[PFS2 GM Psyblade] 01-01 The Absalom Initiation

Game Master Psyblade

To make my life easier when it comes to filling in chronicles, if you could each put in a single post with:

Chronicle: What chronicle number this is for the character
History: What scenarios has the character completed? (or been credited with); any other chronicles (special boons etc)
Name:(the player) real name (as you have it appear on your chronicle sheets)
AKA: Character name
Faction: Your faction slotted
PFS: # for the character
XP: starting XP, Note if Slow track!
Fame: Starting Fame
Gold: Starting wealth you bring into the adventure. This should be the total on your previous chronicle. If you want to buy any new stuff... see further on.
Downtime include the roll or that you don't have one. If you want to use a reroll at the end just note here you may want to use a reroll. If you don't include a roll I'll be assuming you take ten. Add the actual gold amount if you want to save me looking it up...
Spend: If you want to buy anything before the scenario starts (apart from your initial 150gp if you are a new character) include it here. This will appear in the "items bought" and/or "items sold" part of the chronicle.

Try to hold off actual discussion here until we have one post per character with those details (makes life easy for me to make the chronicles for you all at the end).

Please add an Icon for your character to the map. If you don't know how, let me know and I'll help. Also dot into the gameplay thread, or just hang around and RP there if you like.

Just a note of warning:

I will be out of town, country, continent from the start of August till the 2nd of September, so the game will start officially after the 2nd (I will have a laptop with me, but no promises I will be able to make posts due to where I am going :) )

Just checking in here. Without the guide being up yet, I'm unsure about a lot of the required info, but I think I'll be playing a monk.

PFS guide for 2

Chronicle: 1
History: No history
Name: zer0darkfire
AKA: Menas Redall
Faction: Radiant Oath
PFS: 193338-2001
XP: 0xp
Fame: 0 fame
Gold: 10 gp, 2 sp
Downtime: athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Spend: Monk kit (48 silver pieces)
School: Field Commissioned Agent

Dayjob, still trying to figure out what how this works or if I can even use athletics. The rulebook says I can use any skill, but at a higher DC, but the guide doesn't list what that DC is. I also can't find what task level we are rolling at, but it seems like the DC is 0 and I just rolled a critical success?

Edit: Well after a quick perusal of dayjobs to earn income and how you cannot actually do so right now under the current guide, I guess I'll switch from field commissioned agent to 3pt swords school member and take my 2 free minor healing potions every game.

Chronicle: 1
History: None
Name: Ferret
AKA: Tevvy
Faction: Horizon Hunters
PFS: 139854-2003
XP: 0
Fame: 0
Gold: 12 gp, 9 sp
Downtime: Lore (Absalom): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Spend:
Training: 1 Spells, 2 Swords
Training Gear: 1 scroll of mage armor
Slotted Boons: Promotional Vestments

Dayjob is just a check against the Earn Income DC (or Crafting DC) for your level-2, multiplying the amount on the table by the amount of Downtime days you get (double XP per adventure, so 8 for a scenario). So at level 1, we're making it against a DC of 14 for a 0 level day job check, with failure giving us 4 cp, success giving us 4 gp, and critical success giving 8 gp.

Chronicle: 2
History: The Sandswept Secret
Name: Matt Morris
AKA: Ezidar
Faction: Horizon Hunters
PFS: 48019-2002
XP: 1
Fame: 1
Gold: 4.9 gp
Downtime: Lore (Warfare): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Spend: N/A
Training: 3 Swords
Training Gear: 1 potency crystal, 1 minor healing potion
Slotted Boons: Horizon Hunters Champion

The problem with the current PFS dayjob rolls is that the rules do give us a DC to roll against, your level -2, so it's DC 0 at level 1 and 2, but then fail to give us a "task level" to compare our results to. Apparently John Compton cleared this up by saying the rules were meant to say that actually task level is equal to your level -2 and the DC is based on your level using the scaling level chart. I think I still prefer the 3 points in a school for free potions over being a field commissioned agent, but its hard to tell this early on.

Edit: The guide has been updated and does confirm this, task level is level -2 and the DC uses the DC by level chart. Still no mention of how using alternate skills to earn money, like athletics, works even though the book says it works at a higher DC

Just a quick update, I bought Tevvy the Playtest Point boon to get a bump to 2nd level. Still need to make purchases but I'll do that tomorrow and update the form then.

Just a quick update, I bought Tevvy the Playtest Point boon to get a bump to 2nd level. Still need to make purchases but I'll do that tomorrow and update the form then.

No problem.

