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I am planning on going to an event next week, but wondering how much should I study up on or what should I know before going? I never played a RPG besides playing online WOW.
In short, you should know 1) the basic mechanics (which in the case of Pathfinder means adding your d20 result to the skill/save/attack modifier depending on the situation), 2) the basic things your character can do (as in a Paladin can Detect Evil, Clerics can heal or harm through channeling, etc.), and 3) what you imagine your character to be (this will likely change over time).
Those of us who having been playing RPGs for over 30 years often forget how daunting learning the rules really is (and many of us still get a lot of them wrong...which is why we still carry around and reference the rulebook all the time). Go with a positive attitude (hopefully your fellow players will have one as well), and things should work out fine.
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Tim hits the core of the issue. How involved you get your first time is up to you, but knowing the basics is the all important building block.
We could give you a bit more advise if we knew a bit more background about the situation and what you expect to get out of the event.
Do you have a copy of the Pathfinder core rulebook or are you going in blind? If you have a book, read over the basics. If you don't, try to go a little bit earlier to meet with the GM and learn them. If you have a friend who plays, have them teach you the rules prior to the event and help you roll up a character. You can always play a pregenerated character, but leveling up your own forges a bond with your character that leads for a better overall experience.
Depending on where you go and who you play with, you may need some varying amount of "gear." Pencil and paper are a must, particularly a character sheet. Though it is usually best to have your own set of dice, you will most likely be able to borrow them for your first several sessions. If you become more involved as time goes on, you may decide to invest in more resourses, such as minitures and supplimental books.
Once all is said and done, Tim said it best: Go with a positive attitude. The rest can be picked up along the way.
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In short, you should know 1) the basic mechanics (which in the case of Pathfinder means adding your d20 result to the skill/save/attack modifier depending on the situation), 2) the basic things your character can do (as in a Paladin can Detect Evil, Clerics can heal or harm through channeling, etc.), and 3) what you imagine your character to be (this will likely change over time).
4. You first turn in combat, if no other players has done so, always ask the DM what weapons and armor you see the bad guys are carrying. 5. Never give a bad guy an "Attack-of-Opportunity" if it's avoidable (these are usually the result of newbie tactical-movement errors). 6. Thou Shalt Always Own a Crappy Ranged Weapon -- even if your character is supposed to be a sword-swinger (i.e., there's zero excuse not to begin play with at least a 0gp sling). 7. Thou Shalt Not Cast Mage Armor or Shield or Barkskin your first tun in combat as a spellcaster. 8. Begin with a potion of CLW. 9. Memorize the "withdraw action".
Most low-level character deaths are the result of engaging opponents in melee (when they could have been at least partially dealt with at range), and then mistakenly granting them AoOs. After the wizard was useless. And after they didn't run away to drink a potion next turn.
-- Character design basics for Pathfinder Society newbies (you said "event", so I'm guessing it's a scheduled Society mod-play): 1. don't make a "min/max" character unless you're very experienced with the nuances of the game (because such characters are often severely suboptimal outside their area of expertise, and you may because frustrated and bored); an efficient 20pt-buy "stat array" is 15,14,12,12,12,12 before racial modifiers (the 15 should turn into a 17, and that'll be the stat your character advances, which is usually STR for brutes, INT for wizards, DEX for rogues and archers, INT for wizards, WIS for druids, monks and clerics, and CHA for paladins and sorcerers). 2. Put the 14 into CON unless you really want a feat with a 13 prerequisite. 3. Choose an "iconic" race that caters to the "iconic" class you're considering -- such as dwarf fighter, half-orc barbarian, halfling rogue, elven wizard, half-elf ranger, gnome sorcerer or human cleric or paladin -- or just play a human (humans are good at everything, if not necessarily always the very best). 4. Don't play a monk or a druid until you're more experienced with the rules (I'd wait until my third or fourth character). 5. Ignore every "damage-per-round" calculation thingamajig you've ever seen -- these do not take into account otherwise very important aspects such as saving-throws, skill-checks, and class abilities. 6. In combat: RoLLplay; out of combat: RoLEplay!
