xp, 44 gp (vs. 3 scenarios 42 gp, a gain of 2 gp)
Play a scenario = 15 xp + 14 gp = 58 gp (vs. 4 scenarios 64 gp, a loss of 6 gp)
Play 2 more scenarios = 23 xp +44 gp = 102 gp (vs. 6 scenarios 108 gp, a loss of 6 pg)
Play a scenario = 27 xp +22 gp = 124 gp (vs. 7 scenarios 146 gp, a loss of 22 gp)

So riding on 3 XP is actually a detriment.
Better to do 12 bounties and get 48 gp (gain of 6 gp).

That isn't right. I don't enjoy these conversations on how to min-max stuff but I don't think it's right to leave something like this out there giving wrong info.

If you play 11xp worth of scenarios/bounties, and then finish with another scenario you will end up at 15xp earning level 1 gold before leveling up. For level 1 - Lets say 11 bounties + 1 scenario comes out to (44gp + 14gp) 58gp compared to if you just did 12 bounties which comes out to 48gp. A difference in this example of 10gp.

Then if you play 3 scenarios at each level, and never anything other than a scenario, then you will always be 3 xp ahead of someone else, which amounts to 3xp of level 1 gold. Continuing the example- For level 2 - both PC's can play 3 scenarios at level 2, earning 66gp total each. They earned the same amount of gold this level, and the min-maxer still comes out 10gp ahead from the level 1 shenanigans)

The issue is, however, if you ever play anything other than a scenario in this situation (like a quest) then you won't be able to play 3 scenarios at that level, and you will actually end up "losing out" on gold than if you had never tried to do this maximize xp/gold shenanigans. Continuing our example - at level 3- let's say the PC that did level 1 shenanigans plays a level 3 quest. Now they can only play that 1 quest and 2 scenarios before leveling up. They will earn (9.5gp + 76p) 85.5gp, compared to a normal level 3 PC who plays that quest but can still play 3 scenarios before leveling up earning (9.5gp + 114gp) 123.5gp. Now the first PC started out 10gp ahead and now they fall 28gp behind.

I don't advise going around trying maximize your gold in this way, since long-term that lvl 1 gold is pretty negligible and you'll be shorting yourself gold in the future if you ever do anything other than scenarios. Also, quests exist. And someone who isn't trying to do this 11 bounty + scenario thing would be able to come out ahead by playing a single quest at lvl 4 or higher. That is of course also just ignoring the amount of complexity being added to the game for such little reward (imo) compared to just playing normally and not trying to min-max gold. Gold will be roughly the same for everyone without needing to spend any time/energy on this.

Who would I need to talk to, or where would I post to ask questions about ACP boons or to suggest new ones?

You can ask questions about AcP boons here but please use spilers depending on the boons.

As for suggestions, there is not a lot that can get done with that here. I would suggest posting in the Pathfinder Society Organized Play forums.

OK. I'm wanting my Halfling Rogue to take the Bellflower Dedication Feat which is uncommon and wondering if the Secondary Initiation Boon is enough to access that.

From reading that, I would think so but I wanted to be sure. Assuming that is the case, I then need to figure out how to access the Dedication in Pathbuilder 2e (I use that to make sure my PC choices are correct).

Second, is to do with two feats from the Dark Archive book which I believe would be quite suitable for a First World Luminous Fey to have being, Crystal Healing and Chromotherapy. The Header for these Occult Skill feats say

This seems to apply that there is access, according to the definition of Uncommon in the Society Guide although I would have no objection for paying ACP to get them via a boon. There does seem to be a similar boon for that, that costs 20 ACP but it's for a different book.

Bellflower Dedication is from an AP, and not listed on the Character Options page meaning you would need something that specifically gave access to it, secondary initiation wouldn't cut it.

I suspect the relevant AP chronicle sheet has access. (Pretty much all AP material in PFS2 is accessed via chronicle sheet, or for non-playable APs the ACP boon store)

(Secondary Initiation would fulfill the feat's prerequisite, but you still need access to the feat)

Boons that cost ACP are listed on the FAQ page. I don't see any there that give access to the feats you are talking about from Dark Archive.

Nothing about that statement implies to me that access actually exist. There are plenty of "Uncommon + Standard Access" material that there's no actual way to access.

There's lots of material that PFS doesn't give access to, but generally avoids flak for "banning" by just leaving it uncommon without giving access.

Does mean there's a lot of hunting and stuff required to figure out if a standard/uncommon item is available or not though and can be a bit frusturating.

Hi everyone, I'm coming back from a long hiatus and checking out PF2e. I'm slowly getting up to speed on some of the new tools people are using since 2018 too.

Are there any spreadsheets or new tools that people use widely that aren't on the PBP guides?

