RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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As the title implies, next weekend I’m planning on running a Pathfinder Module Marathon from about 11 pm Friday night till whenever we finish Saturday evening. The logistics of such a feat are a bit mind boggling, so I wanted to make sure everything I’ll be doing is kosher (as the players would like to apply the XP/PA to PFS characters). I’m aware that upcoming announcements from a certain M. Brock (or Michael B.) may change the way modules work and if that happens, I’ll adjust my plans accordingly.
The modules I’m planning on running are: Crypt of the Everflame (level 1) into Masks of the Living God (level 3) into City of Golden Death (level 5). I’d like to do these three because 1) they’re all from the same narrative thread and 2) I already own them.
I already have players signed up for the event, and have explained character selection/creation as such.
- For the first module (Everflame) everyone will pick one of their existing PFS characters that is level 1 or 2 for use.
- For the second module (Living God), everyone will pick one of their existing PFS characters that is level 2, 3, or 4 for use.
- For the third module (Golden Death), everyone will pick one of their existing PFS characters that is level 4, 5, or 6 for use.
(I am aware that there are other options available, but in the interest of having a streamlined marathon, they’ve agreed to these stipulations.)
This leads me to a question: can I let my players fake "level up” mid module? Meaning, the copy of their PFS character being used would be a higher level for the rest of the module, and then go back to being their actual level afterwards. E.g. partway through the first floor in Crypt of the Everflame, the PCs have earned enough XP to level in the module (assuming medium progression), and, IMO, probably should – as the rest of the module seems deadly for level 1s (see: Pillar of 1000 arrow trap).
Is there anything preventing me from allowing my PCs to “level up” but only in the reality of the module world? If they cannot, perhaps because the characters are copies of their actual PFS characters, could they level up pregenerated characters instead? After searching, the only thing I find under module headings is that “no conditions carry beyond the end of a module,” which makes it seem as though what I’m proposing should be allowed.
I will likely defer to rules/convincing arguments/shiny objects with little to no rebuttal on this matter, as what little remains of my brain after finals week has turned to mush preparing for this 18+ hour GM session.
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Unfortunately, you are not permitted to level up mid-module, so no "faking."
My advice, if the players all want to play the same character throughout, the best thing to do is have them all play level two character for Crypt of the Everflame.
First, this will allow them to level up to three afterwards and be appropriate for Mask of the Living God. Second, CotE has some particularly challenging encounters towards the end that are not really suited for an average 1st level party.
After MotLG, they should all be level four. A little under-powered for City of Golden Death, but they will qualify.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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My advice, if the players all want to play the same character throughout, the best thing to do is have them all play level two character for Crypt of the Everflame.First, this will allow them to level up to three afterwards and be appropriate for Mask of the Living God. Second, CotE has some particularly challenging encounters towards the end that are not really suited for an average 1st level party.
After MotLG, they should all be level four. A little under-powered for City of Golden Death, but they will qualify.
Well that sounds a lot less complicated than what I was suggesting, so I'll likely do this.
Unfortunately, you are not permitted to level up mid-module, so no "faking."
Out of curiosity, and so I have a reference to point at when my PCs ask "why?", where does it say this?
Thanks Bob!
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Out of curiosity, and so I have a reference to point at when my PCs ask "why?", where does it say this?Thanks Bob!
This should help...
Getting Credit
All players who play the entire module receive the attached Chronicle sheet.
Since you don't get the Chronicle until you have played the Entire Module you don't get any xp until you get the chronicle...
Also...
Playing a module from beginning to end earns a player character 3 XP and 4 Prestige Points in that PC is on the normal advancement track before beginnign the module, or 1.5 XP and 2 Prestige Points for PCs on the slow advancement track .
Again you earn the xp for playing the module from the beginning to the end.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Out of curiosity, and so I have a reference to point at when my PCs ask "why?", where does it say this?Thanks Bob!
This should help...
Getting Credit
All players who play the entire module receive the attached Chronicle sheet.Since you don't get the Chronicle until you have played the Entire Module you don't get any xp until you get the chronicle...
Also...
Playing a module from beginning to end earns a player character 3 XP and 4 Prestige Points in that PC is on the normal advancement track before beginnign the module, or 1.5 XP and 2 Prestige Points for PCs on the slow advancement track .Again you earn the xp for playing the module from the beginning to the end.
While I'm aware of all legality when it comes to passing out chronicles and leveling up PFS characters, I was just wondering what the legality was of leveling up the "fake" characters being played during the module.
If you look in the modules, there are XP totals given for each encounter. And actually, before posting here, I did the math and Crypt of the Everflame gives out over 5000 xp per person (assuming a group of 6) if the PCs clear each room. This means that, at least in Everflame, in a non-pfs game, the PCs would level up twice before the end.
Again, I'm aware that that XP and leveling up mid-game is NOT pfs legal, which is why I posted in the first place.
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Again, I'm aware that that XP and leveling up mid-game is NOT pfs legal, which is why I posted in the first place.
Sorry, I thought you where asking if you could, not why you they don't allow it.
I have not ran any of those Modules, though I will say I would recommend based on the Modules I have ran that the lowest level in the group be equal to the level of the Module, though you are legally allowed to play 1 level lower.
The 3 I have run, The Godsmouth Heresy (Level 1), The Harrowing (Level 9th Level) and Tomb of the Iron Medusa (Level 14) each had at least 1 encounter the almost tore them apart.
For The Harrowing and Tomb of the Iron Medusa my players had the luxury of building an equal level version of a PFS character which I think gave them an advantage so I would actually suggest you let players who want to use that option go ahead and use it. For Crypt of the Everflame it is less of an issue since it is an Level 1, though by the end they may be having problems.
