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I do not know the last time I purchased an item off of a scenario sheet (Almost never). By the time you see the item on a sheet you have already racked up enough prestige to have purchased the item. It has gotten to the point that I have started not even looking at what items are on the sheets.
As such I ask:
Can we have some interesting items on our sheets?
Items that are above level and thus can not be purchased through prestige yet.
Paizo approved custom magic items (items that we as players could have come up with using the craft skill but can not create in Society). My barbarian would kill for some custom Rhino Hide armor (with some extra enhancment or made from a different armor). These items are not found in any book and so having the sheet is awesome.
Scrolls , potions, and wands at better than lowest caster level. Again something we can not make or buy ourselves but would be extremely useful.
Metamagic'ed scrolls. Who wants a scroll of maximized fireball?
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Paizo approved custom magic items (items that we as players could have come up with using the craft skill but can not create in Society). My barbarian would kill for some custom Rhino Hide armor (with some extra enhancment or made from a different armor). These items are not found in any book and so having the sheet is awesome.
Scrolls , potions, and wands at better than lowest caster level. Again something we can not make or buy ourselves but would be extremely useful.
Metamagic'ed scrolls. Who wants a scroll of maximized fireball?
I am sure you are aware, but nothing goes on the chronicle sheet that was not in the scenario, so what is added in the scenario needs to e balanced against what the level of the group will be, that is why it is rare you see items that much higher then you can already get based on your Fame.
Also a Maximized Fireball scroll, might mean the Big bad has that and gets to use it against the group..;)
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The only thing I even care about on the scenario sheet is boons. They're unique and interesting, and very few scenarios use them.
And I agree completely with the OP. Even if it's something that you can't normally buy, by the time you have enough money to purchase it you have enough fame to get it anyways.
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Adding my +1 for the love of partially charged level 2+ wands. Having an assortment of random utility is never a bad thing.
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2) a higher caster level wand of Shocking Grasp, or Burning Hands, or ... heck Summon Monster 1. Any higher caster level wand.
4) A special Wayfinder that holds two Ioun Stones.
There actually are a few scenarios that give wands at higher CL than available normally, but they are few and far between. And there are wayfinders with more than one slot, but they're kinda expensive. But putting them on the sheet is a good idea. =)
And I like the discount idea. Especially when they give you items on a level 1 scenario that are always available anyways.
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While we're talking pleas, can I toss in one for more challenging encounters? I've played/GM'd two Scenarios in the past month that honestly got torn apart by a standard group of PFS players due to stat blocks that made no sense for a monster intended to clash with 4-6 PCs.
For example...
If I sat down the list could go on. I'm not asking for deadly, vicious, min-maxed encounters. Just that fights, especially the boss/final encounters for a scenario, push our limits and give us a sense of real danger. Not thinking my character could actually die is exceptionally boring.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
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Hi Folks!
I just wanted to post and let you know I have read it, and have taken note. Of course, Dragnmoon is correct and we must stay within the guidelines- but I'll definitely look into being creative with items within the scope of the scenario budget.
Sometime ago I was corresponding with Mark, because I felt I needed to work on creative treasure assortment- and this thread only confirms it. Oddly enough, I find it challenging for some darn reason.
(Though, that correspondence was after 'The Haunting of Hinojai' turnover. I have to take and act on this feedback going forward from that scenario).
@bdk86 - I should have some challenging boss fights coming up, as I've heard this feedback before. Be sure to let me know if it's up to scratch. I always appreciate the feedback in order to improve.
@Everyone: Please keep the freelancer feedback coming. I will definitely read it and do what I can within the scope of Paizo's parameters.
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@Everyone: Please keep the freelancer feedback coming. I will definitely read it and do what I can within the scope of Paizo's parameters.
How about making all scenarios just a single room filled with treasure and no enemies that plays awesome rock music when we enter. Also, GMs should be required to give us cake at the start of each session. =P
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
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How about making all scenarios just a single room filled with treasure and no enemies that plays awesome rock music when we enter. Also, GMs should be required to give us cake at the start of each session. =P
Judging from 'The Money Talk' thread, your GM's might apply a surcharge for all of that. I won't be held responsible.
;)
They were waving cheese sticks
I won't be held responsible
They wanted cake in the first place
For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and
We'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe
We'd ever die for baked goods
We were merely writers
Edit: small improvement on the spoiler. :D
;)
** spoiler omitted **
Today is apparently my day to stumble onto hilarious posts. Herr Groves, I hope there's some gathering that gets the benefit of your filking on a regular basis!
Canadian Maplecakes
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I'll be trying to work some 'unique' treasures into future modules that I write for the Society. Jim basically summed up my thoughts, but I figured I would jump up and say that I've read this and will keep it in mind.
