How often can I play a pregen?

[Malikjoker]

My local chapter hasn't had a game in my level range, or that I could legally play, so I've been using pregens. I feel guilty about this for some reason.

[DesolateHarmony]

Don't feel guilty. You could play a pregen every time you sit at a table. The real restriction is that you cannot apply a chronicle gained by playing a pregen to a character of that same level or higher. So, if you have a 4-th level character, you cannot apply a chronicle gained by playing a 4-th level pregen to that character. You certainly can play a pregen, but the chronicle has to be applied to another, lower-level character, or to a brand-new character.

Again, no guilt for you.

[Malikjoker]

but applying it later when my 2nd level reaches 4 is Bueno?

[GinoA]

To add to that, if you're playing pregens because you don't have a PC high enough to play the scenario offered, that is perfectly fine. I completely skipped 7th-level on one of my first PCs because I joined an experienced group and was the only one without a mid-high level PC for a while.

However, if you're constantly using pregens because you don't have a low-enough level PC, I strongly encourage you to start more PCs. One of our regulars is often heard advising that you should create a PC whenever your lowest-level PC reaches third level. The idea is that a 2-3 level gap allows you to have all tiers covered consistently.

Granted, you often end up like I did, with three level 8s, two level 6s and a single level 2. The idea is to aim for a good spread.

[Mark Seifter]

Back when I was in the Boston Lodge, one of the locals was the "pregen master" in that he usually played 7-11s before his alchemist hit 7, so many times in a row that he had lots of notes for each pregen that was out at the time that he usually played. I believe when his alchemist finally hit 7, he instantly leveled up to 9 or 10 or something like that.

So the answer is, as often as you want.

[GinoA]

Malikjoker wrote:

but applying it later when my 2nd level reaches 4 is Bueno?

Absolutely. That's the 'default' approach to pregens.

[GinoA]

Mark Seifter wrote:

So the answer is, as often as you want.

Finally! The perfect straight-line. To be more precise, the limit is no more than once per scenario. ;-)

[Mark Seifter]

GinoA wrote:

Mark Seifter wrote:

So the answer is, as often as you want.

Finally! The perfect straight-line. To be more precise, the limit is no more than once per scenario. ;-)

In that case, then, add on "Except replayables" :P

[Malikjoker]

Thank you all so much!

[DesolateHarmony]

Malikjoker wrote:

but applying it later when my 2nd level reaches 4 is Bueno?

Actually, I can't think of a subtier 4-5... Hmm, perhaps that is a module range. Usually, you will be applying the chronicle played by a 4th-level pregen immediately, if the scenario is a 1-5, or when the character reaches level-3 (which might be immediately) for a 3-7 scenario.

Do I need to mention that a 4th-level pregen won't get you a credit in a 5-9 scenario? :)

[TetsujinOni]

DesolateHarmony wrote:

Malikjoker wrote:

but applying it later when my 2nd level reaches 4 is Bueno?

Actually, I can't think of a subtier 4-5... Hmm, perhaps that is a module range. Usually, you will be applying the chronicle played by a 4th-level pregen immediately, if the scenario is a 1-5, or when the character reaches level-3 (which might be immediately) for a 3-7 scenario.

Do I need to mention that a 4th-level pregen won't get you a credit in a 5-9 scenario? :)

You assign the chronicle to a character number immediately.

You apply the chronicle in the order that you played the adventure you received the chronicle for when the character to whom the chronicle is assigned reaches the level of the pregen with which you played the adventure. I will note which level it is being held for on the chronicle as a habit, so that I don't forget when I'm running a 3-7 and the pregen chronicle could be level 4 or 7.

A level 4 pregen played in the 4-5 subtier of a 1-5 or the 3-4 tier of a 1-7 or 3-7 would have to be held until level 4 or assigned as a reduced-gold level 1 chronicle on a character with 0-2 XP.

[rknop]

You can actually (sort of) play two pregens at once.

If you're at a table of three, you can play a pregen for your own character. Then there's the "make a table" pregen. The Guide isn't very specific about who plays that pregen. Sometimes I've run it as GM (at tables with a bunch of not-very-experienced Pathfinder players), but usually the GM assigns the duties of running the pregen to another player.

There was one time when I played both Seoni and Kira; Seoni was "my" pregen, for my chararacters who wasn't let level 7, and Kira was the "table" pregen. But I was the one driving both of them.

-Rob

[Ulfen Death Squad]

Kyra has usually been the token pregen at tables I have been at. I have started playing the paladin pregen when we needed more of a strong melee pregen so she can also heal if needed.

[CireJack]

rknop wrote:

You can actually (sort of) play two pregens at once.

If you're at a table of three, you can play a pregen for your own character. Then there's the "make a table" pregen. The Guide isn't very specific about who plays that pregen. Sometimes I've run it as GM (at tables with a bunch of not-very-experienced Pathfinder players), but usually the GM assigns the duties of running the pregen to another player.

There was one time when I played both Seoni and Kira; Seoni was "my" pregen, for my chararacters who wasn't let level 7, and Kira was the "table" pregen. But I was the one driving both of them.

-Rob

In the Game Master section of the guide on page 32 it says:

"In cases in which you simply cannot seat four players, you may run a table of three players, and play an official level-appropriate pregenerated character in order to meet the minimum table size of four PCs."

Seems pretty specific to me. It is however pretty common practice, at least in my area, for the GM (who is already overloaded on responsibility) to allow a player to play the pre-gen in addition to his normal character.

[Paladin of Baha-who?]

The new occult pregens will probably be attractive to people wanting to try out the new classes.

[kinevon]

DesolateHarmony wrote:

Malikjoker wrote:

but applying it later when my 2nd level reaches 4 is Bueno?

Actually, I can't think of a subtier 4-5... Hmm, perhaps that is a module range. Usually, you will be applying the chronicle played by a 4th-level pregen immediately, if the scenario is a 1-5, or when the character reaches level-3 (which might be immediately) for a 3-7 scenario.

Do I need to mention that a 4th-level pregen won't get you a credit in a 5-9 scenario? :)

GtPFSOPv6, page 6 wrote:

If you play a non-1st-level pregenerated character, you apply the credit to your character as soon as she reaches the level of the pregenerated character played.

So, playing a 4th level pregen is either reduced gold applied to a 1st level PC, or held for the assigned PC to reach 4th level, at which point the chronicle is applied. Same for using one of the 7th level pregens.

1st level pregens can be used for:
Tier 1 scenarios
Tier 1-2 scenarios or modules
Tier 1-3 modules
Tier 1-5 scenarios
Tier 1-7 scenarios in sub-tiers 1-2 and 3-4

4th level pregens can be used for:
Tier 1-5 scenarios
Tier 1-7 scenarios
Tier 2-4 modules
Tier 3-5 modules
Tier 3-7 scenarios
Tier 4-6 modules

7th level pregens can be used for:
Tier 1-7 scenarios
Tier 3-7 scenarios
Tier 5-7 modules
Tier 5-9 scenarios
Tier 6-8 modules
Tier 7-9 modules
Tier 7-11 scenarios

There are no pregens available for use in:
Tier 8-10 modules
Tier 9-11 modules
Tier 10-12 modules
Tier 11-13 modules
Tier 12 scenarios
Tier 12-14 modules
Tier 13-15 modules
Tier 14-16 modules
Tier 15-17 modules
Tier 16-18 modules

Note that module or AP segment can be used interchangeably.
There are, currently no modules or AP segments in Tiers 17-19, 18-20, 19-20, or 20.