February 2022 Organized Play Monthly Update

Thursday, February 3, 2022

OPC Musings

It’s that time of year again when the convention machine begins to grind to life! We’re working hard on plans for PaizoCon and Gen Con, and hope to have news to share with you very soon, stay tuned. We’re also seeing event support requests start to roll in, which is always great! Lots of other things to talk about this month, so let’s dive right in!

Digital Adventure Releases

Here are this month’s digital releases, available February 23, 2022:

Pathfinder

Pathfinder Society Scenario #3-10: Delve the Pallid Depths*
Pathfinder Society Scenario #3-11: No Time for Treason*
Pathfinder Bounty #18: From Family Lost
Pathfinder One-Shot #4: Mark of the Mantis

Starfinder

Starfinder Society Scenario #4-14: Rasheen's Remembrance*

*part of a subscription


Pathfinder Society-Specific Rule Updates

This month, we published several rule clarifications & updates that apply specifically to the Pathfinder Society campaign. These clarifications are always available on the Organized Play FAQ pages or in the appropriate Guide to Organized Play, but we wanted to make sure we highlighted them here.

Massive Damage

When considering if a character would be killed outright by Massive Damage, you should treat their maximum Hit Points as 20 if they have fewer than 20 maximum Hit Points. This clarification is to attempt to avoid killing first-level characters outright. If a new player is about to do something reckless that will almost certainly result in their death (such as their character leaping off a cliff), ensure that they understand the potential consequences first.

Similar Lore

If a scenario calls for a specific Lore and a player has an extremely similar Lore (such as Pathfinder Lore in place of Pathfinder Society Lore), the GM should permit the use of that Lore. If a Lore is adjacent (e.g. Academia Lore in place of Library Lore), the GM can permit its use if they feel the two overlap enough. Ultimately, the GM is empowered to use their best judgment in such situations. This guidance has been floating around for a while, so we wanted to codify it in the FAQ page.

Additional Languages

The Character Creation section of the Guide to Organized Play has been updated to grant all Pathfinder Society characters an additional regional language at character creation. It’s important to us that the characters in the campaign represent the diversity of the world of Golarion, and this small change ensures that characters from a region outside the Inner Sea can more accurately represent their home and know their home region’s language. Most characters will gain an additional language as a result of this update.

Bequeathal Boons

The section of the Bequeathal boons that required a character receiving access to wait until their level matched the level of the originating chronicle sheet has been removed. This created unintentional tangles with sanctioned material that could be applied to a character of any level and was unnecessary with the way the game system gives most options a level anyway. The boons have been updated in the Achievement Points store; any previously-downloaded versions can be downloaded again to update the language, but doing so is not required.


Starfinder Errata

Last week, the Starfinder team released some errata, including updates for the newly-released Galactic Magic. In particular, this errata changed the text of the Genetics Field of Study for biohackers.

Any character who finds that this change materially affects their character is free to choose a different field of study for their biohacker with no required time or credit investment. We are updating the language around similar rules updates in the Guide to Organized Play to ensure that future changes of the same type will be handled similarly.


Sanctioning

This month was a busy month for sanctioning! We released sanctioning for Starfinder Galactic Magic on release date, and then updated it a few hours later to allow another option through (you’re welcome, vanguard fans)! We also updated the sanctioning for the Character Operations Manual to finally permit Qi Adept through for soldiers. For Pathfinder Society (First Edition), the Return of the Runelords Adventure Path is sanctioned for play and available for reporting.

February is a fairly quiet month on the product release front, so it’s possible that there won’t be any new content next time I talk to you. I’m working with our art team to get the final updates of the older sanctioned content completed so as to ensure that all sanctioned material is consistent and awards the correct rewards. Generally speaking, the next material to be newly sanctioned will be Book of the Dead and the Quest for the Frozen Flame Adventure Path for Pathfinder Society (Second Edition); the Horizons of the Vast Adventure Path for Starfinder Society; and the Tyrant’s Grasp Adventure Path for Pathfinder Society (First Edition), which should close the book on new material for that campaign.


