Correct - Reputation earned is entered into the Fame field. It’s legacy stuff that sadly can’t be changed on the website.
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At this point I would recommend reporting this under your own event.
Excellent work GM Baerlie! At this time, I'd like to ask everyone (including the GM) to reflect on this game - what went well, what was frustrating, what do you want to see again in the future, etc. Then let's write out two things (stolen shamelessly from here): 1. A star - something that happened here you'd love to see more of.
From the look of it, Hillcross Roundup isn't sanctioned for PFS use. Either that or I am just blind. Check page 10 of the bounty.
Excellent! GM Lantern mentioned wanting to run their game in the first "batch", and GM Warah wanted to run their game in the second. @GM Baerlie, @GM Takeyabue, since both of you said you had no preference, the first one to post here gets to decide whether to run their game in the first or second "batch". If neither responds in 24 hours, I'll roll the dice to decide.
Yes, we will each need two different characters since the usual restrictions of “one character per game, one game per character” still apply.
So the last thing the GM needs to do in a Society game is to create and distribute chronicle sheets. While I could write out all the instructions, that's already been done here much more eloquently and thoroughly than I would likely do on my own. XD Chronicle sheets for this game can be downloaded here - please let me know when you've gotten yours and had a chance to double-check the information on it. And if you have questions about filling out chronicle sheets at this time, feel free to ask here!
"It's my grandmother's pot," Kupyn answers Ulfhild distractedly as she inspects the cauldron and its contents. "And it was her grandmother's before that, and her grandmother's, all the way back to Tulyn herself." She peers at Nhorri's spoonful for several seconds before letting it clatter back to its companions. "But yes, we should probably use the spare cauldron. Oh, that's very kind of you to help with the vegetables dear!" As Iput starts dicing the potatoes and chopping the scallions, celery, and carrots, Kupyn starts organizing everyone else. Two people are sent to pull another large iron cauldron from the fireplace to the doorway, another to fetch wood and kindling to stoke the fire since this one doesn't come with magical heating. When Farmer Greedle and his children and grandchildren arrive, the witch puts the whole pack to work moving tables and setting benches in place. Jaget Steim has to stay seated as his companions roll several kegs and barrels into position, but graciously offers to sample the first tap "to make sure it didn't go flat on the way here". And as darkness begins to fall and the smell of mutton and garlic fills the air, Nelia Starsister and her subjects likewise fill the air with laughter and twinkling lights. "My friends!" Kupyn raises her ladle and waits for everyone to quiet themselves (and for the brownies to stop weaving grass into Darb's fur). "Winter week is upon us once again - but once again we meet it not with fear and hunger, but with merriment, companionship, and full bellies. And let us thank those who showed us the true spirit of Winter week - strangers who came to us in our hour of need and helped us find a way past our differences and grievances, who brought us together tonight. Three cheers!" She raises her ladle to each of the Pathfinders in turn before hoisting it above her head. "And now, what everyone has been waiting for!" Kupyn takes a deep breath, then launches into a familiar song, using her ladle like a conductor's baton. "Rock stew for me, rock stew for you..."
So at this point, there's a few options available for bringing the adventure to a close. One method - the fastest - is to narrate things as described by the adventure's conclusion. If we're on a time crunch and folks need to get their characters to another game (or if this game has run longer than anticipated and folks seem like they're ready to be done), I'll pick that option. Another method would be to leave some room for roleplaying and trying to make the actions and choices made during the adventure have meaning to the narrative. This is the approach I'm taking here - how will Kupyn react to you disabling her cauldron rather than breaking it? Who will you get to see at the festival dinner tonight? This can feel more satisfactory than the first option, but also takes longer.
Iput, Nhorri, and Ulfhild work together to finish turning the cauldron's magic off. There's a brief moment of worry as another wave of rocks seems poised to pour over the edge... and then they subside back into the pot. Upon closer examination, all the little rocks seem to have been petrified; little mouths frozen mid-bite as whatever force had been animating them evaporated. The quiet waits, and waits, and finally settles.
"What in tarnation happened here!?" Kupyn stands shocked in the middle of the road, a basket of mutton dropped at her feet. Darb hides behind the old woman, not even licking the meat that has spilled onto the broken stones underfoot. "I thought I'd get the pot ready for supper so I could start right away when we all got back, but... this... what happened?"
