|
I have been playing Pathfinder Society since 1E’s fourth or fifth season. The one thing I’ve really appreciated about organized play is the flexibility of being able to drop in and out week by week. Although the scenarios are often a bit too easy, it’s fun having a weekly option for gaming. However, recent events have left me much less enthused.
Further back in time, I was hesitantly interested in the shorter one shots of bounties. It did seem to draw in some people to try the game out at our local con. However, I quickly discovered that the short quests and even shorter bounties did not hold my gamer’s narrative attention nor even provide interesting combats. Now all scenarios are effectively quest-length sessions, and honestly, I’m completely uninterested.
I understand why the decision had to be made. The smaller workload for a shrinking company is necessary for Paizo’s survival and I applaud that. That doesn’t change how I feel about the uncomplicated shorter experiences of these scenarios. I’m curious to see if others feel this way, because at this point I’m realizing that I would just rather prioritize home games again, despite the added commitment.
|
Our forever PFS GM expressed the same feeling in our most recent game, planning to maybe do adventures or APs with some PFS thrown in rather than all-out PFS as we did for years.
For my part, I felt doing bounties/quests that each took almost an entire game session to gain half a scenario's XP felt bad. But now we might even end up doing 2 full scenarios in a single game session. Which feels too fast.
Interestingly, neither issue appeared in our SFS2 games.
|
Yeah, I haven't run PFS scenarios much in the past 3 seasons for the reasons you mentioned. I'm much more interested in running APs and other adventures for PFS credit. Leaning MUCH more into running home games, too.
And this started before layoffs. The quality control on PFS scenarios feels like it hasn't really existed in a while.
|
Venture-Agent, Netherlands—Utrecht
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I've only played a few of the shorter scenarios, but I must say, they really don't scratch that same itch for me. Somehow, that extra fight in the old style just gives a better experience, IMHO. I'm guessing because it allows for an extra story beat that allows the narrative to unfold. Now it's really just setup - complication - conclusion, which is not enough to balance a story around.
I've heard a lot of good things about the shorter scenarios. It makes things easier to plan and slot in, but it just leaves me unfulfilled. Maybe it's just recency bias, but the older scenarios could fill a whole evening. Now it's just a quick game and you're done. It leaves time for other stuff, but I don't really get my gaming fill. Like RPG junk food, rather than a full meal.
|
|
I understand why the decision had to be made. The smaller workload for a shrinking company is necessary for Paizo’s survival and I applaud that. That doesn’t change how I feel about the uncomplicated shorter experiences of these scenarios.
Ugh, that came out wrong. Let me fix it:
I understand why the decision had to be made. Although I don’t like anyone losing their job and despise that one company should have to account for the bad choices of another bankrupted business, the smaller workload for a shrinking company is necessary for Paizo’s survival. I hope they can weather this storm and in the future provide more work for new employees. That doesn’t change…
Down with RPG junk food, up with a solid meal that leaves you satisfied!
|
|
For my part, I felt doing bounties/quests that each took almost an entire game session to gain half a scenario's XP felt bad. But now we might even end up doing 2 full scenarios in a single game session. Which feels too fast.
Interestingly, neither issue appeared in our SFS2 games.
Now that is fascinating! I know that SFS has been doing these shorter scenarios for a while. Why do you think their scenarios are more satisfying?
|
|
The metaplot scenarios for SFS season 1 really flow together, so the developing story really shines through. That story consistency on the Starfinder side really goes back to SFS1.
I think this is a big factor for sure.
I guess the authors for SFS have a keener understanding of the appropriate flow for short scenarios too, having more experience writing those.
One key factor too IMO is that the SFS scenarios take full advantage of the setting's variety to ensure scenarios feel different even when they follow basically the same pattern.
Some PFS scenarios are like this too, with writers using the theme to the max (the Tanuki spring to mind).
Finally, whereas some PFS scenarios are burdened with having to fit subsystems, especially the despicable Influence one, I feel SFS scenarios are not similarly cluttered yet.
For example, using the starship rules once in a while is OK. But, if it was becoming a required part of too many SFS scenarios, it would quickly grow stale and boring too.
Venture-Agent, Netherlands—Leiden
|
I'm not too happy with the shorter format either, especially it happening mid-edition.
As an organiser, when scheduling, you now have to consider the length of every scenario, and the length varies wildly between 90min and 3 hours, so you can't reliably schedule 2 scenario in the same time slot as an old format scenario. The new ones that do last the 3 hours however are pretty nice, and I don't think the writers are doing a worse job in the new format.
I do however like that by design the new format basically intends for you to go 'all out' every combat. It keeps the pacing higher than it used to, but the combats tend to feel easier because the encounter math does not take into account that you're less concerned about managing your daily resources. It also means that you can do awesome stuff all the time, and particularly in the higher level ranges it thoroughly reduces the choice paralysis.
There may be a cost reduction aspect in Paizo's decision, but I also see and understand the choice to focus more on the 2-3 hour format from a 'life has changed' perspective: Life is busy and way more so than it was 20 years ago. Offering more content that you can easily fit into an evening is welcome for many gamers and shops. WotC seems to have picked up on that years ago with the content they offer for 5E, and that seems to work really well during weekday game nights, whereas for PF2 scenario you had to rush and cut encounters to finish within the opening times of the shops (at least that was my observation here in the Netherlands).
|
Venture-Agent, Netherlands—Utrecht
|
Good point about mid-edition change. It makes things difficult to explain to newer players who aren't as entrenched as others why some scenarios last longer than others. Hell, it happened mid-season, even (IIRC). A nice season change would also have been good. But changing things up mid-edition just messes with expectations.
Also, I just love the timing of this thread just hours before (or on the same day, at least), as Paizo saying, "we're no longer doing scenarios now." :P
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I suspected some of the issue is that the Starfinder 2e scenarios were all planned from the start to be 2-3 hour affairs while the change to season 7 was a last minute change that forced cuts. That being said, we're still seeing some short PF2e scenarios (For the Love of Vanity is really unfortunate in that regard.
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Also, I just love the timing of this thread just hours before (or on the same day, at least), as Paizo saying, "we're no longer doing scenarios now." :PHuh?!? Where was this announced?
The September Update
https://paizo.com/blog/september-2026-organized-play-monthly-update"These are the final Pathfinder Society scenarios currently scheduled to be published by Paizo."
PFS Scenarios are abolished, and we are being directed to the Paizo Printables Adventure line. (which I have many Opinions about)
A blogpost to explain this is due on 21st September.
|
Now I am curious if Pathfinder Infinite scenarios will be based on the same lengths as bounties, quests, and original scenarios. Since fans will be writing these scenarios, I’m also hoping we get some that are linked into arcs of 1-3 sessions.
"Length
Scenarios are designed to be played either within 2–3 hours or within 4–5 hours." [From the 'Infinite page.]