|
Just a few things I'd like in Season 1
-A new XP system, at first I loved the current one, but we've had a player lose two characters and he's starting to fall behind.
-The feats from the Campaign Setting Hardcover opened up
-All the deities and spells from Gods and Magic opened up
-Prestige Classes from the PFRPG hardcover
-Subraces (Gray Elf, Wild Elf in particular)
-Minotaur Double Crossbow =p
|
RPGA used to have this "DM Reward Programme". After gathering 20 DM points they sent a miniature figure by mail to the DM. Of course, over the Atlantic it made the whole process ridiculous. A figure weights 52 grams, the package 53 grams and is the size of a A3 paper. Oh well, free laughs.
What I want ...
RAISE DEAD depending on character level. The 5,450 gp is affordable only to the rich (lvl 6+) and thus all beginning characters with promising backgrounds and such just DIE. I'm starting to see why LFR has the "no death" kind of system; dying just sucks.
Large scenarios, "double-rounders" as they were called in Living Greyhawk. They could pack so much more intrigue and plot.
More variation in locations and monsters. Less monster-hunts. Most I've seen have been following the ordinary Briefing-Research-Slaughter pattern. Although very D&D-esque, it's getting dull fast, and way too predictable.
|
I'd strongly back a new XP system and a GM reward system.
Not bothered by new mechanics etc, other than where it's specifically enhancing the flavour.
More variation in locations and monsters. Less monster-hunts. Most I've seen have been following the ordinary Briefing-Research-Slaughter pattern. Although very D&D-esque, it's getting dull fast, and way too predictable.
After having played PFS #1 - #4, I'd like for ...
- Silent Tide -- your contact is kidnapped
- Hydra's Fang -- your contact is dead
- Frozen Fingers -- your contact is being attacked
- Silken Caravan -- the body's being stolen
I'd like to see some reward for completing the missions the characters get from Venture Captains. As it stands now, characters can pretty much do whatever they feel like with the McGuffin they're supposed to fetch for the society without affecting the scenario much or at all.
Also, I'd like to see rewards shifted from murdering enemies, stealing their stuff and robbing their businesses to completing mission objectives.
|
I'd like to see more "you gain the favour/enmity of ..." rewards, affecting opportunities/reactions etc of NPCs or organisations you've helped/crossed in previous adventures when you encounter them again in follow-up adventures.
I'd like to see more sequel adventures that build on events that occurred in previous adventures, thus rewarding players who stick with the Pathfinder Society Organised Play campaign with being part of a developing storyline, dejavu moments etc.
I'd like to see multiple-step story rewards, each a pre-requisite to gaining a prestige class. For example:
- successful completion of some mission, you gain the notice of the Chelaxian underground;
- recover ancient texts on demonology, provides a bonus to knowledge(demon) checks;
- defeat a demon in unarmed combat;
- successful completion of some mission, Chelaxian underground rewards you with training, eg demon-bane monk style.
Pre-requisites could appear in more than one adventure, to give players wider opportunity to pick them up, so you're not screwed if you miss one adventure in the path. Or perhaps adventures could include a note in their description (part 3 of the Chelaxian underground series) so that players know which adventures to seek out, either by asking their GM to run them, or when given choice of games to sign up for at a convention.
The Chelaxian Underground demon-bane prestige class is merely to serve as an example, the detail being irrelevant, my hope is that the concept may inspire other such ideas within Pathfinder Society Organised Play.
|
I'd like action points. Even if it's 1 per level per game, or something.
I'd like to echo this sentiment. We need some kind of a mechanic which allows players to reduce the "whiff" factor somewhat. This is already place with the rule that allows you one reroll per game if you're wearing your faction's t-shirt, but as far as I recall there were some conditions for what sort of games that could be used for. Personally I'd like to see the same mechanic all around for players, simply because the t-shirt angle favours those who can cash in the money to buy a t-shirt.
|
I'd strongly back a new XP system and a GM reward system.
Here's a thought:
1) Break characters into four groups: Tier 1 (levels 1-2), Tier 2 (levels 4-5), Tier 3 (levels 7-8), Tier 4 (levels 10-11). Adventures are written in such a way that encounters are multitiered, with different stats/encounters for each parties whose APL falls within different Tiers (this is obviously very close to the current set-up).
2) Change the system so that the default XP reward for a mod is 2 XP, and make it so each new level requires 6 XP to achieve.
3) Give GMs who "eat" a module a 1 XP reward.
