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You probably should be able to just apply the credits to the character in question. In a perfect world you should be applying them right after you DM and reporting it with that character on the list, but I wouldn't fret too much over it. If the events are still open you can always go back and apply them to the character now.
DM Credit does not give the opportunity for a Day Job, so no one will keep you accountable for it. On the other hand you can take 10 on almost all skills outside combat (with only a few exceptions) so you should be able to just take 10 on your handle animal for your animal companion. I don't remember where this was said, but I believe your first animal companion effectively "comes with" all the tricks required, however if it dies you do need to retrain the tricks for the new companion (except for bonus tricks which are automatic).
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As a sub topic, how do you other Game masters deal with the cost, because for me I have been printing the Scenarios and binding them myself this raises the price to about 10$ per module after map-making supplies <Gaming paper> So in 3 Months I have dumped about $300 into this game with most of it going directly into scenario's that I am not playing in. How do you offset this cost? Just looking for ideas at this juncture, because $40-$60 a month for a hobby is not out of my price range, but it is getting pretty expensive especially considering I will want to purchase other products as well.
Our GM asks for a donation of $1-3/ session to recoup the cost of the scenarios. Usually what I do is buy him credit in $20 lumps here at Paizo so he can use it to pick up scenarios. You can try putting out a tip jar or just sending an email to your group and asking politely (just like you did here).
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As a sub topic, how do you other Game masters deal with the cost, because for me I have been printing the Scenarios and binding them myself this raises the price to about 10$ per module after map-making supplies <Gaming paper> So in 3 Months I have dumped about $300 into this game with most of it going directly into scenario's that I am not playing in. How do you offset this cost? Just looking for ideas at this juncture, because $40-$60 a month for a hobby is not out of my price range, but it is getting pretty expensive especially considering I will want to purchase other products as well.Our GM asks for a donation of $1-3/ session to recoup the cost of the scenarios. Usually what I do is buy him credit in $20 lumps here at Paizo so he can use it to pick up scenarios. You can try putting out a tip jar or just sending an email to your group and asking politely (just like you did here).
The bane of the dedicated GM in my opinion. I don't bind my modules, however, I do have binder clips for each module, an envelope for notecards/factions, notecards for the monster blocks, printer ink, graph paper - found an online site that will sell it cheaper than I can get it in town, markers, colored pencils etc., I've just reconciled myself to the fact that since I like to GM and draw out my maps that that is a cost I'm going to eat. I consider it part of my hobby expendature.
The notecards/maps are part of my anal retentive prepping -- if I'm not prepared or don't feel it then I don't feel that I run a good game. Also writing thing out means I remember them better and it works for me for keeping track of initiative.
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As a sub topic, how do you other Game masters deal with the cost, because for me I have been printing the Scenarios and binding them myself this raises the price to about 10$ per module after map-making supplies <Gaming paper> So in 3 Months I have dumped about $300 into this game with most of it going directly into scenario's that I am not playing in. How do you offset this cost? Just looking for ideas at this juncture, because $40-$60 a month for a hobby is not out of my price range, but it is getting pretty expensive especially considering I will want to purchase other products as well.
This surprises me. I think my total gaming supply cost was roughly $20 for the plain no-frills flip mat and a bunch of dry erase markers. Printing costs of the module is minimal on a black and white laser (which just had its first toner change in 9 years), and sticking the whole kit and kaboodle into a manila envelope usually works just fine for me. Other than the "fun extras" I've bought because I like them in general, I can say that in the year I ran Pathfinder Society, I spent roughly $50, including module costs.
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As a GM, you will spend a bunch of money for the love of the game.
I have purchased every scenario available. I purchase foam core board and glue game paper to them for some of the cool scenario maps that we will use over and over (1 out of 5 scenarios). I have every flip map and map pack Paizo makes (2 of some). I have purchased piles of game aids (my wife calls them toys) and thousands of miniatures. I have built piles of props for the game. I spent, a bunch, but don't regret it.
