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The other day, one of my players said something along the lines of, "Nobody's using their GM-star replays, because they're per lifetime rather than per season, so they want to save them for just the right moment--I'm not sure they're ever going to get used."
I personally have only seen one star replay since they went into effect, and it was someone who had forgotten that he had already played a scenario, so he used a replay instead of dropping out after the briefing.
I know that I'm saving mine for after I've run my backlog of played scenarios, at least, and possibly longer. Once I run out of things to run for credit (without spoilers), I won't mind re-running, but even then I might be tempted to hold onto the credits for something special.
So, since we're about halfway through the season, I wanted to see where other people were at with this. Have you encountered similar mentalities? Are people using their replays in your area?
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The other day, one of my players said something along the lines of, "Nobody's using their GM-star replays, because they're per lifetime rather than per season, so they want to save them for just the right moment--I'm not sure they're ever going to get used."
I haven't used mine yet. I was saving them for the "perfect moment" or when I had nothing else to do other than replay a scenario.
It should be per year in my opinion.
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I have yet to use mine for similar reasons. There are scenarios I'd like to replay (Cyphermage Dilemma was my 2nd scenario, and I really don't remember it), but I feel like I need to save them for something big, like Eyes of the Ten or another multipart scenario. Otherwise, I'll probably end up using them if I ever show up for a face to face game and there's nothing I haven't played (like if the table I'm trying to join doesn't make). I agree that I'd like to see them made once per star per season, but I know that may be a tough decision for the campaign to make without people using them now and reporting on the experience.
[EDIT - fixed the phrasing]
Venture-Lieutenant, West Virginia—Charleston
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I've used two of mine. Both times, they were used to replay scenarios in which I felt the GM didn't really give the table the full experience - I had some bad experiences with The Disappeared and Hellknight's Feast. (Don't talk to the NPCs! Don't! I just want you to roll diplomacy!) I think it was a good investment, personally.
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@andrew you need 5 stars for EoTT because pt 1 is double length and requires 2 stars iirc. Which doesn't make sense as it's just one star to replay a mod.
I've used my only star for a replay so I could have a solid convention schedule at a local con. I should be getting my second star shortly and will be squatting on that until I have the perfect storm of character/scenario or character/boon.
ETA: I also agree it should they should reset each year with the beginning of the new season.
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I'll be using my first to replay the Waking Rune. Hoping to beat my current record of "TPK in first encounter".
I may use the second to replay Tower of the Ironwood Watch, the only other scenario I've failed to date.
I'd also like them to reset, but 5 replays a year, each year seems like a lot. I'm trying to think of what could be a good compromise.
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There are a limited number of 5-star GMs, and remember, the "replays" can be used to GM a scenario a second time for credit, too, so they may not end up spending all 5 to actually play scenarios.
Has anyone played or been the GM at a table where a replay credit was used by another player? I think hearing what that experience was like is probably important. Did it change your experience as a player having someone else at the table who had already played the scenario? I haven't yet (at least not that I know of).
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I'll be using my first to replay the Waking Rune. Hoping to beat my current record of "TPK in first encounter".
I may use the second to replay Tower of the Ironwood Watch, the only other scenario I've failed to date.
I'd also like them to reset, but 5 replays a year, each year seems like a lot. I'm trying to think of what could be a good compromise.
Used 1 to help fill a table.
Also, I don't think many people are going to have 5 replays a year and those people are the least likely to use all five.
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@andrew you need 5 stars for EoTT because pt 1 is double length and requires 2 stars iirc. Which doesn't make sense as it's just one star to replay a mod.
I've used my only star for a replay so I could have a solid convention schedule at a local con. I should be getting my second star shortly and will be squatting on that until I have the perfect storm of character/scenario or character/boon.
ETA: I also agree it should they should reset each year with the beginning of the new season.
How many chronicle sheets do you get for EotT Part one? That's how many "stars" you have to burn to replay it.
