Let's Write Some Guides… Together!


Organized Play General Discussion

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A couple of months ago I started a website collecting some player guides that I felt were missing from the community, as well as some excellent docs written by another VO.

Then I started wondering why we were doing all this work alone when there are smart people on these boards already writing awesome guides.

I’d love to collaborate on some open-source docs, specifically designed to help out new players! So, I am sharing this project with the world and inviting anyone to join in.

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Current guides:

- Org play 101 (how to set up your account, create an org play characters find/spend AcP, etc)
- Using Warhorn for Players (account management, notifications, finding games, etc)
- Warhorn for organizers (creating & managing events and registrations)
- Paizo Play by Post Basics (Setting up a character profile, PbP conventions, etc)
- Choosing a VTT for your group
- Roll20 Basics for free account users without a vault
- Foundry Basics
- Splitting chronicles for GMs
- A collection of links to other guides

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You Can Help!

The guides need editing help all around. They also need fresh ideas from people who are subject matter experts (especially in VTTs like Foundry). Anyone can contribute — either with the writing, editing, or technical details. To make edits you don't even need to know any code, just Markdown. (If you used Reddit before you probably know enough Markdown; it's easier than Paizo forum code!)

It's easy to submit an edit. It's then reviewed before being published, so you don't even have to worry about breaking anything. All you need is a GitHub account and you're a few of mouse clicks away from helping out:

How to make edits:
1. Make a GitHub account.
2. Click on the little pencil tool when you hover over a heading area
3. Click Fork this Repository (basically, make a copy of the site)
4. Edit the document
5. Scroll down to Proposed Changes and add a title for your proposed change, and some text as to why
6. Click Propose Changes
7. Click Create Pull Request (this is just a fancy way of telling the authors to review your changes)
8. I will review and approve or reject your change with a reason why
9. The change will be merged into the master document and published
10. Give yourself a Hero Point for helping the community

Video for visual learners (make sure to view in HD)

I also added a backlog of guides that can be added at some point. Feel free to suggest more.

I would also appreciate any other thoughts or useful guides that would like to be published or linked.

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Also, these are Guides

Of course, if you are happy just reading or sharing guides, my hope is that others find this small collection useful.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

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That first link of yours doesn't work, but then I don't do anything with GitHub.

I've seen it mentioned in XKCD comics before...

On the Splitting Chronicles guide, there's a problem when you print-to-PDF just the Chronicle. I've heard it mentioned before, I think by the blind community? Maybe it ruins text for screen readers. I know it ruins image extraction (although that's probably not relevant for Chronicles).

4/5 *****

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Of course, I see your comment 1 hour 2 min after posting so I can't make an edit. Fixed link to the guides' home page.

Nefreet wrote:
but then I don't do anything with GitHub.

Feedback is welcome here too.

Accessibility for split chronicles is an important consideration, but if you're annotating with text to a chronicle it should be picked up. But why assume? I'll give it a test now and add the results.

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Nefreet wrote:
On the Splitting Chronicles guide, there's a problem when you print-to-PDF just the Chronicle. I've heard it mentioned before, I think by the blind community? Maybe it ruins text for screen readers. I know it ruins image extraction (although that's probably not relevant for Chronicles).

Added a note about accessibility after a quick test using chronicles generated by "print to PDF" and on RPG Chronicles.

Thanks!

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

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On the Roll20 Basics guide, I find this cheatsheet useful when crafting Macros.

Also, I love using Wingdings in Roll20. Stuff like nevermind. Apparently most of them don't show up on my Pixel =(

But there's a great Circle Arrow thing to symbolize the Reaction icon and a Black Diamond works great for the Action icon.

Wingdings have an alphabetical order so you can organize your Macro names using something different than basic Numbers and Letters.

Sczarni 5/5 5/55/5 ***

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Oh, do you have an image extraction guide?

I'm a Luddite in so much as I'll stick with archaic ways of computing if it's free and easy to use.

Like PDF to PPT. The images in Paizo PDFs always have this annoying black fuzz around them, preventing you from just right-click extracting their images. But if you convert the PDF to a PPT, you can pull the images no problem.

Then I literally just stick them in Microsoft Paint and I'm ready to go.

Another resource for Monster images is archivesofnethys, but they have a grey background. If that bothers you, just right-click copy the image and paste it into a Google Slide. Then you can just screenshot the Slide, paste it into Paint, and you're all done.

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

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For getting clear images from PDFs I find that you generally can't beat the free Token Tool 2 program, just open the PDF using it and you can flip through the pdf and just drag and drop any monster or map images you want directly from it, it even preserves the alpha so no fuzzy black edges or anything.

In regards to guides, there's a very simple one page one I made for helping new GMs start an event on Paizo if they need to, dunno if it's any use as it's an image but it's here.

