Theocrat's page

Alignment is a scary concept. If LG means you have to take prisoners, every paladin would primarily need to do subdual damage. As adventures, in the dungeon, in the forest or other place, they'd have to have a wagon train of employee's taking care of these prisoners. (I think this might be where the slavery reference came in - you're taking them someplace against their will, based upon a person's alignment and judgement [furthermore, have they broken specific national/regional/city laws for which they can be tried? Prisoners gets into so many negative areas. Just kill them.]).
One of my favorite PFS characters is Moby, a dwarven staff magus. His profession is midwife. He's a straight up murderer, as he really helps those unfortunate women with child. He's helping one particular under assisted portion of society. That's a good thing. When I play him, he is a willing participant in whatever the Society wants him to do. Because he knows he'll get to use his staff and kill something. By all standards, this is an evil being. I'd agree. But take out the joy of killing Societies unwanted and the Society's unwanted and he's just following the laws. How I RP and imagine him, he's his 5 charisma. By alignment standards, he's officially LN. He's following the laws, and see's the good and evil in the ways of men. Helpless little babies out on the street dying in droves because their mothers can't afford them and their fathers never knew. Or ending it before it got started. Yes, I know, place 21st century values on a fictional dwarf and it's pretty bad.
We always like the idea that we're individuals. That whatever it is that we are doing, it's ultimately right. I think as individuals, as characters, we need to be free of Alignment. For npc's and monsters, whose lives are there for our purest whim and desire should have an alignment or something that makes defining them categorically easier.

As the Vice President of the Red Dragons Riding Club High Desert Chapter (Las Vegas)(an International motorcycle club with 9 chapters) I want one of the Dragon Goblin plushes. That's frackin' awesome. I want one so he can go on rides with me!

I wish I'd seen this before we did our final battle last week. It was rather anti-climatic as the NPC's were written. I hope you do this with a bunch more of the NPC's.

I've joined the Dagedai Alliance and am working on getting my regular gaming group to join as well.
I'm looking at playing a cleric type. But I guess the real concept will come once I start rolling up the idea. As a Tech Demo and Day 1 backer I've been excited for the game, but I'm still unsure of exactly what to play and how it's all going to work. But I figure everybody needs a healer of sorts.

Darcnes, when we spoke the other day you mentioned placing a "hello" note on another forum someplace but I cannot seem to find it.
Also, I'm not familiar with some terms used here on the forum, one being TL;DR. It wasn't directed towards me, but I was wondering what it was.
Thanks,

Hi all -
I'm Theocrat Issak and PFSTheocrat for PFS and in PFO. I backed the Tech Demo at the $100 level and PFO at the $100 level as a first day backer with a total of $250 (for the print add-on and another $50 for character beenies). I'm based out of Las Vegas, NV, and was the founding PFS Venture-Captain for the Las Vegas Lodge (one of the first 12 VC's). I was very active in PFS until 2012 and only attend PFS conventions in LA with VC Robyn Nixon.
I'm a newbie for online games for the most part. I played City of Heroes for about two years on the (I think it was) the Libtery server where I was the co-founder and leader of the Healer Union SG. Under my leadership our ranks swelled, I owned and maintained our Web site, and our SG was very well known. I can't quite remember but I believe we were rated the #1 Guild for a while on the forums, for filling in for requests and players that were supportive of one another. As Healers was the primary role for our members, we accepted all roles, as Healers need protectors. After my time with the HU, I pretty much left MMO's and most games in general. I was too busy with 3.5 and later with the launch of Pathfinder.
So my experience in MMO gaming is limited, so I don't know what to ask and or offer in my request to join the guild. I played Star Trek Online for about 3-6 months but it wasn't my cup of tea. I don't actively play many video games - playing only Civ IV and V for the most part when I have some free time.

For PFO, I intend to play a Cleric of Abadar type character. I am not a PVP'er, it's just part of my core belief as a person. I don't like ruining other peoples hard work (I even have a hard time killing PC's in our home game, I will, but won't just do it to do it).
I'm unsure of what is needed to maintain membership or what you're looking for. I'm happy to discuss it with leadership here or in email for what is need to join.
My home gaming group has a member that lives in the UK and plays via Skype during our 2nd and 4th Saturday games at my house. But he is also a member of PFO and is also looking to join a guild. As are several other members of my gaming group, thus I could potentially bring an additional 3-6 players to the group.

Please feel to contact me at PFSTheocrat at Google's email. Or you can check out my FB page at /issak. Most of my posts are pretty generic except I post quite often pictures of our home game setup and what I do for my players.
Thanks,
Theocrat Issak
PFSTheocrat

Doing so now in fact!

I just posted to RDancy's post on this thread.
I'm very concerned about this lack of ability to get the print pack as well.

http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2r3zg?Pledge-Manager-Print-Pack-AddOn-being-dis abled#2

I am one of the people that backed at the $100 level and then upped my pledge to a total of $250, so that I could get the print package as well as additional beenies for my character. However, because I have been away since May 20, 2014 with limited opportunity to review the KS posts until tonight, I'm concerned about transferring my account to goblinworks and not getting the package that I clearly pre-paid for. I've already received my print editions of the map pack, but that might have been from backing the first KS program at $100.
I want to make sure that I'm not left out of the deal that I paid for just for having been away for less than two weeks.

