DNH's page

Our PFS game is an online game via a VTT and Skype. Only one of us, a player, makes rolls via the VTT's dice roller, that show up in the chat log. Everyone else, including myself as DM, rolls physical dice and reports the result orally. I have no real way of knowing if anyone is cheating or not, other than the fact that I have been playing with these people for 30 years, so it would be both obvious and pointless.

Also, we have taken on board the "Do Not Cheat" rule written very clearly on page 21 of the PFS guide, but apart from that, I would tend to agree with Stormfriend above that cheating at games kinda ruins the whole point.

That said, as a DM, I do fudge dice rolls on occasion, in the players' favour. But I haven't yet done so in PFS (although we are quite new to the game), despite a couple of natural 20s in a single round of natural attacks.

Thanks everyone. Pleased to hear that I had it wrong and that it's MUCH easier to handle than I thought. Interesting point on the loss of hit points etc.

I am a bit confused about ability score damage in PFS play and though I have looked around for the answers, I don't seem able to find them. So if anyone can help, I will be very grateful.

So here's the thing: say a PFS character gets bitten a couple of times by a giant spider and ends up losing 4 points of Strength to ability score damage. We know the effect that has until it gets healed (-2 attack rolls, damage rolls, etc) but my question is more about HOW that gets healed in PFS play.

In regular (non-PFS) play, ability score damage will heal naturally over time (at the rate of one point a day), or it can be healed through magic such as the Lesser Restoration spell.

In PFS play, the Lesser Restoration spell can of course be used - a character may have it in his or her repertoire, the casting of it can be paid for with gold as a service, or it can be paid for as a favour with Prestige Points. But can it heal naturally over time?

If I understand things correctly, the answer is a qualified yes. Which is to say that the natural healing of ability score damage in a PFS game can only occur during the course of the scenario. Say that spider-bitten character is two days' travel away from civilisation and needs to return there for some in-scenario reason. He or she will regain two points of Strength in that time, right? However, it is NOT the case that ability score damage that remains at the end of the scenario will automatically be wiped at no cost before the next scenario (as is the case with hit point damage). That is, the ability score damage needs to be recorded as persisting into the next scenario, or else curative magic needs to be purchased (and that recorded also).

Do I have that right?

This is going to be a bit of a hard sell to my group (new to PFS), who will consider this to be unfair and unrealistic, but who will also appreciate the reasons behind the mechanics. This is why I want to make absolutely certain that I have things right here before I go ahead.

So, any advice?

Thanks.

I've been reading some mixed reactions to the adventure.. so what's everyone else think?

Me, I have been trying without much success to find any reactions to this adventure. Where have you been reading these?