On topic, I've used one of mine to replay Citadel of Flames with a character I felt would better relate to the story. Had a blast, even though I remembered much of the scenario. I play so rarely that I'm not likely to exhaust my list of playable scenarios, but I have no problem burning a replay if that's the only chance I'll get to play for credit.
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Also, I don't think many people are going to have 5 replays a year and those people are the least likely to use all five.I'll be using my first to replay the Waking Rune. Hoping to beat my current record of "TPK in first encounter".
I may use the second to replay Tower of the Ironwood Watch, the only other scenario I've failed to date.
I'd also like them to reset, but 5 replays a year, each year seems like a lot. I'm trying to think of what could be a good compromise.
Oh, I agree. I don't necessarily think it will be a problem. To Ferious Thune's point, I've played plenty of tables that I'd GM'd before without incident.
As long as the player agrees to be nothing more than a warm body, it should be okay. But GMs need to tell them if they're crossing a line ("randomly" buying potions of resist energy, checking one door for traps while ignoring the others).
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@andrew you need 5 stars for EoTT because pt 1 is double length and requires 2 stars iirc. Which doesn't make sense as it's just one star to replay a mod.
When replays were announced, Kyle Baird said he was going to petition for that to be the case, but I believe he was joking. I don't think there was any actual declaration that this was the case, and the fact that you can use replays on modules would make it counterintuitive.
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The other day, one of my players said something along the lines of, "Nobody's using their GM-star replays, because they're per lifetime rather than per season, so they want to save them for just the right moment--I'm not sure they're ever going to get used."
ETA: I also agree it should they should reset each year with the beginning of the new season.
I'd also like them to reset
Take heart! It is not as you fear:
The GM Star Replay Credits renew each year on the first day of Pathfinder Society events at Gen Con.
To answer the question. The replays are being used well in my area to make some higher-level, more-difficult-to-schedule tables come together. Once we cleared up the reset confusion they've been very helpful.
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@andrew you need 5 stars for EoTT because pt 1 is double length and requires 2 stars iirc. Which doesn't make sense as it's just one star to replay a mod.
I've used my only star for a replay so I could have a solid convention schedule at a local con. I should be getting my second star shortly and will be squatting on that until I have the perfect storm of character/scenario or character/boon.
ETA: I also agree it should they should reset each year with the beginning of the new season.
This is not true as part 1 is a single scenario.
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The other day, one of my players said something along the lines of, "Nobody's using their GM-star replays, because they're per lifetime rather than per season, so they want to save them for just the right moment--I'm not sure they're ever going to get used."ETA: I also agree it should they should reset each year with the beginning of the new season.I'd also like them to resetTake heart! It is not as you fear:
The GM Star Replay Credits renew each year on the first day of Pathfinder Society events at Gen Con.To answer the question. The replays are being used well in my area to make some higher-level, more-difficult-to-schedule tables come together. Once we cleared up the reset confusion they've been very helpful.
Unfortunately, it looks like you have the beta version of the Season 5 Guide to Organized Play. That lanuguage was changed before the final release of the guide. I suggest downloading a new copy of the Guide.
The GM Star Replay Credits are a once per star, lifetime benefit.
It was hinted that if things go well this season, star replays might be opened back up to be once per star per season.
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I haven't used any yet, but I wouldn't mind re-trying King of the Storval Stairs and Sewer Dragons of Absalom. The way it's set up, they do seem a bit too precious to use casually.
Hm... an interesting use of a GM star would be to replay King of the Storval Stairs under Tetsujin Oni.
I've used 2 - both of which have been used to make tables go off at conventions. I have one saved up for Echoes of the Everwar part 1 so I can play that whole series on one character. As for the other 2, who knows?
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Oh, that's disappointing. I hadn't realized that they updated the guides mid-season. I figured version 5 would be set for all of season 5.
