GM Devildoc: That's amazing. Good luck on the next book.
Devildoc: that is great! You can be proud of that achievement!
You know what works even better? More GM's servicing the community :) More games = more chances = more people playing.
Maybe one day the discussion will be: "So, how do you choose your GM? Ask them all to apply with samples of previous games they ran, and a statistical average of their dice rolling to see if they crit' often or fumble more? Or just take FgmCFS?"
FgmCFS: First GM C.... First Served?
FCFS is 'First come, first served', so 'First GM come, first served'; a future fantasy scenario where we have such a surplus of GMs, groups of players get together and suggest they are auditioning/interviewing potential GMs, or the GM's rushing for the opportunity :p
FCFS is 'First come, first served', so 'First GM come, first served'; a future fantasy scenario where we have such a surplus of GMs, groups of players get together and suggest they are auditioning/interviewing potential GMs, or the GM's rushing for the opportunity :p
I knew I would kick myself for missing the C!
I think we are almost there: when a GM is missing other GMs tend to rush to adopt the orphaned game.
That's true.
There's stacks of GM's about for sure.
IMO, though, that's likely because a relief PFS GM knows that even if they get the most dysfunctional group of players in the world their commitment is only for a couple of weeks at most. You don't generally see that level of interest when a GM vanishes a little ways into an AP.
Sometimes GMs vanish because of RL issues.
Sometimes they vanish because they see the group they're dealing with, and realize that even if they came straight out and told their table that they were having issues the table would try ANYTHING to keep them... not realizing that they may be part of the issues the GM is having.
This particularly becomes pertinent when one is trying to build a table for the 'long haul' of an AP, and either personalities, characters, or RL impacting posting rates factors in.
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a future fantasy scenario where we have such a surplus of GMs, groups of players get together and suggest they are auditioning/interviewing potential GMs, or the GM's rushing for the opportunity :p
That may not be as far-fetched as everyone thinks. There is actually a plan in motion already, though Paizo's most recent technical difficulties have delayed the launching of phase one.
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GM vanishes a little ways into an AP.
Part of the reason I wont touch an AP with a bargepole on PbP - the rate of abandonment by both GM's and players is phenomenal. As GM Wageslave noted above, AP's also have to have the right players in there, and for the exact reasons given. AP's is also the point at which I began to hate the 'backstory application' process as I noted a link between 'really cool backstory' and 'vanishing player'. Possibly they realised that an AP is usually less interested in their backstory and won't be exploring any stories that aren't the AP. The player is excited about their character, but that wanes when the reality of the scenario-coaster kicks in.
Hence PFS play is great - whilst you are only 'locked in' for a short period you can extend it out - I was invited to a group on these boards and we played all every scenario through season 6 and a chunk of 7.
The other good thing about the boards is the opportunity to develop a bank of players and GM's you connect with. That way you aren't always having to go fish for your next game. I've also seen people on here asking for someone to run a particular module or scenario and that usually draws a GM happy to oblige - we know we have at least ONE player who is keen and will stick to the session :)
I gotta admit, I take first come first serve with priority given to people who've requested my games or played in them before because I'm an impatient bastard and I like my games to go fast and quick. I know if a game takes to long for me as a player because I'm waiting a week for someone to post something, I lose interest HARD. With a pathfinder scenario, if a GM or other players are way to slow (Like, a week or more for a round of combat or interaction) I only have to put up with it for a little while.
I would suspect our patience levels are pretty similar Starson :p
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At this point I think I'd be much more inclined to send personal invites to people I've played with or GMed for and that I know are generally reliable if I were to run a long-haul campaign such as an AP. You really need good chemistry together and playstyles that gel to make such a thing work - plus it avoids the inevitable sore feelings that come from having 20+ people apply to a game with elaborate backstories and plans but only having space for 4-6 of them.
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Backstory application is in my opinion WAY overrated. Most backstories are overdone anyhow, showing the entire arc of the character in question's development--basically, they are mini novels. Characters should grow with the campaign and therefore have enough nooks and crannies left open for communal development to accommodate the adventure and the other players characters. If you've already plotted out your character's future you are likely to become bored and possibly disappointed when the other characters in your umpteenth Kingmaker campaign don't elect you king.
