Gameday - PF1 - Standard 10-15 Tapestry's Trial - GM Nowruz (Inactive)

Game Master noral

Hi Noro, hello everyone,

I really hope that the scenario is not boring you because it is so much text and interaction instead of fighting etc. ...

Anything I should do differently?

I want you guys to have a good time and have the feeling that I am not doing a great job at the moment. :-(

@GM Nowruz

there is nothing you need to do different since that is the nature of the scenario. actually its the theme for most of the newer scenarios that I have seen.

I really enjoyed the older season 0 1 nd 2 stuff. they felt way more traditional D&D like and less lore dumps.

seems like many of the newer stuff has been a means for the writers to flaunt this in depth lore they created as opposed to traditional dungeon crawling, save the town type stuff.

I built this character way back in the early days of pathfinder society and then moved into skull and shackles AP with her. but when that game started to die I moved on.

I pulled this character off the shelf to play again for this adventure but as it moves on I am finding it totally unsuited for any combat oriented characters.

much of my newer society stuff ahs been mostly adventure paths and a lot of Emerald spire having both played and GM's the entire thing for society play.

GM, you are exceeding average with your GMing of this. In the future I suggest (which I do as a GM myself) giving a warning about the play of the scenario.

i.e. there is extreme librarianing, this is a social heavy scenario, this is a dungeon crawl, this is an investigative scenario, etc...

Such warnings ensure that, while folks don't get spoiled the scenario, they either choose an appropriate character or when they do bring their non-ideal character, they bring it knowing that they won't be able to contribute as much. Plus it also prevents the "I wish I had known so that I brought XX, they would have thrived in this scenario."

If it makes you feel any better, Noro, I'm really in the same boat. I'm not a social or lore-based character either, with only one knowledge which seems to be mostly useless here. I haven't tried for any of the rolls because I know that my 20 is worse then Drake's, Shamak's or Chrone's 1.

In the future I suggest (which I do as a GM myself) giving a warning about the play of the scenario.

i.e. there is extreme librarianing, this is a social heavy scenario, this is a dungeon crawl, this is an investigative scenario, etc...

Such warnings ensure that, while folks don't get spoiled the scenario, they either choose an appropriate character or when they do bring their non-ideal character, they bring it knowing that they won't be able to contribute as much. Plus it also prevents the "I wish I had known so that I brought XX, they would have thrived in this scenario."

I completely agree with you! I really should have informed you in advance and will definitely do so in the future!

Sorry for my relative silence lately. Part of my job as a minister is to conduct funerals. Since second wave of covid is hitting Western Europe hard since the beginning of November, I've had less and less time to post.

I was surprised as well by the amount of lore dump in this scenario! However, I enjoy it very much. And I find you do very well as a GM here, asking multiple times if the pace was okay, if you should do anything to enhance the game. I genuinely think your competence as a GM is not what slows the game. This scenario is pretty unexpected, it looks more like an interactive cinematic than anything else to be honest :)

As a matter of fact, Shamak can handle social, but as an early character of mine (PFSnumber-2) is built mainly towards combat.

I completely understand what you mean! But I have to admit that I have also tried to speed things up by taking you to the next scene and maybe railroaded you too much. :-/ Well, lesson learned here on my side!

.....

Now with respect to the TRIBUNAL. There are SPECIFIC RULES.

The tribunal will have six phases.

In each phase, a different aspect of Hao Jin's negative actions or personality will be studied and criticized and the Tribunal will attempt to decide if the Ruby Phoenix has learned from her mistakes and has changed.

In each phase, one witness has the chance of making an argument that attempts to sway one or more of the judges in Hao Jin's favor on that particular part of her past or personality.

Different judges will respond to different arguments positively or negatively depending on their basic philosophy and personality. Certain of Hao Jin's actions will also be harder or easier for certain people to be swayed on. For instance, you know that a very powerful psychopomp will be a judge. You will have a harder time trying to convince that judge that Hao Jin's use of soul energy was anything but blasphemy, although it remains a possibility.

Each phase will have a set of three skills that can be used by the witness to sway the judges, and I will let you know what these skills are before each phase. These are the only skills that can be used to sway the judges. Each of the judges responds differently to different arguments, and I will let you know based on your research how best to do this. Some judges also inherently respond poorly to certain types of characters (this is generally based on alignment). Magic is pretty much out of the question during the trail as you will be watched quite carefully by individuals (the judges in particular) who are powerful spellcasters.

--

Only one witness may speak during each phase (i.e. only one person will be making a skill roll), although THERE IS A SPECIAL ROLE THAT ONE OF YOU CAN TAKE - that PC will be acting as Hao Jin's advocate and will be allowed to assist the respective PC making the main roll in each phase.

The advocate assist will grant the standard +2 on the main skill check unless you have a feat or trait that boosts that (such as the Helpful trait).

Alternatively, the advocate can try to downplay an aspect of the witness' argument, past, or basic character that a judge finds distasteful. Both types of assists can be made with Diplomacy, Knowledge (local) or Sense Motive, whichever is highest.

---

I know that's pretty complicated. Do you have questions?

If you all would like Chrone to actively participate, please let me know, otherwise I will continue to be in the back.

Same with Drake. He's kinda monopolized a lot of the talking segments. If anyone wants to hop in and let me take the backseat, I'm good with it.

In each phase a separate witness has to speak.

So you’re all participating but only one of you can be the advocate and aid.

If there's no objections, Drake can take advocate.

Have at it

Guys, I just wanted to make clear that we do not have to go through the tribunal.

Your PCs have secured the ritual and the tribunal only has a minor impact on the chronicle (no gold or pp but only a minor boon imho).

So we can also end the scenario here if he majority would wish to do so.

We're nearing our deadline as well, aren't we? If it's too close then I wouldn't mind skipping it out of necessity. I forgot when it was supposed to end.

The official ending was Nov 10 I think.

I'm going to be less then useless in this tribunal. Lissa has practical knowledge, not esoteric or social. As such, I'm more then willing to leave this up to those of us that can actually do something in it.

I'm sadly not free enough these times, due to work, as I mentioned it in my last message. Maybe skip the trial?

I think that is a majority for stopping. :-)

Here are the chronicle sheets.

You should already see the game on the Paizo reporting page.

Thanks for the game, GM :) It was a really cool scenario!

Thanks for running!

Thank you for running this for us.

Would anybody here be interested in a GM rotation?

I have a couple of other GMs that want to line up 7 games and GM once each.

Well, you've GMed for me twice now, so it only seems right. What would you like GMed?

Ha ha. No request really and please don’t feel pressured. :-)

We would use pfs tracker to see what works for the team and then we decide. Do you have pfstracker?

No worries there, I am GMing. If I've GMed it before I'll just be getting no credit. Just hit me up if/when you've got a scenario.

Thanks a lot Chrone!

I will send you a pm!

I will lose this thread in two days.

Thanks for everything to all players!