The Flaxseed Pathfinder Lodge: Explore, Report, Cooperate!

Game Master Redelia

Hmm, when do I get to run for you?

Oh... That's tempting! Give me about 3-4 weeks. By then I should have cleared one of my two current Games as a GM. I've discovered that I can run two at once if I have active groups on both games, but it does eat up the bandwidth I have playing.

Hmm

Play-by-Post and Pathfinder Society Exclusives/Multi-Table Specials

Regionally appropriate greetings everyone.

We wanted to take a moment to address some questions that have arisen recently about PbP format Specials and Exclusives.

The intention of Paizo and the PFS Leadership, as well as the PFS Online VOs, is to always make the running of Exclusive and Multi-Table Special scenarios a memorable experience for both GMs and Players.

In light of that, it is the intent of PFS Leadership that such scenarios should always be run with a “Quality over Quantity” mindset. (This is a viewpoint voiced and supported by our PFS OPCs and PFS Devs.)

With that in mind, the PbP guidelines for Multi-Table Specials and Exclusives are...

For Official PbP Gamedays GMs are limited to:

One Multi-Table Special table or Exclusive table at any given time during the event.

For general, non Gameday, PbP PFS play GMs are limited to:

One Multi-Table Special table -or- two concurrent Exclusive tables at any given time.

In regard to the Bonekeep series of Exclusives:

Bonekeep is currently limited to “real-time” sessions only due to it's tight time restrictions that cannot be emulated effectively in a PbP format. Therefore all Bonekeep scenarios are not legal for PbP play for PFS credit at this time.

We do understand that sometimes unintentional session overlap will occur, and exceptions will have to be made for them. For example, if you are running an Exclusive and it happens to run longer than you expected and the tail end of it overlaps with a Gameday you signed up to run a Special table at, we understand there may be a little overlap in that situation. Another example may be a GM running a table during a Special and then another GM dropping from that Special and no other replacement can be found – that remaining GM running a second table would be allowed as a necessary solution to an unfortunate event. But both of these example situations should be the exception out of necessity and not the rule.

If you have any question or concerns please let us know.

- Jesse

Jesse R. Davis [IronHelixx]
PFS/SFS Venture-Captain, Online Play
Jesse@PathfinderSocietyOnline
http://PathfinderSocietyOnline
Discord Chat: PFSChat.com and SFSChat.com

Our Mission: To Champion, Serve, Support, and Build the PFS Online Community.

Notes:

For clarity on the terms “Special” and “Exclusive”, as used here:

“Specials” mean the Multi-Table scenarios like Year of the Shadow Lodge, The Cosmic Captive, and the like.

“Exclusives” refer to scenarios limited to 4 and/or 5 Star GMs and/or limited to official Paizo supported events. These would include Serpent's Ire, True Dragons of Absalom, and the like.

Thanks, Jesse, for clarifying this limit.

I whole heartedly endorse the quality over quantity goal. We want the four star exclusives to be memorable for both GMs and players. Also this rule limits the potential for GM burnout and prevents us from "over-fishing the pond." We have a lot of GMs here whose main outlet is PBP. I want them all to be able to find audiences for their four star exclusive runs when the time comes.

Hugs,
Hmm

Bonekeep is Bonekeep, and really not a series that translates to PbP at all.

Quite happy with it to stay off the PbP format.

Due to the nature of the problem, you all are unlikely to notice this announcement, but I figured that I'd best let you know anyway:

New Post Notifications are down across all of Paizo -- Just in case any of you randomly click this thread, wondering if there are new posts.

Hmm

I noticed. I'm pretty sure there's a joke about not realizing the dragon had set me on fire to be made here but...

Yeah. *Extinguishes hair-fire*

Good idea, Hmm. I posted this in each of my scenarios, but will throw it up here as well, to increase the chance my players see it:

With nobody getting notifications, it's likely that at least one player--if not more--isn't aware of new posts. And the problem will just get bigger if the rest of us keep going.

So . . . I'm putting all of my games on hold until either:

Edge case question:

Suppose I'm running and well into a non-Special Exclusive by PbP when a gameday Special starts. Am I allowed to run that gameday Special?

More generally, how do the gameday and non-gameday rules interact? I don't think it's all that uncommon for GMs to be running gameday and non-gameday games at the same time. (In particular, non-gameday games already in progress may run past the beginning of a gameday.)

Paizo's programmers have written a patch for the notification bug. It sounds like they are going to deploy it tomorrow morning. Link

Additional Resources updated, btw.

Additional Resources updated, btw.

Thanks for the heads up, TOZ! Been eagerly awaiting this one!

Edge case question:

Suppose I'm running and well into a non-Special Exclusive by PbP when a gameday Special starts. Am I allowed to run that gameday Special?

