My first Pathfinder Society / Pathfinder game EVER n my character is Dead


Pathfinder Society

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Bill Dunn wrote:
jtaylor73003 wrote:
I have complex reason why I value my time, and so anything I chose to do must meet a certain level of value or I wasted my time. This applies all things I decide to do from going to the movies to going on dates, etc.
I almost hate to say it, but I think this will set you up for a lot of disappointment in the future. And not just with respect to gaming.

Heh, All I could picture was him telling a date that unless he gets $30/hour value out of his date its a waste......

Dark Archive 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Muncie

Having run 75+ tables of PFS games death is not common. I think I have killed 4 characters off. 3 of the 4 have had enough prestige to have a raise dead cast upon them. The only brand new character I Killed off was in First steps part 1 (damn Ledford). Try it again its a good time most of the time.

1/5

Bill Dunn wrote:
jtaylor73003 wrote:
I have complex reason why I value my time, and so anything I chose to do must meet a certain level of value or I wasted my time. This applies all things I decide to do from going to the movies to going on dates, etc.
I almost hate to say it, but I think this will set you up for a lot of disappointment in the future. And not just with respect to gaming.

I understand why you say that, but actually I avoid a lot of disappointment by several different means. As with everything in life there is a proper place and time. Here on thread, where I don't know anyone personally, then no you don't get to know all the factors that lead to this high value on my time. Compare that to a date in the real world, then certain issues are required to explain to even schedule a date, let alone go on one. Please understand it is easy to just say I am overreacting, unfortunately to are complex reasons why my reaction is this why.

3/5

You didn't like dying. Understandable. You didn't like dying in the particular way you did (unable to counter a trick the NPC could repeat ad nauseam). Even more understandable.

A few things to think about:

Death is rare. I've played ~60 games, had one death, and two or three close calls. I've run ~25 game (so about 150ish characters at those tables) and killed ~5 characters. 1 game in 30 may be a decent guesstimate at death rate. That means the first game will be lethal for some people (about 1 in 30). The combination of a rough scenario, low level characters, inexperience, and an inflexible GM is a rare combination of factors.

That said, you need to be able to handle it when your characters do die. If it's going to ruin your evening then organized play (be it PFS or D&D) isn't going to make you happy. The game is to play a character, make his choices, and take his lumps, dying isn't the same as losing, and losing at games isn't a wasted night. If dying is totally unpalatable avoid RPGS, they all include that sooner or later.

Sovereign Court 5/5

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Andrew Christian wrote:

My view is this:

1) GMs should follow tactics as best they can, until something changes the circumstances so that tactic no longer makes sense. This is often subjective as to when this should happen.

2) GMs have the ability, and I'd go so far as to say responsibility, to "softball" things in the right circumstances (table with brand new players/characters). This is in the guide and has helpfully been posted above.

3) GMs should learn how to run their table based on the temperature of the team taking part that moment. Assume that there is a scale of 0 being cushy, smooshy softball and 10 being hard core. A GM can reasonably stick to written tactics and still make tactical choices for the badguys that are anywhere from a 0 to a 10. And as a GM, part of your responsibility is gauging what the players at your table want. Do they want a easy session with lots of RP, or do they want a tactical and strategic grind? Some GM's have the annoying habit of running on 11, all the time, regardless of who's sitting at their table.

4) In this case, the GM was following tactics as written, by having her channel over and over. But the GM deviated big time from tactics to have her take two AoO's specifically to catch your unconscious character in another 2d6 (almost ensuring death) channel. This is not ok.

5) Typically, even with mistakes like this, I err on the side of sticking up for the GM. GMs need to be able to make decisions at the table without constantly being called front and center to explain themselves or be chastised. That being said, given the circumstances, I'd also be tempted as a Venture-Officer to overturn the death due to the specific circumstances. That isn't to say I would, but I would be tempted.

Andy

I think this post not only warrants being favorited but quoted to refresh its immediacy in the discussion. Points 1,2,3, and the sentiment expressed in 5 could have come out of my own mouth. Only reason I didn't include 4 is because I'm not familiar with the specific scenario in question, but I suspect I'd agree with Andy here as well if I was.

A GM's most important role is not to impartially apply the rules but to administer a fun experience. That's true even in PFS. Especially in PFS. A table for beginners is not the same thing as a table for experienced players, and if the GM isn't adapting for that reality he's not doing his job.

