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Hello,
A question about GM credit in running a scenario:
I happen to have quite a number of scenarios under my belt, but other than a handful of scenarios that were assigned to current characters I have alot of unassigned open slots that were never assigned to any characters; how would it work towards putting those scenarios to another character?
1. After summing up the total # of open GM credit slots not assigned as yet; can one or more characters be created right away and then edit those event logs towards the newly created PC(s) character# 6, 7, whatever, remembering the limitation of time not going below PFS OP# 2.2
thanks.
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If I understand you ...
You must decide which PC gets GM credit (ie the chronicle) when you complete the tracking sheet for the event. Presumably that sheet is turned in to the event coordinator on the day of the event or shortly thereafter.
If you have already run a scenario and did not take GM credit for it, you would need to run it again in order to take GM credit at that point.
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This seems to be a debate that we go back and forth on a lot on these forums. Some people assign their GM credits right away whenever they run an adventure, while others will hold on to a few "spares" and apply them when needed. Whether or not this second option is legal is a subject of debate. By RAW, it doesn't appear to be, but it's one of those grey areas where lots of people are doing it and nobody really seems to mind. I think there was even a debate a couple of months ago about whether or not this should be changed in the upcoming version of the Guide to Organized Play.
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I believe the new PFS Guide will clarify this issue. As for the current guide ...
A GM who runs a module may likewise apply the
Chronicle sheet to one of her Pathfinder Society characters.
The GM must decide which of her characters will receive
the Chronicle sheet at the time when the module is
completed and the Chronicle sheets are filled out.
While this is specifically for modules and is not spelled out specifically for scenarios, I believe the intent is that the reporting/GM credit process work the same for both scenarios and modules.
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RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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Whether or not this second option is legal is a subject of debate. ..... I think there was even a debate a couple of months ago about whether or not this should be changed in the upcoming version of the Guide to Organized Play.
There was such a discussion, in which Mike Brock confirmed that the aforementioned practice was not (currently) legal but it was talked about that changing that fact might be worthwhile. I don't know the final decision, but I guess we'll all see in about a month.
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I don't believe the guide ever said a GM could hold chronicles (nless they did not have a PC that was "in tier"). All the text from all previous guides with GM credit assumed credit would be applied when the game was run or held until the PC reached the lowest sub-tier of the adventure.
There are two issues with holding GM Chronicles.
Unless the GM was the event coordinator and they updated their records, their online record would not reflect the PC that the chronicle was eventually assigned to.
The other issue is that by holding chronicles the GM could develop a PC that took advantage of only applying the chronicle at the high sub-tier which directly circumvents the clause about "playing down".
I don't think a GM should have to loose any chronicles they've been holding as long as they apply them in chronilogical order and make sure their online records are updated to show which PC got the chronicle.
Also, it's not about having to fill out all the paperwork after every game. It is just about making sure the chronicle is tied to a specific PC when the tracking sheet is filled out.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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I don't believe the guide ever said a GM could hold chronicles (nless they did not have a PC that was "in tier"). All the text from all previous guides with GM credit assumed credit would be applied when the game was run or held until the PC reached the lowest sub-tier of the adventure.
Previous editions of the Guide don't seem to consider a GM having more than one PC.
Unless the GM was the event coordinator and they updated their records, their online record would not reflect the PC that the chronicle was eventually assigned to.
Well, (1) that's not the end of the world; the GM would need to contact the event coordinator, or the campaign staff with directions as to how to amend the files. That happens infrequently, and is a low priority for the campaign staff to fix.
And (2) when we run several scenarios at a convention, we might be eligible for GM credit for several of them. (At a convention earlier this year, I ran First Steps 2 and 3 twice, and three other scenarios for the first time: a Tier 1-5, a Tier 3-7, and a Tier 7-11.) Assigning GM credit on-the-spot is tricky, and can require looking through my entire play history.
(I suppose I could have kept track, during convention prep the weeks before, that First Steps would go towards, ah, my 8th and 9th PCs, which I haven't even thought about yet, but then, if Todd invited me to play a new character through 1st level, I'd need to assign it ####-10, skipping those PCs with 2 points of First Steps credit already assigned...)
The other issue is that by holding chronicles the GM could develop a PC that took advantage of only applying the chronicle at the high sub-tier which directly circumvents the clause about "playing down".
