Kurt Wasiluk's page

Congrats on the achievement, Zackery and Jess!

Not sure what the fix is, but my posts only show 2 Novas instead of 4. Any help or recommendations are appreciated.

Congratulations Noah! We’re really lucky to have your GMing in the area and online!

I just hit 4 Novas a little over a week ago. Is there anything special I need to do to receive this?

Like many of you, I've been paying close attention to the OGL mess with anger at WOTC and concern for all the people affected. I'm hoping as news unfolds, everything will be OK. It's all got me reflecting on how much I appreciate Paizo, its people, and all the wonderful books they've been giving us and continue to give us.

I started this weekend playing in a super-fun Strength of Thousands campaign as a Skeleton Gunslinger and was able to enjoy both the deep story in the adventure and how mechanically cool it was to play my character.

Yesterday, I spent a good amount of time preparing to GM a Starfinder Society module set in the Veskarium. There is so much fantastic reference material to support it both in the module itself, Near Space, and various Alien Archives. It feels so rich and interesting being able to dig deep into the lore.

I'm preparing a Crown of the Kobold King run with a bunch of friends for later this month and am taking pleasure in seeing the characters they're creating. I'm full of anticipation at running them through this classic adventure AND GM'ing with Foundry for the first time.

As I do dull tasks around the house, I get to listen to old Glass Cannon Podcasts and hear them play through Giantslayer, Dark Suns, Ruins of Azlant, Strange Aeons and all the laughs that go with it.

My bookshelves are full of years of Paizo books, maps, and tokens and it's amazing how consistently great the quality, writing, art, and packaging are. It's thrilling just looking at it all.

So thank you Paizo and thanks to the many creators past and present for giving me so much enjoyment in my life.

My Order 36822187 processed today with Book of the Dead and Punks in a Powderkeg. Books of the Dead is showing in my Digital Content list but Punks is not, despite refreshing/reloading/trying different devices. Thanks!

This is exciting news! Can we expect any official Starfinder support down the road?

It all looks cool, but I need to understand better what this is giving me that I don't already get through Nethys and HeroLab Online. I've invested a lot in HeroLab already so it would be hard to rebuy a bunch of books.

I'm very happy to see this news. I love Paizo products and value the fantastic Paizo employees (and contractors) who provide so much happiness to the lives of my friends and me. I've been disturbed about both old and recent revelations. It all undermines the loyalty I've felt for the company for the past 14+ years, especially knowing the people behind these products I love are hurting. The Sara and Diego news was especially disappointing, knowing how clearly loved these two are by their coworkers and Paizo customers. While I know unions can create new business challenges, I'm happy that this route can help keep the people I support engaged and healthy. It may cost more to me as a customer, but these products are worth it.

I hope management responds positively and collaboratively with the union to restore Paizo in my mind as the most awesome company out there. #unionizepaizo

I attended the GM 101 class last night and I highly recommend this. Our instructor was organized, demonstrated features well, and answered a TON of questions. I'm looking forward to other classes in the series.

The sanctioning document for Troubles in Otari indicates that the adventure grants 12 Reputation Points. However when I record the session on the Paizo website, the system keeps defaulting to 8. Can someone at Paizo correct that? Thanks!

Congratulations to all the hires and promoted folks! I really appreciate the introductions of so many interesting people. It makes me feel excited that my favorite company is in good hands.

Hi, I just received my shipment for Order 36271135, but the Pathfinder Flip-Tiles: Wilderness Starter Set was not included in the box despite it being listed as included in the box's shipping document and included as part of my charge. Please ship to me with my next shipment. Thanks!

Hi all, I'm getting caught up on the posts but am excited to play. I'll work on a character over the next couple days and get one up. Commandant, you know my e-mail for the roll20 invite.

I'm disappointed with the new approach to boons. I think it really got to me when I finished PFS2 2-00 and received a sheet with no boons or items. Completing specials used to feel like a big deal with very interesting chronicle sheets. I feel like there are lots of ways to do it right and have enjoyed boons that are just plot related and especially enjoyed Starfinder boons that unlock new playable races. This new approach is flavorless and off-putting.

I want to make sure this doesn't get lost in the shuffle. I'm still showing 0 tables for Starfinder Society. Please fix when you can. Thanks!

I am also experiencing this problem. I have three novas (which is right) but no tables showing for Starfinder

Lots of exciting things coming up! Please give us a heads-up on maps needed for these and the September scenarios when you can.

We had a TPK on this one last night. The team had done a general knowledge check on oozes before heading down to the sewer, but that didn't pick up the piece of knowledge that a specific type of ooze (black pudding) splits under certain circumstances. In the encounter, the first PC split the pudding into three puddings and the creatures then devastated the team. With three actions, going toe to toe with these things can be catastrophic! I totally agree with John Brinkman's comments suggesting finding ways to feed more information.

Except for the collective bummer of the TPK, the players seemed to enjoy the plot and new rules. Be prepared that this one has a decent risk of going long, especially with new players involved.

Looks like it's available! Thank you, Paizo.