You don't call a blitz when someone is playing quarterback for the first time.

Shadow Lodge 4/5

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And I would like to reiterate that for #4 we have no context and calling out the GM is in poor taste. Taking 2 AOOs sounds like an intentional move to give the party a chance to win on AOOs versus standing still and killing the alchemist anyways...

...because if the previous channel had knocked the alchemist to -8 HP, that means he was ALREADY in range for the next channel as the previous one dropped and left him in range of the cleric's channel, and no AOO-provoking movement was required.


Another question for jtaylor73003:

What if you die, but you are in a state of the game where you can use prestige to return to life? Would you also see that as a problem? Let's also assume this happens in one of the more difficult scenarios, but the GM in this case ran the game properly, and did not ignore the written tactics.

The Exchange 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Ireland—Belfast

I really think we need to be careful about what we conclude about the GM. There is a lot we don't know.

That he got there in time to run a scenario but not walk a new player through their character is not grounds to condemn him.

As an organiser &/or VO I would want to have a orientation chat with players at a beginners event either personally or with one of my regulars with rules knowledge and if possible the gift of the gab too. This is not always an option though much as we'd all like it.

We don't know the motive behind the provoking of two AoO: it could have been altruistic or far from it we simply do not know.

Without going over already covered ground the GM could have done better and if he was one of mine I would have offered some private suggestions to avoid this kind of thing.

W

1/5

wraithstrike wrote:

Another question for jtaylor73003:

What if you die, but you are in a state of the game where you can use prestige to return to life? Would you also see that as a problem? Let's also assume this happens in one of the more difficult scenarios, but the GM in this case ran the game properly, and did not ignore the written tactics.

First don't know what prestige is. If I had it and could use it, then my character wouldn't be dead it would just me using resources necessary to live. It would be like using gold, spells, or a feat. I think this game has element of resource management, ie. my bombs per day, if prestige is a resource then I use it. If can bring character back after dying then I would ensure I have some to use if the worse came to the worse, which would be resource management.

Now I don't know what would of happen if I had prestige to do this. Would I have gotten experience like fighters did who survived, but couldn't continue?

5/5 5/55/55/5

jtaylor73003 wrote:


First don't know what prestige is. If I had it and could use it, then my character wouldn't be dead it would just me using resources necessary to live.

Prestige is a measure of the favors your faction owes you. Most adventures you get two prestige points. 5 will get someone to scrape you off the dungeon floor, 2 of them will get you a wand of cure light wounds, 16 of them will get you back from the dead. But when you call in that favor those points are gone

Say Sir Brightsmile the Righteous is a stalwart member of the pathfinder society. If he goes on one adventure he can ask his do gooder friends to give him a wand... this week. If he's been a loyal and successful pathfinder and he falls in battle they'll want to get him back in the fight, so they'll pay for the rather expensive resurrection process. If he dips into the supply closet to take out a wand every week though they're going to want him to pay for his own resurrection or they'll pay for his funeral instead.

Like you said, resource management. Do you try to buy a little something that might prevent your death now or save up in case it does happen?

At first level with a brand new player though there's not much you can do. YOu don't have the resources, you don't have 800 books and boons that you can use to cobble together a 29 hitpoint level barbarian. Your character doesn't have 16 prestige points to come back, and the system mastery you'd need to not risk your character and come back from the dead looks a little cheesey even if you could rules lawyer your way through it.

Give it another shot with a different dm. Let em know you're brand new and your last character died. They'll probably only maim you :)

If you're seriously wounded, RUUUN AWAAAAAAY. You only need three encounters for the experience point, and losing a few hundred gold seems harsh at level 1 but at level 7 I go through that in werewolf kibble most adventures.

Shadow Lodge 4/5 5/5 RPG Superstar Season 9 Top 8

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It was said before but is worth reinforcing--damage in the lower levels can be very swingy. I've seen unexpected deaths in low level games on more than a few occasions.

We were playing a 3-7 last Wednesday and partway through the fight someone took a greataxe crit from the BBEG fighter. Dropped him from his current 75% HP to true dead. Not much you can do when you get smacked for over 60 damage in a single hit.

Crits happen.

