Pathfinder Society Play - A Heartfelt Story

[HWalsh]

I felt I need to share this...

I'd not really liked the idea of PFS before, I'll admit it. It felt very expensive. It felt very constricting.

I am not too proud to admit that I am wrong, and I'll tell you why.

About a year ago I was in a horrible vehicle accident. The damage was so severe that it is unlikely I will ever be able to recover and the chance to walk again isn't even guaranteed if I could get the surgery I need, and it would cost me nearly two hundred thousand dollars which totally ain't happening.

This bred into more tragedy and a really bad situation. I lost my home and that was the least of things. I hit rock bottom, legitimately rock bottom.

I can't even explain how bad things got, like the words I have don't do it justice. Four months ago a friend took me in, and moved me across the state, to Atlanta. I have no family, and I knew a grand total of 3 people. My social anxiety was and is so severe that I rarely left the house, and never left the house alone.

Before the accident, and all of this, I may have not been financially successful but I was a major extrovert. I loved being around people. I loved meeting people. I was open and I could get along with anyone.

As a game designer this served me well in bringing teams together. As a teacher this served me well by getting my students invested in the subjects I taught. While a lot of that has nothing, at all, to do with my physical body, the kind of things that I went through damage a lot more than just the body.

In short, for lack of better terms, my life was over as far as I was concerned. I went hard core recluse. I wrote a book, I stopped doing almost everything I once enjoyed, and I thought that was what my life was going to be. Me, sitting at my computer, alone, for however much longer my ticker kept ticking.

Sure I gamed, online, using things like roll 20, but I can honestly say I left the house less than 10 times in 4 months. Designing, something that was once a passion dried up. Being around people brought on nothing but panic attacks and feelings of extreme stress. So, again, I sat alone and I wrote.

My room mate told me that I had to get out. I had to meet people. I wasn't looking good and I needed to try, if I could.

So, knowing absolutely nobody, being stuck in this chair, and having limited ability to do anything... While also being stuck with the social terror that is cold calling people... I decided to give PFS a shot.

Money is limited, but I knew a few characters I could throw together that I would be happy about with a limited number of PDFs (most of my hard covers are lost) so I tossed together a Paladin, level 1, using CRB, the PFS Trait Guide, Ultimate Magic, and the Inner Sea World Guide. I think it ran me around $30 and I had some Paizo Credit.

But hey, for a basic 2 handed Long Sword Paladin planning to go the Fey Foundling/Greater Mercy route it was all I needed. (I do need to pick up Ultimate Campaign and Ultimate Equipment at some point, but that won't be until around level 7 or so, so whatever...)

Then I found the e-mail for a PFS game runner here in Atlanta GA. I'm not going to give his name, because I don't want to put him on the spot. He's a great guy though and if he's reading this, I hope he knows how important tonight was for me.

He invited me to join them last night, 12/13/2017 at a local restaurant near my home. So I went about the daunting task of making arrangements to go. Scheduling a ride (driving isn't something I can do right now, even if I had a vehicle) and overcoming the extreme fear of going out to meet a bunch of people I didn't know.

So, I arrived at around 6:20-ish, and they looked over my character and resources and everything checked out. They were super friendly and amazingly supportive. I don't think they realized how freaked out I was, but their openness really shined.

Our party was a mixed group. A level 1 Cleric, a level 2 Skald, a level 2 Occult class that I can't actually identify, a level 5 Rogue, and me, a 1st level Paladin.

The session ran until around 11:20pm. We had good food (the restaurant is a place I had been before and they have great food) and plenty of soda (I am a gamer, in my natural state my blood is caffeinated). Our band of heroes met, traveled to meet a local tribe, and found out about a possible Runelord temple of some sort...

When we came across a body, that was when the dice gods decided to throw me a curve ball. I started succeeding at unskilled skill checks with stupid high rolls back to back. My country bumpkin Paladin from the farming community of Nybor somehow suddenly became an expert tracker and forensic pathologist.

