Sad Rock's page

Also, please don't think that the more $$$ the scotch the better it is. It might be more true, in general, but there are lots of times where I've paid a lot for a bottle but found it wasn't for me or I didn't get it. While the $200 bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue is amazeballs, it's also possible that some $$$ scotches are crap. The only way to know for sure is research and trying them out.

Category:subcategory
All drinks: milk, water, booze, sodas, etc.
All booze: beer, wine, vodka, whiskey, gin, tequila, etc.
All whiskey: whisky, irish whiskey, japanese whiskey, bourbon, american whiskey, scotch, canadian whiskey, etc.
All scotch: just scotch, from Scotland. If it comes from a distillery on the <MAP>., then it's probably scotch.

Scotch is a particular whiskey that only comes from Scotland.

If you like and read this or my bloggeries, please like the post so me and other contributors know what they are doing matters. Thanks.

PbP is *the* best Pathfinder format there is. No game you will ever run will have the depth of story and character that you will have in PbP.

I can't apologize for the length of this post as I recognize that in tackling this I could never have written all that could be said about Play-by-Post (PbP) GMing. There is just too much...and I could never say enough and do a complete job. However, there should be some things below to help you find the mindset to run a great game. I hope other posters will fill in the blanks with their own suggestions and ideas.

I did not work alone on this. Other active contributors include:

GM Angry Ankheg
DM Evilan
GM Rat Sass

Others have contributed to this post by running me in their games. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from them.

I freely welcome open discussion, your contributions, and disagreement in this thread...only through the sharing of ideas and collaboration can we push this format to be better.

It's tough to be a GM, twice as hard to be a good PbP GM. I have had several some many oh-god-no-more games crash and burn because of GMs not understanding how difficult it can be to GM PbP. Why is it so different than Face-to-Face(F2F)?

• No immediate feedback from players. When there is a problem or a mistake, it can take hours/days to find and fix.
  
• You cannot read facial expression of players. It's easier to spot areas of confusion in real life.
  
• Difficult to know when to push; finding your timing is harder. This is the single hardest thing for a new GM to figure out. It's hard to know when to let RP flow and when to push sagging action. A GM will occasionally 'herd cats' to get the party back on task...it happens in every group.
  
• Getting maps to work for a diverse online group is harder than drawing on a map pack. Figuring out how *you* are going to present fun and fair mapped combats. Sure, Rolld20, Googledocs, pic hosting all work, but what best fits your skillset? Which one are you trained in and feel comfortable with?
  
• Having to read and respond to everything. A real life GM (usually) gets questions one at a time and can focus and prioritize how and what to answer. In PbP, it requires reading every post and seeing each post for what needs a response. It's very frustrating as a player to have to ask the same question, post after post. It's easy for a GM to miss things in PbP that normally wouldn't be missed in F2F.
  
• Sometimes your players have infrequent check-ins...creating a difficulty in assessing what they meant when they posted. You want to avoid going back and forth, over days, to clarify so you’ll likely need to guess their desires and do what’s best.
  
• Difficulty in describing your story/action/environment. Hand gestures, intonation, inflection all matter in communication...but are much more difficult in PbP. A map with two or three dimensions is a lot of PbP work...a clarification on a map might be two quick pen strokes to fix and explain in real life, but take a lot of map time to fix in PbP. You need to be able to explain story and setting via the written word. That can be much harder in PbP for some people (some people are not strong writers, or English is not their first language). Some people are better storytellers via the spoken word.
  
• Focus. The good GM must be more focused than the players, more on top of the game, more energetic - every day for years. If the GM falters, the whole game falters - much more severely than when a single player drifts.

However, these are not insurmountable problems. A PbP game has many, clear advantages to 'Real' Life, Face-to-Face and can be an infinitely more rewarding experience for you and your players.

Coffee is for closers. I repeat: Coffee is for closers.

Don't set out to start a PbP. *SET OUT TO CLOSE A PBP* Finish what you're going to start...whether it's one book of an AP, a PFS scenario, or your own home brew.

These boards are full of dead games...started by GMs with the best intentions. But they have failed before the first 1000 posts. Failed before they even got to the good stuff. Mostly, it's because the GM lost heart, didn't realize what it would take to create a good game. They were unprepared for the daily effort that is necessary to *complete* a PbP.

In their wake, they have left player after player wondering why the game died. It’s because their beginnings were ill-conceived, poorly formed, and/or lacked the momentum to properly start in the first place.

So...*Don't start a PbP unless you can finish it.*

Being a PbP GM is hard (and also infinitely rewarding) and this guide is going to help you out. However, please, for the love of whatever gods you might pray to: try a PFS mod before starting a full AP. Finish something small first, get it done, get your feet wet and understand what it takes.

The good GMs aren't the ones who start PbPs...they are the ones that close them.

Running a PBP game is a LOT of work. You have to keep track of everyone more than you would in a tabletop game, and for me at least, I'm switching windows all the time to see what modifiers are in play, etc. etc. Even with some dice strings saved, every dice roll involved some typing that takes longer than simply tossing a d20. It's simply time-consuming to do each round of combat in a way that it isn't at the tabletop.

So do things to make things easier on yourself.

Set your expectations. Posting. Roleplaying. Formatting. Interactions. House rules. Community. Everything that you can make clear up front, will make your job easier later. Be clear!

Acknowledge & Thank Awesomeness: When one of your players does something awesome, acknowledge it. Great roleplaying? Say so. Something make you laugh? You blew coffee all over your keyboard? Put in an LOL! or LOL@<name> into your next post. Use the "favorite this post" to show your appreciation. It matters. Soon, your players will start liking your posts and those of your other players.

React: Good stuff happens when people react to things that are happening. As GM, you have more opportunities to react than your players...while you should give your players priority in reacting, you should definitely have your say in promoting roleplay by reacting. Reacting properly gives the players hooks and creates interest. Interaction is part of the social nature of this game.

Socialize: Remember that you and your fellow players are people that have come together to play. Find ways to talk to others outside the IC and OOC threads. In most of my current games, I have connection with players via GoogleChat (via Trillian) or a Facebook Private Group through which we can chat about in-game and out-of-game stuff. Getting to know the other players has only enhanced my connections to their characters and to the roleplaying. My best games are ones that I can chat with the GMs about both in-game and out-of-game stuff. We're friends...having fun together playing PbP.

Trust: Building trust is essential, both between you and your players and for the other players to have so that they can roleplay honestly without worrying about mistakes. Some of the best RP and memories comes from players acting in character to results that didn't turn out as intended. However, players need trust to take those risks, to act and make mistakes.
Create trust by:

• Being reliable and responding in a timely manner.
  
• Doing what you say...and holding your players accountable as well.
  
• Take your own risks, even making mistakes, so that your players can see how you take responsibility and fix it and carry on.
  
• Be open for private (PM) discussion as necessary. And care for the secrets of your players. Not everything needs to be on an alias...work with players to create secrets that you will trust them to play out as they see fit.
  
• Be objective and fair: RAW or RAI, explain fairly and make fair resolutions.
  

Be a friend, a confidant, a human. We aren't playing PbP because we want to play with robots...we aren't playing WoW. This is a roleplaying *and* social game.

Train your players using positive reinforcement: When you call out a great roleplaying post or clear combat action, you highlight what you value and your players will strive to do more.

The game, our time, this PbP format, is too valuable to let it be ruined by bad players...and I've seen plenty of bad players in PbP. What sorts of things?

• Long, unexplained posting absences
  
• Posts that have no roleplaying, hooks, or pushes
  
• Argumentative or metagaming actions
  
• Not reading the others’ posts
  
• Not following campaign rules and expectations.

(Note: Knowledge of Pathfinder rules is a not an issue...nor is quality of build. As GM, you can place as much priority on those aspects as you deem appropriate...and you can work with rules-light players almost easier than you can with rules lawyers. It's a matter of preference and your ability to train your players on what you prefer.)

Remember, you outline the type of campaign you want, and then help the players live up to it.

You have the *responsibility* to your players to not let bad players slow down or ruin your game. It's *your* job to take action to protect *your* game from bad players. Sorry/NotSorry, it's one of the privileges/duties/honors of leadership.

Some behaviors are correctable and simple nudges and PMs should clarify what is expected. A few polite personal messages should clear it up.

Always give your players chances to improve...if you are positive with what you expect, it should be easy to fix. And remember this trick: Praise in Public, Criticize in Personal Message/Private.

Now, here is the biggest point of all this: Don't be afraid to cut bad players. You can replace them easily enough...but if a player is not contributing, or is sucking the soul from you or other players, it is your duty to cut them before they do too much damage. As one Venture Captain once told me: “You got to scrape the barnacles off the boat if you want to sail quickly."

Bad players are a drag on you and on your players. Give them a chance to improve...and GET RID OF THEM if they don't improve.

Step 1: Create the Recruitment Thread:Go to the Play-by-Post Recruitment area of the Paizo Boards; use the "add new thread" link. This requires a title. The most important information to have in this title is whether or not it is an "open" or "closed" recruitment. If it is a closed recruitment, the post does not have to say much, but can be used to begin the setting the tone for the story. If it is an open recruitment, this is where the rules and expectations previously chosen will be relayed to prospective players.

Step 2: Create the Campaign Page: When creating the Recruitment page, there will be a small box at the top with a link to set up the campaign thread. The page it creates is a good place for a list of important things: rules, important NPCs, quests, links to maps and/or treasure sheets. A good campaign page makes the game easier for both the GM and the players. Paizo has set it up so that immediately upon creation, a campaign page will have links to create the other threads, including the one you will use the most, The Gameplay thread.

Step 3: Create the Gameplay Thread: When the other threads are used appropriately, the Gameplay Thread is allowed to stand as an almost entirely in-character space. Done well, they can be read near enough as a story. To this end, the first post for your Gameplay thread should be after your party has been chosen, after they have crafted their characters, and after they have had a little bit of time to get to know each other in the recruitment thread.

How long will it likely run?
Hidden in this question are several other sub-questions. How many posts are you willing to make daily, and how many will you expect players to make? What happens *when* someone can’t post at some point? What is the preferred sandbox/rails ratio and will there be opportunity for personal stories for the players? All of these things can impact how long it takes to run the exact same scenario/module/or adventure path. There are no RIGHT answers to this, as long as the members of the group all have the same expectations.

What levels will it cover?
“Level” can apply to many things that are important to consider. The number of character levels the campaign will cover will impact the answers to the question above, but there are other “levels” to consider. What sort of experience level are you looking for? What age group? Will it be G, PG, or something more adult? How much humor and how much gore? What are your expectations regarding the Metagame and it’s in-game consequence? You may or may not voice all of these in the recruitment thread, but by asking yourself the questions, you’ll know what you are looking for and why as you search for players.

What ruleset and what sort of house rules will be in place?
While most of the Play-by-Posts on the Paizo boards tend to be Pathfinder, not all of them are, and of those, they could still be Core Only, Pathfinder Society, or a no-books-barred Pathfinder+3.x, or anywhere in between. Again, knowing the answers to these questions will help pull together people who will hopefully enjoy the same ruleset and house rules.

Just as important as the rules for the game are often “unwritten” rules that make for a good game. How deeply are you looking for the characters to be developed prior beginning? How much character friction (vs player friction) is allowable? How much, and what sort of metagaming is allowed? Being upfront about these things with your players makes sure that they have considered these things as well. It's not that any given answer is "Right" but that it is Right for the game and group in question.

Rules: made to be broken, or bent?
It can be very easy to lay things out just the way you would like them. That's fine and promotes good communication so that you end up with like-minded players and a game you can not just live with, but truly enjoy. Human beings are imperfect. Therefore, you and your players are likely to be imperfect as well. Knowing how much room you are willing to give people before making permanent changes can help stave off hurt feelings and leave future game possibilities intact. Even if you never play with a person again, leaving things well versus badly affects not just you, and not just that person, but the hobby as a whole, as every person goes out into the world and interacts with new players.

The Only Rule that Matters
Different rules will work for different groups, and though we all have our favorites, there is one that is important for every group: Communicate! Communicate problems early. Communicate often, both in the Gameplay thread, and in the Discussion thread. Build communication lines beyond the Play-by-Post threads, such as email, Facebook, or chat. Communication between player and GM is important; they need to be able to ask those questions that might pop up at the gaming table prior to posting. Communication between players is just as important. A GM should facilitate this if at all possible. This is a social game, and people need to be able to socialize directly, not just through the GM. Most little problems can be solved between players well before the GM needs to step in.

What kind of game do you want? One that focuses on the technical parts of Pathfinder (builds, combat effectiveness) or one that is focused on roleplaying and character? You should create the recruitment thread to highlight what you want.

I will make no secret that I place roleplaying and character development over builds in every case. If your game is going to succeed, story and motivation are what matter...not how much damage someone can do. In my experience, combat and balance always work themselves out...roleplaying and story do not.

Get Players who read/follow directions: A Recruitment thread is a great place to quickly see who is going to annoy you and other players with their lack of attention. For instance, if you mention in your build requirements 'core races only' for a low fantasy game and some yahoo offers a Dhampir Half Dragon, maybe they aren't going to be an easy fit. I guarantee if that if they aren't paying attention in a recruitment thread, then they are going to be players who frequently miss things in-game.

Attrition: Unless you are incredibly lucky/unlucky, you will face some attrition from your starting game until the end. Players move on, get new jobs, lives change...things happen. You can either prepare to re-recruit when that happens, or recruit large (6 players for your average AP)...then not replace them as they leave.

