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Just so you know, I've already played First Steps part II and III (got in on a game late), but not I. So if this goes forward, that's great, and I'll be in just for the first scenario. LightHeretic, we're talking about a Pathfinder Society (PFS) organized play scenario, so if you're unfamiliar with what that is, you'll want to check out the following general web page from which you can get to everything PFS: Essentially, PFS is a shared gaming experience with some extra rules to ensure balance and fairness. It makes it easier for random groups of Pathfinder gamers to get together for short scenarios and grow their characters (e.g., at conventions). Essentially, it's Pathfinder with extra ground rules to make this all happen. Here is the document that you will want to download and read over to see how PFS works: Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play And finally a PbP guide: Hope this helps! Honestly, I've been doing PbP for years and years, and while I love the roleplaying it affords, PFS seems to be the only reasonable way to make it work so you don't take a year to gain a level or have a group disintegrate because people fall away from the game. You'll enjoy yourself - when D&D 4e came out, my two in-person groups both tried it for a year or two, then abandoned it for Pathfinder and never looked back.
I definitely appreciate the collaborative feel of how we're deciding how to proceed. It looks like the decision at this point is what kind of non-PFS experience do people want. I'm the one person who indicated that if we left PFS play, I would probably drop out. This has nothing to do with the group, or the GM - I'm enjoying playing with all of you. And I know that if the decision is to start up a homebrew or an adventure path, for example, I will be tempted to stay. For me it's simply a matter of time. In addition to this game, I am in 1 regular game (Curse of the Crimson Throne) and one pbp (Skull & Shackles). I'm just getting into PFS and currently there is nothing running in my geographical area, so pbp is my way of experiencing it. I don't realistically have time to find another PFS pbp and keep going in this game, much as I'd like to. So I have a tough choice to make. This is all by way of explaining my likely decision to not continue if we can't find a way to keep it a PFS sanctioned game. And as such, I don't think I should vote in the direction the rest of you will take. As I told GM-JCServant, if the group continues with the story line, I am more than happy to continue playing until the end of the current session. It's unfortunate that there are folks out there that put us in a situation where, from what I can tell, the adjustments to the game were allowing for a decent-paced, positive experience (for nearly all of us, anyway - there was one player previously who had issues with it). Like our GM said, some people have nothing better to do, or feel that these adjustments are an injustice for some reason. Regardless, this is a great group and I'm sure that you'll all find a way to enjoy Pathfinder together. And as one of the players in my face-to-face game always says, if you aren't having fun, what's the point?
Marisan considers the offer of spider meat for a moment, eventually replying, "Perhaps when we have finished our work here. I've never tried giant spider before." She actually seems sincere about this. To the group, she suggests, "So maybe we should proceed in two groups, with Sharan, Elwyn, and Harboth in the lead, and the rest of us trailing behind fifteen or twenty feet behind? That way, we're not separated, but the three of you can scout a tiny bit ahead."
With combat over, Marisan crouches by the sewer entrance and extends a hand to Sharan and Telurion to help them up. She casts guidance on the two as they attempt to climb out of the sewer. "Oh, and hand me those two spears, if you can," she says, smiling. She wipes the gore from their tips with grim satisfaction, and clears them of any clinging webbing. She moves over to where she had landed and grabs her wayfinder, dusting it off. "Looks like we know where to head next, unless there's something else here to be found."
Seeing the over-sized vermin, Marisan attempts to identify its exact type.
Marisan shouts "Sharan! Watch out! Spider!" She then chants an incantation and jumps through the trapdoor, gliding to the end of the room opposite the spider's current location as she falls. She also uses the time during her gentle fall to draw her best shortspear. As she lands in a crouch, she lets her wayfinder drop from her fingers to clatter on the ground, spilling light from that corner of the room.
Marisan joins the party outside, ready to begin their quest. A slightly tall, lithe woman in early adulthood, she has dark skin, brown eyes, and thick black hair worn in long braids woven with what appears to be dried seaweed. Under her leather armor, she wears a sea-green tunic and pantaloons accented with tiny cockle shells. "I'm anxious to free some more captives and retrieve this artifact." She wrinkles her nose. "...even if it does mean venturing into the filth below this city." She thinks for a moment, and the adds, "It probably makes sense to purchase some protection against disease. I plan on picking up several appropriate potions before we descent, in case anyone else has similar purchases to make."
Marisan smiles warmly at the halfling sitting under her chair. "Hello, Sharan. I look forward to fighting along side you." She looks up at Telurion, nodding, "And you as well." To the others, she nods in recognition of their established companionship. She then turns her attention to the Venture-Captain as she describes the situation. Her expression turns less sunny as she listens. "I'm confident we can liberate the captives, as we did before, while accomplishing our main objective. Venture-Captain, are there other dangers known to exist in the sewers of Cassomir that we might encounter?"
