The Future of Pathfinder Society Organized Play, Part XIV: Loyalty to the Decemvirate Above All Else

Monday, June 20, 2011

Regardless of a Pathfinder's nation of origin, all members of the Society consider the Grand Lodge in Absalom a second home. It is in this vast complex of sprawling towers, libraries, and reliquaries that so many Pathfinders receive their training, and within the Grand Lodge's walls, the masked leaders of the Society secretly guide the organization from their chambers at the peak of Skyreach's central tower. While many Pathfinders find their loyalty to the Society but one of several alliances to outside political or religious factions, most Pathfinders hold the strongest allegiance to the will of the Ten and the Pathfinder Society itself. Those who do not taint their dedication with distractions from other superiors are the pride of the Grand Lodge, and are rewarded for always putting the orders of the Decemvirate before their own personal wants and desires.

Since very early in the Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign's history, folks have asked not to belong to a faction, wanting to play a Pathfinder first and foremost. Because of the nature of Prestige Points and the prominence of faction missions as an integral part of Pathfinder Society Scenarios, doing so hasn't been possible to date. But with the advent of five new factions, we saw the opportunity to give these dedicated Pathfinder agents what they were looking for—a way to play a blue-blooded Pathfinder within the faction system. And thus, the Grand Lodge faction was born.

Headed by the Grand Lodge's chamberlain and steward, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin, the Grand Lodge faction rewards Pathfinders who put the interests of the Decemvirate and the Pathfinder Society above all else. Members of this faction will still get a distinct faction mission each scenario, but their tasks will often coincide with the overall adventure objective or otherwise serve to promote loyalty to the Decemvirate and the well-being of the Pathfinder Society as a whole.

In the upcoming Pathfinder Society Field Guide, each faction will receive a full-page write-up including a headshot of the faction head, an overview of the typical member of the group, and a hint at how those loyal to the cause increase their Fame score within their faction. In addition to this flavorful background, each faction will feature a handful of new boons that may be unlocked with Fame and purchased with Prestige Points, available only to members of that faction. Check out the following boon available to Grand Lodge Pathfinders who attain a Fame score of at least 20 and spend 2 Prestige Points:

Aspis Hunter (Fame 20, 2 PP) You gain special training in foiling the efforts of the Society's largest external enemy, the Aspis Consortium. You gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls and on weapon damage rolls against Aspis agents who wear clearly visible insignia showing their affiliation and rank.

One new faction down, and only three months after we first announced the number of factions would be doubling next season. From here out, it's all new factions, all the time until just before Gen Con, so stay tuned to this spot each week for a glimpse at the next one. In one week's time, I'll give the first glimpse at the Lantern Lodge, the Tian-aligned faction within the Pathfinder Society.

Mark Moreland
Developer

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Tags: Factions Grand Lodge Pathfinder Society
The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Aspis Hunter (Fame 20, 2 PP) You gain special training in foiling the efforts of the Society's largest external enemy, the Aspis Consortium. You gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls and on weapon damage rolls against Aspis agents who wear clearly visible insignia showing their affiliation and rank.

Maybe all Aspis Consortium agents receive distinctive combat training, which the Society allows only its most trusted field agents to learn and exploit. (After all, if Valsin told everybody in the Society, he'd be teling the Consortium double agents.) Othrwise, it seems odd to me to have training that works against a human rogue who's an Aspis agent, but not against his twin brother who's dressed as an Aspis agent.

And I assume that the bonus is in effect if you know somebody's an agent, even if she strips off the identifying insignia. (Most Aspis agents don't wear clearly-visible identifying insignia in the first place, do they?)

Paizo Employee Creative Director

Chris Mortika wrote:

Aspis Hunter (Fame 20, 2 PP) You gain special training in foiling the efforts of the Society's largest external enemy, the Aspis Consortium. You gain a +1 bonus on attack rolls and on weapon damage rolls against Aspis agents who wear clearly visible insignia showing their affiliation and rank.