Referrals vs. Open Auditions: There are some GMs who only open up to players they know or are referred to them. That can be good...you know the players you are getting have the potential to be good (or, at least, have a social pressure to contribute). On the other hand, we need to make the game open and inviting for new players. A referral might have a long, strong posting history and be a great player...on the other hand, playing with new and different players is how we improve as roleplayers.

Suggestion if you are taking referrals: Find a spot or two for new players. We always need to find ways to include new (to PbP) players into our games...they are our game's lifeblood and can be trained to be good players. This post (PFS) talks about what we want from new Pathfinder players. It applies nicely to PbP and the PbP community as well.

We can learn a lot from new players: both things we've never thought of...and things we know are wrong. Sometimes learning what not to do is as good as knowing what works. New players see and react in new ways...helping us flesh out possibilities within the PbP metagame.

Maps don't need to be amazing, they just need to get the job done. Questions you might ask yourself:

• Can I learn to make it work?
  
• Is it easy to update? *very* important
  
• Do I want my players to move their own tokens or should I create a labeled grid and set positions?
  
• Can I (and my players) access the map from work?
  
• How important is mobile mapping, i.e. access from phones and tablets?
  
• How much detail is important to me?

Google Drive: has 4 different formats that can be used to map: Googledraw, Google presentation, Google spreadsheets, and Google Document. That’s right, with nothing more than basic office productivity software, you can map for a Play-by-Post.

Rolld20: After trying basic office productivity software, most people decide to look for something stronger. Roll20 has a base subscription for free. It has everything that any of the Google Drive formats have, plus more. Like any community-supported resource, it is hoped that those who see the benefit will donate or subscribe at a higher rate to help keep it alive and growing.

RPG Virtual Tabletop: Several websites have lists and/or reviews of various options, one of which can be found at RPG Virtual Tabletop.

Ditzie: Some GMs like Ditzie, which is easily updated from any computer. You can create recursive maps easily.

In the end, this is a lackluster explanation because there are lots of options depending on what you want to do and how you want to do it. The most important factor in mapping is getting one that works for you BEFORE you start a game. Working maps is a high stress factor in PbP games. Get it right before you start.

Prepare your initiatives (and common things like perception checks) ahead of time. Set up a macro or copy and paste it from your Campaign Info (example link) tab.

Roll initiatives for your players. Usually in a spoiler.

Organize your monsters/bad guys into meaningful groups. You don't necessarily want all your monsters in one group, but also, each additional group/individual you have will slow down combats. If you have yahoos that should be acting alone, have them act alone. If your party is facing 15 kobolds, then maybe do 3 groups of 5.

Order the initiatives from first to last, using highest init modifier in the event of a tie.

Post the initiative in a way that you can copy/paste later in your rounds.

In this, the GM rolls for everyone and then each person responds either in order, in subgroups, or as they can. At the end of the round, the GM summarizes, taking each person’s response into consideration as he lays out how the round played out. This can be a little or a lot more complicated, depending on which variation is chosen. In general, a little more work for the GM can speed the game up considerably. As with most things, communication is the key to success.

Here is a champion GM's Initiative Post

You can also work with your players to track loot and gold, helping them keep lists and reviewing purchases and sales.

GM Treasure Tracker: GM Evilan's CotCT (spoilers) Treasure sheet. This was keen as he used WBL to level us, managing the treasure for when he wanted us to level.

Player Treasure Tracker: This one is run by Mal from our Reign of Winter campaign.

Personal Treasure Tracking: When there is no group tracking, I would at least encourage you have your players track their monies and purchases in the OOC, keeping a running total of gold.

Spasi's First Cashing
Spasi's Second Cashing - not the link back to the first cashing
Spasi bought stuff
And #4 cashing - you get the idea

If it is important to you (or your players), you are encouraged as ask your players to post their total Wealth in the OOC so you can see where they are as opposed to where you could be. If you notice a player who is significantly under WBL, you can manage a treasure drop for them.

Why? We, as humans, respond to consistency and expectations. It gets us all on a regular schedule. And nothing is better for a PbP game than consistency: when players know the game is always going to move forward, they stay engaged, they stay in-character.

On the other side of the coin, random and fragmented posting is a killer. Unexplained absences, slow posts, and gaps make for a poor game. Your story falters when the details fade from memory. We players lose our connection to the game and our characters when we do not post.

Keep your momentum. Post everyday...and at a set time if you can.

My GM PbP requirements might look like this: "I'm going to hold you to the same standard as I hold myself: I expect you to post as often as is needed, adjusting to the pace of the group, as set by me. I plan to post at least once per day. When you do post, I expect you to push the action/story/RP or leave/pick up RP hooks. If our pacing changes to the point of negatively impacting your ability to keep up, I hope and expect that you will talk to me earlier rather than later. I promise to do the same if our positions are reversed."

Example #1: OOC Corral Post #1 (Shackled City spoilers) – Party was lost on leads and story. Fixed in one post...

Example #2: ...until we needed more months later. (Shacked City spoilers).

Example #3: Not to mention combat confusion, a good corral post can fix those too...

Example #4: ...until it happens again. It happens. The best person to get things back on track is *you*, the GM. Players will get lost as they deal in the campaign and through the lens of busy lives. It's easy to fix.

Another great example comes from GM Brew:
Example #5: GM Brew answers a bunch of questions in this post. Well done, GM Brew.

By the same token, invite players over to the OOC to research rules questions. Have a question about how XYZ works? Ask your players to figure things out with you in the OOC. Quoting rules sources or linking to rules pages makes things work. Remember, you can play RAW or RAI or 'WhateverIWant' as long as you're fair, clear, and consistent in your rulings.

Here is another example (link) from the amazing GM Chris. Was the ruling right or wrong? Answer: It doesn't matter...the GM ruled and explained. We players were happy and moved on. Another example.

Players can also help with rules by researching things for you: Check out Atol (here).

Think they are wrong? Take it to the OOC: A powergaming yahoo gets slapped by the GM (next post).

GM Evilan used GP vs. WBL to decide when it was time to level. GM Evilan's Treasure & XP sheet. See the first tab? He used loot to approximate when we would be leveling. As GM you can adjust the loot.

Secondly, when characters level, in addition to having them update any alias information, ask them to either send you their new character sheets or post their new levels in the OOC, pointing out feats, spells, skills, and things of interest.

Hektir Lvl 2
Hektir Lvl 3
Hektir Lvl 4 etc.

There are two ways to handle them:

• Put the information in scaling spoilers so that players can roll their knowledges and then read the appropriate spoiler for them. There is a great example from DM Are, here. As a player, I love this approach. However, it doesn't always give the player the chance to ask a specific question. Nonetheless, that is a fine trade off in PbP and you, as GM, can begin to include those answers in the spoilers.

• The second method is poking your players with a reminder to roll if they want. Example:

  The big blob rushes at you with pseudopods extended! Knowledge (Dungeoneering), DC 18 for 1 question.

Or this example from GM Lithrac.

It's sometimes hard to remember what creature goes with what knowledge. There are plenty of links around to help you remember, including this one:

• Arcana: constructs, dragons, magical beasts
  
• Dungeoneering: aberrations, oozes
  
• Local: humanoids (elves, dwarves, goblins, etc.)
  
• Nature: animals, fey, monstrous humanoids, plants vermin
  
• Planes: elementals, outsiders (demons, devils, angels, archons)
  
• Religion: undead

The basic check 10 + the monster's CR. 15 + CR if you feel the monster is rarer. Players can usually get additional information for each 5 that they beat the check. But, as always, this is your game and GM for the most enjoyment for you and your group.

A good GM prompts, pushing when appropriate. And you will need to learn when to push and when to let things lie. It may take time for you and your group to coalesce. It may take you a while to know when to push and when to wait. Luckily, as you are GM, you can easily ret-con (go back on) actions and fix things if you go too quickly. As I believe there is a greater danger in going slow than quick, I always encourage pushing. Going too fast can be fixed, going too slow makes things harder.

Check out this perfect push post by GM CC (link). It beautifully describes the actions and prompts the players to react. Granted, you should not need to prompt your players to react, but this sort of push is very effective. What would you do?

GM Cyrioul showed me this neat trick...'Stepping'. And another stepping post. These are great ways to give players a chance to interject or respond as you post a bit of dialogue. It allows for a bigger post AND for responses to them. It reduces the slowness brought on by the give-and-take that long dialogues can have in PbP.

Example active pushes:

• You guys are up.
  
• Your options are: explore the kobold lair, go to town, or surprise me.
  
• Waiting to hear from Jimbo Von Flumphpants and Sister Heddy Tartar. (Calling out your player's names is better than not. Don't be afraid to emphasize what you need from your players.)
  
• You guys need a solution to the weregummybear. It's eaten half the town so far...and the other half is mostly orphanages and brothels.

”Track how often people post, and caution your heaviest poster just as much as you encourage your weakest poster. The GM should be the heaviest overall poster. If not, consider who is driving the campaign.”

The best part about GM PCing? You, as GM, can take things back or fix things if they are wrong. The second best part is that it can help you keep momentum and story focus.

”Beware of doors: For some reason, placing a door in front of the PCs will make the game grind to a halt while they prepare to open it. Don't ask me why this happens, it just does.”

In a PbP game, you want to avoid 'doors', that is, unnecessary delays in the game where your players are spending days wondering who is going to open the door. Hopefully, you are training them to push and act, but...just be aware that doors/columns/funky blue lights/NPCs can all be 'doors', that is, barriers to pushing forward.

When you recognize that your players are afraid of a 'door', give them a push.

What's great about being GM is that you get to deal with them in any way you choose. You can either ignore them or, even better: fix them as best you can, learn from the experience, and move on.

As GM, you can go back in time pretty easily...or issue a story override pretty easily.

Example #1: ”Oops, I screwed up. The pegleg gnome you met back in town? He was actually a 'jittery eskimo firefighter' carrying two harpoons. He also told you that the secret to opening the Tomb of the Tattooed Turnips was weasel grease. You guys need weasel grease.”

Example #2: ”You're totally right, Kast. I missed the deflection bonus from your combat toupee. Take off 6 damage.”

Example #3: ”Oooh...oops! The DC for that Hold Person was supposed to be 14, not 34. Let's go back before the coup de grace, back to Round 2. My bad.”

Example #4: ”Uh...yeah, I made a mistake there. No one has died, but yeah, you all got screwed, but found your way out of the Tavern of the Tepid Teawater. Let's play on.”

The trick in a campaign for a DM is to keep reasonable fidelity with the overarching plot while allowing the PCs scope to do stuff. It's primarily about decent hooks, and also about rolling with what the PCs do while gently nudging them in the direction of the "good stuff".

…
PbP, of course, gives a DM plenty of time to think. That actually makes running a plotted campaign that meaningfully includes player actions easier because the DM doesn't have to make immediate decisions if they are surprised by what the players do. It also, of course, makes for good roleplaying, too, but that can be a bit dependent on the writing ability of the players and DM.

Aubrey says it better than I ever could. Have your story and get your players to collaboratively write it.

The key is being clean and ordered so that you and your players can easily see what round it is, what initiative it is, and who is coming up next. In short, it's about clear, communicative posts. Train your players how you want them to post actions and keep clear actions in combat so that you, as GM, can follow what they are doing and adjudicate the combat efficiently. You want to finish one round clearly so you can recap and move to the next.

Finish what you start.
Don't start a PbP unless you can finish it.

Set your game up right.
Set clear expectations.
Promote communication and community.
Use all of your resources; share the load.
Get your maps set *BEFORE* you start.

Train your players.
Praise in Public, Criticize in Personal Message/Private.
Don't be afraid to cut bad players.
Hold players to your standards.

Post Everyday. Be Consistent.
Post at a rate that you can sustain; post as needed to keep momentum.

Learn to Push your players and your posts.
Keep up your momentum.

Run good combats that make things easy on you.
Train your players to make things easy on you.

Always Be Pushing. (ABP!) A, Always. B, Be. P, Pushing. Always be pushing. This is the most important thing you can do as a PbP player. It's not about posting often or quickly, it's about doing stuff when you post. It's about pushing your character's involvement in the story forward. Whenever you can, push the action, push the direction, push the party along. PbP is already a slow format, so try to make it better by pushing while giving others a chance to respond, of course. To reiterate: it's not the frequency of your posts, but what actions you take through them.

Examples of good push posts:

Good push post #1.

Good push post #2.

Good players push...rarely leaving a post that doesn't move things along or offer a hook. That momentum will make it easier for the GM and other players to act and react as necessary. It's easier for a GM to slow things down if necessary, rather than create something from nothing. Do this because it can make your GM's job easier.

Embrace hooks: leave them everywhere. In PbP terms, a hook is a call to action, a point of interest, a *something* that someone else can react. It's hard to react in a vacuum, much easier to react to what others are doing and what else is happening. So try to have a hook in every post!

Compare the following two posts and pretend you're next to post:

Post #1: Hektir enters the room and looks around. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Perception

Post #2: Hektir enters the room, spits, and looks around. "Smells like goblin farts in here," Hektir says, sniffing the air. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Perception

Which post would you rather respond to? The second sets up a few more opportunities, if ever so slight. You might react to the spit on the ground, noticing it only when you make (or fail) your perception check. Or you might ask how Hektir knows what goblin farts smell like. Or comment on Hektir sniffing. When you reply, you should try to leave a hook (or 2) of your own.