4) If a PC plays a scenario at a higher Tier than they are, they gain a bonus XP for every Tier higher the scenario was that they played in relative to their own Tier. Characters who are between Tiers are always considered to be of the next higher Tier for the purposes of XP awards. So, for instance, if a Level 2 character (Tier 1) plays with a group whose APL is 5 (and so they are playing the Tier 2 version of the scenario), the level 2 character would gain 3 XP, rather than 2, if they lived through the scenario.
|
|
Make character death more manageable. The truth is that at the moment most characters are living under a constant fear of death due to the fact that at low levels they can't really afford Raise Dead spells, but once a character reaches about 6th level the said spells should become readily available. Since there are no rules for what actually happens to a character if they die during a scenario (do they lose XP gained during the scenario? etc.) one could assume that death would have no detrimental effect on a character.
What this does is create a situation where characters have to plod through the first fifteen to eighteen scenarios under a constant fear of death. Unfortunately, no matter how much you prepare yourself for the possibility of a gruesome death, the PFS scenarios are very bad in this sense for featuring a number of encounters that could lead to character death or even TPK with just a couple of bad rolls on the players' part. I'm talking about stuff like enemies critting PCs with weapons that have x3 or x4 critical modifiers to stuff like an entire group failing a single Will save and going, well... apeshit.
The punishment for death at lower levels is very grim. If you do happen to die you have to start all over from level 1. All the investment you've made into your previous character has just gone down the drain. This I'd like to see corrected. A very simple solution would be to scale resurrection prices based on character wealth. While slightly metagamey, it'd be easy to justify in game terms: more "powerful" souls simply require more magical junk to bring back, since they've probably got more lucrative deals in the afterlife than "weaker" souls. ;)
Some rules for online play would be nice too.
Seconded! Definitely allow on-line play -- it's really no different than a home game, is it? (Well, except it's probably slower.)
|
|
I think the big hurdle with online play is dealing with chronicle sheets. I'm sure they'll find a way for the DM to set up all the chronicle sheets on the site and then let the respective players print them out. I'd imagine that'll take them a bit to set up (look how long it took just for session reporting)
Director of Brand Strategy
|
Pfft OpenRPG all the way!!!!Online play is alright ...
...but not with that dreaded and awful OpenRPG! It is horrible, I guarantee it! And if you are currently using it and don't understand what I'm rambling about, you're under its spell! RUN!
TTop FTW!
But really, with the large online community that has built up around Paizo, it's a shame that we can't all participate with one another in this, the world's largest Pathfinder campaign. I am lucky to have face to face gamers to play PFS with, but that wouldn't keep me from playing online with my friends from these boards and the chat.
|
Some kind of reward for eating mods.Seconded.
Yes, but also for GMing....
Maybe there could be chart like the Prestige Awards, let's say the GM awards.
So after GMing 10, 20 30 or 40 games, that GM may purchase a special item on the list for one of his characters. Or get a rebate on his next purchase at Paizo?
|
Director of Brand Strategy
|
Some kind of reward for eating mods.Seconded.Yes, but also for GMing....
Maybe there could be chart like the Prestige Awards, let's say the GM awards.
So after GMing 10, 20 30 or 40 games, that GM may purchase a special item on the list for one of his characters. Or get a rebate on his next purchase at Paizo?
A sort of scaled XP progression could work too. You eat 5 scenarios, you get 1 PC up 1 level. So they're worth less than playing them, but your PC wouldn't fall too far behind in the long run, assuming you were playing in between eating scenarios.
|
|
A sort of scaled XP progression could work too. You eat 5 scenarios, you get 1 PC up 1 level. So they're worth less than playing them, but your PC wouldn't fall too far behind in the long run, assuming you were playing in between eating scenarios.Some kind of reward for eating mods.Seconded.Yes, but also for GMing....
Maybe there could be chart like the Prestige Awards, let's say the GM awards.
So after GMing 10, 20 30 or 40 games, that GM may purchase a special item on the list for one of his characters. Or get a rebate on his next purchase at Paizo?
Aye. I fell behind with my character since my character died during her fifth adventure. I've eaten two modules so, yeah... Others are pretty much all in the third level by now.
|
|
Joshua, I recognize that there is a reason you were placed in the driver's seat for the Organized Play division of Pathfinder. Furthermore I know the maxim that a camel is a horse designed by a committee. I'm hesitant to ask these questions because I may not like what I'm going to hear, but another maxim is "You can't please everybody all the time". However, I really am curious for a preview of some of the things you might change come Season 1. Not so much a preview as a reassurance. I think that there are a lot of former Living Greyhawk players like myself who have migrated to Pathfinder Society, so this is the standard by which I measure organized play. If you choose to share some of your thoughts with your reactionary membership, I was wondering when Season 1 begins:
1.) Are you going to have any help? Seriously, if this thing takes off (I'm doing my part here in Michigan) will James give you an assistant regional manager or something? Does Clinton Boomer already fill that position?