So I rolled with it, and improvised, how did I know the cause of death of the Goblin? Well I had seen similar happen to animals on the farm! I mean, I'm not exactly sure what kind of farm sees animals suffer multiple burns and lacerations, but apparently one in Nybor.

The tracks? Well, I mean, sure, animals get loose sometimes and you need to know how to round them up right? Sure! Seems legit.

Off we went, encountering a lone sentinel holding open a door. We agreed to help the man, who was bordering on exhaustion, and we entered the temple. Fortunately our party had not one, but two, wands of Cure Light Wounds, and boy would we need them.

The first trap smashed our Rogue, but he had plenty of HP.

We made our way in to find two pulsating masses. One of our party identified them and called out that they regenerated from slashing or piercing weapons. No problem, dropping my sword I entered the fray while drawing forth my heavy mace. It seemed my party weren't they heaviest of hitters, the rogue was hampered as these creatures were immune to critical hits and precision damage.

Fortunately, using my heavy mace 2 handed, with a strength of 18, a +2 damage buff from the Occult class, and a +2 to strength from our Skald combined with Power Attack means I was hitting like a brick.

+6 to hit (+5 on Power Attack)
1d8 +9 (+12 with Power Attack) damage (when swinging 2 handed).

Thwack! I was a death dealing machine. My first hit cracking into the enemy for a whopping 18 damage.

We dropped them, but they regenerated, until we organized and burned them before finishing them off. Huzzah, one encounter thwarted. The creatures seemed to be made of Goblin bits.

Continuing on, we made it to a room with some kind of fighting pit, we were beset by flying goblins! This encounter was more tricky for the dice gods are fickle masters. Miss, after miss, after miss reined down on our enemies before we managed to turn the tide.

One of them went invisible and fled, so we gave chase down the stairs and right into a waiting group! I went forward to protect our occultist and paid for my bravery. Shink! Claws and fire dropped me to the ground, unconscious and dying.

Our healer battled to reach me, using Channel Positive. My Fey Foundling feat paying off as I managed to come back to consciousness. Covering up, surrounded, I went into full defense. The enemy continued to attack me.

Again, darkness enveloped me as our team mates fought to overcome the bottleneck. One of them had gone invisible and had snuck around behind the enemy, another had fought to break through. Our cleric once more channeled positive, using selective channel to keep our enemies from being healed. I remained unconscious.

With two other combatants they broke off their assault of me and went for them, giving me some much needed breathing room while the leader of these foul creatures stood over me and fought my allies in the stairwell eventually getting in front of me and preventing them from getting to me with the Cure Light Wounds wand.

That would prove to be a fatal mistake.

Another channel positive woke me, and put me into flanking position. Fighting from the ground my Paladin called on Iomedae to smite evil and lashed out with his Long Sword. It was desperate but the dice gods saw fit to bless me.

The creature never stood a chance. I still had enemies near me, however, and so I had to fight smart. Choosing to remain on the ground despite the defensive disadvantage because if I was going to get dropped again it was going to at least cost them an action.

Fortunately, though I took a hit, it wasn't enough to drop me, but left me at a paltry 1 HP. By that point, however, only two of the creatures remained. I felled one and my companions vanquished the other. We had won the day, sending the abominations to their ultimate demise.

We explored the rest of the temple to the Runelord of Wrath and claimed the spoils of war. Dealing with the few remaining stragglers. The game ended...

We spent some time discussing character builds, finishing our food, and they explained to me the tracking sheets and what not. Then it was time to go. I was going to call a Lyft, but one of the party, a new cluster of friends, was going near where I am staying and offered me a ride, saving me a few bucks and a wait in the cold.

When I got inside the house and to my room, I had a smile on my face. That, I found to be unexpected. You see, tonight was a very significant night. I was crippled on December 14th 2016 just after midnight. You don't forget something like that and the memories associated with it don't fade easily.

