new gm looking for storyline tips

[Dustin Ammerman]

So I'm starting a PFS local Chapter in Wyoming. I would like to run games in such a way that the storyline sort of keeps up with the characters, but I'm noticing that they aren't exactly released in such a way to make that easy. you have 1 or 2 tier 1-5 released then some tier 5-7 then a 3-5 etc not exactly in any particular leveling order in each season.

im wondering which season should i buy (im planning on buying an entire season at once) and which order should i run the scenarios in to make the most sense story/level wise? or should i just run them in release order?

Any and all help is appreciated.

Also if anyone in WY is reading this i do have the first event created on this site.

[Rei]

Seasons 2 or 3 might be your best bet. Seasons 0 and 1 don't really have much in the way of plot, and Seasons 4-6 are too intense for new players. I'm sure someone will drop by this thread and post one of the threads where people have mapped out PFS plotlines for making it all the way to level 12.

[TetsujinOni]

I disagree about the intensity of seasons 4-6.

Season 5 has 5-08 The Confirmation. It is a tremendous tool for introducing the Society in-character.

Season 6 has The Wounded Wisp. It is another great tool for introducing what the Society is about.

Then there is a good pair in The Bloodcove Disguise / Rescue on Azlant Ridge.

Then, Season 3 has a good series (Quest for Perfection), some good inside-the-tapestry low level adventures (challenging, but good) in Icebound Outpost and Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment, and good other-stuff adventures as well.

I would then consider the Season 4 adventures which deal with the Aspis Consortium threat to the Society's toy they picked up in Season 3. (such as My Enemy's Enemy)

This threat builds significantly in Season 6 and leads up to this years GenCon special.

This rather slants in the direction of: Season 7 will feature a lot of interaction with the Aspis Consortium. Cherry picking the background to introduce why they're the enemy will be useful.

Vigilante Playtest with a "society field negotiator" as your social persona and "Aspis Hunting Troubleshooter" as your vigilante? Why not, sounds fun. :)

[Kadasbrass Loreweaver]

Well I would recommend for starters the Confirmation and the Wounded Wisp for beginning new players, plus both are repeatable for different characters. There is also the free Service into Lore part 1 scenario.

If you are looking at getting a whole season, then I would hold off a bit, last year during August in the weeks leading up to GenCon Paizo had a bunch of PDFs on sale, including PFS Scenarios, at around 30% off. I suspect they might do the same during the 2nd half of July. It would likely this time be all the scenarios before season 6.

As for which season to go with that is a matter of opinion.

Season 1 and Season 2 were geared for smaller groups, but since Pathfinder was still young when they were written I find them much easier to prep for since they referenced fewer books. Also several season 2 scenarios tie in with scenarios in season 6 and possibly with season 7 via revisiting locations or revisiting plot points. I recently ran several season 2 scenarios this past winter as part of a season 6 prequel for my group as we had started during season 5 and was only familiar with that season.

I know of a local VL that is running a group through all of season 4 starting with the low tiers and working their way up through higher tiers. It isn't in exact order but it doesn't change much.

To be honest, it doesn't matter which season you grab. Season 2-6 usually had connected plots, season 1 (and season 0) were more random stuff but still fun. What ever season you get you and your players will love.

[Gwen Smith]

There are several threads on story arcs and metaplots. Story arcs? Connections? seems to be the most complete and up to date. Meta-plot Scenarios contains the overarching plot for Season 4.

I like First Steps part 1, Wounded Wisp, and Confirmation as the first level block. Master of the Fallen Fortress is a good insert anywhere in front of the Confirmation, too. (I don't do Confirmation as the first scenario for new players--they miss a lot of context that way.)

[TetsujinOni]

Dorothy Lindman wrote:

There are several threads on story arcs and metaplots. Story arcs? Connections? seems to be the most complete and up to date. Meta-plot Scenarios contains the overarching plot for Season 4.

I like First Steps part 1, Wounded Wisp, and Confirmation as the first level block. Master of the Fallen Fortress is a good insert anywhere in front of the Confirmation, too. (I don't do Confirmation as the first scenario for new players--they miss a lot of context that way.)

I go ahead and give the context as part of running it. It makes it long and RPey and talky, but that means I have less time to hurt them with a minotaur later...