I'm going to be starting a homebrew Pathfinder campaign with a sandbox feel for some friends of mine. I've never run a Pathfinder game before, and I don't have a lot of experience running other RPGs. I've run a few DnD 4e modules, but that's about it. We are going to start playing in a about a week or so, and I'm unsure as to how I should prepare.
I'm starting small with my setting, limiting everything I prepare to the city of Lyrios, which lies on the coast of the main continent of Alara. Until a few years ago, Lyrios was part of a large empire which was ruled by a line of sorcerer kings. Then, the king disappeared, leaving no heir. Now the country is a collection of small nations and city states, all trying to carve out a piece of the former empire.
I'm lost at how I should begin. I'd like to get my PCs involved doing something, but I don't want to railroad them.
I would gladly appreciated any help or suggestions. General game mastering advice would also be helpful.
Someone is paying them to go deep into a dungeon to gather some minor object that has no use to an adventurer but a lot of use to, say, a noble. While in the dungeon, they find a clue as to the location of the king!
Boom, instant campaign.
EDIT: By Desna, I would play that campaign too.
That's a great suggestion, Cobalt. Any tips as to how I might start off my first session?
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There are a bunch of schools of thought on how to start a campaign. If this is your first time, and your players are new, then I would suggest that all the characters all know each other before hand. Make them already friends or compatriots, and you've saved yourself one of the most difficult parts of your job - finding a reason that such different people would be banding together.
Also, don't be afraid to prepare railroad sessions early on. If this is your first time, then knowing closely how things are going to go will help immensely. Just because you've created a detailed setting does not mean that they will go frolic aimlessly in it. Have an objective for them.
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Maybe there is a group of people who are in a prime place to conquer the whole of Alara with the empire in disarray. The know that the king is still alive and are looking to track him down and kill him to make sure he doesn't return and reunite the nation before they make their move. They could be hired by the group to track down a clue to where the king is without their knowing! Eventually along the road they would catch on and maybe work to thwart them, or find the king before they do.