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Let's use this new forum as a centralized place to discuss how the new rules for Season 5 will affect Online Play as a unique venue.
The first thing that jumps out at me is item purchases, something that has traditionally only been loosely enforced. It is my understanding that the new rules indicate that a GM needs to initial every item purchase on the chronicle sheet, checking item access (PFS legal, Fame, Chronicle Sheet) and accounting before allowing the player to acquire the item.
Doing this prior to online games (particularly VTT games) can be time consuming, so here's the method I'm experimenting with in the leadup to GenCon. I'd love anyone's input/criticism/advice/hilarious jokes on the subject.
Pregame- Send e-mail to players requesting the normal character info (things the player would normally fill out on the info card at a face-to-face game). In this e-mail ask the players if there are any items they would like to purchase pregame to represent items acquired between missions, also ask players for proof of access. Note results off to the side for addition to chronicle sheet at the end of the game.
During game- If the scenario allows for shopping after the mission briefing, give players another chance to purchase items. Check access requirements on the fly, try to do this quickly. Note results off to the side for addition to chronicle sheet at the end of the game.
Post game- Ask players again for purchases. Check access requirements. Again, try to do quickly so as not to keep other players waiting for chronicle sheets. Complete chronicle sheet with information given by players.
Anyone got ideas on a faster way to do this, or other thoughts on new rules that might affect the online play experience?
Regional Venture-Coordinator, Online
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I don't see anything indicating the tracking sheet needs to be initialed.
The tracking sheet is all player-side. We'd treat it the same way we treat regular character sheets.
From Mike Brock: "Since there isn't a GM initial box on the Inventory Tracking Form, the GM should initial to the left of the entry line."
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2q11t&page=2?Inventory-Tracking-Sheet#75
And
"Take the 30 seconds per sheet to initial beside each purchase. That would be a max of 3 minutes. The player should be responsible to have the pages of the book he is purchasing a magic item from open, so the GM can check the gold piece cost if he or she needs to."
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2q11t&page=2?Inventory-Tracking-Sheet#77
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Hang about, that's not three minutes.
That's arranging for players to print and fill, scan and send, for me to print and fill, then scan and send - and for up to seven people - possibly delaying a game by days until the admin is all in order.
Yeah... no.
This stuff is a players responsibility to be able to produce, I'm not that keen on spending my discretionary time playing Accounting Society Online.
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It does seem to be a bit overkill. While a certain amount of redundancy redundancy can certainly provide for checks and balances there comes a point where it interferes with enjoying the game itself.
Additionally in an organized play system where anyone can be a GM...one could certainly argue that there is always a GM present when we fill out our sheets.
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From my understanding (and from following the GM Sign off Thread on the forums), the GM only needs to sign off on the Chronicle Sheet, which should include any newly purchased items. The inventory tracking sheet is just to keep track of what has been purchased - and to make it easier to locate where items came from should the need arise.
Also, only items costing 25 gp or higher need to be noted. So items costing less, such as Acid, Sunrod, Alchemist's Fire, etc., won't fall into this category.
Now, back to the OP; what I've started doing as of late is much as you suggested. Before the game begins, I ask for a list of purchases - which I will then note on their Chronicle Sheet. During the game, if purchases are made, I usually won't verify access at that exact moment. This is usually because these are small consumable items, such as acid or holy water. After the game, if any additional purchases are requested, I'll take care of those at that moment.
Now, I do all of this electronically, having pre-scanned in the Chronicle Sheet as an image file and applied all of the necessary and standard information (such as Event, Signatures, character name, PFS #, etc). That way, I can have one Chronicle Sheet open for each player, and make necessary notes/updates as I go. Then, at the end of the game, that only requires me to save and send the CS on, as it's already up-to-date. No multiple scans and sends, unless I made a mistake.
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Hey, I've got a question regarding the changes. I'm in a PBP that just started. We're a group of 6 with an APL of 2 (under "old" rules add +1 to get 3) and we're playing "down" in a season 3 scenario.
Under the new rules, would we have an APL of 2 and play at subtier 1-2, or would it be APL 3 and play up due to a party of six?
Can we apply the newer rules to our game, even though it already started? I've got a level 3 in there and I'd love to get the out-of-subtier gold reward, but not if it's going to mess up things by making us play up - we have a couple brand-new level 1's in with us.
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thejeff is correct in his analysis of APL.
I will say though, any PbP game that has started prior to Aug. 14th will still be bound by the old rules.
I thought there was a deadline that games had to be finished by? End of September, maybe?
Is that wrong?
The end of September deadline is only for:
- First Steps, Part II- First Steps, Part III
- Eligibility of faction switching boon on Severing Ties
- Eligibility of faction switching boon on Way of the Kirin
