I played PFS for the first time over the weekend at a con. It was a lot of fun and I very much enjoyed it. I only played 2 games but they were great and I'm hooked!
Only problem I had was chatting folks up between games. Me and the other noobs were fine, but talking to some of the regulars it was tough to get anything other than mechanics out of them.
I'd talk about how to spend my prestige points and got some advice there, and then the guy I was talking to mentioned he'd been at a big session the night before. "Oh," says I, getting more interested, "what was that like? I thought it was one big siege or something?" The guy I'm talking to just clams up all of a sudden and was like "yeah... the lower levels helped the higher levels... I had to help fire a ballista..." and that's it.
After a few such shutdowns it finally occurred to me: am I not supposed to ask about other people's sessions for fear of spoilers or whatever? If not then I guess I'm already out of the society since I ran into a buddy today and told him about the basic plot of The Confirmation. I know he doesn't play PFS and has no desire to, but he might know someone that's into it.
Let me know what the etiquette is here on this so I'm not shooting my mouth off or worse at the next game I attend.
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It all depends on the area/people you're talking to/the scenario you're talking about. There's some "magical moments" in some of the scenarios (Before the Dawn part 2 comes to mind) that people don't want to give away so you can enjoy them more.
I, for one, don't like to be spoilered at all for an adventure if I'm going to play it before I GM it (except maybe major meta plot points the scenario hits, but not any specifics). I don't even read the little text on the adventure pages.
But some people like to talk about the adventures they are going to have and get some hints. Honestly, it really isn't a problem if there's no metagaming, although I do kind of raise an eyebrow to people telling others what they're going to fight in the scenario. An accidental slip is something, but intentionally telling everything in the scenario is another. Some people just can't help but metagame, and that can cause some real problems. I feel erring on the side of less spoilers is for the best.
Also, your area may be more spoiler paranoid than other areas.
So the real final answer is "it depends."
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Mark,
First off welcome to the Pathfinder Society Organized Play Campaign! We're delighted to have you join our ranks.
It looks like you had a great time playing this past weekend, we hope you play again and bring a few friends along for the adventure. You are ABSOLUTELY allowed to talk about your experiences to players and engage other players with their experiences, get advice and so on.
Some players may not be so forthcoming or they may not want to ruin spoilers for you in the future. It's not that it's secretive, it's just that there are story-lines interwoven between scenarios that some players may want to experience before hearing it from a second hand source and ruining their fun. This could apply to you as well.
So talk to local players and if not visit the boards here and find out what PFS play is in your local area. Make sure you get/register your PFS number so that your games can get reported online. You're not new to Paizo so I'm sure you can get around the site.
Have fun gaming!
RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16
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Spoilers can be an issue. From the little bit of description you provided I know exactly what scenario the guy you were talking to had played. I think if you ask other players about scenarios you have both already played you will find people more willing to talk details without "ruining" it for you.
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Let me know what the etiquette is here on this so I'm not shooting my mouth off or worse at the next game I attend.
It depends on who you're in company with. Asking the participants how they feel about spoilers is a good idea. My wife doesn't mind having a scenario spoiled (which is good since I play and run so many!) and enjoys the stories. Me, I like to let players encounter the surprises at the table rather than before, but I also love sharing the awesome stories that come from it. So I'm often torn between sharing and keeping my mouth shut.
There is also the darker side of metagaming. Some people read ahead and bring exactly what they need to overcome the scenario. Some people (like me) have to work a little at not using overheard information to inform character choices and gear purchases. (Not that bringing a paladin to Bonekeep gave that much of an advantage.)
Mostly, you just have to be open about your preferences. I'd say 'know who you're talking to' but conventions make that harder to achieve.
I'm glad to hear all your commentary so far for 2 reasons:
1. Talking to my buddy earlier today isn't going to get me beat up by the Decemverate
2. It's ok for me to keep asking questions
The only reason I started this thread was because I sought out 3 vets to chat with at the con between games and all 3 seemed tight lipped. More than likely it was just me. I had a lot of coffee earlier in the day and despite a 50 minute cleansing ritual before heading to the tables I'm sure my breath wasn't as minty fresh as it should've been :)
As for my general experience I had a very fun time and will definitely be back out. I generally GM so playing PFS gives me the chance to try the other side of the table.
I will also say this: I had 2 very different types of adventures, by 2 GMs that were night and day from one another which made it even more unique. My intro appropriately was the Confirmation and was with a GM that said up front that we should try anything. We got to one section and were able to use the Aid Another action using different but related skills giving us ALL the chance to cooperate together which was very fun.
The other game was nearly all roleplay with a very animated GM. He was highly engaging. He was also though very specifically following the key skills or conversations scripted into the module (and I'm sure for very good reason - no judgment here) which really challenged all of us players to think about what should we, shouldn't we and haven't we said.
All in all 2 engaging stories. For my own personal enjoyment I'm penning the stories of the 2 adventures from my character's point of view. I'm calling it: "The Company of Strangers: The Chronicles of Brinnix Belthane".
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To give you a spoiler-removed example, I was GMing at a game day of 2 sessions (multiple tables). Between scenarios, everyone was talking. Person 1: "What are you playing next session?" Persons 2&3: "scenario X." Persons 4&5 "oh yeah we played that!" "Yeah it was awesome!" "But that bit with the deeper darkness really sucked. I was really glad we had a way to fly."
I give the briefing and asked if anyone wanted to buy anything before leaving town. Person 2 bought an oil of daylight and a potion of fly. I gave him a really hard look.
That's the kind of thing people are trying to avoid.