Nhorri sees the bubbling pause momentarily before resuming - more tampering seems to be needed! Her electricity jumps to the metal cauldron rather than the rocks underfoot, and Ulfhild likewise struggles to land a blow or escape her stone-faced captors. But Iput lands a few good punches, and Xandian's seedpod crushes the few rocks that remain! Again the Pathfinders find themselves with a few moments to act freely.
I’m in agreement with GM Lantern. The only other thing I’ve considered when naming a campaign is whether I want the game to be “grouped” with other games in someone else’s Campaigns list. Best example I have is a multi-table special for a convention: I might put “[Outpost ??]” before “GM Hawthwile’s King in Thorns [1-2]” so my game shows up next to any other game that starts with “[Outpost ??]”. That being said, that’s a very minor consideration and not one I’ve ever heard anyone actually talk about. XD
The rest of the Pathfinders rush to Kupyn's house just in time to see the cauldron heave and spill out another flood of over-aggressive rocks. The stones waste no time, immediately rolling under Ulfhild and Iput's feet and trying to bring them down to their level.
Neither adventurer can keep their balance and they topple over into the hard and welcoming embrace of the rocks' tiny teeth.
Kupyn does not appear to be in the house as Nhorri tries to find some sort of mechanism to stop the pot's boiling. Unfortunately, she doesn't find anything useful.
Xandian and Ulfhild struggle to land a blow on the rocks, but even the new reinforcements cannot stand against Nhorri's lightning and Iput's fist! The swarm scatters, falling apart into something that looks like the aftermath of a wheelbarrow of gravel tipping over in the middle of the road. But as Xandian and Nhorri get closer to Kupyn's cottage, they see the cauldron bubbling and roiling with even more rocks inside. They haven't spilled over the cauldron's rim, but they surely will manage to do so soon - unless the Pathfinders can find some way to turn off the cauldron first!
Again Nhorri's cutting winds pass over the rocks harmlessly - but her lightning strikes, and stones fall motionless to the ground! Iput's sizzling bottle likewise leaves several holes in the swarm's formation (though not quite enough for Xandian to escape the clutch of the stones' tiny teeth). Ulfhild grabs her hammer, but can't quite find a good grip on its handle and smashes it down into one of the gaps left by the potent solvent. A rumble from the south catches Xandian's attention. The sound of something like a very small landslide catches even more of his attention as the cauldron bubbles and heaves out another wave of cobblestones that rush to join their fellows! With renewed vigor, the rocks pummel Xandian!
The wilderness warrior can't avoid all of the bruising, but at least he dodges the worst of the falling rocks - and finds that they were so caught up in beating him up that they forgot to keep ahold of him!
Heads up folks - I might not get a post in today due to needing to get to the office early and not getting back home until late. I’ll try to update when I get home, but I cannot guarantee it. My deepest apologies for the inconvenience.
Yeah, that’s a sensitive topic. If it is worth bringing up (and that’s not always the case), the best way I’ve found to approach the problem is to phrase it as a question. “Oh, I thought Ability X worked like this - is that not the case? I was basing my understanding off of…” and then link to the AoN page with the rules in question. This works for me because:
And then the hardest part is accepting the GM’s answer. Maybe they didn’t know and what to change a ruling they made. Maybe they’ll keep it in mind for the future, but don’t want to change things mid-session. Maybe they disagree with your interpretation of the rules. All you can do is accept their decision for the duration of the game (or withdraw if staying would cause you distress). But trying to argue the GM into accepting your interpretation during the game is no fun for anybody, least of all the other players. What have other folks done in similar situations?
GM Screen:
Xandian:
You're not certain about rocks with teeth, but you've got enough experience with swarms of creatures like insects and rocks in general to make a few educated guesses. If that were a swarm of ants, it would be impossible to cut in any sort of vulnerable spot - one ant, yes, but not all of the countless ants at the same time. But one of the best ways to get rid of an overly-aggressive ant infestation is to use tools that affect areas rather than individuals (like a wizard's fireball) or that damage everything around their target (like an alchemist's bombs). And if those are like ordinary rocks, they'll be difficult to cut through or pierce into.