Also combined the 3 modules I ran took 44 hours to run, so you might run short with the time frame you have.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Again, I'm aware that that XP and leveling up mid-game is NOT pfs legal, which is why I posted in the first place.Sorry, I thought you where asking if you could, not why you they don't allow it.
I have not ran any of those Modules, though I will say I would recommend based on the Modules I have ran that the lowest level in the group be equal to the level of the Module, though you are legally allowed to play 1 level lower.
The 3 I have run, The Godsmouth Heresy (Level 1), The Harrowing (Level 9th Level) and Tomb of the Iron Medusa (Level 14) each had at least 1 encounter the almost tore them apart.
For The Harrowing and Tomb of the Iron Medusa my players had the luxury of building an equal level version of a PFS character which I think gave them an advantage so I would actually suggest you let players who want to use that option go ahead and use it. For Crypt of the Everflame it is less of an issue since it is an Level 1, though by the end they may be having problems.
Also combined the 3 modules I ran took 44 hours to run, so you might run short with the time frame you have.
I'll give the players the option of building equivalent level PCs for the ladder two modules and see what they'd rather do. I just want to streamline everything as much as possible.
Regarding the time frame, I've never used Pathfinder modules for a RPG marathon before, but I have run a couple marathons before that lasted about as long as I'm planning this to be. They had roughly the same amount of roleplaying/encounter as these three modules combined (after reading through them all), so I'm planning for about the same timeline. If anything, we'll just do it as a two parter and I'll steal their next weekend too. *evil grin*
I'll be sure to report back to these forums and let you guys know how it went, what character methods we used, etc. I'm actually kind of surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often (or I haven't heard of it at least). I know that personally, as a player, if the option is available I always would rather do a 2 or 3 part scenario string in a long, marathon style gaming session. It makes following the plot so much easier.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Sorry, I thought you where asking if you could, not why you they don't allow it.
I don't even know what I'm posting half the time, so apologies from me too :)
I have not ran any of those Modules, though I will say I would recommend based on the Modules I have ran that the lowest level in the group be equal to the level of the Module, though you are legally allowed to play 1 level lower.The 3 I have run, The Godsmouth Heresy (Level 1), The Harrowing (Level 9th Level) and Tomb of the Iron Medusa (Level 14) each had at least 1 encounter the almost tore them apart.
For The Harrowing and Tomb of the Iron Medusa my players had the luxury of building an equal level version of a PFS character which I think gave them an advantage so I would actually suggest you let players who want to use that option go ahead and use it. For Crypt of the Everflame it is less of an issue since it is an Level 1, though by the end they may be having problems.
Also combined the 3 modules I ran took 44 hours to run, so you might run short with the time frame you have.
I'll give the players the option of building equivalent level PCs for the ladder two modules and see what they'd rather do. I just want to streamline everything as much as possible.
Regarding the time frame, I've never used Pathfinder modules for a RPG marathon before, but I have run a couple marathons before that lasted about as long as I'm planning this to be. They had roughly the same amount of roleplaying/encounter as these three modules combined (after reading through them all), so I'm planning for about the same timeline. If anything, we'll just do it as a two parter and I'll steal their next weekend too. *evil grin*
I'll be sure to report back to these forums and let you guys know how it went, what character methods we used, etc. I'm actually kind of surprised this sort of thing doesn't happen more often (or I haven't heard of it at least). I know that personally, as a player, if the option is available I always would rather do a 2 or 3 part scenario string in a long, marathon style gaming session. It makes following the plot so much easier.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Pregame Update!
We've got the character situation figured out. Caffeine has been purchased by the truck load and everyone is gearing up for the game.
To "spice things up" I've decided to include some post-game prizes for the players. I'm planning on handing out anonymous voting cards where players can vote for themselves or others in such categories as "funniest character moment" or "best play of the night" -- things like that. Anyway, I'm wondering if you guys might have some ideas for more categories/corresponding prizes.
For example, the MVP could get a new set of dice, something like that.
Thoughts?
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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The ones we ended up with were:
- Newbie that had improved the most (for the one new player)
- Funniest player of the night
- Best roleplayer
- Best Play of the Night
- MVPC (Most Valuable Player Character)
- Insomniac
- Destroyer Award
- Crazy Ivan Award (Best Combat Trick)
Anyway, the evening was pretty awesome. Around 11 pm Friday night I had the players get their characters together for the marathon, and we started playing right around midnight.
The first module, Crypt of the Everflame went really well. After the first one, we took a short break to get breakfast/dinner. During the second one, we had a couple people start slowing down (about 8 am). That one finished up just before noon on Saturday. Before the third and final module we had one person bow out. We decided to skip lunch and go straight to the final game. During the last module we all got our second wind. All the combats were exciting and engaging and everyone left had a blast. We finished at around 6 pm. So all in all, about 18 hours for the entire thing.
All in all, the overall experience was a blast, but I'll get more sleep the night before, running it all on 3 hours wasn't the best idea ever. Everyone involved had a great time, so I'll probably do something similar again in the not to near future.
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RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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I know this question is totally suited for this thread but i'm hoping to get a hit. Where the heck do you find the chronicle sheets for the modules? I accidently stumbled on it once and now I can't for the life of me find them again.
Its under each module specifically. For example, for the Crypt module, you'd have to find the link to purchasing the module, then scroll to the bottom of the description text.
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I know this question is totally suited for this thread but i'm hoping to get a hit. Where the heck do you find the chronicle sheets for the modules? I accidently stumbled on it once and now I can't for the life of me find them again.Its under each module specifically. For example, for the Crypt module, you'd have to find the link to purchasing the module, then scroll to the bottom of the description text.
Another location, which would/should cover all sanctioned modules, is at the bottom of the Additonal Resources page.