Can't figure out if or when I'll be able to level up in PFS...


Pathfinder Society


Hi, I've joined a weekly game with an experienced PFS group, all of whom have their own PCs of level 5 or higher. I've played through about 10 sessions with them, and only one of those quests was in the level 1 range, so for the most part, all of my xp is being earned by level 4 or level 7 pregens, and banked for some future version of a PC that I can't play yet.

While not exactly a newbie at this stage, I still don't have a character of my own to use in PFS, and it's really bumming me out. I seem to have few hopes of getting a PC leveled up before the 2e comes out in August.

That being said, am I correct that I could ask my VA to apply my chronicle sheets to a first level PC of my own making--so that I can get to level 2, at least (with the penalty being I only earn 500 gp for those sessions)?

Assuming that's correct, is there some way to get the PC *PAST* level 2, if I keep taking the 500 gp penalty--and assuming our group keeps wanting to play level 4 to level 7 adventures? I would really like to have my own character to play in what remains of the 1e PFS, but I seem to be cursed by the system to stay at level 2 or play pregens...

5/5 5/55/55/5

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The pregens can only get you to 2 like that.

You'd need the group to run some lower level games for you to boop you to 3, then run 3-7s for a while with you at the lower end.

You could also level up online, the character would still be valid at your venue (just as if you'd hopped accross town to play)

Dark Archive 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Finland—Turku

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Since a player can, and eventually will have, multiple characters, you could ask the group/GM if they'd be willing to play/run a couple of lower level scenarios to get you to level 3. By reducing the gold to 500, you can get to level 2 as you know - it would only take 3 more games after that to get you to level 3, and then you could play your own character with them (in level 3-7 adventures).

Another option is to run a module, or an adventure path book, or one level of the Emerald spire, suitable for level 2 characters. Any one of those could get you 3 xp, lifting you to level 3.

Alternatively, Gallows of Madness is a relatively short "Long" module, that can be run in campaign mode (giving GM bit more freedom when compared to usual PFS play). Running/playing it takes about a day, depending on the group, and for some reason, gives you 4 separate chronicle sheets, each with 3 xp. You could apply them all to your level 2 PC or a fresh new PC to get to level 5, allowing you to catch up with the rest of the players. There are a couple of other modules like that too, I think Dragon's Demand can also get you from level 1 to 4 or 5 when played through completely, and Ire of the Storm also gets you from 1 to 5.

1/5 5/55/5 **

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I would very much like to invite you to play online, either Play by Post or one of the Virtual Table Top games. If you have any conventions nearby with an Organized Play presence they usually run some lower level games as well.

You could also discuss your desires with the local group and ask if anyone is willing to run some modules to help you level up quickly. Gallows of Madness is a module with three parts. Each part provides 3XP (ie 1 level) plus if you play all three parts with one character you gain a bonus chronicle with additional experience to take you to L4. Then all those waiting pre-gen chronicles would be applied, quite possibly taking you to L5.

When I played through these they each took not much longer than a regular scenario, shorter than some of the higher level scenarios. Hopefully, your group will be willing to work with you on this.

Also, there is no need to stop playing 1E when 2E arrives. Do you know what they plan?

Again, there is a thriving online community that would welcome you in and we plan to have 1E games available for some time yet.

Dark Archive 4/5 Venture-Captain, Online—VTT

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Greetings and welcome signaltonoise, like GM Numbat says there are plenty of play by post (PbP) and virtual tabletop (VTT) games out there and that might be a good way to get some more games in and level up!

I think firstly asking everyone if they would be willing to play some lower level scenarios to let you play your own character with them, so you can truly feel a part of the stories, is your best bet.

But, if you're at all interested in online games a normal session for VTT lasts 3-5 hours much like irl and is played over the internet using a program, such as Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds for example, for the graphics and a voice chat program, such as Discord or Google Hangouts, for voice. I'd suggest checking out our Organised Play Online Discord server here, where we have plenty of games being listed and tons of GMs and players who can help. There's also the PbP forum on this very site that you can find here.

