- Welcome to Arkansas Pathfinder Society Lodge, as a new Initiate, we have many trials for you to undertake before you complete your Confirmation and take your First Steps as a Pathfinder.
- It’s important to note that none of this stuff is mandatory before you play.
- But it can go a long way to making the experience more fun for you.
- In Arkansas, we are affiliated with the now hidden Shadow Lodge. If you want to know more about this old faction, please get with your Regional Coordinators so that they can enlighten you.
- New Player’s Pack will be updated Shortly!
About Pathfinder Society Organized Play
In an organized play campaign, your character exists in a common setting shared by thousands of other gamers from around the world. In each Pathfinder Society game, your character experiences adventures in two different ways.
The first is a short, one-sitting adventure (or “scenario”) that is a single episode in a continuing story and generally lasts four to five hours.
The second is a longer, multi-session adventure (or “module”) that is a single adventure but can take anywhere from eight to twelve hours to play.
You can take your character to any public Pathfinder Society event anywhere in the world, and while the Game Master and your companions might change every time you play, your character advances as normal.
Your Regional coordinator (also called a Venture-Captain or Venture-Lieutenant) can assist you in finding or setting up your own Pathfinder Society event.
It’s also a great way to get in touch with other local gamers, meet new people, and play regularly without all the prep work and scheduling of a traditional campaign.
Over time, campaigning in an organized play environment offers a uniquely immersive experience, as your diverse companions add depth and character to the campaign world.
Alternatively, some players prefer to keep their Pathfinder Society experience limited to a familiar group of friends, using the Pathfinder Society character creation rules, adventure scenarios, and reward structure as the framework for a private campaign.
Either approach is a valid way to experience the campaign, and many players enjoy a combination of public and private adventuring.
Because Organized Play takes place in a shared-world environment, additional rules are required to ensure that all players at all tables share a similar experience, no matter who is running the game.
Attain a Pathfinder ID number and register it.
If you have received your Pathfinder ID number from a Local Game Store (LGS) or Venue, then you will want to register it on here.
If you are joining us online before your first contact with a LGS or Venue, please get a number and register it here.
Get The Guide to Organized Play – It’s FREE!!!
After registering on Paizo, the first document you should take time and read is this one.
It is available here for no cost to you.
In this document, you will find everything you will need to bring your very own Pathfinder character to life.
Got Questions? Please ask!
Sure you do! Many of them may already have been answered officially, check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list on their website.
It’s also available in a user-maintained printable version.
Or contact your local GM or Venture Officer.
Start Creating Your Very First Character
Make sure to take the time to address the differences between Pathfinder RPG and Pathfinder Society, let’s look at some of those differences:
The nuts and bolts of Character Creation are detailed in the Guide to Organized Play.
We recommend you have a copy of the Core Rulebook AND the Strategy Guide if this is your first character.
Choose a Faction Every Pathfinder belongs to a faction within the larger organization. Their faction determines their side missions, and completing side missions within each module allows your characters to gain access to more powerful magical items and other special abilities.
Point-Buy PFS characters are created using the 20-point buy. Click here for more information
Alignment No evil alignments are permitted for PFS play. To understand alignments, click here.
Starting Gold All characters start level 1 with 150gp worth of equipment, regardless of character class, some advice for spending is here.
Traits PFS characters have 2 traits, but a maximum of one per category.
Check out the traits here (Some traits “Rich Parents” are not allowed, please see your local Venture Officer for more information on these restrictions).
To clarify, DRAWBACKS are NOT ALLOWED, please see the restrictions in the Pathfinder Society Guild Guide for more information.
Registering your Character
All active PFS characters must be registered on the Paizo website in order to progress through PFS play.
Gamemasters and Local Coordinators register completed sessions, as well as the characters that have played through them.
If you create a character ahead of time, you can register them on the website and get your ID number.
Just head to the website and click on Register Your Character to set everything up.
If you don’t do this ahead of time, most GMs will have some pre-registered numbers that they can hand out on the day of the event – but you’ll still need to register on the website eventually.
Playing the Game
The motto of the Pathfinder Society is “Explore, Report, Cooperate.”
While a little friendly rivalry is to be expected from time to time, Pathfinders are expected to work together to achieve their goals.
By the same token, players are expected to work together to complete scenarios.
Specifically, Player versus Player combat (PvP) is expressly forbidden in the Guide to Organized Play.