There were some significant changes this season, so the beta printing done a week and a half or so before going live was done so that folks could point out any issues. Since there were some, it got modified and then was re-issued the monday before Gen Con and going live.
But as long as I can recall (since early 2011), they put out a new guide ever Gen Con and January/February.
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As long as I can recall (since early 2011), they put out a new guide ever Gen Con and January/February.
Good to know. Thanks.
***
[EDIT] I guess that changes my answer to the question. I very strongly encourage a revision of the system to allow stars to renew. When we *thought* that's how it worked, it made scheduling certain difficult but good-for-the-community tables much easier to make happen. I don't see much downside to allowing the replays to refresh (you'd hope that 3-5 star GMs would use them responsibly anyway!), and I've seen a real upside.
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@andrew you need 5 stars for EoTT because pt 1 is double length and requires 2 stars iirc. Which doesn't make sense as it's just one star to replay a mod.When replays were announced, Kyle Baird said he was going to petition for that to be the case, but I believe he was joking. I don't think there was any actual declaration that this was the case, and the fact that you can use replays on modules would make it counterintuitive.
I went back and re-read that thread and you are correct--I was misremembering Kyle's jokey post.
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Venture-Captain, Washington—Spokane
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I have used one of my stars for a rerun of Traitor's Lodge which I thought was worth it at the time because I thought that they renewed at each GenCon. Now that I know it is a lifetime benefit for the moment, I am going to go back and be very conservative on when I use the remaining stars.
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Oh, that's disappointing. I hadn't realized that they updated the guides mid-season. I figured version 5 would be set for all of season 5. :-/
I must admit I was a little confused by the initial post. I was pretty sure that star replays reset every season (because it says so on page 20 of the PFS guide as noted by Joe M here). If they really won't reset yearly any more then I'll probably never use them. Just as I have never spent a single point of prestige yet. I've just been saving them all for an emergency.
It wasn't a mid-season change. The Guide that said "Stars reset every season" was released in beta about a week before S5 started. The one released at the start of S5, the official release of 5.0, in other words, said that they're per lifetime.
If it's any consolation, it's not just you guys--there's been some serious confusion about this. I'm inclined to think the beta preview next year should be handled differently (like released with an extra header on every page that says "BETA -- NOT FOR ACTUAL USE" or something similar).
On the other hand, seeing the way people react to this information after having used some of their stars is useful information as well.
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If it's any consolation, it's not just you guys--there's been some serious confusion about this. I'm inclined to think the beta preview next year should be handled differently (like released with an extra header on every page that says "BETA -- NOT FOR ACTUAL USE" or something similar).
That is some consolation, actually. And yes, a big old BETA tag would be very helpful for this sort of thing in the future. If there's any such warning in the document I've got, I don't see it. I've got no indication that this isn't the official ready-to-use guide.
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Venture-Captain, California—San Francisco Bay Area South & West
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I don't think many people are going to have 5 replays a year and those people are the least likely to use all five.
Pedantically, I'd say those people are the most likely to use all five, simply because they're the only people who can. :-)
If we are going to have stars recharge, then perhaps the recharge could be based on the number of tables you'd GMed over the last year; for each 20 (say) tables of credit reported, you get to recharge one star at the end of the year (up to the maximum of your current star rating).
Alternatively, instead of 1 star for every 20 tables, have the number of stars recharged be based on half the number of tables to get that star rating, so stars would recharge if you'd run 5/15/30/50/75 tables.
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Pedantically, I'd say those people are the most likely to use all five, simply because they're the only people who can. :-)
Touché.
If we are going to have stars recharge, then perhaps the recharge could be based on the number of tables you'd GMed over the last year; for each 20 (say) tables of credit reported, you get to recharge one star at the end of the year (up to the maximum of your current star rating).
Alternatively, instead of 1 star for every 20 tables, have the number of stars recharged be based on half the number of tables to get that star rating, so stars would recharge if you'd run 5/15/30/50/75 tables.