Always look for other people's hooks when you're setting up your own. Try to respond to them in a way that can both encourage their character to elaborate while expounding on yours. An excellent Play-by-Post isn't simply the combats, with each characters' stories bordering it like a frame- it is a rich tapestry of a thousand threads, woven together to create the beautiful whole.

Embrace the Important Soft Push/Hook: There are times when you are just waiting for the GM or the other players to post, but 24 hours have passed. That's the time for the Soft Push/Hook- a post that doesn't do anything but bump your interest in the thread and what's happening. They are important to show that you're still alive, engaged and helping others stay engaged by giving them something to react.

Good soft push/hook post #1.

Good soft push/hook post #2.

Pathfinder is a social game. Pathfinder involves interactive social skills whether it's around a table or over the Intratoobz. Your ability to work with others, create trust, and thank others will go a long way towards making your game better. These skills apply in real life, but tend to show up differently in PbP.

Acknowledge & Thank Awesomeness: When someone does something awesome, acknowledge it. Great roleplaying? Say so. Something make you laugh? You blew coffee all over your keyboard? Put in an LOL! or LOL@<name> into your next post. Use the "favorite this post" to show your appreciation. It matters. You'll know when you start getting them, and you'll feel inspired to create better posts. Start today, by thanking and acknowledging good posts in your PbPs. Others will feel it too...and reciprocate.

React: There is a static and boring trope about being stonyfaced and unreacting when things happen. Well, it's boring in PbP. Good stuff happens when people react to things that are happening. Reacting gives others hooks and creates interest. Reacting ties your character to other characters. Find ways to react. Find ways to interact. Interaction is part of the social nature of this game.

Socialize, dammit!: Remember that you and your fellow players are people that have come together to play. Find ways to talk to others outside the IC and OOC threads. In most of my current games, I have connection with players via GoogleChat (via Trillian) or a Facebook Private Group that we can about in-game and out-of-game stuff. Getting to know the other players has only enhanced my connections to their characters and to the roleplaying.

Character Tips:

• Embrace the depth of your backstory even if no one else will read it: In F2F, it can be hard and time consuming to explain how one's childhood and upbringing lead to the creation of the character before you. In PbP, you can explore those experiences and expound on them, drawing upon them when needed. Some of your players will read it, some won't...but that's neither here nor there. What matters is how much background and color you want to add. Stick your long history in spoiler or on your alias.
  
• Be 'humanly' wrong sometimes: Be humanly imperfect (even if you're not playing a human). Imperfect characters draw in the reader and create a connection that is common amongst us all. Imperfection is relate-able and you can use those imperfections in your roleplaying. Be an elf chauvinist pig. Or a deeply narrow-minded religious yahoo. Or a salty sea elf. Take the gloves off and be something.
  
• People aren't perfectly static: Neither are good characters. The PbP format is a perfect chance to establish a narrative that shows change over time. (You can go from good to bad or bad to good, but do something!)
  
• Find motivation: Having 'real' motivation for your character is extremely important- the answer to the question: "Why are you here risking your life?" I want to play with characters who truly believe that they need to save the Princess/World/McGuffin based on strong motivations for wanting to do so...and they should be interesting and relevant.

Play Tips:

• Painlord's PbP First Rule: Post something everyday (unless it's a known hiatus). Even if it's a null post, put something up. Remind others that someone is waiting on someone. Keep your momentum going and your thoughts on what's happening. I sometimes fail at this, but I try. Everyday.
  
• Painlord's PbP Rule of Two: Designed to reduce dithering, this rule suggests that after one character has suggested an action (or course of action) and it is seconded, that's what the party does and the GM should go along those lines. The other players are still welcome to post other actions, but the GM may assume that the seconded action is where/what the party is going/doing. This helps keep momentum moving AND reduces the stress on the GM on knowing when to proceed.
  
• RAW vs. RAI (hat tip: GM Evilan): My GM has this statement and it's a wonderful one: "As a rule I play the rules as intended rather than strictly as written. There will be exceptions of course and we can’t always tell what RAI is supposed to be. More importantly I may change a rule now and again for the story. The story is what is important - the story the players and I are writing together. If that story conflicts with a rule now and then, I’m likely to ignore or modify the rule for that instance. However, the rules are there so we all know what to expect out of the environment, so it will not happen with any frequency.""
  
• Give detailed actions when you post in combat: Don't make the GM (or your fellow players) guess at what your are doing. When attacking, you should have your location marked and both your standard and move actions accounted for. Your attack strings should have all the modifiers laid out so that it's clear how you are getting your conditional modifiers.

  Two good combats posts in a row.
  Good combat post.

  The point is that you want to make this easy on your GM. You want to be great at PbP? Make it easy for others to play with you.
  

Create trust by giving trust:
Trust is like the rope bridge across the chasm; it really doesn't matter all that much who goes first, but if no one does, the group doesn't get anywhere. Someone HAS to go first, so it might as well be you. The other players, including the GM, are most likely there for the same reason you are- to have a good time! Just like you, they're going to do their best, and just like you, they're going to screw up once in awhile. And all of that is OK because the real secret to Play-by-Post fun is that the story is more important than the rules!

A Play-by-Post will survive bad rolls, bad calls, and bad builds, but mistrust can suck the life right out of the game. Most GMs are open to questions, but extended arguing slows an already slow process and shuts down trust. Trust the GM to listen to what you have to say, then let them make the decision. Trust the other players to play honestly. Trust yourself to be able to roll or role with whatever comes out of it.

Roleplaying doesn't work if your fellow players don't trust you...and if you don't trust your fellow players. A *huge* part of roleplaying is trusting your fellow players to respond in kind, not take in-character things too seriously, and understand that this is a game.

Part of me believes that overcoming fear of failure is essential to roleplaying. Personally, I would rather fail in my task/mission than fail to act in-character. I have to trust that things will work out in the end...and if my character would do X (within reason), he should probably do it and rejoice the earned outcome rather than metagame towards what will earn his 'reward'.

Of course, there are some "negatives" to PbP play, but how you handle them is more a function of you as a person than anything else. Some players see the slow play as a negative: always waiting for someone else to post. I see slow play as opportunity to craft a better response or focus on next actions. Down times and slow periods are opportunities rather than problems. Use downtime to ponder your responses or open up other avenues of RP. Or just be patient. PbP isn't an immediate gratification game...it's a long con that you're writing with others.

In another more accurate way, they're yahoos that maybe I really don't need to see every year.

At 6th level, a saurian shaman’s wild shape ability functions at her druid level –2. If she takes on the form of a reptile or a dinosaur, she instead uses her druid level +2.

Fri: 2-6:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
#3-23 The Goblinoid Dead (1-5)
#3-EX: The Cyphermage Dilemma (1-5)
Mod: We Be Goblins (special)
#3-16 The Midnight Mauler (3-7)
Mod: No Response from Deepmar: Part 1 (7-9)
#3-20 The Rats of Round Mountain Part I: The Sundered Path (7-11)
#1-46 Eyes of the Ten Part I: Requiem for the Red Raven (level 12)

Fri: 7-11:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
#3-18 The God's Market Gamble (1-5)
#3-21 The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (1-5)
Mod: Dawn of the Scarlett Sun (4-6)
#3-25 Storming the Diamond Gate (3-7)
Mod: No Response from Deepmar: Part 2 (7-9)
#3-24 The Golden Serpent (5-9)
#3-22 The Rats of Round Mountain Part II: Pagoda of the Rat (7-11)
#2-04 Shadows Fall on Absalom (7-11)
#3-17 Red Harvest (7-11)
#1-46 Eyes of the Ten Part I: Requiem for the Red Raven (cont.)

Sat: 9-1:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
#4-01 Rise of the Goblin Guild (1-5)
#3-23 The Goblinoid Dead (1-5)
#4-02 In Wrath's Shadow (3-7)
Mod: No Response from Deepmar: Part 3 (7-9)
#4-03 The Golemworks Incident (5-9)
#4-04 King of the Storval Stairs (7-11)
#2-10 Fury of the Fiend (7-11)
#1-54 Eyes of the Ten - Part II: The Twofold Demise (level 12)

Sat: 2-6:
Gen Con Special - Part I

Sat: 7-11:
Gen Con Special - Part II

Sun: 9-1:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
#3-19 The Icebound Outpost (1-5)
#3-09 The Quest for Perfection Part I: the Edge of Heaven (1-5)
#2-15 Shades of Ice Part I: Written in Blood (1-5)
Mod: The Midnight Mirror: Part I (3-5)
#3-25 Storming the Diamond Gate (3-7)
#3-12 Wonders in the Weave Part I: The Dog Pharaoh's Tomb (5-9)
Mod: The Ruby Phoenix Tournament: Part I (10-12)
#4-04 King of the Storval Stairs (7-11)
#2-12 Below the Silver Tarn (7-11)
#1-46 Eyes of the Ten Part I: Requiem for the Red Raven (Level 12)
#2-05 Eyes of the Ten - Part III: Red Revolution (level 12)

Sun: 2-6:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
#4-01 Rise of the Goblin Guild (1-5)
#3-11 The Quest for Perfection Part II: On Hostile Waters (1-5)
#2-17 Shades of Ice Part II: Exiles of Winter (1-5)
#3-18 The God's Market Gamble (1-5)
Mod: The Midnight Mirror: Part II (3-5)
#4-02 In Wrath's Shadow (3-7)
#3-24 The Golden Serpent (5-9)
#3-14 Wonders in the Weave Part II: Snakes in the Fold (5-9)
Mod: The Ruby Phoenix Tournament: Part II (10-12)
#3-20 The Rats of Round Mountain Part I: The Sundered Path (7-11)
#2-08 The Sarkosian Prophesy (7-11)
#2-22 Eyes of the Ten - Part IV: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained (level 12)
#1-46 Eyes of the Ten Part I: Requiem for the Red Raven (cont.) (Level 12)

Sun: 7-11:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
#3-EX: The Cyphermage Dilemma (1-5)
#3-13 The Quest for Perfection Part III: Defenders of Nesting Swallow (1-5)
#2-19 Shades of Ice Part III: Keep of the Huscarl King (1-5)
#3-21 The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (1-5)
#4-01 Rise of the Goblin Guild (1-5)
Mod: The Midnight Mirror: Part III (3-5)
#3-25 Storming the Diamond Gate (3-7)
#3-15 The Haunting of Hinojai (5-9)
#4-03 The Golemworks Incident (5-9)
Mod: The Ruby Phoenix Tournament: Part III (10-12)
#3-22 The Rats of Round Mountain Part II: Pagoda of the Rat (7-11)
#3-26 Portal of the Sacred Rune (7-11)
#1-54 Eyes of the Ten - Part II: The Twofold Demise (Level 12)

Mon: 9-1:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
Blood Under Absalom Part I (1-11)
Mod: We Be Goblins (special)
#0-03 Murder on the Silken Caravan (1-5)
#4-02 In Wrath's Shadow (3-7)
#0-20 King Xeros of Old Azlant (7-11)
#4-04 King of the Storval Stairs (7-11)
#2-05 Eyes of the Ten - Part III: Red Revolution (level 12)

Mon: 2-6:
#3-00 Intro 1, 2, or 3 (level 1)
Blood Under Absalom Part II (1-11)
#0-03 Murder on the Silken Caravan (1-5)
Mod: Dawn of the Scarlett Sun (4-6)
#2-22 Eyes of the Ten - Part IV: Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained (level 12)

Inspired by this.

Which was inspired by this.

I would appreciate a 'fix' of the "The most important part of Pathfinder Society play" question, however it makes sense to do so.

Not everyone did it backwards and it should be easy to identify those entries who probably did it backwards. I know this might require a line by line review, but I think we can clean up this question by looking at the responses and seeing who both liked "Organizing Pathfinder Society" (answers = 1 or 2) and hated "Hanging out with friends playing Pathfinder" (answers = 4 or 5).

Check out the data and see what you think works. If you want to ignore this question altogether, please do. I know we have Community member tackling this issue right now. And he's good.

