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Okay, before I get flamed for asking these, I have searched and found answers to most of these already. Essentially I just need to make sure I am understanding certain key issues correctly. So hopefully I will get some reasonable help.
Background: Our normal Pathfinder group has decided to start out a PFS style play instead of our normal "winging it" approach. Most of the group is RP medium/heavy, but most of them will number crunch out the class, ie. Treatmonks style. But after seeing some of the horror story threads of TPKs on scenarios this might not be a bad thing and may help to keep everyone alive.
Okay, so on to the questions:
1) Player death: I understand that if (as a group) we are in the collective level 4 range and one person dies we can pool our resources to have them raised. My understanding is that is gold only. Correct? Then if we do (or if the character has enough PP or gold to do so himself) we can then pay as a group in gold (or with PP/gold from dead character) to have the negative levels removed via Restoration. Correct?
2) First Steps: We are looking to run these scenarios in succession, hopefully without the possible TPK at the end of Part 1. I understand the characters will get up to 2 PP for this scenario. Now essentially all the PPs earned (6 in total, if conditions met) will be turned into the faction chosen at the end of Part 3. I understand that each faction has certain rewards (not sure what they are just yet, but that is irrelevant right now). Using the "Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play," on page 22, Table 5-4, you may spend those PPs here as well. The table is labeled Generic Prestige Awards, which leads me to believe regardless of faction, these are available to all factions. But according to the footnotes, the 1 PP for 150g or 2 PP for 750g item purchase state "... from your faction..." So I am assuming that even though they are generic awards, they are still faction based so until the end of Part 3, you cannot spend any PPs. Correct? (I did read the post RUNNING THE FIRST STEPS SERIES NONCONSECUTIVELY and now Im confused.) What has been the ruling in PaizoCon?
3) General looting: Looting within the scenario is okay, and items found can be used. Correct? So if said mob had 2x Potion CLW, you can use them during the scenario, but once the scenario is done they 'disappear' if not used. Correct? Assuming I am correct so far, why include random trinket on mob equipment that has no use other than cash? (ie. Opal worth 200g)
Thats enough for right now. I will probably have more so hopefully I can get some help from experienced GMs.
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First of all - welcome here !! It is always great to see new GMs. I hope you and your group will have fun with the PFS. Don't be too scared about the horror stories - TPK is still rare. Off cource a lot depends on GM style - even if everyone is playing the same scenario.
There is also more then enough RP potential in each scenario. You and your players are what makes your game.
Question 1: Yes - there are 3 options for raising a character - a) dead character pays in PP (16), b) dead character pays in gold (5450 gp - this can include selling some items) or c) party pools gold together (5450 gp). In addition you have two restorations to counter the lost levels.
So yes - the group can pool together as soon as the group is able to afford the resurrection. Example - I did have a dead character in my last game - Feast of Ravenmoor. Everyone in the group chipped in 1090 gp and the player had enough PP to handle the restorations on his own.
Question 2: It is possible to play the scenarios in any order or even just some of them and you can even play a normal scenario and then one of the First Steps. Each of this cases means that you are able to spend PP earlier.
The reason is simple. It is best to do them in order and to choose a faction at the end of the three parts it is not easy in a changing environment to ensure you play all 4 parts together and in order. Example - I organize once a year a convention with 2 slots. I can't ask someone to play part 1 and 2 and come back a year later assuming all other players on his table do the same.
Having said this - if you can - and it seems in your case you can - then play them all in order. Players should be able to survive with a potion of CLW until level 2.
3) Yes - you are right - you can use items and at the end of the game they are gone. This is for simplicity - so you don't have to keep book if you found them, missed them, used them. The reason to have an opal of 200 gp is to ensure the group isn't only getting useable items.
In principle you sell everything you find at the end and this is the source of your money - approx. 500 gp at level 1-2.
This is a compromise between being accurate and keeping bookkeeping at a minimum. There are possible more accurate options - at the cost of extra work. It also would be possible to just hand out a fixed amound and not bother what you find - but a non neglectable number of players like to loot. Even if all they get is an opal worth 200gp that is handed in at the end. It still feels an achievment to have spotted them under the loose floor board with a Perception 20+
I hope this helps
Thod
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First off, thanks for the reply!
Question 1: Got it.
Question 2: Im not really sure I understand your answer. Im more worried about whether or not you can spend the PPs in between Part 1 and Part 2 for example. It would seem that you can't since all PPs are spent on awards gifted from your faction, which you do not have after Part 1.
Question 3: So after almost every encounter there is a "If your players succeed in X give the players X gp." That is the only gold gained from the scenario correct? Excluding Day Job rolls. What exactly is Items Sold? Are these items that the character had going into the scenario that they no longer need?
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Question 3: So after almost every encounter there is a "If your players succeed in X give the players X gp." That is the only gold gained from the scenario correct? Excluding Day Job rolls. What exactly is Items Sold? Are these items that the character had going into the scenario that they no longer need?
Welcome as well :)
The items sold column is for items that the pc has sold -- say their beginning armor or weapon. the "if your players succeed..." tells you how much that encounter is worth ...
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Fluffy Bunny answered your second question (I hope).
About the use of PP inbetween. This is up to you as GM.
The original idea was to wait until scenario 3 before you can spend PP. But in a lot of cases this never happens or they are not played in order, or ...
It would be unfair (in my view) to penalize a group playing all in order compared to one who isn't playing in order or has a player who did a different scenario first.
There is a split opinion here about this topic (and likely the case you couldn't answer it with your search-fu). The above is my own personal interpretation and I know I'm not alone. At the same time I'm now in part 2 of the First Steps online and the GM preferred that we don't spend PP until part 3.