Hmm. In both cases I'd have two concerns: One, it can take you 5 years to earn your fifth GM star, but you still have the GM star--you should get the privileges that come with it. Two, "I ran at a con but this thing hasn't been reported and I keep telling the guy but he's lazy and dangit I want to use my replay!"
I like the idea of there being a recharge system, but I think any such would be too complex at this scale. If you introduce another thing to track, that's just something else for people to mix up.
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Well, I think they do serve a great purpose if you're playing a scenario and your session is ruined...you have to leave early, the GM is a dud, etc. My replay of Hellknight's Feast was one of the most memorable sessions I've ever played.
Oh, for sure. I'm glad they're usable either way. I'm just saying I personally am more likely to use them for rerun than replay purposes.
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Venture-Lieutenant, West Virginia—Charleston
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I'll probably save mine to replay the seeker arc.
I've got a better question, if everyone appears to care about using replays at the 7-11 and 12+ tiers, why did so many people lobby for more 1-5 focus for PFS? It seems the scenarios we "really" want to play more of are higher level content.
There are 1-5s that I wouldn't mind replaying. I generally think the stories are better at that level, honestly - most 7-11s have kinda disappointed me as one slugfest after another. But, to answer your question, it's a matter of self-selection. The people who have that many stars can replay the higher level content. New players, however, can't. We have a revolving base of players who will never reach higher levels, but the best way to integrate them into a group and make sure that they stick around is to get them playing with the experienced players. The best way to do that is to make new 1-5s that experienced players want to play.
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I'll probably save mine to replay the seeker arc.
I've got a better question, if everyone appears to care about using replays at the 7-11 and 12+ tiers, why did so many people lobby for more 1-5 focus for PFS? It seems the scenarios we "really" want to play more of are higher level content.
The more new players we get, the more PFS grows. The more PFS grows, the more likely we are to get a second Seeker arc. In the mean time, people want to replay the one we have. ;)
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I'll probably save mine to replay the seeker arc.
I've got a better question, if everyone appears to care about using replays at the 7-11 and 12+ tiers, why did so many people lobby for more 1-5 focus for PFS? It seems the scenarios we "really" want to play more of are higher level content.
I'm still a long way from having enough stars to even replay EOTT. I've got three characters above 7th level (plus the one that's been through EOTT already). I'll run EOTT to get one of them to 13, and I'll do modules for the others, but sooner or later I'm going to run out of options to get past 12.
I'm not going to get to four stars by August (maybe to 3), so if replays did reset with the new season, I'd gladly replay some 1-5s. I mentioned that I don't really remember Cyphermage Dilemma, so I'd replay that. Also, my run through Throaty Mermaid wasn't fantastic (It was a pickup game, and the GM hadn't reread the scenario in a very long time. That's not one you want the GM to run cold).
Or, I would have burned them just to help make a table. There have been several nights when a group of us have been sitting around trying to find a scenario to play. Anytime two people in the group have played a scenario, either someone doesn't play (one of the two would GM) or you pick something else. Having those replays means having flexibility.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I've not used any of mine, but likely will use them for scenarios with boons I want like Season 4's <redacted> from <redacted> or <redacted> from <redacted>.
I don't mind running stuff over. Heck, I just played Stolen Heir with two new (to me) players of Andorans, and offered to run TDWK just for tormenting andorans.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I have used two to make legal tables for things
Maybe I'm misunderstanding something...
If I need to fill out a table, I can play an iconic for no credit, just have fun, right? I'd hate to have to burn a star because we needed a third for Silent Tide for example.
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GM stars are like the last few charges on a high level Wand of Dispel Magic. You aren't going to use them unless you really really want to use them. That means they are more likely to never be used.
Personally, I'm wanting to redo Echoes of the Everwar once I get my fourth star this spring because we totally botched part 3 with a near TPK in the first encounter.