Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator
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For those of you who report your sessions in our data system, you will notice a small addition. There is a now a box that allows the coordinator to check whether the mission was successfully completed or not.
It was just implemented. For a long while, people have been asking for their actions to help change the direction of the campaign. Not only does it allow us to track how successfully scenarios are being completed, but it also allows us to change the plots and campaign info.
Spoiler about #4-11: The Dissappeared and #4-13: Fortress of the Nail:
It is very likely that in the future, you will see more than one check box for whether different goals and objectives were met in a scenario. But, this is our initial trial so we learn as we go.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
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I'll lean out the window and take the wild guess that the vaaast majority of scenarios gets finished successfully. So is this the first step of allowing player choice to have an influence? Like, further down the line, having scenarios with two different, "successful" outcomes that might change the story without people having to fail at their missions a LOT? :)
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Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator
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| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I'll lean out the window and take the wild guess that the vaaast majority of scenarios gets finished successfully. So is this the first step of allowing player choice to have an influence? Like, further down the line, having scenarios with two different, "successful" outcomes that might change the story without people having to fail at their missions a LOT? :)
Maybe........... ;-)
Venture-Captain, Alabama—Birmingham
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I'll lean out the window and take the wild guess that the vaaast majority of scenarios gets finished successfully.
Is there any chance this could default to already being checked, or word it as a "mission failed" box? Failures are rare enough you would think to look for options while the 90% of successes just leads to misreporting when someone forgets to hit the box.
Imagine the chaos if our "character died" box was "character survived" instead.
Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
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This is an excellent new tool. The PFS Team is to be congratulated.
Its significant because it provides a means to point to action and consequence, which makes choices meaningful.
You could have even set it up in a situation where HOW a mission was completed is also measured. So that you have non-binary responses measured.
For example, did the villain escape? Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them, or did they beat the information out of the NPC?
Once the system is tested, these sorts of questions can be posed as well as the mission success or failure.
Well done!
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Pathfinder Society Campaign Coordinator
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| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This is an excellent new tool. The PFS Team is to be congratulated.
Its significant because it provides a means to point to action and consequence, which makes choices meaningful.
You could have even set it up in a situation where HOW a mission was completed is also measured. So that you have non-binary responses measured.
For example, did the villain escape? Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them, or did they beat the information out of the NPC?
Once the system is tested, these sorts of questions can be posed as well as the mission success or failure.
Well done!
Eventually, this is what I want. Using your example above, there would be boxes A, B, C, and D on the data entry system, advising to check it when a condition was met during play.
In the back of scenario, it would list the following in the conclusion section:
A) Did the Villian escape? Check box A when reporting if the Villian escaped. Leave unchecked if the PCs captured the Villian.
B) Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them? Check box B if the PCs convinced the NPC to help them through bluff, diplomacy, or intimidate.
C) Did the PCs receive the information from the NPC by beating the info out of him? Check box C if the PCs beat the hell out of the NPC and obtained the info.
D) There is no option D in this scenario. Leave box D unchecked when reporting this scenario.
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This is an excellent new tool. The PFS Team is to be congratulated.
Its significant because it provides a means to point to action and consequence, which makes choices meaningful.
You could have even set it up in a situation where HOW a mission was completed is also measured. So that you have non-binary responses measured.
For example, did the villain escape? Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them, or did they beat the information out of the NPC?
Once the system is tested, these sorts of questions can be posed as well as the mission success or failure.
Well done!
Eventually, this is what I want. Using your example above, there would be boxes A, B, C, and D on the data entry system, advising to check it when a condition was met during play.
In the back of scenario, it would list the following in the conclusion section:
A) Did the Villian escape? Check box A when reporting if the Villian escaped. Leave unchecked if the PCs captured the Villian.
B) Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them? Check box B if the PCs convinced the NPC to help them through bluff, diplomacy, or intimidate.
C) Did the PCs receive the information from the NPC by beating the info out of him? Check box C if the PCs beat the hell out of the NPC and obtained the info.
D) There is no option D in this scenario. Leave box D unchecked when reporting this scenario.
<3
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Eventually, this is what I want. Using your example above, there would be boxes A, B, C, and D on the data entry system, advising to check it when a condition was met during play.
In the back of scenario, it would list the following in the conclusion section:
A) Did the Villian escape? Check box A when reporting if the Villian escaped. Leave unchecked if the PCs captured the Villian.
B) Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them? Check box B if the PCs convinced the NPC to help them through bluff, diplomacy, or intimidate.
C) Did the PCs receive the information from the NPC by beating the info out of him? Check box C if the PCs beat the hell out of the NPC and obtained the info.
D) There is no option D in this scenario. Leave box D unchecked when reporting this scenario.