The Exchange 5/5

I think the best advice given in this thread ... was to talk to the VO (emails are in the back of the free guide) and relay your concerns. If you truly have a major issue with that GM than you can make the choice to not sit at his tables again.

As a VL, I would hope that a player would come to me if there was an issue. I understand being a new player finding information can be difficult and daunting with all that is out there ... your local VO can help or asking on the boards generally can come up with a good answer for most questions.

Valuable resources for players are:

The free guide (look in your downloads)
The FAQ
The local VC/VL corps and/or local coordinator

Coordinators and GMs are not flawless and make mistakes, they are just as human as everyone else. Publicly flogging a GM what a play experience means that there are going to be less GMs as a whole as they aren't going to want the possibility of the public flogging (as evidence earlier by someone).

Silver Crusade 3/5

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Walter Sheppard wrote:

It was said before but is worth reinforcing--damage in the lower levels can be very swingy. I've seen unexpected deaths in low level games on more than a few occasions.

We were playing a 3-7 last Wednesday and partway through the fight someone took a greataxe crit from the BBEG fighter. Dropped him from his current 75% HP to true dead. Not much you can do when you get smacked for over 60 damage in a single hit.

Crits happen.

Thursday, I killed a 7th-level character with a greatclub crit. Only a x2 weapon, but with a raging power-attacking hill giant barbarian that greatclub crit was enough to take the character from 100% to doornail dead. That was the second round of the first encounter.

Luckily for that character one of his companions had a raise dead, two restorations, and all of the material components already prepared just for such a contingency. I almost killed the same character later in the same scenario, but merely captured him alive instead. (It was a rough scenario for that character. In the end, the "rewards" were +1 XP, –5 prestige, and around –4,000 gp.)

On a completely unrelated note to the OP: you might want to avoid the scenario #4-04: King of the Storval Stairs if you ever play at the higher levels.


The Fox wrote:
Walter Sheppard wrote:

It was said before but is worth reinforcing--damage in the lower levels can be very swingy. I've seen unexpected deaths in low level games on more than a few occasions.

We were playing a 3-7 last Wednesday and partway through the fight someone took a greataxe crit from the BBEG fighter. Dropped him from his current 75% HP to true dead. Not much you can do when you get smacked for over 60 damage in a single hit.

Crits happen.

Thursday, I killed a 7th-level character with a greatclub crit. Only a x2 weapon, but with a raging power-attacking hill giant barbarian that greatclub crit was enough to take the character from 100% to doornail dead. That was the second round of the first encounter.

Luckily for that character one of his companions had a raise dead, two restorations, and all of the material components already prepared just for such a contingency. I almost killed the same character later in the same scenario, but merely captured him alive instead.

On a completely unrelated note to the OP: you might want to avoid the scenario King of the Storval Stairs if you ever play at the higher levels.

One-shot kills (or any kills really) are much less of a problem when raises are possible, especially instant ones. It's not game over. It's really just knocked out plus a resource drain.

Silver Crusade 3/5

thejeff wrote:
One-shot kills (or any kills really) are much less of a problem when raises are possible, especially instant ones. It's not game over. It's really just knocked out plus a resource drain.

Oh, I agree. But this character would not have had the prestige for a raise dead, nor would he have had enough gold to pay for both the raise dead and the restoration. In this case, the player got lucky that there was someone on hand that had the ability to raise her character. (They tried to get to him with breath of life but they couldn't quite make it in time.)

Edit: of course, all of this is beside the point. I was merely trying to say that even high-level characters can suffer the effects of a well-timed critical hit, reinforcing what Walter was saying.

Edit 2: Actually, when a 0 XP character dies it is even less of a big deal because you have nothing invested in that character other than the session just played. The character I just talked about is down 5 prestige and enough gold to buy a +2 enhancement bonus ability item. The player who loses a 0 XP character can photocopy the character and be at exactly square one, which is where they were at the beginning of the evening.

5/5 5/55/55/5

You can shamble into the next adventure with the negative levels on you. Restoration is one of the conditions you're allowed to carry over.

1/5

Thanks to everyone's advice. I never intended to "publicly flog" the Game Master, although I can see how my actions could be interpreted that way. I honestly knew no where else to go, since I didn't know how organized this society is.

I do have to ask should I still contact the Venture Captain or Venture Lt. ?

