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a couple of tips for running at gencon
1. You'll get access to the scenarios before hand, although there should be printed copies at the headquarters desk. I strongly urge you to print and prep ahead of time.
2. Have all your materials save the chronicles. Paizo will provide the tracking sheets and the chronicles for you; but faction missions etc you're on you're own for
3. prep prep prep prep. Have all your maps drawn ahead of time -- gaming paper is cheap and an easy way to permanently have your map there for the duration of the convention. If you're gming more than on scenario I would strongly suggest investing in some (or graph paper) and have all this done up
There won't be a lot if any time between slots for prepping as you'll get a new table each time and have to completely pack up and vacate one table to go to the next. If you're lucky you'll have about 20-30 minutes between slots. so there won't be time to be reading and prepping a scenario
Thank you for this. It's what I really wanted to know. So now I need to figure out where to get a large sheet of clear vinyl plastic to lay over the gaming paper and a few kraft poster tubes …
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Congrats.......I think.......so this would be the best time to comment that we might find out in about 6 months?What do you get when you cross Bob and Thea together? A GM that finishes a scenario in the exact allotted time.PFFT ... I think there was one slot last year where I ran short ... the rest of the time I was on time and Sunday morning I was one of the last tables still playing... so bite me :PIf you're lucky you'll have about 20-30 minutes between slots. so there won't be time to be reading and prepping a scenarioUnless you are a Purple Fluffy CatBunnyGnome. Then when you finish your session in two hours, you'll have plenty of time to prep for the next slot. :D
So, I keep trying to roll Sense Motive on this announcement, but the die ends up on a point, spinning faster and faster...
I let it do this for a few minutes, but I had to stop it because the desk started to smoke and now there's a scorch mark where the point was. When I grabbed it I burned my hand, and I had to drop the die. It melted the carpet.
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Just out of curiosity... how is selection for the parties to advance to part 2 of the special going to work? Will it be time-based? Objective based? Will points be awarded for role-playing/problem-solving? How subjective is it?
Looking forward to GenCon!
WJ
Cool thing about this is, we get to wait until Gen Con to find out! I'm so excited!
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Just out of curiosity... how is selection for the parties to advance to part 2 of the special going to work? Will it be time-based? Objective based? Will points be awarded for role-playing/problem-solving? How subjective is it?
Looking forward to GenCon!
WJ
Let me see if I can answer these questions, as well as a few unasked questions to head them off at the pass.
1) You will know on Saturday morning if your team advanced to Round 2. So, if you purchase a ticket for another event on Saturday night just to make sure you are covered, you can always refund that ticket sometime Saturday at Gen Con customer service.
2) The entry requirement for round 2 is to actually advance as one of the top three tables at your subtler. Once you advance, you will be required to play the same character. Also, we will be checking PFS numbers at marshalling against PFS numbers provided the night before during round 1.
3) You can still play part 1 if you are GMing part 2. Part 1 wont be spoiled by part 2.
4) Yes, a character may be played at any other scenarios between part 1 and 2.
5) If you level in part 1, or anytime before part 2, you keep that level for part 2. Essentially, each team of pathfinders will advance as a team to part 2. Since there will be only 19 tables, we can handle any corner cases on sight, such as an 11th level PC hitting 12th before round 2.
6) I have overfill GMs for every scenario in every slot except a few games on Sunday. So, if your team advances to Round 2, and you are scheduled to GM in slot 9, I will utilize the overfill GMs to fill your GM spot.
7) If more than one GM scheduled to run the same scenario in slot 9, I will leave it to those GMs to find enough replacements to join the overfill GM. So, if 3 People scheduled to GM 3-18 in Slot 9 advance to Round 2 of the special, those 3 people will be required to find 2 replacement GMs and I will use the overfill GM for the third slot.
8) For GMs of Part 1, after all tracking sheets are turned in, we will draw 6 of those out of a hat (or some other device) randomly and those 6 GMs will make a team to play in Round 2 of the special. It is why we have 19 tables scheduled for round 2. It will be up to the 6 GMs to decide which subtler they wish to play in round 2. I try to take care of my GMs as best I can. It is why we are offering a lottery seat to 6 GMs from round 1 so the GMs at least have a shot to play in round 2. If a selected GM is scheduled to GM in Slot 9, see #6 and #7 above.
9) We will be providing a scoring chart for GMs when we marshal for round 1. The top 3 tables from each subtler, and the 1 GM lottery table, will advance to round 2. The scoring criteria is kept a secret so there is no chance it can be spoiled ahead of time
10) The Round 1 will be the normal special all of you have come to expect and will be distributed the same way to local and regional conventions and game days. Round 2 is a Gen Con exclusive event and this will be the only time it is ever available for playing or GMing.
If I didn't address any questions, please let me know. I think that covers most of the basics.
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8) For GMs of Part 1, after all tracking sheets are turned in, we will draw 6 of those out of a hat (or some other device) randomly and those 6 GMs will make a team to play in Round 2 of the special. It is why we have 19 tables scheduled for round 2. It will be up to the 6 GMs to decide which subtler they wish to play in round 2. I try to take care of my GMs as best I can. It is why we are offering a lottery seat to 6 GMs from round 1 so the GMs at least have a shot to play in round 2. If a selected GM is scheduled to GM in Slot 9, see #6 and #7 above.