On that note, I think modules like Quest for Perfection Part III represent a new step towards very unique and cool items for PCs to collect! I should know, I just completed it the other night! :D
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
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And for what it's worth, I did just get some 'official' feedback last night reminding me not to just hand out gold and art objects, but to put some interesting magical goodies in there if at all possible. So the Developers are listening and so are the freelancers.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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I fully understand that the scenario contributors have a treasure budget and they must stay within that while keeping things lvl appropriate. I just hate seeing an entire piece of the PFS reward structure as useless.
Groves - Thank you for stepping in.
I play PFS fairly actively and so I sympathize. For spellcasters, higher level wands, scrolls, pearls of power, and partly charged wands seem to be decent rewards that are appropriate for a BBEG to have. It's a little more challenging to get something chronicle for a martial/ fighter type.
Those big purchase items fighters and monks always want are really tough to get into an adventure budget. Do you have any suggestions for other items which might appeal to martial type characters similar to the way a partly charged wand appeals to a caster?
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Those big purchase items fighters and monks always want are really tough to get into an adventure budget. Do you have any suggestions for other items which might appeal to martial type characters similar to the way a partly charged wand appeals to a caster?
Oils of bless weapon or other single use items at higher caster levels would be nice.
Also, I agree with this. More often than not I don't really look at the gear on the chronicle. I think one of the most interesting pieces of gear on one that I've seen was the Intelligent Ring of the Weary Sky from The Heresy of Man part 3.
I think that a way for people to get more excited about generic* magic items on a chronicle would be if they were at a discounted price.
*And by generic I mean items that we can/should be able to buy due to current fame level.
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Do you have any suggestions for other items which might appeal to martial type characters similar to the way a partly charged wand appeals to a caster?
I know it wouldn't help all martial classes, but small bundles of magical arrows/bolts would be nice. Also, taking from a topic brought up earlier, maybe having a discount on martial items made of special materials. Like an adamantine weapon that's a few hundred gold cheaper than normal. Not enough to be broken, but enough for the martial characters to take notice.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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Magic arrows are a good idea. I didn't think people were too interested in potions in general, but when I'm next working on a scenario I'll try and keep up-level potions in mind. I can see a high level potion of greater magic fang or greater magic weapon being nice.
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Those big purchase items fighters and monks always want are really tough to get into an adventure budget.
My suggestion is that the items you find in a scenario don't have to be so tightly linked to the amount of gold you earn at the end of a scenario. I'd be much happer if all scenarios of a certain subtier earn us the same amount of gold each and every scenario, especially if it meant we could get more meaningful loot on the chronicle sheet.
As it stands now, everyone just ignores the items on the chronicle sheet, with the exception of partially charged wands.
My suggestion is that the items you find in a scenario don't have to be so tightly linked to the amount of gold you earn at the end of a scenario.
+infinity
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Also we still get wands and scrolls on the chronicle sheet even if the opponent consumes them. So why wouldn't we get potions?
Sorry, I wasn't suggesting that they would not appear on the chronicle, I was talking about having them for use during the scenario. Guess I missed my reading comprehension check ;-)
ok... today must me Monday. (checks calander) thrusday, the 4th Monday this week.)
I am sorry. I did not understand what you are trying to tell me above. Please give it to me again... maybe type slower - that might help me follow it. (Thanks in advance!)
As an example, the current guidelines would probably forbid a writer from putting a +1 dragon bane sword (~8300 gp) into a tier 1-2 scenario because that would mean spreading ~4150 gp among 4-6 players -- that's too much reward for tier 1-2.
But if you just say "every successful tier 1-2 scenario gets a 450 gp reward, period, regardless of what treasure you actually found", then you don't have to skimp on putting interesting (but pricey) magic items in the chronicle.
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IMHO chronicle sheets should never have:
+1 items
Mundane equipment
Items that are useful in such a limited capacity as to never be useful (i.e. Murder on the Silken Caravan gives you a map of the Zho mountains).
Chronicle sheets should have:
Boons (one shot)
Penalties
Conditions (I can tell you I've forgotten to mark a disease on a few players that needed to have it recorded, if there's a mummy in your scenario, give us a check box for mummy rot)
Wonderous Items
Unique magic items, such as some of the equipment listed on a few of the novel chronicles.
Up level wands.
Up level potions.
Up level scrolls.
Partially charged items of all sorts, or consumable magic items that are partially used.
Items that are normally not allowed in PFS play (such as the mantis mask offered in scenario 2-26).
Broken items (allowing them to be purchased at less than full value but repaired with an investment).
Spells from the sources indicated in the additional resources section, including descriptions, so that they may be used without the original source material once you play that particular scenario.
Items that can be made from creatures encountered (dragonhide armor and shields).
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Canadian Maplecakes
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As part of my 'Module Madness' marathon (we're finished Godsmouth tonight), I've been going through more chronicles to get a sense of rewards. From a module perspective I've noticed the following:
-LOTS of scrolls/pots/wands
-A small number of other magical items (maybe 1/4 or 1/3)
I'd like to include more magical items (especially unique weapons/armor/wondrous) within scenarios. The concern, as mentioned above, is keeping within the GP limit of the adventure.
