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So I'm going to Gen Con for the first time ever this year, and I'm considering registering for a PFS game to play while there. This would also be a first for me, so I'm trying to figure out the whole maze of PFS rules and such, before I even start looking at the events and stuff.
Here's what I know, but what else am I missing?
1) Create a character using the PFS guide (for which a new one is coming out, but in the meantime if I stick somewhat vanilla, I should probably be fine)
2) Register for PFS #6-01: Trial by Machine (I am presuming the 6 refers to season 6, and this is the introductory level 1-5 session)
3) Take a shower, show up on time, follow Wheaton's Law, etc, etc
4) Get some sort of signed sheet at the end of the adventure (I'm not quite positive on the point of these sheets, but they have something to do with advancing my PFS character)
5) Reset my character back to his starting position (losing whatever I acquired) and either take him to another version of that session or register for a different starting session (like PFS #5-12: Destiny of the Sands - Part 1: A Bitter Bargain)
6) After the convention, file my sheet, gain whatever perks, levels, etc
Is there anything that I'm missing?
RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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1) Sounds good. Or they'll have pregenerated characters you can use.
2) That works, but you might look for a session of "The Confirmation" instead, which is specifically written as an intro to the Society.
3) Good idea...
4) You get a "chronicle sheet" after the game that tells you how much gold you get, plus XP (usually 1 XP, and every 3 levels you up), and Prestige Points (you can read about those in the Guide to Organized Play). The chronicle sheet also gives you access to items that were found in the scenario, which you can buy at the normal price without worrying about the Fame limit (which you'll read about in the Guide). It may also contain certain "boons" which give your character other benefits (or even penalties) based on the events of the scenario.
5) You don't reset your character, but you don't automatically keep whatever you found lying around. You get gold and Prestige Points which you can spend to buy gear, etc. Also, you can't replay scenarios outside of a few exceptions (certain level 1 adventures can be replayed, but never on the same character).
6) Yes. Keep the chronicle sheet, because you need that to legally play your character.
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Your points 1-3 are spot on. The current Guide to Organized Play will meet all your needs for creating a new character, other than the fact that tieflings and aasimar will no longer be options for new characters at that point, while kitsune, wayang, and nagaji are being added as options. Also, some of the factions are changing names, with some changes in their emphasis, but you can wait for the new Guide to figure out which faction to join with your character.
Your points 4-6 seem a little muddy.
At the end of every adventure, you get a chronicle sheet from the GM indicating that you played that adventure, and how much gold, experience, and prestige your character earned from that adventure. You then spend those resources before your next session to improve your character.
So let's say you play scenario 6-01 and successfully complete the mission, earning 1 xp, 2 prestige, and 500 gp. I'm just making up that gold amount, as I have no idea how much that adventure's worth, but that's a typical amount for subtier 1-2 of a level 1-5 adventure. The 1 xp and 2 pp are the maximum available in every PFS scenario.
In PFS, you advance your level when you have 3 xp, and each adventure is worth exactly 1, so having 1 xp means you're still 1st level. You can spend those 2 prestige on something (as detailed in the Guide to Organized Play - wands of Cure Light Wounds are popular choices for a starting prestige expenditure) or save those 2 prestige for later. You will probably want to spend your 500 gp immediately, so you have more gear to use in your second adventure.
For your next session, you play a different adventure. Since you will have already played 6-01 at that point, you're not allowed to play it again. Look for other level 1-2 or 1-5 adventures on the schedule. The Confirmation is a good starting scenario that I'd expect to see run a lot that weekend.
After each scenario, spend any gold and prestige you want to spend. After every 3 scenarios, level up your PC. Save the chronicle sheets you got after each scenario, so that you can show them to future GMs at PFS games as proof that your character really has earned those rewards and really is the level you claim he is.
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Okay, I think I've got the point I was confused on. So I keep all the chronicles in the packet with my character sheet, to show that I've legally earned everything that I have. I was thinking there was some kind of online registration thing for the character where I would have to register the sheet and the session, then print out a new one with some kind of authentication number or something (this was all very complicated in my head :) ).
Importantly, this means that if I played three different scenarios, I would advance in the middle of each one before going to the next (by "advance" I mean earn the rewards on my chronicle.
And look for a session of the Confirmation - is that like the introductory scenario (because that is DEFINITELY what I'm looking for).
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Also, I typically use Hero Labs to track my heroes. There's a section on there marked as PFS. Do you know if I use that are there any "gotchas" that I should be aware of being valid in the program, but illegal in PFS play? Again, for the most part I think I'll probably start fairly vanilla (maybe, at most, choosing a class from the APG).
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Register for PFS #6-01: Trial by Machine (I am presuming the 6 refers to season 6, and this is the introductory level 1-5 session)
You're correct that 6 refers to the season, but the number after the dash is the scenario number (kind of like the issue number in comic books). So 6-01 is the first scenario released for season 6, 6-02 is the second, and so on. There is usually a developing story arc over the season, but you can play them out of order with no problem.
The other thing to look for is the tier, which is the range of character levels that the scenario is designed for: 1-5, 3-7, 5-9, 7-11. You're looking for tier 1-5 scenarios right now, just like you thought. If you get past level 3, you'll have a lot more options.
Oh, and have fun!
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HeroLab is a 3rd Party resource, and (IMO) causes more headaches than not. I used to not allow it at my tables, but it seems most new players are all paperless, so I've loosened up a bit myself. Just be aware you may encounter a GM that's hostile to you using HeroLab. It has a lot of bugs.
