In the first phase you can generate a PC using our rule set or select one of our pregens.  There will be two tables set up in The Cheese Grinder area for you to work on your character.  At these tables will be blank character sheets, copy of the character creation rules, and other helpful sheets as well.  The core books will be available, but do NOT take them from the table.  If you are using something not in the core, you must have a copy of the book to use. Pregens are available if you’d prefer to use them, and our pregens are NOT chumps!

There will be a laptop with Herolabs on it.  You can use it to generate your PC.  For a $1 printing fee we will print out your character.  This is the "Gold Level" entrant into the tournament.  If you have your character on paper please feel free to enter and save him in herolabs.  We can import a character from herolabs in seconds saving us valuable table time.

Once you feel that your character is ready head to Phase II.

Phase II: The Queue

The second step to playing in the Cheese Grinder is to visit the Cheese Grinder Registration table and register into The Queue.  One of our Cheese Assistants will be happy to help.  They will take your name, badge number, and character name (maybe other information).  Once they put you on the list of players ready to go, they will hand you a Contestant Data Sheet.  You will need to fill out this information.

Cheese Points:
At the Cheese Grinder Registration table you can purchase cheese points.  Cheese Points give you a little extra assistance in play. You may have up to 3 at any given time.  The Cheese points are revamped this year.  A new Cheese Nip is being introduced.  Cheese points cost 1 generic ticket ($1).  You can trade the cheese points back in for your generic ticket if you die with some still on you.  If a cheese nip has been used at all, you cannot turn it back in.
Keep the 3 cheese points you are using during a single run ON THE TABLE in PLAIN VIEW.  Since they are buzzing around your head people know what you have.  Any attempt to use more then 3, or swap one out for another will get you DQ’d and laughed at.
Example Cheese Points:
Cheese Point: Switch Location with another PC (Immediate action)
Sharp Cheddar: Max any die roll, treat as natural roll (Immediate action)
Cheese Nip: Add or subtract 1d6 from any d20 roll (Immediate action 5 uses per card)

Phase III: Entering the Grinder

When a PC dies at one of the table, listen for the death bell, the CA at the Cheese Grinder Registration Table will call out the next name in the queue.  If that person does not answer, the next name will be called and so on until current slots are filled.

So please do not talk too loudly and listen for names to be called.

Once your name has been called, you will go to the table and chair you are assigned.  You will hand the Cheese Master at the table 1 generic ticket (or $1), declare any cheese points you have and hand him your Contestant Data Sheet.  The DM will use this sheet for prelim data entry into the software. He may request other information about your character.  Once he feels as if he has enough info, he will hand you back your Contestant Data Sheet.   Make sure your start time is entered onto your sheet at this point.

Your character is given 1 round of prep before being sent into the tournament. You declare what you are currently wielding/wearing.  Example "I have my gear on, holding my two handed sword."  Or "I ready an action to magic missile the first creature I see."

Phase IV: In The Grinder

You will play in the grinder as long as you can.  Players will come and go as time goes on.  Cheese points may be used, but you can only use up to 3 cheese points for any one run in the tournament.

Starting a room: Be it from a fresh table or moving from another room when a new room is started the following must occur.  The DM will randomly determine the next room you are thrown into.

I Already Did This One Rule: If you have already done the room before, or if the DM perceives you have already played a given room a new room can be rolled up.  We have over 100 rooms and variants on many of the rooms, so the chances of this happening should be low.

Completing a room: When the players complete a room the Portal will be visible.  At this point the players will roll a 2d6, this is the number of rounds the portal is opened before it closes.  Failure to go through the portal before it closes disqualifies the PC.

Time between Rooms: The time between rooms is random.  The DM will let you know how much time passes.  Your character is in stasis, but the effects on you are not.  Due to portal instability roll 1d10 for each effect on your character, on a roll of a 1 it goes away.  Only things that do not go away are negative levels, and ability damage.

Taking Credit: Once a player has officially completed a room the DM will give you the room number and the players will record this number on their tournament play sheet.