Like a rogue with a sneak attack they can hit you where you least expect it. It is not a fun thing. Post traumatic stress is a nasty beast and it likes to strike with precision.

But, not today.

The time I had been dreading to relive came and went. I felt no sudden icy grip on my heart. I felt no lump in my gut. I felt a bit like me. The me I once was.

Though it is fleeting, even now it drifts away, I can only attribute it to the fact that I was laughing and traversing a dungeon. Doing something I love where my accursed body doesn't hinder me. So that was my first full non-con experience with PFS.

All in all I liked it, a lot, I plan to do it again. My mobility will limit that a bit, as will the costs of going out, while I still seek some gainful employ. However to meet open and honest people...

Dare I say fellow nerds...

Can heal wounds that no doctor's needle and thread can stitch.

And with that, at 3:03 am, I bid you all a good night.

[John Compton]

Good to have you, HWalsh. The Georgia PFS folks are a good group to have.

[Zach Davis]

Wow. Thanks for sharing. The community of players really is what makes PFS special. I hope that it continues to lift your spirits, and leads to good things for you HWalsh.

[terry_t_uk]

This is easily the best post of the year.
Long may the healing process continue :-)

[TOZ]

We don't see eye to eye on much, but I'm glad we can share this one thing. I hope to one day hear a similar tale for your physical wounds as well.

[Wei Ji the Learner]

This actually helps explain a great deal.

Be sure to thank your room-mate for suggesting getting out, too!

Thank you for sharing, and may you continue to find strength in the local community moving forward!

[HWalsh]

TOZ wrote:

We don't see eye to eye on much, but I'm glad we can share this one thing. I hope to one day hear a similar tale for your physical wounds as well.

Not unless I hit the lottery. Which would require having the money to play the lottery. LOL

[Hmm]

HWalsh,

This, for me, is what PFS is all about. We love our communities so much. Love the roleplay and the stories, and that we can get so many players together sharing the game. Thank you for sharing your story, and for making me cry today.

We welcome you to the greater PFS community with open hearts and open arms. Your paladin from the farm sounds like a fine, upstanding fellow. Does he worship Erastil?

Hugs,
Hmm

PS If money’s tight, keep an eye out for when humble bundle deals are offered. They can greatly expand your PFS PDF library at little cost.

[Tallow]

Its amazing to me how a game can bring people out of their shells and into society in a positive and meaningful way! Bravo for taking that first step!

[HWalsh]

Hilary Moon Murphy wrote:

HWalsh,

This, for me, is what PFS is all about. We love our communities so much. Love the roleplay and the stories, and that we can get so many players together sharing the game. Thank you for sharing your story, and for making me cry today.

We welcome you to the greater PFS community with open hearts and open arms. Your paladin from the farm sounds like a fine, upstanding fellow. Does he worship Erastil?

Hugs,
Hmm

PS If money’s tight, keep an eye out for when humble bundle deals are offered. They can greatly expand your PFS PDF library at little cost.

Oh yeah I hunt Humble Bundle whenever I can. In my Roll 20 games I make due with Nethys and PFSRD. For me it was a lot of I already owned most of the books, I just had to leave them when I moved.

As for Gwyn's Goddess, nah, Iomedae. I recreated one of my favorite ones from a game ran by a friend. I gotta love my long swords. I am *really* thinking about branching out to Vildeis since I can remake him before level 2.

I'm making him a Heal-a-Din.

So going the basic:

Human: Fey Foundling
1st: Power Attack
3rd: Greater Mercy
5th: - Insert -
7th: Extra LoH
9th: Ultimate Mercy

And the Scar Seeker is amazing, I love the Mercy scar that lets you Add a Mercy you don't have. Losing 2 levels of casting, but the levels stack with LoH so not losing any actual healing.

I was shocked to find out that you can go above 12 in PFS these days too, so it is a toss up.