Also, you must own the actual Paizo source for any options you use. Owning the HeroLab package doesn't count, which means HeroLab users are basically paying double when playing PFS.
Venture-Captain, California—Sacramento
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The Confirmation is *the* introduction scenario. At the end of it, you go from becoming a pathfinder recruit to becoming a pathfinder. (confusingly, it is scenario #5-08, so if you don't know to look for it...)
You can do other scenarios before or after it, but you want to do it early if you can.
From the brief summary on the product page, Trial by Machine will fit very well with Confirmation. (The conformation is where you graduate from the pathfinder academy, and Trial By Machine takes place in an area the academy uses as a training ground.)
Destiny of the sands is a very fun set of scenarios, but you might want to wait until you can play all three parts in close succession, and the third part requires you to be third level. (It also benefits from being played with a fair bit of personal experience under your belt.)
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Also, I typically use Hero Labs to track my heroes. There's a section on there marked as PFS. Do you know if I use that are there any "gotchas" that I should be aware of being valid in the program, but illegal in PFS play? Again, for the most part I think I'll probably start fairly vanilla (maybe, at most, choosing a class from the APG).
Hero Lab's PFS selection is pretty clean as far as indicating what is and isn't legal in PFS. There are some corner cases and bugs, but most of these are not specific to PFS. If you already use Hero Lab for Pathfinder RPG, you're probably aware of most of them.
The only PFS-specific issues I can think of are the "{blank} of the Society" traits: Hero Lab should restrict these to specific classes, but it doesn't. (It's an issue with which books these traits were sourced from; one of the APs printed these traits with the non-restrictive wording, but AP traits aren't valid in PFS.)
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I was thinking there was some kind of online registration thing for the character where I would have to register the sheet and the session, then print out a new one with some kind of authentication number or something (this was all very complicated in my head :) ).
There's a screen under your Paizo.com account to register PFS characters, which will help the organiser to get your character name right, but you don't have to fill in anything else online. The physical sheet is your official record and the organiser will report your session. You can maintain any form of character sheet you prefer, as long as it's up to date and readable if the GM needs to see it. You should also start an Inventory Tracking Sheet.
Importantly, this means that if I played three different scenarios, I would advance in the middle of each one before going to the next (by "advance" I mean earn the rewards on my chronicle.
At the end of each scenario and before the start of the next, yes.
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Also, you must own the actual Paizo source for any options you use. Owning the HeroLab package doesn't count, which means HeroLab users are basically paying double when playing PFS.
Since Herolab doesn't usually explain anything, I already have to buy the books, so I was already getting charged twice. I'm presuming my watermarked pdfs will be good enough, and, honestly, I doubt I'll use much more than maybe one Companion besides Core, ACG, and the Ultimates so I will (hopefully) be okay. Mostly I like HeroLab because it double checks my maths (at nearly 40, that is kind of important ;) ).
At the end of each scenario and before the start of the next, yes.
Perfect!
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I'm presuming my watermarked pdfs will be good enoughYou presume absolutely correctly. I commonly carry all my books in pdf form as a single tablet is much easier to transport than 10+ books. A GM has asked me to present the relevant book exactly one time thus far, I showed him my watermarked pdf, and we kept rolling.
Just make sure you've got battery enough/a charger handy!
I tend to print out half a dozen or so of the most important pages for each character and keep them in a folder with the character sheet. This makes it easy for me to find the exact rules related to the PC if I need to look something up, as well as making sure I always have it with me, even if I forget my tablet or it runs out of battery.
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On HeroLab:
1) After selecting the PFS PC option, make sure you check to make sure that only the books/PDFs you own are checked, so it won't offer you options that you don't have the rules available for.
2) As I am sure you know, verify the math HL uses. It is, usually, correct, but some options won't, necessarily, get added, or added incorrectly. Remember that it never hurts to be able to tell the GM, or another player, how your PC got that +X to hit or damage from, if asked.
3) If you use any combat maneuvers, have the numbers handy. Unless you use one of the custom output sheets, HL doesn't include much more than the basic numbers for CMB & CMD.
4) As I am sure you are aware, and it won't apply until you level your PC past first level, you can create multiple versions of the customizable Favored Class Bonuses in HL, so a human Fighter, for instance, could take that +1 to Trip and Disarm CMD for FCB for 1st level, and +1 to Disarm and Sunder CMD at 2nd, etc.
5) In the Configure Hero options, along with the book checkmarks, there are some others that should be checked or not, as appropriate. PFS Advancement, for example, should be checked. Emerging Firearms should be the firearms radio button selected. I usually try to remember to uncheck the NPC classes option, for instance.
Be careful with any add-ons, like the Community Bestiary, as they can add options that aren't PFS legal.
6) Along with the Guide, which shouldn't have much changed, other than the new factions and changed allowed non-Core races, be familiar with the Additional Resources web page, as that shows what options from anything besides the CRB is legal (for the hardcover line) or illegal (for the other book lines) for PFS.
Oh, and welcome to PFS!
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Oh, I did have one more question (thanks for all the answers!). My 16 year old son will also be there, we were thinking of registering together, but (I would assume obviously) he uses my books, will he be okay if the only books he has is MY pdf copies?
If you're at the same table then you're fine. If you end up at different tables, then one of you should have a print-out of the relevant part of the watermarked PDF (so you don't end up having to pass a tablet from one table to another). Campaign leadership have mandated this method.
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Oh, I did have one more question (thanks for all the answers!). My 16 year old son will also be there, we were thinking of registering together, but (I would assume obviously) he uses my books, will he be okay if the only books he has is MY pdf copies?
I know that you are officially allowed to share as long as you both live in the same household.