Tom Mannering's page

Whilst this didn't happen to me, I was told of someone who turned up to a game and was advised by the parties cleric that they were the groups healer.

They didn't cast any curative magic stronger than a stabilize and only eventually used a channel under duress.

Hey Nicoleye, I had the pleasure of GMing for you in one of the games. Glad you had a great time, I know I did too!

Looking for alittle advice on PbP. I'm currently playing on PFS PbP on here and the GM hasn't posted for over a week. I don't want my character stuck in a PbP limbo (especially as I need him for other events.) What's the procedure/ettiquette for removing a character from a PFS PbP? Do you count as playing the Scenario and thus can't play it again?

How could I not find that thread? I searched high and low for anything like that.

Thanks for clearing that up.

I might be missing something here, but I know First Steps used to reward XP and Prestige when all three were completed. Do you get XP/PP rewards for In Service To Lore alone now as the others are retired? How many PP?

Thanks

Is this that Agents of the Varlokkur campaign you referenced elsewhere? If so, dotting.

It is indeed. I've become quite attached to the Varlokkur as an agency in Absalom.

Now to the question: Absalom doesn't actually NEED to get offensive against Cheliax, and it would be in their distinct interest NOT to. They've weathered every siege by staying where they are and calling on the incrediblly diverse arsenal at their disposal.

In addition to this, while Absalom may not be able to count on the other powers of the Inner Sea coming directly to their aid, they can be certain that NOBODY else wants Cheliax to control them. If Cheliax makes a move like this, Andoran will jump them while their focus is elsewhere, no question. At the very least they'll ramp up their anti-slavery activities and try to grab chunks of Chelish territory at the same time.

In essence, you could be starting The Inner Sea's first big international world-war scenario.

I figured other nations may take steps, and it's certainly something I'll be taking into consideration. I have no doubt Absalom will play defensively, but I figure the magical elements at Cheliax disposal (namely, devils) will hook the Varlokkur in nicely. Plus I get the feeling Cheliax would start a war far more subtley than just all out attack, probably weaken the city from within.

You're quite right about the other nations stepping in, but (as in real life) if they aren't expecting it, they would take time to mobilise their forces and figure out to reaction. That said, a world war would be damn cool.

I'm currently running a campaign thats got the party heavily invested in the protection of Absalom and using the city as a base of operation for adventures around the city and surrounding area. As the campaign goes on they've come into contact with more and more Chelish operatives in the city that is eventually going to explode into a diplomatic incident and provoke Cheliax into direct conflict with Absalom.

I've no delusions here, Absalom is pretty much untakable, but I imagine that given the right reason and provacation, the Cheliax are one of the few country that could have a good go at it. They literally have the armies of Hell at their back!

I'm looking to use the Ultimate Campaign mass combat rules in the final stages for having the Chelish attempt a siege of Absalom, but I imagine they would also ply some questionable tactics within the city limits too.

I'm looking for advice on how you guys think both sides would act in open conflict between them, what tactics or interesting events would the party have to contend with and what impact do you think such an event could have on Absalom, Cheliax and the Inner Sea overall?

Tom Mannering wrote:

I run a campaign set in Absalom called 'Agents of the Varlokkur', since the Valokkur are investigators and judges of magical crimes and oddities in Absalom, they work fairly well as a S.H.I.E.L.D style stand in. The only downside is that you need a fairly good reason for them to be operating outside Absalom, the upside being, Absalom is massive. You can do everything without ever leaving. I've set the House of Thrune up as a Hydra style stand in. I then convert PFS scenarios away from being set by the Society and instead offered by the Varlokkur higher ups.

Agents of the Varlokkur

DAMN that's awesome! Mind if I grab some of this for future use?

Not at all, please help yourself to anything you want.

Looks like a great campaign, and the website is awesome!

Thanks, it's just Obsidian Portal and they do most of the hard work for you.

This is ridiculously useful. Thankyou so much.

I run a campaign set in Absalom called 'Agents of the Varlokkur', since the Valokkur are investigators and judges of magical crimes and oddities in Absalom, they work fairly well as a S.H.I.E.L.D style stand in. The only downside is that you need a fairly good reason for them to be operating outside Absalom, the upside being, Absalom is massive. You can do everything without ever leaving. I've set the House of Thrune up as a Hydra style stand in. I then convert PFS scenarios away from being set by the Society and instead offered by the Varlokkur higher ups.

Agents of the Varlokkur

Then I would question why you chose to play such a characters in an environment where you knew it was likely to cause problems. "I'm just role-playing my character," is not a justification for violating the "Don't be a Jerk" rule.

The words "I'm just role-playing my character" are so often used as an excuse to 'justify' antagonistic roleplaying, they're nails on a chalkboard to me. Whatever your reason to play a character who features 'jackass' in their personality description, find a different way to outlet that.

I've seen characters with that have a chip on their shoulder roleplayed really well, while still contributing to the group positively and forwarding the groups agendas. Find away to align the two and run with it, even if that means compromising your 'character' somewhat.

Hoping to be able to attend with a few of our fresh faced PFS recruits. Just sorting the work shifts around it.

Enjoy yourself!

I couldn't bring myself to delete a character, at the very least I'd leave them to gather cobwebs.

...You're introduced to a play called Crazy Dan, and it's pointed out that they don't mean in a fun or whacky way.

Something I haven't seen mentioned, but goes for players and GMs:

Know your limits.

Boyfriend dissolved your relationship and you're being a <choice word here> to everyone within 50 miles of you? Don't show up.

Mother's in the hospital, and you're focused solely on her health? Don't show up.

You or your child's ill? Don't even leave the house.

Barely stayed awake on the drive here and won't make it through a scenario? Don't show up, and call yourself a taxi-cab.

Negotiating a business deal and find yourself on the phone every five minutes? Don't show up.

I'd rather prepare a scenario and have the table fail to fire because the player respected his limits and didn't show, than have to sit through any of the above examples. Those of us who did show can find something else to do if a table doesn't make. Real life is far more important than a game.

<I reserve the right to not take my own advice. /ha!>

All of the above are incredibly true. My worst RP experiences as both player or GM have been when someone turned up to the game and for whatever reason simply wasn't fit (mentally, physically, emotionally) to be there.

Congratualtions

I think you've made the right choice with the Blakros Museum adventures (especially Voice in the Void and Penumbral Accords.) They're nice, simple, site based encounters that don't take too long to run through.

Here is the e-mail address people can reach me if they'd like!

pathfinder.sweden@gmail.com

Congratulations. I'm a fresh faced Venture Captain too so it's great to see other folk starting out at the same time!

A big thing that impresses me is when a player makes it very clear optional modifiers they're applying and is very aware of what those modifiers do.

For example;

I'm going to Rapid Shot and use Deadly Aim on both shots, giving me -4 to hit on both shots, but +4 to both shots damage.

Largely because I dislike nothing more than someone rolling, hitting a 19 and announcing 'I was totally using Rapid Shot/Deadly Shot etc.'

Tom

Looking forward to meet you. Great to hear someone is picking up organizing the north.

Likewise. In all honesty it's something I've wanted to see done for some time and I have been planning away to do it myself. There's potential for a great PFS and RPing community in Glasgow and in Scotland. A big issue I'm going to be addressing is that people just aren't even aware the PFS exists because there is no advertising for it here. Hopefully that's something that'll change very soon.

Congrats and welcome Tom. Will you be leading a scottish contingent invasion of PaizoCon UK?

Contingent might be abit more than I can muster. But there'll certainly be some of us.

Congrats folks.

Thanks guys. Glad to be aboard and spreading the PFS love around Scotland.