This is wonderful news! While we're on the subject of the event database, it would be helpful to expose the event listings and reporting via web service calls. We are trying to setup the Oregon PFS web site and I want to have only one place to enter event info.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2010 Top 4
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Nice!
Will this eventually include the results of faction missions or is that already in the works? I would love it if I knew, or believed, the success or failure of my faction missions would have an impact on future scenarios.
It would certainly make for interesting monthly blog entries. I foresee wanting to allow a scenario to go for a couple months to allow for the collection of a fair number of responses. Because, you know, it takes a little while for scenarios to be prepped, ran, and reported-and you want data that is representative.
This may encourage prompt reporting as a side effect. So groups can actively participate in future events.
Then collect that data, adjust upcoming scenario outlines as they're being given to authors, and then writing a "state of the Society" blog entry to offer non-spoiler insights on how the Season is evolving as a result the mission outcomes. In a way the data would be used in two ways; for new outlines to authors, and to provide fun background for everyone.
As the scenario matures, if the trends change, any shift can also be considered.
One might even be able to include a sidebar that explains how the circumstance of one scenario arose out of a previous one, which the GM could share with the players at the conclusion of the session from an out of character perspective. This would ensure that everyone is included in the grander story, in and out of character.
I love it!
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Fortress of the Nail is going to be a 5-9.
Since my region is pretty new, I doubt my players will reach level 5 in time to participate in this while results still matter.
The way to go, then, would be to offer them to play it with a group of level-7 pregens, playing down to subtier 5-6, and saving the chronicles until their real characters reach level 5, right?
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Fortress of the Nail is going to be a 5-9.
Since my region is pretty new, I doubt my players will reach level 5 in time to participate in this while results still matter.
The way to go, then, would be to offer them to play it with a group of level-7 pregens, playing down to subtier 5-6, and saving the chronicles until their real characters reach level 5, right?
(Rules answer: You save credit until it reaches the level of the pregen, so they would have to be level 7 before they can apply it)
If you want to influence the campaign...you can use pregens. However, I think it's a lot more fun to play scenarios with your own characters than a whole party of pregens. I mean, party of pregens is kind of...meh.
I personally would prefer to just not participate and play the scenario properly with an appropriately leveled character, but that's my opinion. Ask your players what they think.
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Thanks for the info!
I will ask them, of course. But if they'd rather play pregens than miss the time window for "being a part of it", then I'll run it for pregens.
My most active players just hit level 3 after the game today, and there will be only one level 3 scenario in January. They'll actually start new level 1s so they can play more than once in January, and I highly doubt that their "mains" will hit 5 fast enough for them to participate while the results still count.
Basically, we'd have to run a full module and 2 scenarios for their mains in February. Not going to happen. (Unless the reporting period is substantially larger than I think it'll be)
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OMG! That rocks good sir!
Of course with the running joke here in Denver about the VC reminding most of the lodge like the NPC in question.....
Seriously this is something I can really get behind as is makes it feel like a very large home game and not just a bunch of somewhat related modules that don't mean any thing.
Owner - Enchanted Grounds, President/Owner - Enchanted Grounds
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In the back of scenario, it would list the following in the conclusion section:
A) Did the Villian escape? Check box A when reporting if the Villian escaped. Leave unchecked if the PCs captured the Villian.
B) Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them? Check box B if the PCs convinced the NPC to help them through bluff, diplomacy, or intimidate.
C) Did the PCs receive the information from the NPC by beating the info out of him? Check box C if the PCs beat the hell out of the NPC and obtained the info.
D) There is no option D in this scenario. Leave box D unchecked when reporting this scenario.
I'm extremely excited by this. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what kind of impact it will have.
Excellent job moving PFS forward once again, Mike.
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In the back of scenario, it would list the following in the conclusion section:A) Did the Villian escape? Check box A when reporting if the Villian escaped. Leave unchecked if the PCs captured the Villian.
B) Did the PCs convince an NPC to help them? Check box B if the PCs convinced the NPC to help them through bluff, diplomacy, or intimidate.
C) Did the PCs receive the information from the NPC by beating the info out of him? Check box C if the PCs beat the hell out of the NPC and obtained the info.
D) There is no option D in this scenario. Leave box D unchecked when reporting this scenario.
I am so excited about this change; thank you so much! I know it's a ways off, but I love the idea of multiple boxes.
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My region has its major local convention the last weekend of February. I've asked local coordinators to hold off on running the newer season 4 scenarios until March so we can premiere 4-09 and up at TotalCon.
Will you need results before March? Should I reverse my request so that southeast New England is counted in the results?
