|
I'm going to be running PFS sessions at Unicon in Melbourne Australia in a few weeks, maybe some slot zeros in store prior to that. I think I'm going to need some Fastplay characters on hand for those that arrive unprepared, particularly as this is a new campaign, sessions run shorter here, and I remember the utter confusion I experienced as a player attending my first con without a character some four years ago, so I want to make it as simple as possible for a new player to jump in and play, no fuss.
So I was wondering, a) what changes would be required to make the 12 iconics from the adventure paths PFS legal? and b) maybe people could post some of their own PFS legal characters here suitable as Fastplay characters (beginner friendly, preferably few rules to look up if you don't have the PHB, feat and spell choices should be easy to use in play, and the character should be fun and survivable at first level).
Cheers :-)
|
So I was wondering, a) what changes would be required to make the 12 iconics from the adventure paths PFS legal?
You need to re-work the Ability scores. They are under the 20 points of a normal character for PFS. Also, re-equip them as they are equipped using more than the 150gp are allowed PFS start-up characters. Make sure that they only have the allowed number of feats for a first level character and no bonus feats (IE: Varisian bonus feats or traits as per the 2nd and 3rd adventure paths.)
I would reccomend having a seperate hand-out for each faction that has a write up about the faction and the bonus feats that each offers at first level. Having something like this would have made the game we ran last week-end easier for the walk-ins that we had.
Hope this helps,
John
Graven Threnderbar Rogue 1
|
|
You need to re-work the Ability scores. They are under the 20 points of a normal character for PFS. Also, re-equip them as they are equipped using more than the 150gp are allowed PFS start-up characters.
Yup, I thought these might be the case.
Make sure that they only have the allowed number of feats for a first level character and no bonus feats (IE: Varisian bonus feats or traits as per the 2nd and 3rd adventure paths.)
From memory, I'm pretty sure the iconics don't include the bonus adventure path feats/traits, to allow players to select them themselves.
I would reccomend having a seperate hand-out for each faction that has a write up about the faction and the bonus feats that each offers at first level. Having something like this would have made the game we ran last week-end easier for the walk-ins that we had.
Thanks, this is a REALLY good idea!
Paizo have said they are working on a version 1.2 of the Guide to PFSOP. If someone within Paizo reads this, PLEASE print the faction write-ups in the PDF each starting at the top of a new page, so they can be printed and handed out separately to players of each faction.
|
You need to re-work the Ability scores. They are under the 20 points of a normal character for PFS.So I was wondering, a) what changes would be required to make the 12 iconics from the adventure paths PFS legal?
A relatively quick fix would be to take their two highest scores and raise them by 1 each - that would assume that the characters prioritized their stats the same way, but had 16, 15, 13, 12, 10, 8 (20 points) rather than 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 (15 points) to work with. This won't work for Ezren, who doesn't seem to have been made with the standard array and has age modifiers anyway, and is probably underoptimized for Valeros (who should just have his Strength raised from 14 to 16, leaving his 15 alone), but it should work just fine for everyone else.
Also, re-equip them as they are equipped using more than the 150gp are allowed PFS start-up characters.
Are you sure about this? I don't have my books handy to double check, but it doesn't match my perception of their equipment at all.
The iconics in Rise of the Runelords have bonus feats, but the rest don't, and taking out the bonus feats should be no big deal.
Director of Brand Strategy
|
I'd use the 11 iconics and, as has been said above, restat them to reflect both PFS ability and wealth rules and make sure that Scribe Scroll is changed to Spell Focus and all that. But I'd let the players each choose their own factions and bonus feats, not that using these characters is actually official, but I guess that if the player makes some minor tweaks, changes the name, etc, then they could register and keep that pregen as their official PC. You might also create a half-orc character, since there is no half-orc iconic, or change one of the human iconics to half-orc in case a player wants a pregen of that race.
I already made the Pre-Gens to Society rules.. But I am not sure if Pre Gens are allowed to for the Society game.. they never answered the 2 posts I saw on it..one started by me..
If you want my copies just say so and I will email them to you when I get home.
I would appreciate a copy (halethdagore(at)yahoo.com). Thanks!
|
Director of Brand Strategy
|
Why wouldn't pre-gens be allowed? In effect all that is changing is who creates the character.
I imagine they don't want a hundred people all playing Valeros, for one. Additionally, having people invest the time and energy into making a character also makes them want to play them again, and that means they need to register for an account. I can see Paizo's marketing take on Org play, and I think that pregens, while convenient at the table, take away that important step of establishing one-on-one contact between the company and the customer.
|
|
I already made the Pre-Gens to Society rules.. But I am not sure if Pre Gens are allowed to for the Society game.. they never answered the 2 posts I saw on it..one started by me..
If you want my copies just say so and I will email them to you when I get home.
There is a strong chance I will have walk-in's this Saturday at our Game Day. Could I trouble you to send me copies of the pre-gen's you've done?
thelesuit(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks.