Also, if anyone has a beginner scenario like the Second Confirmation starting up soon I'd love to be considered.

@DystopianDream, I just posted a recruiting announcement for two connected low tier scenarios, running back to back.

I am using Macro spreadsheets from GM Doug H, found here: PFS Prep

There is also an associated Combat Tracker as well from Doug Hahn for GM's.

Initiative Combat Tracker

Thank you both!

@GM Computerpro82, I signed up with a barbarian, thank you!

There is also an associated Combat Tracker as well from Doug Hahn for GM's.

Initiative Combat Tracker

That's amazing! Thanks for sharing

As a heads up, I'm pretty sick (non Covid) and just had to entertain the child for an extra ~4 hours past normal bedtime. Odds of me posting in any pbp on the 1st is pretty low, please feel free to bot as necessary.

Conk Out, Recover, Snore.

Here is hoping for your swift recovery, Rob!

Take care, Rob! Sleep well and get better!

Of course like nothing happened in any of my pbps anyway, but I'm starting to feel like a person again.

Being a person is a good first step!

Announcement

There was a blog announcement today with a bit of news that may affect some characters. (We will begin seeing Errata twice a year now!) Please read over the FAQ that is linked in the blog but here are some highlights that should be made to characters right away. (4th print Errata)

Errata doesn't effect characters who are currently in games until they're done, right?

Although I think only one of those changes matters to one of my characters right now.

Errata doesn't effect characters who are currently in games until they're done, right?

Although I think only one of those changes matters to one of my characters right now.

The PFS2 Guide says: "Errata: Changes to rules via errata go into effect at the next game played by the character. " - (Rule Changes)

For PbP I think this would mean after your current game, but I'm not a PbP VO.

----------

Also, there will be more direction for PFS characters coming in Thursday's blog so stay tuned for that.

PbP just changes how long it takes to complete a game.

If you are currently in a PbP assume the errata changes nothing in that game. Ask your GM, but that should be the expected response. That said, if as a GM I had a Warpriest of high enough level in my game, I would allow the increased weapon proficiency immediately. The Warpriest still has it tough with their combat proficiency, especially if the divine weapon isn’t very good.

Correct make the changes at the end of the game if you are currently in one.

Man, that is a nice change for warpriests!

Man, that is a nice change for warpriests!

As a warpriest you were probably already just using your deity's favored weapon. Should have also given expert in martial weapons as the proficiency in them is still mostly pointless by the time you get to level 7.

Looks at his pick, then his javelin.

“Think I’ll stick with the pick for a while.”

Not all favored weapons are equally useful.
I do agree with you that the Martial Weapon proficiency should have also increased for the Warpriest.

PFS Blog response to CRB v4 Errata/clarifications

Pathfinder Core Rulebook Errata

Earlier this week, the Rules & Lore team announced a new errata policy, as well as posting some new changes to the Pathfinder Core Rulebook. Obviously these changes are going to affect Pathfinder Society play, so here’s how to handle them:

All new rule changes in the 4th printing of the Core Rulebook are in effect immediately*.

Dust of disappearance has been made uncommon. Any character who previously purchased the item may keep it. It will be added to the Avid Collector - Core Rulebook boon for future purchases and characters.

The horse animal companion rules have been updated, and apply immediately. Any character who no longer wants a horse animal companion may freely change their animal companion to a new animal. Retraining out of an animal companion entirely follows the normal rules for retraining.

The alchemist class updates provide a number of changes and upgrades. Any alchemists built under the old rules can freely retrain their research field and any feats except those that specifically prohibit doing so (such as lineage feats). Any items purchased with gold can be sold back for the full purchase price. Retraining out of the alchemist class entirely can only be done with the normal retraining rules.

The Core Rulebook now allows all characters to take two free ability boosts instead of the printed options for their ancestry. Newly created characters in Pathfinder Society may use this rule; previously built characters may not unless they rebuild the character from scratch with a boon.

However, to retain the legality of numerous existing characters, the Pathfinder Society campaign will continue to offer the Voluntary Flaws optional ruleset and retain the text within the Guide to Organized Play.
Once again, these changes go into effect immediately*. Please let us know if you have any questions or if we missed any updates that you’re not sure how to handle!

*Immediately in PbP would be at the end of your current game as Tyranius mentions above.

Pip Hip Hooray wrote:

Man, that is a nice change for warpriests!

As a warpriest you were probably already just using your deity's favored weapon. Should have also given expert in martial weapons as the proficiency in them is still mostly pointless by the time you get to level 7.

Yeah. My warpriest uses a deities weapon as this is the only one that triggers crit spec. I was using shield spike, to get piercing dmg when needed, but lack of expert proficiency makes it a bit, meh.