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My personal issue, while minor, would be that they're spending minimal time with those PFS characters, up to high levels. Sure, they've built them, but if they haven't played them, the experience is quite different.
As an experienced player and GM, I would still not be as good with a level 12 character I built to level 12 as I would be with one I played from 1 to 12. Personally, I would probably not enjoy playing with someone who built a level 12 instead of playing to level 12 for the same reason - there's a lot going on with a character at that level that you might not have experience with beyond theorycrafting.
There's also a difference between PFS play and home game (homebrew, AP, or module) play - a lot of minor things that you learn in low level scenarios as you work your way to high level scenarios. Popping in at level 10+ there will likely be a notable difference in styles, intentions, and general flow of the game that other players are aware of and have characters that work with, while you've got high level 'fresh out of the box' characters (and players) without that background.
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My personal issue, while minor, would be that they're spending minimal time with those PFS characters, up to high levels. Sure, they've built them, but if they haven't played them, the experience is quite different.
As an experienced player and GM, I would still not be as good with a level 12 character I built to level 12 as I would be with one I played from 1 to 12. Personally, I would probably not enjoy playing with someone who built a level 12 instead of playing to level 12 for the same reason - there's a lot going on with a character at that level that you might not have experience with beyond theorycrafting.
There's also a difference between PFS play and home game (homebrew, AP, or module) play - a lot of minor things that you learn in low level scenarios as you work your way to high level scenarios. Popping in at level 10+ there will likely be a notable difference in styles, intentions, and general flow of the game that other players are aware of and have characters that work with, while you've got high level 'fresh out of the box' characters (and players) without that background.
On that note, there's something to be said about the cardboard cut-out nature of characters that are built at higher levels without the early play. I just completed EotT (Keith GM'd it) on my pothead psychedelia psychic, but most of his interesting character development happened during the series because he was a GM credit baby through level 8. His prior "experiences" via chronicles did result in character growth because he wasn't reacting to the the scenarios - at the time I was running the modules, he was an amorphous credit blob and he never interacted with other characters.
I recently implemented a personal policy that I will not accept GM credit except to bypass level 1. All of my higher chronicles just become level 1 equivalents. Yes, this means I have something like 5 blobs that I haven't started, but they'll progress with actual experiences, not just mechanical ones.
RPG Superstar 2010 Top 16
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They are playing good PFS scenarios. I am of the view that sanctioned modules and APs are good PFS scenarios. They are and will continue to have fun playing through them and getting to level up their PFS characters while doing so.
With respect, I disagree. "Skull & Shackles" isn't a Pathfinder Society adventure -- the characters aren't members of the Society, and their goals wouldn't really align with the Society's mission.
And in particular, they are not "scenarios" in the technical sense that everyone else here is using. A PFS scenario is the 5-hour, 1-XP, Chronicle sheet sort of adventure. The point I think other folks are making is this:
The XP that your players are assigning to their PFS characters will raise their characters beyond the limits of PFS scenarios. (That is, those $3.99 products sold through the Organized Play campaign.) So the only adventures they'll have available are more modules and AP chapters. (If they played any of the seeker arc scenarios with those characters, who have never met a venture captain before, those scenarios will fall flat.) If they want to play more modules, more power to them, but then why bother with the Chronicle sheets in the first place?
Put another way, you think your players will be able to play their 15th-level characters in regular PFS play at conventions. We're saying, that'll likely never happen.
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My players for the most part ONLY play at my table during our biweekly game. Thus, no 'other tables' that they play their PFS characters at.
Then by all means, have them play sanctioned modules when they are done with this module/AP campaign. Just don't make them play official PFS scenarios with these characters as they will be completely divested of any stake in them. And as Chris said, they are unlikely to find any 15th level modules offered at PFS convention events.
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I recently implemented a personal policy that I will not accept GM credit except to bypass level 1. All of my higher chronicles just become level 1 equivalents. Yes, this means I have something like 5 blobs that I haven't started, but they'll progress with actual experiences, not just mechanical ones.
Indeed. I rarely take 7-11 GM credits on characters in tier, instead using them to start a new 1st level character and incorporating the scenario events as backstory. Which can be tricky but highly amusing.
"What do you mean you are a Linnorm King at 1st level?!"
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No hate here. Twice I've said "Go nuts".
I think most ppl here fall into one of a few categories:
1) Asking the OP if they realize what they're doing.
2) Giving advice that there's really no point to doing this.
3) Asking for clarifications, because the language the OP is using is imprecise.
It's king of that phenomenon where nobody knows anyone IRL that would be interested in doing this, so to come across an entire group is like finding a unicorn made of unobtainium.
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Why all the hate for what they are doing? It's legal, well it is now with the changes made in this thread.
They are doing it because they want to.
And quite simply it isn't for us to judge. What they are doing is legal, let them go have fun.
While I don't think I'd call it hating, I think there's plenty of dog-piling going on here. The criticism of his plan been made, the OP is doing his thing with his players, let it drop.
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I ran the entirety of The Emerald Spire as a series of PFS sanctioned modules for the same group of players, playing the same characters, advancing from 1st level through 12th or 13th level. Those PFS characters will have few (if any) opportunities for PFS play at public game days or conventions.
I had fun and I believe my players had fun, as well; I don't believe any of us had any regrets doing it.
I'm currently involved in a CORE game, with another group of players, but we're each playing with just one character. We're playing a series of PFS scenarios and sanctioned modules, hoping to get these characters to as high a level as possible. We haven't played these characters at public game days or conventions and, eventually, there will be few, if any, opportunities for us to do so.
But we're having fun and I don't believe any of us regret having chosen to play this way.
