End the Year on a High[-Level] Note!

Absolutley Awesome. Thanks again John. Will start scheduling for early in the new year.

Sweet!

Thank you John. Can't wait to check out the chronicle and schedule the module.

Woot There it is!

Now that is a damn fine chronicle.

Awesome!

Now that is a damn fine chronicle.

That would be four fine chronicles.

Few questions John on the Seeker Arc Option:

Edit: Shouldn't this be in the PFS Forums?

Thank you John for finally making this legal for Pathfinder Society play. I have been wanting to run my PFS group through this for a while now.

I'm pretty impressed. I ran this as a home game last year. Now I can run it again for credit!

TriOmegaZero wrote:

Now that is a damn fine chronicle.

That would be four fine chronicles.

Four fine young chronicles.

I also have a question about the Seeker Arc option. If you GM it and apply all the sheets to the same character, do you get the fourth sheet even if your character is too high a level to actually play it via the Seeker Arc option (such as if they'd already played the previous Seeker Arc)? I want to say no, since it doesn't seem like you could get it if you actually played such a character, but the language seems to suggest that you do.

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

Few questions John on the Seeker Arc Option:

** spoiler omitted **

I also have a question about the Seeker Arc option. If you GM it and apply all the sheets to the same character, do you get the fourth sheet even if your character is too high a level to actually play it via the Seeker Arc option (such as if they'd already played the previous Seeker Arc)? I want to say no, since it doesn't seem like you could get it if you actually played such a character, but the language seems to suggest that you do.

The flavor of the option certainly lends itself toward applying credit only to a 12th-level character (or someone of a level appropriate to play using the Seeker Arc option), but there's nothing in the text that prohibits it.

I don't have any problem with it.

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

Who said anything about this being the only seeker arc that would be coming down the pipe?

And our meeting didn't have anything to do with D&D. It had everything to do with what we could do to improve the PFS experience.

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

I think that would be a more fitting response were this module intended to serve as a new Seeker Arc when assigned. As it is, this is a fun adventure in the Seeker level range that lends itself to a special mode of play—not a replacement for any formal Seeker Arc, which would almost certainly take place over the course of several scenarios.

*does happy dance*

All right, lets see about scheduling a runthrough of this in Philly...

Thanks, John and Brock!

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

I see that your jump to conclusions mat is coming along nicely.

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

I'd be extremely surprised if that 50% statistic were correct....

(Of course, it's well documented that 37% of all statistics are simply made up on the spot.)

Thanks guys! The chronicle far exceeded my expectations, John really knocked it out of the park. I really like how flexible you have made it for people to run it, and the extra Seeker Arc option is awesome. It would have been cool to see the

Chronicle sheet question - if you take the first option on chronicle sheet #4, do you not get the other options on the sheet?

Thanks!

Chronicle sheet question - if you take the first option on chronicle sheet #4, do you not get the other options on the sheet?

Thanks!

Yes, the other boons and items are available no matter which option you choose.

Veeerrry very cool. I might even have a hankering to run this now.

As for the second boon on the fourth chronicle, you're still subject to the normal campaign rules of the consequences, correct? Nothing seems to break them but the wording does seem a little bit open.

Couple of spoilery questions about the chronicles:

Demoyn wrote:

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

I'd be extremely surprised if that 50% statistic were correct....

(Of course, it's well documented that 37% of all statistics are simply made up on the spot.)

I wouldn't be surprised at all. When gunslingers came out the boards were split evenly between people that wanted it and people that didn't. The fires flared up again when season 6 was announced. Generally speaking, though, people that can't stand Paizo's current direction have just stopped voicing opinions because everyone realized they were just yelling at two brick walls.

Paizo has decided they're going to do what they want regardless of how the customer base feels. We've all seen this once before, but some people just can't seem to learn from other companies' mistakes.

Veeerrry very cool. I might even have a hankering to run this now.

As for the second boon on the fourth chronicle, you're still subject to the normal campaign rules of the consequences, correct? Nothing seems to break them but the wording does seem a little bit open.

The third boon on the fourth Chronicle sheet, perhaps?

Zak Glade wrote:

Veeerrry very cool. I might even have a hankering to run this now.

As for the second boon on the fourth chronicle, you're still subject to the normal campaign rules of the consequences, correct? Nothing seems to break them but the wording does seem a little bit open.

The third boon on the fourth Chronicle sheet, perhaps?

** spoiler omitted **

Yess, that's what I meant, thanks. Heh. Pretty much what I figured, but still very flavorful. You've outdone yourself, the amount of choice available on these is stupendous.

Dragnmoon wrote:

Few questions John on the Seeker Arc Option:

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

Jeff Merola wrote:

I also have a question about the Seeker Arc option. If you GM it and apply all the sheets to the same character, do you get the fourth sheet even if your character is too high a level to actually play it via the Seeker Arc option (such as if they'd already played the previous Seeker Arc)? I want to say no, since it doesn't seem like you could get it if you actually played such a character, but the language seems to suggest that you do.

The flavor of the option certainly lends itself toward applying credit only to a 12th-level character (or someone of a level appropriate to play using the Seeker Arc option), but there's nothing in the text that prohibits it.

