dealing with traps in pfs

[Hogeyhead]

I recently GMd a game of PFS in which the PCs had the opportunity to prepare for a fight. Great that kind of fight is always interesting. The problem was they filled the floor with bear traps (Not well hidden even) caltrops, marbles and trip wires. The preparation took forever and the fight itself was a nightmare. I must admit I got quite irritated by the end.

The tactic was effective, yes, but it was also a huge time waster both before and during the fight.

I don't doubt that given a similar opportunity the party will be lead by the same player to do the same thing. No problem in a home game, but a big problem in time limited PFS.

What can I do to speed this up beyond banning traps (which while in a way I'd like to as I found it incredibly annoying I won't as that's supposed to be a valid option)?

[Vod Canockers]

Have the monsters show up while they are setting up the traps.

[Thalin]

The answer is almost always "let them have their fun" and try to deal with it. It's a rare opportunity, as you said; and if the PCs have all of that packed and that sort of inguinity it's your job as a GM to reward them with monsters that are hit by their assorted traps. It may be a nightmare, but hopefully one that rarely happens.

If it's a regular group and this starts becoming standard tactics, ask them OOC to limit the number and types of traps to keep flow going. If they are resistant, remind them that, as a PFS GM, you're entitled to end the game after 5 hours of play.

[Drachasor]

You could figure out what the average results on the traps would be, and just do that.

So if a guy has a 50% chance of taking damage on a trap, then he just takes 50% of the damage. How much damage? The average damage of whatever would be rolled. Skip the save roll, skip the damage roll. If skipping the save is too tricky, then just skip the damage roll or whatever later effects would happen -- assume average results.

Not much you can do about the initial setup. Just have to deal with it, I think.

Edit: An alternative is to start rolling up a list of saves for the enemies while the PCs are setting things up. Writing down the d20+Modifier for each enemy group and making a dozen saves or so each can save a lot of time. You could even do the same with damage.