RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32
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Sure, but this leads to an uber-uncomfortable version of the already-uncomfortable situation of the contested play up/play down decision. Who wants to outright say that they don't trust the GM?It's my understanding that if a GM is truly trustworthy, this shouldn't be a problem, because he'll be cool enough to broadcast what he's up to beforehand, the players who play under him will have a good idea of his style and the circumstances, and will all trust him to provide a good time. This sort of thing, obviously, works better for close-knit groups rather than public gamedays, and a truly-trustworthy GM would probably know that.
It would be nice to be able to adjust things for a close-knit setting without losing the sanctioned nature of the session.
-Matt
I personally know of at least one prolific GM that that thinks he is very trustworthy, but many of his players would disagree. Not naming names, of course, but the point is, it would lead to a number of really crushing blows to psyche or a lot of unnecessary PC deaths. How do you react to knowing that the table doesn't have confidence in you? How do you, as a GM, feel when you make a miscalculation? How do you, as a player, deal with the fact that you may have felt kinda bullied into allowing the GM to modify the scenario in a way that led to your character's permanent death?
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I personally know of at least one prolific GM that that thinks he is very trustworthy, but many of his players would disagree.
Well, if he's that bad, then why are players playing at his tables? Would they not have a better time playing under someone else?
Adapting scenarios to fit the table should be a group decision and a group effort, one which is not very suitable for public gamedays with assigned GMs. What's going on here is a social contract that everyone signs for the benefit of all involved. If it's treated as a group effort, and everyone understands and follows that, there really shouldn't be a problem. In other words, handle with care, and everyone will be happier.
-Matt
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32
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I personally know of at least one prolific GM that that thinks he is very trustworthy, but many of his players would disagree.Well, if he's that bad, then why are players playing at his tables? Would they not have a better time playing under someone else?
Adapting scenarios to fit the table should be a group decision and a group effort, one which is not very suitable for public gamedays with assigned GMs. In other words, handle with care, and everyone will be happier.
-Matt
Handle with care is another concept that doesn't go down well at local game days. Every newbie GM will be asking their table if they can make an adjustment and add the Terrasque to the game.
And as far as him being that bad...he's not really *bad*, but people have accused him of fudging against the players and towards PC death. People still play at his tables because there is a dearth of GMs in his region, and because he generally runs at least an interesting table.
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Handle with care is another concept that doesn't go down well at local game days. Every newbie GM will be asking their table if they can make an adjustment and add the Terrasque to the game.
That sounds a bit extreme, but you are correct. That's why adapting modules to fit a group, and the group trust required, isn't very suitable for local game days populated by "newbie GMs" who would even consider a Terrasque to be an appropriate adaptation.
-Matt
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RPG Superstar 2014 Top 32
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Handle with care is another concept that doesn't go down well at local game days. Every newbie GM will be asking their table if they can make an adjustment and add the Terrasque to the game.That sounds a bit extreme, but you are correct. That's why adapting modules to fit a group, and the group trust required, isn't very suitable for local game days populated by "newbie GMs" who even consider adding a Terrasque appropriate.
-Matt
Which is why you don't sanction it.
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Which is why you don't sanction it.
I was wondering when the "homegame suggestion" would come up.
There is already an assumption of sanctioning being made here, an assumption that everyone is looking to add a Chronicle to their pile at the end of the session. The homegame suggestion doesn't really fit, because we are not talking about homegames. If non-sanctioned play was at all appropriate for players and GMs who want a better experience, then there would be no problem with the constraints-as-written issue.
But it's not.
-Matt
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Just wanted to say I'm taking Brock's advice and bowing out of PFS Gming. I've shut down the event I run at my house (2 Tables weekly) and have let all my players know.
I'm also shutting down the event I was planning on running at SpoCon 2013.
Instead I'll be running Legacy of Fire adventure path.
Funny...my players don't seem to mind that much. They said PFS was kinda flat.
Now they are trying to convince me to let them run evil characters through the adventure path. Not sure how that would work, but anything is possible with imagination :) Cheerio!
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Just wanted to say I'm taking Brock's advice and bowing out of PFS Gming. I've shut down the event I run at my house (2 Tables weekly) and have let all my players know.
I'm also shutting down the event I was planning on running at SpoCon 2013.Instead I'll be running Legacy of Fire adventure path.
Funny...my players don't seem to mind that much. They said PFS was kinda flat.
Now they are trying to convince me to let them run evil characters through the adventure path. Not sure how that would work, but anything is possible with imagination :) Cheerio!
I personally, am glad to see that you are sticking with Pathfinder and Paizo products. PFS is not for everyone. Enjoy Pathfinder your way!
RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8
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Sorry to hear that Cole. I don't quite see where Mike was telling you to leave PFS, from what I read here it sounds more like he was asking for some workable suggestions on the current system. But I haven't been involved in this discussion.
I think that what might have been lost in a lot of the dialogue here is that PFS is still fun. Even though you aren't allowed to add extra NPCs or increase the reward in any given scenario, you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of PFS. It isn't, however, a replacement for a homebrew game in any way, shape, or form. So if, later down the road, you find you need an occasional game every now and then, you should look into PFS. It's easy, quick, and pretty straightforward. And because none of the GMs are allowed to "go off-script" and add a dragon to each fight, you can expect any game, anywhere, to be held to the same standard. At least, that's how I see it.
I have a lot of fun playing PFS, but I still have a weekly game of Rise of the Runelords, which is a different kind of fun.
Anyway, I'm planning to be at SpoCon with a half dozen or so volunteers to GM tables and spread the awesome that is PFS, so if you're going to be there feel free to come by and play at one of our tables. ;)
- Walter
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Come to think of it, I've seen someone nod off during a game as well. Day 3 of a con, so I'm guessing he'd had some late nights.
What is defined as a "late night" at a con? I know my nights at CotN aren't typically over until at least 2AM... and I am always up for the 8:00 AM game the next morning...
I will say that this isn't as easy as it once was, though... and if I didn't take the Monday off after the con, I would be useless at work.
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I'm also shutting down the event I was planning on running at SpoCon 2013.Another option is to do both. I play or run 5 different home campaigns outside of PFS. I wouldn't trade those games for anything.
At the same time, PFS exposes me to far more great gamers than any home game can. As a result, I run PFS for all comers every Sunday at my FLGS and every other week at a local library. When I go to conventions, I play PFS, since it exposes me to far more players than I'd meet offering to run a home-brew Pathfinder scenario at the con.
PFS play allows one to meet and greet perspective players and GM's before inviting them to join home games.
Totally agree with Will here. While I'm sorry to hear about one or more of you bowing out of PFS, I will tell you that I play PF multiple ways and enjoy each one for what it brings to the table. I have two weekly APs, two Pbp's and one to two PFS deals each week (yeah, I stay busy). You don't have to go OCD like me...but if you wanna run an AP, there's no reason you can't run/join an PFS once/month and/or attend the concs to meet new players and the such. APs and home groups are fun, and I won't give them up...but so is playing PF in a convention setting with new people I'm just meeting for the firs time. Because PFS doesn't require a commitment level like an AP does, you can have your cake and eat it too :)
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Cripes, when do you sleep? Or eat? Or breathe?I play or run 5 different home campaigns outside of PFS.
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I run PFS for all comers every Sunday at my FLGS and every other week at a local library.heck, I've seen people do all three of those at a game.
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Now bath?... as in shower? /not at my table!
He'd just be roleplaying Grandmaster Torch at that point.
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He'd just be roleplaying Grandmaster Torch at that point.Cripes, when do you sleep? Or eat? Or breathe?I play or run 5 different home campaigns outside of PFS.
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I run PFS for all comers every Sunday at my FLGS and every other week at a local library.heck, I've seen people do all three of those at a game.
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Now bath?... as in shower? /not at my table!
Yeah, with Shadow Lodge gone NPC in Season 5, maybe we'll have less ... face time with Grandmaster Torch to deal with.
One of the downsides of running Silent Tide...
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I had a good time when I played The Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch with Munny... my Shadow Lodge Gunslinger...
He was a little "disappointed" when the Grandmaster didn't recognize him... but since he was on a "cover mission", working for the Chelish faction, he figured that GT couldn't blow his cover :P
After all, as he sees it, the reason he'd done so many Chelish missions is that the Paracountess "takes advantage of" Pathfinders... just perhaps not in the way that the Shadow Lodge typically cares about. Of course, perhaps Grandmaster Torch is getting cheap thrills out of the full reports :P
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I had a good time when I played The Many Fortunes of Grandmaster Torch with Munny... my Shadow Lodge Gunslinger...
He was a little "disappointed" when the Grandmaster didn't recognize him... but since he was on a "cover mission", working for the Chelish faction, he figured that GT couldn't blow his cover :P
After all, as he sees it, the reason he'd done so many Chelish missions is that the Paracountess "takes advantage of" Pathfinders... just perhaps not in the way that the Shadow Lodge typically cares about. Of course, perhaps Grandmaster Torch is getting cheap thrills out of the full reports :P
well, I'm not one to talk, but giving a post mission report to both the Paracountess and Torchy can be lots of fun! Though normally, that sort of thing costs extra...(wink).