The Guide to the Pathfinder Society is great! I can tell that a lot of hard work went into it. However, I can think of a few questions that it doesn't answer:
1) Does bringing an animal like a warhorse or a riding dog or a druid's animal companion (or 100 goats :) affect the average party level for the adventure?
2) Do players have access to the Monster Manual for purposes of spells like Alter Self?
3) What is the policy on spells with permanent duration like Animate Dead -- can I animate a hydra skeleton (say) in one adventure and bring it to my next adventure? Can I cast Explosive Runes 100 times "between adventures" or do I need to cast it during the course of an adventure? And would unused Explosive Runes carry over between adventures?
4) What kind of tricks can I teach to an animal using Handle Animal? Do purchased animals come fully trained? Or do I have to train them myself?
5) How do you determine the passing of time for replacing a dead familiar or paladin's mount (say)? Real life time or "in-game" time or something else?
6) Is PHB errata considered official? What about things that are explained in the 3.5 FAQ? Or the 3.0 FAQ? Can a level 1 druid have a crocodile animal companion or not?
Those are just a few questions that came to my mind. If anyone else has questions, maybe they could post them here as well.
1) Does bringing an animal like a warhorse or a riding dog or a druid's animal companion (or 100 goats :) affect the average party level for the adventure?
In so far as classes who HAVE animals companions (druids, paladins, wizards, etc.) no, it doesn't. Theoretically, those companions are built into that class. As for 100 goats, no, you cannot have 100 goats. Druids as of the 3.5 rules were restricted to one animal companion, so we're restricting all players to one animal companion of any type. So,if you're a bard (who doesn't normally get an animal companion) and you want to train a dog using the Handle Animal skill) you may train one dog and have just one dog as your companion. On the same side of the coin, if you're a druid and already have a wolf companion, that's it--you've filled your one slot for an animal companion. You may not buy or train any animals not listed in the PH under the equipment chapter. (We also eliminated the Leadership feat, so that fits with our philosophy on running multiple "characters" at any given time.)
2) Do players have access to the Monster Manual for purposes of spells like Alter Self?
You may come to the table with a maximum of three pre-generated forms for use during the scenario. Since scenarios are on a time crunch, no one at the table wants to wait for a druid to go through the MM looking for the perfect monster to match the current encounter. The short answer is: during the scenario slot, no, you do not have access to the MM.
3) What is the policy on spells with permanent duration like Animate Dead -- can I animate a hydra skeleton (say) in one adventure and bring it to my next adventure? Can I cast Explosive Runes 100 times "between adventures" or do I need to cast it during the course of an adventure? And would unused Explosive Runes carry over between adventures?
Any spell cast during a slot ends at the end of the slot.
4) What kind of tricks can I teach to an animal using Handle Animal? Do purchased animals come fully trained? Or do I have to train them myself?
You can teach the tricks listed in the PH only. Purchased animals need to be trained. See #1 about how many animals you can have.
5) How do you determine the passing of time for replacing a dead familiar or paladin's mount (say)? Real life time or "in-game" time or something else?
A dead familiar or paladin's mount can be replaced between scenarios. Work with the GM of the slot in which your familiar or paladin mount died to get a new one at the end of the slot. (And ONLY at the end of the slot.)
6) Is PHB errata considered official? What about things that are explained in the 3.5 FAQ? Or the 3.0 FAQ? Can a level 1 druid have a crocodile animal companion or not?
Generally speaking, the PH errata is official though we reserve the right to make rulings for the sake of preserving balance and fair game play. If the things explained in the 3.5 FAQ pertain to the core SRD rules, they are generally official, though we can make rulings for balance etc. The 3.0 FAQ is not the game system we're using, so no. A level 1 druid, despite what the 3.5 FAQ says, can choose an animal companion from the list of animals in the PH only.
That's great that I got feedback on my questions so fast. Thanks! Is there going to be a place where FAQs are stored for future reference?
By the way, with regards to #6 the crocodile is listed in the SRD as a possible animal companion -- twice. The problem is that one place says that a druid can get a crocodile at level 1, and one says a druid needs to be level 4 to get a crocodile animal companion. Who decides which is the correct ruling?
Crocodile is listed in the PH at level 4 so you can't get a croc until your druid reaches level 4.
And I'm building a FAQ I hope to add to the website after Gen Con.
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While we are answering questions, I have a couple.
1.)How often are you allowed to perform to make money? Once per adventure? Once per day within the adventure? Only "in between" adventures?
2.) If in an adventure I find a +1 frost Longsword and I decide use it until the end of the adventure and I get disarmed or sundered, what does that do for my ability to buy it after the adventure? Do we as a group lose it as treasure or do I need to pay for a Make whole or mending? or some other spell? Is it simply gone forever( along with the gold it was worth to the party)?