I've read three myself (I own four more but won't ask for signatures on the Chronicle sheets until I've read them), and they've all been enjoyable. Death's Heretic is my favorite so far, but they've all been noticeably above average as far as shared world fiction goes. Hopefully there's not a lot of cheating, as the books are worth reading. Also, the boons are relatively modest, from what I can see, and shouldn't unbalance things in favor of those who have/have read the books. I didn't know that I could have the Chronicle Sheets applied to multiple characters. I thought it was a use-it-once per player thing. Good to know.
Quick question (and apologies if this is covered elsewhere, but my initial search did not clarify): Can a 1st or 2nd level PFS character spend 2 PP (assuming s/he has it to spend) on a "free purchase up to 750 gp" (as listed Table 5-4 in the Guide) such as a 1st level wand, even if his/her Fame is insufficient to purchase such an item with gp based on Table 5-3 in the Guide? Are "purchasing" and "free purchase" two separate things in terms of who is eligible? Thanks!
Thanks - But wouldn't spending those 2 prestige points to buy a 750 gp item from your faction (thus capitalizing on your fame) contradict the limits displayed in Table 5-3? Or is this the difference between "purchase" (Table 5-3) and "free purchase" (Table 5-4)? In other words, you can spend 2 PP even if your fame is insufficient for you to purchase a 750-gp wand (using gp instead of PP)?
Unless I'm misreading the rules, I can't purchase a 1st level wand until my Fame is 9 or greater. Table 5-3 in the Guide to Organized Play (p. 26) lists the maximum item cost available to a player based on his/her Fame score, and the maximum is 500 gp for anyone with a Fame of between 5 and 8. A 1st level wand costs 750 gp. In the description, it says: "A character's Fame score determines the maximum gp value of any items she can purchase from her faction, as detailed in Table 5-3 below." So I think that this means that I can buy anything that is Always Available no matter the cost, if I have the gp to buy it, but this is the limit for buying directly from my own faction. *EDIT* However, wands are not on the Always Available list (see p. 25), though potions are. And on that page it says: "Beyond the gear noted above, your character is restricted to purchasing additional items from his accumulated Chronicle sheets, or by capitalizing on his fame within his faction. Weapons, armor, equipment, magic items, and so on that are outside of these lists are not available for purchase at any time." So, I believe this means that any of us that have 8 points or fewer of Fame can only buy 1st-level wands that are on our Chronicle sheets. And after all this, I see now that CLW is on a Chronicle sheet of mine (From First Steps III, as is a 25-charge wand of MM). But I think I understand the buying rules better now.
Marisan approaches Cestis after he identifies himself, crouching down next to Rachele. "Agent Cestis, it's good to see you alive. We were tasked by Venture-Captain Themis to locate and liberate you. Allow me to introduce my fellow agents." She then points out and names each member of the group. Then Marisan stands and, to the larger group of former captives, says, "We're going to get all of you out of here momentarily. Any information you can give us about what happened and what you saw will help us bring the perpetrators to justice."
Marisan curses under her breath as her ray of magic goes wide of its target. When the dust settles, she moves over to Kyle but gives Rydderch room to tend to him. Upon seeing Harboth approach the bleeding man, Marisan springs forward to step between the two. She puts a hand on the ranger's shoulder. "Don't, Harboth. Let's see if he's alive first. We may decide we need to question him." She then kneels by their enemy.
It seems worth pointing out to anyone who is questioning this approach that these are not preferred house rules so much as adjustments to make the gaming experience work within the confines of the medium of PbP (of course others may have other adjustments). And, importantly, from what I can tell, our players are neither systematically at an advantage or disadvantage based on these adjustments, relative to standard table-top play.
This is disappointing, but thanks for letting us know. Unfortunately, I've already got one character in a non-PFS AP and am too busy to add another. This is my only PFS character at the moment, and if I do any other PBP I want it to be with her. If this dies, it will be a bummer, but I will probably seek a real life PFS game in my area before doing online Skype/Maptools. But it's definitely something I'd consider.
Marisan re-loads a magically enhanced bullet into her sling and stands at the ready. Speaking quietly, she assents, "In that case let's check the doors first." She nods toward her pouch of bullets, adding, "These will do significant harm to any undead, in case that is what we find. But only while the spell is active."
Marisan nods silently at Elwyn's plan. She looks over at Rachele, points at her, mimics speaking, then points up at the ceiling. The likely interpretation is, You're good at this sort of stuff, do you want to try it? She then stands far enough away from the trap door that, if need be, she wouldn't be shooting more or less straight upwards. |