Failing a Room: If time runs out on the room, you will be given a little extra time to finish the room, if you do not you have officially failed the room.  You write the room number in the failed area take some punishment for failing and are sent into the next room.

You can choose to fail non-combat rooms before time runs out.  Though you will be punished as above, plus a little extra.

Dying: A PC is considered dead when any of the following conditions are met
1. Reach negative their con score.
2. In the negatives for 3 rounds in a row.  At the end of a PCs turn on the 3rd round they are considered dead and are removed from the tournament. 
3. Petrified, for 3 rounds.
When you die or have to leave, you will have your DM sign your Contestant Data Sheet, the bell will be rung, and if you like we can stamp your character sheet with our Cheese Grinder Death Stamper.

Death of Contestants: When a contestant officially dies his body vanishes, along with all his gear.  When another contestant is ready to join the game he will appear randomly in initiative order.  It could take as short as 1 round for a fresh PC to enter the tournament, but may take 10 rounds game time.  Just depends how quickly the next contestant gets over to the table.  Play continues while the contestant gets seated.  Some rooms break this rule, and if a player dies a new player is NOT brought into the room until either the room is solved or a TPK occurs.  No using a PC like leading a lamb to the slaughter.  For instance one person either being forced to choose door number 1 then waiting a few rounds to see if a new PC appears or not.  Some rooms the result of your choice is not known until all choices are made.
Other Player’s Equipment: You can use other PCs equipment if they allow you to use it, and they are still alive.  When they are considered dead the PC and all its equipment vanish.

Breaking the Exit: If the players break the exit in some way shape or form which then causes the room to not be solved the room will be considered a major room failure.  PC immediately fail the room and take failure punishment  Example would be destroying the key to unlock the portal.

Unbreakable Items: Most rooms have walls, scenery, or items that are indestructible, while others do not.

Room effects: Some rooms will have effects that break the rules of Pathfinder game mechanics.  Most effects have game mechanics built into them, there are very few cases where the room works best to fit its theme to have a certain thing happen which bends or breaks the rules.  These breaks in the rules are meant to enhance the room, and not just hose the players.  An example would be the classic Bridge of Death.  There is a no save instant death in that room.  No direct mechanic exists although we could up with something if we had to, though it may be epic in level.  So we can come up with something if needed, but if the CM tells you it is a room effect, just nod your head and deal with it.

Resting in a room: 

If you are luckily your random room could be a rest room.  When a rest room appears each player will be asked a random questions (DND, geek, nerd, math, sci-fi, fantasy, movies, Monty Python are some of the categories).  If the player gets it right they get 24 hours of rest and can rememorize spells (5 mins at the table so do it quickly).  If the players answers incorrectly they are shunted to the next room immediately, then the question is asked to the next player.  If ANY help or hindrance occurs while a rest room is going on NO ONE gets to rest even if they already answered a question correctly.  So sit quietly don’t fidget and pray you get an easy question.  Cheering for a good answer is allowed, but no helping!!!  Rest room do not count toward rooms completed nor rooms failed.

Take your Contestant Data Sheet to the CG Registration table.  Ensure that your stop time is entered on the sheet, and your data sheet is signed. Make sure you get the sheet to the CG Registration table. We use these to determine who is in the finals.  Ensure the correct character name is on the sheet as well as your name and badge number.  These must be legible.

When you are finished playing a character and do not plan to use that one any more, please turn in your character sheet.  This way we can review the character for the finals if you make it to the finals.  You can get your sheet back at the finals.

How do you know if you may make the finals? There is more than one way into the finals.   If the DM writes some notes on your data entry sheet, or you have a lot of rooms completed, or a lot of time at the table, you have a chance to make it into the finals.  
So if the DM makes any notes in the DM note section and you were not at the table forever or a ton of rooms you may still be able to make it to the finals.  Come back a few hours after we close shop to see if you are on the list of finalist and or the alternates.

Not Showing at the Finals: If a player fails to show up at the finals we will select an alternate or if no more alternate are there we will select a player who is there at the finals to get into the finals.  That alternate gets the trophy and prize.

Goto Phase I: Rinse and Repeat