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor
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Eventually, this is what I want. Using your example above, there would be boxes A, B, C, and D on the data entry system, advising to check it when a condition was met during play.
Maybe this could be part of the digital chronicle effort where we can just sign in and do the reporting and generate digital chronicles that get emailed to the players...
I would rather see a simplified, faster reporting method than adding a bunch of details we have to wade through at the end of a session.
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Amazing news!
For the the mini cherry on top of the regular cherry on top of the sundae of awesomeness that is this new way of adventure reporting...
...I would recommend grouping the outcomes by region instead of regarding each table. That way, regions with fewer players have the same power to influence the story line as the big ones like California.
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Eventually, this is what I want. Using your example above, there would be boxes A, B, C, and D on the data entry system, advising to check it when a condition was met during play.Maybe this could be part of the digital chronicle effort where we can just sign in and do the reporting and generate digital chronicles that get emailed to the players...
I would rather see a simplified, faster reporting method than adding a bunch of details we have to wade through at the end of a session.
I like where your head is at.
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| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I like where your head is at.Eventually, this is what I want. Using your example above, there would be boxes A, B, C, and D on the data entry system, advising to check it when a condition was met during play.Maybe this could be part of the digital chronicle effort where we can just sign in and do the reporting and generate digital chronicles that get emailed to the players...
I would rather see a simplified, faster reporting method than adding a bunch of details we have to wade through at the end of a session.
I dont know that I like the idea of electronic chronicles in place of the paper ones being distriubted. I wont go so far as to say I think it's a bad idea, but it would need some good way of implementning it, otherwise how would you handle someone who needs the chronicle in the middle of a con or multi-slot game day because they need to level up and buy ome gear.
Sure, the organizer could just bring a printer to print them out, but then why not just have them all printed beforehand like we do now?
I'd like to see the option out there, I think, but not that it becomes the default method or a required method. :/
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RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16, Contributor
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I dont know that I like the idea of electronic chronicles in place of the paper ones being distriubted. I wont go so far as to say I think it's a bad idea, but it would need some good way of implementning it, otherwise how would you handle someone who needs the chronicle in the middle of a con or multi-slot game day because they need to level up and buy ome gear.
Sure, the organizer could just bring a printer to print them out, but then why not just have them all printed beforehand like we do now?
I'd like to see the option out there, I think, but not that it becomes the default method or a required method. :/
Most games take place in locations where there are limited time slots and all that paperwork cuts into the time it takes to game. Then the GM has to go home, sign into Paizo, and do more paperwork. If there were a nice mobile friendly check-in page where you could report this stuff, it would eliminate all that repetitive BS. All those pointless paper chronicles and paper reporting sheets which get lost, would be done. Reporting would be more accurate and timely. It also gives players a single place where they can keep track of their character and eliminate stupid math errors and 'forgotten' conditions gained.
For the gamers who don't have smartphones, tablets, or laptops (we're mostly geeks aren't we? how many is that?), GMs can hand out paper chronicles.
(The idea of reporting getting more complicated is about as appealing as getting stabbed with a fork. No thanks)
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For the gamers who don't have smartphones, tablets, or laptops (we're mostly geeks aren't we? how many is that?), GMs can hand out paper chronicles.
I have anywhere from 5-10 players on any given game day who are between the ages of 10-13. None of them have smart phones from what Ive seen; I think only 3 of them have any kind of cellphone. None have laptops or tablets. So now I need to input all that info and then go through and still fill out their chronicles. Fantastic idea.
(The idea of reporting getting more complicated is about as appealing as getting stabbed with a fork. No thanks)
Filling out a ton more info online and then giving out paper chronicles to those who need them is:
A) More work than what we do now.
B) More likely to allow players to try to fraud the system by claiming that they dont use the paper chronicles, and they have all the data online, but their battery died so they cant show you the chronicle.
C) More likely that someone who is coming in for the first time wont be able to get a paper chronicle, because the GM is used to everyone who plays having the online capabilities he or she does.
D) A serious amount of effort for the Paizo web team to have to implement a system built to allow for just e-chronicles and every possible function they can do and every option a player can do with them (meaning eash and every single different piece of equipment will have to be programmed separately).
E) More likely to cause situations where the website is down and therefore you cant check anything about your character's records at all, because all you have are e-chronicles.
Anyone else wanna add to the list?
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I do a bit of Online gaming through IRC with people from other countries. When it comes time to distribute Chronicle sheets for each player I get to pull the chronicle sheet from the PDF, put all relevant information in the boxs, and then send each of them an email with their chronicle sheets. Usually takes about 4-5 minutes per player. I would love the option where it would automatically send an email to all the players with a chronicle sheet in it. Would save me 20-30 minutes.