As a spoiler for an older PFS module...PFS 32 Drow of the Darklands Pyramid....
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Paizo CS -
I need to cancel all my subscriptions for the month. With the haphazard way things are charged, returned to my bank and then charged again I have to get a CC that isn't tied to my bank.
Hopefully I'll get this resolved and re-start the more important subscriptions.
Thanks

Sara Marie
Thank you for getting this set up. Tinkered Tactics has done a wonderful job of getting the issue resolved and way above what was warranted. Thank you for setting it up. Thanks TT for the product.

My Paizoian Masters -
I just ordered a few items, including the non-mint Flip Mat Warehouse.
I already have a non-mint Warehouse (non-mint from excessive use). Would you please remove this item from my order and either apply the credit to my subscription or keep the credit for a later purchase.
And I think the payment is to take out on Thursday, can you make it Friday so that it goes through and I don't have to email you to fix it. I bought other awesome goodies with the money.
Thank you.

I got my Combat Tier box in my last subscription but left it in the box until our game this past weekend. Nice stuff. But wa-la, one of the shelves was broken. It wasn't just cracked it was broken, and I'd thought that odd being a hard acrylic. I'm not sure of who to contact regarding the piece.
Thanks

As it currently reads, a GM needs to sign off on a Novel Chronicle or even a Special Holiday Boon. To be a GM according to the guide is to have a PFS number and a desire to be a GM. Thus according to the rules, anybody that decides to download a novel or holiday chronicle can sign their own sheet (of course they still need to officially own the novel [in at least one format]). With any event number (many GM's have a standing event number for general events that they run) they can list that event and sign their own chronicle. This seems to be a grey area but one that is not illegal as it reads. Maybe a clarification that a GM other than the GM/Player themselves needs to sign novel and holiday boons.

I absolutely love my name. I wore two t-shirts with it on there. The one with my new kick-ass tattoo and one with General Goldfrapp the Naked Halfling TALDORAN Trebuchet. Each shirt had my name Theocrat Issak on it.

I had a death in the family and thus I was not there on Thursday and missed the morning session Friday. I had an overall decent time.

PFS Coordinator Micheal Brock was indeed at the Special Event. Peter H was our GM and Ian F and Adam M were sitting next to him. Stephen was closest to our table, yet it was Micheal's voice we heard - who was on Stephen's left (facing).

One cannot expect to have people come up to you. I am a very vocal person - and am dedicated to my hobby. 32 years now and I have a tattoo with the Sun and the Moon of Pholtus, the shield of Taldor, the Keys of the Vatican and a d20. Many people don't post often to the forums. Expecting them to come up to someone, much less the coordinator is asking a bit much.

To me, seeing Micheal Brock, Painlord and Dragonmoon discussing the pain of meeting Painlord shows the insider aspect of the group and less to answering Vors Dom's concerns.

Theocrat Issak

I got it! You can look at my facebook page at /issak and see it.
We were supposed to do it on Saturday night, but after making some adjustments Claudia said she wanted to make those with time enough. She did and I was very happy with the overall paper design.
So we made a new appointment for 1030am Sunday. Touchdown was at 1110am and end was 503pm. I am a wuss and if the EVOL One wasn't there I would have walked out at hour 3. I knew that if she just didn't finish once she started the color I wouldn't come back. So it was 6hrs of pain - with 4 breaks of less than 10min.
Took about an hour and a half for the black outline - and it was the Theocrat's crown that was the most painful. Originally it was about 1/2" higher and that would have been right at the back of the knee. As it is, it's close and that hurt. After it was all done and said we agreed that she'd have to re-color a little bit of it in about a month. As we were doing it, we agreed that coloring in the d20 was unlikely - you wouldn't see the numbers on the dice. And that was important.

When it's time to re-color for the highlighting, I'll most likely add in the ribbon along the bottom with the saying.

Overall, it's only been 3 days, but I was happy with the design and outline. I would have liked a lighter shade of green and purple. I do wonder if the green and blue on the shield show well enough - but that's something we'll look at in a month or so and go from there.

Thanks for the feedback and let me know what you think of the after design.

Was going to ask about this, but it explains something Issak said Saturday, about Doug doing the organizing for NeonCon GMs.

Congratulations to Doug D!

Doug Dalton is the owner of NeonCon and Society Coordinator for the convention and thus why I suggested you discuss the GMing possibilities with him and not because of any other status.

Issak Haywood
Theocrat Issak

The person that re-did this is potentially the tattoo artist. But in the shop is an award winning (tons of magazine covers) artist. So if I go with the girl that drew this up - but less experience, it'll pretty much be as is (except I didn't like the Theocrat's crown - too many crosses) in her original drawing. The Theocrat's crown was/is based upon a lot of the anti-pope's or with the current Pope's crown in mind, until I saw the Arch Diocese of Boston's crown. So this is a mixture of the two. Of course the key's are like the Vatican's and several other pope's. Thanks for the thoughts with the yellow. The fading is a worry. The size on my calve means that the ribbon will likely wrap to the sides of the calve.

I currently have a Micheal Keaton Batman (1989 movie) that I got in '92. I like it, but I'd originally wanted issue 310 of Fantastic Four. The Thing was extra rocky but the artist couldn't draw it right, so I went with Batman. I had it re-touched in 2000 with a fixing of the hand and re-coloring of the yellow of the belt and around the bat symbol. But that's faded since as well.

