David Foley's page

The Aveiro and Porto lodges are coming together at RiaCON to play the multi-table special for season 2: The Year of the Shadow Lodge

Yeah for us!

There has been some discussion amongst GMs preping for the event about a part of the scenario and we would appreciate some advice from GMs who have already run or played the scenario.

What is written for Act 4 regarding whether tiers other than 10-11 can fight the dragon Zythrustianax doesn't make any sense and seems contradictory

First we have

While upper tier parties can attempt to slay the dragon, lower level PCs have ample opportunity to sneak or run past the beast and into the Mausoleum

ok so clear here only upper tier parties (we will have no tier 10-11 alas) can fight the dragon

However then later it has

If a group chooses to engage the dragon, then a runner from that table should be sent to inform the Overseer GM. If at least half of the tables engage Zythrustianax, she is unable to attack other parties entering the Mausoleum.....
If more than three-fourths of the tables (of any tier) engage Zythrustianax, she realizes that she is outnumbered and flees Absalom

What does engage mean here and it specifically mentions "of any tier".. so it does look like lower level tables can engage the dragon somehow (no matter how unwise that might be)

But however finally it also states..

Tier 10–11 (CR 14)
Only Tier 10–11 PCs are afforded the opportunity to bring down Zythrustianax

So the scenario seem to be simultaneously telling us that tiers other than 10-11 may and may not attack the dragon and that presents us with some possible but ridiculous conclusions

for instance

imagine a CON running the scenario with 4 tables tier 1-2, if 2 or less of the tables attack the dragon that leaves a whole pile of dead PC attackers, but if 3 tables attack then the dragon flees!

Also what does a non 10-11 tier engaging Zythrustianax entail? because

At this point, the Table GM of any Tier 10–11 table should ask her players to roll initiative, as the dragon looks as though she’s preparing to launch herself off the roof.

It would seem she doesn't come off the roof for anyone who is not Tier 10-11, so they can throw rocks at her but she ignores them, but if 3/4 of them throw rocks then she flees away.

So can lower level tables "engage" the dragon? and if so what does that mean for them? and if they can't "engage" the dragon how is it that GMs are to present that to players without making it seem rail-roading them or requiring their players to metagame. I.E. I don't want to present to my players "The dragon looks busy, you can sneak past her perhaps" when there is nothing at that point that indicates the dragon is not the objective and sneaking past her is not obvious. I like to think my PCs are heroes no matter their level and I'd hate for them to go OOC and have to think that dragon's CR is way to much for my character I better not fight it.

To me it is clear there is no way for lower level tables to engage the dragon and I am in favor of adding some narrative device to present the fact that the lower level tables have less choice in a better way. Perhaps by having the lower level PCs encounter a well know pathfinder say a master or a VC and have them say that the dragon is too powerful and they will go look for a group perhaps strong enough to fight it and in the meantime would the low level group please try to sneak past the dragon and see what it is guarding inside?

Forgive my ignorance if this is a quite basic question, we are still new to PFS here in Portugal.

I have a player that has a 4th level Gnome sorcerer with a high Handle Animal skill that has bought a copy of Pathfinder Player Companion Animal Archive.

"Animals: all animal companions on pages 28–29 are legal for purchase. Animals on pages 14–15 are legal for purchase except dinosaurs and megafauna (unless already allowed in this document in Bestiary 1, Bestiary 2, Bestiary 3, or Ultimate Equipment) and dire animals. Additionally, only creatures of the animal type of size Large and smaller may be purchased. Goblin dog is restricted for purchase and only available to goblin PCs" from additional Resources

who wants to buy a combat trained Tiger for 500gp, the resource would seem to be allowed and they clearly have fame enough to make such a purchase

"An animal trained to bear a rider into combat knows the tricks attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel."

You can try to teach the animal one trick per scenario according to the PFS guide. Does the tiger come being rid-able by a Gnome, it is in a section headed Riding animals?

A Tiger would seem a very good buy for 500gp and if I was a 4th level Druid I'd be a bit annoyed as this tiger seems better then my tiger companion, ok they don't get a +4 bonus on handle animal and the Druid's Tiger knows more tricks, but!

Is my player allowed this tiger, am I doing something wrong?