Want More Adventure Card Game? We've Got That.

Remember, Lini will be in Skull and Shackles too. So while she won't be sanctioned for Organized Play, you will have two Linis to choose from for either re-playing RotR or playing S&S.

What do we actually know of repeated characters? I know it's three in the base set and one more in the character add-on. I thought I'd seen Valeros, but that might have been in talks about the class decks. You obviously have evidence for Lini. Ezren? Merisiel? Are there are a core four iconics, or have I imagined that?

The blog announcement for skulls and shackles said the fighter, rogue and bard would be returning (Valeros, Merisiel, Lem). Lini is on the cover of the character add-on deck

The returning ones are Lem, Valeros, Merisiel, and Lini.

New character classes: We're bringing seven new character classes from the Pathfinder RPG to the Pathfinder ACG. The Oracle, Gunslinger, Magus, and Swashbuckler will debut in the Skull & Shackles Base Set, along with the returning Bard, Fighter, and Rogue. The Skull & Shackles Character Add-On Deck will introduce the Alchemist, Witch, and Warpriest, along with the Druid. (Not familiar with the Swashbuckler or the Warpriest? They appear in the upcoming Pathfinder RPG Advanced Class Guide—check tomorrow's Paizo blog for more on that!)

We also know they won't be exactly the same.

First off, I wanted to say that demoing S&S at Origins was a delight. I love the new skill focused encounters, the new elements and new classes. I got a chance to play with the gunslinger. Lirianne had some great art and was fun to play. I'm very much looking forward to OP and S&S in general.

Secondly, it was awesome to meet Tanis O'Connor in person and she even demo'ed the game for us. It was obvious that she and everyone working at the Paizo booth loved what they are doing.

I got the opportunity to help out and even teach some brand new players how to play which was very cool. They seemed really excited to learn and looked forward to purchasing their own game.

I'm looking forward to the OP guilds and look forward to running some of the events.

Thanks again and I wish everyone lots of luck waiting for the great new products.

I also did the Skull & Shackles demo at Origins and it was a lot of fun. Thanks for the opportunity to see some of the new cards. I've been playing Kyra for so long that it was fun to try out Valeros. It was actually a bit strange to play a character with no advancement again, I'm so used to having a bunch of extra stuff chosen.

I believe it was Tanis who also ran our demo as well.

Now the wait for Gen Con!

I got to check out the demo at Origins as well, and I did a short interview with Tanis about the upcoming Card Guild which I'll be posting on the PACG Facebook page in the next day or so. I'll link to it here when I post that. :)

Zoltán Mészáros wrote:

I have only a single concern left : that I may end up with too many basic cards in the boon decks if I use multiple class decks. That could be a problem when reaching AP3 and above.

We'll have to look at that math at some point.

I do not believe this will be an issue. I included very few unnecessary Basic cards in the Class Decks, for a variety of reasons including the scenario Zoltán proposes.

I apologize if this has been asked already, but I have two (complex) questions...

1. Presumably the Class Decks will be first available at GenCon. I was hesitant to sign up for a Thursday morning (10 am) Guild session, because I feared that I would not be able to get a hold of a Class Deck before that time (I think the exhibition hall is open at 9 or 10 am). The events also said that materials would be provided, which seemed half-true (everything but your class deck, right?). So in that case, if the Class Decks are not available at time of play, how can the organized play go through?

2. If I was interested in these Class Decks and wanted to make sure I had a copy at GenCon (fearing a sell out of all or any), could I order them and then make sure they are sent to GenCon with the rest of my sub (S&S base set and S&S character add-on deck)? How would that work?

1. If you've signed up for 4 sessions you can get a free deck. Based on this comment, it seems that those getting a free deck will not need the dealer hall to be open to pick up the free deck. And yes, everything except the class decks will be provided.

2. You can't reserve them like you can your subscription. But you can buy them at GenCon and still receive your subscriber discount.

2. You can't reserve them like you can your subscription. But you can buy them at GenCon and still receive your subscriber discount.

Would it be possible to order them, add them to my sidecart for when I get my next shipment (which is GenCon) and have them shipped to GenCon for me to pick up like my subscription? That sounds doable in theory, right?

Hawkmoon269 wrote:

2. You can't reserve them like you can your subscription. But you can buy them at GenCon and still receive your subscriber discount.

Would it be possible to order them, add them to my sidecart for when I get my next shipment (which is GenCon) and have them shipped to GenCon for me to pick up like my subscription? That sounds doable in theory, right?