Xandian has a flash of insight, but unfortunately that doesn't translate to immediate results as his scythe leaves only a faint scratch on a few of the animated rocks. Iput's bottle lands squarely in the middle of the stones, eliciting strange grinding sounds and gnashing of teeth as the potent solvent begins its work. The wide spray of fluid seems particularly effective against the stones, but some of it also splashes onto Xandian and sizzles painfully on the leshy's skin. Ulfhild also finds that her sword is ineffective against the rocks, clanging harshly without leaving a mark. Nhorri's sudden burst of lightning grounds itself too early and crashes into the road, making all of Darb's hair stand on end as the hound bolts for safety. Her howling winds cut through the rocks...
...but they are too low to the ground and emerge from the storm unscathed.
Perhaps possessing some sense for wounds, the swarm of cobblestones turns its attention to Xandian. They rumble and roll underfoot, biting at the leshy's toes and legs!
Xandian can't keep his balance and is overturned by the pummeling gravel! All their little teeth bite into his skin and clothes, trying to hold him in place.
Alright, we're in initiative. My thoughts on setting up an encounter: - Initiative is rolled in a spoiler just to cut down on the amount of text on the page. It's a personal preference, and I don't think it's a big deal one way or the other. - I strive to be very clear about who is currently "active" because few things in life are as frustrating as waiting for someone to post only to find out they didn't know it was their turn. - The turn tracker is also an excellent place to track individual statuses (like hitpoints) and conditions. For things that affect multiple actors, I like to use the Environmental Effects section below the tracker. Enemies are in italics to help them stand out from PCs or allies. Are there any questions or thoughts folks have? This is probably the most technical part of GMing.
Nhorri and Iput make Xandian's work of securing the logs in place much easier - as does the distraction of Darb, who sits happily and lets the brownies coo and fuss and pamper him rather than offer "helpful" suggestions to the Pathfinders. The only criticism Nelia can offer when the work is done is, "It should have a flag. Golden. Like His Grace the Darbinious." But even the wolfhound can't distract the fey forever, and when the Pathfinders are finished they cheer and move into their new lodging with great gusto. Above the hubbub, from what could be considered a balcony near the top (which is about eye-level for the taller Pathfinders), the Alliumic Empress calls for silence. "We decree- I am speaking! Yes, we decree that Kupyn and her ilk are forgiven. We are graciously allowing you to take the scallions you require for a festival - no more than what you need! - and we will be in attendance. That is all."
-------------------------------------------------------- The sun is just starting to set below the Hollow Hills as the group - the Pathfinders with a bundle of fresh onions and Darb with only a few extra knots in his fur - makes their way back to town. Kupyn’s cottage is easy to spot, with its brightly colored walls, thatched roof, and a tall chimney merrily puffing smoke into the brisk air. Yet as the Pathfinders get close, the house begins to rumble and quake. The front door spills opens. Numerous tiny cobblestones pour out - but these are no ordinary rocks! They all have open mouths with gleaming sharp teeth! Initiative - Feel free to open!:
The cobblestones are quicker to act than one would expect from a bunch of rocks, bumping and rolling awkwardly along the dirt path. But even with the element of surprise, they are unable to close the gap and reach the Pathfinders before they can react!
Xandian spies several logs in a heap that might have once been some sort of structure. The Grand Garlicia returns Iput's and Nhorri's bows with an appropriate amount of regal disdain, though her large eyes keep drifting away from the two Pathfinders and towards Darb instead. "I see you have brought Lord Darbington the Golden with you," she says at last. "He is welcome among us, for we love him very much and only wished to make his golden hair more noble and regal by adding bows and braids and ribbons. When Kupyn came to visit, we were certain that she too would appreciate our hard work and the newfound majesty of Sir Darbious the Glorious. But instead! She huffed and puffed and knocked down our most steadfast castle!" She gestures broadly to the pile of logs with her scepter, eyes still fixed on the hound. "We demand an apology from Kupyn! And restitutions! For we have been wounded most deeply by her actions."
