Working with Academia - Downtime and Classes


Strength of Thousands


Hello, I'm currently working on developing a basic semester set-up for downtime during the game since Academia subsystem rules are super open

Currently based on the supplemental reading from LO ME and SoM I am planning the following and would like some input on whether modifying the downtime system like this would break balancing considering the player will already be getting essentially 2 free archetypes just playing this AP and the Maagambya Attendent Feat.

Downtime and Academia Revisited
The Basics
The Initiate's Perquisite is normally on 5 Seasons. 1 Season before coming to school where the Hopeful must live and work as a student of Maagambya even before being truly enrolled. Essentially the first season after being given sponsorship you do volunteer work while on your way to the academy with the final check being a question of how you lived by Magambya's code on the way here. Honor System so you could lie but do you want to when there are so many high leveled spell casters around.

Once a student arrives they get a week to move in, get the initiation tests, and do the initial perquisite tasks. Their Cohort's schedule is listed in their dormitory, it doesn't matter when the student arrives as it is normal to be away, the student is expected to catch up with the cohort's assistance unless they arrived too late for the season. If so they simply participate in class with the final being optional but an initiate must pass each season's finals to become an attendant. Exceptional students can simply take the test to speed up the process but this is rare.

4 Semesters tied to the Nantambu Months and Festivals. All semesters are named after seasons with different courses tailored to each season to keep in line working with the nature theme the school has.

Semesters consist of the First Day after Ancestor's Day of the Seasonal Festival to Jatembe's Day of the next seasonal festival. Meaning 3 months of 28 days so 84 days in the semester with 12 of those days being rest days.

For Initiates their coursework is more regimented than other students of Magaambya:
5 days of instruction/tasks for each of the 5 basic branches - 60 Days total
1 rotating instruction/task day (Halcyon Magic, Staffs, Masks, Ect…) - 12 Days
1 day of rest for each Cohort - 12 Days
The students are completely free to do what they want. The rest day can be exchanged with other Cohorts as long as the teachers are in

Once a student becomes an attendant the semesters stay the same but students can take more specific classes.
Conversants gain more flexibility and are normally sent on practical tasks.

I’m thinking of doing 2 study/cram rolls 1 for midterms at 6 weeks and 1 for finals at the end of 12 weeks. If you succeed you get +2 to the next study roll, crit succeed +3, crit fail -2


Here is a sample calendar I've put together to help me better figure out when the different events in the AP occur.

https://app.fantasy-calendar.com/calendars/cd7eb7c3ecfb284f7b6e5b50333c98f8

Shadow Lodge

Zartust wrote:

Here is a sample calendar I've put together to help me better figure out when the different events in the AP occur.

https://app.fantasy-calendar.com/calendars/cd7eb7c3ecfb284f7b6e5b50333c98f8

Have you built this calendar out any further yet?


I actually did this as well before finding this thread. I made the equinox/solstices and new years day as intercalary month so it doesn't increment the month count.

I also calculated when the normal Golarian calendar months would begin. Still adding more stuff as time goes on. I just happened to start my campaign during the winter semester.

https://app.fantasy-calendar.com/calendars/eafdd69b93536090357a2a2aa9514075


ThriceFire wrote:

I actually did this as well before finding this thread. I made the equinox/solstices and new years day as intercalary month so it doesn't increment the month count.

I also calculated when the normal Golarian calendar months would begin. Still adding more stuff as time goes on. I just happened to start my campaign during the winter semester.

https://app.fantasy-calendar.com/calendars/eafdd69b93536090357a2a2aa9514075

How did you manage to calculate when the normal Golarion calendar months would begin?


anthonydido wrote:
Zartust wrote:

Here is a sample calendar I've put together to help me better figure out when the different events in the AP occur.

https://app.fantasy-calendar.com/calendars/cd7eb7c3ecfb284f7b6e5b50333c98f8

Have you built this calendar out any further yet?

I am hoping to get it all filled in once I receive the last physical copy of the AP

Shadow Lodge

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Zartust wrote:
anthonydido wrote:
Zartust wrote:

Here is a sample calendar I've put together to help me better figure out when the different events in the AP occur.

https://app.fantasy-calendar.com/calendars/cd7eb7c3ecfb284f7b6e5b50333c98f8

Have you built this calendar out any further yet?
I am hoping to get it all filled in once I receive the last physical copy of the AP

Is it built any further than your original post? I just started running my campaign and the hardest thing I'm having trouble with is the time aspects and when to run certain encounters. The AP doesn't give much guidance.

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