where to start?

[Redneckdevil]

Ok as a gm who would like to start my group with running some pfs casually (aka without recording but basically learning how to run a society module) wheres a good place to start?
Should i go with season 1 and work my way up and/or is there an over tying theme or story with each season?
Heard a lot of good things about the society modules and was thinking since i had some cash in my pockets to buya few but didnt know where to start. With my group we wouldnt be under a time limit so id be able to run it online however long it takes so my players be able to roleplay and enjoy it.
also can someone point me to where i and my players can get a good look at the factions and what they represent and whatnot as well?
Tyvm in adance

[Michael Brock]

If you are looking to test them out without using them for credit, I suggest the retired scenarios first.

[ElyasRavenwood]

There are three scenarios where you get a good over view of the three basic kind of adventures: City adventure, Dungeon Crawl, and Wilderness travel.

They are:

First steps Part 1: In Service to Lore

First steps Part 2: To delve Dungeons Deep (retired)

First Steps Part 3: A vision of Betrayal (retired)

[Mystic Lemur]

The best information on the factions as they currently stand would be in the Guide to Organized Play (a free download). There are going to be some major changes to factions coming mid-August, so you may not want to focus too much on them to start. As for what to run, I agree with about running through First Steps. It has the advantage of being free, so if it doesn't fit your group's style the only thing it will cost you is time.

Another free option is the module Master of the Fallen Fortress. It is a straight up dungeon crawl similar to First Steps part 2, but it is still playable for credit.

[Curaigh]

Mystic Lemur wrote:

The best information on the factions as they currently stand would be in the Guide to Organized Play (a free download). There are going to be some major changes to factions coming mid-August, so you may not want to focus too much on them to start. As for what to run, I agree with about running through First Steps. It has the advantage of being free, so if it doesn't fit your group's style the only thing it will cost you is time.

Another free option is the module Master of the Fallen Fortress. It is a straight up dungeon crawl similar to First Steps part 2, but it is still playable for credit.

Here's a link to the PFSGOP.

Silent Tide is a season 0 and introduces Grandmaster Torch. Mists of Mwangi, another season 0 scenario, introduces the Blackrose Museum. Torch and Blackrose continue to make appearances through the current season, so they are an excellent introduction to the PFS system. Unfortunately season 0 uses 3.5 rules, and take a bit of work to update so are not the best choice for beginners. If you have a lot of pathfinder experience (and are only new to the organized play aspect), this will be less of an issue.

Also the beginner box has a handful of quests, which are shorter than scenarios but still serve as good intros.

[Redneckdevil]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Quick question, if we do decide to start this would we be missing out on any story or lore starting with season 1 instead of season 0?

[Purple Fluffy CatBunnyGnome]

No, you wouldn't. The storylines didn't really start until season 1, so you'd be fine.

[BigNorseWolf]

Redneckdevil wrote:

Thanks for the advice everyone. Quick question, if we do decide to start this would we be missing out on any story or lore starting with season 1 instead of season 0?

Very little. Unless you go slow you'd never see it all anyway.

[Paz]

Purple Fluffy CatBunnyGnome wrote:

No, you wouldn't. The storylines didn't really start until season 1, so you'd be fine.

#5 Mists of Mwangi is quite good for setting the scene for future Blakros Museum adventures.

[Joe M.]

Yeah, Mists is an excellent scenario, and Paizo has released a PF update from the original 3.5 version.

One of my favorite stretches of PFS play was a month in which our lodge ran all of the then-available Blakros Museum adventures. :-)

[Victor Zajic]

No one else is going to mention "The Confirmation?"

[Redneckdevil]

Ow we was gonna take slowish, a good portion of my groupblikes a good story. I have no problems converting 3.5 to current rules at all.
ill start with season 1 then.
is there any in season 0 that yal feel is important to the other seasons or are just really good scenarios that jump out at ya? I think i got enough for quite of few of season 1 and thinking maybe grab maybe 5 from season 0 if yal thinknis important or just really good for a group whos never played any of the scenarios

[Stemboy]

Master of the Fallen Fortress is a good intro to Pathfinder in general, and the available Chronicle sheet for it actually includes an explanation of what a Chronicle sheet is on it.