More generally, how do the gameday and non-gameday rules interact? I don't think it's all that uncommon for GMs to be running gameday and non-gameday games at the same time. (In particular, non-gameday games already in progress may run past the beginning of a gameday.)

I believe that IronHelixx posted over in the recruitment tab about the first half of your question, and I know there are others much more qualified to speak on that.

As for the second half of your post: In my humble experience, I have found that a couple of things happen here. Game Day is generally very loudly proclaimed and announced well in advance, so in the months before a Game Day you will see a significant slow down in recruiting of games (At least here in the FSL) so that they don't overlap. However, this is more of a GM choice than requirement and is not stipulated as a requirement anywhere. People may choose to or not to participate in a Game Day game as both GM's and players.

The Flaxseed Lodge, although a strong and vocal group with some Paizo representation, is still a small subset within the Paizo and the PFS community. Most of us here participate in Game Day in some form or fashion, but that does not mean to imply some sort of ban or restriction on playing or running games not associated with Game Day.

Edit: Disclaimer to my last paragraph: This is in no way meant to contradict anything IronHelixx posted, and may be subject to revision from higher ups. ;-)

Edge case question:

Suppose I'm running and well into a non-Special Exclusive by PbP when a gameday Special starts. Am I allowed to run that gameday Special?

No problem. A small amount of overlap is allowed. We understand that this will sometimes happen.

More generally, how do the gameday and non-gameday rules interact? I don't think it's all that uncommon for GMs to be running gameday and non-gameday games at the same time. (In particular, non-gameday games already in progress may run past the beginning of a gameday.)

I am not worried about non-gameday games running past the beginning of the gameday. You can finish them. They are not party of gameday and don't earn gameday boons, but there is no problem with GMs running gameday and non-gameday campaigns at the same time.

[NOTE: When I do the Cosmic Captive Gameday, I am going to ask GMs to please limit the games that they run concurrent to the multi-table special. If you are planning to run Cosmic Captive and have been accepted as a GM, please try not to start too many other games right before then. I know some GMs have a LOT of bandwidth to run games. I know that everyone has different circumstances that might trigger GM burnout. I am just going to ask that you run a lighter load then normal if you plan to GM Cosmic Captive.]

(Other than GM Bandwidth issues, of course!)

Does this help?

Hmm

Is there a schedule of upcoming specials/gamedays, or normal parts of the year these happen in?

^ There sure is! Here you go :)

I know the Exclusives are limited to 4 or 5 star GMs, but is there any similar restriction on the multi-table specials? I'm thinking about whether I wanna take a shot at one later this year, maybe when GDVI rolls around.

^ There sure is! Here you go :)

Awesome, thank you!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Multi-table specials are unrestricted, allowing players to work on the 10 special requirement for 5 stars before they reach 4 stars. My first GM credit was a multi-table special.

1) Thanks for the info, TOZ!

2) Your first credit was a special?! I'm gonna go ahead and guess you had prior GMing experience. Otherwise, you might be a crazy person. Haha!

Indeed, although they are not mutually exclusive conditions!

Cosmic Captive GM Application

^ The call has now gone out for Cosmic Captive GMs this summer from June 9th to July 21st!

Hmm

@Hmm: Any chance you could add an option for preferred campaign?

Oh, great point. Fixed!

Hmm

Is this related to the time we made TOZ run the 14-15 tier of Siege of the Diamond City at PaizoCon for us?

Siege of the Diamond City will be in the fall for PbP, but if you want to net TOZ as a high tier GMf for it, I won't complain!

Hmm

No thanks, I'm retired from multi-table specials. :P

Cosmic Captive GM Application

^ The call has now gone out for Cosmic Captive GMs this summer from June 9th to July 21st!

Hmm

I just thought I would gauge if there was any player or GM interest in a higher tier core game of this?

I am hoping that we'll have a higher tier game of this. I'm really hoping that we can run 2-3 10-11 tables.

There will be a player questionnaire going out for this fairly soon.

Hmm

@Andreww: I actually put down 7-8 core as my preference to GM. The only reason I didn't put 10-11, is because I didn't think there would be enough players available.

If you want to GM 10-11, say so on the form. I also ask what other tiiers you would be comfortable GMing, so that I can slot GMs into other tiers if their preferred one is not available.

However, I likely won't take you as a high tier GM unless I see that you've already GMed some 7-11 games in PBP before.

For playerrs, I will be doing another questionnaire and tryi to fill some of the higher tier tables first.

Hmm

Cosmic Captive GM Application

^ The call has now gone out for Cosmic Captive GMs this summer from June 9th to July 21st!

Hmm

I already ran this IRL looking forward to playing it this time. Unless you need some people to cover core side of things.