** spoiler omitted **

I don't have any problem with it.

One final clarification question:

If you play this in Seeker Mode, is it intended that the level 12 character play it as level 12 from start to finish? Or as you assign the chronicles you level up as normal for receiving a chronicle?

If you're doing this after Eyes of Ten, you're starting at 13.2 and you take the exp as you would normally. After you take the fourth chronicle you're either 15.2 or 16.2 depending n the choices you make.

One final clarification question:

If you play this in Seeker Mode, is it intended that the level 12 character play it as level 12 from start to finish? Or as you assign the chronicles you level up as normal for receiving a chronicle?

I read this part:

As meaning you gain chronicles as you complete a section and apply them as normal.

I agree Dragnmoon, but later comments seemed to make that seem not to be true.

Thanks Mr. Compton for your time and effort, these chronicles look awesome.

Paizo has decided they're going to do what they want regardless of how the customer base feels. We've all seen this once before, but some people just can't seem to learn from other companies' mistakes.

You're welcome to volunteer and join the conversations on the VO board about how to serve our customers best.

I am curious as to why items are offered on chronicles that are generally available without a chronicle to an average PFS character?

+2 weapons require 27 fame, the maximum fame for an 11.0 character is 60, with 57 being typical. One that levelled exclusively through modules would max out at 40 with 40 being typical.

Unique items are nice, but a discount on the price (one time only, bought on the chronicle where offered) for "mundane" magic items would be better. Price equals minimum fame required/current fame*100% of book price. Note that the item could be sold for a profit when minimum is less than half current fame, which makes sense given that Celebrity Hero Once Held This Item.

For the truly incompetent Pathfinder, they can still get it at listed value.

I am curious as to why items are offered on chronicles that are generally available without a chronicle to an average PFS character?

I'd recommend re-reading the "Gemstone Bounty" boon on the 4th chronicle sheet. That right there makes for a really good reason to list even mundane items :)

I am curious as to why items are offered on chronicles that are generally available without a chronicle to an average PFS character?

+2 weapons require 27 fame, the maximum fame for an 11.0 character is 60, with 57 being typical. One that levelled exclusively through modules would max out at 40 with 40 being typical.

The expectation is actually 4.5 fame per level, so a level 11.0 character should "typically" have 45 fame. 57 is a sign of either exceptionally successful Pathfinders or exceptionally generous GMs.

That doesn't answer your question though. It's longstanding practice that all magical items that appear in an adventure appear on the Chronicle sheet for that adventure. You are right that at this character level most non-unique items are going to be available for purchase. But in subtler 1-2 there are definitely useful items on the sheet. Sometimes in 3-4 or 4-5. I know of at least one chronicle where a 7th level character could get access to a +4 equivalent weapon. Rather than asking developers to make a judgement call on each item ("could we reasonably assume that every character at this level would have more fame than this item requires?") it's far easier to add all the magical items to the chronicle.

Adventures in the Modules line were not written for Pathfinder Society. In recent seasons the Developers (mainly John) have made a real effort to put items on PFS scenario chronicles that you couldn't get elsewhere; partially charged wands, unique items, variants of existing items. There are several threads where this is discussed.

If you're doing this after Eyes of Ten, you're starting at 13.2 and you take the exp as you would normally. After you take the fourth chronicle you're either 15.2 or 16.2 depending n the choices you make.

Actually, in order to play this in the Seeker Arc mode, you have to start playing at level twelve, from 33-35.5 xp, making someone unable to play through both Eyes and Wardens. The person GM'ing Wardens has the option to apply chronicles to a character that has credit from Eyes, though.

EDIT: And depending on the choices the GM makes, if they apply all four chronicles to one of their characters that have played/run Eyes with they would end at either 16.2 or 17.2.

EricMcG wrote:

I am curious as to why items are offered on chronicles that are generally available without a chronicle to an average PFS character?

+2 weapons require 27 fame, the maximum fame for an 11.0 character is 60, with 57 being typical. One that levelled exclusively through modules would max out at 40 with 40 being typical.

The expectation is actually 4.5 fame per level, so a level 11.0 character should "typically" have 45 fame. 57 is a sign of either exceptionally successful Pathfinders or exceptionally generous GMs.

That doesn't answer your question though. It's longstanding practice that all magical items that appear in an adventure appear on the Chronicle sheet for that adventure. You are right that at this character level most non-unique items are going to be available for purchase. But in subtler 1-2 there are definitely useful items on the sheet. Sometimes in 3-4 or 4-5. I know of at least one chronicle where a 7th level character could get access to a +4 equivalent weapon. Rather than asking developers to make a judgement call on each item ("could we reasonably assume that every character at this level would have more fame than this item requires?") it's far easier to add all the magical items to the chronicle.

Adventures in the Modules line were not written for Pathfinder Society. In recent seasons the Developers (mainly John) have made a real effort to put items on PFS scenario chronicles that you couldn't get elsewhere; partially charged wands, unique items, variants of existing items. There are several threads where this is discussed.

