Pathfinder Society Preview: From North to South

Looks like a month of fun ahead! Also, looking forward to seeing all the people who want to join the fun at Origins and GenCon. <3

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

Awesome!!! Can't wait to play these new adventures!

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

The First rule of sanctioning is you don’t ask any questions about sanctioning.

The second rule of sanctioning is you don’t ask any questions about sanctionsing

The third rule is no lies

The fourth rule is no excuses

The fifth rule is trust in Tonya.

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

Listen, they said by the end of January. They never said WHICH January. By 2077, I'm sure they'll have the LOWG sanctioned. No guarantees on LOCG though.

I'm curious about Yuleg Bluingot, the dwarf. I thought there were no dwarves in Ancient Thassilon, since they had yet to complete their Quest for Sky for decades after Xin-Edasseril vanished to avoid Earthfall.

I'm curious about Yuleg Bluingot, the dwarf. I thought there were no dwarves in Ancient Thassilon, since they had yet to complete their Quest for Sky for decades after Xin-Edasseril vanished to avoid Earthfall.

When Xin-Edasseril thunked back into place in the Inner Sea, Belimarius was quick to exert her rule over anyone who was currently living in the territory that used to belong to her. The refugees in Xin-Edasseril that the PCs go to rescue are a mix of unhappy residents that never planned to be a part of Belimarius's kingdom when they built their homes in the area (but don't have much say in the matter) and time-displaced Thassilonians eager to see what the world might be like free of a runelord's influence.

Burden of Envy looks right up the alley for my 1/2 elf Radiant Oath paladin of Sarenrae! (originally was going to be a full elf, but half-elf ended up better mechanically)

Burden of Envy looks right up the alley for my 1/2 elf Radiant Oath paladin of Sarenrae! (originally was going to be a full elf, but half-elf ended up better mechanically)

What a coincidence, my Thassilonian-speaking Fighter/Gish was originally going to be an elf until I realized a half-elf human would be better mechanically.

RealAlchemy wrote:

Burden of Envy looks right up the alley for my 1/2 elf Radiant Oath paladin of Sarenrae! (originally was going to be a full elf, but half-elf ended up better mechanically)

What a coincidence, my Thassilonian-speaking Fighter/Gish was originally going to be an elf until I realized a half-elf human would be better mechanically.

That CON flaw's murder, amirite?

It wasn't just the Con flaw, though you are correct that it didn't help. But I love the idea of a Sarenite champion throwing produce flame around as a cantrip, which seemed to require some elven blood to pull off very well.

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

Poke @ Michael Sayre and Tonya. Any updates?

Oh yay, Lysle got a scenario! It's so nice to see so many of my friends breaking into writing for OrgPlay!

Saint Bernard de Clairveaux wrote:

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

Poke @ Michael Sayre and Tonya. Any updates?

Honestly, I've gotten a bit gun-shy about announcing dates when I don't have control over whether or not those dates actually get met, but if all goes according to plan there will be sanctioning for multiple PF2 books coming out SOON(TM). Based on the last update I was given, very soon.

Oh yay, Lysle got a scenario! It's so nice to see so many of my friends breaking into writing for OrgPlay!

One of the great pleasures I've had over the last 6 months has been finding new people and voices to help build out the campaign for this new edition of Pathfinder. This year we've brought in authors from our third-party community, the organized play volunteer community, and other authors from the broader industries of gaming and fantasy that have just been phenomenal to work with. I think this season of PFS has one of the most diverse line-ups of authors we've ever fielded, with program veterans, first-time adventure writers, and veteran writers from parallel industries and companies represented in equal measure and drawn from all over the world. And we've got nearly half a season of content that you all haven't seen yet!

Saint Bernard de Clairveaux wrote:

Saint Bernard de Clairveaux wrote:

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

Poke @ Michael Sayre and Tonya. Any updates?

Honestly, I've gotten a bit gun-shy about announcing dates when I don't have control over whether or not those dates actually get met, but if all goes according to plan there will be sanctioning for multiple PF2 books coming out SOON(TM). Based on the last update I was given, very soon.

Is that "SOON" on a geological or astrological time scale?

Oh yay, Lysle got a scenario! It's so nice to see so many of my friends breaking into writing for OrgPlay!

Thanks, Hilary!

As much as I love the game and the occasional opportunities to contribute to it, it is the many friendships that I've made through OrgPlay for which I am most thankful.

Michael Sayre wrote:

Saint Bernard de Clairveaux wrote:

Saint Bernard de Clairveaux wrote:

Thanks for the update! We continue to see some great scenarios.

