Played pathfinder for the first time Friday night...

[Skeld]

Ok, the title is slightly misleading. Allow me to explain.

My group, in its current incarnation, has been together for over 15 years. I typically GM. From 3e, to 3.5e, to Star Wars SE, to Pathfinder. I just recently finished a long stretch of GMing. It started with the Savage Tide AP in 2006, then A Star Wars campaign, then a "monster PCs" game, then RotRL with Dragon's Demand as a mid-game diversion.

We transitioned to PF for the "monster" campaign. Since finishing RotRL, another of my group has taken up the GM reins to run Thornkeep and our first session was Friday night. Since I've been strictly GMing for my group for nearly 10 years, Friday actually marked the first time I've played Pathfinder as a player.

It was glorious. When I showed up, I told my group that I felt so unburdened because all I was carrying was a backpack with a single book, a binder, and my iPad (well,dice and stuff too, because duh). No tote full o' miniatures, or rolled up maps, or 20 pounds of books, and so forth.

My first character in forever is a Cleric of Cayden Cailean named Cass. After mulling over the options, I went Cleric because my fellow players needed one and I didn't want us to NPC a hirling or anything.

Long term GMing can be tiring and I'm going to sit back and enjoy being on the other side of the screen for a little while until I slip back into the Big Chair.

-Skeld

[SmiloDan]

Cool!!! 10 years of DMing/GMing is a LONG time! Have a blast!

Clerics are fun. They can be the lynchpin that holds the party together.

[Cavall]

Currently in my... 22nd year of DM. I've gotten the chance to play some but man, it's not been an even split.

In fact the character I was to play, the game was cancelled on my birthday last September before we got the chance. On the day before.

So I hear ya man, it's a great feeling to not carry books or worry.

[Skeld]

Cavall wrote:

In fact the character I was to play, the game was cancelled on my birthday last September before we got the chance. On the day before.

Boo!

I've been playing and GMing since 1985, but this has been by far my longest stretch in the GM chair.

-Skeld

[Pan]

I can hand the GM reins over anytime, however, anytime someone else runs a game it falls apart when either the GM or players want to quit it :(

Hope you enjoy playing!

[Kamicosmos]

That's why I love Society. I'm also the default GM for our group. So I use Society as my chance to be a player.

[Skeld]

I tried a little PFS with my home group (guess who the GM was?) and just was not my cup o' tea. Too much "you have to play this way and you can't change that" for my taste.

I don't want to sound like I'm complaining about my long GM stretch, I just find it funny that I went so long playing the game without "playing the game."

-Skeld

[Fourshadow]

Congrats, Skeld! I GMed for the first few years of playing with my boys and now my oldest has taken over for the last 8 months or so. He's a better GM than me! Came up with his own elaborate haunted mansion that has taken us numerous sessions to complete (still not) and now has plans for a cursed forest next!
I'm playing a Lamplighter Investigator and I am often the hardest hitter in our party. Thoroughly enjoying it.

[GM 1990]

Awesome for you!!

I love GMing and did it exclusively through college, and then running a game for my kids starting last year. When my 12 year old wanted to start a game I was more than willing to be a player. I think I like GMing more than playing, but as you point out being able to just sit down with my dice and not have to think about how I'm going to react to what ever hair-brained thing the party does is such a relief on his week (we alternate each week).

I let the kids and my wife pick their class first and then picked up the missing role as well, I figure I get to run the whole world when I GM, I can play support role in my son's campaign.

[DungeonmasterCal]

SmiloDan wrote:

Cool!!! 10 years of DMing/GMing is a LONG time! Have a blast!

Clerics are fun. They can be the lynchpin that holds the party together.

In the only PF game where I'm an actual player (and only about 3 times a year at that) I play the cleric. I chose the class on purpose, not because no one else wanted to play it. I love clerics.

[Skeld]

I'm having fun and it's a welcome change of pace and perspective.

I usually play Bards or Rangers, But my Cleric of Cayden Cailean is proving to be very fun!

-Skeld