Perhaps in scenarios where PCs don't have the luxury of shopping/selling partway through, we could include a higher number of magical items for them to acquire without adjusting gold received from the chronicle? That way at the end of the scenario, the PCs just have a bigger list of items they can collect but still end up with roughly same amount of gold as they should be getting?
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My suggestion is that the items you find in a scenario don't have to be so tightly linked to the amount of gold you earn at the end of a scenario. I'd be much happer if all scenarios of a certain subtier earn us the same amount of gold each and every scenario, especially if it meant we could get more meaningful loot on the chronicle sheet.As it stands now, everyone just ignores the items on the chronicle sheet, with the exception of partially charged wands.
THIS!! +1000. This would allow players to acquire unique items from the scenario sheet without giving out too much GP. Call any excess GP not given to the players a society tax. The society has to be funded somehow.
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My suggestion is that the items you find in a scenario don't have to be so tightly linked to the amount of gold you earn at the end of a scenario. I'd be much happer if all scenarios of a certain subtier earn us the same amount of gold each and every scenario, especially if it meant we could get more meaningful loot on the chronicle sheet.
As it stands now, everyone just ignores the items on the chronicle sheet, with the exception of partially charged wands.
The problem with that is that at the low tiers, the player is only getting ~500 gold a scenario. Sure, it would be nifty to have an 8000 gp item on the tier 1-2 loot list, but it would take forever to just buy it. And that's assuming that the player saves every gp for that item to be bought first. We don't need to drop 10000 gp items on low level players, we need to give them things they'll actually use, like partially charged wands and small stacks of magical arrows.
Director of Brand Strategy
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ok... today must me Monday. (checks calander) thrusday, the 4th Monday this week.)
I am sorry. I did not understand what you are trying to tell me above. Please give it to me again... maybe type slower - that might help me follow it. (Thanks in advance!)As an example, the current guidelines would probably forbid a writer from putting a +1 dragon bane sword (~8300 gp) into a tier 1-2 scenario because that would mean spreading ~4150 gp among 4-6 players -- that's too much reward for tier 1-2.
But if you just say "every successful tier 1-2 scenario gets a 450 gp reward, period, regardless of what treasure you actually found", then you don't have to skimp on putting interesting (but pricey) magic items in the chronicle.
That's all well and good for a dragon bane weapon, but what if it's a +1 human bane longsword in the hands of the BBEG? Then that foe is way more powerful than his CR indicates. NPC wealth tables and target treasure values exist for more reasons than just keeping overpowered equipment out of PCs' hands, but also ensuring that enemies faced remain within the right challenge range.
One of our interns has just completed a project cataloguing every item we've provided on a Chronicle since Season 1 and at what tiers it was made available. I'll be looking very closely at this and looking to see how we can improve the spread and rate at which gear becomes available to PCs, but any changes that come of it likely won't show up in scenarios for months and months, simply because a change I made now wouldn't be disseminated to scenario authors until the next wave of assignments goes out. But thanks to everyone for your input and suggestions.
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But if you just say "every successful tier 1-2 scenario gets a 450 gp reward, period, regardless of what treasure you actually found", then you don't have to skimp on putting interesting (but pricey) magic items in the chronicle.
+1. That's exactly what I was saying.
In addition, if the amount of gold was consistent when it applies to a certain subtier, it would save the developers a lot of work and allow writers to be more creative.
It would also prevent the inconsistencies between the scenarios, where the reward for subtier 4-5 can vary from 1300 gold to 1900 gold for no reason at all. << Pet peeve.
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Director of Brand Strategy
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It would also prevent the inconsistencies between the scenarios, where the reward for subtier 4-5 can vary from 1300 gold to 1900 gold for no reason at all. << Pet peeve.
Can you cite an example of this in the last two seasons? We have a set target wealth for each subtier that authors are not allowed to go below. They have only a 5% margin to overshoot the target. I cannot recall a single scenario we've released since I have been developer on the line that broke this design parameter.
That's all well and good for a dragon bane weapon, but what if it's a +1 human bane longsword in the hands of the BBEG? Then that foe is way more powerful than his CR indicates.
Yes. And so would a scroll of Summon Monster VII, which would easily fit within the gp limit for a tier 1-2 scenario.
At no point did I recommend putting in "gotcha" equipment that would upset the balance of a scenario (whether it's expensive or not).
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That's all well and good for a dragon bane weapon, but what if it's a +1 human bane longsword in the hands of the BBEG? Then that foe is way more powerful than his CR indicates. NPC wealth tables and target treasure values exist for more reasons than just keeping overpowered equipment out of PCs' hands, but also ensuring that enemies faced remain within the right challenge range.
Absolutely agree with you here. However, I don't think that lifting the wealth restrictions on items found in a scenario is going to lead to player death. It is still the responsibility of the contributor to write level appropriate encounters. We are not going to be choosing rewards at random. I just think that disconnecting scenario items from gold earned will give the contributors more leeway in being creative with those rewards.