Areas where offered are too far to be regularly played.
I only have time for my regular group.
I used to be very active, the OP got much more restrictive and elitist as changes were made
Looking to join online play
no place near me that i know of plays it.
Played but got tired of rules changes and too many factions.
The continual rules changes without opportunity to rebuild characters reminded me too much of the worst GM's I've ever played with

Campaign management that didn't come off as arbitrary and capricious. (Not for following question "would I recommend", you do not allow an answer of "No, from my experiences in the society, I would not recommend it to others.")
Getting rid of GM star rankings and changing venture captains from VC "leaders" to "organizers" would help
I only play at conventions.
If i could find a place near me that played it.
More free time
Quit adding extra rules and pare down the factions.

all of the above
All of the above
both Cons and Gamestore
Cafe
Close split between my home and conventions
combination of homes, game stores, and conventions.
Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop
Gamestores, conventions and gaming clubs
Good mix of FLGS & conventions
I play at homes, gamestores, Conventions, and local businesses and public locations.
Local RPG club

4th Edition Refugee
Am deployed, and wished to give it a try via PbP
boyfriend introduced me
Business reasons (marketing PFRPG). Very quickly, I became passionate about the game, itself, and have stuck with PFS since.
Con goer trying something new
Couldn't convince my gaming group to switch from D&D 3
Desperate need to escape my horrible job.
found my VC via paizo's site
Free RPG day's We Be Goblins module
Got bored with LFR so I switched to PFS
Heard about it on a podcast.
I am a public play organizer at a local game store and offered pathfinder about 6 months ago.
I had played AD&D way back when... I wanted to play again and I learned about PFS at the local store.
I hate D&D 4.0, but miss playing D&D
I saw a post about it on the Fantasy Grounds Forum and liked the idea of playing pickup games with different GMs that linked together into a progression system that was independent of a consistent game. It suits my schedule.
I used to play D&D and wanted to get back into an RPG
I wanted to increase traffic to my friend's game store and loved playing Pathfinder.
I wanted to try a living campaign.
Internet advertised public location monthly gaming
It offered online play
It was a natural thing to follow after Living Greyhawk ended
Learned about it when D&D 4.0 came out but wanted to continue using 3.5 rules.
learned from forums
Living Greyhawk died along with D&D
Looking for something better than D&D 4.0 and this was what our gamestore was running.
Mark Garringer introduced me
my boyfriend brought me
My husband owns <<redacted>>. He plays PFS and asked me to join him every now and then. I play in his home games, so thought it would be fun.
Needed my gaming fix and family etc does not allow for a regular gaming group
Paizocon 2009
PFS good for uncommited monthly play
Played all possible computer RPGs, pathfinder was something new
Promised I wouldn't buy 4e and Pathfinder wasn't 4E so I was able to buy its products
Rand dragged me in.
Read about it on Paizo's forums.
Started in 2009 to support Pathfinder
The onset of 4th edition.
volunteering to GM at GenCon
Want to play more; looking for gamers to play with outside of PFS; played in previous living campaign (4E FR) and liked the idea but not the implementation
Wanted a chance to play Pathfinder, no local games.
Wanted to go back to a 3.5-ish structure and leave 4e
Wanted to meet more players and thought this was the way to do it!
Wanted to start playing PF (transition from 3.5), but had no group to play with.
Was a full time home game GM...wanted to be able to play
We're a relatively large group of friends that make consistent players for a particular campaign a bit difficult. Having Pathfinder Society allows for easy combinations of players where it doesn't matter if a particular person cannot make it on a given day
Your fault Yep. Totally my fault.

A Balance of combat and roleplaying
a challenge that scales to the table size
a good mix, with multiple paths towards achieving goals
A little less DR, or more gold to spend on DR penetrating weapons
Additional sidebars regarding how violence might creatively be avoided
As a GM I see the summary, It would be nice to be able to convey it to the players in someway so they understand the full scope of what they are doing.
Be more descriptive in mods
Combats should have an effect, either in terms of story or making players spend resources. Easy combats only waste time.
depends on the class of character i am playing
Detail and knowledge about the advenure, Details!
Encounters to be unique, interesting, and thought provoking. Moral dilemas.
fewer but harder fights
Hard to generalize this - every scenario is different. A balance is desirable to me.
hard to say. Many senerios are great and some are just crap but its all relative to the characters played. A lot of games were made prior to books like the Ultimate(s) and need to be updated. Otherwise, those senerios are quite weak against better characters. Modules also need to be left alone and not based off of a character if forcing players to use pregens.
i like high rp incounters but also would like more complex problem solving
I like it when different scenarios have different combat/RP ratios, so I don't know what I'm going to get each week.
I would like more "intensity" less formulaic encounters
It depends - at cons in loud rooms it of often hard for good roleplay. Good roleplay takes time and when it takes 45 min to muster it is hard for good roleplay. since there isnt loud con mods and other mods I guess they are good as is
less "save or die/suck" mechanics
Less logical flaws and plotholes
Less of both, due to the 4 hour slot time at most cons.
More *tactical* combat, with tough RP choices
more agency (or at least the illusion )
More challenging combat
More challenging options within subTiers: for example, asking the table if everyone want to play without kid gloves.
More Combat and More Roleplaying
More combat. Less time on roleplaying, plot, story, & immersion... the stories are God awful, with zero stakes and zero edge...
More contiguous plotlines, double / triple sessions
More drama.
More Heroic Theme
More optional encounters so GMs can speed up the game when needed
More over-arching plots.
More puzzles. and riddles :)
more roleplaying that allows players to take alternate routes to achieve the plot goals
more time
More time to complete Scenarios
More variety encounters and styles. Horror, Intrigue, and less Bard and Rogue specific focused stuff. One other major aspect I think PF really fils at is not advncing a world storyline. Not having the world change. That gets very annoying, and honestly, boring, very fast.
More year of the shadow lodge and larp eventsa
Ok as is, but would be nice to have some more RP every once in awhile
Real Life Strippers
Regional play as with LG
Simple Clear Stories
Some scenarios are good, but then there are the bad ones. A good scenario is balanced between roleplaying, plot, story and believable combat opportunities.
Stat blocks even for core assumption monsters
Totally depends on the GM I'm afraid. That said, tough battles are consistently fun across different judges.
Variety is good. Scenarios that can go either way depending on the group of adventurers.

