|
Most VTTs I have seen work fine with a so-so connection; they tend to function not unlike a specialized IM service with build-in dice rollers and maps than anything like an FPS client where you need a fast connection to avoid lag. I don't use any currently though, so my advice here is somewhat limited.
As mentioned, all PFS character start at Level 1, though as you play games you can level up and play in higher level games. If you haven't already, download the Pathfinder Society Guide to Organized Play. It should give you everything you need to get started. Note that a new revision of the guide is coming out in a week or so due to the start of a new Season(incidentally, new Seasons are an excellent time to get into PFS, because you can experience the metaplot better).
|
but all characters in PFS must be started at level 1.Blargh, ah well, I can still dream big. d-(^_~)z
THAT SAID, there are pre-generated characters you can play (which are level s 1, 4 and 7) in case you can only find a higher level game or have no characters in that particular game's level range. And you can then apply that credit to one of your own characters afterwards.
As for the VTT questions, these vary WILDLY. Some popular ones are Fantasy Grounds II and MapTools. But even so, I have heard of people playing Pathfinder over just Skype. The DM faces his camera to his physical table top and all other players around his table, and the virtaul player can see what is going on and participate.
Paizo itself recently announced their own VTT that will run ON the Paizo site. Although details of the tool are scarce still, looks like it will be 100% browser based so it should work on a mac.
As for what you need to know for PFS, the "document" or "FAQ" you need is located at http://paizo.com/products/btpy84k4 and it's a free download from paizo.
Cheers, and thanks for your service!
EDIT: All sorts of ninja'd
|
There are VTTs that work on Mac as well as Windows.
PFSOP, as Seth says, has charcaters start at level 1.
For VTT, the better the Internet connection, the better it will work. Dial-up won't work, for the most part. The main issue for how good a connection you need is based on the size of the map files the VTT uses. The bigger they are, the longer it will take to get them downloaded to your computer. I have been able to play on some VTTs using a laptop from 2001 and a G4 connection, but it sucked. YMMV.
I don't know of any FAQs specifically for PFS on VTTs, but there are a couple of online groups that do this very thing. The Pathfinder Society Online Collective, and the Pathfinder Society area on the Fantasy Grounds 2 website.
|
|
Dial-up is still around? (O_o)
Yes, it is, and, no, you don't want it. Unless you are on a cable connection in a high-tech neighborhood, in which case dial-up will be faster.
As to PFSOP, it only uses Paizo materials, no 3.5E stuff. If you go to the Pathfinder Society Logo, on the top left, and then click on the Additional Resources link under Player Resources, that will show you everything that is not from the Core rulebook that is legal for PFSOP.
Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant
|
Unfortunately, only Paizo products are allowed. I'd definitely suggest downloading and reading the Guide that several above linked to, as well as well as additional Resources. This will let you know what is and isn't legal for PFS.
|
|
Heya! So, I wanted to point out a few things about Pathfinder Society, just to clarify. It's actually fantastic for people who move around a lot and have variable schedules...we see a lot of military folks who play. The biggest thing about it is that it's a living campaign...and therefore has a lot of rules associated with it that normally you don't see. The big advantage of it is that you can take your character anywhere. You can play online on a VTT, play with friends at the base, play at a local game day at home or anywhere else, or go to a convention and play there. Every 3 games you play, your character gains a level. Some people don't like this analogy...but it's somewhat like a big MMO: you can log on from anywhere, and your character (or characters) level up as you go and retain all the same gear etc.
That's actually why there's all the rules...what you can buy, what resources you can use, etc. All "house rules" are instead campaign rules. You have to maintain fairness and equality between all game sessions everywhere in the world (or at least that's the idea). So, definitely no 3.5 stuff :-P
As Carlos mentioned, Paizo is planning on launching their own browser-based, cross platform VTT sometime soon. You might find callouts for players in the Grand Lodge section of the message boards.
Lastly, you said you were deployed, but mentioned Ft. Bragg. If you are ever in FT Bragg, I'm positive there's going to be PFS games in the area. To be honest, it's probably almost as easy to find a group of friends that you can play with in person. It doesn't matter that none of you have played society before (clearly you know 3.5), and unlike a normal campaign, no one is "stuck" being the GM.
|
|
You might also be interested in knowing that there are various play be email pfs groups around. Particularly good for a wonky schedule.
If, on the other hand, you can find enough (read: four to seven more) people in your unit who would enjoy playing, you can play Pathfinder Society there. It'd be a great way to kill four or five hours if you have it to spare.
Contributor
|
I've had a few buddies stationed over there (still on that odd half-hour time zone thing?) who are gamers, and play-by-post or by-email was something they were able to do since it usually amounted to 1-2 emails a day max.
A few of them also did game via internet chat programs - I don't know what sort of internet security there is out there, but that's another option if there are games there (and seeing as I'm going to be trying to run one of said online games in a few weeks once I move, I can send you more info then if you'd like).
In case I missed it and no one else said it - thank you for what you're doing over there, welcome to PFS, and stay frosty :)
|
|
My brother's in the Army (also at Fort Bragg, oddly enough), and PFS over a VTT has been a great way for us to play, since his schedule doesn't support a regular campaign.
We use Fantasy Grounds. The PFS board is here. We work out when a good time is, I make a recruitment post and get a full table. There's normally a couple of games a week. It's a bit slow at the moment because they had a big virtual convention a couple weeks ago.
I think you'd have to use a VM to run FG on a Mac. There's threads on the site on how to do it.