5/5 5/55/55/5

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All guides written for druids by a druid. This isn't the deep fancy computer programming it's "what button do I click..."

VERY basic roll 20 guide Roll 20 starting, how to make a barebones character, initiative tips and tricks, how to import/export a character

How to make a roll20 table

Starfinder society newbie guide
How to build a starfinder society character also has enough general starfinder rules to get you onto the learning curve.

How to fill out the roll20 simple sheet. I hate character sheets. But if you don't, this is how you fill out the most commonly used sheet in society.

PC woof quickie sheet A Macro based starfinder character sheet that doesn't care what roll 20 table it's in. Simple sheet table? No problem. Official sheet table? Easy as pie. You can literally plop it into tales of equestria table and it still works just fine. This was made for DMs to very quickly make monsters, but expanded into a character sheet. If you already have a character made and want them on roll20 in 10 minutes this is a good option.

This also has a macros 202 class. How to make simple roll20 templates, add pictures, drop down menus, and how to duct tape stored numbers. It's roughly every tool I know how to use.

4/5 *****

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I have added every suggested guide so far under the "More guides" section and Richard's "creating an Event" under the Org Play 101 section, with author attribution where I could find it.

Thanks for the adds. So many great resources out there.

4/5 *****

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Nefreet wrote:
Another resource for Monster images is archivesofnethys, but they have a grey background. If that bothers you, just right-click copy the image and paste it into a Google Slide. Then you can just screenshot the Slide, paste it into Paint, and you're all done.

Hmmm. I've always dragged and dropped the image into slides and it preserves transparency (AoN loads up pngs with alpha). You can also mask it in Slides.

Nefreet wrote:

Oh, do you have an image extraction guide?

I'm a Luddite in so much as I'll stick with archaic ways of computing if it's free and easy to use.

Like PDF to PPT. The images in Paizo PDFs always have this annoying black fuzz around them, preventing you from just right-click extracting their images. But if you convert the PDF to a PPT, you can pull the images no problem.

Then I literally just stick them in Microsoft Paint and I'm ready to go.

I can add a guide to to the backlog. My workflow is different than yours… there are probably lots of ways to do that. I can make a guide but I always worry that teaching people how to rip stuff out of protected PDFs may not be 100% okay with Paizo.

How it's played also has a guide on batch extraction, too.

Richard Lowe wrote:
For getting clear images from PDFs I find that you generally can't beat the free Token Tool 2 program, just open the PDF using it and you can flip through the pdf and just drag and drop any monster or map images you want directly from it, it even preserves the alpha so no fuzzy black edges or anything.

Token Tool could be added there too. Probably a new guide about "Dealing with image assets" or something would be useful here.

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I have created an assets guide that includes extraction, batch extraction, and free/subscription token tools.

Please let me know if something needs to be added… or as always drop me a pull request.

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Added:

2E FaQ & Errata
2E Boons

These are mirrored from the relevant pages. The idea is to provide searchable, structured text with linkable sections.

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

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Thanks for all your efforts here Doug! <3

4/5 *****

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I bought the Knights of Lastwall Boons since they still seem to be missing from the FAQ page, and added them to the page here:

Esoteric Spellcaster options: Knights of Lastwall

Avid Collector options: Knights of Lastwall

Slowly compiling more of the boons…

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• All items are now linked to AoN where available (I think knights of last wall isn't up yet); for example, Lost & found items from Secrets of magic
Game reward boons added; I listed & linked all the faction items I could
Chronicle boons added (text is as it appears on the boons page; working on a solution for revealing actual text in a way to minimize spoilers; open to ideas and help).

As always drop me a pull request or comment if something is amiss.

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Knights of Lastwall items are now linked.

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CRB Errata 3 added.

Also, made each and every errata linkable; for example Here is a link to the errata removing wounding rune's d12 on critical hits.

Let me know if anything is incorrect, or drop me a pull request on GitHub.

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Updated to follow the newest blog post:

- Season 3 background boons added
- ancestry boons updated to reflect incoming cost changes

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Had another PR to add advanced roll20 macros with more coming soon!

I have restructured the site to into sections, which is reflected in the main nav. Looks cleaner and easier to navigate now (at least, to me).

Every URL should be correctly redirected so there should be no issues with old links, but let me know if you have any issues.

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Added all the 2e scenarios, in a sortable table. Maybe we don't need a whole column for glyph/exclusive but it was what spurred me to build it.

Second Seekers (Jadnura) 1/5 5/55/5

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Pathfinder Starfinder Society Subscriber
Doug Hahn wrote:
Added all the 2e scenarios, in a sortable table. Maybe we don't need a whole column for glyph/exclusive but it was what spurred me to build it.

Amaaaazing. Can you do one for Starfinder Society, too?

(I have one I made myself just for looking at when trying to decide what to play next; I may have added some of my own commentary to be cleaned up, but hit me up if you want the data!)

