My goal is for you to have fun while playing a balanced Pathfinder Society game.
Be ready to post at least once a day and once on weekends (however, if players want to keep things moving over the weekend, I'm game). I am more active than many other PbP GMs and am willing to post more than once a day to keep things moving at a good clip.
Maturity and communicativeness go a long way: 2E is a new system, so let's all be kind to one anotherm, and willing to have a good time while embracing potential learning moments.
Please check out these resources — while they are geared towards 1E, the fundamentals are still be relevant for 2E:
The Flaxseed Pathfinder Lodge
Painlord's Advanced PbP Play
Doomed Hero's Guide to PbP Gaming
Put your character's gender (so we know which pronouns to use), race, class (optional) and their status in the tagline labeled "Race". Status usually means current/maximum hit points, AC, TAC, Saving Throws, Spells, and Spell Points. The raw status tagline might look like this:
Female goblin bard | HP: 14/16 | AC: 14 TAC: 12 | F: +2 R: +4 W: +0 | Spells: 1: 2/3 2: 2/2 | SP: 1/1
In you character profile, please include the complete stat block as well, so the G can audit your character.
Include botting instructions in your profile. If you have a preference for who runs your character, write that down too. If you or your preferred botter have not posted in more than 24 hours, I may bot your character to keep the game moving. Generally, I will bot conservatively, keeping safety in mind!
To speed things up I ask the group for a marching order at the beginning of the adventure, and the tactics each PCs typically uses when in Exploration Mode.
I will roll all Initiative checks for PCs and NPCs, sort them, and organize them into blocks. I will bold the names of characters whose turn it is to act.
When it is your turn to act, post. Do not wait for someone else to post just because they had a higher Initiative in your initiative block. If you know what you want to do but want to wait for someone else’s action first, just say that. For example,
Mete Sheeld knows to stay out of Brock Enrol's way, so he'll attack after her. He strides up to Dee Monic and strikes twice!
To encourage timely posting and avoid unnecessary delays, I will include bonuses for allies who are in the same initiative block, even if one player posts before getting that bonus. For example, if a fighter posts right before the bard, and the bard uses the Inspire Courage cantrip, I will include the inspire bonus in the fighter's attack rolls even though the player didn't do so. Where possible, I will update initiatives and note the bonuses each player is receiving.
That said, if you want to change your initiative to another block (for example, going after a monster or after an ally within a different initiative block), you will need to tell me your are Delaying. You can then come in as a free action wherever you want. Remember, too, that Readying costs two actions and gives you a single reaction, so we move around a bit less often in initiative in 2E!
Reactions can be tricky in play-by-post. Please pre-roll reactions with the trigger on your turn wherever possible (it might help you to make a macro for this, or save text you can copy/paste somewhere). For example:
If someone moves through a threatened square:
If you have multiple reactions, note your preference. For example:
Brock has his shield raised and if the Big Bad hits, he will block. However, if Mook walks through a threatened square after Big Bad goes, he'll take an AOO:
AOO:
I understand how odious this can be, and will also work with the player to help keep the game flowing smoothly (for example, a defensive-oriented Champion might ask me to assume she shield blocks, and automatically reduce the damage for her and note her shield damage). We can work together to keep things flowing!
Let's look again at the post above. Perhaps Brock Enrol is a bard, and casts the Inspire Courage cantrip before Mete Sheeld strikes Dee Monic. Mete Shield knows the best way to format this — by noting the buff separately in both the roll description and the modifiers:
Mete Shield wrote Inspire Courage in both his attack and damage roll descriptions. He also included Inspire Courage's +1 bonus in the attack and damage rolls separately from his normal bonus of +2. In his second Strike's attack roll, he even included the -5 for the Multiple Attack Penalty. This is excellent! Every bonus and penalty to the d20 roll is clear, and we can understand how each total was achieved. Mete shield even included the damage type in the damage roll, for even more style points.
Clarity is important, but so is flavor and roleplay! You can use OOC text to highlight game mechanics, while keeping things flavorful in "normal" text:
Brock Enrol sings an arcane word and flicks dollop of butter at the aberration.
This is both flavorful from a story perspective, and clear from a mechanical perspective. This is my subjective opinion on how to
When asked to roll a save, it must always be the first dice roll on your next post. If you do not follow this roll, I will roll it for you.
