I feel like I'm echoing my post on the previous blog:
With the repeatable nature and the ability to start at a higher level, it's easier than ever for high level scenarios to fire! So lets just get rid of them. I'll also echo the other comment in this thread: This seems like what makes D&D AL unappealing to me.
Having GM'd that back-to-back that many times... I don't feel there's enough variation there at all to make it interesting. There's no discovery, no changes, I'd rather double the length of it and add more depth to a single adventure. Replaying is difficult for some people. Some players can't properly 'play dumb' like some scenarios need you to do. There's no mystery, no surprise. Some players can't help but say "OH LAST TIME I DID THIS [story time]", which makes my personal experience at the table less special. DnD Org Play had an issue where people would get together, 4 people had played the scenario, and they'd all just say "Well, we have 3 characters that want credit for this, so lets just speedrun this" and new players didn't get a chance to actually experience the scenario at all. No, that won't happen everywhere, everyone will say "No, we won't let that happen", but somewhere, it will, because it's not technically against the rules.
I'm concerned that shorter scenarios will be less deep and screw up scheduling, that allowing GMs to slide the scale how they want will create vastly different experiences (and satisfaction) and that Infinite Replay will be as bad as it was for D&D. I hope these changes stay out of PFS far beyond Season 7. I do like the idea of no subtiers and making characters freely. Why couldn't we start there?
I'm just popping in to second the message of 'why be stingy?' If someone joined in January and really wanted to play a barbarian, played 3 times, now they don't have an option for rebuild for PC2 without AcP, what's going to encourage them to buy the book? Does it cost the program something to change the previous ruling to include these classes played in the last 9 months?
Got in Wednesday and spent some time pre-Con at the Museum of Flight, then down to the market for dinner and drinks and drinks and drinks. Did you guys know that Seattle has a lot of nerds? Our Uber driver and multiple random bar patrons were happy to talk tons of nerdy stuff with us! (Or maybe they were just being friendly?) There's also a bar in a former morgue, so that's cool.
Don't forget Con of the North February 16-18 in the Twin Cities!
Stability.I'm actually starting to audit my tables, now that you mention it.I never stopped but online is much easier. Where can I sit as a GM so my legs are comfortable?
I've been comparing it to Plane Shift (since the Drift is a Plane) which still has a 500 mile potential offset. Every time you enter the Drift, you might be just a little off from where you started last time. Your exit point might also be just a little off from where you want to exit.
After a hard fought battle, the skeletal form of Asar, undead champion, falls. Reviving first Lilianna, then the woman on the alter. She is alive and unconscious and knows very little about what happened. She is Dimira - sister of the timid Roldare. She will move to reunite with him as soon as she is able. With her helped, you are able to move to light the Everflame, the original reason for the journey. The flame hangs above the open sarcophogus of Kassen. As you light the lamp, a glow comes from the sarcophogus as well and slowly, a ghostly spectre of Kassen awakens. Rising above his resting place, he smiles. "Thank you all, for putting Asar to rest. He always felt cheated out of the treasure that we could have had. It caused his spirit to fester and rot, until he rose in that skeletal form." Kassen seems to be thinking for a few moments before speaking again. "Our amulets were stolen, recently, by bandits. That is what caused Asar to rise again. They were two pieces of three, that when assembled, could lead to a greater vault. An elven sorceress, Iramine, carried that last piece." Kassen shakes his head as he stops talking. "I am sorry friends, but I remember little else. If you seek to reclaim what I have lost, I wish you well in the endeavor. Please... he motions to his sarcophogus. "Take whatever may help you. I will be able to rest easy now and have no need for it." Another pause, before he reaches up and pulls a scale from his armor, setting a glowing scale on the rim of his tomb for each of you. "These will help you carry my boon and will protect you in your time of need. Thank you." With that, he fades away. Inside, with his body, is a Bag of Holding (Type 1), a +1 Bashing Shield, a Water Elemental Gem, and various gold pieces. Further in the tomb is another body - much more fresh. Covered in tattered gray robes and wearing an iron mask, the stench of rot hangs around him. He appears to have been strangled 3 months ago and his mask indicates he is a follower of Razmir - the living god - who has cults all around the Lake Encarthan region. Of note, in his pack, are a Wand of Magic Missiles, CL3 with 22 charges and a spellbook. There is also a tattered letter - it notes the location of this very crypt with a message: The amulets are entombed with Kassen and Asar. Dead Man's Book:
Cause Fear, Enlarge Person, Expeditious Retreat, False Life, Levitate, Mage Armor, Magic Missile, Ray of Enfeeblement The trip back to Kassen does not end in celebration, as intended, but in melancholy. The townsfolk are sorry for what happened and appreciate your reports, as well as your rescue of those that survived. The grand feast is still held, but more in remembrance than celebration.
Yup, you've followed the rules correctly. There's a feat to assist with that though (which also serves to clarify the rule): Phalanx Formation!
Thanks John! Just wanted to verify, since there is still a lingering issue with Hell's Rebels (Dance of the Damned) giving far too much gold - it appears the Crimson Throne Book 4 is giving 12-14 gold for a 10-12 chronicle. Could we get clarification if this is intentional?
