Best scenario for new Society players

[Zagig]

Hi everyone. In a few weeks, I'm planning to run my first ever Pathfinder Society scenario. Let me explain my situation.

I'm doing a drop-in game event that I hope to do every month at the local community centre. This month I ran the We Be Goblins module and everyone seemed to have a good time. Next month however, and hopefully every month following that, I'd like to DM a Pathfinder Society scenario.

Now, I have never even played in a Pathfinder Society scenario, but I have lots of experience with role playing in general (30 years), and, as far as Pathfinder is concerned, have run a semi-monthly Pathfinder campaign for two years.

As for players, in my small community I think don't anyone is familiar with the Pathfinder Society, although we have a fair number of Pathfinder players.

So, what do all of you think would be the best scenario to run for both players new to role playing and players with some role playing experience but new to Pathfinder Society?

[BigNorseWolf]

I like first steps 1. You are students running around Absolom doing errands.

then

Wounded wisp: You're on a more or less actual mission in absolom.

then

confirmation: Graduation! they're sending you out into the field.

[BigNorseWolf]

Best guide for newbies i could come up with

Even with all the experience running games, i would still try to get in a pathfinder society game or two. In person if you can, online if you have to. there's a lot that really takes seeing it to make a whole lot of sense.

If you have any questions, we have no life :)

[GM Eazy-Earl]

I'll second BNW's recommendations. Both First Steps—Part I: In Service to Lore and #5–08: The Confirmation are good introductions to the Pathfinder Society and they're relatively simple to run and play.

[Landon Winkler]

Running something like this and concur on First Steps 1. It does a really good job introducing people to Absalom, the Society, and a lot of the factions within the Society.

[Zagig]

BigNorseWolf wrote:

Best guide for newbies i could come up with

Even with all the experience running games, i would still try to get in a pathfinder society game or two. In person if you can, online if you have to. there's a lot that really takes seeing it to make a whole lot of sense.

If you have any questions, we have no life :)

LOL There is absolutely no possible way that I could play a Society game before the next game event I'm planning. One, I work a 12 hour shift for the next 20 days, with my first day off two days before my planned event. That means no time after or before work for even an online game. Two, I'm in a small community in Northeastern BC (Google Fort St. John, BC, Canada). The nearest Pathfinder Society group that I know of is a 5 hour drive away.

But, thank you for the awesome Guide!! I'm going to sit down and read it two or three times when I have some free time at work this weekend.

First Steps seems to be a strong recommendation so far. I have looked at the First Steps scenarios, but they seemed kind of like you were holding someone's hand through the whole thing. Then again, maybe that's what I need. I will check out the other scenarios you mentioned though. Thank you so much.

[BigNorseWolf]

Yeaaah. That is the literal middle of nowhere.

Technically there's no rule against polar bears having PFS numbers...

You area holding someone's hand through the whole thing. That's kinda the point. Let people figure out the hard stuff later.

[Silbeg]

My number one preference for new players is The Confirmation 508 hands down. The whole goal of this is to teach folks to be good Pathifinders

[J. Wilfong]

Jack Brown wrote:

My number one preference for new players is The Confirmation 508 hands down. The whole goal of this is to teach folks to be good Pathifinders

I agree for several reasons; it's got classic dungeon-crawl elements to it and ends with a fight against a classic monster, gives context to Absalom and the Isle of Kortos, and introduces the players to a recurring NPC whom they can interact with more in Wounded Wisp.

Additionally, players get the most out of the chronicle's boon if it is their absolute first adventure while playing Society.

[Terminalmancer]

Agree--all of those are good introductions, but The Confirmation is my favorite. It's got a good combination of hand-holding and letting the party fend for themselves a tiny bit.

(Letting new players get the most out of that boon doesn't hurt, either.)

[Poison Dusk]

I will throw in another vote on The Confirmation. I have played is numerous times and GM'd it more. It does the best to shoe exactly what is expected from a pathfinder. I think the best way to level to 2nd is to run The Confirmation, Wounded Wisp, and The Consortium Compact in order. Confirmation as detailed above, Wisp then shows how things are often different than what you were aware and also shows how Pathfinders search for knowledge about the past. Consortium is all about the sneaky/subtle part of being a Pathfinder. You do the three of those and you are ready for anything.

[Fromper]

I agree with The Confirmation being the best choice as a first adventure for newbies.

[p-sto]

The Confirmation is certainly a better adventure than The Wounded Wisp but for brand new players my vote goes to running The Wisp before The Confirmation. Wounded Wisp is less deadly and does a better job of giving players background on the Society and Golarion. Between the two having a bit of extra gold before you go in definitely helps more for The Confirmation.

[Poison Dusk]

p-sto wrote:

The Confirmation is certainly a better adventure than The Wounded Wisp but for brand new players my vote goes to running The Wisp before The Confirmation. Wounded Wisp is less deadly and does a better job of giving players background on the Society and Golarion. Between the two having a bit of extra gold before you go in definitely helps more for The Confirmation.

I get your point here but Wisp does at least partly assume that they have ran Confirmation, as it has the option of Janira recognizing PCs. However if you do it the other way it assumes you do not know her. Only a big deal RP wise, but that is the way I like to play. As far as being deadly, the only fights that should be deadly is if they attack the Minotaur right away or you randomly get the spider swarms. I however always alter the fight to fit the group. If it's 4 newbies, I will never make them fight a swarm. And even if they did, they have Janira to help. She has acid and alchemist fire to loan out.

[nosig]

Casting my vote to start with First Steps 1.

First Steps 1, then Wounded Wisp, then Confirmation.

And I really hate to agree with BNW... even when I think he's right. Gah! now I have to go take a shower again...

[Mimo Tomblebur]

I'm still a big fan of 0-01 Silent Tide as an early experience for new players because:
1) the mission feels heroically significant (saving Absolam from an undead invasion);
2) they get to meet the very important NPC, Grandmaster Torch; and
3) the fight on the organ is really fun.

[Fromper]

Eric Ives wrote:

I'm still a big fan of 0-01 Silent Tide as an early experience for new players because:

1) the mission feels heroically significant (saving Absolam from an undead invasion);
2) they get to meet the very important NPC, Grandmaster Torch; and
3) the fight on the organ is really fun.

One of these days, I need to GM that one. I played it as one of my first PFS experiences (either my 2nd or 3rd adventure, I think), and I remember enjoying it, but I don't really remember the details.

[Zagig]

Thank you to everyone for the suggestions!! Since it seemed like the most popular choice, and because I liked it when I read it, I ran The Confirmation last weekend. I'll post details and follow-up questions in a dedicated thread, but I'm told by all the players that they enjoyed it. Next month, I'm going to start Season 8 scenarios.