Iput, Ulfhild, and Xandian mash leaves and a few roots from the nearby plants, making a nice minty-fresh poultice. Several of the other dwarves carefully help Jaget pop his back, which elicits a cry of pain from the patriarch before he breathes a sigh of relief. As the other Pathfinders apply their concoction, Jaget stiffens back up before carefully relaxing once more."Blimey, that all's nothing like Kupyn's treatment. Can't say it's not effective though! I'll go get tho- Ah! I'll, hmm, stay put for a moment more. Jergen, could you grab the potatoes for the festival?" As another dwarf nods and heads into the building, Jaget sighs once more. "Ah, that's much better. Think I'll be able to attend the celebration after all. You'll be there too, right? Oh, I really should thank you with something more than words. Hmm... Ah, how about these?" He pulls two glass bottles out from under the table, each filled with a clear liquid. "This here is ore solvent. We distill it from the potatoes, see, and it eats away at the rock like acid. Good for delicate work - or not so delicate if you drop the bottle, eh Jiffen?" Laughter fills the porch and spills out on the surrounding hillside.
With only the scallions left to retrieve, the Pathfinders head north into the woods - with Darb trotting happily at their side. The trees quickly grow large enough to block out the sun, casting cool shade beneath their branches. As the group approaches a clearing, a multitude of twinkling lights begin dancing about in the shadows beneath the ancient trees. Giggles and whispers fill the air, but nothing can be seen. Upon reaching the center of the grove - where scallions, garlic, onions, and chives grow in thick clumps amid the dark soil - the whispering stops, and the twinkling lights fade. Several diminutive fey wearing leaves and flowers emerge from their hiding places from within the wood. One, taller than the rest, wearing a crown of woven scallions and holding a purple onion flower (several times her height) like a scepter, steps forward. "I am Nelia Starsister, the Grove's Grand Garlicia and Alliumic Empress. Who are you to set foot in our domain?"
Nice work GM Lantern and GM Baerlie! We'll be running two bounties at a time once we finish this one and do all the classwork Redelia has for us. @GM Warah, this unfortunately means that I don't have a solid timeline for when your game would happen - only "sooner" vs "later". Do folks have a preference for running their game in the first pair or the last pair of games?
"Geriatric? Hah!" Jaget puts his hands on his knees to steady himself as he joins in the laughter, but his chuckles cut off abruptly in a wince of pain. "Ack, my back. But if Kupyn sent you, then you've brought the tincture, right? I won't even be able to make it into town for the festival without it."
The road west is easy to follow, and the sun has barely moved overhead by the time the Pathfinders reach a small mining compound at the foot of what must be the Hollow Hills. Several dwarves sit outside eating lunch. Hanging above the entrance is the sign Steim Mine: Our Roots Run Deep. At the head of the table sits a venerable dwarf with a flowing white beard spilling over his mining leathers. "Hello there. Here for ore or potatoes? If it’s the former, you’re in luck. If it’s the latter, there might be a problem. I only have one sack left, and it's already earmarked for Kupyn. Oh, where are my manners - must have left them underground." As his fellows guffaw, he pushes a hand forward to Ulfhild. "Jaget Steim, at your service."
Agreed, but what surprised me was how well spoilering the rolls worked to mimic the expectation of "Aid checks roll first, then the primary check" while not forcing the primary roller to wait for everyone else to post.
We will be working soon in GM school on how you can get things set up for the bounty you will be running, so please use your mentor's table's discussion thread to make sure everyone knows what adventure they need to prepare. I'll be making the next assignment as soon as it looks like all the tables have done this; my table of PF1 GMs has already done so. Some folks have listed pairs of adventures they could run, but it is time for us to pick one adventure each and post it here!
But another question: I intentionally did not explain more to the farmer than our introduction and wanted to give our main talker Xandian a chance to jump in. Did you go further with your post to push things? How long does a PbP GM usually wait for other characters to post before pushing the story along? So I touched briefly on this a few posts back in this channel: So this is murky territory. This part of the adventure could be as quick as "You get to this location, here's some exposition, roll this check" all in one post. It can also be an opportunity for a lot of back-and-forth roleplay that showcases the NPC's personality and lets players showcase their characters'. But given that PbP doesn't lend itself well to the latter (on account of the asynchronous posting), I'll be leaning closer to the former style: with this post, a chance for introductions and for a player to make the request needed by the narrative, and then putting the possible checks after the NPC's response. If this were an AP-style adventure, where we aren't in a time crunch and I knew from experience that both players and GM would be able to post quickly and consistently (like multiple times a day), I'd only respond to what players have said in-character and wait for one of them to explicitly make the request. But Society games are a bit different - players might be waiting to join another game with this character, folks don't (necessarily) know each other well enough to know what to expect, and there's a must-finish-by date for games run as part of a convention. So in situations like this, I use a two-post approach: one post to set the scene and introduce the character(s) and problem(s), and the second to respond to characters and describe the checks in a mechanical sense. Does that help answer your question?
