Hi everyone,
I was wondering who has tried this, and what sort of adaptation you have found necessary.
On the one hand, it seems most scenarios involve being called into action by the PFS - usually a Venture Captain or something along those lines. And some (not all) of it usually ties in with PFS Factions intrigue, so on and so forth. One can roll with it 'as is' and simply buy into the PFS theme, even perhaps going so far as bringing in Prestige Rewards, Factions, etc. That could work. Or I guess you can simply change the narrative a bit, to exclude all PFS particulars. I guess this is not a huge issue.
The main thing giving me pause are the rewards. If I remember correctly (haven't run a PFS scenario in a LONG time), each player is given an X amount of gold at the end of the scenario, and if a magical or special item drops, players can use the earned gold (even if from previous scenarios) to buy that item. So in theory, every player, if they have enough gold, can purchase a copy of the same item or items. Am I correct? This seems to create a 'weird' loot situation, doesn't it? Because the 'drops' are not as relevant or balanced. For example, instead of three potions of healing 'dropping', only one drops, and players can buy as many as they want (don't remember if scenarios limit this).
How have others dealt with this? Have you run it 'as is'? Made any modifications? Any input is most welcome :)
okay, there are 2 formats.
1) Run under PFS for PFS credit. You have 3 options; A)Regular, B)CORE, C)Campaign Mode(may have changed) for APs. A & B you must run "as is" making only environmental changes (like snowing to snowstorm). For B the players can only use the CRB (I don't recommended this format). C lets you make changes but the players don't get the last chronicle in the series.
Essentially for a scenario Gold is 0.4*WBL for level+1 and 1/3 level+1 XP with unlimited time between scenarios. Everything is at book price.
2) Home Game. You can make modifications but no PFS credit. I recommend using the PFS documentation to control the crazy & broken stuff. Add in/allow what you need/want.
PFS PF1 Scenarios
mostly pretty tame. 1-2 scenarios a year are killer and it is pretty random. Most of the killer scenarios rely on battlefield control/situation and often railroading/boxed text. Remember to always roll perception for surprise.
Seasons 0-4 are combat oriented. Around 5-6 they shifted to having one or two social or skill challenges.
The biggest consistent problem is there's a lot of GM info that is never translated into Knowledge or Skill Checks making it wasted information that the players could have discovered. Create two tables of info at DCs 10,15,20,25,30 {to APL+15} for two skills that the players can pick up. Choose a backup skill at +5 DC.
For glob's sake rework the faction missions or have them as patrons. 50% are on target but the other half are clearly afterthoughts.
Distractions! The hustle and bustle of real life adventuring is missing. Nobody selling you "treasure maps" or bank floor plans, no public diseases, no dirty serfs and peasants, nobody on horses, no local police checking IDs (for bribes), etc etc ... Stealing stuff off PCs is forbidden in PFS.
Highest CR will be APL+3 and most will be APL+1. With a well equipped party you can add +1 CR or more gear (like armor, weapons, etc).
the rest is probably going to raise the CR of an encounter... only one adventure out of the three per level should be dramatic with the rest standard. So read, choose your plot arc and plan carefully.
Any NPC with class levels are plain/basic builds that could use some tweaking and equipment. The spellcasters are abysmal builds. Read the scenario, figure out the NPC's role and motivation, then ... rebuild. Check feats and tactics. Figure out their gold and balance, then rebuy their equipment. Buy wands with 25-40% charges which may become loot for the PCs. Buy scrolls and a few potions. With spellcasters you need to go over their spellbooks, spell selections, feats & metamagics. Keep them in theme. Don't go overboard.
Minions... *sigh*. With action economy what it is BBEGs need minions/spare targets to spread out the attacks. War dogs, hyenas, trained attack penguins, anything at the encounters CR-3. Swarms are underused 'traps'.
Lairs need better architecture/layout. Too many are open boxes with lots of space to maneuver or cramped when an open field would be better. Difficult terrain isn't used enough or should be in (obvious) patches to give PCs a choice.
Azothath wrote: okay, there are 2 formats.
1) Run under PFS for PFS credit. You have 3 options; A)Regular, B)CORE, C)Campaign Mode(may have changed) for APs. A & B you must run "as is" making only environmental changes (like snowing to snowstorm). For B the players can only use the CRB (I don't recommended this format). C lets you make changes but the players don't get the last chronicle in the series.
Essentially for a scenario Gold is 0.4*WBL for level+1 and 1/3 level+1 XP with unlimited time between scenarios. Everything is at book price.
2) Home Game. You can make modifications but no PFS credit. I recommend using the PFS documentation to control the crazy & broken stuff. Add in/allow what you need/want.
Ok this is exactly the information I was looking for - thanks!
But... You will need to make it simpler for me, because I am not following all of it :D
I am not going to run it under PFS for PFS Credit, because I am going to mix it with other non PFS stuff.
Now regarding WBL: Azothath wrote: Essentially for a scenario Gold is 0.4*WBL for level+1 and 1/3 level+1 XP with unlimited time between scenarios. Everything is at book price. This means the 'coin' value reward they get at the end of the scenario, is approximately .4 of what they should have when they level up? Which means when they level up they will have approximately 1.2 'standard' WBL. Did I understand correctly?
