GM Doug's Beginner Box PbP (Closed) (Inactive)

Game Master Fiasko

Let's discuss our Beginner's Box adventure here!

I’m thinking of playing a caster if some sort. Thanks Doug!

Howdy! Thank you for the invitation!

This is campaign mode? I thought I had read pregen somewhere but when I went to look, all I found was campaign mode.

Yes, we'll play in campaign mode.

From the sanctioning document:

The Pathfinder Beginner Box uses a streamlined version
of the Pathfinder ruleset. It does not contain specific
faction-related elements or school training methods, nor
is it tiered for play by characters over a wide range of
levels. Thematically, the Beginner Box does not assume
the characters are Pathfinders. The adventures included
in the Beginner Box are therefore offered outside of the
standard Organized Play environment and can be played
with characters who do not conform to Organized Play
requirements.

You're welcome to play one of the Beginner Box pregens if you'd like. But, to me, this seems like the perfect opportunity to make a level one character that you couldn't play in regular society games!

Thanks! In that case, if it's alright with everyone else, I'd like to test out a hobgoblin barbarian idea I had for PFS and workshop his personality. :)

I have a Dread Marshal hobgoblin barbarian (or warrior muse bard, can't decide) in the works myself, via GM credit. Interested to see what direction you take!

For this, I think I'll build a fancy ratfolk wizard or angelic kobold sorcerer. I have not played a dedicated caster in 2e yet, and I'm looking forward to it!

Side note; I'd be willing to GM the module after completing this, if players are interested.

Cool cool, we’ll be following PFS rules although it’s campaign mode. This beginner adventure is pretty straightforward. Those character options sound good to me.

I’d be interested in playing the module after!

Thanks for the invite.

The blog about this says

Players should either use one of the provided pregenerated characters or build their own using the Beginner Box rules.

I believe that means we need to use the Beginner Box character generation rules. My understanding is those are slightly different than PF2.

I haven’t decided what I will play yet.

Yeah, I think that's right. Reading the Hero Handbook now. (I am GMing this locally in a few weeks, so might as well learn the creation rules).

Ancrestries allowed: Dwarf, Elf, Human.
Backgrounds: Acolyte, Farmhand, Scholar, Criminal, Gambler, Warrior, or Deckhand.
Class: Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard

I'm looking into the best way to share the Handbook's character creation stuff online, or build it as handouts…

Here is a port a player from the Austin lodge made for character creation.

It should be enough for us to start building characters… I suspect we're all pretty familiar with this. There are some notable differences though, such as the fact that ancestries don't get flaws, just two boosts.

Thanks so much Doug. And thanks to that person from Austin!

Thanks.

I wasn't imagining it. I must have found the module sanctioning blog when I went looking for that blog. :)

I think I'll still try out the barbarian.

Nope. No I will not. Fighter it is.

Howdy folks, getting caught up here, haven't got any real ideas to what to play.

Hilary is wondering where the Gnome Bard option is....I am trying to cheer her up. :)

I'll probably do a dwarf druid. Maybe a distant friend of captain octo-boots since Otari's on the coast.

If Hmm is in that makes 5, right?

Oh never mind; no druids either.

So is the information in the above linked document mostly complete and correct?

Three ancestries: Human, Dwarf, Elf
Four classes: Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard
Three gods for worship: Desna, Sarenrae, Torag,
Seven Backgrounds: Acolyte, Criminal, Deckhand, Farmhand, Gambler, Scholar, Warrior

Most of your equipment is decided by your class.

I think it does make the character generation for a newbie a lot faster. Not sure how well it prepares someone to transition from BB to PF2, but time will likely show that.

Fortunately, I had a dwarven sounding Alias sitting round. :)

So is the information in the above linked document mostly complete and correct?

Yep, reading over BB I see nothing amiss. I shared it with my play group too.

I made a BB walkthrough on Slides if anyone is interested in following along on that instead of the text doc.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1hBelEcOpzzBRBIVhN7drhsXhSYhPrL6DL7X JCWYQkCQ/edit?usp=sharing

It is still a WiP so let me know if you see something wrong or worthy of improvement. I added all the spells by hand because the BB does tags a bit differently.

That’s awesome! Thanks so much Doug. You are my idol.

How’s everyone coming along on their characters?

I'm in a game today but will build a character tonight. I still want to do a dwarf caster and play against type (wizard, I suppose), even though this BB seems to foist tropes upon us.

My PF2e career so far has been 4 beatsticks and one divine healbot… so I'm still very interested in a caster here.

Alright, I will either do a Cleric or Rogue in that case.

Shall I make it a dwarf as well?

