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Hello everyone,
I am just about to start GMing my first Pathfinder Society game soon and I was wondering if anyone had any tips for me.
I will be running the In Service to Lore scenario. I am hoping to get people in my area interested in the Pathfinder Society and use this as a way to check out how running such a campaign will work out.
I have GM'ed for the following systems before:
- Dungeons and Dragons (3.5) Eberron, Forgotten Realms
- Dungeons and Dragons (4E) Forgotten Realms, Encounters
- Pathfinder Homebrew (Merger between Eberron Campaign setting and Pathfinder Rules with a little of my own stuff thrown in), Rise of the Runelords, Shattered Star (currently running this one)
I have done the following setup already for this:
1) downloaded and read the scenario
2) Downloaded/Printed all of the pregens
3) Created an event on the Pathfinder Society Site
4) Printed out some 'table tents' for use during the game
5) Made sure that table space has been reserved at the store we will be doing this in
6) Working on making the maps for the area so that I don't have to draw during game time
Is there anything else that you may be able to point me to, to ensure that this goes off without a hitch? Most of the games that I have GM'ed in the past have always been with the same groups, so I know what they expect and what they expect of me. Aside from the 'D&D Encounters' I haven't done anything like this before.
Thanks, in advanced, for any help you can provide.
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Andrew,
Welcome aboard! First Steps Part I is a great scenario to run, for both new players and new GMs. So far, you sound like you are on the right track.
You might consider any game aids you would want to have on hand:
Initiative board/tracker
Pictures of the NPCs
Also, what books do you think you will need?
Good luck! Once you get a couple of these under your belt, you will be golden!
Mark
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You didn't make note of it, but have you read the Guide to Organized Play? If you have, I was just checking, if not, you should read that first, just so you know what the Campaign rules are.
Also, throw out a post in the Grand Lodge section of the PFS Messageboards and see if you can catch some players from your area there!
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I would also say, don't be too disappointed if initial turnout for your event is a bit low. Sometimes it takes a few times, depending on how frequently you offer the games, to build up an awareness of the availability in your local community. Persistence is of great value, but throw together some flyers or a poster with tear-off tabs that potential players can take with them so they know when you'll be running and how to contact you for future events.
Venture-Captain, Washington—Spokane
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Andrew, welcome to PFS and thank you for stepping behind the screen. The only thing I can add to the great advice already given would be to print any stat blocks not present in the scenario. This will save any searching in game. Enjoy!!
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Mark - Thanks a lot. I do have some gaming aids that I use, on a frequent basis.
Aeshuura - I have read the guide to organized play and found it was very helpful (especially the part on filling out the paperwork, lol).
Jonathan - I had had the same issue with some other systems (Dark Heresy and Deathwatch). The area I am in is Charlotte, NC and the gaming community is really opening up now. Only a few years ago, most gaming was done in homes and stuff was only ordered on Amazon. Luckily, we have more game stores now and people are coming out in force to them.
Preston - Thanks, I didn't think about that, I appreciate it!
