Hiya folks!
I've been reading up, ordering, and in general studying all the pathfinder society stuff I can get my grubby little paws on. I have a few questions for those of you with more experience in this then I have.
First, is there a "best" order to play the scenario's in? I was thinking the devil we know parts 1 and 2 then Silent Tide as the opening set, but after that I'm kind of lost.
Second, I have a player who desperately wants to play a paladin of Asmodeus hell knight in training. I've read the society handbook and I see where it says no evil pc's but I'm left to something of a conceptual loss when there's a MAJOR faction of evil devil summoners and my PC can't be...well, evil. Mind you, I'm not worried she'll throw a monkey wrench into the game or try to do any PVP I'm just not really sure how to say no about it when there isn't a logical alternative (blackguard) to play yet. Suggestions?
|
There really isn't an "order" you play the modules .. certainly there are variations in difficulty. Personally I wouldn't recommend The Devil We Know Part 1 due to one particular encounter, which is said to create TPKs.
My favorite modules (tier 1-2) would be Frozen Fingers of Midnight, Silent Tide, Black Waters, Slave Pits of Absalom, Prince of Augustana, and Decline of Glory.
As for the paladin of Asmodeus, I have nothing to say.
|
Second, I have a player who desperately wants to play a paladin of Asmodeus hell knight in training.
Well, if AP #27 was out already, you could refer to the pre-reqs of that prestige class, but you probably don't want to wait that long.
The easy way out would be to apply the cleric alignment restriction to paladins: "A cleric's alignment must be within one step of her deity's, along either the law/chaos axis or the good/evil axis (see Additional Rules)." That's what I would do. On the other hand, it's a shame to squelch that much enthusiasm. Would she play a LN cleric or fighter/cleric? How about a very devout LG fighter?
If you let her play the paladin, she's going to constantly run into her fellow Asmodeus-followers doing really evil stuff, and something will have to break, either her code or her allegiance. I think there's potential in the concept, but it seems like it would become the focus of the story. So, it doesn't seem like a good idea for a group game. It might work better for a single-player (plus GM) game or as the subject of a short story or novel.
In any case, good luck!
|
The answers to some of these questions depend on whether you plan to report these sessions as real PFS sessions and make sure that your players can play PFS events outside of your home campaign or not. Assuming the former, then I would definitely remind you that paladins have to be LG, and Asmodeus just isn't going to call a paladin as a result. And yes, evil is not allowed. Period.
That said, I'm not at all sure that the Hellknight prestige class is going to advance spellcasting, so my normal best suggestion - a fighter/cleric, as suggested above - isn't really a terribly good idea. The Hellknight PrC - which isn't yet legal for PFS play, by the way, and might never be - only requires a +5 BAB, proficiency with all martial weapons and heavy armor, and a lawful alignment, and as such, doesn't really hint at any special spell requirements. If the character just wants to be a Hellknight as a matter of flavor, however, a couple levels of fighter and then going cleric from there would seem to make a fair amount of sense...
Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. I'm definately wanting to report the events, and I understand the "no evil" rule. I guess she can just call herself lawful nuetral with a selfish bend, but no matter what happens I think we'll know what she's really supposed to be. I hadn't noticed the lawful good restriction on Paladin, I always thought that was unnecessarily restrictive and didn't much match the flavor of the game... why WOULD a paladin of Calistrae be Lawful Good?
She is really enthusiastic about the idea, and all of the suggestions listed would work. I wonder if blackgaurd will even be player legal when it comes out fot PFS. I understand the no evil rule, I just think that it really really contradicts anyone playing cheliax. For the record, I don't mean evil as in perverse (and I think that's why the rule is there) I just think that LE or NE could be played in a manner that doesn't run the risk of taking the game to darker places.
Anyway, I'll default to the society rules of course, I guess she'll play a Lawful Nuetral (selfish) character.
|
|
Or ...
Play a fallen paladin.
That is, play a character who was a paladin and still possibly emulates and strives at being a paladin (for fluff) but in game is a fighter (for crunch).
Or she may fully embrace that she is NO longer a paladin and has a new and full life without the 'shackes' of being lawful good.