...and I haven't done this PFS thing before. It always seemed a little distasteful due to the particular strain of house rules designed around table invariance. However, I understand the reasons behind these decisions, and I like to try things that challenge my preconceived notions. And people have a lot of fun playing it. So since there's an event coming up, I figured, why not give it a shot?
So, I read over the Guide to PFS Organized Play, made a character using the Additional Resources page for reference, packed the hardbacks used by this character, printed a badge, and . Is there anything else I need to do to prepare for the event? Do I need to post this character sheet somewhere official or convert it into a particular format, or is a Hero Lab printout sufficient?
Thanks!
I have the PFS section, but I haven't put the character info into it yet. I shall do so this evening.
As for the character sheet, you don't need to have it posted anywhere official. If you have one that you can look at at the table that's enough.
|
You can post as little or as much about your character on your profile as you want.
All that matters really is that your character's name and number match, and that you have the right Faction selected.
I tend to go all out, listing stats, feats, equipment, and providing links to either the PRD or ArchivesofNethys, but you're fine with none of that, too. Nobody'll be tracking you online (except the government of course). As long as you keep all your Chronicles and your ITS with your character sheet you'll be fine.
Welcome to the fold!!
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
If you have the budget for it (and don't already have it), I highly recommend acquiring and perusing the Pathfinder Society Primer. Not so much for the mechanical options (though there's some goodies in it), but for understanding the in-universe Society and your role as a PC. This can greatly enhance the roleplaying experience. Too often I see PCs whose concept doesn't fit the campaign, with players frustrated and claiming they don't get to roleplay. But if you make a campaign-appropriate concept, I can tell you first-hand that the roleplay can be awesome. :)
|
|
I have the PFS section, but I haven't put the character info into it yet. I shall do so this evening.
For registering the character, LazarX means inputting it on the site so the character appears next to a character number on your My Pathfinder Society page. If you have done that (and marked the faction), you dont NEED to do anything else.
That information makes it MUCH MUCH easier whenever the reporting is done, because it will cause your information to flood in, once the character number is entered. Otherwise, it must be done manually.Anything else about the character is fine to enter, but dont feel like you have to. :)
OK, got a character and a back-up registered and printed and a really heavy bag o' books and heading to Norwescon. Thanks again, folks. : D
Edit: I don't have the Primer, but I do have the Guide to Organized Play, Seekers of Secrets, and the Faction Guide. The last two are a bit dated but it has info on most of the extant factions, society structure, etc.
|
|
OK, got a character and a back-up registered and printed and a really heavy bag o' books and heading to Norwescon. Thanks again, folks. : D
Oh! One funny note.
I did the same thing when I showed up to my first game: I brought two characters. One was a Fighter ("-1"), and the other a Rogue ("-2"). Both were registered online. I figured I'd bring a couple options so that if I showed up to a table of all Fighters, or all Rogues, I had an alternative.
I ended up using my Rogue during that first game, and I learned a lot from the Fighters at the table about how Society operated (like that having a 7 INT wasn't always a smart option; pun intended). That night I pressed the button to "delete" my Fighter, thinking I'd remake him later.
But when I did, the system started me out at "-3". Since I had a registered "-2", and the game was reported that night, there was no way for me to go back and create a "-1".
So, if you decide that your "-1" isn't up to par, don't press "delete". Just edit him/her instead.
(this public service announcement brought to you by the souls of deleted "-1"s everywhere)
|
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
|
OK, got a character and a back-up registered and printed and a really heavy bag o' books and heading to Norwescon. Thanks again, folks. : DOh! One funny note.
I did the same thing when I showed up to my first game: I brought two characters. One was a Fighter ("-1"), and the other a Rogue ("-2"). Both were registered online. I figured I'd bring a couple options so that if I showed up to a table of all Fighters, or all Rogues, I had an alternative.
I ended up using my Rogue during that first game, and I learned a lot from the Fighters at the table about how Society operated (like that having a 7 INT wasn't always a smart option; pun intended). That night I pressed the button to "delete" my Fighter, thinking I'd remake him later.
But when I did, the system started me out at "-3". Since I had a registered "-2", and the game was reported that night, there was no way for me to go back and create a "-1".
So, if you decide that your "-1" isn't up to par, don't press "delete". Just edit him/her instead.
(this public service announcement brought to you by the souls of deleted "-1"s everywhere)
Especially with the level 1 rebuilding rules. You can play your Fighter the first game, your Rogue the next, your Wizard the next, then a Cleric from level 2 onward.
|
So, I read over the Guide to PFS Organized Play, made a character using the Additional Resources page for reference,
So right here makes you ahead about 95% of all new players, especially checking over additional resources.
Quick question did you figure out you had to read the guide yourself or did someone tell you?
Did you find out about additional resources through reading the guide or did someone tell you?
I am curious if the process worked or were you helped along.
Any advice from a new player that you think would have made it easier for a new player to figure thinges out?
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I assume in his case, since he's a forum regular, and has seen so many posts telling new players to read the Guide and the AR, he just picked up on it over time.
