Pathfinder Society Organized Play PBP?

[Mike Kimmel]

Does anyone ever run any of the Pathfinder Society Organized Play scenarios on these (or other) message boards as play-by-post games? I would be very interested in playing in such a game, or in running one if there was enough interest. (4-6 players plus GM)

If you know of such games, please point the way!

[MoFiddy]

Mike Kimmel wrote:

Does anyone ever run any of the Pathfinder Society Organized Play scenarios on these (or other) message boards as play-by-post games? I would be very interested in playing in such a game, or in running one if there was enough interest. (4-6 players plus GM)

If you know of such games, please point the way!

Hi Mike,

That's something that I'm interested in too. I play in a regular home game, but it would be nice to have a couple of PFS characters on hand that are at different levels. I just don't have the time during the week to carve out another 3 - 4 hours for an in-person game.

[Celestial Half-Porc]

Sounds like it could be fun. I have never played at a society meetup though. Anything special we need other than a character and the handbook?

[Mike Kimmel]

I don't think there's anything in particular you need. You just need to make a character using the guidelines in the Organized Play guide and register it on Paizo. Registering a character also has the handy side-effect of creating a message board alias for that character. Then you can play that character in any Pathfinder Society games, online or in person. Obviously a play-by-post game takes longer to play through, but at the end your characters gets the same rewards that you'd get for playing the scenario in person.

We would need at least five people (four players minimum plus GM) and then we'd be good to go! I am willing to either play or run the game.

[AlanM]

Mike Kimmel wrote:

I don't think there's anything in particular you need. You just need to make a character using the guidelines in the Organized Play guide and register it on Paizo. Registering a character also has the handy side-effect of creating a message board alias for that character. Then you can play that character in any Pathfinder Society games, online or in person. Obviously a play-by-post game takes longer to play through, but at the end your characters gets the same rewards that you'd get for playing the scenario in person.

We would need at least five people (four players minimum plus GM) and then we'd be good to go! I am willing to either play or run the game.

hmmm, I've never tried PbP but I would be willing to try it with PFS...

[Mike Kimmel]

Assuming you're all in, we only need one more! Obviously we'd start off with 1st level characters and a low-tier adventure.

[Celestial Half-Porc]

In that case. What is everyone playing? Do we all have to be the same faction?

[Mike Kimmel]

Celestial Half-Porc wrote:

In that case. What is everyone playing? Do we all have to be the same faction?

You do not need to be the same faction, and generally you don't need to worry about "party balance" issues because your party will be different every time you play a scenario. (Unless, of course, we start a regular group which usually plays together with the same characters, in which case it might be wise to think about balance issues).

[MoFiddy]

Let me take a look at the factions again and I'll post a character concept. I like the Pathfinder arcane classes, so I'll probably try another sorcerer bloodline or wizard school.

What type are others thinking?

[Calixymenthillian]

This is a pretty interesting idea, I'd be happy to either GM or play too - though I doubt I'll have the time to GM until sometime after the new year, so if we were to make this an ongoing thing, perhaps we could rotate from scenario to scenario.

[Mike Kimmel]

Calixymenthillian wrote:

This is a pretty interesting idea, I'd be happy to either GM or play too - though I doubt I'll have the time to GM until sometime after the new year, so if we were to make this an ongoing thing, perhaps we could rotate from scenario to scenario.

I like the idea of rotating GMs from scenario to scenario and in fact I was going to suggest it myself if someone else was willing to GM. We could all make characters and then folks could take turns GMing scenarios in which their characters would simply be absent. The nature of the OP scenarios makes this work really well.

I would be happy playing just about any character. My main ideas right now are a gnome illusionist and a half-orc barbarian/ranger.

[Celestial Half-Porc]

I would like to play a rogue. As for GMing, do you have to purchase the scenarios and how much are they?

[Mike Kimmel]

Celestial Half-Porc wrote:

I would like to play a rogue. As for GMing, do you have to purchase the scenarios and how much are they?

PDFs of the scenarios are $3.99.

[Celestial Half-Porc]

I could probably swing that every once in awhile.

[Calixymenthillian]

I'm pretty flexible about what character I play, but I'm tempted by an Andoran Summoner.

[Mike Kimmel]

Calixymenthillian wrote:

I'm pretty flexible about what character I play, but I'm tempted by an Andoran Summoner.