And then they can use it to buy whatever items are commonly available for PFS characters + whatever magic/special items they have in their chronicle sheets, right? So they are not looting stuff from bad guys, since it is not relevant. I mean, you can grab a sword +1 from a bad guy to help you during the scenario, but in the end if you want to keep it, you have to 'buy it' with cash, and only if it is made available for your tier (which it usually is?) - am I getting the gist of it?
That is why it feels it will need modification to be used in a home game. Right?
Regarding XP, it basically means something like 3 scenarios = 1 level (roughly)?
as I was explaining it is me laying out the most needed changes and GM drama strategy.
so yes, PCs at just at their XP per level per 3 scenarios. Slow advancement is 6 scenarios per level with 2 Day Job checks (a bit more gold). PCs are at roughly 120% WBL due to Prestige and Day Job checks.
Just download and review the PFS documentation.
see Items that can save you thread
My suggestion is to go a bit slower at 4 scenarios per level. Keep gold at 120% WBL.
Yes - stuff in the scenario they can use freely but it vapes at the end (The Pathfinder bursar just gives you a bag of gold at the end as your reward, LoL). Scrolls and spellbooks can be copied from or bought at book prices by every PC, so think of it as access rather than a physical object.
BTW, as a goody two-shoes outfit if PCs do Evil Things they are booted out of the Society on the third offense. Unless it is a corrupted undead decimverate boss or Venture Captain... then they are patently blind. It's just like the corporate world or their Aspis "frienemies". it's funny sarcasm
oddball stuff
Vanities - totally worth it. Use it with a gold cost and/or boon cost.
Boons, yes! I'd use them as faction rewards once per 3 levels as a job well done. Choose something befitting of the faction/patron for the PC.
Some Chronicles have nice things (it's rare). So you might schmooze those about with cut and paste on the Chronicles removing the PFS logo etc. It's all on the Chronicles so just use those. Print the Chronicle then Whitebox out the logo, gold, prestige (or use it). Type it the gold amount. Save and print your PC's Chronicles.
Thank you again for the detailed feedback, I will go back to the totality of it when I am back from my workout, but:
Azothath wrote: Yes - stuff in the scenario they can use freely but it vapes at the end (The Pathfinder bursar just gives you a bag of gold at the end as your reward, LoL). Yeah, this bugs me for home use, particularly because if I just wanted to 'plug and play' it, I would have to open the magic mart, and I am not a fan. Which means I would have to come up with specific loot/drops for each scenario, and that goes beyond the time investment I can make :/
Edeldhur wrote: Thank you again for the detailed feedback, I will go back to the totality of it when I am back from my workout, but:
Azothath wrote: Yes - stuff in the scenario they can use freely but it vapes at the end (The Pathfinder bursar just gives you a bag of gold at the end as your reward, LoL). Yeah, this bugs me for home use, particularly because if I just wanted to 'plug and play' it, I would have to open the magic mart, and I am not a fan. Which means I would have to come up with specific loot/drops for each scenario, and that goes beyond the time investment I can make :/
Remember the Pathfinder Society is a BIG adventurer's guild. They basically set the economy. The PCs are part of Big Brother Inc.
It is PFS stuff only (all on AoN), so not quite an open market. It is vetted and nothing really spectacular. Ring of Many Colors got nerfed. You will have to clarify Boots of the Earth. Again, Campaign Clarifications is helpful. Basically there's a top cost on what the PCs can buy in the Guide, offhand about 25%WBL. Remember, you can approve purchases, so control it on the backend rather than the front. PFS bursar, "nobody has accepted your request, it's been posted for 4-5 weeks. I think those items are just too desirable and nobody wants to sell to somebody they don't know personally. Have you tried that Torch guy or they guy with the big turban? I hear the paracountess has, uhmm backroom ... connections."
Don't get embroiled in the details of upgrades. The Society is a big outfit and can handle some curve balls - it's why the PCs work for a big outfit. Just say it'll take 4 weeks or a scenario's time to get the >difficult< item back. So if they do it the extra cost for changing materials is one scenario without the item.
One Home Game change is to charge 2% more/less per Cha point bonus or set a Craft/Perform/Professional DC for items used in the skill. This adds a cost for nerfing Cha or having no life skills. Day Job checks were a way to do this positively.
I'll let others chime in (after their period of shock & awe). 8^0
Regardless of any further input, yours has already been pretty amazing @Azothath :)
And your last post about not sweating it, and 'not getting embroiled in the details of upgrades', really resonated with me.
Again your insight is very much appreciated, and your attitude seems to me pretty spot on.
So, I have played very little PFS (like 5 games total), but of those 5 games, 100% of the scenarios were excerpts from full blown modules. So I'm not sure about all the PFS scenarios, but for those, you could simply run the actual module as part of your campaign, instead of the scenario.
Thanks for the input TxSam88 :)
Least helpful input: I have run exactly one PFS scenario for a home game, "The Waking Rune" and I heavily upgraded the encounter with the Runelord to fit my game (along the lines of upping all DCs by 10 or more, making the RL actually scary, etc.).
My impression of it was basically the same as all other modules and adventures I have adapted for a home game - take the general idea and alter to fit your needs. Power up or down encounters as needed, add or remove treasure, add/alter/discard elements as needed.
I work best when I have something to work off of. Even if I spend many hours altering it, having a starting point makes things a lot easier for me than coming up with it wholecloth. PFS scenarios are no different in that regard than any other type of adventure.
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