Arcane resovoir in society


Pathfinder Society

Lantern Lodge 5/5

A well respected member of my local gaming community and I disagree with how this ability works in PFS play. The issue revolves around how many points an arcanist begins a scenario with in play, maximum or starting daily value.
My thoughts: because the pool starts each day with a reset to a level that is not the maximum, begin with that, then consume spell slots to fill resovoir if you believe it is necessary.

His thoughts: similar to staves in pathfinder society you have the ability to fill the resovoir off camera

My counter argument: but it always costs you something to do so be it items or spell slots. So begin at daily allotment, then expend resources to fill if necessary.

Help me out here, please.

Also if this should go in the rules forums please move it there, but as it pertains only to how to treat this in organized play, I thought this was more appropriate.

3/5

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Begin at daily ration, spend resources as appropriate to charge pool, begin mission briefing.
Key difference between staves and reservoir: reservoir empties itself and refills when you prepare spells. Stave charges exist until used

4/5 5/55/55/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Minnesota—Minneapolis

My understanding is the same as Ryzoken.

You start the day at your daily allotment. In order to fill your arcane pool, you need to consume spell, consume magic item, or something like that.

Silver Crusade 5/5 5/5 **

I definitely agree with you, it starts at the starting daily value.

There are LOTS of spells that last more than a day that, reasonably, would already be cast or at least have a chance of being cast that, in PFS, are uncast. You can no more start with the reservoir filled than you can start with a Changestaff spell cast or an endure elements cast the night before, etc.

I agree with Ryzoken that one key difference is that stave charges last until used. The other key difference is that the Guide explicitly lists staves as being charged at the beginning of the scenario.

The Exchange 4/5 5/5

Carl Harris wrote:

A well respected member of my local gaming community and I disagree with how this ability works in PFS play. The issue revolves around how many points an arcanist begins a scenario with in play, maximum or starting daily value.

My thoughts: because the pool starts each day with a reset to a level that is not the maximum, begin with that, then consume spell slots to fill resovoir if you believe it is necessary.

His thoughts: similar to staves in pathfinder society you have the ability to fill the resovoir off camera

My counter argument: but it always costs you something to do so be it items or spell slots. So begin at daily allotment, then expend resources to fill if necessary.

I'm not understanding his argument.

You can fill up a stave gradually over a few days (assuming you meet the requirements to charge one). You don't lose charges until you spend them. However the arcane reservoir resets to 3 + 1/2 level every day. If you consume spell slots over the course of days, it doesn't matter. Every day it resets to 3 + 1/2 level.

Sure, you can fill it to maximum at the start of every day just by consuming one or two of your spell slots (assuming your Charisma is high enough). But you have to expend the slots and those uses of the Consume Spells ability. You can do it "off camera" but the resources are still used.

The Exchange 4/5 5/5

Or to put it another way (phrased as an argument):
"Let's assume it is noon on a random Tuesday. Please describe any sequence of events that could result in you having a full arcane reservoir without having consumed any spell slots or items today."

Lantern Lodge 5/5

Ok great, thanks guys for answering so quickly!

Grand Lodge 4/5

Pathfinder Adventure, Rulebook Subscriber

If he can complete a Dark Archive faction card, he could use the Master Librarian boon to help charge up at the start of the scenario.

3/5

People... Agree with me?
Staggers backward, stunned

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