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In my opinion this was the worse special to date, running this one time was more than enough. I made sure not to volunteer to run it after gencon I visited multiple cons. Orgins that year was I think the best, since the person acting Shiela did it in a humorous way. The second part was just as bad as part I. though in much different aspects. My low point was witnessing my table die do to time as well as starting late.
95% of a scenario and if it being fun is up to the GM. This specific scenario really lets the GM, turn up the difficulty. Unfortunately it is up to the GM to make it a difficult but not a 100% murder fest. I have ran it 2x with around a 75% PC Kill rate. I know one group had a blast and the other really disliked it. One group, (liked it) killed Krune. The other hated it, they ran.
I spent a bunch of Gold and Prestige to bring my character back. But the fact was: I did NOTHING THE ENTIRE SCENARIO! I got hit by Plane Shift within the first 15 minutes; Game over for me. Nice long post from a players viewpoint. I would suggest GM'ing, then take your bad experiences and flip it. Learn from it. I do not think anyone would care if you stopped playing PFS. I think tables of players would care if you became a great GM. Personally I find it extremely bad form to kill or remove a person from a scenario in the first encounter. But, I have usually allowing the person to get raised after the encounter. This is not the case for this scenario.
Kill the PC's, and make a stew, great scenario!!!
Undel I have see that post of the dwarven forge forum. AWESOME by the way. The final act of Storming the diamond gate has some unique problems. I have 6 core sets + to paint, I originally didn't like the proposed colors, but I think they ended up looks better after the kickstarter. I have yet to paint them but I have been thinking of doing a Monochrome paint scheme. I am thinking something like a H. R. Giger paint job. In my planning I am at around 7 steps for painting, will likely try to decrease the paint steps down hopefully by 2. Your sandstone sets also look great, I would look into the snakes part I with the sandtones. At some later time I will scroll through scenario's till I can come up with a good mix of both of them.
Most intriguing map for Caverns: Storming the Diamond Gate, the last encounter would without a doubt be the best map to show case Caverns. unfortunately it would require allot of investment or planning. Really out of all the PFS maps this is the singular one for 3-D. It is just awesome. It would need a whole bunch of elevation packs. or Custom foam made elevation. It would require a large build time. I think it would be the single best map to try to re-create in 3-D. I may attempt to make this at some point, but with custom foam blocks being used for elevation. Sadly only 1/3 of the custom build would be focused on this awesome location. The first 1/3 of the scenario is outside the next 2/3 is in fact in a dungeon. I would set this one as a long range goal.
my tips: Just to keep it easy based on set-up. Also some key hints on using Dwarven Forge Game Tiles. I usually pre-build part of the dungeon or a room then bag it in a freezer bag. I also usually include dungeon dressings and monster that will be in these rooms. Start small, the smaller the better, huge maps should be attempted later once you find that the amount of pieces signifigantly increase build time. I also prep using a page of graph paper with notes on the configurations of the build. Going to a convention or a store makes it harder to build than leisurely at home, it can be stressful like putting together a puzzle. These would be the order I would try to use the pieces. Goblin Blood Dead
Song of the Sea Witch
Chasm of Screams
Wonders of the Weave part 2
I am not a huge fan of map changes, this requires more time between set-ups unless you could pre-build with multiple tables and have players rotate to a new table. So these 4 are the ones I would recommend to start with.
As a backer of both of these Kickstarters, as well as using the first one. You need to be selective on the scenario's that you want to use them. The Blackrose Museum looked like a good map till I tried building it was was a couple pieces short. Then again I am in the process of planning the Eyes of the Ten in all Dwarven Forge, I will try to post pictures of it at some point. Arriving early and giving yourself some build time is also helpfull.
If you have the a couple of the water addon packs I think one of the coolest would be wonders in the weave part II, 3-14 IceBoumd Outpost would work well if you have the clear add-on packs. 3-23 Goblin Blood Dead would be the easiest. I guess the problem is there are relatively few scenario's that rely on a single underground map, as well as a unworked stone passage way. Others I can think of Veterans Vault as well as Song of the Seawitch. Sewer Dragons kinda work but would need the watter addon also. Encounter at the Drowning Stones would be awesome for the last encounter.
Attention Pathfinders: I am stepping down as Venture Captain, it has been really exciting to see our local PFS community grow. When I started playing PFS there was one store running PFS every other week. Currently we host PFS at 8 stores near Indianapolis. If you need anything consider Mark Stratton your acting VC. Also if you haven't done so yet, please consider GM'ing. Thanks for the fun times, I plan on being at some PFS tables. Chris
Congratulations Kevin Ingle, on getting his 5th star. Kevin ran his 150 game on August 3 2014. He ran a special game before GenCon for a Thod when he arrived early before Gencon. Kevin is an outstanding GM he routinely commits to volunteer at local and regional cons. He really sets the example on what a 5 star GM is. If you have attended GenCon, Origins, Egypt Wars, Flat Con, Who’s Yer Con, InConJunction. Likely you have had a chance to meet or played with him. I probably skipped a couple conventions. If you are a coordinator you will find Kevin one of the most professional GM’s that volunteers. He is also a very fun GM to play with. I also consider him the best GM in Indiana. If you have a chance to play with him at a con, I would urge you to attend one of his games! Also recently, he has been accepted into the VL ranks supporting the new card game. Congrats Kevin
I do not know if this is the appropriate place, but I now want to run a nonPFS game at Game Time Indy. This is likely to be a Mythic Numeria game of my own creation. I would contact Game Time directly. I know they have several Non PFS games going on through the week. Also many of the stores listed on our warhorn also have campaigns running through the week.