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1) Does bringing an animal like a warhorse or a riding dog or a druid's animal companion (or 100 goats :) affect the average party level for the adventure?...
Speaking of Warhorses is the Horse that a Druid can choose as an animal companion considered a Warhorse?
4) What kind of tricks can I teach to an animal using Handle Animal? Do purchased animals come fully trained? Or do I have to train them myself?
You can teach the tricks listed in the PH only. Purchased animals need to be trained. See #1 about how many animals you can have.
Have you figured out how this will be tracked? If so, how?
Thoughts in my head are:When would training take place?
How do we prove we have trained an animal?
Thing like that.
Graywulfe
While we are answering questions, I have a couple.
1.)How often are you allowed to perform to make money? Once per adventure? Once per day within the adventure? Only "in between" adventures?
2.) If in an adventure I find a +1 frost Longsword and I decide use it until the end of the adventure and I get disarmed or sundered, what does that do for my ability to buy it after the adventure? Do we as a group lose it as treasure or do I need to pay for a Make whole or mending? or some other spell? Is it simply gone forever( along with the gold it was worth to the party)?
1.) pg 22, Day Job -- Guide
2.) You still found it, so you still have the chance to buy it.
>>>Speaking of Warhorses is the Horse that a Druid can choose as an animal companion considered a Warhorse?
No, it's a horse (heavy) or a horse (light). It says nothing about a druid being able to take a warhorse.
>>>>Have you figured out how this will be tracked? If so, how?
Thoughts in my head are:
When would training take place?
How do we prove we have trained an animal?
Thing like that.
Animals purchased would go into the Items Purchased section.
Training would be worked out with you and your GM during a scenario and probably noted in the Items Purchased section. The GM could initial next to the training acquired. I'm sure we'll come up with a better solution later.
It looks like playing a cleric of a philosophy (instead of a god) is allowed, since it says "All of the options in the PH are available to you [..]". Is that correct?
Director of Brand Strategy
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Josh, if one faction has a significantly higher active membership than another, even if they aren't maxing their PA individually, wouldn't they still do better than one with the fewest members, even gaining every available point?
Also, maybe I'm just not seeing it, but is there somewhere yet to upload character stats (other than the profile page for the PC alias? Will this be coming soon, or that page is what we have?
It looks like playing a cleric of a philosophy (instead of a god) is allowed, since it says "All of the options in the PH are available to you [..]". Is that correct?
"All of the options in the PH are available to you" -- though, they aren't really, because we've eliminated some feats, some spells, some XP, etc.
Josh, if one faction has a significantly higher active membership than another, even if they aren't maxing their PA individually, wouldn't they still do better than one with the fewest members, even gaining every available point?
Also, maybe I'm just not seeing it, but is there somewhere yet to upload character stats (other than the profile page for the PC alias? Will this be coming soon, or that page is what we have?
Yes, its entirely possible one faction will have more people than another. Its up to the other factions to recruit more to their fold to balance it out.
Not yet on tracking, but we're not tracking everything, just a few things like scenarios played, PA gained, etc. Your chronicles are for tracking everything else.
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Darn, I was hoping that playing a cleric of a philosophy was out since the Alpha implied that you needed to have a god to be a cleric (and specifically stated that druids don't). I'm not singling anyone out, because I'm sure there are plenty of people that come up with really good concepts and play them well, I just kind of felt that without established churches based on concepts, that this can end up encouraging clerics that are essentially just "White Mages," instead of spiritual leaders and defenders of the faith.
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When you create a character using the Pathfinder Society Guide, do you use the rules from PHB 3.5 only? Or can you use the new feats, and race rules from the Pathfinder Alpha 3 guide? i.e. If you roll up a human do you get +2 to your abilities as it says in the Alpha 3 or no ability bonus?
I am a little confused to.
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When you create a character using the Pathfinder Society Guide, do you use the rules from PHB 3.5 only? Or can you use the new feats, and race rules from the Pathfinder Alpha 3 guide? i.e. If you roll up a human do you get +2 to your abilities as it says in the Alpha 3 or no ability bonus?
Season 0 is 3.5 SRD core rules, PF RPG won't be used until Aug 09.
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When you create a character using the Pathfinder Society Guide, do you use the rules from PHB 3.5 only? Or can you use the new feats, and race rules from the Pathfinder Alpha 3 guide? i.e. If you roll up a human do you get +2 to your abilities as it says in the Alpha 3 or no ability bonus?Season 0 is 3.5 SRD core rules, PF RPG won't be used until Aug 09.
Thank you.
