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As we're doing all of our gaming via virtual spaces these days, and therefore creating digital files for all of our paperwork, I was wondering; Has anyone done a Fillable PDF of the Event Reporting Form? Or how about adding that feature to the PDFs of the Scenarios? Right now I'm using Adobe and just using the Fill and Sign tool. But it would be cool to have the boxes lined up and be able to just Tab between everything.
I've never generated a Fillable PDF so I don't know how easy or hard it is, so I figured I'd ask if it's already been done before I spend a few hours messing it up.
Thanks!
Premier Event Coordinator
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Unless it can be shared at the same time by all the players, I dunno why you would bother with an official reporting form. Any game I’ve ever played (admittedly not a lot) we’ve just entered our data into whatever chat system we’re using or maybe sent it my messenger or email. If you want something to send back and forth between the players why not just use Excel or similar? It doesn’t have to be a fancy official form.
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As long as you collect the information somehow and report it through the system you've done your job.
HERE is an example of a sign-in sheet for a game I played not long ago.
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Venture-Captain, Missouri—Columbia
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This is why some of us are using Google docs. First of all, it serves as a sign in sheet. Second, all the data I as the GM needs to make chronicle sheets is present. Third, all the data I need as the GM to report the session on Paizo.com is present. Fourth, if there are any problems I can simply go to the sheet and see the data entered on it to figure out why I made an error so I don't repeat the same error down the road.
Since the Online Region is requiring GMs to fill out the Chronicle Sheets with all the information, it also helps with accountability.
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Premier Event Coordinator
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Since the Online Region is requiring GMs to fill out the Chronicle Sheets with all the information, it also helps with accountability.
I would posit this is the intent, and may generally happen at officially sponsored events like conventions. And even then I doubt it’s 100%. I know I’ve played in a number of one-off games now and not one of them have required I prefix the chronicle. It’s been just like a live game. The GM completes the bottom, enters the XP/fame/treasure earned and issues it to the player to complete the rest on their own time. Based on commentary, that seems to be the standard that most GMs are following.
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Regional Venture-Coordinator, Online
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Filling out chronicles completely is our suggested SOP and saves the community a lot of grief and heartburn down the line - forms like those mentioned above help collect data in the same way the sign-in sheets do in meat-space and leave a paper trail when (not if) questions come up later, and are very helpful in resolving those issues - we've been able to go back to those records to help resolve things on a number of occasions now and we really appreciate that GMs keep good online records. (The digital breadcrumbs are a positive aspect of online play that helps a lot.) Filled out chronicles save a lot of headaches down the line and we really appreciate the GMs who take the time and effort to help the player community maintain better records and experiences at events and in day-to-day online play.
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Venture-Captain, Missouri—Columbia
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Since the Online Region is requiring GMs to fill out the Chronicle Sheets with all the information, it also helps with accountability.I would posit this is the intent, and may generally happen at officially sponsored events like conventions. And even then I doubt it’s 100%. I know I’ve played in a number of one-off games now and not one of them have required I prefix the chronicle. It’s been just like a live game. The GM completes the bottom, enters the XP/fame/treasure earned and issues it to the player to complete the rest on their own time. Based on commentary, that seems to be the standard that most GMs are following.
Unfortunately, some folks don't like to do the right thing and fill out the forms completely. Right now, I am seeing a large influx of people to the Online Region and I do not think they are aware that they should be filling out the forms completely.
I find it odd how some folks get irritated about accountability and then don't bother to be accountable when filling out the chronicle sheets. There's a direct correlation right there.
If we want accountability, it begins with filling out the chronicle sheets completely.
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Premier Event Coordinator
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What I don’t understand is the seeming appearance that this is an online thing. It’s always been a rule so we shouldn’t be “selling” this as an online expectation. It’s an expectation for all organized players to complete the chronicle sheet before it is finalized by the GM. That’s all I’m saying. We know a lot of GMs don’t do it. I’m not saying it’s right, just that it happens.
The instructions on how to complete the chronicle sheets would disagree with you Nefreet and having the player complete the starting values at the very minimum is not going to affect your spending at all since you cannot spend between sessions after the next session is complete. The point of having complete chronicles is to encourage players to be updated and prepared for the next play session. We all know, more often than not, that when a player stuffs a chronicle sheet into their folder, it doesn’t see the light of day again until the next session, when the folder opens to receive the next chronicle. You only have to request to audit a character’s records to see how terribly most players keep the documents up to date.
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Nefreet isn't talking about the starting values, but occasionally I've had online GMs insist in filling out the totals after spending and such as well.
Which is both the incorrect way to do things and detrimental to proper record keeping. In such cases it seemed to stem from an incorrect understanding of the instructions to fully fill out chronicle sheets.
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Regional Venture-Coordinator, Online
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It definitely gets missed for sure - no argument there - meat-space or online - and It's never been an "Online Thing", for sure - in fact Hilary likes to call it the "Omaha Method", or something along those lines, because it was more enforced there (I am assuming) - we're not going to be chronicle nazis about it though - we simply request cooperation on it within our own region, as a best practice - a lot of GMs gladly participate in that request, and we greatly appreciate it.
On the totals - I agree with Bob - recording of spending is not affected as it would be recorded at the next session on the next sheet, not the current one - so it has no affect there at all - and if people are keeping correct records those values would be recorded and available to total out on the next sheet - So, totaling out the current sheet would not be "incorrect way" or "detrimental" - that said - this very specific guideline is only for our own online region - the only reason it comes up more is that our region is so much more public and in the line of sight than other regions where only local eyes ever see anything - but we do appreciate people respecting our regional guidelines - if other VOs in other areas decide differently for their local or greater regions we will respect that in turn - in the end we're not the IRS here, just people playing games and volunteering to help others have fun.
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Regional Venture-Coordinator, Online
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To clarify, that was for your and Bob's mentioned context of "between sessions" - if you are purchasing "at the [virtual]table" then it would be on the chronicle being created at that session, not the next - whether those purchases are from before of after the actual game-play of that session.
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Premier Event Coordinator
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I think as a community we have long said that there should be no expectation that the final totals be completed at the table for the very reason that Nefreet will expound on, that being reviewing the books for item availability and making purchases. That’s a process that can take much more time than what is available at the table. However, the general expectation is that the player should complete the information at the top of the chronicle and the starting values. Then the GM will complete the rewards, including circling or lining out anything not being issued, and fill out the bottom of the sheet. Then award the sheet to the player. Experience tells us however that this rarely happens. The vast majority of GMs just fill out the bottom, write in the rewards and then give the sheet to the p,Ayer to complete the rest at their leisure.
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Regional Venture-Coordinator, Online
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Online play does not, usually, have the time constraints of meat-space, in day-to-day play - so the time limitations are not as much of an excuse here - Beyond that, as stated above, it's our own regions requested SOP - there are no penalties for not doing it though - we are not going to be the chronicle sheet gestapo - ultimately, for day-to-day play, "you do you, boo"
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Venture-Captain, Missouri—Columbia
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I've started the practice which has been interrupted by this pandemic at our lodges, so now I'll have to get it restarted to hand out the Chronicle Sheets to the players at the beginning of the session so they can fill out their data on the sheet including all the current totals. Then I college them back. At the end of the game I can do the entries for expenditures and stuff in game and do the totals on the spot.
It worked nice the couple times I did it. Just haven't had enough time to make it into something routine yet.