You actually answer your own question a bit. In the context of PFS: Things are flavored a certain way. You're not allowed to change them from that way. Why? Because that's the way it is in the Golarion setting that Paizo has created. Why can't you have a dragon spirit? Because that doesn't happen in Paizo's Golarion setting. (At least as published at this time). Why do Eidolons come from the specifically offered planes? Cause that's where Eidolons come from in Paizo's Golarion setting. It's like going to any author or creator and asking why they didn't use this idea, or why their characters don't do a certain thing. It's just because the creators decided, in their world, that's the way it works. That's why in Pathfinder you're able to use the ruleset - as opposed to the setting - in your own way and change it however you want.
As they travel, Masa will concentrate for a moment and reset his defenses. During the hike, he approaches Grigorii, speaking up to the large man. "Assuming that we do not have to fight flying enemies again, you seem to be the least armored and most prone to be hit of our front line. I'd like to offer you a defense against that, if you'd allow me to touch your mind."
Masa raises an eyebrow at Grigorii. "In doubting her prowess you doubt the Decemvirate. They have put their trust in her and so do I." Taking on a much more diplomatic tone, the tiny fox approaches and sits. "Madam, I would request your patience with my party, they lack the faith that some of us do. If you would be able to provide us with maps or intel on the locations of these threats, we could better plan the best route to help you."
The kitsune nods his head to Pai. "You seem like you are comfortable travelling with small creatures - I may make use of that and stay next to you through our journey." Masa sighs as he turns to Magnus. "Magnus, I believe he is referring to work that falls between the lines of light and dark."
Wait, the MN crew is getting together in a thread? Shoot, I forgot my pitchfork. Wait, we don't need them? Oh, alright... Your Mom's Basement is where I GM'd my first table. It's where I played Eyes of the Ten. It's a venue that I spent more than a handful of 12 hour days at. It's where I've met and interacted with people that I've ended up in home games with, that I talk to nearly daily, that have become friends separate from Pathfinder. I'll miss it dearly.
I got to GM for one of my favorite groups of players a few weeks back - part 1 of a 3 part module. I was concerned going in, of course. Removing some of the assumptions of 'Point A' to 'Point B' that we typically see in PFS play can get dangerous with some parties. I was right. Briefing goes fine, of course. Prep, grabbing items, travel goes fine. First combat isn't nearly as rough as when I played it. Then it happened. About 40 minutes into the session. Everything broke. The module abandoned the rails completely. As I continued trying to pull us back onto the tracks, one thing after another simply did not work. Attempts at changing NPC reactions or justifying the events led to the entire table laughing ourselves to tears, multiple times. All because of one feat. I still have two more parts to GM.
If we had anything comparable to SkalCon or CotN I think we'd have to start reporting deaths or missing persons more often. Not sure if the stores or the spouses would get impatient first...
Does this represent any consensus amongst VO's, out of curiosity? Or is this a personal opinion? I wouldn't speak for anyone else involved - I'm don't think it was consensus for sure, but it was a good discussion of potential flaws and concerns as well as a way to get the heat out of the discussion so I could consider exactly how I wanted to portray my support.
Drogon, I certainly understand as I was involved in LG some, but I think you're waving the fear flag a bit too much - especially when you seem to be implying that somehow we could pressure this into effect past the Paizo staff. This conversation has come down quite a bit from the initial request and has even removed many of the issues that plagued LG back in the day - each time you GM it would be just a blank 1XP/2PP/500G 1st level voucher and nothing else. Most people (if not all) understand the issue with getting infinite <x> or infinite <y>, one for every character. It would make some dent, sure, but not enough to be worth the long-term costs to the campaign, and probably not even all that much in an absolute sense. I'm curious of the long term costs you're referring to. We'll have a cost of implementing and drafting the documents to make it official, sure. There may be another forum thread or three demanding that players get infinite replays, but I hardly think that's a cost. If players are going to leave because they can't, I'm comfortable allowing that. On the other hand, if it makes GMs happier to GM and improves their GMing from running a scenario even two or three times as opposed to once, I see that as a great benefit. Locally I've run Scions of the Sky Key in its entirety 3 times (including its prequel) and I'm getting ready to do it a 4th time. I'm doing it without credit, of course, because I love running, but I've gotten better at it each time. I know I'm giving players a better experience every time. If such an allowance would lead to more such improvement from GMs that run something once then dump it, then I think it's good for the campaign.
If that's not proof you can't beat anything in spite of labels, I don't know what is. You can't possibly be suggesting that this rag-tag group of immature law enforcers is some sort of... underdog story? Or, even worse, that we are some sort of example that a completely in-character group can accomplish complex scenarios with as much efficiency as those that simply reference numbers, dice, and character sheets?
The greatest situation and application of the rules would be "You can only spend PP once during this scenario, cause the GM considered it and decided that" and then you have to get your body recovery, raise dead, and two restorations (a week apart). Oops. Completely legal for the GM to do so though... On the topic at hand: I feel there is nothing wrong with the GM making a single PP purchase per Chronicle that they GM with the character. Anything else is punishing the GM for working for the community. Level 2 played character has a wand of Mage Armor, Wand of Cure Light Wounds, Wand of Magic Missile. Level 2 GM'd character hasn't played and so can't buy those wands yet. That just seems wrong and unfair.
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Pathfinder Society GM. Starfinder Society GM. 247 posts (1,177 including aliases). 2 reviews. No lists. No wishlists. 47 Organized Play characters. 5 aliases. 