Part of me wants so bad to go like Paladin 12, Scar Seeker 3 - But that means a level 15 character which I don't think PFS goes to much. I think unless you do rare circumstances. I might save that for a Roll 20 non-PFS... Sorry rambling.

[Kalindlara]

Welcome to Pathfinder Society! I'm glad it's been such a positive experience.

Good luck with rebuilding your collection. ^_^

[HWalsh]

Kalindlara wrote:

Welcome to Pathfinder Society! I'm glad it's been such a positive experience.

Good luck with rebuilding your collection. ^_^

Well right now, I'll focus on the books I need for the characters I want so I can do it slowly.

I'm really pleased with last night... I think I got dropped like 3 times. I was literally playing meat shield. Fey Foundling <3

[Yiroep]

Fantastic to have you among our community, and glad you had a great time! Maybe I'll get you see you around sometime. I can't make it down to the weekday games in-town due to mucho work and living on the northern end of the city, but you will find that the community in and around Atlanta is welcoming everywhere. :)

Feel free to look me up on the local forums, or ask me here if you have questions (although admittedly I pay more attention to our local forum). I go under the same name and am half coordinator for Giga-Bites.

[HWalsh]

Andrew Roberts wrote:

Fantastic to have you among our community, and glad you had a great time! Maybe I'll get you see you around sometime. I can't make it down to the weekday games in-town due to mucho work and living on the northern end of the city, but you will find that the community in and around Atlanta is welcoming everywhere. :)

I'll see what I can do. While last night was fun, for me to get out I deal with some severe social anxiety these days and getting into Atlanta proper is *really* hard (and expensive) in the case of MPB (My Parent's Basement - a Comic Book Store/Pub where we met) it is within 10 minutes of where I live so it was a lot easier.

[Yiroep]

No worries at all! Do what you can. Honestly, I probably should head to MPB at some point. I've actually never been!

[The Masked Ferret]

We are glad to have you in town. Look forward to seeing you around, when you are up for it.

And welcome to Georgia PFS/SFS!

[HWalsh]

Andrew Roberts wrote:

No worries at all! Do what you can. Honestly, I probably should head to MPB at some point. I've actually never been!

You really should. They have some great food. When I first got here to Atlanta my friend took me there, it was one of the times I went out, their wraps are huge and delicious.

[KhaozKnight]

I'm not sure how I ended up in this thread, but I'm glad I did!

I'm not usually what you'd call an emotional person, but reading this... (word-that-the-forum-will-censor) I'm welling up here...

It brought back some memories... an uncle of mine had an accident the left him bedridden, he was an extrovert and always found his way around to make friends, he was charismatic to say the least. But not on his bad days, on those he was gloomy, he wanted to be alone and not leave his room.

I know that it was hard for him, and his mood swings (more like mood see saw) were even harder for my grandma, but every now and then he'd find a way to cope (or go back to a forgotten one) music, painting, reading, preaching, every now and then he'd see a light and cling to it, and let the fun joking guy shine through for a while.

I'm glad that you gave PFS a chance, and even better it gave YOU something back.

For those times when you want to get a healthy dose of PFS from your desk/PC here are some links for Online Society play.

Flaxseed Lodge - Home of PbP PFS Play

Castamir Station - Home of PbP SFS Play

Discord Server for Organized Play

P.S. Sent you a PM

[HWalsh]

I am so touched, as I sit at my computer right now I'm tearing up a bit. The Paizo community has been incredibly generous after I posted this. You guys have no idea how heart warming this has been. People sent me some books and a gift certificate, I heh, I was pretty good on my character actually by the point I made it to game (I didn't want to break any rules so I made sure I had covered in my bare essentials by then) and I am just super touched. I am pretty much set up like, for a half dozen characters now, I am just without words.

Thank you.

I'm good though now, I promise you. I'm not worth these kinds of donations heh, so I urge people to like look outward at others you can help. There are a lot of people in a much worse position than me, I promise.