That's worth talking about, Don.
Lets take a look at the two choices. GMs Alice and Bob both have 2nd-level PCs, and have both earned GM credit for running two Tier 3-7 scenarios.
Alice applies her GM credit to her PC immediately. When the character reaches 3rd level, it immediately gains access to the two Chronicles and their rewards. Alice plays the character through one more scenario and then levels her up again.
Bob holds on to his GM credits. When his character reaches 3rd level, he keeps playing him, without access to the experience, prestige, gold, or items found. He plays through six scenarios, and the PC is now 5th level. If Bob applies the experience now, the character still gets the rewards for subtier 3-4. Bob plays through three more scenarios, and now chooses to apply the two Chronicle sheets to the character, which now reaps the rewards for subtier 6-7.
That doesn't seem out of line to me, Don. Bob plays the character through the lower levels at a continual disadvantage compared to Alice. The benefits are modest and delayed.
And if Bob has a selection of PCs, he can do that anyway, continually assigning GM credit to characters who would currently sit in the higher subtier.
--+--+--
What are the advantages to a GM being able to hold credit and assign it later? I can think of two of them.
Flexibility -- I've seen several situations -- one just this month -- when a GM was able to apply credit to a PC in order to reach a tier and play the character legally. A fellow with a 3rd-level PC was able to apply two GM Chronicles, gain a level, and make the character legal for "Dawn of the Scarlet Sun". I see the same thing happen at conventions all the time.
It works the other way, as well. If a GM has to assign a Chronicle to his fifth-level rogue when he runs the game in January, he may not get a chance to play the character till March, at which time the Chronicles may have pushed the rogue out of consideration for a Tier 1-5 scenario he wanted to play. Sure, he can run a 4th-level pre-gen, but what's gained by making him do that?
Maybe my situation is weird, but I attended a convention intending to play a character in Slot 5, but when I get there, the VC in charge asked me if I could help out by running a game. If I had to apply that Chronicle to the PC as soon as I got it, I'd have leveled that character before playing him.
Having options makes the campaign run more smoothly.
Assurance of Credit -- So, let's say Alice applies her two GM Chronicle sheets (Tier 3-7) to her 2nd-level PC, and that character then dies before reaching 3rd level. Does she get to contact the event coordinator and re-assign the experience, or is it just lost to her? Can she re-run the scenarios for experience she can use? It sounds like the answer is "no", and that sucks.
One of the trade-offs of losing characters to death is that low-level characters are hard to raise, but there's not a lot of investment in them. By the time there is a lot of investment, the campaign allows for spells to bring a PC back from the dead. Except in this case. If Alice has to assign a dozen mid-tier and high-tier GM Chronicle sheets to her 2nd-level fighter, what happens if she loses the PC? How do we want to thank her for all her time GMing?
(This is a complicated point, I know. The people who advocate tying Chronicle sheets to PCs immediately could suggest that Alice spread the risk out, assigning some Chronicles to as-yet-unplayed characters. My point is that there's risk in the first place.)
--+--+--
Don, you write:
I don't think a GM should have to lose any chronicles they've been holding as long as they apply them in chronological order and make sure their online records are updated to show which PC got the chronicle.
That's my position, exactly.
Also, it's not about having to fill out all the paperwork after every game. It is just about making sure the chronicle is tied to a specific PC when the tracking sheet is filled out.
I don't understand, Don. The tracking sheets are filled out after every session. That's part of the paperwork, yes?
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Also, it's not about having to fill out all the paperwork after every game. It is just about making sure the chronicle is tied to a specific PC when the tracking sheet is filled out.I don't understand, Don. The tracking sheets are filled out after every session. That's part of the paperwork, yes?
I don't believe Don is referring to the tracking sheet, but the majority of the boxes on the chronicle instead.
If the GM PC is of an appropriate level to gain the GM chronicle immediately: Fill out the boxes as you can normally. Chronicle number, beginning & ending XP, beginning and ending PP & Fame, etc. Purchases can be held off on, as can items sold. No conditions, no day job, SOP for GM Chronicles.
If the GM PC is not yet at a level to gain the chronicle, you cannot fill in any of the player variable boxes, yet. Chronicle number? Not sure, since you won't know if there are module or scenario chronicles, along with holiday boon chronicles. Starting PP? Waaaaay too many variables. Same for starting Fame.