My EVOL WifeFIEND has never liked tattoo's so when she said I could get one - I'm jumping on it immediedtly. I don't do anything that's expensive or time consuming (buying a phone, computer, d20 book!) without focusing on the positives and negatives. With this tattoo I've been to about 15 shops and talked to about 20 artists. Getting prices and basic ideas from my original art. Now that I think I have the two artists narrowed down - and with a decent price I think I'm ready. I just want some feedback on elements that I might not think about - being focused on the ideal as it is.

Theocrat Issak

Hi all -
I've been working on my design for a coat of arms for a long time. I had someone draw the concept which was pretty spot on. Now I've had another person give their adjustments to it and it's pretty close. But I want ideas.
The image is - HERE .

It's not final. The design for the Theocrat's crown wasn't what I wanted so when I was coloring it in with my markers to get an idea for myself - I blackened it. The colors for the crown will be gold and white (if it'll show up nicely). It might not show up well on the scan here - but that is the Sun with a d20 at the top of the crown area.
The keys are silver and gold. I just added the X on the gold key to match better what I had in mind.
This is definitively gaming related. The Sun and Moon are from Pholtus's One True Path and the blue and green field are from TALDOR! And lets not forget the d20 in the center. It will have all the numbers showing as well.

But as this is intended to go on my left calve soon, I'd like to get some thoughts on it - a redesign - why something isn't right or would look better.

Thanks for you thoughts and ideas.

Theocrat Issak

I was working on the schedule of events just moments ago.
I have a couple GM's that have offered to run games that I think might be most excellent - but I've not yet confirmed that they'd be willing to do all of them. I suppose the preferred attempt would be to have the same GM for all five scenarios. If that's not the case how would you guys like to handle that? Which ones are most important regarding the scenarios?
Painlord and I have discussed how best to implement this and the other scenarios. I do suspect however that Doug will have someone post further information regarding this and the rest of the events.
Look forward to seeing you and the Galtan's secure the area.

I did say that it might take a me a couple days to get it on the list at NeonCon.com.
I don't work for the Con on Sunday's anymore - I don't even turn on my netbook or look at much besides football and my mini's. I run or attempted to run PFS on Saturday night and then watched the fight. So I knew it wouldn't be until tonight before I even looked at the spreadsheet before finding the spots. So they will be on my spreadsheet before on the site for registering.
Most importantly, I wanted to know when the table would be set - since it will have to take up two slots just for the first module. I haven't looked at the rest to know what their lengths are. Additionally, I did ask for an e-mail from whomever would run it so that I could put it on the list - along with the players so that I could get that to Mike as well.
1) What time slot for EotT do you want?
2) Who is going to be the listed GM?
3) Who is set to be the four people at the table (minimum) - then from there I'll either have the two last slots filled from people here or if it is able to be opened I'll have it listed on the site.
4) Don't hold off on booking your hotel and flights. Other than you guys telling me when you'd like to have this game set up, I'm open.

For Blood Under Absalom I n eed GM's. There also won't be any other modules played during that slot. I realize that if someone has already played it, that means they're either GMing it or playing that other game.
Please feel free to register to play any game and if 'you' end up running in that slot we'll get it sorted out.

PFS Theocrat at gmail

I can't do anything about the scheduling on NeonCon or Warhorn.
Such as it is.
I'm working on the events we have listed officially before I can do something for Eyes Of the Ten. I'm not opposed to it, but right now I have about 10 slots filled and need 80 more (or so). Deal: I get EotT listed and you run at least 2 events for me (ad EotT doesn't count!).
Give me the GM's info as well as the players info (name, PFS#, email, cell, etc..) and I'll add them to my list. If their on my list it's on there even if it's not yet on NeonCon's site - it might take a couple days for me to adjust my notes and get them to Mike and him to adjust the site.

I need more GM's so please send me an e-mail and I'll get my spiel out and get the information so that I can get this and other games listed. I'd also appreciate it if 'you' ran four games and had three of your friends run four games and three of them run four more games and then I'd be happy and set. 'You' Being All Of You!

Are you guys wanting me to list the games and modules from my spread sheet to this forum post as well? Or is using NeonCon OK to view slots?

Perry is an excellent GM and he was the '4e/Alt.System GM' MVP. I am unsure if he is planning on running any PFS for me at NeonCon just yet - as he may be doing just 4e or something else.
I've got my events - I'll be sending out my request for GM's shortly, this weekend. Heck, I'm at the bar with the EVOL WifeFIEND typing this up on my netbook working on the e-mail right now (well, posting to this thread). I am under the impression we're hoping to use the NeonCon site and not Warhorn, but I'll know for sure this weekend and have that setup in one way or another.
For the PFS Events - they are 5hr slots and the below is the open schedule. I'm hoping for 10 tables per session with 12 on Saturday night. Saturday during the 2nd session of the day (session 7) may have a few less options with Iron GM expected to take a few GM's/Players. If there are special requests I'm open to them - as well as the potential for a change in modules if need be due to some oversight on my part (i.e. I missed offering part of a series).

The sessions are:
Thursday 01 - 1300 - 1800
Thursday 02 - 1900 - 0000
Friday 03 - 0800 - 1300
Friday 04 - 1300 - 1900
Friday 05 - 2000 - 0100
Saturday 06 - 0800 - 1300
Saturday 07 - 1300 - 1900
Saturday 08 - 2000 - 0100
Sunday 09 - 0700 - 0900
Sunday 09b -1000 - 1500

Session 09 - is a 2hr session for BREAKFAST WITH NEONCON. I haven't worked it out yet, but that's what it will be. If it's just me and Robyn at breakfast, then it's just us!

