I'll be running my first Pathfinder adventure in January. Not new to DM'n or playing RPGs but new to PF. We'll be starting simple; level 1 characters, Paizo module, using Rules As Written. Players have NOT read the books and will be relying on me. They do know we'll be playing Pathfinder and what it is; they are just not informed on the details.
Any tips or tricks unique to Pathfinder that you would suggest?
A fun encounter for new players to be sure!
I should have clarified that these players are veteran players but we are all new to Pathfinder. They just haven't taken the time to read the PF books yet.
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GM narrative and cut scenes are one way to spice up the environment and get the PCs to learn a bit about their world.
A fun way I have done this is to prepare a scene that would be a great place to a cut scene- a famous battlefield, a castle where a legendary betrayal took place, whatever- and prepare character sheets and have the players play part of that cut scene themselves. Perhaps they can play the Lord and his knights that were betrayed, or they can play the evil overlord who swept over the poorly armed villagers. It makes it much more memorable than simple narration.
But narration should not be overlooked. Done in character it works great. The old farmer stuck on the road pleads for help because that field next to the road is where that overlord massacred those villagers. "What ya mean you never heard of You-Know-Who, the lich Lord? Why he lead his army of the dead against the brave and foolish villagers right there. See that black spot? That is where the cleric of Aroden was murdered. They say it is haunted to this day. And over yonder, those mountains in the distance. It is said the Lich Lord fed upon the blood of his enemies that is why the mountains bleed so red at sunset."
Throw stuff like that in everywhere and you can tell your story, develop the plot, and back story so the PCs have a clue what is going on.
One of my complaints about modules and such is they have great back stories that the PCs never learn. This is how I try to get the PCs to learn the Who, What, Where, When and Why of it all.
which module are you running for them? it might help us give more specific advice on where you can drop some world hints in
Please direct module specific guidance to that thread; thanks!
This thread is meant to be more specific to the Pathfinder ruleset.
I was just reading another DM blog (which I've promptly lost the URL and now have no idea which one it was) and he had a couple of ideas that I'm going to start using.
Take some 3x5 cards and put the character's name, HP, and AC on it. As you roll initiative you just lay them out in order and insert a 3x5 card for each monster in the proper sequence. As monsters die just scratch out their stats and re-use for the next one. East to keep track of who moves when that way.
If a character is slowed, immobilized, needs to make a save at the start or end of his turn just take a 3x5 card and fold it in half making a tent. Write "Save", or "Immobile" or "Slowed" or whatever on the card and place it in front of the player. That way when it's their turn to act you won't forget that you have to handle this special situation.
Again, they're not PF specific, but I like the ideas.