Naturalist's page

Hey everyone, I'm a fairly new RPG player. I have been dabbling for the last few years but my group went inactive. We were playing 5E D&D and I am longing to start playing something again. I discovered the Play by Post community and this seems to be exactly what I'm looking for. I am a hoping to find a group to start playing with either Pathfinder or Starfinder. I have Pathfinder 1st edition but it is my understanding 2nd edition is currently in play test and have no problem picking up the Starfinder rule book. Is the forums the best place to find a group or somewhere else I should be looking?

Also, I have a few more questions, is it expected to have a character all rolled up and ready to go or is that something the group does once it is formed? Also, is there a summary of "rules" I should be aware for play by post? For example, don't post more than a couple times a day, make sure everyone else has a chance to post before continuing, etc?Basically, I am looking for any direction or advice to get started. Thanks

Sure sounds good, it will probably be this evening before I am able to create a character but I'll post in there.

Haha well it's meant to be then! I would love to join you. I briefly checked out the post. Do I need to create my character and back story then submit it for your review in the thread?

Hey guys, I am currently GMing the Rise of the Runelords campaign for a group of new players, including myself. We have had two sessions so far and are having a great time. However, I find myself wanting to experience being a player of a campaign as well. I feel like it will make me a better GM. I posted in the general forums and someone recommended playing by post as a way to get my rpg fix for someone who doesn't have the time for another in person group. I'm completely new to this any campaigns recruiting?

Wow play by post sounds awesome. Unfortunately I'm the one that can't get away to a local store to often but I can find time to play at home. I have a two year old at home so being able to check-in once or twice a day would definitely help me get a chance to experience being a player. Roll20 sounds interesting too.

So I have a odd request, I am currently GMing the Rise of the Runelords campaign for a group of new players, including myself. We have had two sessions so far and are having a great time. However, I find myself wanting to experience being a player of a campaign as well. I feel like it will make me a better GM. Here lies the problem. We have a hard enough time getting us all together regularly for my current campaign so I'm looking for an alternative way to play from home either online or via email. Are there any groups out there that do this? And are patient with new players?

Thanks guys

Thanks for the advice so should I get the NPC Codex first??

Hey guys new Pathfinder player, my buddies and I are going to be running the Rise of the Runelords campaign very soon. I will be GMing for the first time. I currently have the Core Rulebook, Advance Players Guide, and the RotR anniversary book. Which of the books in the title do you find a bit more important for us to get going??

First Steps and We Be Kobolds are both great starting adventures. Both are free downloads from the paizo site.

Wow thanks for the info, I'll have to check them out.

Naturalist wrote:

Skeld wrote:

I'm running RotRL right now and we're in Chapter 5. We started over 2 years ago. I've run several long-term campaigns and APs over the years.

Since you're a new GM and a relatively new group, I would advise you to run a couple of shorter adventures before jumping into an AP. Running some short stand-alone adventures will give you and your group a chance to get comfortable with the rules and to sort of find your groove, plus it will give you an idea of what things you might want to work on to be a better GM. That can make a huge difference in your gaming experience, especially with a long-running campaign.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

-Skeld

Great advice! How often does your group play and for how long? I'm just curious so I can get an idea how long this story may take for us. We are not super deep world builders we are more wild and unpredictable always looking for a fight and better loot.

Nominally, we play every-other Friday night. In reality, with work/family/etc. schedules, it's more like every 3 weeks. We usually try to eat at 6pm and start sometime after that and we play until about 12-1am. Excluding dinner and goofing off, we probably log 4-5 hours of actual game time any given session. We just completed our 35th session last weekend.

Realistically, the amount of time it takes to complete an AP can vary wildly from group to group. That's just the nature of the beast. Some GMs add a bunch of extra side-quest material and some groups roleplay more than others. All of that can affect how long a campaign will take in real-time.

-Skeld

Wow good to know I'm guessing we play at least once a month, but hopefully more. Sounds like I will probably have at least 2 years worth of gaming from this one adventure path then.

With all new players and a new GM, I would recommend Core Rule Book only for spells, classes, feats, etc... for a little while. Most people I've seen try to jump in with everything all at once just get frustrated and confused. However, I wouldn't stay with CRB only for too long if everyone wants to branch out. That's just to start out while learning the rule system. Once you feel like you are fairly comfortable with the rules, I'd recommend allowing more books fairly quickly.

I'm pretty lenient with rebuilds (especially for new players).

I always give everyone a free complete rebuild. One time you can change absolutely everything or anything on your PC, then we'll just pretend it was always like that.

For example: Last year I had a guy make an elf wizard. But it turned out the whole prepared caster thing was just driving him nuts. Plus he didn't realize how completely incapable he would be with a weapon even with buff spells. He ended up rebuilding as a sorcerer with a few levels of barbarian (heading for the dragon disciple prestige class).

If someone picks a feat, spell, skill, etc... because they thought it worked different than it really does, I let them change it.

For new players (like your group) at a level gain, I will let them basically change what ever choices they made at the previous level gain.

This sounds like how exactly, I plan to work. I want everyone to have fun if someone hates there class or choices we will definitely figure out a way to make it work. Thanks for the advice!

