Are there Rules of Conduct for PFS players?

[Dumb Paladin]

I ... am still reading through things, but I haven't run across this.

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do at the table of a PFS game?

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do IN CHARACTER during a PFS game?

-- Is there any restriction on alignment?

Or ... is a PFS game just a free-for-all where anything goes, and you have to hope that the GM can keep the game from going completely off the rails?

No, this isn't a troll question or even facetious: my only PFS experience was during 1st edition at an organized game that was COMPLETELY derailed by 1 player, and the incompetent GM in charge who did nothing at all to stop it (and even aided it at times).

So I'm asking before I am willing to try PFS 2nd Edition. Thanks for all genuine answers in advance.

[Roctopus]

Dumb Paladin wrote:

I ... am still reading through things, but I haven't run across this.

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do at the table of a PFS game?

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do IN CHARACTER during a PFS game?

-- Is there any restriction on alignment?

Or ... is a PFS game just a free-for-all where anything goes, and you have to hope that the GM can keep the game from going completely off the rails?

No, this isn't a troll question or even facetious: my only PFS experience was during 1st edition at an organized game that was COMPLETELY derailed by 1 player, and the incompetent GM in charge who did nothing at all to stop it (and even aided it at times).

So I'm asking before I am willing to try PFS 2nd Edition. Thanks for all genuine answers in advance.

Hi, Dumb Paladin,

I'm really sorry to hear this.

The Organized Play's code of conduct is publicy available at this page.
These are rules of play that are expected of players and must be enforced by Game Masters.

The rules for character cration in Organized Play are listed in the Lorespire site. For example evil characters are forbidden.

Moreover in-game evil action or other prohibited actions earn infamy points to characters.
Infamy points have in-game effects.

Finally, the lorespire guide contains many suggestions that Game Masters should refer to solve in and out of game problems and players are invited to read it, too. First of all, for any problem contact the event coordinator or volunteer.

Hope this will help.

[umopapisdnupsidedown]

Oooof that sounds rough, I'm sorry you had that experience.

More than anything, to me the PFS2 campaign strives to be positive, fun, inclusive, and welcoming.

...And if there's someone who is causing issues and working against those goals, from my perspective we want to know. ("We" in this case being the volunteer corps who care about such things deeply, and also the campaign leadership would probably want to know as well).

So yeah, definitely, come play, either locally in your area or online. And if someone is causing issues... We want to know, so we can address it.

[Tomppa]

Your experience is highly atypical, as more often the complaint is that PFS adventures are very railroady, without the characters really having much say in where the adventure goes. Sure, you can Solve issues in different ways, but the issues and problems you are facing are pre-written.
Practically speaking all PFS players know that the scenarios have pretty rigid structure and we're just along for the ride, although sometimes there's room for improvisation and very creative solutions, so trying to run off the tracks is extremely rare.

If a PC tries to go way off the rails, the typical response (after trying to gently guide them back on tracks) would be that "that's outside the scope of this adventure, your character can run into the sunset if they want to, but they won't be participating in the rest of this scenario" or similar.

That being said, "it's what my character would do" is not an excuse to act like a jerk - there's a difference between a player who is willing to work with others to have their (wildly acting) character participate in the adventure (in which case it's a character problem and can be solved ingame) and between a player who is not willing to work with others to have their character participate (and who uses "it's what my character would do" as an excuse), in which case it's a player problem and needs to be dealt with outside of the game.

[Neume]

Dumb Paladin wrote:

I ... am still reading through things, but I haven't run across this.

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do at the table of a PFS game?

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do IN CHARACTER during a PFS game?

-- Is there any restriction on alignment?

Or ... is a PFS game just a free-for-all where anything goes, and you have to hope that the GM can keep the game from going completely off the rails?

No, this isn't a troll question or even facetious: my only PFS experience was during 1st edition at an organized game that was COMPLETELY derailed by 1 player, and the incompetent GM in charge who did nothing at all to stop it (and even aided it at times).