CJ
|
|
Why wouldn't pre-gens be allowed? In effect all that is changing is who creates the character.I imagine they don't want a hundred people all playing Valeros, for one. Additionally, having people invest the time and energy into making a character also makes them want to play them again, and that means they need to register for an account. I can see Paizo's marketing take on Org play, and I think that pregens, while convenient at the table, take away that important step of establishing one-on-one contact between the company and the customer.
I don't think this is really an issue as you can create as many characters as you want. I've played in seven or eight "organized play" campaigns, several of which I started with pre-gens. After getting my feet wet, I usually go on to create my own character. In a four hour time slot there just isn't enough time to create a character AND play through the module. I want to encourage walk-in players, but I don't want to bog down the table. Having pre-gen's available is the standard response.
CJ
|
I already made the Pre-Gens to Society rules.. But I am not sure if Pre Gens are allowed to for the Society game.. they never answered the 2 posts I saw on it..one started by me..
If you want my copies just say so and I will email them to you when I get home.
That would be fantastic, I am definitely going to need them for Game Day.
jonathan at dndworlds dot com
DoneI would appreciate a copy (halethdagore(at)yahoo.com). Thanks!
Thank you!
|
|
I already made the Pre-Gens to Society rules.
If you want my copies just say so and I will email them to you when I get home.
Thanks Dragnmoon, that would save me a lot of effort!
What file format are they in? Are they editable?
darkwhite (dot) au (at) gmail (dot) com
Fastplay characters should be included within the Guide to PFSOP.
|
|
I'd use the 11 iconics and, as has been said above, restat them to reflect both PFS ability and wealth rules and make sure that Scribe Scroll is changed to Spell Focus and all that. But I'd let the players each choose their own factions and bonus feats
Exactly what I intended. I think faction choice is a significant aspect of PFS play, so even using a fastplay character, faction and bonus feat choices should always remain player choice, even for newbies, as reading through the faction descriptions and choosing one helps to highlight this important aspect of PFS and involves the player more in the setting and their character. If a player really has trouble deciding this for themself, I'm sure others at the table will claim "join my faction! and here's a good feat choice ..."
You might also create a half-orc character, since there is no half-orc iconic, or change one of the human iconics to half-orc in case a player wants a pregen of that race.
In Living Arcanis/Greyhawk, my characters were always some combination of half-orc or monk, so I completely agree with making a half-orc fastplay character available. Maybe I'll try this myself based off one of my previous LG characters.
|
|
Why wouldn't pre-gens be allowed? In effect all that is changing is who creates the character.I imagine they don't want a hundred people all playing Valeros, for one. Additionally, having people invest the time and energy into making a character also makes them want to play them again.I don't think this is really an issue as you can create as many characters as you want. I've played in seven or eight "organized play" campaigns, several of which I started with pre-gens. After getting my feet wet, I usually go on to create my own character. In a four hour time slot there just isn't enough time to create a character AND play through the module. I want to encourage walk-in players, but I don't want to bog down the table. Having pre-gen's available is the standard response.
CJ
I've also used pre-gens in the past, particularly for campaigns I wasn't expecting to play on the day, eg Eberron when an LA or LG table wasn't available for my character level. Once you get past first level, you develop the character in your own direction, choose your own feats, learn your own spells, pump points into your own skill choices, purchase your own equipment etc. The character soon becomes your own.
|
|
Thanks Dragnmoon, that would save me a lot of effort!
What file format are they in? Are they editable?
darkwhite (dot) au (at) gmail (dot) com
Fastplay characters should be included within the Guide to PFSOP.
The are in PDF Format Non-Editable. If you have RPGXplorer I can send you the orignal files so you can change them yourself.
|
|
Why wouldn't pre-gens be allowed? In effect all that is changing is who creates the character.I imagine they don't want a hundred people all playing Valeros, for one.
That is easily fixed by just removing the name and specific background from the stats.
Additionally, having people invest the time and energy into making a character also makes them want to play them again, and that means they need to register for an account. I can see Paizo's marketing take on Org play, and I think that pregens, while convenient at the table, take away that important step of establishing one-on-one contact between the company and the customer.
Creating an account etc can come later - but if I have a player wanting to play a game and I turn him away because we don't have pre-gens then that could potentially sour the relationship with Paizo and that customer - it could also make some people feel excluded from the campaign.
Having waited over an hour to start a PFS game due to new players creating characters, I see the need for fast-play character sheets. However, I do believe there needs to be official approval of the fastplay concept before such an option is legal in play--regardless of how compelling the need is.
|
|
Having waited over an hour to start a PFS game due to new players creating characters, I see the need for fast-play character sheets. However, I do believe there needs to be official approval of the fastplay concept before such an option is legal in play--regardless of how compelling the need is.
What?
As long as the characters are "street legal" why should there be any official objection?
From a players prospective that would be like someone who isn't even at the freakin' table telling me (beyond what is in the Society Guide), what character I can play... If I want to run a human sorceress who is like Seoni in every way, that abides by ALL THE RUES, who is going to tell me I can't?
