
| Wermut | 
Hello, first a little introdution hoping this explains some questions I have. I’m kinda new to Pathfinder Society and would like to play as a GM. There might be two potential groups for me to play with. One of friends who have all a decent amount of experience when it comes to pen and paper and pathfinder, at least one player is also interested into acting as a GM. Those would be 3 guys. Also some of my coworkers asked me if I would like to host some sessions, they have some experience but are not really grounded in the hobby. Also I expect to play in the longterm on conventions, probably the introduction scenarios.
Let me start my questions with the remark that I will give your answers out to other players who might be interested in playing as a GM. Therefore I would really appreciate it if you could cite sources for your answers. I must confess some of my questions are meant to make sure I totally understood the rules, as english isn’t my mothertongue.
First off, for my coworkers who aren’t used to play pen and paper buying the Core Rulebook and registrating into the Society might be a bit intimidating, even if its only 10$. I’m well aware that there are several discussions out there about the Core Rulebook being „expected“. Since I can‘t and won’t check the possessions of my coworkers, is it safe to assume that there is no harm done if we play at first using my rulebooks? Does it even matter in a private setting?
How can I handle events with players who haven’t yet registered for a Pathfinder Society ID, assuming they use the official pregenerated characters provided by me? Can I give them a chronical sheet without an ID, for them to assign to their characters? Is there a time limit between the event and the actual use of the chronicle sheet?
With my potential group of friends other questions come to mind. First we are only four, the Guide states that one can play a pregenerated character in those situations to balance out the power level of the group. If I as GM play a official module, and I play the 4th character am I eligble to access rewards for this module as a player?
Will it be a problem in the longterm, not on a social level but from the Societies perspective, that I would host a series of events with only 3 players?
Since my friends are rather into pen and paper I would assume sooner or later, they buy some rulebooks on their own and apply those rules to their character. I’d probably look those up, if it is legal stuff and how those rules work but I wouldn’t check their posession as well. Which advice can I give them to handle this with other GMs they might encounter on Conventions and such?
Another thing I wanted to ask, the Pathfinder Society Guide states pn page 35 that players may use any item they find during an module / scenario. Since I don’t own any modules yet I wanted to ask if all of those items are printed on the chronical sheet or do I have to manually add those items taken and used? What about consumable items, wands and potions? Will they be available for the players to buy after the adventure even if the used them?