That's new, although I'd prefer my name not get pulled. :-)
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Mike, Thank you for the pre-emptive list of information on how the special will be run. I understand why the scoring criteria is kept secret- if it is released here on the forum it will be groused to death about for the next three months. :-) Instead, we will have to obsess and complain about it for the three months following the con. :-|
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Instead, we will have to obsess and complain about it for the three months following the con. :-|
And when you do, I will show up on your front door step, ready to tear up all your character sheets. :-)
I can tell everyone this: The scoring system is designed to reward the best Pathfinders Society members. I'll leave you all to decide what that means.
Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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I can tell everyone this: The scoring system is designed to reward the best Pathfinders Society members. I'll leave you all to decide what that means.
Well, given your reputation for enforcing the viewpoint that the best character is a dead character, I can only wonder if next year will be the year of the undead.
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8) For GMs of Part 1, after all tracking sheets are turned in, we will draw 6 of those out of a hat (or some other device) randomly and those 6 GMs will make a team to play in Round 2 of the special. It is why we have 19 tables scheduled for round 2. It will be up to the 6 GMs to decide which subtler they wish to play in round 2. I try to take care of my GMs as best I can. It is why we are offering a lottery seat to 6 GMs from round 1 so the GMs at least have a shot to play in round 2. If a selected GM is scheduled to GM in Slot 9, see #6 and #7 above.That's new, although I'd prefer my name not get pulled. :-)
Just give it to another GM if you win... so long as they buy you a few rounds afterwards!
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I assume that means the best Explorers, Reporters, and Cooperators will advance.
Except he didn't say which Pathfinder Society.
If he means the real world one then its players who shower, don't metagame, don't hog the limelight and who don't whine or argue.
Hmm, that's worth spreading as the scoring criteria whether its true or not ;-)
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Once you give it to them, they become a player though. Even better, make sure they're at your table!Just give it to another GM if you win... so long as they buy you a few rounds afterwards!I wouldn't wish the brutality of part 2 on any GM that I like. Hmm.. Guess I could give it to Dragnmoon.
Kyles really are evil!
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Kyles really are evil!Once you give it to them, they become a player though. Even better, make sure they're at your table!Just give it to another GM if you win... so long as they buy you a few rounds afterwards!I wouldn't wish the brutality of part 2 on any GM that I like. Hmm.. Guess I could give it to Dragnmoon.
<.<
>.>
^-^
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I assume that means the best Explorers, Reporters, and Cooperators will advance.Except he didn't say which Pathfinder Society.
If he means the real world one then its players who shower, don't metagame, don't hog the limelight and who don't whine or argue.
Hmm, that's worth spreading as the scoring criteria whether its true or not ;-)
I'll say +1 to that!
On an unrelated note: all these Kyles are getting difficult to keep track of!
Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant
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Is there anyway that you are going to open up more slots to the Race for the Runecarved Key?
Race for the Runecarved Key is a special event. The reason it is only offered during one slot is because everyone is playing the same game at the same time with interactions between tables. Is a special event and not really something that could be run more than once a convention.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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The table I'm running will be dead in the first 30 minutes. I could seat 6 more players for the rest of the evening. ;-)
I'm kind of wondering if the new six character rules are going to make for short sessions at a lot of tables. It will certainly make for interesting reading in August.
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If this question has been answered, I missed it...
Is a fresh level 12 going to be allowed to play the second round (assuming they make it, of course)...i.e. if Bob the Barbarian should hit 12 after round 1, will Bob be allowed to play round 2 if selected, and will Bob play as a 12 or an 11 instead?
Thanks Mike!
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If this question has been answered, I missed it...
Is a fresh level 12 going to be allowed to play the second round (assuming they make it, of course)...i.e. if Bob the Barbarian should hit 12 after round 1, will Bob be allowed to play round 2 if selected, and will Bob play as a 12 or an 11 instead?
Thanks Mike!
Yes, Bob will play Round 2 as a 12th level character.
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If you qualify for Part 2, you will qualify as a TABLE. That said, I imagine that a certain percentage of players who qualify for Part 2 won't show up (for various reasons*), and we'll end up re-mustering, possibly allowing those who've jumped tiers to play at their new tier. Of course this will depend on table make-up.
I also believe that 10's and 11's will ideally not be allowed to play the 12+ tier either night unless we end up with 3 level 12's not having a 4th player.
*Most likely reason is scheduling. One other reason may be difficulty. Part 2 is going to be significantly more deadly than any other PFS event to date. Of course the rewards will also be higher. How deadly you ask? *I've* had to be the voice of reason for not slaughtering everyone. Seriously. *looks in Mike's general direction*
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I have not hid the fact that round 2 is going to be quite deadly. Even in my blog, I advised for people who participate in round 2 to most likely expect one PC death, disintegration, etc.... per table.
As for scheduling issues, I advise anyone who advances to round 2 to play if at all possible. When I said this was the only time it would ever be run, I wasn't joking Round 2 will only be available at this Gen Con only and never make an appearance again.
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I have not hid the fact that round 2 is going to be quite deadly. Even in my blog, I advised for people who participate in round 2 to most likely expect one PC death, disintegration, etc.... per table.
As for scheduling issues, I advise anyone who advances to round 2 to play if at all possible. When I said this was the only time it would ever be run, I wasn't joking Round 2 will only be available at this Gen Con only and never make an appearance again.
Will normal death rules apply? That is, assuming that I'm dead and not disintegrated, will I be able to spend Prestige and cash on hand to have my body retrieved and raised if I'm one of the casualties?