Greetle hems and haws, seeming unwilling to back down in front of his watching grandchildren. But Iput's distracting antics and Nhorri's
With the carrots and celery - and Greetle's promises to attend the festival and admonishings that they'd better be there too - the Pathfinders consult on where to head next. Both locations seem to be a little ways outside Scallion's Wrap - the mines to the west and the brownies to the north.
Normally yes - but in this format that could mean waiting one day for the aid and then a second day for the primary check, so I opt for both at the same time.
"Oh, you know me already? See Phyllis, that's what happens when you find the lucky rock in your stew." Greetle bends down to pinch one of the children's cheeks before straightening back up and continuing. "I remember it well - I was only six years old, just lost my first tooth, and then I lost my second. Tell you what, that sure wasn't a potato on my spoon, hah!" But as the Pathfinders describe their request, the farmer's face darkens. "Oh, so Kupyn sent you? Couldn't even be bothered to do her part for the festival, is it? You know, I put so much into this community! Ain't nobody ever been out of a job on account of a broken arm on this farm, by Erastil. You see all those farmhouses out that way? Windstorm blew 'em over, I paid to get them back up! But Kupyn! I heard her complaining about Winter Week, like she done forgot the whole point of the festival!" He crosses his arms, looking remarkably similar to the toddler sulking at his feet. "So that's why I'm charging her for the veggies. And you, if you're working for her."
So this is murky territory. This part of the adventure could be as quick as "You get to this location, here's some exposition, roll this check" all in one post. It can also be an opportunity for a lot of back-and-forth roleplay that showcases the NPC's personality and lets players showcase their characters'. But given that PbP doesn't lend itself well to the latter (on account of the asynchronous posting), I'll be leaning closer to the former style: with this post, a chance for introductions and for a player to make the request needed by the narrative, and then putting the possible checks after the NPC's response.
I think it was in the application to the GM school, but I'll admit that my memory is fuzzy on the topic. The idea being that we'll all have a chance to practice what we've been learning in a controlled environment before we're
The Pathfinders bid Kupyn farewell - though not before the witch asks who will be taking care of Darb in her stead - and head towards the farmhouse on the southwest side of town. From the new paint and fine wooden carvings of the farmers' god Erastil lining the gate, it's evident the farmer has been doing well. Bunwol Greetle, an elderly human, sits on the front porch with what are probably his grandchildren. All of them are shelling peas together and singing a familiar song about rock stew. Far from unfriendly, Farmer Greedle sees the group approaching and a smile breaks over his face. "Hail and well met, strangers! What can I do for you on this fine day?"
We've got three locations to visit - two votes in agreement moves the party. My rule-of-thumb on "where do we go next?" is "half the party (rounded down) in agreement". In something as time-sensitive as a multi-table special, I'll even ask for a "Top Three Preferences" and then tabulate votes in the Discussion thread to minimize time spent waiting for folks to be able to post. This is also an excellent time to remind folks that everyone has one (1) Hero Point! If we have anyone here with GM Glyphs, this is the perfect time to distribute those as well! And don't forget to pick out your Pathfinder Provision - just include what you're selecting in your next post. Like character introductions, I like to put this part at the shift into the action of the adventure. It also helps that that's where most scenarios and bounties remind the GM about it. XD
I've gotten no guidance on how students should be picking their bounty, so I'd say just post here which one you want to run. There's nothing wrong with some overlap, but do remember that we'll all be playing all these adventures and folks might not be able to give their best player experience if they're burnt out on a particular story. XD
"...Are they expecting us? Or at least expecting someone to come by asking for vegetables?" "Well, they're expecting me, but..." Kupyn's smile falters. "I... well... You see, every month I give Jaget Steim - he's the head miner - a tincture to help with aching joints. Only this month... well, my own joints were aching and I didn't make enough for more than one person. I don't suppose any of you folks knows something in the way of medicine? Jaget might be a bit grumpy, but I'm sure that's just the pain talking. Either way, I think it best I avoid them until the celebration." "And the brownies... I caught them knotting poor Darb's hair. As a joke! I, uh... might have responded rashly though. Didn't think I'd actually be able to knock over that hut of theirs. So better that someone else does the asking, wouldn't you agree?" Her face starts to redden. "Suppose you might want to bring Darb with you, though - those brownies love him." "But as for Greetle?" The flush in her cheeks seems less likely to be from embarrassment now and much more likely to be anger. "Why, that stingy old git tried to charge me for vegetables this year. Don't know why - he always gave them to me free before! If I set foot on his farm again and see his smug face, why... I don't know that I could control my temper!" The old woman's fists clench and she has to take several deep breaths before she can manage to smile again. "I can't imagine anyone else will ask for payment - they understand that this is tradition." "But, it's almost Winter Week. Wouldn't do to offend anyone, best to ask nicely. Hence why I'm hoping you all can help me." Kupyn checks Iput's notes and waits for any other questions before heading to the east for the mutton.
