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So, I am about to GM my first PFS game, a complete run through of Emerald Spire, and I have a couple of questions about GM credit.
Now, I'm sure that people have asked these before in other threads, so should you feel lazy and have quick access to those, feel free to just post the links.
1: What does GM credit consist of? A chronicle sheet that acts as if the character has completed a scenario, complete with gp, xp, pp, and rewards? Or a watered down version?
2: If I apply the GM credit to a character, does that count as me "playing" the scenario, and lock out my other characters from playing it? Does it lock out the character the credit is applied to from playing it?
3: Emerald Spire counts each floor as a scenario, and suggests slow progression. However, if I'm applying GM credit to my characters, are they limited to slow progression if that's what the party playing the game is using? Or since I may choose to spread the credit out across multiple characters of my own, can the party use slow progression and my credit apply as normal progression?
4: If the group is missing a character, and I have to run a character to make the table legal, do I still apply a GM credit? Does the character I ran for the scenario receive a chronicle sheet?
5: Are there any downsides to using GM credit on pc's, such as stunted fame progression, lower faction rep, etc?
I can't think of any others at the moment, but I'm sure all of you awesome GM's out there are thinking of questions I forgot to ask, so if you wish feel free to share as much information on this subject as you want!
Thanks guys!
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1) Complete chronicle sheet! Best part is it always applies to your character's level, regardless of whether you ran high or low sub-tier. If your character is out of tier, they get the out of tier gold and only the low sub-tier options for items and the like.
2) Yes, one character cannot have two sheets from the same scenario. You can, however, play it with another character.
3) I am not familiar with the Spire sheets, but it sounds like you can do either, as long as the character you are applying it to is within the level range of the sheet.
4) If you only have a table of 3 players, you will have to run the game playing a pre-generated character (likely Keira). Regardless, you will still only get one chronicle sheet for running the game. You cannot insert your own character to help out the party.
5) The only downside to applying GM credit to a PC is the fact that it is one more game which you cannot enjoy playing your character. Personally, this sometimes leads to me not making smart purchases (not having a cold iron weapon at level 7, for instance...). But if done properly, the only damage is not being able to play it as long since it'll level up through GM credit and not player credit.
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1.) GMcredit is a normal chronicle with full xp/pp/gold and you get to choose which boons you want (factionboons only if you are in the faction)
2.) No
3.) The party do not need to be all slow or all fast and what your party does does NOT affect your chronicle in any way
4.) You run a PREGEN (or let a player run one) and there is no extra credit
5.) There is only one downside i know of, you cannot complete any factionrewards other than the gming one from the factioncards and you might not be able to get one specific boon that is called out in the scenario
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Welcome to the GM side of PFS! :)
Be sure to check out the Guide to Pathfinder Society Organized Play. It should answer 99% of the questions you might have in the future.
You and your players will enjoy Emerald Spire. It is a lot of fun.
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Also looking forward to collecting player's tears.
I recognize that you may not be serious when you say this. Out of an abundance of caution I want you to know that the creation of player grief by GMs has lead to a lot of problems for this campaign. This is a game, and when a game stops being fun and becomes contentious players often walk away and don't come back. So put a little wink after statements like the one above so we know you're only kidding :)
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Also looking forward to collecting player's tears.I recognize that you may not be serious when you say this. Out of an abundance of caution I want you to know that the creation of player grief by GMs has lead to a lot of problems for this campaign. This is a game, and when a game stops being fun and becomes contentious players often walk away and don't come back. So put a little wink after statements like the one above so we know you're only kidding :)
Oh no, it was definitely a little joking. I've been on the receiving end of GM's who use the position to exert their "power" or "superiority", and it's not how I like to play the game. I'm an extremely laid back GM, and in my normal home games, more often than not I follow the "rule of cool".
However, for society play, I plan on following the rules explicitly, but without being an ass about it. I like to run fun, relaxed, laid back games that everyone smiles during.
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The rules for applying GM credit is on Page 37-38 of the Guide to Organized Play. Here's a few high points:
Any GM who runs a scenario gets full credit for that scenario applied to one of her own characters.
The GM *may* select any special boons bestowed by a Chronicle sheet.
-This is regardless of whether or not the party is eligible for them. Some boons are positive, some are negative, you get to take your pick as long as the character meets the requirement..
The gold earned is determined by the level / subtier of the character. Check the Guide for full rules.
Of course, one downside to have a lot of GM credit is the book-keeping of applying sometimes several levels of Chronicles at once ;)
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For #5 the only downside I can think of is that you need to actually play your character to buy and sell stuff beyond the starting 150 gold. Sometimes a scenario will throw players right into the action with no chance to buy gear and supplies. If you have a "GM baby" beyond the first few levels and this happens, you could be screwed. I have not yet heard of this happening, but it is possible.
Don't let this scare you away from GMing though. Play your characters at least once in a while so you can get caught up on items.
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For #5 the only downside I can think of is that you need to actually play your character to buy and sell stuff beyond the starting 150 gold. Sometimes a scenario will throw players right into the action with no chance to buy gear and supplies. If you have a "GM baby" beyond the first few levels and this happens, you could be screwed. I have not yet heard of this happening, but it is possible.
Don't let this scare you away from GMing though. Play your characters at least once in a while so you can get caught up on items.
I don't think that situation applies. For one, I don't think there's anything that stops you from recording purchases on a GM chronicle sheet (you're the GM for the scenario, so presumably you can approve your own purchases). For another, in scenarios such as you describe, it's more about the players not being able to purchase items in reaction to the mission briefing. There's unlimited downtime between scenarios, so if someone comes with a GM credit character with their ITS filled out before hearing the mission briefing, I don't think there's any reason to deny them those purchases. Adding things to it after hearing the mission briefing in such a scenario wouldn't be allowed, but items they've bought between scenarios should be fine.