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Are gnomes subject to the curse of The Bleaching in PFS play?
I assume not, because The Bleaching requires at least middle age category, and PFS doesn't use age categories (but I could be wrong as there might be an exception in regards to age-dependent afflictions...)
Regarsd,
GM PDK
Venture-Agent, Nebraska—Omaha
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Yes. All gnomes are. It is often the motivation for characters to join the society.
Upon reaching middle age, any gnome who in the GM’s opinion does not adequately seek out new and interesting experiences runs the risk of experiencing the Bleaching. Each year that the gnome doesn’t act to mitigate his boredom, he must make a Will save with a DC equal to the amount of ability damage he’s taken from the Bleaching so far or 10 + his level, whichever is greater.
For PFS, "the GM" is the campaign leadership. Society missions are sufficiently interesting to prevent the need to make the save. Gnome PCs in PFS never take ability damage and cannot become bleachlings except by retraining their racial traits.
So, tl;dr: No. The bleaching doesn't come into play in PFS.
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The original post links to a reddit discussion about creating a Bleachling (notice the "L") Gnome character.
This is legal in PFS.
I provided the text that allows you to do so.
The rules for being cursed, from Gnomes of Golarion, however, are not legal.
Which makes sense, because players that don't own that source might not know about those rules, and shouldn't be punished for not knowing them.
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Bleachling is from Legacy of the First World, and it is legal for play.
As per the fluff you can do it as a regular gnome with the shadowbound curse.
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to confirm, does the following apply to PFS gnomes or not:
From Gnomes of Golarion:
The Bleaching
Type curse; Save Will halts or reverses (see text)
Onset middle age; Frequency 1/year
Effect Upon reaching middle age, any gnome who in the GM’s opinion does not adequately seek out new and interesting experiences runs the risk of experiencing the Bleaching. Each year that the gnome doesn’t act to mitigate his boredom, he must make a Will save with a DC equal to the amount of ability damage he’s taken from the Bleaching so far or 10 + his level, whichever is greater. If he fails, he takes a 1d6 drain to Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma respectively. This drain cannot be healed in any manner short of a wish or miracle. If at any point the gnome undergoes sufficiently interesting experiences, he does not need to save that year to avoid further drain and may instead attempt a save that year at the curse's current DC to remove 1d4 points of ability drain from each affected ability score. If one of the gnome’s ability scores reaches 0 because of the curse (not as a result of some other ability damage or drain), he must immediately make a final save at the curse's current DC. If he fails, he dies and cannot be resurrected; if he succeeds, he becomes a bleachling. A bleachling is immune to the Bleaching and is immune to further effects of aging as per the druid’s timeless body ability, though he retains any age-related penalties already incurred; additionally, any ability drain due to the Bleaching is reversed. The colors of his body are muted, he treats druid as an additional favored class (including retroactively gaining favored class skill ranks which he may apply to Intelligence-, Wisdom-, or Charisma-based skills), and he can cast speak with animals at will. The Bleaching cannot be cured by magic; it persists even in areas where magic does not function.
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I already answered that question, and explained why. Here is a quote as further support:
Pathfinder Player Companion: Gnomes of Golarion
Equipment: all equipment in the table on page 23; Feats: Arcane School Spirit, Bewildering Koan, Blood Ties, Caustic Slur, Effortless Trickery, Extra Gnome Magic, Helpless Prisoner, Invoke Primal Instinct, Tantrum, Threatening Illusion, Witty Feint; Gods: all gods on the inside front cover; Spell: illusory poison; Traits: Brastlewark Businessman, Charlatan, Collector, Excitable, Explorer, Etymologist, First Memories, Naturally Gifted, Rapscallion, Sprint, Trickster, and Zealot
If you ever have a question regarding legality, the Additional Resources document has the answer.
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Venture-Agent, Nebraska—Omaha
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Nefreet, I don't think you are answering the question PDK is asking. The Bleaching isn't a player option to be allowed or disallowed. It is a major setting element that all gnomes are subject to. Additional resources is helpful, but not the best explanation for why the mechanical elements of the curse don't affect gnomes in PFS. A better explanation includes the in-game reasons PFS gnomes don't suffer from the curse. And in PFS, leadership/GM fiat provides the in-game reasoning that PFS adventures are sufficiently interesting.
If you do want to play a gnome suffering from the bleaching, Lily Moore's suggestion to play an oracle with the shadowbound curse provides a mechanical means to do so. The bleaching would be part of the characters backstory, though. They would not suffer any effects from the Gnomes of Golarion bleaching rules.
GM PDK, I'm curious what the context for your question is. Your GM alias suggests you are inquiring from a GM perspective, and asking whether you should ask gnomes to roll versus the curse.
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They are quoting text from a book, asking whether it's legal in PFS, and I am responding with an unequivocal "No".
Can Humans have brown hair and Elves have pointy ears? Sure. That's all fluff. Same for Gnomes seeking "interesting experiences".
But the curse being asked about, and quoted, is not legal for players, GMs or anyone to apply. Period.
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Ok thanks for confirming this. I think 'Bleaching' vs. 'Bleachling' ended up confusing the conversation for some, so I wanted to make sure 'Bleaching' indeed does not happen in PFS. And yes, the 'Bleaching' came up in one of my PFS games as a matter of conversation between a PC and and NPC. I certainly never had the desire to make a gnome PC roll against that, but just wanted to make sure it's not a thing in PFS.
Thank you!