I'm on FB at /issak in case you didn't know as well as on the PFS Facebook group, and likely a few others. So you should be able to get in touch with me.

I did not offer Eyes of the Ten because of it's length at 8hrs and it having 4 total modules in the series. If I offer it, it has to take 2 5hr slots and would have to sign up for both sessions.
But if you will run it and think you can get 4 players (or if playing know of a GM in mind) then I don't see why I shouldn't list it.

Erik specifically said that Venture-Captain shirts do grant a re-roll. However, since he only told the VC's at the Pope dinner...some might not realize it! But still isn't allowable for GM re-rolls.

Additionally, I do think that the 'wear' rule needs to be re-listed as 'have in possession' and shown before the start of the game (or have your name written on it to further prove it's yours). Because the larger sizes cost more and while many of us age and VC'd (read: driven) to drink we may grow larger and eventually have real world belly buttons showing.

For the latest Six, I'd ask for a refund. You've likely already been doing the job in your local area for a while now. Except now you have a title and location. And as in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, people will post things about you on the Internet.
While Liz has cookies, Pathfinder has shot and pint glasses. Chocolate and Alcohol both help.

Holy Wowziers. I totally didn't even see this thread.
I have come up with what I think will be an impressive schedule of events and that should be up on the NeonCon.com Web site very soon. All eight of the Season Three modules will be featured (the last two will be out the last week of October). The Intro's will have a couple sessions, as well as a good selection of Season Two modules. A couple Season One modules and a couple sessions set aside for Classic Play. It's an aggressive setup and I need GM's. I think we'll have an average of 10 sessions per slot, with 9-10 slots. Saturday evening will feature Blood Under Absalom and I know it was a blast at GenCon so I anticipate a good collection of mayhem during that feature.
I'm also considering, and would like some thoughts on a Las Vegas Lodge Breakfast Sunday morning. Last year we had a Venture-Captain's breakfast that was open to everybody. I know Robyn has pictures of me not following my diet and J.P. wrote some French gibberish with his pancake syrup. This would be a bigger thing, not just a 6am breakfast at the buffet at Luxor. I think this would be more 'official' and open for all NeonCon attendees. Nothing going on, just an opportunity for everybody to meet other attendees in a setting other than killing and maiming each other with dice and axes. This way you would be able to go "Oh, no way would I have expected Adam Daigle* to be able to eat 8 bagels in one sitting."
* Adam won't be there and if he ate 8 bagels he'd triple in weight.

I'll follow this and other threads much more closely. If you have thoughts as to where else we should post announcements for players and GM's please let me know. I know lots of areas around the Web, but I'm sure you know of other areas.
Please feel free to e-mail me at my official PFS e-mail (PFS Theocrat Gmail) no spaces and an at symbol before gmail with ideas and questions.

See you November 3,
Theocrat Issak

Drendle's a wuss. He was captured, cloned, and on his death bed. Even with all the resources the society has, he's still an old bean. He needs to wake you up in the middle of the night and have his weasly snide aid tell you to head up north to the frozen wastelands of the Witch Queen.
I like that hot red head. I think there's two of them but one of them can't spell her name right. Although, even the old biscuit himself Drang spelled his name in SoS one way and in modules another. But it seems that not knowing one's name or title is a Society thing (Master of Blades / Master of Swords).

My favorite Real Venture-Captain is Mark Garringer because that's the name I always use when I get in trouble. There's this French-Canadian-Coloradan Venture-Captain with just initials and he is my least favorite (he tried to kill Goldfrapp with beetle swarms). The Shackelton Venture-Captain is confusing. There's the VC, the writer and (as he told me) "The Other One." I don't like Eric Brittian the VC from San Diego because his character tossed a naked (is there any other kind) Goldfrapp into the Absalom Bay.
I like Robyn the Venture-Captain from LA, because one of her characters and a naked Goldfrapp saved some indigents from the Steel Wyverns in the sewers of Andoran. Plus she does GameX and I go to that. Azzmyth from SF is way cool. And if you have those pictures of us, it's not us. I swear. I've met many of the VC's at GenCon and NeonCon last year. We all have some serious love for the game and in all, we're better than those VC's in the books.
Go Team TALDOR!

Hi all -
I love those map packs. I brought the majority of mine with me to GenCon.
But not all, thus when I had one of the two or three chances to get down to the Paizo store and pick up cool things, I ended up getting 4 I already had. I only realized this when I was unpacking and putting together the things I need for the home PFS stuff this past weekend.

I have Hellscapes, Temples, Boats & Ships, and Lairs. They are still all shrink wrapped but since I don't really need duplicates, I'd like to return them for packs I don't have (or credit). What can I do?
Issak

While I generally think that the players and GM should make the overall game and module the best that it can be for the Real Life Society, and if needed trump the rules, in this case I don't think the GM can trump the rules.
Because Prestige is so important to the RL Society as well as the game Society it is vital to track it and report it as the module requests. It is because the Andoran faction was so dominant that it needed to be separated to give other factions a chance.
RAW states that if the mission is for Andoran and Silver Crusade (or any of the dual factions for earlier scenarios), and any member of either faction completes the missions as required all will get the prestige.
In this case, if a Silver Crusade member knows this is going to be a problem, they should state this with their fellow SC/A members that they believe they will be unable to complete the mission. As such something might be worked out. Additionally, the factions are 'secret' as well - if the players wish them to be. Thus, the players that are OK with slitting a throat can attempt to do so by a note to the GM. Some GM's might blurt out that the character is attempting this and allow other players to stop it. I think that the player should be clear that his intentions to slit the throat should be as covert as possible.

