What I Learned from Pathfinder Today


Pathfinder First Edition General Discussion

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I learned that no matter how many hints I give my players, they will still try their very hardest to not notice them.


I learned that the players would rather believe that their characters have run into another occurrence of the same thing as before than bother considering what else might be the cause... leading them to believe the house they are in is not only haunted by a spirit that doesn't want them to leave, but that the house is also actually two different houses - one being a one-way portal from the city to the other house, and the second being a demiplane.

I also learned one of my players is caught up on all the wrong things... he is focused on his missing magical weapon to the point that he is ignoring having never missed on an attack roll or failed to kill an enemy on a full-attack without said magical weapon.

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Mergy wrote:
I learned that no matter how many hints I give my players, they will still try their very hardest to not notice them.

I gave my party a free 1,000 gp spyglass. They have yet to use it and have lost at least 3 characters due to the fact. I even point to it on the appropriate sheet.

Player: Hey, what is that on the side of the mountain?

I point to spyglass on the party loot page and a couple players look at the sheet

Group: Let's get closer.

Me: Roll stealth...

Dark Archive

At least they didn't sell it.


I learned that my fellows don't actually listen to what I tell them.

"I'm not saying don't go in there. I'm just saying don't count on my wiz for much in any more fights today. I don't have any combat spells left except acid splash.
.
.
.
That's an avanced wraith that is mauling us! Why are you using that stupid d3 spell?
I SAID I DON'T HAVE #@#$&*#$@..."

Dark Archive

Oh, I also learned to make damn sure I remember what tier of PFS I'm running. I sprung two ooze mephits on a tier 1-2 party, and I have no idea how they survived. Well, there was a level 3 wizard playing down, so I guess there was that.


I learned that some of my group is very, very, VERY good at playing a low wisdom character... without even trying... no matter what it says on their character sheet.

The Exchange

I learned that there are tables you should just get up from and walk away. Really. Very few - but there are some. Even if you have to leave the PC behind and never play him again.


I learned that no party is able to beat a foot of real world snowfall...


I learned that, if something is expensive but still mundane, you should buy and use it. I was scouting without a spyglass (not related to the above post) and wound up being chased by an army. It was not fun.

I have previously learned that, no matter what is going on in the bar/city/5 foot square occupied by a PC, the most important, attention demanding things are always The bartender and the bar maids.

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Mergy wrote:
At least they didn't sell it.

If they sell it next Thursday, I am blaming you.

RPG Superstar 2012 Top 16

Ask the characters if they realize a spyglass is a telescope, not a magnifying glass.

==Aelryinth

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Aelryinth wrote:

Ask the characters if they realize a spyglass is a telescope, not a magnifying glass.

==Aelryinth

They couldn't possibly think that. Could they?


I learned that the battles you worry about are the ones your players will steamroller. The battles you expect to be a cakewalk will turn into a slugging match. And an open field battle after a dungeon crawl lets everyone shine in there own way.


Thomas LeBlanc wrote:

Last night, two players learned heavy encumbrance + bestow curse + Swim checks = gurgle, gurgle, gurgle

I learned how quickly they can pull out their next fully filled out character sheet. I then taught them items from their last character don't automatically go onto said sheets...

Especially if said equipment is at the bottom of the lake!

Silver Crusade

I learned that if the monsters set the inn that your PCs are in to flush them out on the open, make sure that the rogue and the ranger have not both just paid for clean water for the wash basins.

Silver Crusade

I also learned that my dice only roll natural 20s on saving throws.


Apostle of Gygax wrote:

I also learned that my dice only roll natural 20s on saving throws.

Dayum!!! I want those dice!


Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
Aelryinth wrote:

Ask the characters if they realize a spyglass is a telescope, not a magnifying glass.

==Aelryinth

They couldn't possibly think that. Could they?

Yes.

Also I've learned that when a 7 str bard is throwing logs on fire, you need to find another player for your party. Tyler why, WHYYYY.


An Adventure Path is better used as detailed guidelines on how to run the adventure within it than as the only way to run that adventure.


I learned that when your wizard is slowly being corrupted by an evil artifact and the lawful good dwarf was warned about this by a silver dragon, the best way to defend yourself is to pull the other party members aside, one by one, and tell them that the dwarf is acting weird and rubbing his axe alot. Maybe they should keep an eye on him in case he goes nuts and attacks a party member?

It really helps that the dwarf is acting weird. He refuses to drink the dwarven spirits I conjured for him, and whenever I cast a spell outside of combat he reaches for his axe until he can tell which spell I am casting...

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Robespierre wrote:
Also I've learned that when a 7 str bard is throwing logs on fire, you need to find another player for your party. Tyler why, WHYYYY.

This needs explained.

Silver Crusade

Adamantine Dragon wrote:
Apostle of Gygax wrote:

I also learned that my dice only roll natural 20s on saving throws.

Dayum!!! I want those dice!

My problem is that for the adventure to continue the way it was supposed to, the PCs needed to lose the fight. but since the monsters rolled good on saving throws and not attack rolls, I now have some serious troubleshooting to do.

Silver Crusade

Thomas LeBlanc wrote:
Robespierre wrote:
Also I've learned that when a 7 str bard is throwing logs on fire, you need to find another player for your party. Tyler why, WHYYYY.
This needs explained.

Agreed.


I learned that saying "That's pretty cool..but what if..." after my DM decides the results of a Nat 1 often get the results changed...and horrible horrible things happen..to the rest of the party. I feel bad that my character is the GM's favorite.