I'm more than happy to follow his opinion as he is the GM in my game.
As GM you will sometimes encounter the 'ideal world' example and then reality is more difficult. Ensure you are consistent, fair and your player accept it and you won't go much wrong.
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Ah, okay. You are not actually waiting for the encounter to end and telling everyone you get X gold. More of a, keep a tally and at the end is when they figure out how much they get.
So doesn't the meta-gaming come into play when it comes to looting? Why pick up that golden statue worth X gold and lug it around when we can just leave it, and still get the gold from it?
New question: Is there anything that new GMs should be aware of that really isn't said? Like GMs saying, "If I knew then what I learned later."
Let's see:
Question 1 - answered.
Question 2 - As Thod said, some GMs will tell you to wait til you have played all three parts before you can spend Prestige on anything that would come from a Faction, while others will let you use it right away on the chart from the Guide. I think the folks in charge of PFS, Mike and Mark, have posted that it can be used right away, but this statement has not made it into either the Guide or FAQ that I am aware of, and that is why some GMs do not allow it. To add to the confusion, the wording on this in the three scenarios conflicts as well.
Question 3 - There is nothing free in PFS play. There is nothing you will find during a scenario that you will get to keep without paying for it at the end of the scenario. All goodies found and recovered are turned in to the Society at the end of the adventure and you are then paid in gold. You then can decide you want to buy an item found back from the Society, which is represented in being able to buy an item listed on your chronicle sheet.
Basically, there are four ways to get equipment in the game. Anything listed as Always Available, you basically go to your corner store and buy. Anything listed on your chronicle sheet, you buy from the Society. Anything that is bought by using Prestige comes from your Faction. Anything that requires a certain minimum amount of Fame before you can buy it with gold also comes from your Faction.
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Ah, okay. You are not actually waiting for the encounter to end and telling everyone you get X gold. More of a, keep a tally and at the end is when they figure out how much they get.
So doesn't the meta-gaming come into play when it comes to looting? Why pick up that golden statue worth X gold and lug it around when we can just leave it, and still get the gold from it?
New question: Is there anything that new GMs should be aware of that really isn't said? Like GMs saying, "If I knew then what I learned later."
correct
On the flip side of that -- if they don't pick up things, that total should be deducted from the goal total on the chronicle since technically they didn't "find" it. Players know this and will routinely say "I greyhawk the bodies" == slang from the greyhawk days of looting everything possible in the room/area/bad guys.
I can't think of anything that I wish I'd known beforehand. I went into GMing fairly new and knew that I'd be learning as I went. I held no illusions that I was good the first time out or even the subsequent times out; or even now. You get better the more you do it and your knowledge grows each time to step out of the box and GM.
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I always gave PP after Part I and II, and allowed them to spend the PP if they wanted between Part I and II and II and III.
I ran Part I and II 4 times at Gen Con, and that's what I remember being told by Mark Moreland at the time. Of course my recollection of that weekend is a bit fuzzy, so take it for whatever its worth.
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You have gotten good advice here, the end result is - go for it!
I have let PCs spend PP during the First Steps series and am not aware of any rules reason not to. Since it is a home group, as long as everyone understands going in what the plan will be regarding PP, you should be fine.
The loot system is a convenient shorthand, and feels much different in play than playing non-PFS Pathfinder, but it does make treasure much easier to deal with.
Yes - use the items you find during the adventure and then they automatically 'cash out' at the end. If anyone wants to keep a found item, they have to buy it at the end. Deduct from the final gold reward if there is a good in-game reason that they should not have the treasure from that encounter.
Thing I wish I had known in the beginning: it is not as intimidating as it first seems to run PFS. :)
You can also PM any of the Venture Officers or experienced GMs if you have a specific question or situation that needs special attention. Good luck, have fun and come here for advice (or a sympathetic ear if needed).
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I have let PCs spend PP during the First Steps series and am not aware of any rules reason not to. Since it is a home group, as long as everyone understands going in what the plan will be regarding PP, you should be fine.
That's how we've been doing it with our home group, as well.
If you (or your players) need a story explanation for the use of the PPs before the PCs pick factions, you could perhaps argue that they're spending their Prestige with the Society itself (i.e., the Grand Lodge), before they make a final decision on faction.
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I believe the explanation is, that until they pick a faction, they are considered Grand Lodge.
Ah, that at least makes more sense than anything else considering the wording used on how to spend PP in areas.
Another random question that again, I am sure I have correctly, is on the 1 PP = 150 gp item and 2 PP = 750 gp item. I am under the impression that you are using your reputation (PP) for an item that your faction has and not actually paying any gold for said item.
The post I read about this talked about using the 2PP to get a MW STR 16 composite bow for 700g, then adding a +1 to it for 2000g out of pocket. So in effect they have for 2000g and 2PP a +1 Mighty Composite Bow (STR 16). Then "if" they ever sold it, they would only get 1000g back.
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Another random question that again, I am sure I have correctly, is on the 1 PP = 150 gp item and 2 PP = 750 gp item. I am under the impression that you are using your reputation (PP) for an item that your faction has and not actually paying any gold for said item.
That is correct. Buying an item (say, a wand of Cure Light Wounds) with PPs costs you two PPs, *not* two PPs plus some gold. You're essentially using some of your influence within your faction, and calling in favors, to get the item. It's "free" in the sense that you don't have to lay out gold to get it, but there's still an expense involved -- you've cashed in some of the favors that you were owed.