:)

~Henry

[KhaozKnight]

That's what I loved about this game, bringing people from any walk of life together to enjoy some plain old murderhoboing fun and dice rolling.

Then I got to PFS, and suddenly whatever boundaries or limits I thought our friendly RPGs had were lifted. And I've never seen a more helpful and hands-on community than the right here, calling these forums home. =)

So to all that read this, keep being awesome.

[Dominick]

The Atlanta lodge are a great group, They are certainly not the exception for PFS lodges. I hope the new year is a great one for new starts for you. Now roll some 20s!

[Qstor]

Thanks for posting! As others have said I hope 2018 is a great year for you. Enjoy PFS it's great and so are the people. I've been playing since GenCon 2008 when it started.

[HWalsh]

Dominick Trascritti wrote:

The Atlanta lodge are a great group, They are certainly not the exception for PFS lodges. I hope the new year is a great one for new starts for you. Now roll some 20s!

Well, one of the people I played with contacted me about going to the holiday party, something that would normally be well outside of my mobility scope to make it to alone. So I'll be doing a full day of gaming on the 30th. Trying to figure out what to make for the pot luck and I ordered a miniature to paint as well.

I'm thinking, pot luck dinner, lots of gamers, character sheets, around 50 people... I want to make something non-greasy, not likely to drip and stain, not really sure...

[KhaozKnight]

Pizza is always welcome, although it's greasy, drips and stains, so it might not fulfill those expectations =P

In my groups we don't consider a PC to be complete until it gets its first drop of tomato sauce on the sheet, at that point it graduates from an idea to a full fledge character xD

[HWalsh]

Ricardo Rosete wrote:

Pizza is always welcome, although it's greasy, drips and stains, so it might not fulfill those expectations =P

In my groups we don't consider a PC to be complete until it gets its first drop of tomato sauce on the sheet, at that point it graduates from an idea to a full fledge character xD

I'm hoping to avoid that. I'm actually going to get one of those full like folios? And am even hitting up a friend of the person I am currently staying with who does super detailed Warhammer minis to get my mini painted and everything.

Still not sure which mini I am going to use...

It is either:

This Paladin

*or*

This Paladin

[nosig]

food suggestions...

when we play at someone's house, we might change the VC briefing to be over lunch (or some meal) and I bring a "spread". Something like a Fruit tray, vigies (carrots etc.) plate, or crackers and cheese, maybe sliced lunch meat - finger foods. One or two plates that I made up (and often cheaper than buying lunch out). Something like that. Then we can do the VC game briefing during the meal, with the VC waving carrot sticks (or rolled up lunch meat)around like pointers. Gives a new view of Amara Lees Tea Ceremony...

I've lost count of the number of times a cracker get's used as a stand-in for a "large" figure - Saltine or Ritz crackers work great for 2" bases...

A year or two ago I had three younger players (ages 9 to 13) attending games for several month, and several times I've invested in a bottle of sparkling juice (grape or peach) that looks a like champagne - then I'd brake out a set of champagne flutes and we have "wine" with our "meal" for the briefing...

This doesn't work at most shops though - esp. if they sell food. But for that I try bringing the Judge a cold water bottle. Even if he just uses it to clean maps it's often welcome...

[Buba Casanunda]

I have a PC who is a cook. It's his day job (only one rank - but heck, it's fun role play!).

Often he hands out recipes when I play him at the table... when I do, I normally bring what's on "todays special"...

Last game it was:

Coconut Drop Cookies::

6 cups shredded Mwangi coconut
5 cups granulated Mwangi sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
6 fresh chicken eggs
1/4 cup melted cows butter
1 tablespoon light Mwangi rum
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:
In the large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and beat until thoroughly mixed. Cover the bowl and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls and place them 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until browned on the bottom and around the edges. Cool the cookies on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container & transports well in a Handy Haversack.

I keep asking for a circumstance bonus on my Day Job checks for it... but so far it hasn't helped...