Maybe all Aspis Consortium agents receive distinctive combat training, which the Society allows only its most trusted field agents to learn and exploit. (After all, if Valsin told everybody in the Society, he'd be teling the Consortium double agents.) Othrwise, it seems odd to me to have training that works against a human rogue who's an Aspis agent, but not against his twin brother who's dressed as an Aspis agent.

And I assume that the bonus is in effect if you know somebody's an agent, even if she strips off the identifying insignia. (Most Aspis agents don't wear clearly-visible identifying insignia in the first place, do they?)

For home games, it's up to the GM, honestly. For Pathfinder Society games, you can assume that any NPC agent of the Aspis Consortium you fight will qualify for this extra damage (and is wearing his colors with pride) unless the adventure specifically says that they're in disguise. Once the PCs know that the dude's working for the Aspis Consortium, though, they should get the bonus anyway. It's not like such a specific +1 bonus on attack and damage is gonna break games.

Dark Archive 1/5

Mark Moreland in the Blog wrote:
Since very early in the Pathfinder Society Organized Play campaign's history, folks have asked not to belong to a faction, wanting to play a Pathfinder first and foremost...

Finally!! A faction so plain Jane that Pathfinders even less imaginative than Andorans have a place to congregate !

Their Faction shirt should have the slogan "I Fail Will Saves" on the back. Hey Mark there's an idea, slogans on the back of Factions shirts.

Can Cheliax's slogan be: "No need to cower and prostrate, Metania will suffice."

The Exchange 2/5

So is the new "none" option in the PFS character registration section really the Grand Lodge faction or is that something else?

Grand Lodge 5/5

baron arem heshvaun wrote:

Finally!! A faction so plain Jane that Pathfinders even less imaginative than Andorans have a place to congregate !

Their Faction shirt should have the slogan "I Fail Will Saves" on the back. Hey Mark there's an idea, slogans on the back of Factions shirts.

Can Cheliax's slogan be: "No need to cower and prostrate, Metania will suffice."

*Cheliax faction on this character as a placeholder until Grand Lodge becomes a legal choice for a faction*

Your dissention has been noted and will be reported to the Decemvirate. Have a nice day.

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

baron arem heshvaun wrote:
Finally!! A faction so plain Jane that Pathfinders even less imaginative than Andorans have a place to congregate! Their Faction shirt should have the slogan "I Fail Will Saves" on the back.

Um, hi, arem.

This seems to be needlessly provocative. There are people who are just as imaginative as the next fellow, but aren't interested in internescene secret wars.

--+--

With this, we have our first faction where the faction leader is also a member of the Pathfinder Society himself/ herself. Or is that the case?

I've always understood folks like the Paracountess and Baron Jacquo to be outsiders, agents of their governments, using the Pathfinder PCs to further their goals. I never imagined that they were Pathfinders themselves. (I certainly can't imagine the paracountess going on random item-grubbing missions.) But a recent scenario suggests otherwise.

What has been your take, folks? Have you understood that the faction leaders have been "loyal" to the Pathfinder Society, under the yoke of the Decembrivate and Venture Captains?

Sczarni 4/5

Chris Mortika wrote:
baron arem heshvaun wrote:
Finally!! A faction so plain Jane that Pathfinders even less imaginative than Andorans have a place to congregate! Their Faction shirt should have the slogan "I Fail Will Saves" on the back.

Um, hi, arem.

This seems to be needlessly provocative. There are people who are just as imaginative as the next fellow, but aren't interested in internescene secret wars.

--+--

With this, we have our first faction where the faction leader is also a member of the Pathfinder Society himself/ herself. Or is that the case?

I've always understood folks like the Paracountess and Baron Jacquo to be outsiders, agents of their governments, using the Pathfinder PCs to further their goals. I never imagined that they were Pathfinders themselves. (I certainly can't imagine the paracountess going on random item-grubbing missions.) But a recent scenario suggests otherwise.

