| Lathelus |
Hello! I got a question. How am I supposed to use the battle maps found in the PDF's? I mean, with all these markings for GM. I don't mind the room markings, these are acceptable. But what about secret rooms? What about traps? Should I simply don't show these maps to PC's and describe the rooms and monster positions verbally?
Ascalaphus
|
You should be able to rightclick-copy-paste the image from the PDF into your favourite graphics program (I use GIMP, it's free; Photoshop also works). In most scenarios, the GM markings are a separate layer overlaying the image so just copy-pasing the map will get them "off". You can also use various online services to do this for you (for example this one). It doesn't work in all scenarios though, Paizo doesn't always use the same baking technique on their PDFs, although recent scenarios are quite good.
Alternatively, you can draw the maps by hand. I personally enjoy doing that, but it can be time-consuming and some maps are hard to copy. Typical 1-inch grid flipover blocks are slightly bigger than flipmats. A ruler and perhaps compass will make things go a lot faster and neater. Be sure to read room descriptions as you're working, so you'll know what you're drawing and what's important.
| Lathelus |
Oh, okay, thank you. I haven't even guessed, that these images could have multiple layers.
But, I have another question. Could I use only one module from the Pathfinder Society season? I'm making sort of a grand campaign made from several modules, with action close to where the PC's are now. I'm asking if it wouldn't make some plot holes, or be confusing or something.
Ascalaphus
|
To answer that question well, let's clear up some terminology.
The primary unit of play in PFS is the Scenario, which has on average 3 fights and should be playable in 4 hours. Scenarios are part of seasons, and from season 2 onwards there's been an ongoing storyline, with each season having a theme.
A Module is a bigger adventure, written independently from the PFS storyline. Many modules don't feature the Society at all. Modules are supposed to be about three times as big as a scenario, so typically taking 2-3 sessions to play. Some of them were written in the old days when Paizo was still writing adventures for D&D 3.5 but most of them are written for Pathfinder.
While modules "don't have anything to do with PFS", there are chronicle sheets for many of them, so you can get credit if you play them with a PFS character.
A new phenomenon is playing modules in "campaign mode" - this means playing it with characters that don't follow PFS rules. You can still get PFS credit for that. Some people use campaign mode to use entirely different game systems. The big thing is that you can't mix groups.
So to answer your question: you can certainly use modules outside of PFS, that's their original purpose. Some scenarios might not make sense, but many of them will as well. The whole point of these adventures is that they're a fairly complete story.
Ascalaphus
|
You might want to take a look at an old trilogy of modules: Crypt of the Everflame, Masks of the Living God and City of Golden Death.
The first assumes the PCs are youngsters in a village undergoing the rite of passage, a trip to the tomb of the town's founder, to light a torch on the eternal flame there. Of course, it just happens that this year, someone interfered with the tomb and the deceased don't stay down. At the conclusion, an NPC pathfinder contacts them to enlist them in pursuing the one who stirred up all this mayhem. Which is what parts 2 and 3 are about.
Mechanically it's moderately challenging, especially the last part. The second is a huge RP fest. The first is a straightforward big dungeon, good for showing people the basic tropes of Pathfindering.