Here is where you can ask game mechanic questions so we don't lose the  things asked about in the ooc thread

So the first question I have is what are the varying levels of experience with pathfinder 2 we have in the game?

Myself- I've played 2 pfs modules to fruition and part way through another. No DM experience...though as I have said I have over 40 years of DM experience with D&D to Pathfinder. So it's just game mechanics I have to be on top of.

Simple question with a short simple answer. This will be my first time playing a campaign for Pathfinder 2.

Very little, read the book and played two sessions so far.

Played a session on VTT. Eager for something longterm.

I have played in a couple games, none to fruition, and have several decades of experience with other systems including pathfinder and d&d.

So this is what it feels like to be the veteran player.

I've been playing 2e since about a month after it came out. Unfortunately that means that when I reference my books they have no errata in them.

I've played countless games in person with my teenage kids and their friends (darn, I just remembered that one of my kids is no longer a teenager) and quite a few here on rpol.

You are only as Veteran as you act....does that context work here?

In that case... I have never played a game before in my life. What does nOOb mean?

n00b = git gud son lulz


...that hurt me lol

I can tell already that I am going to enjoy rping with you.

I had the same feeling about you. *solemn nod*

Well Damian, as the most experienced of us...if you see me making a mistake, respectfully correct me please.

Recall knowledge: if a player wishes to try and tap his memory for what he knows about a subject the player needs to state it on character then I will perform a secret roll to see what he/she recalls. And post it . Questions?

Of course if you took the lore, you can simply state things that would be generally known...if you know them already without a recall knowledge roll....

Example...everyone knows Dragons are big scary flying reptiles that breathe magical beaties associated with their color....more will need recall knowledge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:06, Sat 11 Mar 2023.

Someone help jog my memory for a second,

Darkmoon Vale is a thing in World of Warcraft, ya?

Don't know...but it sure is in Golarion

Secret rolls:

The following skill actions have the 'Secret' trait.

Conceal An object
Create a Forgery
Decipher Writing
Gather Information
Hide
Identify Alchemy
Identify Magic
Impersonate
Lie
Recall Knowledge
Sense Direction
Sneak

There are three camps regarding this one...weigh in on what you'd like.

1. All Secret Rolls are done by the DM.
--player posts his actions...DM rolls later and posts results if player might know them.

Pro...since in all cases DM feedback is necessary there are no pros beyond player knowing his roll

Con...in some cases may slow down game slightly. Additionally since critical failure is a thing in PF2 it nullies this effect

2.no Secret Rolls
---all rolls are made by players

Pros...players can take action based on there roll. But it's a neglible pro

Con...player will usually have knowledge of his success or failure before time and may meta game because of the result

3. Modified secret roll list.

Pro...players have input to what they like secrecy about

Con...since all the secret rolls have negatives on a critical failure this can suspend the realism of the game.


So let's look at how results are calculated.

DC is set by DM.
Roll.
Natural 20 or DC +10: Critical success
At or above DC: success
Below DC to -9: Failure
DC-10 or Natural 1: Critical Failure


Example : Recall Knowledge DC 17
6 Lore Roll was 20. Result 26.  Critical Success. Requested Information given plus bonus information that is accurate.

6 lore roll 13 result 19. Information given and it is accurate.

6 lore roll is 12 result 16. Sorry no information is given.

6 lore roll is natural 1 result is 7 : false information is given.


Thoughts?

I like the all secret roll.

Player rolls low, knows they rolled low and will just try again for another roll.

Plus, the players will be rolling a lot of to hit and damage rolls, just means the posts will not be as cluttered. :)

I completely spaced that Recall Knowledge is a secret roll. I like the all secret rolls rolled by DM.

Though my class mechanics as a Mastermind Rogue revolve around Recall Knowledge being used in combat to gain the flat footed condition for my sneak attack. Will I just roll all dice 'in case' I sneak attack and then you'll roll secret recall knowledge roll and give info as it relates?

I also want to know how this works if a character chooses to recall knowledge as a first action before casting a spell for instance, so that they can try and play on a weakness of the monster or target a low attribute with a spell. Will they call for the roll, wait for you to roll, and then come back and finish their turn? I could see that slowing things down, but I'll reserve judgement until you answer how you might handle this.

Thanks for giving us options! :)

Questions and answers...

1. Yes to your recall knowledge regarding catching them flatfooted.itd slow combat down otherwise.
2. Yes I think it's be best if someone is rolling recall knowledge in combat..the best way is to do a private text to the DM and put the roll in the private text. I'll post the dcs in the combat summaries. And put in house rules what success means.
In my table top games ...depending on the success score I allow seconds to review bestiary entry. I'm trying to figure out how to manipulate that in pbp.

So to confirm on 1, for an example round I would say:

Action 1: Recall Knowledge using Arcana (<insert roll here>)
Action 2: Strike (<insert attack roll with just flat modifiers> + <insert damage roll with Sneak attack separate>)
Action 3: Stride

or...would it be more like

Action 1: Recall Knowledge (PM GM Dread: "I am trying to recall knowledge, my secret roll from the dice roller was a 19")
Action 2: Action 2: Strike (<insert attack roll with just flat modifiers> + <insert damage roll with Sneak attack separate>)
Action 3: Stride

or...something else entirely and I have misunderstood and will go live under a rock?

Ehh the more I think about it...kick the pmto me. Go with option 1 thats cleaner and if.im posting the dc anyway....

I like not knowing so the first is best for me.

If I'm rolling for knowledge before I cast something... Could I post two options? I'm going to cast fire ball. (rolls posted.) The info I get back may influence the cast so if I find out that they commonly have fire resistance I'll cast a cold spell.

On the other hand, maybe I just can't remember anything for 6 seconds and I roll with my gut until I remember in the next round