Hey guys, I'm new, broke, and just moved to a new city so I have no friends in person right now.
In the move i lost my books, along with like... basically everything else except for my s*!$ty laptop
So questions questions questions
I've seen that you need books, But my first question is whether or not OGL content is allowed for us broke folks, playing something real simple like a Human ranger or whatnot
Second is how would I go about getting those chronicle sheets? for extra races? are they just awarded by GMs or are they something special for events?
Third is... and final portion is, What kind of players am I going to(Generally) run into at the tables? Is there anything I should know in advance? Gaming culture has a large diversity from stoners in basements (Im in Mass right now so due to the legal status of such things that might be a thing), to IBM geeks, to metal heads, to kinda mean people and of course somewhat simpler oldschool types.
Sooo, what should I be prepared for.
Also I've noticed politics is altering the face of the 40k games, so I'm worried that I'm going to run into overly politcal types, are these frequent in the pfs games? or are people more laid back?
Is there anything I should NEVER DO, or any type of character I should heavily avoid?
should I stick or archetypal fantasy?
And i'm assuming my favorite race isn't allowed, but that's fine (Gnolls).
of course i'm willing to make concessions, I just want to cover all of my bases before i try to hop into a group and make a butt outta myself/look like a jerk. For example I don't want to make an edgedark mary sue stealth thief if it's a lawful good type standard always.
I'm trying to K.I.S.S (Keep it simple stupid),
is there an SRD for the PFS stuff?
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This page here has most of the links you need to play PFS.
The Guide to Organized Play is the rules of the campaign, with how to get started and do most things. The Additional Resources tells you what is legal from all the Pathfinder books, but you don't need any of those to play. You can do quite well with just the Core Rulebook; there is a subset of the campaign that just uses the CRB. The Campaign Clarifications explains the rules and includes how things work from the Additional Resources.
Here is the PRD, the online component of the rules. These are official, but do not count as having the rules you need to build a character.
Here is a great guide for getting started in PFS play.
Hope this helps!
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I've seen that you need books, But my first question is whether or not OGL content is allowed for us broke folks, playing something real simple like a Human ranger or whatnot
OGL is not. PDFs are, if you're on a budget and looking to rebuild a library, wait for the next humble bundle.
Second is how would I go about getting those chronicle sheets? for extra races? are they just awarded by GMs or are they something special for events?
DM at a convention. Which race out of curiosity?
Third is... and final portion is, What kind of players am I going to(Generally) run into at the tables?
It varies a bit regionally but you always have a bag of mixed nuts.
Is there anything I should know in advance?
Should mentally prepare you for what you're in for
Sooo, what should I be prepared for.
Bag of mixed nuts. The guy in basement has time and is looking for an extra game the IBM geek can actually fit PFS night in between meetings and the metal head walked in.
Also I've noticed politics is altering the face of the 40k games, so I'm worried that I'm going to run into overly politcal types, are these frequent in the pfs games? or are people more laid back?
Varies a bit by region.
Is there anything I should NEVER DO, or any type of character I should heavily avoid?
NEVER attack your own party. You can't in fact.
Until you know the area a little better I'd avoid an undead raiser or anything overtly evil. You are 90% likely to be open season with any concept but there's always that 10%....
And i'm assuming my favorite race isn't allowed, but that's fine (Gnolls).
Be a kitsune and go grunge/worship lamashtu?
is there an SRD for the PFS stuff?
It's in the guide i linked above but be sure to read the actual guide, the
If you go to pfschat.com theres a very helpful discord group
And i don't know if you've found the local group or if there is one but this should send you there flat rolling surfaces map
DustyBoy, do you have the PDF of the core rulebook?
[edit]
Dusty, Please pop me a PM, I have some stuff to talk to you about.
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Hi Dustyboy,
Welcome to MA! I'm not sure where in the state you are, but here is our Warhorn page, which has most of the local games listed. While you would need books for any character options outside the Core Rulebook, anything from the core itself that is PFS legal (check out the links DesolateHarmony put up) is fine to play without the book on hand. We're a pretty diverse group here near Boston, so be prepared to meet a wide variety of friendly people! Any legal character build is fine to bring, as we've seen and played with most of them over the years. We also have pregenerated characters if you'd rather use one of those for your first time or two playing. Always feel free to message/email me if you have any questions!
Lisa Neilson. Metro Boston V-L
I just learn't something new. I did not know you could play from the CRB without owning the CRB.
Or am I misunderstanding, Lisa?
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If you're on the western side of Mass. Welcome to the institution.
WarHorn .
Venture-Lieutenant, Minnesota—Minneapolis
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Is there anything I should NEVER DO, or any type of character I should heavily avoid?
A lot of people already answered most of your questions. I just wanted to add a little bit here.
The Pathfinder motto is Explore, Cooperate, Report.
Cooperation is a big thing in PFS. Don’t undermine the group’s efforts. Don’t try to force the group into something. Do create a character that wants to be a Pathfinder. Do bring a good attitude.