"active" communities cross communication and involvement in scenarios( like 'pen pals')possibly culminating in convention scenario team-ups
1st A guide that states which scenarios in the season directly contribute to the story arc. 2nd not sure how to add anything, but unless you play or Gm all of the scenarios in a season you miss much of the story.
A continuous story line is not a priority for me. I'm more interested in achievements for my character, and some way to achive more than simply leveling up.
A little more connection with results of other scenarios would be good as well as more potential for negative consequences of actions.
A longer term storyline would allow me more time to get truly interested in what is going on. At the same time, a *single* multi-year plot could be boring to many. I'd suggest two main storylines, one on-going (unknown duration), one "Year of..."
A recognizable, long term, serious adversary - Aspis Consortium
Although I would like to see more role-playing/storyline focus, I also like the amount of combat in the average scenario, so, for now, I'm fine with the way things are. Although I haven't really played too many Season 3 scenarios, so I don't really know how the mix is currently.
An ability to gain and earn more boons through an arching story set. (part 1-3 ect.)
Basically more options for those that play many characters for the flavor. One of the problems is the inability to replay a scenario with another character you play. With more short stories it would give more play options. Or create scenarios that CAN be replayed.
Better GM most of the GMS are not very experienced or they don't know their material for the mod very well.
Better tie ins. Often the story line connection is not noticeable.
Boon awards
Can't say yet.
Can't think of anything right now
Continuity between scenarios is very rare, sometimes we will meet characters we have before but it's unlikely unless they are a faction leader. Boons that say "+2 bonus to X when you encounter this type of person in this place" always cause groans with players they know it's unlikely to ever be back
Crafting Rules. Lack of those makes it extremely hard for me to play the pure casters that I like.
Create a unique interactive of some sort for PaizoCon that has direct impacts on the end of the previous storyline in addition to the new storyline "kick off" interactive done each year at multiple conventions.
Create more recurring and very special NPC's that personify the storyline. These NPC's should BREAK the rules, setting them apart from usual monster and usual PCs
Don't know enough yet to comment
Don't revolve the storyline around a module. It may seem like a good idea but between Living Grayhawk's Castle Greyhawk, and the Ruby Phoenix, neither came off well. Also, we can't expect the same PFSOP coordinator for more than 9 months.
Easier to mesh new characters' backstory with known lore
Encounters are too easy and because its PFS people want/expect to play as written. It can be boring.
encounters need to be adjusted for table size, combats should be a challenge for 4 players and 6 players alike, not shy of impossible for 4 and a cakewalk for 6
Faction interactions and classification of information and membership. Internal Faction relations and interactions.
Faction missions are sometimes unclear or misleading (not that they are hard, but rather unsure how to apply, DM "misses" where it fits during course of play, etc.).
Faction rewards being tracked and counting towards something global.
Feed in from DM reporting on line playing a part.
fine as is.
focus on something the players want to see
For me as a foreigner, the English language is not so easy to follow. The vocabulary is very rich which makes it hard to follow, especially when the story is told and could not be read as well. Some changes in that would be great.
For the Blackros museum to not be so caught up in terrible occurrences
For the most part PCs were outside looking In instead of being part of the action
Frankly, I just can't wait to get out of Asia theme season.
Frequent updating and editing of scenarios. All scenarios be PFRPG. The free intro scenarios - they are really bad in my opinion.
Get real storylines built upon NPCs that we care about rather than marketing/product forced storylines. Find ways for players to actually care about the Pathfinder Society. (the Golarion one.)
Get rid of factions! They fragment groups and make the PFS's goals meaningless as everyone runs around doing side quests for prestige.
Harder combats, or more wiggle room for the GM to increase the difficulty of the combat due to more players without getting into a higher tier. The difference between 4 average characters and 6 optimized ones in combat turns things from a struggle into a breeze.
Have different ramifications in different parts of the world! FI if in some areas, under some venture captains, the Shadow Lodge remained separate and rival.
Have impacts from previous modules carry over into new ones and get more direct feed back on story from players.
Have it be more interesting and epic (like an Adventure Path), and make our PC decisions more meaningful (and harder to make). There's nothing wrong with one-shot missions that have nothing to do with an overall storyline!
Have more multipart scenarios with rewards for completing all parts (but not completing them directly one-directly-after-the-other).
Have some unattainable goals. You can't win all the time unless preparation and forethought: ie A McGuyver tax: carrying certain equipment (a 10'pole or non-cleric PC with holy item).
Have something devoted to Azlantians or Runelords, a season plotline wrapped around either of those would turn out VERY well in my mind.
have the faction make a bigger difference in the current world.
Have the results from early season scenarios impact the stories of later season scenarios. For instance, the question could be asked: "Was XX NPC saved from the rabid monkeys?" If more than 50% of reporting tables said no, then that would impact what happened in a future scenario.
Having regions like Living Greyhawk!!!!
I came in during the middle of Season 2. I feel like I can't find out how the plot went unless I find and play very specific scenarios. I'd like that to not be the case.
I can't say due to the fact that I have not played much society, I like the amount of combat and conflict in the story, I just wish there was more emphasis on RP at the game table.
I don't know enough to make suggestions. And furthermore, as a player and not an employee of Paizo, I cannot possibly make any kind of suggestion as I am by definition missing overarching information and planning that Paizo has done for the story.
I don't like to meet kobolds who are opera fans.
I don't love the Runelords Storyline with all the 'sins' and whatnot. I'd like to see more to do with the Gnome history and the magical worlds.
I enjoy the story, but I understand that I can't influence it. I far prefer scenarios that relate to previous scenarios but don't require me to have played the previous one. Just little Easter eggs for the lucky ones who have.
I have only played 15 or so games, but I haven't seen any interaction with groups like the green faith or red mantis. This might help tie the games to the setting better. While I think that adding the festivals as boons is ok, I'd rather have games centered around one or more.
I know almost nothing of the over arching storyline, and don't particularly care one way or the other. I never remember recurring characters names, cities, locations, etc. I'm not interested in the world or it's storyline, other than how it affects each specific game session.
I know this would not work for society play and will not happen but I would love to see the rebel scum crushed once and for all. Cheliax needs to put their boot down the necks of the so called Andorans. find out more about the Decemvirate & y they deserve loyalty. Secret agenda to make own nation?
I like how the scenarios have an overarching story, but I wish Paizo would give us a reference for how and when all the scenarios interconnect.
I like story, but not metaplot. I'd prefer individual scenarios to have stories which are mostly self-contained. Storyless dungeon crawls bore me.
I like the current system that the players do not impact the campaign setting. That being said, I would like to see more immersive storylines like a year (not a mod) about the upcoming change in power of Irrisen. I mean Baba Yaga FTW!
I really like those aspects of Greyhawk and Living Arcanis, where clues to Big Things are dropped in small obscure places, and there's a lot of Easter Eggs for people who know what to look for. For example, it would be nice if the errands a faction leader requires all add up to a secret.
I saw in Legend of Five Rings that sometimes they introduce a big event that influences the whole world. Something akin to that would be cool but I do realize its a huge pile of compications for the developers and writers..
I think a little more cuase and effect for players would be nice. Both good and bad.
I visit the Paizo website daily but I seem to miss the big story arcs. Making it more obvious would be nice unles of course the idea is that the plot is only revealed to he/she who buys every relevant scenario.
I want interactives. I am aware we are not hoing to recreate past living campaigns, but one shot con specific interactives give PC's the chance to immerse in the game world. They also draw players from farther away to cons for the one shot experience and story line.
I wish there was more quality control on encounters. We have played in several adventures now that were WAY to easy and did not challenge us at all. Like really simple fights followed by a day(s) to rest (after every encounter in Quest for Perfection II) I enjoy the combat and want it to matter.
I would be excited to visit Numeria, Nex/Geb, Jalmeray, Tian Xia, Vudra, Sarusan, Arcadia, and Lost Azlant. Oh yeah, I just really like exploring and adventuring.
I would change it so that there was a coherent, overarching story that ran through the majority of the scenarios. I would also like the Society to engage in less mercenary/more heroic deeds.
I would discourage or eliminate the evil-aligned factions.
I would encourage more two-part scenarios. They allow a story to be developed much further within the context of one day's sessions.
I would Ike to see more direct interaction of the players affecting the outcomes of the storyline ... More like the old LG model making it more "living".
I would increase the page count of PFS scenarios to a point where the modules have all the room they need to tell a solid story. It's a PDF; page count does not need to be a constraint.
I would like a better guide to which scenarios contribute to the metaplot, as well as more standalone (not multi-part) scenarios that tie in.
I would like faction quests where not everyone could succeed (i.e. Taldor wants to reclaim the artifact, Cheliax wants it destroyed. This leads to party infighting, but it also makes for great roleplay opportunities. There are too many "pick this flower" faction missions.
I would like for some character options that are not allowed for more limited 4 to 5 hour game play allowed in less limiting online play. Also, maybe we should be allowed to do house rules. My group had a few ideas.
I would like it to be more engaging and involved in the scenarios. At the moment, it seems like The scenarios have nothing to do with the "outside" world (the living game world) and the actions of characters have no consequences at all.
I would like more faction choices and storylines or paths more centered on factions
I would like the storyline to lead to access to other planets in Golarion's system. Oh, and Numeria....
I would like to cause and effect. What I mean is the results from earlier mods shoud play into later mods. Thanks Painlord this is useful you should pass the results to Mike Brock
I would like to see a subset (or alternate campaign) where the focus was on heroic deeds, making the world a better place, etc. Doing things like affecting the Worldwound, changing the government of Cheliax, smashing the guillotines of Galt, etc.
I would like to see both Mwangi and Thassilon featured more. I also love traditional monsters like orcs and giants and think they have been underrepressented for the entire extent of the campaign.
I would like to see more cooperative secret missions, like the Andoran/Osirion mission in #49 (Among the Dead)
I would like to see more done with the relationships between factions and faction leaders!
I would like to see the society come into direct conflict with the Aspis Consortium.
I would like to see your faction choices be able to effect your character more, Aka more traits or feats or special boons granted as you gain levels. Those boons or such would be different for each faction.
I would like to stop going to the sewers of Absalom (or almost any city). I want interesting story arcs, the current ones are all old hat and getting tiresome. I would like the mid to high mods to be MORE challenging!
I would make sure that the storylines are obvious to various characters. I would also run the different scenario parts back to back, so that all players can enjoy the scenario.
I would make them more personal to the individual players. Less focus on what the PFS is accomplishing and more on the impact to the PC
I would most like to reduce the number of faction missions to 1/scenario. I enjoy having an extra side quest for flavor, but I feel like they tend to intrude upon and distract from the overall story when everyone has 2 that they have to follow up on.
I would put in more dilemmas. This way the pc's would get in more roleplay as they talk amongst themselves to resolve the situation.
I would remember Pathfinders roots and add more stories involving the monsters of the game system. Most of the campaign has been a political story, it needs a good Orc invasion every once in a while.
I would remove/modify prestige award - they feel (at times) 'dropped' into the scenario without any real benefit to the story
I'd like it more interactive, less convention based. If possible, have an option where all games played by X date count as "votes" to what happens, so even non-convention goers can feel like they change things. And have the occassional LARP "gathering" to have guilds talk.
I'd like to see faction points affect the next year's story.
I'd like to see fewer cliche' cookie cutter style adventures being released to the community.
I'd like to see more connection between the various scenarios and less in the way of one off games. I've played and GMed 12-15 scenarios and see little if any continuity. I hate the faction McGuffin side quests; they are pointless.
I'd like to see more thematic sequels rather than part 1-3 stories, like Tide of Twilight/Morning and Among the living/dead/gods
I'd like to see somewhere on Paizo's website a spoiler section for Pathfinder Society scenario plot outlines, so those of us that missed certain adventures can get a clue as to what's going on. Also a basic synopsis/history of what each faction does and has done, and what the Pathfinders do.
I'd like to see the option to link characters together. Have them be related to each other.
I'd like to see true interactives. Where the actions of one table impact all other tables. In this way, everyone recognizes and celebrates the successes of each table. I'd also like to see more done to flesh out hostile organizations, like the Aspis. They seem like generic, cardboard villains.
If I could, I would expand upon the enmity between the Aspis Consortium and Pathfinder Society, making them a more commonly recurring thematic villain in future adventures.
If you are not going to make a deep RP campaign, at least add more puzzles, more attention to details and skill DC's to compensate for the excessive combat. Or heck, the more open sandbox/roleplay adventures the better.
If you don't play the Mods regularly and not involved with a group you don't really know what's going on in the story.
In the near future I'd like to clash with the Aspis as mortal foes more. Later I'd like to see Inner Sea World War.
In the previous living campaign, there were scenarios which gave the table options of playing "bare-knuckled". If everyone at the table agreed (unanimous), instructions to the GM for encounters were different - "bare knuckles" meant the encounter pulled out all the stops - better tactics, etc.
Inclusion of Aspis Consortium, et. al., in organized play to allow me to play evil-aligned characters. I'm NOT an homicidal arsonist/torture-friendly rapist. I just prefer the option to kill [NPC] people who thwart my goal of world domination. :)
Inclusion of the Shadow Lodge as a faction and the spoiling of that Season 2 story arc within the Field Guide.
Insert SHORT blurbs into each event for casual players that summarize the current plot line so far. People who play multiple games or only once per month may need refreshers to draw their PC into the plot.
It is a tie between more scenarios and region play (like Living Greyhawk).
It needs to be more interactive. Also, in the future, do not dumb down a story concept to make a faction playable for characters.
It was, perhaps, an error to make a level 11 sanctioned module the centre, not the ending, of the Year 3 storyline.
It would be nice if characters were more capable of affecting the storyline. Example: If people could choose between one or two paths in a scenario and GM's reported which one they took... then the one people chose most had an effect on the game world.
It would be nice if instead of randome stories and "missions", there could be more continuity within the scenarios ... the blackrose scenarios is a good example of this ... we've gotten to go into the museum proper twice, seen the basement and now the attack. Everyone is familar with the story :)
its all good so far.
It's not that interesting to me if there's story that's all just background (and PCs aren't actually impacting things as they unfold). I'd prefer well written individual modules that allow me to roleplay my character and build her/his idiosyncratic story along with my regular group.
Its pretty hard to follow. Maybe have a free players guide for each season, like you do for adventure paths?
It's really easy to miss information due to the different tiers throughout the season. So my character who found out really important info about the Shadow Lodge in one scenario couldn't play in the next. I'd try to make it mores seamless for character.
Keep embracing the "fun" and "people of the campaign. Keep doing what you are doing.
Keep recurring characters like Grandmaster Torch, the Blackros family, etc. More about the Aspis Consortium.
Later scenarios having summaries of the events in prior scenarios that are necessary for storyline continuity.
Less bureaucracy and better online tools please.
Less but more interesting (and do-able) faction missions. Each scenario needs 10 faction missions of which 50% of them are interesting while the rest are humdrum or impossible for a given PC. Clumping different factions missions together might solve this.
Let the players have a way to find out more info from the scenario's backstory and place in the story arc (if it's related). As a GM I see a great history that players never learn.
Lose the Asian influence. Make it a set of sourcebooks (a la Oriental Adventures) for home games.
Make boons meaningful to further parts of the storyline. Granting +1 on diplomacy rolls against eels encountered in the dark on Tuesdays after you've made an attack of opportunity the previous round while flanked is not a boon. It's a bureaucratic nightmare.
Make it an integral part of the up-to-date Pathfinder Society character creation guide.
Make it easier to engage with even if scenarios are played out of order (for example have more scenarios set in the same place so boons etc are actually usable)
Make it less contrived.
Make it more transparent o players who do not play scenarios in order.
Make it something the average adventurer would be interested in.
Make the game more skill focused and roleplay oriented, and de-emphasize combat a bit and some of it's game mechanics.
Make the NPC names a little easier to pronounce
Mission successes in a season affect the game world or next season. So if Taldor has the most completions maybe they rise up. Paizo might be reluctant to do timelines in the official campaign world setting, but I think PFS could fill that void. Advance the world and its story based on PFS missions
More access to lower level characters to the final event.
more ancient history
More and varied prestige awards. Almost everyone buys a title, or squire, or property,etc.
More diverse chronicle/storyline locations, i.e nordic lands, desert lands, eastern lands.
More faction interaction involving alliances with possible grouped factions missions.
More focused on the problem of Golarion. World Wound, etc...
More influence on the campaign world as a whole, make a significant difference to the world.
More linked stories. So far my favorites have been the scenarios set in the Mwangi area, honestly, or in the museum.
More local control.
More open endedness to the outcome of the scenario to give us more of a reason to role play the characters.
More opportunities for higher-level play. A lot of people I know would rather not retire their PCs at level 12.
More optional solutions, more "gray area" morality
More recurring characters amongst multiple story lines. Very few or no mods would be "stand alone" but all would contribute to a couple of story arcs
More recurring NPCs other than Venture Captains.
More scenarios linked together, but released close enough together that one character can play the entire story arc. Maybe a story arc covering all the level bands. Recurring bad guys, too. The certs should unlock access to something special, not items already available.
More should be included with the player material. There tends to be more for the Judge than the players and that background is often quite interesting and should be shared.
More story. More "Oh ****!" moments, like, "Holy smokes! They killed Eddard Stark!" Could be narrative, combat, or interactive RP. Less mundane escort caravan or recover Macguffin.
More ties to the Adventure Paths that come out... give as feel that the various Pathfinder lines (APs, Modules, and Scenarios) are interconnected.
More world-changing scenarios, like The Dalsine Affair.
Most of my concerns were addressed in the latest update to the PFS rules (as of 02/02/12).
My opinions of the storylines so far, is that while they are getting better, they are still not very good at all. I've been playing for quite a while now, hoping they get better but the improvements I've seen aren't enough. At this point, my enthusiasm for pathfinder is nil and nearly dead.
no swarms. they are dumb
Not having the key module be for 11th level characters, and therefore unplayable by most PFS players.
Not much, the story arc doesn't get too much air in our games. We have a range of new players for whom many are playing out of order. But it's nice for the guys/gals who expect it (I like the deeper storyline).
Notes on chronicle sheets regarding storyline
Nothing
Nothing
Nothing off the top of my head, I'm quite happy with things as they are now!
Nothing so far, I like it well enough.
Nothing, really. I just wish I had time to play more so I could understand what's going on. I didn't find out about the Shadow Lodge until it was over.
Nothing. I think it is going quite well.
Pathfinder Society is about acquisition of Rare objects and being a secret society. Sometimes secret societies do off activities. It's these odd activities that interest people. I wouldn't change the nature of things.
PC's actions need to matter more & influence the story. PCs, as it is, mostly feel like they are just along for the ride in any given story arc. PCs actions in one mod should in theory alter another mod significantly.
Perhaps introduce the idea of opening a lodge back up in Cheliax or have a few missions where pathfinders are trying to impress cheliax to the point where they would want a lodge.
Player's actions have little or no effect on Golarion. Little danger of character death/resurrection is too easy. Power creep needs to be diminished.
Players should be able to contribute to the story, (as I believe the intent was in the early days?).
Please put in BOLD letters a section encouraging DMs to depart from the story however they feel they need to to make it fun for the players. The wordiness of the scripts these DMs end up reading is pretty terrible...
Probably nothing. I really like the idea of having a year-long meta-plot and a number of adventures that don't involve said meta-plot.
Provide more opportunities for characters at different tiers to have a meaningful contribution to the story. Maybe low tier and high tier sub-stories. Find more ways for the background information within scenarios to make it to the players. GM's often get more of the storyline than the players.
Rather than writing something vague, I'll just decline to provide anything useful here.
Reduce the Fame/GP limits, so that the items that you gain access to during scenarios is more meaningful - and so that people cannot make weird optimized builds because that rely on extremely rare gear. Nerf the Eidolon - it is overpowered with the power and action economy of the summoner/eidolon.
Retcon back the original idea of the Society metaplot changing the face of the Inner Sea politics. Have people interested to see their faction win, again. It was a huge disappointment for me to see that none of the faction interplay really had an effect. In word, it turned me off the campaign.
Some of the repetitive skill/saving throw checks are just annoying. I can see wanting to involve the players more but most of the situations are not from the rules.
Somehow having the year's theme clearer. i.e. How exactly did the Shadow Lodge and the other new factions come to be. Maybe a memo or something from the lodge which goes out to all pathfinders regarding the state of things at the close of the year.
Sometimes I think the faction goals are silly. Why not make them optional, or have generic goals?
Stop adding Factions.
Story arcs should be able to be played sequentially from low-level characters through high-level. Release order and tiers currently seem a bit haphazard.
Story arc's should be short enough so that a starting PC will not level out of the system before it is finished.
Story arcs that cover a wide range of tiers so that I can play the same character throughout the entire arc. And, since characters play in multiple arcs its easy to 'level out' fairly quickly before all the arcs are completed.
The Aspis Consortium should be more involved as rivals and enemies.
The concept of a community nominated and voted Hall of Fame for Retired Characters where HOF characters could have a scenario written for them is something I've been talking about with a few people for a while.It would help create a real "Living World" for PFS
The fact that PFS doesn't give any recognition nor special access to organizers of large events (ie Cons) and seems to want to centralize all that in VCs and not in people that have done it for years.
The faction missions. I find that the missions we get seem rarely to coincide with the goals of the faction (for example, one mission had me fetching tea for the para-countess, another had me trying to have my half orc barbarian negotiate with an official.) Maybe a choice of faction missions?
The focus needs to return to an over-arching plot. We have heard that the Andoran faction are ruling the Society but this has had no effect on Golarion. The Ruby Phoenix plot line is interesting but is a distraction from the more realistic threats that the PFS would be concerned about.
The lodges should have rivals, and opposing quests.
The modules I have played in were all well done, and provided a wide array of locales and "themes," so I'd say Paizo is doing a pretty good job so far. That being said, I've played in less than a dozen modules, so my sample size is lacking.
The plot feels too "set in stone". Living Greyhawk plots progressed depending what most adventure groups decided to do when given important choices. In Pathfinder all those choices are missing, players are just listening to the story instead of writing it.
The storyline is too naive make it more realistic! Also if i'm playing as a Taldan high noble i want GM-s to roleplay according to my choice which they don't :( ...
The storyline unfolds for a GM much clearer than for a common hero. The scenario's contain much more information about the storyline than is given to the players.
The tie-in with Tian Xia seems artificial to me.
The yearly storyline should have an overall reward for playing all scenarios/mods(perhaps 2pts for each scenario) within that storyline and only able to be awarded during that storyline year.
The YotSL was sad. The entire time the SL was a member of the Society, just with a different goals and idea. Then they became about healthcare.
There is (so far as I have played) insufficient opportunity for clear-cut conflict between nations. Tensions are... un-tense. Hydra's Fang seems the best sort of status-quo-ante adventure that I've seen, and it's scenario 0-02...
There is a storyline? Are you confussing AP's, PFS, and non-PFS Golarion, or maybe talking about 3 part adventures? I would ditch it, and start one that evolves the world. Besides that, I would start stepping outside of the box with the basic game elements? Variatons n, <out of space already. . .>
There needs to be an overview of the overarching plot line for each season on the website.
There should be more story arcs.
There's a story line? I stopped playing PF because every event that I played felt disconnected from everything else. It was sooo generic it just got to be too boring.
They storyline and scenario background needs to be worked into the story more. At times players don't know the back story and it would be more fun (IMO) if they did know more.
Think of some ways to expand the sandbox a bit and remove the optional (or 1 additional) encounter. For the most part I am very satisfied with PFS and wish I had the time to play more!
Three combat encounters, and two role playing encounters seems like a good mix for a scenario. Possible changes: 1) 2-3 hr scenarios offered and 2) unique magical items / spells / feats you gain access to by playing a particular scenario
tie faction missions to the Season arc story
Tier the metaplot scenarios so that they form a natural 1-12 exp progression when played in story order.
To have a clearer idea of how my characters involvment affects the meta-story.
Too many DM's with barely enough knowledge about DM'ing, story telling, and competency to run the game. In my experience they have flaked, been late, come ill prepared only skimming through the adventure, no insight to improvise when stumped by the game. And lack of equipment like mini's and such.
use critical event summaries for new modules run during the 1st two weeks of availability like in Living Greyhawk kinda
When Players making those choices they do changes the outcome.
While I like the scenarios, I'm not a big fan of the overarching treasure-hunting theme. It puts a lot of limitations on character motivation and play. I wouldn't mind seeing a series of war-driven stories (Orc invasion, civil war, etc.) but that's probably too big of a change.
Would like to see the impact that factions have affecting the storyline.