Sovereign Court 5/5

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jtaylor73003 wrote:

Thanks to everyone's advice. I never intended to "publicly flog" the Game Master, although I can see how my actions could be interpreted that way. I honestly knew no where else to go, since I didn't know how organized this society is.

I do have to ask should I still contact the Venture Captain or Venture Lt. ?

I'd consider it a case of picking your battles.

As a player who's played PFS exactly once and had his character die in that adventure, that death really hasn't "cost" you much (mechanically).

It's free to register PFS characters and you're allowed to have as many or as few as you like. You can even make your -2 character the exact same build with the exact same name. So you can effectively (and completely legally) just mulligan that death and start over.

Mechanically, the only "cost" you suffered in that session was that since scenarios can't be replayed*, that's one scenario "burned". But put that in context: There are about 25-26 scenarios every year, and we're midway through year 6. One scenario may well have been ruined for you by the experience you had, but there's still about 150 more for you to play, and 2 more come out every month!

*= there are indeed arcane rules for replaying scenarios. But generally it's easier to consider it a rough rule of thumb that "scenarios can't be replayed"

1/5

deusvult wrote:
jtaylor73003 wrote:

Thanks to everyone's advice. I never intended to "publicly flog" the Game Master, although I can see how my actions could be interpreted that way. I honestly knew no where else to go, since I didn't know how organized this society is.

I do have to ask should I still contact the Venture Captain or Venture Lt. ?

I'd consider it a case of picking your battles.

As a player who's played PFS exactly once and had his character die in that adventure, that death really hasn't "cost" you much (mechanically).

It's free to register PFS characters and you're allowed to have as many or as few as you like. You can even make your -2 character the exact same build with the exact same name. So you can effectively (and completely legally) just mulligan that death and start over.

Mechanically, the only "cost" you suffered in that session was that since scenarios can't be replayed*, that's one scenario "burned". But put that in context: There are about 25-26 scenarios every year, and we're midway through year 6. One scenario may well have been ruined for you by the experience you had, but there's still about 150 more for you to play, and 2 more come out every month!

*= there are indeed arcane rules for replaying scenarios. But generally it's easier to consider it a rough rule of thumb that "scenarios can't be replayed"

Thank you for your advice.

Sovereign Court 4/5

Go play again and see what happens. That would double your sample size.

And wear that death like a badge of honor.

My first PFS experience sucked. One player took over the table and would not shut up. We listened to him "monologue" for 4 hours and didn't finish the scenario.

My second time was GMed by John Compton. It was better. :) That was 4 years ago and I'm a hopeless PFS addict now.

Horizon Hunters 4/5 5/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Indiana—Indianapolis

During my very first PFS game, I was seated with a great GM (who became one of our 5-star GMs) and another player who would go on to become not only a 5-star GM herself, but ultimately a VL and then VC for my area. They were very welcoming.

Also at the table was a player (who turned out to be the brother of a college friend, but I didn't at first know this guy was his brother.) This guy made all kinds of racist and derogatory comments, which ultimately ruined the overall experience for me.

But, I raised the issue with the VL, and she took care of it pronto (and as she witnessed it, there wasn't any convincing on my part.) I appreciated that very much.

I try very hard not to judge a new experience on that sole experience - it would have to be truly horrible for me to decide not to try it again.

Stick with it. With the right group and right GM, PFS is a great experience!

Shadow Lodge 4/5

jtaylor73003 wrote:

Thanks to everyone's advice. I never intended to "publicly flog" the Game Master, although I can see how my actions could be interpreted that way. I honestly knew no where else to go, since I didn't know how organized this society is.

I do have to ask should I still contact the Venture Captain or Venture Lt. ?

I would strongly encourage you to reach out to your local Venture Captain and share the details of your experience.

As I have said before, this type of information is very valuable in managing the local community to ensure that it is safe, fun, and supportive of all players.

Silver Crusade 5/5 5/55/5 **** Venture-Captain, Germany—Bavaria

jtaylor73003 wrote:

Thanks to everyone's advice. I never intended to "publicly flog" the Game Master, although I can see how my actions could be interpreted that way. I honestly knew no where else to go, since I didn't know how organized this society is.

I do have to ask should I still contact the Venture Captain or Venture Lt. ?