Today I learned the difference between "roleplay-style" flat-footed and "knives-in-yer-throat"-style flat-footed.

Spoiler:

Its a fist full of d6's, by the way.

I'll miss that fighter.

Sovereign Court

Today I learned that if you lend dice to a new player they will roll better for that player than they ever did for you. Three of the first four bow attacks were confirmed critical hits ...

I also learned that a melee fighter, a ranged fighter, a bard and an alchemist makes for a pretty effective party.

Finally, I learned that grease can turn a "big encounter" into a one sided encounter that lasts all of three rounds.


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Pathfinder has taught me that Hero Points only excel at one thing: failing TWO Saving Throws.


Kagehiro wrote:
Pathfinder has taught me that Hero Points only excel at one thing: failing TWO Saving Throws.

And that's why you save up two of them to cheat death . . . ;)

Liberty's Edge

Last night I learned to NEVER EVER EVER trust the multiclass Rogue with a CLW wand to be the healer... EVER EVER EVER.

Sczarni RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Dragan The Dwarf wrote:
Last night I learned to NEVER EVER EVER trust the multiclass Rogue with a CLW wand to be the healer... EVER EVER EVER.

Good lesson! We all learn this at some point.


I learned that a certain player of mine needs to be watched closely when she rolls.

...Because placing the die on a natural 20 while simultaneously dropping a different die to make the die rolling noise does not count as a natural 20, regardless of how badly the party may want or need one.

Sczarni

I learned that passive-aggressive anarchist dwarven fighters are really good at starting tavern brawls.


Today pathfinder taught me that if you ever travel to the beautiful, friendly city of Trollheim, be very polite to the city guards - especially if you are trying to save their lives.


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I also learned that axe-throwing is the national sport in the Land of the Linnorm Kings.


I have a friend named Tyler that likes to play guitar in real life. So he thought a bard with a guitar, a short sword, and a short bow would be a good idea when having 7 strength. We came up to some annoying goblins that were pestering us with arrows. First round my paladin and a barbarian in our party(my best friend) ran behind some rocks to avoid volleys of arrows. Then next round I decked a goblin dog and so did the barbarian with us advancing at the archery tower. The barbarian wanted to knock down the pillars of the complex in order to kill the goblins. So I started to help him because my DM wouldn't acknowledge that goblins are smart in pathfinder. The bard also thought it was a good idea so he started to whack at the pillars. The pillars had a hardness of 5 and he did 1d6-2 damage. He kept that up for two rounds. Then the DM mentioned that the building was flammable so the bard picked up logs from a burning campfire with his bare hands. Then he started tossing the log 5ft at a time towards the archery tower in the attempts to set it on fire. Not only did he take fire damage but he also burned a pc alive that was captured in the tower. The pc would have been unconscious if we knocked the tower down, he killed the pc.

Grand Lodge

Pathfinder Adventure, Adventure Path, Pathfinder Accessories, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path Subscriber

Burning skeletons are murder at level 2.


My DM ever since has been convinced that bards are silly and tyler has no idea what he's doing.

RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32

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Today (yesterday, actually) I learned that no Adventure Path plotline survives contact with the party.

Grand Lodge RPG Superstar 2015 Top 32, RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32

Even when you're really good at climbing, the DC to catch yourself while falling is REALLY FREAKING HIGH.


I learned today that climbing a tree to escape an oger with axe is a bad idear


I learned this a long time ago, but it is my favorite lesson: I've learned that the space between mentioned rules and unmentioned effects is the key location to pull humorous situations from.

I.E. "Teleportation" and "Damage From Falling Objects".


Destarius wrote:

I learned this a long time ago, but it is my favorite lesson: I've learned that the space between mentioned rules and unmentioned effects is the key location to pull humorous situations from.

I.E. "Teleportation" and "Damage From Falling Objects".

Large size character + Cape of the Mountebank = Atomic Elbow from the Top Ropes?


This week I learned that when describing the size of the enemies forces I should never say a number less than 100 if I don't want my players to attack.

"There are only twenty of them. We can do this easy!"
-Steve level 4 sorcerer

It turns out that they could not in fact do it "easy".


Recently, players in a previous group learned that if I (as a GM) say "are you sure?" the answer should very, very probably be "no".

Dark Archive

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Chris Nehren wrote:
Recently, players in a previous group learned that if I (as a GM) say "are you sure?" the answer should very, very probably be "no".

That's funny, because I've learned when a GM asks "are you sure?", half the time he's just screwing with the player.


I learned this weekend that no matter how many alternative ways you hint at how the PCs can take down the Stag Lord... some groups of players invariably just go and kick in the door anyway...

Dark Archive

Mergy wrote:
Chris Nehren wrote:
Recently, players in a previous group learned that if I (as a GM) say "are you sure?" the answer should very, very probably be "no".
That's funny, because I've learned when a GM asks "are you sure?", half the time he's just screwing with the player.

For me as a GM it's ususlly a 30/70 split 'tween "no" and messing with the players.

Liberty's Edge

Tonight I learned that while pre-drawing the maps on a Flip Mat is good, predrawing the maps on a Flip Mat with dry erase markers leads to arriving at the session with a map full of smudged lines.


I learned that normal everyday items such as balancing polls, spark powder, whistles, and others come in very useful and can even replace rogues, wizards, and alchemist to some extent.

Also a PC with high diplomacy and being a veteran in RP can talk his way out of almost every fight. Played one PFS sitting saw zero combat enjoyed myself thoroughly the whole thing at one point naked pink dwarf FTW! Got to love the spell prestidigitation.

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