Some new news. The addition of 3 new Indianapolis area stores. Hero's Emporium White Flag Games Fan Boys Go to Warhorn signups. Go to Facebook info. Also some other news. Bloomington Con, September 26 -28 As well as WYG general meeting on the 28 of September.
Take some time and relax. Get healthy create something like a new Requiem for the Red Raven...
5-13 Weapon in the Rift Was an great scenario, congrats Nathan. It also cool to see how some scenarios are rated, along with others nice top 20 list. I also think there is a problem with forcing players to play up in older scenarios. I am not sure how prevalent this is right now. But during this last season I GM'd one of the top 20 from season 3. I believe it is a solid 5 star scenario. I had a perfect party that was doomed to fail, based off their level and their APL. First combat PC deaths, what followed was misery for the party. If they were to review the party now, I think it would reach a lower total. What is surprising now is the low ratings on season 5. I am not sure this is editing or even negatively biased reviews, or even badly GM'd games. I read some of the longer playing scenarios have got bad reviews due to long game times. The Sealed Gate man that is reviewed bad. Fun Sponge/Classic Baird reviews go back and forth. At Gen-Con I had some local players that played it with Kyle. I have to say they enjoyed it, they actually told me in depth how much they liked it. They also were pretty excited about the whole scenario. Now these players will likely never write a review about that game! Was the fact that Kyle being a 5 star GM made it better, or the fact that he was the author make it better? Do reviews even matter? As a community or author, editor do you read and reflect on reviews? Do you die in a game and blame the author? Do you GM it yourself to see what it is like or how you can improve on it?
Did you enjoy GenCon? Thanks for auditing my character. It was the one the was attached to a bone! Yeppers!!!
Did you enjoy GenCon? Thanks for auditing my character. It was the one the was attached to a bone!
Hello Pathfinders Who’s Yer Con (WYC) hosted by Who’s Yer Gamer’s (WYG) on April 17th-19th, 2015 Go to Who's Yer Gamer's for further convention info The convention is moving to a new hotel, so expect more rooms, more vendors more games and gamers. “We Game to Please”! WYC is right around the corner 8 months away. Hotel room reservations in the WYC block are running out fast. You can click the link below for reserving hotel rooms at a special block rate. Go to Wyndham Block info
As for my experience, great but parking was horrendous and did they gouge you in parking fees around the city this year. Parking at GenCon is actually incredibly cheap compared to most cities. I park daily in the closet parking spot to the Sagamore and it is only 24$ a day. Of course you want to get to the con early, I usually come to the con at 7 and it takes about 5 minutes to get into a parking garage and be within 1000 feet from the Sagamore room.
Everyone please take some time at the con to thank Mark Stratton. He did a great job organizing and setting this up! He is likely a little tired and worn-out, Gen-Con isn’t even officially started yet. Give him your thanks in what-ever form, it may help recharge his batteries. “Flawless Victory” Mark
I am not sure how far east you are, but there is a decent bus system in Indy http://www.indygo.net Go to INDY GO. Also the farther out you go the cheaper the parking is at the Con, you could ask around and get a carpool thing going or sharing a taxi.
Con Crud I would also suggest washing your hands often, perhaps carring around some anti bacterial hand wipe or lotion, limit a set of dice for "guests!!". I would skip any form of snack that you need to touch unless you first wash your hands. Don't kiss Mark Moreland on his lips I think he is Con Crud carrier 0.
Game Marshals are the volunteers that muster players to sit at tables, I think Game Marshals are a old timers term. Also there are Klingon Wedding Marshals for those people who are getting married at Gen-Con. Snacks since you have a car Jiggy I would suggest spending 20$ or so on snacks at a CVS or Walgreens. Something like Fiber Bars or Granola bars, even that Vio stuff is great. Snacks I wouldn't recommend nuts trail mix, anything that is not wrapped that you can avoid touching.
So Gen-Con is coming right up. So I would like to just offer some advice. This year will be the busiest year more so than any other year. Expect record attendance as well as added space this year. For the record attendance expect longer lines everywhere. Expect more food trucks on Georgia Street. (My favorite is a Pork Chop Sandwich and a Velvet Cupcake from 2 different trucks). Couple things I would recommend. Don't loose your badge, I have personally done this twice. Both times the Companies HQ held on to it for me. I was very lucky both times. Shower every morning (has to be said), dedicate yourself to at least one good meal a day. Skip fast food like McDonald;s, Subway and Steak and Shake. They usually are extremely busy. Consider some of the area’s dining-in restaurant’s or just trying something different. You may like whatever fast food, try something different. Drink plenty of water, have some sort of back-up snacks as well as aspirin. If you have a vehicle at the Convention, consider packing a cooler with some food. It is almost always faster to walk to a car and get food than getting food at or around the Convention. Also if you do bring a cooler, it is always nice to give away some water soda or chips. Over the years, I have given out allot of water that big name Author on the New York Times best seller list, they don’t want to pay 5-6$ on a bottle of water. I have had allot of good conversations with some of my favorite Authors and Game Designers that have started with giving out a bottle of water. Cosplay - be respectful of people in costume. If you want to take a photo be polite and ask, don’t photo bomb. Also if you are going to be wearing a costume, please consider wearing it only for one day or have some sort of laundry service available. Be considerate of your GM, ask if they need anything, they are your volunteer’s. For ticketed events try to not waste tickets, if you are going to skip a game turn your ticket in for a refund that way someone else will at least have a chance to purchase a ticket for that game. Also be kind to the Game Marshal’s they volunteer their time and have a stressful job, yelling at them or hurting their feelings helps no one. If you wake-up late and think you may skip playing an event. I would recommend skipping it, relax drink some coffee and get a big breakfast.
I am sure others will have some good advice.
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