What has been your take, folks? Have you understood that the faction leaders have been "loyal" to the Pathfinder Society, under the yoke of the Decembrivate and Venture Captains?

As I've understood it, the faction leaders are those highest in the pathfinders who are trying to gain extra prestige in their own countries. They may be spies, they may be double agents, but they are still high ranking pathfinders that were either appointed or approached by their governments (in the original 5 faction cases) to look out for their interests when a pathfinder mission might bring an asset close to a target.

Actually.... I think of them as CIA agents, and the PCS as their assets.

Paizo Employee Director of Brand Strategy

The original 5 faction heads were not members of the Pathfinder Society, nor are the changing to be so, but we are playing up their alliance with the Society from here on in. Several of the new faction heads are either members of the Society or former members, and all of the ten heads are considered friends of the organization. After all, it's in the Society's best interest to have allies within the governments of the most powerful Inner Sea nations and other influential world organizations.

The Exchange 5/5 RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16

Mark Moreland wrote:
The original 5 faction heads were not members of the Pathfinder Society.

Okay, then, Mark, I have a question. It involves a Season 2 adventure.

Spoiler:
In Heresy of Man part 3, the Sapphire Sage is said to have betrayed the Pathfinder Society. He's described as a turncoat for allying with the Shadow Lodge. How so, if nobody could expect him to be loyal to the Decembrivate in the first place? (Indeed, if the government of Osirion is hoping to use the Pathfinder Society to exert influence over Absalom, having a pro-active force, such as the Shadow Lodge, empowered in the Society makes good sense. If you want to use the Society as muscle, it's better to have people in charge wiling to flex that muscle.)

Liberty's Edge 5/5

Chris Mortika wrote:
Mark Moreland wrote:
The original 5 faction heads were not members of the Pathfinder Society.

Okay, then, Mark, I have a question. It involves a Season 2 adventure.

** spoiler omitted **

Mark's answer is clear in his post. The faction heads are allied with the Society. As such, allies are usually considered to be loyal right?

Grand Lodge 2/5

Love the logo by the way!

1/5

Chris Mortika wrote:

Um, hi, arem.

This seems to be needlessly provocative. There are people who are just as imaginative as the next fellow, but aren't interested in internescene secret wars.

Hi Chris, as a fan of your DMing and at times "food bringer to you at Cons", I think the good baron was just speaking "in character."

Carry on.

RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32

Mark Moreland wrote:
... of the most powerful Inner Sea nations and other influential world organizations.

Hmmmm ...

Very interresting.

Scarab Sages 4/5 5/55/55/5 **** Venture-Captain, Australia—NSW—Greater West

teribithia9 wrote:
So is the new "none" option in the PFS character registration section really the Grand Lodge faction or is that something else?

It may also have to do with the First Steps scenerios coming out in July. My understanding is that they are an introduction to the factions and therefore you would not have to choose your faction until you have played all three and are second level.

Sczarni 1/5

Have the Rules been released so you can change Faction's?

The Exchange 5/5

chris szymanski wrote:

Have the Rules been released so you can change Faction's?

The new factions will be fully revealed shortly before GenCon when the new Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play gets released. The Guide will probably explain the procedure for changing your faction. So enjoy the teasers and hope that August hurrys up, else freeze yourself a-la Eric Cartman ;)


I have my reservations about this faction..mainly because it would be in the Decemvirates interest to screw up the other factions.Can we have assurances that the faction missions for this will not be designed to ruin those of other players?

Liberty's Edge 5/5

DM Wellard wrote:
I have my reservations about this faction..mainly because it would be in the Decemvirates interest to screw up the other factions.Can we have assurances that the faction missions for this will not be designed to ruin those of other players?