The communication on this has been terrible! It's frustrating that you have people anxious to try your new system and maybe pull in new players with what seems like a kick-off scenario. You've previously communicated it would be available at launch. You're advertising it in your e-mails. Yet people can't buy it and no one is sharing what the deal is or when it will be available. If there's a reason to hold back (such as an intention to make it a convention exclusive for a period of time) then please let people know.

For what it’s worth, one more vote for having an official full pdf available at all times. I don’t want to have to pdf multiple sections or rely on the fan community to create full versions. Full Pdfs are easy ways to show more casual players what’s going on without them having to click through a bunch of stuff. Why not keep the pdf but update more frequently than once a year?

I'm a VA that needs PFS 1-00 for an upcoming session. If you can't get the drop figured out timely, can you at least make it available for sale? It's still treated as unavailable.

When will this be made available? I’m trying to kick off local PFS2 play with this in August but need to get prepping!

I think I'm checking my e-mail 1,000 times a day waiting for a shipping notice. I might be a little excited.

I don't believe that we even submitted any of our products this year, so they wouldn't have been reviewed for an award.

Paizo puts out so many great products! Just curious, why didn’t you submit anything?

Kurt Wasiluk wrote:

Is there a product image that can be shared? I’m running this for a group that wants to try the new edition and I want to start promoting it.

Tell them Ron Lundeen wrote it!

...wait, I don't know whether your group is going to consider that a plus or not.

Definitely a plus! i will put your name in all caps and watch them line up around the block.

Is there a product image that can be shared? I’m running this for a group that wants to try the new edition and I want to start promoting it.

While I understand the purpose of Free RPG Day and the later timing on getting a pdf is to get people into their local gaming stores, has anyone thought about just providing PDFs of the maps in advance to support people running on Free RPG Day?

Hi Thursty, can you clarify that the map you say is 1 square = 10 feet is really 1 square = 20 feet? It would seem that way based on the map with the smaller squares (16 small squares in each big square). I want to make sure I have the proportions right before I start making jumbo maps! Thank you.

Thursty, will you be running this at Origins and how would a kind soul like myself get signed up?

I would love to see a Starfinder Society Pawn set. I've been using the existing pawns for the scenarios but stumble when I get to creatures created especially for Society play. If Paizo doesn't think it's economical to do it, I also really like GM Numbat's suggestion of including a page in the scenarios with pawns laid out for easy printing.

What maps will we need for this and 1-33? I’m looking forward to running them!

A friend just noticed that my copy of the Starfinder Armory, which I purchased through subscription, is missing pages 66-67, with pages 74-75 in their place. Pages 70-71 are also missing with 78-79 in their place. How can I get an updated print copy with the full set of pages?

Thanks,
Kurt Wasiluk

I've noticed in my past couple posts that my 1 star, 1 nova, and venture agent status are no longer showing. Is there something wrong or is there a setting that I need to change?

I see we got an answer from John on maps for 1-25. Any word on maps for this one?

Thurston, are you able to share anything on maps for this one and 1-25? Thanks!

Tonya, looks like your U-Con visit should have 11/9 as the start date instead of 11/16.

On pages 7 and 8, there are notes on PC placement for the map on page 6. I see one of the PC placement locations marked on the map, but where is the “second marked area, representing more efficient approach method” supposed to be? Thank you!

I did RPG and All dates and left the search bar empty. I then went to page 78 or so and saw all the evening Starfinder Society stuff. I hope it works for you.

Bob, you just helped me figure out how to schedule the 7PM ones. You can't select a specific date but instead have to select All. By doing that I can see the events that end at 0:00AM.

Pathfinder has landed in Warren Michigan! The book is beautiful and well worth the wait. Nice job to everyone at Paizo for everything you've done to pull this thing together.

That sucks... The store I went to let us pick what we wanted, but to get the "free" Beastiary, I was required to buy at least $20 of other stuff. I'm very happy I got the product I was looking for, but feel a bit taken.

OK, I'm kicking myself here. I should have thought to post here previously. I'm organizing Pathfinder for the Pandemonium conventions. The last one was in September, the next one is in January/February and then there's one in May. You can spot them on Warhorn (warhorn.net) sometimes referred to as Pan Frost (Jan/Feb), Pan Mayhem (May) and Pan Fury (September). Pandemonium is a game store in Garden City, MI (NW Detroit Metro area).

I'm also trying to organize the local Pathfinder Society players in Southeastern Michigan into a better connected organization so the GMs can share the burden of eating scenarios for their groups. Right now we have a "Judge's Table" where GMs are invited to sit and occasionally eat a scenario for the group. Then they can go back to their home tables and run the same scenario. If you'd like to join our circle, search for Pathfinder Society on Yahoo! Groups or try pasting this link: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Pathfinder_Society_Southeast_Michigan

We have 17 members currently.

Lastly, if I find out there are a lot of interested but "tableless" parties localized in Macomb or Wayne County, I may attempt to organize a monthly game day at either Pandemonium (see above) or Blue Dragon Games in Shelby Township. This is subject to the approval of the store and space being available. Also, I likely will not start until after the holidays because people are just too busy right now.