PCs should never arrive in the game at first level in their final evolved form. There has to be room for development. Harry Potter was not the accomplished magic duelist he eventually becomes when Hagrid first met him in that first book.
I find that a good solid theme with a goal, strong campaign flavor, and a few loosely defined plot connections to the main campaign work best. They allow for growth in unexpected directions, and keep any possible prima donna expectations to a manageable level. Always remember, that other characters have stories too.
Just come up with a few quick tags: Traditional Scottish dwarven battle herald, Mega-Dungeon ranger, an orphan raised by cloud giants among the clouds, or a clever tavern wench who dreams of a bigger, better life. It only takes a broad-brushed sentence or two and you're mostly there.
Stay thirsty my friends!
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So I am one of the GMs that does recruitments, especially for ‘niche’ or long haul games. Generally speaking though I am less interested in backstory than I am in frontstory. I want to know why you are interested in the game, and what your character wants. In PFS, I may ask you a bit about your past adventures, but that is because I want to see how they shaped and changed you.
When I recruited for Murder’s Mark of Crows, an all-tengu game, I gave quite a bit of priority to those who had been tengus before my call out for a game. Why? Because I wanted people there for that game who wanted to be tengus more than they wanted a game with me. I built my group around two of those characters, Andrietta Ebonfeather, a tengu grandmother with an attitude, and General Chak, a tengu slayer with delusions of grandeur and a fake Fu Manchu mustache. These were two characters with a real history that they had already built up in a few prior play-by-post games. I then picked the remaining four based on group chemistry and how they’d interacted with those two.
I will also admit that I spied on every one of those players, looking at how they had behaved in other games. One of the things that I looked for was generous players who left hooks for other players to react to, and who interacted with the whole team. I was VERY happy with my choices. We played through two modules (Murder’s Mark, Feast of Ravenmoor) and one scenario of Tome of the Righteous Repose. I only quit with them when I found that I was running out of scenarios to play with that team, but I am still contemplating the thought of a reunion game at some point.
I don’t want back story when I want recruitments. I want who you are now, and where you are going. As a GM, I try to give you opportunities to face dilemmas, and have things come up that will bring out those delightful quirks. If you give players a chance to do their thing and let everyone shine, games become delightful.
I think that modules are my natural length as a GM, but if I am going to spend that much time on you... I want to have a group that will give me joy.
Does this make sense?
Hmm
I do like back stories when I recruit for APs. That's partly because where I'm allowed to, I require good alignment, and that good alignment needs to be more than just a few letters on a character sheet. When a person writes that their backstory is being a goblin on a raid of a human town, coming face to face with a human child, and changing their mind about hurting humans, I know that they get it. For others who are of more 'naturally good' races, I want to know what caused them to leave their home and family to adventure. I'm looking for characters, rather than stat blocks with names, and if you can tell me where your character has been in a few sentences, then you know who they are.
MurderHobos, scavengers and corpse eaters.....
Much like goblins, but....
Erm, at level 10? I'd say her career trumps her character concept at this point. That being said, 50 prestige would retrain all of her levels, but I don't think that's what you're looking for. There is a total rebuild boon that exists somewhere, but frankly, having played with Lucija once before, I'd suggest keeping her exactly as she is and make a new character with the updated character concept. At least for my characters, the 'concept' survives up until about level 2 or 3, then experience and habits become the new concept.
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Lucia,
There are the retraining rules from the Ultimate Campaign book, Takes 5 or 7 days to retrain one level depending on if there is a retraining synergy. For PFS it cost 1 presteage point per day of training. So yes you could retrain from summoner to Arcanist, but it would take 50-70 presteage points.
What DebugAMP said.
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There is a total rebuild boon that exists somewhere, but frankly, having played with Lucija once before, I'd suggest keeping her exactly as she is and make a new character with the updated character concept.
The total rebuild Boon is something I'd absolutely be interested in, if not for Lucija, then perhaps for another character.
Also, that sounded more than a little like a compliment. Care to elaborate? :)
Wow. The whole flock came out!