They won't reserve items to meet people's order, other than the subscriptions. It's due to limitations on the mount of stuff they are going to ship half the continent to Indianopolis. Although they'll have lots of class decks with them, they're unlikely to have that random, ten year old mini that you put in to your side cart. Defining where the line between those things is really hard, so it's easiest to define it on the subscription/non subscription line

Casey Weston wrote:

Hawkmoon269 wrote:

2. You can't reserve them like you can your subscription. But you can buy them at GenCon and still receive your subscriber discount.

Would it be possible to order them, add them to my sidecart for when I get my next shipment (which is GenCon) and have them shipped to GenCon for me to pick up like my subscription? That sounds doable in theory, right?

They won't reserve items to meet people's order, other than the subscriptions. It's due to limitations on the mount of stuff they are going to ship half the continent to Indianopolis. Although they'll have lots of class decks with them, they're unlikely to have that random, ten year old mini that you put in to your side cart. Defining where the line between those things is really hard, so it's easiest to define it on the subscription/non subscription line

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Paizo really needs to make a new designation of item between one-off and subscription. Something like not-subscription, but related or "Subscription optional". Because I think these decks are entirely relevant to the sub, but I can see where 7 $20 decks released at the same time is unacceptable in the sub-proper.

Now I have to rush and bee-line straight for the paizo booth rather than casually pick up my stuff when there isn't a mob.

I apologize if this has been asked already, but I have two (complex) questions...

1. Presumably the Class Decks will be first available at GenCon. I was hesitant to sign up for a Thursday morning (10 am) Guild session, because I feared that I would not be able to get a hold of a Class Deck before that time (I think the exhibition hall is open at 9 or 10 am). The events also said that materials would be provided, which seemed half-true (everything but your class deck, right?). So in that case, if the Class Decks are not available at time of play, how can the organized play go through?

As Hawkmoon said, those who have 4+ tickets for the org play events will be able to pick up their free Class Deck in room 232 at game start. (I was quite concerned about this very issue -- when I started playing Living Greyhawk many Gen Cons ago, I ended up playing a full day of adventures before I could get a copy of the rulebook. Not ideal.)

As for the intricacies of the Paizo store, I am glad someone else has answered your question, for I am ignorant of its mysterious ways.

Casey Weston wrote:

I apologize if this has been asked already, but I have two (complex) questions...

1. Presumably the Class Decks will be first available at GenCon. I was hesitant to sign up for a Thursday morning (10 am) Guild session, because I feared that I would not be able to get a hold of a Class Deck before that time (I think the exhibition hall is open at 9 or 10 am). The events also said that materials would be provided, which seemed half-true (everything but your class deck, right?). So in that case, if the Class Decks are not available at time of play, how can the organized play go through?

As Hawkmoon said, those who have 4+ tickets for the org play events will be able to pick up their free Class Deck in room 232 at game start. (I was quite concerned about this very issue -- when I started playing Living Greyhawk many Gen Cons ago, I ended up playing a full day of adventures before I could get a copy of the rulebook. Not ideal.)

As for the intricacies of the Paizo store, I am glad someone else has answered your question, for I am ignorant of its mysterious ways.

The problem was the remaining event times. One of them on Thursday at 10 am......with 3 tickets remaining....like you said, not ideal :).

To avoid confusion, when you say those who ordered 4+ tickets for the event get to pick up a free Class Deck, what you mean is that all 4+ players will each get a Class Deck of their choice?

I was hesitant to sign up for a Thursday morning (10 am) Guild session, because I feared that I would not be able to get a hold of a Class Deck before that time (I think the exhibition hall is open at 9 or 10 am). The events also said that materials would be provided, which seemed half-true (everything but your class deck, right?). So in that case, if the Class Decks are not available at time of play, how can the organized play go through?

Casey, I saw this and want to point something out to you - if you are not registered for 4 sessions, you may want to rethink your time slot. The exhibit hall opens at 10, and usually Paizo has a mega line, so you could be in line for quite a while. Depending on your dealer hall-fu you might be looking at anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple hours.

As pointed out, people who registered for 4+ sessions can pick up their free class deck early Thursday so they can play at 8 or 10 just fine. Everyone else basically will have to wait until noon so as to have a chance to buy the decks.

I guess people with early exhibit hall access could theoretically get in on 10 as well.

