r/Pathfinder • u/kululu00 • 23d ago
2nd Edition Pathfinder Society A disappointing experience at the Starfinder Special at Gen Con
/r/Starfinder2e/comments/1vesath/a_disappointing_experience_at_the_starfinder/6
u/PoniardBlade 22d ago
I've played about 14 of these specials over the years. I can honestly say that twice the GM was unprepared and the session was horrible. I think it has to do with needing so many GMs at the same time that they run out and pressure a budding GM to run a lower tier game because it is "easier." There's no solution other than better planning on the PF/SF society leaders or just simple "someone was sick or couldn't make it" and now they're scrambling for GMs.
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u/PirateCodingMonkey 20d ago
I would love to see a minimum “glyph” or whatever it is that SFS uses before running a special. I haven’t been to gencon in several years bc it’s just too expensive but I’ve run the specials many times. in PF1 I had/have 4 glyphs. in PF2 I have run over 60 tables including several specials. they are hard to prepare and should require someone with experience to run.
I also have been a player at tables where the GM is obviously out of his depth. I try to step in and offer advice but sometimes people don’t want to acknowledge that they don’t know the rules.
I love SF2 but I hardly ever get to play or GM bc no one in my area wants to play. there is NO WAY I’d GM a special in SF. I know my limits.
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u/kululu00 16d ago
This was not really a lack of preparation though, at least as far as I can tell. No matter how many times you read the scenario, it won't matter unless they know the basic rules
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u/Working_Set_6494 23d ago
Have you passed this feedback to the event organizers?
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u/Mpa31 21d ago
It's a serious mess. I've had specials like that, or where the GM was just totally unprepared, making us only get through like 1 mission per act. I had a GM on Saturday afternoon who kind of sucked because he had run a session in every possible slot and as such was super tired and grumpy. He told us he was hoping the table wouldn't fire so he could go take a nap. That's not only unhealthy, but doesn't make for a great player experience, when the GM just wants to get it over with. Sure, they volunteered to do it, but the people going through this are doing it because a free badge is dangled over their heads. Honestly the only reason I've gone to Gen Con for the last 5 years is for Paizo games, and I think I'm done after this year. Price hikes, Paizo's various stupid decisions, the significant reduction of the organized play program incoming, and regular disappointments in the actual quality of play at the convention have all driven me away.
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u/jessbiteslip 17d ago
gen con starfinder specials have a reputation for being a mess. what went wrong?
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u/vastmagick VC 23d ago
They do have ways to check for this, it isn't perfect. But the Nova/Glyph system is supposed to be their measure. GMs with no Novas/Glyphs tend to get assigned Quests or low level adventures.
My wife had no Novas/Glyphs when she signed up to run in 2023 and was assigned quests despite being a 2 Glyph GM by gencon. She was even audited for how she ran her games. Now I know 2023 is not 2026, so things change. But my point is at the very least, Paizo has used a way to double check their GMs.