Barricade's page

Hi Stereo and Kabump,

thank you for the advice. I'm actually just reading through the first part of the Pathfinder Society First Steps, Part 1 right now. It seems manageable... What I will probably do is what Stalwart recommended; come up with my own adventure the first time. Something really, really small and basic, before moving on to First Steps, Part 1.

Even though the group and I are all new to table-top RPGs at least me and one of them have some experience in table top wargames (Warhammer/ Hordes and Warmachine). Initially, before we had enough painted models, we would invent half wargame, half role play scenario's in order to only use our painted models. We added extra rules and events and tied small games into bigger campaigns to still fill an evening.

What I think I'll do for Pathfinder is thoroughly read the rules myself (I have quite a good memory when it comes to this kind of stuff), then limit the players' initial class types (I noticed some classes might be harder to work with than others, for example classes with pets add a dimension I'd like to do without on the first few games) and have them read the most important things on the website (basics, provide them with some links) and sit down to explain the game and create the characters one night. Then on another night have our first adventure, which will be something like our old school warhammer scenario's: I'll just have the players explore an area in search of an item and have them return it to complete the quest. Nothing to fancy; just move some models around, roll some dice and have a beer, just to see how things work. Depending on how this goes we can either do a session like that again, or I can try and play them through First Steps, Part 1.

I'm not to worried on getting things right the first time, that'll just be impossible. Instead I'm aiming to create an awesome role playing experience so they want to play again the next week. As we get more comfortable with the aspects we do understand and work with, we can slowly implement more and more.

Thanks Matthew, I might just do that... I'll keep you guys posted on how things go on this end and let you know if the adventure becomes a success or not ;)

Man you guys reply so fast I don't even have time to reply to you all and try and read the rules at the same time! I actually think it'll be quite manageable now that I've read a bit and have been handed tools and ideas through the forums.

As said before, I'd love to write something up just for new players. You might think it would be better suited to be written by someone with more experience, but trust me I'm quite good at this stuff ;)

Will post it here when its done between now and a few days so you guys can have a look at it and point out things that are missing!

Hey Lincoln,

I'm actually really stoked about the whole game ;) No worries there. I'm glad I decided to post here for help.

I'm hoping to return the favor to the community between now and a few days with a detailed article on how to get started and where to go from there. Of course I'll post it here so you can all have a good look at it and see if I missed anything.

Hi Liz,

please have a read in the other things I wrote as well. It's just common sense that when you offer such a complicated product which prospects have to invest a lot of time, energy and money in before being able to play your game, that you need to ease people into it. By reducing the time and energy prospects need to invest, they will not mind investing lots of money as much either, simply because the experienced total costs (investment) isn't as steep. This does not even have anything to do with the Beginners Box _at_all. If anything, offering such a box requires all of the above even less, because new players will be able to find the beginners box in the store - unlike right now.

If I had not done my research beforehand and/ or if you did not have such a great community I would have been long, long gone and settled for another game system that does at least leave a minimal impression of caring about the players. When I got here (I don't mean the forums, but the webpage) all I encountered were products slammed in my face "get this, get that" all aimed at people knowing what is up. I don't even want to imagine the amount of people having gotten here and leaving literally within minutes. Poor web design is one thing, not thinking about marketing is another. The one reason I'm still looking into this system is the community I encountered here on the forums.

I'd love to share some thoughts on improving the approach of new player through email or via skype. Regardless I'll write up a post with all of the most useful information I got here today.

Take care!

Great people here, and great help ... I can't stress this enough. I just looked at www.d20pfsrd.com as well and this, combined with the Rulebook should makes things manageable, if not easy! I'll now be reading through the rules, although I have to say I wouldn't mind getting the actual hardback since it seems to be a gorgeous book. Guess I'll not be here for a good few hours to come... Thanks again!