I still don't have the scenario drop so I cannot make any intro blurbs, and I doubt before they show up before I leave on vacation tomorrow. I will keep an eye out on this thread, but my responses will be a bit slower then usual

Chronicle: 1
History: Experienced Adventurer
Name: Ferret
AKA: Tevvy
Faction: Horizon Hunters
PFS: 139854-2003
XP: 12
Fame: 12
Gold: 12 gp, 9 sp
Downtime: Lore (Absalom): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Spend: 0
Training: 1 Spells, 2 Swords
Training Gear: 1 scroll of mage armor
Slotted Boons: Horizon Hunters Champion, Promotional Vestments

Checking in! Definitely not late, but I did forget to for a good while. I went with a ranger, we seem to have a lot of coverage already.

Chronicle: 1
History: None
Name: Crunch
AKA: Vellir Tate
Faction: Horizon Hunters
PFS: 150618-2005
XP: 0
Fame: 0 fame
Gold: 1 GP, 6 SP
Downtime: Crafting: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Training: 3 Swords
Training Gear: Potency Crystal, Minor Healing Potion
Slotted Boons: Horizon Hunters Champion

welcome, 4 out of 6 so far. I will tinker with a sheet hopefully tomorrow to see how we stand with the difficulty of the encounter while waiting for the last 2!

Chronicle: 3
History: The Sandswept Secret, Origin of the Open Road
Name: Andrew Jones
AKA:: Doctor Grime Percival Bloodshanks
Faction: Grand Archive
PFS: 108452-2001
XP: 5
Fame: 5 (this is starting fame, before purchase indicated below)
Gold: 19 GP, 1 SP
Downtime: Crafting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Training Gear: Holy water, Lesser Eagle-Eye Elixir

Purchase:
Wayfinder for 2 Fame

Chronicle: 2
History: Played Q1A
Name: zer0darkfire
AKA: Menas Redwall
Faction: Radiant Oath
PFS: 193338-2001
XP: 1xp
Fame: 1 fame
Gold: 11 gp
Downtime: Lore Warfare: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Spend: 3gp on thieves tools
School: 3 point sword school
School items: 2 minor healing potions

Hi everyone, here's Barin (my first 2ed character, I played once during the playtest). I'm trying to learn the new rules atm.

Chronicle: 1
Name: Rogar Valertis
Character's name Barin Orcsbane
Faction: Vigilant Seal
PFS: # 100733-2002
XP: 0, standard advancement
Fame: 0
Gold: ?
Downtime: ?
Spend: None, starting character

No problem. We all are. :)

Ahem... Seems like this was NOT the game I signed up for. Apologies for the intromission. I'll see myself out now...

XD

Hey all,

I have added all the player chars into an Google Sheet to see where we stand, and I want to know:

Low subtier (6-player adjustment) OR Low subtier with level bump

Let me know what you prefer so I can prep.

Also, if possible, make sure to have your charsheet available so that I can look for hidden GM rolls (one of the PF2 changes)

Thank you, if I run into more, I will let you all know before we kick off the 2nd of september

Is the "low subtier with level bump" just middle tier?

I believe it means that everything will be the same as low tier, but any enemies will have +1 to all their rolls, stats, saves, etc and any DCs will be +1 as well. That's just my quick reading understanding of level bump.

From what I know, that's about right. If it's the adventure bump and not one for PCs, that is. I think I'd prefer the level bump.

I thought I posted this, but the boards ate it. If the bump is just +1 and the six-player is more enemies, I'd rather do the 6-player, but I'd bow to other people's preferences.

I would also rather do the 6 player.

Yeah, I lean toward the 6-player. I do have bombs, after all.

These are the effects of lvl bump and player lvl bump

Adventure Level Bump
* Increase every DC listed in the scenario by 1.
* Increase the attack modifiers, attack damage, spell damage, saving throw modifiers, skill modifiers, Perception modifiers, and ACs of all enemy creatures by 1.
* Increase the Hit Point totals of all enemy creatures by 10 or by 10%, whichever is higher.

Player Level Bump
* Increase all of PC's DCs by 1.
* Increase the attack modifiers, attack damage, spell damage, saving throw modifiers, skill modifiers, Perception modifiers, and ACs of th PC by 1.
* Increase the Hit Point totals of the PC by 10 or by 10%, whichever is higher.

Yeah, I'll change my vote. Wouldn't want more chance to get critically hit or crit-fail.

FINAL UPDATE
Chronicle: 2
History: The Sandstone Secret
Name: Ferret
AKA: Tevvy
Faction: Horizon Hunters
PFS: 139854-2003
XP: 13
Fame: 13
Gold: 18 gp, 4 sp
Downtime: Lore (Absalom): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Spend:
Training: 1 Spells, 2 Swords
Training Gear: 1 scroll of mage armor
Slotted Boons: Promotional Vestments

Hello everyone.

Chronicle: 1 (It's my first 2E Chronicle)
History: None
Name:Diaz Ex Machina
AKA: Matheus Dolabellus
Faction: Grand Archive
PFS: 161295-2001
XP: 0
Fame: 0
Gold: 15gp
Downtime: Warfare Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Spend: None

Sorry, I had part of the wrong character in my information. Vellir is a field-commissioned agent. He'll keep that Earn Income check, and try to Craft something at the end of the scenario.