Is there a fundamental difference between the character I create for my self and one I have a friend of mine create for me?
CJ
Is there a fundamental difference between the character I create for my self and one I have a friend of mine create for me?
CJ
The question would be if someone looks to carry over adventure records from the play of a pre-gen character to a different character in subsequent adventures.
|
|
Is there a fundamental difference between the character I create for my self and one I have a friend of mine create for me?
CJ
The question would be if someone looks to carry over adventure records from the play of a pre-gen character to a different character in subsequent adventures.
Very valid point. Separate characters are separate characters. I think this might be an issue with folks who aren't familiar with the RPGA model.
Though the Chronicle has the PC name at the top -- so that might help to mitigate some confusion.
CJ
Regional Venture-Coordinator, Mediterranean
|
what is Dragonmeet?
A one day convention here in London at the end of November, beginning of December usually.
Check out here
|
|
Well, I didn't receive any FastPlay characters by email, and with a con only a week away, I thought I'd give it a shot myself.
The first character I've started with is Sajan, because I love Monks!
Starting with his 1st level character sheet from the appendix of Second Darkness, I notice a few things:
- Sajan was built using 15 point buy, so I increased his Wis from 12 to 15, so he's now 20 point buy; (would you have increased his Wis, or one of his other stats?)
- Sajan's AC is calculated incorrectly: AC = 10 +2(Dex) +1(Wis-Monk) = 13 (not 12 as listed). Players using Sajan in Second Darkness (or elsewhere) should correct this. This increases to AC 14 for my FastPlay character with Wis 15;
- Sajan is listed as weilding a Temple Sword -3(1d8+1).
All of the armour, weapons, and equipment in Chapter Seven of the PHB are available for purchase as well as any of the items listed in the Equipment section of Chapter 5 in the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting hardcover.
Exotic Weapon One-Handed Melee Weapon Temple Sword: A temple sword is a monk special weapon. This gives a monk wielding a temple sword special options.
Sajan appears to have attracted the -4 non-proficiency penalty for wielding an exotic weapon. As a "monk special weapon", what (if any) special options does a Monk gain for weilding a temple sword?. Does he need to take the Exotic Weapon Proficiency feat before using a temple sword for flurry of blows?
Thanks, any feedback or assistance would be much appreciated.
I'll work my way through other iconics, and post Pathfinder Society FastPlay stats for them here as I get to them.
Cheers :-)
|
|
Well, I didn't receive any FastPlay characters by email, and with a con only a week away, I thought I'd give it a shot myself.
If you want to save yourself some work, I've got copies of Dragnmoon's pregens. I'd be happy to send them to you. Send me an email to zarffyn "at" gmail "dot" com and I'll send his sheets to you in a zip file.
|
|
Thanks so much, Teresake. That will save me valuable time before Unicon next weekend. I'm sure there will be several walk-in players that will appreciate it. I'll still give them a glance-over for accuracy, and I'm still interested to know about Sajan's temple sword.
Looking at Sajan's character sheet, It would appear that temple sword remains an Exotic weapon (-4 non-proficiency), even for a Monk. This isn't the case for other Monk weapons, which are Exotic for everyone else, but proficient for a Monk. It would make sense to burn a feat to use a temple sword without penalty, due to it's higher damage compared to other Monk weapons. But the rules as written don't spell that out.
|
|
By the way...some may have noticed that there is a Mistake on Merisiel, I gave her too much stuff and put her into medium load. Just remove some items and adjust skills and other things affected by medium load and that will fix that.
If anyone wants the sheet after my fix just say so.
Edit: NM just sent them out to everyone I had an email for
|
|
As an alternative I have created some pre-generated characters based upon the D&D3.5 PHB suggestions. A PDF of the characters can be found here.
The characters are Barbarian, Cleric, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue and Sorcerer.
They can be "tweaked" by allowing the player to choose bonus languages, faction & a faction feat, and deity and domains for the cleric etc. At the bottom of each character sheet is a summary of what is still to be done.
|
|
As an alternative I have created some pre-generated characters based upon the D&D3.5 PHB suggestions. A PDF of the characters can be found here.
The characters are Barbarian, Cleric, Fighter, Ranger, Rogue and Sorcerer.
They can be "tweaked" by allowing the player to choose bonus languages, faction & a faction feat, and deity and domains for the cleric etc. At the bottom of each character sheet is a summary of what is still to be done.
Thanks, I like having plenty of options!
EDITED to ASK: Where did you get the fillable PFS character sheet? I'd love to have a copy of that, too...
:)
|
|
EDITED to ASK: Where did you get the fillable PFS character sheet? I'd love to have a copy of that, too...
:)
It is actually an MS Excel spreadsheet character sheet I put together for D&D and then tweaked for PFS. I have uploaded a copy here.
Printing direct from the spreadsheet provides clearer graphics (the image quality is lost in the PDF as I created it using PrimoPDF).