I'm running RotRL right now and we're in Chapter 5. We started over 2 years ago. I've run several long-term campaigns and APs over the years.

Since you're a new GM and a relatively new group, I would advise you to run a couple of shorter adventures before jumping into an AP. Running some short stand-alone adventures will give you and your group a chance to get comfortable with the rules and to sort of find your groove, plus it will give you an idea of what things you might want to work on to be a better GM. That can make a huge difference in your gaming experience, especially with a long-running campaign.

Good luck and welcome aboard!

-Skeld

Great advice! How often does your group play and for how long? I'm just curious so I can get an idea how long this story may take for us. We are not super deep world builders we are more wild and unpredictable always looking for a fight and better loot.

Naturalist wrote:

Thanks, but I prefer the books, and don't mind spending a little money to help support the game. Good to know I can fall back on that however.

I buy books for the sake of supporting the company as well, but there's just so much stuff out there spread over so many different books that it's really much easier to keep the information you need in browser tabs, even if you do own every single player companion that has been released.

Fair enough.

Thanks, but I prefer the books, and don't mind spending a little money to help support the game. Good to know I can fall back on that however.

Hey Guys

So I'm fairly new to tabletop RPG's my buddies and I have been dabbling over the last two years in 3.5 D&D we have probably played a total of 6 games because our GM insisted on creating from scratch (which is fine) but never get around to doing it all that often. Obviously, we are not playing enough so I took the bull by the horns and picked up the Pathfinder beginner box.

I decided to switch to Pathfinder because everything I've read said they had the best pre-made adventure paths of the two systems and the rules will be similar enough that we could transition easily. The Pathfinder system was also was encouraging to me because I've never GM'd before and having a pre-built adventure was how I want to try running my first game campaign. Currently, my plan for our first meet up is to simply run the first sample adventure in the beginners box to give everyone a chance to roll their characters and get back in the RPG mind set (it has been over six months since we last played).

Since we are all craving a much more regular and structure campaign I went ahead and already ordered the Core Rulebook, Advanced Player's Guide and the Rise of the Runelords anniversary edition for our first adventure path. I come to the community looking for some direction. Within the next few weeks I plan on diving into the RotR campaign. Are there any other books I desperately need BEFORE I start besides what I've already mentioned? I don't want our first sessions grinding to a halt because I'm missing key material. I plan on purchasing the GM and Bestiary books soon as well just trying to spread out my purchases and don't want to be drowning in material all at once.

Finally, any other general noob advice?

Thanks!

You guys are amazing. This community is top notch. My groups first adventure in the Pathfinder universe starts tonight via the card game. I can't wait to receive the beginner box and begin my journey as a GM.

For now, I'd stick to the Beginner Box. There's a book in it that talks about transitioning from it to the core rules, and you'll want to read that before buying anything else.

Awesome thanks!

Thanks for all the feedback. So for an aspiring GM, what would be the next purchase for me after the BB box? Should I get all 3 core books? Start with the GM Guide? Help please!

Just to second one thing Kolokotroni said: don't bother with XP.

As someone who came here from video games, this may irk you, Naturalist. XP = everything, right?

But as someone who came here from board games, you will appreciate that playing a GM like the banker in MONOPOLY is probably not very fun.

No xp is fine by me. Honestly, was glad to read that. My group is a little worried that the BB only had the four major classes but I told them I'm sure we can make it work until we move to the core books. I'm introducing three of them to the Pathfinder universe tomorrow evening with a PACG scenario.

Just placed an order for the BB. Can't wait to become more active in the Pathfinder community.

Wow thank you so much for the detailed reply. Can't wait to get my hands on the beginners box!

Obligatory Intro:

Hey guys, so in the past I've been more of a board gamer/video gamer but about a year ago my buddies and I started dabbling in another table top RPG. We get together and play a session maybe 5 times in the 18 months. However, I just stumbled on to the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game and fell in love with it. I've haven't even owned it a week but I already want to dive deeper into this world. So I immediately started eyeballing the beginner's box. One of the problems we have is my previous GM always tries to write his own adventure for us but that is what leads to the long droughts between play sessions.

I want to take the reins of the GM in the Pathfinder Universe so my question is, will the beginner's box work for someone like me who has never GMed before?  I read that it will get us to level 5 before we have to branch out into the core books. For the price that value seems amazing. It's also my understanding the PACG uses many of the PRPG locations, storylines, etc which is quite exciting because I plan on playing a solo and co-op path of the card game. So I imagine playing the RPG will only add to my the card game experience.

I am not as talented as my previous GM and I like the idea of having encounters already written up for us making it much easier for all of us to get together (which is why I was drawn to the PACG). However, I also need some flexibility to be able to keep my group interested. Lets just say our play sessions are very much 18+ and the crazier and vulgar they are the more fun we have. We've started a tradition that every session starts with us getting kicked out of the local inn before the adventure.

Final questions, so the PACG starts with the Rise of the Runelords and I would love to follow the same path in the RPG. Can anyone give me an idea what level that story arc starts at? Will I be able to go from the box to the RotR path?