Getting Started in PFS (the basics)

[Goon-for-Hire]

While gearing up to get involved in the PFS Organized Play, I had some trouble finding all of the resources I need. There was no easy introduction in the forums or in the message boards, and so I thought it might be a good idea to put something simple together.

I started to get really frustrated, and one post really stood out at me as a scoured the 2.0 Rules FAQ thread:

JoelF847 wrote:

Do I need some sort of secret handshake to get the new guidelines? I clicked the link from the email, from the locked thread with other questions, and directly went to my downloads, and it's not there. All of my other PDFs show just fine though.

It is a bit overwhelming in places, and very frustrating in others. I figure something like a step-by-step guide for people not familiar with OP could be very useful.

I hope some of the PFS veterans will be kind enough to correct me where I am wrong, and fill in the gaps.

Step 1: Get a Paizo Account: This would seem pretty much self-evident, but I am trying to set a tone of something well-parsed and sexplained.

Step 2: Join the PFS: Use the Join the Pathfinder society link on the homepage (http://paizo.com/pathfinderSociety) to get to the basic form you need to fill out. It is pretty simple.

You will be issued a PFS membership number and directed to your shiny new "My Pathfinder Society" page (https://secure.paizo.com/pathfinderSociety/myAccount). There will be a downloadable PDF witha personalized card with the bumber, your name and an affiliation emblem (which is essentially meaningless at this stage in the game.)

Step 2b: Set up a Character Account: The "My Pathfinder Society Page" also has a form that lets you set up characters... these are little more than a name and an affiliation, but each one has a unique number derived from your membership number. As you play the character you associate with that number the GM will load up session reports that allow you to keep track of campaign events, gear, xp, etc...

Step 3: Get the PFS Rules: In order to play, it will help to know the rules specific to the campaign setting and the Organized Play mechanics, The Pathfinder Society Rules 2.0 is the current standard. It is available in PDF format.

Once you sig up as a member of the PFS, you will be sent an automated email with a verification link. Once you have made the verification, you will be able to download the PDF from you account's "My Downloads" page (https://secure.paizo.com/paizo/account/assets).

Your "My Downloads" will also have a document on campaign-legal character traits for download, official character sheets, etc.

Step 4: Get a Character: If you like you can download PDFs with pre-generated Player Characters from the PFS homepage. Theroetically, these characters are all you would need to play. However they will not progress or keep rewards from those sessions.

Step 4b: Better Yet, Make a Character: Ideally, you will want to make a PC of your own. You will need to build him/her according to rules you can find in the PFS Rules 2.0.

Step 5: Find a Game and Play: At this point all you need to do is find a game to play. If you are in the US the "Find a Game Near You" link off the PFS homepage will probably do the trick. Keeping a eye on the message boards and checking with your local comic shop being the options for the rest of us.

[Goon-for-Hire]

I partially put this beast together to suss out my own understanding of this process as I derived it from reading tonnes of other threads. I have spent hours looking for something that might help me out.

I fear in my own case, either this understanding is very flawed, or automation has failed, because I can find the PFS Rules 2.0 document nowhere, and none of the emails I have received from Paizo have directed me thereto. Please, let me know if the system has changed.

[Enevhar Aldarion]

This is the link for the PFS 2.0 rules:

click here

I have tested this one and it works.

[Thod]

Goon-for-Hire wrote:

I partially put this beast together to suss out my own understanding of this process as I derived it from reading tonnes of other threads. I have spent hours looking for something that might help me out.

I fear in my own case, either this understanding is very flawed, or automation has failed, because I can find the PFS Rules 2.0 document nowhere, and none of the emails I have received from Paizo have directed me thereto. Please, let me know if the system has changed.

Goon-for-hire

I think this is great - thanks for doing this. In my mind this is what the community should be about - helping others.

Just my 2p worth to add to your list:

a) The finding a game/event near you should work world-wide. At least here in the UK it works fine (technically). There aren't many postings right now - I think there are three (in a radius of 300km from my home) - one in London, one in East-Kent (that I posted and didn't get a single reply) and one in Birmingham.

b) You should add a paragraph - Step 6) optional - if you run into any problems - just post your questions at the friendly message boards. Someone tends to pick it up pretty quickly.

As I said - great work and I hope it helps someone and spreads the word.

Thod

[Wintergreen]

Thod wrote:

a) The finding a game/event near you should work world-wide. At least here in the UK it works fine (technically). There aren't many postings right now - I think there are three (in a radius of 300km from my home) - one in London, one in East-Kent (that I posted and didn't get a single reply) and one in Birmingham.

Thod

I've never been able to get the event finder to work for events outside of the US. Given the difficulties I think people are dissuaded from using it for reporting events and for finding them. I'm curious as to how you managed to get it to work Thod.