Oh and one last thing at people affirming that this is a hobby that costs money: I am well aware of the fact that almost any (new) hobby requires a big initial investment, and that any hobby that you actually get addicted to will continue to cost money. Usually, this is the part that hurts and also gives great joy. I play Warhammer and Warmachine/ Hordes, both games required a decent initial investment as well and continue to cost money as I like to collect new minis and expand my collection of books. I also do kite surfing, for which I had to spend a close to 2000 euro's to get started. I'm also getting my motor license, etc ... but with all those hobbies it was rather easy to find what I needed at minimum just to get started, and in all situations the companies actually provide a means to ease into the hobby, instead of just smashing products in your face and leaving you wondering what you really need and what you can get at a later time ;)

Just saying ... And yeah, if I only half enjoy playing this game (wow that PDF looks awesome! :D) I'll write up something for new players to get started! :)

Wow guys... Just wow. I'm more amazed by the kind and helpful feedback than I am with the lack of guidance on the main webpage! And that says something ;)

@ Feegle:
Thanks a lot for all the ideas. I will definitely see if their is a public event coming up close to me.

I also understand the GM is required to familiarize oneself with the adventure beforehand, but thank you for noting this just in case :) Would you then recommend starting with a Module or an AP?

@Paz:
Wow, thank you so much! That sounds SO awesome. I will get a PDF version of the rulebook after finishing this post and download that Module as well. Kind of strange Paizo does not have a beginners section with just this kind of information in there. Maybe, if I enjoy playing this game, I will write up an article for on the forums and hope for a sticky.

@Everyone else:
Thanks a lot for all the responses. It really helped to get me on the way to what I'm hoping will be great adventures!

As a last question, how many dice (and with how many sides) should I need to get started?

Also, I just have to say ... the more I think about it the more amazed I am by the fact that the main webpage does not have a 'how to get started' section, or even a forum sticky detailing the things new players would need to get into the game. I've checked out the PRD 'getting started' but that is more on how to get started on an actual adventure, not on getting started as in what a new players needs to invest in.

If I hadn't done my research on the internet and found that Pathfinder is generally considered the better of the two systems (between Pathfinder and D&D4.0) I'd just het a 20 US starter kit from them.

(PS: To clarify, this is not a response to everyone so kind to help me out by replying. Nor is it meant to bash Paizo. I merely expressed my thoughts in the hopes that Paizo takes them into consideration when thinking of ways to attract new players to their game!)

Paizo is releasing its own "Beginner Box" later this year (November?).

However, if you want to get started now, I'd recommend buying the core rulebook in PDF ($9.99) only and read through that first to decide if the game grabs you.

There are also some free online tools (such as the Pathfinder PRD under the "Links" section to the left) which cover a lot of material.

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Hi Dave,

thanks a lot for your quick response! Very much appreciated.

I think November is a little (2 months) late when I'm on the edge of starting as soon as I/ we can. Would the Core Rulebook be enough to play? What I mean is, if I'm going to be the GM I could use some help in the form of a prewritten adventure that slowly introduces various aspects of the game/ the adventure to me and the players. I sort of understood from reading these forums that Modules are kind of like that, but I'm not sure if I understood this correctly.

Hi all,

Although I have played around with the idea of playing a table-top rpg a number of times I've never really gotten into it. However, as I saw the videos of Blue Table Painting starting a Pathfinder campaign, I got excited to get into this as well.

So... now I find myself on this website for the second day in a row trying to wrap my mind around what I need to get a group started and can't figure out what it is that would be best to get, being a new player. I hope you guys can help me out.

Neither me, nor any of the people I would want to play this with, have ever played any table-top RPG so we are all new to this. So what is best for me to get? From the looks of things I understand that in order to play I would need to get:

* A core rulebook (50 US)
* A Bestiary (40 US)
* A Campaign setting, Adventure path or Module (price varies)
* A collection of different sided dice

This combined totals for up 250-300 US just to get started as an initial investment, for something non of us are sure we want to continue with, unless we buy the PDF's, of course, which read less comfortable than a book and which we can't have with us on the table... And that while 'the worlds oldest rpg' has a starter set for 20 US =\

My questions are:

- Is my above assumption of base requirements correct and/ or what do you as experienced players suggest I should get? (Should I get a Rulebook+ Bestiary+ Adventure path, or should I go for just the Rulebook+ Bestiary+ Module?).

- Do I need anything else other than the above to get started?

- Isn't there something like a starter kit which makes it easier for new people like myself to get into the game, with less of a steep initial investment?

I really hope someone can give some insight. Don't get me wrong on the cost part either, I don't mind making the (steep) initial investment, as long as I know I'm getting the correct items for a beginner so neither me or my group will get frustrated simply because we got the wrong stuff.