New Beginner Box Set

[DGRM44]

Will this new set of rules be an introduction to the Core Rulebook (basic rules only) or will it be completely different rules?

How is it going to help new players learn the complexities of the Pathfinder Rules System?

[Gorbacz]

What we know so far is that it will be a simplified version of the full ruleset (so far: no AOOs, no combat maneuvres, fewer skills/feat/spells etc. etc.).

[Distant Scholar]

Edit: I couldn't resist.

:-)

Fever
School: necromancy [disease]; Level cleric/oracle 2, druid 2
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range: Close
Target: 1 living creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance: Yes

The target is sickened for the duration of this spell. Creatures immune to disease are immune to this spell.

[Sean K Reynolds]

DGRM44 wrote:

Will this new set of rules be an introduction to the Core Rulebook (basic rules only) or will it be completely different rules?

It's a simplified, low-level version of the Pathfinder RPG.

DGRM44 wrote:

How is it going to help new players learn the complexities of the Pathfinder Rules System?

The same way that learning to drive an automatic-transmission car helps you learn the complexities of driving a manual-transmission car: it reduces the number of rules/mechanics you need to think about during the learning experience, making it easier for you to learn them and eventually perform them automatically. Then, when you add more complexity, you're adding to something you're already comfortable and familiar with.

[lojakz]

Distant Scholar wrote:

Edit: I couldn't resist.

:-)

Fever
School: necromancy [disease]; Level cleric/oracle 2, druid 2
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S
Range: Close
Target: 1 living creature
Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance: Yes

The target is sickened for the duration of this spell. Creatures immune to disease are immune to this spell.

From my understanding the only cure is more cowbell.

[Khonger]

I am so exited for this product.
It's exactly the thing i need to get my house gaming again.

[Tom S 820]

I am not exited cause I am no long a littel kid. I am adult and will cancel our house's subscridtion. My kid play full version. so it waste of money.

[Chainsaw Hobbit]

I can't wait for it. I love the art, fluff, and content of Pathfinder, but find the system too cumbersome and slow. I plan to run a campaign based entirely on the BB as boon as t comes out.

[Reynard]

Tom S 820 wrote:

I am not exited cause I am no long a littel kid. I am adult and will cancel our house's subscridtion. My kid play full version. so it waste of money.

While it is certainly reasonable for you to decide that you do not need a Pathfinder Basic for you and your household, surely you must see the benefit to both the game and Paizo in producing such a product?

[Tom S 820]

Reynard wrote:

Tom S 820 wrote:

I am not exited cause I am no longer a littel kid. I am adult and will cancel our house's subscridtion. My kid play full version. So I see it as a waste of money.

While it is certainly reasonable for you to decide that you do not need a Pathfinder Basic for you and your household, surely you must see the benefit to both the game and Paizo in producing such a product?

My 9 year old and 12 year old little girls play the full version so what the point of making it simpler? Or dummed down? I love pathfinder art but, would never buy game book because of the art. I buy for ideas that put forth in the book help me run my game.

My wife is teacher, and tell me the core game is written at a 4th grade reading level. How much simpler do you need to make it?

See spot. See spot run. ?!?

[Reynard]

Tom S 820 wrote:

Reynard wrote:

Tom S 820 wrote:

I am not exited cause I am no longer a littel kid. I am adult and will cancel our house's subscridtion. My kid play full version. So I see it as a waste of money.

While it is certainly reasonable for you to decide that you do not need a Pathfinder Basic for you and your household, surely you must see the benefit to both the game and Paizo in producing such a product?

My 9 year old and 12 year old little girls play the full version so what the point of making it simpler? Or dummed down? I love pathfinder art but, would never buy game book because of the art. I buy for ideas that put forth in the book help me run my game.

My wife is teacher, and tell me the core game is written at a 4th grade reading level. How much simpler do you need to make it?

See spot. See spot run. ?!?

Now you're just being deliberately obtuse. Your children play Pathfinder because you do. They did not have to spend their allowance or beg you for upwards of $100 in materials, and then have to either suss out the rules (with no adventures or even detailed examples of play, mind) or convince you to indulge them.

Most new, younger players are not in that position. Giving them a complete, inexpensive, instructive version of Pathfinder is good for the game, good for Paizo and good for the hobby in general.

[Nimon]

Tom S 820 wrote:

My 9 year old and 12 year old little girls play the full version so what the point of making it simpler? Or dummed down? I love pathfinder art but, would never buy game book because of the art. I buy for ideas that put forth in the book help me run my game.
My wife is teacher, and tell me the core game is written at a 4th grade reading level. How much simpler do you need to make it?