I would suggest contacting your VC or VL, just try to be positive and ask for other beginner friendly opportunities to play. Chances are pretty good that he or one of his GMs has already seen this thread, but you might send him a link as well, that way he can see what suggestions you have already received from our community.

Liberty's Edge 4/5

jtaylor73003 wrote:
I left hurt and confused, because I could compare the session to another system's session. I understand everyone opinion, especially those use to the system. I am simply am not, which would mean increase chances of die next session. This seems like the only Game Master in the area, and he said next week would be part 2.

Clearly cause we're posting on the boards here, we're fans of Pathfinder and PFS. I'd urge you to talk to the local Venture Captain and give it another shot.

I've left angry at a table before but that was a while ago. At at a Living Greyhawk game where the bad guy was cheesed out and my 11th level PC went from full health to death on a crit. I figured out that the author was cheesing out the bad guys.

Anyways I'd urge you to give it another shot after talking to the Venture Captain.

Mike

Liberty's Edge 4/5

jtaylor73003 - Out of curiosity where are you located? That way we can point you to the local Venture Captain.

Thanks

Mike

Shadow Lodge 4/5 *** Venture-Captain, Michigan—Mt. Pleasant

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As a VC, I know I'd like to know about the situation. If its being advertised as PFS for beginners and they're running that series I'd have an issue with it. That series of scenarios is not beginner friendly, especially the third one. I'd want to have a talk with the organizer and suggest he reschedule to a couple of the scenarios actually meant for beginners.

1/5

Qstor wrote:

jtaylor73003 - Out of curiosity where are you located? That way we can point you to the local Venture Captain.

Thanks

Mike

I am in Oklahoma.

Scarab Sages 5/5 5/5 *** Venture-Captain, Washington—Spokane

jtaylor73003: If you are referring to the series that I am thinking, I would NEVER recommend that as a "PFS for Beginners" scenario. I would follow the recommendations of the previous posters and contact your local Venture-Officer. The listing for Venture-Officers can be found here.

It is a situation like you have described that can easily turn a new player against coming back for a repeat scenario. Don't get me wrong, death is always possible in this game but should never be handed out during someone's first game. It is even stated in the Guide to Organized Play that GMs should consider new players at the table when tactics can be lethal:

Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play pg. 35 Dealing with Death Section wrote:

Given the dangers characters face once they become

Pathfinders, character death is a very real possibility (and
a necessary one to maintain a sense of risk and danger
in the game). Consider, however, that for players new to
Pathfinder Society Organized Play, or to the Pathfinder
RPG in general, a violent death in a first experience can
turn them off to the campaign and the game altogether.
While we don’t advocate fudging die rolls, consider the
experience of the player when deciding whether to use
especially lethal tactics or if a character is in extreme
danger of death, especially when the player is new to the
game. Most players whose first experience in a campaign
results in a character death don’t return to the campaign.

Please take the advice of myself and other to both contact your local VO and give it another shot with, hopefully, a different GM. Sorry about the wall of text and thank you for reading this response.

The Exchange 5/5

jtaylor73003 wrote:
Qstor wrote:

jtaylor73003 - Out of curiosity where are you located? That way we can point you to the local Venture Captain.

Thanks

Mike

I am in Oklahoma.

Here is a link to the VO Page scroll til you see the Oklahoma VOs and then find the once closest to you

Grand Lodge 4/5

Preston Hudson wrote:

jtaylor73003: If you are referring to the series that I am thinking, I would NEVER recommend that as a "PFS for Beginners" scenario. I would follow the recommendations of the previous posters and contact your local Venture-Officer. The listing for Venture-Officers can be found here.

It is a situation like you have described that can easily turn a new player against coming back for a repeat scenario. Don't get me wrong, death is always possible in this game but should never be handed out during someone's first game. It is even stated in the Guide to Organized Play that GMs should consider new players at the table when tactics can be lethal:

Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play pg. 35 Dealing with Death Section wrote:

Given the dangers characters face once they become

Pathfinders, character death is a very real possibility (and
a necessary one to maintain a sense of risk and danger
in the game). Consider, however, that for players new to
Pathfinder Society Organized Play, or to the Pathfinder
RPG in general, a violent death in a first experience can
turn them off to the campaign and the game altogether.
While we don’t advocate fudging die rolls, consider the
experience of the player when deciding whether to use
especially lethal tactics or if a character is in extreme
danger of death, especially when the player is new to the
game. Most players whose first experience in a campaign
results in a character death don’t return to the campaign.
Please take the advice of myself and other to both contact your local VO and give it another shot with, hopefully, a different GM. Sorry about the wall of text and thank you for reading this response.