All dwarf party might be entertaining :)

A round dwarf wearing a faded blue waistcoat sits in his favorite chair in the Thirsty Alpaca Tavern. He has short, oily hair atop his head and a beard that covers a cherubic face. From a voluminous sleeve he withdraws a loaf of coffee cake. He produces a bread knife from the other. He sighs with contentment and licks his lips before turning towards the bar. "Kruppe will have spiced wine; haste!"

Checking in!

Great!
I've set up a little intro scene under the gameplay tab, so folks can begin to introduce their characters once they're done. Let me know if you have questions or need more time. I hope we can be fully on our way by January 4th, if not before!

As we are getting things in order, please fill out the Google Slides here; there are 3 pages total, and they cover topics like your character info, macros for your characters, and marching order. Since most of you have played with Doug Hahn before, who I have stolen borrowed these slides from, it should be pretty self-explanatory but please let me know if you have questions. I know several of you are 1-2 star GMs so please distribute extra hero points as you would like.

Filled out the slide; glyph Hero points noted as well but the players will need to add the token when they fill it in too.

I could do all-dwarves

I think I'll do a rogue of some sort, if that's ok with you all.

Deciding tonight.

Sounds good to me. If BretI plays a cleric then we have all 4 classes covered.

I am also okay going with another class as long as someone has medicine trained so we can heal after combat. What could go wrong.

I’ve got Medicine due to being a Fighter with Warrior background but no Healer’s Kit, so... still need a cleric to have a Healer’s Kit.

I will do whichever Silbeg doesn't take, Rogue or Cleric.

If it is a cleric, I'm thinking Forge Dwarf Cleric, might make them worship Sarenrae rather than Torag. Will have to think about that a little bit.

If it is a rogue, Rock Dwarf Rogue with Farmhand background.

In either case, I should be able to put them together tomorrow.

Kruppe also has leftover gold and can buy extra kits. I believe we can spend the remainder gold.

I will for sure build a dwarven rogue.

Kruppe also has leftover gold and can buy extra kits. I believe we can spend the remainder gold.

My. Wizards do have extra gold to work with. :)

And we cannot buy any healing potions.

I will be playing Dethor Ironfist, a death warden dwarf with a criminal background and an interest in picking locks. He will be a trap spotter rogue.

Dethor is a bit of a black sheep having run away from Tar Kuata at the young age of forty, looking for adventure. He got caught up in a criminal organization in Sothis, and continued to follow a path of rebellion.

Kruppe, if you have money, a fee replacement picks would be nice. Please?

Kruppe, if you have money, a fee replacement picks would be nice. Please?

Sure; added 3 picks to Kruppe's inventory so I remember to give them to your character later.

It is still a WiP so let me know if you see something wrong or worthy of improvement. I added all the spells by hand because the BB does tags a bit differently.

The Warrior Background has Assurance description rather than Intimidating Glare description.

---

Working on my dwarf now.

Going with a Cleric of Desna with Deckhand background. At least one of us should know how to deal with a ship!

Great, I'm glad to see things are coming together!

One quick question on Beginner Box character creation.

My background as Deckhand gives Acrobatics as the skill. As a Cleric of Desna, I also am given Acrobatics as a skill.

Does Beginner Box allow for choosing a different skill? It has specific text for the normal cases where background and class conflict.

That’s a good question. I’ve checked the Heroes Handbook, and I couldn’t find any mention of that type of situation. I checked the forums too and didn’t find anything. I’ll ask around and see if anyone else has run into that.

I looked in the Hero’s Handbook myself, and see nothing about doubled-up skills. I think it’s designed to avoid these cases but it looks like you found one :)

I asked on the VO Beginner Box Discord too and haven’t gotten an answer yet.

generally speaking, they have replacements, but not on this one evidently.

Who could gave predicted a sailor cleric of Desna!?

Evidently I will have crafting (something all good dwarves should have!)

I am hoping I can afford a repair kit

Kruppe has about 5 gp leftover and can purchase one.

Evidently I will have crafting (something all good dwarves should have!)

I am hoping I can afford a repair kit

Answer: it will eat up all of his remaining money, so I will probably pass... not that good at it, anyway.

Warrior's come with a Repair Kit, so I've got one.

Ok, to be sure, Dethor's lived a hard life, mostly of his own choosing, but he is definitely going to be a bit rough around the edges. Please let me know if he is getting too grating on you all.

Thanks.

Google Slides mobile and I have an ongoing battle of wits and Google Slides is winning. I'll fill out the slides as soon as I can sit at a computer. Apologies for forgetting over the weekend.