At most of our venues we collect a $2 donation per player which goes towards a $10 gift card for each GM for each Scenario they run. This is a nice way to say thank you to the GM for their work and to the game store for hosting the events. You will never make money GMing, and it will most likely never offset your costs, but it is a nice gesture which our GMs appreciate. Our players do not have a problem with a mere $2 donation. You will pay more than that for a good case of diarrhea from Taco Bell.
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As a sub topic, how do you other Game masters deal with the cost, because for me I have been printing the Scenarios and binding them myself this raises the price to about 10$ per module after map-making supplies <Gaming paper> So in 3 Months I have dumped about $300 into this game with most of it going directly into scenario's that I am not playing in. How do you offset this cost? Just looking for ideas at this juncture, because $40-$60 a month for a hobby is not out of my price range, but it is getting pretty expensive especially considering I will want to purchase other products as well.This surprises me. I think my total gaming supply cost was roughly $20 for the plain no-frills flip mat and a bunch of dry erase markers. Printing costs of the module is minimal on a black and white laser (which just had its first toner change in 9 years), and sticking the whole kit and kaboodle into a manila envelope usually works just fine for me. Other than the "fun extras" I've bought because I like them in general, I can say that in the year I ran Pathfinder Society, I spent roughly $50, including module costs.
Well if you figure 26 scenarios/ year that's $95 right there gaming every other weekend. Overall pretty cheap for the number of hours of fun you get out of it.
I think I quoted $5-10/ week, figure the base cost is $4 for the scenario but I also include some map supplies, pens, in that a few minis. Not a lot of money but our GM is on a tight budget. I figure if I give him Paizocredit it's a shoe in the money's coming back to me in some way :D
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Well if you figure 26 scenarios/ year that's $95 right there gaming every other weekend. Overall pretty cheap for the number of hours of fun you get out of it.
I think I quoted $5-10/ week, figure the base cost is $4 for the scenario but I also include some map supplies, pens, in that a few minis. Not a lot of money but our GM is on a tight budget. I figure if I give him Paizocredit it's a shoe in the money's coming back to me in some way :D
I get that GMing isn't free, but I also fundamentally don't understand the complaints that it's expensive (your estimate of $5/scenario is right about on). It's hard for me to even grasp the concept of spending $300 for a "couple months" of GMing. Even when you amortize my big expenses which have nothing to do with PFS specific play (the occasional flip mat and even "DM Books" like the bestiary) I come nowhere near that number.
$95 - One year of modules costs (at a cost of $4 each).
$13 - Printing all the modules (25 pages x 26 modules x 2cents/page on a laser printer).
$13 - A good reusable flip mat.
$11 - A pack of dry erase markers (I've yet to use up my set in 2 years).
Yes that's pretty basic, but also, anything more is a personal preference thing, not a mandatory requirement. In this example the grand total is about $132 for a year of gaming or roughly $11 a month or $5.50 a session. Considering right around 20% of that total are "reusable supplies" that a GM can find other uses for outside of PFS that total is reduced even more (to roughly $4.50 a scenario). Movies cost at least twice that these days and that's more than a cup of coffee or a fast food meal.
What I don't get is where the original complaint of "So in 3 Months I have dumped about $300 into this game with most of it going directly into scenario's that I am not playing in" really confuses me. It would take me nearly three years of playing society to reach that number, let alone three months. I have never now in my year and a half running PFS been offered up a payment for my time, nor would I accept one if I were. I do this because I enjoy the game and like meeting new gamers, I think I can spare the $5 every two weeks to make both myself and somebody else a bit more happy. I see situations where game stores charge players to provide the GM with a "reward" really as more than a little self-serving, not a "reward" for any GM, which a conversation I'd really rather not get into.
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As a GM, you will spend a bunch of money for the love of the game.