A combination of giving back to BAPs, trying to improve the gaming runs as best I can with more detailed RP of the NPC characters with the players and the enjoyment of telling a story.
beacuse i'm good at it
because i like running adaptibeles
Because newer players refuse to judge scenarios
Because no one else will
Become a better GM
Conned into it by local store owner :)
Free GenCon badge & Paizo Stuff
I am the regular GM for our group
I enjoy teaching the game, seeing how other will react, and honestly, it is hard to find someone that will both each and GM. I am mostly in PbP games due to deployment, and wih limited resorces, I just stepped up and do it. I enjoy playing and GMing, but honestly have never gotten to actually play a PFS character, yet.
I enjoy the challenge of trying to present a scenario's backstory to a group of players and make it matter.
I have been lucky when I have DMed at cons that I have had good tables(my best table was with 7 and it was a good time all around-PaizoCon 2011), I have sat at bad tables as a player and I wouldnt want to be the DM there.
I have to so we can play.
I know what it's like to never get to play, and I want to give the GM a break.
I love teaching brand new players
I own a gamestore and use PFS to promote the products.
If I don't gm we have a whole less games and as a results less players
If I don't run, there is very little PFS in my area
It helps me learn the rules.better.
It helps me work on my role playing
Love GMing, not enough availability on Home campaigns
No one else will GM
Nobody else will GM
Not enough experienced players to GM yet.
Often, if I don't run, nobody will
our gaming store has too many players
roleplay
rotate gms so people can play too
So bad at keeping my characters up to date, DMing is less work to be prepared for.
So impart my love of the world and passion for the game on my players.
Someone has to do it
Sometimes a GM is needed, but another player isn't.
Sometimes no one else can/will do it.
Spurs ideas for NON-Fantasy campaigns I GM
Support Pathfinder at my FLGS
Suspect I like being the centre of attention
Take my turn in our regular table
Take some of the GMing load
the event needed another GM
to give my normal GM a break.
To give others GMs a chance to play
To harvest better players
To help my venture captain
To Help PFS grow
To keep the games going when others aren't running. I like that I have the opportunity to earn xp while running.
to lead by example
To make sure the scenario is run correctly, with the proper amount of danger and full knowledge of the rules so that things are played fairly. I honestly use the opportunity to edit my fellow players and catch them in character creation mistakes, or booking keeping errors. I don't know how many people have been "surprised" to find out that they are actually carrying a heavy load.
To take my turn
Too few new mods.
Wanted to be guiding principle in the region - giving a different voice to the community than the one that has been presented for several years

10 dollar gift card every one pitchs in
10% discount day of judging
A pat on the back from my players
Free convention entry
Gamestore gives us play passes for GMing
GM boons - I only GM at cons
GM rewards apon reaching new star by our Venture capitan
GM star certs, binders, compass, shot glass
I am the local home game and can't offer benefits myself
I don't know
I have spent lots of my own money buying mini's and props for my players and GM's for games that I don't run.
Liaison Shirts
Like, what??
My friends sometimes gives me cake if I gm :P
My VC is working on a reward program.
No
No
No Game store but when we had one it gave GM rewards
No regular group
No Regular Group
No rewards, we play at home.
No, and I'm ok with it
No, I do wish that there where something special (more pertinent) to deployed PFS players/GMs as well as better rules for that style of play.
No. We run a home and PbP game.
nope just help the group
Nothing organized, just some occasional perks
Occassional free bottle of soda
occassionally
one of the players usually buy's me lunch
Our region offers some Pathfinder swag (shirts, mugs) for earning stars
Reduced con fee/ free food
Sodas and play passes
Some offer a djscount, most dont
Special discounts the day of, and free snacks.
The players by my drinks on occasion
There are rewards but I am not familiar with them
trinkets
VC scenario gifts of scenarios to be judged.
We are considering it
we get fed
We normaly play at someone's home and everyone brings something to eat/drink

Annoying paperwork
combination of lack of time and lack of experience
Dont have the Gear and No one has asked me yet.
Group doesn't need another GM.
How do I even start - 4E makes it more clear on website how to start/join
I hate gunpowder, and don't want to GM a gunslinger
I play. I will never GM, as that is a time allotment I cannot make in my life.
I'll GM sooner or later - currently I'm GMing an Adventure Path for my friends, while they GM Pathfinder Society
I'm just not a very good GM. I'd like to be better.
Im let's say reserve GM :)
Just getting started and my FLGS is just getting started ramping up doing PFS so the player count doesn't warrant multiple GMs per session
Not creative in that way
not my strong suit
Our PFS randomly assigns players to GM's. Some of our local players are people I would never want to GM for.
Rules are too complicated to learn to GM
Running multiple other RPG campaigns. PFS is a way for me to get to play instead of run.
Still learning the rules, need more experience, don't have necessary items, and unsure how to start
Stopped playing the campaign.
There are enough GMs in my area.
Time constraints, I rarely play much less GM
to much thinking and keeping track of things.
Was going to put no time, but that's not quite right. I would enjoy doing so but with work I have limited free time and to do a good job GM'ing is just too much time to invest (and I would hate to do a half-assed job and ruin it for all the players).

"GM ONLY" port on web to discuss with game designer, OP incentives (patches, pins, t-shirts, registration/advertisement materials) public not
A free Pathfinder-friendly gametable online
Didn't even know there were rewards. Tempt me.
extra PC options? Funky races and class options?
I have no knowledge about the rewards. I'd do it for the game once I was able to. I'm more familiar with 3.5 D&D than PF.
I think rewards should be there ...minor rewards that can be applied when playing as opposed to GMing
maps and minis
Society modules discount
Some prep materials
The GM has more to do, but I'm not sure what you could give them as additional compensation. Maybe you have to GM so many games in order to have more than one character. Also limit the XP any one character can have from GMing.
This is just to emphatically state the rewards now are great, I mean, an engraved stein, you people are awesome!
To even know what the rewards are (see previous answer)
to learn what rewards there are first
u tell me
Would need a group current group GM's meet the current need.

Definition in Process: One who advertises, musters, judges, and/or coordinates PFS play at a gamestore, convention, or home. This may or may not include setting up the Warhorn, mustering, recruiting judges, reporting sessions back to Paizo, and/or other duties to make PFS play happen. They, ultimately, have responsibility for the enjoyment of the PFS players in their group.

A personal verbal or email pitch works best. People respond better to a personal tailored appeal from a person they know. When you send a personal email, it gives both weight and credence to your ask...it gives the recipient fewer ways to ignore the appeal.

Do *not* send out spam emails to group lists asking for judges: this is rarely effective and serves to hurt morale more than helping. It leads to confusion and uncertainty among your players. If you learn nothing else from this post than to do personal and targeted email requests for judges, this post was worth it. (Yes, it's fine to post a long schedule and invite everyone to sign up to judge, but for specific spots, direct emails are the way to go.)

My email template for judge recruitment is spoilered at end of this post.

Here are some of the arguments that to make, as appropriate, to perspective judges:
1) Do your part to help the community. When you contribute, we all succeed. (this works well)
2) When you judge, you become a better player. I want you to take that next step. Be amazing. (this works well)
3) Guilt. "When are you going to pull your weight?" (rarely used)
4) External rewards. I have players in an AP who are committed to judging once a month as 'payment' for entry into the AP. Actually, any external reward (above and outside of usual GM credit) helps. Two FLGS give $5 in store credit to the judge. Another FLGS charges $6 per person to play...the judge gets it all!
5) Outright flattery: "You're a great judge and I want this group of players to have you on this mod." "I'd like to play...and I want to play at your table. I'd be stoked!"
6) Challenge them. "Do it so you can put your mark on this mod/adventure. Let's see what you got." Or "These pathfinders here really want a challenge. I know you can give it to them!"
7) Highlight the GM credit rules: "You get full XP, gold, and PA for judging this. It's a great way to level!"
8) Intrigue: "You'll learn that different parties will solve the same mod differently. You'll be awed how things turned out. Compare how this new party with how you did it."
9) <activate Painlord Rage power> "JUDGE, YOU LAZY PIDDLESPOT OR I'LL BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH YOUR OWN DICE!!! REALLY, HOW MANY MINIS DO YOU THINK I CAN CRAM UP YOUR NOSE!?!" (never used outside of my own head)
10) <please add your argument/thought below>

Most experienced judges know that there is a significant mental initial barrier to entry into judgeship, however, once that barrier is crossed; judging becomes much easier and less of a mystery. Most judges do not start judging out of fear...fear of not knowing the rules, not being good enough, not blahblahblah. As coordinators, we need to motivate beyond that and get the player to be comfortable enough to step up to judge.

Excuses are excuses....they are nothing but a smokestick in the way. I try to focus on ways to assuage their worries and support them.

Here are some of the typical excuses and comebacks that I'll use in return:

Excuse #1: "I don't have the time." (of course, this is just a stalling tactic)
Response: "No worries. Here's the mod now...I'll schedule you to run in a month. Surely, you can find time over the next month to prep." (Response if the above doesn't work): "You can't prepare a mod in a month. Really? How about 2 months? Or is there another issue that is really causing the problem?" (proceed to excuse 2, usually)

Excuse #2) "I'm not good enough./I don't know the rules well enough."
Response a: "I'm asking you because I know you know enough....you're good enough and you're ready."
Response b: "Knowing the exact rules doesn't matter. You know enough to look things up as appropriate and find solutions. Use your players as a resource...and as a check when you are unclear. They will be happy to help...they always are."
Response c: Here are some handy guides to help you get ready:
Introducing Faction Missions to Players
What makes a good GM
Painlord's How to Be a Better Judge
Response d:"This forum is great for additional information about the mod you're running. Check it out...the judges there have lots of insight into the mod."
Response e: (Before they play the mod) "PlayerX, I may ask you to run this mod at a future time...be sure to pay attention to what happens." (Immediately after the mod, hand them a copy.) "Here you go...read it and see what just happened. I think you'll run it just fine."

Excuse #3: "I don't have the supplies/mats/pens/minis/grognards."
Response a: "Here borrow mine. Anything else?"

Excuse #4: "I don't want to."
Response a:"I understand that, but you're good enough and smart enough to run a fantastic mod. Sadly, if you won't contribute back to the community, I may not have room for you at my games anymore. I hope you'll want to stay playing with us and want to be part of our community. I need you to step up every once in a while."

I suspect many of you will think this is harsh, but I don't think so. In order for the community to grow and survive, you need people to contribute...everyone has to pull their share. And, as Coordinator, you have to make it happen...there is no one else!

