PFS #29 The Devil We Know, Part 1: Shipyard Rats - Finding a bag of Gold?


GM Discussion

1/5

In this scenario I seem to recall that if the PC's look hard enough they might just find a bag of about 1600 gp. There have been other scenarios that I cannot recall where that a similar thing happens, where the PC's find a bag of gold pieces that is not covered by the Chronicle sheet.

My question is: what is the recommended action to be taken in such a case as this? Do we add the amount to the Chronicle Sheet or just ignore it and try not to mention it to the Players?

Just my 2 cp.


It's included in the rewards for whatever section it's found in and is also included in the max gold on the chronicle sheet.


Joshua J. Frost wrote:
It's included in the rewards for whatever section it's found in and is also included in the max gold on the chronicle sheet.

Yeah I'm trying to wrap my head around the loot thing. I understand the items have to be bought. However, Gold found is just gold found and it is split up already and dispersed as rewards at the end of an act?

So what ever you are rewarded is the max you can have for and act or a scenario? Loot gotten through theft, or being the only one to find it and keeping it secret, cannot be added to the total?

If there is a post about this, can you point me in the right direction? because I have been searching for this subject.

The Exchange 5/5

Mikeftrevino wrote:


If there is a post about this, can you point me in the right direction? because I have been searching for this subject.
Page 22 of the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play v2.1 wrote:

Every player who completes a scenario receives a set amount

of gold for their scenario that they may then spend to acquire
whatever items and loot that’s available for them to purchase
(either from the chronicle or from the item availability table
in Chapter 10).

The gold on the Chronicle Sheet represents the cap of what your character can take away from the scenario. It represents the amount you have if all the loot was sold (for half) and split six ways (6 PCs). It doesn't matter if there were only four PCs who played the scenario, you can't have more than the cap amount. Even if your 1st level characters had captured a sailing ship that wasn't part of the loot and sold it, you can't keep the excess.

So if you find a bag of gold that doesn't appear to be accounted for in the adventure, sorry, it disappears at the end. It doesn't matter how you come upon it. You can use sleight of hands to steal extra gold, you can extort it with intimidate checks, you can dismantle traps and sell them--whatever your GM lets you get away with. But the cap is what is on the Chronicle sheet and no more.


Thank you Doug, for cementing that rule.

Page 22 of the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play v2.1 wrote:

Every player who completes a scenario receives a set amount

of gold for their scenario that they may then spend to acquire
whatever items and loot that’s available for them to purchase
(either from the chronicle or from the item availability table
in Chapter 10).

However,

I read this and still came away confused. All it says it the player receives a set amount of gold. It's open for some interpretation. It does not say "and that is maximum they can take away from the scenario." nor does it say what you just said, which is not too wordy and explains the rationale.
On top of that, why say how many gold pieces they found on a body? If there are four pcs, who obviously can do math, that pretty much feels like a rip-off. Why not just say "you found gold on the body and will split it once you get to the bottom of the case." (which os what I'll do in my scenarios from now on.) The players know they found some gold but don't know how much it is, so there is no disappointment. When you are told you find 60 gold in a 4 man but only get 10 gold at the end, how would you feel. (I don't mean you Doug, I mean you as in to everyone.)
All of us understand the rationale, but this is an adventure and we need to suspend disbelief. Giving the PCs a hard number that is not really hard, reveals the man behind the curtain.

The Exchange 5/5

Mikeftrevino wrote:

Thank you Doug, for cementing that rule.

Page 22 of the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play v2.1 wrote:

Every player who completes a scenario receives a set amount

of gold for their scenario that they may then spend to acquire
whatever items and loot that’s available for them to purchase
(either from the chronicle or from the item availability table
in Chapter 10).

However,

I read this and still came away confused. All it says it the player receives a set amount of gold. It's open for some interpretation. It does not say "and that is maximum they can take away from the scenario." nor does it say what you just said, which is not too wordy and explains the rationale.
On top of that, why say how many gold pieces they found on a body? If there are four pcs, who obviously can do math, that pretty much feels like a rip-off. Why not just say "you found gold on the body and will split it once you get to the bottom of the case." (which os what I'll do in my scenarios from now on.) The players know they found some gold but don't know how much it is, so there is no disappointment. When you are told you find 60 gold in a 4 man but only get 10 gold at the end, how would you feel. (I don't mean you Doug, I mean you as in to everyone.)
All of us understand the rationale, but this is an adventure and we need to suspend disbelief. Giving the PCs a hard number that is not really hard, reveals the man behind the curtain.

I do understand how you feel Mike. I've played organized campaigns for a few years so I have accepted these small disappointments as being part of the game. It is what it is, best to accept it and make the best of it rather than dwell on something not likely to ever change. It's just one of the evils of organized play. Most players don't give it a second thought once they understand the rationale.

And this is just a little friendly sarcasm--one thing that I've learned in four years of organized play is math is not obvious to many players ;)


Doug Doug wrote:


And this is just a little friendly sarcasm--one thing that I've learned in four years of organized play is math is not obvious to many...

/em feigns shock and horror.

Gasp! A player or, gods don't make me say it, a DM, fudging numbers!?!?!?!? May these scalawags always find their action dies single digit side up!

;D

1/5

Unless the players are really strapped for cash and need it, for example, retreating and getting an ally raised, or getting curses or diseases taken away or whatever because things went really south, I tend to keep treasure abstract in game.

"You found a bag of gold, X equipment, and Y magic items."

The players fairly quickly get used to the idea that they are getting the gold from selling and consolidating what everyone has found and then split up, so unless anything comes up where they need an "advance," there isn't much reason to go into specifics about gold in game.

Sovereign Court 4/5 5/55/5 **

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Around here we use the erm "Pathing the bodies" ie: "taking everything that is of any value. Tell us if there is anything that stands out"

So player's know they are getting everything. And the searching doesn't eat into the adventure time as much.

Sczarni 4/5

Tim Statler wrote:

Around here we use the erm "Pathing the bodies" ie: "taking everything that is of any value. Tell us if there is anything that stands out"

So player's know they are getting everything. And the searching doesn't eat into the adventure time as much.

and if you spent all your money, and mid adventure a potion is needed, and your in a town with access to shops..

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