Are the new classes allowed in Pathfinder Society yet? I'm not sure they are until after the APG is released.

[Calixymenthillian]

Mike Kimmel wrote:

Calixymenthillian wrote:

I'm pretty flexible about what character I play, but I'm tempted by an Andoran Summoner.

Are the new classes allowed in Pathfinder Society yet? I'm not sure they are until after the APG is released.

Yep, they were allowed in the most recent OP guide - with the proviso that you keep an eye on any updates posted on the messageboards.

[Alerion Versova]

Here is what I have so far.

[Mike the GM]

Calixymenthillian wrote:

Mike Kimmel wrote:

Calixymenthillian wrote:

I'm pretty flexible about what character I play, but I'm tempted by an Andoran Summoner.

Are the new classes allowed in Pathfinder Society yet? I'm not sure they are until after the APG is released.

Yep, they were allowed in the most recent OP guide - with the proviso that you keep an eye on any updates posted on the messageboards.

Oh, okay, cool!

[Mike Kimmel]

So we've got a summoner, a rogue, and either my illusionist or ranger/barbarian (while I'm not GMing). Anyone else have any idea of what they want to play?

[Tambric]

Another thing to consider is which module we want first. I'd suggest one that Mike has already played if he's going to be GMing.

[Mike Kimmel]

Funny thing, that: I haven't actually played any yet. But I obviously don't mind running one anyway.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Is there any room left for one more?

I've never GM'ed before, but I'd be willing to give it a try

[Mike Kimmel]

There's room: the size limits are 4-6 players plus GM, so 5-7 people.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Excellent.
I'll be pathfindering a ranged-focused bard when not on GM rotation then.

[Mike Kimmel]

So, who wants to GM first?

[Calixymenthillian]

If everyone's willing to wait until next Wednesday I'll be happy to run one of the season 0 modules I've got.

What's everyone else played/run so far?

[Celestial Half-Porc]

I am new to organized play, so I am a clean slate.

[Mike Kimmel]

I as well am a clean slate! Haven't played or run any modules. I would be happy to wait until next Wednesday.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Mike Kimmel wrote:

I as well am a clean slate! Haven't played or run any modules. I would be happy to wait until next Wednesday.

ditto, clean slate.

I hate to say it, but I'm going to be out of town for a week starting that Wednesday. I don't know if I could jump in mid-game, or have you dmpc Caelwyn or if I should just sit out the first module.

[Panda40]

Coming in real late to this one..but would love to jump in and play whenever a spot pops up....or even DM in the future. I've played a lot of PFS so the only ones I have not played yet are:

9, 10, 18, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 36

Thanks!
Ed

[Calixymenthillian]

Panda40 wrote:

Coming in real late to this one..but would love to jump in and play whenever a spot pops up....or even DM in the future. I've played a lot of PFS so the only ones I have not played yet are:

9, 10, 18, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 36

Thanks!
Ed

I think you'd be the 6th player if everyone who's posted so far is still interested, of those I've played 9 and 21 (and already have the pdf for 9), so depending on what everyone else has done we can go with one of those.

EDIT: actually, it'll have to be #9 of those two, 21 is only higher tier.

[Calixymenthillian]

Itsgottabeodin wrote:

Mike Kimmel wrote:

I as well am a clean slate! Haven't played or run any modules. I would be happy to wait until next Wednesday.

ditto, clean slate.

I hate to say it, but I'm going to be out of town for a week starting that Wednesday. I don't know if I could jump in mid-game, or have you dmpc Caelwyn or if I should just sit out the first module.

I'm not sure what the PFS rules are about this, but I guess DMPCing your character would be reasonable for a while - I'll try to get started a little earlier if you like so you can at least catch the introduction.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Thanks Calix!

[Dark Arioch]

If a slot opens up, I am very interested. I prefer to play but am quite capable of DMing too. I have never played nor run any of the modules.

Thanks.

[Panda40]

Calixymenthillian wrote:

I think you'd be the 6th player if everyone who's posted so far is still interested, of those I've played 9 and 21 (and already have the pdf for 9), so depending on what everyone else has done we can go with one of those.

EDIT: actually, it'll have to be #9 of those two, 21 is only higher tier.

Cool, thanks! So far it looks like we have a summoner, a rogue, illusionist or ranger/barbarian and a bard.