Kupyn chuckles. "Perhaps you've passed this way before?" she asks Nhorri with a smile. "But for those of you who've never heard of such a thing as rock stew... Well." "After the town of Scallion’s Wrap lost all their crops and sheep to a roving band of wolves, the townsfolk met in the village green to figure out where they should move now that they had no food. Their witch - my great-grandmother, Tulyn Baro - questioned why moving was necessary. 'What would you have us do,' the mayor asked, 'eat rocks from the Hollow Hills?' Some laughed at that, but Tulyn picked up a gray rock and said, 'Do you not know this little rock is magic? Why, with it I can make a stew that would feed the whole of Scallion’s Wrap through Winter Week!' The villagers allowed Tulyn the chance to prove her boast. Thus began Tulyn’s plan. As she poured water into her cauldron, she began to wheedle small things from various folks in the area, 'just to help the magic of the rock along.' From the farmers, she finagled carrots and celery. From the dwarf miners in the Hollow Hills, she received bags of deep-root potatoes. From the brownies in the surrounding glade, she procured five bundles of scallions. After this, Tulyn grimly left the town to see about meat for the stew, bouncing the 'magic rock' in her hand. Where she found the meat, none dared ask, but wolves never troubled Scallion’s Wrap again. Upon returning, Tulyn placed the rock into her cauldron. And that is why we have rock stew every year for Winter Week!" Kupyn sighs as she finishes her tale. "And every year the village witch is responsible for making the stew. Every year I place a special rock in the stew. The one who finds the rock is said to have good luck throughout the coming year and leads everyone else in singing the Rock Stew song." Her expression perks up with both delight and devious glee, and she grabs Nhorri's hands in her small ones. "Now, everyone claps along like this..." She starts to clap the taller woman's hands, then gestures for the other Pathfinders to join. "And then the words go like this:" "Rock stew for me, rock stew for you!
If you want to make it, you need a few things,
Rock stew for me, rock stew for you!
Some salt, some pepper,
Rock stew for me, rock stew for you!
As the song finishes, the old woman leans heavily on Darb. "Now I can handle the mutton, but I needs some help with the other ingredients." She starts ticking things off her fingers. "You can get carrots and celery from Farmer Greetle, on that side of the village." She waves to the south-west. "Then further out that way, at the foot of the Hollow Hills, the dwarves at Steim Mine should have a bag of deep-root potatoes set aside for this. And then the last thing we need is a bundle of scallions from the brownies - they live just north of town, in the grove. Can't miss it." Kupyn scratches her pup behinds the ears, reducing him to a smiling puddle of golden fur. "Everything clear?"
This adventure doesn't do a lot to set the stage, so I've added scenic descriptors and such. I've also linked to the Google Slides document - ideally to the exact page where the NPC artwork is displayed, but at the very least I should be able to expect Google to make me a link to get folks to the document itself. Lastly, I end each of my posts with "" to let players know the ball is in their court now - they don't have to wait for me to post something else before they can resume play.