I realize that I'm posting pretty late in this thread, but better late than never.

Good timing! I was just thinking this morning that things are very quiet in SE Michigan for Pathfinder Society. I thoroughly enjoyed myself at GenCon and have been itching to play more. I'll check out the link above, but am very interested in playing or DM'ing scenarios. Thanks for coordinating!

Not downriver, but at least Detroit area. I'm out in Warren and working in Ann Arbor. I'm hoping to be able to continue playing scenarios in our area!

Kurt Wasiluk wrote:

The event was sheer pandemonium, which I mean as a compliment. I may be wrong on some of the specifics, but I'm giving you what I was able to get out of it. All of the hundred or so participants were divided into different drow major and minor houses of 5 or 6. We were given character sheets with fairly high level drow members of the houses (average of 14th level at our table). The goal was to get a member of your house to ascend the throne. How we did it was left totally up to us. We were given huge amounts of detail about the other houses, the city, stone giant neighbors, and many other points of interest and then told to do whatever we want to do. I confess to being overwhelmed at first with everything we were supposed to be taking in and the unstructured feel of it all.

Thanks for the reply.

So...

How'd your house do? How'd you do? Did you kill your king?

I didn't kill our king. We seemed to be on a good roll leading a 6 house alliance at one point in what seemed to be a potential massacre. I figured if I could get away from the demon lord I'd maybe have to settle up with him later. But an hour later, I see my king conferring with the same demon lord. "Psst, um, king? That's the demon who wanted me to kill you..." "Yeah yeah, I've got everything under control" Another example of the total chaos and uncertainty going on.

We failed in our attempts to take the throne and then were locked out. Our king received a special boon that let him potentially take the throne after it was initially taken by causing a member of the winning house to betray the new king. Unofficially we can picture how it may have played out, but officially the house that won the throne kept the throne (after about 6 hours of everyone jockeying for it!) and big congrats to them!

I made my first ever trip to Gen Con just for these events and wasn't disappointed. I managed to play all 4 scenarios as Nikara, an Osirion and really enjoyed myself. The scenarios were concise with interesting encounters and opportunities to role-play. The length of the scenarios was appropriate and my groups managed to finish 3 of 4 on time. The faction goals added role-playing opportunities and subplots that didn't derail the main plot. I'm looking forward to further scenarios and hope to find opportunities in the Detroit area to continue the fun. Thank you to everyone involved in providing so many of us a good time.

As far as the Qadiran merchant, if it's the same guy I'm thinking of, he cracked me up over and over. In the Silken Caravan scenario, our DM, Lou, was extremely descriptive in telling us how poor the Qadiran conditions were. But with each dreary, oppressive sentence, our Qadiran friend chimed in joyously in his accent about how good the conditions were and how good to be home. He totally hammed up the role and managed to spin every negative into a positive.

The event was sheer pandemonium, which I mean as a compliment. I may be wrong on some of the specifics, but I'm giving you what I was able to get out of it. All of the hundred or so participants were divided into different drow major and minor houses of 5 or 6. We were given character sheets with fairly high level drow members of the houses (average of 14th level at our table). The goal was to get a member of your house to ascend the throne. How we did it was left totally up to us. We were given huge amounts of detail about the other houses, the city, stone giant neighbors, and many other points of interest and then told to do whatever we want to do. I confess to being overwhelmed at first with everything we were supposed to be taking in and the unstructured feel of it all.

But then everything just clicked. Tables were joining with other tables and trying to attack still other tables. Individuals playing demon lords were walking around giving houses advice or warnings. The various GMs/demon lords/moderators let our imaginations run totally wild. Our house, which handled vermin in the drow city allied itself with a house that are masters of flesh warping and our demon lord facilitated us blending our crafts to create wererats and mutant babies. We then assaulted another house with these mobs. Alliances were made and broken. People were running around and shouting. Some players managed to get into the throne room to try to combat the challenges within while others were blocked out by a force wall. Other subadventures occurred where we were trying to placate stone giants. I was encouraged by a demon lord to murder my king. At first, I tried to joke my way out of it but then, in character I realized that I was being asked by an imposing 12 ft tall demon lord with a whip to do something. And as all this running around was going on Nick and Lou were standing on chairs shouting into a bullhorn with voices of doom telling us all the apocalyptic events happening within the city that changed the ground we all stood upon. Dragons flew over head. The river ran red. Poison gas filled the air.

I confess that I probably only grasped 30% of what was going on (very noisy with 100 people all talking at once), but the event captured much of what I love about gaming: immersion in a setting and opportunities to use imagination. The numbers almost didn't matter as much as the play and interaction. The various moderators were encouraging of whatever nefarious ideas we were coming up with. Our demon lord, Andrew, seemed to light up, the more perverse our ideas became. And the chaos of the room seemed to perfectly mirror the chaos and upheaval the drow city was going through.

I give huge thanks to the designers and all the moderators for creating a very memorable (if exhausting!) experience.