How to read encounters in PFS

[Bradley Mickle]

I've been playing and running Pathfinder for a while now, but I'm new to GMing Pathfinder Society. My area has a convention this weekend and I'm running 5 games for it. I'd like to make sure I'm doing it as correctly as possible.

So looking at the module, it is level 1-5. The encounter is roughly as follows without spoilers.

Subtier 1-2
Monster and a trap

Subtier 4-5
2 monsters
Trap A
2 Trap B

Scaling:
Subtier 1-2: Give monster the young template
Subtier 4-5: Remove B traps

So what is the encounter for the various levels?

[joe kirner]

You posted the 2 lvls and what is in ea one.
the scaling subtractions are for 4 player adj.

[Leathert]

The "scaling" part is for when you have only four players in the party. It's officially called "four player adjustment". It also sometimes applies when the party has APL between the subtiers and plays the upper one.

So in your example, the encounter would be:

Tier 1-2, 4 players: young monster, trap
Tier 1-2, more than 4 players: normal monster, trap

Tier 4-5, 4 players: 2 monsters, trap A
Tier 4-5, more than 4 players: 2 monsters, trap A, traps B.

[gnrrrg]

A few other tips:

1 - Read the encounters closely to see if you need to add anything to the "read me" part of them. There are times when something that would be really obviously noticable and may be important isn't listed in the description you are given to read.

2 - Read the creatures and development sections of the encounters as well as the tactics part of the creatures stat blocks closely. Sometimes an encounter that is meant to be an ambush isn't clearly indicated as such until well after you've read the description of the room. In a few cases the ambush would actually take place before the PCs got a good look at the room. Even if it's not an ambush, know what would trigger the NPCs to attack or could be done to prevent the combat if possible. Similarily, be sure to know what would set off any traps, who all would be affected by one, and what the PCs would have to do to notice a trap before it was sprung.

[GM Lamplighter]

In general, creatures are never mentioned in the read-aloud text as written, because exactly what the creatures are doing may have changed based on how the PCs entered the room. Maybe they had notice and are hiding; maybe they ran away to call for help; maybe they are shooting at the doorway as soon as it opens.

I try to catch all this in prep and adjust the box text accordingly - sometimes I just roughly describe the room and move right to the creature details, leaving any room specifics for later. I have been caught by it, though, and been forced to resort to that time-honored system used in an old tournament module: "blah blah room description, but your view is slightly obstructed by the fire giant swinging his sword at you."

[Bradley Mickle]

Okay, so the scaling part makes sense then. The next question then is what would the encounter be for a party of 6 level 3 characters?

[Sniggevert]

Bradley Mickle wrote:

Okay, so the scaling part makes sense then. The next question then is what would the encounter be for a party of 6 level 3 characters?

If you mean the APL of the group of 6 characters come out to 3, then per the Guide the players play tier 4-5 with the 4 person scaling done to the encounter.

[Kadasbrass Loreweaver]

Kevin Ingle wrote:

Bradley Mickle wrote:

Okay, so the scaling part makes sense then. The next question then is what would the encounter be for a party of 6 level 3 characters?

If you mean the APL of the group of 6 characters come out to 3, then per the Guide the players play tier 4-5 with the 4 person scaling done to the encounter.

It depends on a number of factors

Season of the Scenario, if it is a Season 4 or later Scenario, then they play subtier 4-5 with the 4 player scale down in play as Kevin noted.

If it is Season 0-3 they play the higher tier UNLESS there is no one in the group that is actually in that tier. So a group of 6 players all of whom are level 3, may choose to play the lower tier. But if it was 5 level 3 characters plus a level 4, then it would be kicked over to Tier 4-5.

[Sniggevert]

Dennis Gregg wrote:

Kevin Ingle wrote:

Bradley Mickle wrote:

Okay, so the scaling part makes sense then. The next question then is what would the encounter be for a party of 6 level 3 characters?

If you mean the APL of the group of 6 characters come out to 3, then per the Guide the players play tier 4-5 with the 4 person scaling done to the encounter.

It depends on a number of factors

Season of the Scenario, if it is a Season 4 or later Scenario, then they play subtier 4-5 with the 4 player scale down in play as Kevin noted.

If it is Season 0-3 they play the higher tier UNLESS there is no one in the group that is actually in that tier. So a group of 6 players all of whom are level 3, may choose to play the lower tier. But if it was 5 level 3 characters plus a level 4, then it would be kicked over to Tier 4-5.

Well...his entire previous question was about a scenario with scaling he was prepping. That points to it being season 4 or later ;)

[Bradley Mickle]

For what I'm running, it is for season 6 (and one scenario for season 5). I'm running 5 tables at my town's convention this weekend. I just recently stepped up and started running some tables for my local venture captain, since we've been short of volunteers to run tables.

And I do believe you've answered my question. Thank you. Doing all my prep work for it ahead of time, and just wanting to make sure I've got all my bases covered before game time.

[Jarred Henninger]

good luck! hope everyone has a good time

[Sniggevert]

Jarred Henninger wrote:

good luck! hope everyone has a good time

100% this. Thank you for helping out, and hope it's a blast.

[kinevon]

Don't forget to visit the pfsprep site, for GM materials.