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I'm running Black Waters in a couple of weeks, and I have a question about the prestige awards.
The Guide to PFSOP says that scenarios with 2 faction missions allow one PP for each faction mission successfully completed. This scenario does have two faction missions for each faction.
Does that mean that the primary mission is unimportant for purposes of prestige? (I suppose there is some chance to fail to complete that)
Perhaps the thanks of VC Drandle Drenge is reward enough, even if it doesn't equate to faction prestige.
This is the first one I've run with dual faction missions, and I just want to make sure I have it straight so I can emphasize it to my players. It looks like it will be a little bit harder for everyone to earn full prestige on this one.
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The idea was that you gain prestige for completing missions for your faction and in return they returned the favors through prestige points. You gain the xp for the main mission and prestige awards for the faction missions. I was a little disappointed by the faction missions in this one however. I don't think your players will have much trouble at all getting full prestige.
There is a potential for you to wipe the party numerous times. Especially at tier 1-2. The giant water bug is very difficult for a party of level 1's. It's tactics don't help the situation either. If that wasn't bad enough, when the crazy guy finds the ghost of his daughter, the PCs get attacked by ghouls. If they have a cleric and he channels to harm, it hurts the ghost children and the insane guy color sprays as many people as possible every turn. 3 ghouls paralyzing everyone while a sorcerer color sprays every turn makes for a very deadly encounter. My players got extremely lucky when I ran it. I would consider warning your players that it can be quite difficult.
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... Does that mean that the primary mission is unimportant for purposes of prestige? ...
Basically, yes.
You can't award more than 2 PP. Rather than create a document that specifies which faction mission counts for all the scenarios with 2 faction missions per faction, PFS leadership decided it is just easier to ignore the scenario mission when awarding PP and use both faction missions for both PP.
Note: the process of earning PP is changing in mid-August.
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The idea was that you gain prestige for completing missions for your faction and in return they returned the favors through prestige points. You gain the xp for the main mission and prestige awards for the faction missions. I was a little disappointed by the faction missions in this one however. I don't think your players will have much trouble at all getting full prestige.
** spoiler omitted **
There are a few missions where, if the PCs don't have the requisite skill (or they don't act at the right time), they're going to be SOL. I guess that's not so different from other scenarios.
I also had to improvise for a 3.5 game mechanic that is done completely different in PFS.
tier 1-2: CR 2, 4 HP, effect silent image spell, duration concentration (or 4 rounds if not being manipulated by the sorcerer)
tier 4-5: CR 4, 8 HP, effect major image spell, duration concentration plus 3 rounds (or 8 rounds if not being manipulated by the sorcerer)
Basically there is a chance that the 1st channel energy doesn't neutralize the haunt, and at higher tier the higher CR is reflected by the addition of sound/temperature/smell effects and extended duration.
It doesn't mean a lot because the effect is not damaging, but the possible persistence of extra targets beyond the first channel attempt may add some confusion about who the PCs should attack - just as they would if the cleric failed a turning attempt against HD 3.
The ghouls (and ghasts) could definitely be tough if the PCs find themselves outnumbered and unable to even the odds prior to all of those attacks. I'm still trying to decide if I should go 3.5 here or PFS. Although the same CR, the PFS ghouls are tougher (better attack rolls, claw damage, fort save, paralysis DC). Similar for the ghasts, although I think PFS CR is 2 instead of 3 (lower HD & HP), which would mean I couldn't use those and maintain the listed CR.