What deities are available and what are their domains? Is this information in a downloadable product?
Thanks,
Mike
There's a list of deities and corresponding domains in the (downloadable) Pathfinder RPG Alpha rules. I don't think you'll be able to use non-PHB domains, though (like Rune or Darkness).
Not yet. We have to look over the PRPG and Pathfinder Chronicles stuff post Gen Con(s).
Are special materials from DMG (specifically Darkwood) available to players in Pathfinder Society?
The items that are available to you are listed in the guide book. Darkwood is not on that list.
The items that are available to you are listed in the guide book. Darkwood is not on that list.
Many thanks for the quick answer!
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Getting some feed back on what will happen to my character from Season 0 3.5 to Pathfinder season 1. So what can I tell my players or future player about the conversions?Does any one no for sure what or how this switch will happen.
No one that's talking. We still have months till that happens, give it time.
We've said a number of times that it will happen on the first day of Gen Con. The details about character conversion aren't finalized, but I'm leaning toward folks rebuilding their characters back up to their level with the new rules and additional new materials. That seems easiest and the most fair to me.
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We've said a number of times that it will happen on the first day of Gen Con. The details about character conversion aren't finalized, but I'm leaning toward folks rebuilding their characters back up to their level with the new rules and additional new materials. That seems easiest and the most fair to me.
The way I'm reading this we'd be allowed to rebuild our characters even with regards to class levels. Is my understanding of this correct?
(the reason I'm asking is because I'm wondering if my Gnome Illusionist will be better of staying as an Illusionist in the society or whether he'd make a better Sorcerer with the stat-boost Gnomes will be getting to Charisma)
In case you feel it's too early to answer that question feel free to disregard this post. :)
EDIT: In case rebuilding your character from the ground up is allowed we may be seeing some rather lulzworthy things. Imagine the shock of a half-orc barbarian waking up to find himself having been transformed into a gnome bard overnight. I hope you include a justification for this in the official fluff. (If you want to go the FR edition change route just say a magical cataclysm of some sort happened.) (No, I'm not referring explicitly to the 3.5-4e changeover, I'm referring to all of them. Search Time of Troubles for extra lulz.)
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We've said a number of times that it will happen on the first day of Gen Con. The details about character conversion aren't finalized, but I'm leaning toward folks rebuilding their characters back up to their level with the new rules and additional new materials. That seems easiest and the most fair to me.
Sorry, Joshua. New players to the world, and Society play. I told them we had to start out playing 3.5 and that's what started the Questions. Like why don't we just use Pathfinder rules for home or Are we going have to start over again.
Another noob question - when Season 1 begins in August, will the Society adventures switch to 4th Edition? I'm getting that vibe from other threads. Please tell me it ain't so.
-g-
Another noob question - when Season 1 begins in August, will the Society adventures switch to 4th Edition? I'm getting that vibe from other threads. Please tell me it ain't so.
-g-
Not 4th Edition -- the "Pathfinder RPG" edition. It's Paizo's revision of 3.5 Edition D&D. Have you downloaded the free Beta document yet?
I downloaded the Guide to Organized Play and the Beta Playtest by Jason Bulmahn (it's 410 freakin' pages!). Is that what I need?
Glad to know it's not 4E. Thanks for reliving my worries about that.
-g-
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Okay, another noob here...
Just to clarify. At this point, would it be a good idea to stick to the PHB and avoid the Alpha/Beta since that is still in playtest and the final rules will not be offical until GenConIndy? Or can all the PF "rules" be used with the idea that it might be altered or whacked in the final version?
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Okay, another noob here...
Just to clarify. At this point, would it be a good idea to stick to the PHB and avoid the Alpha/Beta since that is still in playtest and the final rules will not be offical until GenConIndy? Or can all the PF "rules" be used with the idea that it might be altered or whacked in the final version?
Okay, Season 0 of Pathfinder Society Organized Play uses the 3.5 SRD for rules. The only exception is that the equipment out of the Campaign Guide (chapter 7 I think) is also allowed.
The Pathfinder Beta rules are NOT, repeat NOT used for the Pathfinder Society at this time.
For your non-Pathfinder Society home games, it is up to your GM (or you, if you are the GM) as to whether your home game uses 3.5, 4, or Pathfinder Beta rules.
The Pathfinder Beta rules are NOT, repeat NOT used for the Pathfinder Society at this time.
For your non-Pathfinder Society home games, it is up to your GM (or you, if you are the GM) as to whether your home game uses 3.5, 4, or Pathfinder Beta rules.
Thanks for clearing that up and I'm glad that I don't have to read the 400 pages just yet...if ever. :)
But which rules DO I use? Just the ones in the free download?