Hmm
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There is a total rebuild boon that exists somewhere, but frankly, having played with Lucija once before, I'd suggest keeping her exactly as she is and make a new character with the updated character concept.The total rebuild Boon is something I'd absolutely be interested in, if not for Lucija, then perhaps for another character.
Also, that sounded more than a little like a compliment. Care to elaborate? :)
I recall playing in the Hall of Drunken Heroes with Lucija, and her interactions with her Eidolon were a distinct part of the character I played with. Just as distinct as her... desire to paint that lovely scenery afterwards. If I played in another scenario with the same pair of characters, and suddenly she became and Int based caster without Nagamendhi (spelling?), I suspect it would be roughly akin to meeting a brand new character.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that the characters we interact with as other players may not be the characters you had in mind when you created them, but they are memorable characters nonetheless. I've certainly taken advantage of rebuild opportunities and retraining in the past, so I understand the desire, but sometimes it's best to leave a good character as they ended up as long as you still enjoy playing them.
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A tengu strides into the room dressed in a motley assortment of clothing as if he'd purchased one piece from every merchant in the markets of Goka. From the black and red trimmed jeonrip atop is feathered head, to the similarly colored aristocrat's Áo giao lĩnh he wears over his red lacquered breastplate to the common waraji on his feet that let his talons hang over the front edge. He is armed with a composite longbow and a quiver of arrows, along with a nodachi made of adamantine. He caries a haversack over his shoulder. But the most ridiculous accessory of all is the (obviously fake) fu manchu mustache affixed to the sides of his face near where his beak joins the rest of his head.
The tengu pauses for a moment looking over those assembled for some sort of ovation at his entrance or at the very least, a hint of recognition.
Greetings, salutations, and hello! I give, present, and provide you with THIS... my card.
Upon the card in even, slanting script is printed the words.
Chak Yuen Chen,
Scribe, Scrivner, and Penman
Duly Authorized Notary Public of Ilsurian
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Good evening...
Korai looks at the card and squints.
...Chen. Korai Shardwing, Varisian Transportation Specialist at your service.
He looks at the fake fu manchu, ponders for a moment, then nods. Yes, it is always best to maintain a public persona when conducting business that is seperate from one's private persona.
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Deep into his cups Brock looks up and notices the tavern seems to be full of a flock ... murder of large black birds.
Snickering to his drunken self he starts counting, "One for sorrow, two for joy. Three for girls, four for boys. Five for silver... hic ... six for gold. Seven for a secret, never to be told."
Chuckling to himself and wondering how strong this liquor must be, to make him hallucinate so many talking crows invading the tavern.
Time to call it a night, no one's been hiring in far too long. Maybe tomorrow I'll find work, or a card game.
Hey!
Lady Ladile pointed out to me that Seasons Six and Seven are in the Current Extra Life Humble Bundle. If I didn’t already get all scenarios as part of the Venture Flunky package, I would totally do this.
I am still tempted by the AP map packages in there...
Hmm
I already have the electronic copy of many of those books. Can I legitimately give them to someone else so it will have their name on them for their legal use?
That is a neat idea.....
Hi, everyone! Please don't mind me, I want to practice my dice-rolling a bit.
For a god to be your Patron, do you have to have divine spellcasting levels or can you just pick them? I know revering a god is a thing but I can't remember the rules.
Do codes generate per book or is it a single code for all? I've been meaning to pick up two books in the bundle and have most of the rest so this looks like a great opportunity.
Codes generate per pledge level. So one code for the $1 level and another for the $5 level and yet another for the $15 level. If you pledge $20 you get three codes. There is no way to split packages for a certain pledge level that I know of.
For a god to be your Patron, do you have to have divine spellcasting levels or can you just pick them? I know revering a god is a thing but I can't remember the rules.
It is all on page 25 and 26 of the Guide to Organised Play. The important bits, assuming you are not a divine spellcaster and receive no mechanical benefit connected to a deity:
Characters can worship any deity listed in the table of gods in the Core Rulebook, Pathfinder Campaign Setting: The Inner Sea World Guide, Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Gods and Magic, or any other source listed in the Additional Resources document.
AND:
Regardless of class, each character must have an alignment within one step of her deity’s alignment.