2.) Are we going to see enhancements in the scenarios being written like "Specials" (convention-only), "Interactives" (crossroad events) or like someone suggested "Two-Round"/double-length scenarios?
3.) Are scenarios going to begin to weave together into a plot a-la the "Adventure Paths"? Many players have expressed disappointment because of the stand-alone nature of the current offerings. Are we going to see some long-term consequences based on the outcome of Season 1 scenarios?
4.) Are there any plans to grant GMs some kind of benefit when they run a scenario for their group and forfit the opportunity to play it (i.e. "eat a mod")?
5.) Are there any plans to change the existing experience point system used in PFS? Advancing every 3 scenarios feels too fast relative to previous campaigns. Along that train of thought, will crafting items be allowed?
6.) Previously you have expressed a disinterest in turning Pathfinder Society into "Living Barbie", which I take as you don't want the efficiency of the current system to become bogged down with minutiae. Examples might be time units, lifestyle costs, estate ownership, cohorts & hirelings--anything that increases the amount of accounting that already has to be done at the end of the slot. Have you reconsidered any part of your stance?
Now for an obvious statement: You don't owe me anything. I'll be very surprised if you decide to answer any of these items because the side effect will be a whole slew of posts from people who agree or disagree in a strenuous fashion. Abracadabra!, more work for Josh! All I'm doing is stirring the pot and by all rights you should make me simmer until July 2009. But as a result of the **many tables of Pathfinder Society scenarios** (toot-toot!) that I have organized, players will ask me these sorts of pointed questions and aren't impressed with the 'wait-and-see' explanation. OK, that's it from the peanut gallery.
|
|
3.) Are scenarios going to begin to weave together into a plot a-la the "Adventure Paths"? Many players have expressed disappointment because of the stand-alone nature of the current offerings. Are we going to see some long-term consequences based on the outcome of Season 1 scenarios?
The scenario "The Third Riddle" is riddled (sorry, pun intended) with clues that the said scenario is only one third of a series of adventures needed to complete a world-destroying McGuffin. I think we can expect to see scenarios "That One Riddle" and "The Other Riddle" some time in the future. ;)
By the way, a minor correction on my part: in my previous post I suggested that resurrection prices be scaled according to character wealth, which was an obvious mistake on my part. What I meant was for resurrection to be handled according to character level. Having run one scenario now and seeing as I will probably want to do it again I'd also like to echo the call for some kind of a DM reward program. Maybe something like "Eat two scenarios, get one for free!" :)
|
|
I'd also like to echo the call for some kind of a DM reward program. Maybe something like "Eat two scenarios, get one for free!" :)
Or Maybe a rebate of say 1000gp (on raise dead/resurrect) per PFS game GMed...
Let's put a maximum of 2000gp total rebate on raise dead and 4000gp rebate on resurrect (per character).
This would surely encourage players to GM a LOT !!!
Another way to offset the cost of a resurrection might be to allow a characters to throw themselves on the mercy of their factions. The faction in question could step in as a mysterious benefactor to raise its agent, but not be too happy about it and dock him or her some privileges.
Mechanics wise, this amounts to losing a certain number of prestige points in exchange for a free raise. This wouldn't affect the faction's overall points for the shadow war (which have already been reported anyway) but would affect the prestige on the PC's chronicle, and his ability to purchase items.
|
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4
|
Doug, those are good questions!
And I can answer at least ONE of them!
1.) Are you going to have any help? ... Does Clinton Boomer already fill that position?
No. No, I do not.
Anyway, thanks for the great questions!
*grin*
Seriously, though: I'd be a very bad choice to act as Josh's apprentice & assistant, as my first experience with organized play of ANY kind was at GenCon 2008. Now, I freaking LOVE what Pathfinder Society is doing - and has done - but I don't think I'd be much help to the Frost.
Glad to know that people dig what the Society is doing, and I look forward to much, MUCH more!
|
|
Doug, those are good questions!
And I can answer at least ONE of them!
1.) Are you going to have any help? ... Does Clinton Boomer already fill that position?No. No, I do not.
Anyway, thanks for the great questions!
*grin*
Seriously, though: I'd be a very bad choice to act as Josh's apprentice & assistant, as my first experience with organized play of ANY kind was at GenCon 2008. Now, I freaking LOVE what Pathfinder Society is doing - and has done - but I don't think I'd be much help to the Frost.
Glad to know that people dig what the Society is doing, and I look forward to much, MUCH more!
That was actually a reference to "The Office" and the character Dwight Schrute who is constantly trying to infer power from his unofficial position as the assistant to the regional manager. I just felt you were a likely candidate as the Events Manager's assistant disciple of evil ideas.