To add to that, I have a rough metric for higher level modules and Adventure Paths that assumes the PCs have earned at least 1.5-2.0 Fame per level--this largely in response to concerns like yours that items on Chronicle sheets are alway accessible to those that earn them. I realize this still assumes a Pathfinder has done rather poorly in his career, but it does help in cutting out particularly inexpensive from the Chronicle sheets (like potions of cure serious wounds on Tier 7-11 sheets).

The more I experiment with item subsidizing boons, the more interesting I hope the items on Chronicle sheets become--even beyond the push over the past two years to include unique and high-wealth-threshold gear on a regular basis.

Ow, this is AWESOME!

rknop wrote:

Demoyn wrote:

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

I'd be extremely surprised if that 50% statistic were correct....

(Of course, it's well documented that 37% of all statistics are simply made up on the spot.)

I wouldn't be surprised at all. When gunslingers came out the boards were split evenly between people that wanted it and people that didn't. The fires flared up again when season 6 was announced. Generally speaking, though, people that can't stand Paizo's current direction have just stopped voicing opinions because everyone realized they were just yelling at two brick walls.

Paizo has decided they're going to do what they want regardless of how the customer base feels. We've all seen this once before, but some people just can't seem to learn from other companies' mistakes.

It's been my experience that Paizo pays a lot of attention to their fan base; they actively solicit reviews on scenarios and products, read the messageboards and respond to posters. They adapt policy based on feedback from both players and VOs.

I think you're being a bit unrealistic in your expectations. It's not a good idea for Paizo to avoid any subject that a bunch of people dislike.* Because you dislike guns and tech, someone else doesn't want any oriental stuff, someone else is tired of demons after Wrath of the Righteous, and yet another person has had enough of undead after Carrion Crown. Oh, and do we really need even more stuff with runes on top of them? So if Paizo used this "negative approach" to decide what to publish, we'd eventually end up with an AP with only oozes, because everything else has been vetoed by someone.

Personally, I think the Swords & Circuits thing is interesting. It's got some rough edges that I've criticized, but the theme interests me. I'd be sad if Paizo never published anything else in that direction because you don't like it.

It's not possible for every product to be to everyone's tastes. Instead, Paizo tries to make a variety of things so that everyone will get some things they like.

Don't complain if Paizo makes some things you don't like; complain if they never make stuff you do like.** Also, vote with your dollars; buy the stuff you like, don't buy the stuff you don't. It's a company, they won't stop making the stuff that sells well.

(Also, I highly doubt your 50% figure. I think it's more like 10-20% really noisy unhappy people, about 60% indifferent people and 10-20% really enthusiastic people.)

* Unless it's in exceptionally bad taste and/or illegal of course.
** Though if nothing Paizo makes is to your taste, are you sure you're playing the right game?

So I want to make sure I've got this clear. You can get the 4th chronicle sheet if you:
1) Play in "campaign mode"
2) Play as a "Seeker arc" with a level 12 PFS character (not level 11 or 13)
or 3) GM in any mode

Is that correct?

Nice to see the boon, really surprised you included the

we'd eventually end up with an AP with only oozes, because everything else has been vetoed by someone.

Man I would love that...

edit: or even just a scenario. Oozes are just about my favorite monster.

That.

Is one beautiful son of a Gug!

Awesome artwork!

So I want to make sure I've got this clear. You can get the 4th chronicle sheet if you:

1) Play in "campaign mode"
2) Play as a "Seeker arc" with a level 12 PFS character (not level 11 or 13)
or 3) GM in any mode

Is that correct?

It sounds like as a player you can only earn the 4th chronicle while playing the "Seeker Arc Option". Must complete the adventure in order without playing anything else in between.

GMs can earn it for running the the whole adventure and applying the chronicles to the same character.

What is the advantage for not taking the GP/XP/PP from chronicle 4?

What is the advantage for not taking the GP/XP/PP from chronicle 4?

You get a bit of PP, some money/gems, item access, other boons, but without the XP you can play your character through one more module/AP volume than you could otherwise, extending their career.

Great!!! I've been looking forward to this. Thanks guys.

rknop wrote:

Demoyn wrote:

So, after three straight years of being promised a new seeker arc we finally get one, and it's filled with gunslingers and science fiction... two categories that a full 50% of your customer base doesn't want in PFS. Gee, I wonder why you had a six hour meeting about how D&D is starting to steal people back...

I'd be extremely surprised if that 50% statistic were correct....

(Of course, it's well documented that 37% of all statistics are simply made up on the spot.)

I wouldn't be surprised at all. When gunslingers came out the boards were split evenly between people that wanted it and people that didn't. The fires flared up again when season 6 was announced. Generally speaking, though, people that can't stand Paizo's current direction have just stopped voicing opinions because everyone realized they were just yelling at two brick walls.

Paizo has decided they're going to do what they want regardless of how the customer base feels. We've all seen this once before, but some people just can't seem to learn from other companies' mistakes.

Or maybe they learned that a vocal minority that uses volume and made up statistics to compensate for actual numbers is not actually representative of majority of the customer base. And that the customer based is best served by listening to the majority rather than the ones that pitch a fit the loudest.