|       GM Lari | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            Welcome! There are quite a lot of questions here, but I'll try to answer as many of them as I can.
As a general note, PFS isn't as complicated in practice as it can look on paper, so often the best way to learn is just by experiencing a session with a more experienced GM who can answer questions. This is a list of PFS coordinators. If you reach out to someone in your general area, they can tell you about opportunities to get a taste of PFS on the player side near you. If that doesn't work out there are also lots of opportunities for online play.
First off, for my coworkers who aren’t used to play pen and paper buying the Core Rulebook and registrating into the Society might be a bit intimidating, even if its only 10$. I’m well aware that there are several discussions out there about the Core Rulebook being „expected“. Since I can‘t and won’t check the possessions of my coworkers, is it safe to assume that there is no harm done if we play at first using my rulebooks? Does it even matter in a private setting?
While how strictly ownership rules are enforced varies dramatically, I think almost everyone would say using your stuff at first is OK. Locally, we're aware that people don't want to commit too much investment into something they aren't sure about, and that the $10 CRB PDF isn't a trivial expense for many people. Once it's clear that someone is really interested and intends to stick with PFS, then we'll start enforcing ownership.
How can I handle events with players who haven’t yet registered for a Pathfinder Society ID, assuming they use the official pregenerated characters provided by me? Can I give them a chronical sheet without an ID, for them to assign to their characters? Is there a time limit between the event and the actual use of the chronicle sheet?
Once you create your first event, you'll see an option on your account allowing you to reserve Society ID cards. That will give you ten PFS numbers, with instructions on how players can connect the number to their account. You can give those to your new players, so that they can access those records even if they don't create an account right away.
I recommend keeping a record of who got which numbers, in case players lose their cards or forget. I print out two copies of each card, giving them one and keeping the other, asking them to write their contact info on it.
With my potential group of friends other questions come to mind. First we are only four, the Guide states that one can play a pregenerated character in those situations to balance out the power level of the group. If I as GM play a official module, and I play the 4th character am I eligble to access rewards for this module as a player?
As a GM, you'll get full rewards for the scenario regardless, as detailed on p. 16 of the Roleplaying Guild Guide. You don't get extra credit for running the pregen.
Will it be a problem in the longterm, not on a social level but from the Societies perspective, that I would host a series of events with only 3 players?
PFS is perfectly fine with you running 3 and a pregen all the time if that's what you need to do. It may lead to a harder experience at times, though. Once you reach high levels, it will be a problem, as the pregens only come at levels 1, 4, and 7, which means you wouldn't be able to run some high level content.
Since my friends are rather into pen and paper I would assume sooner or later, they buy some rulebooks on their own and apply those rules to their character. I’d probably look those up, if it is legal stuff and how those rules work but I wouldn’t check their posession as well. Which advice can I give them to handle this with other GMs they might encounter on Conventions and such?
I'm not 100% sure what you're asking here, but this is the practical side of the rule requiring that you own and bring the books, so that GMs can look at any rules they're unfamiliar with. Players should confirm on their own that whatever they use is legal.
Another thing I wanted to ask, the Pathfinder Society Guide states pn page 35 that players may use any item they find during an module / scenario. Since I don’t own any modules yet I wanted to ask if all of those items are printed on the chronical sheet or do I have to manually add those items taken and used? What about consumable items, wands and potions? Will they be available for the players to buy after the adventure even if the used them?
This is one of those issues that's best experienced in person. Other people have put together better guides to how shopping and chronicles work than I could. Hopefully people with better forum-fu will link those. In the meantime, though, this scenario is a free download, so you can take a look at the format of both the scenario and chronicle, and see if that answers any questions, or creates new ones.

|       Starglim | 
 
	
 
                
                
              
            
            First off, for my coworkers who aren’t used to play pen and paper buying the Core Rulebook and registrating into the Society might be a bit intimidating, even if its only 10$. I’m well aware that there are several discussions out there about the Core Rulebook being „expected“. Since I can‘t and won’t check the possessions of my coworkers, is it safe to assume that there is no harm done if we play at first using my rulebooks? Does it even matter in a private setting?
There have been such discussions and they don't reflect the published campaign rules in the RPG Guild Guide. Players are not required to own the Core Rulebook, though it's convenient and much recommended that they get their own copy once they're committed to keep playing Pathfinder.
Another thing I wanted to ask, the Pathfinder Society Guide states pn page 35 that players may use any item they find during an module / scenario. Since I don’t own any modules yet I wanted to ask if all of those items are printed on the chronical sheet or do I have to manually add those items taken and used? What about consumable items, wands and potions? Will they be available for the players to buy after the adventure even if the used them?
The general rule is that items owned by creatures that the PCs defeat (or overcome in another way) are available on the chronicle, even if NPCs or PCs use them or break them. You only cross them off if the PCs fail or don't reach the encounter, in the same circumstances where you'd remove gold rewards.
Items that are Always Available to buy (see the Guide: non-magical gear, +1 weapons and armour, 0 and 1st level potions and scrolls with caster level 1, wayfinders) aren't usually listed, though occasionally appear if there is some mechanical improvement to them, or in recent scenarios to make them available for the Core campaign.
Some scenarios include options (random or otherwise) for which creatures appear in encounters, in which case the scenario will tell you if you should remove items for the alternatives that didn't happen.
You shouldn't add any reward to the Chronicle that's not already listed.

| Wermut | 
Let me thank you for youre time and effort to answer my questions.
Another question about the etiquette. What about the usage of art created and owned by third parties?
While it would be kinda cheap and well frowned upon, at least among my peers, if a player would take the art of a famous characters for a character sheet, often it isn't so obvious.
Since Pathfinder Society has a commercial aspect I wonder what the community thinks about such behaviour? In my country there would probably be no legal consequence. Since I'm kinda tasked with presenting the Society and "living campaigns" to my players, things like this seem important.
 
	
 
     
    