So I'm asking before I am willing to try PFS 2nd Edition. Thanks for all genuine answers in advance.

Hi,

I'm the Regional Venture-Coordinator for the Southwest Region and I'd like to hear about your experience. Please email me at [e-mail].

Thanks,

~Jon

[Dumb Paladin]

This is a helpful response and post with links!
Thanks very much.

Roctopus wrote:

Dumb Paladin wrote:

I ... am still reading through things, but I haven't run across this.

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do at the table of a PFS game?

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do IN CHARACTER during a PFS game?

-- Is there any restriction on alignment?

Or ... is a PFS game just a free-for-all where anything goes, and you have to hope that the GM can keep the game from going completely off the rails?

No, this isn't a troll question or even facetious: my only PFS experience was during 1st edition at an organized game that was COMPLETELY derailed by 1 player, and the incompetent GM in charge who did nothing at all to stop it (and even aided it at times).

So I'm asking before I am willing to try PFS 2nd Edition. Thanks for all genuine answers in advance.

Hi, Dumb Paladin,

I'm really sorry to hear this.

The Organized Play's code of conduct is publicy available at this page.
These are rules of play that are expected of players and must be enforced by Game Masters.

The rules for character cration in Organized Play are listed in the Lorespire site. For example evil characters are forbidden.

Moreover in-game evil action or other prohibited actions earn infamy points to characters.
Infamy points have in-game effects.

Finally, the lorespire guide contains many suggestions that Game Masters should refer to solve in and out of game problems and players are invited to read it, too. First of all, for any problem contact...

[Dumb Paladin]

Tomppa wrote:

Your experience is highly atypical

I gathered as much, during and immediately after in the year since.

Tomppa wrote:

there's a difference between a player who is willing to work with others to have their (wildly acting) character participate in the adventure (in which case it's a character problem and can be solved ingame) and between a player who is not willing to work with others to have their character participate (and who uses "it's what my character would do" as an excuse), in which case it's a player problem and needs to be dealt with outside of the game.

Yep. It was definitely the latter. I requested the GM at the table put a stop to it, and he declined. I didn't know enough to know I should have left the table to go complain to the Venture-Lieutenant or Venture-Captain; I did so after the game, which was far too late to fix anything.

[Dumb Paladin]

Certainly.

Neume wrote:

Dumb Paladin wrote:

I ... am still reading through things, but I haven't run across this.

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do at the table of a PFS game?

-- Is there a list somewhere of things you absolutely CANNOT do IN CHARACTER during a PFS game?

-- Is there any restriction on alignment?

Or ... is a PFS game just a free-for-all where anything goes, and you have to hope that the GM can keep the game from going completely off the rails?

No, this isn't a troll question or even facetious: my only PFS experience was during 1st edition at an organized game that was COMPLETELY derailed by 1 player, and the incompetent GM in charge who did nothing at all to stop it (and even aided it at times).

So I'm asking before I am willing to try PFS 2nd Edition. Thanks for all genuine answers in advance.

Hi,

I'm the Regional Venture-Coordinator for the Southwest Region and I'd like to hear about your experience. Please email me at [e-mail].

Thanks,

~Jon

[Dumb Paladin]

Well, let me just say ... I'd certainly welcome a chance to play a PFS game in Christchurch, New Zealand :)

It has been many years since my experience; I would be much more vocal about putting a stop to the behavior now, and to getting someone "official" involved ASAP nowadays.

umopapisdnupsidedown wrote:

Oooof that sounds rough, I'm sorry you had that experience.

More than anything, to me the PFS2 campaign strives to be positive, fun, inclusive, and welcoming.

...And if there's someone who is causing issues and working against those goals, from my perspective we want to know. ("We" in this case being the volunteer corps who care about such things deeply, and also the campaign leadership would probably want to know as well).

So yeah, definitely, come play, either locally in your area or online. And if someone is causing issues... We want to know, so we can address it.

[Roctopus]

You're welcome,
glad to be useful.

Rocco

Dumb Paladin wrote:

This is a helpful response and post with links!

Thanks very much.