So after about a year of doing normal PF stuff online with my friends, I'll be going to a PF session at a local game store. The only thing is it's "Pathfinder Society" and I'm not sure what the difference(s) would be. There's usually 2 groups, one for levels 1-5 and the other is 6-10 or something like that.
Do I just make a new character that's level 1-5 for the first group? Will I have to bring anything with me to the store? I'm also very shy around new people. I believe we're doing the Murder on the Silken Caravan campaign. That's all I really know so far.
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I highly recommend using a Pregen for your first 3 Sessions as a new player in PFS.
This is will give you a feel on how scenarios are played out and it will allow you to start with a few items off the Pregens.
It will also allow you to Roll up a 2nd level character of your own when you feel you have a grasp on the rules.
Playing with the Pregen allows you to not make wasted purchases. And gives you time to really plan out what and how you want to play.
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PFS has some special rules, probably different from any home games you have played in.
Most of the rules are embodied in two places:
The Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild Guide (PFRPG) PDF which contains the basic rules on character building and campaign traits.
Additional Resources which is the list of other Paizo publications, path the Core Rulebook, with content allowed in PFS.
PFS has a variety of free pregens available to Community Use Package: Pathfinder Society Pregenerated Characters
These are prebuilt PCs at levels 1, 4 and 7. Currently they have PCs for the CRB classes, the ACG classes, the OA classes, and the UC classes.
The Player Resources page has links to other useful information for players, as well.
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I would not recommend a pregen at 1st level unless you don't have time to build something. 1st level is really swingy already without the added difficulty of avoiding the handful of truly abominable pre-gens. Even the best of them are less than stellar.
Sure they suck but some of them have consumables which you can liberally use and not have to worry about expending any Gold or PP for the first 3 chronicles.
Having Every Penny (Typically around 1500) and 6PP for your Level 2 character is very nice.
This is Joe, he is my go-to first level character build. He's a tough, old beat cop type who sees it as his duty to look after the young whippersnappers. He is deeply embittered though because someone else always get the credit.
He is built to not only survive 1st level, but help everyone else survive.
There is actually whole threads dedicated to 1st level Builds for PFS. Most the community uses the Reroll feature at the start of level 2.
a good many people prefer Clerics or Barbarians for Surviving the first few sessions.
So after about a year of doing normal PF stuff online with my friends, I'll be going to a PF session at a local game store. The only thing is it's "Pathfinder Society" and I'm not sure what the difference(s) would be. There's usually 2 groups, one for levels 1-5 and the other is 6-10 or something like that.
Do I just make a new character that's level 1-5 for the first group? Will I have to bring anything with me to the store? I'm also very shy around new people. I believe we're doing the Murder on the Silken Caravan campaign. That's all I really know so far.
The major differences:
There are rules updates: certain things are not allowed, and if these things are class centric or included in the class (wizard: scribe scroll) then you get some replacement things for free.Some things are banned. Synthesists, for example, are banned from PFS.
There is no crafting: you cannot take craft feats, you cannot craft things in your spare time.
Profession is almost useful: after every session your PC essentially makes a profession check to gain some extra coin to hold him over until the next game.
Enforced 20 point buy.
The GM isn't building custom content, but instead is running PFS sponsored Scenarios, modules and adventure paths.
If you die and cannot be brought back from the dead, then you stay dead. I am not sure if you can use a different character's prestige to revive other dead characters of your own.
You cannot transfer items between characters.
PvP is strictly disallowed.
The GM can give you a bad rap, just as you can give the GM a bad rap, but this really doesn't do anything aside from figuratively having a slap fight. That is unless either of you want to become higher members of the real world PFS network.
You cannot be evil and play in PFS. If your character's alignment ever becomes evil, then the character effectively dies in terms of PFS (E.G. is kicked out.)
You can only use what books you have, meaning if you want to use a feat from Ultimate Wizard, then you have to bring that book. Most people at least have the Core Rules Book, and since Wizards can still be absurdly powerful with just the Core Rules Book, then you should always play either a Wizard, Cleric or Druid since they can be powerful right out of the tin.
You cannot save up your money, then buy whatever out of a book you have. There is "prestige" which limits what you can buy (it is either prestige or your level). However, items you encounter while on adventures are permanently purchasable by you. This means if you fight a dullahan and kill it, you can buy its +1 Cold Longsword at full price. You can use the item dropped during the rest of the adventure, but afterwards you have to buy anything you want to keep.
If I recall, you can gain "free" prestige by doing a favor for the group, E.G. bringing "free" pizza or something. It is best to avoid this.
Think of PFS as a massive attempt at streamlining to ensure "official" pathfinder games take, at max, around 4 hours to play. They are ~~ in their design, but this actually serves to help PFS as opposed to hurt it. The stories are different, but the overall design and pacing is usually about the same. There will almost always be a big bad guy at the end of a scenario. There will almost always be a rather easy encounter at the beginning, but depending on your GM this encounter might be hellishly hard as well. The cards are always stacked in the players favor, which if fine, and short of people making absurd decisions, everyone should tend to come out alive.
Well, that's all I got. No doubt it is filled with falsities, mistakes and out-right slander, but that's O.K..