This is the heart of it right here .. as GMs we do what we do for the love of the game and, for us, it's also a fun part of the game for us. I've said before and I'll say it again. I GM because it's fun -- I also play when I can because it's fun. If me spending my free time and some spare cash to create an exciting and a gaming experience they'll remember is what I want to do then I'll happily eat the extra cost to make colorful maps and spend the time to cut out factions sheets.
I don't expect to be paid back in any sort of physical form... hearing the players talk about the game afterwards is worth it to me.
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Owner - D20 Hobbies
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Game masters deal with the cost ... printing the Scenarios
I just eat it and consider it part of my duty require to have my fun (running the module.)
I only print the faction mission pages and the AR sheets, so 7c/page about 63 to 77 cents?
The module costs $4 or so and I can run it for multiple groups.
So to me the cost is trivial.
But I do use an iPad to run the module, so I don't need the rest of the pages printed.
Venture-Lieutenant, Canada—Manitoba
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I can see how the cost can get up there - it all depends on the GM's style. I also like to have the printed module handy, and I print multiple faction handouts and colour battle maps for every scenario using Dunjinni, so I burn through ink. We're playing every two weeks and I'm generally printing 4-6 battle maps for the various tables (unless the mods use Flipmaps, but I don't like those in general - they never sit flat). I could use a battle map and markers, I know, but I choose not to: the visually rich map and 3D props can really add to a game for the players, saves time in lengthy description of mundane items, and are a *huge* attract sequence for newbies walking by. But that's me.
To save money, consider not printing as much stuff. Binding is also not worth the effort to me - I have my mods in folders with paper clips, and then put the one I'm running into a binder with plastic page protectors. Cheap, reuseable, and I don't need to leave the house to prep for a game.
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I'm actually in the camp of asking for $1-3 from players. Even in the Living City/Living Greyhawk/Living Arcanis era of RPGA, when modules were free, many organizers asked for a couple bucks to cover the printing/supply costs. I don't think it's a requirement or should ever be expected...but I think it's polite to recognize that organizers/GMs put a lot of their own resources forward when organizing a game.
My current PFS organizer doesn't directly ask, but many of us who came from that earlier era try to put forward a couple dollars every game day to help out.
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I personally could care less about the $10 gift card, but the reason for doing this is two fold:
1) It is a good gesture towards the store. These stores have plenty of demand for their space, so a couple extra dollars spent there is fine by me.
2) Many of our GMs could use a little help (reward) for their time. They use it to buy scenario's, mini's, props and maps. The player base gets to enjoy these anyway. If we did away with it, the GMs would still run scenario's, but would draw more maps and utilize less game goodies.
In the end, it is not a big deal and our GMs wouldn't mind either way, but currently I know they appreciate being able to buy a few extra game goodies to enhance the experience.
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I get that GMing isn't free, but I also fundamentally don't understand the complaints that it's expensive (your estimate of $5/scenario is right about on). It's hard for me to even grasp the concept of spending $300 for a "couple months" of GMing. Even when you amortize my big expenses which have nothing to do with PFS specific play (the occasional flip mat and even "DM Books" like the bestiary) I come nowhere near that number.
I don't think I've used the term "expensive", but I would say that how much any extra expense impacts you is largely dependent on your income. If you are a student struggling with a part time job and school then $5/ week can be a burden. Everything is relative. I also know GMs who spend considerably more.
My feeling on the subject is simple, I want to encourage my GM to continue doing what he does. As long as I'm buying his Paizo credit I know he's going to turn around and buy more gaming supplies which will in turn be enjoyed by the whole group.
In the end, kicking a buck or two to help a GM recoup his costs is dirt cheap for 4 solid hours of entertainment.
Director of Brand Strategy
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this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in storeWow.
Yeah, that's a new one. So you can bring a pdf of the scenario you're running and the Guide to PFS Organized Play, but not one of Pathfinder #1? What about a PDF of the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting? Both of these are technically available in print, but are extremely rare. And how does he enforce people bringing some pdfs and not others? I'm not sure how I feel about a game store setting a rule like...
