Beginning to Run Pathfinder Societies Question

[OldeJim]

Greetings,

I am going to start a Society chapter at my local gaming store next month, and I've been reading though all the materials (mainly the Guide to Organized Play) and I had a few quick questions on how the scenarios are set up (just before I buy a few)

I've seen some interest, so assume everything from here on out being a somewhat regular group. Based on looking at the Tiers of the new ones coming out, are these not supposed to be running sequentially? As in, I'm not supposed run 5-02 the week after 5-01 for the same players. Instead do I do a few weeks of Tier 1-5 from different seasons until most of my players hit level 3? What should I do if someone new shows up and thus aren't high enough level to participate?

Thanks for your time, I'm used to D&D Encounters where it's a continuous story for 2 or so months and all the content they release is sequential and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around structuring this for my store.

[Paz]

Welcome to PFS!

With the last few seasons, the scenarios tend to be a mix of plot that carries on from a previous scenario and different strands of the overall story. The ones where playing them sequentially matters is often called out by the scenarios being part of a named series, there are also threads on the boards that point out other linked scenarios.

If you're committed to running a tier 3-7 scenario in a particular session and a new player turns up, they can play a level-appropriate pregen (level 4 in subtier 3-4, level 7 in subtier 6-7) and apply the credit to their own 1st level character.

[Sior]

Welcome! I also went from GMing D&D Encounters to playing and then running Pathfinder Society.

You do not under any means have to play the scenarios in any order. You can play 5-01 then 4-01 then 2-22 (if that's a low level scenario, can't remember, just throwing that out there). The numbers are just the order they're released.

If someone doesn't have a character of appropriate level, there are pregenerated characters that they can play. Honestly, I don't advocate this because the pre-gens are not the best builds ever. But they are an option.

EDIT: Ninja'd by seconds!

[OldeJim]

So if I'm looking to start out with Tier 1-5, I can pretty much pick any scenario that fits that tier from any season without any real worries? And if you have any suggestions on which to start with for the first couple weeks that would be helpful.

Thanks again

EDIT: Ah sorry Sior, just saw your post after this response. Thanks!

[FLite]

One thing to keep in mind is that is wise to buy a bunch of tier 1-2 scenarios to start things off, since they can be replayed multiple times. (though admittedly not with the same characters.) This will get you some early starting flexibility.

Also, most of them are meant as intros to the pathfinder society and will help your players get a feel for what they are supposed to be doing.

So:
Master of the fallen fortress: (The players are not yet pathfinders, but meet one and are introduced to the society.)
First Steps 1: (The players are pathfinders in training, and running errands.)
The Confirmation: (The players graduate as pathfinders and are sent oon their first real mission as part of the process.)

They don't have to be played in any particular order, but the advantage of playing them in that order is that they fit as a story, and the PC's "graduate", and hit level 2 at the same time, which just feels elegant to me.

(Oh, and as a bonus, I believe that MotFF and First Steps are both free.)