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Ok, I was just reading the Guide section on determining subtiers for another thread and found a discrepancy. I couldn't find anything searching on the forums, so maybe someone can help. The Determining Subtiers section of the PFS Guide says
In order to determine which subtier a mixed-level group of PCs must play in, calculate the group’s average party level (APL). Divide the total number of character levels by the number of characters in the party. You should always round to the nearest whole number. If you are exactly at 0.5, let the group decide which subtier they wish to play.
Starting with Season 4, scenarios are designed for six characters and contain instructions on how to adjust the scenario for four-character parties. When the APL of a table is between two subtiers (like APL 3 for a Tier 1–5 scenario), a party of four characters must play the lower tier without any adjustments for party size. A party of five to seven characters whose APL is between two subtiers must play the higher tier with the four-character adjustment.
For scenarios written in Seasons 0 to 3, when the APL is in between subtiers, a party of six or seven characters must play the higher subtier. Parties with four or five characters must play the lower subtier. In the fringe case where there are no players that are high enough to have reached the subtier level (such as a party of six 3rd level characters), the group may decide to play down to the lower subtier.
The bolded sections are confusing me. The first paragraph tells you the players can choose the subtier if they are at 0.5 (I don't know what that actually means. APL 3 in a 1-5 or 5 in a 3-7?). The second then tells you how groups must play between Subtiers in Season 4+, and the third tells you how in Seasons 0-3. Where exactly is the player choice the first indicates?
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Before you get into tier discussions, with the second and third paragraphs, you determine your APL.
If your APL is 2.49 and below your APL is 2
If your APL is 2.51 and above your APL is 3
If your APL is 2.50 the table can choose to be 2 or 3.
You are correct that the language in this section is confusing.
You shouldn't look at tiers, until the APL of the group is determined. Then these instructions are clearer.
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Ok so the "0.5" part isn't about "Here's your APL, here's what you do with it", it's part figuring out what your APL even is. That I had backwards, and seems to be the whole source of my confusion. Thanks!
To work off your example to make sure I have it right,
For the APL 2.50, the players would choose whether they count as APL 2 or APL 3.
Assuming a Tier 1-5, the options would be
Season 0-3, 4-5 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2
Choose APL 3: Subtier 1-2
6-7 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2
Choose APL 3: Subtier 4-5
Season 4+, 4 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2, 4p Mod
Choose APL 3: Subtier 1-2, No Mod
5-7 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2, No Mod
Choose APL 3: Subtier 4-5, 4p Mod
Is all that correct?
Venture-Captain, Washington—Spokane
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Ok so the "0.5" part isn't about "Here's your APL, here's what you do with it", it's part figuring out what your APL even is. That I had backwards, and seems to be the whole source of my confusion. Thanks!
To work off your example to make sure I have it right,
For the APL 2.50, the players would choose whether they count as APL 2 or APL 3.
Assuming a Tier 1-5, the options would be
Season 0-3, 4-5 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2
Choose APL 3: Subtier 1-2
6-7 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2
Choose APL 3: Subtier 4-5Season 4+, 4 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2, 4p Mod
Choose APL 3: Subtier 1-2, No Mod
5-7 players
Choose APL 2: Subtier 1-2, No Mod
Choose APL 3: Subtier 4-5, 4p ModIs all that correct?
Yes, you are correct.
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You are correct that the language in this section is confusing.
Something like this was actually brought up in the suggestion thread for the latest version of the PFS guide, but nothing changed.
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Really the problem stems from saying that with 0.5, the players choose which subtier. Their choice may indirectly affect subtier, but what they are actually choosing is APL. A better wording would be along the lines of
If you are exactly at 0.5, let the group decide whether to round their APL up or down.
Subtier shouldn't even be mentioned in the 0.5 wording.