My first Pathfinder Society / Pathfinder game EVER n my character is Dead

[WiseWolfOfYoitsu]

mrshr3d wrote:

I was killed by a Minotaur my first time (2 weeks ago) at Pathfinder. From full HP down below -Con in one attack! Loved it, I thought it was hilarious (and no I'm not being sarcastic) :)

I think death is part of the fun and wouldn't want a GM to go easy on me - would take away from the risk, excitement and realism of the Pathfinder experience. Without risk what is the point of reward?

You have to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. In my case:

* I've grasped a basic understanding of the game mechanics.
* I've learnt the basics on how to build a character.
* I've met some great people who are enjoy Pathfinder as much as I am growing to enjoy it.

* Don't go one-on-one against a Minotaur with a Lv1 1 Monk! ;)

Also, don't ignore your guide's advice and irritate the minotaur at the beginning of your Confirmation!

[Morrin the Stout]

WiseWolfOfYoitsu wrote:

mrshr3d wrote:

I was killed by a Minotaur my first time (2 weeks ago) at Pathfinder. From full HP down below -Con in one attack! Loved it, I thought it was hilarious (and no I'm not being sarcastic) :)

I think death is part of the fun and wouldn't want a GM to go easy on me - would take away from the risk, excitement and realism of the Pathfinder experience. Without risk what is the point of reward?

You have to focus on the positives rather than the negatives. In my case:

* I've grasped a basic understanding of the game mechanics.
* I've learnt the basics on how to build a character.
* I've met some great people who are enjoy Pathfinder as much as I am growing to enjoy it.

* Don't go one-on-one against a Minotaur with a Lv1 1 Monk! ;)

Also, don't ignore your guide's advice and irritate the minotaur at the beginning of your Confirmation!

Also, apparently shooting rocks at the bullman makes him quite angry..... I may have been dropped, but I didn't die!

[APOPHIS1989]

I remember a similar experience with my first PFS session. Mists of Mwangi... My Elf Ranger, a half-Orc Barbarian, a Human reach Fighter, and a Halfing Alchemist fail "the save" and everyone but one dies. The one left standing is then paralyzed. TPK... But for some reason, I kept playing, and eventually became a VO! I've since never had a character die, even though my second character took the Risen Guard vanity. My point is, don't let one GM or one scenario turn you away from the many that are present in PFS!

[Renegade Paladin]

Eh. My first time through Confirmation was when it was new, and the GM hadn't actually read the damned thing to determine that it was tier 1-2 only, so he ran it for a bunch of level 3 characters. We just demolished the cow and went on. :P

[galahad2112]

@ jtaylor73003

Don't let the bastards get you down! (especially to negative con!)

As others have said, beefing up a bit is a good idea. Also, try to buy some healing items. I know that cash is tight at first, but a potion of cure light wounds is only 50gp and NO ONE should ever criticize you for buying at least one.

While you should absolutely play your character the way you want, with tricks and tactics that you prefer, remember that the name of the game is survival. As an alchemist, the way that you defeat enemies is by lobbing bombs at them. When you are not in position to do so, you need to change your position, whether that be repositioning on the tactical mat or just flat out retreating, you should fight the enemy on YOUR terms, not theirs. Even if it is in direct violation of your given mission orders, you need to be alive to be chewed out. Cramped quarters on the ship? No problem! Burn that mother to the ground! Or, in this case, waterline. Of course that is kind of a last resort tactic, but the important part here is that you ALWAYS have more options in combat.

To illustrate a similar situation:
My party of 4 pathfinders was facing the end boss, a Bones mystery Oracle. I was playing a wizard, and had run out of spells. We had a Cleric/Skald, who had used his raging song (which I, the WIZARD, accepted!) that was the main damage dealer-cum-party tank, and I forget who else. Maybe an archer and a rogue, I think. Regardless, the situation was that the end boss had summoned a Skeleton Champion that was just WRECKING the party, most of us just COULDN'T hit for any damage, while the Cleric went toe-to-toe with the boss. We had Protection From Evil up, but since the Skeleton attacks with a sword, we could still be hit (and boy howdy were we). Since I was an effectively USELESS combatant, I could have tried to run away, but I would have provoked AoOs, and being a wizard, I had low health and AC, so it really wasn't an option. Instead, I chose to delay until the time was right (the Skeleton took an AoO on another guy), and tried a desperation move: I disarmed him. It was fairly epic, and we still laugh about it as a memorable encounter.

Likewise, the situation you were in was not as desperate as it may have seemed. Clerics need to present their holy symbol to channel. One of the fighters could have disarmed or sundered it. Had that happened, you would probably fondly remember your first PFS scenario as a tense, but fulfilling event, rather than have a bad taste in your mouth. As a GM, especially at a beginner's event, I would suggest possible courses to the players, because it's not PCs VS the GM, it's Pathfinder SOCIETY, with everyone at the table being integrated. I'm not saying that the GM should tell the players how to play their characters, or tell them how to beat the given encounters in the scenario, but offer advice. Kind of like how a math teacher absolutely doesn't tell students the answers on the test, but instead may remind them of how they can solve the problem on their own.

I know that, as a new player, you might not be familiar enough yet with the system to recognize things like taking away a Cleric's holy symbol, but don't be afraid to ask questions of the table at large. "Hey, this guy's beating the crap out of us with his channels. How can we stop him from channeling?"

Anyway, I'm very glad to see that you are bringing this up with one of your VOs. One of the reasons that they are in place is just this sort of thing: to be a resource for the players in their region. I hope that this works out for you, and you continue to be a Pathfinder!