GM Recognition

Whether stars, novas, or glyphs, achieving a 5 ranking in any program involves a substantial amount of time. To achieve the 5th milestone, a GM must run 150 games, of which at least 50 must be unique scenarios and 10 special scenarios, as well as run between one and three games for venture-captains (program dependent). A conservative estimate of the time needed to reach the 5th milestone is 650 hours!

This month, we completed a hat trick for the first time, with one new 5-rank GM in each program!

5th Star (PFS1): Wally Waltner
5th Nova (SFS): Landon Hatfield
5th Glyph (PFS2): Jimmy Dick

Congratulations to our new 5-rank GMs, and thank you for your dedication! If you believe you have achieved your 5th rank but haven’t been announced, email us at organizedplay@paizo.com.

That’s quite enough from me, so I’ll sign off now. Until next time—Explore! Report! Cooperate! And stay tuned for news about SFS Year 5, coming soon!

Alex Speidel
Organized Play Coordinator

More Paizo Blog.
Tags: Conventions Organized Play Pathfinder Second Edition Pathfinder Society Starfinder Roleplaying Game Starfinder Society
Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Martinsville

Have to ask, has LoneWolf been informed of the PFS ruling with Languages for Herolab?

I am hopeful for some Gen Con news and want to volunteer to run in person gaming at the convention when the call comes through. The overall situation should be to the point of opening up all of the country, if not the world, from the Great Worldwide Shutdown (GWS) and we can have normal human relations once again. Conventions in general has gotten the short end of the stick on this, as well as the theaters and sporting events.

Any word on what Gen Con is anticipating for the convention consideration if the emergency order for the state is still in effect?

**

Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber

The last two 1e APs haven't had any special boons in their sanctioning but are there any special plans for Tyrant's Grasp sanctioning? It would be neat to get something for 2e seeing how this AP is the largest event influencing the setting changes in the Inner Sea for 2e and considering what happens to the PCs at the end.

Dark Archive 4/5 5/55/5 **** Venture-Lieutenant, Ohio—Columbus

Congrats Landon!

Grand Lodge 4/5 ***** Venture-Captain, Missouri—Columbia

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Congratulations to Wally and Landon! Woot!

Paizo Employee 5/55/5 ** Organized Play Coordinator

thaX wrote:

Have to ask, has LoneWolf been informed of the PFS ruling with Languages for Herolab?

[...]

Any word on what Gen Con is anticipating for the convention consideration if the emergency order for the state is still in effect?

I don't have any special contact with LoneWolf so I'm not sure if they're aware. I similarly cannot speak to Gen Con's plans for their event, you'll have to speak to them. I hope that we will be announcing our plans for the event soon!


I am very much looking forward to the PaizoCon news!

Grand Lodge 4/5

Huzzah!

Scarab Sages 4/5

Alex, can you quickly clear up how the new regional language rule interacts with the rule in Lost Omens: Mwangi Expanse on page 23 that grants characters from the Mwangi Expanse the Mwangi language instead of Common? Does this replace that, or should we still follow that rule? There’s some potential confusion based on a previous forum post and the rule existing in the book instead of the guide. Would a character from the Mwangi Expanse get Common, Mwangi, plus an additional Regional language, or just Common plus a Regional language (which they could choose to be Mwangi)?

(Please let’s not argue this in this thread. I’m just hoping to cut off potential future confusion, not advocate for one answer or another, and there are so many positive things in this blog)

Overall I think this is a great round of changes, all of which look to make PFS better and more friendly to players. I’m particularly happy about the massive damage change.

*

Pathfinder One-Shot #4: Mark of the Mantis - has this been announced/previewed somewhere? A quick search didn't turn up anything.

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Agent, Nebraska—Omaha

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Congratulations, Wally, on your fifth star! I hope to play again with you soon.