It should be stated that once a judge has repeatedly given good faith efforts and failed to achieve quality judgemanship, I would relent and remove them from my judge pool. It's never happened...but I've had bad judges before and I'll try to keep them away from my players.

"Hey Joe--

Though we haven't talked to you about this before, I wanted to touch base about getting you into the judging pool at <yourgamelocationhere>.

I've seen you play and I know you know you stuff and so I think it's natural that you would begin to think about contributing back to the <yourgamelocationhere> PFS community. Of course, there is no pressure to do so, but the system works better when everyone judges at least once in a while. We have lots of new players and need judges to fill all the tables.

Consider this a formal invite to getting started.

You can find tons of information about judging at the [http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/paizoPublishing/pathfinder/pathfinderSociety/gmDiscussion]Pathfinder Society GM Boards[/url].

I know you can totally make it happen and I could schedule you at an approaching game night of your choosing. You will get player credit for judging, so that shouldn't be an issue.

You help would be appreciated. Just once every month or two would make a big difference.

Thanks,

<yournamehere>”

Let me be clear: Both Mark and Hyrum have already stated, repeatedly, that they are under sometimes severe deadlines. There is no problem with that. I believe they are both acting as their bosses would wish and, no doubt, wish they had more time to do everything that the community wants. I fully support Mark and Hyrum generating this new and awesome 3-part Players Guide.

The difference is that I believe that this update is too important to our community to delay.

We'll just be updating and re-writing from various posts and this is something we *can* do. Heck, these are our players, our communities that are having issues...this is something we *should* do.

I need all you Coordinators and VCs to think about who runs PFS, who is ultimately responsible for it's success.

It's us. We need to make this happen for ourselves and our players.

1) Q: Will this document be 'official'? A: Since it's just a compiled set of the responses from Mark and Hyrum since the last update, it's as official as you want it to be.

2) Q: How long will this take? A: I have no idea, but pretty quickly if we all help or identify links. Truly, you all know (collectively) the changes better than any one of us.

3) Q: What if some rule is still not clear? Or something that Mark/Hyrum wrote is contradictory? A: Just like right now, we'll have to acknowledge and deal with it and do the best we can and document the inconsistencies. We won't be adding/creating any additional rules to this guide. This is only a compilation document.

4) Q: Won't this lead to different people playing by different guides? A: Like what is happening right now? Right now some people are playing with the old guide...some others with the old guide and *some* of the unpublished updates. We can use this to get on the same guide.

5) Q: What if I'm not willing to write something up but know of a change? A: Link to it and maybe someone else will make it happen. We work together on this.

6) Q: When this is done, what next? A: I'll be emailing the Google Doc link to all my players and it will be law of my land in my playgroup until the new version is released.

7) Q: What if my coordinator doesn't want a community produced, thoroughly researched, updated and collaborated document, instead wishing for darkness and confusion for their players? A: So sorry...that makes me sad. Moving or playing online will work. Also, sorry that JP is your VC. ;)

8) Q: What about stuff Josh Frost wrote? A: Yes, I'd like to include that as well, however, I believe Mark and/or Hyrum's word supersedes.

2.0 Chapter 2: The World of Golarion
2.1 What is Golarion?
2.1.1 Absalom
2.1.2 The Pathfinder Society
2.1.3 The Pathfinder Lodge
2.1.4 The Pathfinder Chronicles

3.0 Chapter 3: Factions
3.1 Faction Basics
3.1.1 Faction Secrecy
3.1.2 Rumors
3.1.3 Choosing your Faction
3.1.4 Character Class vs. Faction
3.1.5 Faction Alignment
3.2 thru 3.6 Various factions (no changes necessary)

4.0 Chapter 4: Character Creation
4.1 Step 1: Choose your Faction
4.2 Step 2: Abilities
4.3 Step 3: Race and Class
4.4 Step 4: Skills
4.5 Step 5: Feats
4.6 Step 6: Traits
4.6.1 thru 4.6.5 Faction traits (no changes necessary)
4.7 Step 7: Alignment
4.8 Step 8: Hit Points
4.9 Step 9: Background
4.10 Step 10: Equipment

5.0 Chapter 5: The Rules of the Pathfinder Society Organized Play
5.1 Play, Play, Play!
5.2 No Player versus Player Combat
5.3 Do Not Bully Other Players
5.4 Do Not Cheat

6.0 Chapter 6: Additional Rules and Clarifications
6.1 Level Cap
6.2 Replaying Scenarios
6.3 Do Not Read the Scenario
6.4 One Character at a Time
6.5 Selecting a Deity
6.6 No Selling/Trading between Players
6.7 Animals and Companions
6.8 Faction Shirts
6.9 Spell Duration
6.10 Critical Hit/Fumble Deck
6.11 Wizards and their Spellbooks
6.12 Special Rules for Alchemists and Poisoner Rogues
6.13 Pregenerated Characters
6.14 Retiring Scenarios
6.15 Purchasing Potions/Scrolls/Wands
6.16 Minimum/Maximum Table Size

7.0 Chapter 7: Character Death

8.0 Chapter 8: Purchasing Spellcasting Services

9.0 Chapter 9: After the Scenario
9.1 Step 1: Experience (XP)
9.2 Step 2: Day Job
9.3 Step 3: Spoils of War and Buying Equipment

10.0 Chapter 10: Purchasing Magic Items and Equipment
10.1 Where Can I Buy Gear?
10.2 Always Available Items
10.3 Other Items
10.4 Additional Equipment Rules

11.0 Chapter 11: Spending and Tracking Prestige
11.1 Spending Prestige
11.2 Tracking Prestige

12.0 Chapter 12: Pathfinder Society Organized Play Game Masters
12.1 What is a Game Master (GM)?
12.2 Your Duties as Game Master
12.3 Scenarios and Tiers
12.4 Calculating Average Party Level
12.5 Reward Creative Solutions
12.6 Dealing with Death
12.7 The Chronicle Sheet
12.8 Reporting Scenario Results
12.9 GM Ranking System
12.10 Game Master Rewards
12.11 Ordering Scenarios

13.0 Chapter 13: Additional Resources

Replaying Scenarios
Limited replay was introduced as of 2.2, but as of 3.0.2+ the following replay rules apply:
• If you play you earn 1 credit that is applied to the character that played through the scenario.
• If you GM a scenario, you earn 1 credit that can be applied to any character that hasn't played through the scenario.
• If you spoil the plot for the table, the GM has the right to ask you to leave the table and is under no obligation to award you a chronicle sheet. Be very careful about character knowledge versus player knowledge. If you’re concerned about possibly spoiling something during the course of play, take the GM aside and ask how she would like it handled.
• You receive GM or player credit regardless of the order you play/GM the scenario. You may not earn more than 1 player credit and 1 GM credit regardless of how many times you GM or play the scenario.

Replay adds an extra weapon to the arsenal of GMs who run smaller game sessions and often have trouble finding a scenario that fits all of the players present. Remember: the goal of replay is to make sure fun gaming happens, not to remove the fun from gaming.

A story: My VC, Azmyth, was telling me about his experience at GenCon. One of Josh Frost's hardcore rules was that you just can't play mods out of tier. Azmyth described Josh as describing it as "earning the right to be there." I really like that...it made sense.

As PFS has grown, PFS has recruited a player base above and beyond the early converts. That is, newer players are *no* longer prominently Paizo regulars. As such, what was true 6 or 12 months ago, is less true now. With growth, timely and consistent rules updates are more necessary than ever before. The player pool is already changing and PFS needs to be able to quickly adapt and change with it. As it stands now, there is some fraying around the edges of the campaign, which causes chaos and uncertainty in the campaign. I believe it's better to address these issues in a timely manner.

Truth is that technology has advanced significantly over the last 5 years, as has our understanding of organized play. This is a new era and we have new chances to create a great working partnership between the volunteer community and Paizo management. A volunteer team can coordinate along with Paizo staff in ways that just couldn't be done 5 years ago.

In the future, we can build upon what we learned in LG. I believe a cooperative team could manage:
#1) Timely updates of the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play
#2) Promotion and acquisition of new PFS Players
#3) Appropriate Judge and Player Rewards
#4) New modules and/or Community Driven Storylines
#5) New PFS rules as necessary
#6) Handling community inquiries about PFS play (not rules) with full authority
When the community has more say into the campaign, they will *value* it more. It will become part of them and grow even more.

I believe the concept of "Play, Play, Play" fits under this tenet: it makes sense and fits well. We will do everything we can to welcome and accommodate players who show up for games.

I think it's great to promote that you can travel to conventions, play online, or play at many local gamestores and, generally, have the same experience under the same ruleset. Not is ever going to be perfectly consistent, but, generally, I think things are the same the world of PFS.

Paizo seems to mostly trust (in a way, it has to) gameday coordinators to follow their basic rules. What they need to do next is realize that if they can trust coordinators to properly organize and run events, then they can trust them in others ways.

For example, I won't kill new players at my tables. I just won't do it, though previously it wasn't discouraged.

I will change the encounters of modules to fit the abilities and desires of the players at my tables at gamedays that I organize. And I will trust certain of my judges to do the same. There is *no* doubt in my mind that some tables are completely overpowered for the encounters in some modules....heck, the entirety of modules. And I know that my players want a good, fun, challenging module and I believe in my ability to deliver it correctly. As long as I don't mess with the XP/GP/PA curve, I think this is in the best interests of PFS.

I believe that Paizo, in general, puts out quality modules and I want to play them once and have the best gaming experience possible. I want the same for my players and new players to the game.

I believe in keeping this experience as pure and good as possible.

When I was run through it, one of our yahoos flirted with the scout while the rest of the party got into position. Of course that didn't work to well as the scout scouted us scouting him. Chaos ensued. Awesome.

When I ran it, the party split up, some at the front door while other swam under. The swimmers were heard. Chaos ensued. Awesome.

When I ran it again, the party drank itself near silly so it could properly start a drunken brawl on the docks. Chaos ensued. Awesome.

And what makes this encounter extra special, is that the BBEG inside has an artifact at his disposal. The effect is somewhat minor (just freezing death & zombification), but the fact that you get to hit PCs with it? Awesome. Talk about giving the PCs a reason to want to succeed? It does it and adds a lot of urgency to the mod.

I love running this encounter. It's very free and open and lets the party be creative.

This is an early mod, but was my first meeting with Taldan nobility. It certainly left an impression on me when I played it...and I've passed this along as I've run it.

The encounter pits a evil priest and some zombies against a gaggle of Taldan nobility where the party has a chance to step in. I love this fight because one of the nobles is Emperor Stavian's cousin, an incredibly pompous ass....and I love playing fun NPCS. He is one of them.

Nothing makes me happier than being able to say things to PCs like: “A glorious strike, peasant! The divine hand of Emperor Stavian has guided you here to save me!” and "Good hit, slave!!! I'll only have you beaten once tonight after this!!!". Then this noble follows the party, 'helping' as only a pompous ass can help....with 'encouragement'.

It's just a good, flavorful encounter because of the good NPC that encourages roleplaying (especially with Andorans).

Oh poor, lovesick Rale...I hope he finds his true love requited.

I really hope this mod returns from the dead as it is one of my favorites. As a judge, I love that I have the opportunity to use magic to screw around with the party with illusions, sounds, glamors, whatever. It makes me very happy to create a haunted house with things that are not haunted...and to have the 'love' story told out in notes is very cool.

There are just so many options that both Judge and Party can take that it makes things really interesting. I love getting my players to roleplay along with me as they react to different effects.

As a side note, I love that most parties that I ran this for decided to be 'smart' and use the back door to get in. *giggle*

First, the party is trapped in a distillery. Awesome.
2nd, the distillery is well drawn and has lots of good defensible and indefensible locations. Cool.
3rd, there are waves of bad guys...so that the first set of bad guys might not be so bad compared to what is coming next.
4th, the encounter is quite deadly for parties who play foolishly...I don't like to kill PCs, but I am happy to hand them a rope if they want to tie a noose. Such opportunities make me happy.
5th, there is a 2nd wave of other bad guys assault the party in the distillery.
6th, oh yeah...if the longer the party takes to defeat the bad guys, more townspeople might die.

So good!

This leads to interesting choices and parties deciding different courses of action. It can lead to chaos and some characters doing something that other characters just wouldn't.

Never underestimate the fun of giving the party the chance to make choices, and then making those choices have interesting consequences.

How many of you all know the name Gali Sinquil? If you're like me, you know the name well and have etched his name in fire across the backs of more than a few parties.

This encounter is really well set up. Gali is well hidden and has effects to screw parties over and over again. The tension for me as a judge is using Gali's powers while trying to remain unheard and unseen for as long as possible..that is the key, because once the party figures it out, then he usually doesn't live too long.

As a judge, I like having to play a little sub-game (keeping quiet...yet annoying) while the party explores and investigates. One time, I had the party convinced that the false idol on the desk was the cause of all the problems. *teehee*

A great encounter.

To be honest, the first encounter of Jester's Fraud is the inspiration for this post. At subtier 5-6, the first fight (2 annis hags) is pretty ho-hum, *however*, at 8-9, things get really really really fun. You get 3, count'em, 1-2-3, Annis Hags which makes it an entirely different fight.

Ya'see, 3 hags makes a coven. But a coven > 3 hags. A coven gets the following cool toys: animate dead, baleful polymorph, blight, bestow curse, clairaudience/clairvoyance, charm monster, commune, control weather, dream, forcecage, mind blank, mirage arcana , reincarnate, speak with dead, veil, vision. Look at all those toys!!!