No... I think I am going to have plenty of GM applications. I'm also happy that some GMs are self-selecting out because their dance cards are full. Cosmic Captive will be a beast to GM.

The last thing I want is GM burnout, and we're going to need players, too!

Hmm

PS I am shuddering to see all the typos on my previous post. Note to self: try not to type on over sensitive keyboards when answering questions.

I think I need some non-rushed PbP GM experience before I take on something like that.

Upcoming I have physical table preparations in the next few months for a local convention, Phoenix ComicCon, as well as working in retail.

I don't think I could do Captive justice, even though my goal would have been to run it on CORE.

That being said, I'm not adverse to playing it in CORE, at any tier up to 7-8.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat, Wageslave. Definitely interested in GMing a special at some point, but want to get a little more experience in first. Especially if this one is supposed to be such a bear to run as Hmm has been suggesting.

Cosmic Captive is a beast. Although I think Play by Post is the absolutely best way to GM it. I ran it at GenCon and it was a monster! But with Play by Post and some good prep-work, it can be manageable.

Part of its issue is that it really is a Garden of Forking Paths scenario. There are so many options that it can overwhelm. But on these forums, it will be a lot easier to switch gears and areas.

I want to get some more experience so I can GM Siege of the Diamond City when that gets run. I've played every special except Cosmic Captive, and it's still my favorite! Heck, someday, when my cleric sorceress of Iomedae gets to 14-15, I'd star it to play her in it.

Cosmic Captive is a beast. Although I think Play by Post is the absolutely best way to GM it. I ran it at GenCon and it was a monster! But with Play by Post and some good prep-work, it can be manageable.

Part of its issue is that it really is a Garden of Forking Paths scenario. There are so many options that it can overwhelm. But on these forums, it will be a lot easier to switch gears and areas.

I was told the exact same thing by another GM who ran it last year. Running it in person is a nightmare because of the sandboxy nature and having to prepare for every option but via PbP you could take your time and just prepare each section as the party makes decisions.

Despite how many games I've run and how long I've been doing this, I'm still short on specials/exclusives and I was hoping to run this one to get another under my belt but I just don't have the bandwidth atm and i guess I'm just not that concerned about getting that 5th star or I would've gotten it about 3 years ago.

I've heard the same thing. Even from a logistics standpoint, the amount of flip-mats and miniatures will be much easier to handle in PbP. :)

I've heard the same thing. Even from a logistics standpoint, the amount of flip-mats and miniatures will be much easier to handle in PbP. :)

Having run this at Gen Con last year, and carting all the minis and maps on a plane. I can concur. PbP is WAY better for this one.

I have run Cosmic Captive in person. It has in excess of 20 maps. You may use 6 or 7 of them. This is very annoying.

20? I recalled a slightly smaller number, but no matter. I will be making a group slide show for maps for this as a matter of course. There is also some excellent prep out there on PFS Prep for this one.

Cosmic Captive in person makes GMs cry. However, I think there can be some potential for a lot of fun in PbP if your group can maintain their pace. There are three different routes, and the potential to do more than one route if your group is really rocketing forward. Or to skip around and switch routes. The high tier group that I GMed in person this fall did a lot of route jumping. It is a bizzare special, but hey! We'll be on an asteroid! There'll be creatures from other planets!

Can you think of a better lead-in special for Starfinder?

I don't think so.

Hmm

Same as lot of others, I think I'd like to get a little more experience GMing under my belt before I try signing on to run something like Cosmic Captive. Hopefully I'll be in a good position to volunteer as a GM for Siege of the Diamond city this fall though :)

Bah, whippersnappers! GM it cold, as a walk-in! :P

My first multitable special. I'll be hardened by battle!

(Note to self, finish my sessions off before June.)

No... I think I am going to have plenty of GM applications. I'm also happy that some GMs are self-selecting out because their dance cards are full. Cosmic Captive will be a beast to GM.

The last thing I want is GM burnout, and we're going to need players, too!

This is exactly why I have not applied for this one. Although I had fun with BUA, I have entirely too much on my plate to be trying to run something that regularly makes GM's cry. I was toying with the idea until I read some of the product reviews and talked to a few people. I would love to get some more experience with Specials, but I had to nope out pretty hard on this one.

I have Done Cosmic Captive in RL and it was tough with all those maps. However we Gms decided to preselect so that each table could have a slightly different experience though I'm afraid mine was the trail blazer.

My table was burning through all their obstacles and making checks like no tmr. Had to send them off as Aid Tokens to give the other tables to catch up.

Got a question, I am contemplating to start PFS PbP... but I am wondering in regards of reporting... what event code will I have to use?

You get to make your own up!

I have been using the same one for several years. Others make a new one each year.

You get to make your own up!

I have been using the same one for several years. Others make a new one each year.

In that case I can use the one I have for home games... Thanks!