If all the players believe that their leaders are asking them to do something that they cannot by their code of conduct, they may wish to look at their code a bit differently. If they are Lawful anything - the laws of their lands and that of Absalom might dictate that they are within their legal rights to provide justice, as that is what it is considered. Thus killing the miscreant is legal and just. By not doing so they may be breaking their own code and the laws that they have sworn to uphold. However, a soldier should always question possibly illegal and immoral acts. Slitting a prisoners throat might qualify as illegal and immoral, but killing the miscreant because Major Colsten/SC leader says so would be an order that should be carried out in a lawful and just manner, like a beheading.
There are reasons death by combat and justice are different that murder or assassination. Killing the miscreat as a prisoner would be murder, killing them as a political statement would be assassination while combat could be determined to be self defense and of course justice is determined by the winners.
I love Lawful, as long as you are following the laws of 1) where you are from (Absalom for PFS since that's where the Grand Lodge is located) 2) The laws of the land in which you hail from (this could be a faction but also if you're Qadirian supporting Scarni you could call the Qadirian laws legal) 3) where you are currently located (and this could be thre real tricky part, see below) 4) what you determine to be lawful laws. If you lawyer your way, you can be even more free than a chaotic alignment. If you are in Issrein, killing goblins and trolls is murder, while in Geb undead are citizens and humans taste like chicken.

Lawful Neutral - Follow the One True Path
Theocrat Issak

A description of the book -
If it is in a stack of books, the top and bottom says Pathfinder RPG. On the pages side - where you might have tabs - I have 1" color coded sections. Classes, Feats, Combat, Spells, etc. I recall that Spells are Black and Combat is Red. That's if they took off the cover, which is a brown paper bag with masking tape on all the edges.
The inside cover has a sticker with my name and information, the inside cover has many Paizoians's autographs, and says Congraulations NeonCon 2010 Winner. The Chap. 1 two page picture has says Hideous Moby the Abortive Midwife and Gen. Goldfrapp and the rest of his titles. All done up in block style writing. The GM Section has my 2 and 3 star PFS cards.
Along the margins of most areas are notes about the main points of a paragraph. Grapple has notes about CMB vs CMD, Stand from Prone references Hyrum's post and a RAW note. Same with so many other areas that it'll take me weeks to remap all those notes in a new book.
Other than removing my sticker, you'd still have to destroy half the book to remove my 'taint'. My friend Jack as one of my older books (we went to Hooters and well...) and at last years NeonCon people asked him if it was mine. We figure he'll get lynched the moment he takes it out of his bag.
Again, thanks for the help.

Assuming that you're referencing humans, no matter the culture they are one race - humans. Race is such a bad term to use. However, even using a cultural basis as a replacement isn't really the right term either. I'm American which certainly is a cultural aspect, but I'm also an American from the Southwestern portion of the nation and my cultural understanding, ideas and even dialects are different than those in Boston or the South. Often, a village 10 miles away from a major city in the Phillipines doesn't even speak a language that has identifiable words in which both can communicate easily.
So even the lines of Taldan, Ulfen and so forth don't apply nicely. Plus, the whole thing about affairs and naughty men and women often means that while one might believe they are tied to a particular cultural determination, they very well may not.
Worse, I have no answers to my thoughts nor even a better way to explain racial/cultural determinations. I do like where you are headed here though.
Now if we'd all just follow the One True Path of Theocrat Issak we'd all be Issakians, a cultural hegemony under my misguidance.
Theocrat Issak

I have a few items in my sidecart that I picked up at GenCon and although I love me some damnable Item Cards, I don't need more Urban NPC's or Enemies cards. How do I remove them before the mid-October ship date?
And thanks Cosmo, Liz and Sara (via the phone) for all the support at GenCon.
Theocrat Issak

Dragnmon and I were bot running the same module at GenCon. Our prep 'bags' were vastly different. I have no clue as to what he brought - but I tell you I could never have run a good game with it.
But I like to have the maps, the map packs, minis, extra minis, and a bunch of stuff I don't really need.
When I run, I not only print out the module, but I also print out the monsters and any special rules they may utilize. One module had the Red Mantis PrC, as well as two archetypes from APG. So I printed those out as well and added them to the module. I usually prepare the highest tier possible, it's easier to limit and not utilize some of the feats, spells and tactics that the higher tiers use. I try to write down what potions, spells are done in round -3, -2, -1, 0 if they would have time to prepare and what round those would potentially wear off.
One thing that I don't see is the use of Item Cards. I pass them out for faction missions when Cheliax is given a book/fetish or whatever that goes along with their mission handout. This way if the player has the card and has to leave the item behind, they can actually hand it to me. I also have ones for the faction missions that need to find something. If they need to find a book, there's a book item card. But when I know more than 3 days before that I'm running a particular module, I usually do item cards for items that can be taken from the dead guys. I first do the potions and other items that will most likely be utilized. If more time persists, I do it for the mundane items (basic studded armor, short swords, etc.). I think it adds something to the game and also explains my need to collect those damnable cards.
Some of the Urban NPC's are also VC's or otherwise listed in the SoS/PFS Field Guide. So I use them. The most important thing about using the cards is that I don't actually write on them in the little area - I put them in clear sleeves and write on a little card the information regarding the item (usually the description provided, esp. with potions) with a note regarding Tier level and possible adjustments. I even go so far as to use multiples of the exact same card if there are muliples of that item. If there are three cure light wounds potions, I'll make sure I use three exact same cards. If at tier 1-2 they are CLW but at a higher tier they are Cure Moderate Wounds, I'll mark that on the little card. Sometimes a tier will have something that another tier will not, and I'll make sure they are not passed out.
But I'm a prep fiend and I suck at running right off the bat without much prep. I can do it - like with Throaty Mermaid that I did at GenCon - but I don't like it.
So a bag full of extra mini's of various classes, races and generic things is always a good idea.
Theocrat Issak

