Pathfinder Society modules for 'disorganised' (local) play?

[Feragore]

It just occurred to me that Pathfinder Society has its own set of modules, and I found they are all
available for purchase on the Paizo store.

From this, I had an idea of creating a sort of customized campaign of a series of modules, rather than an established Adventure Path. This would be ideal as a side campaign, so that players (and the GM) don't need to be completely invested in a full campaign, and can concentrate on the the specific stories told by each scenario. Also, everyone need not commit to a complete adventure path that spans 10 or even 20 levels which can take months or even years of real time and may only see payoff during the conclusion.

Essentially a part-time affair, where we play as-and-when we are available.

Has anyone tried to use Pathfinder Society's content this way outside of Organized Play? And if people have played in PFS, what are the stand-out scenarios and quests that absolutely should be played?

Note for mods: I thought of posting in the Organized Play forum, but this idea feels more general to pf2e game running. If anything, the idea of a home game that remixes years of the living campaign and ignoring strict PFS rulings would be off-topic there. I certainly doubt we could have sanctioned characters without any oversight at least, as well as ignoring the boon system in a home game. If a forum mod thinks I'm wrong, please let me know.

[Finoan]

Feragore wrote:

Has anyone tried to use Pathfinder Society's content this way outside of Organized Play?

Yes. It works quite well. Especially for quick games and experimental characters.

I don't have much experience with the various PFS scenarios. But from what I have played, it is hard to find one that isn't fun.

[Charlie Brooks]

I use Pathfinder Society games all the time for my home game. They work out great, and some of them have really excellent and innovative encounters that particularly stand out.

[Ruzza]

Local PFS enjoyer here. Playing scenarios this way is a fantastic way to cobble together your own non-AP story and something I do to introduce players to the game (as scenarios tend to be a bit more rigid, letting me as a GM step out from behind the screen to explain options a bit more openly). I also think that if you want to string together several scenarios, it's quite easy to assemble a coherent story.

The first resource that I can point you towards is the very obvious Metaplot tag that you'll see many scenarios carry. This mean that they're a part of an overarching story for that season. Season 1 gives us Origins of the Open Road, Season 2 has the Reach of Corruption, Season 3 has Shattered Sanctuaries plot, etc.

There are also many scenarios which reference previous scenarios and lead into each other, though sometimes the expected levels make it a little tricky. A good example of this would be "Freedom For Wishes" a level 5 to 8 scenarior from Season 2, helps set up the events of "Foundation's Price" which is a level 1 to 4 scenario from Season 3. With a bit of careful planning, however, you can make something that weaves together very neatly!

My personal recommendation has been focused on Season 3 metaplot and sprinkling in intreresting subplots. Things like the Dacilane Academy adventures create a throughline that feel whimsical breaks while grappling with the troubles of the metaplot, while sidetracking to explore characters introduced in the metaplot keeps the world feeling lived in (like Shattering Golden Chains in Season 4 to expand on a character).

A great resrouce towards finding these connections and plotting out a story would be the Pathfinder wiki which not only includes all of the scenarios and seasons, but relevant connections within each scenario.

[The Raven Black]

The reviews of PFS scenarios are EXTREMELY useful.

[Hilary Moon Murphy]

Doug Hahn did a pretty excellent page on narrative arcs in PFS.

It doesn't include anything from Season 5 onwards, but it's not a bad place to start for creating a narrative arc for a storyline.

Hmm