Again, I'm not out to kill PCs (I'll let PCs kill PCs via the Charm Monster spell), but the coven (as a full round action) provides for a lot of fun actions in the combat.

I had the hags each doing a chicken dance (ala Arrested Development) as they tried (and failed) to turn PCs into chickens. I had 5 of the 6 party members in two force cages for a few rounds. Oh, the fun you can have....I didn't even get into the Charm Monstering or high level illusionary stuff that Sir_Wulf talks about here.

I don't think this is a particularly deadly combat (PCs are protected and buffing if they are inside a forcecage), but it so much fun.

This encounter is very similar to the Frozen Finger warehouse encounter: a very open environment...and it's very good. No two parties are going to approach this the same way or in the same order.

The set-up is simple and enhanced by the concept that if the party goes for a full frontal assault, they may bring the entire bandit camp down on them and it would not be pretty. But the party can just walk/bluff in, or sneak in, or whatever else.

Once inside, there are several bandit groups to fight or befriend or whatever. And there is a bandit that is happy to get the party.

Not to mention the BBEG and his flying pet keeping on eye on things. His fight is no easy task. And then there is how the party is going to get the urn. Sneakery? The auction? Fight for it?

But what all this really makes is for an interesting encounter with lots of choices and lots of options.

It's such a good module.

Admittedly, I'm old...old and grumpy and I've lost my youthful enthusiasm so take these comments filtered by the lenses of experience and crankiness:

As organizers, we are never going to be able to make everyone happy all the time. I will do the best I can, but recognize this is a fight that I cannot 'win'. There will be players who just won't be able to or be willing to follow basic directions or adhere to the Society rules. There will be some that will try your patience and make you sad...and others who fill you with awe.

It's your job to makes things work for players as best you can while giving yourself the leeway to do things to keep your sanity. I find that players manage themselves better when they have clear instructions and expectations. I try to communicate that when they do their job, they make my job easier. In general, people want to help things work out.

There will be some players who aspire to do more than just help out...they'll have to contribute in significant ways. My advice is simple: give them everything they need (advice, organizational help, whatever) to promote and grow Pathfinder in your area. One guy has even built a website for our Bay Area Pathfinder group with all the information about local game stores and whatnot.

I try to create an environment where gamers are free to be gamers. I try to encourage roleplaying and free expression and individual tastes at all times. I try (but often fail...I'm getting better) to learn all my players' names and greet them when I see them. I will always try to make sure that people at tables know each other and *especially* know the GM. I will do introductions. Yeah, I know it's strange....but it helps create the friendly environment that I want.

However <thunderclap>, part of having a safe and fun environment is setting boundaries.

I do not feel that I need to bend over backwards for players, especially ones that repeatedly break rules, show up late, overtly metagame, or piddlespot around. There will be players in every group who do this...it's up to you to decide where your line is.

The truth is that I do not feel like I have to kowtow to rude or obnoxious players nor subject my players to inappropriate behavior. I will give them firm warning about behaviors are unacceptable and, if bad behaviors exist, I'll dis-invite them to events that I run.

I am *NOT* shy about protecting my players, neither should you be. If there is a player who is making you hurt inside every time he shows up OR is causing massive mustering problems because no one wants to play with him: give him a chance to amend....or get rid of him. It just isn't worth it. Mods are too few to have them ruined by bad players. Do *not* feel guilty about this. Also, if you're giving negative feedback to someone, never do it at the table or in front of others....this should be handled privately and professionally. Having open loud spats are bad for everyone around.

(As a side note: you don't ever have to let someone play with you that you don't want despite popular belief. If you're organizing, it's your party. There is no Paizo Ninja-Pirate Police force that is going to swoop in and tell you who to play with. Handle your job as a professional, adult manner and you'll have few problems.)

I founded BAPS, Bay Area Pathfinder Society, Yahoo group, on 12/3/2009. In the first month using current contacts and players I knew, I had 29 members. After a year of inconsistent marketing and promotion, I have just under 90 members. (PFS is growing!)

It is essential to our communication over and scheduling. Furthermore, it serves as a social focus for our community. We have banter and discussion about Pathfinder and Pathfinder Society topics....as well as off topics. The ability for anyone to participate is great...as is the daily digest or individual email options.

We use it for:
Posting upcoming games
People being awesome!
Tool tips and Info, Rules, etc.
Special Events
Shout outs!
Calls for Judges
Announcing and coordinating local Conventions
Coordinating Adventure Paths

Our database has all blurbs and tiers of all the mods.

Our file section has useful downloads (blank char sheets, BAPS logos, etc.).

The big challenge with Yahoo groups is getting people to sign up for it. However, it's power is worth the hassle of trying to get people on the system.

Warhorn is our scheduling and mustering tool of choice. I can't imagine running a recurring game night without it. It gives our players the ability to plan and prepare their schedule and characters well ahead of time.

Our FLGS, Endgame Oakland has THIS Warhorn site. While it's not perfectly easy to use, it helps tremendously with sign ups and mustering.

While it can be difficult to get players on the system, once installed and the players trained on it, it is an invaluable resource.

I do not like to judge too much...my comfort level is once a day at conventions, at most every other week during normal times. I stay fresher and motivated when I have a decent break between judging sessions...my sessions can take a lot out of me. As such, I've earned my first two stars over the last 12 months. I mean 30+ mods over 12 months feels right to me...but that's a slow weekend for someone like DougDoug. YMMV. I don't feel shy about trying to pace myself. And I don't feel shy about pushing others to judge.

In general, I ask my judges to judge one out of every 4 times that they play. Yep, play 3, judge 1. That seems to be the right ratio for keeping games stocked and judges fresh.

As Coordiator, I try to schedule myself to judge and play with every new player that comes to my games. I like to help them develop as players and scout out future judge talent. I tend to be pretty good about knowing who is ready to judge...I look for players who play nicely with others and have a character at level 4 or above. That's all it takes. Really. Charisma and a bit of experience and you're ready to go. Often, I'll give a mod that I've just run to prospective judges to get them to read it and understand what's going on behind the curtain. It's very effective in subtly laying the groundwork for a future judge invite.

Here are some of the arguments that I'll make, as appropriate, to perspective judges:

1) Do your part to help the community. When you contribute, we all succeed. (this works well)
2) When you judge, you become a better player. I want you to take that next step. Be amazing. (this works well)
3) Guilt. "When are you going to pull your weight?" (rarely used)
4) External rewards. I have players in an AP who are committed to judging once a month as 'payment' for entry into the AP. Actually, any external reward (above and outside of usual GM credit) helps. Two FLGS give $5 in store credit to the judge. Another FLGS charges $6 per person to play...the judge gets it all!
5) Outright flattery: "You're a great judge and I want this group of players to have you on this mod." "I'd like to play...and I want to play at your table. I'd be stoked!"
6) Challenge them. "Do it so you can put your mark on this mod/adventure. Let's see what you got." Or "These pathfinders here really want a challenge. I know you can give it to them!"
7) Highlight the GM credit rules: "You get full XP, gold, and PA for judging this. It's a great way to level!"
8) Intrigue: "You'll learn that different parties will solve the same mod differently. You'll be awed how things turned out. Compare how this new party with how you did it."
9) <activate Painlord Rage power> "JUDGE, YOU LAZY PIDDLESPOT OR I'LL BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH YOUR OWN DICE!!! REALLY, HOW MANY MINIS DO YOU THINK I CAN CRAM UP YOUR NOSE!?!" (never used outside of my own head)
10) <please add your argument/thought below>

Most experienced judges know that there is a significant mental initial barrier to entry into judgeship, however, once that barrier is crossed, judging becomes much easier and less of a mystery. Most judges do not start judging out of fear...fear of not knowing the rules, not being good enough, not blahblahblah. As coordinators, we need to motivate beyond that and get the player to be comfortable enough to step up to judge.

Excuses are excuses....they are nothing but a smokestick in the way. I try to focus on ways to assuage their worries and support them.

Here are some of the typical excuses and comebacks that I'll use in return:

Excuse #1) "I don't have the time." (of course, this is just a stalling tactic)
Response) "No worries. Here's the mod now...I'll schedule you to run in a month. Surely, you can find time over the next month to prep."
Response if the above doesn't work) "You can't prepare a mod in a month. Really? How about 2 months? Or is there another issue that is really causing the problem?" (proceed to excuse 2, usually)

Excuse #2) "I'm not good enough./I don't know the rules well enough."
Response a) "I'm asking you because I know you know enough....you're good enough and you're ready."
Response b) "Knowing the exact rules doesn't matter. You know enough to look things up as appropriate and find solutions. Use your players as a resource...and as a check when you are unclear. They will be happy to help...they always are."
Response c) Here are some handy guides to help you get ready:
Introducing Faction Missions to Players
What makes a good GM
Painlord's How to Be a Better Judge
Response d) "This forum is great for additional information about the mod you're running. Check it out...the judges there have lots of insight into the mod."
Response e) (Before they play the mod) "PlayerX, I may ask you to run this mod at a future time...be sure to pay attention to what happens." (Immediately after the mod, hand them a copy.) "Here you go...read it and see what just happened. I think you'll run it just fine."

Excuse #3) "I don't have the supplies/mats/pens/minis/grognards."
Response a) "Here borrow mine. Anything else?"

Excuse #4) "I don't want to."
Response a) "I understand that, but you're good enough and smart enough to run a fantastic mod. Sadly, if you won't contribute back to the community, I may not have room for you at my games anymore. I hope you'll want to stay playing with us and want to be part of our community. I need you to step up every once in a while." I suspect many of you will think this is harsh, but I don't think so. In order for the community to grow and survive, you need people to contribute...everyone has to pull their share. And, as Coordinator, you have to make it happen...there is no one else!

Feedback: I encourage my judges to ask for feedback on their judgings. Often, I'll ask how things went to offer constructive thoughts to new judges. Sometimes, when appropriate, I'll have an experienced player at the table with the new judge to specifically give feedback. I think reflection and review are essential processes for becoming a better judge. PFS will grow on the strength of its judges.

It should be stated that once a judge has repeatedly given good faith efforts and failed to achieve quality judgemanship, I would relent and remove them from my judge pool. It's never happened...but I've had bad judges before and I'll try to keep them away from my players.

"Hey Joe--

Though we haven't talked to you about this before, I wanted to touch base about getting you into the judging pool at Endgame.

I've seen you play and I know you know you stuff and so I think it's natural that you would begin to think about contributing back to the Endgame community. Of course, there is no pressure to do so, but the system works better when everyone judges at least once in a while. We have lots of new players and need judges to fill all the tables.

Consider this a formal invite to getting started.

This is what I do to prepare for a game:
1) Read the mod and make notes on the combats and anything that I want to add.
2) Pre-draw the maps.
3) Re-read the mod again, paying special attention to tactics (this helps after I've drawn the maps).
4) Plan how the monsters will fight in the different encounters.
5) Run it and have fun with it.

I know you can totally make it happen and I could schedule you at an approaching game night of your choosing. You will get player credit for judging, so that shouldn't be an issue.

You help would be appreciated. Just once every month or two would make a big difference.

Thanks,
Pain

I like to have fun with my players. I want to encourage the social aspect of the game.

That's why I send messages like this.

Oh well, it made me laugh. After all, if you had a player who choose to name his character "Ruddy Piddlespot", wouldn't you have some fun with it?

+2: For being awake and alert.
+2: For being in good humor and mentally prepared to run a good mod.
+5: When you're running this mod because you understand that giving back to the community (via judging) is important
+5: For running to learn from your players as you judge. There are always tricks and tips to be shared and learnt.
+3: For hoping your players do something exciting and unexpected so you can rise to the challenge and make it even better.
+5: For embracing "losing", as in, acknowledging that the players are supposed to 'win' the day. You 'win' by making it fun for the players to win, which means your bad guys have to 'lose'. But don't worry, that means that you really win. :)

+0: For arriving at start time to begin setting up.
+2: For arriving 10 minutes early to prep and get set up.
-2: For showing up late.
+1: For introducing yourself to all the players at the table.
+1: For making sure the players introducing themselves to each other in real life (or giving a proper introduction).
+1: For making sure the characters have an opportunity to introduce each other in character to begin the roleplaying.
+1: If you use initiative cards, have a sample filled out for players to follow.
+1: For getting the sign in sheet filled out and going around the table.
+1: For asking and setting the subtier (aka APL) of the mod so that players know what to expect.
+5: For encouraging players to play what the character they want to play in the mod, rather than some misguided notion of balance.

+0: For reading the box text about the setting in the mod.
+1: For taking the time to show the players where they are and where they go on a map and describing the location with backstory.
+2: For additional color and flavor that you can impart during the mod from external sources. (If I don't have the Paizo book, I'll often do a search on one of the many wikis to get additional info.)

+1: For finishing a mod within the time allotted.
+3: For stretching with color/flavor/roleplaying a 2 hour mod into a 4 hour mod.
-10: For rushing a 4 hour mod into 2 hours when you're just trying to get it done so you can say you judged.
+2: For politely pushing slower playing characters into action rather than having them drag the game to a halt with their indecision.
+2: For calling a decided combat early so that you can return to the story or next important event.
+3: For being attuned to player reactions and mood to know when to pick things up and move on and when to dally and let roleplaying happen.