Thanks everybody. I really hope it was an accident more than anything else. Bedides, its very unlikely that anybody that uses the book at a convention or elsewhere wouldn't be spotted and asked about it. Even a home game might draw questions. Borders is going out of business, so when they drop to 50% I'll see if they still have the one CR in stock - even with a book, I can always use another!
Thanks for the support. I do appreciate it.
Issak

Hi all -
To be clear, there are two Pathfinder Societies. There is the Pathfinder Society based out of Absalom and there is the Pathfinder Society based out of Washington. The Society in Washington doesn't condone murder, theft or driving on the wrong side of the road.
The general idea of games/RPG's (D&D any edition, WoW, Modern Warfare) is to defeat the perceived bad guys. That usually entails injuring, maiming or killing them.
The Society to which our characters belong is not good. The mission statement is to go find relics and put them in a vault. In so doing, you may have to fight people, kill them and take their stuff. In year 2, the Shadow Lodge an internal faction of the Pathfinder Society. They are still members of the society, they believe in getting the stuff and instead of putting it in a vault, they feel the items should be used. The Apsis Consortium is not too much different than us - but in the end, they want to sell the stuff to the highest bidder.
In year 3 the Shadow Lodge's goals are a bit different. They still endorse the idea of going forth and getting the stuff the Society wants, but they feel that those that go forth and get that stuff should be better protected should they fail.
In general, the Pathfinders are going out and taking what belongs to someone else. There is a reason they aren't liked in Ustalav. They are not archeologists studying the past. They study the past and take what belonged to those dead guys.
In no way should the Society be defined as a good organization in general. Factions aside, the Society isn't good. Individuals within the Society may be, but the mission statement of the Society doesn't say that they are going forth to get these items to do good - if that was the case at the conclusion of a mission the item would be sent off to the crusades to defeat the World Wound. But then you also have to determine what is good and what is bad and who gets to make that choice.

A player character may do whatever it is that they want, with the Washington based Society declaring that they cannot attack another player's character. Part of what I call the Trump Rule (do what's best for the Washington based Society). As such, if I wish to kill a guy and take off his head, you can attempt to stop me because you are a LG Paladin and you determine that to be evil. If that is the case, you're LG Paladin should be reminded to read the books describing the Pathfinders (Seekers of Secrets, Field Guide and the Chronicles). As such there is much murder and maiming going on. Maiming does seem to be on the evil side of the morality issue - however, morality is a deeply personal thing and what one believes is OK or good another might determine to be the most vile act ever.

In a module that was played a lot this weekend, there is a tribe that has an item that the Shadow Lodge (year 2) wanted. The PFS is sent to go get that item as well, so that the Shadow Lodge doesn't get it. Ignore the fact that the tribe has had that item for many hundreds of years and has done a most excellent job of keeping it safe from the rest of the world. So in either way, the Society will get that item. So fighting the tribe in any way and taking the item seems to be wrong. I cannot see how a Lawful person would see that as anything but theft. Let's say that the Shadow Lodge gets the item - and the players end up stopping the Shadow Lodge - the item should be returned. But your boss at HQ in Absalom did ask you to bring it back. What do you do? Who's laws of the land do you follow? What about going to Whitethrone? Monsters in Issrien are citizens while humans are not. Geb, humans and the like are chattell while undead are the masters. If a lawful character goes into those areas and kills a goblin or a troll or a zombie - he has committed murder in the eyes of the law. In the eyes of general society he has just killed a monster.
I love the grey morality that the Society offers. If a GM were to ever say that maiming a person (faction mission or not) and I was lawful and that I was going to turn evil and therefore I could lose my character, I would ask for an exact list of exactly every law of the land in which I was currently located and what the laws of the land from which I hail and those from where the society was located. If the GM could not produce all these - I would state that I am just following the laws. Maiming and murder is OK. If I were Chaotic or Neutral, the same could apply. If I were lawful good - I would state that for the good of the world, this person needs to be maimed so that they learn a lesson, are able to turn their life around and hopefully become a force in the world that does at least one good turn. Losing an arm seems better than losing ones life.
Maiming might seem evil to many of us (Washington Society), but much of it can be rationalized in a world where Magic, Undead and Trolls walk the streets. We cannot put our personal morality (real world or not) onto another characters morality.

