Understanding PF Online play?

[SpiritWolfFenris]

Evening and salutations to the pathfinder community! So, as a sad realization that my local community for PFS is dying down, I was trying to find other ways to entertain myself with my vast array of need to play. <.<

From what I've gathered, Pbp is a manner of being able to keep your character active by posting daily (at least) for however long the game takes (be it 1-3months @_@).

Seems a bit long, but I can understand why. Now for the some things I'm trying to figure out.

How does this work towards like PFS credit? Do you get a printable sheet for it or something similar? How about for scenarios that offer you special boons? Is there a way to prove you have these for use in an off-the-internet game?

I believe I also read that if a character is INSIDE a game, that character cannot be used elsewhere until its completed? I'm assuming that's for the whole exp/bonus/etc doesn't get messed up.

What if you want to play multiple games with multiple characters and/or GM scenarios at the same time? Is there an issue with that, even if everything is kept up with and in order?

What happens if you're in the middle of playing a scenario online, but say, your local area ends up doing it too? Since, I believe you only get credit for finishing, you only end up with the credit you finished and the one online without credit? and how would this affect the current game the online character was locked into? Continue finishing it, then just mention that one couldn't get credit for it? (given this would not have been completed on the same character that is currently already locked into a game, but with a different one).

For Dice rolls, I'm guessing that's based off a mutual trust system? Or do people use programs for someone to keep track of?

Since playing online, do people expect more of a standard when creating characters, or does it not matter? I make pretty unorthodox'd combinations which is why I ask.

Hrm... Well, I think, for the moment, that covers the majority of what I'm concerned about. If anything else pops into my head, I'll be sure to ask away, but hoping, I can try to have fun with this and bring in some friends who don't live local. =D

Thanks for your time and patience.

[Keht]

Well, good news for you! PbP is NOT the only way to play online. You can also play by VTT (Virtual Table Top)... A VTT allows you to play PFS on the internet just like you would at your local game store save for the Touch and Smell (which is probably a good thing, unless your game store is also a bakery, then I guess smell would be ok)... Generally you play with a VTT (maps, tokens, dice) and a communication client (google hangout, skype, teamspeak). Truly there is little difference from an online game and in person game with the technology today.

To your other questions. Everyone online works the same way as offline but with a different medium. You get PFS credit by completing the scenario. Once the scenario (either a few months with a PbP or a few hours with a VTT) is completed your GM will give you a chronicle. This chronicle is applied to your character and that character can be used anywhere (online or offline). The chonicle is your “proof” that you completed the scenario.

Yes, if you have a character in a particular game you cannot use that character anywhere else. If you decide to play a PbP game you will need to dedicate a character to that game for the duration of adventure. You can play as many scenario's or run as many scenarios as you want, but characters can only be in one place at a time. You will need to create multiple characters if you want to play in multiple games consecutively.

If you start a session online (again assuming your talking solely about PbP) you cannot play it offline. This would be repeating scenarios and generally you are not allowed to do this. The only time you can replay scenarios is if they are Tier 1 (Level 1) or you using GM star credit to replay. Regardless you can not receive credit for a scenario more than once on a single character.

Not sure on dice rolls for PbP... there are apps on the internet that will allow you to roll and they are stored somewhere. The paizo forms may have a dice roller built in as well. VTT's have dice features built in and they are rolled live just like you would at the game store.

You should play whatever character you like. Ignore people that would have a problem with your character. The worse thing that could ever happen is that you make a weak build which results in your death or your party member's death. But rest assured, this is fake death and you will suffer no real life negativity. If you die, make a new character and move on.

Some links for you to look at for VTT. I am sure the PbP guys will chime in here to tell you about what they do.

https://pathfindersocietyonline.com/
http://v1.warhorn.net/iron-helixx-pfs/
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/pathfinder-society-online-collectiv e

Good luck, feel free to reply if you have more questions.

Keht

[SpiritWolfFenris]

Thanks for the heads up! I just noticed while browsing that in this section specifically, there seem to be scenario dates just like when playing at my local game store that run for a few hours and are done and overwith and you can continue forward somewhere else. To be fair, there isn't a bakery... but it is next to a chinese restaurant if that helps any lol. Where does one get these maps/tokens? and you mean I gotta talk to people through a client, ewww.. lol

How do I get the online version of the chronicle? I'm so used to playing in person that I have A LOT of paper chronicles. o_o

kk, that's good to know.. Constantly wanting to try out new things and then it's like, never gets used. lol

Well, I understand the replaying scenarios isn't allowed. But I meant more to the... well, how to explain (I guess I'll use the current situation I'm pondering):

I saw a campaign for the Goblin's module. Let's say, at most, it takes a month to finish by way of Pbp.
Then, in a couple weeks, I get invited to do the same module but with local friends (on a different character) that gets finished in that same day.
From how I see it, although I only get credit once (which would most likely be the one that finished locally), would I just let the online GM know that I can't received it because this situation happened? I wouldn't want to just drop because I'm not that type of person, even though I wouldn't be getting credit, i'd still see it through.

I noticed a lot of green text for dice rolls while reading through things. I have no idea how to make use of those. @_@ too complicated lol.

[Keht]

Maps and tokens come from the scenario. A GM will host a game, upload all the maps and tokens for monster... Watch this quick video on roll20 which is how I run all my games... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnubtGel6Ds

GM's will send you a PDF or JPG of your chronicle. From there you can print them and add them to your chronicle stack that you have for real life.

The goblin scenario is kind of a different situation because you can play in it multiple times. So for We Be Goblins as long as you apply the credit to a different character number you play it a million times..

For other games, if you start it online you should finish it online and not play again elsewhere.

PbP is not my speed, I have no clue how they get dice to roll..

hope the video helps to give you an understanding of how the VTT works.

Check out the IronHelixx link above, our group runs games many times a week. You can sign up on the warhorn site.

Keht.

[SpiritWolfFenris]

Huh.. Interesting thing this roll20 is.

Ooooh, okay, that's what I've been wondering about. lol

Really? Did not know that, guess that solves my issue. lol but it does make sense.

Guess only one way to find out. <.>

Made sense a little, but I should be more awake for something that requires learning. XD

I will probably do that, after I figure out what's going on over here. Only downside at the moment is that I don't have a mic, so going to be really slowing things down till I get one. T_T

Thanks a lot for all the help, its seriously awesome.

[Keht]

I am happy I could answer your question.

I will point out that you will definitely want a microphone before playing on a VTT. Most GM's, including myself will not allow you to play without one. It is a huge pain in the but and makes for a bad experience for everyone. Its hard to talk to other players and remember to look for someone typing. So getting a microphone is going to be a Top priority for VTT. Of course if you wanted to go the PbP route such equipment would into be necessary.

[SpiritWolfFenris]

I was afraid of that. T_T Money money everywhere lol Least they're fairly cheap nowadays.

Edit: found an answer to my question.. <.>

[Sior]

Yeah, headsets are fairly cheap, solo mics even more-so. I (and others) recommend using a headset or headphones so your speakers don't echo everything into your own mic. Can get distracting...

[KBoom]

...own mic. Can get distracting...

[Tom H.]

...distracting...