Why are some guys so determined to be worried that these new factions are going to be geared towards screwing over the old factions? There is no PvP, and the powers that be are determined (for good reasons) to keep it that way. Why do you need some official assurance? Just trust that things are going to work out.

Sovereign Court 5/5

Andrew Christian wrote:


Why are some guys so determined to be worried that these new factions are going to be geared towards screwing over the old factions? There is no PvP, and the powers that be are determined (for good reasons) to keep it that way. Why do you need some official assurance? Just trust that things are going to work out.

+1

The Exchange 2/5

sanwah68 wrote:
teribithia9 wrote:
So is the new "none" option in the PFS character registration section really the Grand Lodge faction or is that something else?
It may also have to do with the First Steps scenerios coming out in July. My understanding is that they are an introduction to the factions and therefore you would not have to choose your faction until you have played all three and are second level.

That would make sense!

Sovereign Court 1/5

I have one PbP player is going to absolutely love this option! His cavalier is already dedicated to serving the Decemvirate.

In fact, I have a PC or two of my own who may switch to the Grand Lodge when the option becomes available...

The Exchange 5/5

Removed my reply, admins are on top of it.

Grand Lodge 5/5

Todd Lower wrote:
Andrew Christian wrote:


Why are some guys so determined to be worried that these new factions are going to be geared towards screwing over the old factions? There is no PvP, and the powers that be are determined (for good reasons) to keep it that way. Why do you need some official assurance? Just trust that things are going to work out.
+1

The way I read the initial post is that the Grand Lodge missions are usually going to tie in with the primary missions of the mod so I doubt they'd be actively interfering with the other factions.

Now, I need to ask my fellow Qadirians...how much will you bribe me for Calladavar, bard and spice merchant extraordinaire not to leave for a faction that might be a bit less antignomist!

(mwhahaha must profit in a truly Qadiran manner :P)

1/5

Aww, man! what if one was about to make a wizard or similar caster with damage dealing spells! Why oh why don't they have this damage bonus on their spells as well? This is discrimination!

(not that it concerns my characters, to be honest, I prefer melee combat, or sometimes ranged weaponry, anyway =P)

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Orin Blakros wrote:
baron arem heshvaun wrote:

Finally!! A faction so plain Jane that Pathfinders even less imaginative than Andorans have a place to congregate !

Their Faction shirt should have the slogan "I Fail Will Saves" on the back. Hey Mark there's an idea, slogans on the back of Factions shirts.

Can Cheliax's slogan be: "No need to cower and prostrate, Metania will suffice."

*Cheliax faction on this character as a placeholder until Grand Lodge becomes a legal choice for a faction*

Your dissention has been noted and will be reported to the Decemvirate. Have a nice day.

I assume you're not actually playing the character yet. Faction changes are not an option.

5/5

LazarX wrote:
Orin Blakros wrote:
baron arem heshvaun wrote:

Finally!! A faction so plain Jane that Pathfinders even less imaginative than Andorans have a place to congregate !

Their Faction shirt should have the slogan "I Fail Will Saves" on the back. Hey Mark there's an idea, slogans on the back of Factions shirts.

Can Cheliax's slogan be: "No need to cower and prostrate, Metania will suffice."

*Cheliax faction on this character as a placeholder until Grand Lodge becomes a legal choice for a faction*

Your dissention has been noted and will be reported to the Decemvirate. Have a nice day.

I assume you're not actually playing the character yet. Faction changes are not an option.

As mentioned upthread, changing your faction is going to be an option in season 3 with the advent of the new 5 options.

The Exchange 4/5

Michael Meunier wrote:

Now, I need to ask my fellow Qadirians...how much will you bribe me for Calladavar, bard and spice merchant extraordinaire not to leave for a faction that might be a bit less antignomist!

(mwhahaha must profit in a truly Qadiran manner :P)

If you need to extort Qadira to pay for someone who wants to willingly go to a money-losing venture group, then Qadira is more than willing to divest itself of you and your failings - HHHHHHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

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