Yeah, it looked like, and the tactics match, the first scenario in a very dangerous series of scenarios, The Devil We Know series, with the first one being Shipyard Rats.

That one, not long ago (but not in Oklahoma), I ran, with what I thought would be a group of PCs that could handle it, and I spent much of that specific encounter going over her tactics, trying to find a way to keep that encounter from going TPK. Even with that, I still took out, permanently, about half the party.

A few weeks later, I ran Part 3, Crypt of Fools, and managed to TPK that party. I was not happy doing it, but could not see a way around it. I will admit that I may have misunderstood the map, however, for the final encounter.

map:
Are the cages supposed to be able to be walked on or moved over, or do they really constrict that section of corridor to an effective 5' wide?

That series of scenarios were either written by Josh Frost, or heavily edited by him, and he is known, in PFS, not just for being one of the former coordinators, but for writing some of the deadliest scenarios.

Dark Archive 5/5

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Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Maps Subscriber
The Fox wrote:

Luckily for that character one of his companions had a raise dead, two restorations, and all of the material components already prepared just for such a contingency. I almost killed the same character later in the same scenario, but merely captured him alive instead. (It was a rough scenario for that character. In the end, the "rewards" were +1 XP, –5 prestige, and around –4,000 gp.)

On a completely unrelated note to the OP: you might want to avoid the scenario #4-04: King of the Storval Stairs if you ever play at the higher levels.

One in fifteen of my GM credits are from 4-04.

I will swap to running The Disappeared in a heartbeat for the wrong table showing up to play Storval. It's a beastly difficult scenario for ill-prepared but experienced players, let alone limited-experience players who've played in softbally regions.

1/5

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Thank you all for posting. I have sent a message to the Venture Captain.

Sovereign Court 4/5

If you value your free time, don't waste it on poor scenarios like The Devil We Know series. As far as I am concerned, a bad scenario might give out a negative experience even if character deaths don't occur.

Of course it's another thing to check if a scenario is actually good and then decide whether to join or not.

And think of this way; you continue to play PFS, your investment in books and other accessories is not wasted.

2/5

I would strongly advise playing again. I showed up to my first game much like you, I didn't know a single person there and it was my first time playing Pathfinder. I was playing a Barbarian with a Bard, a Sorcerer, and a Rogue, all level 1. I spent the 4th fight of the scenario playing Yo Yo against an enemy fighter while the bard and the sorcerer stuffed potions we found earlier down my throat to get me back in the fight. We made it through that fight and then another to finally be successful, but it was a tight one. I continued to play the Barbarian and he's now sitting at 12 looking to complete the retirement arc. But really, the value I got out of PFS was the friendships I made with the people at the store. I've played many other scenarios with them and they've become more than just my game friends. Ultimately, you had a bad first experience and while that's unfortunate, it's really not representative of the hobby as a whole. I encourage you to dust off and try again. It's certainly a hobby many others and myself have enjoyed for decades.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder PF Special Edition, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
rknop wrote:
jtaylor73003 wrote:
rknop wrote:
In 58 tables of credit as GM, I've only managed to outright kill two characters. (Lots have been below zero.). I'm far from the best tactician, and I'm probably a softie. And, yet, still, if I got to a table and discovered the OP was one of the players, I'd recommend he not play with me. If for no other reason, I worry about the repercussions that would fall on me if something weren't to go right.
What repercussions would you be afraid of???

A thread like this one. Players coming in with unreasonable expectations (e.g. that I provide enough entertainment to them that they will consider it economically reasonable given their hourly wage) and then going away in an attempt to convince other PFS players to blame me if they don't get what they're after.

I wouldn't be afraid of it. I've been GMing in conventions, game days, since Pathfinder came out. And to this day, I think I could count the number of players who actually read these boards, as opposed to just using them to manage PFS characters, on the fingers of one hand.

Grand Lodge 3/5

There are quite a few of us here Lazar, so you must have many fingers!