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Venture-Captain, California—Sacramento
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To give you a spoiler-removed example, I was GMing at a game day of 2 sessions (multiple tables). Between scenarios, everyone was talking. Person 1: "What are you playing next session?" Persons 2&3: "scenario X." Persons 4&5 "oh yeah we played that!" "Yeah it was awesome!" "But that bit with the deeper darkness really sucked. I was really glad we had a way to fly."
I give the briefing and asked if anyone wanted to buy anything before leaving town. Person 2 bought an oil of daylight and a potion of fly. I gave him a really hard look.
That's the kind of thing people are trying to avoid.
I think from now on, all my conversations about scenarios I have played will include the line, "But that bit with the deeper darkness really sucked. I was really glad we had a way to fly." regardless of the scenario.
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Hi Mark,
I'm glad to hear you had fun this weekend in spite of standoffish players. I coordinated the Pathfinder Society events at Con of the North, which I gather from your other posts was the convention you attended this weekend. I apologize if you were upset at the behavior of our community members. We strive to be a welcoming and engaging community, not a secret society with cliques and entry requirements. If we presented any other face, then I've let the entire community down, especially you. I deeply regret this and hope you'll give us a second chance at future events either our weekly game nights or at our next major convention, Convergence.
In answer to your original post, Pathfinder Society is not like Fight Club. Its not only acceptable but encouraged to share your character's exploits; its one of the three tenants of the in-world and real world Pathfinder Society, Report. Sharing those experiences inspires new players to try their hands at Society play, reinforces the positive experiences of our veterans, and reminds our volunteers about the positive impact they have on the players they volunteer to run scenarios for. However, as others have mentioned there is a strong aversion to presenting spoilers. Spoilers run the risk of harming a play experience in two ways; they can harm the experience of the player who hears them by giving away the story of the adventure, giving away the big reveal or surprise of the plot. They can also sting someone who is sitting down as a complete blank slate; another player, who had the scenario spoilered for him or her, can sit down at the same table equipped with just the right equipment for the challenges of that adventure, materially changing the experience for everyone at the table. As a result, we try to avoid them locally when talking about our past exploits.
To share your story without spoilers, try to share your character's experience from the adventure but not share which scenario, either name or number, you played. Hearing the story of your character heading out to the Kortos Mounts and bravely charging the horrible pie monster your party was battling to deliver the finishing blow, saving a downed ally from being cooked in the process broadcasts the fun experience Pathfinder Society provides in a spoiler-minimizing way. Being told there's a horrible pie monster in scenario 5-238 Trouble at the Pie Shoppe gives away the big reveal of the adventure's story and might inspire some players to purchase anti-pie monster gear that they would otherwise have ignored in order to gain a mechanical advantage during that adventure.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our events again. If you're interested in any of our store events, they are posted at www.meetup.com/msp-pathfinders. If you're more of a convention goer, our next major local convention will be Convergence in July, though there are rumblings of some convention-style gaming up in Fargo, North Dakota in June. Wherever your gaming needs take you, I apologize again for letting you down at Con of the North. I look forward to the next time you join us and the stories you'll tell of your exploits. Until then, keep telling your tale because that's part of the fun of playing!
Good Gaming,
Ryan B.
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+1 to what Ryan so very eloquently said above.
Just to add, spoilers for adventures are a lot like spoilers for a movie.
If you would give at least a stern look at a friend for ruining the plot line to your favorite super hero movie or the big reveal in your favorite Night M. Shyamalan movie, then consider that this is most likely also true for scenarios.
This is likely why you found folks tight-lipped, out of respect for you and your ability to freshly discover the surprises and reveals in the moment.
So think of it rather as our folks respecting you by clamming up, rather than pushing you away.
That being said, welcome to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Pathfinder Society (MSP PFS) lodge! I hope I get you at my table one of these days!
Andy
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Venture-Captain, California—Sacramento
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I don't know, that's too useful for trolling. Maybe something more like "Man, a scroll of Liveoak pays for itself in no time! I never leave home without one, even on my non-casters."
I think from now on, all my conversations about scenarios I have played will include the line, "But that bit with the deeper darkness really sucked. I was really glad we had a way to fly." regardless of the scenario.
It's more that it is plausible enough that people will have to at least consider it. And it means that in future, when I am playing at the same table as these people, they will be prepared for Flight and Dispelling Darkness, which will make my life easier...
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In all seriousness Mark, we are an open group of folks that enjoy talking about our exploits. Which is why there is usually a short question, a la, "Everyone here has played "The Deadly Kittens of Bitterfang Hollow", right?" before launching into how their PC totes stoned the mean nasty dog by casting Flurry of Milkbones. We want you to have a good time and enjoy the scenarios as you experience them, not by telling you how to avoid the catnip in room 3.
Next time you roll up for a game day, introduce yerself. I was the long haired surfer looking moron in the green shirt near the white boards who shouted out the raffle winning numbers. I look forward to meeting you.
jon
I met some of you at the con Jon, and you were all VERY kind. I'd reiterate; I think I was the problem in the equation. I just wanted to start this thread for clarity is all. FYI, I was genuinely honored to have won a book at the raffle, as well as my first PF novel AND a novel boon.
Going forward I'll take it to heart to ask folks either general questions or specifically ask if they've played stuff I have. I have GM'd for many years and run lots of modules. Little kills a game faster than describing the area around the caves of chaos and having one guy blurt out "don't go in THAT cave though since there's an ogre that'll COMPLETELY wail on us! No, we should stick to the goblins over here..."