4/5 *****

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Kishmo wrote:
Doug Hahn wrote:
Added all the 2e scenarios, in a sortable table. Maybe we don't need a whole column for glyph/exclusive but it was what spurred me to build it.

Amaaaazing. Can you do one for Starfinder Society, too?

(I have one I made myself just for looking at when trying to decide what to play next; I may have added some of my own commentary to be cleaned up, but hit me up if you want the data!)

Good idea! Here you go:

Starfinder Scenarios.

--

I'll try to keep these up to date; the site's just pulling from a simple CSV, so it should be easy enough to maintain or even collaborate on.

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Dark Archive Errata added.

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Dark Archive Boons with rewards listed:

- Heritage Boon
- Avid Collector
- Esoteric Spellcaster
- Specialized training

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I have trouble navigating the page on the Paizo site so I added Resources & Options (PFS) too.

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I got fed up always being confused about how to add/update payment methods and added a section to the guide on that: Payment Methods.

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Doug Hahn wrote:
I got fed up always being confused about how to add/update payment methods and added a section to the guide on that: Payment Methods.

I don't know how welcome this advice is, but I recently explained this to someone, so I'll post here.

I recommend against giving Paizo credit card information. Paizo makes great games, and I love supporting them financially, but it's very clear that logistics and website design are not their forte. I think that any personally identifying information given to them is at very high risk.

I don't give my real name to Paizo, and I use prepaid credit cards to pay. Yes, it's annoying. I think it's worth the hassle. Yes, you pay a ~5% fee. I think it's worth the money. Others may disagree. That's cool.

This is what I do:

Step 1: Buy a prepaid credit card from a major company (Visa/Mastercard). They're sold all over the place - supermarkets, drugstores, Walmart/Target, etc. You'll pay a $3-$5 charge to buy the card, and you'll want to buy the highest denomination that CANNOT BE RELOADED (see below for why). I think I got a $200 once, but usually it's $50 or $100.

Step 2: Register the prepaid card online. Put in whatever name you gave to Paizo, and whatever address you want. But do remember what you put, because you're going to have to match the information later. If you didn't pay attention in Step 1, and bought a reloadable card, you're going to be forced to put in your real information at this step, because then the card issuer falls under banking regulations. At that point, you might as well use your real credit card.

Step 3: Register the prepaid card in Paizo's system, following Doug's instructions above.

Step 4: Buy Paizo products often and enthusiastically, so that they save enough money to build a 21st century website someday.

Step 5: When PFS scenarios were $5 and PDF books were $15, it was pretty easy to use up all but a few cents on a $100 card. Now, it's more than likely that you'll have a buck or two left over on your card, and you may bristle at the thought of literally throwing money away. I have found that a convenient place to use the leftovers is at the supermarket. They have a lot of systems in place for "partial payments," so buy $10 worth of groceries, and pay $0.05-$3 from each of 3-5 used cards. Other places (such as coffee shops) may have limited systems in place, but the cashiers are not very familiar with doing it, and may become irritated if it takes too long. Other places simply don't have the ability to do partial payments at all, and you'll definitely annoy cashiers/servers by trying to squeeze the dregs of your prepaid cards on them. Be kind, rewind find a place that won't object too much and embrace your inevitable reputation as "That Person".

4/5 *****

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I may add that Watery, thanks!

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New section: Avatar Gallery.

I took a screenshot of every avatar gallery page and added them with a heading.

Now you can quickly scroll around and find which page your favorite avatars are on.

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Some October updates:

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Skeletons & FaQ:
⠀⠀- Skeleton Ancestry with AcP Cost
⠀⠀- How do Skeletons work in PFS FaQ

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Advanced Roll20 Macros:
⠀⠀- Initiative Player Token
⠀⠀- Magic Missile Player Token
⠀⠀- DC by Level for the GM
⠀⠀- Player Status Check for the GM

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Scenario Listings:
⠀⠀- 2E scenatios through October with tags; maps catalog link added on bottom.
⠀⠀- Starfinder scenatios through October with tags; maps catalog link added on bottom.
⠀⠀
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Assets & VTT Guides:
⠀⠀- Maps for Roll20 Mini guide (Super simple, but may not be obvious to some.)
⠀⠀- Fixed some typos and incorrect images in the Splitting Chronicles guide
⠀⠀- Updated Foundry Pros and Cons for clarity and current status.

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Thanks for Redeux and Silbeg for the pull requests and help!

Horizon Hunters 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 ****

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Your avatar gallery was surprisingly useful in helping my friend Bret and I find two very different pumpkin avatars for our two gourd leshies, Jackpot and Scary Gourd! Thank you!