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-- Character design basics for Pathfinder Society newbies (you said "event", so I'm guessing it's a scheduled Society mod-play): 1. don't make a "min/max" character unless you're very experienced with the nuances of the game (because such characters are often severely suboptimal outside their area of expertise, and you may because frustrated and bored); an efficient 20pt-buy "stat array" is 15,14,12,12,12,12 before racial modifiers (the 15 should turn into a 17, and that'll be the stat your character advances, which is usually STR for brutes, INT for wizards, DEX for rogues and archers, INT for wizards, WIS for druids, monks and clerics, and CHA for paladins and sorcerers). 2. Put the 14 into CON unless you really want a feat with a 13 prerequisite. 3. Choose an "iconic" race that caters to the "iconic" class you're considering -- such as dwarf fighter, half-orc barbarian, halfling rogue, elven wizard, half-elf ranger, gnome sorcerer or human cleric or paladin -- or just play a human (humans are good at everything, if not necessarily always the very best). 4. Don't play a monk or a druid until you're more experienced with the rules (I'd wait until my third or fourth character). 5. Ignore every "damage-per-round" calculation thingamajig you've ever seen -- these do not take into account otherwise very important aspects such as saving-throws, skill-checks, and class abilities. 6. In combat: RoLLplay; out of combat: RoLEplay!
I'd also like to add that as your first character, you should strongly consider a martial character. Paladins, Rangers, Barbarians, Fighters, Cavaliers, Monks, and Rogues are all pretty strait forward. Fighters particularly can be very simple to play.
If you do want to play a spell caster, Spontaneous casters (Oracles, Sorcerers, Bards, Summoners) are easier starting choices than prepared casters (Wizards, Clerics, Druids, Witches, Alchemists), with wizards and witches requiring the most bookkeeping and rules knowledge.
Don't worry about being optimized; this is PFS, not the Temple of Elemental Evil.
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I am planning on going to an event next week, but wondering how much should I study up on or what should I know before going? I never played a RPG besides playing online WOW.
Welcome Kamots--
If you've only played WoW, then you're probably pretty familiar with the tactical basics and whatnot. Yeah, there will be combat rules to learn and spells to memorize, but that really isn't the most important part of being a good player.
Like the rest say above, your positive attitude is the best thing you can bring: be willing to ask questions and make mistakes. Be willing to roleplay and accept others as they roleplay.
PFS is a social game at it's heart...the dice and rules are just the common hobby we share to engage in social activity. As such, prepare to be social and play nicely with others.
Focus on the important stuff and you'll be just fine:
Painlord's How to be a Better PFS Player
-Pain
Well first , welcome to p&p rpging.
To get read for your first game you just need to do a few things
1. Make a character. The core hand book can show you how to do this step by step. ( also there is a little button called prd in the links on the side bar ) just for kicks though , www.paizo.com/prd. This link also has the info you will need. Give them all a basic read through. Since you've played wow , ill just assume you are familar with what kinda class you like to play. Pick one and get familar with its abilities.
2. Dont forget the books you need to play and referance what your character does. More then likly its just the players handbook and on the off chance the advanced player handbook. If you forget them though the other players probably have a copy on hand you can borrow or you can use the site I mentioned above if your cell has the web.
3. Dont forget your character sheet , a pensil or two , a dice set ( d4 to d100 ) and a mini to represtent your character.
4. Get very familar with the basic rules. For most situation its going to be rolling a 20 sided dice and adding the associated number to it. For instance hitting something with a sword would be 1d20 plus your melee attack bonus or using the jump skill would be 1d20 + jump.
Edit - I would also sujest a fighter as your first character. They are probably the most versatile class in the game. If you want to link it back to wow you can go arms ( two handed fighter from the apg ) , fury ( two wpn fighting feat tree ) , prot ( stand still feat tree and shield feats ) but you can also be a effective ranged character if you want. The fighters get so many ' bonus feats ' as they level up that you can really build any kind of character that you want to play. The only place they are lacking a little is in skills , so dont be expecting to pick locks , with tumbling around and bluffing. If your going to use weapon in combat though dont pick a small race ( gnome or halfing ). To put it in mmo terms your going to nerf the crap out of your deeps because on the negetive to starting str and the smaller sized weapons. Its like getting titans grip and using 2 daggers..... Halfling and gnome casters are fine though ( and perfered for the bonus to AC and to hit with spells ).
Venture-Captain, Missouri—Cape Girardeau
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Gaming 101 - I want to be a fighter please!
Simple to play, good survivability, easy mechanics (I hit things! Or shoot them, as the case may be!), and the opportunity to watch ohter more complex characters (mechanically speaking) in action, before jumping in.
Other than that, sit back, participate, and enjoy ACTUAL INTERACTION with people!
People seem to have missed something very important...
Tell the GM and the other players at your table that you're a new player, both to Pathfinder Society and tabletop roleplaying games. Most of the people I've met are more than willing to help a new gamer out once you advertise that fact.
Good gaming!
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People seem to have missed something very important...
Tell the GM and the other players at your table that you're a new player, both to Pathfinder Society and tabletop roleplaying games. Most of the people I've met are more than willing to help a new gamer out once you advertise that fact.
Good gaming!
Yep. Lilith nailed it.
For the most part the people I have gamed with are very willing to help new people ramp up to speed.Den