Please fill out the Google sheet with any skills you want rolled secretly. I will not make rolls for you if you do not fill out the skill on the sheet. Yes, it looks like a lot, but it saves me a lot of time and your PC likely doesn;t want to roll EVERYTHING separately.
Secret checks in Combat
I will nest spoilers, as it's a necessity of keeping combat moving in PbP. It's human nature to metagame — but not to cheat. I expect all my players to act maturely and not cheat at Pathfinder. Do not read spoilers, and lean into failure. In fact, embracing a crit failure will probably earn you a hero point, and help the whole table have more fun!
Please post rules questions in the discussion thread. Try not to interrupt the flow of gameplay. I am also happy to start a hangout on google hangouts, or a channel in Slack or Discord for ooc conversation. I am also happy to help you with any questions you may have, and always open to constructive suggestions!
In order to be able to generate a PFS chronicle, I ask that each character please provide me the following information:
Player Name:
Character Name:
PFS & Character Number:
Faction boon slotted:
Day Job/Crafting Roll/No Roll:
Please fill out all the info on the sheet here:https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1T2sJ8j0QfNgU4tpuf-A3HHxWCyRSfEHxTjY Pb37LuI4/edit
Note that there are two pages.
It's really important to do this. I need your initiatives and your skills for making checks.
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Hello, everyone! I'm Paul from New Zealand! I'm very much looking forward to getting a chance to play my character, Chalek, a bit more. I've filled out his profile - feel free to have a gander. GM, for your information:
Player Name: Paul Trani
Character Name: Chalek Grimmerhamner
PFS & Character Number: 805-2002
Faction boon slotted: Grand Archive
Day Job/Crafting Roll/No Roll: Chalek works as a bodyguard, using his expertise in Underworld matters.
Right. Chalek is a professional bodyguard. He previously worked for the Aspis Consortium. He's open about that bit of his employment history, and strives to be as efficient and business-like about his work as possible. This comes across as aloof and flat sometimes, but he does have a bit of personality that he keeps tamped down. We'll see what comes out!
As far as marching order goes, Chalek would prefer to be either co-leading up front or second in line.
I don't have an avatar yet for this account - the website doesn't seem to be allowing the ability to add avatars at present. Apologies for the confusion.
No worries, Chalek! This is why I put up game threads a couple of weeks early!
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Player Name: Tonatiuh Ramírez
Character Name: René Hoyt
PFS & Character Number: 2379540-2003
Faction boon slotted:
Day Job/Crafting Roll/No Roll: Hoyt will work as a librarian, organizing books & helping others with research.
Hello from Mexico everyone. Guess I'll go third in marching order. Hoyt will usually prefer to be in the middle to have mobility.
Hi all!,
We kick this off in a week! Please make sure you're checked in. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Players Who've Checked In and Completed their Paperwork
1. Paul Trani, playing Chalek Grimmerhamner
2. Tonatiuh Ramírez, playing René Hoyt
Players Who Have Checked in But need to Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Kate, playing Zarindlara Aviar
2. dinketry, playing Chalek Grimmerhamner
Players Who need to Check in and Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Dennis Muldoon, playing Varret Aalloissa
2. Matt Morris, playing Trygar the Librarian
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Hi all!,
We kick this off in a week! Please make sure you're checked in. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Players Who've Checked In and Completed their Paperwork
1. Paul Trani, playing Chalek Grimmerhamner
2. Tonatiuh Ramírez, playing René HoytPlayers Who Have Checked in But need to Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Kate, playing Zarindlara Aviar
2. dinketry, playing Chalek GrimmerhamnerPlayers Who need to Check in and Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Dennis Muldoon, playing Varret Aalloissa
2. Matt Morris, playing Trygar the Librarian
Hey GM, it’s me, dinketry (also Paul Trani). I’m listed with the same character in two different lists (both complete and incomplete).
Is there something that you need from me as dinketry that I’ve given you as Paul T?
Hi all!,
We kick this off in a week! Please make sure you're checked in. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Players Who've Checked In and Completed their Paperwork
1. Paul Trani, playing Chalek Grimmerhamner
2. Tonatiuh Ramírez, playing René HoytPlayers Who Have Checked in But need to Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Kate, playing Zarindlara Aviar
2. dinketry, playing Chalek GrimmerhamnerPlayers Who need to Check in and Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Dennis Muldoon, playing Varret Aalloissa
2. Matt Morris, playing Trygar the LibrarianHey GM, it’s me, dinketry (also Paul Trani). I’m listed with the same character in two different lists (both complete and incomplete).