I don't mean to reignite disputes about sanctioning, but just curious: Are we still on track to get sanctioning for Lost Omens Guide and Character Manual published this month? I know I'm not the only one who wants to use those books for my second PFS character.

Poke @ Michael Sayre and Tonya. Any updates?

Honestly, I've gotten a bit gun-shy about announcing dates when I don't have control over whether or not those dates actually get met, but if all goes according to plan there will be sanctioning for multiple PF2 books coming out SOON(TM). Based on the last update I was given, very soon.

Is that "SOON" on a geological or astrological time scale?

Both.

One of these days it'll drop like a meteorite.

One of these days it'll drop like a meteorite.

And all life on Earth will come to an end! I'm pretty sure there's a reference to Organized Play in Revelations.

Thanks for responding, Michael. For the life of me, I still can’t understand why articles like this — material Paizo decides not to publish — is given priority over support for actually printed material that customers are angry about. It really feels like the company lacks customer-oriented leadership on its web team.

Thanks for responding, Michael. For the life of me, I still can’t understand why articles like this — material Paizo decides not to publish — is given priority over support for actually printed material that customers are angry about. It really feels like the company lacks customer-oriented leadership on its web team.

I believe because that the PDF is a feature of the book they'd promised. The writing and production was done, but the actual page count wasn't available to print. Instead of just letting the cut content languish in a computer file, publishing it for free seems pretty customer friendly to me. I can imagine saving it for another splatbook down the line or just letting it go to waste. For non-PFS games, this is a pretty snazzy free product.

Organized play is probably a loss leader and almost certainly not the revenue generation machine for the company. There is a large segment of people who play Pathfinder that don't know about, care about, and/or play Pathfinder Society. For that segment of the player base, this PDF represents customer-oriented attention. The PFS side of things is equal parts ambitious on the part of the OP team and probable lower priority for the web team. Putting out a PDF of material that was likely already tested, edited, and formatted (or fit easily into an existing format) is an easier task than "rebuild our database into an interactive application."

I get being upset over the lack of support for organized play. I'm certainly not happy with it and most of the time I GM. I do think they've put too many eggs in one basket with their new approach and they don't have the time or staff to course correct at this stage of the game. It's a mess, everyone knows it's a mess, but getting upset because someone else got a toy seems silly.

Thanks for responding, Michael. For the life of me, I still can’t understand why articles like this — material Paizo decides not to publish — is given priority over support for actually printed material that customers are angry about. It really feels like the company lacks customer-oriented leadership on its web team.

You mean the article that compliments the very hyped book that their customers have just recently been getting a hold of? Aka support for actually printed material that customers are happy about.

People who don't play PFS are customers too, these constant attempts at othering everything not involving PFS isn't really doing your stance any favors.

Thanks for responding, Michael. For the life of me, I still can’t understand why articles like this — material Paizo decides not to publish — is given priority over support for actually printed material that customers are angry about. It really feels like the company lacks customer-oriented leadership on its web team.

Posting non-Organized Play material has zero impact on posting Organized Play material.

I don't know how you think it would.

Thanks to Tonya, Michael, and the web team for publishing sanctioning information today as a blog post. And getting Gods and Magic in there, to boot!

We're all important customers and fans here. I was a home gamer for over thirty years before I did any organized play. I appreciate the different needs we all bring.

Describing Society play as a side hustle might be accurate — though I don't think it makes good business sense, and doubt staff would agree.

In any case, that doesn't mean Society players who are frustrated have no right to express their concerns, and doesn't make it reasonable for others to poo poo those of us who speak out.

That is to say, if Paizo did consider Society play to be a side hustle of low importance, it's reasonable for volunteers to raise an alarm without having others personsplain and dismiss concerns. That just enflames frustration without actually helping the Paizo staff in any real way.

Removed some posts and their replies.

This thread is getting pretty off topic from the content of this months Society Scenarios. I understand there's some frustration concerning the needs and expectations of organized play members, but please remember to be respectful of those who expect to use this thread to talk about the scenario previews. I have left in the beginning of the discussion and the resolution. While you can expect to have your feelings treated as valid for your experience, we'd also ask you to consider that the context is not ideal for creating resolution.

Nefreet wrote:

One of these days it'll drop like a meteorite.

And all life on Earth will come to an end! I'm pretty sure there's a reference to Organized Play in Revelations.

Fortunately the angel with the first trumpet agreed to kick things back a bit if we made sure to add Gods and Magic to today's sanctioning.