Pretty much this. No idea whether I would have figured it out otherwise as I lack that perspective.
|
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
|
I assume in his case, since he's a forum regular, and has seen so many posts telling new players to read the Guide and the AR, he just picked up on it over time.Pretty much this. No idea whether I would have figured it out otherwise as I lack that perspective.
Lemme get my neuralizer and we can find out.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Shower and soap.
You may think I'm kidding. I have experienced gamer funk far too many times.
-k
Update: So far it's been a lot of fun (and my not-terribly-optimized character hasn't died yet, which is a plus)! I'll do a write-up later.
once is too many times....Shower and soap.
You may think I'm kidding. I have experienced gamer funk far too many times.
-k
You ain't kidding. The PFS players here have been quite hygienic, but some of the panels at this SFF con . . . Well, it's distracting.
Advice to fellow geeks: Corn Nuts alone do not a healthy diet make, nor does such a diet endear you to your fellows.
...and I haven't done this PFS thing before. It always seemed a little distasteful due to the particular strain of house rules designed around table invariance. However, I understand the reasons behind these decisions, and I like to try things that challenge my preconceived notions. And people have a lot of fun playing it. So since there's an event coming up, I figured, why not give it a shot?
So, I read over the Guide to PFS Organized Play, made a character using the Additional Resources page for reference, packed the hardbacks used by this character, printed a badge, and . Is there anything else I need to do to prepare for the event? Do I need to post this character sheet somewhere official or convert it into a particular format, or is a Hero Lab printout sufficient?
Thanks!
Here are some things that I would like to respectfully suggest:
- PUT YOUR NAME ON EVERYTHING. KEEP ALL YOUR STUFF ORGANIZED AND IN A BAG/CONTAINER SO IT DOESN'T WALK OFF.
- Have several copies of your character sheet and make sure that you do the following for everything in your character sheet:
* for any items that you have and use a lot, jot down a book/page so they can be quickly referenced (and photocopy that page)
* make an index card/table tent with any bonus/benefit/whatever from
that item, so that your GM knows when you're using it and what it does
* for any abilities that you have and use a lot, jot down a book/page so they can be quickly referenced (and photocopy that page)
* make an index card/table tent with any bonus/benefit/whatever, so that your GM knows when you're using it and what it does
* for any spells that you have and use a lot, jot down a book/page so they can be quickly referenced (and photocopy that page)
* make an index card/table tent with any bonus/benefit/whatever, so that your GM knows when you're using it and what it does
* make an index card/table tent that explains how you are doing things and what's in your hand, with perception bonus, saves, etc. all marked down. This keeps you from annoying the GM with "I'm moving carefully" or "Remember I am looking for traps" or "I HAVE MY CROSSBOW COCKED AND WILL SHOOT ANYTHING MOVING".
(Stealth, with crossbow R hand, cocked, Will x, Reflex y, etc. OR Moving carefully, prodding with 10' pole R hand, dagger L hand,
checking for traps as I move)
- Put your character sheets in a binder with plastic page protectors, and use wet erase marker to make notes on it
- Have all of your chronicle sheets organized in a binder behind your character sheet for easy review
- Have a set of condition cards in case you get a status effect (blinded, dazzled, etc.)
- Make sure you have plenty of dice and invest in a dice tower so they don't go everywhere. (Blue Panther LLC has a knockdown one)
- Consider a Hammerdog Games The World's Greatest Screen for yourself and put all your character sheet stuff in it. (It also keeps people from invading your personal space or messing with your stuff.)
- Have minis for your character and any companions.
- Bring water and some light snacks that are not too smelly/sticky/crunchy. Individually wrapped candies (individual lifesavers, mints, Starburst) are great to have on hand for passing out at the table and making friends quickly.
- Have lots of pens/pencils/wet erase markers
- Spend some time using 3m page tabs to mark heavily used sections of rulebooks or commonly referenced pages.
All of my advice really comes down to:
tl;dr? Your GM has no clue what your abilities and stuff do, so have a photocopy of everything to quickly point out what it is, what it does, and where to find it in her books. Keep all your stuff organized. Make sure you have all the stuff you might need. HAVE FUN.
|
|
For any abilities that you use that give your allies a buff, or your enemies a debuff (or both), have a card marked with the information on it, including what type of bonus it is, so everyone can see and remember it.
Nothing sucks so much as missing by one, and finding out later that you forgot to add that +1 morale bonus from the bless the Cleric cast two or three rounds ago...
Especially when that would have saved resources or kept someone in your party (including yourself) from getting killed...
And, at higher levels, it can keep you or an ally form wasting time creating a self-buff that overlaps a shared buff. The 7th level Bard "Inspire Courage" is a +2 competence bonus to hit and damage. IIRC, the 7th level "Know Thy Enemy" ability from the Lore Warden Fighter archetype costs a Standard to start, and gives a +2 competence bonus to hit and damage, so knowing that if the Bard is inspiring you, you don't need to burn your Standard for KTE, but you can, instead, attack that round....