Hope you have fun!
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I just learn't something new. I did not know you could play from the CRB without owning the CRB.
Or am I misunderstanding, Lisa?
You should own the Core, but the assumption at the table is that the GM should own and be familiar with the content from it, and thus never need you to show it to them. Generally for newer players who have not yet comitted to PFS, we allow them to play even if they don't own it. Once they commit though, it's expected that they at least get the PDF (personally I prefer the pocket version, especially when I GM).
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That makes much sense.
Much much sense.
I fortunately pick up most of the pathfinder humble bundles, and have a bunch of the books which are a nightmare to get here.
Then there is just the issue of not having any PFS in my city, so I am trying to get it started.
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Alternatively, there are folks out there that have either gotten a .pdf or a newer, more compact copy of a given book that are willing to donate theirs to a good cause.
Imagine, if one would, playing for a month, enjoying the heck out of something, and then out of the blue someone gifts either a .pdf or a book to you.
...not saying this has ever happened specifically, but I have seen this happen.
Build the community.
Explore. Report. Cooperate.
:>
But don't play Harsk. Nobody wants Harsk.
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Alternatively, there are folks out there that have either gotten a .pdf or a newer, more compact copy of a given book that are willing to donate theirs to a good cause.
Imagine, if one would, playing for a month, enjoying the heck out of something, and then out of the blue someone gifts either a .pdf or a book to you.
...not saying this has ever happened specifically, but I have seen this happen.
Build the community.
Explore. Report. Cooperate.
:>
Remember when I said I get lots of the pathfinder humble bundles... I bought the first one a couple times actually. Hoping I could get my friends into PFS... But that didn't work out so I may still have some copies around
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But don't play Harsk. Nobody wants Harsk.
"and a little sad... Harsk has feelings, too, you know."
Oh no no no we want you. its just that. erm..we want you for your wonderful tea brewing abilities and want to keep you safe. You're too valuable for field missions...
Venture-Captain, Nebraska—Omaha
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Imagine, if one would, playing for a month, enjoying the heck out of something, and then out of the blue someone gifts either a .pdf or a book to you.
...not saying this has ever happened specifically, but I have seen this happen.
Build the community.
Explore. Report. Cooperate.
:>
My very first PFS game I was given a Character Folio. Since then I have given out 3 or 4 folios to new players.
So it does happen!
I live in South Africa.
We have a grand total of 3 pfs sanctioned volunteers across the entire country.
There is one about a 2 hour drive from me, but none in what is possibly the largest city in the country.
I have been speaking to one of the vcs who is proving very helpful but he is a 14 hour drive.
So far I have the people, and am in the process of organising the venue. I even have another GM willing to run so we might regularly get two tables.
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Im in Mass right now
Another welcome to the area.
Also I've noticed politics is altering the face of the 40k games, so I'm worried that I'm going to run into overly politcal types, are these frequent in the pfs games? or are people more laid back?
I've been playing in RI and eastern MA for a year and a half now, and I've not seen any serious discussions/disagreements about politics. I don't know the 40k scene but in terms of politics, all the PFS folks I've encountered seem to be in the laid back category.
Is there anything I should NEVER DO, or any type of character I should heavily avoid?
. . .if it's a lawful good type standard always.
Speaking for myself, I generally don't worry about super-optimizing my characters with one level of that, two of this, then an archetype from the latest Players Companion, and a mess of feats from several different rules volumes. In PFS, all you really need is a good solid character that's good at playing the role in the party that it's designed for.
Also, once again speaking just for myself, the less I have to worry about the mechanics of my character, the more I can play around with role playing fluff which keeps me endlessly amused. The PFS world has a very rich canon to explore and creatively abuse.
In PFS play, alignment is rarely a big issue. We don't play evil characters (though I do have a couple of psuedo-evil ones who play nice-ish when they're with their Pathfinder Society colleagues) so that limits the opportunities for serious inter-character conflict. None of the paladin characters that I've played with have been of the stereotypical "tell everyone how to behave" sort.
There's another thing not mentioned, there are pregens, a pre made character for every class and they have different level versions.
The first couple PFS games I played, I used pregens. Once you create a character, you can apply credit earned by pregen play to your new character. You can find all the pregens here.
Yes, you should contact us. We live for this stuff. And the more we do it, the better we get at communicating with more people.
Do this, he's fairly safe and mostly house-broken.
Venture-Captain, Minnesota
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I live in South Africa.
We have a grand total of 3 pfs sanctioned volunteers across the entire country.
There is one about a 2 hour drive from me, but none in what is possibly the largest city in the country.I have been speaking to one of the vcs who is proving very helpful but he is a 14 hour drive.
So far I have the people, and am in the process of organising the venue. I even have another GM willing to run so we might regularly get two tables.
Start organizing, than apply for VA status. You sound like exactly the sort of person that should be made a Venture Officer.
Hmm