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Nov/Dec Updates:

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Added PFS FaQ items:

⠀⠀- Added shortened FaQ titles to secondary ToC on the FaQ page to improve navigation
⠀⠀- Added How should GMs handle Lores with similar names, such as Pathfinder Lore and Pathfinder Society Lore?
⠀⠀- Added What happens if my animal companion or minion dies in combat?
⠀⠀- Added What are the rules for undead PCs in the Pathfinder Society campaign?

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Added PFS Character options:

⠀⠀- Added Lost Omens Travel Guide
⠀⠀- Added Lost Omens Impossible Lands

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Scenario Listings
⠀⠀- 2E scenarios updated through Nov
⠀⠀- Starfinder Scenarios updared through nov

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ToC Update
⠀⠀- Created PFS/SFS directories for clarity (all pages should redirect, let me know if there are issues)
⠀⠀- External resources are now just listed in the ToC
⠀⠀- Added Pirate's PFS Crafting Guide
⠀⠀- Added Org Play official guides

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Help needed

I would love if a Starfinder advocate could extract text from the:

⠀⠀- Starfinder Errata
⠀⠀- SFS FaQ
⠀⠀- SFS character options

All I need is the text in a document (preferably Markdown, but I'll take what I can get) and could handle it from there.

I would also be happy to teach a volunteer how to interact with git and help to contribute to docs like this.

4/5 *****

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Added AP Boons with links to all published items/spells. I added them on their own page so people can avoid spoilers.

Currently, that is only Agents of Edgewatch and Blood Lords.

Perhaps they will add the other APs later.

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⠀⠀• Added CRB Errata Part 4
⠀⠀• Added Core Rulebook Clarifications 4th printing

RIP Flickmace

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- Organized the FaQ page with more clear headers (a little editorializing on the heading titles but perhaps clearer than just page numbers), improved readability of FaQ text, and fixed some typographical errors.

Example (RIP x2 Flickmace).

Wayfinders 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 **** Contributor

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I would not call that an RIP to the Flickmace. It's still a one-handed reach weapon. Yeah, it was reduced to a 1d6 from a 1d8, but I still think it's worth getting for strong gnomes!

Thanks for these updates. That will be something I will look for with PCs in my games.

4/5 *****

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Hilary Moon Murphy wrote:
I would not call that an RIP to the Flickmace. It's still a one-handed reach weapon. Yeah, it was reduced to a 1d6 from a 1d8, but I still think it's worth getting for strong gnomes!

I'm being silly :p I just like to re-demonstrate that people can link directly to a FaQ item on these guides, which you cannot do on the Paizo FaQ page.

My level 12 PFS gnome agrees it's still strong, still amazing, and needed the change!

4/5 *****

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Alternate Formats

I generated a PDF and Word Doc of the 2E Faqs and Errata for those interested — PDF and Word.

direct link to PDF.

The documents are 76 pages long. The word doc in case someone wants to do their own formatting or layout.

PFS FaQ

Added CRB 4 errata, copied from the blog post with the addendum from Alex on ability generation.

4/5 *****

Feb Updates

Treasure vault

⠀➤ Treasure vault Boons with AoN links to all items
⠀➤ Treasure vault character options

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Ancestries

⠀➤ Removed Orc as it's now free.

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Sortable List

⠀➤ 2e scenario list updated

Wayfinders 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 **** Contributor

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Thank you for all your work on this, Doug! Much appreciated!

4/5 *****

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Added Impossible Lands Character Options
Added Firebrands Character Options


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Doug Hahn wrote:
⠀➤ Treasure vault character options

vaultbreaker’s harness has format error.

4/5 *****

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2E scenarios updated through current month
Starfinder scenarios updated through current month
Changed sidebar ToC Depth to go from this to this which is a bit easier to parse and nagivate.

Please let me know if I'm behind on anything!

4/5 *****

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Added scenario arcs


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Nice work.

Wayfinders 4/5 5/55/55/55/5 **** Contributor

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For the scenario arcs, can we add 1-15 Blooming Catastrophe to the Iobaria storyline?

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Added Blooming Catastrophe
Updated scenario list and removed NaN property from blank cells (these were being returned off blanks in the master CSV document)
Added hopes & expectaitons guide for new players


Expectations sounds too forceful. "I expect you to follow my words verbatim." "I expect you to eat your disgusting vegetables." "The expectation is that I the obvious elder gamer expect you to follow what I say."

This may not by your intent, but the word choice in the title can be read as talking down to the reader.

4/5 *****

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Thanks. "Expectations" is an inspiration from Painlord's original guide as explained in the first sentence of the document.

However I don't want this to be distracting which would hurt the usefulness of my efforts.

I re-titled it "PFS Benchmarks".

It's about benchmarks after all. I honestly think this title is even better.

(I asked to community for feedback in another thread a few weeks ago by the way, which may be a good place for further feedback)

4/5 *****

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Added Highelm char options
Added Highhelm avid collector items

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