Casey Weston wrote:

I was hesitant to sign up for a Thursday morning (10 am) Guild session, because I feared that I would not be able to get a hold of a Class Deck before that time (I think the exhibition hall is open at 9 or 10 am). The events also said that materials would be provided, which seemed half-true (everything but your class deck, right?). So in that case, if the Class Decks are not available at time of play, how can the organized play go through?

Casey, I saw this and want to point something out to you - if you are not registered for 4 sessions, you may want to rethink your time slot. The exhibit hall opens at 10, and usually Paizo has a mega line, so you could be in line for quite a while. Depending on your dealer hall-fu you might be looking at anywhere from 20 minutes to a couple hours.

As pointed out, people who registered for 4+ sessions can pick up their free class deck early Thursday so they can play at 8 or 10 just fine. Everyone else basically will have to wait until noon so as to have a chance to buy the decks.

I guess people with early exhibit hall access could theoretically get in on 10 as well.

Ahh, yes. I forgot about the VIGs.

Anyway, don't worry I passed on Thursday morning for that very reason. I opted for Friday morning (the only 2 reasonable tickets left) and my mission on Thursday is to get the Class Decks I want for me and my wife, preferably all of them :). The only other available times were Sunday and that's pretty much a pack up and leave day.

To avoid confusion, when you say those who ordered 4+ tickets for the event get to pick up a free Class Deck, what you mean is that all 4+ players will each get a Class Deck of their choice?

While supplies last, yes. We are not bringing our Bag O' Infinite Class-Deck Holding to the show. Now I wish we had one of those.

I believe that room will open not too long before the first slot.

Ahh, yes. I forgot about the VIGs.

Anyway, don't worry I passed on Thursday morning for that very reason. I opted for Friday morning (the only 2 reasonable tickets left) and my mission on Thursday is to get the Class Decks I want for me and my wife, preferably all of them :). The only other available times were Sunday and that's pretty much a pack up and leave day.

Cool. I just didn't want you to get there and be frustrated. My Thursday mission is also to pick up everything so we have it for our slot on Friday.

Casey Weston wrote:

To avoid confusion, when you say those who ordered 4+ tickets for the event get to pick up a free Class Deck, what you mean is that all 4+ players will each get a Class Deck of their choice?

While supplies last, yes. We are not bringing our Bag O' Infinite Class-Deck Holding to the show. Now I wish we had one of those.

I believe that room will open not too long before the first slot.

Logistics follow-up: I'm in the 8am slot. From what you just said, I'm thinking that room is going to be filled with people from all the other slots also trying to get their free class decks (since the dealer hall isn't open yet) at that time.

Or is the deck pickup going to be limited to people in the current slot?

My concern is spending playing time waiting on a line full of people from other slots to pick up their decks. (And from a customer service point of view, Paizo may find that there are no Fighter [or whatever] decks left by the time the second slot rolls around.)

One of the reasons I didn't schedule any Thur morning slots is 1) How can you miss the opening of the Exhibit Hall?!? I mean really, it is one of the best parts of GenCon. 2) Last year I went directly to Paizo booth and did not pass Go.

I am bringing my (canvas) Paizo bag-o-holding with me this year plus one of those nifty purple Paizo bags to help me hold my SHTUFF!

My only question is that I do have 4+ tickets. I am planning on picking up all the class decks at GenCon. I was planning on buying all but one deck initially and then getting my freebie at my first event. Should we be worried that the one we want wouldn't be available at the event?

Question: If one was to exclusively do OP do they have any actual reason to buy the base sets? Or would they want to only buy class decks?

Basically I have a friend who would only ever play the standard game when he's in town to visit me.

Question: If one was to exclusively do OP do they have any actual reason to buy the base sets? Or would they want to only buy class decks?

Basically I have a friend who would only ever play the standard game when he's in town to visit me.

They would only need the class deck. (Assuming someone else has the relevant base set.) That is one of the major benefits of the Organized Play program. 6 different people can play. 1 of them needs a base set, and all 6 of them need a class deck. The organizers at the store or where ever you are playing will hopefully take care of the base sets. (And of course you could volunteer to help with that aspect if you get Skull & Shackles.)

My only question is that I do have 4+ tickets. I am planning on picking up all the class decks at GenCon. I was planning on buying all but one deck initially and then getting my freebie at my first event. Should we be worried that the one we want wouldn't be available at the event?

We'll have a lot. It's possible that if everybody who pick up a deck chooses the same one, we'll run out of that one—but I think it's unlikely to be a problem.

Vic, you know just what to say to make we not worry about missing the first day and getting to GenCon on Friday. Thanks!