But I think the best way to get started is to post on these messageboards asking about local games and events. I think Josh has mentioned the possibility of having 'regional coordinators' for Pathfinder Society. If they were set up then having an easy way to contact them would definitely be a step in the process.

[Thod]

Wintergreen

Here is how it works for me.

1) Go to Pathfinder Society
2) Go to events
3) Click the upper left hand box - use Google maps
4) It shows a map of Cambridge/Boston - as well as your address. DON'T be put off at this stage. Just hit the Google button next to your address. I assume you can as well add any address you like instead.
5) Google will fill in Latitude and Longitude. I guess if you know that for the place you are interested, then you can skip steps 3 and 4 and just fill it in instead
6) Now hit the search button. Currently with 300km it shows my place, Rob Silk, Dragonmeet as well as some old occurences of the West Mids Meetup

I think the issue is - you need Longitude/Latitude outside the US as ZIP code won't work. You can get that information easily via Google Maps as described in steps 3/4 above. I guess there are also alternative ways how to get that information.

In the past I also always got a map of the UK with pins. Not sure what just happened as I got a world map and couldn't zoom.

It would be a shame that most people assume it doesn't work outside the US and therefore don't add anything in the UK. This would explain why no matter how often I have been there - nothing new ever showed up.

Thod

PS: Just tried - after you have the google search field instead of my address (auto-filled) I used some freehand information. Postcode and Deal got it wrong - placed me 10km wrong at another village with a Deal road - but Postcode and streetname worked fine.
The map was weird - it didn't autozoom as in the past - but you could use the + button and then the mouse to move the map. Only filled 40% of the box - so I guess a browser issue.
It did list all events in order of distance. Just trying it on my iPhone. Funny - it starts with 50 miles instead of 100 km as default. It is very sluggish - no Edge connection here. I'm still waiting for the map to build up - but I have the three closest events (my home, Rob, Dragonmeet) - amd the map also shows up flawless.
PPS: to autofill your shipping address you need to be logged in. This part didn't work on the iPhone.

[Goon-for-Hire]

Enevhar Aldarion wrote:

This is the link for the PFS 2.0 rules:

click here

I have tested this one and it works.

Thanks! That is very helpful!

[Goon-for-Hire]

Thod wrote:

Goon-for-hire

I think this is great - thanks for doing this. In my mind this is what the community should be about - helping others.

Just my 2p worth to add to your list:

a) The finding a game/event near you should work world-wide. At least here in the UK it works fine (technically). There aren't many postings right now - I think there are three (in a radius of 300km from my home) - one in London, one in East-Kent (that I posted and didn't get a single reply) and one in Birmingham.

b) You should add a paragraph - Step 6) optional - if you run into any problems - just post your questions at the friendly message boards. Someone tends to pick it up pretty quickly.

As I said - great work and I hope it helps someone and spreads the word.

Thod

You are very welcome! I agree with you, this is the sort of stuff I love to see in an online community, along with a little light humour, of course.

I'll add that step 6 right away!

As to finding games, for soem reason my coordinates keep coming up as the middle of Lake Ontario. I'm lucky that I live in a town with one of the most ridiculously dense comic shops per capita ratio in the country. It just took asking.

[Goon-for-Hire]

Step 6: Don't be Afraid to Ask: Once you have the Paizo account you are free to post on the PFS message boards. There are running threads for rules FAQs, adventure module critiques and discussions on style play. If it has to do with the organized play, they are happy to discuss it.

(thanks to Thod.)

[Joshua J. Frost]

It's important to note that if you've downloaded any previous version of the Guide (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 2.0) you automatically have the newest version (currently 2.01) in your My Downloads.

[Larcifer]

Hey guys. Quick question. Dm # is this the same as your basic #, or do you have to register for a DM #. I know I have a DM #, I DMed at paizocon, I am starting a home game this week and cannot seem to find what my DM # is. Any help....
Much appreciation.
PS anyone in the Edmonton Canada region is welcome to inquire!

[Joshua J. Frost]

Your GM number is your 4- or 5-digit Pathfinder Society number without a -# extension.

[Larcifer]

Thanks Josh, that's what I thought, but wanted to confirm...

[Farabor]

As for finding a game, looking over the Grand Lodge forum is a good start...and for those interested in online play, there's also the google group for the pathfinder society online collective to check out.
(I'd link, but I'm lousy at HTML code)

[fatouzocat]

Farabor wrote:

As for finding a game, looking over the Grand Lodge forum is a good start...and for those interested in online play, there's also the google group for the pathfinder society online collective to check out.

(I'd link, but I'm lousy at HTML code)

Ok it's 2011 and this is still a great post, thanks!

I'm just convincing my players to try this out I'm pretty sure they will love it since they like to help and compete with each other.