If I was Dark Archives, I'd be able to say something like "come to the Dark Side, we have cookies....". But I would bet you could get away with it with a Paladin too...

[Curaigh]

HWalsh wrote:

...

But, not today.
...

Well met HWalsh.

I tried adding a number of things to this, but they all seemed like platitudes compared to your words.

But, not today.

May these days come more often.

[HWalsh]

Ricardo Rosete wrote:

I'm not sure how I ended up in this thread, but I'm glad I did!

I'm not usually what you'd call an emotional person, but reading this... (word-that-the-forum-will-censor) I'm welling up here...

It brought back some memories... an uncle of mine had an accident the left him bedridden, he was an extrovert and always found his way around to make friends, he was charismatic to say the least. But not on his bad days, on those he was gloomy, he wanted to be alone and not leave his room.

I know that it was hard for him, and his mood swings (more like mood see saw) were even harder for my grandma, but every now and then he'd find a way to cope (or go back to a forgotten one) music, painting, reading, preaching, every now and then he'd see a light and cling to it, and let the fun joking guy shine through for a while.

I'm glad that you gave PFS a chance, and even better it gave YOU something back.

For those times when you want to get a healthy dose of PFS from your desk/PC here are some links for Online Society play.

Flaxseed Lodge - Home of PbP PFS Play

Castamir Station - Home of PbP SFS Play

Discord Server for Organized Play

P.S. Sent you a PM

The discord server link doesn't seem to work...

[Hmm]

Oh, let’s fix that. The discord channel is here: PFSChat.com.
Post in the #Looking4Game channel and say hi! Tell them you’re new and ask if anyone’s got a game starting up.

Also, seek out Ironhelix, Finegas, Hels and Stuntmonkey, the Online VO team for Virtual Table Top. Tell them Hmm told them to introduce you around. It’s a friendly crowd, and you’ll find lots of pickup games that you can join.

By the way, I’m Hmm, the Venture Captain for Play-by-Post. I know you write, so that may appeal to you too. Play-by-Post games are like interactive short stories shared between a bunch of friends. They are super fun. You can find us at the link Ricardo gave above, or at FlaxseedLodge.com.

Merry Christmas, and may this season bring you much joy.

Hmm

[John Napier 698]

Hey, HWalsh. Your words touched me, to the point where I want to help you rebuild your collection. Post what books you had to leave behind. I'll get you something when I get paid next. I assume that PDFs will be okay?

Also, I'm the GM of a Play-by-post that I inherited. The group has lost a character, because the player is swamped by his own games. If you're interested, create a character and let me know that you're ready either via PM or in the Discussion thread.

[HWalsh]

John Napier 698 wrote:

Hey, HWalsh. Your words touched me, to the point where I want to help you rebuild your collection. Post what books you had to leave behind. I'll get you something when I get paid next. I assume that PDFs will be okay?

Also, I'm the GM of a Play-by-post that I inherited. The group has lost a character, because the player is swamped by his own games. If you're interested, create a character and let me know that you're ready either via PM or in the Discussion thread.

I appreciate the offer John, but that is fine. I have been given a number of gift cards and stuff for Paizo since this happened so I am okay. I do appreciate it though. Thank you.

[TimD]

Glad you found GA PFS. Look forward to playing with you some time.

[John Napier 698]

You're welcome. But, the offer of a spot in my PbP is still open.

[HWalsh]

TimD wrote:

Glad you found GA PFS. Look forward to playing with you some time.

I'll be at the Holiday Party this coming weekend. :)

[HWalsh]

John Napier 698 wrote:

You're welcome. But, the offer of a spot in my PbP is still open.

I will absolutely look, I've never done PBP before, just stuff over like Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds.

Right now I only have 2 more books to pick up (which I am pretty sure I can do after Christmas) and my Paladin character is all set up with everything He'll ever need.

Gonna grab Inner Sea Gods (that one is pricey, even for the PDF) and Healer's Handbook (for the awesome Mercies!) and I am all set. I am so excited.