Theocrat Issak

Hi all -
On Saturday during the evening session I was gaming with the group of guys that said they were lawyers and tossed away their dice. They wore the bright orange shirts that said GamerHole.com and names on the back. During the module, I looked up the grapple rules and then placed the book under or next to my chair.
One of the players had an issue and left very quickly. When you leave like that, you often just grab your stuff and go. Our things could have been near enough that picking up the book was not even recognized.
If it wasn't the group I was GMing, I'm sure the same case is true. Someone just saw it and thought it was theirs.

However, my book looks nothing like anybody's. I have a tan paper bag protector. The cover reads in big marker - Pathfinder Core Rules. The top, bottom and sides all have cream masking tape to further protect the book. The spine says Pathfinder and Las Vegas Lodge. Somewhere there, it also says Theocrat Issak.
The inside of the book has a sticker that says Theocrat Issak and my phone number, email and 2736 (my PFS Number). The front title page has many Paizoian's autograhs and says Congratulations NeonCon 2010 Winner. In addition to my name being in several places, two pages in Chapter 1 have drawings of my characters names, Hideous Moby the Abortive Midwife, and of course Gen. Goldfrapp.
Many of the pages are marked up with notes on the margins relating to the topic. (IE. grapple will list information about the condition and affects).
I don't tab my books, but I do mark the pages. Each section is color coded with spells in black at the top and combat in red at the bottom. Each section is coded at 1". This is to facilitate easy access to the right section.

Because my book has a protective cover and all my notes on the spine, outside pages and inside, it should be pretty clear that it's mine. Easy enough if you look at Chap.1 and see the two character names. The Gamemastering chapter has my 2nd and 3rd GM Stars cards glued/taped to the pages.
If you accidentally picked it up, I would greatly appreciate getting it back to me ASAP. It was bad enough not having it for the rest of the combat in the module I was running but worse during the next day. Plus, a Venture-Captain can't be without a Core Rulebook.
You can either contact me with a post below or personally at PFS Theocrat gmail (no spaces and of course @ and a Dot Com).

Thanks and I appreciate any assistance in returning my book.
Theocrat Issak

New card just came in. Activating it and changing it in the system. Charge Away!

Hi all -
I will be there. Gen. Goldfrapp the Naked TALDORAN Trebuchet of the TALDORAN Trebuchet Army in Absalom will need to sing the glories of TALDOR in a setting such as a bar. I didn't register, but I will do so soon. OR I'll just be there. Naked.
Theocrat Issak

Thanks. I do appreciate it. I'll post if the card comes sooner.

You have written many of these types of 'guides' in the past - a good GM, player and even how to write semi-canon articles.
I agree with 99% of what you are saying - however implementation is often hard or difficult. Even those that read your posts might not understand the objective or know how to utilize the information.
This is true with GM's as well. I know a couple of players - they know the rules quite well and believe they can be good GM's because they've had success as a player. With the above, I think it's important to note that while the above is true for a player, it 'can' be only half true for a GM.
The final point about being a volunteer - this goes both ways. The players are volunteering their time to help the other players and GM have a good time. As such, having a good time should be the first priority. As such, just because your first experience with a group was poor, doesn't mean they don't like you, don't want you there or it has anything to do with anyone thing in particular. Maybe the GM isn't the best, even with players that know what to expect from the GM, add in a player that's not focused and the whole table can go sour. So make sure you look around at whats going on when you join. Sometimes it just might not be the best night to play.

Hi All -
My orders to be picked up at GenCon and charged this week are going to have a hangup. I lost my wallet and credit card. The bank said I will get a new card on Friday. Thus when you charge me this week, it will be denied. I want to make sure my shipments are still there at GenCon for me, but I'm worried this hang up holds them up. What should we do?
Thanks,
Issak

I have to agree with Jason about people that have shown up to a game day event once or twice will usually know who the 'best' role player is. I left after the first season of LG, so I don't know if this was standard or not - but I went to RAGECon 2000 in Reno, NV. After each session they had the players vote on who was the best. At the tables I played, I played my heart out but often saw cliques and 'friends' win. I don't recall the bonuses, but it was dissapointing none-the-less.
Besides, 'Best' is such a suggestive and seltetive term. If the character is an introvert - are they playing the character or is the player that way? I've also had off games. I've realized it easily could be the GM, the other players, the event or even far out concept that I wasn't Groovy that day.
At NeonCon 2011 I did win an award for best player. But that was for Best Faction Character. I only played Gen. Goldfrapp the Naked TALDORAN Halfling Trebuchet of the Taldoran Trebuchet Army in Absalom twice duringthe Con. But in both cases, Gen. Goldfrapp (for short, but please don't let anybody else do that) was instrumental. And at the interactive I/He/We stood up and shouted something along the lines of the "Glories of TALDOR......" and just in general running around naked. This was voted on my the entire PFS group. And there were some great people there.
So if you're doing it, you need to make sure that your pool of talent is large enough and that a majority of the people feel the same way.
Just my thoughts having won something like that and as the VC of the Las Vegas Lodge.
Theocrat Issak

I've been listening to the PaizoCon 2011 podcasts from Know Direction and the collected podcasts from d20Radio.com. In one of those Erik 'Iquander' Mona states exactly what he does. But in that he forgot that he eats pizza on Erik Mona day. That day is also Grodog's birthday. Which both are only relevant to Erik Mona, Grodog and the pizza delivery people.
Be Well. Be Well Delivered.
Follow the ONE TRUE PATH.
Theocrat Issak

I did note that nobody was leaving the TALDOR faction. That's a shame, since I was under the impression that the General Goldfrapp the Naked TALDORAN of the TALDORAN Trebuchet Army in Absalom faction had been approved. I will make sure I speak with Hyrum and Mark at GenCon and this this fixed before NeonCon so that this adjustment can be rectified.