5/5 5/55/55/5

A fair number of the people I"ve met playing PFS knew me from here.

I need to start wearing armor to game days...

Silver Crusade 5/5 5/55/5 **** Venture-Captain, Germany—Bavaria

BigNorseWolf wrote:

A fair number of the people I"ve met playing PFS knew me from here.

I need to start wearing armor to game days...

Do they throw kibbles and treats at you?

One would think, that posting under your real name would sometimes stop me from arguing with people, one would be wrong.

While PFS seems to have grown quite a bit, locally it still feels like a moderately small group of people.

Grand Lodge 4/5 5/55/5 ** Venture-Lieutenant, Florida—Melbourne

BigNorseWolf wrote:
A fair number of the people I"ve met playing PFS knew me from here.

While I agree that I have met many people I know read these forums, LaserX was specifically referring to Players. Most of the people I have met who read these forums I would qualify more as a GM than a player .

That said, I do think it is unnecessary to overly criticize the GM in this issue as we know little regarding the details.


Welcome to Pathfinder!

Shadow Lodge 4/5

BigNorseWolf wrote:
A fair number of the people I"ve met playing PFS knew me from here.

If anyone ever says they know me from the forums, I usually laugh and reassure them I'm not this much of an a-hole in real life. I'm still deadpan and often snarky, but it's more clear that there's no malice behind it. Plain text isn't always the best medium.

5/5 5/55/55/5

Mystic Lemur wrote:
BigNorseWolf wrote:
A fair number of the people I"ve met playing PFS knew me from here.
If anyone ever says they know me from the forums, I usually laugh and reassure them I'm not this much of an a-hole in real life. I'm still deadpan and often snarky, but it's more clear that there's no malice behind it. Plain text isn't always the best medium.

I'd do that but i have a horrible bluff score...

4/5

Mystic Lemur wrote:
BigNorseWolf wrote:
A fair number of the people I"ve met playing PFS knew me from here.
If anyone ever says they know me from the forums, I usually laugh and reassure them I'm not this much of an a-hole in real life. I'm still deadpan and often snarky, but it's more clear that there's no malice behind it. Plain text isn't always the best medium.

Amen to that. I am an infallibly nice and polite person in real life. On the forums... I am an acerbic and argumentative curmudgeon at times. :P

Silver Crusade 3/5

I have the opposite problem.

Silver Crusade 1/5 Contributor

Same. :(

Grand Lodge 2/5

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The Fox wrote:

I have the opposite problem.

You mean that you've played more than one game and your character is still alive?

Scarab Sages 5/5

dwayne germaine wrote:
Dhjika wrote:
BretI wrote:

I'll point out that middling constitution characters have been known to die in a single hit - in both Confirmation and first Steps part 1 - especially if the GM decides to Power Attack - but not limited to a power attack swing.

I have to second this. I've seen a high CON barbarian go from full health to dead in one axe critical during The Confirmation. I know axe crits are the exception rather than the norm, but they do happen.

I've seen characters with no points in CON (or points gained from CON) go from fine to dead with a non-critical swing in Confirmation - and a certain barbarian in First Steps seems to get a lot of crits.

Silver Crusade

crit confirmed wrote:
2. Go back and request these easier scenarios: ... The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment

Are you INSANE? That's one of the deadliest scenarios I have ever played in; our party got wrecked in the very first combat encounter and nobody was first level or new. We didn't even do the final boss (I went on alone after everyone else bailed out, but by the time I soloed my way to him I was tapped out of resources and had to bail when he turned into the big gribbly). In fact, I would go so far as to say to never use any of the Hao Jin Tapestry scenarios as a starter.


2 people marked this as a favorite.

I was killed by a Minotaur my first time (2 weeks ago) at Pathfinder. From full HP down below -Con in one attack! Loved it, I thought it was hilarious (and no I'm not being sarcastic) :)

I think death is part of the fun and wouldn't want a GM to go easy on me - would take away from the risk, excitement and realism of the Pathfinder experience. Without risk what is the point of reward?

You have to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. In my case:

* I've grasped a basic understanding of the game mechanics.
* I've learnt the basics on how to build a character.
* I've met some great people who are enjoy Pathfinder as much as I am growing to enjoy it.

* Don't go one-on-one against a Minotaur with a Lv1 1 Monk! ;)

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