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Yeah, that's a new one. So you can bring a pdf of the scenario you're running and the Guide to PFS Organized Play, but not one of Pathfinder #1? What about a PDF of the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting? Both of these are technically available in print, but are extremely rare. And how does he enforce people bringing some pdfs and not others? I'm not sure how I feel about a game store setting a rule like...this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in storeWow.
I am just flabbergasted by this...
This is really a really real place?
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this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in store
You may not have another choice if it's the only store around, but this is not the type of attitude I would support from my FLGS. I would not spend my money in a store with ridiculous rules like that. It smells of short-term management of his stock, trying to push players to buy everything from him so they can play. If I pulled out my netbook during an event because I didn't want to heft 50 lbs of gaming supplies and the store owner told me it wasn't allowed, I'd probably walk out.
this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in storeYou may not have another choice if it's the only store around, but this is not the type of attitude I would support from my FLGS. I would not spend my money in a store with ridiculous rules like that. It smells of short-term management of his stock, trying to push players to buy everything from him so they can play. If I pulled out my netbook during an event because I didn't want to heft 50 lbs of gaming supplies and the store owner told me it wasn't allowed, I'd probably walk out.
Yeah, this about as bad as if the store owner said you can't bring gaming books into the store to use if you did not buy them from him. Maybe he had bad experiences with other OP groups or with casual gamers using his space but never buying from him, but that would still not be an excuse for something like this.
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You may not have another choice if it's the only store around, but this is not the type of attitude I would support from my FLGS. I would not spend my money in a store with ridiculous rules like that. It smells of short-term management of his stock, trying to push players to buy everything from him so they can play. If I pulled out my netbook during an event because I didn't want to heft 50 lbs of gaming supplies and the store owner told me it wasn't allowed, I'd probably walk out.
This is a case I'd remove the F from the FLGS and just turn them into a LGS. Unless it's the ONLY option in the area, I'd hope you have the capabilities of taking your gaming dollars elsewhere.
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Well another store opened about a year ago, and within 6 months they died because of lack of support, While I have thought about moving the pathfinder society elsewhere what is incredible about this particular store is the exposure to new players. I know some restaurant owners who have back rooms that they would rent-$50 dollars a day for substantial size to fit our current group, but then we wouldn't have over 100 people walking by our gaming tables each time we meet. The exposure is what I want. And, In truth, I prefer HC of books, but in this case I would have waited until Christmas to get them through Christmas money, I bought early because I needed them for society play.
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Yeah, that's a new one. So you can bring a pdf of the scenario you're running and the Guide to PFS Organized Play, but not one of Pathfinder #1? What about a PDF of the Pathfinder Chronicles Campaign Setting? Both of these are technically available in print, but are extremely rare. And how does he enforce people bringing some pdfs and not others? I'm not sure how I feel about a game store setting a rule like...this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in storeWow.
As I said I do have a copy of the Campaign setting, my LGS found and stocked it a month ago, for $30 dollars.
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Yep I have seen this as well in some stores.this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in storeWow.
As a free will human and Andoran I wouldn't expect that I would continue to use such a facility or support it with my gold coins. Obviously I try to push as much business through my FLGS that I run my games in, but the owner and I both understand that when people make their buy decision there are lots of different reason when and why that happens. It just seems like such a bizarre place to draw a line to me.
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Yep I have seen this as well in some stores.this came partly because my store owner does not allow PDF's in storeWow.
Do these owners permit books purchased from other stores? How about dice? What if you're not from the area and you try to join games at a FLGS?
In essence, how is buying a PDF any different than purchasing the book for 60% off at Borders and then showing up at the local store?
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In essence, how is buying a PDF any different than purchasing the book for 60% off at Borders and then showing up at the local store?
You've just hit on the per peeve of the manager of my FLGS. He hates the competition of the big book stores and Amazon. He won't stop us from shopping there or ban the stuff we bring, he just likes to gripe on it. He does give members of our club a 20% discount on all books bought in the games we run which includes PFS. Was great when I was starting this up and the Core Book became nicely discounted.