Grand Lodge 4/5

CyberMephit wrote:
Pathfinder One-Shot #4: Mark of the Mantis - has this been announced/previewed somewhere? A quick search didn't turn up anything.

I don't think so, but what I've heard sounds good!

Dark Archive 4/5 5/55/5

Thanks for continuing to finish sanctioning the 1E APs!

Second Seekers (Jadnura) 5/55/55/55/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Way to go Landon! Congratulations!

Also Wally and Jimmy!

Envoy's Alliance 1/5 ****

1 person marked this as a favorite.
CyberMephit wrote:
Pathfinder One-Shot #4: Mark of the Mantis - has this been announced/previewed somewhere? A quick search didn't turn up anything.

It was talked about on the last Paizo LIVE twitch stream.

5/55/55/5

Congrats to all rank 5 GMs - but especially Landon!

Horizon Hunters 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis

The new ruling on the bonus language. It says that happens at Character Creation. Does that mean only new characters can get that, or can existing characters (who are past the character creation stage) get it?

Horizon Hunters 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis

Alex Speidel wrote:


I hope that we will be announcing our plans for the event soon!

I hope so, too, particularly as it involves volunteering. With the housing lottery coming up soon, I’d like to get my volunteering and such locked in so I know all of that stuff is taken care of.

Liberty's Edge 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Martinsville

From what I have been told, it is for all characters. PFS already has all Pathfinders have Common as a starting language, as it did in PF1 and (if I remember right) in Starfinder.


1 person marked this as a favorite.

Do we have a date for Mark of the Mantis? It's so weird there's no store page for it.

Dark Archive 4/5 5/5 ****

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Great month for Midwest Region!

Congrats Jimmy and Wally!

You too, Landon!

So much dedication to the craft!

Second Seekers (Luwazi Elsebo) 5/5 5/55/55/5

the blog wrote:
Any character who finds that this change materially affects their character is free to choose a different field of study for their biohacker with no required time or credit investment. We are updating the language around similar rules updates in the Guide to Organized Play to ensure that future changes of the same type will be handled similarly.

Woot. May be time to hit the course catalog

The Concordance 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Missouri—Kansas City

3 people marked this as a favorite.

Xathos, I always appreciate your help at our cons in KC. Congrats on making 5-glyph!

Landon, I fondly remember your table of 9-00 at GenCon that marked my -1’s 33rd XP (and my first seeker character). Congrats on your 5th nova!


"Page 45: In the biohacker's genetics field of study, replace the text for the inhibitor with the following.

You deliver a DNA-twisting or material-altering chemical nanite compound into a creature's body, increasing the damage it takes from one energy type (your choice). If the creature takes the chosen type of energy damage, it takes additional damage of the same type equal to half your level (minimum 1). This biohack doesn't increase the damage a creature takes from natural hazards or environments, only damage from energy attacks, spells, and other abilities."

Well, that just obliterates the ability.

Are these errata/faq updates announced anywhere, the forums even, am I missing something?

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Venture-Captain, North Carolina—Central Region

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Thanks for the congrats all!

Wally - That table is one of my GenCon highlights as well! Always fun to have you at the table.

thaX wrote:

Have to ask, has LoneWolf been informed of the PFS ruling with Languages for Herolab?

I am hopeful for some Gen Con news and want to volunteer to run in person gaming at the convention when the call comes through. The overall situation should be to the point of opening up all of the country, if not the world, from the Great Worldwide Shutdown (GWS) and we can have normal human relations once again. Conventions in general has gotten the short end of the stick on this, as well as the theaters and sporting events.

Any word on what Gen Con is anticipating for the convention consideration if the emergency order for the state is still in effect?

Apparently they were, as HLO has already implemented this change! :)

5/5 5/55/55/5

The Ragi wrote:


Are these errata/faq updates announced anywhere, the forums even, am I missing something?

