| 1 person marked this as FAQ candidate. 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Does there exist something online I can print out and hand someone to give a quick and easy explanation and idea how this game works? I'm constantly trying to recruit for pfs, and I during my attempt to pitch the game I just realize how complicated it seems by what I'm saying.
Anyone have a step by step they can suggest, and maybe a piece of paper to introduce the game could be created through a collaborative effort?
|
ABOUT PATHFINDER:
If they know D&D:
Pathfinder is like D&D 3.75. It takes the framework of D&D 3.5 and builds on it. Try it out, it's fun!
If they don't know D&D:
Pathfinder is a roleplaying system kind of like D&D. Try it out, it's fun!
ABOUT PFS:
Pathfinder Society is a game where you can make a character, and then take it to any game of the right level where you haven't played the adventure yet.
Your characters:
1) are portable -- you can play them anywhere in the world, with strangers as well as friends;
2) will level every 3 sessions
(now is not the time to talk about exceptions, like slow play!)
3) will never have to argue about loot with other PCs, because of a cool innovation called the Chronicle system.
4) are neutral or good (never evil) PCs that work for an adventuring club called "The Pathfinder Society." You get assigned missions in strange places and try to succeed on the missions goals.
Try it out, it's fun! All you need is some dice, something to represent your character, and THE GUIDE TO ORGANIZED PLAY.
______________________
Print out a bunch of pregens. Let them choose one. Pick out a fun 1-2, and play it with them. Once they're playing, a ton of stuff will become clear that was not clear before.
Does this help?
Hmm
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
For a class project I tried to do something like you are describing, though without any mention of FPS. It was meant to be a brief intro to the concept of tabletop RPGs and then had a brief run down of character creation using the Pathfinder rules. I don't know how useful you'll find it, if at all, and it is definitely rough. I'd take some of the character build suggestions with a grain of salt too.
Questions like, "how do you play" and such are the things that are difficult. I start talking game mechanics and realize this person had no idea what's happening.
I usually mention you are a player character, and someone runs other characters that you interact with. There are rules for how to do things, but limitations can sometimes be within your imagination. Dice are used with bonuses or penalties to determine the success of what you want to accomplish. .. then it goes downhill
|
|
Chaoseffect --
Ooh... Very nice content. Professionally formatted, too!
Human Fighter --
I wouldn't go into detail on game mechanics. That was why I was suggesting playing Pregens (especially those from the ACG.) All the mechanics that they need to know are on the character sheet:
1) the attacks they make
2) the skills and spells they have
3) their equipment.
We played the Confirmation once with 4 newbies, all using pregens. They got to try it out, and we explained stuff like game order (initiative) and attacks in context.
Just take them, and do it.
You can explain everything else later. They don't have to know how everyone else's character works, just their own.
Hmm
To clarify. This isn't necessarily someone about to play, but rather someone passing by and asking questions. I want them to be drawn in to play right then, or in the future. Mission is to get them interested.
To clarify. This isn't necessarily someone about to play, but rather someone passing by and asking questions. I want them to be drawn in to play right then, or in the future. Mission is to get them interested.
If that's the case I really like fatbaldbloke's explanations. The cops and robbers example really sums up what is happening in a nutshell.
|
The 2.5 PHB had an "example of play" piece that was like a 2-page transcript of a party exploring a piece of dungeon, complete with back and forth between players and DM.
I still feel that something like that, with a properly chosen scene (so that it sounds exciting!) and carefully selected mechanical talk (so it makes sense to the lay reader) is a good way to do it.
Game mechanic explanation is inquired though. "How does it work? How do you play?
I think starting a newbie to RPGs out with Pathfinder is kind of like dropping a kid who can't swim off in the deep end of the pool. You need to start them off at the shallow end with a rules-light system. Then, after they get the gist of RPGs as a concept, point out "Hey, if you like that, you might like this, which is a bit more...comprehensive"
Just get them to a game and have them try it out. It sounds really complicated, but sitting with a group of friendly people who know whats going on will make it clear whether someone finds it fun or not. Many people are intimidated by the math at first but like playing the game. Most PFS groups have multiple people willing to help new players, at least in my experience.
|
I remember when it was sold to me, a little over a decade ago:
Think about how you play an RPG game on your computer, and how you can talk to people, or attack bad guys. Then you come up against, say, a wall blocking your way. In the game, how do you get around that? I said something like "you either walk around it, or find an opening or something". Right, well in this game, you can do anything you can think of. You can be as creative as you like, and you can just do it. You tell me what you want to do, and your character does it. That's it.
There was a brief look at the spell list in the rulebook that my new wizard would have access to, which was quite a bit more than the common computer game RPG would allow, which was a rather huge wow factor.
Um... I don't know if this helps, but Paizo has a basic rule cheat sheet found here. Though... it doesn't explain pfs.
Before the rage with video games (the real, real rage with video games) I would tell new people that D&D is "let's pretend" with rules. You know, like cowboys and indians, but with rules.
I always start by trying to find a reference point they are familiar with, then build from that. Have they played D&D? Have they played any d20 system games? Have they ever played a role-playing game?
If someone is completely unfamiliar with the concept of a d20 system, I start with "This is a 20-sided die, or d20. Whenever you want your character to do something, you roll the d20 and add your listed bonus. If you meet or beat the target number, you succeed." Then I give one or two examples based on the stat blocks they are looking at--like attack bonus vs. armor class, skill check vs. DC, or saving throw vs. spell DC.
If someone is completely unfamiliar with the concept of role playing games, I explain that you take on a character, decide what things that character can do, and have adventures.