Serpents Rise and playing the Experiment

[Kalindlara]

So I'm going to be playing in Serpent's Rise this Saturday at a local convention. I'm really excited, but also very nervous, especially since it's going to be a tight time-slot. I really want to play this Experiment I've heard about, who's supposed to be some sort of oracle with unexplainable powers. That sounds right up my alley! I'm just worried about the time crunch.

So, can anyone give me any tips on how to play this character, both character-wise and statistically? Is there a character sheet available online that I can look at? No spoilers on the scenario itself, please. I just want to make sure I'm prepared to play, and play well. The rest of the table is counting on me.

Thank you! ^_^

P.S.: How does one assign the Chronicle for this? Is it done the same way as any other pregen?

P.P.S. I know, or can guess, a couple things.

Serpents Rise spoiler:

1. We do something bad to Aram Zey.
2. The Experiment is likely tied to Conference Z, from Occult Mysteries.

[Lord Valstaff]

The gm should have the pregen handouts for the players, just take the time to read it and enjoy!

[joe kirner]

You can assign it to any pc lvl 6-8

[Kalindlara]

joe kirner wrote:

You can assign it to any pc lvl 6-8

My highest level PC is 4th. Do I hold it for one of them?

[Drahliana Moonrunner]

Kalindlara wrote:

joe kirner wrote:

You can assign it to any pc lvl 6-8

My highest level PC is 4th. Do I hold it for one of them?

That's what I'd do.

[andreww]

Spoiler:

The Experiment is a Dark Tapestry Oracle with a focus on casting over melee combat. She comes with some interesting scrolls, make sure to read through her equipment list carefully. I would also pay close attention to what the dark tapestry revelations do. You might also want to look at the, otherwise PFS illegal feat, Dreamed Secrets. Her choices are set but using it comes with a potential cost.

[Jessex]

I played the experiment cold and it went great. The character sheet explains the character very well and if you have ever read any Lovecraft the character should make sense to you.

[thistledown]

I also played her and had a blast. I did have a bit of trouble coming up with 'standard combat actions' though. She's got a few very special abilities and lots of options, but no bread-and-butter default thing to do in a fight.

[GM Lamplighter]

The Experiment is the best pre-gen ever! She does have a lot of options, though, so you really have to read the sheet and take some time to digest the abilities. You already have a lot of the background which can shape the character. Have a blast!

[Socar]

I played this scenario and was fortunate enough to get to play the Experiment... The Pre-Gen is extremely well put together and I had a blast playing it. So much so that I made my own version so I could continue playing it. Oh and the scenario was very entertaining. I would easily put it in my top 5 scenarios that I have played.

[bdk86]

I didn't play the experiment, but a general tip after you review her gear and capabilities: Have a discussion with the party about what the Experiment's capabilities are. A lot of the pregens buck their class' more stereotypical functions just a bit, so this will hopefully encourage the other players to do the same check ins. The scenario, like all things Pathfinder, works best when you work as a team.

[Terminalmancer]

The Experiment is awesome. I played up the creepiness of her abilities (and her ambivalence about using those abilities) when I played and had a great time.

[Sebastian Hirsch]

Jup she is pretty awesome, just pay attention to her equipment, what she has and what she hasn't.

[Kalindlara]

Thank you all for the assistance! ^_^

Part of my concern was because this is the evening slot... so by this time, I'll have already played Portal of the Sacred Rune and run The Deepmarket Deception. Between that and the anxiety of my first convention as myself, I'm a little worried about my mental state by the time this rolls around.

(I'm also uncomfortable as a player, since I have others depending on me. GMing is much easier.)

[Terminalmancer]

Kalindlara wrote:

Thank you all for the assistance! ^_^

Part of my concern was because this is the evening slot... so by this time, I'll have already played Portal of the Sacred Rune and run The Deepmarket Deception. Between that and the anxiety of my first convention as myself, I'm a little worried about my mental state by the time this rolls around.

(I'm also uncomfortable as a player, since I have others depending on me. GMing is much easier.)

If you do end up uncomfortable or nervous, maybe you can translate that into 322's demeanor. They're quite plausible emotions for her to have given her situation.

I'm sure you'll do fine.

[Ascalaphus]

I was impressed by all the pregens actually. While the Experiment and the Leader were the ones that felt like "must have to succeed", all the pregens were satisfyingly good at their job. I got the slayer and what he did to all those nice squishy pathfinder full BAB NPCs...

[andreww]

I know I am bumping an oldish thread but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the extra information we are learning about 322 throughout Season 7. She is one of the most interesting recent NPC's and it's great to see these sort of links following through a season.

[andreww]

James Anderson wrote:

I also played her and had a blast. I did have a bit of trouble coming up with 'standard combat actions' though. She's got a few very special abilities and lots of options, but no bread-and-butter default thing to do in a fight.

Spoiler:

If in doubt Gift of Madness, she has loads of uses and it is the Gift that keeps on giving. Note that because she is level 7 each use lasts 7 rounds.

[Kalindlara]

andreww wrote:

I know I am bumping an oldish thread but I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the extra information we are learning about 322 throughout Season 7. She is one of the most interesting recent NPC's and it's great to see these sort of links following through a season.

Could you PM me a list? I'd love to play any-and-all of them. ^_^

[RealAlchemy]

I was told that like any other pregen, you had to apply the chronicle when your character was the level of the pregen. Since these were L7, the sheet would apply at L7.

[GreySector]

I can see why somebody would think that, however IMO the scenarios/modules where you are given specific pregens are an exception to this rule. If they aren't, then there is no need for the Serpent's Rise chronicle sheet to list levels 6-8, since you could only ever apply it to a 7th level character.

[Validorn]

I'll chime in my appreciation for 322. The backstory on the pre-gen sheet gives a great sense of the character. I had the privilege of playing her twice (2nd time for no credit) since we ran out of time in the final battle at GenCon the first time I played it. As others have done, I played up the creepy and ambivalent angle. Kind of like the 1,000 yard stare of one 'who has seen too much'. I also kept her awkwardly focused on her goals with simple but dark statements. As others have suggested, definitely take a close look at her gear and abilities. There were several things that I was not familiar with but have very interesting uses. If you can't get the character sheet in advance then andreww's spoiler tags should give a good head start.

[Hrothdane]

I played her myself, and she is clearly the best imo.

I don't have much to add other than make sure you look at her inventory ;)

[Riggamortis]

I got lucky and played her as well. i played her kind of like Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter. Full on creepy and kind of out of it. I think she is the best pre-gen I have ever played and found her character sheet to be very useful and contains all you need to play.