Is this an error - Beacon of Good (Fame 5, 2 PP) The Shining Crusade gives you a shining wayfinder...?
The Shinning Crusade is the Crusade in Mendev (IIRC) and thus this should say The Silver Crusade gives you a shinning wayfinder. However, shouldn't it be a silver wayfinder to more fit with the crusade's name?
I think they should follow the One True Path.
Theocrat Issak

I am unsure that actually turning over the reins is the right way to go. You cannot be hamfisted or overbearing in your leadership - but passing on the torch to someone can as you said - collapse. In Vegas I've experienced this as well. I have several good GM's. I'll have them run for several months at a time, excited and doing what they can. Then job, wife, lack of a job, money or even skill seems to sap them of their ability to handle any of it. Thus you'll likely 'be stuck' doing 95% of the deed yourself. You will find on occasion someone that will handle 40% of the supporting and even running of the events for a few months - but again it will drop off and you'll be stuck back doing it all again.
Fostering those times that gives you a 'break' of only 55% of the work is what you need to aim for. When you get the person that is willing to have your back for much longer and be willing to take on some of the actual responsibilities - do your best to foster those times and people. I can't suggest that you blow your own money on 'gifts' but I know we VC's do exactly that. If the Evol WifeFIEND even had a clue she'd divorce me. At least buy them a soda or two during their games.
And remind them that they too can earn two, three and even five stars if they only run a bunch of modules.

Be Well. Be Well Overbearing.
Theocrat Issak of the Las Vegas Lodge of the Pathfinder Society

I'm a VC and I don't have any power either. I'm a Theocrat for Theocracy's sake. Plus, having just seen ep. 7 of Game of Thrones, I can totally see how a 'mere' Venture-Captain could be caught.
Also, if you get the chance to look at some of the VC's listed in Seeker of Secrets, a couple aren't even all that high of a level. I haven't yet played or read Dalsine -but as a TALDORAN! I'm looking forward to it. If the Baron is in it, he's not a VC (again, if you're referencing someone else, who is a VC and not him, then it could be back to my original paragraph.).
With what VC Neil said, and what Josh Frost said during year one was that often there are tactics listed for an enemy - and they might be lame - and that is part of the module. Ad-libing or modifying the tactics could change the game. However, part of the GM's job is to recognize something and recognize the skill level of the party (the players) as well as the classes involved. Four 3rd level characters from players that are on their 12th module are completely different from 5th or 6th listed characters that are on their 12th module from players that have played or GM'd a great many modules. Same goes in regards to the classes. At GameX I realized that there was little potential harm, roleplay, rollplay or challenge to some of the listed encounters. So they were beefed to the next tier. But in doing so I/you must be fair to the players and the game. If you've upped the game and not given the players either the notice or the ability to combat something because you've increased the level of difficulty, that's not fair. Upping the difficulty isn't always related to combat either. By making a person more ornery than required that too could come into play with either a lack of skills by the character or even an inability by the actual players to overcome the 'new' challenge. All must be dealt with as benefiting the entire group as a whole. It is one of the greatest challenges of being the GM. And also the hardest. Each group is unique and not all players fit to the GM's focus. As such, that GM needs to fit into that tables (often playing for the first or second time together) play style as well as their own take.
In the end, be fair.
Or be a captured Venture-Captain.
Be ready for some Jackie Chan / Ong Bak style of kickassery at GenCon at my tables.
Theocrat Issak

I love the Jackie Chan style of game play. If a player tells me they are doing a double back flip while firing their bow and are just totally awesome - well I can see no way that cannot work. I mean, if there is no real benefit or negative or something - but it sounds real cool then I don't see the need to implement a negative modifier or even a acrobatics check. If they're doing something that is trying to give a bonus from a backflip (say, higher ground from being in the air), well it still really sounds cool so I might allow it, but they'd have to succeed on an acrobatics check.
To me if it sounds cool - I'm cool with it. Especially in certain modules - like Midnight Mauler where the chase scene is concerned. Or Bar Fights. Plus if I begin to exaggerate - like I did at GameX telling the PC's that they were fighting a bad guy that had a +12 Battle Axe of I Destroy the World and then describing the same weapon as a +24 Battle Axe of Evil of Domination of the Wold of Evil Death Ray of Kill the Wold of Destruction. I think that might have been the exact description in the module. But when I do that, its time for the players to do the same.

For other improvisation - the idea is that overall the PC's should have the same basic experience as other players - it has to be either minor or have no real game changing aspect. No matter what you should encounter the Midnight Mauler (it is the title) and a couple of the other encounters. How each is played out is dependent upon the GM. One encounter can be roll played while that same uses some diplomacy by others. Although diplomacy cannot be used in combat, I often allow it to be used right up until d20's are rolled.
Keep the same basic encounters (even if you have some dude tripping all your humans, you cannot change them to dwarves) and keep yourself happy so that you can keep the players happy.
If it's not Jackie Chan, make it some other Ong Bak style show!
Be Well. Be Well Improvised.
Theocrat Issak