The Confirmation is great as Victor said, but the combats can hurt if the party aren't careful.

[Victor Zajic]

Redneckdevil wrote:

Ow we was gonna take slowish, a good portion of my groupblikes a good story. I have no problems converting 3.5 to current rules at all.

ill start with season 1 then.
is there any in season 0 that yal feel is important to the other seasons or are just really good scenarios that jump out at ya? I think i got enough for quite of few of season 1 and thinking maybe grab maybe 5 from season 0 if yal thinknis important or just really good for a group whos never played any of the scenarios

The two season 0 scenarios that Curaigh mentioned in his post are good ones. Silent Tide is one of my favorite PFS scenarios, with my only complaint being that the combats are a little too easy. The story and the different puzzles in it are outstanding, however. Mist of Mwangi is just a classic that I've ran and played many times. It really captures the feeling of being in the society, and it has some really fun and different options for roleplaying in it.

But the Confirmation, from Season 5 I think, really sets the stage for what the campaign is supposed to be all about. The final fight can be a bit tough, though.

[Akerlof]

There are some groups of really good, thematically linked scenarios that have Season 0 installments:

--Mists of Mwangi (Season 0, updated to Pathfinder) -> Voice in the Void (Season 1) -> The Penumbral Accords (Season 2) -> The Blakros Matrimony (Season 4) -> The Hellknight's feast (Season 5)

This is a popular series of scenarios that feature the Blakros Museum and the Blakros family, and I might be missing one or two in this list. The first few are kind of hack and slash but have great ambiance, the last two are very RP heavy.

-- Among the Living (Season 0) -> Among the Dead (Season 1) -> Among the Gods (Season 3)

This is another thematically linked series, the first one especially is a very rich setting with some great RP opportunity. I haven't played or GM'd the last one so I can't comment on it.

I would not suggest buying any season wholesale if you're just working with a small group. The entire season covers a range of levels from 1-11 and may include special scenarios that you can't really make use of in some cases. I would cherry pick scenarios with high ratings to play.

Also keep in mind that early scenarios can be highly variable in terms of difficulty: Very many are pushovers, but then some are murderous. Season 3 onward gets more consistent in danger, with a higher average level of difficulty. So running early season scenarios exclusively can lead your players to underestimate the danger level of the average scenario. Especially if you move from low level early scenarios to mid-high level late season scenarios: The jump from a season 1, 1-5 at 4-5 to a season 4, 3-7 at 3-4 has actually scared off a couple of my players before.

[Redneckdevil]

I play with a small group but at the same time wanted to get a "feel" for pfs games so i can host some games online using fantasy grounds for other people.
Tyvm for yals suggestions!

[FLite]

Akerlof wrote:

There are some groups of really good, thematically linked scenarios that have Season 0 installments:

--Mists of Mwangi (Season 0, updated to Pathfinder) -> Voice in the Void (Season 1) -> The Penumbral Accords (Season 2) -> The Blakros Matrimony (Season 4) -> The Hellknight's feast (Season 5)

This is a popular series of scenarios that feature the Blakros Museum and the Blakros family, and I might be missing one or two in this list. The first few are kind of hack and slash but have great ambiance, the last two are very RP heavy.

The Penumbral Accords (Season 2) -> Echoes of the Overwatched (Season 3) -> The Blakros Matrimony (Season 4)

And Presumably The Silver Mount Collection (Season 6)

The Silver Mount Collection wrote:

The esteemed Blakros family—famous for their museum in Absalom—receives a large shipment of artifacts from Numeria but fears that the ever-vigilant Technic League will attack to reclaim its "stolen" property. When they request the help of Pathfinders to help guard the collection, the PCs discover that the Technic League is the least of their worries.