Can pregens be used by walk-ins for PACG?

[Alaera]

Hi,

I help my husband coordinate PFS events for our location and the store we use is a fairly busy location for PFS. We often have walk-ins who show up to see what PFS is like. We are now wanting to start the PACG as an extra table on some of our regular nights.

Can a player who has no expectation of the game and has not bought a deck be able to borrow my second deck for the first game? It sounds like players can borrow other players' decks when Taking One for the Team, but what if they don't have a deck at all?

Can they use a pregen from the Base Set? I'm assuming that's a no, since it sounds like pregens from the Base Set are only allowed for the demo and On the Horizon and not for any of the full scenarios.

Or do they need to pay the $20 for a deck before they've even tried the game? I realize the demo is available for new players and I am going to try to run that regularly, but I'd hate to turn someone away from a first game when they want to try it before committing to a Class Deck. Also, I know the rules say a Class Deck is required, but for PFS it is permissible to use a pregen when a character hasn't been created yet.

I'd love some clarification so I can make the event as inviting as possible (though the store has also been forewarned to have some decks on hand). Thank you.

[Theryon Stormrune]

Hi Alaera and welcome.

First, for a PFS ACG event, you can't use a pregen from the base set. Figured I'd say that up front.

In the guide, there are a list of pre-gen characters and deck lists available to help you organize things. (Wasn't sure what your second deck is.)

If someone doesn't have a deck to start out with and wants to try the game before buying one, I usually lend them one and at the end give them a chronicle sheet with a note for a free card upgrade (like the demo or mini-scenario would give). Hopefully there is a spare class deck(s) for them to use.

There aren't any real rules how to introduce new players to the game during the PFS ACG season. But if you allow them the same bonus as the demo would give them it seems fair. Then you can work on catching them up to the group.

If you are starting fresh, I've allowed the new player the reward that the scenario provided and the next time they sit down with their own class deck, they can add the feat or pick a random card based on the reward they earned.

Does this help?

(I've also felt that I didn't want to tell someone that they had to purchase a $20 deck that they couldn't see beforehand. That's why I have a spare set of class decks for them to try. But that gets expensive to do.)

[Alaera]

Thank you. I think that answers my questions. I currently have a Bard deck and my husband has a Cleric deck, but it is unlikely that we will play the PFS ACG at the same time, so we will generally have one extra deck to loan for first-timers.