I'll be a dwarf fighter.

[Mike Kimmel]

I am actually considering playing a cleric... they always come in handy and they're one of my favorite classes.

[Calixymenthillian]

Ok, so that we can get things rolling before Itsgottabeodin leaves, how is this weekend for everyone to start?

Dark Arioch wrote:

If a slot opens up, I am very interested. I prefer to play but am quite capable of DMing too. I have never played nor run any of the modules.

Thanks.

MoFiddy and AlanM haven't responded yet, so if they're not here by the weekend you might get in on this one.

[Panda40]

Calixymenthillian wrote:

Ok, so that we can get things rolling before Itsgottabeodin leaves, how is this weekend for everyone to start?

Good for me!

[MoFiddy]

Hello all,

I'm going to drop out of this one. I forgot about that you can't play a scenario more than once. I play in a local group, so I don't want there to be a conflict.

Good luck to everyone! I've only played one scenario so far, but it is a lot of fun. The factions make for interesting roleplaying within our group.

[Dark Arioch]

Thanks Calix. Looks like MoFiddy has bowed out. I'll read up on the rules to create a PF Society character and get cracking.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Calixymenthillian wrote:

Ok, so that we can get things rolling before Itsgottabeodin leaves, how is this weekend for everyone to start?

That's fine with me.

FYI I post (much)slower on the weekends, but I should be able to get a few posts in here & there.

[Calixymenthillian]

MoFiddy wrote:

Hello all,

I'm going to drop out of this one. I forgot about that you can't play a scenario more than once. I play in a local group, so I don't want there to be a conflict.

Good luck to everyone! I've only played one scenario so far, but it is a lot of fun. The factions make for interesting roleplaying within our group.

No problem, hope you have fun!

(and the faction roleplay is my favorite part of PFS too - looking at all the Andorans in this thread I may change my character so we're not all following the same orders.)

[Calixymenthillian]

Do you want to use this as the OOC thread, or should I start a separate one?

[Itsgottabeodin]

Perhaps we should have a "PFS Organized Play OOC [HUB]" thread to tie together all the different modules?

[Mike Kimmel]

We should probably start a separate thread. I'm excited! Still not sure what character I'd like to bring to the group, though.

[Itsgottabeodin]

@Panda40(or anyone else who knows) I'm new to organized play and I had a question about the factions. I'm preparing to play my bard in the Andoran faction but the bard isn't listed as one of the "favored classes" but neither is it an "opposition class." Is there going to be some extra challenge because of this? Any non-specific/non-spoiler info? I could switch to the Taldan faction but I feel that Caelwyn fits the Andoran ideals more closely. Thanks!

[Panda40]

Itsgottabeodin wrote:

@Panda40(or anyone else who knows) I'm preparing to play my bard in the Andoran faction but the bard isn't listed as one of the "favored classes" but neither is it an "opposition class." Is there going to be some extra challenge because of this?

The short answer is no. :)

YMMV but factions have had no effect on my choice of class or being an effective player in a group. From time to fun it brings up fun (and funny) conflicts between players (You're tasked with interviewing someone and I'm ok with that - as long as you don't find out he is a spy for my faction) but it's just as often "pushed" players to have to work together to accomplish a task.

It may be sacrilege to say this - but I don't think factions play a large role in PFS. It's a fun extra that can lead to some fun roleplay and can add a little bit of edge to needing to accomplish something in secret. For me it's the whipped cream on the pie (the mod itself) - you'll come to your own take on it after a couple of games.

I would suggest to trying to have a decent perception skill rank as you progress. I don't think that is giving anything away to share you'll be rolling that skill a lot. :)

Ed

[Dark Arioch]

Mike Kimmel wrote:

We should probably start a separate thread. I'm excited! Still not sure what character I'd like to bring to the group, though.

Don't feel too bad about it as I am now faced with the same dilemma. :) This weekend works great but I also tend to post somewhat slower on weekends.

[Itsgottabeodin]

Panda40 wrote:

It may be sacrilege to say this - but I don't think factions play a large role in PFS. It's a fun extra that can lead to some fun roleplay and can add a little bit of edge to needing to accomplish something in secret. For me it's the whipped cream on the pie (the mod itself) - you'll come to your own take on it after a couple of games.

Cool! Thanks Ed