Starfinder faq

The rules forum where the question usually gets asked

and in general discussion in society some gee..erm. gamer is usually going to make a post about how they changed it now it bites we need to bail on this option...


BigNorseWolf wrote:

Starfinder faq

The rules forum where the question usually gets asked

and in general discussion in society some gee..erm. gamer is usually going to make a post about how they changed it now it bites we need to bail on this option...

I did grab the "errata" from there...

I'd prefer a changelog or similar - they probably send something like that to AoNSRD to update.

Wayfinders 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ***** Contributor

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Alex the ALL SIX Skittermander wrote:

This month, we completed a hat trick for the first time, with one new 5-rank GM in each program!

5th Star (PFS1): Wally Waltner
5th Nova (SFS): Landon Hatfield
5th Glyph (PFS2): Jimmy Dick

Woot! Congratulations to Wally, Landon and Jimmy! I am so proud of all three of you!

4/5 5/55/55/55/5 *****

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Oh as an aside, I am really excited that Horizons of the Vast will be sanctioned! I haven't gotten an opportunity to GM that for anyone yet!

Sovereign Court 4/5 Venture-Lieutenant, Illinois—Champaign-Urbana

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Xathos of Varisia wrote:
Congratulations to Wally and Landon! Woot!

Congrats to you too Jimmy, as well as Wally and Landon!

****

2 people marked this as a favorite.

Congratulations to the 5-ranks! Have had the honor to play Wally's and Jimmy's tables before and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences!

****

keftiu wrote:
Do we have a date for Mark of the Mantis? It's so weird there's no store page for it.

It seems the one-shot products get product pages later in development than other products. Hopefully we get one soon

Marketing & Media Manager

2 people marked this as a favorite.
redeux wrote:
keftiu wrote:
Do we have a date for Mark of the Mantis? It's so weird there's no store page for it.
It seems the one-shot products get product pages later in development than other products. Hopefully we get one soon

I'll see who has the ball. And if it is me. ;)

Marketing & Media Manager

Alex Speidel wrote:
thaX wrote:

Have to ask, has LoneWolf been informed of the PFS ruling with Languages for Herolab?

[...]

Any word on what Gen Con is anticipating for the convention consideration if the emergency order for the state is still in effect?

I don't have any special contact with LoneWolf so I'm not sure if they're aware. I similarly cannot speak to Gen Con's plans for their event, you'll have to speak to them. I hope that we will be announcing our plans for the event soon!

The Marketing/Licensing team has a relationship with LoneWolf. Can you bring me up to speed?

4/5 ****

1 person marked this as a favorite.
Aaron Shanks wrote:
Can you bring me up to speed?

Here's the specific bit of the blog/OP guide changes that are relevant.

Guide wrote:

Languages

All Pathfinder Society characters are literate and speak Common (Taldan) as well as any other languages granted by their ancestry. All Pathfinder Society characters have access to all common and uncommon modern regional languages (Core Rulebook 432). All Pathfinder Society characters begin with one one additional Regional language.

This solves a bunch of complicated character story issues where characters should know a language as part of their backstory but mechanically didn't for a variety of reasons.

So modern regional languages are now available to all and everybody gets one.

Old Guide wrote:

Languages

All Pathfinder Society characters are literate and speak Common (Taldan) as well as any other languages granted by their ancestry. Regional languages (Core Rulebook 432) are uncommon and require Access.


Aaron Shanks wrote:
redeux wrote:
keftiu wrote:
Do we have a date for Mark of the Mantis? It's so weird there's no store page for it.
It seems the one-shot products get product pages later in development than other products. Hopefully we get one soon
I'll see who has the ball. And if it is me. ;)

Any word on this?

Liberty's Edge 3/5 5/5 **** Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha

Congrats to all the new 5-somethings!

Wally, it was a pleasure to be on your table as my Aspis slayer ran over the snakes!

Landon, a Steller GM!

Congrats Guys!

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