I'm very new to PFS, and PFS is basically my only tabletop RPG experience. I played my second module a few days ago, and I was playing with a group of 3 others who were playing for the first time. We were playing First Steps Part 2, so beware of spoilers.
Here's what happened:
We came across a certain item that seemed like a certain NPC would want, and when we were returning at the end of our adventure we discussed a bit which NPC we should give this item to, or should we give it to them at all. I pushed for giving it to an NPC that I thought would maybe give us a bigger reward, and the rest of the group ended up agreeing.
So we get our Chronicle Sheets...not only did we not get an extra reward for handing this item over, but the item ended up being on the Chronicle Sheet and the GM had to scratch it out because we had chosen not to keep it.
I felt really bad since I had been the one to push for handing the item over because, as I had explained to the group that was even newer than me, "We can't carry the item over anyway because of how Chronicle sheets work."
So for the future, is there a good way to know when an item falls in to this category, that it should be held on to because it will appear on the Chronicle Sheet? Or is there ever an "expanded reward" to be gained on a Chronicle Sheet by handing over an item like that? If not, I guess the answer is always "When in doubt, hold on to the extra item."
Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber
The things that are recorded on your chronicle sheets are not necessarily positive things. Some are good things and others may cause penalties to be assessed in future scenarios. The effect of that item is still to be determined, and it may or may not be a good thing to have.
That said, the amount of money and items you find in the scenario is not changed either way. It's just a way to record how your story plays out.
The things that are recorded on your chronicle sheets are not necessarily positive things. Some are good things and others may cause penalties to be assessed in future scenarios. The effect of that item is still to be determined, and it may or may not be a good thing to have.
That said, the amount of money and items you find in the scenario is not changed either way. It's just a way to record how your story plays out.
Oh, I didn't know that - and I had no idea the outcome could be negative - I assumed the item would always end up being a potential reward I would miss out on in the future or something. If I just think of them as plot items rather than "wealth" items it will help me not worry about it so much. :)
If you role play your character rather than attempt to game the system, this situation never comes up. If seeking the highest reward was role play, then be happy that you made a character appropriate decision. In real life, sometimes we make the best decision we can and it still doesn't work the way we expect. Same idea here.
On the other hand, if the discussion took place at a table I was running, I'd correct the mistaken understanding regarding how chronicle sheets work in a way that didn't imply that was necessarily the case here.
So for the future, is there a good way to know when an item falls in to this category, that it should be held on to because it will appear on the Chronicle Sheet? Or is there ever an "expanded reward" to be gained on a Chronicle Sheet by handing over an item like that? If not, I guess the answer is always "When in doubt, hold on to the extra item."
Any advice for a newbie regarding this topic?
In the future, those little side quests/favors will be your faction missions. You will get prestige points for completing them, and prestige points are useful. First Steps is unique for PFS scenarios since the PCs don't have factions, and therefore don't have faction missions during them. Actually, the different missions given by the different faction heads are meant as examples of what faction missions are like, to help you choose your faction.
So it's generally a good idea to be a good little pathfinder and hand in what you were told to fetch. It pays off far more often than not.
As for your specific instance:
To Delve the Dungeon Deep spoilers:
In order to get the boon on your chronicle sheet, you have to find and keep the trade agreement hidden inside of the katana. You can turn the katana in, but two of the faction heads will really try to convince you to turn in the trade agreement as well.
You can find the trade agreement inside the katana if
1.) You inspect it and succeed at a DC 25 perception check.
or 2.) You go to Trade Prince Aaqir al’Hakam before you talk to Amara Li. He will ask about the Katana, show you what's inside, then try to talk you out of keeping it.
Amara Li won't show it to you, she'll just take the trade agreement and keep mum. So if you go to her first, you don't even get a shot at #2. #1 is a very hard skill check, even for PCs that specialize in perception.
If you role play your character rather than attempt to game the system, this situation never comes up. If seeking the highest reward was role play, then be happy that you made a character appropriate decision. In real life, sometimes we make the best decision we can and it still doesn't work the way we expect. Same idea here.
I see what you're saying - I'll just need your patience in that regard since as I said I'm very new to roleplaying. :)
Also for the record, you may want some spoiler tags in your opening post if you still have time to edit.
Contents of chronicle sheets are deemed spoilers generally, when posting in the general PFS boards. In the GM boards it is usually ok.
On topic: the specific boon you are referring to is EXTREMELY hard to get without metagaming so don't feel bad. As others have said, do what your character would do. Very significant boons in sheets are hard to miss, and boons easy to miss are usually situationally useful.
And like others have said, not always are boons beneficial, so it's better to not worry about it, do what you were going to do anyway and roleplay your character's feelings about items. That's part of the fun anyway.
So for the future, is there a good way to know when an item falls in to this category, that it should be held on to because it will appear on the Chronicle Sheet? Or is there ever an "expanded reward" to be gained on a Chronicle Sheet by handing over an item like that? If not, I guess the answer is always "When in doubt, hold on to the extra item."
Any advice for a newbie regarding this topic?
In the future, those little side quests/favors will be your faction missions. You will get prestige points for completing them, and prestige points are useful. First Steps is unique for PFS scenarios since the PCs don't have factions, and therefore don't have faction missions during them. Actually, the different missions given by the different faction heads are meant as examples of what faction missions are like, to help you choose your faction.
So it's generally a good idea to be a good little pathfinder and hand in what you were told to fetch. It pays off far more often than not.
As for your specific instance:
** spoiler omitted **
Here's how it went down for our group:
We were really close to getting the boon - a player had managed to pass the perception check first. We went to the trade guy (forgot name) first who showed us the compartment and was surprised to find the paper wasn't there, but then let us go without much other fuss. Then we went to Amara Li, who we heard click the compartment while she had her back to us, and I went ahead and gave her the agreement thinking it belonged to her family along with the sword. I was trying to do the right thing but ended up not getting the boon. :P
