BB GMs: What surprises have new players thrown your way? How did you handle them?


Beginner Box


This weekend, I got to play the "Black Fang's Dungeon" adventure with my two younger cousins, aged 10 and 12, and their two dads. It was my first time GM-ing, and only my 2nd time playing Pathfinder. It was challenging, but everyone had a blast - we wrapped up well past the kid's bedtimes, but they wanted to press on and find out where Black Fang flew off to.

One surprise that the players threw at me, which I wasn't sure how to respond to, was when they decided to take the body of the dead goblin found in the spider cave back to King Fatmouth. The kids, not being too wise in the ways of diplomacy, dumped the body of the King Fatmouth's sister on the floor of the cavern. After convincing him that it was the spider who killed her, and not the PCs, Fatmouth responded by asking the PCs to join in on a traditional goblin mourning ceremony. Which, of course, involved cooking and eating the dead goblin. When they wouldn't eat the dead goblin, Fatmouth became enraged at this sign of disrespect, and he and his minions attacked the PCs. Macabre, I know, but it thoroughly grossed out the kids and got lots of laughs and groans.

What are some other ways to have handled this? What other left-curves have your players thrown at you when playing this adventure?


I like that twist about goblins eating their dead...it very much sounds like something a goblin would do, whether in mourning or not. :)

-Ed


I agree--nice touch. I think my only thought is, when dealing with mass numbers vs. 2 players (especially young ones), that taking the PCs prisoner is better than immediately jumping to attack them. But that's a minor point.

Sounds like you handled it pretty well!


2 people marked this as a favorite.

My 8yr old daughter made a rogue as her second character and we had a chat about using her skills to solve problems instead of always charging in with her sword like she did with her first character, the fighter

While fighting Blackfang she got a determined look on her face and explained to me that she wanted to sneak up behind him, jump on his back and ride him up out of the cave. :o

When I suggested that Blackfang was a pretty scary beast that probably would be too happy about having an elf on his back, she pushed her character sheet over to be and said, " but look, I took stealth, acrobatics and ride!"

Liberty's Edge

A player totally new to RPGs and OGL (and thus unfamiliar with AoOs) stepped in front of an injured teammate and asked if she could protect them from any other attacks. We ended up readying an attack, but it's interesting that AoOs are more intuitive than I initially thought.

Grand Lodge

I portray my Goblins as pyromaniacs to the point of fanaticism. One encounter I described how they got their hands on a lit torch and were jumping around like "Gollum whom just recovered his precious". One gobo set three others on fire and they died with faces of glee saying thank you as they burned to death.

The one with the torch ran off laughing like a maniac while the other gobos became so infuriated at the PCs that THEY didn't get the torch they went into a beserker frenzy (barbarian rage).

Now where my players have caught me off guard:

My wife wants a goblin "pet" or sidekick and every time her party attacks (unprovoked) goblins, she defends them and uses her Channel on them and not the party.

Dark Archive

My players cornered and killed the dragon. >_>

Spoiler:
Although it's my fault for letting my wife playing Ezren customize his spell list. She hit the dragon with a colour spray to stun it for a round and it went down like a ton of bricks to Valeros and a freaking dragonbane sword.

Shadow Lodge

Pathfinder Lost Omens, Maps, Rulebook Subscriber
Ravenbow wrote:
I portray my Goblins as pyromaniacs to the point of fanaticism.

That seems totally reasonable to me.

Our introduction to Pathfinder was a few months before the Beginner Box came out, with "We Be Goblins!"

We Be Goblins!:
After the final encounter, our happy little band of goblins torched the ship on the way out

Jade Regent/We Be Goblins!:
Some time afterwards we were playing in Jade Regent. In the swamp, we came across a very familiar-looking ship. Or, to be precise, the burned-out skeleton of a ship ...

Grand Lodge

JohnF wrote:
Ravenbow wrote:
I portray my Goblins as pyromaniacs to the point of fanaticism.

That seems totally reasonable to me.

Our introduction to Pathfinder was a few months before the Beginner Box came out, with "We Be Goblins!"

** spoiler omitted **

** spoiler omitted **

My group hasn't gotten that far yet but they will.

I have no doubt which of my players is going to try their best to burn the entire coastline. I can't wait.

Shadow Lodge

IronDesk wrote:

My 8yr old daughter made a rogue as her second character and we had a chat about using her skills to solve problems instead of always charging in with her sword like she did with her first character, the fighter

While fighting Blackfang she got a determined look on her face and explained to me that she wanted to sneak up behind him, jump on his back and ride him up out of the cave. :o

When I suggested that Blackfang was a pretty scary beast that probably would be too happy about having an elf on his back, she pushed her character sheet over to be and said, " but look, I took stealth, acrobatics and ride!"

Your daughter is adorable. And well-educated. ;D

I loved this adventure. BB for the win.


My 8-yr old actually carried King Fatmouth's head around the dungeon and would show it to any goblins they came across. Any goblins that saw it would get enraged and fight to the death. He also proceeded to throw a dead lizard at the Reefclaw.


When I got my box, I was so excited I went straight playing The Skeleton King's Crypt. My rolls were so freakin awful I was so pissed off. Halfway through the combat with The Skeleton King, I realized I was using d-freakin'-12 instead of d20.

It was so embarrasing..,

Community / Forums / Pathfinder / Pathfinder First Edition / Paizo Products / Beginner Box / BB GMs: What surprises have new players thrown your way? How did you handle them? All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.
Recent threads in Beginner Box