If you don't have Discord you can download it from here or it can be used in a web browser. I'm 'Stunt Monkey' on Discord, feel free to say hi if you drop by and if I'm not around I'm sure one of our many players and GMs will be happy to offer whatever help you need.

There's also a great guide to playing Pathfinder Society online written by the ever helpful Big Norse Wolf, you can read that here.

/Rich

2/5 5/5 **

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Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens Subscriber

Play-by-Post (PbP) is going to be to slow to help his current character if his group is playing weekly, but VTT is a good option to slip in extra sessions.

Of course, if you just want to play your own character with other people starting at 1st level, you could start a new character to play in PbP. As long as the character isn't in a session (since PbP takes weeks+), you can take them to live games just like visiting different game locations.


Richard Lowe wrote:

VTT lasts 3-5 hours much like irl and is played over the internet using a program, such as Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds

/Rich

Manythanks for these helpful suggestions and warm welcomes!

Quick question, do games which run on Roll20 also appear on FantasyGrounds, or do GMs have to choose the VTT (limiting the potential PC selection for the session)?

Is there a general preference that seems to be out there in VTT PFS for one or the other program? I looked at both and Fantasy Grounds seems a bit more polished or user friendly for me, but I'll go with Roll20 if there are more game options that way...

Dark Archive 4/5 *** Venture-Lieutenant, Finland—Turku

Not sure what you are asking - as a world wide campaing, you can use the character you are playing at your friends table, take it to a roll20 table to play a couple of games, play another in the forums in play by post, then play one in FantasyGrounds, maybe join a random foreign group for a single session when travelling, and then still play another game with your local PFS group, using the same character(s) all the time.

I'm not an expert in online play (just a couple of PbP's and one roll20 game so far), it didn't seem too difficult to take a character I used in one online format, to another. You don't need to limit yourself on which platforms you play.

Obviously, GM decides the program they want to use, but it doesn't really limit the potential PC selection, I think.

5/5 5/55/55/5

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signaltonoise wrote:
Richard Lowe wrote:

VTT lasts 3-5 hours much like irl and is played over the internet using a program, such as Roll20 or Fantasy Grounds

/Rich

Manythanks for these helpful suggestions and warm welcomes!

Quick question, do games which run on Roll20 also appear on FantasyGrounds, or do GMs have to choose the VTT (limiting the potential PC selection for the session)?

Is there a general preference that seems to be out there in VTT PFS for one or the other program? I looked at both and Fantasy Grounds seems a bit more polished or user friendly for me, but I'll go with Roll20 if there are more game options that way...

Roll20 is the default platform with by far the most games hopping off. While less polished than fantasy grounds it's free to play cheap to DM and has a lower learning curve. But if you like both systems your character can go back and forth between them just like you can play at the Dragons Den, the den of the dragon, a local convention and a national convention.

Starters guide to roll 20

Dark Archive

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Pathfinder Pathfinder Accessories Subscriber; Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Superscriber; Starfinder Charter Superscriber
Tommi Ketonen wrote:

Not sure what you are asking - as a world wide campaing, you can use the character you are playing at your friends table, take it to a roll20 table to play a couple of games, play another in the forums in play by post, then play one in FantasyGrounds, maybe join a random foreign group for a single session when travelling, and then still play another game with your local PFS group, using the same character(s) all the time.

I'm not an expert in online play (just a couple of PbP's and one roll20 game so far), it didn't seem too difficult to take a character I used in one online format, to another. You don't need to limit yourself on which platforms you play.

Obviously, GM decides the program they want to use, but it doesn't really limit the potential PC selection, I think.

I think Signaltonoise is asking wether if he had Roll20 he could join a specific session being run in FantasyGrounds, or vice versa.

No you can't, they're different programs - It's like if you bought Angry Birds for iPhone, you couldn't then have it for Android without buying it again.

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