Hey all, kickoff is delayed till 09/09 due to scenarios not dropping for GM's. This means I will start the game in time after my vacation.

I will read over the comments after the 27th of August since next 3 days will be a bit busy on my trip, and I will adjust the table as well to see where we stand. In the mean keep checking in here!

Apologies for the delay!

So, within a few days we will kick off the Initiates of Absalom scenario. To confirm we will be running it on 6-player with Player Level Bump
* Increase all of PC's DCs by 1.
* Increase the attack modifiers, attack damage, spell damage, saving throw modifiers, skill modifiers, Perception modifiers, and ACs of the PC by 1.
* Increase the Hit Point totals of the PC by 10 or by 10%, whichever is higher.

I will most likely post the starting blurb over the weekend to allow you all to socialize before kicking it officially off on Monday.

Make sure your charsheets are up to date since there are certain rolls I will have to make as a GM.

Cheers!

Should we incorporate the +1 to modifiers and +10 HP into our character sheets?

Should we incorporate the +1 to modifiers and +10 HP into our character sheets?

yes please! since I will be looking at them for rolls / and tracking hp... and if I forget it (which will happen) it means trouble

Maybe I am reading this wrong ... but we don't get the player bump if we are playing the lower subtler, do we? The enemies get a bump, not us ... right?

Maybe I am reading this wrong ... but we don't get the player bump if we are playing the lower subtler, do we? The enemies get a bump, not us ... right?

you might be right, let me check a few things because I might be messing things up...

Point 5 in that section says the player bump only applies when playing the higher tier (and then only applies to the lowest-level characters).

So if we were playing tier 3-4, then any level 1 characters would get the player level bump. But since we are playing low tier, I don't think we get that bump.

Not trying to lawyer here ... just to understand how it works for when I run it. (Well, I actually have run this, but w/ 4 lvl 1 characters, so I adjusted nothing and didn't have to even fiddle w/ Challenge Points)

Sooo... screw up on my end :D

It's either the:

Adventure Level Bump
* Increase every DC listed in the scenario by 1.
* Increase the attack modifiers, attack damage, spell damage, saving throw modifiers, skill modifiers, Perception modifiers, and ACs of all enemy creatures by 1.
* Increase the Hit Point totals of all enemy creatures by 10 or by 10%, whichever is higher.

Or the game as written in the scenario....

I will go with what is written in the scenario due to all of us being "new" and not knowing the rules well enough yet.

Sorry for the confussion!

So, we use the normal stats for our characters?

Incidentally, I made a mistake on my Chronicle 1/2 Crafting (I forgot that you can craft consumables in batches of 4), so my starting gold is off. Also, I didn't need a Crafting roll, because I will be continuing the crafting from my previous sheet.

So, we use the normal stats for our characters?

yes

Incidentally, I made a mistake on my Chronicle 1/2 Crafting (I forgot that you can craft consumables in batches of 4), so my starting gold is off. Also, I didn't need a Crafting roll, because I will be continuing the crafting from my previous sheet.

no problem

I have added a marching order (with what your mode is in exploration) for the init rolls, if ppl can put up their char tokens there, it will help for me to roll init when needed be (since it can be what you want)

I have added a marching order (with what your mode is in exploration) for the init rolls, if ppl can put up their char tokens there, it will help for me to roll init when needed be (since it can be what you want)

Added my token and added a text box for initiative rolls and perception checks to help out.

GM Psyblade wrote:

I have added a marching order (with what your mode is in exploration) for the init rolls, if ppl can put up their char tokens there, it will help for me to roll init when needed be (since it can be what you want)

Added my token and added a text box for initiative rolls and perception checks to help out.

Cheers for that text box, I moved that to the first page for clutter :)

Game has kicked off in the game-play thread, enjoy!

So here is something that is kind of nagging me in the back of my head.

With PF2 GM's are needed to do more rolls in secret before informing the players on how to do it (pitfall that I fell into when asking ppl to make the lore rolls).

Does anyone know if there is a way to make hidden rolls on the forums so that they are really hidden for you players? or do I need to keep using the spoilers?

Spoilers is the only way I know of. If you label it "Secret" or "GM Screen" I think we are on the honor system. For my part, I don't care if you make secret rolls off-post and just feed us the info. I don't assume you have any reason to keep information from us if we made the roll.

I don't know of any way to do it. I think spoilers marked GM Only or Secret are probably best. You could also just roll the dice and not put the modifier on, but I feel like that's almost more work than just looking at the roll.

Spoilers do their job, but I wouldn't mind if you'd rather make them off-post. The Dice Rolling Thread is a fun place to do so when you want a record.

Spoilers do their job, but I wouldn't mind if you'd rather make them off-post. The Dice Rolling Thread is a fun place to do so when you want a record.

Oh neat, I'm going to start using that