Is there something that you need from me as dinketry that I’ve given you as Paul T?
Whoops! You're all set! Sorry about that. Revision:
Hi all!,
We kick this off in a week! Please make sure you're checked in. As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Players Who've Checked In and Completed their Paperwork
1. Dinketry, playing Chalek Grimmerhamner
2. Tonatiuh Ramírez, playing René Hoyt
Players Who Have Checked in But need to Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Kate, playing Zarindlara Aviar
Players Who need to Check in and Complete Initial Paperwork
1. Dennis Muldoon, playing Varret Aalloissa
2. Matt Morris, playing Trygar the Librarian
3. jchapman, playing Zanderel Elerin
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Paperwork!? I didn't sign up for that! :P
Player Name: Dennis Muldoon
Character Name: Varret Aalloissa
PFS & Character Number: 215589-2005
Faction boon slotted: Verdant Wheel Champion
Day Job/Crafting Roll/No Roll:
I'll update Varret's profile/tagline to level 2 and get botting info added soon.
Hey Karando! I think you were in my recent Discord game during the convention! Good to see you again! :D
Thanks, Dennis!
Everyone has checked in! Wooo hoo!
I added the icons where needed and Hero Point Tokens on slide 2, under Standard Marching Order.
I have added a character reference slide at the top with your Hero Point tokens and info. This can be a good player reference, and I will typically position the slide below the current map!
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When playing (not GMing) a scenario, they (GMs)can distribute a number of Hero Points equal to their number of glyphs to the other players at the table. Distribute these Hero Points during the portion of the scenario in which players are slotting boons. A player cannot gain more than one Hero Point from the table’s GM glyphs.
You get a glyph for GMing scenarios in Pathfinder Society. 1 glyph = 10 4-hour games GM'd, 2 glyphs = 30 games, and so on.
Oh whoops! It looks like you're missing from my google slide that has everyone's modifiers. I should have realized anyway.
I'm adding you back in. You can RP this however you like but you should face no penalties from GM error :)
1 action. This means you can try multiple times.
I wrote above Chalek missed. But reading it again, I misread your attack line as an 11 to hit. Honest mistake; thanks for pointing it out. These things happen in PbP sometimes!
Can you do me a favor, and put the attack roll and the damage on separate lines? This way I can scan and parse the attack and damage quickly.
You did some damage to the wolf but did not get the sneak attack damage as your stealth check did not beat the wolf's perception DC. This damage is now reflected in the initiative block.
You should also be adding a static +3 to your base damage due to your strength. So you did 9 damage to the wolf all told (a 6 on the d6, plus 3). However, it was not flat-footed and not crit. I do understand the Ruffian racket lets you apply crit specializations, and will let you know when you crit and move the token back 5-10'!
Going forward, you should roll your own stealth checks just like you did the first time around when you used a hero point. I have a DC based on the creature you need to beat. Pathfinder 2E uses a DC rather than opposed checks on checks like this. So, you don't necessarily know whether you succeeded or not even if you roll the checks yourself.
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Yup, I missed my +3 to Strength somehow. Oops.
I've never been asked to put my attack roll and damage roll on separate lines in my combat checks, but I'm happy to do so. You should probably let everyone else in the game know that you'd like that as well, as I see that Karando's recent attack has his attack and damage in the same line.
And I don't see the 9 pts of damage reflected in any wolf in the initiative block.
Also, we need some guidance from you on how to roll SECRET rolls. How would you like us to handle the rolls that specifically say...?
At the end of your movement, the GM rolls your Stealth check in secret and compares the result to the Perception DC of each creature you were hidden from or undetected by at the start of your movement.(pg 252)
Please just roll the stealth yourself. You did so before when you rolled stealth and used a hero point to reroll it. I would prefer we keep things consistent.
For the purposes of keeping the game moving, and because you have to beat a secret DC based on the creature's perception modifier, having the PC roll stealth themself seems like the best way to keep things moving.
I do not require PCs to format their rolls in any particular way, but I appreciate a little patience for the GM if they make an honest mistake by mis-scanning text that's clumped together.
We're in a text format here so I got you, even if I make a mistake!