See spot. See spot run. ?!?

Maybe they need to make it simpler for people who use sentences like, "I buy for ideas" and "My wife is teacher."

[gbonehead]

It's an ideal gift too, and also great for when you're not around to run the game.

Kids tend to underestimate the amount of effort needed to run a game.

Edit: Nimon: ouch - not everyone is a writer or even a native-English speaker.

[Epic Meepo]

gbonehead wrote:

...not everyone is a writer or even a native-English speaker.

Which, incidentally, is another good reason for a Beginner Box. It's a way for ESL players new to the game to hone their English skills via Pathfinder without having to simultaneously master every nuance of the full core rules.

[Mortagon]

While i can certainly see the appeal of this product for new players, I am puzzled that it is part of the Pathfinder subscription. Personally I have no interest in this product and I know no one that would want it as a gift.

[gbonehead]

Mortagon wrote:

While i can certainly see the appeal of this product for new players, I am puzzled that it is part of the Pathfinder subscription. Personally I have no interest in this product and I know no one that would want it as a gift.

I have a suspicion (and this is just a guess) that for every puzzled or displeased person out there, there are several people (like me) that are pleased as punch that it's part of the subscription.

[mdt]

gbonehead wrote:

Mortagon wrote:

While i can certainly see the appeal of this product for new players, I am puzzled that it is part of the Pathfinder subscription. Personally I have no interest in this product and I know no one that would want it as a gift.

I have a suspicion (and this is just a guess) that for every puzzled or displeased person out there, there are several people (like me) that are pleased as punch that it's part of the subscription.

I'm fine with it, since I can take the book and hand it to a new player to take home with them for 2 weeks and read through between games. They won't know everything in the system, but it'll give them a good basic understanding, and they can learn the more advanced stuff as it comes up in game.

[Mortagon]

gbonehead wrote:

Mortagon wrote:

While i can certainly see the appeal of this product for new players, I am puzzled that it is part of the Pathfinder subscription. Personally I have no interest in this product and I know no one that would want it as a gift.

I have a suspicion (and this is just a guess) that for every puzzled or displeased person out there, there are several people (like me) that are pleased as punch that it's part of the subscription.

I am sorry, I just presumed that most subscribers would already be very familiar with the pathfinder system and thus not part of the intended demographic for a beginner box. But maybe I was mistaken.

[Darkholme]

I'm actually thinking the main draw of the Beginner's box is going to be that I can buy it and give it to my girlfriend (who really struggled with the times she played pathfinder using the full rules). She's smart, but she found the rules on the dense side and didn't end up learning them outside game-time, so we often had to help her build characters effectively and tell her what she needs to roll and what to add to that roll.

And my god don't give her summoned monster. It takes too long for her to pick what to summon!

I'll not that she has no trouble grasping World of Darkness and wants to run a game of Changeling. She reads alot, but I think the level of crunch was a bit overwhelming to her. So I can see the draw of the Beginner's set.

Maybe I can even convince her to run a game with it, and just gradually introduce new content from other books and eventually switch her over to the core rulebook.

[gbonehead]

Yes, the Core Rulebook is one hefty mass of rules, and it is a bit overwhelming for a new player. I know this - I'm running a Pathfinder game for five brand-new players and it's a LOT for them to take in. Two of them have played 4e, but three have never played D&D or Pathfinder before at all.

Since they're still in the level 2-3 range, the beginner box will be a godsend; I'm planning on getting at least two of them, perhaps more as gifts.

[Epic Meepo]

Mortagon wrote:

While i can certainly see the appeal of this product for new players, I am puzzled that it is part of the Pathfinder subscription. Personally I have no interest in this product and I know no one that would want it as a gift.

Maybe you can petition Paizo for some sort of exchange program for this one particular product...

Or set one up yourself. Maybe there's someone who'd be happy to exchange some other product they can order for the Beginner Box you don't want.

[erian_7]

Note that it is possible to have Paizo remove something from your subscription shipment (I've done this numerous times). After you get the "we're about to ship" message, just send customer support a request to remove the item. Make sure you do this before you get the "we've just shipped your stuff" message, as it's then too late. Paizo also has a return policy if you hsould get into the latter situation.

And while I'm a 27+ year vet of RPGs, plus a charter subscriber for Pathfinder, I'm definitely on the "excited for this in my subscription" group. This will be going to my 7-year old son as a Christmas present. Heck, if it's OGC I'd even like to see 3PP material written for this rule set (I'm assuming Paizo will stick to its core of supporting the full rules).

[Gorbacz]

Since I'm trying to convert as many people in my area to Pathfinder, the BB will be a perfect tool.