I shamelessly copied this idea from another GM I've played with. Some sort of poetry or song lyric that either matches the adventure thematically (like this one) or helps set the tone for the adventure. Bonus points if it manages to do both (like using part of Poe's Masque of the Red Death for the Night of the Grey Death module)! If this were an adventure that involved pre-mustering before gameplay started (such as a multi-table special), I would include a setting description and try to create a little place for characters to introduce themselves and interact with each other while we all wait. Sometimes I'll also do that for a "regular" adventure - but if there's a good opportunity for the group to introduce themselves to an NPC near the beginning of the game, I'll use that instead. But in that case, I'll (usually) put a "" in the initial post as well so folks can make sure the game shows up in their Campaigns list without feeling like they need to post something as their character in a void. My apologies for doing that to y'all. XD
I'm going to be writing my thoughts on each of my Gameplay posts here, trying to pull back the curtain on how and why I've done certain things. Please ask any questions you might have - this game is for you and your enrichment.
Pathfinders get sent on all sorts of missions during their careers with the Society. Some are great adventures that inspire epic ballads. Some become tales told around a tavern table to the delight of both old and new friends. Some are written into the Chronicles themselves, to be studied by future generations. Some are simply walking from one city to another to verify that a map is still accurate. But Nirmathas is hardly the worst place for such an assignment. The crisp air accentuates the scent of the pine trees lining the sides of the dirt road, and a soft breeze carries a trace of woodsmoke as if to announce the presence of a nearby village. As the group rounds the next bend, they find a hamlet of straw-thatched houses and small farms. On the porch of the closest building, a golden-haired dog perks up as they notice the Pathfinders' arrival. A friendly "Boof!" startles the dog's companion - a short older woman in bright clothes whose expression quickly turns from a concerned grimace to a welcoming smile as she looks up at the visitors. "Well look who it is, Darb - visitors!" Carefully she gets up from her rocking chair and approaches the group, evaluating them with her hands on her hips and a glint in her eye. "Welcome to Scallion's Wrap!" she say cheerfully. "I don’t suppose you're looking for any work, by chance?! If you are, I have just the task. Doesn’t pay much I'm afraid, but you’ll get full bellies and a place to stay for the night - along with the joy of helping an old woman on Winter Week!" She fishes a small cobble stone out of one of her pockets and holds it with both great reverence and a slightly crooked facial expression. "My name is Kupyn Baro. Me and my pup Darb need your help to make this rock into a stew that will feed our village. What do you say?"
Should we purchase cold weather clothes? Only if you want to have them for role-playing reasons. Their presence or absence does not have a direct impact on the adventure.
Correct - this is a game for level 1 characters. If you’ve got a new character idea you’ve been wanting to try out, this is an excellent opportunity to do so! Otherwise, feel free to pick one of the pregen characters and assign the credit to a to-be-created future character. And my apologies for not clarifying that earlier! XD
Would the following agents please check in here for your regularly-scheduled team-building enrichment activity in Nirmathas:
Player Name:
First off, thank you all for being willing to come on an adventure with me! Now, to business.
- I will post every day. I hope everyone can post every weekday and at least once over the weekend, but stuff happens - which leads me to:
If you have an ability that allows you to re-roll something (such as a Hero Point), feel free to use it:
We’ll be using block initiative during encounters. Actions will be resolved in the order that they were posted in. While this can do some weird things (such as a single character acting "twice" before another), it is easier for both players and GM to track the sequence of events this way. I highly encourage tactics such as:
I will happily calculate the final result in these cases. This helps us work effectively as a team even if posting schedules don’t line up in a beneficial way. If your post is entirely out of character , let’s put it here instead of in the Gameplay thread. About Me: I’ve done a bit of PFS and PbP GMing, but I am certainly not perfect. If you have ideas for how I could do something better, a disagreement with a decision, or confusion over what I’m saying, please let me know via the Discussion thread or PM. For your first post here, please use the Reply option on the following post, delete the [quote'] tags, and fill in the provided fields. And be sure to pop over to the Gameplay thread and introduce your character!
Double, double toil and trouble,
And that's all, folks! Chronicle sheets can be found here, and keep an eye on your email inboxes as door prizes will be drawn and distributed at the end of the convention. If there are any questions or concerns with the sheet, please let me know right away and I'll get them fixed. Thank you again for playing, and see you around the forums again sometime! |